German Army Launches Major Security Probe After 20,000 Rounds Stolen From Civilian Truck In Unsecured Parking Lot | ZeroHedge

Thu, 12/04/2025 - 02:00

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How Obama Paved The Way For Trump's Venezuelan Killings How Obama Paved The Way For Trump's Venezuelan Killings

James Bovard

Obama Paved the Way for Trump's Venezuelan Killings - James Bovard

President Obama's targeted killings program paved the way for Trump's Venezuelan killings

The Trump administration’s killings of scores of Venezuelans are justifiably provoking outrage. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently proclaimed, "We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists." Donald Trump and Hegseth are cashing a blank check for carnage that was written years earlier by President Barack Obama. In his 2017 farewell address, Obama boasted, "We have taken out tens of thousands of terrorists." Drone strikes increased tenfold under Obama, helping fuel anti-US backlashes in several nations. As he campaigned for the presidency in 2007, then-Senator Barack Obama declared, "We will again set an example for the world that the law is not subject to the whims of stubborn rulers." Many Americans who voted for Obama in 2008 expected a seachange in Washington. However, from his first weeks in office, Obama authorized widespread secret attacks against foreign suspects, some of which spurred headlines when drones slaughtered wedding parties or other innocents. On February 3, 2010, Obama’s Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair stunned Washington by announcing that the administration was also targeting Americans for killing. Blair revealed to a congressional committee the new standard for extrajudicial killings: “Whether that American is involved in a group that is trying to attack us, whether that American has—is a threat to other Americans. We don’t target people for free speech. We target them for taking action that threatens Americans.” But “involved” is a vague standard—as is “action that threatens Americans.” Blair stated that “if we think that direct action will involve killing an American, we get specific permission to do that.” Permission from who?

Obama’s first high-profile American target was Anwar Awlaki, a cleric born in New Mexico. After the 9/11 attacks, Awlaki was showcased as a model moderate Muslim. The New York Times noted that Awlaki “gave interviews to the national news media, preached at the Capitol in Washington and attended a breakfast with Pentagon officials.” He became more radical after he concluded that the Geoge W. Bush administration’s Global War on Terror was actually a war on Islam. After the FBI sought to squeeze him into becoming an informant against other Muslims, Awlaki fled the country. He arrived in Yemen and was arrested and reportedly tortured at the behest of the U.S. government. After he was released from prison eighteen months later, his attitude had worsened and his sermons became more bloodthirsty. After the Obama administration announced plans to kill Awlaki, his father hired a lawyer to file a challenge in federal court. The ACLU joined the lawsuit, seeking to compel the government “to disclose the legal standard it uses to place U.S. citizens on government kill lists.” The Obama administration labeled the entire case a “State Secret.” This meant that the administration did not even have to explain why federal law no longer constrained its killings. The administration could have indicted Awlaki on numerous charges but it did not want to provide him any traction in federal court. In September 2010, The New York Times reported that “there is widespread agreement among the administration’s legal team that it is lawful for President Obama to authorize the killing of someone like Mr. Awlaki.” It was comforting to know that top political appointees concurred that Obama could justifiably kill Americans. But that was the same “legal standard” the Bush team used to justify torture. The Obama administration asserted a right to kill U.S. citizens without trial, without notice, and without any chance for the marked men to legally object. In November 2010, Justice Department attorney Douglas Letter announced in federal court that no judge had legal authority to be “looking over the shoulder” of Obama’s targeted killing. Letter declared that the program involves “the very core powers of the president as commander in chief.” The following month, federal judge John Bates dismissed the ACLU’s lawsuit because “there are circumstances in which the Executive’s unilateral decision to kill a U.S. citizen overseas” is “judicially unreviewable.” Bates declared that targeted killing was a “political question” outside the court’s jurisdiction. His deference was stunning: no judge had ever presumed that killing Americans was simply another “political question.” The Obama administration’s position “would allow the executive unreviewable authority to target and kill any U.S. citizen it deems a suspect of terrorism anywhere,” according to Center for Constitutional Rights attorney Pardiss Kebriae. On September 30, 2011, a U.S. drone attack killed Awlaki along with another American citizen, Samir Khan, who was editing an online Al Qaeda magazine. Obama bragged about the lethal operation at a military base later that day. A few days later, administration officials gave a New York Times reporter extracts a peek at the fifty-page secret Justice Department memo. The Times noted, “The secret document provided the justification for [killing Awlaki] despite an executive order banning assassinations, a federal law against murder, protections in the Bill of Rights and various strictures of the international laws of war, according to people familiar with the analysis.” The legal case for killing Awlaki was so airtight that it did not even need to be disclosed to the American public. Two weeks after killing Awlaki, Obama authorized a drone attack that killed his son and six other people as they sat at an outdoor café in Yemen. Anonymous administration officials quickly assured the media that Abdulrahman Awlaki was a 21-year-old Al Qaeda fighter and thus fair game. Four days later, The Washington Post published a birth certificate proving that Awlaki’s son was only 16-years old and had been born in Denver. Nor did the boy have any connection with Al Qaeda or any other terrorist group. Robert Gibbs, Obama’s former White House press secretary and a top advisor for Obama’s reelection campaign, later shrugged that the 16-year-old should have had “a far more responsible father.” Regardless of that boy’s killing, the media often portrayed Obama and his drones as infallible. A Washington Post poll a few months later revealed that 83% of Americans approved of Obama’s drone killing policy. It made almost no difference whether the suspected terrorists were American citizens; 79% of respondents approved of preemptively killing their fellow countrymen, no judicial niceties required. The Post noted that “77 percent of liberal Democrats endorse the use of drones, meaning that Obama is unlikely to suffer any political consequences as a result of his policy in this election year.” The poll results were largely an echo of official propaganda. Most folks “knew” only what the government wanted them to hear regarding drones. Thanks to pervasive secrecy, top government officials could kill who they chose and say what they pleased. The fact that the federal government had failed to substantiate more than 90% of its terrorist accusations since 9/11 was irrelevant since the president was omniscient. On March 6, 2012, Attorney General Eric Holder, in a speech on targeted killings to a college audience, declared, “Due process and judicial process are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security. The Constitution guarantees due process, it does not guarantee judicial process.” TV comedian Stephen Colbert mocked Holder, quipping “Trial by jury, trial by fire, rock, paper scissors, who cares? Due process just means that there is a process that you do.” One purpose of due process is to allow evidence to be critically examined. But there was no opportunity to debunk statements from anonymous White House officials. For the Obama administration, “due process” meant little more than reciting certain phrases in secret memos prior to executions. Holder declared that the drone attacks “are not [assassinations], and the use of that loaded term is misplaced; assassinations are unlawful killings. Here, for the reasons I have given, the U.S. government’s use of lethal force in self-defense.” Any termination secretly approved by the president or his top advisers was automatically a “lawful killing.” Holder reassured Americans that Congress was overseeing the targeted killing program. But no one on Capitol Hill demanded a hearing or investigation after U.S. drones killed American citizens in Yemen. The prevailing attitude was exemplified by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King (R-NY): “Drones aren’t evil, people are evil. We are a force of good and we are using those drones to carry out the policy of righteousness and goodness.” Obama told White House aides that it “turns out I’m really good at killing people. Didn’t know that was gonna be a strong suit of mine.” In April 2012, The New York Times was granted access for a laudatory inside look at “Terror Tuesday” meetings in the White House: “Every week or so, more than 100 members of the government’s sprawling national security apparatus gather, by secure video teleconference, to pore over terrorist suspects’ biographies and recommend to the president who should be the next to die.” It was a PowerPoint death parade. The Times stressed that Obama personally selected who to kill next: “The control he exercises also appears to reflect Mr. Obama’s striking self-confidence: he believes, according to several people who have worked closely with him, that his own judgment should be brought to bear on strikes.” Commenting on the Times’ revelations, author Tom Engelhardt observed, “We are surely at a new stage in the history of the imperial presidency when a president (or his election team) assembles his aides, advisors and associates to foster a story that’s meant to broadcast the group’s collective pride in the new position of assassin-in-chief.” This is how Obama's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded to questioning on the murder of the 16 year old US citizen Abdulrahman al-Awlaki in a drone strike ordered by Obama: "I 'd suggest that you should have had a far more responsible father".

