1850: Error Bars

Since Sunday night, Iranian state TV news channel IRINN has been showing pro-establishment rallies held for Mojtaba Khamenei in different cities including Tehran, the holy city of Qom, and the north-eastern city of Mashhad, his birthplace.

[!SUMMARY]

Peter Schweizer is a prominent American investigative journalist, author, and political consultant who serves as the President of the Government Accountability Institute (GAI). Co-founding the GAI in 2012 with Steve Bannon, Schweizer is known for his deep-dive investigations into government corruption, "crony capitalism," and the financial dealings of high-ranking political figures. He has authored multiple #1 *New York Times* bestsellers, including *Clinton Cash* and *Red-Handed*, and previously served as a consultant in the George W. Bush administration.

Peter Schweizer's career is defined by his work in conservative think tanks, academia, and political communication.

President of GAI: Since 2012, he has led the Government Accountability Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to exposing government corruption and the misuse of taxpayer money.

Senior Editor-at-Large: He holds a senior editorial position at Breitbart News.

Podcast Host: He hosts "The Drill Down," where he discusses ongoing GAI investigations.

Hoover Institution: Served as a research fellow from 1999 to 2015, focusing on war, revolution, and peace.

White House Consultant: From 2008 to 2009, he was a consultant to the Office of Presidential Speechwriting during the George W. Bush administration.

Academic and Advisory Roles: He has been a member of the Ultraterrorism Study Group at Sandia National Laboratory and a consultant to NBC News.

M.Phil.: St Cross College, Oxford University.

B.A.: George Washington University.

Schweizer is best known for his "follow the money" investigative style, which often targets the intersection of personal wealth and political power.

*Clinton Cash* (2015): Investigated the Clinton Foundation and the financial dealings of Bill and Hillary Clinton, sparking significant media coverage and debate.

*Secret Empires* (2018): Explored how the American political class uses family members to mask financial ties and corruption.

*Red-Handed* (2022): Focused on the financial links between American elites (including the Biden family) and the Chinese government.

*The Invisible Coup* (2025/2026): His most recent work, which alleges that foreign powers and elites use immigration policies as a demographic and political tool.

Schweizer’s work is credited with influencing the passage of the STOCK Act (2012), which prohibits members of Congress from using non-public information for private profit.

Schweizer is often described as a "muckraker" by supporters for his willingness to challenge powerful institutions. However, critics from mainstream media and the Democratic party have frequently challenged his findings, alleging partisan bias and pointing to factual inaccuracies in his reporting on the Clintons and Bidens.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/russia-winner-iran-us-war-energy-oil-disruption.html

General view of Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery in the city of Orsk, Orenburg region, Russia Aug. 28, 2025. Stringer | ReutersRussia is shaping up to be a major beneficiary of the war between U.S.-Israel and Iran, as higher oil prices and temporary sanctions relief boost the value and volume of its crude exports, analysts told CNBC.The Middle East conflict has rattled global energy markets, sending oil prices sharply higher amid fears of supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy corridors. "Russia stands to gain revenue from higher oil prices, especially as the U.S. has relaxed restrictions on selling Russian crude to India," said Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Marquee.Oil prices surged over $100 per barrel on Monday as traders priced in the risk that conflict in the Gulf could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply.Stock Chart IconStock chart iconOil prices year-to-dateEven as oil fell about 7% on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that the conflict with Iran could end soon, prices are still around 27% higher compared to before the war started. For Russia, which remains one of the world's largest oil exporters despite Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, the price rally directly translates into stronger state revenues.Henning Gloystein, managing director for energy and resources at Eurasia Group, said Russia has "already hugely benefited" from the crisis after Washington granted India a temporary waiver allowing it to continue purchasing Russian crude."Cargoes have been sold around $90 per barrel, so this is a large increase in price and sales volume for Russia," he said, compared to around $50 from before the Iran war.Sanctions reliefHigher prices combined with looser enforcement of sanctions will allow more Russian barrels to remain in circulation, providing a short-term boost to Moscow's finances, said analysts.Muyu Xu, a senior analyst at Kpler, echoed that renewed buying from India has helped lift Russian crude prices while clearing a backlog of cargoes that had accumulated at sea.According to Kpler data, Russian crude held on tankers fell to 118.3 million barrels this week from 132.9 million barrels at the end of February, suggesting cargoes were moving to buyers fast.If the crisis continues to constrain Gulf exports, the upside could be substantial. Gloystein estimates Moscow could generate tens of billions of dollars in additional state revenue as elevated oil and gas prices persist.In addition to the temporary waiver granted to India, Trump is also reportedly weighing easing oil sanctions on Russia, according to Reuters.Russia's advantage may also extend beyond crude oil. Gloystein said Europe could increase imports of Russian liquefied natural gas because there are currently no European sanctions on those shipments, at least until the European Union's planned phase-out takes effect in 2027.Russia's ability to fully capitalize on the situation, however, remains constrained.Years of sanctions and Ukrainian attacks have damaged parts of Russia's energy infrastructure, limiting the speed at which the country can ramp up production or exports."The benefit could be meaningful in the short term because Russia gains both from higher prices and from some easing in the practical enforcement of sanctions," said Carole Nakhle, founder of Crystol Energy. "But the upside is still constrained."She added that shipping and insurance restrictions, as well as the concentration of Russian exports to a small pool of buyers such as India and China still limit how fully Moscow can take advantage of supply disruptions.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/09/trump-iran-war-end.html

President Donald Trump at a press conference on Monday said the war against Iran will end "very soon," and also said that oil prices will drop.Trump's rosy prediction came after a weekend that saw the price of oil skyrocket to above $100 per barrel, roiling global financial markets."We're achieving major strides toward completing our military objective," Trump said nine days after launching the war on Iran with Israel on Feb. 28.Trump, who with his deputies has offered shifting explanations of what the war's objective is, did not on Monday detail his end game, instead touting military successes."We've wiped every single force in Iran out, very completely," the president said at his Trump National Doral club near Miami, where he touted the destruction of more than 50 Iranian naval ships, and decimation of its air force and anti-aircraft defenses."They have no leadership. It's all been blown up."Asked if the war would end this week, Trump said, "No," but added, "Very soon." He proceeded to threaten further military action if he deems it necessary and said the U.S. has not yet hit some of Iran's most sensitive targets, including its electricity infrastructure.Earlier Monday, an Iranian official suggested that any oil tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for crude oil shipments, risked attack by Iran. Only a handful of commercial vessels are moving through the Strait, said Matt Smith, oil analyst at energy consulting firm Kpler.Despite that threat, Trump said oil supplies will be more secure for the world in the long run because of the war and threatened to hit Iran even harder if it withholds crude from markets. While most of the oil that moves through the Strait of Hormuz is bound for Asia, the U.S. depends on a global supply that is heavy on imports from Asia."We will hit them so hard that it will not be possible for them or anybody else helping them to ever recover that section of the world," Trump said.He also said that the war would be over when Iran no longer had the capacity to use weapons against the U.S., Israel and other allies for a long time.Read more U.S.-Iran war newsAsked by a reporter to explain the difference between his prediction of a quick end to the war and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent comment that the war is just beginning, Trump said both could be true."It's the beginning of building a new country," Trump said. He has pledged to keep the U.S. out of another lengthy entanglement in the Middle East.Trump said he is "disappointed" in Iran's choice of Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father as the country's supreme leader. But, when asked at the press conference, he declined to say he would seek to assassinate him.Trump earlier Monday spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who reportedly shared proposals about the U.S. quickly ending the war.At his press conference, Trump said Putin "was very impressed with what he saw" the U.S. do in Iran."This is an excursion a lot of other people wouldn't have done," Trump said. "This was a military success, the likes of which people haven't seen."—Spencer Kimball contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/09/iran-war-oil-tankers-strait-of-hormuz.html

MarineTraffic map showing current ships traffic on Strait of Hormuz dislplayed on a laptop screen and MarineTraffic logo displayed on a phone screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on March 5, 2026. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesOil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz "must be very careful," the spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned on Monday. The spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, also defended Iran's attacks on Gulf states, telling CNBC's Dan Murphy that targeting "military bases and assets" belonging to the United States in the region is "legitimate under international law."The price of crude oil has sharply spiked past $100 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed."As long as the situation is insecure, I think all tankers, all maritime navigation, must be very careful," said Baghaei, who is also head of the Center for Public Diplomacy.He said that Iran will fight against the U.S. and Israel "as long as it takes," and that his nation is preparing for every possible scenario, including a potential ground invasion.Read more U.S.-Iran war newsBaghaei predicted Iran will "unite around" new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was selected over the weekend to succeed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran."The state institutions, the people, the authorities, have all shown that they would unite around the new leadership," Baghaei said.He dismissed the suggestion by U.S. President Donald Trump that the United States should have any say in selecting Iran's leader."I think it's a basic principle of international law and civility that the nation decides for themselves, free from the foreigners' intervention," Baghaei said. "It is the absolute, unique right of the Iranians to decide about their leadership, about their system, and I think it's absolutely unlawful for any politicians, for any person outside Iran to say who should rule Iran."Asked why Iran has targeted Gulf states, with attacks on desalination plants in Bahrain, oil refineries in Saudi Arabia and civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, Baghaei said, "We are only defending our country against the aggressors.""What we are doing against military bases and assets belonging to the aggressors to the United States in the region, is legitimate under international law," he said. "We are defending ourselves under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. And all military bases, installations and assets that in any form or manner are being used to help the aggressors are regarded as legitimate targets."

Strait of Hormuz Real-Time Live Ship & Marine Traffic - Cruising Earth

[!SUMMARY]

COG is a versatile acronym used across multiple disciplines, most notably representing Center of Gravity in physics, Cost of Goods in business, and Continuity of Government in political strategy.

In the physical sciences, COG stands for the Center of Gravity. This is the theoretical point in an object where the total weight of the body may be thought to be concentrated.

Stability: A lower COG generally correlates to higher stability in vehicles and structures.

Calculation: It is determined by the distribution of mass within an object.

In finance, specifically when discussing a company's bottom line, COG (or COGS - Cost of Goods Sold) refers to the direct costs of producing the goods sold by a company.

Direct Costs: Includes materials and direct labor.

Exclusions: Does not include indirect expenses like marketing or administration.

In political and defense contexts, COG stands for Continuity of Government.

Definition: Defined procedures that allow a government to continue its essential operations during a catastrophic event (e.g., nuclear war or natural disaster).

Strategic Center of Gravity: In military theory (derived from Clausewitz), it refers to the primary source of power that gives a force its strength or will to fight.

In electronics manufacturing, COG refers to Chip-on-Glass.

Process: An IC (Integrated Circuit) is mounted directly onto a glass substrate (like an LCD screen).

Benefit: Allows for much thinner and more compact electronic displays.

For gamers, COG represents the Coalition of Ordered Governments.

Context: The main human protagonist faction in the *Gears of War* video game franchise.

Anthropic's lawsuit is against President Donald Trump's executive office; several government leaders, including Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick; and 16 government agencies, including the Department of War, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy.

"While a price increase for V-Bucks isn't ideal for players, it's preferable to something more extreme like making it a paid-for, rather than free-to-play game," she said.

Asked about the mayor's letter and his offer, a White House spokesperson told the BBC: "As President Trump said, we will never allow a radical left, woke company to dictate how our United States Military fights wars".

In this article

" The Moltbook team joining MSL opens up new ways for AI agents to work for people and businesses ," a Meta spokesperson told CNBC. "Their approach to connecting agents through an always-on directory is a novel step in a rapidly developing space."

OpenClaw's virality helped push AI agents into the mainstream, where large language models like OpenAI's ChatGPT have largely dominated the conversation. OpenClaw's ability to act as an assistant by managing calendars, sending emails and online shopping opened new doors for many users.

The autonomy of the agents, and the ability for them to talk to one another in forums like Moltbook, drew concern from some about the future of AI.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/nvidia-open-source-ai-agent-platform-nemoclaw-wired-agentic-tools-openclaw-clawdbot-moltbot.html

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivers the keynote address at the GTC AI Conference in San Jose, California, on March 18, 2025. Josh Edelson | Afp | Getty ImagesNvidia is planning to launch an open-source platform for artificial intelligence agents called 'NemoClaw,' tapping into the growing popularity of the AI tools, Wired reported Tuesday.Citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the report said Nvidia has started pitching the product to enterprise software companies, seeking partnerships with Salesforce, Cisco, Google, Adobe, and CrowdStrike.Nvidia and its potential partners did not immediately respond to a request for comment.It remains unclear whether any official partnerships have been finalized. Because the platform is expected to be open source, partners would likely get free usage, with early access granted in exchange for contributing to the project, the sources told Wired.The report said that the platform will allow these companies to dispatch AI agents to perform tasks for their employees and is expected to include security and privacy tools.Companies will be able to access the platform regardless of whether their products run on Nvidia's chips, it added.Nvidia has started to invest more resources into AI agents, as companies shift from large language models to more specialized tools that can reason, plan and act independently on complex, multi-step tasks.For example, the company has released foundational models designed to power AI agents such as Nemotron and Cosmos in recent months.It also has expanded its 'NeMo' platform, which helps clients manage the full AI agent lifecycle — from data curation and customization to monitoring and optimization.Nvidia's interest in agents also comes as people are embracing so-called "claws"— open-source AI tools that run locally on a user's machine and perform sequential tasks.Such AI agents were made famous by OpenClaw — which was first called Clawdbot, then Moltbot — when it burst onto the scene at the start of this year. OpenAI ultimately acquired the project and hired its creator.In recent comments, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said that OpenClaw was "the most important software release probably ever."However, experts have also flagged many security risks associated with OpenClaw's nascent AI tools, especially for enterprise customers that Nvidia is now reportedly targeting with its AI agent platform.The move comes as Nvidia prepares for its annual developer conference in San Jose next week, which is expected to include announcements and roadmaps on the company's hardware and software offerings.— Read more about Nvidia's NemoClaw plans in Wired's report.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/09/oracle-is-building-yesterdays-data-centers-with-tomorrows-debt.html

Artificial intelligence chips are getting upgraded more quickly than data centers can be built, a market reality that exposes a key risk to the AI trade and Oracle's debt-fueled expansion.OpenAI is no longer planning to expand its partnership with Oracle in Abilene, Texas, home to the Stargate data center, because it wants clusters with newer generations of Nvidia graphics processing units, according to a person familiar with the matter. The current Abilene site is expected to use Nvidia's Blackwell processors, and the power isn't projected to come online for a year. By then, OpenAI is hoping to have expanded access to Nvidia's next-generation chips in bigger clusters elsewhere, said the person, who asked not to be named due to confidentiality.Bloomberg was first to report on the companies ending their plans for expansion in Abilene. In a post on X on Sunday, Oracle called news reports about the activity, "false and incorrect," but the post only said existing projects are on track and didn't address expansion plans. Oracle secured the site, ordered the hardware, and spent billions of dollars on construction and staff, with the expectation of going bigger. An Oracle spokesperson declined to comment. It's a logical decision for OpenAI, which doesn't want older chips. Nvidia used to release a new generation of data center processors every two years. Now, CEO Jensen Huang has the company shipping one every year, and each generation offers a leap in capability. Vera Rubin, unveiled at CES in January and already in production, delivers five times the inference performance of Blackwell. For the companies building frontier models, the smallest improvement in performance could equate to huge gaps in model benchmarks and rankings, which are closely followed by developers and translate directly to usage, revenue, and valuation. That all points to a bigger problem at play. For infrastructure companies, securing a site, connecting power and standing up a facility takes 12 to 24 months at minimum. But customers want the latest and greatest, and they're tracking the yearly chip upgrades.Oracle's added challenge is that it's the only hyperscaler funding its buildout primarily with debt, to the tune of $100 billion and counting. Google, Amazon and Microsoft, by contrast, are leaning on their enormous cash-generating businesses.Meanwhile, Oracle partner Blue Owl is declining to fund an additional facility, and plans to cut up to 30,000 jobs. Oracle reports fiscal third-quarter results on Tuesday, and investors will be paying close to how the company addresses a $50 billion capital expenditure plan with negative free cash flow, and whether the financing pipeline can hold up. The stock is down 23% so far this year and has lost over half its value since peaking in September. Beyond Oracle, GPU depreciation is a risk for the broader market and could have ramifications across the AI landscape. Every infrastructure deal signed today may result in a commitment to outdated hardware before the power is even connected. WATCH: Jefferies' Brent Thill talks to CNBC ahead of Oracle earnings

## Excerpt

GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 are the two most widely used large language model (LLM) services. However, when and how these models are updated over time is opaque. Here, we evaluate the March 2023 and June 2023 versions of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 on several diverse tasks: 1) math problems, 2) sensitive/dangerous questions, 3) opinion surveys, 4) multi-hop knowledge-intensive questions, 5) generating code, 6) US Medical License tests, and 7) visual reasoning. We find that the performance and behavior of both GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 can vary greatly over time. For example, GPT-4 (March 2023) was reasonable at identifying prime vs. composite numbers (84% accuracy) but GPT-4 (June 2023) was poor on these same questions (51% accuracy). This is partly explained by a drop in GPT-4's amenity to follow chain-of-thought prompting. Interestingly, GPT-3.5 was much better in June than in March in this task. GPT-4 became less willing to answer sensitive questions and opinion survey questions in June than in March. GPT-4 performed better at multi-hop questions in June than in March, while GPT-3.5's performance dropped on this task. Both GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 had more formatting mistakes in code generation in June than in March. We provide evidence that GPT-4's ability to follow user instructions has decreased over time, which is one common factor behind the many behavior drifts. Overall, our findings show that the behavior of the "same" LLM service can change substantially in a relatively short amount of time, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring of LLMs.

## Excerpt

The move would escalate the administration's fight with Anthropic and formalize a broader push to remove Claude.

On 4 March, the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, virtually met Canada's artificial intelligence minister, Evan Solomon, and the premier of British Columbia, David Eby.

Source: https://supercarblondie.com/tech/mystery-packages-showing-american-doorsteps-with-qr-codes/

The FBI issued a warning as homes across the US began receiving unsolicited packages with dubious QR codes that could leave you a victim of theft. Sadly, modern tech is used all too often by scammers. And back in July, the FBI alerted the public to a new scam that’s been popping up throughout the US. It starts with the victim receiving a package out of the blue, but if they’re not careful, it could land them in serious financial trouble. Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology How scanning the QR codes could empty your bank account The scam is a variation of less harmful ‘brushing scams’, which have been around for a while. Typically, a brushing scam involves a company sending out a product to an unsolicited stranger and then writing a fake review in that person’s name to improve their online ratings. SB Media/Gemini However, while traditional brushing scams are more of an annoyance than a serious crime, the new variation is a lot more harmful. This time around, scammers are sending out unsolicited parcels that come with a printed QR code either on the packaging or inside. The boxes don’t come with a return address, so the person who has received it will have no clue where it originated from. If the recipient then scans the QR code, they’ll be taken to a fraudulent phishing website where they’ll be asked to input sensitive information, like credit card details or banking information. These websites can look very similar to the real deal, which means folks may share their details without realizing they’re about to be scammed. Even more worryingly, cybersecurity company NordVPN told CNBC that a whopping 73 percent of Americans scan QR codes without verification, and more than 26 million people admit to being sent to malicious sites. How to avoid getting trapped by this scam The scam has been around for at least a couple of years, but last year the FBI issued a warning to people to be alert, particularly if they find themselves in receipt of a package they didn’t order. In the warning, the FBI noted that the scam is still fairly rare, but urged Americans to be vigilant to avoid being a victim. “The FBI warns the public about a scam variation in which criminals send unsolicited packages containing a QR code that prompts the recipient to provide personal and financial information or unwittingly download malicious software that steals data from their phone,” the agency said. The statement went on to request that anyone who had been a victim of the scam report it to the FBI. Kampus Production A few months prior to the FBI warning, the Federal Trade Commission shared its own statement about the scams and offered some advice for those who may have been duped. “If you scanned the QR code and entered your credentials, like your username and password, into a website, change your password right away,” the FTC said. “Create a strong password that is hard to guess, and turn on two-factor authentication.” You can also request a free credit report to check whether anyone has used your information fraudulently. DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/iran-war-cuba-crisis-fuel-energy-trump-us-havana.html

A pedicab drives past a traffic light that is out due to a power cut in Havana on March 4, 2026.Yamil Lage | Afp | Getty ImagesU.S. President Donald Trump renewed his threat of a "friendly takeover" of Cuba, saying the communist-run Caribbean island is in "deep trouble."His latest comments come less than a week after he suggested that his administration would turn its sights on Havana after U.S. military operations in Iran ended.The Trump administration has sought to ratchet up the pressure on Cuba since the Jan. 3 military operation to depose Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a long-time ally of Cuba's government. The U.S. has effectively cut Havana off from Venezuelan oil, called its government "an unusual and extraordinary threat," and pledged to impose tariffs on any country that supplies it with oil.Speaking at a news conference in Doral, Florida, Trump said on Monday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was dealing with Cuba's leadership as the country grapples with a worsening economic crisis."It may be a friendly takeover. It may not be a friendly takeover. It wouldn't matter because they are down to, as they say, fumes," Trump said."They have no energy. They have no money. They are in deep trouble on a humanitarian basis and we don't want to see that," he added.Cuba's government has denied being in talks with the U.S. government, although it has previously confirmed "communications" between the two administrations. A spokesperson for Cuba's embassy in London did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.The U.S. president and his allies have since spoken publicly about the prospect of Cuba becoming the subject of another major foreign policy move. "Cuba's next," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on Fox News shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran. Trump has previously said that after Iran's regime is toppled, "Cuba's going to fall, too," according to Politico.The comments, alongside the U.S. attacks on Iran and Venezuela, have done little to allay growing fears in Havana, experts have told CNBC.Beset by a string of blackouts and a worsening fuel shortage, Cuba's government recently adopted rationing measures to protect essential services and fuel supplies for key sectors.The U.S. Treasury said late last month that it would allow the resale of Venezuelan oil to Cuba's private sector.

[!SUMMARY]

ELITE is a specialized Palantir-developed application used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify, track, and prioritize individuals for deportation. It utilizes a map-based interface to visualize target density and generates detailed dossiers using a combination of federal, commercial, and medical data.

ELITE is notable for its "total information" approach, pulling data from sources typically siloed from law enforcement:

HHS & Medicaid: Reports indicate the app utilizes Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) records, including data from approximately 79 million Medicaid enrollees, to verify current addresses.

Commercial Data: Integrates third-party data services, such as Thomson Reuters' CLEAR product, to cross-reference personal information.

Government Databases: Accesses DHS and USCIS records, including passport data, Social Security files, and license plate reader (LPR) history.

ELITE represents an evolution from earlier Palantir-ICE tools:

FALCON: An earlier mobile/desktop app used for GPS tracking and "blueforce tracking" of agents.

Investigative Case Management (ICM): The core system for managing investigative data.

ImmigrationOS: The 2025-era "central operating system" that incorporates ELITE's targeting features.

[!SUMMARY]

While the text of the Constitution does not explicitly use the word "anonymity," the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that the First Amendment protects the right of citizens to criticize the government and advocate for political causes anonymously. This protection is rooted in the "honorable tradition" of anonymous dissent established by the Founding Fathers and is seen as a vital shield against retaliation and the "tyranny of the majority."

The right to speak anonymously is not absolute, but it is considered a core component of free expression. The Supreme Court has established this through several landmark cases:

Talley v. California (1960): The Court struck down a Los Angeles ordinance that prohibited the distribution of any handbill that did not include the name and address of the person who prepared or distributed it. The Court noted that anonymity has historically been used to protect individuals from retaliation for unpopular beliefs.

McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission (1995): This case is the modern cornerstone of anonymous political speech. The Court ruled that an Ohio law banning anonymous campaign literature was unconstitutional. Justice Stevens famously wrote that "anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority" and an "honorable tradition of advocacy and of dissent."

NAACP v. Alabama (1958): While focused on the "right to associate," the Court ruled that the government could not force the NAACP to reveal its membership lists, recognizing that privacy in group association is essential to the freedom of speech and assembly.

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of NY v. Village of Stratton (2002): The Court struck down an ordinance requiring a permit (and thus identification) for door-to-door advocacy, ruling that the right to speak anonymously includes the right to engage in spontaneous, face-to-face proselytizing or political canvassing.

The Supreme Court often references the Founding Era to justify these protections. Many of the most important political documents in American history were written under pseudonyms to avoid British prosecution or personal vendettas:

The Federalist Papers: Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the name "Publius."

The Anti-Federalist Papers: Often written under names like "Cato" or "Centinel."

Common Sense: Originally published anonymously by Thomas Paine.

The right to remain anonymous is not a "get out of jail free" card. The government may compel identification in specific circumstances where there is a compelling state interest:

Campaign Finance: Under *Buckley v. Valeo* (1976), the government can require the disclosure of large donors to political campaigns to prevent corruption.

Unprotected Speech: Anonymity does not protect speech that falls into categories like defamation, true threats, incitement to imminent lawless action, or obscene materials.

Criminal Activity: Law enforcement can often unmask anonymous speakers through subpoenas if there is evidence of a crime (e.g., hacking, harassment, or fraud).

Source: https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/monfbi-secretly-seizes-election-records-arizonas-largest-county-voting

The FBI is expanding its criminal probe into suspected election irregularities, secretly obtaining a large tranche of voting records from Arizona’s largest county with a recent grand jury subpoena, multiple people familiar with the probe told Just the News. The sources, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because of the secrecy of the grand jury probe, said FBI agents are receiving terabytes of electronic election data from Maricopa County, about a month after the bureau first disclosed an investigation into election irregularities by raiding a warehouse near Atlanta and seizing ballots from the 2020 election conducted in Fulton County, Georgia’s largest metropolis. Election irregularities in Arizona and elsewhere The subpoena comes five years after the GOP-led Arizona state Senate conducted a lengthy investigation into the 2020 election and concluded there were significant irregularities. On Monday, Arizona State Senate President Warren Petersen confirmed his body received a subpoena for 2020 election records. "Late last week I received and complied with a federal grand jury subpoena for records relating to the Arizona State Senate’s 2020 audit of Maricopa County. The FBI has the records," he wrote on X. People familiar with the FBI investigation told Just the News that the bureau has received data under subpoena for multiple elections including 2020 and 2024. More recently, the bureau was alerted to a report filed by Republican and Democrat election observers who believed they observed irregularities in November 2024 at a warehouse in Arizona where blank and filled-out absentee ballots were observed in the same location, according to the sources. Congress has never released the report from the staffers who were sent to observe the 2024 election in Maricopa County, which includes Arizona’s largest city of Phoenix. But House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil recently hinted at the significance of the report in an interview with the Just the News, No Noise television show. “We’re digging back through those reports that were submitted by our election observers that were deployed across the country,” Steil said. “This is where working hand in glove with other federal government agencies is so important. “We have reports documenting instances that occurred in Arizona and across the country, and we are reviewing those in real time and working hand in glove with federal partners to make sure that the law was followed in every jurisdiction in the country,” he added. FBI likely to expand ballot-related searches elsewhere The sources said the joint report filed by one GOP and one Democratic observer who were in Maricopa County on election night 2024 included photos of the ballots and storage facility, which they described as heavily guarded and having ballots from multiple states’ elections. Officials said that report was one of several foundations for the subpoena executed by the FBI in recent days. Sources said the FBI is likely to execute searches and subpoenas in other states beyond Georgia and Arizona in coming weeks. The bureau has been coy about the full extent of its probe, but the unsealed affidavit from its raid of Fulton County’s election center made clear the bureau is looking at possible violation of federal laws that require election administrators to follow state laws when sending out and counting ballots. FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans told the court the bureau has "substantiated" some major irregularities in how votes were counted in Georgia's largest urban area in the aftermath of the 2020 election and is probing whether those failures were intentional efforts to violate federal election law. "Some of those allegations have been disproven while some of those allegations have been substantiated, including through admissions by Fulton County," Evans wrote. "This warrant application is part of an FBI criminal investigation into whether any of the improprieties were intentional acts that violated federal criminal laws." Many of the substantiated allegations in Fulton County were previously reported by Just the News over the last five years based on its review of ballot records. Audit suggested more than 200,000 ballots with mismatched signatures Concerns about election counting in Arizona, and specifically Maricopa County, stretch back more than a decade as the state moved to mostly mail-in ballots. In the old days, Democrats were the early complainants. More recently, Republicans like President Donald Trump, former gubernatorial and Senate candidate Kari Lake and now U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh have raised concerns about the state’s ballot distribution and counting systems. The Arizona Senate conducted a massive audit after the 2020 election affected by COVID-19 and concluded there were irregularities. One of the Senate’s most stunning findings was an estimate that more than 200,000 ballots with mismatched signatures may have been counted without being reviewed, or "cured" in Maricopa County, more than eight times the 25,000 signature mismatches requiring curing that had been acknowledged by the county. You can read the full report on signature verification here. The audit did little to resolve disputes, as Democrats and Maricopa County officials argue the concerns are overblown while Republicans say they fear there are still vulnerabilities. Those clashes continue into planning for the 2026 election. Recently, Maricopa County’s new Election Recorder Justin Heap and the county Board of Supervisors have feuded over planning for the next election, including via litigation. The Phoenix-based board passed a new draft of a Shared Services Agreement (SSA) last April, a formal contract detailing how the Recorder’s Office and the board will perform election administrative duties under Arizona law. After receiving the SSA agreement, Heap made 170 different changes to it and sent it back to the board, calling it his “final offer,” according to a Maricopa County news release. However, Heap and the board could not come to an agreement on the SSA, so he filed a lawsuit against the board two months later. Heap said the lawsuit sought to “reclaim the legal authority afforded to the County Recorder under Arizona law and ensure that [his] office is not further deprived of the resources necessary to perform those duties to the fullest extent possible.” On Feb. 17, the board passed a new SSA. The new SSA permitted Heap to have full control over early-voting plans, while the board kept control over funding, staffing, contracts and Election Day operations. “Since Mr. Heap has not provided a serious response to our latest SSA offer, we felt it was important to state publicly and transparently how we will go about navigating some of the most contentious issues between our respective offices so that we can ensure elections run smoothly and securely for Maricopa County voters,” Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee said. The following week, board members sent a letter to Heap with their proposed early-voting plan despite giving him full control over it. “The Board of Supervisors strongly supports maintaining a comprehensive early in-person program consistent with prior practices,” the letter said. Heap responded to the letter, saying that he had “serious concerns” about the board’s early voting plan. He said the proposal “makes voting inconvenient and inaccessible for a large number of Maricopa County voters.” He told board members that he rejected their proposal because Arizona law “expressly authorizes the Recorder to establish early voting locations.”

Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-administration-widens-its-2020-election-probe-as-it-obtains-records-from-arizona

PHOENIX (AP) — The Republican leader of Arizona's state Senate said Monday he has handed over records related to the 2020 presidential election to the FBI in the latest sign that the Trump administration is acting on the president's longstanding falsehoods about a race he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. READ MORE: Trump's administration is loaded with people who backed his false 2020 election claims Senate President Warren Petersen said in a social media post that he complied "late last week" with a federal grand jury subpoena for records related to a controversial audit of the election in Maricopa County that had been ordered by legislative Republicans. "The FBI has the records," Petersen said. He did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment, and a spokesperson for Senate Republicans said in an email that Petersen "does not have anything to add outside of his X post at this time." The FBI office in Phoenix did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It marks the second time this year that the FBI has obtained records related to the 2020 election from the most populous county in a presidential battleground state, both of which Trump lost as he sought reelection. In January, the FBI seized ballots and other records from Georgia's Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, after the Justice Department sought a search warrant from a judge. The search warrant affidavit showed that the request relied on years-old claims, many of which had been thoroughly investigated and found to have no connection to widespread fraud. WATCH: FBI documents show what led to raid of Georgia elections office Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, issued a scathing statement in response to Petersen's post, noting that multiple audits, independent investigations and legal challenges related to the 2020 presidential election found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have affected the outcome. "Warren Petersen knows all of this. He has known it for years. He spread false stories of election fraud in 2020, and he remains an unrepentant election denier," Mayes said. "What the Trump administration appears to be pursuing now is not a legitimate law enforcement inquiry. It is the weaponization of federal law enforcement in service of crackpots and lies." A firm hired by Republican lawmakers spent six months in 2021 searching for evidence of fraud in the previous year's presidential election, a process experts said was marred by bias and a flawed methodology. It explored outlandish conspiracy theories, such as dedicating time to checking for bamboo fibers on ballots to see if they were secretly shipped in from Asia. The audit ended without producing proof to support former President Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election — and in fact found that Biden received 360 more votes than stated in the certified results for Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. The firm, Cyber Ninjas, also acknowledged that there were "no substantial differences" between its hand count of the ballots and the official count. Previous reviews of the 2.1 million ballots by nonpartisan professionals who followed state law found no significant problem with the 2020 election in Maricopa County, which was run by Republicans then and now. Biden won the county by 45,000 votes and went on to win Arizona by 10,500 votes. Federal officials took different routes to obtain election records in the two states. The Georgia case involved a judicially-approved search warrant that required the FBI to articulate grounds that probable cause exists to believe a crime was committed. In Arizona, the FBI relied on subpoenas, a law enforcement maneuver that does not require judicial sign-off or for prosecutors to assert that there's probable cause of a crime. The investigations into the 2020 election come as the Justice Department has clashed with a number of states, including some controlled by Republicans, over access to detailed voter data that includes names, dates of birth, addresses and partial Social Security numbers. Election officials have expressed concerns that providing the information would violate both state and federal data privacy laws, and that it could be used to remove people from state voter rolls. Arizona is among the states the Justice Department has sued to obtain the voter information. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, suggested that at least some Maricopa County voter files were among the records Petersen gave the FBI. In a statement Monday, Fontes said his office was considering legal options "to secure personal voter information in the 2020 data that was shared. We view this latest action as a move by the U.S. Department of Justice to undermine the legal process." Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6271ngl014o

Tal Alexander, 39, and Oren Alexander, 38, rose to prominence from their sales of luxury real-estate properties in New York and Miami. Along with a third brother Alon, 38, a jury found all three guilty of sex trafficking by a jury in New York.

Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/09/nx-s1-5721150/epstein-scientists-physics-virgin-islands-conference

Jeffrey Epstein funded science research and created a conference in 2006 that was organized by theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss. Stephen Hawking and other notable scientists attended the event in the U.S. Virgin Islands. JPL-Caltech/NASA, Getty Images and Department of Justice/Collage by Emily Bogle/NPR hide caption toggle caption JPL-Caltech/NASA, Getty Images and Department of Justice/Collage by Emily Bogle/NPR Some 100 feet below the ocean's surface, Stephen Hawking peeked through the circular porthole of a submarine and saw the brilliant blue tropical water. It was March 2006, and the famous astrophysicist, accompanied by one of his ever-present nurses, sat strapped in his wheelchair, enjoying the view of coral reefs and colorful fish off the coast of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was his first undersea experience, and he had Jeffrey Epstein to thank for it. Renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who died in 2018, aboard a submarine in the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 2006. CERCA/Case Western Reserve University hide caption toggle caption CERCA/Case Western Reserve University The submarine ride capped a nearly weeklong gathering funded by Epstein. It brought together around 20 of the world's top physicists, including three Nobel laureates and three more who would later receive the prestigious prize. The "Confronting Gravity" conference was billed as a chance to discuss key issues in fundamental physics and cosmology and was described as a place where participants could "meet, discuss, relax on the beach, and take a trip to the nearby private island retreat of the science philanthropist Jeffrey Epstein." "It was an excellent conference," said Alan Guth, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who attended the event. In fact, Epstein would go on to describe it as one of his top five professional achievements. Theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss, then with Case Western Reserve University, organized the event. He maintained an almost 15-year friendship with Epstein and later retired from Arizona State University in 2019 amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him. At ASU, he ran the Origins Project, which was partially funded by Epstein. Krauss has previously denied the sexual misconduct allegations. Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist, speaks during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in 2017. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption toggle caption Carolyn Kaster/AP The 2006 Virgin Islands conference illustrates how Epstein used philanthropy to build relationships with scientists and academic institutions. NPR spoke to scientists and searched through the Department of Justice documents on Epstein to understand how he built his network of prominent scientists. Epstein's interests spanned fields including theoretical physics, evolutionary biology and computer science, and he funded conferences, research programs and individual scientists. "Jeffrey was interested in interesting people," Krauss told NPR. As in politics and the arts, the fallout from the infamous Epstein files has been equally dramatic at the top tiers of science. At Harvard University alone, George Church, a pioneer in human genomic research; physicist Lisa Randall; and Martin Nowak, a professor of mathematics and biology, have all come under intense scrutiny over their ties with Epstein. NPR reached out to all three for comment and received no reply. Beyond Harvard, Richard Axel, a Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist, stepped down from his post as co-director of Columbia University's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, and David Gelernter, a Yale University computer science professor, is suspended from teaching classes while the university reviews his conduct. Even after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea deal for soliciting prostitution and procuring a minor for prostitution, some scientists and academics continued to communicate with him or accept his support until years later, in some cases up to his 2019 arrest on sex-trafficking charges. Physics and fun, with a capital "F" Epstein had fond memories of Hawking's submarine ride. In a 2017 text message chain, Epstein said, "when hawking came to my island. and said his dream was to go diving … i [duct-taped] his head to a high back chair and loaded him in a private sub, great fun." But just getting the famous physicist into the submarine — chartered from a private tour company — proved a major challenge: A winch system was used to gently lower Hawking in his wheelchair down through the sub's main hatch. "They were willing to do whatever [was] necessary to get him on the sub," Krauss, the organizer of the conference, told NPR. At the time, Krauss, the author of several popular books on science, donned his scuba gear and dove down to wave at Hawking through the submarine's window. "I was just so happy because he'd never been underwater." Physicist Alan Guth of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology asks a question during a news conference at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., on March 17, 2014, after researchers gave a presentation about their new findings on the early expansion of the universe. Elise Amendola/AP hide caption toggle caption Elise Amendola/AP Months before, Krauss pitched the conference as "a small and rather exclusive workshop" with all expenses paid, according to an email from Krauss that Guth, the MIT physicist, shared with NPR. Krauss dropped the names of prominent invitees. One was Hawking, then perhaps the most famous living physicist. Others were David Gross and Frank Wilczek — who shared the 2004 Nobel Prize in physics — Gerard 't Hooft, a 1999 Nobel laureate, and Kip Thorne, who would go on to win the prize in 2017. "To get good people, you've got to have a hook," Krauss said. And it worked. "It included many of the big names in cosmology and gravitational theory at the time," said Guth, the physicist who first proposed the theory of cosmic inflation, a concept that has become a pillar of modern cosmology. Epstein's foundation funded the gathering, Krauss said. A 2006 article from the St. Thomas Source, a local news website, said the goal was to do nothing less than define gravity. "They say Newton discovered it but no one knows what it is," Epstein told the outlet, taking credit for bringing the group together. "There is no agenda except fun and physics, and that's fun with a capital 'F,'" he added. Except for the locale, the event seemed like nothing out of the ordinary, Guth said, adding that physics conferences are often held in places with good scenery. "It was, of course, a little more exotic, a little more colorful, a little more natural beauty than just sitting in a restaurant in a hotel," he said. The physicists stayed at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas and had dinners and lunches each day at the hotel. At the conference, there were several talks each day that delved into esoteric topics, such as gravitational wave physics, that would later dominate the field. A few scientists also held a public event at a local college. Neither Guth nor Princeton University's Jim Peebles, who also attended, remembered Epstein as much of a presence. Nobel physics laureate Jim Peebles attends a news conference at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2019. Jonas Ekstromer/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Jonas Ekstromer/AFP via Getty Images "As far as I'm aware, although I was never thinking of it, Epstein was never … in my eyesight at any time during the conference," said Peebles, who would go on to receive the Nobel for physics in 2019. Krauss said that makes sense for Epstein. "In groups, Jeffrey was very shy and quiet," he said. "He'd sit in the back. One-on-one, he liked to talk to people." Then, there was the promised relaxation. Along with the submarine, the scientists took a short boat ride for a barbecue picnic on Epstein's 70-acre island. Epstein had purchased Little St. James, or "Little St. Jeff's" as he liked to call it, in 1998. It is a place that prosecutors say was used by Epstein to sexually abuse women and girls. But the physicists who visited the island say they saw none of that during their short stay. The boat dropped off the scientists at the beach. Peebles said he remembers being met at the island by someone he described as "a guide," who cautioned the physicists, "Don't go wandering off into the island." The group had its picnic near the Caribbean Sea. Guth said some scientists went inside Epstein's house just to use the bathroom. But if the idea was to keep Epstein's private life a secret, it wasn't entirely effective. There were hints. Guth said that during the conference, Epstein "was around but was really quite inconspicuous. He did not act as a host. He acted as a bystander." However, "we probably never saw him without three or four young women," Guth said. A view of Jeffrey Epstein's estate on the island of Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands on July 9, 2019. Gianfranco Gaglione/AP hide caption toggle caption Gianfranco Gaglione/AP "I think we did kind of laugh about it," he said. "We thought it was rather odd." Peebles attended the conference with his wife. He vividly recalls a coffee break between talks at the Ritz where he and others "noticed several young women, maybe five, maybe 10," who seemed out of place. "Several of us asked each other, 'What are they doing here?'" "I can only tell you they were younger than the youngest women in our meeting," he told NPR. "Were they 15 or 30? I have no idea." Speaking to NPR, Krauss said the young women were Hawking's nurses. A photo making the rounds on social media depicts Hawking and two of his nurses, who are in bikinis. That photo was not taken at this 2006 conference, as reported by other outlets; instead, it was taken at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes in April 2007, a spokesperson for the Hawking family said in an email to NPR. "Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct on his part is wrong and far-fetched in the extreme," the spokesperson wrote. The conference was only months before Epstein's arrest Unbeknownst to the participants, at the time of the conference Epstein's legal troubles were already brewing back in Florida. Police in Palm Beach, where Epstein owned a house, were wrapping up an investigation of him. Four months after the conference, he would be indicted on charges of soliciting prostitution and procuring a minor for prostitution — pleading guilty two years later, serving a less-than-13-month jail sentence and having to register as a sex offender. Peter Woit, a senior lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at Columbia University, didn't attend the 2006 conference. His name appears twice in the Epstein files but only in passing — both times on emails that included a general list of scientists. There is no indication of any direct involvement, though he does know several people who were connected to Epstein. In a recent post on his blog, Woit concluded: "Epstein used his mysteriously acquired wealth to pursue his two great interests in life: the sexual exploitation of young women and hanging out with celebrity scientists." Even after his initial arrest and plea deal, people may not have known the extent of Epstein's misdeeds, Woit told NPR, but added that as a scientist, before taking a large donation, "you're going to do some basic research" and "you're going to quickly find out that this guy is a convicted pedophile and a felon. … They knew who they were dealing with." Guth said Epstein's arrest, just a few months after the conference, came as a shock. "When we met him, he was certainly rich and powerful. And rich and powerful people don't get arrested very often." Despite his arrest, Epstein continued to fund scientists and their events. In late 2010, for instance, Krauss was organizing another event with high-profile scientists in the Virgin Islands. Department of Justice (DOJ) documents suggest that several, including Guth and University of Chicago paleontologist Neil Shubin, were slated to attend an Origins Project board meeting, which was abruptly called off for unknown reasons after Epstein expressed disappointment with the way it was being organized. Guth says he does not recall being invited to the meeting. In an email, Shubin — who was recently elected to become the next president of the National Academy of Sciences — told NPR that he joined the Origins board because it "sounded interdisciplinary and very focused on public engagement, both of which interested me." But after the 2010 meeting was canceled, he said, he never attended any other Origins events. Guth also said he never attended any other board meetings. Mathematician and founding father of artificial intelligence Marvin Minsky in 2008. He died in 2016. Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival hide caption toggle caption Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival Evidence found in the DOJ files indicate that Epstein funded at least one other scientific conference, this one organized by Marvin Minsky, a mathematician considered to be a founding father of artificial intelligence. That 2011 conference addressed "future disasters that may arise in the face of growing populations, new technologies and new social network systems." Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre said she was asked to have sex with Minsky. Minsky died in 2016. Scientists got money; Epstein got prestige John Brockman, of EDGE.org, attends the 2009 Digital Life Design conference in Munich. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Burda Media hide caption toggle caption Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Burda Media Having the wealth and influence to bring together the best minds likely bolstered the self-image of Epstein, who was himself a college dropout. In exchange, Epstein acted as a link between scientists and influential individuals in a position to advance their careers and make them money. One way he accomplished this was through Edge.org, a nonprofit foundation and website that multiple scientists told NPR was funded by Epstein. It appears to have ceased publication in 2023. While it was active, the site published articles by big names in science, such as Krauss and Wilczek, one of the Nobel laureates at the 2006 conference, as it purported to bring together "the most complex and sophisticated minds, put them in a room together, and have them ask each other the questions they are asking themselves." However, scientists who spoke with NPR understood Edge.org primarily as a vehicle for its editor in chief, John Brockman, a literary agent with a gift for selling popular science. "He was very good at arranging large advances," according to Guth, who was one of his clients. Guth described Edge as a club for clients of Brockman, who referred to them as "Edgies." NPR reached out to Brockman and got no response. The Edge editor also acted as a conduit between Epstein and prominent scientists. Guth recalls Brockman arranging a meeting between him and Epstein to donate to Guth's projects. Guth said Epstein wasn't interested in funding his projects. Peebles said this was common, noting: "Epstein liked to promise far more than he ever delivered." Woit says he was shopping around for agents for one of his books, and "in another universe, Brockman could have easily ended up being my agent." "I would've been invited to parties with Jeffrey Epstein and possibly gone to them," Woit said, adding, "I'm very glad I don't live in that other universe." Epstein as "philosopher king" Jeffrey Epstein funded research projects at Harvard University. Department of Justice hide caption toggle caption Department of Justice Woit said it is his sense that Epstein thought of himself as a "philosopher king" who liked to "share his brilliant ideas with these brilliant people and they would come and hang out with him." In a 2012 email with someone whose name is redacted, Epstein wrote: "I fund quite a bit of brain research and have established an evolutionary dynamics institute at Harvard." In a text message chain with an unknown recipient in 2017, Epstein stated: "I funded the father of AI marvin minsky for 20 years. I know the subject well," referencing the late mathematician with whom Epstein had a close relationship. In his limited contact with Epstein, Guth said, he came away with an impression of arrogance. "[He] thought that he understood everything but in fact did not understand very much at all." A number of scientists who spoke to NPR echoed that assessment — that Epstein was eager to engage on the leading science topics of the day but had only a cursory understanding of them. Still, Woit concedes that "scientists love to have somebody who is willing to talk to them." After Epstein's arrest, he leveraged those relationships to help rehabilitate his image. In one instance, in 2012, someone (whose name is redacted) sent Epstein an email informing him that they were "rehas[h]ing an article … on the gravity conference." The following month, a press release was issued promoting the 2006 "Confronting Gravity" conference, without mentioning that it took place six years previously. Woit said it seemed to be an effort to keep alive the notion that Epstein was still relevant in the world of science. "After 2006 … it was clear there was a large component of his activities that was reputation laundering," he said. Krauss, on the other hand, did have a close relationship with Epstein, who donated $250,000 to his Origins Project at Arizona State. When allegations of misconduct arose against Krauss at ASU, the physicist exchanged dozens of messages and emails with Epstein seeking advice on how to handle them. "This is your life and future. I would not be cavalier as you write," Epstein wrote in a text to Krauss about how he should respond. At the end of one conversation, Krauss said: "Thanks for everything Jeffrey." Krauss said he never saw the other side of Epstein. "Not once in that 15 years did he ever say, 'Hey, I've got a young woman … .' He wanted to talk about other things, and he wanted to help," he said. Krauss said Epstein reached out to him when he got out of jail in 2009. Epstein told him that the "experience had changed his view of the world, and he no longer wanted to make money." "He just wanted to support science," Krauss said. "'Well, that's just a wonderful thing,' I thought. That's what he told me, and I believed it."

