Geopolitics
In a critique of Trump’s handling of Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported that behind the president’s public bravado and provocative social media posts, he has grappled with significant private fears and frustrations during the conflict that began on February 28 after the downing of an American jet with two airmen missing. According to sources, Trump demanded an immediate military rescue, screamed at aides over European inaction and rising gas prices, and privately ruminated on Jimmy Carter’s failed 1980 hostage rescue mission, fearing a similar political catastrophe. While he issued fiery ultimatums—including a 12-hour deadline threatening the destruction of Iranian civilization and a vulgar Easter post demanding the Strait of Hormuz be opened—he resisted riskier ground operations, such as seizing Kharg Island, over concerns about high American casualties.
Aides described his approach as impulsive and unorthodox, veering between belligerence intended to project instability and spur negotiations (including via Pakistan) and a desire to quickly end the war, even as the two-week cease-fire remains precarious and the operation has already exceeded his six-week timeline amid doubts over long-term success. The WSJ reporting cites senior administration officials, advisors, and people familiar with the President’s discussions.
In other news, the US military’s last convoy exited Syria on Thursday, ending a 14-year presence after the fall of Bashar al-Assad and installation of pro-US leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, with a $10 million US bounty. US forces transferred oil and gas-rich northeast bases, including Qasrak, Shaddadi, and Al-Tanf, to Damascus, declaring the anti-ISIS mission complete while supporting partner-led counter-terrorism. Syria’s Foreign Ministry stated full state control over resources.
US Politics
In what could be a sign of shifting sentiment among conservatives on Israel, Ben Shapiro reportedly lost 20,000 subscribers monthly and 85% of views since October 7, 2023. Tucker Carlson gained 10,000 subscribers every few days, Candace Owens added 40,000 in the past month, and Nick Fuentes grew from under 300,000 to over 1 million followers across platforms.
Relatedly, and more broadly, polls indicate a decline in US favorability toward Israel since 2022:
- 31 points among older Democrats
- 22 points among younger Republicans and Democrats
- 14 points among Protestants
- 23 among Catholics
- 20 among unaffiliated
- 15 among white Evangelicals
Furthermore, 40 Senate Democrats voted against arms sales to Israel, up from 15 last April, including all who are eyeing 2028 presidential runs.
In other news, the Pew Research Center reported that 320,000 births to non-citizen parents accounted for nearly 10% of 3.6 million US births in 2023, the highest since 2010. Of these, 245,000 were to illegal immigrant parents and the rest to at least one legal resident or citizen parent. These births qualify for citizenship under current interpretations, providing access to benefits including food stamps, welfare, English education, college aid, and emergency Medicaid in some states.
Energy
Senators Mike Lee and Dave McCormick introduced the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Deployment Act, which would expand the Department of Energy’s authority to license commercial reactors and fuel facilities on federal land, bypassing some Nuclear Regulatory Commission processes. The bill would establish a permanent Nuclear Energy Launch Pad program at DOE and National Lab sites, such as Idaho National Laboratory, for demonstration projects transitioning to commercial operations under DOE oversight with Price-Anderson protections. It would also repurpose surplus plutonium as fuel and authorize federal power marketing agencies to purchase nuclear electricity. Critics of the bill argue it merely trades local zoning challenges for prolonged federal environmental reviews without resolving high capital costs.
Separately, the NRC finalized Part 53 rules under the 2019 Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act, creating a framework for advanced reactors using non-light-water coolants such as molten salt or gas, with licensing targeted at 18 months via risk-informed approaches. The National Reactor Innovation Center completed a Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments test bed at Idaho National Laboratory, a 100-foot dome for fueled microreactor tests up to 20 megawatts thermal. It is hosting Radiant Industries’ Kaleidos unit.
Lastly, President Trump issued four pipeline permits on April 15, including construction authorization to the Bakken Pipeline Company in North Dakota and operation approvals to Enbridge subsidiaries for transporting crude oil, naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, jet fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel across the US-Canada border.
Economy
The NASDAQ achieved 13 consecutive gains, its longest winning streak since July 2009, recovering from concerns over Iran tensions and surpassing prior highs. Qoth the Raven attributed the rise to call buying, short squeezes, CTA momentum, and dealer positioning. The Shiller P/E ratio approached 40, with elevated price-to-sales ratios. However, some analysts note that similar historical NASDAQ winning streaks have been associated with average one-year forward returns of around 19%.