Louis Allday (@Louis_Allday) on X

This is how Obama's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded to questioning on the murder of the 16 year old US citizen Abdulrahman al-Awlaki in a dr...

— Louis Allday (@Louis_Allday)

Louis Allday (@Louis_Allday) on X

This is how Obama's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded to questioning on the murder of the 16 year old US citizen Abdulrahman al-Awlaki in a dr...

On May 23, 2013, Obama, in a speech on his targeted killing program at the National Defense University in Washington, told his fellow Americans that “we know a price must be paid for freedom”—such as permitting the president untrammeled authority to kill threats to freedom. The president declared that “before any strike is taken, there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured—the highest standard we can set.” Since almost all the data on victims was confidential, it was tricky to prove otherwise. But NBC News acquired classified documents revealing that the CIA was often clueless about who it was killing. NBC noted, “Even while admitting that the identities of many killed by drones were not known, the CIA documents asserted that all those dead were enemy combatants. The logic is twisted: If we kill you, then you were an enemy combatant.” Killings are also exonerated by counting “all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants…unless there is explicit intelligence posthumously proving them innocent.” And U.S. bureaucrats have no incentive to track down evidence exposing their fatal errors. The New York Times revealed that U.S. “counterterrorism officials insist…people in an area of known terrorist activity…are probably up to no good.” The “probably up to no good” standard absolved almost any drone killing within thousands of square miles in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia. Daniel Hale, a former Air Force intelligence analyst, leaked information revealing that nearly 90% of people who were killed in drone strikes were not the intended targets. Joe Biden’s Justice Department responded by coercing Hale into pleading guilty to “retention and transmission of national security information,” and he was sent to prison in 2021. Sovereign immunity entitles presidents to kill with impunity. Or at least that is what presidents have presumed for most of the past century. If the Trump administration can establish a prerogative to preemptively kill anyone suspected of transporting illicit narcotics, millions of Americans could be in the federal cross-hairs. But the Trump administration is already having trouble preserving total secrecy thanks to controversies over who ordered alleged war crimes. Will Trump’s anti-drug carnage end up torpedoing his beloved Secretary of War Hegseth and his own credibility with Congress, the judiciary, and hundreds of millions of Americans who do not view White House statements as divine revelations handed down from Mt. Sinai?

How Obama Paved The Way For Trump's Venezuelan Killings | ZeroHedge

Wed, 12/03/2025 - 23:25

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Japan's Sanae Takaichi Seeks To Ease Deepening Row With China, Reaffirms Taiwan Status Quo Japan's Sanae Takaichi Seeks To Ease Deepening Row With China, Reaffirms Taiwan Status Quo Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi finally appears to be backing down amid recent escalating punitive measures imposed on Tokyo by China in the areas of trade, diplomacy, and tourism. Beijing has been dialing up the pressure for weeks, after the new prime minister nearly a month ago told Japanese parliament an attack on Taiwan by the People's Liberation Army could pose a "survival-threatening situation" for which Tokyo would be justified in intervening militarily. Feeling immense pressure and blowback from the provocative prior comments, Takaichi on Wednesday while again addressing parliament reverted back to providing clarity that Japan's official position on the self-ruled island remains unchanged. "The Japanese government's basic position regarding Taiwan remains as stated in the 1972 Japan-China Joint Communique, and there has been no change to this position," Takaichi

South China Morning Post

Japan’s Sanae Takaichi moves to ease weeks of tensions with China over the Taiwan Strait

Tokyo’s position on the island is unchanged, the Japanese prime minister says in an apparent climbdown.

