Cruz Slams Biden’s ‘Red Carpet’ for Terrorists Amid New Orleans, Las Vegas Attacks

Julianna Frieman
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Cruz Slams Biden’s ‘Red Carpet’ for Terrorists Amid New Orleans, Las Vegas Attacks

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, slammed President Joe Biden for rolling out the “red carpet” for terrorists Thursday following New Year’s Day attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

Before the sun came up on Wednesday, 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, an Army veteran who brandished an ISIS flag on his rented truck, reportedly plowed into pedestrians on Bourbon Street and killed 14 people before he died in a gunfight with police.

On his Verdict podcast, Cruz called his frequent warning that “the odds of a major terrorist attack in the United States were higher than they have been at any time since September 11,” stating that the New Orleans attack proved his prediction right. Cruz’s co-host, Ben Ferguson, said the Biden administration sent the message “we will spare your life” to terrorists for the past four years.

“We’ve had four years of an open-door, red-carpet invitation for terrorists to come across our southern border. That has made us much, much less safe,” Cruz said. “We have also had law enforcement, including the FBI, focused on political and partisan agendas instead of focusing on the bad guys, stopping the bad guys before they commit crimes like this.”

The senator continued, “We will find out what information there was that could have been used to prevent this attack. We need to find that out, and even if the Biden administration refuses to make it public and to be transparent, I have significant confidence that the incoming Trump administration will make that information public.”

Later Wednesday morning, Matthew Livelsberger, 37, reportedly killed himself and injured seven people when he blew up a rented Tesla Cybertruck outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.

The explosion, reportedly caused by fireworks and gasoline in the vehicle’s bed, did not even break the glass of the building’s lobby, prompting Tesla founder Elon Musk to tout the Cybertruck’s safe design.

Thursday afternoon, it was reported that Livelsberger had a gunshot wound to the head before the Cybertruck exploded. Authorities are investigating whether the incident should be classified as terrorism.

“That vulnerability is very real, which is why we need a proactive FBI. We need law enforcement that is focusing on the bad guys and not on every political agenda that might be the latest fashionable priority,” Cruz said.

The Texan pointed out that the Biden administration’s open border made the U.S. more susceptible to a terror attack.

“The open borders for four years, have contributed to making us less safe, have contributed to increasing the likelihood of a terrorist attack, but at this point, look whether, whether Joe Biden and the Democrats intend to be transparent or not,” Cruz said, harking back to Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy’s promise to “chase” down federal officials to get the “truth” to concerned Americans.

Cruz expressed confidence that the incoming Trump administration, which begins on Jan. 20, will be transparent as information about the attacks emerge.

He told his Verdict listeners, “It needs to be public so there can be accountability for where the ball was dropped, because at the end of the day, this attack was not prevented, tragically, and we need to learn from that and make sure we stop the next attack.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

Trump Breaks Silence on Terror Attack, Slams Dems for Allowing ‘Violent Scum’ to Harm Americans

Julianna Frieman
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Trump Breaks Silence on Terror Attack, Slams Dems for Allowing ‘Violent Scum’ to Harm Americans

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) President-elect Donald Trump ripped President Joe Biden Thursday for welcoming Islamic terrorism, specifically the New Orleans vehicular terror attack inspired by ISIS, through his outgoing administration’s “Open Borders Policy.”

Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, reportedly plowed through pedestrians and murdered 14 people with a Ford pickup truck before the sun rose on New Year’s Day.

The ISIS flag-touting terrorist, who was an Army veteran and U.S. citizen, died in a subsequent gunfight with police after the attack on Bourbon Street.

On Wednesday, Trump torched Biden for making the U.S. into a global “laughing stock,” adding that the 82-year-old Democrats’ “weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership” emboldened criminals who harm Americans.

“The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job. They are incompetent and corrupt, having spent all of their waking hours unlawfully attacking their political opponent, ME, rather than focusing on protecting Americans from the outside and inside violent SCUM that has infiltrated all aspects of our government, and our Nation itself,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, saying Democrats should be “ashamed of themselves.”

Biden did not address the nation about the New Orleans terror attack until Wednesday night, during which he slurred his words and sparked concern with his decrepit appearance—especially due to a dent on his chin.

Hours earlier, the outgoing president faced blowback after writing, “Happy New Year, folks,” at 10:00 a.m. on X in what many characterized as a tone-deaf message in light of the tragedy in Louisiana.

On Thursday, Trump took to Truth Social again and blasted Biden as “the worst president in the history of America.”

“With the Biden ‘Open Border’s Policy’ I said, many times during Rallies, and elsewhere, that Radical Islamic Terrorism, and other forms of violent crime, will become so bad in America that it will become hard to even imagine or believe,” Trump wrote. “That time has come, only worse than ever imagined. Joe Biden is the WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA, A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER. What he and his group of Election Interfering ‘thugs’ have done to our Country will not soon be forgotten! MAGA.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

Bernie Sanders: Shorten Week By 20%, but Pay People Same Amount

Matt Lamb
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Bernie Sanders: Shorten Week By 20%, but Pay People Same Amount

(Matt Lamb, Headline USA) American workers should get paid the same amount of money but work only 32 hours a week, according to socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Sanders recently suggested cutting the work week down to 32 hours in a Dec. 31 op-ed in the Guardian, a British publication. He also declared that “healthcare is a human right” and demanded 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

“People will live longer and healthier lives if they can spend more time with family and friends and have the opportunity to enjoy their leisure time,” Sen. Sanders wrote.

He said tech advancements should “benefit workers, not just billionaires on Wall Street or in Silicon Valley.”

Sanders also demanded a minimum wage of $17 per hour, spending more money on public schools, and combatting the “climate and environmental crisis.”

These suggestions, he said, will help “Make America healthy again,” co-opting the slogan of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Sanders chaired the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in the Senate, although he will lose that position in the coming days due to Republicans gaining the majority.

He previously introduced legislation to enact a 32-hour work week, but the bill went nowhere in the 118th Congress, not even moving out of the committee Sanders chaired.

The conservative Mackinac Center for Public Policy previously criticized Sanders and the United Auto Workers, which supports the bill, for their hypocrisy.

Jarrett Skorup with the Michigan-based center pointed out that jobs with the UAW require people to work 40 hours per week. Meanwhile, reviews from former staffers of Sanders’ indicate they usually were asked to work more than 50 hours per week.

“If Sanders and [UAW President Shawn Fain] believed fewer hours for the same pay makes sense, they would do it for the jobs they offer,” Skorup wrote in April.

A small business expert with the Washington Policy Center previously predicted a mandatory 32-hour work week would lead to increased prices or job layoffs.

Mark Farmsworth, director of the think tank’s small business center, said similar legislation in the state of Washington “would increase the employer wage costs by at least 12%.”

He wrote in 2020 that smaller profit margin industries like retail would see higher prices or employee layoffs.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan Acknowledges He Lost Fans over Trump Comments

Maire Clayton
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Comedian Jim Gaffigan Acknowledges He Lost Fans over Trump Comments

(Maire Clayton, Headline USA) Comedian Jim Gaffigan said he regretted that it was implied he criticized Trump supporters in a new interview with The Daily Beast.

“I regret that people think that I was criticizing people that support Trump. And that was never the intention,” he said. “I regret–someone said like, now I can’t follow you anymore and I kind of said ‘F you’ to them.”

Gaffingan acknowledged that he probably lost fans over his previous Trump comments.

“For me, I don’t regret it, but I also do acknowledge that there are true die-hard Trump fans who probably enjoyed my comedy, but because they feel so passionately will never forgive me,” he continued. “But also, something I’ve noticed in doing stand-up for so long is, you’re going to lose people.”

The comedian famously posted an explicative filled tweet in 2020, where he bashed President-elect Donald Trump.

“I dont give a f**k if anyone thinks this is virtue signaling or whatever,” he wrote at the time. “We need to wake up. We need to call trump the con man and thief that he is.”

The comedian previously played Gov. Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live when he was running for office with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Gaffigan added he does not know how many fans he lost but still sees comments regarding how people used to be a fan.

“I wouldn’t say it was measurable. But there were definitely comments on social media, and there are still some,” he continued. “My son, who’s so funny—I posted something, and my 18-year-old son commented, ‘I liked him until he went on his Trump rant.'”

In October Gaffigan attended the Al Smith dinner and roasted both Democrats and Republicans.

Trump also was in attendee and poked fun at Gaffigan’s SNL appearance.

“Most recently Jim has been playing Tim Walz on SNL,” Trump said. “And that’ll be a very short gig, I hope, Jim. But it was fun while it lasted wasn’t it?”

