Tag Archives: Trump

general

Trump tariffs could add $40 billion to holiday shoppers’ and sellers’ costs, LendingTree warns

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American Consumers to Spend Billions More This Holiday Season Due to Trump-Era Tariffs

American consumers are expected to have wallets billions of dollars lighter this holiday season, according to a recent analysis by LendingTree. The increased costs stem from tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration, which continue to impact prices on a variety of consumer goods.

Sunday marked six months since the announcement of the broad “liberation day” tariffs. Since then, prices for select food items and consumer products have risen. Now, as holiday merchandise that has been stored in warehouses for months finally reaches store shelves, consumers are beginning to feel the full impact of these added costs.

### LendingTree’s Analysis on Holiday Spending

LendingTree, an online lending marketplace, used 2024 winter holiday spending data to assess the financial effect of the tariffs on the upcoming season. The company estimates that the new tariffs will increase total holiday costs for both consumers and retailers by approximately $40.6 billion.

Of this amount, consumers are expected to bear the brunt, shouldering an estimated $28.6 billion in extra expenses. This increase translates to about $132 more spent per shopper. Retailers, meanwhile, are expected to cover the remaining $12 billion in elevated costs.

Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s Chief Consumer Finance Analyst, commented on the findings:
“For most Americans, spending an extra $132 at the holidays is significant. While it may not be earth-shattering, it can have a real impact on many families. It could prompt people to cut back on gift-giving this year or lead to them taking on extra debt. That’s a choice no one wants to have to make.”

### Impact on Consumer Behavior and Retailers

Retail analysts have told CNBC that they expect consumers to purchase fewer items this holiday season as a result of higher costs caused by tariffs. Schulz echoed this sentiment, calling it an “unfortunate reality” many consumers will face.

He added, “That might mean giving fewer items as gifts, or it could mean having to absorb the higher costs to give your loved ones what they want. I doubt we’ll see a huge drop-off in the amount of electronics and clothes gifted this year, simply because they are what many people want. However, for some, higher prices may leave them with no other choice.”

### Sectors Most Affected by Tariffs

LendingTree’s analysis highlights electronics buyers as facing the biggest increase in holiday spending, with an average additional cost of $186 per shopper. Clothing and accessories follow, with an estimated added cost of $82 per shopper.

As the holiday season approaches, shoppers and retailers alike may need to adjust their plans and budgets in response to these increased prices driven by ongoing tariff policies.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/02/trump-trade-holiday-shopping-lending-tree-tariffs.html

defense, economy, international, politics, technology

Trump touts ‘12 out of 10’ meeting with Xi, downplays reports of Venezuela strikes

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President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, where the two leaders reached an important agreement to reduce tariffs by 10%.

President Trump explained that this decision was influenced by China’s commitment to assist in addressing the fentanyl crisis. He emphasized the significance of international cooperation in tackling this urgent issue.

The agreement marks a notable step in U.S.-China relations, highlighting collaboration on both economic and security fronts.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-touts-12-out-10-meeting-xi-downplays-reports-venezuela-strikes

defense, government, politics

Editor Daily Rundown: Trump Calls On GOP To Unleash ‘Nuclear Option’ As Shutdown Continues

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! BREAKING THIS MORNING

‘Nuclear Option’: Trump Says Filibuster Should Be Eliminated As Government Shutdown Drags On

President Donald Trump is now calling for Republicans to eradicate the filibuster as the government shutdown continues for nearly a month.

https://dailycaller.com/2025/10/31/trump-shutdown-senate-gop-nuclear-option-filibuster-democrats/

general

Iraqi Refugees STUNNED as SNAP Benefits Cut Off Amid Government Shutdown

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**An Iraq Refugee Goes Viral Over Loss of Food Stamps Amid Government Shutdown**

*Posted on 10/29/2025 by SmokingJoe*

An Iraqi refugee has gone viral for his heartfelt comments about losing food stamps and financial assistance amid the freezing of EBT and SNAP programs during the Democrat-induced government shutdown.

