ZEC Crashes As Zcash Admits 'Critical Counterfeiting Vulnerability' Exposed By Claude

Authored by Martin Young via CoinTelegraph.com,

The price of ZEC fell on Thursday after further details were disclosed of a critical counterfeiting vulnerability in Zcash’s Orchard pool that could theoretically allow a bad actor to mint an unlimited amount of ZEC.

According to a post on X, security engineer Taylor Hornby, who was engaged by Shielded Labs, discovered the bug on May 29 and disclosed it to the Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL), which deployed an emergency response to fix the vulnerability with a hard fork activated on June 3. 

However, there are new concerns about the extent to which the vulnerability, which has existed since May 2022, has been used, leading Zcash to fall more than 30% over the past 24 hours to $410 at the time of writing. Its market capitalization has shrunk by more than $3 billion.

However, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes said on Friday it is unlikely that ZEC has been illegally minted this way, though he acknowledged “it cannot be formally cryptographically proved impossible.”

“Sadly, due to the Orchard Pool exploit, I had to dump our entire ZEC bag,” he said.

“The Holy Trinity is dead,” he added, referring to Zcash and the two other tokens he sold this week, Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Near Protocol (NEAR).

ZEC crashes almost 50% in 24 hours after two months of solid gains. 

Claude assists in bug discovery 

Taylor used Claude Opus 4.8, which was released on May 28, a day before the discovery, to assist in a highly targeted review of the Orchard circuit, the cryptographic component underlying Zcash’s Orchard shielded pool.

The critical bug allowed false inputs into an elliptic curve multiplication check, which means the math that is supposed to cryptographically verify transactions could be fooled.

Taylor built and tested a working exploit, which generated unlimited counterfeit ZEC. 

“If he had run the same tool on Zcash mainnet it would have generated unlimited, undetectable counterfeit ZEC in his mainnet Zcash wallet,” the security researchers said on Friday. 

The primary concern is that there is no cryptographic way to prove whether anyone had previously exploited it before it was patched, due to Orchard’s privacy properties. 

However, Shielded Labs was “not overly concerned” because the bug was subtle enough to evade years of expert review, and the discovery was a deliberate, highly skilled effort using cutting-edge tools and AI.

The firm is working with Zcash developers on a proposed network upgrade to allow anyone to verify the integrity of the ZEC supply and to prove the nonexistence of counterfeit tokens in the Orchard pool, they stated. 

Not the first counterfeiting vulnerability for Zcash

Mert Mumtaz, co-founder and CEO of Solana tooling firm Helius, said that almost all privacy protocols have a variant of this same vulnerability. 

“This same FUD comes back every five months as new people learn how privacy pools work,” he said. 

He explained that it is a theoretical risk in most zero-knowledge privacy protocols from circuit bugs that are hard to exploit or detect.

This is not the first time a similar vulnerability in Zcash has been discovered. In 2018, a counterfeiting vulnerability in the cryptography underlying zk-proofs was discovered by the Electric Coin Company, which remediated it with no losses in 2019. 

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 09:20

Demented NY Dems Erase "Mother" From State Law, Replace Her With "Gestating Parent"

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity,

Latest nonsense targets family courts, custody, and parental rights

Outrage is exploding after New York Democrats rammed through legislation that strips the words "mother" and "father" from key sections of state law and replaces them with cold, clinical inventions: "gestating parent" and "non-gestating parent."

Yes, really. They're pushing for the erasure of biological motherhood and fatherhood in the name of activist ideology.

The bill passed the Assembly months ago and cleared the Senate this week with minimal debate. It now sits on Governor Kathy Hochul's desk. If she signs it, the changes take effect November 1 and will rewrite references across family court proceedings, domestic relations, child support, custody determinations, and even education statutes. "Paternity" becomes "parentage." "Putative father" becomes "alleged parent."

? NOW: Outrage erupts as New York passes legislation to REMOVE the word "mother" and replace it with "gestating parent"

WTF?!!?

New York Democrats are total psychos.

This is a war on women! pic.twitter.com/guNUkmNx6h

- Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 4, 2026

Sponsors Sen. Luis Sepulveda and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin packaged the overhaul as a long-overdue update to parentage laws. The memo claims the new language simply aligns statutes with existing court rulings and accommodates surrogacy arrangements plus same-sex parenting.

In practice, every traditional reference to mothers and fathers in these legal contexts gets replaced. The language is deliberately stripped of sex-based meaning. Motherhood is reduced to a temporary biological process. Fatherhood is defined by its absence from gestation.

Democrats and allied lawyers argue the old terms were outdated the moment same-sex couples and surrogates entered family court in larger numbers. They insist the rewrite creates consistency and avoids confusion in complex modern cases.

Republican and conservative leaders wasted no time labeling the move what it plainly is: ideological overreach dressed up as progress.

State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar called it "woke culture run amok" and pure one-upmanship that wastes legislative time while the state budget remains stalled.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman was even more direct, charging that Democrats led by Hochul have "declared war on families" by canceling "Mom and Dad."

State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney both highlighted the grotesque misplacement of priorities. While New Yorkers face crushing taxes, failing schools, and public safety failures, Albany chose to spend its final days neutering the language of motherhood.

Even some rank-and-file Democrats reportedly viewed the bill as unnecessary. Hochul herself claimed she was unfamiliar with it when asked and said she would "take a look." For the woman who styles herself the state's "first mom governor," the dodge was telling.

This latest New York push is not happening in a vacuum. Similar efforts to strip "mother" and "father" from official language have surfaced repeatedly in Democrat strongholds and taxpayer-funded institutions.

In Wisconsin, Democrat Governor Tony Evers tried to insert language into the state budget bill that would replace "mother" with "inseminated person" and "biological father" with "natural parent" in contexts involving paternity disputes and artificial insemination.

Other proposed swaps erased "woman," "female," "wife," and "husband" entirely. Critics correctly described it as beyond parody and a direct insult to every actual mother in the state.

This turgid trend is far from limited to the US. A government-funded Scottish charity called Scotland's International Development Alliance produced an official "inclusive language guide" that explicitly branded the words "mother" and "father" as "oppressive."

The guide instructed users to replace them with neutral terms like "parent" or "guardian" and framed traditional family language as something that reinforces unwanted power structures. Taxpayer money supported the entire project.

New York's "gestating parent" and "non-gestating parent" formulation follows the identical script. What began as fringe suggestions in activist guides and budget amendments has now advanced to actual state law in one of America's largest blue states.

This is coordinated ideological creep. Each step tests how much biological reality the public will accept being rewritten out of existence.

Women who carry and birth children will still be mothers in every meaningful sense. The law cannot change that biological fact. What the law can do is remove any formal recognition of that reality in the places where recognition matters most: custody disputes, parental rights, and official records.

Surrogacy and same-sex parenting arrangements can be accommodated with precise legal definitions without requiring the rest of society to pretend motherhood is a neutral administrative function. The bill does not solve a genuine legal problem. It manufactures one to satisfy a narrow ideological demand.

This is the same mindset that insists men can become women, that sex is assigned rather than observed, and that dissent from any of it constitutes bigotry. It is the systematic replacement of observable truth with preferred fiction.

New York Democrats are not leading on this issue. They are following the same script playing out in other blue strongholds: rewrite language, capture institutions, then punish anyone who refuses to comply. The speed and lack of serious debate around this bill show how normalized the project has become inside the party.

Governor Hochul still has time to veto this bill. If she signs it, she will own the decision to erase "mother" and "father" from New York law. Either way, the voters who actually care about protecting women, children, and the English language now have a clear marker of which party treats biological reality as optional.

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 09:00

Globalist CEOs Sound Alarm Over Swiss Population Cap Vote

Summary: 

• Increasing Number of Globalist CEOs Concerned About Swiss Population Vote

• Nestle CEO Warns Against Swiss Population Cap Vote

• UBS CEO Warns Swiss Population Cap Is An 'Extreme' Measure

• Switzerland's "Ten Million" Vote Nears 

Nestle CEO Warns Against Swiss Population Cap

Globalist CEOs who ignored more than a decade of Europe's mass migration invasion from the third world because it was good for business may soon face headwinds from Swiss voters: a June 14 referendum that would cap the country's permanent resident population below 10 million through 2050.

Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil is the latest to warn Swiss citizens that a vote to cap the population at 10 million would not be good for business.

"Switzerland has established and created the conditions that enable a global company like us to thrive," Navratil said at the Swiss Economic Forum in Interlaken on Friday, who was quoted by Bloomberg. 

"It is important that these conditions and advantages in Switzerland remain in place. When we vote in the coming weeks, we need to keep that in mind," Navratil added.

Navratil's comments come just days after UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti called the hard-cap vote an "extreme initiative."

The proposal has received strong support in many local polls, though the latest polling data puts opposition just north of 50% for the first time.

Switzerland's population is already above 9.1 million, and estimates suggest migration would need to fall by at least half to avoid hitting the proposed ceiling by 2050.

Yet while these globalist CEOs found no issue with a decade of extreme mass migration from the third wolrd world into Europe, everyday working-class people have borne the brunt of the consequences.

UBS CEO Warns Swiss Population Cap Is An 'Extreme' Measure

A proposal headed for a June 14 vote in Switzerland made headlines for seeking to place a hard cap on the country's permanent resident population at 10 million through 2050.

The vote is also being watched as a referendum on immigration pressure in Europe more broadly. UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti has caught the vapors over the idea, describing it as an "extreme" measure that fails to address the country's underlying challenges.

UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti (photo: Chiara Zocchetti )

"I do worry about these extreme initiatives," Ermotti said, speaking from the Swiss Economic Forum in Interlaken on Thursday. "Switzerland has 30% of foreign-born people, almost like in Australia, twice as Germany. And that leads to certain frustration within society. But it's not a way to solve the problem."

Switzerland's population stood at approximately 9.1 million at the end of 2025. Since 2000, it has grown by about 1.9 million people, with roughly four-fifths of that increase attributable to net international migration. Swiss federal authorities measure the increase since the introduction of free movement of persons in 2002 at around 1.7 million.

Foreign nationals now make up about 27% of the resident population, while migration-background shares are higher. In 2024, 41% of Switzerland's permanent resident population aged 15 and over had a migration background, including first-generation and second-generation residents. Ermotti highlighted the scale of the demographic shift, noting that Switzerland's foreign-born share is comparable to Australia's and roughly double Germany's.

The "No to a Switzerland with 10 Million" initiative, backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), would enshrine a hard population limit in the Federal Constitution. If passed, it would require Switzerland's permanent resident population to remain below 10 million until 2050. If the population exceeds 9.5 million before then, the Federal Council and Parliament would have to take measures, particularly in asylum and family reunification.

If the 10 million threshold is exceeded, Switzerland would also have to renegotiate or terminate international agreements that contribute to population growth, including the EU Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons after two years. That would also put the broader Bilateral Agreements I with the EU at risk. Supporters point to real pressures: housing shortages and rising rents in cities like Zurich and Geneva, strained infrastructure, overcrowded public transport, and concerns over long-term social cohesion in a small, mountainous nation.

UBS's High Stakes In The Debate

UBS, one of Switzerland's largest private-sector employers with more than 30,000 employees in the country and a heavily international workforce, has significant skin in the game. The bank relies on global talent to sustain its operations in finance, a sector where skilled foreign workers fill critical roles. A rigid population cap, critics including business leaders argue, could exacerbate labor shortages in an already aging society with a fertility rate of around 1.3 children per woman.

Ermotti's comments come as Switzerland grapples with balancing economic dynamism against quality-of-life concerns. Opponents of the cap, including the Federal Council and business groups, argue that Switzerland needs foreign workers in companies and public institutions such as hospitals and care homes, and that a constitutional ceiling would create uncertainty around Swiss-EU relations. Recent net immigration has moderated somewhat, falling for a second consecutive year in 2025, but remains high by historical standards.

The UBS chief stressed the need for evidence-based policymaking. "The discussions need to be balanced," he said, urging authorities to ground decisions "on fact rather than emotion and scaremongering."

Parallel Battles Over Capital Rules

Ermotti's remarks on the population initiative coincided with ongoing tensions over Switzerland's proposed capital requirements for UBS. The government is pushing to increase the common equity capital UBS must hold domestically against its foreign operations to 100% of each unit's equity value, from 60% currently. The bank estimates this would require an additional roughly $20 billion in CET1 capital for its Swiss entity, a move it warns would damage its business model and, by extension, the broader domestic economy.

Parliament continues to debate the core package, with the process expected to last until next year. Ermotti's call for fact-based deliberation applies equally here, as the bank awaits clarity on reforms that were partially watered down in April but remain demanding.

A Defining Moment For Swiss Identity And Economy

The referendum remains contested, though the latest reported polling shows opposition ahead, with 52% against the initiative and 45% in favor. It taps into broader European debates over low native fertility, labor needs, infrastructure limits, and national character. Switzerland's direct democracy hands the ultimate choice to voters, making the outcome a potential bellwether for how high-income nations navigate sustained immigration.

