State Department Severs Ties With Armed Queers-Affiliated NGO; Marxist Group Nukes Socials State Department Severs Ties With Armed Queers-Affiliated NGO; Marxist Group Nukes Socials Update (1650ET): A State Department source confirmed to https://www.theblaze.com/news/state-department-cuts-ties-with-ngo-that-awarded-radical-founder-of-armed-queers-salt-lake-city?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dlvr.it_x_theblaze&tpcc=social_x-post that any ties to Utah Global Diplomacy, "which existed indirectly via an external implementer, are being completely severed and dismantled." As we reported earlier, Armed Queers SLC founder Ermiya Fanaeian had been recognized by the NGO. Recall the highlights from X user , also known as Jennica Pounds, who leads DOGE-adjacent efforts, posted a deep dive on Armed Queers SLC:   Armed Queers SLC is under investigation for possible foreknowledge of Charlie Kirk's assassination. Their leader, Ermiya Fanaeian, was recognized by a State Department–affiliated NGO, Utah Global Diplomacy, as a recipient of the "7 for 17" Award for advancing the UN's 17 Goals Utah Global Diplomacy has since scrubbed Fanaeian's presence from their website. Unknown when this purge happened. The receipts remain. Here are more details from Blaze News on the State Department's breakup with Utah Global Diplomacy: This could prove greatly consequential for the NGO, as the bulk of its funding takes the form of government grants. "We are taking aggressive action to ensure that any implementor that has any relationship whatsoever with this radical organization is completely cut off from any State Department engagement," said the source. Secretary Marco Rubio revealed this week that the State Department has also been revoking visas of individuals who have celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Late Wednesday, reports Armed Queers SLC founder is under investigation...  image Nuked X.  image Nuked Facebook. image Nuked Instagram.  image Very troubling.  The source before it was completely scrubbed by facebookhttps://t.co/fH2Y6ktk9W — zerohedge (@zerohedge) *   *   *    FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Monday that Charlie Kirk's accused assassin, Tyler Robinson, described by some as a " , may have been "aided and abetted" by an "extended network."  . 🚨Mainstream outlets now reporting: Alleged assassin Tyler Robinson did not act in a vacuum. There may even be DOZENS (!) with advanced knowledge of his sinister plans. Marxist infiltration…transgender ideology….trips to Cuba…money from CCP Operatives… This investigation is… — Peter Schweizer (@peterschweizer) Instant messaging and VoIP social platform Discord stated that Robinson did not plan violence on the platform. However, a Discord spokesperson said the assassin wrote in a channel - just hours before arrest - that he was responsible for Kirk's killing.  "Hey guys, I have bad news for you all," read a message from an account that allegedly belonged to Robinson, according to , citing a law enforcement source. "It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this." Robinson was formally charged moments ago with murder in Utah. He will be appearing in court at the top of the hour.  *CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING SUSPECT CHARGED WITH MURDER IN UTAH — zerohedge (@zerohedge) Recall that on Sunday, we cited an Axios report stating that federal law enforcement was broadening its investigation to include radical leftist groups. We noted, "There is still suspicion surrounding multiple groups, including Armed Queers Salt Lake City and the Socialist Rifle Association" ( ). also had its crosshairs on Armed Queers Salt Lake City on Sunday, reporting: Not far from where FBI agents continue to scour for more evidence in Charlie Kirk's assassination, a self-described armed revolutionary group openly aligned with Cuba has risen up on the streets of one of America's most conservative states.  Armed Queers SLC says its mission is to train gay, queer and transgender people to arm themselves and to fight against capitalism. Although their purported Facebook page does not directly appear to encourage the use of firearms in their claimed mission, many of the images used depict firearms. As recently as this spring, its members traveled to Cuba for a meeting to celebrate the May Day holiday and participate in a march and events alongside revolutionaries from around the world. . . .  Two leaders of Armed Queers — Ermyia Fanaeian and a man who called himself "Connor" — discussed their trip to Cuba in a since-deleted May video titled, "Cuba Report Back: Our Time as 2025 May Day Brigadistas." A search by Just the News could not positively identify him. Which leaves us with X user DataRepublican, also known as Jennica Pounds, who leads DOGE-adjacent efforts full-time, went down the Armed Queers rabbit hole last night. What Pounds found expanded on Solomon's report, and we are sure that the FBI and Rubio's State Department are also investigating this radical leftist group, which has ties to Cuba and other organizations working to subvert the nation, with the ultimate goal of sparking a Marxist revolution to collapse capitalism and the nation.  Highlights from Pounds' report on Armed Queers: Armed Queers SLC is under investigation for possible foreknowledge of Charlie Kirk's assassination. Their leader, Ermiya Fanaeian, was recognized by a State Dept–affiliated NGO, Utah Global Diplomacy, as a recipient of the "7 for 17" Award for advancing the UN's 17 Goals Utah Global Diplomacy has since scrubbed Fanaeian's presence from their website. Unknown when this purge happened. The receipts remain. 🧵🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: State Department & UN ties to Armed Queers SLC leader now confirmed 🚨🚨 First, credit to for the crucial tip, PLEASE follow, they'll be doing a podcast on this soon. Here’s what you need to know: 🔻 Armed Queers SLC is under investigation… — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Her deep dive into the Marxist revolutionary group:  This is what pops up when you search for her name in connection to Utah Global Diplomacy. All scrubbed. This is what pops up when you search for her name in connection to Utah Global Diplomacy. All scrubbed. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) And, yes, she was an organizer with Armed Queers SLC. And, yes, she was an organizer with Armed Queers SLC. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Per the 990 form with Utah Global Diplomacy (EIN 876128308), the nonprofit is a partner with the US State Department to cultivate emerging leaders and diplomacy initiatives. In other words, she was selected to "help shape U.S. Foreign relations." Their words, not mine.  Per the 990 form with Utah Global Diplomacy (EIN 876128308), the nonprofit is a partner with the US State Department to cultivate emerging leaders and diplomacy initiatives. In other words, she was selected to "help shape U.S. Foreign relations." Their words, not mine. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Fanaeian was selected as Utah Global Diplomacy's first "7 for 17" Award Winner , honoring her work to advance UN's 17 Sustainable Goals. I'm pulling together the exact nature of the work that she did for the UN. Fanaeian was selected as Utah Global Diplomacy's first "7 for 17" Award Winner , honoring her work to advance UN's 17 Sustainable Goals. I'm pulling together the exact nature of the work that she did for the UN. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Utah Global Diplomacy reports receiving most of its income in government grants. Utah Global Diplomacy reports receiving most of its income in government grants. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) I managed to pull one of the scrubbed pages off the Internet Archive ... and it recognized her work in "gender equality" (Sustainable Development Goal #5). Specifically for trans youth. I managed to pull one of the scrubbed pages off the Internet Archive ... and it recognized her work in "gender equality" (Sustainable Development Goal #5). Specifically for trans youth. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Let me emphasize. SLC Armed Queers is not "adjacent" to the honor that Ermiya Fanaeian got from Utah Global Diplomacy. Utah Global Diplomacy specifically awarded her for her work with trans people, of which SLC Armed Queers is key. This may be why they scrubbed their pages. Let me emphasize. SLC Armed Queers is not "adjacent" to the honor that Ermiya Fanaeian got from Utah Global Diplomacy. Utah Global Diplomacy specifically awarded her for her work with trans people, of which SLC Armed Queers is key. This may be why they scrubbed their pages. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) I find mention of Fanaeian on an UN website where she was a speaker at an affiliated event. Topic: LGBTQ+ Nonprofits I find mention of Fanaeian on an UN website where she was a speaker at an affiliated event. Topic: LGBTQ+ Nonprofits. https://t.co/IPJKEUPlGl — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Fanaeian was honored as a "Young Diplomat of Utah." Fanaeian was honored as a "Young Diplomat of Utah." — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) I'm trying to trace the exact award (unknown if they get money from the State Department directly or if it's granted through Utah state), but it seems that they've applied for awards at the Utah level. I'm trying to trace the exact award (unknown if they get money from the State Department directly or if it's granted through Utah state), but it seems that they've applied for awards at the Utah level. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Their entire 7 for 17 site seems to be scrubbed. Their entire 7 for 17 site seems to be scrubbed. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Very ironically, Fanaeian also appears to have co-founded the Utah chapter of March for Our Lives. @davidhogg111 if you're serious about gun control, you. might want to kick out this person who also runs an armed, pro-gun group. Very ironically, Fanaeian also appears to have co-founded the Utah chapter of March for Our Lives. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) She specifically works to arm queer and trans communities for "communal militant defense." She specifically works to arm queer and trans communities for "communal militant defense." — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Iranian. There it is right there: "I'm originally from Iran...." — Saint James Hartline (@JamesHartline) The 2025 May Day trip of SLC Armed Queers to Cuba: "Well, if we're terrorists, we're proud to be terrorists" In the above video, SLC Armed Queers describe how Palestinian med students in Cuba "studied revolution" alongside medicine, and how brigadistas from around the world were recruited for "revolutionary orientation" to learn how to fight the U.S. blockade. But there's more. — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) In the same deleted video, SLC Armed Queers recount Cuban med students declaring, "If we're terrorists, we're proud to be terrorists" at an official school event. They also praise Cuba's president for sounding like a U.S. street organizer and openly backing a "liberated Palestine." In the same deleted video, SLC Armed Queers recount Cuban med students declaring “If we’re terrorists, we’re proud to be terrorists” at an official school event. They also praise Cuba’s president for sounding like a U.S. street organizer and openly backing a “liberated… — DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) Separate from Pounds' report, using publicly available data via Sayari, Ermiya Fanaeian appears to serve as a director at Great Salt Lake Abortion Access Fund.  image Profiling Armed Queers SLC's X following list, we noticed numerous revolutionary groups: Communist Party USA, UTAH  Salt Lake Democratic Socialists of America Democratic Socialists of America Communist Billionaire Neville Roy Singham's New York-based People's Forum Socialist Rifle Association Socialist Rifle Association, NYC Socialist Rifle Association, L.A. Follower List image One big club of furries.  image Meet the Marxists, and their nihilistic accelerationist pals ...  Also, Armed Queers had an obsession with "No Kings" protest and the 50501 movement ... image And guess who funds No Kings? As per  : "New Schweizer team investigation reveals how 'No Kings' and its partners bagged $114.8 million from the Arabella dark money network and how these professional protest organizations use tax dollars as a force multiplier." Are you beginning to see how the Democratic Party's dark-money-funded NGO network operates? image has previously warned: One of the hardest parts of confronting rising left-wing extremism is that even those who care about the issue often don't understand how it operates. That's not their fault—it's extraordinarily complex. The revolution against the West spans thousands of organizations that may not be formally linked but are marching in unison toward the revolution. A concise overview looks like this: Political Orgs: The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the primary political arm, with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) close behind. PSL is part of the Neville Roy Singham network and serves as their vehicle for running political candidates. Militant Anarchists: A growing militant wing trains in weapons and self-defense, including groups such as Antifa, the Socialist Rifle Association, Armed Queers, Behind Enemy Lines, and Unity of Fields. Climate Activism: Billions have flowed into climate-activist organizations, many of which increasingly employ anarchists. Social & Racial Justice Groups: Since the rise of BLM, billions—public funds included—have supported the social and racial justice groups that regularly advocate for burning down the country.   Civil-Rights & Legal Orgs: Legacy anti-Western activists ("movement lawyers") staff these groups, suing governments, police, and schools while training allies to push limits without triggering terrorism charges. Foreign Interest Groups: Beyond the Neville Roy Singham network, other foreign powers, including the CCP, maintain domestic footholds. Funding: Much of the money for this revolutionary activity comes from the progressive NGO ecosystem—Open Society Foundations, Tides, Ford, Rockefeller Brothers, Arabella Advisors, and the broader dark-money network. As of Monday, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller to disrupt and dismantle "left-wing organizations that are promoting violence in this country."  "It is a vast domestic terror movement, and with God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have... throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy these networks... and we will do it in Charlie’s name." Steven Miller and JD Vance update the… — Connor Tomlinson (@Con_Tomlinson) Back to Curtis' quote above, we'll leave you with this: "The revolution against the West spans thousands of organizations that may not be formally linked but are marching in unison toward the revolution." Wed, 09/17/2025 - 16:50
Graham Threatens 'Consequences' On Hungary & Slovakia Over Russian Energy Purchases Graham Threatens 'Consequences' On Hungary & Slovakia Over Russian Energy Purchases United States Senator Lindsey Graham has blasted Hungary and Slovakia over their ongoing purchases of Russian energy, warning they'll face "consequences" if they don't end their reliance. The anti-Russia hawk from South Carolina   on social media that President Trump was "right to demand that Europe stop buying Russian oil." He admitted that while most of Europe has done so, it is "now virtually down to Hungary and Slovakia." image "I hope and expect them to step up to the plate soon to help us end this bloodbath," he said. "If not, consequences should and will follow." President Trump had last week urged all NATO countries to "stop buying oil from Russia" - saying he'll only slap additional sanctions on Moscow once they had all done so. As a reminder, Trump https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115196697263809382  Saturday morning, "I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA." He described his words as a letter to America's allies and to the world: "As you know, NATO’S commitment to WIN has been far less than 100%, and the purchase of Russian Oil, by some, has been shocking," he continued. "China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful Tariffs will break that grip," Trump's 'letter' continued. He then made his position clear that tariffs on China would "be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR." Prior to February 2022 and the start of the current war, the European Union as a whole imported 45% of its natural gas from Russia. Additionally 27% of crude imports were sourced to Russia in pre-war times. China and India are of course at this moment the two biggest importers of Russian oil, in that order, but what's less well known is that NATO member Turkey is the third largest. Ironically, Turkey maintains the second largest military in NATO, next to the United States. . — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) It continues, alongside Orban's Hungary and Fico's Slovakia, to be a thorn in the side of 'NATO unity' regarding Russian energy imports.  But strangely Graham said nothing of Turkey in his comments aimed squarely at Hungary and Slovakia. Wed, 09/17/2025 - 16:40
FBI's 'Armed Queers' Probe Just The Start - Lawmakers Urge Treasury To Freeze China-Linked Billionaire's NGO Empire FBI's 'Armed Queers' Probe Just The Start - Lawmakers Urge Treasury To Freeze China-Linked Billionaire's NGO Empire Well, well, well. The Democratic Party's - bankrolled by leftist billionaires and even possibly foreign adversaries - is coming under intense scrutiny after a leftist woke warrior assassinated Charlie Kirk one week ago. Assassination culture has been normalized by the Democratic Party, which spews hate and misinformation around the clock, labeling anyone they dislike as a "fascist" or "Nazi."  Where did Charlie Kirk's murderer learn to call conservatives "fascists"? "Do you think Donald Trump is a fascist?" Kamala Harris: "Yes, I do. YES, I DO!" — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) Scrutiny of dark-money funded NGO networks comes as Marxist revolutionaries from " on radical leftist groups, lawmakers want answers, and an all-of-government approach will likely ramp up shortly to dismantle the revolutionary cells that want to collapse capitalism and the country.  Further evidence that Neville Singham's CCP propaganda network is fueling the Dem's shift to Communism Singham appears in our report on how the “No Kings” protests have widespread connections to far-left and foreign influence orgs Check it out👇 — Oversight Project (@ItsYourGov) Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, offered much-needed insight into the Marxist revolution being fueled by radical leftist groups, highlighting what appear to be alarming connections with foreign adversaries such as China. Luna wrote on X: "Armed Queers SLC" is now under FBI investigation as an extended network related to Charlie's killer. The founder of Armed Queers SLC is also an organizer for PSL [The People's Forum], which is funded by Neville Singham and the Chinese Communist Party. Why did Armed Queers SLC delete their Instagram after Charlie was murdered? Why is Neville Singham affiliated with radical extremist groups that may have ties to Charlie Kirk's assassin? “Armed Queers SLC” is now under FBI investigation as an extended network related to Charlie’s killer. The founder of Armed Queers SLC is also an organizer for PSL, which is funded by Neville Singham and the Chinese Communist Party. Why did Armed Queers SLC delete their… — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) Profiling Armed Queers SLC's X following list, numerous revolutionary groups were identified: image Armed Queers SLC founder Ermiya Fanaeian's relationship with PSL/Communist China is very alarming, given the propaganda pushed by the group in Salt Lake... 🚨Mainstream outlets now reporting: Alleged assassin Tyler Robinson did not act in a vacuum. There may even be DOZENS (!) with advanced knowledge of his sinister plans. Marxist infiltration…transgender ideology….trips to Cuba…money from CCP Operatives… This investigation is… — Peter Schweizer (@peterschweizer) Preparing for a revolution?  image And as we noted earlier in the week, Armed Queers had an obsession with "No Kings" protest and the 50501 movement ... image And guess who funds No Kings? As per  : "New Schweizer team investigation reveals how 'No Kings' and its partners bagged $114.8 million from the Arabella dark money network and how these professional protest organizations use tax dollars as a force multiplier." Are you beginning to see how the Democratic Party's dark-money-funded NGO network operates? image Follow the money. image "Bad actors like Neville Roy Singham are funding and supporting far-left groups to sow division, hatred, and political unrest in America. The poisoned climate they create fuels tragedies like the assassination of Charlie Kirk," Luna wrote in a separate X post.  She noted, "House Oversight has officially requested that @SecScottBessent review Singham's assets and determine whether they should be frozen or seized. We must stop the hate before another tragedy occurs." Bad actors like Neville Roy Singham are funding and supporting far-left groups to sow division, hatred, and political unrest in America. The poisoned climate they create fuels tragedies like the assassination of Charlie Kirk. House Oversight has officially requested that… https://t.co/kuWrswoYhM — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) https://twitter.com/RepLuna/status/1967999606601523441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw explains how the Marxist revolution is using NGOs as vehicles to sow chaos nationwide: One of the hardest parts of confronting rising left-wing extremism is that even those who care about the issue often don't understand how it operates. That's not their fault—it's extraordinarily complex. The revolution against the West spans thousands of organizations that may not be formally linked but are marching in unison toward the revolution. A concise overview looks like this: Political Orgs: The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the primary political arm, with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) close behind. PSL is part of the Neville Roy Singham network and serves as their vehicle for running political candidates. Militant Anarchists: A growing militant wing trains in weapons and self-defense, including groups such as Antifa, the Socialist Rifle Association, Armed Queers, Behind Enemy Lines, and Unity of Fields. Climate Activism: Billions have flowed into climate-activist organizations, many of which increasingly employ anarchists. Social & Racial Justice Groups: Since the rise of BLM, billions—public funds included—have supported the social and racial justice groups that regularly advocate for burning down the country.   Civil-Rights & Legal Orgs: Legacy anti-Western activists ("movement lawyers") staff these groups, suing governments, police, and schools while training allies to push limits without triggering terrorism charges. Foreign Interest Groups: Beyond the Neville Roy Singham network, other foreign powers, including the CCP, maintain domestic footholds. Funding: Much of the money for this revolutionary activity comes from the progressive NGO ecosystem—Open Society Foundations, Tides, Ford, Rockefeller Brothers, Arabella Advisors, and the broader dark-money network. The civil terrorism expert continued:  In 1969, before declaring war on the U.S. government, some Weather Underground leaders traveled to Cuba to meet with North Vietnamese representatives and learn from their revolutionary experience. After these meetings, the group accepted funding, training, and tactical guidance from Cuban officials. A 1977 FBI report indicated that Cuban espionage agents provided "limited aid and guerrilla warfare techniques, including the use of arms and explosives," to members of the Venceremos Brigade. Now you may be wondering: how does this connect to today's radical left extremist groups? It never stopped. Organizations like the DSA, BLM, the Singham Network, Unity of Fields, and yes, "Armed Queers" have all taken delegation trips to Cuba, where they were further radicalized, trained in anti-Western revolutionary tactics, and scouted as potential intelligence assets. Not only is the Venceremos Brigade fiscally sponsored by the People's Forum, but Manolo De Los Santos lived in Cuba for six years, one year longer than the five typically required for formal Cuban intelligence training. What is the leader of Armed Queers doing with Elizabeth Warren?? The source before it was completely scrubbed by facebookhttps://t.co/fH2Y6ktk9W — zerohedge (@zerohedge) Related: "When the left has had power, it has gone after conservatives and their speech, so I am thrilled to see the administration promising to investigate the left-wing nonprofit sector, and hold people accountable," Scott Walter, president of the conservative watchdog group , which tracks money in politics, told New York Times journalists.  image In recent months, Walter briefed senior White House officials on nonprofit networks and fundraising techniques, while also providing research briefs, including one titled "Marching Toward Violence," that purported to link anti-Israel protests on college campuses and terrorism.  image Circling back to civil terrorism expert Curtis, he explained that NGOs are being weaponized in a coordinated effort to collapse the nation: "The revolution against the West spans thousands of organizations that may not be formally linked but are marching in unison toward the revolution." Wed, 09/17/2025 - 16:20
Jerome Powell's Fed Enters "Nightmare Territory" Jerome Powell's Fed Enters "Nightmare Territory" Submitted by By now you already know the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 4.00–4.25% in an 11–1 vote today, citing rising risks to the labor market as their excuse for doing so. While newly appointed Governor Stephen Miran pushed for a deeper cut, most policymakers backed the smaller move, with the Fed signaling two more reductions are likely before year-end. Chair Jerome Powell framed the decision as “risk management,” noting slower job growth and persistent inflation, though he rejected calls for a half-point cut. So, what did the cut and the ensuing press conference tell me that you’re not going to hear on CNBC? This cut marks the beginning of what I believe is going to be “nightmare territory” for the Fed. First, while many were quick to celebrate “less dissent” at the Fed, the board’s outlook was still all over the place. But it’s more than just a mixed bag of good-natured disagreements. The narrative is that Trump’s “ringer” at the Fed wants much larger cuts than anybody else, raising the risk that the market could see the Fed losing what little “independence” it is perceived to still have. The market seeing the wide range of Fed opinions not as healthy disagreement, but as a loss of confidence, would be serious shit. Blurring these lines is like letting the inflation “genie” out of the bottle: once it happens, it can be impossible to walk back without severe consequences. As an investor, I’ve been preparing for this, but the distortions it could create—and the consequences for everyday Americans, especially runaway inflation—could be catastrophic. image Powell’s press conference, which just concluded, offered nothing of substance whatsoever. Not even a hint of a tangible solution or clear path forward. Instead, it was an hour of doublespeak, vague qualifiers, and hedging, which basically summed up to this: “We cut today because the pressure to do so was overwhelming, and because the labor market gave us cover. But we really have no idea how we’re going to balance our two objectives—price stability and maximum employment—going forward.” The only thing the conference made clear is that we were right to assume the Fed is going to swing back and forth between its mandates for cover, working the gas and the brake at the same time, whenever and however it suits them. Either way, it doesn’t matter — whichever mandate it chooses to address, the outcome is the same: more inflation. If the Fed prioritizes the labor market, it’ll cut rapidly, and inflation—which is still nowhere near the Fed’s 2% target—will continue to run rampant. If it tries to be a hero and fight inflation, it risks triggering both an economic and an inflationary depression across markets. Nothing today changes the view I’ve had. The Fed is cutting rates, but not quickly enough. As   and will soon start moving in reverse. The stock market will then go through sharp deleveraging and a downturn, forcing the Fed to cut faster—a possibility Powell himself alluded to today when talking about the pace of cuts. After that, the bond market will keep pushing yields higher at the long end of the curve, signaling that both the Fed and the country have lost credibility and creditworthiness. At that point, the Fed will start buying bonds, which will push the inflation machine into overdrive and keep us on the path toward the monetary reset I’ve been warning about for years. I was appalled when Janet Yellen became Treasury Secretary after serving as Fed Chair. I couldn’t believe that after her tenure at the Fed she didn’t just retire and watch the system self destruct while trying to find the worm at the bottom of a tequila bottle somewhere on a Mexican beach. And somehow, despite the damage she’s done as Treasury Secretary, the economy hasn’t yet imploded and the Fed hasn’t yet lost all credibility. Now, whenever it does happen, I think Powell will wind up taking the blame for both—especially if you ask President Trump. I can’t help but think Powell is counting down the days until he’s relieved of his duties. He’s in an extremely unenviable position as the Fed enters this “nightmare territory” where it simply will not be able to maintain balance between its two mandates. And even if he slips out before everything collapses, it’ll be “Powell’s Fed” that will be left to face the music and take the blame shortly after. Nothing about today’s Fed action changes my outlook. For my latest thoughts on how I see the next 12 months playing out for the macro economy, listen to this interview—and for how I’m positioning myself, read  . Vaya con Dios, my kind subscribers. image QTR’s Disclaimer: Please read my full legal disclaimer   with my best effort to uphold what the license asks, or with the permission of the author. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell any stocks or securities, just my opinions. I often lose money on positions I trade/invest in. I may add any name mentioned in this article and sell any name mentioned in this piece at any time, without further warning. None of this is a solicitation to buy or sell securities. I may or may not own names I write about and are watching. Sometimes I’m bullish without owning things, sometimes I’m bearish and do own things. Just assume my positions could be exactly the opposite of what you think they are just in case. If I’m long I could quickly be short and vice versa. I won’t update my positions. All positions can change immediately as soon as I publish this, with or without notice and at any point I can be long, short or neutral on any position. You are on your own. Do not make decisions based on my blog. I exist on the fringe. If you see numbers and calculations of any sort, assume they are wrong and double check them. I failed Algebra in 8th grade and topped off my high school math accolades by getting a D- in remedial Calculus my senior year, before becoming an English major in college so I could bullshit my way through things easier. The publisher does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in this page. These are not the opinions of any of my employers, partners, or associates. I did my best to be honest about my disclosures but can’t guarantee I am right; I write these posts after a couple beers sometimes. I edit after my posts are published because I’m impatient and lazy, so if you see a typo, check back in a half hour. Also, I just straight up get shit wrong a lot. I mention it twice because it’s that important. Wed, 09/17/2025 - 15:50
Hate Crime Charge After Subway Rider Called "White Boy", Then Brutally Attacked On L Train Hate Crime Charge After Subway Rider Called "White Boy", Then Brutally Attacked On L Train A young woman is facing hate crime charges after allegedly assaulting a fellow passenger in a violent, unprovoked attack on a Manhattan subway train, . The incident unfolded around 2:10 a.m. Sunday aboard a southbound L train at the 1st Avenue and East 14th Street station. Authorities said Genesis Gittens — who had just celebrated her 20th birthday on Monday — was yelling when a 28-year-old man sitting nearby glanced in her direction. That look reportedly sent Gittens into a fury. She began striking the rider in the face multiple times while hurling slurs, shouting, “White boy” and “cracker,” according to a criminal complaint. The repeated punches left the victim with a bloody nose, though he declined medical treatment, police said. image The NY Post that officers arrested Gittens less than an hour later. She was charged with third-degree assault as a hate crime, the complaint states. During her arraignment, she pleaded not guilty and was released, court records show. The L train incident was not the only subway violence reported that day. Around 9 a.m. Sunday, police said a man believed to be homeless attacked a 35-year-old MTA cleaner from behind inside the 34th Street–Hudson Yards No. 7 station. The assailant, who wore all gray and carried a blue blanket, allegedly punched the worker in the back of the head several times. After the victim fell, the attacker — who was barefoot — kicked him repeatedly, cops and sources said. The suspect fled and remained at large as of Monday. Like the earlier victim, the cleaner refused medical attention at the scene. Wed, 09/17/2025 - 15:30
Game-Changer? Are Meta And Zuckerberg Ready To Fight For Free Speech Game-Changer? Are Meta And Zuckerberg Ready To Fight For Free Speech I created a Facebook account recently. image No one was more surprised than myself. From my book, “https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Indispensable-Right/Jonathan-Turley/9781668047040 ,” to my past columns, I have been one of the most vocal critics of Facebook and Meta regarding their free speech policies. From their expansive censorship record to their failure to disclose details on their  , many in the free speech community saw Meta as the embodiment of the anti-free speech movement growing around the world. Then something happened.   happened. He bought Twitter and dismantled its massive censorship operation. He then turned over what became known as the  . Those files confirmed extensive coordination by the government with academia and social media companies to censor speech, including core political speech. Eventually, Facebook released its files, and founder Mark Zuckerberg apologized for the censorship that had occurred under the prior system,  . In doing so, Meta adopted some of the changes Musk made at the newly named X. Meta can be a gamechanger for free speech For many, the Meta culpa seemed strained and opportunistic. However, I had the opportunity to have in-depth discussions with Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan about these plans. I was impressed   that, despite the bad blood with the company, the free speech community should give Meta a chance to prove that it was serious about restoring free speech protections. As I stated in my column, we need Meta. Musk changed the trajectory of the fight for free speech, but the difference between the two companies is impossible to ignore. X reports that it has roughly https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-touts-usage-increases-after-trump-elon-split/751563/ . For free speech defenders, it is the difference between England’s entry into World War II and the United States’ entry. Musk slowed the progress of the anti-free speech movement. Zuckerberg could reverse the direction. Recently, Kaplan and I reviewed the progress at Meta. He was remarkably transparent and candid about their efforts, and what I learned was heartening. The chief global affairs officer stated that “we are allowing more speech,” but the company has not seen an explosion of hate speech as a result of greater tolerance for opposing views. He admitted that “content was being taken down that should not have been taken down. We reduced over-enforcement.” “We reduced the number of false positives by more than 50% without an explosion of prevalence,” Kaplan said. “We track how many times our classifiers ‘get it wrong’ through labeling and human review.” What he found was that “we had this blunt approach to reduce civic content in their feeds on Facebook and Instagram. We removed those and started treating political content like other content. We fundamentally changed how we treat content.” Facebook is relying more on community notes rather than removal of postings, much like X. The company now has a massive number of community note contributors and a system designed to counter the most biased or strident posters. The biggest change has resulted from modifying the company’s classifiers, the automated systems used to enforce policies. Meta found that these classifiers were too broad, resulting in excessive content being taken down. It turned off low-precision classifiers, except for illegal and high-severity areas ‒ like terrorism, child sexual exploitation, drugs, fraud and scams. At the same time, Meta has implemented greater monitoring to track “false positives.” It was able to reduce the number of false positives by more than half without any significant increase in violating content. Now, in its  , Meta shows that it has achieved an even more impressive mark in reducing over-enforcement, cutting enforcement mistakes in the United States by more than 75% every week. The experience at Meta seems to confirm what some of us have long argued. Yielding to those who demand censorship only produces an insatiable appetite for more speech curtailment. It fuels a class of speech phobes, who spend more time trying to silence others than speaking their own voices. Meta experienced this same snowballing of censorship. Notably, when the company moved to restore greater free speech protection, it did not experience a comparative rise in violative speech. European Union poses biggest challenge to free speech The greatest challenge, however, still lies ahead for the company. The European Union remains the greatest threat to free speech facing Americans. After Musk purchased X with a pledge to restore free speech, figures like former Secretary of State   to force X to censor Americans. The   that could surpass $1 billion, according to The New York Times. Meta is clearly trying to find an accommodation with the EU, which may still object to its move to rely on community notes rather than direct censorship. The EU could also object to the reduction of broad classifiers in allowing a greater scope of discussion and dissent. However, with the   the EU about its efforts to censor Americans, Meta could help recreate a formidable alliance for free speech. For the first time, the free speech community might have a coalition of government and corporate allies that could stand up to the EU. Hopefully, Meta will expand its notification to citizens in EU countries that they are being denied access to information due to “geoblocking” pursuant to EU censorship regulations. With a united front in the United States for free speech, we can serve as a bastion for those who value this human right. That is why I have created a Facebook account ( ). No doubt, it was the moment that Zuckerberg had long dreamed of. However, it’s possible that he truly wants to restore free speech in social media. What is clear is that he is already drawing the ire of the anti-free speech movement, which previously unleashed an   against Musk and his businesses. The free speech community needs to support Meta. That does not mean that we are chumps. We have often found false friends in both government and corporations. If Meta stays on this course, we could finally have a coalition of the willing to fight for free speech on a global scale. Call it a leap of faith in Facebook with our eyes wide open. Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of the bestselling book “https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Indispensable-Right/Jonathan-Turley/9781668047040 .” Wed, 09/17/2025 - 15:10
Wall Street Reacts To Powell's "Risk-Management" Rate Cut Wall Street Reacts To Powell's "Risk-Management" Rate Cut As Powell begins his presser, Wall Street's kneejerk comments start coming in to what the Fed Chair just characterized as a "risk management" rate cut... similar to the rate cut he announced exactly one year ago, only that one was 50bps not 25bps (wonder why). As expected, Powell is getting a hard time from reporters who have spotted inconsistencies in the decision and rationale compared to the forecasts. Here, the Fed has cut rates and has signaled that in all probability will cut twice more this year. Yet against that it has economic growth speeding up, the jobless rate coming down and inflation back to (just above) target at the very end of the forecast horizon. In particular, he is being pushed on why the Fed has switched over to the jobs part of the mandate. Indeed even in Powell’s own comments, it doesn’t really come across: “Right now, the situation we're in is that we see, we see inflation, we continue to expect it to move up maybe not as high as we would have expected it to move up a few months ago.“ And while Powell is scrambling to preserve some credibility (especially since exactly one year ago he cut 50bps when the economy was much stronger), here is a snapshot of some of the first comments hitting the tape:  Ali Jaffery, CIBC Capital Markets Peering through the dot plot, there’s more division than today’s rate-cut vote suggests. The FOMC is likely divided on its views on the US economy, with some favoring faster easing on risks to the job market (and perhaps other motivations as well), but others are clearly worried about managing through a stagflationary outlook, which is why the overall pace of rate cuts is still far from aggressive. Chair Powell has a tough act to follow in trying to speak on behalf of the committee. Seema Shah, chief global strategist, Principal Asset Management: Next year’s dot plot is a mosaic of different perspectives and is an accurate reflection of a confusing economic outlook, muddied by labor supply shifts, data measurement concerns, and government policy upheaval and uncertainty. Overall, though, today’s measured 25 basis point cut allows the Fed to get ahead of a slowdown without overreacting to early signs of strain. Ira Jersey, Bloomberg Intelligence In the press conference, will Powell push against the relatively dovish tone? The last few meetings, the opening remarks have been quite neutral, as we showed in our NLP model earlier in this blog. It seems likely he’s at least a tad more dovish, and if not that could be somewhat surprising to the market... The skew of the Dot plot remains for slower cuts this year, but the median year-end 2026 dot not only moved lower, but there are now five members who see rates below 3%.  We had thought the median would be 3.125%, which would have required just one more member at 3.125% to get there. Overall, we think this is a relatively dovish statement with the SEP. Gregory Faranello, head of US rates strategy for AmeriVet Securities  The tone overall favors growth concerns right now as the Fed is showing rates still coming despite inflation remaining above the 2% target. The lack of more dissents shows more unity around the pathway to more neutral rates. Overall, a steadfast, methodical pathway down to neutral. Bob Michele, JPMorgan Asset Management Head of Global Fixed Income Only one dissent was surprising and it shows the Fed “locked arms” to reduce policy from what was surprisingly restrictive to them  Anna Wong, Bloomberg Economics The widely anticipated 25-bp cut showed divisions on the committee. While the median participant expects two more 25-bp cuts this year, almost half of the FOMC expects just one or no more cuts this year. The policy statement and updated Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) display several other interesting contradictions. The policy statement added language to flag increasing downside employment risks, while acknowledging that inflation has moved up. In contrast, officials marked up their growth estimate this year, and lowered the unemployment rate estimates in the SEP forecast horizon. Democratic Representative Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the ranking member of the Budget Committee, The Fed isn’t cutting rates because the economy is strong; it’s cutting them because Donald Trump is recklessly sabotaging it. Inflation is climbing, the job market is shrinking and every sign points to stagflation. Olu Sonola, head of US economic research at Fitch Ratings: This is lift-off, and the Fed is now all-in on supporting the labor market, signaling a decisively aggressive cutting cycle in 2025. The message is clear: growth and employment are the priority, even if that means tolerating higher inflation in the near term. image Developing Wed, 09/17/2025 - 14:57
Watch Live: Will Fed Chair Powell Push Back Against The Dovish Dots? Watch Live: Will Fed Chair Powell Push Back Against The Dovish Dots? Having delivered the 25bps rate-cut that President Trump had been hoping for, Fed Chair Powell is now facing the gauntlet of a press conference with one governor who has been fired (or not) and another member fresh from The White House.  Will Powell push back against the relatively dovish tone? image Aside from the drama, the big question is - will Powell offer a more dovish outlook (to match the market's expectation and the new dot plot) or will he course-correct once again (and crush the market's dovish dreams). As a reminder, Chair Powell's tone shifted between the July FOMC and Jackson Hole and given the demise of the labor market since then, we see no reason for his tone to shift back. image With the conflict between inflation risks on the upside and employment risks on the downside, we expect Chair Powell to reinforce that policy is not on a preset course and is data dependent. But we also expect he will point to a new course, of gradual, cautious, data-dependent policy easing. image The lowest dot has the “terminal” rate, or where the Fed stops cutting, at 2.4% in 2027, corresponding to 175 basis points more in easing from where we are now. Or 200 including today’s cut. That’s still shy of Trump’s 300. So, to clarify: The Fed is cutting rates, and projecting more rate cuts, at the same time as upgrading its growth forecast and nudging up its inflation outlook too. Good luck explaining that Jay! Watch Fed Chair Powell thread the needle live here (due to start at 1430ET): Wed, 09/17/2025 - 14:25
US Regulators Investigate Tesla Door Handles After Complaints Of Entrapment US Regulators Investigate Tesla Door Handles After Complaints Of Entrapment In what could be a gentle reminder to Elon Musk that President Trump is still the boss, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla’s electric door handles, focusing on 2021 Model Y vehicles, according to https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-16/tesla-tsla-faces-probe-by-us-auto-safety-agency-over-door-handles . Regulators say they are examining whether doors become inoperative after low-voltage battery failures, leaving occupants unable to get in or out. “This investigation will also assess the approach used by Tesla to supply power to the door locks and the reliability of the applicable power supplies,” NHTSA said. The agency noted that every Tesla sold in the US uses electrically powered doors. Bloomberg recently reported more than 140 complaints since 2018 about Tesla doors getting stuck or failing, including cases where parents could not retrieve children from the back seat. NHTSA cited nine “failure reports,” seven of which matched Bloomberg’s findings. “Entrapment in a vehicle is particularly concerning in emergency situations, such as when children are entrapped in a hot vehicle,” the agency said. image https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-16/tesla-tsla-faces-probe-by-us-auto-safety-agency-over-door-handles that owners told regulators they sometimes broke windows to reach trapped passengers. “No one should have to resort to breaking the windows to get into their own car when their child or pet is trapped inside because the door handles fail to work,” said Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety. Tesla has not commented on the probe. Chair Robyn Denholm, asked last week about Bloomberg’s investigation, said only that the board “takes seriously” any safety incidents. Safety advocates argue that Tesla’s manual release latches are difficult to find in emergencies. Michael Brooks of the Center for Auto Safety said: “The fact that manual release locations are noted in the owner’s manual is not sufficient to advise passengers or ride-share occupants, who do not have a chance to read the manual when a fire or other emergency circumstance is in progress.” China and Europe have also increased scrutiny of electric and flush door-handle designs, warning they can complicate rescue efforts. NHTSA said it will “continue to monitor any reports of entrapment involving opening doors from inside of the vehicle” and will “take further action as needed.” The door-handle probe adds to multiple US investigations into Tesla, including ongoing reviews of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving safety. There have been few, if any, updates on legacy probes of Musk's company since President Trump has been in office. Wed, 09/17/2025 - 13:40
Discord Scrutinized In Kirk Assassination, Used By Canadian Far-Left Networks To Circulate Political Target Files, Lawyer Says Discord Scrutinized In Kirk Assassination, Used By Canadian Far-Left Networks To Circulate Political Target Files, Lawyer Says Discord, the communications platform now under scrutiny as U.S. investigators examine chat room messages involving the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is also being used by left-wing Antifa-aligned networks in Canada to organize and share dossiers on political targets, according to . In a wide-ranging interview for  Sa'd, who has covered a proliferation of street protests in Canada, alleged that Antifa-aligned networks rely on gated Discord servers to coordinate harassment campaigns and "dox-style" targeting of foes. Even more alarming, she said, is that some of the information shared would not be publicly available, suggesting that government, legal, or union insiders may have leveraged sensitive data. Documenting Ottawa’s Blind Spot on Antifa — and Concerns Around Its Funding of an ‘Anti-Hate’ NGO — Sam Cooper (@scoopercooper) What makes  especially relevant in the current climate is her belief that the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN), a federally funded nongovernmental organization, has been involved in what she perceives as Antifa's targeting activity in Canada. Because Canada's Liberal government has directed nearly $1 million to CAHN, and because the group liaises with public safety agencies to disseminate its perception of extremist threats, Sa'd argues this has skewed the state's focus, overlooking the growing threat of violence from Antifa. Sa'd says that both she and some of her clients have been singled out, and  as a loosely aggregated, cell-like organization that transcends the U.S.–Canada border, operating simultaneously in online forums and in street collectives. These protests, she says, often coalesce under a "solidarity" banner that brings together activists for trans rights, Indigenous rights, migrant rights, encampment movements, safe-supply campaigns, and pro-Palestine demonstrations. image "If we think of Antifa as a movement, it's not, at least to my observation, like, 'here's your card, you're now a card-carrying member and please pay your dues,'" Sa'd explained. "It's more like a cell structure and there is both an online and a real-world component. It's organized regionally, but particularly the online aspect can be national and international. And Discord plays a huge part in this because it allows people to connect online in private servers." Sa'd did not provide details of her investigations into the alleged targeting dossiers shared on Discord, but suggested her research grew out of her own experience of being targeted. "The compiling of information on political targets could include social media handles, involvement in court cases, where they live, who their family is, what their connections are, and where they appear in public life," Sa'd said. According to Sa'd, Anti-Hate had first approached her to collaborate on some research publications, "that never panned out." "We couldn't agree to terms and that was fine. And a few months after that, I was the subject of an article that framed me as a fascist sympathizer. And, you know, it's only gotten worse since then." Public records show that CAHN has received a total of $908,400 in federal funding across three agreements since 2020: $268,400 under Canadian Heritage's Anti-Racism Action Program; $440,000 under Canadian Heritage's Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program; and $200,000 from Public Safety Canada's Community Resilience Fund for a two-year project running from April 2024 to March 2026. Sa'd said this funding is problematic because, in her view, CAHN "takes public money to put targets on private citizens." "How I came to be interested, particularly in Antifa, is the Canadian Anti-Hate Network," she said. "It is an NGO that purports to document and fight against specifically far-right hate. And in having such a narrow focus, I think that has created almost a vacuum that has allowed the far left to metastasize." She pointed to an Ontario court ruling that found CAHN had assisted the Antifa movement. In the court case Sa'd cited, the judge accepted evidence that CAHN "did in fact assist Antifa" and acknowledged the movement's violent record. CAHN, for its part, denied supporting violence "directly or indirectly" or funding "violent Antifa." Sa'd said she is concerned that the government's funding of CAHN has contributed to a skewed perspective among Canadian public safety officials. "There is an ideological bent to what law enforcement is choosing to focus on," she said, arguing that federal intelligence and policing have over-weighted threats from the right while under-recognizing left-aligned street violence. She cited on-scene incitement at a Toronto protest following the Kirk shooting, in which a woman she classified as an Antifa-aligned activist told another person—"die fascist, one in the neck"—an evident reference to Kirk's shooting. The remark, captured on tape, drew little response from Toronto police, Sa'd said. Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged yesterday with the aggravated murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in the shooting at Utah Valley University that Utah's governor, Spencer Cox, called a political assassination. Charging documents say Robinson, who had recently become engaged with left-wing politics and was dating a partner who was transitioning to female, decided to shoot Kirk because he believed Kirk "spreads too much hate," saying he had "had enough of his hatred." image Prosecutors allege Robinson planned the act over a week; after the shooting, he allegedly sent texts and Discord messages admitting his role. Among the most telling evidence, Cox said last week, were bullet casings inscribed with phrases including "Hey fascist, catch this" and references to the anti-fascist anthem Bella Ciao—a song that originated with Italian partisans resisting Nazi occupation in World War II and has since been adopted by Antifa-aligned groups in the United States, according to reports. FBI Director Kash Patel has since said dozens of Robinson's Discord contacts will be questioned as part of the investigation. Though an internal Discord review reportedly found "no evidence that the suspect planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord," Patel told Congress that investigators will examine members of the same group chat. Sa'd described how Discord servers are tiered, with some rooms requiring special access. In exclusive spaces, she said, dossiers on political targets are shared. "The information isn't always publicly sourced," she said, "which would suggest that some of the participants have access to information by virtue of being public servants or members of particular unions. And I don't say any of this lightly. In my travels, I've encountered people from various professions—teachers, professors, nurses, bureaucrats, lawyers, political staffers—who are involved in this movement." Sa'd said both she and her clients have been targeted, and that police have shown a persistent reluctance to investigate what she described as "verifiable, documented" harassment and swarming. "There just doesn't seem to be an appetite to get to the bottom of this," she said. While she stopped short of attributing direct foreign interference to fomenting protest movements in Canada, Sa'd noted that footage of Canadian unrest is often amplified by outlets from hostile foreign states, and that protest narratives sometimes pivot inorganically in ways consistent with outside influence. Her conclusion was blunt: Canada's institutions — from school boards to the Prime Minister's Office — are politicized and vulnerable to extremism, and "cleaning house" in Canada's approach to countering extremism is a prerequisite for restoring even-handed rule of law. Wed, 09/17/2025 - 13:20