This incident has sparked a broader debate surrounding President Trump, Democrats, and the ongoing government shutdown. Moreover, it has expanded into discussions about immigration and refugee resettlement programs, as shocking data reveals the economic realities faced by both American and European migration policies.

The situation highlights the profound impact of current political decisions on vulnerable communities and fuels ongoing conversations around social support systems.

*Read more at youtube.com.*

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**Topics:** News / Current Events
**Keywords:** Refugees, SNAP

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https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4349541/posts

general

Trump orders Pentagon to ‘immediately’ restart nuclear weapons testing to compete with Russia, China’s arsenals

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President Trump has ordered the military to “immediately” begin testing nuclear weapons in response to the growing arsenal Russia and China are amassing, he announced Wednesday.

“Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “That process will begin immediately,” the president added.

The US has not tested a nuclear explosive since 1992, observing a voluntary moratorium on the practice. Russia and China have not publicly disclosed any nuclear tests since the 1990s, but China is believed to have conducted secret, low-grade weapons tests in recent years.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to rule out future weapons tests involving nuclear explosions and has recently boasted about nuclear-capable missile and torpedo tests.

“The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country,” Trump wrote. “This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office.”

“Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years,” he warned.

On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump frequently referred to nuclear weapons as “the N-word,” because of their devastating power. The president also explained that his uncle, the late MIT professor John Trump, taught him long ago that “nuclear is so powerful.”

Trump’s announcement comes ahead of his high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, scheduled for Wednesday.

This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/29/us-news/trump-orders-pentagon-to-immediately-restart-nuclear-weapons-testing-to-compete-with-russia-chinas-arsenals/

general

Trump’s Media Company Set To Roll Out Polymarket-Like Prediction Market on Truth Social

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Donald Trump appears to be getting back into the casino business, in a manner of speaking. This time, however, it won’t be Atlantic City slot machines and roulette tables.

On Tuesday, the president’s media firm, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. (TMTG), announced a partnership with the digital asset exchange Crypto to launch a new product called “Truth Predict.” This platform will enable Truth Social users to bet on a wide range of future events such as election outcomes, sports, and commodity prices.

These wagers will take the form of prediction contracts, which are typically priced in cents and represent the percentage of confidence bettors have in a potential outcome. If a bet is correct, the contract settles for $1, but if incorrect, it goes to zero.

TMTG’s new offering will enter a competitive space alongside existing prediction markets like the US-regulated Kalshi and Polymarket. Polymarket, headquartered in New York, has not offered services to US customers since settling with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in 2022. Truth Predict plans to launch in the US first and then expand internationally “once all the requisite requirements are met.” Beta testing is set to begin soon, according to Tuesday’s announcement.

Notably, President Trump was the largest shareholder in TMTG before transferring 114,750,000 shares—valued at approximately $4 billion—to a trust controlled by his son, Donald Trump Jr., following his general election victory last year. However, SEC filings suggest that President Trump maintains indirect control over these shares.

Digital prediction markets raise several complex philosophical questions. Supporters argue that decentralized forecasting holds significant value by providing a window into what the general public truly expects, free from corporate and political influences. Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin shared his perspective on X last year, saying, “The point of Polymarket is that from the perspective of traders, it’s a betting site, but from the perspective of viewers it’s a news site. There are all kinds of people (including elites) on Twitter and the internet making harmful and inaccurate predictions about conflicts, and being able to go and see if people with actual skin in the game think that something has a 2% chance or a 50% chance is a valuable feature that can help keep people sane.”

Nevertheless, these platforms face criticism, especially for hosting “war markets” where users can bet on ongoing or potential geopolitical conflicts. For example, Polymarket currently estimates a 3% chance of “Will China invade Taiwan in 2025?” and a 14% chance of “Will the U.S. invade Venezuela in 2025?”. While the present level of liquidity in such markets is unlikely to influence real-world outcomes, critics warn that if enough money flows into these markets, it could incentivize powerful interests to manipulate events—such as assassinations, coups, or wars—to affect betting outcomes.