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 08:47

Futures Drop On Souring Chipmaker Sentiment, Kospi Plunge

Futures are lower amid fresh underperformance of tech. If the premarket weakness persists, the S&P 500 is set to break a historic weekly run of gains as the AI trade takes another leg lower this time driven by the cartoonish Kospi index, with investors also expecting payrolls data to affirm that interest rates will stay higher for longer (full payrolls preview here). As of 8:00am ET, S&P futures are down 0.5% while Nasdaq futures slide 1% as chipmakers fall and big tech stocks are lower too, following on from a slump in South Korea’s Kospi. All Mag 7 names are all lower in premarket trading except for MSFT (+0.4%); NVDA fell -1.3%, a continuation of yesterday’s underperformance post AVGO earnings. On news flow, headlines were mostly muted this morning; after yesterday’s non-tech led rebound, we saw more negative sentiment this morning with all three indices lower during the pre-market session. Bond yields are flat to lower, the 10Y yield trading unchanged at 4.47% lower; the USD is also lower. WTI crude fell -0.2% to $92.86; both base and precious metals are lower while the bitcoin mauling shows no signs of ending. Today, the key focus is NFP; see our full preview here. 

In premarket trading, Mag 7 stocks are mostly lower (Nvidia -1.3%, Microsoft +0.4%, Tesla +0.1%, Apple -0.1%, Alphabet -0.4%, Amazon -0.2%, Meta -0.2%, Nvidia -1.3%)

• Argan (AGX) rises 11% after the power-plant construction company reported first-quarter revenue above what analysts expected.
• Chipotle (CMG) is up about 2% after JPMorgan upgraded to overweight, citing a “rare valuation opportunity” for the stock.
• Cooper Cos (COO) gains 6% after the lens maker posted second quarter sales and profit that topped estimates.
• Docusign Inc. (DOCU) is down 4% after the company provided an in-line forecast for second quarter revenue. Analysts notes that its still a wait-and-see story as the company ramps Intelligent Agreement Management, its AI-powered platform for contracts.
• G-III Apparel Group (GIII) rises 8% after the clothing company boosted its adjusted earnings per share guidance for the full year.
• Guidewire (GWRE) is down 12% after the midpoint of the software company’s subscription and support revenue forecast for the fourth quarter fell short of the average analyst estimate.
• Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) slides 10% after the company lowered its annual forecast due to deteriorating performance in North America.
• Merlin Inc. (MRLN) soars 29% after the defense technology company announced the successful completion of the critical design review for its C-130J autonomy program with the US Special Operations Command.
• Samsara (IOT) slips 2% after the GPS fleet tracking company posted first-quarter results.
• ServiceTitan (TTAN) jumps 15% after the software solutions firm reported revenue for the first quarter that beat the average analyst estimate.

Stocks are pulling back for a second day after Broadcom’s outlook for chip sales fell short of high expectations, raising questions over whether the rally in the AI trade had run too hard. The lack of progress toward a deal in the Middle East has also stoked worries that oil prices will remain elevated for some time. 

"Following a period of upward revisions to earnings expectations across the sector, investors are taking a more selective approach to new information and guidance updates,” said Tomás García-Purriños, senior asset allocation strategist at Santander Asset Management. “We would view the recent weakness primarily as profit-taking and consolidation after a strong run.”

The chase for tech stocks took a further knock after S&P Dow Jones Indices said it would keep its eligibility criteria for benchmarks such as the S&P 500, rejecting proposals that would’ve allowed mega-caps to gain entry more quickly after going public. The decision means companies such as SpaceX, Anthropic PBC and OpenAI would have to wait at least a year for inclusion in the US benchmark after their debut. Fast inclusion in the S&P 500 would’ve led to about $14 billion in forced passive buying for SpaceX.

Friday’s jobs data will likely show a solid increase in payroll numbers, up 88K (if down from 115K in April), suggesting the strong March and April reports reflected underlying momentum rather than just a rebound from earlier weakness, according to Bloomberg Economics. Our preview can be found here. The report may not offer strong direction for stock markets, as a focus on signs of price pressures is keeping investors to expect a rate hike as soon as December. Goldman noted that the implied move of 47 basis points is much lower than the average realized move over the past year, and the lowest since Dec 24. 

“Employment figures should not move the needle unless there is a major surprise,” said Roberto Scholtes, head of strategy at Singular Bank. “Instead, the key variables to watch are 10- and 30-year Treasury yields, which are hovering around the 4.5% and 5% ‘pain threshold’ levels.”

Europe’s Stoxx 600 is brushing broader losses off and edging higher, as losses for tech stocks and miners are offset by gains for consumer names.Here are the biggest movers Friday:

• Raspberry Pi shares rise as much as 14%, extending their run and hitting a new all-time high after the British maker of small, low-cost computers said earnings this year will be well ahead of expectations, pointing to robust demand
• Evoke shares rise as much as 17% yet trade about 10% below the value of a recommended all-stock offer from Bally’s Intralot. Berenberg analysts expect the deal to get done on the current terms
• CMC Markets shares rise as much as 7.3%, extending strong gains since the online trading platform guided to a stronger-than-expected FY27 performance on Thursday, as Jefferies upgrades to buy from hold
• Infineon shares slide 5.7% after being downgraded by analysts at MP Capital Markets because the recent strength in the semiconductor stock leaves “limited upside” on the table
• Bodycote shares fall as much as 11%, most since March 2025, after Apollo Management Holdings said it does not intend to make a firm offer, ending discussions that began with a conditional proposal announced on May 22
• Wacker Chemie falls as much as 6%, the most since April 29, after Citi cut its recommendation to sell, saying momentum in upstream chemicals may be moderating, leading to a less compelling risk/reward for Wacker Chemie and Clariant

Asian equities slid for a second day, dragged down by losses in technology hardware shares as enthusiasm for the artificial intelligence trade cools. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell as much as 2.3% before paring some of its declines. Heavyweight chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix were the biggest drags. South Korea’s Kospi led losses around the region, tumbling over 5%. For the week, the regional measure was down about 1.3%. Stocks in Indonesia extended this week’s slump, heading for the lowest close since November 2020. Global tech stocks fell after a weaker-than-expected outlook from US chipmaker Broadcom, indicating investors are nervous about sustainability of the AI rally. Meanwhile a lack of progress in talks between the US and Iran threatened to keep oil prices elevated, raising inflation concerns.

In FX, The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index is down 0.2%, while the euro is holding its gain despite a downward revision to first-quarter GDP growth, entirely due to a contraction in Ireland. EUR/USD rose 0.2% to 1.1637. USD/JPY inched 0.1% lower to 159.86: Japan Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama reiterated that the government stands ready to respond appropriately to currency moves at any time. USD/CAD fell 0.2% to 1.3880:Friday’s data will include change in nonfarm payrolls, unemployment rate for the US and unemployment rate, net change in employment for Canada as well

In rates, treasuries are mixed ahead of the May jobs report at 8:30am New York time, with oil prices little changed as traders await signs of progress in US-Iran peace talks.US yields remain within a basis point of Thursday’s closing levels with the 10-year near 4.47%. Gilts in the sector outperform slightly while bunds lag by around 1bp. US curve spreads are marginally steeper on the day. WTI crude oil futures down 0.2% underpin Treasuries, while Nasdaq 100 futures are off nearly 1% as tech stocks falter.

Ahead of May jobs report, Fed-dated OIS contracts price in around 17bp of tightening by year-end and fully price in a 25bp hike by the March FOMC meeting. Into the data, Thursday’s activity in Treasury options was active and mixed in direction, while SOFR options flows largely consisted of position liquidation and adjustment, as traders looked reduce risk.

In commodities, Brent edged lower to around $94.80 a barrel. 

Cryptocurrencies are under sustained selling pressure, heading for a sixth straight day of losses. Sentiment is hurt by Middle East tensions, expectations of higher U.S. rates, ETF outflows, and Strategy’s reported bitcoin sales for the first time since 2022. Bitcoin falls 2% to $62,292, Ether drops 5.8% to $1,669, and Solana declines 4.1% to $66.20, all near multi-month or multi-year lows.

Today's US economic data calendar includes May jobs report (8:30am) and April consumer credit (3pm). Fed speaker slate empty for the session. External communications blackout commences Saturday ahead of the June 17 policy announcement

Market Snapshot

Top Overnight News

• US and Iran Show Little Progress in Talks After Week of Clashes: BBG
• Iran has informed Pakistan of its acceptance of transferring part of its uranium to a third country that agrees to it. However, Al Arabiya followed up by stating that the US still refuses Iran's request to release its frozen funds.
• Senate passes $70 billion ICE funding; fails to ban Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund: RTRS
• Senate blocks debate on FISA surveillance law days before program 'goes dark: RTRS
• Anthropic Calls for AI Pause Button to Let Humans Take Stock: BBG
• Apple’s Plan for AI Dominance Rests on Fixing Its Much‑Maligned Chatbot: WSJ
• Point72 Weighs Paying Other Hedge Funds to See Their Trade Ideas: BBG
• Morgan Stanley Sees SpaceX’s Revenue Reaching $3.4 Trillion in 2040: WSJ
• Trump's trade adviser Navarro said the Fed shouldn't raise rates into supply shock inflation.
• US officials held preliminary discussions with major AI companies about the potential for the government to acquire some shares in their firms, according to people familiar with the matter cited by NOTUS.
• Banks Curb China Trips, Delay Events After Cross-Border Scrutiny: BBG
• The Anything-Goes Era in Private‑Credit Lending Is Coming to an End: WSJ
• Americans on GLP-1s Are Overwhelming Retailers With Their Nonstop Returns: WSJ
• A weekly flow data shows USD 39bln into bonds (a record inflow), USD 122bln into cash, USD 23.1bln into stocks, USD 2bln out of crypto (biggest since November 2025), USD 3.1bln out of gold (biggest in 10 weeks).

A more detailed look at global markets courtesy of Newsquawk

APAC stocks were mostly lower with the region subdued by recent tech-related pressure, and despite the predominantly positive handover from Wall St, where healthcare helped boost the Dow to a record high. ASX 200 declined as the losses in the mining, materials and resources sectors overshadowed the outperformance in health care. Nikkei 225 retreated amid tech selling but with the index off today's worst levels after bouncing off a floor beneath the 66,000 level, while data was mostly encouraging as Household Spending and Labour Cash Earnings topped forecasts, which effectively supports the argument for a BoJ rate hike this month. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp were mixed with Hong Kong pressured after the recent efforts to tighten cross-border capital outflows, including banks suspending opening Hong Kong bank accounts for mainland clients that could be used for overseas investments, while the mainland is marginally positive after the PBoC resumed open market operations.

Top Asian News

• Japanese PM Takaichi said there are pros and cons to a weak yen, while she added that investment strategy will help maintain trust in the yen and that her economic policy is aimed at boosting Japan's economic capability, not at FX manipulation.
• Japanese Finance Minister Katayama said the direction on sales tax cut hasn't been decided, adds government will not rely on debt to finance the food sales tax cut.

European bourses (STOXX 600 +0.2) start the last trading session of the week mixed, with the breadth of performance narrow. Global tech continues to sell off, after Broadcom's AI chip revenue fell short of expectations, weighing on indices that are heavily weighted with tech names (AEX -0.1%, EuroStoxx 50 -0.1%). Sectors point to a neutral bias. Retail (+1.5%) and Media (+1.5%) outperform, while Technology (-1.6%) and Basic Resources (-1.8%) are the clear laggards.

Top European News

• UK MP/PM candidate Burnham has spoken on options for increasing infrastructure spending without breaching the fiscal rules, FT reported citing sources.
• Andy Burnham says he would run in a Labour leadership contest and, if prime minister, urgently tackle social care, taxation and devolution while avoiding a snap election or immediate Brexit rerun, according to the Guardian.
• UK PM spokesperson said Starmer will not walk away from PM job, in response to Andy Burnham's bid for the leadership, while Burnham confirmed he'll stand to replace PM Starmer as Labour leader, as he stated that Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, which he would seek to join.
• Norway's Stryke labour union said companies have agreed wage deal for oil workers and that they will not go and strike.

