House Passes Bill to Force ByteDance Divestment of TikTok Or Face Ban
The U.S. House of Representatives has greenlit a bill compelling ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell its U.S. assets within six months or face a nationwide ban. Passed with a resounding 352-65 vote, this legislation marks a significant move against the popular short-video app, intensifying the longstanding security concerns that have shadowed […]
Will Twitter’s Takeover Reshape Freedom of Speech?
When Elon Musk announced he was purchasing Twitter, he made it clear that his focus was on freedom of speech. In a brief note to the board of directors, he asserted that Twitter could only become a vehicle for free speech if it was privatized. “I believe in its potential to be the platform for […]
OPEC+ Reiterates Original Guidance
Crude oil prices are on the rise in the first two trading days of 2022. An OPEC+ press release was released on January 4, 2022, with oil production guidance for the start of the new year. Many believed leading up to the press release that the guidance would remain the same and there would be […]
The Consumer Index heading Higher As Inflation Surges
Traditional markets have been reacting to Federal Reserve data, but not in the way expected. Over the last several months, the stock market continued to rally higher despite alarming market conditions. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) went on a multi-month downtrend in the spring before gradually reversing. The U.S. dollar decreasing in value was not surprising […]
Trump Lashes Out at Twitter With Executive Order on Social Media
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order aiming to remove some protections online platforms currently have under the Communications Decency Act. The legality of the order is contested but, if upheld, it would make it easier for users to bring civil lawsuits against companies for censorship based on political views. The executive order comes […]
With the US Economy in Shambles, 18 States Begin Process of Reopening
On Friday, over a third of the nation began the process of reopening shuttered economies. The May 1 reopenings may be coming too early, experts say, putting both lives and the economy at further risk. States Lift Stay at Home Orders The eighteen states that started the process of reopening last week are: Alaska, Idaho, […]
Study Suggests NYC Subways Were Major Factor in Coronavirus Spread
A working paper released last week by Dr. Jeffrey Harris from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that the New York City subway system was a major spreader of the coronavirus. The paper examines ridership rates compared to confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City’s five boroughs. Using mostly corollary and circumstantial data, the […]
HanesBrands And Other Companies To Make Masks Needed To Combat COVID-19
During a press conference on Saturday, United States President Donald Trump announced the HanesBrands clothing company would be retrofitting factories to make masks for medical officials combating COVID-19 (Coronavirus, 2019). “By way of example, Hanes … is retrofitting manufacturing capabilities in large sections of the plants to produce masks and they’re in the process right […]
Four Senators Sold Stocks Before Market Crashes After Private Coronavirus Briefing
Four Senators are accused of selling individual stocks in companies that plummeted during the recent market crash caused by COVID-19. The Senators received a private briefing on January 24 about the novel coronavirus, prior to the sales taking place. The four Senators are Richard Burr (RNC), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), James Inhofe (R-OK), and Kelly Loeffler […]
Detained Huawei Executive Receives Bail
Meng Wanzhou who was arrested in Canada at the Vancouver International Airport on December 1st. Wanzhou is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Chinese company Huawei. Her detention came at the request of the United States who claims she used her position in Huawei to filter business deals with Iran through shell company Skycom […]