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Embattled genetic testing company 23andMe, once valued at $6 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Missouri federal court on Sunday night.

The company’s CEO, Anne Wojcicki, has resigned from her role as chief executive effective immediately, though she will remain a member of the board. Joseph Selsavage, 23andMe’s chief financial and accounting officer, will serve as interim CEO, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“We have had many successes but I equally take accountability for the challenges we have today,” Wojcicki wrote in a post on X early Monday morning. “There is no doubt that the challenges faced by 23andMe through an evolving business model have been real, but my belief in the company and its future is unwavering.”

23andMe declined to comment further on the filing.

Anne Wojcicki speaks at the South by Southwest festival in 2023. Jordan Vonderhaar / Bloomberg via Getty Images file

The former billionaire co-founded 23andMe in 2006, and the company rocketed into the mainstream because of its at-home DNA testing kits that gave customers insight into their family histories and genetic profiles. The five-time CNBC Disruptor 50 company went public in 2021 via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, which valued the company at around $3.5 billion at the time.

23andMe’s stock has mostly been in free fall in recent years as the company struggled to generate recurring revenue and stand up viable research and therapeutics businesses. As of Monday morning, the company has a market capitalization of around $25 million.

23andMe in Mountain View, Calif.Smith Collection / Getty Images

Last March, 23andMe’s independent directors formed a special committee to evaluate the company’s potential paths forward. Wojcicki submitted multiple proposals to take the company private, but all were rejected. The special committee “unanimously determined to reject” Wojcicki’s most recent proposal earlier this month.

If 23andMe’s plan to sell its assets through a Chapter 11 plan is approved by the court, the company will “actively solicit qualified bids” over a 45-day process. Wojcicki plans to pursue the company as an independent bidder, she said in her post on Monday.

23andMe has between $100 million and $500 million in estimated assets, as well as between $100 million and $500 million in estimated liabilities, according to the bankruptcy filing.

Beyond its financial woes, privacy concerns around 23andMe’s genetic database have swirled in recent years. In October 2023, hackers accessed the information of nearly 7 million customers. 

California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Friday issued a consumer alert urging residents to consider deleting their genetic data from 23andMe’s website.

23andMe said there will be no changes to the way that it stores, protects or manages customer data through the sale process, and it will continue operating business as usual.

“As I think about the future, I will continue to tirelessly advocate for customers to have choice and transparency with respect to their personal data, regardless of platform,” Wojcicki said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Bitcoin is more closely correlated to the Nasdaq than it is to gold most of the time, and investors could benefit from viewing it as another big tech stock, says Standard Chartered.

Bitcoin’s correlation with the Nasdaq is currently at about 0.5, after it approached 0.8 earlier this year, according to the bank. Meanwhile, its correlation with gold has been falling since January, touching zero at one point, and is now just above 0.2.

“Bitcoin trading is highly correlated to the Nasdaq over short time horizons,” Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, said in a note Monday. “This Nasdaq correlation leads to the idea that bitcoin could be included in a basket of large tech stocks; if it were included, the implication would be more institutional buying as BTC would serve multiple purposes in investor portfolios.”

Bitcoin is frequently viewed as “digital gold” and a hedge against risks facing the traditional financial sector. Kendrick said he still sees the flagship cryptocurrency serving that purpose but that “in reality … the need for such hedges is very infrequent.”

Standard Chartered created a hypothetical index dubbed “Mag 7B,” in which it added bitcoin to the Magnificent 7 tech stocks — Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla — and removed Tesla.

“Mag 7B has outperformed Mag 7 by about 5% over the period since December 2017,” he said. “On a calendar year basis, Mag 7B outperformed Mag 7 in five out of seven years, albeit by a very small margin in 2022. Mag 7B’s relative returns are decent on both an absolute basis (averaging around 1% a year above Mag 7) and a calendar-year basis.”

Kendrick said bitcoin has been trading in a similar volatility-adjusted fashion to Nvidia since President Trump’s inauguration. They’re down 16% and 12%, respectively, since Jan. 20. Meanwhile, Tesla, which has lost 36% in the same period, is trading more like ether (down 38% since Jan. 20).

“Investors can view bitcoin as both a hedge against [traditional finance] and as part of their tech allocation,” Kendrick said. “Indeed, as BTC’s role in global investor portfolios becomes established, we think that having more than one use will bring fresh capital inflows to the asset. This is particularly true as bitcoin investment becomes more institutionalized.”

Bitcoin is down about 5% for the year after Trump’s tariff threats in recent weeks have brought new volatility to the market. Investors are expecting relief in the second quarter, however, given bitcoin’s two of its most persistent correlations: its positive correlation with money supply growth, also known as M2, and its negative correlation with the U.S. dollar index, or DXY.

—CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed reporting.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Kaiser Reef Limited (‘Kaiser’ or ‘the Company’) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) with Catalyst Metals Limited (ASX:CYL) (“Catalyst”) to acquire the Henty Gold Mine and associated Tasmanian exploration tenements (“Henty Gold Mine” or “Henty”).

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Proven production asset with a cumulative production history of 1.4Moz at 8.9g/t Au1 and a track record of replacing mined ounces. Gold produced in the December Quarter totalled 6,594oz, produced at an AISC of A$2,631/oz2
  • JORC compliant Mineral Resource of 4.1Mt @ 3.4g/t Au for 449kozs of contained gold and Ore Reserve of 1.2Mt @ 4.0g/t Au for 154kozs
  • Highly attractive acquisition metric of less than A$1,200 per production ounce4 based on total upfront consideration of A$31.6 million, comprising A$15.0 million cash and 118.6 million shares issued to Catalyst, equivalent to a 19.99% shareholding
  • Acquisition immediately transforms Kaiser into a +30kozpa5, multi-asset gold producer with a clear pathway to grow to a 50kozpa production target
  • Kaiser and Catalyst agree an option to form a strategic partnership in the Victorian Goldfields around the Maldon gold processing plant, including an option to expand the processing plant, supporting both Kaiser’s and Catalyst’s Victorian ambitions
  • A further A$10 million of funding secured with Auramet International Inc, consisting of a A$8 million senior secured gold loan and a A$2 million unsecured gold prepayment facility ensuring a strong working capital position

TRANSACTION SUMMARY

Kaiser Reef Ltd (ASX:KAU) (“Kaiser” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) with Catalyst Metals Limited (ASX:CYL) (“Catalyst”) pursuant to which Kaiser will acquire the Henty Gold Mine and associated Tasmanian exploration tenements (“Henty Gold Mine” or “Henty”) for:

  • A$15.0 million upfront consideration;
  • A$16.6 million in shares issued to Catalyst (Catalyst to emerge as a 19.99% shareholder);
  • deferred payments of 50 ounces per month to Catalyst, capped at 3,000 ounces and commencing 6 months from Completion (“Deferred Consideration”);
  • 0.5% NSR royalty on gold produced from the Darwin Target Zone area;
  • Kaiser to reimburse Catalyst A$3.9 million in Environmental Bond Payments to Mineral Resources Tasmania in 12 monthly instalments; and
  • an option agreement through which Catalyst may enter into a joint venture with Kaiser in relation to the Maldon processing plant.

together the (“Transaction”).

STRATEGIC RATIONALE

  • Established production platform: The Henty Gold Mine is an established gold production platform, with historical production of 1.4Moz @ 8.9g/t. Since acquiring Henty in 2021, Catalyst has made significant operational improvements and investments at Henty, including drill platforms, drilling, tailings, underground fleet and people.
  • 5-year mine plan: Work to date has culminated in establishing a robust 5-year mine plan underpinned by a current Ore Reserves of 1.2Mt @ 4.0g/t for 154koz. There is significant scope to extent mine life based on the current Mineral Resource of 4.1Mt @ 3.4g/t Au for 449koz along with the considerable opportunities for near-mine exploration and development success.
  • Significant infrastructure: There is significant infrastructure in place at the Henty Gold Mine including a 300ktpa CIL processing plant, surface & underground workshops, administration complex, access to hydro generated grid power and refreshed tailings storage capacity.
  • Implement and build on operational capacity: Key Kaiser executives have significant experience in the optimisation of similar assets to Henty achieved through a combination of operational improvement and targeted exploration investment. The support from Catalyst as a 19.99% strategic shareholder, along with the addition of the Henty site operating team, a stable & skilled local workforce of +150 employees, will further strengthen the Kaiser team.
  • Flagship asset: With the Henty Gold Mine as its flagship asset, the Kaiser team will provide dedicated focus to continue the significant work completed by Catalyst and further drive operational improvements at Henty.

Kaiser’s Managing Director, Jonathan Downes said:

“We are excited to significantly expand Kaiser’s production base, exploration opportunities and enter into a strategic partnership with Catalyst in Victoria. We look forward to welcoming the Henty team into Kaiser and growing the business together.

“Catalyst has done a great job building a profitable operation at Henty over the last 4 years, with clear production and mine life visibility, plus some great exploration targets. Kaiser will continue to re-invest into Henty and build on what Catalyst has already achieved. We are very pleased to have Catalyst’s continued involvement and exposure to the upside at Henty, both as Kaiser’s major shareholder and through their board representation.

“The option for Kaiser and Catalyst to enter into a 50/50 JV partnership at the Maldon processing plant gives both parties a clear pathway that supports their Victorian ambitions. A Joint Venture can unlock the benefits that would come with plant expansion and increased operational scale, and we look forward to working with Catalyst as JV partners if they execute the option.

“I’m also pleased that Brad Valiukas will be taking a full-time role with Kaiser as Director – Operations. Brad has a wealth of experience in underground mining and helping to grow companies such as Mincor Resources, to their peak period operating 8 mines, and Northern Star, bedding in assets from Newmont, Barrick and Sumitomo. Brad has been instrumental in the changes we have made over the last few months at A1, accelerating the capital development to get below historic workings and setting A1 up to deliver going forward.

“The addition of Henty to our portfolio, alongside A1 in Victoria, positions Kaiser as a >30,000oz old producer and targeting 50,000 ounces of gold production per annum in the short term. Each of the gold projects provides expansion and exploration opportunities and collectively positions Kaiser for a market re-rating in line with our peers. The value metrics of Kaiser are compelling with three gold mines (one on care and maintenance) and two gold processing plants – all held with an enterprise value of A$67 million.”

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

HITIQ Limited (ASX: HIQ) (HITIQ or the Company) announces a strategic shift to focus on the consumer market, targeting amateur and community-level athletes of all ages across a variety of sports with its new HITIQ PROTEQT system. This shift to the consumer market is a natural strategic step for the Company, running in parallel with its established work in professional sports, taking its world-leading impact detection technology where it can have the greatest impact—in the amateur sporting community, and positioning HITIQ to tap into a vast, accessible market, steering the Company toward a sustainable, cash flow positive future. This direction is reinforced by a significant milestone: a three-year partnership with the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), naming HITIQ as the VAFA’s ‘Official Concussion Technology Partner.’

  • HITIQ is shifting its strategic focus to the consumer market, targeting amateur and community-level athletes.
  • This strategic shift to the consumer market complements ongoing efforts in professional sports.
  • A three-year partnership with the VAFA marks a key launchpad, driving HITIQ toward a cash flow positive future.

The consumer market, encompassing millions of amateur players globally, offers a substantial opportunity driven by increasing concussion awareness and demand for cost-effective safety solutions. Research shows community-level athletes and parents prioritize wellbeing, creating strong incentives for adopting HITIQ’s technology, which includes real-time impact detection, symptom assessment, and telehealth support. As part of this shift, HITIQ PROTEQT will be made available to VAFA clubs, monitoring head impacts in real time, flagging potential concussion risks, and guiding players through symptom assessments with telehealth access to emergency physicians and concussion specialists when needed. Players diagnosed with concussion by their preferred medical professional will follow club medical staff guidance and AFL community concussion protocols for return-to-play. Leveraging its extensive elite sports foundation, HITIQ will keep advancing its technology at this level to strengthen offerings for the community market.

