Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, and Debt:
El Salvador’s Secret Weapon? Its Extensive Bitcoin Education Program, Says Stacy Herbert
A positive feedback loop is being created between El Salvador’s bitcoin education programs and crypto companies looking for a friendly jurisdiction.
TikTok Starts Going Dark in the U.S.
Hours before a federal law banning TikTok from the United States was set to take effect, the social media app went dark, and U.S. users could no longer access videos on the platform. Instead, the app greeted them with a message that said ‘a law banning TikTok has been enacted.’
From the message: “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work us on a solution. Please stay tuned!”
Vitalik Buterin announces leadership changes for Ethereum Foundation
Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:
RFK Jr. Sought to Stop Covid Vaccinations
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the nation’s health agencies, formally asked the Food and Drug Administration to revoke the authorization of all Covid vaccines during a deadly phase of the pandemic when thousands of Americans were still dying every week.
Mr. Kennedy filed a petition with the F.D.A. in May 2021 demanding that officials rescind authorization for the shots and refrain from approving any Covid vaccine in the future.
Politics:
In the past few years, school vouchers have become universal in a dozen states… and, with Donald Trump returning to the White House, they will likely have federal support.
~~~ embed:1880281829674242411 twitter metadata:QnJlbmRhbl9EdWtlfHxodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL0JyZW5kYW5fRHVrZS9zdGF0dXMvMTg4MDI4MTgyOTY3NDI0MjQxMXw= ~~~
Biden Is Expected to Issue More Pardons
President Joe Biden is expected to make further use of his clemency power before leaving office next week, potentially extending pre-emptive pardons to individuals who could be targeted for retribution by President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
The timing for the clemency actions, should Biden decide to grant them, is likely to be during his final hours in office — on Sunday or before noon on Monday.
First Hostages Return as Gaza Cease-Fire Takes Hold
Three hostages were released from Gaza on Sunday and returned to Israel, the Israeli military said, as a long-awaited cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect.
The truce prompted celebrations in Gaza, relief for families of Israeli captives and hope for an end to a devastating 15-month war.
~~~ embed:1880303063258530018 twitter metadata:QXJ0Q2FuZGVlfHxodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL0FydENhbmRlZS9zdGF0dXMvMTg4MDMwMzA2MzI1ODUzMDAxOHw= ~~~
~~~ embed:1880489776454988058 twitter metadata:c2hpbGxtYW4xfHxodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL3NoaWxsbWFuMS9zdGF0dXMvMTg4MDQ4OTc3NjQ1NDk4ODA1OHw= ~~~
Trump's MAGA agenda is already stalled in Congress
Trump’s Promise to Pardon J6ers Comes With Serious Complications — And Danger
U.S. Starts Maneuvers to Avoid Breaching Debt Limit, Putting Pressure on Congress
Annual deficits will stay above 5% of GDP for the next decade, remaining at levels the U.S. normally doesn’t reach outside of wars, recessions and crises. The government’s cost to service that debt will continue to climb. Net interest expense, which already exceeds defense spending, will top $1 trillion in 2026. And by 2027, the government’s interest costs will be a larger share of the economy than at any point since at least 1940.
In reality, the fiscal picture may be even bleaker than the CBO forecast suggests. The official estimates assume that Congress enacts no new laws. That means the forecast for the next decade includes trillions of dollars in tax revenue that come from the expiration of the bulk of 2017 tax cuts at the end of 2025.
A Canadian Trade War Would Target Red States
Canadian officials are preparing a three-stage plan of retaliatory tariffs and other trade restrictions against the United States … Initial tariffs would mostly affect consumer goods worth 37 billion Canadian dollars ($25.6 billion)…
Canadian officials said their choice of goods was meant to be precisely targeted and aimed at political impact. They specifically want to focus on goods made in Republican or swing states, where the pain of tariffs, like pressure on jobs and the bottom lines of local businesses, would affect Trump allies.
U.S. Reveals Once-Secret Support for Ukraine Drones
U.S. officials said on Thursday that they had made big investments that helped Ukraine start and expand its production of drones as it battled Russia’s larger and better-equipped army.
Much of the U.S. assistance to the Ukrainian military, including billions of dollars in missiles, air defense systems, tanks, artillery and training, has been announced to the public. But other support has largely gone on in the shadows. That included helping Ukraine develop a new generation of drones and revolutionize how wars are fought.
~~~ embed:1880302573304836579 twitter metadata:c2FpbnRqYXZlbGlufHxodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL3NhaW50amF2ZWxpbi9zdGF0dXMvMTg4MDMwMjU3MzMwNDgzNjU3OXw= ~~~
Bill Gates Becomes the Latest Billionaire to Bow Down to Trump
GOP flirts with magical thinking on paying for Trump's tax cuts
GOP tax writers are gathering support for creative ways to make the price tag $0 for extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
The procedural and budgetary gambit will free Republicans from the burden of finding the $4 trillion in spending cuts. But deficit hawks, including member of the House Freedom Caucus, haven’t completely signed off on the novel approach.
Trump’s Biggest Political Liability Is Hiding in Plain Sight
The L.A. fires are fueling a sinister bipartisan narrative that’s impossible to ignore.
Serendipity:
~~~ embed:1880064628862120349 twitter metadata:TXVzZVphY2t8fGh0dHBzOi8vdHdpdHRlci5jb20vTXVzZVphY2svc3RhdHVzLzE4ODAwNjQ2Mjg4NjIxMjAzNDl8 ~~~
~~~ embed:1880278666544050656 twitter metadata:c2VzYW1lc3RyZWV0fHxodHRwczovL3R3aXR0ZXIuY29tL3Nlc2FtZXN0cmVldC9zdGF0dXMvMTg4MDI3ODY2NjU0NDA1MDY1Nnw= ~~~
Climate misinformation is rife on social media – and poised to get worse
Want a free Hive account? Join Hive using my referral link.
Congratulations @preparedwombat! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOP