Sick Trump's posted on Truth Social claiming to be “on a mission from God,” using a meme featuring the alt-right symbol Pepe the Frog. The meme, which stated “nothing can stop what is coming,” was posted shortly after a court invalidated most of his “Liberation Day” tariffs. The image originated from a "groyper" account linked to far-right figure Nick Fuentes and is seen as feeding into a MAGA and QAnon belief that Trump is divinely chosen. This post led to an 8.5% overnight spike in the $PEPE meme coin, an asset held by many in Trump's circle and at his recent crypto gala.
The U.S. clean energy sector has experienced a significant setback, with over $14 billion in projects canceled or delayed this year due to political uncertainty surrounding tax incentives. This follows House Republicans passing a bill that slashes key clean energy credits, despite the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 having previously spurred substantial investment and job growth in the sector. Executives have cited the changing policy environment as a key factor, with most canceled investments occurring in Republican-led states where clean energy development had been increasing. Critics argue these actions, coupled with the administration's focus on fossil fuels, are causing businesses to take their money and jobs elsewhere, leaving the U.S. struggling to compete globally.
Saudi Arabia has issued a direct warning to Iran, urging them to accept President Trump’s nuclear deal offer or potentially face military action from Israel. During a visit to Tehran, Prince Khalid bin Salman conveyed King Salman’s message stressing the need for swift progress in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks to prevent regional conflict, noting Trump’s impatience for quick results. Iran expressed willingness to negotiate but voiced mistrust regarding Trump's unpredictable demands, particularly concerning uranium enrichment. This meeting was the first by a senior Saudi royal to Iran in over 20 years, occurring amidst a cautious thaw in relations brokered by China in 2023. The White House confirmed Trump's stance, stating he has made it clear that failure to make a deal would result in grave consequences.
A recent White House health report, the MAHA Report, intended to address declining U.S. life expectancy, has come under scrutiny for containing numerous flawed and likely fabricated scientific citations. Experts reviewing the report found repeated references, nonexistent studies, and incorrect authors, with "oaicite" tags suggesting the use of AI chatbots prone to generating false data. Despite the report being led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and blaming environmental toxins and other factors for health issues, experts have deemed it "not an evidence-based report" unfit for policymaking due to the citation problems.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently met with President Trump and affirmed that the Fed's decisions on interest rates would not be swayed by political pressure. Powell emphasized that monetary policy is based solely on economic data and objective analysis to support maximum employment and stable prices. While Trump has pushed for lower rates due to concerns about competition with China, the Fed has held rates steady, partly wary of inflation influenced by unpredictable tariff policies under Trump's administration. No promises were made to change rates during the meeting, reinforcing the Fed's independence.
Finally, Bernard Kerik, who served as New York City's police commissioner during 9/11, has died at age 69. Although initially hailed as a hero for his 9/11 role, Kerik's legacy was significantly tarnished by federal tax fraud convictions related to shady dealings while in office, for which he served three years in prison. He was later pardoned by President Trump in 2020 and remained active in conservative circles supporting Trump. Kerik's life is viewed as a complicated legacy marked by both valor and scandal. He was a dirty, bad cop.