HITIQ PROTEQT integrates proven elite-level technology—previously validated by partners like Monash University and Virginia Tech—into an accessible, boil-and-bite smart mouthguard. Priced for broad uptake and paired with a subscription model, HITIQ PROTEQT offers head impact monitoring, concussion management, and return-to-play guidance, and will be available to consumers this season. The VAFA partnership builds on HITIQ’s prior success with the Nexus iMG in this league, providing a proven foundation to drive adoption among amateur players and families.

Earl Eddings, Executive Chairman of HITIQ, said:

“This shift positions HITIQ where the real demand is – grassroots sport. We’ve built a scalable, consumer- focused product that meets a clear need, backed by world-class technology and partnerships. This is about delivering safety to millions while driving sustainable growth for shareholders. Partnering with the VAFA is a critical step toward bringing HITIQ PROTEQT to life. With the VAFA as our launchpad, we’re gearing up to deliver our cutting-edge technology to community sport, starting with their teams and expanding nationwide.”

VAFA CEO Jason Reddick said:

“Player safety is a primary priority for the VAFA, and concussion is one of the most serious health issues in the game. So partnering with HITIQ, who are leading the way in impact detection technology that can assist with early flagging of potential concussions, is another step forward. We’re happy to help bring this next-level tool to our VAFA community and encourage our clubs to learn more about HITIQ PROTEQT. Any tool that can help players and club medical staff quickly identify a potential concussion and begin assessment and treatment earlier is worthy of consideration.”

Stuart McDonald, Senior Research Fellow of Monash University’s Department of Neuroscience, said: ‘Research with HITIQ’s instrumented mouthguards, including our studies in the VAFA, has shown they reliably detect and quantify the forces exerted on the head during collisions. Based on our experience, players have found their previous mouthguards very comfortable, and they also show promise in identifying impacts that may carry a higher concussion risk. While these devices do not diagnose concussion, they could be used to highlight significant impacts that might otherwise have been missed, encouraging appropriate symptom monitoring and medical evaluation.’

The Company’s growth strategy includes scaling manufacturing and expanding into key markets starting with Australia. With board renewal, we have brought in sport and consumer expertise, and a refreshed leadership team with global sports tech experience will support this shift, alongside plans to build a leading concussion dataset for stakeholders. With the VAFA partnership as a springboard, this strategic shift sets HITIQ on a clear course for profitability.

Earl Eddings will be presenting the attached slides this week for a non-deal Asia roadshow.

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (March 21) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) is currently trading at US$83,955.92, a 0.7 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The day’s trading range has seen a low of US$83,238.78 and a high of US$84,411.85.

A new analysis by trading resource Material Indicators on March 20 (Thursday) identified a classic manipulatory device known as spoofing by one or more whales as a reason why Bitcoin failed to sustain or rally past US$87,500 yesterday. Crypto markets are seeing decreased speculative trading, indicated by a lower Bitcoin hot supply. Analysts predict bearish trends could continue, with Bitcoin possibly dropping to $60,000.

Bitcoin performance, March 21, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Ethereum (ETH) is priced at US$1,973.30, trading flat over the same period. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,938.90 and a high of US$1,976.41.

Crypto analytics platform Santiment observed the lowest supply of Ether on crypto exchanges since November 2015, which suggests that investors are moving their ETH into cold storage wallets for long-term holding. This could lead to a supply shock, resulting in a potential price surge.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) is currently valued at US$128.15, up 0.2 percent over the past 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$125.34 and a high of US$129.04 on Friday.
    • Sui (SUI) is priced at US$2.27, showing a 4.6 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$2.24 and a high of US$2.29.
    • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.7105, reflecting a 1.1 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Friday was US$0.7017, with a high of US$0.7167.

    Crypto news to know

    Australia exploring digital asset integration

    The Australian government is developing a regulatory framework for digital assets, focusing on digital asset platforms (DAPs) and payment stablecoins. According to a white paper released by the Treasury office, the reforms aim to balance innovation with consumer protection, aligning with international best practices.

    Key elements include extending existing financial services laws to DAPs, treating payment stablecoins as stored-value facilities and reviewing the enhanced regulatory sandbox. Under the framework, the government plans to explore the potential of digital asset technology, while addressing de-banking issues and considering future initiatives such as the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework, central bank digital currencies, tokenization and decentralized finance.

