Hidden Ties, Public Lies

Did Trump really send Covid tests to Russia during the early days of the pandemic? Bob Woodward's latest book, War, alleges that the former president secretly shipped tests to Vladimir Putin while Americans faced shortages. Although Trump denies it, the story represents a larger pattern in which his agenda precedes the country's interests.

But the stakes aren't just about past actions. In The Moment of Truth, Tom Nichols argues that Trump's reelection could fundamentally alter the United States, possibly ending George Washington's vision of the presidency. Nichols portrays Trump as a demagogue, warning that a second term could undermine American democracy.

As Trump navigates these scandals, the question looms: Is his ambition worth risking America's future? It’s a critical moment for the nation that we can’t afford to ignore.

Hurricane of Lies

It's hard enough to deal with a hurricane, but now we have to deal with another storm filled with lies, misinformation, and conspiracy theories. Hurricanes Helene and Milton have spread misinformation like wildfire, causing actual harm. Falsehoods are making disaster response even more chaotic, from false claims that the government is abandoning specific communities to outright fabrications about aid.

Let’s get one thing straight: No, the government doesn't geoengineer hurricanes to target specific political areas. And no, FEMA didn't run out of money because migrants are getting it. They're dangerous not just because they're untrue but because they undermine trust in the very organizations attempting to help. Helene victims have already received over $137 million in FEMA assistance - hardly neglect, as some claim.

The real storm here isn’t just the wind and rain; it's misinformation spreading across social media. If people believe these conspiracy theories, recovering from the actual disaster will be much more difficult.

Where Penises Meet Proxies

So, here’s a quirky one for you. Iceland's Icelandic Phallological Museum (yep, a penis museum) is housed in a building in Reykjavik. But, as it turns out, this place is also the virtual home of some pretty shady online activity—everything from identity theft to ransomware attacks.

Imagine: people are inside the museum marveling at its oddities while hackers and fraudsters hide behind Iceland's strict privacy laws behind the scenes. Isn't that ironic?

A company called "Withheld for Privacy" also uses the building's address, Kalkofnsvegur 2, to protect the identities of people running sketchy websites. Progressive privacy laws have become an unexpected paradise for cybercriminals, making it a hub for online mischief-makers. Who would have guessed a penis museum had such a dark side?

Will Inflation Finally Ease?

Today's CPI data drop is a big one, and it’s not just for finance junkies. Inflation is expected to decrease to 2.3% year-over-year, marking the sixth consecutive month of easing. If this happens, it could lead to a more relaxed approach by the Fed towards interest rates. What if it surprises us and comes in hotter? Well, that might throw a wrench into those rate cuts.

Either way, this report is going to set the tone for markets worldwide. It's one of those reports you can't afford to ignore, especially with the dollar on its longest winning streak since 2022. Stay tuned—it’s going to be interesting!

💡 Core Wisdom

🧮 Core Count: 2,500,000

Without realizing it, you travel around the Sun every day in kilometers.

🗓️ Flashback:

680 - At Karbala, Al-Hussein and his followers were killed by the Yazid army.

1899 - African-American inventor Issac R. Johnson patents the bicycle frame.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran