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Category: Elon Musk

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Aguilar: House Democrats will continue to fight for a stronger economy and lower costs

    Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – June 10, 2025

    WASHINGTON, DC — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Vice Chair Ted Lieu and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene held a press conference highlighting the politically toxic Republican Budget, which throws 16 million people off their health insurance to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.

    CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: I’m grateful, as always, to be joined by Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, and today we’re joined by Chair Suzan DelBene, who shared an update this morning about our path to a House majority in 2026.

    House Democrats are winning on the economy, we are winning on health care and we’re going to win back the fight for the American people to lead this country at this moment. And the weak and cowardly actions of Donald Trump are evidence of this. Just a few days ago, the world’s richest man, and Donald Trump’s biggest campaign contributor, betrayed the President and called on Republicans in the Senate to kill Trump’s signature piece of legislation—which throws 16 million people off of their health insurance to pay for more tax breaks for billionaires. Elon Musk did this not to protect the people who rely on Medicaid and food assistance to meet their basic needs, but because the bill doesn’t go far enough to enrich him and his companies. Musk even said that Trump’s reckless tariffs will cause a recession. Trump knows all of this. He knows that the Republican Budget is politically toxic, he knows that the economy is crashing because of his policies and he is desperate to change the subject. He sees the protests in Los Angeles as an excuse to unleash more chaos and distract the American people from the failing economy and his plans to cut Medicaid and food assistance. Remember: Donald Trump refused to call up the National Guard on January 6th when thousands of violent rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in search of his own Vice President. This isn’t about law and order or protecting public safety. Donald Trump wants conflict and violence. House Democrats stand on the side of peaceful protests and condemn the violence that Donald Trump is rooting for. We will continue to fight for a stronger economy and lower costs. Vice Chair Ted Lieu.

    VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. Peacefully protesting is an American right. It’s part of the rich tradition of our country. Burning cars, looting and destroying property are crimes, and anyone who takes advantage of this situation and engages in those crimes should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. State and local law enforcement have repeatedly said they have the resources necessary to handle the situation. It is completely un-American and needlessly provocative for Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard and Marines to Southern California. So, I want to talk about the National Guard first. Their legal authority Trump is using is 10 U.S.C. Section 12406. I encourage all of you to read it. It very specifically says the only way he can do this is through the orders of the Governors of the states. Governor Newsom clearly has not given this order; the National Guard troops are following unlawful orders. I ask every National Guard person who is under this order to read the order, to see if it came from Governor Newsom and then to read the law and then decide for themselves if they are following unlawful orders. It also turns out that when Secretary Hegseth ordered this deployment, and in carrying out those orders, he put all these troops into Southern California without federal funding for food, water, fuel, equipment. They were sleeping on the floor. They were sleeping on each other. It is a complete mess. Secretary Hegseth’s repeated incompetence is next level. He needs to resign. And in terms of the Marines deployment, we should not be deploying Marines against Americans. Marines are trained to kill the enemy. What are they going to do at this protest? They’re going to shoot protesters? What exactly is their role? They are not trained to do crowd control. They are not trained to handle these kinds of situations. They are not trained for law enforcement. So I asked the President to rescind his orders. He’s being needlessly provocative and inflammatory.

    And Chairman Aguilar is right. He is losing on his Big Ugly Bill. It is going to give massive tax breaks to billionaires and it’s going to be funded by the greatest health care cuts in U.S. history. So, do not fall for the trap that the President is laying here with his shiny objects that he’s trying to do. Focus on how he’s messing up the economy, messing up your health care. And with that, I want to introduce our amazing DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene from Washington, she’s going to be the field general that leads us to flipping the House next year.

    DCCC CHAIR DELBENE: Thanks to Chair Aguilar and Vice Chair Lieu. This morning, in Caucus, we presented research on how House Republicans will lose the majority next year because of their One Big Broken Promise. It’s been only two weeks since House Republicans narrowly passed their legislation, and the more people learn about it, the more unpopular it becomes. Across the country, Americans have come out strongly against this tax scam. They’ve held protests outside of Republicans’ district offices against the cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs. And in the very few in-person town halls that Republicans have held, we’ve seen incredibly large crowds turn out in opposition to their legislation. But, despite the overwhelming local opposition to the Big Ugly Bill from their constituents, vulnerable House Republicans are embracing it and resorting to lies when talking about it. Well, they can lie all they want, but there’s no denying the objective harm that it will cause. Independent, non-partisan analysts have said that instead of lowering costs for everyday people, House Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill raises costs on them. It will kick 16 million Americans off of their health insurance. It cuts food assistance programs, like free school lunch. It takes a chainsaw to these popular programs to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest few.

    This Big Ugly Bill affirms everything voters already think about Republicans: that they don’t work for the American people, they work for the billionaire class. It’s clear that public support for the Republican agenda is cratering. Recent public polling shows that a majority of voters in House Republican battleground districts oppose the bill. They also revealed that most Americans agree that the GOP tax scam will help the wealthy and hurt working families. These public surveys line up with the internal research we’ve done in partnership with our Senate colleagues, and it’s what we presented to the Caucus this morning. We found that just 25% of voters think the GOP tax scam will help them and their families. The same internal research showed that Republicans’ massive cuts to popular programs are toxic with voters. We see there is a clear argument that is incredibly persuasive to voters. Instead of lowering costs, Republicans are raising costs, cutting health care and food assistance to pay for billionaire tax giveaways. 

    This vote is the defining contrast of the midterms. Remember, every single vulnerable House Republican voted for this disastrous piece of legislation. And since it passed by one vote, each one casts the deciding vote, any one of them could have stood up to stop it. But instead, they sided with the ultra-wealthy, while costs are out of control and everyday Americans are struggling. With this vote, vulnerable House Republicans have already sealed their political fate, and it’s one that they will come to regret next year when House Democrats retake the majority. Thank you. 

    Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why ultra wealthy donors like Elon Musk and Zia Yusuf may just be fundamentally incompatible with the politics of the radical right

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sam Power, Lecturer in Politics, University of Bristol

    Former chairman Zia Yusuf has rejoined Reform after quitting days previously. Yusuf had said he no longer wanted to work to get the party into government when new MP Sarah Pochin called for a ban on burqas in the UK. However, he seems to have had a change of heart and will return, ostensibly to lead the party’s “department of government efficiency”.

    Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s bromance, however, is on much rockier ground. There’s no sign of the world’s richest man reconciling with the US president, his former employer.

    These spats, at first glance, might seem like little more than, put politely, teething problems in (relatively) new political operations. Or, a little less politely, the unedifying spectacle of people in or seeking power being completely unable to act like adults.

    However, it also points to something more akin to a canary in the coalmine for radical right parties around the world. Their increasing reliance on an ultra-wealthy donor class presents an ideological puzzle that may not be solvable.

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    Reform currently operates on what has been described as vibes alone. That is to say, there’s very little meaningful common ground between the people who vote for Reform and the party elite. The only continuity is their sense of anger at the current political system.

    This, as we are seeing in election after election, is an incredibly powerful (and compelling) force. The problem is, of course, that you can’t oppose forever. You often end up having to actually do something. All boxers, Mike Tyson will be glad to tell you, have a plan – until they get punched in the face.

    And what makes them such a powerful force at the moment, is precisely that which may cause challenges further down the line. At least for me, given it’s my bread and butter research-wise, I see this when I follow the money.

    And I’m increasingly asked a lot of questions about the kind of people who are either giving money to Reform – or who Reform are courting (and at the moment it is decidedly the latter which is the case).

    My position is that they very broadly fit into three categories. First are disaffected traditional Conservatives who are increasingly seeing a party – in the words of Farage – “worth investing in”. In the donations figures released on June 10, these are represented by bussinessmen Bassim Haidar and Mohammed Amersi.

    Then you have a Silicon Valley-reared tech-bro libertarian. This group already runs on a “move fast and break things” philosophy so the idea of an insurgent party which proclaims, on entering parliament, that “the fox is in the henhouse” naturally appeals.

    The final pot of money is filled via small donations, ballooning membership and a whole chunk of votes from a disaffected white working-class population to whom the language of economic and cultural grievances resonates.

    There are some places where the interests of these groups align – most notably a distaste for government interference and red tape (though not necessarily a smaller state in terms spending on public services). They also share a sense that progressive politics, broadly defined, ought to be pegged back a bit (but with an emphasis on a bit).

    They differ on a great deal else, to the extent that you can only really please two out of the three, but never everybody. And, unfortunately, without all three the project starts collapsing. This is what we have been seeing in the fractious relationships between Trump and Musk and Farage and Yusuf.

    Two out of three ain’t bad – but it’s not enough

    Yusuf (and Musk) are very much representative of the new tech-bro class. And, when Yusuf called questions about banning the burqa “dumb” he was speaking at both an ideological and organisational level.

    At the ideological level it is, frankly, a bit rich for his blood, because “philosophically I am always a bit uneasy about banning things which, for example, would be unconstitutional in the United States”.

    Organisationally, it pushes Reform much closer to what journalist Fraser Nelson calls “a tactic more akin to the old BNP”. Indeed, Reform started “just asking questions” about burqas at the same time as it started twisting footage to claim that Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, wants to prioritise the needs of Pakistanis.

    This kind of dog-whistle politics appeals to some, but puts off a lot more, including, I think, some of the (saner) tech-bro right.

    Indeed, Ian Ward at Politico perceptively notes that if we want to explain the current Musk-Trump meltdown we should look back to Christmas 2024, when cracks first started appearing over immigration policy.

    The tech-bro right are, generally speaking, much less hardline on the flow of people than the Maga-populist right (think Steve Bannon and Tommy Robinson). In fact, they are pro-high skilled immigration as it tends to benefit them and their business interests.

    Tech-bros also like the idea of moving fast and breaking things in theory. But when things start moving fast and actually breaking in practice (or Tesla stocks start to plummet), they tend to get a bit freaked out.

    In other words, it’s not just that they don’t like government, they don’t like governing and the inevitable compromise that comes with it. When they say move fast and break things, I get the sense what they really mean is “leave me alone so I can make billions in peace”.

    This, of course, is quite appealing to traditional hedge-fund conservatives, but is also the politics that literally built the economic grievances that much of the white-working class support for the populist radical right is, in turn, built on.

    Two out of three ain’t bad, but you do need all three. So, don’t be surprised if despite Farage’s seemingly genuine affection for Yusuf, it all falls apart again before long.

    Ultimately, Reform will need to decide how they are going to spin these plates. The good news is that it might well be that they can, indeed, get by on vibes alone until the next general election. The bad news, unfortunately, is that winning an election is the easy bit. Just ask Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer. After all, everyone has a plan.

    Sam Power receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

    – ref. Why ultra wealthy donors like Elon Musk and Zia Yusuf may just be fundamentally incompatible with the politics of the radical right – https://theconversation.com/why-ultra-wealthy-donors-like-elon-musk-and-zia-yusuf-may-just-be-fundamentally-incompatible-with-the-politics-of-the-radical-right-258512

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Europe is perfectly placed to lead a world abandoned by the US – but will it meet the moment?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Francesco Grillo, Academic Fellow, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University

    Shutterstock/Coffeemil

    I believe we Europeans feel far too safe. Europe’s political and economic leadership in the world, which was still unchallenged at the beginning of the century, has long since ceased to exist. Will the dominant cultural influence of Europe be maintained? I think not, unless we defend it and adjust ourselves to new conditions; history has shown that civilisations are all too perishable.

    It is astonishing how much these words used in 1956 by Konrad Adenauer, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, still sound valid today. They perfectly define the current state of the union. Europeans are still struggling to adjust to new conditions – and the conditions to which they need to adjust also continue to change dramatically.

    The battle for technological leadership is the current version of this struggle. Success in this domain could transform Europe, yet the continent remains complacent about its decline into backwardness. The European commission itself calculates that of the 19 digital platforms that have more than 45 million EU users, only one (Zalando) is from the EU.

    Information is (economic and political) power and losing control means to gradually lose both market share and the ability to protect European democracies. Brussels has produced a mass of regulation on digital services, yet American digital platforms are getting away with what European leaders themselves call the manipulation of democratic elections, with very little repercussions. Elon Musk’s X, was banned in Brazil for less – refusing to ban accounts accused of spreading misinformation.

    This decline, however, has been slow enough to lull European leaders into complacency about the future.

    Meanwhile, Donald Trump has a point when he laments that the European Union has been slow to engage in the negotiations he imposed on trade. Indeed, even on trade – one of the very few areas in which the European Union has a mandate from the member states to deal directly with third parties – progress is generally stuttering. The commissioner in charge has to constantly find a common denominator with the agendas of 27 member states, each of which has a different industrial agenda.

    Europe’s decision-making processes are sub-optimal. Indeed, they were built for a different age. There is no shared voice on foreign policy – the EU has been able to say far less on Gaza than individual countries like Spain or the UK, for example. This may have the practical consequence of eroding the “moral leadership” that should still be Europe’s soft advantage.

    Crisis of confidence

    Europe’s failure to respond to real-world changes is due to sub-optimal institutional settings. However the current paralysis in the face of clear need for action may be due to an even more fundamental question of trust in its own capabilities.

    On one hand, there still seems room for complacency. As Stanley Pignal, the Charlemagne columnist for The Economist, recently put it, Europe can take a moderate amount of satisfaction from its continued status as a place where people are free to pursue “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Yet, it is evident that the institutions needed to concretely achieve those objectives are crumbling: healthcare systems and welfare; robust and independent media; energy and military autonomy in a world without order.

    On the other hand, Europe is increasingly resigned. A global poll taken by Gallup International shows that when responding to the question “do you think that your children will live better than you?” seven of the most pessimistic countries of the world are from the EU. Only 16% of Italians and 24% of French respondents answered “yes” to this question.

    According to Ipsos, less than half of young Europeans feel prepared to enter the job market. And they blame the education system for that. The picture may well be even worse now – this survey was taken in 2019, before the pandemic, war in Europe and, more importantly, AI made the picture even more uncertain.

    Europe has no alternative, as even far-right and far-left parties seem to acknowledge. Note that France’s Rassemblement National and Italy’s Lega no longer talk about exiting the EU but about changing it from the inside. Individual nation states simply do not have the minimum scale to even try to take leadership in a world looking for a new order.

    In a world abandoned by the US, Europe stands a real chance. However, it urgently needs to be creative enough to imagine new mechanisms through which EU institutions take decisions and EU citizens have their say. This in turn requires an entire society to somehow recover the reasonable hope that decline is not inevitable (although we also must be aware that it may even nastily accelerate).

    Finally, young people are absolutely crucial in the process. The rhetoric of “listening to them” must now be replaced by a call for them to govern. They are today what Karl Marx would have probably defined as a class – with very specific demographic, cultural, economic and linguistic characteristics. These must be turned into a political agenda and a new vision of what Europe of the future could look like.

    The challenges ahead for the European Union will be the subject of the forthcoming conference on the Europe of the future in Siena, Italy. This will feed into a seven-point paper that will be discussed with EU institutions.

    Francesco Grillo is associated to VISION think tank.

    – ref. Europe is perfectly placed to lead a world abandoned by the US – but will it meet the moment? – https://theconversation.com/europe-is-perfectly-placed-to-lead-a-world-abandoned-by-the-us-but-will-it-meet-the-moment-258030

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Blasts Supreme Court Ruling Granting DOGE Access to Social Security Data

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to grant the Trump Administration’s DOGE team access to Social Security data:

    “With this ruling, the Supreme Court has once again chosen Donald Trump’s agenda over the privacy of the American people. The Court just handed Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE team a skeleton key to the personal data of more than 70 million Americans—Social Security numbers, medical records, wage histories—all without proper safeguards, oversight, or justification. This isn’t modernization. It’s potentially mass surveillance masquerading as reform. Despite clear warnings from lower courts, the majority opened the door to an unaccountable and unelected task force rifling through our most sensitive information. If the Supreme Court won’t defend Americans’ privacy, then Congress must.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: How ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ deepens US debt problem

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2023 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The political marriage between U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. billionaire Elon Musk came to a dramatic and public end, after the latter scathingly condemned the administration’s flagship economic proposal, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” labelling it a “disgusting abomination.”

    Musk’s high-profile break with Trump has amplified a wave of bipartisan disputes over the bill, which was passed narrowly in the House. Although designed to deliver sweeping tax cuts and fulfill campaign promises, economists and budget analysts argue that the bill may exacerbate an already unsustainable debt burden and even lead to a debt crisis in the long run.

    Why so controversial? 

    Trump’s megabill is a legislative package that combines tax and spending cuts with provisions on issues such as border security, energy exploration, and welfare reform. The bill was passed in the House last month by a 215-214 vote and is currently awaiting deliberation by the Senate. At its core, the bill aims to extend the 2017 tax cuts — Trump’s most significant legislative achievement during his first term.

    Musk repeatedly took to his social media platform X to denounce the bill — which called for cuts to electric vehicle credits — as wasteful.

    The bill includes 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars in spending cuts over a decade but would raise budget deficits by 2.4 trillion dollars, according to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate released Wednesday.

    The nonpartisan budget office also projected that close to 11 million more people would be uninsured in 2034 because of changes to Medicaid included in Trump’s megabill.

    Proponents argue that the bill will unleash growth and reduce the deficit “in the long run.”

    Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, claimed that Trump’s bill would reduce the deficit “when you adjust for CBO’s one big gimmick — not using a realistic current policy baseline.” The White House maintains that the CBO has an “artificial baseline” that does not factor in the 2017 tax cuts.

    However, budget experts have voiced concerns that the debt crisis, which was once dismissed as alarmism, is now alarmingly close to becoming a reality.

    Peter Orszag, chief executive of investment bank Lazard and a former U.S. budget director, was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying that those who bemoaned the unsustainability of deficit spending and debt levels during his time in government “seemed to cry wolf — a lot.”

    Now he is worried, too, because the wolf is “lurking much closer to our door.” As he put it, the current fiscal strategy looks less like sound policy and more like “budgetary wolf bait.”

    The CBO estimated that the bill would add about 3.8 trillion dollars to the federal government’s debt over the next decade.

    According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, it would add around 3 trillion dollars to debt levels over the next decade compared with existing estimates and 5 trillion dollars if certain temporary features were made permanent.

    This file photo taken on Jan. 20, 2025 shows Elon Musk delivering a speech at Capital One arena in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

    How bad is debt situation? 

    So why are many now alarmed? Because the numbers have become overwhelming. Annual interest payments on the national debt have surpassed 1 trillion dollars, and policymakers in Washington continue to spend with little restraint. The fiscal state of the United States is increasingly dire.

    As of mid-2025, the U.S. national debt stands at over 36.2 trillion dollars, and the debt-to-GDP ratio has exceeded its peak during World War II. According to the CBO’s January 2025 Budget and Economic Outlook, this ratio is on track to hit 118 percent by 2035.

    The U.S. federal deficit for fiscal year 2025 had already reached 1.1 trillion dollars by April — a 13 percent increase from the same period last year. Although revenues have risen by 5 percent, government outlays have increased even faster, growing by 7 percent.

    At the same time, borrowing is becoming more expensive. The 10-year Treasury yield has climbed from 3.6 percent in September 2024 to 4.4 percent in mid-2025.

    If the 10-year were to hover around 4.4 percent permanently and yields on other Treasury securities were to increase equally, it would add an extra 1.8 trillion dollars to the debt above projections over the next decade, which is enough to counter the likely revenue gains from tariffs if they were to go into effect after the 90-day pause, said the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget in a report.

    Notably, about 30 percent of U.S. federal debt is held by foreign investors.

    Moody’s Ratings last month slashed U.S. long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to Aa1 from Aaa citing rising government debt and interest payment ratios.

    “This one-notch downgrade on our 21-notch rating scale reflects the increase over more than a decade in government debt and interest payment ratios to levels that are significantly higher than similarly rated sovereigns,” said a release by Moody’s Ratings.

    Rising tariffs and political instability discourage foreign investment, pushing the government to rely more heavily on domestic borrowing and at higher costs, warned Kent Smetters, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

    If foreign demand for U.S. Treasuries wanes, the result could be a vicious cycle of rising rates, shrinking demand, and ballooning debt.

    This photo taken on Jan. 20, 2023 shows the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]

    What led to US debt crisis? 

    The debt ceiling, or the U.S. Treasury Department’s “credit limit,” is the maximum amount of debt set by the U.S. Congress for the federal government to fulfill its payment obligations.

    When created in 1917, the debt ceiling was designed to maintain a regular check on government spending and control debt growth. However, in recent years, it has become a more frequent topic in partisan debates between Democrats and Republicans.

    Since 1960, the U.S. Congress has acted 78 separate times to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit.

    Much of the debt accumulation in recent years has not been driven by emergencies like wars or recessions, but by political choices to cut taxes while maintaining or expanding spending.

    While reining in the debt growth will benefit the U.S. economy in the long run, no administration or party wants to upset voters with funding cuts or tax increases. Instead of funding these additional expenditures through fiscal reform, they keep borrowing, thus driving up debt to an unprecedented scale.

    The fact that America continues to borrow recklessly without going bankrupt is a result of the dollar’s hegemony.

    As the dominant global reserve currency, the U.S. dollar still accounts for nearly 60 percent of international reserves, and roughly 48 percent in the global payment system.

    Due to the global dominance of the dollar, U.S. Treasury bonds, with their safety and liquidity, are widely considered safe-haven assets.

    Driven by the impulse to profit from dollar hegemony, the United States has long maintained a trade deficit, exporting both dollars and inflation. Through massive debt issuance, it encourages the repatriation of dollars, creating a cyclical system of “debt monetization.” As a result, fiscal deficits have ballooned, budgetary discipline has eroded, and U.S. government debt has become an unwieldy burden.

    From a market supply-and-demand perspective, as long as there are willing buyers, the U.S. debt cycle can go on indefinitely. However, without real repayment capacity, the practice of endlessly rolling over old debt with new debt increasingly resembles a Ponzi scheme in essence.

    The moment international markets begin to question America’s willingness or ability to manage its finances, the consequences could be swift and severe. The ultimate question isn’t just whether the United States can afford another “Big Beautiful Bill,” but whether the world can continue affording America’s debt addiction. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US stocks close mixed as investors monitor trade talks

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    U.S. stocks ended mixed on Monday, as investors looked ahead to a key round of China-U.S. trade negotiations.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 1.11 points to 42,761.76. The S&P 500 added 5.52 points, or 0.09 percent, to 6,005.88. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 61.28 points, or 0.31 percent, to 19,591.24.

    Six of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with utilities and financials leading the laggards by losing 0.66 percent and 0.55 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, consumer discretionary and materials led the gainers by going up 1.08 percent and 0.62 percent, respectively.

    The first meeting of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism opened in London on Monday. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the meeting with U.S. representatives.

    In an interview with American outlet CNBC, Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council at the White House, on Monday said that the U.S. expectation was that “immediately after the handshake, any export controls from the U.S. will be eased, and the rare earths will be released in volume, and then we can go back to negotiating smaller matters.”

    Meanwhile, investors are also keeping a wary eye on escalating tensions in Los Angeles after U.S. President Donald Trump sent in the National Guard to deal with anti-deportation protests.

    Shares of major technology companies, which have been central to the market’s momentum, were mostly higher. Amazon and Alphabet both advanced nearly 1.5 percent, while Tesla rose 4.55 percent, continuing its volatile stretch following last week’s public clash between its CEO Elon Musk and Trump. Microsoft and Nvidia posted modest gains. In contrast, Apple shares slipped 1.2 percent as the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference opened with a keynote from Apple’s CEO Tim Cook. Broadcom and Meta also fell.

    Semiconductor stocks posted strong gains to start the week. The iShares Semiconductor ETF jumped 2.36 percent, fueled by a 4.77 percent gain in Advanced Micro Devices, a 4.41 percent rise in ON Semiconductor, and a 4.13 percent surge in Arm Holdings.

    Elsewhere, shares of Robinhood Markets and Applovin declined by 1.98 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively. Both companies had recently hit milestones that raised speculation about their potential addition to the S&P 500, but the index’s rebalancing did not include either stock, disappointing some investors.

    Wall Street strategists are growing more confident about the outlook for U.S. equities, with analysts at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs now signaling a more optimistic tone. “We have high conviction that the sharp drawdown in April was the end of a much longer correction that began a year ago with the peak rate of change on earnings revisions breadth,” Morgan Stanley strategist Michael Wilson wrote in a note. A pick-up in analyst upgrades “keeps us positive on U.S. equities on a 12-month basis.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member McCollum: Defense Funding Bill Hurts Our Servicemembers, Undermines Military Readiness and Our Allies in Ukraine

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

    WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee Republicans today released their 2026 Defense funding bill, which will be considered by the Defense subcommittee tomorrow. Instead of working with House Democrats to strengthen our national security and prioritize the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families, the bill undermines democracy at home and abroad and includes harmful and divisive policy riders that would hurt military readiness.

    For fiscal year 2026, the bill provides $831.5 billion, which is equal to current funding levels and $1.3 billion above the Administration’s fiscal year 2026 request.

    Republicans have included language directing the Department of Defense to determine $7.75 billion in cuts to amounts listed in the bill. This jeopardizes every program other than intelligence activities. If made uniformly, it would reduce everything by approximately 1 percent, which would mean cuts of almost $2 billion for troop pay, over $2 billion for troop readiness, $409 million for health programs, $5 million each for Israel and Jordan, and over $2 billion for the procurement and modernization of weapons systems. At a time when the Trump Administration is already illegally stealing from American communities by refusing to spend funds, it is unfathomable that the Appropriations Committee would allow the administration to unilaterally make nearly $8 billion in cuts to defense investments.

    The legislation:

    • Weakens Ukraine and empowers Russia by eliminating support for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
    • Undermines democracy at home and abroad by allowing disinformation and extremist views to flourish.
    • Limits women’s access to abortion by preventing service personnel from traveling to seek reproductive health care
    • Harms our military readiness with divisive provisions that undermine morale and fail to support our service personnel, by:
      • Continuing DOGE and the Administration’s cuts to vital civilian positions;
      • Attacking the LGBTQ+ community with hateful policies; and
      • Banning funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

    “It disappoints me that I’m unable to support this bill as written, and we find ourselves in this position because the Trump administration has failed to get us the information we need in time to produce a complete budget request. The nation’s defense programs require a detailed annual review. But without the President’s budget request, this committee is unable to complete its work in a thoughtful and timely manner,” Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) said. “The president proposes, Congress disposes – that’s the way our system works. There are consequences to the taxpayer and to our military’s readiness when this process is not adhered to. It is deeply unfortunate that the Trump administration has put the Committee in this position. I look forward to working with the committee to improve the bill as it goes through the process in the subcommittee, in full committee, on the floor, and in conference. Our national security and strategic defense priorities are too important to risk getting it wrong.”

    “Our allies and our adversaries are watching as House Republicans propose a Defense funding bill that will empower Russia, impair our own military readiness and national security, and put politics above our own servicemembers,” Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “This is not a bill meant to responsibly fund our nation’s defense and promote and protect democracy. Instead, this bill advances and acquiesces to Elon Musk’s and President Trump’s reckless purging of critical civilian personnel, their equivocation on support for Ukraine, and their relentless politicizing of our troops. It is deeply regrettable that the conflicts our military must confront abroad, the issues we must confront within the Department of Defense, and the quality of life for our servicemembers and military families are not priorities of President Trump and House Republicans.”

    A summary of House Republicans’ 2026 Defense bill is here. A fact sheet of the bill is here. The full text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Starlink is transforming Pacific internet access – but in some countries it’s still illegal

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda H.A. Watson, Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University

    Solomon aligning the Starlink dish on the roof of his friend’s home in Vanuatu. Paul Basant

    In the past few years, Starlink’s satellite internet service has become available across much of the Pacific. This has created new challenges for regulators in Pacific Island countries: some have promoted Starlink while others have banned it.

    What is Starlink?

    Elon Musk founded the space technology company SpaceX in 2002, and owns about 44% of it.

    Among other projects, SpaceX has launched thousands of satellites into low-Earth orbit, where they circle the globe and enable internet connectivity at ground level. This service is offered through Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX.

    The first satellites were launched in 2019. Later the same year, Musk demonstrated the use of Starlink internet.

    It took a few years for access to be available in the Pacific region. The first known use was in Tonga in 2022, after a volcanic eruption and tsunami.

    Satellite internet in the Pacific

    Starlink is not the only company offering internet access via satellite technology. However, it is well known and has generated much interest in the Pacific.

    Other companies use satellites in low-Earth orbit, such as OneWeb. Another consumer offering comes from Kacific, which provides internet access via a geostationary satellite high above the Pacific. This type of satellite moves at the same speed as Earth spins, so it appears to stay in the same place from ground level.

    Starlink access is available in many of the 18 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum, such as Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. In several of those, there are both resellers and retailers.

    Authorised resellers can sell Starlink products and services, meaning customers can buy Starlink kits and pay their monthly Starlink charges through these companies. Authorised retailers can only sell Starlink equipment.

    Gateways and barriers

    Nauru and Kosrae (a state in the Federated States of Micronesia) have recently launched more powerful Starlink connections called community gateways to improve internet access for their communities.

    Nauru’s gateway, reportedly the first in the Pacific, went live in December 2024. Kosrae’s followed in February 2025.

    In Niue, the government has banned the use of Starlink, warning users of fines or imprisonment for unauthorised use. Satellite provider Kacific continues to operate legally on the island.

    In Papua New Guinea, Starlink licensing is before the courts.

    Education and disasters

    Remote schools across Fiji and Solomon Islands are using Starlink services to improve connectivity in the hope it will enable access to online learning and digital resources. In Fiji, six rural schools now have internet access.

    In Malaita, in the Solomon Islands, Starlink is being used in classrooms, funded and supported by an initiative to make education more accessible. Kacific’s satellite internet service has also been used to connect schools in the Pacific.

    Starlink has been used for disaster communications. It is proving to be a crucial backup for undersea cables, which are vulnerable to natural disasters and service disruptions.

    Immediately after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu on December 17 2024, causing an outage of the country’s sole submarine cable, Starlink was used to maintain communication. As traditional internet services failed, more than 300 Starlink units were quickly deployed, restoring connectivity for residents, businesses and emergency services.

    Fast-moving change

    Governance responses to Starlink have differed across the Pacific, impacting access for consumers.

    Where Starlink has been approved, people can buy equipment and pay monthly usage fees in local currency.

    In some countries, Starlink has been approved but no local resellers or retailers have been established yet. In these cases, people can access the service by ordering a kit directly from the official Starlink website, which offers international shipping to approved locations.

    Internet access options across the Pacific are changing rapidly. In several countries, Starlink has not yet officially launched.

    Further change is likely. For now, governance of Starlink among Pacific countries remains a mixed bag.

    Amanda H.A. Watson receives research funding from the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Pacific Research Program.

    Atishnal Elvin Chand does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Starlink is transforming Pacific internet access – but in some countries it’s still illegal – https://theconversation.com/starlink-is-transforming-pacific-internet-access-but-in-some-countries-its-still-illegal-257905

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Rep. Pressley Condemns Trump’s Authoritarian Assault on Harvard, Nonprofits

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Trump Admin. Weaponizing Tax Laws to Silence Dissent, Attack Nonprofits Providing Essential Services to Vulnerable People

    “This is about Trump and Republicans punishing people who disagree with them. It is about attacking nonprofits of all sizes that serve the vulnerable and marginalized and stand in the gap for our communities. It’s about trying to intimidate every charity and nonprofit in this country and spark a fear that if you speak up – if you do something the Republicans don’t like – you could be next.”

    Video (YouTube)

    WASHINGTON – Today, in a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) condemned Donald Trump’s targeted, authoritarian assault on nonprofit organizations it disagrees with. Congresswoman Pressley discussed the Trump Administration’s efforts to revoke the tax-exempt status of Harvard University as part of Republicans’ broader campaign to punish dissent and attack organizations that serve vulnerable communities.

    A full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks is below and the video is available here.

    Transcript: Pressley Condemns Trump’s Authoritarian Assault on Harvard, Nonprofits

    House Oversight DOGE Subcommittee

    June 4, 2025

    REP. PRESSLEY: Thank you to our witnesses for being here today. 

    What we are witnessing from Occupant Trump, his Administration, and Republicans writ-large is not governance – it is a targeted, dangerous assault on the independence of our nonprofit organizations. 

    We’ve seen these attacks take many forms, perhaps most visibly in my own district – the Massachusetts 7th – as the administration continues its unlawful campaign against Harvard University. Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, freeze billions in federal funding for scientific research to save lives, might I add, and publicly vilify students and faculty – all part and parcel of his attacks on education. 

    But let me make it plain: this isn’t just about Harvard and it’s definitely not about government efficiency – the name of this subcommittee. 

    This is about Trump and Republicans punishing people who disagree with them. 

    It is about attacking nonprofits of all sizes that serve the vulnerable and marginalized and stand in the gap for our communities. 

    It’s about trying to intimidate every charity and nonprofit in this country and spark a fear that if you speak up – if you do something the Republicans don’t like – you could be next.

    A hospital that provides abortion care. A local food pantry that feeds immigrants. Or an advocacy group that fights for civil rights.

    Donald Trump is weaponizing our tax laws to attack nonprofits at the same time he is pushing for tax cuts for Elon Musk and billionaires.

    Ms. Yentel, can the President or Executive Branch legally revoke a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status simply because it disagrees with that organization’s lawful speech or mission?

    DIANE YENTEL: They can’t. The statute is very clear that that is illegal.

    REP. PRESSLEY: Thank you. Republicans think the answer is yes, but that would mean every nonprofit in America is just one tweet away from being targeted by the federal government.

    I am proud that in the Massachusetts 7th, community-based organizations are speaking up and fighting back against Republican attacks. And I know they are doing it at risk of serious threat.

    Ms. Yentel, can you make plain what are the consequences to charities and nonprofits losing tax-exempt status?

    MS. YENTEL: Well, tax exempt status is given to nonprofit organizations that do essential work to meet needs in their local communities, in exchange for significant transparency and accountability. And if nonprofit organizations lose their tax exempt status, it could create significant challenges for them to be able to do their work related to how and where they get their funding, and it could cause them to have to shut down their work altogether.

    REP. PRESSLEY: Their work which is to the betterment of us all, which is to the collective, our shared constituents. 

    MS. YENTEL: Yes.

    REP. PRESSLEY: Very good. Let’s put this in perspective:

    Trump is firing government workers that administer programs like Head Start and Social Security while also attacking non-profits that provide resources and supports to vulnerable populations.

    Trump and his Republican cult do not care about helping people who are struggling. Instead, they want to make them suffer more.  

    Now, before I yield back, let me ask the Republican witnesses: if you all think Trump is right for revoking tax-exempt status for nonprofits for their political views, raise your hand then if you think the Heritage Foundation – who wrote Project 2025 – should also lose their tax-exempt status? 

    Show of hands, by the logic that is being applied. 

    MR. WALTER: I’m not aware of any nonprofit that’s had its status revoked. 

    REP. PRESSLEY: Again, the question that I’m posing is, would you please raise your hand if you think the Heritage Foundation who wrote Project 2025 should also lose their tax exempt status? 

    Show of hands.

    MR. WALTER: It’s a perfectly a reasonable speech by a nonprofit. 

    REP. PRESSLEY: So none of you, so none of you, none of you.

    The shame and the sham of it all.

    Before I yield back, Ms. Yentel, I know that you have been harangued intensely throughout today’s proceedings. Is there anything that you would like to set the record straight on or respond to in my remaining time? 

    MS. YENTEL: Thank you, Congresswoman. I would like to use the remaining time to remind us all and every member of this committee of the vital, essential work that nonprofit organizations do in each of your communities, for your constituents, and the work that we do to support them in that work. Nonprofit organizations are local. They are transparent and accountable. They are non-partisan, by law and in practice, and they do essential work to meet the needs of all of your communities and all Americans. Thank you.

    REP. PRESSLEY: Thank you. I yield back.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kangamoon Launches Telegram-Based Play-to-Earn Game “KANG RUSH” With $5,000 Prize Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kangamoon, a Web3 gaming platform, has officially launched its highly anticipated Play-to-Earn (P2E) fighter game, “KANG RUSH,” on Telegram. The launch introduces a $5,000 reward pool in $KANG tokens for top players over the first 30 days, marking a major milestone in the rollout of the Kangaverse ecosystem.

    Ripple’s Resurgence: Why Is XRP Going Up?

    In recent weeks, Ripple’s XRP has been gaining renewed attention. XRP’s price is now hovering around $2.29 USD, reflecting a modest recovery amid overall market fluctuations. Many in the community are asking, “Why is XRP going up?” – and a few factors seem to be converging.

    For one, Ripple’s recent SEC settlement has helped ease some of the legal uncertainties that previously weighed on the token. Positive regulatory news has boosted investor confidence, and with institutional interest stirring thanks in part to institutional momentum, including recent XRP ETF approvals and increased mentions of Ripple in financial policy discussions – XRP’s price live updates have shown steady improvements. Trading volume has also picked up across major exchanges, underscoring the renewed market optimism and higher liquidity.

    Meanwhile, another token making headlines is Kangamoon (KANG) — a Play-to-Earn (P2E) fighter game token that just launched its flagship game. The price of KANG has jumped 80.10% in the past 7 days, now trading at $0.0014 with over $130,000 in 24-hour trading volume.

    XRP Ripple News: Institutional and Political Developments

    Recent XRP ripple news points to several catalyst events:

    • ETF Momentum: ProShares recently received approval to launch XRP-tracking ETFs. Such developments are expanding institutional access to XRP, which many believe could help sustain its recovery.
    • Stablecoin Progress: Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin has grown in circulation, further integrating XRP into the digital payments ecosystem.
    • Political Headlines: Adding to the buzz, former U.S. political figures have mentioned XRP in discussions about a national crypto strategy, sparking wider speculation about its future role in government financial systems.
    • Elon Musk Rumors: Unverified reports on social media suggest Elon Musk may consider XRP for future integration into X Payments platform, contributing to the “xrp price live” commentary that circulates on social media.

    All of these factors have helped refresh investor sentiment, painting a picture of renewed growth for XRP even as the market continues to evolve.

    Kangamoon (KANG) Announces New Game Launch

    While XRP recovers, Kangamoon (KANG) is making noise of its own in the GameFi space. The team is set to launch a Telegram-based Play-to-Earn (P2E) fighter game on June 9, 2025.

    This game features:

    • Point-based battles that convert into $KANG rewards
    • Character inventories, upgrades, and boosters
    • Real-time leaderboards and a competitive structure

    The launch event, titled “KANG RUSH,” offers $5,000 in $KANG to the Top players over the first 30 days. The game is Web3-native, with token and wallet integration built-in. This marks the beginning of the Kangaverse—a fusion of meme culture, token rewards, and fast-paced gameplay.

    The price of KANG has started to show early signs of activity, with trading volume picking up in anticipation of the game launch. This blend of innovative game mechanics and token-based rewards has put Kangamoon in the spotlight as a potential breakout in the P2E space.

    As of today, CoinGecko lists KANG at $0.0014, with growing interest driven by the game launch hype and increased trading volume.

    Final Analysis

    The latest XRP news and price updates indicate that Ripple could be on a path to recovery, driven by regulatory wins and increased institutional interest. While many still wonder whether XRP could eventually serve as a robust medium of exchange, its current performance suggests a cautious yet positive outlook.

    At the same time, the Kangamoon game launch introduces a fresh, GameFi narrative that’s shaking up the crypto market. The combination of strong gameplay features, low barriers to entry (thanks to its Telegram platform), and innovative Web3 elements is drawing both casual players and seasoned investors. With trading volumes and KANG price activity increasing, the Kangaverse might just be the next area where early movers reap significant rewards.

    In a market defined by rapid innovation and shifting investor sentiment, keeping an eye on both XRP’s steady recovery and Kangamoon’s bold new venture is worthwhile. Whether you’re watching XRP’s recovery or tracking the Kangamoon game launch, staying updated with the latest developments remains the key to navigating this evolving landscape.

    For more information

    Contact Details:

    Kangamoon
    Alex Roberts
    contact@kangamoon.game

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the “Kangamoon”. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/66779c01-3a1c-492c-a4a0-2982ebb1dae1

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3bd8fe8a-fe2c-4173-ad5e-e609bebcbaa5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Trump-Musk Fight, Warren Presses Rubio on National Security Contingency Plans for Musk-Linked Government Contracts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    June 07, 2025

    After Trump threatened to cancel Musk’s contracts, Musk warned that SpaceX would “begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately”

    “If Mr. Musk breaches his current contracts or they are canceled immediately, it could leave critical gaps that endanger U.S. interests and national security.”

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pressed Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio on contingency plans in place if Elon Musk violates his current contractual obligations and fails to deliver services national security agencies are counting on to keep Americans safe. As part of their public feud earlier this week, President Trump threatened to cancel Musk’s government contracts — and Musk, in turn, warned that SpaceX would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft “immediately.”

    “No petty social media fight between the president and a billionaire should jeopardize U.S. national security,” wrote Senator Warren.

    Elon Musk’s companies have significant contracts with the U.S. government to provide key national security services, including NASA’s approximately $5 billion contract with SpaceX to send and bring home astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, which Musk threatened to decommission, is the only U.S. vessel capable of carrying astronauts to and from the station. The Department of Defense also relies heavily on SpaceX, including for launch services that support Space Force operations and spy satellites.

    “If Mr. Musk breaches his current contracts or they are canceled immediately, it could leave critical gaps that endanger U.S. interests and national security,” wrote Senator Warren. 

    Senator Warren has previously raised concerns that the U.S. government’s dependence on a mercurial billionaire puts U.S. national security at risk, including in May 2024, when she urged the Department of Defense to hold SpaceX accountable following reports that the company was allowing Starlink terminals to be used by Russian forces and sanctioned paramilitary forces. 

    As the Trump-Musk feud continues, Senator Warren pressed Secretary Rubio for answers to a series of questions in order to understand what contingency plans and options the administration could exercise to ensure that reckless decisions do not create an interruption in critical national security services.

    Senator Warren has long fought to ensure federal contractors are acting the best interest of the American people: 

    • In May 2025, Senators Warren, Warner, Shaheen and other lawmakers pushed for corruption investigations into the Trump Administration’s favors for Elon Musk’s Starlink.
    • In March 2025, Senator Warren, Representative Raskin, Senator Blumenthal, and other lawmakers pushed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on corruption by the Trump Administration.
    • In a May 2024 hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Strategic Forces subcommittee, Senator Warren pressed Department of Defense officials on what steps they were taking to hold SpaceX accountable for Russia’s illegal use of Starlink.
    • In May 2024, Senator Warren sent a letter calling on the Department of Defense to hold SpaceX accountable for the use of Starlink by Russia and other sanctioned U.S. adversaries.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Wildfire smoke can harm your brain, not just your lungs

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Dr Bhavini Gohel, Clinical Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary

    Wildfires are already burning in parts of Canada, and as they do, many communities are already facing the familiar thick haze as smoke drifts in.

    Smoke from wildfires has already led Environment Canada to issue air quality warnings for much of Ontario. In Toronto, smoke led to the city briefly having the worst air quality in the world.

    Anyone who has experienced wildfire smoke knows how it can leave you with a scratchy throat, stinging eyes and impact your lungs. However, smoke can also affect your brain. Tiny airborne pollutants found in smoke have been linked to increased risk of stroke, dementia and flare-ups in neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS).

    These effects can disproportionately impact older adults, people with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples and those living in low-income communities. This isn’t just about climate. It’s about equity, and health systems need to catch up.

    Canada’s 2023 wildfire season was the worst on record, and as climate change worsens wildfires, it may be a sign of what’s to come.

    Animation of Canada’s 2023 wildfire season by cartographer Peter Atwood, using NASA data to show the daily spread of fires and smoke across the country. (Peter Atwood)

    A direct path to the brain

    Alongside harmful gases and heavy metals, wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5. These tiny particles can travel deep into your lungs, slip into your bloodstream and even reach your brain. Some even bypass the lungs entirely, entering the brain directly through the nose.

    After entering the brain, these toxins can cause inflammation and stress, damage nerve cells and even accelerate cognitive decline. Studies have linked exposure to air pollution to an increased risk of stroke and dementia. Even short-term spikes in smoke exposure, like those during wildfires, lead to a surge in emergency visits for strokes, especially among people over 65.

    A 2022 experiment had thousands of adults participate in an online attention task under smoky conditions. It found that just a three-hour spike in fine particulate matter, typical of a heavy smoke episode, led to measurably worse attention scores. This fits other evidence that breathing smoke makes people mentally foggy, forgetful or fatigued.

    Fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke can reach the brain via the lungs or nose, causing inflammation, neuronal damage, and raising the risk of stroke, dementia, cognitive decline, and MS flare-ups.
    (Muskaan Muse Laroyia)

    Wildfire smoke, dementia and MS

    In 2024, a study found that chronic exposure to wildfire-related air pollution significantly increased the likelihood of someone being diagnosed with dementia. The risk was most pronounced in low-income communities, where people often have less access to clean air, health care and protective measures.

    For people already living with neurological conditions like MS or Parkinson’s disease, the stakes are even higher. Exposure to fine particulate pollution has been linked with increased hospital admissions for MS relapses, particularly in young patients. Other research points to worsening symptoms of epilepsy and cognitive decline under extreme heat and polluted air conditions.

    Despite these mounting risks, neurological health considerations have been largely absent from wildfire preparedness initiatives and public health responses. That needs to change.

    If you want to stay informed about local smoke exposure, tools like AQmap can help you track PM2.5 levels in real time across Canada.

    Some more impacted than others

    Some face far greater risk from wildfire smoke than others, including older adults, those with pre-existing health conditions, people with lower socio-economic status, Indigenous populations, people residing in remote areas and children. This is a health equity issue as much as a medical one.

    Each of these groups faces unique and compounding challenges during smoke events. For example, older adults are more vulnerable to the cardiovascular and neurological effects of smoke. They also face greater barriers to accessing filtered environments.

    People with disabilities or chronic illnesses, including those with neurological conditions, often can’t relocate during smoke events and may rely on power-dependent medical devices that can fail during climate emergencies.

    Low-income families are more likely to live in housing without proper air filtration or cooling. These same communities often face higher baseline rates of neurological disease.

    Indigenous communities, more than 80 per cent of which are located near fire-prone areas, face recurring displacement, interruptions to care and disproportionate exposure to smoke each summer.

    Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to the harmful neurological effects of wildfires. Because their brains are still developing and they breathe more air per body weight than adults, children are especially vulnerable to harmful pollutants.

    Studies have linked early-life exposure to fine particulate matter with an increased risk of neuro-developmental disorders, lower cognitive function and structural brain changes.

    These populations aren’t just more exposed, they also have fewer resources to respond.

    Rethinking Canada’s health systems

    Recognizing these inequities, we are developing a climate-health equity framework for Canada, with a specific focus on neurological health. Our interdisciplinary team is asking: how can we build health systems that protect vulnerable brains during climate emergencies?

    Health-care workers in Alberta Health Services have designed the Climate-Resilient Acute Care Clinical Operations Framework. This framework supports hospitals in becoming both greener and more resilient, ensuring care can continue during wildfires, floods and extreme heat events.

    Importantly, it also centres the needs of equity-deserving populations, integrating climate adaptation into emergency care, supply chains, staffing and patient communication.

    What needs to change?

    1. Public awareness must expand beyond respiratory health. Neurological effects of smoke should be included in public health messaging, especially for high-risk groups.

    2. Health systems must be climate-ready, with clean air shelters, evacuation protocols and services tailored to meet the needs of neurological patients.

    3. Communities need support, from funding for air filtration to co-ordinated outreach during smoke events. Indigenous-led fire stewardship and community health initiatives should be part of national planning. Supporting Indigenous-led fire stewardship not only strengthens wildfire response but also respects Indigenous sovereignty and traditional ecological knowledge.

    4. Clinicians must be empowered to address climate-related health risks. Training in environmental health, including its impact on the brain, is increasingly essential.

    Wildfire season is back, and with it, an urgent need to protect more than just our lungs. The science is clear: breathing smoky air affects our minds, especially for those already facing health and social vulnerabilities.

    Climate change is a brain health issue. Building a healthier, more equitable future requires us to treat it that way, starting now.

    Dr Bhavini Gohel works for the Canadian Coalition for Green Healthcare.

    Muskaan Muse Laroyia does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Wildfire smoke can harm your brain, not just your lungs – https://theconversation.com/wildfire-smoke-can-harm-your-brain-not-just-your-lungs-258052

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Democrats Challenge Trump’s Unconstitutional Birthright Citizenship Executive Order in Court

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Washington, D.C. —  On Friday, House Democrats’ Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force, remaining steadfast in their commitment to fighting against the Trump Administration’s illegal attacks on the constitutional principle of birthright citizenship, filed an amicus brief in the matter of Trump v. Casa, Inc., which is now before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Trump Administration filed this appeal to overturn a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the President’s attempt to change the constitutional right to birthright citizenship via executive order. 

    The amicus brief–signed by 170 House Democrats–provides overwhelming evidence that President Trump’s Executive Order violates the Constitution and over a century of Supreme Court rulings, as well as laws enacted by Congress. It also signifies the lawmakers’ commitment to defending birthright citizenship, following their amicus briefs filed in State of Washington v. Trump before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in the Supreme Court cases Trump v. Washington, Trump v. CASA, Inc., and Trump v. New Jersey.

    The full brief is available HERE.   

    The effort is once again being helmed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, along with Litigation Task Force Chair Assistant Leader Joe Neguse and Co-Chair, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin; Representatives Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, and Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement; as well as Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Yvette Clarke, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Adriano Espaillat, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Grace Meng, and Congressional Jewish Caucus (CJC) Co-Chairs Jerry Nadler and Brad Schneider.

    See what they had to say below: 

    “Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a chainsaw to the United States Constitution. Their disgraceful actions on birthright citizenship violate our nation’s laws and are an assault on the American way of life. House Democrats will continue to push back aggressively against them in the courts, in Congress and in our communities. The Supreme Court of the United States must stand on the side of the Constitution and reject this outrageous effort. I am thankful for the leadership of Rep. Raskin, Rep. Thompson, Rep. Jayapal, Rep. Clarke, Rep. Espaillat, Rep. Meng, Rep. Nadler, Rep. Schneider and Assistant Leader Neguse of the Litigation Working Group and Rapid Response Task Force in standing up for the rule of law,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 

    “President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and as our amicus brief makes clear, House Democrats will continue to vindicate our constitution,” said Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse. 

    “Donald Trump’s executive order purporting to eliminate birthright citizenship violates not only the first sentence of the Fourteenth Amendment but decades of Supreme Court interpretation and federal laws enacted by Congress,” said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. “The Fourteenth Amendment is clear that people born in the United States are American citizens regardless of their parents’ origin or status. A Presidential executive order cannot override the U.S. Constitution to strip millions of Americans born here of their rights and freedoms. We will fight to defend this core principle of Constitutional equality and membership.”

     “We will not allow the Trump administration to redefine what it is to be an American just to fit their extreme anti-immigrant beliefs. Under the Constitution, people born here are United States citizens – no matter who they are, what they look like, or where their families came from. Americans reject what Trump is attempting to do, and the Supreme Court must too,” said Ranking Member Bennie Thompson. 

    “Birthright citizenship is a core piece of our Constitution. Ending it through executive order is simply unconstitutional and a dangerous overreach of executive power,” said Ranking Member Pramila Jayapal. “All persons born on U.S. soil are U.S. citizens, that is what our Constitution dictates and is something President Trump cannot undo by waving a pen. As the first immigrant to serve as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, I am proud to be co-leading on this amicus brief to stand up for the immigration laws of this country.”

    “Birthright citizenship is enshrined in our Constitution and has been affirmed by the Supreme Court numerous times — including in the landmark United States v. Wong Kim Ark decision. No matter what President Trump says or does, he cannot unilaterally overrule the law of the land by signing a piece of paper. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I join my colleagues in standing up for American values and against this unconstitutional executive overreach,” said CAPAC Chair Grace Meng.

    “Birthright citizenship is a moral imperative in the United States because of its origins. It’s about our collective recovery from the evils of slavery, yes, but it’s also about equal opportunity for every American born in this country,” said CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat. “This brief reminds the Supreme Court of the historical weight of the 14th amendment and of the very real costs that would be imposed by additional legal requirements on all growing families by a spurious reinterpretation of this keystone amendment.”

    “Donald Trump is not a king. He cannot dismiss a century and a half of legal and judicial precedent that affirms the plain language of the Fourteenth Amendment of our Constitution with the swipe of a pen. Our Constitution clearly says if you are born here, you are a citizen. I’m hopeful that our highest court will follow the precedent set by its predecessors and send a clear message to the President that his flagrant, illegal overreach will be stopped,” said CJC Co-Chair Brad Schneider.

    “Donald Trump’s divisive and xenophobic policies seek to divide and distract us,” said CJC Co-Chair Jerry Nadler. “We are dealing with a President who believes he is not just above the law, but above the U.S. Constitution.  The 14th Amendment is clear that persons born in the United States are U.S. citizens. And yet, President Trump feels compelled to single-handedly change what has been universally understood about the law since the Amendment was adopted in 1868.  All Americans should be disturbed by Trump’s assertion that he can unilaterally change the Constitution at will to suit his purposes.  This represents an assault on our democracy, and we cannot stand idly by and allow the President to disregard fundamental pillars of the Constitution. That is why I am proud as the Congressional Jewish Caucus Co-chair to join my colleagues in leading this effort.” 

    Background on the Task Force’s Wins:

    The Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force first took the unprecedented step of filing a trial court amicus brief to defend American consumers from predatory lenders and bad actors. They were successful in this case after a federal judge blocked efforts to dismantle the CFPB, citing the group’s argument multiple times throughout the 112-page ruling. The Task Force was also able to effectively prevent the Trump Administration from dismantling the Department of Education, filing another such brief that led to a federal court demanding the immediate rehiring of unlawfully terminated staff. House Democrats have so far filed eight amicus briefs in cases against Administration lawlessness. 

    For more information on House Democrats efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump Administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Slams Trump Administration for Terrorizing Los Angeles Communities Through ICE Raids, Deploying National Guard

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WATCH: Padilla Slams Trump Administration for Terrorizing Los Angeles Communities Through ICE Raids, Deploying National Guard

    Padilla: California is “the fourth-largest economy in the world, not despite our immigrant population, but because of our immigrant population, who contribute so much as [a] workforce, as consumers, as entrepreneurs. That’s something to be respected, not insulted.”

    “Our nation is better than this. Look to California as a way forward.”

    Watch the full interview here.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined MSNBC’s “The Weekend: Primetime” to condemn the Trump Administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Los Angeles and President Trump’s ensuing unprecedented deployment of nearly 2,000 members of California’s National Guard to the region.

    Senator Padilla slammed President Trump for manufacturing a cruel crisis to scapegoat immigrants and distract from Republicans’ harmful budget bill that will cut critical services that millions of Americans depend on to give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy. He also blasted the Trump Administration for their hypocrisy in calling the largely peaceful Los Angeles protests an “insurrection” as President Trump and Republicans refuse to use that word to describe the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Padilla encouraged Californians to continue peacefully protesting the Trump Administration’s inhumane immigration enforcement.

    Key Excerpts:

    On Trump demonizing immigrants to distract from Republicans’ harmful budget bill:

    • “The Senate Republicans are on the verge of passing what House Republicans just passed in this bill that threatens to cut Medicaid, cut the social safety net for so many, and underwrite tax breaks for billionaires. So to distract from that, it never fails. This is [Trump’s] classic playbook. He’s not brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine. His tariff war has gone horribly wrong. So when all else fails, he demonizes immigrants again.”
    • “If we were having a serious, substantive policy conversation, I think there is room to discuss increased funding for our immigration system, not just smarter enforcement at the border, utilizing technology, focusing on ports of entry, but also for all the people who have pending cases, whether it’s an asylum case, whether it’s anything else, there is a need for more immigration judges and hearing officers and counsel, those sorts of things. And let’s reduce the backlog. But what the Trump Administration is doing is exactly the opposite, shifting it to complete enforcement and aggressive, extreme, cruel enforcement for that matter, while the backlogs continue to grow because they’ve shifted resources away from those services and those programs.”
    • “By and large, this supposedly Big Beautiful Bill, which is anything but, is nothing but increasing funding for … immigration enforcement, gutting so many other critical areas of the budget that working families across the country depend on, all to underwrite tax breaks for the most wealthy in America, including somebody like Elon Musk. You know, Donald Trump didn’t like the headlines he was getting because of his fallout with Elon Musk, and so again, what happens? He stages a crisis, manufactures a cruel crisis to try to change the news of the day.”

    On Trump’s hypocrisy in his response compared to January 6:

    • “The other thing he wants is for people to, yes, maybe get out of hand, so that he has the justification to escalate and increase the use of force. Look what happened in his first term. Look what happened on January 6. You’ve got to call out the hypocrisy. He did not once say “insurrectionist” for the people who stormed the Capitol and attacked police officers, but one protester who gets a little bit out of hand in Los Angeles and all of a sudden, he’s going to bring in the Marines? That’s beyond hypocritical.”
    • “If it’s one thing that the Team Trump does have going for it, is they are masters of misinformation and disinformation. What’s happening in Los Angeles is not an insurrection. What happened on January 6 at the nation’s Capitol was an insurrection. So intellectual dishonesty is nothing new for J.D. Vance, or Donald Trump, or anybody in the White House right now. They should know better.”

    On the cruelty of Trump’s ICE raids and the importance of peaceful protests:

    • “These raids are not new. Obviously, we’ve been seeing them around the country for a few months, but increasingly with extremism and cruelty. And that’s what people in Los Angeles are responding to. Again, as others have said, you want to focus on violent and dangerous criminals? Great, there’s no disagreement there. But when you’re going after kids that are depending on lifesaving treatment, when you’re going after people in the workplace, in houses of worship, children in schools — that’s a whole thing altogether. So in a diverse community like Los Angeles, there’s going to be a lot of people who are passionate about defending fundamental rights and due process and to speak up when they see that not being respected.”
    • “So for all the people in Los Angeles, I do say protest. Protest peacefully, but protest because Donald Trump wants one of two things. He wants people … to be quiet, to suck it up, and ignore what’s happening, let him do whatever he wants. That’s not in our DNA.”

    On immigrants’ integral role in driving California’s economic success:

    • “We are not just the most populous state in the nation, we’re the most diverse state in the nation, home to more immigrants than any state in the nation, both mostly documented, some undocumented. But remember, folks, this is also the largest economy of any state in the nation, by far. The fourth-largest economy in the world, not despite our immigrant population, but because of our immigrant population, who contribute so much as [a] workforce, as consumers, as entrepreneurs. That’s something to be respected, not insulted.”

    On his personal story growing up as the son of immigrants from Mexico and fighting against anti-immigrant actions:

    • “You can’t help but take this personal because you can relate to the story, because you can relate to the sacrifice, because you can relate to that journey — not just me, my brother, my sister, my parents, and our family, but everybody, frankly, in the community where and how I grew up, which is indicative of millions of families across the country. You know, my parents came in pursuit of the American Dream, as so many have over generations, and my parents found it. My dad as a short order cook for 40 years, my mom cleaning houses. And to think that in one generation, someone like me can grow up in public schools in Los Angeles, go on to college, and one day represent our state in the United States Senate.”
    • “But there’s a reason why I left my engineering degree behind in 1994. It’s because of the rhetoric I saw back then in California, very different than the California we see today. Governor Pete Wilson, at the time, standing for re-election, down in the polls, turns to anti-immigrant rhetoric to try to seek re-election and divide the people. And it was because of … that Proposition 187 that people like my parents, finally took the steps to become citizens, as opposed to just being long-term permanent residents, but also my generation choosing to get involved in government and politics and change the trajectory of our state. California is very different today, but it is just so heartbreaking and offensive that the rhetoric continues to this day, even more so, because it’s not just coming out of the governor’s office in California back then, not now, but out of the Oval Office. Our nation is better than this. Look to California as a way forward.”

    On Trump’s mismanagement of the protests in Los Angeles:

    • “Law enforcement on the ground knows the community, and the community knows LAPD and the Sheriff’s Department. This is just a reminder that what happens when you don’t know what you’re doing as President United States, when you send in DHS, when you send in the National Guard, and they don’t know the community, they don’t have the rapport and the trust of the community, things get out of hand. And then the federal officials are in the position of having to call in LAPD to help them bring the temperature down in a situation, or the sheriff’s office in parts of the county outside the city of Los Angeles. It’s pointing out the weaknesses and the inability, the inexperience, and irresponsibility, frankly, of the Trump Administration.”

    Video of the full interview is available here.

    Senator Padilla also joined Los Angeles outlets KTLA and KNX tonight to discuss the fear and chaos the Trump Administration is stoking in Los Angeles and across California. On Friday, Padilla issued a statement condemning the Los Angeles ICE raids.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The blow-up between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has been entertaining, but how did things go so bad, so fast?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Henry Maher, Lecturer in Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney

    A no-holds-barred and very public blow-up between the world’s richest man and the president of the United States has had social media agog in recent days, with each making serious accusations against the other.

    And while tech billionaire Elon Musk appears to have cooled the spat somewhat – deleting some of his more incendiary social media posts about Donald Trump – the president still appears to be in no mood to make up, warning Musk of “very serious consequences” if he backs Democrats at the mid-term elections in 2026.

    Tensions erupted over Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB). The OBBB proposes extensive tax cuts which could add roughly US$3 trillion (A$4.62 trillion) to the US national debt.

    After stepping down from his role as advisor to Trump, Musk criticised the OBBB as “disgusting abomination” that would “burden America [sic] citizens with crushing unsustainable debt”. Trump returned fire, suggesting “Elon was ‘wearing thin’, I asked him to leave […] and he just went CRAZY!”.

    In a dramatic escalation, Musk responded by calling for Trump’s impeachment. Musk also tweeted allegations that Trump was implicated in the Epstein files related to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has since deleted those tweets.

    Why has the much-hyped “bromance” between Musk and Trump suddenly ended? And what was the basis of their alliance in the first place?

    Musk in politics

    Like many billionaires, Musk had previously been hesitant to get involved in frontline politics. He says he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, but claimed in 2021 “I would prefer to stay out of politics”.

    In early 2024, Musk was still claiming to be politically non-aligned, suggesting he would not donate to either presidential campaign.

    This apparent neutrality ended following the attempted assassination of Trump at a July 2024 campaign rally, with Musk immediately endorsing Trump.

    In reality, Musk’s conversion to the MAGA movement long predated the assassination attempt. Musk’s hyperactive Twitter/X account shows a steady radicalisation.

    Across 2020-2024, Musk engaged with accounts sharing MAGA and far-right conspiracy theories. These include the antisemitic Great Replacement Theory, and the related South African white genocide conspiracy. Musk’s posts also show the obsession with opposing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies characteristic of the MAGA movement.

    After endorsing Trump, Musk spent US$288 million (A$444 million) supporting Trump’s election and appeared at campaign events around the country.

    Musk’s support for Trump was both ideological and pragmatic.

    From tax cuts to immigration restrictions to opposing DEI, there were clearly many ideological commonalities between Musk and Trump.

    There were also clear practical benefits for both men. Trump gained the financial backing of the world’s wealthiest man. Musk gained not only unparalleled access to the US president, but also a role leading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

    DOGE: success and failure

    Early reporting on the second Trump presidency noted the omnipresence of Musk, who at one point moved into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to be close to the president.

    However, observers were sceptical about the potential effectiveness of DOGE, and Musk’s claim it would save the government US$2 trillion (A$3.02 trillion).

    In the early months of the Trump administration, Musk cut government programs and employees at a remarkable rate. The USAID program was particularly hard hit, as were the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

    As the spending cuts picked up pace, Musk began to attract more controversy. Critics questioned the apparent power wielded by the unelected billionaire. Musk’s ties to the far right were also in the spotlight after he appeared to perform two “Roman salutes”, which many observers believed to be a Nazi salute.

    Trump clips Musk’s wings

    Musk’s apparent rampage through government did not last long. As Trump’s executive appointees assumed control of their departments, Musk and DOGE experienced increasing resistance. After a series of fractious cabinet meetings, Trump reportedly reduced the power of DOGE in March.

    Political attention was also clearly affecting Musk’s businesses. The negative publicity has significantly damaged the Tesla brand, leading to declining sales around the world and repeated falls in Telsa’s share price.

    On May 1, Musk announced he would be leaving DOGE, claiming the department had saved the government US$180 billion (A$277 billion) in spending. This number is likely an exaggeration, but still falls well short of his original target.

    Musk has learned a harsh lesson in politics – that the complexities of government resist simple reform and cannot be easily rolled back in the way a CEO might slim down a company.

    For Trump, his manoeuvring of Musk appears to be another smart political move. As the public face of DOGE, Musk bore the negative rap for early government cuts and chaos. Having used his money and reputation, Trump dispensed with Musk as he has with so many advisers and appointees before.

    The falling out

    Musk departed his role in a muted White House ceremony, where Trump thanked him for his service and presented him with a ceremonial “golden key” to the White House.

    However, behind the public show of civility, tension was brewing over Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

    Trump and Musk had originally claimed that the US$2 trillion (A$3.02 trillion) in DOGE savings could be used to fund a substantial tax cut. With the efficiency savings not eventuating, Musk worried the OBBB would significantly increase US public debt.

    Unable to convince Trump or other Republican legislators, Musk took to X, launching a “Kill the Bill” campaign that ultimately led to his incendiary showdown with Trump.

    For his part, Trump has belittled Musk, suggesting Musk only opposed the OBBB because it cut subsidies for electric vehicles.

    Though the subsidy cuts will affect Tesla, Musk has previously supported eliminating subsidies. Musk’s anger at the OBBB is more likely driven by the realisation he has been played by Trump.

    What now?

    Trump has used and discarded many other powerful figures in his chaotic political career. Musk has more power than most, and might be able to strike back at Trump.

    Yet, with his public reputation and brands already tarnished, Musk would be ill-advised to pick further fights with Trump and his adoring MAGA movement.

    Accordingly, Musk has indicated over the weekend he is open to a détente. Tesla investors will no doubt be relieved if Musk makes good on his pledge to step back from politics and return to his businesses.

    More concerning are the prospects for democracy. With wealth and power continuing to concentrate in a handful of billionaires, voters appear reduced to the role of viewers forced to watch the reality TV drama unfold.

    Though Trump appears to have won this round of billionaire battle royale, whatever happens next, democracy is the real loser.

    Henry Maher does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The blow-up between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has been entertaining, but how did things go so bad, so fast? – https://theconversation.com/the-blow-up-between-elon-musk-and-donald-trump-has-been-entertaining-but-how-did-things-go-so-bad-so-fast-258394

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • Prince of Clay Alcaraz battles back from the brink to retain French Open crown

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Carlos Alcaraz battled from the brink of a first Grand Slam final loss to outlast Jannik Sinner in a French Open title clash for the ages on Sunday and keep his crown, cementing his status as the Prince of Clay in Roland Garros’ post-Rafa Nadal era.

    In a scintillating showdown between the torch-bearers of a new generation, the 22-year-old saved three match points in the fourth set to win 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2) and continue his dominance over Sinner with his fifth straight victory and end the Italian’s 20-match winning run at the majors.

    Alcaraz showed his steely determination to win the epic in five hours and 29 minutes – the longest final at Roland Garros – and soaked up the roaring ovation from a thoroughly entertained Parisian crowd long used to 14-times champion Nadal’s reign.

    “I’m just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament,” Alcaraz told Sinner after collecting the Musketeers’ Cup.

    “I’m sure you’re going to be champion not once, but many times. It’s a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you.”

    Victory made him only the second man since tennis turned professional in 1968 to win all of his first five Grand Slam singles finals after Swiss great Roger Federer but Alcaraz was more enthralled with an achievement he shared with fellow Spaniard and 22-times major champion Nadal.

    “The coincidence of winning my fifth Grand Slam at the same age as Nadal, that’s destiny,” Alcaraz told reporters.

    “It’s a stat I’m going to keep forever … It’s a huge honour. Hopefully it’s not going to stop like this.”

    Alcaraz and Sinner, who have lifted seven out of the last eight Grand Slams to stamp their authority in the men’s game, were locked in a fierce battle full of dramatic momentum shifts in the first major final between two men born in the 2000s.

    Sunday’s five-hour-plus fiesta was the second-longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era and marked only the third time since 1968 that a player saved a match point en route to victory in a Grand Slam final.

    Alcaraz matched Argentine Gaston Gaudio’s 2004 French Open feat and Serbian Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon comeback in 2019.

    Playing his first Grand Slam after serving a three-month ban after a doping case, top seed Sinner held serve in a tense five-deuce opening game lasting 12 minutes.

    However, the 23-year-old was broken in the fifth game when he fired a forehand wide, before hitting back from 2-3 and going on to snatch an intense opening set following an unforced error by Alcaraz.

    ON THE ROPES

    Relentless pressure from the baseline allowed Sinner to go a break up early in the second set and the top seed began to apply the squeeze on Alcaraz, who was on the ropes trailing 1-4 on a sunbathed Court Philippe Chatrier.

    An aggressive Alcaraz came out fighting and drew loud cheers when he drew level after 10 games and then forced a tiebreak but Sinner edged ahead with a blistering forehand winner and doubled his lead after the clock ticked past two hours.

    Alcaraz, who had never come back from two sets down before, battled hard in the hope of avoiding heartbreak in a major final and pulled a set back before saving three match points at 3-5 down in the fourth, later restoring parity following the tiebreak.

    He traded breaks in a high-quality decider but prevailed in the super tiebreak to become the third man to capture back-to-back Roland Garros titles this century after Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten.

    “He was born to play these kind of moments,” said Alcaraz’s coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.

    “Every time we were in these situations, even when he was younger in the challengers … he always went for it.”

    Sinner was left to digest how he let slip a golden chance to win claycourt’s blue riband event following hardcourt triumphs at the U.S. Open and Australian Open.

    Alcaraz fell to the red dirt before Sinner went over to his side of the court to congratulate him and the Spaniard then ran to the heaving stands to hug his team and celebrate.

    “CARLOS II, PRINCE OF CLAY,” the French Open posted on X.

    Sinner had a contemplative look, sitting on his bench as his rival rejoiced, and was gracious in defeat when he congratulated him during the trophy ceremony.

    “We tried our best today, we gave everything … an amazing tournament even though it’s very difficult now,” Sinner said.

    “It’s a big privilege for me to play here … I won’t sleep very well tonight but it’s okay.”

    (Reuters)

     

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 9, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 9, 2025.

    Israeli forces intercept Gaza freedom aid boat Madleen – cut communications
    Pacific Media Watch Contact has been lost with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla humanitarian aid boat Madleen after Israeli commandos intercepted it in international waters. The commandos demanded that everyone on board turn off their phones, and the boat lost contact with Al Jazeera Mubasher journalist Omar Faiad as well as its live feed, reports the

    NZ homes are notorious for being cold and damp. Here are 4 ways to make yours feel warmer this winter
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Tookey, Professor of Construction Management, Auckland University of Technology New Zealand has just been hit by the first big cold snap of 2025 and, like every year, many New Zealanders will be reaching for an extra jumper, slippers and maybe a blanket to try and keep

    2-million-year-old pitted teeth from our ancient relatives reveal secrets about human evolution
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Towle, Research Fellow in Biological Anthropology, Monash University Ian Towle / The Conversation The enamel that forms the outer layer of our teeth might seem like an unlikely place to find clues about evolution. But it tells us more than you’d think about the relationships between

    Curious Kids: Why do dolphins jump out of the water?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katharina J. Peters, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Will Falcon/Shutterstock Why do dolphins jump out of the water? Charlize, age 8, Melbourne Have you ever seen images of dolphins jumping out of the waves and performing impressive acrobatics in the air? Or maybe you’ve seen

    How Trump’s trade war is supercharging the fast fashion industry
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mona Mashhadi Rajabi, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Jade Gao/Getty Images When US President Donald Trump introduced sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports the goal was to bring manufacturing back to American soil and protect local jobs. However, this process of re-shoring is complex and

    Can Israel still claim self-defence to justify its Gaza war? Here’s what the law says
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University On October 7 2023, more than 1,000 Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel and went on a killing spree, murdering 1,200 men, women and children and abducting another 250 people to take back to Gaza. It was the

    Measles cases are surging globally. Should children be vaccinated earlier?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meru Sheel, Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases, Immunisation and Emergencies (IDIE) Group, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney EyeEm Mobile GmbH/Getty Images Measles has been rising globally in recent years. There were an estimated 10.3 million cases worldwide in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022. Outbreaks

    What can you do if you don’t like your child’s friends?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael Murrihy, Director, The Kidman Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney Getty Images/ Wander Woman Collective Many parents will be familiar with this situation: your child has a good or even best friend, but you don’t like them. Perhaps the friend is bossy, has poor

    Immortality at a price: how the promise of delaying death has become a consumer marketing bonanza
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Errmann, Senior Lecturer, Marketing & International Business, Auckland University of Technology Living forever has become the wellness and marketing trend of the 2020s. But cheating death – or at least delaying it – will come at a price. What was once the domain of scientists and

    Why bystanders defend bad behaviour at work — even when they know it’s wrong
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zhanna Lyubykh, Assistant Professor, Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University Rather than intervening, supporting targets or reporting the misconduct, bystanders may downplay it, withdraw support or even blame the target, which ultimately reinforces the mistreatment. (Shutterstock) “You always mess things up. Why are you even on

    Phil Goff: Israel doesn’t care how many innocent people it’s killing in Gaza
    COMMENTARY: By Phil Goff “What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians. It’s the result of government policy — knowingly, evilly, maliciously, irresponsibly dictated.” This statement was made not by a foreign or liberal critic of Israel but by the former Prime Minister

    New Zealand’s foreign policy stance on Palestine lacks transparency
    COMMENTARY: By John Hobbs It is difficult to understand what sits behind the New Zealand government’s unwillingness to sanction, or threaten to sanction, the Israeli government for its genocide against the Palestinian people. The United Nations, human rights groups, legal experts and now genocide experts have all agreed it really is “genocide” which is being

    The blow-up between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has been entertaining, but how did things go so bad, so fast?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Maher, Lecturer in Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney A no-holds-barred and very public blow-up between the world’s richest man and the president of the United States has had social media agog in recent days, with each making serious accusations against the

    Gaza plea: RSF, CPJ and 150+ media outlets call on Israel to open Strip to foreign journalists, protect Palestinian reporters
    Pacific Media Watch More than 150 press freedom advocacy groups and international newsrooms have joined Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in issuing a public appeal demanding that Israel grant foreign journalists immediate, independent and unrestricted access to the Gaza Strip. The organisations are also calling for the full protection

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS CONDEMNS PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION FOR RACIST IMMIGRATION POLICY

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (43rd District of California)

    “Trump is demonstrating the height of his racism as he works to remove 500,000 legal immigrants from this country.”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court granting the Trump Administration’s request to revoke humanitarian parole from more than 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and order them out of the Country. 

    “Donald Trump is demonstrating the height of his racism as he works to remove 500,000 legal immigrants from this country. These are individuals who followed the legal process to apply for and receive humanitarian parole, which allows migrants from countries facing instability, including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, to enter the United States and live and work here legally, in this case for two years, provided they have a private sponsor. These people followed that process, entered the United States legally, and became law-abiding and contributing members of their communities.  It is downright cruel for Donald Trump to interfere with that process, take away their parole status with virtually no warning, uproot them from their families, sponsors, and communities, and deport them to situations that are still unstable.

    “I am appalled that the Supreme Court is allowing Trump to proceed with these racist deportation plans targeting law-abiding, legal immigrants who are working, raising families, and contributing in a positive way to their communities. I commend Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor for their dissent against this terrible decision.

    “Meanwhile, Trump lied to the American people and the world when he perpetuated a false narrative about white South Africans being subjected to genocide, and then used these lies to justify bringing white South Africans into the United States as refugees, while attempting to deport thousands of legal immigrants who are not white but who truly are refugees.  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the United States intelligence community, and the international community have all confirmed that Trump lied about South Africa. 

    “Co-President Elon Musk spread these outrageous lies. Elon Musk is the same man whose family worked hard to maintain the racist apartheid system in South Africa for decades and who himself repeatedly gestured the Afrikaner salute (associated with white supremacist groups like South Africa’s neo-Nazi political party Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging).

    “But this isn’t new for Trump. Throughout his campaign and even after his election, Trump held rallies that featured racist and disparaging comments and outright lies about immigrants, especially Haitians, in an attempt to stoke fear amongst the American people. Trump’s baseless attacks caused irreparable harm to communities across our nation and further tarnished America’s image around the world.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: AI Insider Takes Us Inside Trump and Musk’s Quiet Plan to Reboot America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BALTIMORE, June 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New briefing reveals the creation of a secret AI system designed to reshape the country’s infrastructure, governance, and future — starting July 1.

    Bestselling author and longtime tech analyst James Altucher has released a stunning new report that pulls back the curtain on what he calls “the most important project in America today” — and it has nothing to do with Washington.

    According to Altucher, Elon Musk is building a system called Project Colossus — a privately operated supercomputer that’s now being quietly positioned as the technological foundation of a new, AI-driven America.

    It All Started on Day One

    Altucher points to Donald Trump’s very first executive action in office as the moment this project became possible.

    “In one of his FIRST acts as President… Donald Trump overturned Executive Order #14110.”

    That single move, Altucher says, eliminated regulatory bottlenecks and opened the floodgates for full-speed development by private operators — especially Musk.

    Hidden in Plain Sight

    “Right here, inside this warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee… lies a massive supercomputer Musk calls ‘Project Colossus.’”

    Altucher reports that the machine is already live, powered by 200,000 of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips — with a tenfold upgrade scheduled for rollout by July 1.

    “Making it the most advanced AI facility known to man.”

    The Mission: Replace the System

    According to Altucher, Colossus isn’t just designed to speed up processes — it’s meant to replace outdated decision-making structures altogether.

    “AI 2.0… gives that knowledge to intelligent machines that I believe will solve our problems for us.”

    Altucher warns that while most Americans are focused on politics-as-usual, the real transformation is happening behind firewalls — with Musk writing the code, and Trump clearing the path.

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author who has worked in artificial intelligence for over four decades. A contributor to IBM’s Deep Blue and an early AI pioneer on Wall Street, his latest briefings reveal the hidden buildout of America’s post-industrial, AI-powered infrastructure — and the forces quietly driving it.

    Media Contact:
    Derek Warren
    Public Relations Manager
    Paradigm Press Group
    Email: dwarren@paradigmpressgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trump Taps Musk to “Rebuild Government from the Ground Up,” Says One Tech Insider

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BALTIMORE, June 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a newly surfaced public briefing, bestselling author and tech analyst James Altucher reveals what he calls a “massive transfer of control” inside the federal government — one that began on Day One of President Trump’s return to the White House.

    According to Altucher, Trump isn’t just slashing bureaucracy — he’s outsourcing innovation to Elon Musk. The result is Project Colossus: a 200,000-chip AI supercomputer hidden inside a Memphis warehouse and operated entirely outside the traditional system.

    A Silent Power Shift — Signed by Trump

    “In one of his FIRST acts as President… Donald Trump overturned Executive Order #14110.”

    That reversal, Altucher says, stripped away Biden’s AI restrictions — immediately giving private operators like Musk the runway to build freely.

    Trump then revealed Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative that, according to Altucher, is “not about building government… it’s about replacing it.”

    Musk’s AI Is Already Online

    “Right here, inside this warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee… lies a massive supercomputer Musk calls ‘Project Colossus.’”

    “Making it the most advanced AI facility known to man.”

    Altucher claims that the system is already operational — and is expected to expand dramatically before July 1, when a major upgrade could “10X its power overnight.”

    Not Reform. Replacement.

    According to Altucher, Musk and Trump aren’t just reforming the system — they’re replacing it with autonomous intelligence designed to streamline decisions, reduce costs, and eliminate delay.

    “AI 2.0… gives that knowledge to intelligent machines that I believe will solve our problems for us.”

    Altucher warns that what began as an infrastructure story is fast becoming one of control — and that the real question now is: who governs the machines?

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author with four decades of experience in artificial intelligence. He studied at Cornell and Carnegie Mellon, helped develop IBM’s Deep Blue, and has built AI-powered systems for use in finance and enterprise. His latest briefings focus on how AI is being deployed beyond the public’s view — and who’s behind it.

    Media Contact:
    Derek Warren
    Public Relations Manager
    Paradigm Press Group
    Email: dwarren@paradigmpressgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: D. Trump said that his interaction with I. Musk has ended

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    NEW YORK, June 8 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has no intention of restoring relations with billionaire Elon Musk and their interaction is over, following their mutual attacks on social media.

    In a phone interview with NBC News, the American president noted that he does not plan to talk to I. Musk anytime soon. “I’m too busy with other things,” he said.

    Asked if he thought his relationship with the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yes,” accusing Musk of being “disrespectful.”

    In the interview, D. Trump also threatened I. Musk with “serious consequences” if he decides to finance Democratic candidates who oppose the budget bill proposed by the Republicans /“big beautiful law”/.

    “If he does this, he will have to pay for it,” the US president said, without revealing what the consequences would be.

    The feud between Trump and Musk began with the “big, beautiful law.” In the days leading up to their public spat, Musk criticized the spending bill passed by the House of Representatives last month.

    D. Trump said he does not believe that I. Musk’s opposition to the “big beautiful law” jeopardizes the bill’s chances of success. He noted that he is “very confident” that the bill will pass the Senate before July 4. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump indicates his relationship with Musk is over

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he has no intention to repair his relationship with billionaire Elon Musk and indicated their relationship is over, following their heated mutual attacks on social media.

    In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he has no plans to speak with Musk anytime soon. “I’m too busy doing other things,” he said.

    Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah,” accusing Musk of being “disrespectful to the office of the President.”

    In the interview, Trump also said there would be “serious consequences” if Musk funds Democratic candidates to run against Republicans who vote in favor of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

    “If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump said, without revealing what those consequences would be.

    The feud between Trump and Musk started from the “One Big Beautiful Bill”. In the days leading up to their public falling out, Musk had been critical of the GOP-led spending bill that the House passed last month.

    Trump indicated he didn’t believe that Musk’s opposition to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” is jeopardizing the bill’s chances of success, saying he’s “very confident” that the bill will pass the Senate before July 4. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The blow-up between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has been entertaining, but how did things go so bad, so fast?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Maher, Lecturer in Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney

    A no-holds-barred and very public blow-up between the world’s richest man and the president of the United States has had social media agog in recent days, with each making serious accusations against the other.

    And while tech billionaire Elon Musk appears to have cooled the spat somewhat – deleting some of his more incendiary social media posts about Donald Trump – the president still appears to be in no mood to make up, warning Musk of “very serious consequences” if he backs Democrats at the mid-term elections in 2026.

    Tensions erupted over Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB). The OBBB proposes extensive tax cuts which could add roughly US$3 trillion (A$4.62 trillion) to the US national debt.

    After stepping down from his role as advisor to Trump, Musk criticised the OBBB as “disgusting abomination” that would “burden America [sic] citizens with crushing unsustainable debt”. Trump returned fire, suggesting “Elon was ‘wearing thin’, I asked him to leave […] and he just went CRAZY!”.

    In a dramatic escalation, Musk responded by calling for Trump’s impeachment. Musk also tweeted allegations that Trump was implicated in the Epstein files related to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has since deleted those tweets.

    Why has the much-hyped “bromance” between Musk and Trump suddenly ended? And what was the basis of their alliance in the first place?

    Musk in politics

    Like many billionaires, Musk had previously been hesitant to get involved in frontline politics. He says he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, but claimed in 2021 “I would prefer to stay out of politics”.

    In early 2024, Musk was still claiming to be politically non-aligned, suggesting he would not donate to either presidential campaign.

    This apparent neutrality ended following the attempted assassination of Trump at a July 2024 campaign rally, with Musk immediately endorsing Trump.

    In reality, Musk’s conversion to the MAGA movement long predated the assassination attempt. Musk’s hyperactive Twitter/X account shows a steady radicalisation.

    Across 2020-2024, Musk engaged with accounts sharing MAGA and far-right conspiracy theories. These include the antisemitic Great Replacement Theory, and the related South African white genocide conspiracy. Musk’s posts also show the obsession with opposing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies characteristic of the MAGA movement.

    After endorsing Trump, Musk spent US$288 million (A$444 million) supporting Trump’s election and appeared at campaign events around the country.

    Musk’s support for Trump was both ideological and pragmatic.

    From tax cuts to immigration restrictions to opposing DEI, there were clearly many ideological commonalities between Musk and Trump.

    There were also clear practical benefits for both men. Trump gained the financial backing of the world’s wealthiest man. Musk gained not only unparalleled access to the US president, but also a role leading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

    DOGE: success and failure

    Early reporting on the second Trump presidency noted the omnipresence of Musk, who at one point moved into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to be close to the president.

    However, observers were sceptical about the potential effectiveness of DOGE, and Musk’s claim it would save the government US$2 trillion (A$3.02 trillion).

    In the early months of the Trump administration, Musk cut government programs and employees at a remarkable rate. The USAID program was particularly hard hit, as were the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

    As the spending cuts picked up pace, Musk began to attract more controversy. Critics questioned the apparent power wielded by the unelected billionaire. Musk’s ties to the far right were also in the spotlight after he appeared to perform two “Roman salutes”, which many observers believed to be a Nazi salute.

    Trump clips Musk’s wings

    Musk’s apparent rampage through government did not last long. As Trump’s executive appointees assumed control of their departments, Musk and DOGE experienced increasing resistance. After a series of fractious cabinet meetings, Trump reportedly reduced the power of DOGE in March.

    Political attention was also clearly affecting Musk’s businesses. The negative publicity has significantly damaged the Tesla brand, leading to declining sales around the world and repeated falls in Telsa’s share price.

    On May 1, Musk announced he would be leaving DOGE, claiming the department had saved the government US$180 billion (A$277 billion) in spending. This number is likely an exaggeration, but still falls well short of his original target.

    Musk has learned a harsh lesson in politics – that the complexities of government resist simple reform and cannot be easily rolled back in the way a CEO might slim down a company.

    For Trump, his manoeuvring of Musk appears to be another smart political move. As the public face of DOGE, Musk bore the negative wrap for early government cuts and chaos. Having used his money and reputation, Trump dispensed with Musk as he has with so many advisers and appointees before.

    The falling out

    Musk departed his role in a muted White House ceremony, where Trump thanked him for his service and presented him with a ceremonial “golden key” to the White House.

    However, behind the public show of civility, tension was brewing over Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

    Trump and Musk had originally claimed that the US$2 trillion (A$3.02 trillion) in DOGE savings could be used to fund a substantial tax cut. With the efficiency savings not eventuating, Musk worried the OBBB would significantly increase US public debt.

    Unable to convince Trump or other Republican legislators, Musk took to X, launching a “Kill the Bill” campaign that ultimately led to his incendiary showdown with Trump.

    For his part, Trump has belittled Musk, suggesting Musk only opposed the OBBB because it cut subsidies for electric vehicles.

    Though the subsidy cuts will affect Tesla, Musk has previously supported eliminating subsidies. Musk’s anger at the OBBB is more likely driven by the realisation he has been played by Trump.

    What now?

    Trump has used and discarded many other powerful figures in his chaotic political career. Musk has more power than most, and might be able to strike back at Trump.

    Yet, with his public reputation and brands already tarnished, Musk would be ill-advised to pick further fights with Trump and his adoring MAGA movement.

    Accordingly, Musk has indicated over the weekend he is open to a détente. Tesla investors will no doubt be relieved if Musk makes good on his pledge to step back from politics and return to his businesses.

    More concerning are the prospects for democracy. With wealth and power continuing to concentrate in a handful of billionaires, voters appear reduced to the role of viewers forced to watch the reality TV drama unfold.

    Though Trump appears to have won this round of billionaire battle royale, whatever happens next, democracy is the real loser.

    Henry Maher does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The blow-up between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has been entertaining, but how did things go so bad, so fast? – https://theconversation.com/the-blow-up-between-elon-musk-and-donald-trump-has-been-entertaining-but-how-did-things-go-so-bad-so-fast-258394

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Trump says Musk relationship over, warns of ‘serious consequences’ if he funds Democrats

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Donald Trump said on Saturday his relationship with his billionaire donor Elon Musk is over and warned there would be “serious consequences” if Musk funds U.S. Democrats running against Republicans who vote for the president’s sweeping tax and spending bill.

    In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump declined to say what those consequences would be, and went on to add that he had not had discussions about whether to investigate Musk.

    Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah.”

    “No,” Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Musk.

    “I have no intention of speaking to him,” Trump said.

    However, Trump said he had not thought about terminating U.S. government contracts with Musk’s StarLink satellite internet or SpaceX rocket launch companies.

    Musk and Trump began exchanging insults this week, as Musk denounced Trump’s bill as a “disgusting abomination.” Musk’s opposition to the measure complicated efforts to pass the legislation in Congress, where Republicans hold only slim majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.

    The bill narrowly passed the House last month and is now before the Senate, where Trump’s fellow Republicans are considering making changes. Nonpartisan analysts estimate the measure would add $2.4 trillion to the $36.2 trillion U.S. debt over 10 years, which worries many lawmakers, including some Republicans who are fiscal hawks.

    Musk also declared it was time for a new political party in the United States “to represent the 80% in the middle!”

    Trump said on Saturday he is confident the bill would get passed by the U.S. July 4 Independence Day holiday.

    “In fact, yeah, people that were, were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it, and we expect it to pass,” Trump told NBC.

    Republicans have strongly backed Trump’s initiatives since he began his second term as president on January 20. While some Republican lawmakers have made comments to the news media expressing concern about some of Trump’s choices, they have yet to vote down any of his policies or nominations.

    DELETED MUSK POSTS

    Musk has deleted some social media posts critical of Trump, including one that signaled support for impeaching the president, appearing to seek a de-escalation of their public feud, which exploded on Thursday. During his first term as president, the House, then controlled by Democrats, twice voted to impeach Trump but the Senate both times acquitted him.

    The White House and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday on the deleted posts.

    People who have spoken to Musk said his anger has begun to recede and they thought he would want to repair his relationship with Trump.

    One of the X posts that Musk appeared to have deleted was a response to another user posting: “President vs Elon. Who wins? My money’s on Elon. Trump should be impeached and (Vice President) JD Vance should replace him.” Musk had written “yes.”

    On Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast – recorded on Thursday as the feud between Trump and Musk unfolded and released on Saturday – Vance called Musk’s criticism of Trump a “huge mistake.”

    “I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold. Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear. But I hope it is,” said Vance, describing Musk as an “incredible entrepreneur.”

    Trump is due to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight card on Saturday in New Jersey. Since his second election win, he has attended two previous UFC mixed martial arts fight cards with Musk. Musk is not expected to attend on Saturday.

    Musk, the world’s richest man, bankrolled a large part of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, spending nearly $300 million in last year’s U.S. elections and taking credit for Republicans retaining a majority of seats in the House and retaking a majority in the Senate.

    Trump named Musk to head an effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending, lauding him at the White House only about a week ago for his work as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk cut only about half of 1% of total spending, far short of his brash plans to axe $2 trillion from the federal budget.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Trump’s Secret AI Strategy Uncovered: Tech Insider Reveals Hidden Role of Elon Musk

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BALTIMORE, June 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New briefing claims President Trump has quietly deployed the most advanced artificial intelligence system in U.S. history — and handed the keys to Elon Musk.

    In a recently surfaced briefing, tech entrepreneur and author James Altucher alleges that Donald Trump’s first move back in the Oval Office was more than symbolic — it was tactical.

    According to Altucher, Trump’s repeal of Biden’s AI executive order set off a hidden chain reaction that gave Elon Musk the freedom to unleash a classified project known as Project Colossus — an AI facility located in Memphis, Tennessee that may now house the most powerful supercomputer on Earth.

    “The Fastest Supercomputer on the Planet”

    “It contains not just one or two… but 200,000 units of Nvidia’s all-powerful AI chips… making it the most advanced AI facility known to man.”

    “The fastest supercomputer on the planet.” — Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO

    Altucher says the facility is growing fast — with rumors Musk plans to double its processing power within weeks.

    A Quiet Reversal. A Bold New Doctrine.

    “In one of his FIRST acts as President… Donald Trump overturned Executive Order #14110.”

    That order — signed by Biden — had imposed regulatory constraints on advanced AI. Altucher claims the reversal was calculated, opening the door for private actors like Musk to move “without delay or oversight.”

    Trump later followed with a $500 billion initiative dubbed Stargate, focused on expanding America’s AI infrastructure.

    Beyond Chatbots — Toward Supremacy

    Altucher argues that what’s being built isn’t just faster software — it’s a new class of intelligence entirely.

    “AI 2.0… gives that knowledge to intelligent machines that I believe will solve our problems for us.”

    He says July 1 could mark a critical turning point, when Musk unveils a 10X expansion to Colossus — potentially redefining U.S. dominance in AI for decades.

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a computer scientist, bestselling author, and entrepreneur who has worked in AI for over 40 years. He has advised tech firms, built AI trading systems, and contributed to IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer project. His latest research focuses on the convergence of AI, national policy, and private innovation.

    Media Contact:
    Derek Warren
    Public Relations Manager
    Paradigm Press Group
    Email: dwarren@paradigmpressgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trump and Musk’s AI Alliance Revealed in Shocking New Briefing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BALTIMORE, June 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — James Altucher uncovers secret AI facility that could cement U.S. dominance — and it all began with Trump’s first move back in office.

    In a recent public briefing, bestselling author and tech entrepreneur James Altucher exposed what he describes as the real story behind President Trump’s first executive reversal — and its direct link to a classified AI superproject now underway in Tennessee.

    According to Altucher, Trump’s repeal of Biden’s executive AI order didn’t just lift regulations — it cleared the way for Elon Musk to quietly launch Project Colossus, a private supercomputer that now rivals anything built by Big Tech or the Pentagon.

    Trump’s First Move — Musk’s Fastest Machine

    “In one of his FIRST acts as President… Donald Trump overturned Executive Order #14110.”

    Altucher says this maneuver gave developers like Musk “full speed ahead” to build without delay — and Musk wasted no time.

    “Right here, inside this warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee… lies a massive supercomputer Musk calls ‘Project Colossus.’”

    The system, according to Altucher, is now operational and powered by over 200,000 AI chips — with more upgrades on the way before July 1.

    A New Tech Doctrine

    Altucher argues that Trump’s return marks more than a change in leadership — it marks a shift in philosophy: from AI safety to AI supremacy.

    “Trump also announced the LARGEST AI investment in history… Stargate… a massive, AI data center and infrastructure project with an estimated $500 billion price tag.”

    He believes this signals a strategic effort to make America the global leader in next-generation technology — not through bureaucracies, but through Musk-led private innovation.

    Musk Builds the Machine, Trump Clears the Way

    Altucher refers to the pairing as “the most powerful alliance in tech history” — and warns that what they’re building isn’t just software.

    “This second wave of ARTIFICIAL SUPERINTELLIGENCE… Will rival all of the great innovations of the past. Electricity… the wheel… even the discovery of fire.”

    He says what happens next could reshape the balance of power — both at home and abroad.

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a computer scientist, author, and entrepreneur. He studied AI at Cornell and Carnegie Mellon, worked on IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer, and pioneered AI-powered market systems. His latest work tracks the hidden forces shaping the next generation of American technology and policy.

    Media Contact:
    Derek Warren
    Public Relations Manager
    Paradigm Press Group
    Email: dwarren@paradigmpressgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AI Insider Blows the Lid Off Musk’s Secret AI Operation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BALTIMORE, June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A mysterious AI complex in Memphis is now being called the most powerful system of its kind — and it wasn’t supposed to be public knowledge.

    In a newly released briefing, bestselling author and tech expert James Altucher reveals the details of a covert AI operation led by Elon Musk that, until now, has gone almost entirely unreported.

    Known as Project Colossus, the facility was built by Musk’s AI company, xAI, and is allegedly housing the highest-density AI computing power in the Western Hemisphere.

    “The AI Mothership”

    Altucher says the project has quietly surpassed every major tech firm in the race for AI dominance — including OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, and even Nvidia.

    “Elon Musk has created the AI mothership… an innovation of such enormous proportion… that he has already surpassed all the leading AI developers.”

    He adds that the complex is powered by 200,000 high-performance AI chips — and growing.

    “Making it the most advanced AI facility known to man.”

    Buried in a Warehouse. Unleashed by Policy.

    According to Altucher, the project only became possible after a specific presidential action early in Trump’s second term.

    “In one of his FIRST acts as President… Donald Trump overturned Executive Order #14110.”

    That order had previously restricted advanced AI development in the name of safety and oversight. Its removal, Altucher says, opened the floodgates.

    Not a Tool. A Turning Point.

    Altucher warns that this isn’t just about AI doing tasks faster. This is a leap into self-operating systems that think, react, and solve.

    “AI 2.0… gives that knowledge to intelligent machines that I believe will solve our problems for us.”

    He claims a major update to Colossus — scheduled before July 1 — could mark the moment America enters a new technological era.

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author with four decades of experience in artificial intelligence and innovation. His past work includes contributions to IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer and the early development of AI-driven market systems. His recent briefings focus on the intersection of AI, secrecy, and national acceleration.

    Media Contact:
    Derek Warren
    Public Relations Manager
    Paradigm Press Group
    Email: dwarren@paradigmpressgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Supreme Court Allows DOGE’s Unlawful Seizure of Americans’ Social Security Data as Challenge Continues

    Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union

    Washington, D.C. – The United States Supreme Court has stayed a preliminary injunction in AFSCME v. SSA, which had prevented the Trump administration from granting staff at the so-called “Department of Governmental Efficiency” (DOGE) unprecedented and dangerous access to the sensitive, personal data of millions at the Social Security Administration. An appeals court previously declined to stay the injunction, which recognized that DOGE’s operatives’ unprecedented access to private Social Security data, ranging from immigration records to health and financial information, violates critical privacy protections and will cause irreparable harm.

    This decision overturns a first of its kind order issued by a lower court that required Elon Musk and DOGE to “disgorge” and “delete” any personal data.

    Democracy Forward represents the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the American Federation of Teachers; and the Alliance for Retired Americans in this case. The coalition issued the following statement:

    “This is a sad day for our democracy and a scary day for millions of people. This ruling will enable President Trump and DOGE’s affiliates to steal Americans’ private and personal data. Elon Musk may have left Washington, D.C., but his impact continues to harm millions of people. We will continue to use every legal tool at our disposal to keep unelected bureaucrats from misusing the public’s most sensitive data as this case moves forward.”

    The case will now proceed on the merits in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

    Democracy Forward’s legal team in this matter includes Anne Swift, Mark Samburg, Emma Leibowitz, and Robin Thurston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 6th, 2025 Heinrich, Luján Slam Trump Administration for Illegally Gutting Agency Dedicated to Growing Local Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Amid Commerce Department’s stonewalling, senators ask GAO to investigate if Trump officials violated the law or engaged in misconduct & what officials are doing with funding Congress appropriated to serve minority enterprises & create jobs

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to slam the Trump Administration for its illegal dismantling of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The senators asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether actions by Trump Commerce Department officials or others in the Administration violated Congressional directives, the extent to which they undermined MBDA’s Congressional mandate, and whether any officials have engaged in misconduct.

    “On May 2, 2025, the White House released its recommendations on discretionary funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which expressly acknowledge that the Commerce Department under Secretary Howard Lutnick has ‘fully eliminated’ the MBDA,” the senators wrote in a letter to GAO Comptroller General Gene Dodaro. “Prior to this admission, my colleagues and I repeatedly raised concerns about the Department’s efforts to dismantle the MBDA unilaterally, particularly given Secretary Lutnick’s clear testimony during his confirmation hearing stating he did not support dismantling the agency. We sent multiple letters to Secretary Lutnick and the Department seeking basic information about the current state of the MBDA. To date, the Department has failed to substantively respond to any of our requests, and it is becoming increasingly clear that Department leadership is not taking these concerns seriously.”

    The senators have raised concerns and demanded accountability and answers from the Trump Administration since the president issued his unlawful executive order. This letter follows a letter the senators wrote to Keith Sonderling, Acting Under Secretary for MBDA, demanding the Trump Administration detail its compliance with a May 13 federal court injunction ordering it to stop the illegal dismantling of the agency and reinstate its personnel and grantmaking capacities. The senators previously sent a May 1, 2025 inquiry to Sonderling to demand he promptly turn over key documents and information related to the dismantling of the MBDA and recent funding termination notices sent to all grantees by DOGE. On June 3, the senators also sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that they investigate whether actions by Trump Commerce Department officials or others in the Administration violated congressional directives, the extent to which they undermined MBDA’s congressional mandate and whether any officials have engaged in misconduct.

    In October 2024, Heinrich led the unveiling of a new, larger office space for the New Mexico Minority Business Development Center in Albuquerque to expand support for local businesses across the state as they create the types of careers New Mexicans can build their families around. Heinrich wrote the legislative provision that established and funded the New Mexico Business Center in 2020, securing more than $2.5 million in federal resources through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency for its staffing and programming.

    In May, during the Senate Commerce hearing on the nomination of Paul Dabbar to be U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Luján pressed Mr. Dabbar on the dismantling of the MBDA by the Trump Administration and highlighted the successes of the MBDA. Luján championed an amendment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make the MBDA permanent. He also secured passage of a provision to double the funding level for the MBDA’s Rural Business Development Center Program and to expand this program’s eligibility to include all Minority-Serving Institutions, which will expand opportunities for New Mexico’s colleges and universities. Additionally, in 2021, Luján championed legislation to make permanent and expand the reach of the Minority Business Development Agency.

    The text of the letter can be found HERE and below:

    Comptroller General Dodaro:

    We write to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a review of the actions taken by the Trump Administration to dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), despite Congress statutorily authorizing the agency and appropriating funding to further its mission. A robust investigation by GAO would help shed light on whether officials at the Department of Commerce (Department) or elsewhere in the Administration circumvented the directives of Congress, the extent to which the MBDA’s ability to administer its grants and combat potential fraud has been undermined, and whether any officials have engaged in misconduct.

    On May 2, 2025, the White House released its recommendations on discretionary funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which expressly acknowledge that the Commerce Department under Secretary Howard Lutnick has “fully eliminated” the MBDA. Prior to this admission, my colleagues and I repeatedly raised concerns about the Department’s efforts to dismantle the MBDA unilaterally, particularly given Secretary Lutnick’s clear testimony during his confirmation hearing stating he did not support dismantling the agency. We sent multiple letters to Secretary Lutnick and the Department seeking basic information about the current state of the MBDA. To date, the Department has failed to substantively respond to any of our requests, and it is becoming increasingly clear that Department leadership is not taking these concerns seriously.

    The MBDA was created by Executive Order in 1969. In 2021, Congress statutorily authorized the MBDA in bipartisan legislation, the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 (MBDA Act), which was enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In so doing, Congress directed the MBDA to, among other things, “enable the Federal Government to better serve the needs of minority business enterprises.” The bipartisan law also established a new Senate-confirmed position to lead the agency. By making the MBDA and its programs permanent, Congress made a deliberate decision to promote job creation, spur innovation, and support business owners from a variety of backgrounds.

    Last Congress, the Congress funded the MBDA pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which contained a $68.25 million appropriation for the “necessary expenses of the Minority Business Development Agency in fostering, promoting, and developing minority business enterprises, as authorized by law.” These investments have paid significant dividends: In FY 2024 alone, the MBDA helped the country’s more than 12 million minority businesses access over $1.5 billion in capital and create or retain approximately 23,000 jobs. That same level of funding has been appropriated through the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (P.L. 119-4).

    Despite Congress’s clear statutory directive, on March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order effectively eliminating the MBDA and certain other federal entities. In so doing, the Executive Order called for the head of the MBDA to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget within seven days “confirming full compliance with this order and explaining which components or functions of the governmental entity, if any, are statutorily required and to what extent.” In the weeks that followed, the Trump Administration has unilaterally dismantled the MBDA—terminating effectively all its staff, canceling its grant programs, and removing its signage from the Department.

    As part of these efforts, our offices reviewed a funding termination notice that was sent to an MBDA grantee by a member of Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) named Nate Cavanaugh, who was purportedly acting “Under the Authority of Keith Sonderling, Acting Undersecretary of MBDA.” In the notice, the Department claims the grant is being terminated because it “is unfortunately no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interests of the United States and the MBDA Program.” The termination notice further states that “MBDA is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda.” The notice is silent about why the grants are inconsistent with the MBDA’s priorities and programs, which Congress, not the Department, set by statute. And the notice also suggests that the Department of Commerce or others in the Administration may be using funding appropriated for the MBDA for other, unrelated purposes.

    Fortunately, on May 13, 2025, a federal district court issued a Preliminary Injunction requiring the Trump Administration to reverse its actions to eliminate the MBDA, including by restoring agency employees to their status prior to the Executive Order issued on March 14, 2025. However, the Trump Administration quickly appealed this order, making clear it intends to continue pursuing its efforts to fully eliminate the MBDA notwithstanding Congress’s clear directives.

    It is essential that Congress and the public understand how the Trump Administration’s recent actions have affected the MBDA’s ability to carry out its statutory mission and obligations and to understand how funds appropriated to the MBDA are being used. Therefore, we are requesting your assistance to investigate activities that have occurred at MBDA since January 20, 2025, and report on the following:

    1. A detailed review of all actions taken by the Department of Commerce, including any acting leadership, to “fully eliminate” or otherwise dismantle the MBDA, including any efforts to pause or halt MBDA work functions, lower or eliminate the agency’s budget, or otherwise reduce the resources available to MBDA to complete its work.
    1. A detailed review of all actions taken by the any member of DOGE, including any volunteers, special government employees, contractors, or Department employees affiliated with DOGE, to “fully eliminate” or otherwise dismantle the MBDA, including any efforts to pause or halt MBDA work functions, lower or eliminate the agency’s budget, or otherwise reduce the resources available to MBDA to complete its work.
    1. A detailed review of actions taken by the Department of Commerce, including MBDA leadership and acting leadership, to pause, halt, or terminate any grants or funding that were administered or approved by the MBDA as of January 20, 2025. Please include information on the involvement of DOGE or DOGE-affiliated employees, including any volunteers, special government employees, and contractors, in decisions to pause, halt, or terminate MBDA grants or funding.
    1. A detailed review of the status of all MBDA grants, including:
      1. The extent to which grants have been terminated or funds continue to be disbursed;
      2. A description of the types of funded activities that are considered “consistent with the agency’s priorities” and that “serve the interests of the MBDA program”; and
      3. A detailed explanation of how the MBDA intends to repurpose its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda, including any specific program or activity that has received or is expected to receive repurposed funding.
    1. A detailed review of actions taken by the Department of Commerce, including MBDA leadership and acting leadership, to reduce the MBDA’s workforce after January 20, 2025. Please include information on the involvement of DOGE or DOGE-affiliated employees, including any volunteers, special government employees, and contractors, in decisions to reduce the MBDA’s workforce.
    1. A detailed review of the effects of recent Department of Commerce and DOGE actions on:
      1. The operations of the MBDA’s statutorily created offices, how responsibilities are being allocated to any remaining staff, and the status of physical office space; and
      2. The ability of the agency to fulfill its statutorily required functions under the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 (Division K of the Infrastructure and Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58), including but not limited to:

                                                                  i.      The MBDA’s statutory responsibilities for private and public sector development;

                                                               ii.      The MBDA’s efforts to conduct research and provide outreach and educational services;

                                                             iii.      The operation of the MBDA’s Business Center Program, Rural Minority Business Center Program, and the national network of public-private partnerships;

                                                             iv.      The administration of the minority business development grants program;

                                                                v.      The functioning of the Minority Business Enterprises Advisory Council; and

                                                             vi.      The extent to which the Administration’s actions regarding MBDA are consistent with the statutory obligations under the Minority Business Development Act of 2021.

                          c. The ability of the agency to effectively administer its current grants, detect and prevent potential fraud in its programs, and cooperate with any investigations into potential fraud or other wrongdoing. 

    1. A detailed review of the Commerce Department’s or MBDA’s development and implementation of plans to reorganize, restructure, or eliminate the MBDA’s work, and how these plans may affect the Administration’s ability to meet its statutory responsibilities, including a review of which “components or functions” of the MBDA the Trump Administration found to be “statutorily required and to what extent,” pursuant to President Trump’s March 14, 2025, Executive Order on “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Levin Delivers House Floor Speech Calling on Senate to Preserve Clean Energy Tax Credits that Lower Costs & Create Jobs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Levin (CA-49)

    June 04, 2025

    Rep. Levin speaks about how eliminating clean energy tax cuts will raise energy costs

    Washington, D.C.- Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) delivered a speech on the House Floor urging the Senate to block the passage of the House Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill,” highlighting how the bill’s elimination of clean energy tax cuts would raise energy costs for American households.

    Watch the full speech here. Full remarks below. 

    “Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the “Big Ugly Bill,” which even Elon Musk has called, and I quote, ‘a disgusting abomination.’

    “The Big Ugly Bill undermines the programs millions of Americans rely on to survive, like health care and food assistance. But perhaps less discussed is that it will INCREASE your energy bills.

    “Right now, 80 million Americans are struggling to pay their electricity bills, and according to a recent report in the New York Times, this bill will make it worse. The Big Ugly Bill ends tax credits to promote clean energy and will increase household energy costs by up to $415 dollars a year.

    “On top of that, ending the tax credits will lead to thousands of job losses nationwide—red states blue states. This comes as demand for electricity is surging, driving up costs even more.

    “Everyone in this body talks a good game about lowering costs, but when the time came to actually do something about costs, my House colleagues voted to put Big Oil CEOs over the American people.

    “I urge my friends in the Senate to fix this mess and actually lower energy prices for the American people.

    “Thank you, and I yield back.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –