‘Trump picked this fight’: Why heavyweight Republicans no longer fear Trump

They’re weary of the incessant conflicts. The inability to get past the 2020 election results. An endorsement strategy seemingly driven by a bruised and restless ego, rather than the party’s best interests. Channeling growing fatigue among rank-and-file Republicans, some of the GOP’s best-known heavyweights are increasingly defying former President Donald Trump in the wake of internecine conflicts from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Bold-face Republican names have never been so comfortable crossing Trump as in recent weeks. Former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former New Jersey Gov.…

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Yellen, Biden’s not-so-secret weapon, sees clout diminished

When Janet Yellen was tapped to join the Biden administration as Treasury secretary, she came with celebrity status — one of the world’s preeminent economists and the first woman to have led the Federal Reserve. More than a year later, as Democrats are grappling with decades-high inflation, stock market turmoil and rising recession fears, Yellen is rarely on center stage. She has surprised supporters by wielding less influence in the West Wing than her recent predecessors did in the job, which is often considered an administration’s chief economic policymaking post,…

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A Forecasting Model Used by the CIA Predicts a Surprising Turn in U.S.-China Relations

Here’s some good news on the gloomy international scene: Tensions will ease significantly between the U.S. and China soon, as the Biden administration slashes consumer tariffs and Beijing welcomes the move, at least privately. Expect a new round of trade negotiations too. The thaw comes after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen makes a big push for change, and as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, long dismissed as an also-ran, becomes a key player. President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping reluctantly go along. At least that’s the surprising outcome of a…

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Robb Elementary had security. It didn’t stop a massacre.

Texas leaders strained to determine what went wrong after 19 students and two teachers died this week in the state’s latest mass shooting. But Republican Gov. Greg Abbott asserted the killer’s access to assault weapons wasn’t the problem. Abbott and top officials are instead revisiting efforts to bolster mental health services and harden school security as families grieve the tragic attack at Robb Elementary School, renewing a debate that last rocked Texas when a 2018 high school massacre killed 10 people. The state approved new laws in 2019 to arm…

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Senate GOP set to block domestic terrorism bill as gun debate heats up

On Thursday, Senate Republicans are set to block legislation intended to combat domestic terrorism. And they’re all over the place on whether homegrown extremism even needs more federal attention. In the wake of a recent racist shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will hold a vote on House-passed legislation that would set up offices at the Justice Department, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to focus on domestic terrorism. The bill is expected to get few if any Republican votes, as the GOP widely views…

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IMF Chief Begs Investors Not to Shun All Crypto After the Collapse of LUNA, UST

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reportedly said that investors should not completely pull out of crypto after the collapse of cryptocurrency terra (LUNA) and stablecoin terrausd (UST). IMF Chief Has a Message for Crypto Investors After the Collapse of LUNA, UST Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), discussed cryptocurrency at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos Monday. She urged people not to completely shun crypto after the recent collapse of algorithmic stablecoin terrausd (UST) and cryptocurrency terra (LUNA), Bloomberg…

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No Tax Amnesty for Russian Crypto Miners as Lawmakers Withdraw Proposal

A new draft law has replaced an earlier bill introducing a one-year tax and customs amnesty for cryptocurrency miners in Russia. The initial proposal has been withdrawn on the grounds that the tax break would have resulted in losses for the state budget. Revised Crypto Mining Legislation Submitted to Russian Parliament Without Amnesty for Miners Russian lawmakers have again filed legislation with the State Duma designed to regulate cryptocurrency mining. The new draft substitutes a bill submitted at the end of April, which has now been withdrawn. The revised version…

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ESG Study Shows Bitcoin Mining’s Potential to Eliminate 0.15% of Global Warming by 2045, Claims No Other Technology Can Do Better

In recent times, the impact of bitcoin mining on the environment has been a topical discussion as climate change activists believe proof-of-work (PoW) mining is too energy-intensive. However, a recent report written by the ESG analyst Daniel Batten explains that bitcoin mining could eliminate the world’s carbon emissions by 5.32%. Batten’s study notes that if bitcoin mining entities “aggressively” targeted leaked methane, bitcoin mining has the potential to avoid 0.15% of warming by 2045. ESG Analyst Claims Bitcoin Mining Is Currently the Only ‘Technologically Feasible’ Way of Reducing Methane Emissions…

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US Senator Cruz ‘Incredibly Bullish’ on Bitcoin — Says ‘I Have a Weekly Buy’

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz says he is “incredibly bullish” on bitcoin and purchases the cryptocurrency weekly for his portfolio. Emphasizing that cryptocurrency “will change the world,” the senator said, “Uncontrolled, decentralized currency is terrifying for those who want control of currency.” Senator Ted Cruz ‘Incredibly Bullish’ on Bitcoin, Crypto Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) discussed bitcoin at the Heritage Foundation’s Bitcoin and the American Experiment event Monday. He began: I gotta say when it comes to bitcoin, when it comes to crypto more generally, I am incredibly bullish. “I think it…

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Republicans pledge allegiance to a hobbled NRA

Nothing laid bare the disjointed state of gun politics in America as starkly as the call and response in Texas this week. On Tuesday, it was a school shooting. Days later, Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans will appear at a gathering of the NRA. The Memorial Day weekend event is being billed by the National Rifle Association as a showcase of more than 14 acres of “the latest guns and gear,” with a “powerhouse lineup of political speakers.” On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump confirmed on Wednesday…

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JPMorgan Sees ‘Significant Upside’ to Bitcoin — Replaces Real Estate With Crypto as ‘Preferred Alternative Asset’

JPMorgan sees “significant upside” to the price of bitcoin. The global investment bank’s price target for the cryptocurrency is 28% above its current price. JPMorgan has also replaced real estate with cryptocurrencies as its “preferred alternative asset class along with hedge funds.” JPMorgan’s Bitcoin Price Target Is 28% Above Current Price Global investment bank JPMorgan published a bullish note on bitcoin and cryptocurrency Wednesday. The bank’s strategists, including Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, wrote that their price target for bitcoin remains at $38,000, “implying significant upside for digital assets from here.” At the…

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A New Terra Network Is Coming With Support From Major Exchanges, LUNA and UST Holders Eligible for Airdropped Tokens

According to a recent announcement from the Terra blockchain team, the community voted and passed a proposal that plans to launch a new genesis version of the Terra blockchain without an algorithmic stablecoin. The governance proposal called “Terra Ecosystem Revival Plan 2” has been amended and the final release of the new Terra Core codebase has been released to prepare for the new network. Terra Ecosystem Rebirth to Happen on May 27, Latest Version of Terra Core Has Been Released and Audited On May 27, a new blockchain will launch…

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Schumer gives green light as bipartisan gun talks begin

Chuck Schumer is giving long-shot gun safety negotiations a chance. Kyrsten Sinema is reaching out to Republicans on a path forward. And GOP senators are answering Chris Murphy’s call for new bipartisan talks. Betting on a 50-50 Senate to cut a deal responding to the massacre of 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school just five months before the midterms is still a long shot. But there’s enough will among Senate Democrats to at least give it a go rather than force sure-to-fail votes intended to put…

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‘You are doing nothing’: O’Rourke accosts Abbott at press conference on shooting

Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke confronted Gov. Greg Abbott at a press conference on Wednesday, accusing the governor of inaction on gun violence in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead. Abbott, flanked by law enforcement officers and fellow Republican lawmakers, had just wrapped up giving an update on the Uvalde, Texas, shooting Wednesday afternoon — in which he said mental health was the root cause of the deadly event — when O’Rourke approached the stage. “Governor Abbott, I have…

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Billionaire Investor Bill Ackman Says Unless the Fed Aggressively Hikes Rates, Stock Market Could Crash, ‘Catalyzing an Economic Collapse’

Billionaire hedge fund manager and founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, Bill Ackman, believes “inflation is out of control.” The investor thinks that if the Federal Reserve “doesn’t do its job” by applying “aggressive monetary tightening,” the U.S. economy could collapse. Pershing Square Founder Bill Ackman Thinks ‘Inflation Is out of Control’ While the headlines talk about the Federal Reserve’s chair, Jerome Powell, getting “aggressive” with monetary policy by implementing rate hikes and revealing the central bank would tighten large asset purchases this summer, many economists and financial players don’t…

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Biden’s presidency has been colored by crises. It now faces the grimmest one yet.

President Joe Biden took office facing an historic convergence of crises. Since then, his list of challenges has only grown. The mass killing of 19 children at a Texas school on Tuesday has become the latest test for a president facing a crucible like few of his predecessors have. Biden helms the nation that feels, at times, like it is tearing at the seams. It was personified this week as his first trip to Asia — designed to address competition with China, the foreign policy challenge deemed most pressing by…

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Crypto Market Turning Point — Most Cryptocurrencies Down 57% to Over 80% From Price Highs

Roughly six months ago, bitcoin and a number of digital assets reached all-time highs and the crypto economy crested above $3 trillion in value. Today is a different story as a great majority of cryptocurrencies are down between 57% to over 80% against the U.S. dollar. While Cryptos Are Down From the ATHs, 2020 Holders Are Still in the Green On November 9, 2021, or 196 days ago, the crypto economy was valued at over trillion, and today it’s worth roughly 56% less at $1.31 trillion. Six months ago, bitcoin…

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Biggest Movers: XMR Hits 2-Week High, LRC Climbs for Fifth Straight Day

Following a bearish start to the day, XMR climbed to a two-week high during today’s trading session. Gains in monero come as LRC also saw its price move higher, rising for a fifth consecutive day, as it approaches a multi-week high of its own. Monero (XMR) Monero extended a recent bullish streak during today’s session, with prices rising to a two-week high as a result of strong gains. XMR/USD hit an intraday peak of $204.69 earlier in the day, which is over $10 higher than yesterday’s low. Today’s rally comes…

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What election night in Texas looked like after the mass shooting

During the day, the SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, served as a polling place for voters casting ballots in Texas’ primary runoff election. At night, parents filed into the building to learn if their children were still alive. The massacre of 19 children and two adults at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School on Tuesday turned Election Day in Texas and a handful of Southern states into a familiar ritual of sorrow, outrage and partisan bickering. Candidates took time from monitoring turnout to issue statements of condolence on…

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Thailand Exempts Crypto Transfers From VAT Until End of 2023

Authorities in Thailand have formally introduced a value-added tax (VAT) exemption for transfers of cryptocurrencies through government-approved exchanges. The tax break, in force until the end of next year, will also apply to digital currency issued by the Bank of Thailand. Royal Decrees Enforce VAT Exemption for Crypto Trading in Thailand Investors moving cryptocurrencies and digital tokens through exchanges in Thailand will benefit from a 7% VAT exemption on such transactions. A decree published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday enforced the tax break retroactively from April 1, 2022. It…

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Bitcoin, Ethereum Technical Analysis: Crypto Bears Keep BTC Below $30,000

Bitcoin was lower for a second consecutive session, as bears maintained recent pressure on crypto markets. This pressure also saw ETH move lower, as it continued to trade under $2,000 during hump-day. Bitcoin The world’s largest cryptocurrency once again traded below $30,000, as bears continue to maintain a chokehold on prices. As of writing, BTC/USD is trading at $29,502.71, which is roughly 1% higher than yesterday’s low of $28,786.59. Wednesday’s movement in bitcoin is ultimately a continuation of yesterday’s move, with prices now consolidating at its current range. This range…

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Report: The Metaverse Might Contribute $320 Billion to Latam’s GDP in the Next 10 Years

A new report indicates that the metaverse might be a significant factor in the growth of economies in Latam and the world in the coming decade. The study, issued by Analysis Group, estimates that Latam might benefit from a surge of $320 billion or an approximate 5% of its GDP, in the next 10 years. This is the biggest percentage share of GDP of the regions in the study’s projection. Analysis Group’s Metaverse Report The metaverse is becoming a subject of intense focus in crypto and business at large, and…

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Ariva Celebrates 1st Year Anniversary With Impressive Achievements in the Blockchain Industry

PRESS RELEASE. Ariva, a next-generation tourism & travel blockchain protocol, celebrated the first anniversary of its launch on May 25, 2022. This development marks an impressive milestone for the blockchain project that has taken the tourism sector by storm in recent months. Ariva launches reward program to celebrate 1st anniversary Ariva has announced a giveaway campaign to celebrate the first birthday that will reward users with different prizes. This includes a limited collection of its Arivaman NFT to 6 winners, $30 million ARV tokens to 30 participants and $6k BUSD…

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Argentinian Cryptocurrency Exchange Buenbit Announces Staff Layoffs

Buenbit, an Argentinian cryptocurrency exchange, has announced a series of layoffs due to the downturn that traditional and crypto markets are currently facing. Buenbit’s co-founder and CEO, Federico Ogue, clarified that this move had nothing to do with the recent Terra ecosystem disaster and that from now on, the exchange would focus on keeping operations in countries where it already has an established presence. Buenbit Announces Layoffs Buenbit, an Argentinian cryptocurrency exchange, has announced a change in its hiring strategy due to the recent downturn that the cryptocurrency and stock…

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ECB Survey Finds 10% of Eurozone Households Own Crypto Assets

One in every 10 households in six eurozone countries has acquired cryptocurrencies, the European Central Bank (ECB) has found with a new survey. While the richest are most likely to own crypto assets, poor families are not far behind, the poll indicates. Dutch Households Lead in Terms of Crypto Ownership, ECB Survey Shows Every tenth eurozone household has purchased bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, according to the latest Consumer Expectations Survey conducted by the European Central Bank (ECB). Europe’s financial authorities are now trying to establish if the crypto market downturn…

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Shooting at Texas elementary school leaves 19 children dead, horrifies nation

Nineteen children are dead after a gunman opened fire at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday, Texas officials said. The mass shooting comes less than two weeks after a man, who authorities say was motivated by racist ideology, shot and killed 10 people at a Buffalo supermarket, targeting a predominantly Black community. The latest tragedy once again horrified the country and sparked outrage, particularly from gun safety advocates who said the nation could no longer hide behind old excuses for these horrific killing sprees. The shooting happened at Robb Elementary…

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‘Why are we willing to live with this carnage?’: Biden demands action on guns after Texas school shooting

President Joe Biden again tried to comfort a nation grieving after a mass shooting, urging action to counter powerful gunmakers and repeatedly questioning why the country he leads lacks “the backbone” to stem the bloodshed. In a prime-time address, a visibly emotional Biden asked what it would take to convince fellow lawmakers that “it’s time to act.” “How many scores of little children who witnessed what happened — seen their friends die as if they’re in a battlefield, for god’s sake” said Biden. “To lose a child is like having…

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Murphy pleads with GOP for a gun deal as ‘another Sandy Hook’ grips America

In the first minutes following a Texas gunman’s slaughter of at least 19 children and at least one teacher, many Democrats said they were resigned to continued inaction on guns. Not Chris Murphy. The Connecticut senator, whose gun safety advocacy was kindled by an elementary school shooting in his state 10 years ago, asked his colleagues pointedly in an impassioned floor speech just after the killings: “We have another Sandy Hook on our hands. What are we doing?” As he left the floor, Murphy said he wasn’t there to needle…

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