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Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:50:00 +0000 'Alligator Alcatraz' Can Continue Operating, Appeals Court Says
'Alligator Alcatraz' Can Continue Operating, Appeals Court Says
'Alligator Alcatraz' Can Continue Operating, Appeals Court Says
Authored by Troy Myers via The Epoch Times,
A federal appeals court on Tuesday pulled a judge’s previous order to dismantle the high-profile detention center in the Florida Everglades for illegal immigrants, known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
In a 2–1 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit sided with the Trump administration’s argument that there was minimal federal involvement in the facility’s construction, so a federal environmental review was not warranted.
“Using state employees and state funds, Florida officials, on their own initiative, constructed a detention center at an airport on state property in the Florida Everglades,”
Two environmental groups, Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, joined the Miccosukee Tribe, which has villages close to the facility, in challenging construction of Alligator Alcatraz.
The groups accused state and federal officials of rushing to build the facility and failing to conduct an environmental review as required under the National Environmental Policy Act.
That federal law, passed in 1970, requires federal agencies to evaluate environmental impacts of proposed major construction.
Construction began last year on the facility, located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in the Everglades, to assist with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and detainment of illegal aliens.
A lower court in August sided with the environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe, ordering officials to halt construction and even undo some work that had already been finished. But the higher court’s Tuesday order lifted that.
Federal authorities inspected the site for compliance with federal standards, court documents said, but this wasn’t enough to trigger a federally mandated environmental review.
“Because the environmentalists and Tribe failed to prove either a final agency action or federal control, and because the injunction, in part, violates a statutory prohibition of enjoining immigration enforcement, we vacate and remand,”
The 11th circuit has now twice lifted orders to halt construction—Tuesday’s ruling and again back in September .
“Victory secured against activist judge who held me in contempt,”
“A win for Florida and President [Donald] Trump’s agenda!”
Friends of the Everglades and the Miccosukee Tribe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Center for Biological Diversity, however, issued a news release Tuesday in response to the latest legal development, calling it a “temporary” setback.
Wildlife and ecosystems remain imperiled, the group said.
“This disappointing decision won’t stop our challenges to the numerous environmental violations that the Trump administration is overseeing there,” Elise Bennett, director and senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said. “We’ll keep fighting because the Trump and DeSantis administrations’ obsession with sacrificing our Everglades, endangered panthers and wild waters to their cruel detention center is utterly indefensible.”
The groups further argue there was enough federal involvement to warrant a federal environmental review. The Center for Biological Diversity said FEMA committed hundreds of millions of dollars to Florida for building and operating the facility.
Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, had a statement in the news release as well, saying, “This fight is far from over.”
“Alligator Alcatraz was hastily erected in one of the most fragile ecosystems in the country without the most basic environmental review, at immense human and ecological cost,” she said.
Samples added that she is pursuing every legal avenue available to shut down Alligator Alcatraz.
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 15:50 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:34:10 +0000 Tesla Earnings Preview: "Braced For A Miss"
Tesla Earnings Preview: "Braced For A Miss"
Tesla reports after the US market close on Wednesday and according to the UBS trading desk, there has been very little discussion around TSLA lately, with the stock drifting 14% lower for
Read more.....
Tesla Earnings Preview: "Braced For A Miss"
Tesla reports after the US market close on Wednesday and according to the UBS trading desk, there has been very little discussion around TSLA lately, with the stock drifting 14% lower for most of the year until last week, when it squeezed higher to trade just below $390.
The company has been the laggard among mega-cap peers despite still-lofty expectations. Consensus points to 1Q revenue of about $22.7 billion, with adjusted EPS around 38 cents and roughly 25 cents on a reported basis, even as deliveries of about 358,000 vehicles missed forecasts and flagged softer core auto demand. Analysts still expect a sharp rebound, with roughly 30% profit growth and a 15% increase in revenue.
Markets will likely overlook near-term weakness but focus heavily on what’s next: Investors are looking for updates on the robotaxi rollout, AI and robotics, as well as clarity on cash burn tied to a planned step-up in capex to as much as $20 billion this year. The disconnect is stark: as Bloomberg notes, a cyclical slowdown in autos versus an equity story still priced on long-duration growth, reflected in valuation metrics that are stretched across the board (roughly 184x forward earnings, ~15x sales and over 100x EV/EBITDA) .