Zach Rynes, a community liaison for the decentralized oracle network Chainlink, commented on X last year: “It’s an extreme example, but any prediction market about an influenceable event will start to either incentivize action or subsidize the inevitable if sufficiently liquid enough, even if that wasn’t the original intention. If these markets traded with $100 million+ liquidity, would that change the outcome? Maybe not, but if insider traded, would they not be subsidizing war? I don’t think prediction markets are passive observers; their existence influences outcomes when operating at scale.”

To comply with regulations, the CFTC prohibits event contracts related to terrorism, assassination, war, or other illegal activities. As a result, US-approved firms don’t offer direct invasion markets like those found on Polymarket. However, controversial incentives remain present in some markets. For example, on Kalshi, users can wager on the number of deportations during Trump’s first year in office or whether leaders such as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will remain in power through 2025. To dissuade wagers on assassination, Kalshi notes that in the event of Maduro’s death, the market would pay out the last traded price rather than settling at $1 or zero.

These controversial incentives may become even more complex on a prediction markets platform closely affiliated with a sitting or former president of the United States.

Gizmodo reached out to Truth Social for comment and will provide updates if a response is received.
https://gizmodo.com/truth-social-prediction-market-2000677813

international, politics

Trump issues chilling warning to Putin after Russia tests new ‘invincible’ nuclear missile

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President Trump issued a chilling warning to Vladimir Putin on Monday after the Russian leader boasted about testing his country’s new “invincible” nuclear missile.

“They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shore,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he prepared to travel to Japan.

His remarks came after Putin on Sunday hailed an 8,700-mile, 15-hour test flight for Russia’s “unique” nuclear-powered missile, dubbed a “flying Chernobyl.” Russia claims this weapon could strike targets in the United States.

“They’re not playing games with us. We’re not playing games with them either,” President Trump continued, before reiterating his demand that Putin end the war in Ukraine.

“I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying. By the way, he ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its, soon, fourth year. That’s what he ought to do instead of testing missiles,” Trump added.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has increased his calls for the US to supply his country with long-range missiles to pressure Putin into making peace.

Zelensky praised President Trump’s latest sanctions on Russia, saying they “will make a difference,” but warned that more pressure is needed to bring an end to the conflict raging since February 2022.

“President Trump is concerned about escalation. But I think that if there are no negotiations, there will be an escalation anyway. I think that if Putin doesn’t stop, we need something to stop him. Sanctions is one such weapon, but we also need long-range missiles,” President Zelensky told Axios on Sunday.

[With Post wires.]
https://nypost.com/2025/10/27/us-news/trump-warns-putin-after-russia-tests-new-invincible-nuclear-missile/

economy, politics

U.S. farmers say they’re disappointed with Trump’s plan to import beef from Argentina

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President Trump’s push to import beef from Argentina, in an effort to lower costs, has created a growing controversy in the heartland.

Lana Zak reports on the impact this policy is having on local farmers and the beef industry as a whole.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/u-s-farmers-say-theyre-disappointed-with-trumps-plan-to-import-beef-from-argentina/

general

Bitcoin flashing ‘rare’ top signal, Hayes tips $1M BTC: Hodler’s Digest, Oct. 19 – 25

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Top Stories of The Week

Trader who made $190M shorting crash also apparently bet on CZ’s pardon

The anonymous crypto trader who reportedly made millions shorting the crypto market before US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement appears to have profited again by betting that Trump would pardon the founder of Binance.

Onchain sleuth Euan highlighted Etherscan data showing a connection between this trader and a Polymarket account. The crypto wallet allegedly made $56,522 on Polymarket by betting that Trump would pardon Changpeng “CZ” Zhao sometime in 2025.

This trader had already been suspected within crypto circles of having access to insider knowledge, after their tightly timed Bitcoin and Ethereum shorts just hours before Trump’s tariff announcement sent prices tumbling.

Rumble partners with Tether to add Bitcoin tips for content creators

Video-sharing platform Rumble is preparing to roll out Bitcoin tipping for its more than 51 million monthly active users, announced CEO Chris Pavlovski on Friday.

Rumble has teamed up with stablecoin issuer Tether to enable Bitcoin tipping, Pavlovski said onstage at the Plan ₿ Forum in Lugano, Switzerland. “Right now, we’re in the testing phase [but] we’re going to start rolling that out alongside Tether here in the coming weeks,” he added.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, also onstage, expects a full rollout by early to mid-December once small bugs are fixed and the user experience is polished.

‘Crazy stuff’ needed for Bitcoin to reach $250K this year: Novogratz

Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz said that for Bitcoin to reach $250,000 by the end of the year, the planets would almost need to align perfectly.

Several crypto executives have recently reaffirmed their $250,000 Bitcoin price predictions for year-end. “The end of the year is only two and a half months away,” Novogratz said during a CNBC interview, adding: “There would have to be a heck of a lot of crazy stuff to really get that kind of momentum.”

Arthur Hayes calls for $1M Bitcoin as new Japan PM orders economic stimulus

Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, announced a package of economic stimulus measures on Tuesday aimed at easing inflation’s impact on households.

Some crypto observers believe these measures may drive more capital into Bitcoin. The stimulus includes subsidies for electricity and gas charges, as well as regional grants to ease price pressures and encourage small to medium-sized businesses to raise wages.

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes interpreted this as a precursor to more fiat money printing by Japan’s central bank, which he says may propel Bitcoin’s rise to $1 million. “Translation: let’s print money to hand out to folks to help with food and energy costs,” Hayes commented on X, adding this dynamic might trigger a rise in both Bitcoin and the Japanese yen.

Prediction markets hit new high as Polymarket enters Sam Altman’s World

World co-founder and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s digital identity project, previously known as Worldcoin, is expanding into prediction markets by integrating Polymarket.

The World App, a mobile app combining a digital wallet with World’s decentralized identity tool, World ID, has integrated the Polymarket App, the company announced Tuesday.

“World App users can download and access the new Mini App today in countries where Polymarket’s services are permitted,” the announcement said.

Winners and Losers

At week’s end, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $111,265, Ether (ETH) at $3,932, and XRP at $2.60. The total crypto market capitalization stands at $3.61 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap.

Among the top 100 cryptocurrencies, the biggest altcoin gainers of the week are:

  • Humanity Protocol (H) – 224.39%
  • Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) – 80.72%
  • ZCash (ZEC) – 28.45%

The top three altcoin losers of the week are:

  • Plasma (XPL) – 7.93%
  • PancakeSwap (CAKE) – 5.91%
  • TRON (TRX) – 5.03%

For more on crypto prices, be sure to read Cointelegraph’s detailed market analysis.

Most Memorable Quotations

“If Congress does not stop this kind of corruption, it owns it.” – Elizabeth Warren, US senator

“So the most likely outlook is we’re rangy between 100 and 120 or 125, unless we take out the top side.” – Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital

“Bitcoin is forming a rare broadening top on the charts. This pattern is famous for tops.” – Peter Brandt, veteran trader

“Sometimes we’re literally selling 50 million an hour or 100 million an hour and buying the $100 million of Bitcoin the same hour.” – Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy

“So what happens there is the AI analyzes where you are, looks at the geography of what retailer [is nearby] and determines that that’s the one, and then uses a blockchain to actually do a digital payment system for the tall low-fat latte.” – Kevin O’Leary, multimillionaire

“I’ve been saying for the past two years that the influence of @paradigm within Ethereum could become a relevant tail risk for the ecosystem. I believe this will become increasingly clear to everyone in the months ahead.” – Federico Carrone, Ethereum developer

Top Prediction of The Week

XRP price eyes rally to $3.45 after Ripple CEO tells investors to ‘lock in’

XRP is flashing signs of a potential 35% breakout as bullish technicals align with fresh fundamentals, including Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s renewed push for the blockchain company’s “internet of value” vision.

Technical analysis indicates that XRP has bounced off the lower trendline of its prevailing ascending triangle pattern—a support that has historically preceded powerful rebound moves, including 70-80% jumps earlier in 2025.