FX

• G10s are all firmer against the Buck, where DXY -0.2% as it respects recent ranges into the US Jobs report. Franc leads, EUR +0.2% and GBP +0.2% also performing well.
• In a quiet morning session, the Buck has trundled lower from a 99.40 peak to a trough just above 99.20. Today sees the release of May US Jobs data, expected to tick lower to 85k from 115k in April. Recent labour market proxies align with expectations of a cooling in the labour market, as initial jobless claims rose to 225k from 212k, above the top end of the forecast range, while Challenger layoffs rose to 97.006k from 83.387k. Aside from macro data, focus remains on geopolitics, where headlines overnight suggested Washington demanded Tehran deliver its response before the end of the week or be hit with strikes. MUFG notes EUR/USD is vulnerable to a stronger employment print citing the OIS curve in Europe, which they believe is now well priced or even overpriced for what the ECB will deliver. Markets currently assign 14bps of tightening by year-end for the Fed.
• EUR performs well on the back of the weaker Buck. The likely catalysts today for the single currency will be the US Jobs report, which is expected to cool on a monthly basis. ING, which has an above consensus expectation (100k vs consensus 85k), contends the US print will support the Buck, and potentially enough to price a 25bp hike from the Fed by year-end, widening rate differentials. EUR/USD +0.2% firmed throughout the morning after rising from the 1.16 mark.
• CHF continues to mark gains against the Euro and Buck in wake of May inflation data. EUR/CHF U/C, USD/CHF -0.2%. Antipodeans firmer, but to a lesser extent than cyclicals as metals are lower across the board and amid the general equity risk tone.

Central Banks

• RBI keeps Repurchase Rate unchanged at 5.25%, as expected, via unanimous decision, while policy stance kept at neutral. RBI Governor Malhotra said the central bank would take steps, if needed, to rein in speculative activity in the FX market.

Fixed Income

• Global fixed benchmarks are slightly firmer this morning alongside some mild pressure in the energy complex. Markets remain on tenterhooks, awaiting the key NFP report and mixed geopolitical updates: 1) Trump said talks with Iran are going well, 2) reports suggest Washington has demanded Iran deliver a response before the end of the week, 3) Hezbollah rejected the US-backed ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. (Please see the commodities section for details.)
• USTs (+9 ticks) are firmer and trade within a narrow 19-18 to 109-23 range. Tentative action as markets await the US NFP report later today; in brief, the US economy is expected to add 85k nonfarm payrolls in May, vs 115k added in April. The unemployment rate is seen unchanged at 4.3%. Traders will be watching closely for signs of labour market deterioration, given that FOMC officials view employment risks as tilted to the downside, though Fed officials are seemingly more concerned about the inflation side of its mandate, amid the labour market stability.
• US yields are lower across the curve, with some mild underperformance in the belly. The 10yr (4.46%) resides just shy of the key 4.50% mark; a dovish NFP report could see the yield test near-term support at 4.45%, and then a cluster of highs at around the 4.42%. Of course, a hawkish report would see a potential test of 4.50%, and a breach above that mark will bring in near-term highs at 4.53%.
• Bunds (U/C) and Gilts (+17 ticks) also trade incrementally firmer. There has been a lack of pertinent newsflow for either region; UK Halifax House Price Index showed that prices edged a little lower in May due to the Middle East war. Elsewhere, the BoE DMP report was released, which saw 1yr ahead inflation expectations rise, whilst the 3yr was left unchanged. Focus will shift to BoE speak via Dhingra and Bailey this afternoon. Bunds currently hold within a 125.54 to 125.69 range; Gilts hold within a 87.77 to 88.05 range.

Commodities

• In US-Iran news, the biggest setback this week regarding US and Iran talks (in spite of the flare-ups) came in Lebanon, where Hezbollah publicly rejected the latest US-backed Israel-Lebanon ceasefire framework, saying it required Hezbollah concessions without an Israeli withdrawal, and vowed to continue resistance while Israeli forces remain in Lebanese territory. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire remains a key Iranian demand for broader peace talks. Washington reportedly demanded Tehran respond by the end of the week and warned of either an agreement or military action. More recently, Al Hadath reported that Iran has informed Pakistan of its acceptance of transferring part of its uranium to a third country that agrees to it, which resulted in fleeting downside in energy benchmarks.
• Crude futures are off their worst levels with little in terms of notable geopolitical headlines this morning. Following Hezbollah’s rejection yesterday, Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for 9 villages in southern Lebanon. Note, this morning, there were reports of a marine drone exploding in Romania, although the Romanian defence ministry later clarified that this was a Romanian army drone. WTI Jul resides in a USD 91.50-USD 93.54/bbl range while Brent Aug sits in a USD 93.64-95.90/bbl range. Dutch TTF trades higher by around 1%, just north of the EUR 49/MWh level.
• Spot gold has rebounded after finding support at its 200 DMA for a second day in a row (200 DMA at USD 4428/oz today). The yellow metal still trades with modest intraday losses and within a USD 4429-4482/oz range, within yesterday’s 4424-4515/oz parameter. Traders look ahead to the US NFP later today for impetus (full preview available on Newsquawk).
• Base metals are lower across the board but to varying degrees after trickling lower in APAC alongside the mostly downbeat overnight risk sentiment. 3M LME copper resides in a USD 13,711.70-13,893.30/t range at the time of writing.
• Petroleum Development Oman said operations at the Mina Al Fahal port are proceeding normally after oil loadings were suspended following an explosion due to an alleged drone attack.

Trade/Tariffs

• US President Trump said automakers sought no tariff changes in their meeting and that talks focused mostly on car repair.
• China International Trade Council says it opposes proposed US tariffs and criticised the plan for 12.5% tariffs on Chinese goods.

Geopolitics: Middle East

• Iran has informed Pakistan of its acceptance of transferring part of its uranium to a third country that agrees to it, Al-Hadath reported. However, Al Arabiya followed up by stating that the US still refuses Iran's request to release its frozen funds.
• US President Trump said they do not need help from European countries regarding Hormuz and noted that Iran talks are going well, while he reiterated that almost all of Iran's leadership has been wiped out and that Iran has no navy or air force. Trump said if Iran killed US troops, it would restart the war quickly, and the Israel-Lebanon conflict is interconnected with Iran. Trump also stated he thinks progress has been made on Lebanon, and he would be honoured to meet Iran's Supreme Leader if a deal is made.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said they have many documents and evidence that show Kuwaiti skies have been used regularly against Iran. Araghchi also commented that Iran and Oman will regulate the management of the Strait of Hormuz based on international law standards, while they will exchange views and ideas about the management of the Strait with the Persian Gulf countries, but ultimately the decision will be made between Iran and Oman.
• Iran's Supreme Leader advisor Rezaei said US President Trump wants to pressure Iran to accept his conditions and keep Iran in a vague state, while he added that the current draft has ambiguities that have to be clarified. Rezaei also said that Iran will stand firmly with Hezbollah in Lebanon and that Iran will have no hesitation in defending its interests and security.
• Pakistan's interior minister was reported to return to Tehran to push negotiations.
• Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for 9 villages in southern Lebanon, Sky News Arabia reported.
• Hezbollah claimed drone and missile attacks on Israeli bases, while it also stated that six Merkav tanks were destroyed in Lebanon, according to Fars.
• US House rejected a war powers resolution on Lebanon in a 92 vs 324 vote.

Geopolitics: Ukraine

• US House voted 226 to 195 to approve the Ukraine aid package and Russia sanctions bill after more than a dozen GOP lawmakers voted against party lines.

Geopolitics: Other

• US sanctioned Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel, while President Trump said sanctions are not meant to accelerate a collapse, and stated they will handle Cuba after they take care of Iran.
• Marine drone explosion has been reported in Romanian Black Sea Port of Constanta-Digi 24. Romania’s Defence Ministry later said that the Romanian Army maritime drone found at Constanța civilian port self-detonated, causing no casualties, and was not linked to recent Black Sea exercises.

US Event Calendar

• 8:30 am: May Change in Nonfarm Payrolls, est. 88k, prior 115k
• 8:30 am: May Change in Manufact. Payrolls, est. 2k, prior -2k
• 8:30 am: May Unemployment Rate, est. 4.3%, prior 4.3%

DB's Jim Reid concludes the overnight wrap

As we hit another payrolls Friday in the US, Asian markets are seeing some decent sized tech losses in what seems to be a hangover from Wednesday night's Broadcom results where forecasts weren't as elevated as some of the more optimistic predictions hoped. The KOSPI is down -5.02% with the Nikkei -1.27% lower. The latter is also influenced by the increasing view that the Bank of Japan will have to raise rates over the coming year. The meeting on the 16th of this month now sees a 96% probability of a hike according to futures. In our World Outlook our economist forecast a hike a quarter over the next year. This is more hawkish than the consensus.

The Hang Seng (-0.84%) is also trading lower on tech losses with the ASX -0.63%. S&P 500 (-0.59%) and NASDAQ 100 (-1.07%) futures are also weak for this time of the day. Bucking the trend is the Shanghai Composite (+0.43%). European stock futures are only down just over a tenth of a percent given their low tech weighting.  

Early morning data revealed that Japan’s real wages rose by +1.9% in April (compared to +1.7% anticipated) y/y, contributing to a smaller-than-expected decline in household spending. Average nominal wages, or total cash earnings, increased by +3.5% year-on-year (against +3.1% expected). This figure represents the fastest wage growth since December 2024, following a revised increase of +3.1% in March. The April data marks the first instance in over 34 years where wage growth has surpassed 3% for three consecutive months. In a separate report, Japan’s household spending decreased by -0.5% year-on-year in April, a less severe decline than the expected drop of -1.5%, following a -2.9% decrease in the previous month. This decline has extended the trend of falling consumer spending to five consecutive months.

Before these overnight moves, markets stabilised yesterday amidst growing hopes for some sort of US-Iran deal. So Brent crude oil prices (-2.84%) fell back to $95.03/bbl, reversing course after three consecutive gains, which in turn helped to ease fears about a stagflationary shock. As a result, markets followed the usual pattern of the last three months, where lower oil prices meant bond yields also fell back, with investors pricing in a more dovish path for central banks too. Meanwhile, equities recovered, including the S&P 500 (+0.41%), although it wasn’t all good news for risk assets yesterday, with Bitcoin (-2.06%) falling to its lowest level since early February, at $63,575.  

In terms of the latest from the Middle East, there wasn’t much in the way of fresh news. However, oil prices saw a clear move lower after Trump issued a post criticising the vote in the House of Representatives against the Iran conflict. That was because Trump’s post said the vote was “right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War”. So that suggested talks were still happening and a deal might be near. Oil prices did rebound a bit during the US session as Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia rejected the US-brokered ceasefire, but overall this didn’t derail the more optimistic mood following the ceasefire announcement by Israel and the Lebanese government the previous evening.

And investors also priced out the chance of a longer conflict, with the 6-month Brent future (-2.15%) also falling to $85.04/bbl. So that helped to ease concerns about inflation, with the 1yr US inflation swap (-9.2bps) falling to 3.09%, whilst the 1yr Euro inflation swap (-5.5bps) fell to 2.99%.

With easing fears around inflation, markets dialled back the chance of a rate hike from the Federal Reserve this year. Indeed, the probability of a hike by December was down to 68% by the close, having been at 81% the previous day. Moreover, those dovish expectations got further support from some weaker US data, with the weekly initial jobless claims rising to their highest since early February. They hit 225k in the week ending May 30 (vs. 215k expected), and even though the Memorial Day holiday could have created volatility, the 4-week moving average also reached a 3-month high of 214.75k. So the release leant against the more positive US data in recent days, and it helped Treasury yields to decline across the curve. For instance, the 2yr yield (-3.8bps) fell back to 4.04%, whilst the 10yr yield (-2.1bps) fell back to 4.47%, roughly where we are this morning as I type.  

Looking forward, US data will stay in the spotlight today, as we’ll get the May jobs report at 13:30 London time. This will be an important one for the Fed, as the strong labour market data of recent weeks has fuelled the speculation about a potential rate hike. Indeed, we’ve just had back-to-back payrolls above +100k in March and April, which is the first time that’s happened since 2024. And so long as the labour market stays in decent shape, that will keep the focus on the inflation side of the Fed’s mandate, which has moved increasingly above target given the energy shock. In terms of today’s report, our US economists expect payrolls to come in at +50k (consensus +88k), with the unemployment rate remaining at 4.3%. So if realised, that would be a slowdown from the last couple of months, but would still mark 3 consecutive positive readings for the first time in a year. Our economists' lower than consensus forecast is not necessarily a structural story, more a slowdown in some sectors that have recently seen outsized gains. Our economists have been more optimistic on the labour market than their peers in recent months.

Ahead of that, US equities also regained momentum before this morning's futures sell-off, with the S&P 500 (+0.41%) paring back the previous day’s losses and still looking to post a 10th consecutive weekly increase for the first time since 1985. We are at +0.06% so far this week but futures are lower so we'll see what happens. 

Most constituents in the index put in a solid performance yesterday, with 363 advancers – the most since April – and with the equal-weighted S&P 500 (+0.79%) rising to an all-time high. Chipmakers were the major exception to that, and Broadcom (-12.59%) was the second-biggest decliner in the index after their earnings the previous day. That included a forecast for AI chip revenue that was beneath expectations, which led to broader concerns around the sector. The Philly semiconductor index fell by -2.15% but it did recover from as much as -6.29% down early in the session. And the broader tech mood wasn’t as negative, with six of the Mag-7 (+1.06%) moving higher.  

Earlier in Europe, markets had put in a positive session across bonds and equities, benefiting from the fall in oil prices and being less exposed to semiconductor stocks. So the STOXX 600 (+0.52%) put in a decent performance, alongside gains for the DAX (+0.60%), the CAC 40 (+1.15%) and the FTSE MIB (+0.27%). Moreover, European rates rallied too, with yields on 10yr bunds (-1.0bps), OATs (-1.5bps) and BTPs (-1.8bps) all falling.

Looking at the day ahead, data releases include the US jobs report for May, French industrial production for April, and the third release of Q1 GDP for the Euro Area. Central bank speakers include BoE Governor Bailey and the BoE’s Dhingra.

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 08:27

Lululemon Bear Market Deepens After Guidance Cut Spooks Wall Street

Lululemon tumbled in New York premarket trading as its multi-year bear market deepened, with shares on track to revisit levels last seen since 2018 after a guidance cut. 

The struggling athleticwear company now expects full-year revenue of $11 billion to $11.15 billion, below the Bloomberg Consensus estimate of $11.49 billion, while its second-quarter sales and profit forecasts also missed the mark.

Full Year Forecast (courtesy of Bloomberg):

• Sees net revenue $11 billion to $11.15 billion, saw $11.35 billion to $11.5 billion, estimates $11.49 billion (Bloomberg Consensus)

• Sees EPS $10.95 to $11.15, saw $12.10 to $12.30, estimate $12.38

Second Quarter Forecast (courtesy of Bloomberg):

• Sees net revenue $2.45 billion to $2.48 billion, estimates $2.6 billion

• Sees EPS $1.76 to $1.81, estimate $2.69

Lululemon's first-quarter results showed modest top-line growth but continued weakness in underlying demand, especially in the Americas.

EPS $1.69 vs. $2.60 y/y, estimate $1.69

Net revenue $2.47 billion, +4.3% y/y, estimate $2.44 billion

Total comp sales constant currency -2%, estimate -0.23%

• Americas comp sales in constant currency -6%, estimate -7.14%
• International Comp Sales Ex-Fx +8%, estimate +13.2%

Gross margin 54.2%, estimate 54.6%

Operating margin 11.2%, estimate 11.5%

Inventory $1.69 billion, estimate $1.8 billion

Total location count 816, estimate 818

"We experienced a solid start to 2026 as our teams executed with speed, agility, and discipline. Our work to drive improvements in North America resulted in some positive signals in the quarter, including a sequential improvement in full-price sales," Meghan Frank, Interim Co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer, wrote in a press release. 

Frank then pointed out, "More recently, we have been navigating headwinds that have led us to adjust our outlook for the full year. We have assessed the business and are taking additional actions to reposition where needed and further strengthen our product engine. We remain confident in our path forward."

The dismal forecast adds pressure on incoming CEO Heidi O'Neill to orchestrate a proper turnaround. The former Nike executive takes the helm in September with a mandate to restore Lululemon's momentum amid brand drift, market-share losses, and product-release fiascos.

Shares plunged 12% in premarket trading, tagging levels not seen since 2018. The stock is nearing double-digit territory after falling from grace, having peaked around $500 a share in late 2023.

Wall Street analyst commentary: 

Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Poonam Goyal

• "Lululemon's 1Q sales beat consensus but were still below historical standards and, coupled with weaker guidance, suggest headwinds from markdowns and tariffs"

• "Backlash from negative commentary toward the end of 1Q put downward pressure on results globally but trends have since improved"

Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih (equal weight, PT to $113 from $161 )

• While Lululemon’s 1Q earnings met expectations, its forecast for 2Q26/FY26 disappointed

• "Traffic trends weakened at the end of April and into May due to bad press and product issues"

Piper Sandler analyst Anna Andreeva (neutral, PT to $110 from $130)

• After an in-line quarter, Lululemon "saw conversion drop off into April" 

• "For 2H26, LULU expects sales trends relatively consistent with 2Q26, although lowered guidance still embeds EPS improvement

 Wall Street analysts tracked by Bloomberg are mostly neutral on the stock. 

In recent weeks, Lululemon settled a proxy fight with founder Chip Wilson, ending one of the year's top proxy battles. The deal gives Wilson two board nominees and includes a commitment to find another mutually agreed-upon director at a future date.

Wilson has been highly critical of the company as its North American sales weaken, competition from Alo and Vuori intensifies, and its market capitalization has evaporated over the last few years.

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 06:55

Britain's Borrowing Outlook Darkens As Energy Shock Deepens

Via City AM,

• The OBR says it underestimated the fiscal damage from the 2022 energy shock and will apply those lessons to the latest Middle East-driven price surge.

• Higher oil and gas prices could increase UK borrowing through debt interest, welfare payments, and pressure on departmental budgets.

• The Bank of England has warned that a severe energy shock could push inflation above 6% and force tighter monetary policy.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that government borrowing is set to spike as a result of the Iran war, as the Office for Budget Responsibility admitted it had underestimated the effects of the last energy price shock. 

In a review of its forecasting models, the OBR suggested it had learned lessons from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which led to gas prices rising by around five times. 

It said the overall impact on public finances “was to significantly increase government borrowing and debt” despite some government revenue being raised by taxes on energy companies’ profits and higher wage growth.

The surge in government borrowing was driven by a rise in debt interest costs, welfare benefits, and the maintenance of real-terms increases to departmental budgets, according to analysis. 

The OBR concluded that it would apply the lessons from its forecast review to the energy price shock caused by the Iran war in this year’s Budget. 

The analysis suggests that the OBR could take a more pessimistic view on government borrowing, with oil prices jumping by around 40 per cent since the beginning of the war in March and wholesale European gas prices doubling. 

Economists have warned that stalled peace negotiations will lead to prolonged disruption across the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trading route for oil tankers and large ships. 

The Bank of England warned in a worst-case scenario analysis that continued disruption would push inflation above six per cent and force it to undo all interest rate cuts made in the last two years. 

OBR builds on previous analysis

In 2024, when Iran and Israel appeared to be close to an all-out war, the OBR conducted an initial analysis of what disruption could mean for UK public finances. 

The OBR then estimated that the UK government would have to borrow an average of £23.1bn more a year if there were a cut to energy supplies “comparable to the 1973 oil embargo”, City AM found. 

Economists have widely suggested that the current blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the Iran war, is the worst global oil supply shock recorded in history. International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said it was more serious than supply shocks in “1973, 1979 and 2022 together”.

Under the OBR’s assumption, oil and wholesale gas prices would remain 75 per cent higher over the course of a year.

Peace talks between the US, Israel and Iran appear to be on ice after Israel restarted attacks in Lebanon against an Iranian-backed militant group. Israel then paused its attacks on Hizbollah as President Trump reportedly told Prime Minister Netanyahu, “everybody hates Israel because of this”. 

The Brent Crude Oil price fell to $85 per barrel on news of a possible return to peace negotiations, although trading prices have been volatile due to uncertainty over possible peace terms. The price climbed as high as $114 per barrel last month. 

Reeves’ package to have minimal effect

Alongside assessments of the Iran war’s impact on the UK economy, the OBR is also expected to update forecasts based on any energy support package unveiled by Reeves or any following Chancellor. 

Analysis by JP Morgan found that initial action to offer families discounts and to freeze a fuel duty hike would strip 0.2 percentage points off inflation. 

The OBR said on Tuesday it would also tweak its models for forecasting business tax receipts and local authority expenditure. 

It will also revise the link between higher unemployment and benefits. 

Economists at the independent body also hit back at Labour MPs who suggested that models for forecasting the growth effects of extra public expenditure were skewed, claiming it was “unlikely” that calculations were misguided, given that the UK economy had underperformed despite a surge in government spending. 

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 06:30

Alarming Supply-Chain Stress Sends Transport Cost Soaring, Fueling Inflation Fears

Nearly three weeks ago, UBS analyst Pierre Lafourcade reactivated his desk's supply-chain watch coverage after stress across global supply chains was "rising at its fastest pace since the early pandemic." That warning is now increasingly getting louder by the week, with ongoing disruptions around the Hormuz chokepoint and the resulting energy supply shock, pushing up input, freight, and other logistics costs across the global economy.

Weeks after Lafourcade's warning, which can be read here, the May 2026 Logistics Managers' Index Report showed transportation costs surging to the highest level in the index's nearly 10-year history, while transportation capacity fell and transportation utilization remained elevated.

"Supply chains have been resilient despite these ongoing disruptions. However, in the past this level of elevate cost has eventually led to significant levels of supply-driven inflation," the report stated.

Capacity is quickly contracting...

... and utilization is elevated, according to the report.

As a result, logistics costs are at "the highest level since March 2022," the report noted, adding, "This previous peak was part of a run of high logistics inflation that led to the highest U.S. inflation in 40 years."

The report warned, "Supply-driven inflation is more difficult for the Fed to combat than demand-driven inflation because higher interest rates cannot create greater supply (in some cases, they actually may hinder supply). If logistics costs remain elevated, it is likely there will be at least some inflation. Respondents seem to be predicting with this, forecasting aggregate logistics costs will increase at a rate of 253.6 over the next 12 months."

Bloomberg was the first to cover the Logistics Managers' Index Report on Thursday. This reporting only added to UBS analyst Lafourcade's mid-May report that global supply chain stress was quickly emerging, with the Global Supply Chain Stress Index rising by 1.2 standard deviations in March and April, the second-largest two-month jump since July 2020.

Our read-through is that the potential for a supply-side inflation shock feeding into the economy could create a headache for the Federal Reserve. Higher rates would be the standard cure, but monetary policy cannot create trucking capacity, reopen trade chokepoints, lower diesel prices, or fix global shipping disruptions. That raises the risk of sticky inflation even as growth slows. This is why the Trump administration is working quickly to resolve issues in the Hormuz chokepoint.

On Wednesday, the Fed's Beige Book cited mounting concern among the business community about supply and freight costs.

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 05:45

Inquest To Examine If Police Hand-Cuffing Contributed To Henry Nowak's Death

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity,

The system that failed Henry Nowak will come under refreshed scrutiny as some medical experts have suggested police actions could have contributed to his tragic death.

An inquest will probe whether Hampshire police officers caused or contributed to the 18-year-old student's death when they yanked his arms behind his back, handcuffed him, and treated him as a suspect while he lay bleeding out and pleading that he had been stabbed and could not breathe.

This comes even though the Independent Office for Police Conduct has already investigated and cleared the officers of misconduct.

'There will be a full inquest with a jury next September.'

GB News National Reporter Jack Carson speaks live from Winchester Coroners Court and brings an update on the inquest that will look into whether police delay contributed to the death of Henry Nowak. pic.twitter.com/GmVmgE75pO

- GB News (@GBNEWS) June 4, 2026

Henry Nowak murder inquest will investigate whether officers caused or contributed to death of student who was handcuffed as he lay dying https://t.co/1jTVPzoS2b

- Daily Mail (@DailyMail) June 4, 2026

The coroner was not satisfied that prior probes fully met the state's obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to life.

A jury inquest at Winchester Coroner's Court will examine the broader circumstances, including any police acts or omissions and delays in treatment. However, the inquest is now adjourned until at least September 2027.

On December 3, 2025, in Southampton, 18-year-old first-year University of Southampton student Henry Nowak was stabbed five times with a ceremonial knife by Vickrum Digwa, 23. Digwa then lied to police, falsely claiming Henry had racially abused and attacked him while faking an eye injury.

Details continue to emerge revealing that Digwa also essentially taunted and tortured Henry while he was dying.

More details coming out and it's getting even worse pic.twitter.com/1K6IjP3r0Z

- Anglo-Saxon (@AngloSaxon85) June 3, 2026

Henry remained conscious for roughly an hour after the attack. He repeatedly told anyone who would listen that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. When officers arrived, they believed the attacker's story over the bleeding victim's direct pleas. Bodycam footage shows Henry being dragged, turned, and having his arms forcefully pulled behind his back for handcuffing. Within about three minutes of those actions he lost consciousness and died.

A nearby major trauma center at Southampton University Hospital was only a two-to-three-minute drive away.

Dr. Krzysztof Magier, a paediatric critical care lead, has experience in battlefield medicine and specialist training in treating severe trauma including gunshot and stab wounds. He reviewed the police bodycam footage and the post-mortem report. He directly contradicts the pathologist and initial coroner findings that Henry had no chance of survival and that handcuffing changed nothing. On the contrary - he believes there is a high probability that the police intervention contributed to his death.

? Czy Henry Nowak móg? prze?y??
Dr Krzysztof Magier @DrMagier, lekarz pediatra i by?y konsul honorowy RP w Cowes, przeanalizowa? nagrania z policyjnej kamery nasobnej pokazuj?ce ?mier? Henry'ego Nowaka.
Dr Magier jest lekarzem prowadz?cym oddzia? intensywnej terapii dzieci?cej,... pic.twitter.com/zCZaaQQQyn

- Adam Gwiazda (@delestoile) June 3, 2026

Here is the core of his analysis:

He analyzed the post-mortem report, which points to damage to the subclavian vein as the main source of bleeding, and explains where the problem lies.

In a healthy person, venous bleeding occurs under low pressure and often stops on its own thanks to a naturally forming clot. Simply bringing the wound edges together and pressure from surrounding tissues closes the vein enough to slow or even stop the bleeding.

From the police bodycam footage, when police arrived at the scene (probably 5-10 minutes after the injury), Henry was conscious enough to speak quite loudly. He was therefore not yet in a terminal state. After his arms were twisted behind his back and he was cuffed, it most likely caused the vein to stretch, the clot to tear, and a sudden intensification of bleeding. Within just about three minutes he lost consciousness and died.

People with suspected internal injuries should never be violently moved or jerked - such action can destroy the natural clot and lead to massive internal hemorrhage.

Instead of immediately calling an ambulance team and handing the patient over to paramedics, the police cuffed him. If paramedics had been the first to arrive on scene, Henry's chances of survival would have been significantly higher. '50%' - writes Dr Magier.

Paramedics could have quickly set up a drip, administered fluids to increase circulating blood volume and tranexamic acid to stabilize the clot, and if necessary performed needle decompression (inserting a thick and long needle into the lung), because the problem was not so much lack of lung function but compression of the blood-filled lung on the heart and mediastinum, which blocks circulation.

What is worse, the incident took place just a few minutes' drive by car (2-3 minutes by ambulance on blue lights) from Southampton University Hospital - a regional Major Trauma Centre with full specialist backup, procedures and equipment. 'I am convinced that if Henry had arrived there alive, the doctors would not have let him die' - writes Dr Magier.

In summary: aggressive police intervention, instead of saving a life, led to death through inappropriate handling of a severely injured person, even though top-class care was within reach of a few minutes. 'I fear that the Judge and pathologist were too lenient towards the police' - writes Dr Magier."

Summary - the police pulling Henry's arms back, massively increased the blood flow and opened the wounds - so he went from consciousness and survival to dead in 3 minutes. https://t.co/B3uQiltwbS

- Catherine Blaiklock (@blaiklockBP) June 4, 2026

Multiple trauma experts and serving officers reviewing the same footage have reached the same conclusion: the forceful restraint and positioning almost certainly disrupted a forming clot and restricted breathing in a chest injury victim who was still talking and conscious moments earlier.

Henry Nowak lived for a full hour after he was stabbed.

He died immediately after he was laid on the ground and handcuffed.

Was handcuffing him what killed Henry Nowak? https://t.co/iLDeQHIfQG

- Kevin Bass (@kevinnbass) June 4, 2026

The IOPC looked into the officers' contact with Henry, including the decision to handcuff a dying man who posed no threat and the first aid provided - or not provided. They cleared the officers.

"We have investigated ourselves and decided we did nothing wrong" pic.twitter.com/Aq1sFo4cL7

- Basil the Great (@BasilTheGreat) June 3, 2026

Officers who followed training that prioritizes accusations of racism over immediate medical care for a white victim were given a pass by the system that trained them.

This was not an isolated failure of judgment on a chaotic night. It occurred in a force where officers have openly admitted that mandatory "Inclusion Matters" DEI training left them feeling controlled and pressured to adopt specific ideological views about race.

Serving and former Hampshire officers told former Home Secretary Suella Braverman that sessions drummed in white privilege and unconscious bias.

One trainer was described as "deeply hateful of white people and our culture." Officers feared career damage for pushing back.

The same training environment that frames native Britons as inherently privileged appears to have influenced how officers processed a white student's desperate claims against a minority attacker's false racism narrative.

Chief Constable Alexis Boon later apologized to Henry's family for the handcuffing and arrest. One officer has since resigned. But the institutional response remains the same: investigate ourselves, find no misconduct, move on.

Coroner Jason Pegg made clear that previous investigations, including the IOPC process, did not fully satisfy the state's duty to investigate a death in custody properly. The inquest will now look at whether police actions or delays in getting Henry proper medical care contributed to his death. It will be held with a jury.

Members of Henry's family has asked that the case not be used to sow division. That is understandable. But the facts on the bodycam footage and the medical analysis speak for themselves. A conscious young man who could have reached a major trauma center alive was instead restrained in a way experts say likely accelerated his death, while officers prioritized the attacker's story.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Elon Musk of "whipping up division" after the X owner criticised the police's "heinous" treatment of Henry.

BREAKING: Starmer accuses Elon Musk of 'trying to whip up division in the UK' following the murder of Henry Nowak

? Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/MAcWbx1IQd

- Sky News (@SkyNews) June 4, 2026

Rather than confront the bodycam evidence, Starmer's instinct is of course to target the platform and the individual drawing attention to it.

This is the classic establishment reflex when two-tier policing and ideological capture are exposed. The same voices that stayed quiet or defended the system now blame free speech and outside scrutiny for the resulting anger.

Meanwhile, the underlying issues - DEI training that pressures officers to view white victims through a lens of suspicion, the willingness to believe an attacker's false racism claim over direct pleas for medical help, and the refusal to suspend officers in a case this egregious - remain unaddressed.

Vickrum Digwa has been jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years. That is justice for the murder. But the question the inquest must answer is whether the state's own agents - trained under DEI frameworks that treat white victims with suspicion - finished what the knife started.

Police exist to protect the public without regard to race. When ideology overrides that duty and the system then clears itself while the Prime Minister attacks critics instead of demanding answers, trust collapses.

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 05:00

The French Never Wanted Mass Immigration

Via Remix News,

French leaders know how to manipulate their voters, but the voters are also apparently easily manipulated. Every leader from French President Emmanuel Macron to François Mitterrand in the 1980s has decried immigration numbers and promised a crackdown, all while allowing immigration numbers to continuously climb year after year.

Here are just some relevant quotes:

Emmanuel Macron said in 2023: “There is an immigration problem in France.”

In 2016, then French President François Hollande said, “There are too many arrivals, immigration that shouldn’t be there.”

In 2023, then leader Nicolas Sarkozy said: “There are too many immigrants in France.”

In 1991, former leader Jacques Chirac said, “We must stop family reunification. We must completely revise the right of asylum. We must open the debate on the right of all foreigners to social benefits.”

In 1989, the famous leader François Mitterrand said, “On immigration matters, we have crossed the tolerance threshold.”

The age-old adage is that “nobody voted for this.”

It is true that the specific question of mass immigration never came to a referendum, but it is also fair to say that some very pro-migrant candidates, such as Macron, have continuously made it into office.

Still, one would assume that in a democratic system, with leader after leader calling for a halt to immigration, that immigration levels would tend to trend lower. However, this is not how Western democracy has worked over the last decades. The same developments have been seen in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. Leaders know the masses are unhappy about immigration, so they make proclamations against immigration to placate the masses, all while actual policy serves an entirely different purpose.

Macron is arguably the worst offender the French have ever seen when it comes to migration. In 2023, he said France must reduce immigration, beginning with legal entrants in a wide-ranging interview with weekly political magazine Le Point. Macron’s remark comes after he said in 2022 that migration “is part of France’s DNA” and oversaw a record increase in immigrants in 2022.

What has his record been since then?

Well, Macron was lying, as this chart clearly shows:

The foreign population has soared year after year, reaching record after record. In 2025, a record number of first-time legal residence permits were issued, totaling 384,000. In short, France is being buried in a wave of mass immigration that only a minority of French actually wanted. The estimates of how many foreigners are now living in France varies wildly, with some figures going as high as 9 million. However, there are also millions of legal French citizens who also have a migration background, which has led to a massive demographic shift.

Poll after poll has shown the French are remarkably opposed to mass immigration.

In a CSA poll for CNews in 2023, 64 percent of French said “we should stop non-European immigration to France.”

In a CSA poll for Europe 1 in 2024, 48 percent of French people said they wanted zero immigrants coming to the country, including 53 percent of women respondents.

In an Ifop poll in 2026, 60 percent of French people said they believe France is witnessing “a replacement of the French population by non-European populations, mainly from the African continent.”

In a poll from Odoxa-Backbone Consulting for Le Figaro in 2023, 74 percent of French said they believe there are too many migrants in France and 72 percent said they want a referendum on immigration.

In a CSA poll for CNews in 2023, 80 percent of French said they support a total ban on more immigration.

Meanwhile, in communist China, where there is not even an illusion of a democratic vote, foreigners only make up 0.06 percent of the population of 1.4 billion people. It may be hard to believe for many, but there are now fewer foreigners in all of China, at 845,000, than there are in just one European city, Berlin.

The political leaders that have governed the West have lied every step of the way on immigration, and in the process, they have gravely imperiled democracy. Many looking to authoritarian China see a country on the rise, where high-speed trains and critical infrastructure are quickly and efficiently erected, where crime is low, and social cohesion generally high.

Meanwhile, Europe is throwing up protectionist barriers against China at a time when China is pulling ahead in green energy, automobile manufacturing, machine tools, and AI.

Mass immigration has been an unmitigated economic, educational, security, and budget disaster for the West.

Democracy itself should not necessarily be condemned, however. Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, all thriving democracies, have managed to keep their borders almost entirely closed to mass immigration while growing their economies, all based on the will of the people.

In the end, it may have something to do with Europeans themselves and their culture of guilt, self-righteousness, and virtue signaling, which are attitudes that tend to dominate amongst European populations. The trend has been remarkably uniform across the Western world. It is not only France, but also the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, all marching in lockstep. While we can point our fingers at the mass media and academia, we also have to look at ourselves in the mirror and ask how we collectively allowed this to happen.

Read more here....

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 03:30

Support For Germany's AfD 'Firewall' Plummets As Voters Call To Bring Party In From The Cold

Via Remix News,

Germany's long-running "firewall" that sees the country's legacy parties exclude cooperation with the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) is moving further out of step with a large section of the electorate, with new polling showing voters now evenly divided over the governing CDU's refusal to work with the nationalist party.

Alice Weidel (AfD), federal chairwoman and parliamentary group leader, walks past Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) in the plenary session of the German Bundestag. (Photo by Lilli Förter/picture alliance via Getty Images)

According to the latest Deutschlandtrend survey by Infratest Dimap for ARD and Welt, 47 percent of Germans now say the CDU's exclusion of cooperation with the AfD is not right, while the same proportion say it is right. That marks a significant shift since September 2024, with opposition to the stance rising by 12 points and support falling by 13 points.

The figures come as the AfD remains Germany's strongest party in the national polling. Infratest Dimap puts the AfD unchanged on 27 percent, ahead of the CDU/CSU on 23 percent, with the Greens on 14 percent, the SPD on 13 percent, and the Left Party on 10 percent. The FDP and BSW would both remain below the five-percent threshold for entering parliament.

The CDU's position still has clearer backing among its own voters, with 62 percent of CDU/CSU supporters saying the exclusion of cooperation with the AfD is right. However, the wider national picture suggests the policy is no longer backed by a clear public majority.

The east-west divide is particularly stark on the AfD question. In western Germany, a narrow majority still supports excluding cooperation with the AfD, 50 percent in favor to 45 percent against. In the east, where the AfD has built some of its strongest support, a clear majority opposes the CDU's stance, 58 percent against to 38 percent in favor.

The poll also points to a deeper crisis of confidence in Germany's established parties. Only half of respondents said they support their preferred party out of conviction, while 46 percent said their choice was driven by disappointment with the alternatives. When the same question was asked in 2018, 61 percent said conviction was the main reason for their party preference.

That disappointment is especially pronounced among AfD voters. The poll found that 57 percent of AfD supporters are motivated primarily by frustration with other parties, although the party also scores strongly on its political program among its own base.

The findings come after a series of strong results and polling boosts for the AfD, particularly in eastern Germany. Last month, AfD politician René Stadtkewitz won a snap mayoral election in Zehdenick, Brandenburg, with 58.4 percent of the vote, becoming the party's first directly elected full-time mayor in the state. Separate regional polling has also shown the party on the cusp of absolute majorities in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel has presented the trend as part of a broader political realignment, writing after earlier polling gains: "The political shift is inevitable - we will put the interests of our country and our citizens back at the forefront!"

The pressure on the CDU is being intensified by deep dissatisfaction with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the federal government. According to the Deutschlandtrend figures cited by Welt, only 16 percent of Germans are satisfied with Merz's performance, while 82 percent are dissatisfied. Overall, just 12 percent are satisfied or very satisfied with the federal government, compared with 87 percent who are less satisfied or not satisfied at all.

Economic pessimism is also weighing heavily on the political landscape. The economy is now the top issue for voters, ahead of refugees and migration. Only 13 percent describe Germany's economic situation as good, while 85 percent rate it as less good or bad. Just six percent expect to be better off in a year's time, while 38 percent expect things to worsen.

Read more here...

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 02:00

S&P Denies SpaceX Fast Index Entry, Delaying $14BN In Passive Inflows By At Least A Year

Earlier today, in our forensic analysis of the SpaceX IPO, we said that according to BNP estimates, the company's inclusion into the S&P500 some 6 months after the offering would unlock $13.4 billion worth of inflows.

It turns out that that is not going to happen 6 months after the IPO. In fact, the earliest it may happen is 12 months after Friday's break for trading... and realistically well after that. 

That's because after the close today, S&P Dow Jones Indices said it would keep its existing eligibility requirements for main benchmarks like the S&P 500 Index, rejecting proposals that would have made it faster for mega-cap companies such as SpaceX to gain rapid entry into the benchmark after going public.

The index provider in a press release Thursday said it will not shorten the 12-month seasoning period for newly public companies it currently has or waive existing profitability and public-float requirements based on a company’s size, diverging from a broader industry shift embraced by rivals Nasdaq Inc. and FTSE Russell.

This is what S&P Dow Jones said in the press release:

"S&P DJI determined that exceptions to the financial viability, seasoning, and IWF requirements should not be granted solely based on market capitalization. The decision not to adopt the proposed exceptions preserves core index principles by maintaining consistent application of these key requirements. Although there may be trade-offs between strict adherence to these eligibility requirements and broad representativeness, the current methodology provides substantial market coverage and sector balance. As a result, the indices can continue to meet their stated objectives while preserving their role as representative and investable benchmarks for the U.S. equity market.

No changes will be made to the eligibility criteria including financial viability screens, seasoning period, or minimum IWF, for the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, or S&P SmallCap 600 as a result of the S&P Dow Jones Indices consultation on the treatment of MegaCap companies. Accordingly, there will be no changes to existing methodology for this index family."

A more detailed breakdown of today's announcement: 

The requirements that will now remain in place are:

• No changes to S&P 500 eligibility rules for mega-cap companies.
• Mega-cap companies will still need to wait 12 months after their IPO before being considered for S&P 500 inclusion.
• S&P will not waive profitability requirements for mega-cap companies. The company must have positive GAAP net income in the most recent quarter, and the sum of the most recent four consecutive quarters.
• S&P will not waive minimum public float requirements for mega-cap companies. At least 10% of a company's shares must be publicly tradable ("free float").

The S&P rejected proposals that would have:

• Reduced the IPO seasoning period from 12 months to 6 months
• Waived profitability requirements
• Waived minimum public float requirements

This means that the earliest SpaceX (as well as Anthropic and OpenAI after it) could be eligible to be added to the S&P 500 would now be June 2027.

The decision arrived as Wall Street has been grappling with a new reality: some companies are reaching unprecedented sizes before they ever enter public markets. The consultation, launched earlier this year, effectively asked whether index rules written for a different era should bend to accommodate companies that now arrive at a scale once reserved for mature blue chips in what has become known as the “fast entry” in industry parlance.

However, the push for quicker inclusion raised concerns among some investors who said rules around profitability, float and trading history exist precisely to prevent benchmarks from chasing hype. Furthermore, adding IPOs too quickly, they say, could expose passive funds to greater volatility and force them to buy shares before reliable market pricing is fully established.

Meanwhile, supporters say indexes should include massive companies as quickly as possible to reflect the market investors actually own, adding that these trillion-dollar firms can be economically significant long before they satisfy traditional index requirements.

“I am genuinely surprised,” said James Seyffart, ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “But S&P is the market leader and they can buck the trend.”

Shocker for me to be honest. I genuinely assumed they would make the changes because everyone else was. But S&P Dow Jones is not changing their rules to allow for Fast Adds of Megacap IPOs

(We all know what happens when you assume) pic.twitter.com/tzrURWksPJ

— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) June 4, 2026

Unlike the S&P, Nasdaq changed its rules recently so SpaceX can join the Nasdaq 100 Index, a cohort of the largest non-financial companies listed on its exchange, in just 15 trading days, down from a three-month minimum. FTSE Russell adopted a similar approach, shortening the waiting time to five trading days. Indicatively, the Nasdaq addition would generate roughly half the passive inflows into SpaceX as an S&P includion would. 

Tyler Durden Fri, 06/05/2026 - 00:27

The Modern “Red Calendar” And The Death Of Pride Month

Authored by Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.us

In the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution and the takeover of Russia in 1917 (largely funded by international elites), the new communist regime sought to implement what I would call “propaganda saturation” – An avalanche of policies designed to secure the red army’s political power by manufacturing false consensus.

It should be noted that, even at the peak of the Bolshevik movement’s influence, the reds only represented around 23% of the total Russian population and were never a majority. However, they had substantial monetary backing from overseas (read Antony Sutton’s extensive study titled “Wall Street And The Bolshevik Revolution). Think of this as an “NGO funded rebellion”, the kind of thing we are witnessing in America today with militant woke activists.

It was this international backing that gave the communists the boost they needed to take physical control of the government. But what they really needed was control over the general populace. One tactic they relied on in the early stages of the takeover was the use of a “Red Calendar”. If this phrase is unfamiliar to you, you’re not alone. Most people have never heard of it.

The Red Calendar was a propaganda program designed to eliminate and replace existing Russian holidays and religious observances with new, secular holidays. Foremost on the agenda for the Bolsheviks was the erasure of Christianity, which they viewed as a dangerous competing ideological influence that could one day undermine the government’s authority.

If the population’s first loyalty is to God, then the government and the party will always be in second place. This was unacceptable.

The Red Calendar established a series of special Marxist holidays revolving around labor movements and the revolution. The soviets would later declare special month-long celebrations of certain ideals, such as the “month of solidarity” or the “month of friendship.”

In short, the Red Calendar was a deliberate ideological tool: Old holidays weren’t always formally “banned” everywhere at once, but they were systematically deprioritized, persecuted, or culturally overwritten in favor of new communist ones.

Not to be outdone, the National Socialists (Nazis) in Germany and Italy also engaged in projects similar to the Red Calendar. This is just one of the MANY parallels between the Soviet Marxists and the Third Reich (Hitler consistently admitted that the concept of National Socialism was rooted in Marxism).

The Nazis targeted Christian holidays, but instead of relying on atheist or secular propaganda models, they used pagan alternatives. Christmas, for example, was changed to “Yule” or the “Winter Solstice” and the role of Jesus was systematically repressed or removed.

For the leftists who claim that the Nazi’s were pro-Christianity, sorry, but you are wrong yet again. Hitler despised Christianity in his private life and viewed it as a religion “for weaklings”. He spoke often about how he wished that the German people had a more militant religious tradition, similar to Islam.

In his postwar memoir, Nazi architect Albert Speer recalled Hitler complaining about Germany’s “wrong religion”. In secret, the Third Reich sought to establish a pagan religion which they felt was more aggressive:

“You see, it’s been our misfortune to have the wrong religion. Why didn’t we have the religion of the Japanese, who regard sacrifice for the Fatherland as the highest good? The Mohammedan religion too would have been much more compatible to us than Christianity. Why did it have to be Christianity with its meekness and flabbiness?” – Adolph Hitler

The point is, socialists, whether nationalist or globalist, always seek to co-opt the existing culture of the countries they want to dominate. It’s one of the first things they do when they take over and the invasion is tailor made to subvert the specific culture being targeted. For the US, this looks less like a “workers revolution” and more like a coordinated insurgency of asylum patients against the traditional moral order.

The “gay rights” movement has long been at the forefront of this sabotage project, supported from behind the curtain by NGO’s like the Ford Foundation and communist groups like the Mattachine Society in the 1950s under Harry Hay.  Once again, Joseph McCarthy was right.

Their propaganda tactics are relatively unknown to the average American because they simply are not mentioned in public schooling or college academia. But, in researching the history of Red Calendar methods you might find yourself recognizing a familiar pattern.

Well, it’s the first week of June once again and in recent years, for the vast majority of Americans, the month of June has brought with it a sense of overwhelming exhaustion. A WHOLE MONTH officially recognized by the government as a celebration of “LGBT Pride”.  And yes, Pride Month is in every way an attempt by the far-left to bring back the communist Red Calendar.

Pride Month was first recognized by the federal government in 1999 under Bill Clinton (Mr. Lolita Express). It was expanded on by Barack Obama in 2009 to include transsexuals and Joe Biden flooded Pride programs with federal cash through USAID in 2021. He even went so far as to hold a pride celebration on the White House lawn which included guys with tits running around topless.

I can recall the national attitude towards gay people in 1999 was extremely accommodating. We were all indifferent and no one cared if someone was gay as long as they kept it away from children. Whatever people did privately was their business.

Zoomers like to pretend as if their mediocre activist movements are “changing the world” and bringing equality to minority groups, but Gen X already finished that job decades ago. In fact, one of the most popular shows on TV in 2003 was called “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy”, which featured a team of flaming gay dudes prancing around and taking straight guys on shopping sprees so that they would look less unkempt (and less masculine).

This was not an era of discrimination. Zoomer activism doesn’t solve problems, it creates problems.

The opposition started when the gay community, or whatever you want to call it, became the “LGBT” community. The opposition started when they became a political cult. Being gay suddenly meant joining a militant wing of the wider woke invasion into our social and governmental institutions. This is when “Pride” mutated into a monstrous blob; spreading beyond localized gatherings in liberal cities and turning into a national astroturf movement which everyone was forced to endure every summer.

ESG funding rained down on LGBT organizations through corporations and NGOs from 2015 onward. Not long after, Pride was everywhere. In our movies, in our TV shows, in our video games, in our comic books, in our sports, in our commercials, it was even on our food as companies slapped gay flags and activist mantras like “Love Is Love” on everything from candies to iced tea.

This was clearly a strategic effort hijack the cultural driver’s seat in the US. But the end, the inevitable end, was set in motion when Pride was injected into the public school system by far-left teachers unions. The agenda to indoctrinate children with transgender ideology and gay sexuality sealed the fate of “Pride Month.”

When the activists went after people’s kids, that’s when the greater majority of Americans started to realize that maybe, just maybe, the conservative “conspiracy theorists” of the early 2000s might have been right about a few things. Maybe, LGBT is not about equal rights? Maybe it’s about predatory politics, social control and the normalization of degeneracy?

Today, pride has imploded. Corporate sponsors have dried up along with ESG funding. The shutdown of USAID by the Trump Administration was integral to the death of LGBT Red Calendar celebrations because these groups relied heavily on government money to make organized events possible. As the money disappears, the real LGBT movement is barely noticeable. And, that’s the way it should be.

Anyone who makes their sexual orientation the very center of their identity is mentally ill, and no functional society should promote or celebrate mental illness. An even greater concern, though, is the exploitation of gay “victimhood” as a means to push socialism/communism/globalism.

It’s no coincidence that LGBT activism comes as a package deal with every globalist scam imaginable. To be “gay” these days means you are expected to applaud the deconstruction of the west, the death of free markets, the rise of climate change laws, the normalization of veganism, the end of freedom of speech (for everyone except communists), the systematic destruction of religion, etc.

There are gay people out their who don’t subscribe to any of these things, but the majority of them do, in many cases because they feel they are required to in order to fit in with the movement. It’s not enough to be gay, they have to be revolutionaries.

And this is why public support for gay issues is in decline in the US. This is why Pride Month was barely a blip on the gaydar in 2025 and it’s even less visible in 2026. By whoring out their community to the machinations of communists and globalists, gays really screwed themselves. Now, far less people are trusting.

Pride Month is, by itself, a kind of egomaniacal display of performative narcissism. That is to say, pride is not something to be proud of. Accomplishment is something to be proud of…but being gay is not an accomplishment. Many Americans now see Pride Month as nothing more than an act of self worship.

The pendulum is swinging back hard and I think the “persecution” the LGBT movement pretended to suffer from ten years ago might very will hit them hard in real life in the next few years. It was probably not the best idea to reanimate the communist Red Calendar or declare gays as idols to be worshiped for their “virtue”. The backlash is deserved.

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 23:25

Beijing Bans Four New Zealand MPs For "Crossing Red Line" With Taiwan Visit

In a first, China has banned four New Zealand Members of Parliament for a year over their visit to Taiwan, New Zealand's foreign ministry says. The MPs learned of the ban - which the Chinese Embassy said could be reduced or waived with an apology - when they returned from the trip in May, local media reported on Thursday.

On Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said: “Recently, certain New Zealand members of parliament, disregarding China’s serious concerns and firm opposition, wilfully paid a visit to China’s Taiwan region, violating the one-China principle and interfering in China’s internal affairs.

“In accordance with relevant laws of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese side has decided to adopt measures against the individuals concerned, including denial of entry into China.”

This was the first time China has imposed travel bans on New Zealand MPs for visiting Taiwan - a move that "surprised" foreign minister Winston Peters, a ministry spokesperson said in a statement to the BBC. China claims the self-governed island of Taiwan as its territory, and has tried to restrict the island's foreign engagements.

"New Zealand MPs have visited Taiwan for decades and such visits are not inconsistent with New Zealand's One China policy," the spokesperson said, quoted by the BBC.