Download Your Free Copy of Money Metals Insider NOW! (Winter 2025)

Money Metals News Service
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Download Your Free Copy of Money Metals Insider NOW! (Winter 2025)

(Money Metals News Service) We’re pleased to give you access to your complimentary Winter 2025 issue of Money Metals Insider – packed with actionable information about the markets and special offerings from Money Metals, the top-rated precious metals dealer and depository in the United States.

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The newsletter leads off with a special report on Money Metals’ expanded capabilities to support you – with our massive new depository and expanded services, including monthly purchase plans, IRAs, loans, sound money advocacy, and timely market news.

Next, we feature a fascinating new report regarding concentrated short selling in the gold market – and how it may be suppressing the gold price.

Even as gold (and silver) just enjoyed a year of major gains, there is still potential for an explosive move…

We also spotlight the states with the BEST and WORST laws relating to gold and silver – and what Money Metals is doing about it.

Plus, we analyze what’s happening with global gold flows. (It seems many countries are increasingly reluctant to vault their gold in the U.S. or London!)

And finally, don’t miss our product announcements and our highly popular Q&A feature!

Here’s what’s inside your free Money Metals Insider newsletter:

So download the PDF of this fantastic free newsletter right now – and pass it around to your friends! It’s another free benefit for those who have signed up for the Money Metals email list.

US Capitol Struck By Lightning Days Before New Congress

Julianna Frieman
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US Capitol Struck By Lightning Days Before New Congress

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) A lightning strike hit the U.S. Capitol on New Year’s Eve, video posted to social media days before the 119th Congress begins Friday shows.

But the U.S. Capitol was not the only significant U.S. landmark struck by lightning Tuesday night — additional footage shows three other lightning strikes reportedly hit the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. and the One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building in New York City.

Trump supporters on X discussed whether the four buildings struck by lightning ahead of 2025 signified a message from a higher power as President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 approaches.

“U.S. Capitol Building struck by lightning as we close out 2024 and head into 2025. God is sending us a message,” Christian Ziegler, a Trump supporter and former Republican National Convention delegate, wrote.

Jack Posobiec, the pro-Trump editor of Human Events, had one word to say about the lightning strike at the Capitol building: “Soon.”

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, added that the lightning strike “Feels like an omen” and asked, “What’s it telling us?”

“The US Capitol, World Trade Center, and Empire State Building were all struck by lightning tonight, on the final evening of 2024. Feels like an omen. I wonder what God is telling us,” the Sovereign Brah social media account wrote.

X user Natalie F. Danelishen wrote, “The US Capitol building getting struck by lightning is a solid sign going into 2025.”

Many Trump supporters said the longing strikes were a “sign from God,” with X user The Patriot Voice calling the phenomenon “EPICALLY prophetic.”

President-elect Donald Trump endorsed Speaker Mike Johnson for reelection in a Monday post to Truth Social. House lawmakers are expected to vote for the incoming congressional body’s House Speaker on Friday.

“He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN,” Trump wrote of the current GOP speaker. “Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement.”

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and The American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

Wall Street Banks: Expect the Gold Rally to Continue

Money Metals News Service
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Wall Street Banks: Expect the Gold Rally to Continue

(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) Analysts at major Wall Street banks generally expect the gold bull rally to continue into 2025.

And mainstream analysts tend to think the year will remain free from any kind of significant economic chaos or crisis.

Gold had a tremendous 2024, setting multiple records and closing the year with a 26.5 percent gain. It was one of the best-performing assets last year.

According to a survey of Wall Street banks and other players in the gold market conducted by the Financial Times, gold will continue to post gains in 2025, although the pace of the bull run will likely moderate.

On average, Wall Street analysts expect gold to gain another 7 percent in the coming year.

Goldman Sachs was the most bullish, projecting gold will eclipse $3,000 per ounce in 2025. The bank’s analysts cited interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and continued central bank gold buying as bullish factors.

Heraeus Precious Metals’ global head of trading, Henrik Marx, also mentioned central bank gold demand, telling the Times, “We think central bank interest will be a strong base for the buying next year.” He projected gold will close out 2025 at $2,950 per ounce.

Marx sees the Trump era as bullish for gold. He indicated that he doesn’t see much hope for any meaningful curb on federal government borrowing and spending.

“Whatever [Trump] announces will increase debt, leading to a weaker dollar and increased inflation. That is usually a nice mixture for gold.”

Société Générale head of commodities Michael Haigh also mentioned “elevated U.S. fiscal spending,” along with uncertain geopolitical factors as bullish for gold.

“Momentum is taking back over, combined with geopolitical tensions, which is going to add more fuel to the fire.”

The World Gold Council noted that “key macro variables such as GDP, yields and inflation – if taken at face value – suggests positive but much more modest growth for gold in 2025.”

“Upside could come from stronger than expected central bank demand, or from a rapid deterioration of financial conditions leading to flight-to-quality flows. Conversely, a reversal in monetary policy, leading to higher interest rates, would likely bring challenges. In addition, China’s contribution to the gold market will be key: consumers have been on the sidelines while investors have provided support. But these dynamics hang on the direct (and indirect) effects of trade, stimulus and perceptions of risk.”

It’s important to note that Wall Street analysts generally think the economy is gliding to a soft landing. They don’t anticipate any kind of economic crisis in the coming year, and they expect the Federal Reserve will move forward with rate cuts at a relatively modest pace.

Any kind of economic upheaval would drastically change the calculus of gold. If the economy breaks under the pressure of higher interest rates, and if the Fed speeds up the pace of rate cuts, gold would get an even bigger boost.

In my view, some type of economic chaos is more likely than not in the next 12 to 18 months. This debt-riddled bubble economy is addicted to easy money and can’t function in a higher interest rate environment. However, sticky price inflation is forcing the Fed to go slow on easing monetary policy. It seems unlikely the central bank can manage this balancing act.

If there is a major economic crisis, the Federal Reserve will most likely slash rates back to zero and start running quantitative easing. After all, that’s the fork it knows.

In this scenario, the price of gold would likely blow through the roof.

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Chinese Gold Demand Shows Signs of a Rebound

Money Metals News Service
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Chinese Gold Demand Shows Signs of a Rebound

(Mike Maharrey, Money Metals News Service) It appears the Chinese have hopped back on the gold bandwagon.

Gold demand sagged in China over the summer and into the fall months, but it appears that trend reversed in November, with net imports from Hong Kong more than doubling.

There was also a return to gold price premiums in China, another signal of growing demand for the yellow metal.

China ranks as the world’s number one gold consumer.

China imported a net of 33.1 tonnes of gold in November. That was a 115 percent increase from October and was the highest level of net imports since April 2024.

In another sign that Chinese gold demand is on the rebound, gold exports from Switzerland rose in November. Analysts say increasing demand from China, as well as India, accounted for the increase.

Gold also began selling at a premium in China as 2024 came to an end. Gold prices rose to around $4.40 per ounce above the global benchmark in late December after months of discounts. It was the first significant premium since August. In October, discounts were as much as $40 an ounce.

Analysts say record gold prices in the fall dampened Chinese demand. With prices moderating late in the year, the Chinese have apparently returned to the table.

“This shows evidence that Chinese buyers are extremely price sensitive and that the rising prices were causing buyers to be cautious in case of a price correction,” InvestingHaven.com precious metals specialist Levi Donohoe wrote.

The drop in gold global prices coincides with the runup to the Chinese New Year on Jan. 29.

“It is possible that Chinese investors are seeing the recent dip in prices as a ‘less risky’ time to buy. As demand recovers, so does the price premium,” Donohoe said.

Worries about a trade war as Donald Trump prepares to take the U.S. presidency could also be driving safe-haven gold buying in China.

“Trump has a history of applying tariffs on Chinese imports and has been vocal about his intentions to use these again in his upcoming term. Whilst this will not impact the flows of gold into China, it increases the uncertainty of the Chinese economy going forward, which will naturally cause some to want more exposure to the safe haven asset,” Donohoe said.

The People’s Bank of China also began officially adding gold to its reserves in November, with a 5-ton purchase.

China was the biggest central bank gold buyer in 2023, but it stopped announcing increases to its reserves back in May.

But even with the official pause, the Chinese have still been stockpiling gold. According to Jan Nieuwenhuijs, the PBoC’s “unreported” purchases in London accounted for 60 tonnes in September and another 55 tonnes in October.

“Chinese authorities see a greater role for gold in the future international monetary system, or they wouldn’t continue buying such extraordinary amounts of gold. Via London alone, the PBoC has stockpiled 1,000 tonnes of gold since Russia’s foreign exchange assets were ‘frozen’ by the West in early 2022,” Nieuwenhuijs wrote.

Donohoe called the revival of Chinese gold demand a bullish signal for the global market.

“Rising Chinese premiums could indicate a recovery in demand, supporting higher global gold prices in the near term. Chinese investors are thought of as shrewd buyers and so if they are seeing the recent dip in gold prices as a buying opportunity, this may become a wider trend in the global economy which provides fundamental justification for our long-term bullish view on the precious metal.”

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NEW LAW IN EFFECT – Virtually All Taxes Removed on Gold and Silver Purchases in New Jersey

Money Metals News Service
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NEW LAW IN EFFECT – Virtually All Taxes Removed on Gold and Silver Purchases in New Jersey

(Stefan Gleason, Money Metals News Service) Today, January 1st, New Jersey Senate Bill 721 went into effect — ending sales taxes on virtually all purchases of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

This sales tax exemption was enacted thanks to Money Metals’ in-house public policy project advocating for laws that protect precious metals investors, the Sound Money Defense League — as well as Money Metals’ customers in New Jersey who contacted their legislators during key moments, purchases of precious metals are now tax-free statewide, with some restrictions.

The only kinds of things that still get taxed are high-premium coins, such as Proof 1/10th oz American Gold Eagles, and similar items that are sold for less than $1,000.

Money Metals worked for multiple years to successfully remove this tax imposed on Garden State investors. Only five states still fully tax precious metals purchases: Maine, New Mexico, Vermont, Hawaii, and Kentucky.

We intend to double our efforts in these states to eliminate the scourge of sales taxation from the country entirely.

New Jersey was one of seven states that passed pro- gold and silver legislation in 2024.

We’re not done yet. In 2025, we intend to secure even more wins for precious metals across the country.

For more information on the law in New Jersey, click here.

Thank you for your business and support. I wish you and your family blessings in 2025.

Stefan Gleason Signature

Stefan Gleason

President

Stefan Gleason is President and CEO of Money Metals Exchange, the company recently named “Best Overall Online Precious Metals Dealer” by Investopedia. A graduate of the University of Florida, Gleason is a seasoned business leader, investor, political strategist, and grassroots activist. Gleason has frequently appeared on national television networks such as CNN, FoxNews, and CNBC and in hundreds of publications such as the Wall Street Journal, TheStreet, and Seeking Alpha.

Elon Musk Says Alleged Terrorist ‘Picked the Wrong Vehicle’ to Blow Up Trump Hotel

Julianna Frieman
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Elon Musk Says Alleged Terrorist ‘Picked the Wrong Vehicle’ to Blow Up Trump Hotel

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Tesla founder Elon Musk said an alleged terrorist “picked the wrong vehicle” Wednesday when his company’s Cybertruck was blown up outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.

Matthew Livelsberger, 37, reportedly died and injured seven people around 8:40 a.m. Wednesday after he set off an explosion from a rented Cybertruck in front of President-elect Donald Trump’s namesake building, according to KTNV. Video shows the vehicle, made by Trump ally Musk’s electric vehicle company, burst into flames as it was detonated by the suspect, who is reportedly being investigated as a potential terrorist.

Musk took to social media and touted the strength and safety of Tesla’s Cybertruck following the incident, noting that the Trump Hotel’s lobby did not even suffer shattered glass.

“The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards,” Musk wrote on his X social media platform. “Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken.”

The Tesla boss reposted footage of the Cybertruck after the explosion, which showed the dilapidated bed of the vehicle. Fireworks and camping fuel were reported found inside the Cybertruck, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials said during a press conference.

“The Las Vegas Sheriff just said that the Cybertruck actually held it’s frame and limited the damage of the explosion, directing the blast upwards,” @Geiger_Capital wrote in a post reshared by Musk. “He tried to send a message by using a Tesla, but it ended up saving lives instead.”

Las Vegas police gave special thanks to Musk for his assistance in the investigation during a televised press conference Wednesday night.

“I have to thank Elon Musk specifically. He gave us quite a bit of additional information in regards to how the vehicle was locked after it exploded,” the sheriff said.

Musk later took aim at the Associated Press for running the following headline: “1 person dies when Tesla truck catches fire and explodes outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel.”

“Associated Press stands for Associated Propaganda,” Musk said with a screenshot of the outlet’s article on X, which received a community note calling out its “factually incorrect framing” implying the Cybertruck, not the suspect’s fireworks or gasoline, caused the explosion.

Julianna Frieman is a freelance writer published by the Daily Caller, Headline USA, The Federalist, and the American Spectator. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliannaFrieman.

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