Taking a step back, the good news for Tesla - and the broader market - is that earnings revisions for the S&P 500 continue to trend higher for 2026 and 2027, even if largely concentrated in a handful of AI stocks - and early results have been solid, with a strong beat rate. But the reaction function is fading. According to Bank of America, stocks are no longer rewarding top and bottom line beats as they typically do, suggesting a high bar for earnings driven gains as the index hovers near all-time highs.
Tesla, as one of the highest-duration names in the market, becomes a key test of that dynamic. If management reinforces the AI/autonomy narrative and justifies elevated capex, it supports the broader recovery in tech. But the overhang remains what is going on with Iran and the state of peace talks. This is not a market driven by idiosyncratic earnings. Netflix’s 10% drop alongside rising indexes underscores that geopolitics are taking precedence.
UBS analyst Joe Spak upgraded TSLA from Sell to Neutral last week as the stock reached his price target, and now sees a more balanced risk/reward profile - near-term demand challenges and an investment phase offset by a longer-term physical AI opportunity.
For 1Q, Spak expects an EPS miss, which is unlikely to be a surprise. UBS is modeling adjusted EPS of $0.33 versus $0.44 consensus. However, Spak believes the buy side is already braced for a miss based on 1Q26 delivery data, particularly weaker energy storage deployments.
Spak is modeling auto gross margins (ex-credits) of 16.1% versus 15.5% consensus, believing FSD could help keep margins slightly elevated. If Tesla books an IEPPA receivable this quarter, that could further support gross margins and provide upside to expectations. Otherwise, Spak expects updates on Tesla’s long-term vision, primarily focused on Robotaxi, Optimus, FSD, and the TeraFab.
Key areas where UBS expects additional detail include:
Color on demand trends across all regions
Reasons behind the energy storage deployment miss and implications for the balance of the year
Updates on Robotaxi deployment across additional cities
Progress on Gen 3 Optimus
Capex outlook not only for 2026 but beyond, including funding plans (TeraFab, solar, etc.)
Progress on the six factories TSLA plans to build this year
Commentary on commodity and logistics costs
Tune in shortly after the close for the full results.
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 15:34 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:20:00 +0000 Duffy Seeking $10 Billion From Congress To Revamp Air Traffic Control System
Duffy Seeking $10 Billion From Congress To Revamp Air Traffic Control System
Duffy Seeking $10 Billion From Congress To Revamp Air Traffic Control System
Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times,
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on April 21 the department requires $10 billion in additional funding from Congress to overhaul the nation’s air traffic control with a new software system.
Duffy told Reuters in an interview that the additional funding would go toward developing new software aimed at improving the efficiency of air travel and reducing flight delays.
“This tool lets us see and then spread flights in a way that allows for way less disruption,” “We could fix this.”
Congress allocated $12.5 billion last year under the One Big Beautiful Bill to upgrade air traffic control infrastructure and equipment to enhance aviation safety. At an April 21 event, Duffy provided an update on the project, saying it is expected to be completed in about two and a half years.
Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has replaced nearly 50 percent of ?copper ?wires, converted 270 radio sites nationwide, installed new surface awareness systems at 54 airports, and transitioned 17 towers to electronic flight strips using the allocated budget from Congress.
“We are going to need more money for the software side of this build,”
“Congress is ... going to have to find a pathway to get us the rest of that money. It’s going to take us time to develop it, deploy it, debug it, train on it. And so getting that software started now, hopefully as our build completes with all of the infrastructure, we will have the technology of the software ready to meet up in two and a half years and have a brand new system for America to use.”
The Transportation Department said in January the overhaul would involve launching an airspace modernization office to oversee the installation of a new air traffic control system and creation of an advanced aviation technologies office to oversee the integration of drones and other air mobility vehicles into U.S. airspace.
The FAA will also move more key leadership posts to permanent roles and consolidate management of finance, information technology, and human resources under the administrator, according to the Transportation Department, adding that the restructuring will not lead to workforce reductions.
Multiple safety-related incidents happened at airports over the past year due to equipment issues. In May 2025, air traffic controllers in Denver were forced to switch to emergency backup frequencies after they lost contact with aircraft for about 90 seconds. The controllers had to use emergency backup because both primary and main backup frequencies went down.
Another incident took place in late April 2025, when controllers overseeing Newark Liberty International Airport lost contact with planes for about 30 seconds, leading to flight delays.
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 15:20 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:40:00 +0000 Two Armed Robbers Steal $1.8 Million From Brinks Armored Truck In Philadelphia
Two Armed Robbers Steal $1.8 Million From Brinks Armored Truck In Philadelphia
Two Armed Robbers Steal $1.8 Million From Brinks Armored Truck In Philadelphia
Authored by Bryan Jung via PJMedia.com,
Two masked men armed with rifles carried out a brazen daylight robbery of a Brinks armored truck in the Tacony section of Northeast Philadelphia, escaping with what authorities say could be as much as $1.8 million in cash.
Philadelphia Police Department officials told ABC 6 that the robbery occurred around 9:45 a.m on April 21 on the 7200 block of Torresdale Avenue, as the Brinks truck was servicing a Budget Financial Center.
Brinks is a national security and cash logistics company that transports money for banks and retailers.
According to law enforcement officials, a blue Acura SUV pulled into the lot, with two suspects dressed in black jumping out, brandishing rifles and confronting the driver before seizing bags of cash.
No injuries were reported, with the suspects fleeing the scene within seconds, witnesses said.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators shows the men exiting the vehicle and pointing a rifle at the armored truck employee.
Shortly after the heist, police located a blue Acura believed to have been used in the robbery under Interstate 95 near Front Street and Fairmount Avenue in the city’s Northern Liberties neighborhood.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now leading the investigation alongside local police, as authorities work to identify the suspects and recover the stolen cash.
This robbery follows a year-long string of armored truck heists in the Philadelphia region, including separate incidents in 2025 involving armored delivery trucks.
Three men were charged last June for stealing around $2 million from a truck in the Port Richmond robbery, while later that month, another pair of robbers with AR-style rifles held up a Loomis driver who was delivering cash to an Aldi store on Whitaker Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, taking around $100,000 and the driver's handgun.
Three men robbed a Brinks driver on July 2 at the Holmesburg Shopping Center on Frankford Avenue, stealing an undisclosed amount of cash and the driver’s firearm.
On July 15, two armed men armed with AR style rifles attempted to rob a Brinks driver in the Rhawnhurst section of Philadelphia, but fled after the driver opened fire.
The Brinks employee drew his duty weapon and began firing in the direction of the suspects, one of whom fled on foot, while the second drove away in a black Nissan Maxima from the scene.
On July 22, an armed man robbed around $700,000 from a Brinks truck outside an H Mart grocery store in Cheltenham, which was the scene of another Brinks robbery on August 12 by two unknown suspects.
The two suspects took a bag filled with money and fled the scene in a black Acura, which was later recovered, according to the FBI.
In October, two more men were indicted on charges of robbing Brinks trucks in Elkins Park, Montgomery County, and on Castor Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia.
Federal investigators have previously linked the multiple 2025 incidents involving Brinks trucks to organized criminal gangs using similar tactics, including stolen vehicles and high-powered firearms.
Officials are asking anyone with information to contact law enforcement as the suspects remain at large.
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:40 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:30:00 +0000 Trump Extends Ceasefire By 3-5 Days, Precisely Amount Of Time Needed For Third Carrier To Arrive
Trump Extends Ceasefire By 3-5 Days, Precisely Amount Of Time Needed For Third Carrier To Arrive
Trump Extends Ceasefire By 3-5 Days, Precisely Amount Of Time Needed For Third Carrier To Arrive
Summary
At least two fully laden Iranian tankers slip past US naval blockade , amid reports of more going dark: BBG
Trump extends ceasefire by 3-5 days , per White House statement to Fox. Third US carrier precisely 3-5 day away from Mideast waters : Fox
IRGC seized the MSC Francesca and a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria , which had been attempting to transit the Hormuz chokepoint earlier today. Within hours, a third ship comes under fire by the IRGC .
Senior Iranian adviser says the US naval blockade is "no different than bombing" and must be met "with a military response" .
Competing narratives emerge over what Iran calls "fake news" as Trump hails "release" of 8 Iranian women said to be facing death penalty.
Iran agrees to surrender enriched uranium stockpile by June 30, 2026? View full market & trade on Polymarket * * *
Plot Thickens, Gets More Bizarre: Iran Denies 8 Women Set to Be Executed
There's been a lot of fresh back and forth over Trump's initial Truth Social Post earlier this week: first he demanded that eight young women he said were on death row in Iran for protesting must be released. Then on Thursday Trump proclaimed that Iran complied .
But Iran is rejecting the whole narrative as fake news from the start. "Trump was misled once again by fake news," the judiciary's official Mizan Online website said . "The women who were claimed to be on the verge of execution, some of them have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment." The Times (UK) picked up on the storyunderscored :
The image Trump recirculated was originally created by the Lawfare Project, a pro-Israel organisation based in the US.
The human rights organisation Hiwa identified the women in the post. They included Panah Movahedi Salamat and Ensieh Nejati.
While Iran has certainly carried out horrendous executions in the recent past, this particular case has incubator babies hoax written all over it .
Third Carrier 3-5 Days Away
We've been tracking the progress of the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier as it makes its way to the US Central Command/Mideast area. Interestingly its arrival could correspond with the end of Trump's extended ceasefire by this weekend . Fox News is freshly reporting that the vessel, which will be the third carrier in waters near Iran, is expected to arrive in three to five days. "The USS Bush Aircraft Carrier is expected to arrive in the Middle East within five days," a Fox News reporter has said on X.
It took the 'long way' around Africa in order to avoid the Red Sea, and thus the potential for coming under attack by the Houthis or Iranians.
The aircraft carrier strike group is currently located somewhere off the coast of Tanzania or Kenya and will arrive in the region in 3-5 days, becoming the third aircraft carrier in the war against Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says in a post on X: "Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations ."
Carrier-related air traffic has been observed in this area over about the last day (FlightRadar):
Serious Slippage in US Naval Blockade as Iranian Vessels Go Dark
Confirmation from Bloomberg after some initial unverified claims circulated yesterday: Iran Tankers Go Dark to Sail Past US Blockade Laden With Oil . Additional reports suggest that the total number of Iran-linked tankers slipping through is actually much larger, suggesting the potential unravelling of the US naval blockade of ships visiting Iran's ports :
Donald Trump's naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is unraveling after dozens of Iranian vessels secretly slipped past US surveillance, even as the regime tightened its grip on the critical oil passageway by attacking three tankers.
Approximately 34 Iranian oil tankers have slipped through the blockade, with 19 vessels exiting the Persian Gulf past Trump's navy and another 15 ships entering from the Arabian Sea toward Iran, according to the Financial Times. Six of those tankers were smuggling Iranian crude oil totaling 10.7 million barrels, estimated to be worth approximately $910 million in revenue for the regime.
Of course, the Pentagon's own figures stand in direct contradiction, but the fact that major Western MSM outlets like FT and Bloomberg are picking up on significant numbers getting through doesn't bode well for the Trump blockade.
Meanwhile, the locations of the earlier seizures by Iran's IRGC. Two are being escorted to Iran's coast :
Trump Extends Ceasefire for 3-5 Days
The White House has told FOX Wednesday morning that President Trump has extended the ceasefire by three to five days. This was also reported earlier by Axios, with the US seeking for the Iranian side to "come to the table with a unified approach." There's a growing assumption within the administration that it might be dealing with two competing factions: a civilian government side in Tehran, and the IRGC.
Tasnim meanwhile reports that Iran has made no decision as of yet to negotiate with the US , amid rumblings that talks could resume Friday. WSJ's latest commentary :
Singh [former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council who is now at the Washington Institute think tank] warned that the blockade could prove a double-edged sword for Washington, at a time when the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is hurting the world economy and driving up U.S. energy prices ahead of November’s midterm elections.
“The blockade is a bet that Iran will break before the rest of the world will, but it’s a risky bet ,” he said. “The Iranian regime is fighting for its survival and has demonstrated an ability to withstand the strangulation of its oil exports.”
The latest as both warring sides impose rival blockades in Hormuz:
Third Ship Attacked by IRGC
The IRGC on Wednesday attacked a third vessel of the day in the Strait of Hormuz, rapidly escalating tensions further in the dangerous standoff. The container ship Francesca, owned by Mediterranean Shipping, was targeted while waiting to enter.
"An Iranian gunboat fired on a containership northeast of Oman, before a second vessel reported being fired at off the coast of Iran," according to WSJ. "Then the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a third ship. The incidents within hours of each other demonstrate that while the aerial war between the U.S. and Iran is on pause, the fight for control of the strait continues." The same publication offers the following outline summary of where things stand on the diplomatic front:
A senior Iranian adviser said the U.S. naval blockade is “no different than bombing” and must be met “with a military response.” Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. said his country is ready to negotiate with the U.S. once it ends the blockade. Britain will host military planners from more than 30 countries for two days of talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz starting Wednesday. Iran Seizes Two Ships In Hormuz
The semi-official news agency Fars reports on X that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the MSC Francesca and a Greek-owned ship named Euphoria , which had been attempting to transit the Hormuz chokepoint earlier today. In total, three ships were targeted this morning by IRGC naval forces, and two were seized.
"The IRGC Navy seized two violating vessels and transferred them to Iran's coast. IRGC Navy Command: Disruption of order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is our red line," Fars said, adding that both vessels had been "immobilized."
Earlier, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported that the two vessels had come under heavy fire in the narrow waterway .
Current snapshot of the waterway via Bloomberg ship-tracking data of tankers:
All three maritime incidents in the Strait come as President Trump has kept the U.S. blockade of Iran in Hormuz in place, and U.S. naval forces seized an Iranian ship over the weekend before boarding another tanker linked to Iran.
Related:
Overnight, Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran so negotiators "can come up with a unified proposal," but said the naval blockade will continue, while Tehran says it is an "act of war."
Iran's semi-official Tasnim cited the country's envoy to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, as telling reporters: "We have received some sign that they are ready to break it and as soon as they break this blockade, I think that the next round of the negotiations will take place in Islamabad ."
Iravani added, "If they want to sit at the table and discuss and find a political solution, they will find us ready. If they want to go to war, in this case also Iran is ready." The status of the next round of US-Iran talks remains unclear. Vice President JD Vance has not departed for Pakistan as expected on Tuesday.
More Latest Regional Developments
via Newsquawk...
No Iranian delegation, primary or secondary, has traveled to Islamabad; reports about their departure and alleged meeting times are inaccurate, IRIB reported.
Earlier reports by Al Jazeera, citing a Pakistani diplomatic source, claimed that Iranian and US preliminary delegations were present in Islamabad.
"A Pakistani official source told Al Arabiya: The US and Iranian delegations will arrive in Islamabad today at the same time"; "The second round of negotiations will be held as scheduled"; "We currently have no information about extending the ceasefire between America and Iran".
US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday for Iran talks, according to sources cited by Axios.
US-Iran negotiations may begin Wednesday morning in Islamabad; the US believes there is a split within the Iranian negotiating team, according to Al Arabiya citing CNN sources.
Pakistani media expect the US and Iran to reach an agreement by Wednesday, according to Al Arabiya.
An Iranian official told The Washington Post that both sides have largely agreed on the broad outlines of a deal, according to Al Arabiya.
Pakistan asked the US and Iran to extend the truce for two more weeks; Pakistani media report Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may announce a ceasefire extension on Tuesday, according to Al Arabiya.
Journalist Elster wrote: "Pakistani source told Reuters that Trump may attend talks with Iran in person or remotely if an agreement is reached".
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the US has never been closer to a strong deal with Iran and stated that Donald Trump still has options if no deal is reached.
An Iranian oil tanker entered Iran’s territorial waters despite the US blockade, escorted by the Iranian navy, Al Mayadeen reported.
Iran’s judiciary chief said it is "very possible" negotiations will fail; in that case, Iran will respond to the US interception of an Iranian ship.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US seizure of the cargo ship Touska and demanded the “immediate release of the Iranian vessel, its sailors, crew and their families,” according to CNN.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the blockade and ceasefire violations aim to turn negotiations into surrender or justify renewed war and stated Iran rejects talks under threats while preparing new battlefield responses.
The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire was violated, ISNA reported, citing sources.
The Israeli army withdrew part of its forces from southern Lebanon following the ceasefire, according to sources cited by Haaretz.
A UN agency is preparing an evacuation plan for hundreds of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg reported.
* * *
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:30 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:20:00 +0000 Trump Deploys Five Defense Production Act Memos For American Energy
Trump Deploys Five Defense Production Act Memos For American Energy
President Trump signed five presidential determinations under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act on Monday. All five declare critical energy capacities essen
Read more.....
Trump Deploys Five Defense Production Act Memos For American Energy
President Trump signed five presidential determinations under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act on Monday. All five declare critical energy capacities essential to national defense and authorize federal purchases, commitments, and financing to cut through financing shortages, permitting delays, and supply chain choke points.
Any mention of renewables are noticeably absent, as the administration has been pounding the table on the reliability of coal and natural gas, especially through the recent winter storm...
They sit under the national energy emergency we flagged back in January 2025. The moves target fossil fuel production and the infrastructure that actually moves power, while nuclear and geothermal get their own lanes.
Section 303 of the DPA allows the government to act as the financial support for these industries due to the administration’s interpretation that the private sector can't do it on their own.
Domestic Petroleum Production, Refining, And Logistics Capacity
This determination covers exploration, production, refining, gathering and transmission pipelines, storage, and marine terminals. DPA authorities now back projects to secure jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline for the military and industrial base, cutting reliance on foreign suppliers that have weaponized energy in the past.
Coal Supply Chains And Baseload Power Generation Capacity
Coal mining, rail and barge transport, terminals, on site stockpiles, and plant life extensions all get the treatment. The memo stresses that baseload coal power remains irreplaceable for defense installations and the exploding electricity demand from AI and manufacturing. Federal support will speed maintenance and logistics that markets alone have left stalled.
Natural Gas Transmission, Processing, Storage, And LNG Capacity
Pipelines, compression, processing plants, underground storage, LNG liquefaction, and export facilities fall under this one. The goal is steady domestic supply plus stronger exports to allies. Long lead times for equipment and construction are the stated problem.
Development, Manufacturing, And Deployment Of Large Scale Energy And Energy Related Infrastructure
This broader determination is for engineering, site acquisition, permitting, early stage financing, and domestic manufacturing capacity for large energy projects. It removes the capital and regulatory friction that has slowed big builds across the sector, creating a practical foundation for faster scaling wherever the need is greatest.
Grid Infrastructure , Equipment, And Supply Chain Capacity
Transformers, transmission lines, substations, high voltage breakers, power electronics, and the full upstream supply chain are targeted here. Aging equipment , foreign dependence, and slow domestic output threaten reliability. The action backs US manufacturing to harden the grid that must carry power from every source.
Nuclear and Geothermal
As we have tracked since the May 2025 executive orders , the nuclear fuel supply chain is already moving under its own DPA Consortium and related authorities, with the explicit target of quadrupling US nuclear output by 2050.
Geothermal development was also left out of today's batch. It too appears to be advancing on its own parallel track through existing federal programs and private sector momentum that do not require another layer of Section 303 intervention right now.
These efforts could benefit from the expanded DPA authorities granted to Energy Secretary Chris Wright on March 13, 2026. In an amendment to the National Defense Resources Preparedness executive order, President Trump delegated additional powers directly to the Energy Department, enabling Wright to invoke Section 303 authorities swiftly to restart critical domestic oil infrastructure and counter supply disruptions caused by the war. That same streamlined authority now positions Wright to accelerate implementation of yesterday's five determinations.
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:20 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0000 CIA Security Officer Files Lawsuit Against Steve Baker And The Blaze For Identifying Her As J6 Bomber
CIA Security Officer Files Lawsuit Against Steve Baker And The Blaze For Identifying Her As J6 Bomber
CIA Security Officer Files Lawsuit Against Steve Baker And The Blaze For Identifying Her As J6 Bomber
Authored by 'sundance' via The Last Refuge,
Steve Baker and The Blaze are being sued by former Capitol Hill police officer Shauni Kerkoff, who Baker accused of being the J6 pipe bomber based on “gait” analysis and other dubious claims.
Mr Baker, a former FBI employee named Kyle Seraphin and Kentucky representative Thomas Massie also pushed the accusation, saying FBI Director Kash and other FBI officials were lying and an innocent guy was arrested .
The arrested suspect, Brian J. Cole, Jr., confessed to the crimes.
Yesterday, Shauni Kerkoff, who now works for the CIA security office, filed a lawsuit against Steve Baker and The Blaze , claiming Steve Baker was motivated by anger over his arrest for activity in the J6 event where Ms. Kerkoff was present providing security.
According to the lawsuit , Steve Baker and The Blaze created a conspiracy theory using Shauni Kerkoff as the target of their claims.
This is going to be an interesting lawsuit to watch unfold as there are various types of conspiracy claims similar to Mr Baker that are circulating.
If their claim is false, both Mr Baker and The Blaze could end up in the same financial position as Alex Jones.
[SOURCE]
I suspect this is not going to end well for Steve Baker, The Blaze or Glenn Beck.
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 14:00 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:40:00 +0000 "All Systems Go": Goldman Sees Improvement As Boeing Turnaround Gains Momo
"All Systems Go": Goldman Sees Improvement As Boeing Turnaround Gains Momo
Boeing shares jumped as much as 5% after the company posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter cash burn and delivered the most aircraft since 2019 (outde
Read more.....
"All Systems Go": Goldman Sees Improvement As Boeing Turnaround Gains Momo
Boeing shares jumped as much as 5% after the company posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter cash burn and delivered the most aircraft since 2019 (outdelivered Airbus for the first time in years), reinforcing the view that the turnaround is beginning to lift off. The CEO's earlier comment was "all systems go," while Goldman's initial read on the quarter pointed to "improvements."
First-quarter earnings results show Boeing is gaining traction and is set to ramp up 737 production, a key step toward restoring its cash cow narrowbody jet production ...
... and reducing debt by $7 billion.
The company reaffirmed its expectation of generating $1 billion to $3 billion in free cash flow in 2026, while adjusted losses were narrower than forecast.
Additionally, Boeing's defense and space units improved, with revenue up 21% and margins increasing.
"We're making strides to strengthen our culture and restore trust with our customers while growing our record backlog to nearly $700 billion ," CEO Kelly Ortberg wrote in a message to employees.
Ortberg joined CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" after the earnings report and said, "All systems are go." He noted that there has been no slowdown in aircraft orders since the US-Iran war began in late February.
Shares were up as much as 5% earlier in the session but were trading closer to 4% by around noon. Even with today's move, the stock is only modestly higher on the year, up about 5.2%. The bigger picture is that Boeing shares have remained stuck in a six-year trough following the two fatal 737 Max crashes, which capped production.
A break above $250 would mark an important technical point that could unlock upside momentum.
Goldman analyst Noah Poponak's first take on Boeing's quarter was broadly constructive:
Boeing Co. (BA): 1Q26 First Take: Improvements
Bottom line : BA 1Q26 results include revenue and free cash above consensus, improving defense margins, evidence of ability to keep moving higher in commercial aircraft rate, and further advancement in aircraft certification timelines. 2026 free cash flow guidance is reiterated. We see no clear incremental negatives, and there are a few incremental positives.
Details : Revenue of $22.22bn is above FactSet at $21.85bn. BCA segment operating income of $(563)mn compared to our estimated $(699)mn. BDS margin of 3.1% compares to our 1.8% estimate. 1Q26 free cash flow is $(1,454)mn, ahead of our estimate of $(2,800)mn and consensus at $(2,340)mn. The company is advancing the 737-10 through FAA Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight testing, with certification for both the 737-7 and 737-10 targeted for 2026 and initial deliveries scheduled for 2027. The 777X program has progressed to TIA Phase 4a of certification flight testing for the 777-9 with first deliveries anticipated in 2027.
Our 12-month price target of $276 .