In a statement on Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand said the ban was a result of the MPs "disregarding China's serious concerns" and insisting on visiting Taiwan as parliamentarians. The visit had sent "wrong signals" to Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and "Taiwan independence' forces", the statement said, adding that it constituted "interference in China's internal affairs".

The visit in May comprised lawmakers from the ruling coalition - Maureen Pugh, David Wilson and Laura McClure - as well as Duncan Webb from the opposition Labour Party.

Photos from the visit by the New Zealand MPs were posted on social media by Taiwan's foreign minister Lin Chia-lung

McClure, from the ACT party, said the travel ban was "a type of foreign interference" and that she was "not going to apologize for visiting Taiwan", the New Zealand Herald reported. She told Radio New Zealand that she was "quite surprised and shocked" by the ban as similar visits had happened for years previously. She added that New Zealand MPs "have the right to travel freely around the globe".

"That is part of living in a free democracy," she said.

New Zealand foreign minister Peters has instructed foreign ministry officials in Beijing and Wellington to discuss the matter with Chinese authorities to "better understand" the "departure from past practice", the spokesperson said.

New Zealand established formal diplomatic ties with Beijing in 1972 and has since maintained a One China policy - the diplomatic acknowledgement of China's position that there is only one Chinese government. New Zealand has formal ties only with Beijing, and not with Taipei. 

But like many countries, New Zealand has also maintained regular exchanges with Taiwan.

Last year, a group of New Zealand MPs met Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te during a trip to Taiwan. The Chinese embassy in New Zealand criticised the trip, describing the MPs as "colluding with 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces".

Beijing also previously condemned a group of New Zealand lawmakers for attending a reception hosted by Taiwan's de facto embassy in Wellington last October. 

Taiwan has previously accused China of trying to intervene in its diplomatic ties with other countries. Last month, Lai visited Eswatini - Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa - days after his government said a trip had been cancelled due to China pressuring African countries to bar him from flying over their territories.

That Eswatini visit was later brought up by Taiwan's foreign minister Lin Chia-lung in a post about the New Zealand delegation's visit.

"President Lai's recent visit to Eswatini has once again made the world feel the challenges facing Taiwan's diplomacy," he wrote on Facebook.

Lin further noted that the visit by the New Zealand MPs "not only showed the support of the New Zealand Parliament for Taiwan, but also made the friendship between Taiwan and New Zealand stronger".

China has sanctioned US lawmakers in the past for visiting Taiwan, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022. The following year, China sanctioned US Representative Michael McCaul, claiming that his visit to Taiwan sent a "serious wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces".

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 23:00

Satellite Images Expose China’s Massive New 120-Meter Sail-Free Mystery Submarine

Authored by Aamir Khollam via Interesting Engineering,

China has quietly launched another advanced submarine, signaling the rapid expansion of a naval force that already outpaces Western production rates.

ROKS Dosan Ahn Changho class submarine and satellite imagery of China's sailless submarine. Wikimedia Commons and @Mack8miltech on X

Fresh satellite imagery shows a large new submarine at Shanghai's Jiangnan Shipyard. The vessel features an unusual "sailless" profile and a highly streamlined hull. Analysts say the design could reflect China's push toward faster, quieter, and harder-to-detect underwater platforms.

The launch comes as the U.S. and its allies struggle to increase submarine output. China, meanwhile, has launched roughly 15 to 20 submarines during the past five years. Several belong to entirely new classes.

Streamlined Underwater Design

The newly spotted submarine measures around 120 meters long. Its beam appears narrower than other recent Chinese attack submarines, while satellite imagery also shows X-shaped stern control surfaces and what may be a shrouded propulsion system.

Defense analysts believe the submarine could use a pumpjet propulsor. That setup reduces underwater noise at higher speeds compared to traditional propellers. The vessel's most striking feature, however, remains the absence of a traditional sail.

Conventional submarines rely on sails to house periscopes, communication masts, and snorkel systems. Removing that structure cuts drag and improves hydrodynamic efficiency. A cleaner hull shape can improve submerged speed and maneuverability while also reducing acoustic signatures, making the submarine harder to track.

China previously tested similar concepts. About eight years ago, the same shipyard launched a smaller experimental submarine with a reduced sail design. More recently, Chinese shipbuilders revealed unmanned underwater vehicle concepts with similar hull forms.

Questions Over Propulsion

The submarine's propulsion system remains unclear, though analysts believe a standard nuclear reactor remains the most likely option due to the vessel's size.

Another possibility involves China's emerging "nuclear-AIP" technology. That concept combines a low-power nuclear reactor with air-independent propulsion principles. Such systems promise longer endurance without the complexity of full-sized nuclear attack submarines.

China already launched one submarine using that concept. The Type-041 Zhou-class submarine appeared at Wuhan's Wuchang Shipyard in 2024. Experts, however, consider a traditional nuclear-powered attack submarine more likely for this latest design.

At nearly 400 feet long, the submarine appears too narrow to serve as a ballistic missile submarine. China's newest JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles require significantly larger launch compartments.

Expanding Production Capacity

The emergence of the new submarine also raises questions about China's industrial strategy. Around the same time, another submarine reportedly launched from Huludao Shipyard, China's primary nuclear submarine construction facility. Analysts suspect both submarines could belong to the same new class.

If confirmed, that would mark a major shift in Chinese naval manufacturing. Western shipyards often struggle to build more than one nuclear submarine at a time. China may now operate parallel production lines for advanced submarine programs.

Beijing has released no official information about the submarine. Chinese authorities rarely announce first-in-class submarine launches, especially for sensitive naval projects. That secrecy leaves outside analysts relying on satellite imagery and defense assessments to piece together the submarine's mission and capabilities.

Even with limited information, the message appears clear. China continues to accelerate submarine development while experimenting with increasingly unconventional underwater designs.

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 22:35

Trump Decries Communism, Says Its 'Breathtaking Popularity' Turns To 'Death, Destruction, Squalor'

Authored by Joseph Lord via The Epoch Times,

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on June 3, President Donald Trump decried communism, saying that the ideology leads to “death, destruction, and squalor.”

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on June 3, President Donald Trump decried communism, saying that the ideology leads to “death, destruction, and squalor.”

Trump said that the “free houses,” “free food,” and “free everything” offered by communist ideas “eventually ...… pic.twitter.com/2h7uB6B5Zg

— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) June 4, 2026

Trump said that the “free houses,” “free food,” and “free everything” offered by communist ideas “eventually ... ends, and it leads to death, destruction, and squalor—100 percent of the time.”

Trump was responding to a question from NTD, a sister outlet of The Epoch Times, related to a post he made on Truth Social the same day discussing communist ideology.

“Communists always do well with the voters, or as they would say, the people in the early years, but in the end, the country, state, or city goes to hell. Great violence proceeds at levels never seen before, and the entity dissolves into poverty, squalor, and crime,” Trump wrote in that post.

“Remember, breathtaking ‘popularity’ first, and then guaranteed death and destruction.”

The comments came as the eastern hemisphere entered June 4—the anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party’s brutal massacre of thousands of peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

Communism is an ideology and system that has directly caused the deaths of an estimated 100 million people worldwide, although some estimates indicate as many as 200 million. Today, the five communist regimes that still exist—in China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, and Laos—are among the world’s worst violators of human rights.

The president told reporters that his Truth Social post was inspired by his concerns about policies and candidates in places like New York and California.

The president specifically referenced New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who openly ran his 2025 campaign as a self-described democratic socialist. Mamdani has drawn national reactions since his surprise victory over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Democratic socialism describes an economic system under which the government provides certain key services, such as education and healthcare, through the use of a progressive taxation system. Critics have warned that such ideas work while the populace is wealthy but eventually fail, and lead to communist systems.

Before his election, Trump had been openly critical of Mamdani. The two said they had a strong working relationship since they first met in person in November 2025.

Trump has expressed personal admiration for Mamdani while maintaining his opposition to the New York Democrat’s politics—a tone he took again in his remarks on Wednesday.

“I watched [Mamdani in] New York, and you know, I liked him very much,” Trump said, adding a reference to Mamdani’s November visit and a second visit in February this year.

“He stood right here, and he’s been in the office a couple of times.”

Trump then said his ideological disagreements with Mamdani remain intact.

“He’s a smart guy, I don’t understand why he thinks it’s okay for all these companies that pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes a year to leave,” Trump said.

“You’re not going to have any tax base, and you’re going to end up in hunger and squalor and death and destruction.”

Trump was referencing warnings from chambers of business and other groups that the major companies and ultra-wealthy could begin to leave New York City as Mamdani moves to institute higher taxes on top earners in the city.

Trump said that while it’s harder to make the case for free enterprise, that system is the foundation of the United States’ success and global leadership.

“Free enterprise is tougher to sell, but that’s what’s made our country great, and that’s why it’s great again now,” the president said from the Oval Office.

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 21:45

Feds Raid Newport Mansion, Arrest Businessman Accused Of Routing U.S. Technology To Iran

Federal authorities arrested 63 year old Newport Coast technology executive Jamshid Ghomi during an early-morning operation at his luxury Orange County residence on Wednesday, according to the NY Post.

He faces federal charges related to alleged violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Investigators claim Ghomi orchestrated a long-running scheme to obtain American-made networking and computer equipment and funnel it to customers in Iran, including organizations tied to the country's military and nuclear sectors. According to prosecutors, the operation generated millions of dollars and relied on overseas intermediaries and shell companies to conceal the equipment's final destination.

Photo: CA Post/NY Post

The NY Post writes that authorities allege that, over many years, Ghomi acquired restricted technology from U.S. suppliers and routed shipments through third countries before they reached Iran. The government says the equipment was ultimately delivered to numerous Iranian businesses and state-affiliated entities, some of which were already subject to U.S. sanctions.

Agents executed a search warrant at Ghomi's residence before taking him into custody. Federal officials are also examining possible financial crimes, including money laundering and tax-related offenses. Court filings allege that his business brought in substantial revenue while relatively little income was reported to tax authorities.

Photo: DOJ

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the case reflects the government's effort to enforce sanctions laws and pursue both criminal penalties and the forfeiture of assets connected to the alleged conduct.

He concluded: “Our nation’s laws prohibiting doing business with one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism must be enforced and obeyed.”

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 21:20

Texas AG Launches Investigation Into Glyphosate In Food

Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into glyphosate contamination in food, with major manufacturers such as PepsiCo and Bayer being subjected to the probe.

Workers spray for insects and weeds at a fruit farm in Mesa, Calif., on March 27, 2020. Brent Stirton/Getty Images

Glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide applied to genetically engineered crops and is the main ingredient in Roundup weed killer, Paxton's office said in a June 2 statement. In 2015, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans." The organization also concluded that the herbicide showed "strong" evidence for genotoxicity, which refers to the ability to damage a cell's genetic information.

"Since then, extensive human and animal research has shown that glyphosate contributes to endocrine disruption, infertility, kidney disease, and autoimmune diseases, in addition to its cancer-causing properties," the attorney general's statement read.

"More than 250 million pounds of glyphosate are sprayed in the United States each year. Research has found that over 70 percent of American adults have detectable traces of glyphosate in their bodies compared to a mere 12 percent in 1993. Scientists attribute much of this dramatic increase to the widespread use of glyphosate as a desiccant."

Desiccation is the process of applying herbicides to crops prior to harvest to ensure they uniformly dry down, a practice responsible for more than 90 percent of glyphosate found in food.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems glyphosate as an effective way to manage noxious and invasive weeds, the agency said in a May 5 update.

In agriculture, glyphosate is used in a wide range of crops, including corn, soybean, leafy vegetables, legumes, cereal grains, citrus, herbs and spices, nuts, oilseed crops, and sugarcane. The herbicide is also used for the conservation of pastures, forests, turf grass, rangeland, aquatic areas, parks, wildlife management areas, and paved areas.

The EPA said there are "no risks of concern to human health from current uses of glyphosate" and that there is "no indication that children are more sensitive to glyphosate."

However, Paxton's office said in its recent statement that children are "particularly vulnerable to glyphosate's harms" due to the widespread use of oats in cereals, cookies, and breakfast bars. While the EPA bans the use of glyphosate as a desiccant on oats in the United States, major companies import oats from nations where desiccation is allowed.

Children are exposed to food products that are "some of the most glyphosate-contaminated" food items sold in the United States, including those that are marketed as "healthy."

Paxton's office has sent Civil Investigative Demands to major pesticide and food manufacturers, such as Bayer and PepsiCo. A Civil Investigative Demand is an administrative subpoena allowing government agencies to request private entities to submit significant information without having to first go through court procedures.

"If any corporation is using regulatory loopholes to poison our kids with glyphosate, we will find out and we will secure justice," Paxton said.

"My office is also investigating whether major food companies are complying with Texas law and whether consumers, especially parents, have been misled about the health claims of common food products marketed to their families. No corporation is above the law, and no illegal action will go unpunished."

The Epoch Times reached out to Bayer and PepsiCo for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

Glyphosate Necessity In Farms

A major controversy erupted in February when President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring America's supply of glyphosate a critical component of national and food security.

"Lack of access to glyphosate-based herbicides would critically jeopardize agricultural productivity, adding pressure to the domestic food system, and may result in a transition of cropland to other uses due to low productivity," the executive order said.

"Glyphosate-based herbicides are a cornerstone of this Nation's agricultural productivity and rural economy."

The herbicide has faced criticism from the Make America Healthy Again movement, and thousands of lawsuits have been filed across the United States claiming that exposure to glyphosate is linked to several types of cancer.

Last month, a group of lawmakers introduced the No Immunity for Glyphosate Act, which seeks to ensure that glyphosate manufacturers can be held liable under state and federal law if it is proven that the herbicide causes cancer, according to an April 29 statement from the office of Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

The bill also seeks to ban the use of federal funds to enforce Trump's glyphosate order.

"Exposure to glyphosate can cause cancer. The Supreme Court cannot and should not allow these verdicts to be overturned," Heinrich said.

"My constituents' health and safety comes first. And I will not stand by while President Trump gives immunity to those who put my constituents' health and safety at risk."

In February, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a social media post that pesticides and herbicides were toxic.

However, if the use of these chemicals were prohibited, "crop yields would fall, food prices would surge, and America would experience a massive loss of farms," Kennedy said, while describing Trump's glyphosate order as aiming to protect the country's food supply.

Moreover, the Trump administration is looking at shifting from the current agricultural system without harming food supply, such as by transitioning to regenerative agriculture, Kennedy said.

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 20:05

The Media Wants To Know Why Men Are Walking Away From Liberal Society?

Recent surveys paint what might seem like an apocalyptic picture:  In the US, around 45% of men ages 18-25 do not approach women anymore to engage in dating or relationships.  Over 42% of all men have no interest in seeking out women for relationships or casual dates.  Around 30% of men over 40 years old have never been married and are not necessarily seeking marriage.  

In light of ongoing concerns about population decline around the world, the first thing most people might say is that men need to "step up" and fulfill their role in order to save the human species from a "Children Of Men" movie scenario.  However, this suggests that it's men's fault and that checking out of the current system is a bad thing.  It's a narrow minded view.  

To be clear, the narrative of the "male loneliness epidemic" is a propaganda fantasy designed to shame men into returning to the liberal fold.  The truth is, men are not lonely, they are deliberately refusing to participate in order to make a point.  What we are witnessing is perhaps the most substantial mass boycott of liberal ideology in history as men go more conservative.  It's a boycott the establishment media does not want to acknowledge. 

In a recent expose by The Guardian, the outlet dares to ask the forbidden question - Is the "Me Too" movement the reason men are opting out of relationships and liberal society?  Sadly, they barely delve into the truth of the matter and instead regurgitate the old standby excuses:  Men are afraid of women because of lack of emotional intelligence.  Men are having trouble navigating the new world of fluid gender roles and women's independence.  Men are being lured into "toxic masculinity" by conservative movements, etc. 

Not surprisingly, the media rarely engages with straight men who study these changes from the male perspective.   If they did, they might get a better insight into what men today want want from life, from their careers or from relationships.  They talk often in dismay about the rush of young men into conservative ideals, but they never ask those men what it is about conservatism that attracts them. 

Why?  Because they don't want to hear the answer.  They don't care what men have to say.  So instead, they gather up a gaggle of female psychologists, jilted women and woke beta male activists and ask them "What is going on with men these days?" 

The idea of self improvement and striving for success has become the rallying cry for many men lost in the sea of the post "Me Too" world.  It makes perfect sense.  After a decade of feminist militancy and narratives painting men as walking time bombs on the verge of exploding into a deadly rage, men are no longer asking for validation from society or from women. 

Instead, they have set their own goals and measure their achievements according to their own peace of mind.  The power of the woke movement and feminists is in their ability to insert themselves into the role of judge and jury.  They do this by claiming constant victimhood, which they say earns them access to the halls of power and influence.  When the media talks about masculinity from an anthropological standpoint, they talk to the self-appointed woke experts (mostly women).    

When they do ask men, it's usually from a liberal standpoint.  When they ask conservative men, they ignore the answers and attack the honest responses.   Last week a New York Times podcast set out to explore what they call the American Masculinity Crisis; not to understand why men and masculinity have been so demonized, but to complain about men returning to masculinity despite the political left's best efforts to destroy it.  

"I think that we are in an abysmal state.  I think the reality is that we’ve always had patriarchy at the intersection of capitalism and white supremacy, and how those things feast on one another and lift one another. But I think right now, more times than not, the role models that these young boys and young men have are not only divisive and toxic but insidious and heinous, disgusting. Truly, I mean, the president of the United States is an alleged rapist. What does that mean? You know, the popular thing that boys are watching is largely M.M.A., right? So I think we’re in a horrible place..."

The idea of "toxic masculinity" is a woke feminist fallacy; a creation meant to shame men for their natural behaviors, their normal biological roles and the inherent ways they deal with the world.  The important thing to remember is that feminism has not been about equality for decades.  Women have had social equality and legal superiority over men in the west for some time now. 

Rather, feminism is about keeping men in line and under control to prevent any rebellion against the liberal epoch.  After all, women have no inherent power.  They gain power by convincing men to give their power away through government.  By convincing men to behave in the name of modern civility.  From the New York Times:

"I think, when we talk about masculinity, we have to talk about the patriarchy. And I think we see this as this system which harms everyone, including men..."

"I think if we can see ourselves as part of a system of patriarchy that harms all of us, and we are allies in this fight rather than men versus women, men oppressing women, then I think we can have a more productive conversation..."

In other words, masculinity and patriarchy is the left-wing version of "original sin"; a great crime against humanity that can only be defeated when men and women to come together...and submit to feminism.  Which means, men have to hand over all their power as the source of this great evil.  Men have to accept proper "management" to avoid falling into their darker ways.  If only these men would prostrate themselves before the benevolent woke gods and beg for forgiveness, then the world would be a much better place.

But why would they?  The idea that they get something in return is a proven lie.  They get no redemption, no peace.  Why not simply step on the neck of feminism, destroy it and take control?  It would be easy.  The only thing stopping this from happening is the hope most men have for a logical and reasonable discourse - The hope of honest reconciliation.  As long as feminism exists, however, this is never going to happen.

When the left-wing media opines on the lost generation of men, what they're really doing is pretending to have empathy while scrambling to circumvent a full blown male rebellion against the liberal order. 

The "Me Too" movement was presented as a reckoning over abuse against women in professional spaces, but it ultimately became a power grab in which liberal women leveraged fake outrage to elevate the idea of "guilty until proven innocent."  It weaponized mob justice against men as a way to steal jobs women didn't earn or deserve, and steal political power they had no moral capacity to handle. 

It's no mistake that the Me Too motto was "Believe all women."  That's a radioactive level of power.  

The real reckoning is going to be in the aftermath of Me Too.  There is a quiet but simmering movement of young men who are about to reassert their dominance in the society that cast them as monsters.  What progressives and feminists still don't realize is that their actions have set an unstoppable freight train in motion.  By alienating men in the pursuit of political gain, they have created a juggernaut with little empathy for self proclaimed "victims".

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 19:40

DOJ Opens Investigation Into Suspected Race-Based Practices At Arizona State University

Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times,

The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has launched a Title VI investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices at Arizona State University (ASU), one of the country's largest public universities.

View of the campus of Arizona State University, a public research university located in Phoenix, Arizona. Shutterstock

Wednesday's announcement comes after recent viral videos that appear to show university personnel participating in or concealing the handling of distinguishing students by race, color, or national origin. Federal officials noted the videos raised the prospect that ASU may have violated civil rights protections while benefiting from considerable taxpayer support.

"No student should be denied access to opportunities or resources because of race, color, or national origin," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's (DOJ's) Civil Rights Division said. "The United States is committed to keeping universities free of unlawful discrimination - especially when they try to hide illegal conduct to avoid oversight and compliance."

Federal law does not allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin at institutions that receive federal funding. ASU has 194,000 students enrolled across its campuses as of the 2024-2025 school year and receives hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants and aid annually, public records from the U.S. Department of Education show.

The Civil Rights Division's investigation will determine whether ASU's DEI-related policies result in illegal discrimination in areas including admissions, recruitment, scholarships, tutoring, and educational support services. Officials underscored that the investigation is underway.

This action comes amid a broader national effort to examine university practices following changes to federal policy and public outcry over race-conscious programs. Many colleges and universities changed or repackaged DEI initiatives in the wake of executive actions and legal challenges.

The Department of Education indicates that Arizona's major universities, including ASU, have contended with state-level restrictions on certain diversity initiatives while ensuring federal compliance. Universities nationwide have quietly adjusted DEI programs as a result of potential funding cuts and investigations.

The viral videos leading to the DOJ announcement recorded interactions in which university staff deliberated continuing parts of DEI programming under alternative names such as "inclusive excellence."

Accuracy in Media and other watchdogs have noted similar efforts at public universities.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates equal opportunity without regard to protected characteristics. Past DOJ inquiries into higher education have looked at legacy admissions, athletic recruiting, and targeted scholarships. This investigation joins a growing list of reviews examining programs thought to circumvent race-neutral standards.

Places of higher learning, from Ivy League schools to state flagships, have faced pressure to get rid of race-based preferences after Supreme Court rulings and administrative changes.

ASU officials have not formally responded to the allegations. Public university records detail numerous outreach programs targeting underrepresented groups.

Federal databases show that ASU receives considerable taxpayer funds, including research grants, Pell Grants, and other aid that require nondiscriminatory practices.

The federal government has also investigated medical school admissions and PhD recruitment initiatives at other public universities that allegedly applied different standards based on race.

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 19:15

Anthropic's Marketing FUD Playbook Returns With Call To Pause AI Frontier Development

Anthropic has elevated fear-based marketing to an art form. The company routinely warns the public, lawmakers, and corporate America about looming AI doom scenarios - then conveniently positions itself, its products, safety frameworks, and policy prescriptions as humanity’s best defense.

This strategy is hardly new. Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) works because we're wired to be risk-averse. Nothing grabs attention faster than a well-crafted existential threat.

In its latest iteration, Anthropic’s message is that AI models are advancing so rapidly they risk outrunning society’s ability to control them. The solution? The very guardrails, verification systems, and safety architecture that Anthropic is helpfully developing.

“We believe it would be good for the world to have the option to slow or temporarily pause frontier AI development to enable societal structures and alignment research to keep up with the advance of the technology,” the company stated in a new post released Thursday.

The Anthropic Institute will conduct research—in collaboration with many others—and take actions to help build the systems that a credible slowdown or pause would require. These systems would enable frontier AI developers to verify that others globally have actually stopped or slowed, and that a bad actor could not use the auspices of a coordinated slowdown to jump ahead in secret. If such systems existed, we expect that we would slow down or temporarily pause, if other developers at or near the frontier also did so in a verifiable manner.

A meaningful slowdown or pause would require multiple well-resourced labs at or near the frontier, in multiple countries, agreeing to stop under the same conditions. It would also require that each can verify that the others have actually stopped. Due to the unique characteristics of AI systems, the detectability (a lower standard than verifiability) element of this arms control problem is much more challenging than with other technologies. Training runs are far easier to conceal than missile silos, their inputs are general-purpose, and the incentive to defect quietly is enormous. A credible pause also has to specify what triggers it, what lifts it, and who adjudicates.

None of this is necessarily impossible in principle—the world has built verification regimes for other complex technologies (e.g., the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty)—but those regimes took decades to build both the infrastructure and the trust. We don't have that long. A unilateral pause by one lab is achievable immediately, but accomplishes much less: it would change who the front-runner is, but it would not create the wider deliberative process that is currently missing.

In the coming months, we will organize conversations where policymakers, researchers, civil society, and other AI companies can help answer some of the questions this piece raises, especially around full recursive self-improvement and how to create better options for coordination and deliberation. We'll publish what comes out of it. The window to investigate these questions together is here, and people outside AI companies should be involved in this deliberation.

This follows a familiar playbook. With the earlier release of Mythos, Anthropic framed the model as so powerful it could autonomously discover thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities - including decades-old bugs missed by prior testing - chain exploits, and execute complex multi-stage attacks. They called it a “moment of danger” for cybersecurity with potentially severe consequences for economies and national security.

Access was initially restricted to a small group of trusted parties. As doomer headlines blanketed mainstream media, the fear cycle ran its course. Then, predictably, access was gradually expanded.

Former AI czar David Sacks captured Anthropic’s approach perfectly on a recent episode of the All-In Podcast:

All of this FUD marketing arrives as Anthropic races OpenAI to reach the public markets first, following SpaceX’s anticipated IPO next week.

Tyler Durden Thu, 06/04/2026 - 18:50