x01a Research Archives

As the Social Security insolvency nears, more lawmakers are open to tax hikes—even Republicans– fortune.com
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Congress has put off making tough choices on Social Security for years, but the bill is coming due soon, and it’s looking like taxpayers will pick up the tab.

That’s because a small but growing group of lawmakers has signaled openness to shoring up Social Security’s finances by raising more revenue via taxes. The group includes some Republicans, who have traditionally viewed tax hikes as anathema.

For decades, Social Security was viewed as the “third rail” in American politics, with any suggestion of tax hikes or benefit cuts producing swift blowback.

But as retirees face the prospect of much smaller checks, the political calculation may be changing.  Projections earlier this year showed that the Social Security trust fund will run out of money sooner than previously thought, meaning benefits would face a 22% cut by 2032 unless adjustments are enacted.

Revenue from payroll taxes has been insufficient to fund current benefits, and the trust fund covers the gap. But once it runs out, Social Security will only be able to distribute what comes in.

Zelensky imposes sanctions against his former press secretary Yulia Mendel – World– tass.com
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MOSCOW, September 13. /TASS/. Vladimir Zelensky has imposed sanctions against his former press secretary (2019-2021) Yulia Mendel.

As follows from Zelensky’s decree, the sanctions against Mendel were imposed for a term of ten years. Sanctions were also imposed against 20 vessels Kiev claims to belong to Russia, 29 Russian nationals and 29 Russian companies.

The former press secretary is known for her sharp criticism of Zelensky’s policies. In her interviews and on her social media, she repeatedly highlighted the Ukrainian leadership’s failures in many areas, including military, that entail huge losses for Ukraine.

 

Africa could be the next major AI infrastructure frontier, analyst says– www.foxnews.com
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Africa could become the next major frontier for data centers and Artificial Intelligence, experts say.

The Trump administration is backing and promoting American companies to make AI development, in their words, ‘the gold standard’. The U.S. is trying increasingly to grab business opportunities in Africa, as backlash and environmental restrictions hit data center development in the U.S. and Africa.

“Africa is emerging as a significant potential location for building AI infrastructure, especially as many mature markets face increasing environmental and power constraints,” Abhishek Goyal, Consultant at specialist research group Arizton Advisory & Intelligence, told Fox News Digital.

Rendering of U.S. company Cybastion’s projected data center in the Ivory Coast, West Africa. The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan helped facilitate a $170m contract with the government of the Ivory Coast which includes the provision of the data center. Image credit: (Cybastion)

He added, “The continent could become the next major frontier for AI infrastructure development. As the U.S. and Europe encounter challenges such as power scarcity, grid congestion, permitting issues and environmental regulations, Africa’s underdeveloped infrastructure presents an opportunity rather than a disadvantage.”

UN calls for ‘urgent action’ to rein in AI in face of ‘unprecedented risks’– www.channelnewsasia.com
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GENEVA: The United Nations rights chief called on Monday (Sep 14) for countries and “frontier” artificial intelligence companies to act urgently to rein in a technology he warned posed “unprecedented risks”.

In a letter sent to countries and AI developers and shared with the media, Volker Turk cautioned that the world was “on the cusp of irreversible change, affecting not just us but generations of humanity to come”.

“The current race towards ever more powerful AI is a step change towards greater existential risks to every aspect of our lives.”

He sent the letter at a time when worries over the risks of “superintelligent” computer systems have been on full display, after a researcher publicly resigned from leading AI firm Anthropic over fears that the technology could escape human control.

Another Anthropic employee, who did not resign, stated publicly that “we really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans”, and that he thought the chances were greater than “10 per cent within the next decade”.

Poland pledges to strengthen security after drone strikes along border with Ukraine– abcnews.com
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WARSAW, Poland — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Monday that Russian drone strikes near the Ukraine-Poland border would drive the military alliance to increase its support for Kyiv, calling the attacks on Sunday a sign of growing desperation by the forces under Russian President Vladimir.

“The strikes yesterday on trains in Ukraine close to NATO territory again show Putin’s desperation and also his desire to sow fear and terror,” Rutte said at NATO’s political headquarters in Brussels. “Russia is growing increasingly reckless as it continues its terrible war against Ukraine.”

Rutte pledged to increase support for Ukraine and bolster the 32-nation alliance’s own defenses along its long eastern border with Russia.

“He thinks that he can stop us from supporting Ukraine and that he can undermine our unity. He is wrong,” the NATO chief said of Putin.

Rutte’s comments came as Poland pledged increased security along its border with Ukraine after a wave of Russian drone strikes near the frontier, including two that landed within kilometers of Polish territory.

FBI Data Put Armed-Citizen Stops at 3.9%. A 12-Year CPRC Review Finds 36.6%, and 58.3% in 2025– www.usacarry.com
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Key Takeaways

  • Elisjsha Dicken stopped an active shooter in Greenwood, Indiana, by fatally shooting the attacker just 15 seconds after the attack began.
  • The Crime Prevention Research Center argues that the FBI significantly underreports the percentage of attacks stopped by armed civilians, estimating it at 36.6% or higher.
  • Major media outlets suggested Dicken’s actions were rare, citing FBI data which indicates that civilians rarely stop active shooter events.
  • The FBI’s broad definition of active shooters includes various types of incidents, and they acknowledge armed civilians stopped attacks in 8 of 12 years reviewed.
  • Dicken’s successful intervention highlights the importance of being armed and prepared in active shooting situations, contradicting many media narratives.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Elisjsha Dicken was 22 years old and carrying a licensed handgun when an attacker opened fire inside a Greenwood, Indiana, mall on July 17, 2022. The attack killed three people and injured another. Dicken fired his first shot 15 seconds after it began, from 40 yards away, and fatally shot the attacker.

Those two numbers, 15 seconds and 40 yards, are why his name drew national attention, and they are why the Crime Prevention Research Center put Greenwood at the front of a new analysis, as reported by CPRC on September 9, arguing the FBI has badly undercounted how often armed civilians stop active shooters.

Pakistan Warns Iran to Keep the Houthis Away from Saudi Arabia– www.breitbart.com
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Pakistan delivered a warning to Iran on Wednesday that if Tehran’s terrorist proxies in Yemen, the Houthis, continue attacking cities and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan may be obliged to intervene under its defense pact with the Saudis.

Pakistan gave notice to Iran the day after Houthi insurgents launched drone and missile attacks against four cities in Saudi Arabia, damaging oil infrastructure and wounding dozens of civilians.

Saudi forces, working with the internationally-recognized government of Yemen, responded with airstrikes and ground action against the Houthis, who captured Yemen’s capital city of Sanaa and much other territory in 2014.

In a television interview on Wednesday, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that further Houthi attacks could trigger the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, a pact Pakistan signed with Saudi Arabia and Turkey in August. The pact includes a mutual defense commitment similar to NATO Article V.

“An aggression on one country will be considered an aggression on all three countries,” Asif said. “There is no ambiguity or doubt. Unprovoked aggression or spillover into Saudi Arabia will definitely make this agreement operational.”

A senior diplomatic source told Reuters the Pakistani government conveyed this message to Tehran privately within the past 24 hours, and advised the Iranians to pull the Houthis back from attacking Saudi Arabia. The response from Tehran was reportedly: “Iran does not control the Houthis.”

NEW: State Supreme Court Overturns Trump-Backed Candidate’s Victory– trendingpoliticsnews.com
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The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday issued an order setting aside a determination by the Indiana Recount Commission and declaring incumbent state Senator Spencer Deery the winner of the Republican primary for Senate District 23. The court found that Deery won by just three votes.

“Indiana Code section 3-12-1-12 makes a qualifying ballot legally countable despite a defect caused by an election officer. Having considered the written submissions and having heard the arguments of counsel, a majority of the Court votes to set aside the Commission’s final determination certifying that Paula Copenhaver received the higher number of votes for the Senate District 23 Republican primary,” the one-page order, which was signed by Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush, stated.

“The Court further orders the Election Commission to declare that Spencer Deery received 6,335 votes and Paula Copenhaver received 6,332 votes in the State Senate District 23 Republican primary and to recertify its results.”

The order takes effect immediately and vacates the stay order issued on September 3.

POLL: Will You Support Trump And His Candidates In The Midterms?

‘Evangelicals for a Better Future’ Is Yet Another Talarico-Stan Run by a Dem Operative – RedState– redstate.com
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A group called “Evangelicals for a Better Future” has poured money into advertising in support of Democrat U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. The group released this glossy ad painting Talarico as a unifier who gets “What Makes a Texan.”

Sure, Jan.

WATCH:

While this PAC (political action committee) does not coordinate with the Talarico campaign, it appears to dovetail with the candidate’s sudden pivot to the center. Talarico recently appeared on right-leaning and right-of-center outlets like Fox News and News Nation to proclaim that his words and record are being misconstrued by his opponent, TX Attorney General and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Ken Paxton.

Staying Home Won’t Punish GOP, It Will Undo Trump’s Wins– thefederalist.com
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President Donald Trump closed out night one of the Republican National Committee (RNC) first-ever midterm convention with one simple plea: “Pretend that I’m on the ballot.”

“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot. Just one more time, because if we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose your safety and security, you’re going to lose your wealth,” Trump said.

It’s an important ask, given how Republicans have struggled to turn out voters when Trump is not literally on the ballot. But while Trump’s name may not literally appear on the ballot, it is for all intents and purposes next to every single “R” on the ticket.

Trump’s agenda is on the ballot. But more importantly, so are his accomplishments.

Over the past two years, Trump has used his authority to shut down the southern border, restore immigration enforcement, dismantle federal DEI programs, and reverse Biden’s ridiculous definition of sex, among other things. Congressional Republicans have funded some of that agenda, like immigration enforcement, and passed Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill, which adds incentives for states to crack down on fraud and waste while also introducing no tax on tips and overtime for certain employment sectors.

19-Year-Old Who Shot Dearborn Mall Shooter After He Killed One Man and Wounded Another Sentenced to Two Years Probation for Carrying Without a Permit– www.usacarry.com
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Martinez Long, 19, fatally shot Cameron Watkins at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn, Michigan, on July 3 after Watkins killed one person and wounded another during a shooting rampage. Prosecutors and the judge agreed Long acted in self-defense or defense of others, but he was still charged with carrying a concealed weapon without a license, since Michigan does not issue concealed pistol licenses to anyone under 21.

A judge sentenced Long to two years of probation under Michigan’s Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, requiring cognitive behavioral therapy, handgun safety classes, and a prohibition on possessing firearms during probation. The case illustrates how Michigan’s age and licensing requirements for concealed carry resulted in legal consequences despite the shooting itself being deemed justified.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

DEARBORN, MI — The 19-year-old who shot and killed a man firing a gun inside Fairlane Town Center on July 3 has been sentenced to two years of probation. Not for the shooting. For carrying the gun he used to stop it without a license.

Martinez Long of Oak Park stood before a judge Tuesday on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit. The shooting itself was never treated as the crime.

Police were called to the mall at 1:25 p.m. Cameron Watkins had gotten into a fight with Keonte Seaborn. Watkins shot Seaborn and killed him. He shot a second person during a struggle. He kept firing inside the mall. Long shot Watkins, and the shooting stopped. Three people were hit that afternoon and two of them died.

BREAKING: Joe DiGenova, Prosecutor Tapped to Oversee Spygate Probe, Abruptly Resigns from DOJ * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila– www.thegatewaypundit.com
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Joe DiGenova, a former US Attorney under Reagan tapped to oversee the Spygate probe in Florida after the DOJ removed a Deep State prosecutor who was stonewalling and slow-walking charges against John Brennan has resigned.

ABC, AP and Politico reported diGenova has resigned.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department removed Maria Medetis, a career federal prosecutor who was slow-walking charges against John Brennan.

DiGenova resigned after five months at the Justice Department.

It is unclear why Joe diGenova resigned. The Gateway Pundit reached out to Joe diGenova for comment.

“I did in fact resign,” Joe diGenova told The Associated Press, calling it an “honor and a privilege” to serve in Trump’s DOJ.

ABC News reported:

A Trump loyalist who had been tapped to oversee a sprawling and controversial DOJ conspiracy investigation targeting political foes of President Donald Trump abruptly resigned Thursday, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Joe diGenova submitted his resignation to Attorney General Todd Blanche amid what sources described as growing frustrations from Trump and senior DOJ officials regarding his work on the so-called “grand conspiracy” investigation based out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida.

Sources said diGenova had pitched himself to the president as someone who could potentially ramp up the conspiracy investigation, which thus far has resulted in no criminal prosecutions despite dozens of subpoenas issued over the past year to various officials involved in past investigations of Trump.

Oil Jumps Above $107, Bond Yields Surge Higher, Stocks Fall– www.breitbart.com
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Oil prices jumped to their highest levels since May amid renewed fighting in the Persian Gulf and investor concerns that the war in Iran will persist longer than previously thought.

Brent crude futures crossed above $107 a barrel and WTI futures neared $102. The possibility of a near-term contraction in oil supplies and a protracted war has been pushing up energy prices for several weeks, with the climb accelerating this week.

Yields on bonds issued by the U.S. government climbed to new multiyear highs. The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries climbed 0.082 percent to 4.922 percent. That matched the post-pandemic highs hit amid raging inflation and Federal Reserve interest rate increases aimed at restoring price stability.

Shorter-term Treasury yields also rose, reflecting increased expectations for rate increases from the Fed. The yield on the 2-year Treasury rose sharply, climbing 0.114 percent to 4.541 percent.

Yields on government bonds around the world climbed. Yields on government bonds issued by Germany, the U.K., France, and Japan were higher.

Bond yield rise when bond prices fall. A rising yield reflects investors requiring higher returns for holding government securities. This can be due to rising inflation expectations, rising competition from other securities when investors expect faster growth and higher returns on stocks or corporate bonds, or a more aggressive monetary policy.

The major stock indexes in the U.S. were all down by around six-tenths of a percentage point on Thursday morning. Nine of the eleven sectors of the S&P 500 declined, with consumer staples the only one to rise. The tech heavy communications services sector was flat.

Trump $1 trillion-plus midterm dividend plan meets bipartisan pushback– www.cnbc.com
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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 09, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Facing an uphill battle in the final weeks of an affordability-focused midterm election, President Donald Trump on Wednesday night made an audacious promise: Every adult American citizen will receive a $5,000 “dividend,” but only if Republicans are victorious in November.

While extremely light on details, the proposal quickly drew heat from critics on both sides of the aisle, including some of Trump’s own supporters. And it spurred questions of whether it would be illegal as a payment incentive to influence votes.

“I am hugely in favor of winning the midterms, and love much about this admin, but am strongly against bread and circus bribes,” Palantir co-founder and Republican donor Joe Lonsdale said on X.

Obama-Appointed Federal Judge Slammed for Bizarrely Informal Language in Ruling Against Trump Admin: ‘It’s an Embarrassment’– www.westernjournal.com
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A federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama was called out on social media this week by several legal commentators after she used a juvenile slang term in one of her rulings.

A Washington, D.C. Circuit panel of judges ruled Tuesday that a data-sharing agreement between the IRS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to crack down on illegal aliens is illegal, according to Courthouse News.

The three-judge panel, all Obama appointees, upheld another federal judge’s decision to stay the IRS from disclosing more addresses to ICE after it had already given the agency 47,000 records.

U.S. Circuit Judge Cornelia Pillard, who wrote the court’s 32-page opinion, was criticized for using the term “weak sauce” when describing the IRS’ argument. The term is slang for something with no substance or foundation.

“The IRS also asserts that the preliminary injunction is ‘highly unusual and harmful’ because it requires the IRS to provide the district court with ‘prior notice of criminal investigatory activity.’” Pillard wrote in the decision. “That argument is weak sauce where the district court has permitted the IRS to file any necessary notifications ‘under seal,’ thereby shielding any criminal investigative activity from disclosure.”

William Shipley, a former DOJ prosecutor, said on social media that this verbiage was an “embarrassment” and will be cited in future cases, diminishing the court’s credibility.

Do you trust the judicial system?

GOP leaders blindsided by Trump’s promise of $5K checks– www.politico.com
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DALLAS — Top Republican lawmakers had no idea President Donald Trump was going to promise $5,000 checks to every adult American so long as his party keeps control of Congress. Now, they’re grappling with how to handle the fallout.

GOP leaders have privately pushed back on similar Trump promises of giving money to Americans in the past year, according to four people granted anonymity to share details of closed-door meetings. Senior Republicans on Capitol Hill were blindsided by Trump’s Wednesday night announcement in Dallas, and are trying to manage lawmakers’ and voters’ expectations about a trillion-dollar-plus proposal they cannot deliver.

“The only thing that I knew of was that he has this concept of a dividend of all Americans being able to share in the success of America,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, who appeared supportive of the idea, said in an interview on the sidelines of the party’s midterm convention. “But last night, no, I was just like you and everybody else when I went, ‘Oh, that’s interesting. Okay.’”

NRCC Chair Richard Hudson added in an interview: “First, I’d heard of it, so I want to talk to him and get some details before I comment.” Hudson said the idea was “exciting,” but he didn’t indicate the House GOP campaign arm would start touting the idea in ads for battleground candidates.