## Excerpt

Britain is ending the centuries-old tradition of hereditary aristocrats sitting in Parliament’s House of Lords.

[!SUMMARY]

While a final, official motive has not been "conclusively" declared by the FBI as of March 10, 2026, significant evidence points to a terrorism nexus involving pro-Iranian and extremist sentiments. The shooter, identified as Ndiaga Diagne, carried out the attack while wearing a "Property of Allah" hoodie and an Iranian flag shirt. Investigative findings at his home, including Iranian flags and photos of regime leaders, coupled with the timing of the attack following U.S. strikes in Iran, have led authorities to investigate the incident as a potential act of terrorism.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/explosives-protest-mamdani-434928cf6fa8771bc3dfa5c260ee7b03

NEW YORK (AP) — Two men who brought explosives to a far-right protest outside New York City’s mayoral mansion said they were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, according to a court complaint.Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were being held without bail after a court appearance Monday on charges that include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and using a weapon of mass destruction. Their lawyers didn’t argue for bail but could do so later.The homemade devices, which did not explode, were hurled Saturday during raucous counterprotests against an anti-Islam demonstration led by Jake Lang, a far-right activist and critic of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and the first Muslim to hold the office. “Balat and Kayumi sought to incite fear and mass suffering through this alleged attempted terror attack in the backyard of an elected city official,” James Barnacle, who runs the FBI’s New York office, said at a news conference after the brief court session. AP AUDIO: Men who brought explosives to NYC protest cited Islamic State as inspiration, complaint says AP correspondent Julie Walker reports on an ‘ISIS-related terrorism’ investigation in New York City. The defendants said nothing in court, but Kayumi smirked and looked over at Balat as the judge read part of the complaint alleging they acted in support of the Islamic State group. Balat stared ahead at the defense table. According to the complaint, Kayumi blurted out, as he was being arrested Saturday, that “ISIS” was the reason for his conduct. Balat later told authorities that he had pledged allegiance to the extremists, and Kayumi asserted that he was affiliated with the group, the complaint said. Officers asked Balat whether he was aiming to accomplish something akin to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people and wounded hundreds more. “No, even bigger,” Balat replied, according to the complaint. Defense attorney highlights suspect’s youth Emir Balat’s lawyer, Mehdi Essmidi, said outside court that his client is a Philadelphia-area high school senior with “complicated stuff going on” in his personal life. “There’s a lot to figure out,” the attorney added. Asked whether he believed Balat was a terrorist, the lawyer said: “I believe he’s 18 and he doesn’t have any idea what he’s doing.”Kayumi’s lawyer, Michael Arthus, pointed in court to the extensive publicity surrounding the case and asked that prosecutors avoid saying anything that could prejudice potential jurors.No one answered the door at a home listed as belonging to one of Kayumi’s relatives in Newtown, Pennsylvania. At a home where neighbors said Balat lives in nearby Langhorne, a young man declined to comment when a reporter knocked on the door.A spokesperson for Neshaminy High School, located in Langhorne, confirmed that Balat is in his senior year there. He has not attended in-person classes since enrolling in the district’s virtual program this past September, according to a note sent to parents Monday by the district’s superintendent. Essmidi said he didn’t believe the two young men had known each other for long. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said neither defendant had a criminal history.Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on social media that authorities “will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation.” No ties to Iran war are identifiedTisch said there are no indications that the attack was connected to the ongoing war in Iran. An automated license plate reader captured the defendants entering New York City from New Jersey less than an hour before the noontime attack, according to the complaint. Kayumi’s mother filed a missing person report, saying she last saw him around 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The men’s vehicle — registered to one of Balat’s relatives — was discovered Sunday, a few blocks from where they were arrested. A search of the car turned up a fuse, a metal can, and a list of chemical ingredients and components that could be used to build explosives, the complaint said.Lang’s sparsely attended protest Saturday drew a far larger group of counterdemonstrators. Amid the faceoff, Balat tossed a jar-sized device that contained the explosive TATP into the crowd, the complaint said. The object also contained a fuse, plus an exterior layer of duct-taped nuts and bolts, the complaint said. The device extinguished itself steps from police officers. According to the complaint, Balat then ran down the block and collected a second, similar device — which has yet to be tested for explosives — from Kayumi. Balat dropped it near some police officers and tried to run away, the complaint said. Police tackled Balat and soon arrested him and Kayumi. “Violence that is meant to chill free speech, violence that is meant to keep us from assembling peaceably, will be met with swift justice,” Manhattan-based U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said at a news conference Monday. Protester arrested on unrelated charges The scene had grown chaotic even before the devices were thrown. Police said one person involved in the anti-Islam demonstration, Ian McGinnis, 21, was arrested after he pepper-sprayed counterprotesters. McGinnis, of Philadelphia, was released without bond after pleading not guilty Sunday to assault and aggravated harassment in a New York court, records show. His attorney, Steven Metcalf, said Monday that McGinnis was defending himself from counterprotesters.Three others were arrested but released without charge.Lang, who’s running for U.S. Senate in Florida, was charged with assaulting an officer and other offenses during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He was later freed from prison as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping act of clemency. While Mamdani spoke to reporters Monday morning at the mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion, Lang heckled from outside the gates.___This story has been corrected to reflect that police are now identifying one of the suspects by the name Ibrahim Kayumi, instead of Ibrahim Nikks. Earlier headlines were corrected to show Tisch referred to the possibility of the suspects being inspired by rather than related to the Islamic State group.___Associated Press writers Michael Catalini in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed.

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Bleed control kits help stem severe bleeding from deep wounds before emergency services arrive.

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Andrew Yang, Noble Mobile founder and CEO, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the AI tech race, impact on jobs and society, Anthropic's battle with the Pentagon, ...

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Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre ramped up his calls for a strategic oil and natural gas stockpile during question period Wednesday. “Today, we hav...

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Government Accountability Institute President Peter Schweizer says the poor performance of China’s military technology used by Iran will be a “big concern” f...

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Tanker traffic through the strait remains at a standstill as ship owners fear attacks by Iran. The closure has triggered the largest oil supply disruption ever.

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Source: https://youtu.be/fVHoJ0Nmo2I?si=H5qR1GYfJNTqKUWc

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Col. Douglas Macgregor on how this war ends.

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The FBI has recently warned police departments in California that Iran wanted to launch drones at the West Coast in retaliation for the ongoing war in the re...

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The Trump administration is readying a 50-state assault on federal benefit fraud, Small Business Administration boss Kelly Loeffler revealed on the latest ep...

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The two Pennsylvania teens charged with attempting to carry out what authorities described as an ISIS-inspired attack in New York considered other targets be...

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Speaking to reporters at JBA, President Trump was asked about a possible Iran revenge plot.Stay ConnectedForbes Breaking News on X: https://x.com/ForbesTVNew...

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Iran has named its new supreme leader, late Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba Khamenei. The new Ayatollah is considered a fellow hardliner who will pursue his fathe...