Separate institutional commentary (courtsey of Bloomberg):
JPMorgan, Seth M. Seifman (overweight; PT $270)
Says cash flow came in better than expected, noting that advances were a key component
"With solid numbers and less exposure to the Iran war than aftermarket names, we assume this will be well-received"
Jefferies, Sheila Kahyaoglu (buy; PT $295)
"A solid, no drama print" with first quarter free cash flow significantly above expectations
Notes that Boeing did not provide 2026 guidance in the release, but previously spoke to a free cash flow inflow of low single digits in 2026
TD Cowen, Gautam Khanna (buy; PT $250)
Notes that core EPS loss was better than expected, with "BA deliveries and margin slightly agead of BA's late Q1 guidance update" Deutsche Bank, Scott Deuschle (hold; PT $223)
Says free cash flow beat was driven by higher operating cash flow, which benefited from a combination of higher net income, favorable advances and accounts payable that helped offset headwinds on inventory
"This print is generally ahead of both sell-side expectations and our sense for buyside expectations"
Bloomberg Intelligence, George Ferguson
Boeing's turnaround of commercial airplane was slowed by the necessary purchase of Spirit Aerosystems and will require $5-$6 million cost improvement per fuselage to counter"
All eyes are on the $250 technical break.
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 13:40 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:31:05 +0000 Solid 20Y Auction Stops Through With Above Average Foreign Demand
Solid 20Y Auction Stops Through With Above Average Foreign Demand
The week's lone coupon auction priced at 1pm when the Treasury sold $13 BN in 20Y paper, in a solid if not stellar auction.
The auction stopped at a high yiel
Read more.....
Solid 20Y Auction Stops Through With Above Average Foreign Demand
The week's lone coupon auction priced at 1pm when the Treasury sold $13 BN in 20Y paper, in a solid if not stellar auction.
The auction stopped at a high yield of 4.883%, up from 4.817% in March and the highest since last July. It also stopped through the 4.892% When Issued by 0.9bps, the highest since January.
The bid to cover was 2.68, down from 2.76 in March but above the 2.63 six-auction average.
The internals were also solid with Indirects taking 67.4% of the auction, down modestly from 69.2% last month but also above the 62.9% recent average for foreign buyers. And with Directs taking 22.9%, up modestly from 21.6% last month, Dealers were left holding just 9.7%, down from the recent average of 11.2%.
Overall, this was another solid auction, which is a welcome outcome at a time when 10Y yields are trading near weekly highs just around 4.30%.
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 13:31 Close Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:20:00 +0000 Iran's Covert Oil Trade Persists As Tankers Breach US Blockade
Iran's Covert Oil Trade Persists As Tankers Breach US Blockade
Iran's Covert Oil Trade Persists As Tankers Breach US Blockade
By Tsvetana Paraskova of OilPrice.com
Iran continues to export its oil out of the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz using dark mode on tankers to move past the US blockade outside the world’s most vital oil chokepoint.
At least two Iran-flagged supertankers fully laden with an estimated about 4 million barrels of crude have exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz and through the U.S. blockade, Bloomberg reports , citing satellite imagery analyzed by energy flows intelligence firm Vortexa.
The two Iranian very large crude carriers have been detected by satellite images as they had turned off their transponders and AIS positioning weeks ago. One of the supertankers, the Hero II , last transmitted a signal more than a month ago, with position in the Malacca Strait, data on MarineTraffic showed. The other VLCC, the Hedy, was last detected by AIS transponders around the same area near Malaysia and Singapore more than 70 days ago.
Various vessel-tracking and maritime intelligence firms say that Iran continues to export its oil and move tankers past the U.S. blockade, by increasingly using dark activity and signal spoofing tactics.
Earlier this week, an Iranian supertanker, which had delivered 2 million barrels of crude to a ship-to-ship transfer offshore Indonesia, was en route to return to Iran’s Kharg Island after entering the Strait of Hormuz through the U.S. blockade .
An Iran-owned VLCC departed Iran in late March 2026 and traveled to the Riau Archipelago in Indonesia, where she transferred 2 million barrels of crude oil to another VLCC, according to vessel monitoring data by TankerTrackers.com .
“Iranian flows continue via deception, including dark activity and ship-to-ship transfers,” maritime intelligence firm Windward said in a daily note on Tuesday.
“Iranian maritime trade remains active, but increasingly reliant on deceptive shipping practices and alternative routing strategies. New intelligence indicates potential shifts east of Hormuz, suggesting that pressure in the Gulf is driving adaptation rather than halting flows.”
Tyler Durden Wed, 04/22/2026 - 13:20 Close
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