Top FUD of The Week

Spot Ether ETFs see outflows for second consecutive week amid ‘cooling demand’

Spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have experienced two straight weeks of outflows amid cooling investor sentiment after months of strong inflows.

According to SoSoValue data, Ether products posted $243.9 million in net redemptions for the week ending Friday, following the previous week’s $311 million outflow.

This brings cumulative inflows across all Ether spot ETFs to $14.35 billion, with total net assets at $26.39 billion—approximately 5.55% of Ethereum’s market cap.

On Friday, the funds saw $93.6 million in outflows. BlackRock’s ETHA ETF led withdrawals with $100.99 million outflows, while Grayscale’s ETHE and Bitwise’s ETHW posted minor inflows.

Young Australians’ biggest financial regret: Ignoring Bitcoin at $400

Over 40% of Australian Gen Z and Millennials regret not investing in cryptocurrency a decade ago, a new survey from crypto broker Swyftx reveals.

The study, conducted by YouGov and released Thursday, surveyed 3,009 people. Nearly half of those under 35 expressed regret for missing out on crypto, followed by regrets over not buying property or shares in big tech companies like Apple and Amazon.

The fear of missing out (FOMO) is likely fueled by institutional buying of Bitcoin and Ether by corporations, sovereign entities, and US pension funds, according to Swyftx.

Bitcoin chart is echoing the 1970s soybean bubble: Peter Brandt

Veteran trader Peter Brandt warns that Bitcoin’s price chart is starting to resemble the soybean market of the 1970s, which topped before plunging 50% amid excess global supply.

“Bitcoin is forming a rare broadening top on the charts. This pattern is famous for tops,” Brandt told Cointelegraph. “In the 1970s, Soybeans formed such a top, then declined 50% in value.”

However, some Bitcoin analysts remain confident that the charts signal further upside ahead.

Top Magazine Stories of The Week

Mysterious Mr Nakamoto author: Finding Satoshi would hurt Bitcoin

The author of The Mysterious Mr Nakamoto chased suspects worldwide and is now open to the idea that Satoshi Nakamoto might be an ex-cypherpunk working for the NSA.

Most wealthy Hong Kong investors plan to buy crypto, Japan’s Bitcoin plan: Asia Express

Hong Kong’s wealthy investors are planning to enter the crypto market this year, South Korea is poised to ban stablecoin yields, and more regional updates.

Cliff bought 2 homes with Bitcoin mortgages: Clever or insane?

Buying a house on credit while holding Bitcoin sounds intriguing. Bitcoin-backed mortgages offer interesting benefits, but what are the drawbacks? We explore this trend in the latest feature.

https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/bitcoin-flashing-rare-top-signal-hayes-tips-1m-btc-hodlers-digest-oct-19-25/?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

general

‘First time that’s happened’: Black farmer leader blames Trump for ‘humiliating’ new low

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John Boyd Jr., president of the National Black Farmers Association, has accused Donald Trump of “betraying” American farmers who supported him. Speaking on MSNBC on Saturday, Boyd stated bluntly, “The president of the United States sold out farmers. He sold us out to Argentina, to his friend.” He described the situation as “humiliating.”

Boyd highlighted a growing frustration among farmers, noting, “Farmers for the first time have become very outspoken on the president’s leadership.” Contradicting Trump’s recent claims of agricultural success, Boyd said, “Farmers are doing that bad. We are not doing great.”

He further detailed the hardships faced by the farming community under Trump’s leadership, saying, “Farm foreclosures are up, farm suicides are up, farm bankruptcies are up, and all of this happened within the last 10 months of this president’s leadership.” Boyd emphasized the sense of betrayal felt by many, adding, “A whole lot of farmers voted for this president and they feel strongly betrayed.”

Addressing specific challenges in the soybean market, Boyd revealed, “The actual soybean market is not moving. I had to stop harvesting my soybeans because the grain elevators are full and not accepting anymore soybeans.” He stressed the severity of the situation by noting, “That’s the first time that’s happened and I’ve been a farmer in this country for 42 years.”
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-black-farmer-humiliating/