The historic 1972 communique spells out that "the government of the People’s Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China" before affirming that the Japanese government "fully understands and respects this stand." The communique further states that Japan "firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration." China also often cites the Cairo Declaration of November 1943 as having the legal status of a binding treaty. The Cairo Declaration requires that Japan return any territory seized from China during war. The two documents formed the basis of the 20th century post-war WW2 era normalization of ties between the two historic enemies and rivals. Since last month, China's Foreign Ministry has been insisting on a full retraction and apology from PM Takaichi over her 'defend Taiwan' remarks - which drew a sharp rebuke from ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. "Stop crossing the line and playing with fire, retract the wrongful remarks and deeds and honor its commitments to China with real action," Ning said at the time. On Monday ministry spokesperson Lin Jian repeated the demand, urging Japan to "learn the lessons of history, do soul searching, take seriously what it has heard from the Chinese side, simply retract the erroneous remarks as it should and take practical steps to honor its political commitments to China." Takaichi's fresh remarks recognizing the status quo on Taiwan, which was spurred by questions from lawmakers, could soften the crisis - yet Beijing is likely to still keep up the pressure given her words stopped short of a formal retraction and apology. "President Xi is trying to stir up trouble wherever he can and intimidate countries like Japan," Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) told ZeroHedge on Wednesday, calling Japan an important US ally. He described that he views the US stance of Strategic Ambiguity on Taiwan as "not necessarily a bad thing" because "we want President Xi to think not just once or not just twice but many times before he pulls the trigger which unfortunately I think is preparing to do." Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) also responded on the question of allowing China to believe that it owns Taiwan. "We shouldn't do that," he told us. "Taiwan has a right to be independent, they are a free and independent nation, they should remain that way. Whether we given them security guarantees if a different question." "We should tell them 'you don't have any right to conquer them'. It plays into China's hands to treat the Taiwanese as if they're owned by China," Hawley emphasized, declaring further that "we ought to be clear about it."

China of course remains Japan's biggest trading partner, and has already taken harsh retaliatory measures including the curbing of Japanese seafood imports, the cancellation of films and concerts - as well as cultural exchange programs, as well as the drastic move of urging Chinese citizens to avoid all travel to Japan. In addition to Japan's vital seafood industry being impacted, the restaurant scene is also feeling

CNA

‘Food should have no borders’: China-Japan spat hits Beijing’s Japanese restaurants as cancellations surge

Analysts warned the dispute sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan could persist, leaving ordinary people to navig...

: Diners once had to book weeks in advance to secure a table at Toya, a popular Japanese restaurant in Beijing. But business has taken a sharp turn, with more than 60 reservations cancelled since mid-November, said owner Kazuyuki Tanioka, who has served omakase menus in the Chinese capital for over a decade. And the film industry, per the same report: The spat has also led to the postponement of Japanese film releases in China, the abrupt cancellation of concerts by Japanese musicians and the suspension of official exchanges. A frequent traveller to Japan, Yan Jun, faced a dilemma when China advised its citizens to avoid visiting Japan. Chinese airlines proceeded to cut hundreds of Japan-bound flights this month. China's PLA Navy and Coast Guard have also increased their presence near Taiwan and in and near disputed islands and waters. The latest incident involving Japanese and Chinese vessels happened near a group of geopolitically sensitive islands in the East China Sea on Tuesday, as we

Chinese, Japanese Boats In Tense Standoff Near Disputed Islands As Taiwan-Related Feud Escalates | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

. Chinese state media is also meanwhile highlighting that Takaichi faces backlash from within Japan as well. "Several Japanese lawmakers and prominent scholars gathered Tuesday evening at the Members' Office Building of the House of Councillors to urge Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to retract her recent erroneous remarks on Taiwan," <a href="http://english.news.cn/20251203/7992670d85324674a483d16b7b6be432/c.html" rel="nofollow">Xinhua</a> writes Wednesday. "The meeting was held under the theme of demanding Takaichi withdraw her remarks linking a 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan to the Taiwan question and return to the starting point of the normalization of Japan-China relations," the report notes. If Takaichi does in the end back down, offering the requested retraction and apology, it will be seen in the region as a huge diplomatic 'win' for China after flexing considerable economic might. Liam Cosgrove contributed to this report.

Japan's Sanae Takaichi Seeks To Ease Deepening Row With China, Reaffirms Taiwan Status Quo | ZeroHedge

Wed, 12/03/2025 - 23:00

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Hassett Odds Soar As Trump Confirms He's Made Decision On Next Fed Chair Hassett Odds Soar As Trump Confirms He's Made Decision On Next Fed Chair President Donald Trump said on Nov. 30 that he has already decided on his pick to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, adding that an announcement is forthcoming, but declining to identify his nominee. “I know who I am going to pick, yeah,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his way back from Florida to Washington on Sunday. When asked whether he would nominate National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, the current frontrunner to replace Powell according to betting markets, Trump smiled and replied, “I’m not going to tell you, we’ll be announcing it.” Hassett now has an 75% chance of getting the nomination according to prediction market Polymarket. Former Fed Gov. Kevin Warsh is at 12% with Fed Gov. Christopher Waller down to 8%.

Polymarket

Who will Trump nominate as Fed Chair? Predictions & Odds | Polymarket

View real-time odds on "Who will Trump nominate as Fed Chair?" as of February 7, 2026, and trade on The World's Largest Prediction Market™

Earlier Sunday, Hassett, on CBS' "Face The Nation," said the market's reaction to reports that Trump was close to a pick is a positive sign. “Once it became clear that the president’s getting closer to make a decision, the markets really celebrated, interest rates went down, we had one of our best Treasury auctions ever,” Hassett said on Fox. “I think that the market expects that there’s going to be a new person at the Fed, and they expect that President Trump’s going to pick a new one. And if he picks me, I'd be happy to serve.”

Hassett, who has strongly defended Trump's economic policies, including tariffs and interest rates, said he would be happy to serve as Fed chief if Trump nominated him. “I’m really honored to be amongst a group of really great candidates,” Hassett told CBS. “I think that the American people could expect President Trump to pick somebody who’s going to help them, you know, have cheaper car loans and easier access to mortgages at lower rates.” We do note that rates are higher this morning after Trump's comments (and the yield curve is steeper - policy error), but there are a lot of moving parts after the long weekend (from mixed manufacturing data to a hawkish BoJ) impacting markets. Market-implied odds have soared to fully price in a rate-cut in December...

Finally, we note that Hassett's financial disclosure reveals at least a seven‑figure Coinbase stake and compensation for serving on the exchange’s Academic and Regulatory Advisory Council, placing him unusually close to the crypto industry for a potential Fed chair. Still, crypto has been burned before by reading too much into “crypto‑literate” resumes.

Cointelegraph

House Republicans Probe Gary Gensler’s Deleted Text Messages

Four US House Financial Services committee members told the SEC chair that it is probing missing text messages from former Chair Gary Gensler’s p...

.” A Hassett-led Fed might be more open to experimentation and less reflexively hostile to bank‑crypto activity. Still, the institution’s mandate on financial stability means markets should not assume a one‑way bet on deregulation.

Hassett Odds Soar As Trump Confirms He's Made Decision On Next Fed Chair | ZeroHedge

Mon, 12/01/2025 - 12:00

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Trump Declares Airspace Above Venezuela "To Be Closed In Its Entirety" Trump Declares Airspace Above Venezuela "To Be Closed In Its Entirety" President Trump said on Saturday on X that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela will "be closed in its entirety."

"To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP," Trump wrote on X. To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) on X

To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTI...

Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned pilots to "exercise caution" near Venezuela's airspace due to the "worsening security situation and heightened military activity. The Pentagon has been deploying warships and other military assets in the Caribbean this year. The deployment centers around bolstering Hemispheric Defense, and the Trump administration has formally characterized Nicolás Maduro as the head of a terrorist organization and considers his government illegitimate.

Joint Special Operations Command has ordered numerous airstrikes on speed boats carrying narcoterrorists. The intent is to stop drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narcoterrorists that are part of a sophisticated network pumping drugs into America, resulting in the drug death overdose crisis that kills 100,000 Americans per year - one that the Biden-Harris regime ignored by opening borders to the third world. On Friday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth dismissed fake news from corporate media about recent lethal kinetic strikes. Hegseth explained: As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland. As we've said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be "lethal, kinetic strikes." The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narcoterrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization. The Biden administration preferred the kid gloves approach, allowing millions of people — including dangerous cartels and unvetted Afghans — to flood our communities with drugs and violence. The Trump administration has sealed the border and gone on offense against narcoterrorists. Biden coddled terrorists, we kill them. Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict—and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command. Our warriors in SOUTHCOM put their lives on the line every day to protect the Homeland from narcoterrorists — and I will ALWAYS have their back. As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland. As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically… — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar)

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) on X

As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to prot...

Hegseth followed the post with, "We have only just begun to kill narcoterrorists." We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists. — Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth)

Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) on X

We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists.

What the U.S. airspace shutdown over Venezuela signals: Pressure Maduro into stepping down Or intent to collapse the Maduro regime Expectation of Russian/Iranian pushback Readiness to escalate militarily Maduro and his circle would treat this as both an existential threat, and it remains to be seen how he would respond. We guess

Trump Plans To Hold Talks With Venezuela's Maduro: Report | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

Trump Declares Airspace Above Venezuela "To Be Closed In Its Entirety" | ZeroHedge

Sat, 11/29/2025 - 12:15

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

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Rockefeller Foundation Partners With MrBeast To Target Youth With "Next-Gen" Propaganda Rockefeller Foundation Partners With MrBeast To Target Youth With "Next-Gen" Propaganda Dr. Rajiv J. Shah - former USAID administrator and onetime head of agricultural development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, now president of the Rockefeller Foundation - announced a "next-gen storytelling" partnership with the world's top YouTube creator, MrBeast.

"Proud to announce our partnership with @BeastPhilanthr, bringing together a storied history of improving billions of lives with next-gen storytelling that inspires action. With @MrBeast, we'll show that when kindness goes viral, big change is possible," Shah wrote on X, accompanied by a video featuring him and MrBeast founder Jimmy Donaldson. Proud to announce our partnership with

Beast Philanthropy (@BeastPhilanthr) on X

We donate 100% of the revenue generated from our content to charity! Founded by @MrBeast

— Dr. Rajiv J. Shah (@rajshah)

Dr. Rajiv J. Shah (@rajshah) on X

Proud to announce our partnership with @BeastPhilanthr, bringing together a storied history of advancing billions of lives with next-gen storytelli...

"Next-gen storytelling" is simply another way of saying an influence operation campaign aimed at targeting young audiences with far-left messaging. 📢 We’re launching a new partnership with

Beast Philanthropy (@BeastPhilanthr) on X

We donate 100% of the revenue generated from our content to charity! Founded by @MrBeast

, we will inspire young people to take action, and make big things happen. Find out more about this exciting partnership.

AP News

MrBeast and the Rockefeller Foundation are teaming up to spark youth philanthropy

Beast Philanthropy, the charitable organization started by MrBeast founder Jimmy Donaldson, and the Rockefeller Foundation are announcing a strateg...

— The Rockefeller Foundation (@RockefellerFdn)

The Rockefeller Foundation (@RockefellerFdn) on X

📢 We’re launching a new partnership with @BeastPhilanthr to make kindness go viral. Together with @MrBeast, we will inspire young people to ta...

MrBeast's demographic includes: 13–24 years old: ~55–60% (His largest, most engaged cohort.) 25–34 years old: ~22–25% 35–44 years old: ~10% 45+ years old: ~5–7% Rockefeller Foundation president Dr. Rajiv Shah told AP News that MrBeast can emotionally connect with younger generations in ways that traditional philanthropy has failed to do. The move signals Donaldson's sellout to globalists and dark-money-funded NGOs, as investigative researchers Peter Schweizer and Seamus Bruner of the Government Accountability Institute recently

"Coup d'Flat": Billionaire-Funded 'No Kings' Color-Revolution Turns Into White Liberal Boomer Parade As Dems Become National Laughingstock | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

that the Rockefeller Foundation is one of a handful of major philanthropies bankrolling the anti-Trump permanent protest industrial complex. 📊We traced $294,487,641 to the official No Kings 2.0 partners & organizers...all funneled through the same “Riot Inc.” dark-money networks: 💰 Arabella network $79.7M+ 💰 Soros network $72.1M+ 💰 Ford network $51.7M+ 💰Tides $45.5M+ 💰 Rockefeller $28.6M+ 💰 Buffett $16.6M+

Seamus Bruner (@seamusbruner) on X

📊We traced $294,487,641 to the official No Kings 2.0 partners & organizers...all funneled through the same “Riot Inc.” dark-money networ...

— Seamus Bruner (@seamusbruner)

Seamus Bruner (@seamusbruner) on X

📊We traced $294,487,641 to the official No Kings 2.0 partners & organizers...all funneled through the same “Riot Inc.” dark-money networ...

The left is furious that Joe Rogan and other major podcasters have defected from their woke cult. Now the Rockefeller Foundation appears to be gearing up for a youth-focused propaganda operation ahead of next year's midterms and the 2028 presidential race.

Rockefeller Foundation Partners With MrBeast To Target Youth With "Next-Gen" Propaganda | ZeroHedge

Fri, 11/28/2025 - 22:40

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

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Elon Envisions Grokipedia As Humanity's Cosmic Knowledge Vault Elon Envisions Grokipedia As Humanity's Cosmic Knowledge Vault https://modernity.news/2025/11/22/elon-envisions-grokipedia-as-humanitys-cosmic-knowledge-vault/ In a far reaching vision for preserving human wisdom against existential threats, Elon Musk described his xAI venture’s Grokipedia as an indestructible archive destined for the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Speaking at the Baron Investment Conference, Musk likened the project to a “modern-day Library of Alexandria,” etched in microfont on stone to safeguard knowledge for future civilizations. The comments, captured in a viral clip shared on X, underscore Musk’s ambition to transcend Earth’s fragile data repositories. 👀 Elon Musk Says Grokipedia Will Become a Backup of All Knowledge for Future Civilizations “The idea behind this Galactica is to create an open source … distillation of all knowledge … And then we want to create copies of this and distribute these copies throughout Earth, and…

Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) on X

👀 Elon Musk Says Grokipedia Will Become a Backup of All Knowledge for Future Civilizations “The idea behind this Galactica is to create an op...

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd)

Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) on X

👀 Elon Musk Says Grokipedia Will Become a Backup of All Knowledge for Future Civilizations “The idea behind this Galactica is to create an op...

“The idea behind this Galactica is to create an open source… distillation of all knowledge… And then we want to create copies of this and distribute these copies throughout Earth, and even put them on the moon and Mars and out of deep space… So in the worst case scenario, future civilization can see what we learned and maybe pick things up from there,” Musk said. Musk’s remarks came during an onstage interview with Ron Baron, the 82-year-old founder of Baron Capital, a $45 billion asset management firm known for its long-term investments in growth stocks like Tesla. The annual Baron Investment Conference, in New York, drew hundreds of investors eager for Musk’s insights on everything from electric vehicles to artificial intelligence. Baron, a longtime Tesla shareholder, pressed Musk on xAI’s boldest initiatives, leading to the discussion of Grokipedia—currently slated for a rebrand to “Encyclopedia Galactica,” a nod to sci-fi icons Isaac Asimov and Douglas Adams. The exchange highlighted Musk’s blend of pragmatism and futurism. Evoking the ancient Library of Alexandria’s tragic burning as a cautionary tale, he proposed “literally etch[ing] it in stone” via microfont technology to ensure durability against disasters, wars, or cosmic mishaps. Grokipedia emerged from Musk’s long-standing critiques of Wikipedia, which he has repeatedly called “hopelessly biased” due to activist-driven edits and its role as a foundational data source for AI training. The project was first teased in September, when Musk announced on X: “We are building Grokipedia @xAI. Will be a massive improvement over Wikipedia. Frankly, it is a necessary step towards the xAI goal of understanding the Universe.” Powered by xAI’s Grok AI models, Grokipedia launched in a beta version a month later as an open-source repository of human knowledge—complete with text, audio, images, and video. Unlike Wikipedia’s crowd-sourced model, it uses AI to “fact-check” and rewrite entries, purging propaganda, correcting half-truths, and filling gaps through first-principles reasoning. Early adopters praised its depth on niche topics, with Musk noting “Grokipedia has some truly excellent pages.” The rollout wasn’t without hiccups. Musk delayed the initial release by two weeks to “purge out the propaganda,” and post-launch analyses revealed citations to controversial sources, including 42 references to the neo-Nazi site Stormfront—prompting backlash from media outlets like NBC News and WIRED, which accused it of amplifying far-right narratives. xAI has since emphasized iterative improvements, allowing users to flag errors via a simple “It’s Wrong” tool. Musk has amplified Grokipedia’s mission across X, blending announcements with interactive demos. “When Grokipedia is good enough (long way to go), we will change the name to Encyclopedia Galactica. … Join @xAI to help build the sci-fi version of the Library of Alexandria!” Musk urged. Musk also hyped “Grokipedia will exceed Wikipedia by several orders of magnitude in breadth, depth and accuracy,” quoting gaming executive Mark Kern’s awe at its potential impact. As xAI iterates toward version 1.0, Musk positions Grokipedia not just as an encyclopedia, but as a bulwark for truth in an AI-driven era. Eclipsing Wikipedia is a certainty, and with copies eyed for off-world deployment, its stakes are literally galactic. Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via

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Elon Envisions Grokipedia As Humanity's Cosmic Knowledge Vault | ZeroHedge

Sun, 11/23/2025 - 09:20

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ZeroHedge News (RSS Feed) 2 months ago

"You Can't Handle the Truth": UK Health Watchdog Reportedly Refuses To Release Data On Vaccine Deaths "You Can't Handle the Truth": UK Health Watchdog Reportedly Refuses To Release Data On Vaccine Deaths

JONATHAN TURLEY

“You Can’t Handle the Truth”: UK Health Watchdog Reportedly Refuses to Release Data on Vaccine Deaths

The United Kingdom’s public health service is reportedly refusing to release data on the potential relationship between the COVID vaccine and...

The United Kingdom’s public health service is reportedly refusing to release data on the potential https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/11/15/government-withholding-data-covid-jab-link-excess-deaths . The reason? It would upset people to know the truth. The question is whether British citizens have become so passive and yielding that they will support their government, keeping them from learning the facts about vaccines and allowing them to reach their own conclusions. The UK has long embraced

JONATHAN TURLEY

“It’s Not OK Any More”: The United Kingdom Cracks Down on Free Speech

The crackdown on free speech continues in the United Kingdom as officials use recent rioting to justify a roundup of citizens who they view as &#82...

.” Social media companies assisted governments in censoring opposing scientific views during the pandemic, including those regarding the potential dangers of the vaccines. Over the years, dissenting faculty members have been forced out of scientific and academic organizations for challenging preferred conclusions on subjects ranging from transgender transitions to COVID-19 protections to climate change. Some were barred from speaking at universities or blacklisted for their opposing views. Many of the exiled experts were ultimately proven correct in challenging the efficacy of surgical masks or the need to shut down our schools and businesses. Scientists moved like a herd of lemmings on the origin of the virus, crushing those who suggested that the most likely explanation is a lab leak (a position that federal agencies would later embrace). Scientists have worked with the government in suppressing dissenting views. For example, The Wall Street Journal released a report on how the Biden administration suppressed dissenting views supporting the lab leak theory, as dissenting scientists were blacklisted and targeted. When experts within the Biden Administration found that the lab theory was the most likely explanation for COVID-19, they were told not to share their data publicly and were

JONATHAN TURLEY

Silence of the Labs: How a Censorship Campaign Failed to Kill a COVID Origin Theory

Below is my column in The Hill on the recent Wall Street Journal report on the Biden Administration’s resistance to experts who voiced suppor...

about being “off the reservation.” Universities and associations joined the crackdown. Scientists questioning the efficacy of those blue surgical masks and the six-foot rule were suppressed. So were those arguing that we should, as in Europe, keep schools open. These experts were also later vindicated, but few were rehired or reestablished in universities or associations. It was all done in the name of protecting the public from opposing views or data. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that little has changed. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/11/15/government-withholding-data-covid-jab-link-excess-deaths/ would lead to the “distress or anger” of bereaved relatives if a link were to be discovered. It also suggested that the data might stress or undermine the mental health of the families and friends of people who died. The story has received little attention in the media, which previously joined efforts to suppress opposing views during the pandemic. We have no idea what the data actually says, but there should be uniform agreement that the public has a right to know. The controversy is reminiscent of the position of the British courts on sharing information with patients. In the United States, there is a strong common law in favor of disclosing to patients any risks or complications associated with possible treatments or surgeries. In the UK, the courts took a more deferential view of doctors. As with the agency’s position, the rationale was hard for many in the United States to comprehend, let alone accept. For example, in Sidaway v. Bethlem Royal Hospital (1985), the court rejected the need for a surgeon to inform a patient of a low risk of nerve damage from a laminectomy, writing: “I confess that I reach this conclusion with no regret. The evidence in this case showed that a contrary result would be damaging to the relationship of trust and confidence between doctor and patient, and might well have an adverse effect on the practice of medicine. It is doubtful whether it would be of any significant benefit to patients, most of whom prefer to put themselves unreservedly in the hands of their doctors.” The decision to withhold the data on vaccines shows the same arrogant assumptions. If I had a loved one who died from the vaccine, I would like to know about it. The government is essentially arguing a Jessup rule that “ .”

We will now see if the British people have lost all self-respect and separation from their government in yielding to this decision.

"You Can't Handle the Truth": UK Health Watchdog Reportedly Refuses To Release Data On Vaccine Deaths | ZeroHedge

Tue, 11/18/2025 - 03:30

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After Tucker Carlson Exposé, FBI Director Patel Says Trump Rally Shooter Thomas Crooks Acted Alone After Tucker Carlson Exposé, FBI Director Patel Says Trump Rally Shooter Thomas Crooks Acted Alone The same day that Tucker Carlson

Tucker Exposes Trump Would-Be Assassin Thomas Crooks' Social Media History, The FBI Coverup, And More Strangeness | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

more than the FBI has about Donald Trump's attempted assassin, Thomas Crooks, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that Crooks 'acted alone' in planning and conducting the attack.

Patel posted to X on Friday: "Over 480 FBI employees were involved in the Thomas Crooks investigation. Employees conducted over 1,000 interviews, addressed over 2,000 public tips, analyzed data extracted from 13 seized digital devices, reviewed nearly 500,000 digital files, collected, processed, and synchronized hundreds of hours of video footage, analyzed financial activity from 10 different accounts, and examined data associated with 25 social media or online forum accounts. The FBI’s investigation into Thomas Crooks identified and examined over 20 online accounts, data extracted from over a dozen electronic devices, examination of numerous financial accounts, and over 1,000 interviews and 2000 public tips." While Patel was seemingly responding to Tucker's claim that the government originally said Crooks had virtually no online footprint, that's not the point. If all of what Patel says is true, why don't we know any of it? Why did it take an anonymous tip to Tucker Carlson to provide the public with Crooks' public shift from Trump supporter to Trump hater to failed assassin? The public has an interest in this and a right to know. In late September, Carlson's team received an anonymous tip from someone who said they had gained access to some of Crooks' online accounts, which he found using 'tools commonly used by private investigators' after obtaining Crooks' phone number and gmail address from public documents. He then traced that to two encrypted foreign email accounts (bcook[at]mailfence.com and americangamer[at]gmx.com). He also had a snapchat account, a Venmo, Zelle and PayPal account among several others. "It turns out that Crooks was hardly an online ghost," Carlson reports. "And yet, federal investigators lied and told us there was no trace of him online." The source was able to obtain all materials from Crooks' deactivated YouTube account - which includes his search history, watch history, and 737 public comments. When Carlson's team asked the FBI why they hadn't shared this information with the public, the agency replied by asking if they could verify the authenticity of the shooter's account. Who is Thomas Crooks?

Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) on X

Who is Thomas Crooks?

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson)

Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) on X

Who is Thomas Crooks?

As the

FBI Director Patel Says Trump Rally Shooter Thomas Crooks Acted Alone

Patel’s statement aligns with earlier FBI briefings, but also provides new details on the investigation’s depth.

notes further, in the July 13, 2024, attack in Butler, Pennsylvania, Crooks fired eight shots from a rooftop, grazing Trump’s ear, killing one attendee, and wounding two others before being fatally shot by Secret Service agents. Patel’s statement aligns with earlier FBI briefings, but also provides new details on the investigation’s depth. Little is

EpochTV

Video Explainer: What We Know About Thomas Matthew Crooks

20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks traveled an hour north of his home, climbed onto a warehouse roof, and tried to assassinate former President Dona...

said they were shocked to learn that he was behind the assassination attempt, describing him as quiet and unassuming. FBI officials previously revealed that Crooks searched more than 60 topics related to Trump and President Joe Biden in the month before the attack, especially as they related to rally details and explosive devices. His digital activity included encrypted overseas accounts,

News Brief: Trump Shooter Had Encrypted Accounts in Multiple Countries: Congressman; FDA Approves New COVID-19 Vaccines; Supreme Court Approves RNC Request

The man who tried to kill former President Donald Trump had encrypted accounts in several countries, the FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines...

suspicions of foreign involvement, but Patel’s social media post dismissed these concerns. The deceased victim, Corey Comperatore, died shielding his family from gunfire, while Marine veteran David Dutch, 54,

Marine Veteran Shot at Trump Rally Released From Hospital

The second victim remains hospitalized in a ’serious but stable condition,' according to the hospital, with what his family describe as life-alte...

after being shot in the chest and liver. Another man, James Copenhaver, sustained life-altering injuries. David Dutch, 54, was also injured. Patel’s post is the first major update on the case since he assumed leadership of the FBI, and some lawmakers and critics are demanding more information, including access to Crooks’s online posts. In the weeks after the assassination attempt, congressional hearings criticized Secret Service protocols, resulting in the resignation of its director. A bipartisan task force is currently investigating systemic failures. A watchdog group is

Secret Service, Homeland Security Sued Over Records Related to Trump Assassination Attempt

The group filing suit contends that the agencies are concealing information linked to the July 13 shooting in Pennsylvania.

by rallygoers and police.

After Tucker Carlson Exposé, FBI Director Patel Says Trump Rally Shooter Thomas Crooks Acted Alone | ZeroHedge

Sun, 11/16/2025 - 07:35

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New Heart-Kidney Syndrome Affects 90% Of Americans... And You've Probably Never Heard Of It New Heart-Kidney Syndrome Affects 90% Of Americans... And You've Probably Never Heard Of It

New Syndrome Affects 90 Percent of Americans—And You’ve Probably Never Heard of It

Experts warn that heart, kidney, and metabolic problems may be more connected–and widespread–than most people realize.

(emphasis ours), Nearly every American adult has a health condition that could lead to heart failure, yet nine out of 10 have never even heard of it. Now, the American Heart Association (AHA) is sounding the alarm on cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, a newly defined cluster of interconnected diseases that doctors have been treating separately for decades.

The condition encompasses a cluster of interconnected conditions—including heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity—that often occur together, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. It was first defined in a 2023 AHA Presidential Advisory. Despite affecting roughly 90 percent of U.S. adults, few people have heard of it, according to a recent

American Heart Association

About 9 in 10 haven’t heard of condition that affects nearly 90% of U.S. adults

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT / 5 a.m. ET Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 DALLAS, Oct. 20, 2025 – About 9 in 10 U.S. adults have not heard of cardiovascular-ki...

. In early 2026, the AHA will release its first-ever clinical guidelines on the syndrome to help health care providers better identify and treat this widespread condition. Study Reveals Widespread Prevalence of CKM Syndrome in U.S. Adults “It’s really common to have risk factors for heart, kidney, and metabolic disease [like diabetes] at the same time, and they’re interconnected,” Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, national volunteer president of the American Heart Association, told The Epoch Times. The problem, Rosen noted, is that care for people with multiple conditions is often fractured, with various specialists and primary care clinicians working in silos. Through the AHA’s CKM Health Initiative, the association aims to help doctors work together and treat cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic risk factors together, because that’s how patients experience them, she said. The Numbers Behind the Problem A comprehensive https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2818457 of U.S. adults based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2011 to 2020 showed that nearly 90 percent of adults had signs indicating early stages of CKM syndrome. They carried risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, or problems controlling blood sugar. About 15 percent of adults were classified as having advanced stages, which include having blood vessel damage or kidney disease. Older adults—particularly those aged 65 and older—were most affected, with more than 55 percent classified as having advanced stages. The study found that the prevalence of CKM syndrome remained steady over the decade, with no significant improvements in reducing the overall burden of disease. Even younger adults aged 20 to 44 showed notable risk, especially among black adults and men, who were more likely to be in higher stages of CKM syndrome. The condition stems from overweight and obesity in its initial stage and progresses to multiple risk factors and advanced disease, warranting early recognition, Dr. Eugenia Gianos, director of cardiovascular prevention at Northwell Health and director of women’s heart health at Lenox Hill Hospital, told The Epoch Times. How Heart, Kidney, and Metabolic Systems Are Connected CKM health involves three critical systems: the heart, kidneys, and metabolic system. The heart pumps blood to supply oxygen and nutrients; the kidneys filter waste, regulate fluids, and help control blood pressure; and the metabolic system turns food into energy and manages blood glucose levels. When one system functions poorly, it can create a domino effect, worsening the others. For example, reduced heart function can lower blood flow to the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter waste and regulate blood pressure. Conversely, kidney dysfunction can lead to high blood pressure and fluid overload, which increases strain on the heart. Additionally, metabolic issues such as high blood sugar and excess weight contribute to inflammation and damage across these systems. This interconnected cycle can escalate silently, often without obvious symptoms, until significant damage occurs. Current guidelines emphasize cardiovascular screening beginning at age 40. “Yet the early drift in blood pressure, glucose, and lipids often begins much earlier, especially among young adults with sedentary lifestyles,” Akshaya Bhagavathula, associate professor of epidemiology at North Dakota State University, told The Epoch Times. While metabolic syndrome has gained attention as a warning stage, he noted, chronic kidney disease can go unnoticed. “Nearly nine in 10 adults with kidney impairment are unaware of it until significant damage has occurred,” Bhagavathula said. The CKM model encourages integrating prevention, screening, and treatment of the metabolic, renal, and cardiovascular systems together, rather than waiting for the disease to declare itself. Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore Many people expect heart disease to appear with dramatic chest pain, but early warning signs are far subtler, Bhagavathula said. Less obvious symptoms include unusual fatigue or weakness that isn’t proportional to activity level and mood changes—such as depression or brain fog—which might also be early indicators. Other symptoms that may indicate trouble include swelling in uncommon areas such as the abdomen or the back of the ankles, which may be caused by fluid retention related to heart or kidney issues. Something else to watch for is changes in urination patterns, including foamy urine indicating protein loss, dark urine, or decreased urine output, which can be signs of kidney problems. Toxin buildup from impaired kidney function may cause a metallic taste or bad breath, and difficulty sleeping can stem from fluid overload or breathing difficulties. Elevated blood pressure that develops gradually without noticeable symptoms is another warning sign. “Women may present with jaw pain, nausea, or extreme tiredness rather than classic pressure pain,” he added. “Even small rises in resting heart rate, post-meal glucose, or inflammatory markers predict future cardiac events years in advance,” Bhagavathula said. “These patterns reflect the systemic nature of CKM syndrome; the heart rarely fails in isolation.” How to Improve Heart and Kidney Health Most people with CKM syndrome can reverse or slow down the disease process with lifestyle changes and appropriate medications to reduce their risk for heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, Rosen said. These lifestyle changes include: Adopt a Heart-Healthy Diet: Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while limiting salt intake to help control blood pressure. Stay Physically Active: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly to significantly improve overall health. Monitor Health Regularly: Track blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, weight, and kidney function through routine checkups to catch potential issues early. Avoid Tobacco and Limit Alcohol: Both habits significantly increase risk across all three systems. Manage Stress Effectively: Use mindfulness or relaxation techniques and ensure adequate sleep. Follow Medical Advice: Take prescribed medications and attend routine checkups. People should also be cautious with over-the-counter medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can harm kidney health if used excessively. The AHA offers educational resources and tools through its CKM Health Initiative website to help people understand these connections and take early action to prevent serious complications such as heart attacks or strokes.