Precious Metals Investigator Hints at Looming Silver Supply Crunch

Money Metals News Service
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Precious Metals Investigator Hints at Looming Silver Supply Crunch

(Money Metals News Service) In a recent episode of the Money Metals Podcast, host Mike Maharrey sat down with Philip Newman, Managing Director of Metals Focus, to explore the evolving landscape of the precious metals market.

The conversation touched on the impact of political changes, industrial demand, and shifting investor sentiment on gold and silver prices, providing valuable insights into the future of these critical markets.

(Interview Begins Around 4:28 Mark)

Post-Election Volatility in Precious Metals

The aftermath of the U.S. presidential election saw a notable correction in gold and silver prices. Newman attributed this to market expectations that the Federal Reserve might scale back aggressive rate cuts during Trump’s second presidency.

Markets anticipated rates would rise by 75–100 basis points higher than originally forecast by the end of 2025. Despite this adjustment, gold demonstrated resilience, rebounding to $2,700 per ounce, a signal of continued investor confidence.

Policy Changes and Inflationary Pressures

Trump’s economic policies, including proposed tariffs on major trade partners like China, Mexico, and Canada, could lead to inflationary pressures.

Newman explained that these tariffs might serve as a negotiating tactic rather than a definitive policy, but their enactment could significantly increase costs. Deportation policies, if implemented broadly, could also tighten the U.S. labor market, adding to inflation. The full impact of these measures, however, will depend on how closely Trump’s actions align with his rhetoric.

Safe Haven Demand and Global Risks

Geopolitical uncertainty remains a key driver of safe-haven demand for gold. While tensions in the Middle East have moderated slightly, conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war continue to escalate.

According to Newman, the focus of risk-driven buying has shifted from the Middle East to Ukraine, with broader implications for gold’s appeal as a protective asset. Meanwhile, Trump’s potential foreign policy moves, particularly toward Iran and Israel, may further influence safe-haven demand.

Record Industrial Demand for Silver

Silver’s industrial demand is set to hit record levels in 2024, surpassing 700 million ounces for the first time. Newman highlighted the booming photovoltaic (solar) market, where China accounts for half of global solar installations.

However, manufacturers are aggressively reducing silver content in solar panels to manage costs, a trend known as thrifting. This push to cut expenses reflects the challenge of maintaining margins amid volatile silver prices, which recently hovered around $31 per ounce.

The Ongoing Silver Deficit

Silver markets are experiencing a persistent deficit, estimated at 182 million ounces for 2024. While this is slightly lower than the record 261 million-ounce shortfall in 2022, it remains a significant challenge.

Above-ground stocks, including liquidations from retail investors and recycled flatware, have played a critical role in meeting demand. However, exchange-held inventories like those in CME and LBMA vaults have remained stable, suggesting that off-exchange holdings are filling much of the gap.

Shifting U.S. Investor Sentiment

Newman observed a change in U.S. investor behavior, particularly among Republican-leaning individuals. With Trump’s return to power and Republican dominance in Congress, the Senate, and the Supreme Court, many investors feel reassured about the country’s direction.

This confidence has reduced the urgency to buy precious metals, though it hasn’t triggered widespread selling. Meanwhile, Germany, a traditionally strong market for silver coins and bars, has struggled, but 2025 could bring a rebound in demand.

India’s Resilient Role in the Silver Market

India continues to play a pivotal role in the global silver market as the largest consumer of jewelry, flatware, and investment bars. Despite record-high silver prices in rupees, demand in India has held steady.

Newman emphasized the importance of monitoring local price dynamics in markets like India, where price sensitivity shapes buying behavior. The absence of mass liquidations, even at elevated prices, reflects the unique resilience of this critical market.

Looking Ahead to 2025

The precious metals market faces a complex year ahead. Geopolitical tensions, industrial demand, and policy changes under Trump will shape the trajectory of gold and silver.

The silver deficit is expected to persist, with off-exchange holdings continuing to play a vital role in meeting demand. Both gold and silver are likely to remain dynamic markets, influenced by global events and evolving investor sentiment.

About Metals Focus

Metals Focus is a leading independent research firm specializing in precious metals. The consultancy collaborates with organizations like The Silver Institute to provide data on mine costs, market flows, and industrial demand. Their data-driven and unbiased insights are invaluable to investors and industry professionals.

For more information, visit metalsfocus.com.

The conversation with Philip Newman offered a comprehensive overview of the forces shaping the precious metals market, underscoring the importance of informed analysis for navigating this ever-changing landscape.

Key Questions & Answers

Metals Focus Philip Newman on Money Metals Podcast with Mike Maharrey Gold Silver Precious Metals Future

The following are the key questions and answers from the Money Metals Podcast interview with host Mike Maharrey and Metals Focus’ Managing Director Philip Newman:

How Did the U.S. Presidential Election Affect Precious Metals Markets?

The election triggered a significant correction in gold and silver prices, primarily due to market expectations of less aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts under Trump’s second term. Markets anticipated rates would rise by 75–100 basis points higher than previously forecast by the end of 2025. Despite this correction, gold rebounded to $2,700 per ounce, demonstrating resilience and continued investor confidence.

Are Trump’s Policies Likely to Be Inflationary?

Yes, according to Philip Newman, Trump’s proposed tariffs on trade partners like China, Mexico, and Canada could lead to inflationary pressures. These tariffs might be used as negotiating tools, but if enacted, they would increase costs. Additionally, deportation policies could tighten the U.S. labor market, adding further inflationary pressure. The extent of these impacts depends on how closely Trump’s actions align with his rhetoric.

What Role Does Safe Haven Demand Play in Precious Metals Markets?

Safe haven demand remains a crucial factor, driven by geopolitical risks such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and tensions in the Middle East. Recently, the focus of risk-driven buying has shifted from the Middle East to Ukraine. Trump’s potential hawkish foreign policy, particularly toward Iran and Israel, may further influence demand for gold as a protective asset.

Why Is Silver’s Industrial Demand Reaching Record Levels?

Silver’s industrial demand is projected to surpass 700 million ounces in 2024, largely due to the photovoltaic (solar) market. China, which accounts for half of global solar installations, drives much of this demand. However, manufacturers are reducing silver content in solar panels through thrifting to manage costs, especially as silver prices remain volatile at around $31 per ounce.

How Is the Silver Market Deficit Being Addressed?

The silver market deficit for 2024 is estimated at 182 million ounces. Above-ground stocks, such as liquidations from retail investors and recycled flatware, have helped fill this gap. Exchange-held inventories, including those in CME and LBMA vaults, remained stable, suggesting that off-exchange holdings are addressing much of the shortfall.

How Has U.S. Investor Sentiment Shifted?

Many U.S. investors, particularly those with Republican-leaning views, feel reassured by Trump’s return to power and Republican control of key political institutions. This confidence has reduced the urgency to buy precious metals but hasn’t triggered widespread selling. However, Newman noted this shift might lead to lower demand for precious metals in the short term.

What Is India’s Role in the Global Silver Market?

India is a significant player in the silver market, as the largest global consumer of jewelry, flatware, and investment bars. Despite record-high silver prices in rupees, demand has remained steady, and there have been no mass liquidations. This resilience underscores the importance of monitoring local price dynamics in markets like India.

Where Do Precious Metals Markets Go from Here?

Looking ahead to 2025, geopolitical tensions, industrial demand, and Trump’s policies are expected to shape the trajectory of gold and silver. The silver deficit is likely to persist, with off-exchange holdings continuing to play a vital role in meeting demand. Both gold and silver are anticipated to remain dynamic markets, influenced by global events and evolving investor sentiment.

NYC Mayor May Become Republican

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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NYC Mayor May Become Republican

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently stated that he may become a Republican, even though the last time the city had a mayor from the Grand Old Party was in 2001 when Rudy Giuliani was still in office.

The New York Post reported that Adams was a Republican from 1995 to 2002.

When visiting a morning show on NY1, Adams was asked if he would consider rejoining the Republican Party.

“The party that’s most important for me is the American party,” he said. “I’m a part of the American party. I love this country.”

After giving a non-definitive answer, a host on Pix11 asked Adams during the interview to clarify his comments. The Post reported that Adams wanted to “support American values” no matter what political party he belonged to. He also stated that he would not leave the Democratic Party for now.

“I am going to run for my re-election as a Democrat, but my focus is the American people and the people of New York City, and those who don’t like it, they will cancel me, and I say, ‘Cancel me,’” he said.

However, conservatives on Twitter pointed out that Adams is just a lying politician who only wants to benefit himself and his friends.

“Let’s be clear: Eric Adams is no Republican. In fact, he’s a disgrace to all politics, no matter the party he reinvents himself to be a part of. He is a lying, opportunistic clown who has helped destroy #NYC more than ever,” former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa wrote.

He also talked about how welcoming Adams was to illegal aliens coming to the city, prioritizing them over American citizens.

“We didn’t forget that Adams WELCOMED the migrant crisis when it seemed politically expedient. He took billions of taxpayer money in resources from struggling New Yorkers and gave debit cards, shelter, hotels, food and healthcare to migrants. Not to mention the corrupt contracts to all of his friends who profited off of migrants coming to our city,” he wrote.

Self-described Donald Trump loyalist Roger Stone, Trump impersonator Shawn Farash and editor of The Liberty Daily and America First Report J.D. Rucker agreed with Sliwa in their social media posts.

Comedia Tim Young also pointed out that Adams doesn’t automatically rule out joining the Republican Party only because he wants Trump to pardon him since Democrats stabbed him in the back by starting a witchhunt after he started illegals coming and staying in the city.

Rumors Swirl as Daily Wire Could Replace Host with Best Friend

Julianna Frieman
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Rumors Swirl as Daily Wire Could Replace Host with Best Friend

(Julianna Frieman, Headline USA) Rumors popped up on social media this week suggesting Daily Wire host Brett Cooper will be pushed out from the company and replaced by her best friend.

Sources at the Daily Wire allegedly told comedian Vincent Oshana that Reagan Conrad, Cooper’s producer, bridesmaid and close friend, accepted a “lucrative” contract to take over as host of The Comment Section.

“They apparently allegedly gave her acting classes to imitate Brett’s mannerisms,” Oshana said of Conrad.

Oshana said on Thursday’s episode of The Unusual Suspects podcast that he learned Cooper is legally prohibited from speaking publicly about her alleged ousting and that the Daily Wire can portray Cooper leaving however they want. He said he obtained a copy of a leaked internal letter the media company’s CEO, Jeremy Boreing, circulated claiming Cooper herself wanted to leave.

Conrad first appeared as Cooper’s guest host on Oct. 25 in an episode titled “A New Era of Conservatives Is Here.” The producer had since hosted The Comment Section nine times, which Oshana suggested was to warm viewers up to the Cooper’s replacement.

Oshana said Cooper’s contract lasts until late December.

“She’s getting screwed nine ways ’til Sunday and getting pushed out,” Oshana said on The Unusual Suspects after claiming the Daily Wire CEO is on a “warpath” against Cooper.

Cooper has not addressed rumors of her exit, nor has she stopped uploading multiple episodes of her show each week.

Daily Wire fans discussed rumors of Cooper’s departure as early as Tuesday, with some suggesting they would boycott the outlet if the rumors are true.

Claims that Cooper got into a dispute with Boreing began on TikTok, according to the entertainment outlet Mandatory, prompting rumors and Oshana’s conversations with Daily Wire sources.

Former host Candace Owens parted ways with the Daily Wire in March following public clashes about Judaism with founder and host Ben Shapiro. Cooper appeared to be friends with Owens, who has since gone on to continue her political commentary independently.

Cooper’s first episode was posted on YouTube on March 1, 2022. She has since accumulated more than 4.52 million subscribers on her channel.

She is set to star in the Daily Wire remake of Disney classic film Snow White and the original series The Pendragon Cycle.

Headline USA reached out for comment from the Daily Wire and has yet to hear back.

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.

MURDOCK: Hegseth Is Next Up in Crosshairs of Drive-By Media

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MURDOCK: Hegseth Is Next Up in Crosshairs of Drive-By Media

(Deroy Murdock, Headline USA) President re-elect Donald J. Trump’s enemies seem overwhelmed by his growing sense of invincibility.

Civil lawsuits, criminal indictments, Democrat nominees, media mudslinging, and even a crazed gunman’s bullet bounced right off him. So, they now target his Cabinet nominees.

Often-anonymous rumors and accusations are the weapon of choice. The Democrat Left’s vicious sniping prompted attorney-general nominee Matt Gaetz to withdraw his name from consideration.

This only deepened the hunger of Hate Trump, Inc.

Democrats and their regime-media servants salivate at the prospect of toppling my friend Pete Hegseth, the battle-hardened, decorated veteran and natural-born broadcaster whom Trump has tapped as secretary of Defense.

Just days after the Left got Gaetz, their potshots began anew. Now-clichéd anonymous sources aimed from the bushes and accused Hegseth of being a bumbling, spendthrift, womanizing drunk. Such charges are easy to deploy while hiding namelessly behind a mask.

Conversely, Trump haters hate on-the-record comments by named individuals who admire their targets.

No surprise, Hegseth’s former colleagues describe someone completely different: A capable, inspiring, and eloquent leader with abundant potential.

  • “I have known Pete Hegseth for 18 years,” said Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia. The man who hired Hegseth to run Vets for Freedom continued: “Pete is bold and willing to make decisions that will keep America safe, which is the primary reason he continues to be relentlessly targeted.”
  • “Over the years when the burdens of war crept up, Pete has always been the guy that I could call no matter how bad it was,” Sergeant Shawn Bryan (USMC, Retired) remembers. Hegseth’s Vets for Freedom colleague observed, “No matter how busy he was, Pete would answer and give sound advice. That is the leadership that President Trump sees in Pete.”
  • “I have always known Pete to be a man of honesty, integrity, and character,” said Holly K. Talley of Concerned Veterans of America, which Hegseth managed from 2013 to 2016. “During my time with CVA [October 2014-December 2016], I frequently traveled to Defend Freedom Tour stops, policy-maker town halls, and various other event,” Talley stated. “I personally never witnessed any unprofessional or inappropriate behavior by Pete during these events.”
  • “Pete brought incredible energy, focus, and a clear vision to the organization, and it showed in everything the team accomplished together,” said CVA’s digital media director Casin Spero.
  • Tina Kingston, CVA’s Louisiana State Director from 2014 to 2016, said: “What The New Yorker published could not be further from the truth! I never saw Pete Hegseth flirt or do anything inappropriate with his female staffers or any other female.”
  • “CVA recognizes and appreciates his accomplishments as CEO,” trustee Randy Lair wrote in a January 2016 letter, upon Hegseth’s departure. “Pete has provided strong leadership during the growth of CVA as an influential organization on many fronts.”

Meanwhile, NBC “News” soiled itself on Tuesday with a third-rate hit piece in which 10 of Hegseth’s TV “associates” claimed that he reeked of alcohol and required babysitting while on air. Typically, these “sources” were anonymous.

I refuted this rubbish in Thursday’s American Spectator. I cited 15 of Hegseth’s Fox News colleagues who report zero such behavior.

Most significant: The testimony of Hegseth’s regular Fox & Friends Weekend co-hosts.

  • “Your story is horseshit @NBCNews,” Will Cain declared via X. “Signed, The guy who sat next to him for 8 hours every week for five years starting at 6am.” 
  • “@willcain is right – your story IS horseshit,” said Rachel Campos-Duffy. “You now have 2 people who sat next to him 8+ hours a week on the record. Will you retract or correct your story?”

Hegseth has interviewed me on air many times. He consistently was sharp, professional, and sober. Since we met around 2007, Hegseth has been reliably smart, congenial, and well-prepared for the next challenge, no matter how formidable.

For years, Hegseth has earned the confidence of employees, peers, and supervisors alike. 

All we are saying is: Give Pete a chance.

​Deroy Murdock is a Manhattan-based Fox News contributor.

Police: Gunman Who Killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Quickly Left NYC on a Bus Afterward

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Police: Gunman Who Killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Quickly Left NYC on a Bus Afterward

(Headline USA) The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer likely left New York City on a bus soon after the brazen ambush that has shaken corporate America, police officials said Friday.

Three days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still did not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told reporters. Investigators were looking at whether the shooter may have been a disgruntled employee or client of the insurer, he said.

Video of the gunman fleeing Wednesday’s shooting showed him riding a bicycle into Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus terminal that offers commuter service to New Jersey and Greyhound routes to Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C, according to Kenny.

Police have video of the man entering the bus station but no video of him exiting, leading them to believe he left the city, Kenny said. CNN first reported that the shooter may have escaped the city by bus.

Investigators found a backpack in Central Park that was carried by the shooter, police said Friday, following a massive sweep to find it in a vast area with lakes and ponds, meadows, playgrounds and a densely wooded section called “The Ramble.”

The gunman made sure to conceal his identity with a mask during almost all of his time in the city, including during the attack and while he ate, yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras.

The gunman arrived in New York City on Nov. 24 and shot Thompson 10 days later, outside his company’s annual investor conference at a hotel just blocks from Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center.

The gunman got off a bus that originated in Atlanta and made several stops along the way, Kenny said. Police have not determined where he got on the bus.

Investigators believe the suspect used a fake identification card and paid cash, Kenny said, when he checked in at the hostel, which has a café along with shared and private rooms and is blocks from Columbia University.

Investigators have tested a discarded water bottle and protein bar wrapper in a hunt for his DNA. They also were trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone found along the gunman’s escape route.

Photos of the suspected shooter that were taken in the lobby of a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side appear to be from the only time he removed his mask, Kenny said.

The images, showing a man smiling in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel. They are among a collection of photos and video circulated since the shooting—including footage of the attack, as well as images of the suspected gunman at a Starbucks beforehand.

“From every indication we have from witnesses, from the Starbucks, from the hostel, he kept his mask on at all times except for the one instance where we have him photographed with the mask off,” Kenny said.

His roommates at the hostel also said he didn’t speak to them, Kenny said.

Security video of the shooting shows the killer approaching Thompson from behind, firing several shots with a gun equipped with a silencer, barely pausing to clear a jam while the executive fell to the sidewalk.

The words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were scrawled on the ammunition, one word on each of three bullets, Kenny said. A law enforcement official previously told the Associated Press that the words scrawled on the ammunition were “deny,” “defend” and “depose.” The messages mirror the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” which is commonly used by lawyers and critics about insurers that delay payments, deny claims and defend their actions.

Thompson, a father of two sons who lived in a Minneapolis suburb, had been with Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.

The insurer’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting in New York for investors. The company abruptly ended the conference after Thompson’s death.

UnitedHealth Group said it was focused on supporting Thompson’s family, ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring,” the company said.

UnitedHealthcare provides coverage for more than 49 million Americans. It manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.

In October, UnitedHealthcare was named along with Humana and CVS in a Senate report detailing how its denial rate for prior authorizations for some Medicare Advantage patients has surged in recent years.

The shooting has rocked the health insurance industry in particular, causing companies to reevaluate security plans and delete photos of executives from their websites.

A different Minnesota-based health-care company said Friday it was temporarily closing its offices out of an abundance of caution, telling employees to work from home.

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Unhinged Calif. Man Who Shot 2 Kindergartners at Christian School Motivated by Gaza War

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Unhinged Calif. Man Who Shot 2 Kindergartners at Christian School Motivated by Gaza War

(Headline USA) A gunman who critically wounded two kindergartners at a tiny religious school in Northern California was mentally ill and believed by targeting children he was carrying out “counter-measures” in response to America’s involvement in Middle East violence, a sheriff said Thursday.

Glenn Litton used a “ruse” of pretending to enroll a fictitious grandson to gain entry to the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Oroville, Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said during a news conference.

Litton used a handgun to shoot two kindergarten boys, ages 5 and 6, who remained in critical condition Thursday, the sheriff said. Litton then used the weapon—a so-called ghost gun, which is difficult for investigators to trace—to kill himself just yards from the school’s playground.

The sheriff said the 6-year-old suffered two gunshot wounds that caused internal injuries, while the 5-year-old was shot once.

“The fact that they are currently still with us is a miracle,” Honea said of the children, adding they will likely face additional surgeries and “have a very long road ahead of them, in terms of recovery.”

While Honea said Litton, 56, also had a lengthy criminal history—mostly theft and identity theft—authorities said they did not find any violent crimes on his record.

Honea said the man is believed to have targeted the Feather River School in Wednesday’s attack, though it’s unclear why. Litton had attended a school of Seventh-Day Adventists in another town as a child, the sheriff said, and he possibly had a relative who attended Feather River as a young child.

But in Litton’s writings, the sheriff said, the suspect wrote about taking “counter-measures” against the school in response to America’s involvement in violence in the Middle East.

“That’s a motivation that was in his mind. How it was that he conflated what’s going on in Palestine and Yemen with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, I can’t speculate. I’m not sure that we’ll ever know that,” Honea said.

He said Litton had similarly scheduled an appointment at another Seventh-Day Adventist school, set for Thursday.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church is a Christian denomination in which members consider the Bible their only creed and believe that the second coming of Christ is near.

The shooting occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday at the private K-8 school with fewer than three dozen students in Oroville, on the edge of the tiny community of Palermo, about 65 miles north of Sacramento.

Law enforcement officials have documented Litton’s history of mental illness back to when he was a teenager, though Honea said investigators have not found a concrete diagnosis.

Litton reportedly was released from a San Bernadino prison just two weeks prior to the attack, in what has become a common refrain for California, where violent crime has run amok due to soft-on-crime legislators and prosecutors.

Despite having some of the nation’s most draconian gun laws, California is also a regular staging ground for many of the nation’s mass shootings, suggesting that the laws may be an ineffective deterrence.

Litton was a convicted felon and therefore could not legally possess a firearm.

In recent years, however, Litton searched online for guns and explosives and wrote notes to himself to plan a non-specific mass incident, though Butte County District Attorney Michael L. Ramsey insisted they were “just ruminations”—until they weren’t.

Honea said the gunman was dropped off by an Uber driver for the fake meeting with a school administrator.

Following the shooting, the gunman’s body was found near the slide and other playground equipment on school grounds, which abut ranchland where cattle graze. A handgun was found nearby, Honea said.

The school was closed Thursday but sheriff’s deputies walked around the campus behind shuttered gates and staff members carried classroom items out to their cars.

Shawn Webber, an Oroville city councilmember, said the region was reeling.

“When you see this on the news or nationally and it’s like, those things don’t happen here. Well, yesterday it happened here,” he said Thursday. “It just absolutely violated the peace of our community.”

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

Kenyan Forces in Haiti Go Unpaid Despite Biden Funnel­ing $110M in So-Called Aid

Luis Cornelio
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Kenyan Forces in Haiti Go Unpaid Despite Biden Funnel­ing $110M in So-Called Aid

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Some Kenyan police officers currently deployed in Haiti have gone several weeks without pay, despite President Joe Biden handing over millions in taxpayer money to support the seemingly crumbling security force. 

The payment delay may raise questions about what happened to the $100 million Biden funneled to the corruption- and poverty-stricken Caribbean nation. 

According to three officers cited by Reuters, 20 of the approximately 400 Kenyan police officers in Haiti submitted resignation letters over two months due to “pay delays and poor conditions.” 

National police chief Douglas Kanja disputed these claims, saying officers had been paid “up to the end of October.” He did not specify whether the officers have been paid for November, particularly given the approaching holiday season. 

The pay delay scandal follows closely on the heels of Biden’s approval of nearly $110 million in security and police assistance to Haiti, according to the Department of State. This move bypassed Republican lawmakers, who had placed a hold on the funds. 

“The security situation in Haiti remains untenable due to violence perpetrated by violent gangs, and the people of Haiti cannot wait,” the official said, according to Reuters. 

The funding included $95 million for security support and $15 million for the Haitian National Police, which has been unable to tackle violent gangs. 

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch criticized the Biden administration for overriding Congress’s hold on the funds. 

“The Biden Administration’s choice to override the hold I had placed on U.S. taxpayer funding for the ill-conceived Haiti MSS (Multinational Security Support Mission) is extremely disappointing,” Risch said. 

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul affirmed that the funds were put on hold because “a lot more details” were needed. 

The liberal Washington Post reported that Kenya has spent over $2 billion Kenyan shillings ($15 million) on the mission so far. The U.S. has funneled over $5.1 billion in Haitian aid thus far. 

“This money we are spending on behalf of the U.N., we are the ones making the payment so the money comes from our exchequer because these are our officers,” Kenyan Treasury Minister John Mbadi told local media last week, according to The Washington Post.

Oh: ‘Oppenheimer’ Star Reveals ‘Masculine Trans Non-Binary’ Identity After Haircut Change

Luis Cornelio
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Oh: ‘Oppenheimer’ Star Reveals ‘Masculine Trans Non-Binary’ Identity After Haircut Change

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Emma Dumont, a model and actor known for her role in Oppenheimer, announced Thursday she now identifies as a “trans masculine non-binary person,” dropping female pronouns in favor of “they/them.” 

Dumont revealed the shocking change on Instagram, updating the account name to “Nick Dumont” and boasting of the newly adopted pronouns. 

A Dumont spokesperson later confirmed the transition in remarks to TMZ: “They identify as a trans masculine non-binary person. Their work name is still going to be Emma Dumont, but they will go by Nick with friends and family.” 

Healthline claims that the term “trans masculine” refers to individuals who “were assigned female at birth but identify with masculinity.” 

Similarly, Healthline says “nonbinary” describes those whose gender identity “falls outside” traditional and more mainstream definition. 

Dumont, who was born female in 1994, appeared to hint at the identity shift in a May 26 post featuring a jean jacket and a short haircut.

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

Nick Dumont (@emmadumont) • Instagram photos and videos

On Aug. 28, Dumont shared more photos, including one in a blue jean jacket and dark brown T-shirt. 

Some of Dumont’s followers noted the new look, with one individual writing, “I miss the long black hair.” 

Dumont has landed major roles in recent years, including Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza and Marvel’s TV series The Gifted, according to TMZ.  

Her most prominent role was playing Robert Oppenheimer’s sister-in-law in the blockbuster film Oppenheimer. 

Dumont, once celebrated by IndiWire as a breakout star, surprised many personalities on the social media platform called X.  

Many users circulated before-and-after photos of her transition, with some commentators accusing Dumont of simply announcing the gender change in a bid to gain attention. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nick Dumont (@emmadumont)

A New York Post tweet announcing the transition amassed nearly 24 million views by Dec. 6. 

Several right-leaning figures shared their opinions on Dumont’s identity change. Riley Gaines quipped on X, “Someone explain ‘trans masculine non-binary’ to me like I’m 5.”

Mary Katharine Ham added, “Lotta words for Emma got a haircut.” 

Judge Drops Charge Against Daniel Penny

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Judge Drops Charge Against Daniel Penny

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) New York City prosecutors were forced to drop the manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny on Friday after jurors said for the second time they couldn’t agree on a verdict in Penny’s case.

“I’ll take a chance and grant the people’s application,” Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley said, according to the New York Post.

Wiley also told the jury to return on Dec. 9 and deliberate the charge of criminally negligent homicide.

“Whether that makes any difference or not, I have no idea. But I’m going to direct you to focus your deliberations on count two,” he said. “Go home and think about something else.”

People on Twitter quickly responded to the recent news, celebrating what happened while criticizing New York City’s corrupt and biased judicial system.

“We are WAY through the looking glass now. The justice system in Manhattan is borderline Stalinist. The DA needs to go, and a federal civil rights investigation MUST come out of the new DOJ immediately. I plan to lobby the Trump administration hard for this. What a travesty,” New York City councilwoman Vickie Paladino wrote.

Conservative activist and commentator Robby Starbuck, who recently became famous for forcing woke corporations to drop their DEI policies, also pointed out that Penny should not be in the courtroom.

“Daniel Penny still faces multiple years in prison if they convict him of the lesser charge on Monday, but even if they don’t, this has been an absolute travesty. Daniel is a hero, and he should get the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” he wrote.

Donald Trump-supporting journalist Laura Loomer also stated that Penny is a “hero” who “did nothing wrong.”

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk also suggested that people should not celebrate the recent news because this is a “desperate bid to get [Penny] convicted on the second charge.”

“The whole move may well be illegal. New York is outrageously obsessed with putting an innocent hero in prison,” he wrote.

Taylor Swift Releases Book Full of Typos, Layout Issues

Dmytro "Henry" Aleksandrov
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Taylor Swift Releases Book Full of Typos, Layout Issues

(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) One of the most popular pop stars, Taylor Swift, recently released a book that even her fans criticized because it was full of typos and layout issues.

The Daily Wire reported that The Eras Tour Book, which includes a vinyl and CD version of The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, was released on Black Friday and sold exclusively at Target for $39.99. As expected, Swift’s fans waited in line overnight to buy a copy, and the coffee table book became an instant bestseller, selling 814,000 copies over the holiday weekend.

However, fans now have buyer’s remorse after discovering that the book contains many typos. The Wire reported that Swift decided to publish the book herself instead of using one of the many publishing houses.

“I know I’m not the only one disappointed with the Eras Tour book, but I haven’t seen anyone else talk about the glaringly obvious grammatical errors and clunky sentences within the pages,” @emermore7 wrote, according to the news source. “I make this video with peace, love and a general frustration about how [easily] many of these problems could have been fixed with one more set of editing eyes. This book just had so much potential, and with a little tweaking, it could have been absolutely spectacular.”

Some of Swift’s fans went as far as to claim they were “blown away by the amount of grammatical mistakes [they] saw.”

“I saw so many, in fact, that I am seriously questioning if this book was even edited,” one of the fans stated, according to the Rolling Stones.

The Wire reported that, in addition to typos, Swift’s fans also complained about image layouts, blurry pictures and pages being printed upside down.

Some people on Twitter also criticized the fans for consistently consuming the content that Swift produces, even if she does something like selling an unedited book.

“What a great representation of her career,” @CC_superstar10 wrote. “I’ve even seen ‘swifties’ complaining that their book is printed upside down and [is of] poor quality. This girl keeps sh****ng in your face, and [you] are still buying.”

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