Meanwhile, Meta announced plans to lay off 10% of its global workforce, about 8,000 employees, starting May 20, with more cuts to follow, as it reallocates to AI infrastructure. The company guided 2026 capital expenditures at $115 billion to $135 billion. Meta reorganized into an Applied AI group for autonomous agents, after prior cuts of 21,000 jobs.
Turning to real estate, in February, 34.2% of home sellers cut listing prices, up from 31.5% a year earlier, with average reductions of $40,915 or 7.3%, the highest for a February since 2012. Reductions reached 60% in San Antonio, 55% in Austin, 47.3% in Dallas, 45.9% in Tampa, and 44.9% in Fort Lauderdale, amid high inventory, mortgage rates, prices, and uncertainty. Existing home sales rose 1.7% monthly to a 4.09 million annualized rate but fell 1.4% year over year.
Artificial Intelligence
Anthropic’s Mythos AI model identified 4,000 zero-day vulnerabilities over three weeks in operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Unix, databases, web browsers, and other critical infrastructure, according to the company. Anthropic stated this exceeded findings by the global security community over the past decade. The model reportedly prompted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to convene emergency meetings with top bank CEOs over concerns about potential hacks to hospitals, power grids, military systems, stock markets, and financial institutions.
Anthropic launched Project Glasswing, providing limited access to 40 partners, including Microsoft, Apple, Linux developers, CrowdStrike, Amazon, Google, chip makers, banks, and the Department of War to address vulnerabilities before public disclosure. The Pentagon had previously designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk due to the company’s refusal to modify products for military use amid an ongoing lawsuit, according to reports. A White House Office of Management and Budget memo directed federal agencies to use Mythos for defensive vulnerability discovery and network hardening. Critics have raised concerns that the model could accelerate offensive hacking capabilities despite Anthropic’s safety measures.
Sources
Anthropic’s Mythos AI Unearths 4,000 Zero-Days in Weeks, Outpacing Global Security by a Decade
In 3 weeks Anthropic’s new AI built more hacks than the entire global security community discovered in the past decade.
Senate Bill Proposes Commercial Nuclear Reactors on Federal Land, Bypassing NRC
The legislation would expand the DOE’s authority to license and regulate commercial reactors and fuel-cycle facilities when sited on federal land or built for federal purposes
Market’s Overheating Feedback Loop: NASDAQ’s 13-Day Streak Ignores Fundamentals
This is a feedback loop, not a sober reassessment of long-term value.
Anchor Babies Hit Nearly 10% of US Births in 2023, Pew Data Reveals
Anchor babies now make up almost 10% of all births in the US, according to new data.
Trump’s Iran War: Bluster Masks Private Fears
Behind Trump’s Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears
Source (Paywalled)
Ben Shapiro’s Post-Oct 7 Subscriber Plunge as Tucker, Candace, Fuentes Surge
The tide is shifting.
Bibi Torches U.S. Support for Israel—for a Generation
Bibi torched U.S. support for Israel for a generation
Source (Paywalled)
Trump Signs Pipeline Permits to Supercharge US-Canada Oil Flows
Trump Signs Pipeline Permits To Boost US–Canada Oil Flow
Last US Convoy Exits Syria, Ending 14-Year Proxy War That Toppled Assad
Last US Convoy Exits Syria After Brutal 14-Year Regime Change Proxy War
From Blacklist to Bedfellow: U.S. Embraces Anthropic’s Mythos AI for Cyber Defense
From “Supply-Chain Risk” to Strategic Asset
America’s Nuclear Renaissance: NRC Reforms and DOME Ignite Revival
Is America On The Verge Of A Nuclear Renaissance?
Meta to Slash 10% of Workforce on May 20 in AI Headcount-for-GPU Swap
The Facebook and Instagram owner will lay off about 10% of its global workforce, or close to 8,000 employees, in that initial round, as it swaps headcount for GPUs.
Record Share of Home Sellers Slash Prices in February: Redfin
A record share of home sellers cut their listing prices in February
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Bloomberg, CNBC, Financial Times, MossinNagant, whatisnuclear, ISABELNET, and PBS News Hour.
by rodster 
