Individual Economists

Will This Atlantic Hit Piece Be The Final Straw?

Zero Hedge -

Will This Atlantic Hit Piece Be The Final Straw?

Authored by Matt Margolis via PJMedia.com,

The Atlantic has a well-documented history of publishing fake hit pieces about President Donald Trump and his administration, and one wonders how many more hoaxes they can run before they get in real trouble.

Its latest effort targeting FBI Director Kash Patel may be its most reckless yet — and this time, the bureau is fighting back with lawyers.

The piece, written by reporters Sarah Fitzpatrick and Jonathan Lemire, claims that on Friday, April 10, Patel struggled to log into an internal FBI computer system while wrapping up his workday.

He quickly became convinced that he had been locked out, and he panicked, frantically calling aides and allies to announce that he had been fired by the White House, according to nine people familiar with his outreach. Two of these people described his behavior as a “freak-out.”

Patel oversees an agency that employs roughly 38,000 people, including many who are trained to investigate and verify information that can be presented under oath in a court of law. News of his emotional outburst ricocheted through the bureau, prompting chatter among officials and, in some corners of the building, expressions of relief. The White House fielded calls from the bureau and from members of Congress asking who was now in charge of the FBI.

It turned out that the answer was still Patel. He had not been fired. The access problem, two people familiar with the matter said, appears to have been a technical error, and it was quickly resolved.

The piece didn't stop there. It also alleged Patel has been plagued by "bouts of excessive drinking," claiming members of his security detail had trouble waking him on multiple occasions because he was seemingly intoxicated. It further alleged that breaching equipment — the kind used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams — was requested last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors.

The FBI denied every word of it before the article ever went live. Attorney Jesse Binnall sent a formal letter to The Atlantic and Fitzpatrick ahead of publication, putting them on notice that the claims were "categorically false and defamatory."

The bureau's response was even more direct: "Print it, all false, I'll see you in court — bring your checkbook."

They printed it anyway.

Late Friday night, Patel fired back on X.

It's worth noting that The Atlantic was apparently the only outlet willing to run this story. Other D.C. reporters chased the same tips and couldn't verify them. They passed. The Atlantic published it. And now they're going to be sued.

This is what The Atlantic does. They publish outlandish and bogus stories that no other outlet will touch, which accomplishes the goal of giving Democrats and their supporters reason to insist the stories are true. The outlet’s hoax piece alleging Trump didn’t want to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018 because the troops there who died in battle were “losers” and “suckers” was disputed by over a dozen witnesses. Yet, the left still insists it happened—even after Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, admitted it could have been wrong.

Sarah Fitzpatrick herself has a history of publishing bogus hit pieces lacking sources and corroboration.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche both publicly defended Patel. Blanche praised Patel, noting he "has accomplished more in 14 months than the previous administration did in four years." FBI spokesperson Erica Knight added that since being sworn in, Patel has taken just 17 days off — roughly half the time taken by former directors James Comey and Christopher Wray over comparable stretches.

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 16:20

Catching Print? New Feminist Trend Proves They Have Smooth Brains

Zero Hedge -

Catching Print? New Feminist Trend Proves They Have Smooth Brains

For decades insecure women have used feminism as a vehicle to crusade against "body shaming" and male objectification - Which is essentially a war on men who dare to have beauty preferences. 

Nearly every feminist movement has roots in female physical insecurity, from the "fat positivity" movement, to the "slut walk" protests, to diversity requirements that are eliminating attractive women from popular media, to the "inversion" movement in which average women deliberately make themselves uglier "in rebellion" against the men who were never interested in them in the first place. 

It's no secret that female insecurity rules almost everything women do politically.  One could say that feminism is essentially the weaponization of female insecurity as a means to gain power over society.

The latest trend to spew from the bowels of feminist activism is called "Catching Print" - Activists claim men are objectifying and shaming women, so women should objectify and shame men...by staring at and rating men's junk.  The problem is, these people don't seem to understand that the vast majority of men simply don't care.

    

The trend is, of course, going viral on cesspool sites like TikTok, and it is being popularized by leftist media sites like Cosmopolitan.  But, it does offer a perfect opportunity to peer into the mentality of the lowest common denominator and understand why marginalizing them is necessary.   

The idea that men are worried about what grotesque feminists think of them is a desperate fantasy.  However, these dumpy ladies have that problem covered; they simply pretend as if men are up in arms about the trend and scrambling to hide the bulge in their pants from prying eyes.  As always, feminists build a strawman on social media and then tear him down.  It's sad, but this makes them feel powerful.  

Men sit with their legs spread for a reason - They're never worried about who is looking.  If anything it would appear that activist women are jealous of modern men's ability to remain indifferent to women's judgements.  And, to be clear, the idea of women trying to shame men into conformity is not new. 

Narcissistic females have been using shaming as a manipulation tactic since the dawn of time.  Almost every man in the world has been accused of having a "small unit" by a woman who was trying to distract from the fact that she is wrong.  Women invented body shaming, mostly to undermine other women out of jealousy.  Men's brains do not operate in the same manner. 

What feminists call "body shaming" is often nothing more than men have standards and preferences in who they date.  In the liberal west, women are applauded and rewarded for having extreme and often absurd preferences (6 feet, 6 figure income, 6 pack abs).  Men are demonized merely for not dating fat chicks.

As for the idea of creepy men staring at women, all men know that this is subject to circumstance.  If she finds the man attractive, it's not creepy for him to leer.  If she doesn't find the man attractive, well, she should probably get over it or avoid going out in public.  We have seen endless examples of what feminists consider "creepy", which includes men doing nothing more than glancing in their general direction. 

It's time for the ladies to understand and accept the fact that they don't get to dictate who looks at them in public.  By extension, men really don't care if women stare at them or the bulge in their pants.      

A key element of the feminist agenda requires women to pretend as if they are constant victims, crying about oppression that simply doesn't exist.  They then mobilize their smooth-brained movements to attack men for this fake oppression and "flip it".  In other words, feminists falsely claim bad behavior by men as an excuse to justify their own bad behavior.  It's a classic Marxist maneuver. 

However, this old tactic is not working anymore.  The methodologies of feminists have been exposed in recent years and men are wise to the game.  Female shaming techniques hold no power and men are shrugging off the attacks.  Today, men are more likely to whip out their "print" and slap a feminist in the face with it than actually care about her opinion.    

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 15:45

"No More Mr. Nice Guy": US Strikes, Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship Trying To Break Blockade

Zero Hedge -

"No More Mr. Nice Guy": US Strikes, Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship Trying To Break Blockade Summary

  • Trump renews threats if no deal is reached: "No More Mr. Nice Guy"

  • Trump says U.S. struck and seized Iranian-flagged cargo ship in Gulf of Oman

  • Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt after multiple incidents (Iran renewed threats to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait)

  • Vance to lead negotiations with Iran, along with Witkoff and Kushner, on Tuesday or Wednesday

  • "We are still far from the final discussion,"  said speaker of the Iranian parliament Ghalibaf

US Struck and Seized Iranian-flagged Cargo Ship on Gulf Of Oman

With markets still closed for now, President Trump just posted on his Truth Social platform that the US military just struck and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman.

Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them.

The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop.

The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.

Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel.

The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity.

We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!

According to CENTCOM, American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it was in violation of the U.S. blockade.

After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room.

Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room.

U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.

American forces acted in a deliberate, professional, and proportional manner to ensure compliance.

Since the blockade’s commencement, U.S. forces have directed 25 commercial vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port.

Now we wait and see the reaction as futures open and the vocal (and kinetic) action is wound back in.

Record highs in stocks provides just the kind of backdrop for Trump to press his 'escalated to de-escalate' strategy into the end of the ceasefire.

Tanker Traffic Through Strait Halted

By Sunday morning, the latest Bloomberg ship tracking data showed that tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had largely ground to a halt.

There were multiple incidents of tankers U-turning over the last 24 hours.

At the same time, a senior Iranian official renewed threats to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The Hormuz chokepoint (closed once again after briefly opening on Friday morning) comes as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place and US-Iran diplomatic channels appear active..

The odds of shipping traffic returning to normal on the Hormuz by the end of the month are currently around 28% on Polymarket. Those odds just hours ago, early Sunday, stood around 18%.

//--> //--> Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by end of April?
Yes 28% · No 72%
View full market & trade on Polymarket Vance to Lead Negotiations with Iran

President Trump told Fox News that special envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Pakistan for talks with Iranian negotiators, suggesting the Trump team and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are still pursuing a negotiated off-ramp.

Separately, Trump wrote on Truth Social that his representatives "will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations."

The meetings in Islamabad will be "Tuesday possibly into Wednesday," Trump told Fox News in a call Sunday morning, the outlet reported.

Yet Iranian state media reported Sunday that Tehran had "rejected" the second round of talks.

Iran's "absence" from the talks, the report said, was a result of "Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire."

Confirmation of another round of upcoming US-Iran talks comes one day after Iran shuttered the Hormuz, citing the US Naval blockade that remains in place.

Overnight, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, admitted on national television that there had been "progress" with Washington, but that there were many gaps and some fundamental points remained.

"We are still far from the final discussion," said Ghalibaf, one of Tehran's top negotiators.

Ghalibaf continued, "If America does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be limited."

Trump has accused Tehran of getting "a little cute" with its flip-flopping on the strait that was reopened on Friday but abruptly closed on Saturday morning.

The ceasefire is set to expire Wednesday.

Trump Renews Threats: "No More Mr. Nice Guy"

Trump also renewed threats made earlier this month to "knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran" if no deal is reached, warning that "they'll come down fast, they'll come down easy."

Trump's full Truth Social post from earlier:

Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn't nice, was it?

My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations. Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it.

They're helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be "the tough guy!"

We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran.

NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT'S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Latest headlines:

Strait of Hormuz Crisis

  • Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz was at a near standstill early Sunday after Iran reversed its decision to reopen the waterway and fired on vessels attempting to pass (BN)

  • Several LNG tankers reversed course en route to the Strait of Hormuz after Iran warned ship captains that the vital channel is once again closed to maritime traffic (BN)

  • Two Indian vessels reported firing and returned to the Persian Gulf (BN)

  • Iran's foreign ministry says US naval blockade is a 'violation' of ceasefire (AFP)

US-Iran Negotiations

  • Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Pakistan for talks with Iran on Tuesday, with talks potentially lasting into Wednesday (BN)

  • Trump says US negotiators will be in Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran, resuming negotiations after the Strait of Hormuz standoff escalated (APW) (APW)

  • Iran says 'commitment for commitment' policy in US talks (NS8)

Trump's Threats and Statements

  • Trump renewed threats to 'knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran' if no deal is reached (BN) (AFP)

  • Trump said Iran has committed a 'serious violation' of the ceasefire but a peace deal is still possible, stating 'It will happen. One way or another. The nice way or the hard way' (BN) (JPT)

  • Trump tells Fox US has massive ammunition prepared against Iran (BN)

Regional Impact

  • The standoff threatens to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and undermine expectations of an imminent peace deal (BN)

  • Analysis suggests America's Iran operations may help China edge out US influence in Southeast Asia, with several NATO allies distancing themselves from Washington (SMP)

The previous day's US-Iran wrap:

Other Polymarket Iran Predictions:

//--> //--> US x Iran permanent peace deal by May 31, 2026?
Yes 63% · No 38%
View full market & trade on Polymarket //--> //--> Kharg Island no longer under Iranian control by May 31?
Yes 13% · No 88%
View full market & trade on Polymarket

. . . 

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 15:45

Trump's Cryptic "The End Is Near" Post Sends Internet Into A Frenzy

Zero Hedge -

Trump's Cryptic "The End Is Near" Post Sends Internet Into A Frenzy

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

In a development that quickly fueled online speculation, President Trump posted a video of Frank Sinatra performing his signature hit “My Way” on social media with no accompanying text or explanation. The move came just hours after he convened a high-level meeting in the White House Situation Room to discuss the ongoing standoff with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.

The post featured the classic track whose lyrics speak of independence and resolve. While Trump has long used the song at rallies, inaugurals, and even as Air Force One departed at the end of his first term, its sudden appearance amid rising tensions drew immediate attention.

This latest social media activity follows fresh statements from Trump on Truth Social addressing direct accusations of Iranian ceasefire violations. In the post, shared widely on X by accounts including RedWave Press, Trump laid out his position clearly:

“Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations. Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing.”

He added, “In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be ‘the tough guy!’ We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!”

After a U.S.-brokered 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect, Iran initially announced the Strait of Hormuz was open to commercial vessels for the truce period. Oil prices dropped on the news. But the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) quickly reversed course, citing the continued U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and ships. Iranian officials, including Parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, warned that without concessions the strait would remain closed.

Trump has maintained that the American blockade will stay in place until Tehran reaches a broader agreement that includes commitments on its nuclear program. He has described conversations with Iranian counterparts as productive but stressed that the U.S. position will not shift without concrete steps from the other side. No new direct talks are currently scheduled.

Saturday’s Situation Room session included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to Axios reporting, the focus was on assessing ceasefire compliance and preparing for possible next steps in negotiations. No immediate policy changes were announced afterward.

This episode echoes dynamics we previously covered, when major outlets claimed Trump was preparing to “nuke” Iran ahead of a deadline tied to the same Strait of Hormuz standoff. The White House pushed back firmly at the time, clarifying that any potential action would be conventional strikes on infrastructure rather than nuclear weapons. Media speculation ran hot then, much as it has with today’s cryptic post.

As of this writing, U.S. representatives are set to arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, tomorrow evening for indirect negotiations. Iran has not publicly responded to the latest Trump statement, and shipping interests continue to watch developments closely given the strait’s critical role in global energy flows.

The situation remains fluid, with both sides signaling openness to a deal while holding firm on core demands. Whether the current pressure and diplomatic track yield results or further escalation will depend on the coming days of talks.

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 Sun, 04/19/2026 - 15:10

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Finally Joins Reusable Rocket Club - But Suffers Craft Issues In Space

Zero Hedge -

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Finally Joins Reusable Rocket Club - But Suffers Craft Issues In Space

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket reached space on its third flight and successfully landed its booster for the first time, but ultimately failed to place an AST SpaceMobile satellite into low Earth orbit. The booster landed on a large barge in the Atlantic Ocean, while the satellite separated and powered on but ended up in what Jeff Bezos' rocket company described as an "off-nominal orbit."

The New Glenn rocket, carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite, blasted off from the launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, at about 7:25 a.m. local time. Its reusable first stage returned to Earth ten minutes later, touching down on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.

"BOOSTER TOUCHDOWN! 'Never Tell Me The Odds' has done it again!" Blue Origin wrote on X, with Bezos posting footage of the now-reusable rocket touching down on the barge.

However, the mission yielded mixed results for the Blue Origin team, which is already behind schedule with New Glenn and is trying to establish itself as a credible competitor to Elon Musk's booming SpaceX.

"We have confirmed payload separation. AST SpaceMobile has confirmed the satellite has powered on. The payload was placed into an off-nominal orbit," Blue Origin wrote in a follow-up X post after the booster touched down.

In other words, "off-nominal orbit" suggests that the BlueBird 7 satellite is not at the correct altitude, speed, or trajectory it was supposed to be, and what that means for the satellite's future remains highly uncertain.

AST SpaceMobile has partnered with several mobile network operators, the largest being AT&T, and has also worked with Verizon on direct-to-cell satellite connectivity.

Today's launch is the first of the year for AST SpaceMobile, which started 2026 with only seven satellites in orbit. The company aims to have 60 satellites in orbit by year's end.

Congratulations to Bezos on his first reusable first-stage rocket returning successfully to Earth, but for context, SpaceX has been doing this for years. Falcon 9 first-stage boosters have landed successfully in 598 of 611 attempts, with 573 of 579 for the Falcon 9 Block 5 version. A total of 565 reflights of first-stage boosters have all successfully launched their second stages and, all but one, their payloads.

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 14:35

Here's Why Trump's Hormuz Blockade Should Stoke 'Strait Chaos' For China

Zero Hedge -

Here's Why Trump's Hormuz Blockade Should Stoke 'Strait Chaos' For China

The currently closed Strait of Hormuz, situated between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and has emerged as a major flashpoint in the US-Iran war. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, off Yemen's coast, has also remained a focal point among critical maritime chokepoints, given ongoing threats from Iran-linked Houthi rebels.

While both critical chokepoints have been in sharp focus in the news cycle and among US officials, institutional research desks, intelligence analysts, observers, the OSINT community on X, and even everyday viewers watching Fox News or CNN, there is also another set of regional and transregional straits that warrant additional monitoring given their importance to global energy flows and commercial shipping.

Shifting from the Hormuz chokepoint, the latest data from Bloomberg, citing AIS ship-tracking data, shows that tankers bound for China transiting from the Gulf area through the Strait of Malacca is yet another maritime chokepoint, especially for energy and trade flows into Asia. 

The Strait of Malacca, at its narrowest point, is only 1.7 miles wide, creating a natural bottleneck. Most of the tankers transiting the tiny but very critical strait are hauling crude and LNG bound not just for China, but also for Japan, South Korea, and other countries in the region. This strait is a key link between Hormuz and China's coastal refineries.

The list of narrow maritime chokepoints through which energy products flow on tankers should be very concerning to Beijing, given the US blockade of Hormuz and its potential to serve as a pressure campaign against China ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting.

Strait of Hormuz

This is the most important upstream chokepoint for China's Gulf oil imports. A large share of Chinese crude from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar must exit through Hormuz first.

Strait of Malacca

This is China's main downstream maritime bottleneck. Even after oil clears Hormuz, much of it still has to pass through Malacca on the way to East Asia. This is the classic "Malacca dilemma."

Singapore Strait

Operationally linked to Malacca. Disruption here would compound any pressure on vessels transiting between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

Lombok and Makassar Straits

These are major alternative routes if Malacca becomes constrained. Pressure here would matter because Chinese shipping would likely try to reroute through Indonesia.

Sunda Strait

Less ideal than Lombok, but still a secondary bypass route. It matters mainly in a broader interdiction or diversion scenario.

Bab el-Mandeb

This would affect Chinese crude and product flows tied to the Red Sea/Suez route, including some cargoes from North Africa or Atlantic Basin-linked trade. It is less central than Hormuz or Malacca for Gulf oil, but still important.

Our assessment here is that China's crude import routes are highly vulnerable at Hormuz and Malacca, and the US can certainly throw a wrench in that system and disrupt those flows, as Hormuz has proven.

Zoltan Pozsar of advisory firm Ex Uno Plures explained it best: the Trump administration is "methodically building a portfolio of assets" to pressure China, centered on strategic energy supply nodes and maritime chokepoints that have historically supported Beijing's cheap crude imports.

The obvious question is what happens if China doesn't play ball with the US ahead of Trump's upcoming Xi meeting. Beijing can clearly see the emerging pattern in which the Trump administration is willing to use US naval power, maritime chokepoints, and even the threat of blockade to generate leverage. That's why the other straits noted above should serve as a warning to the Chinese leadership.

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 13:25

Drake Equation Dashboard (AI)

The Big Picture -


click for full interactive Drake Dashboard

 

 

On a road trip with a buddy who is also a Deep-Sky automated Photography hobbyist (check out Seestar, DwarfLab, and Odyssey Pro), we discussed the Drake Equation (him) and the Rare Earth Hypothesis (me).

We went deep.

Frank Drake said he created his eponymous equation as a “conversation starter.” 1

I wanted to noodle with the ideas behind his thesis, so I asked Perplexity to create an interactive dashboard of all 7 variables.

The results were really impressive.

It’s exactly the sort of project AI is perfect for: a well-understood formula, a simple way to display it, and a set of code that would be time-consuming and annoying to hack together on your own.

Click through and play around with the sliders. Depending on your assumptions, we either live in a galaxy filled with millions of other advanced civilizations or are all alone.

Fun stuff!

 

 

 

______

1. I have been thinking about writing an explanation as to why the Drake Equation is so deeply flawed, but that will have to wait for another day…

 

The post Drake Equation Dashboard (AI) appeared first on The Big Picture.

Warrantless Surveillance Fight Again Ignites Massie vs. Trump Showdown

Zero Hedge -

Warrantless Surveillance Fight Again Ignites Massie vs. Trump Showdown

Via The Libertarian Institute

President Donald Trump said Congress must extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) even if it means giving up “rights and privileges.” Section 702 allows for the collection of Americans’ data without a warrant. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged House Republicans to reject any amendments to the legislation that would extend Section 702. “I am asking Republicans to UNIFY, and vote together on the test vote to bring a clean Bill to the floor,” he wrote. “We need to stick together when this Bill comes before the House Rules Committee today to keep it CLEAN!”

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie attempted to introduce three amendments to the legislation that would have required law enforcement to obtain a warrant before collecting Americans’ data. His amendments were rejected. 

Trump argued that he and Americans should be willing to sacrifice their 4th Amendment right to privacy in exchange for security.

"While parts of FISA were illegally and unfortunately used against me in the Democrats’ disgraceful Witch Hunt and Attack in the RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA Hoax, and perhaps would be used against me in the future, I am willing to risk the giving up of my Rights and Privileges as a Citizen for our Great Military and Country!" He added, "Our Military Patriots desperately need FISA 702, and it is one of the reasons we have had such tremendous SUCCESS on the battlefield."

Congress last voted to extend Section 702 in 2024. If Congress does not pass a new extension, the government’s Section 702 powers will expire on Monday. The House is currently considering an 18-month extension. 

During the debate in 2024, Trump, who was then a Republican Presidential candidate, demanded Congress terminate FISA. “KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!” Trump wrote. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson is seeking to fulfill Trump’s demand to extend Section 702 before the deadline.

However, he is struggling to pressure enough Republicans to vote for the legislation without amendments. Capitol Hill sources told Politico that a vote is unlikely to happen this week as Johnson does not believe enough Republicans will vote for the bill.

* * *

Massie, a Trump defying Republican and Libertarian-leaning firebrand, is up for reelection in the House...

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 11:40

Uranium Supply Crunch Worsens Amid Kazakhstan’s Plan For Strategic Reserve

Zero Hedge -

Uranium Supply Crunch Worsens Amid Kazakhstan’s Plan For Strategic Reserve

Drawing further attention to the global uranium supply-demand mismatch that we've been pounding the table on since 2020, Kazakhstan has outlined plans to accelerate exploration and create a strategic reserve for the nuclear fuel. 

We've repeatedly emphasized that the US is not moving fast enough if it hopes to secure fuel for its reactor fleet…

The strategy, approved by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, calls for geological work on at least two new prospective deposits each year. The goal is to uncover high-potential resources while advancing development on already explored sites to refine estimates, extraction methods, and launch preparations.

Kazakhstan, the world’s top uranium producer with roughly one million tonnes of confirmed resources (14 percent of the global total as of early 2025), operates 14 extraction enterprises across multiple regions. 12 are joint ventures with partners from China, Russia, France, Canada, and Japan.

Kazakhstan stands alongside Australia and Canada as the main source of uranium ore imports to the US...

The document emphasizes guaranteeing long-term domestic supply for future nuclear power plants, strengthening export positions, and ensuring reliable sulfuric acid deliveries for in-situ leaching. It also envisions new alternative extraction technologies and full loading of future conversion, enrichment, and fabrication facilities with domestically sourced uranium.

As we highlighted in “Why The Price Of Uranium Is About To Soar,” a widening cumulative net deficit of 211 million pounds between 2025 and 2045, driven by reactor builds in China, Russia, and the United States, is already pushing long-term prices higher. Spot uranium recently traded near $86 per pound, with Goldman Sachs models pointing to roughly $91 by year-end 2026.

We also covered earlier this year on how hyperscalers such as Microsoft are actively exploring uranium-backed projects to secure zero-carbon electricity. With data center capex nearing $1 trillion over the last six years, data center developers have decided now is the time to check for fuel.

More countries are likely to announce strategic uranium reserves as the supply outlook for the industry becomes more bleak by the week...

China is adding reactors at breakneck speed and India is now looking to catch up, but the US is still grossly behind the rest of the world when it comes to construction of large-scale grid-supporting reactor plants…

With the US still nearly completely reliant on the import of raw uranium ore, domestic producers such as Energy Fuels and Uranium Energy Corp stand to be called upon and supported by federal and state governments to reduce what could be framed as a national energy security threat. 

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 11:05

U.S. Navy Deploys Sea Robots To Sweep Hormuz Chokepoint For Mines

Zero Hedge -

U.S. Navy Deploys Sea Robots To Sweep Hormuz Chokepoint For Mines

The US military is deploying unmanned and autonomous surface platforms that can tow an advanced mine-hunting sonar system to detect sea mines that were deployed by Iranian naval forces. This development comes even as Iran closed the Hormuz chokepoint on Saturday morning.

By Sunday morning, Iran's chief negotiator said some progress had been made in negotiations with the US, but there is still a long way to go before a deal is reached.

Despite the volatility in the Hormuz chokepoint's operational status, somewhat like Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold," the US military deployed numerous sea drones towing the floating sonar minesweeping system. 

WSJ explained: 

The Common Uncrewed Surface Vessel, a drone made by RTX that tows a new floating sonar system called the AQS-20, scans the bottom of the sea for mines, patrolling columns that are 100 feet wide at a time.

Battery-powered submarine drones, called the MK18 Mod 2 Kingfish and the Knifefish, made by General Dynamics can be dropped in the water from a small boat and then scan for mines in a pattern.

MK18 Mod 2 Kingfish

Knifefish

"You're less concerned about attrition, so sending them through the minefield is much more palatable, and if you lose some, they can be replaced," said Scott Savitz, a senior engineer at Rand who previously worked with the Navy's mine warfare command and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

The minesweeping push by the US Navy is unfolding alongside the US blockade at Hormuz, which the Trump administration hopes will pressure Tehran in talks.

On Saturday, Iran shut the waterway, and two Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker near Oman, while a second tanker was hit by a "projectile."

Clearing the backlog of tankers trapped in the Gulf could take weeks or months, and restarting energy assets in the region will also take time. There is also a loss of sizeable energy production capacity in the Gulf area, such as LNG production in Qatar, which could take several years to return to prewar levels. We've noted that the beneficiary of this loss production will be US energy exporters in the Gulf of America.

Autonomous minesweeping operations in Hormuz by the US Navy are part of a broader push toward automation and AI on the modern battlefield, as low-cost unmanned systems rise and future wars are expected to be fought with robots.

Related:

And this:

Can't stop the 'Rise of Skynet'....

The core issue is that the hyperdevelopment of low-cost autonomous warfare systems in Ukraine, Russia, China, and elsewhere has effectively pulled 2030s-era warfare into the present. Washington is already preparing for that threat on the Homeland (read here).

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 08:45

Turkey Could Be 'Next Iran' For Israel: US Envoy Scrambles To Calm Tensions

Zero Hedge -

Turkey Could Be 'Next Iran' For Israel: US Envoy Scrambles To Calm Tensions

Via Middle East Eye

US Envoy Tom Barrack has downplayed escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel as just "rhetoric" and pushed for regional cooperation between the two countries in security and energy projects.

Speaking during a panel at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Barrack pushed back against comments from some officials in both countries that suggested they could come into conflict in the near future. "I think Turkey is just not a country to be messed with," Barrack said.

​​​​​Handout: Antalya Diplomacy Forum via AFP

Barrack said that both countries were seeing a distorted image of each other as a result of sensationalized media coverage that painted both as expansionist.

"So if you wake up in Tel Aviv, you read the newspaper, what do you see? You see the diagram on the paper of The Ottoman Empire 2.0, which is Vienna to the Maldives, right," he said.

"You wake up in Istanbul and read the paper and it's Greater Israel."

Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to recognize the state of Israel in 1949, and has enjoyed largely cordial security and trade ties throughout most of their modern history.

However, since the 2010 attack on the Mavi Marmara flotilla, when Israeli forces raided a Turkish ship delivering aid to Gaza and killed 10 of those on board, tensions have been strained and the government has increasingly hit out at Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

The 'next Iran'?

The most recent attempt to restore relations in September 2023 - which saw Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting and shaking hands for the first time in New York - collapsed the next month after the 7 October Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the subsequent genocide in Gaza.

Since then, the rhetoric has escalated from politicians in both countries, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett describing Turkey as potentially the "next Iran" in March.

The US government has staunchly backed Israel's military actions across the region, including joining its war on Iran. However, Turkey's status as a Nato member and US President Donald Trump's stated admiration for Erdogan has led American officials to seek to restore relations between the two countries.

Barrack told the forum in Antalya that the energy price shocks from the Iran war had proven the importance of regional cooperation to maintain energy security.

"Everything comes from Turkey. It's fiber optics. We're talking about Azerbaijan and Armenia, which is flowing oil, gas, information, data and materials. Where does it go? How does it go?" he said.

"So Israel aligned with Turkey, like Israel aligned with Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia could be aligned with Israel and, for the prosperity of the Israeli people, to me that's the answer."

Some recent rhetoric out of Israeli media:

Barrack added that Israel should go further, and try to engage Turkey as part of the International Stabilisation Force established for Gaza as part of the ceasefire deal signed in September. "The smartest thing that Israel could do is to entice and embrace Turkey to enter that force," he said.

Barrack said that Erdogan's interactions with the Palestinian group Hamas was instrumental for reaching a deal to release Israeli hostages, and that it happened because Ankara didn't designate the group.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also met with Barrack on Monday for what they said was a "productive" meeting.

Tyler Durden Sun, 04/19/2026 - 08:10

10 Sunday Reads

The Big Picture -

Avert your eyes! My Sunday morning look at incompetency, corruption and policy failures:

• They Cloned Her Voice, Then Claimed Her Songs: AI Music Scams Are Using Copyright Law as a Weapon Against Real Artists: From a folk singer demonetized by her own deepfakes to a fake AI ‘artist’ holding 11 iTunes chart slots, the infrastructure meant to protect artists is now being weaponized against them. (Vinyl Culture)

• Your Power Tools Got Worse On Purpose: How TTI and Stanley Black & Decker took the same playbook in opposite directions. (Worse on Purpose)

• US states drop Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as demand rises: Experts say any short-term financial benefit will be outweighed by long-term health costs related to obesity. (The Guardian)

• $30m an hour: big oil reaping huge war windfall from consumers, analysis finds: Climate action blockers including Saudi Arabia, Russia and major fossil fuel firms set to make extra $234bn by end of 2026. The world’s top oil companies are banking $30 million every hour in unearned profit from the US-Israeli conflict in Iran. War is hell — unless you’re an oil executive. (The Guardian) see also Wars Impose Lasting Economic Costs, While More Defense Spending Means Hard Choices: The IMF quantifies what should be obvious: war is expensive, the bill lasts for decades, and every defense dollar is a dollar not spent elsewhere. Economics for hawks. While More Defense Spending Means Hard Choices: Rising defense spending requires difficult fiscal choices to avoid raising vulnerabilities, while post-war recovery hinges on policies to reduce uncertainty, rebuild capital, and help displaced people return home (IMF Blog)

• The Neo-Nazi Enforcer Who Helped Build Peter Thiel’s Online Influence Empire: A reported investigation into the uglier corners of the Thiel-funded tech-political ecosystem. Pair it with anything else you are reading about the billionaire class. New Epstein-linked revelations show how neo-Nazi operative Andrew Auernheimer became a crucial link between Peter Thiel and the online far-right subcultures waging ‘memetic warfare’ against their enemies.  (Byline Times)

• The Profession That Does Not Exist: Writing won’t make you a living: Today, by some estimates, the average freelance journalist is paid around $0.25 to $0.50 per word, and at the highest-paying glossies, rates have hovered around $2 per word for more than a decade, even as inflation has diminished the purchasing power of that seemingly handsome fee. A symposium on the vanishing middle class of professional writers. The headline is tongue-in-cheek, the data behind it is not. (The Baffler)

• Government Workers Say They’re Getting Inundated With Religion “This has never happened before.” From Easter emails to entire-agency sermons, federal workers report a rising tide of religious messaging from political appointees. The separation of church and state is looking increasingly theoretical. (Wired)

• Could a former Brazilian model be the whistleblower Melania is afraid of? The First Lady’s unprecedented public statement about Jeffrey Epstein yesterday raised a lot of questions about what, if anything, is about to be revealed about Donald and Melania Trump’s relationship with the late sex trafficker. The Epstein case had quieted down in the wake of Trump’s decision to attack Iran — some critics allege that was one of Trump’s goals in launching a war in the first place — to cool the MAGA furor over DOJ’s inept release of the Epstein files. Now it seems that plan, if true, has led to a Jack-In-The-Beanstalk effect — as in trading a cow for beans and climbing into danger without really thinking it through. The investigative journalist who broke Epstein follows a trail from Mar-a-Lago to São Paulo. Whatever Melania’s hiding, someone knows. (Julie K. Brown)

• An Oligarchy of Old People: How elderly Americans amassed disproportionate wealth and power. Gerontocracy isn’t just an American problem — it’s a feature of concentrated power everywhere. When wealth and authority accumulate with age, generational change becomes nearly impossible.  (The Atlantic) see also Trump’s mental state is in decline – and it’s time we talked about it: The question everyone in Washington whispers but nobody says out loud. At some point, the emperor’s cognitive decline becomes a national security issue. Increasingly incoherent speeches, a highly volatile temperament and brazen narcissism. The president’s behaviour is much easier to understand, writes Alan Rusbridger, if we all come to terms with one thing (Independent)

• Tennis has a merch problem—and it’s bigger than one stolen design: Pro tennis has always struggled to commercialize its fanbase. The design theft scandal is just the latest symptom of an industry that hasn’t figured out its own brand. An illustrator’s work appearing on Monte-Carlo Masters merchandise without permission points to a deeper issue: tennis’s fragmented retail system leaves no one clearly in charge. (Hard Court)

Be sure to check out our Masters in Business this week with Philippe Bouchaud, co‑founder, chair & head of research/chief scientist at Capital Fund Management (CFM). The $20 billion firm specializes in managed futures. He began his career in theoretical physics, was awarded the IBM Young Scientist Prize (1990) and the C.N.R.S. Silver Medal (1996), and has published over 300 scientific papers and several books in physics and finance.

 

Where measles is spreading in the U.S.: Outbreaks fuel infections in states coast to coast

Source: Health Beat

 

Sign up for our reads-only mailing list here.

~~~

To learn how these reads are assembled each day, please see this.

 

The post 10 Sunday Reads appeared first on The Big Picture.

Netanyahu Left 'Personally Stunned' By Trump Rhetoric Prohibiting Lebanon Strikes

Zero Hedge -

Netanyahu Left 'Personally Stunned' By Trump Rhetoric Prohibiting Lebanon Strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle were reportedly blindsided - left "stunned" - after President Trump dropped a surprise line effectively clipping Israel's wings in Lebanon, according to Axios, citing sources familiar with the exchange.

On Friday, Trump declared the US had "prohibited" further Israeli strikes just as the administration-brokered 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon kicked in. The US President was unusually harsh in rhetoric with America's longtime #1 Mideast ally, writing on Truth Social that "enough is enough".

AFP via Getty Images

The words were clearly not directed at Lebanon, or Hezbollah, but squarely at Israel and its deadly air campaign which had included intense bombing of Beirut at the South for the last week-and-a-half.

The statement set off alarms in Jerusalem, with Israeli officials scrambling for clarity from Washington. Almost everything out of the Trump administration has up to now been generally glowing and positive when it comes to Israel and Netanyahu.

However, Axios captures the reaction in Tel Aviv, in a Saturday report saying "Netanyahu was personally stunned and alarmed when he learned of the post, the sources said."

Israel is set to pause offensive ops, but still says it reserves the right to "take all necessary measures in self-defense at any time against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks."

The NY Times has highlighted that all of this has put Netanyahu in a tough spot:

Now, the prime minister’s critics, and even some of his allies on the right, have seized on what appears plain as day: his inability to resist Mr. Trump’s pressure, not just in pushing to bring the long-distance war with Iran to a close but even in demanding a truce with an enemy directly across Israel’s northern border.

“A cease-fire must come from a position of strength and be an Israeli decision, reflecting leverage that serves negotiations,” said Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff whose new centrist opposition party, Yashar, is gaining in the polls. “A pattern is emerging in which cease-fires are being imposed on us — in Gaza, in Iran and now in Lebanon.”

Again, this actually constitutes some of the toughest talk and restrictions ever imposed on Israel from this administration. This suggests the White House is indeed serious about cobbling together a final offramp.

Still, Netanyahu has declared that the fight with Hezbollah is not over, while at the same time confirming Israel's agreement with the 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon.

"One hand holds a weapon; the other is extended for peace," Netanyahu said in a fresh speech. "I will say honestly, we have not yet finished the job," he continued. "There are things we plan to do regarding the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat, which I will not detail."

Israel seeks to "dismantle" Hezbollah, Netanyahu continued, "but this will not be achieved tomorrow. It requires sustained effort, patience, and careful navigation in the diplomatic arena."

Tyler Durden Sat, 04/18/2026 - 22:45

Netanyahu Left 'Personally Stunned' By Trump Rhetoric Prohibiting Lebanon Strikes

Zero Hedge -

Netanyahu Left 'Personally Stunned' By Trump Rhetoric Prohibiting Lebanon Strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle were reportedly blindsided - left "stunned" - after President Trump dropped a surprise line effectively clipping Israel's wings in Lebanon, according to Axios, citing sources familiar with the exchange.

On Friday, Trump declared the US had "prohibited" further Israeli strikes just as the administration-brokered 10-day ceasefire with Lebanon kicked in. The US President was unusually harsh in rhetoric with America's longtime #1 Mideast ally, writing on Truth Social that "enough is enough".

AFP via Getty Images

The words were clearly not directed at Lebanon, or Hezbollah, but squarely at Israel and its deadly air campaign which had included intense bombing of Beirut at the South for the last week-and-a-half.

The statement set off alarms in Jerusalem, with Israeli officials scrambling for clarity from Washington. Almost everything out of the Trump administration has up to now been generally glowing and positive when it comes to Israel and Netanyahu.

However, Axios captures the reaction in Tel Aviv, in a Saturday report saying "Netanyahu was personally stunned and alarmed when he learned of the post, the sources said."

Israel is set to pause offensive ops, but still says it reserves the right to "take all necessary measures in self-defense at any time against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks."

The NY Times has highlighted that all of this has put Netanyahu in a tough spot:

Now, the prime minister’s critics, and even some of his allies on the right, have seized on what appears plain as day: his inability to resist Mr. Trump’s pressure, not just in pushing to bring the long-distance war with Iran to a close but even in demanding a truce with an enemy directly across Israel’s northern border.

“A cease-fire must come from a position of strength and be an Israeli decision, reflecting leverage that serves negotiations,” said Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff whose new centrist opposition party, Yashar, is gaining in the polls. “A pattern is emerging in which cease-fires are being imposed on us — in Gaza, in Iran and now in Lebanon.”

Again, this actually constitutes some of the toughest talk and restrictions ever imposed on Israel from this administration. This suggests the White House is indeed serious about cobbling together a final offramp.

Still, Netanyahu has declared that the fight with Hezbollah is not over, while at the same time confirming Israel's agreement with the 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon.

"One hand holds a weapon; the other is extended for peace," Netanyahu said in a fresh speech. "I will say honestly, we have not yet finished the job," he continued. "There are things we plan to do regarding the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat, which I will not detail."

Israel seeks to "dismantle" Hezbollah, Netanyahu continued, "but this will not be achieved tomorrow. It requires sustained effort, patience, and careful navigation in the diplomatic arena."

Tyler Durden Sat, 04/18/2026 - 22:45

Spanberger Signs Unconstitutional Bill To Strip Confederacy-Linked Groups Of Tax Exempt Status

Zero Hedge -

Spanberger Signs Unconstitutional Bill To Strip Confederacy-Linked Groups Of Tax Exempt Status

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

There has been growing criticism (and falling poll numbers) of Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger after she ran as a moderate and then immediately veered to the far left after her election.  Once in power, Spanberger and the Democrats unleashed a slew of tax increases, moved to eliminate all but one Republican district in the purple state, passed an array of anti-gun laws, and enacted other controversial measures. One of these measures is a clearly unconstitutional effort to strip pro-Confederate groups of their tax exemption.

This week, Spanberger signed HB167, the law that eliminated the tax exemption for various confederacy-linked groups, including the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the General Organization of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, the Stonewall Jackson Memorial, Incorporated, the Virginia Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust, Inc.

Notably, as soon as they came into power, Democrats also passed House Bill 1377 to move against the Virginia Military Institute, including appointing a task force that could effectively close the historic school. Many Democrats have previoulsy sought to close VMI despite its unique and inspiring history in training some of our most famous military leaders, including General George Marshall. Liberals want to close the school due to its history from the Civil War.

Spanberger recently expressed support for the effort but returned the bill with suggestions to use the board of directors to carry out the review.

Spanberger’s substitute eliminates that task force entirely and instead directs VMI’s own board of visitors to carry out the review.

The board would be empowered to carry out a fairly hostile and open-ended agenda, including to “distance [VMI] from the Lost Cause narrative, foster an inclusive environment, and address any other concerns.” Spanberger has appointed 27 new board members, including former Gov. Ralph Northam, who is viewed as hostile to VMI.

The New York Times explained that the Democrats wanted to “distance Virginia from its Confederate past.” However, they also want to use a content-based law to discriminate against groups with which they disagree. The law clearly violates the First Amendment, but neither Spanberger nor the Virginia Democrats appear to care.

In Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015), the Court struck down a signage regulation because”restrictions … that apply to any given sign [depend] entirely on the communicative content of the sign.” Likewise, Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of the N.Y. State Crime Victims Bd., 502 U.S. 105, 116 (1991), the Court stressed that the government’s ability to impose content-based burdens on speech raises the specter that the government may effectively drive certain ideas or viewpoints from the marketplace.

From taxes to trademarks, content-based discrimination runs afoul of our free speech values. In Matal v. Tam, 582 U.S. 218 (2017), the Court cited Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes decision in United States v. Schwimmer, 279 U. S. 644, 655 (1929), that “the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express ‘the thought that we hate.'” 

Over 30 years ago, I wrote about the collision between anti-discrimination laws and the free exercise of religion. I have been critical of the use of the tax code to effectively punish organizations that do not comport with the IRS’s view of good public policy.

That prior work was critical of the 1982 decision involving Bob Jones University, in which the Supreme Court upheld the denial of tax-exempt status. In the case of Bob Jones, the university was engaged in reprehensible racial discrimination. However, I wrote how the actual standard is far more vague and could potentially be used more broadly.

Virginia is an example of precisely that problem in the use of tax exemptions to engage in viewpoint discrimination.

I have opposed such moves with a variety of organizations with which I have long-standing objections. That includes the Administration’s threat to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status.

Tax exemption should not be a status bestowed upon those adhering to the demands of whatever party is in power. Free speech and associational rights are fostered by granting this status.

Virginia will now spend additional money to defend this unconstitutional action and fight for the right to discriminate against those who have opposing views in the state.

Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”

Tyler Durden Sat, 04/18/2026 - 22:10

Spanberger Signs Unconstitutional Bill To Strip Confederacy-Linked Groups Of Tax Exempt Status

Zero Hedge -

Spanberger Signs Unconstitutional Bill To Strip Confederacy-Linked Groups Of Tax Exempt Status

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

There has been growing criticism (and falling poll numbers) of Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger after she ran as a moderate and then immediately veered to the far left after her election.  Once in power, Spanberger and the Democrats unleashed a slew of tax increases, moved to eliminate all but one Republican district in the purple state, passed an array of anti-gun laws, and enacted other controversial measures. One of these measures is a clearly unconstitutional effort to strip pro-Confederate groups of their tax exemption.

This week, Spanberger signed HB167, the law that eliminated the tax exemption for various confederacy-linked groups, including the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the General Organization of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, the Stonewall Jackson Memorial, Incorporated, the Virginia Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust, Inc.

Notably, as soon as they came into power, Democrats also passed House Bill 1377 to move against the Virginia Military Institute, including appointing a task force that could effectively close the historic school. Many Democrats have previoulsy sought to close VMI despite its unique and inspiring history in training some of our most famous military leaders, including General George Marshall. Liberals want to close the school due to its history from the Civil War.

Spanberger recently expressed support for the effort but returned the bill with suggestions to use the board of directors to carry out the review.

Spanberger’s substitute eliminates that task force entirely and instead directs VMI’s own board of visitors to carry out the review.

The board would be empowered to carry out a fairly hostile and open-ended agenda, including to “distance [VMI] from the Lost Cause narrative, foster an inclusive environment, and address any other concerns.” Spanberger has appointed 27 new board members, including former Gov. Ralph Northam, who is viewed as hostile to VMI.

The New York Times explained that the Democrats wanted to “distance Virginia from its Confederate past.” However, they also want to use a content-based law to discriminate against groups with which they disagree. The law clearly violates the First Amendment, but neither Spanberger nor the Virginia Democrats appear to care.

In Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015), the Court struck down a signage regulation because”restrictions … that apply to any given sign [depend] entirely on the communicative content of the sign.” Likewise, Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of the N.Y. State Crime Victims Bd., 502 U.S. 105, 116 (1991), the Court stressed that the government’s ability to impose content-based burdens on speech raises the specter that the government may effectively drive certain ideas or viewpoints from the marketplace.

From taxes to trademarks, content-based discrimination runs afoul of our free speech values. In Matal v. Tam, 582 U.S. 218 (2017), the Court cited Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes decision in United States v. Schwimmer, 279 U. S. 644, 655 (1929), that “the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express ‘the thought that we hate.'” 

Over 30 years ago, I wrote about the collision between anti-discrimination laws and the free exercise of religion. I have been critical of the use of the tax code to effectively punish organizations that do not comport with the IRS’s view of good public policy.

That prior work was critical of the 1982 decision involving Bob Jones University, in which the Supreme Court upheld the denial of tax-exempt status. In the case of Bob Jones, the university was engaged in reprehensible racial discrimination. However, I wrote how the actual standard is far more vague and could potentially be used more broadly.

Virginia is an example of precisely that problem in the use of tax exemptions to engage in viewpoint discrimination.

I have opposed such moves with a variety of organizations with which I have long-standing objections. That includes the Administration’s threat to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status.

Tax exemption should not be a status bestowed upon those adhering to the demands of whatever party is in power. Free speech and associational rights are fostered by granting this status.

Virginia will now spend additional money to defend this unconstitutional action and fight for the right to discriminate against those who have opposing views in the state.

Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”

Tyler Durden Sat, 04/18/2026 - 22:10

These Are The US Cities Where No One Can Afford A Large Home

Zero Hedge -

These Are The US Cities Where No One Can Afford A Large Home

An April 2026 housing report by Highland Cabinetry highlights a growing affordability crisis across major American cities, revealing that the true cost of housing goes beyond total price and is better understood through the lens of cost per square foot. By analyzing home prices, rental costs, and average property sizes across 40 large cities, the study shows where Americans are paying the most for the least amount of living space. This approach offers a clearer picture of value, emphasizing how much space residents actually receive for their money rather than just the overall cost of buying or renting a home.

At the center of this trend is San Francisco, which ranks as the most expensive housing market in the country for both buyers and renters. Homebuyers in the city pay more than $1,000 per square foot on average, with a typical home costing around $1.24 million for just over 1,100 square feet. Renters face similar challenges, with average monthly rents exceeding $3,500. Despite these high costs, the amount of space available remains limited, meaning residents often pay a premium for relatively small living areas. This imbalance between price and space has made San Francisco the clearest example of how housing value has eroded in dense urban markets.

Just behind San Francisco is San Jose, which actually surpasses it in terms of price per square foot for homebuyers. In San Jose, the average cost exceeds $1,200 per square foot, pushing typical home prices to around $1.4 million. The rental market is similarly expensive, with monthly costs rivaling those in San Francisco. These high prices are largely driven by strong demand tied to the region’s technology sector, where high salaries continue to fuel competition for limited housing supply. As a result, even relatively modest homes command exceptionally high prices.

On the East Coast, New York City presents a different kind of affordability challenge. While the cost per square foot to purchase a home is significantly lower than in California’s top markets, rental prices are the highest in the nation, averaging more than $3,600 per month. Apartments in New York also tend to be smaller than those in other cities, which means renters often pay more per square foot than they would in San Francisco. This creates a situation where buying may appear more attainable on paper, but renting remains financially burdensome for a large portion of the population.

Other major cities such as San Diego, Boston, and Los Angeles also rank among the least affordable when measured by space value. In these markets, home prices remain high while property sizes vary, resulting in elevated costs per square foot that continue to strain both buyers and renters. California in particular stands out, with multiple cities appearing in the top rankings, reflecting a broader statewide issue driven by housing shortages, population demand, and long-term price growth.

The report attributes much of the current situation to economic conditions that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically low interest rates made borrowing more accessible, encouraging a surge in homebuying activity. This increased demand led to intense competition, rapidly driving up prices across the country. Although interest rates have since risen, housing prices have remained elevated, leaving many Americans priced out of homeownership and facing high rental costs instead.

One of the most significant social impacts of these trends is the shift in living arrangements among younger adults. In cities like New York and San Francisco, it has become increasingly common for professionals to share apartments well into their 30s in order to manage costs. While this may offer a short-term solution, it reflects a deeper issue within the housing market, where affordability challenges are reshaping expectations around independence, space, and long-term living.

Ultimately, the findings of this study highlight a critical reality about housing in modern America. The issue is no longer just about how much people pay, but about how little space they receive in return. As urban populations continue to grow and housing supply struggles to keep pace, the cost per square foot will remain a key indicator of affordability, shaping how and where people choose to live in the years ahead.

You can access the complete research findings here.

Tyler Durden Sat, 04/18/2026 - 21:35

These Are The US Cities Where No One Can Afford A Large Home

Zero Hedge -

These Are The US Cities Where No One Can Afford A Large Home

An April 2026 housing report by Highland Cabinetry highlights a growing affordability crisis across major American cities, revealing that the true cost of housing goes beyond total price and is better understood through the lens of cost per square foot. By analyzing home prices, rental costs, and average property sizes across 40 large cities, the study shows where Americans are paying the most for the least amount of living space. This approach offers a clearer picture of value, emphasizing how much space residents actually receive for their money rather than just the overall cost of buying or renting a home.

At the center of this trend is San Francisco, which ranks as the most expensive housing market in the country for both buyers and renters. Homebuyers in the city pay more than $1,000 per square foot on average, with a typical home costing around $1.24 million for just over 1,100 square feet. Renters face similar challenges, with average monthly rents exceeding $3,500. Despite these high costs, the amount of space available remains limited, meaning residents often pay a premium for relatively small living areas. This imbalance between price and space has made San Francisco the clearest example of how housing value has eroded in dense urban markets.

Just behind San Francisco is San Jose, which actually surpasses it in terms of price per square foot for homebuyers. In San Jose, the average cost exceeds $1,200 per square foot, pushing typical home prices to around $1.4 million. The rental market is similarly expensive, with monthly costs rivaling those in San Francisco. These high prices are largely driven by strong demand tied to the region’s technology sector, where high salaries continue to fuel competition for limited housing supply. As a result, even relatively modest homes command exceptionally high prices.

On the East Coast, New York City presents a different kind of affordability challenge. While the cost per square foot to purchase a home is significantly lower than in California’s top markets, rental prices are the highest in the nation, averaging more than $3,600 per month. Apartments in New York also tend to be smaller than those in other cities, which means renters often pay more per square foot than they would in San Francisco. This creates a situation where buying may appear more attainable on paper, but renting remains financially burdensome for a large portion of the population.

Other major cities such as San Diego, Boston, and Los Angeles also rank among the least affordable when measured by space value. In these markets, home prices remain high while property sizes vary, resulting in elevated costs per square foot that continue to strain both buyers and renters. California in particular stands out, with multiple cities appearing in the top rankings, reflecting a broader statewide issue driven by housing shortages, population demand, and long-term price growth.

The report attributes much of the current situation to economic conditions that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Historically low interest rates made borrowing more accessible, encouraging a surge in homebuying activity. This increased demand led to intense competition, rapidly driving up prices across the country. Although interest rates have since risen, housing prices have remained elevated, leaving many Americans priced out of homeownership and facing high rental costs instead.

One of the most significant social impacts of these trends is the shift in living arrangements among younger adults. In cities like New York and San Francisco, it has become increasingly common for professionals to share apartments well into their 30s in order to manage costs. While this may offer a short-term solution, it reflects a deeper issue within the housing market, where affordability challenges are reshaping expectations around independence, space, and long-term living.

Ultimately, the findings of this study highlight a critical reality about housing in modern America. The issue is no longer just about how much people pay, but about how little space they receive in return. As urban populations continue to grow and housing supply struggles to keep pace, the cost per square foot will remain a key indicator of affordability, shaping how and where people choose to live in the years ahead.

You can access the complete research findings here.

Tyler Durden Sat, 04/18/2026 - 21:35

Pro-Life Dad Awarded Million-Dollar Settlement Over Biden-Era FBI Raid

Zero Hedge -

Pro-Life Dad Awarded Million-Dollar Settlement Over Biden-Era FBI Raid

Authored by Bryan Hyde via American Greatness,

A pro-life father of seven whose Pennsylvania home was raided at gunpoint by the FBI under the Biden administration has been awarded a seven-figure settlement from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Fox News reports that Mark Houck, a devout Catholic and pro-life activist, was arrested in 2021 by the FBI and prosecuted for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act.

The charges stemmed from an October 2021 incident that took place outside a Philadelphia, PA abortion clinic where Houck and his young son were accosted by a pro-abortion volunteer who harassed and yelled at the boy until Houck pushed the volunteer away.

A jury acquitted Houck in 2023; he and his wife then filed a lawsuit later that year alleging that the Biden DOJ had engaged in malicious and retaliatory prosecution, abuse of process, false arrest, and assault.

Houck’s lawsuit specifically accused the DOJ of what he called “a faulty investigation” and “excessive force” and the heavy-handed FBI raid on Houck’s home sparked widespread criticism of the Biden administration over accusations of targeting pro-life activists.

In 2023, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) had sharp questions for then-Attorney General Merrick Garland over the FBI’s “unbelievable show of force” in the raid.

According to Fox News Digital, the legal battle against the DOJ had dragged on for three years due to what Houck last year described as an “activist judge” who had blocked negotiations between Houck and the Trump-led Justice Department.

Last week, 40 Days for Life CEO Shawn Carney described the settlement as “a bigger victory for the pro-life movement at large,” as well as “a huge victory for free speech” and “a huge victory for all Americans who want our right to speak our minds peacefully in a law-abiding way without fear of our own government.”

Carney also credited President Trump for reining in federal overreach, saying that the pro-life movement had received “so much persecution from the DOJ under Biden” and expressed gratitude that “President Trump has corrected that.”

The DOJ released a report this week concluding that the Biden administration “shattered the public’s trust by weaponizing the FACE Act to advance a pro-abortion agenda.”

Tyler Durden Sat, 04/18/2026 - 21:00

Japan Tops Canada As World's Most Polite Nation

Zero Hedge -

Japan Tops Canada As World's Most Polite Nation

What makes a country “polite”—and which ones stand out globally?

A new survey of over 4,600 respondents by Remitly reveals a clear frontrunner.

Japan alone captured more than 35% of all votes, far ahead of every other country on the list.

As Visual Capitalist's Gabriel Cohen shows in the chart below, the ranking highlights how perceptions of politeness vary worldwide, while also revealing strong regional patterns across Europe and Asia.

Perceptions of politeness can shape everything from tourism experiences to international business relationships.

For travelers, these rankings often influence expectations around etiquette, hospitality, and day-to-day interactions abroad.

Japan: The World’s Clear Favorite

Japan stands far ahead of every other country, capturing 35.2% of all votes—nearly three times more than second-place Canada. No other country breaks even 15%, underscoring just how dominant Japan’s reputation is globally.

Japanese culture is famous for its high emphasis on respect, etiquette, and social harmony. The country’s blend of tradition and recognizable cultural exports has helped it become well-regarded nearly everywhere.

Certain traits associated with local culture no doubt contribute to the Japanese people’s reputation of politeness, including the value placed on cleanliness and punctuality.

Beyond this, citizens of other countries may be surprised when encountering Japanese bowing, a way of conveying respect, as well as other unique elements such as relative silence on public transit within the country.

Canada’s High Respect Premium

Canada ranks second with 13.4% of the vote—less than half of Japan’s total, highlighting the gap between first place and the rest of the field.

The sprawling North American country has been deemed the most respected country worldwide by one measure, while Canadians have long been known as some of the friendliest people on the globe.

Canada’s hospitality and civility has boosted the country’s reputation for politeness, both in dealings with each other and with people from other countries. This has been reinforced in some corners by the country’s relative contrasts with its southern neighbor, the United States, which obtained just over a tenth of the share of votes (1.6%) of Canada.

Europe’s High Prevalence of Politeness

After Canada, the United Kingdom ranks third at 6.2%, leading a strong European showing. In total, European countries make up more than half of the top 25—suggesting that politeness, as perceived globally, is strongly associated with the region.

Northern Europeans appear to fare better than their peers across the Old Continent, with the UK joined in the top 10 by Germany (2.8%) and Nordic countries like Sweden (2.3%), Denmark (2.1%), and Finland (1.9%).

In contrast, Asian countries nabbed a fifth of the spots on the list, while Africa was home to only one country in the top 25: South Africa, which at 1.8% of all votes cast landed at the 10th position worldwide.

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Best Countries For Culture & Heritage, As Determined by the People on Voronoi.

Tyler Durden Sat, 04/18/2026 - 20:25

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