Economy
Amazon plans to automate 75% of its operations by 2027, potentially displacing 600,000 jobs, primarily in its 1.2 million-strong U.S. workforce, according to internal documents. The shift to robots and AI could save $12.6 billion from 2025 to 2027, reducing costs by 30 cents per shipped item. Over 160,000 roles in operations face elimination in the next two years, with facilities like the Shreveport, Louisiana warehouse already using thousands of robots and planning to halve human staff by 2026. Amazon, which acquired robotics firm Kiva in 2012, currently deploys one million robots worldwide and aims to open 40 advanced facilities by 2027. The company has tripled its U.S. staff since 2018 amid growing online shopping, projecting doubled product sales by 2033. Company representatives have indicated that automation tools are designed to collaborate with human workers, including retraining programs.
Moody’s reported that U.S. banks’ loans to non-depository financial institutions (NDFIs) have reached $1.2 trillion as of late June, representing over 10% of total bank loans and up 300 times from a decade ago. This growth stems from post-2008 regulations pushing banks toward financing alternative lenders like private credit providers, with $300 billion allocated to that sector. Exposures concentrate among the largest 25 banks, including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, across categories such as business credit ($299.3 billion), private equity ($285.2 billion), mortgage credit ($255.5 billion), consumer credit ($128.2 billion), and other NDFIs ($267.2 billion). Moody’s cited concerns including illiquid assets, opaque valuations, and historical patterns where rapid loan expansion precedes asset quality issues, as seen in recent regional bank losses like those at Zions and Western Alliance. Banking industry groups have asserted that the sector overall remains resilient and well-regulated.
JPMorgan plans to allow institutional clients to use Bitcoin and Ether holdings as collateral for loans by year-end, storing assets via a third-party custodian. The move follows the bank’s earlier launches, including the JPM Coin stablecoin in 2020 and holdings in spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024. CEO Jamie Dimon has expressed past skepticism toward cryptocurrencies but recently indicated openness to client involvement while praising blockchain technology. The bank has explored stablecoins and considered crypto-collateralized loans since at least July, potentially aligning with the 2024 approval of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs to attract institutional investors. Dimon has adopted a more moderate stance, defending clients’ rights to engage with digital assets.
US Politics
Political protests in the United States has nearly tripled during the first nine months of President Trump’s second term, reportedly reaching 29,138 events as of September 30, 2025, compared to 8,314 in the same period of his first term. Data from the Crowd Counting Consortium, analyzed by Harvard University and the University of Connecticut, includes rallies, marches, vigils, and other actions addressing issues such as Gaza ceasefires, police brutality, tariffs, government cuts, and democratic concerns. The largest single day was June 14, with 2,363 protests during nationwide “No Kings” rallies coinciding with Trump’s birthday. Anti-Trump demonstrations reportedly continued on October 18 under the same movement, with estimates of 5.2 million participants. Some analyses suggest the protest figures may reflect activity by a vocal minority.
The Department of Justice under President Trump announced it will be deploying election monitors to polling places in New Jersey and California for the November 4 elections, as confirmed by attorney Harmeet Dhillon. Critics have expressed concerns that the monitors could intimidate voters in these states.
Venture capitalist Nathan Halberstadt cited challenges in New York City due to high levels of foreign-born residents and migrant unemployment. Data from the mayor’s office indicates 38% of NYC’s population is foreign-born, with 34.8% of recent migrants unemployed and relying on taxpayer-funded services. Migrants primarily originate from countries like the Dominican Republic, China, and Jamaica, with nearly a quarter of New Yorkers reportedly unable to speak English. Schools reportedly manage students from hundreds of languages, and the city spent $60 million in legal fees in 2024 to support migrant retention, amid reports of 97% success rates for activist lawyers in court. Others have pointed to migrants’ contributions to the city’s economy and cultural diversity.
European Politics
In Sweden, a court ruled against deporting an Eritrean asylum seeker convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl, finding that the assault’s duration did not qualify as an extremely serious crime warranting expulsion. Yazied Mohamed received a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 240,000 Swedish kronor to the victim, Meya Åberg, after an appeal overturned his initial acquittal. Four of five judges cited the need for the crime to pose serious danger to public order for deportation, despite the prosecutor’s request. The dissenting judge argued that the rape endangered public security. Åberg reported ongoing encounters with Mohamed after the assault, which she said led her to quit school; she has since sought psychiatric treatment and advocated for assault reporting. Human rights advocates have highlighted the legal complexities of deportation for refugees under international law.
A Swiss man faces a 10-day prison sentence after courts upheld his conviction for hate speech related to comments questioning claims that skeletons cannot indicate gender. Emanuel Brünisholz posted on Facebook in 2022 that skeletons of LGBTQI individuals would reveal only men and women after 200 years, and he described other aspects as mental illness. Authorities charged him under the Swiss Criminal Code for publicly belittling comments based on sexual orientation, fining him 500 Swiss Francs, which he reportedly could not pay. The court defined LGBTQI broadly as a group with specific sexual orientations. The case has been cited in discussions over limits on free speech in Europe. Some observers argue the ruling protects vulnerable groups from harmful speech, while others view it as an overreach on expression rights.
Energy
Chinese state-owned oil companies, including PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC, and Zhenhua Oil, have suspended seaborne purchases of Russian crude following new U.S. sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil. The sanctions, imposed by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, target Russian energy firms to pressure Moscow over Ukraine and include asset freezes and bans on U.S. dealings with them. China imports about 1.4 million barrels per day of Russian oil, with state firms handling 250,000 to 500,000 barrels daily via sea, while pipeline imports of around 900,000 barrels remain unaffected. Small independent refiners may pause briefly before resuming, and India, another major buyer, reportedly plans to reduce imports similarly. Traders anticipate shifts to suppliers in West Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which could contribute to a rise in global oil prices. Secondary sanctions threaten foreign banks facilitating these sales, and related U.K. sanctions on China’s Yulong Petrochemical have prompted some suppliers to halt deliveries to the refiner. Pipeline imports from Russia are expected to continue without interruption.
Geopolitics
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that any Ukrainian use of U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles against Russian territory would prompt a very serious, if not staggering, response, describing such supplies as an escalation attempt. Putin made the comments after a meeting in Moscow, noting discussions with U.S. President Trump on the issue during a recent phone call. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the request during his White House visit last week, but Trump rejected it, though officials indicated the matter remains under review. The Tomahawk cruise missile has a range of about 2,500 kilometers and requires extensive training. Moscow has warned that providing the weapons would harm peace prospects and U.S.-Russia relations without altering the Ukraine battlefield dynamics. Ukrainian officials have described the missiles as vital for enhancing defensive capabilities against Russian forces.
Canada has halted a $75 million advertising campaign targeting U.S. audiences to counter tariffs after President Trump terminated trade negotiations. The Ontario provincial government’s ads, featuring edited audio from Ronald Reagan warning of trade war risks, aired on networks like Newsmax, Bloomberg, and Fox News, with plans for more during World Series games. The Ronald Reagan Foundation criticized the ads as misrepresentations without permission. Trump cited the campaign as interference with U.S. court decisions on tariffs, which he described as essential for national security and economy. Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the pause effective Monday to resume talks, emphasizing U.S.-Canada partnership for economic strength. Certain Canadian commentators have described the halt as yielding to external pressures.
Health
Early clinical trial results indicate a technique using plasmid DNA and electroporation can enable human muscle cells to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 for at least 72 weeks. Researchers tested doses of plasmids carrying genes for two antibodies in 44 participants, injecting them into thigh muscles with electric pulses to facilitate DNA entry. Most adverse effects were mild, related to injection sites, such as pain and redness, with one case of moderate persistent muscle pain. All but one volunteer achieved stable production of both antibodies, with levels varying by dose and injection frequency but remaining effective against the virus. The method avoids viral vectors, potentially reducing immune side effects, though researchers noted challenges including equipment needs and public acceptance of DNA-based therapies. This approach could address limitations of injected antibodies, like short lifespan and refrigeration requirements, for future infectious disease responses. Experts have also raised questions about scalability in resource-limited settings and potential viral adaptations.
Sources
Switzerland’s Free Speech Assault: Man Jailed for Saying Skeletons Show Gender
“If you dig up LGBTQI people after 200 years, you’ll only find men and women based on their skeletons. Everything else is a mental illness promoted through the curriculum.”
Venture Capitalist Behind “Civilizational Crisis” Chart Warns of NYC’s Third-World Descent
38% of NYC’s current population is foreign-born. And remember, this is publicly available migration data from the mayor’s office. The reality is almost certainly far worse.
China Curbs Russian Oil Imports as US Sanctions Bite
Chinese state oil firms have suspended purchases of seaborne Russian oil after the US imposed new sanctions on Russian energy giants, Rosneft and Lukoil, multiple trade sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Swedish Court Rules Rape Too Short for Deportation of Migrant Assailant
the rape did not last long enough to merit deportation
Putin Warns of ‘Staggering’ Russian Response to Ukrainian Tomahawk Strikes
“the response will be very serious, if not downright staggering”
Source | Submitted by Rodster
Amazon’s AI Revolution: 600,000 Jobs Set for Robotic Replacement
An astounding 600,000 jobs are at risk as Amazon is seeking to replace a significant amount of its workforce with automated robots.
Source | Submitted by Rodster
Electrifying Immunity: Plasmid Zaps Enable Anyone to Produce Potent Antibodies
If we ID the DNA for a great antibody, anyone can now make it.
Source | Submitted by Shplad
Moody’s Alert: Big Banks’ $1.2 Trillion NDFI Gamble Risks Systemic Meltdown
Nothing will be spared.
Source | Submitted by Greggg
Political Protests Triple in Trump’s Second Term, Data Shows
The number of political protests held during Trump’s first nine months in office this year have more than tripled compared to the same period in his first term.
JPMorgan’s Crypto Pivot: Bitcoin and Ether to Back Institutional Loans
JPMorgan plans to allow institutional clients to use their holdings of Bitcoin and Ether as collateral for loans by the end of the year.
Canada Halts $75M Anti-Tariff Ad Campaign After Trump Terminates Trade Talks
ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED
Trump DOJ Deploys Election Monitors to New Jersey and California Polling Places, Dhillon Confirms
Harmeet Dhillon just CONFIRMED that the Trump DOJ is now sending ELECTION MONITORS to polling places
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Reuters, Le Monde, The Guardian, The New York Times, Fox News, The Washington Post, CNN, American Bankers Association via Reuters, Jamie Dimon statements, and The National Post.
by rodster 