    The paper details a pilot program that centers around exploring the practical applications of tokenization in financial markets, particularly in the wholesale sector. The program will be executed in collaboration with the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Center, the Treasury, ASIC and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

    These developments come ahead of a federal election slated for May 17 or earlier.

    Coinbase in talks to acquire Deribit

    Coinbase is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform Deribit, according to a Bloomberg report released on Friday afternoon.

    According to sources cited by the news outlet, the move aims to bolster Coinbase’s presence in the institutional crypto trading space by integrating Deribit’s established options and futures offerings.

    The acquisition would allow Coinbase to diversify its revenue streams and cater to sophisticated traders seeking complex financial instruments, potentially solidifying its position as a comprehensive crypto exchange in a rapidly evolving market.

    The companies have not commented on the potential deal, but have reportedly notified regulators in Dubai where Deribit holds a license.

    Canary Capital files to list Pengu ETF

    Canary Capital has filed US regulatory documents to list an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that would hold Pengu (PENGU), the governance token of the Pudgy Penguins non-fungible token (NFT) project.

    This move follows an earlier proposal by the investment firm to offer the first Sui ETF on Monday (March 17).

    The proposed Pengu ETF aims to hold spot PENGU and Pudgy Penguins NFTs, potentially becoming the first US ETF to hold NFTs if approved. The filing also reveals plans for the ETF to hold other digital assets, such as SOL and ETH, for transactions related to the PENGU and Pudgy Penguins NFTs.

    As of March 21, PENGU had a market cap of approximately US$395 million, according to CoinGecko.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

    The Trump administration is calling on Iran to give up its entire nuclear program or face the consequences, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said Sunday.

    Waltz said it was time for Iran to ‘walk away completely’ from its pursuit of nuclear weapons, pushing for a ‘full dismantlement’ during an appearance on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation.’

    ‘This isn’t some kind of, you know, kind of tit-for-tat that we had under the Obama administration or Biden,’ Waltz said. ‘This is the full program. Give it up or there will be consequences.’

    Waltz did not specify what kind of consequences Iran could face, though he said President Donald Trump is keeping ‘all options on the table,’ including diplomacy.

    Waltz said the Trump administration wants Iran to give up its nuclear program ‘in a way that the entire world can see.’

    ‘If [Iran] had nuclear weapons, the entire Middle East would explode in an arms race,’ he said. ‘That is completely unacceptable to our national security. I won’t get into what the back-and-forth has been, but Iran is in the worst place it has been from its own national security since 1979.’

    Tensions between Tehran and Washington have been high since Iran’s proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, launched attacks on Israel in the past few years. Iran directly traded fire with Israel twice last year.

    Trump has threatened U.S. military action if Iran doesn’t negotiate a new agreement on its nuclear program.

    Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said he isn’t interested in talks with a ‘bullying government,’ though Iranian diplomats, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, previously suggested that talks could be possible. Araghchi later toughened his stance, following Khamenei’s lead.

    The original 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama allowed Iran to enrich uranium up to only 3.67% purity and to maintain a uranium stockpile of 661 pounds. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s last report on Iran’s program put its stockpile at 18,286 pounds as it enriches a fraction of it to 60% purity.

    U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program, but has ‘undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.’

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

    President Donald Trump’s envoy to Russia and Ukraine says he doesn’t believe Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to invade Europe.

    Envoy Steve Witkoff made the statement during a Sunday morning appearance on ‘Fox News Sunday,’ commenting on Putin’s motives on a ‘larger scale.’

    ‘Now I’ve been asked my opinion about what President Putin’s motives are on a larger scale. And I simply have said that I just don’t see that he wants to take all of Europe,’ Witkoff said.

    ‘This is a much different situation than it was in World War II. There was no NATO,’ he added. ‘I take him at his word in this sense.’

    The comments come just before Witkoff is set to meet with Russian and Ukrainian delegations for indirect ceasefire talks in Saudia Arabia. Trump’s administration hopes to mediate a larger peace deal.

    ‘I think you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire,’ he said Sunday.

    Moscow spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that there are many roadblocks that could prevent a peace deal, however.

    ‘We are only at the beginning of this path,’ he told reporters this weekend.

    Russia launched a massive drone attack targeting Kyiv and other major cities in Ukraine overnight on Sunday, highlighting just how far there is to go before a peace agreement can be made.

    Ukraine’s air force says the Russian attack involved 147 drones, 97 of which were shot down and 25 others failed to reach their targets.

    Ukrainians at the scene of the attacks in Kyiv surveyed the damage done to their homes and neighborhoods on Sunday morning. Many were disparaging of the upcoming ceasefire talks, pointing to the burned-out homes destroyed in the drone attack, saying these were more indicative of Russia’s true intentions.

    This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

    President Donald Trump has issued an endorsement in Wisconsin’s upcoming state Supreme Court race, as the formally bipartisan contest draws mega-donor dollars over its potential national implications.

    Trump threw his support behind conservative Brad Schimel, the former Wisconsin Attorney General who is currently a Waukesha County judge. Republicans have warned that Schimel’s opponent, Dane County’s Susan Crawford, a liberal considered the Democrats’ preferred candidate, could support efforts to ‘draw out’ two U.S. House Republicans in future redistricting maps. 

    ‘In the Great State of Wisconsin, a Radical Left Democrat, one who is insistent on bringing hardened CRIMINALS, that we removed to far away places, back into our Country, allowing men into women’s sports, Open Borders, and more, is running against a strong, Common Sense Republican, JUST CALL HIM BRAD, for the Wisconsin Supreme Court,’ Trump wrote on TRUTH Social on Sunday.

    ‘It’s a really big and important race, and could have much to do with the future of our Country. Get out and VOTE, NOW, for the Republican Candidate — BRAD!!!’ Trump said. 

    It’s not the first time Trump has voiced support for Schimel. The Wisconsin Supreme Court election is scheduled for April 1, but Trump called supporters to turn out Saturday, as early voting had already begun. 

    ‘Brad Schimel is running against Radical Left Liberal Susan Crawford, who has repeatedly given child molesters, rapists, women beaters, and domestic abusers ‘light’ sentences,’ Trump wrote Saturday on his social media platform. ‘She is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country — And if she wins, the Movement to restore our Nation will bypass Wisconsin. All Voters who believe in Common Sense should GET OUT TO VOTE EARLY for Brad Schimel.’

    ‘By turning out and VOTING EARLY, you will be helping to Uphold the Rule of Law, Protect our Incredible Police, Secure our Beloved Constitution, Safeguard our Inalienable Rights, and PRESERVE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL,’ Trump said. 

    Democrats and Republicans have traded barbs on billionaires’ influence in the election. George Soros, the far-left Hungarian American billionaire, poured $1 million into Wisconsin Democrats’ coffers last month to benefit Crawford’s campaign. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who is leading the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has funded two groups that have together spent more than $10 million to promote Schimel, according to the Associated Press. 

    Both sides have been boosted by additional mega-money. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker – whose family owns Hyatt Hotels – dumped $500,000 into WisDems coffers, and other six-figure pitches came from Lynde Uihlein – a Schlitz Beer heiress – LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and the mother of a Google co-founder. Meanwhile, Joe Ricketts – co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and father of Nebraska’s GOP governor – was listed as a top donor to Wisconsin Republicans ahead of the election – as well as Liz Uihlein, a cousin-by-marriage of Lynde Uihlein and president of Uline shipping supply company. 

    Donald Trump Jr. notably held an event for Schimel last week. 

    Republicans are branding Crawford as ‘dangerously liberal,’ citing support from Soros, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as well as activist groups who support gender-transition surgeries for minors and allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports.

    A source familiar with the race warned of Crawford’s candidacy as part of an ongoing ‘radical’ shift in Wisconsin – both with liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz’ similarly contentious election in 2023 and Gov. Tony Evers’ move to replace ‘mother’ in the state budget dozens of times with ‘inseminated person.’

    Republicans also accuse Crawford of signaling a willingness to ‘legislate from the bench,’ citing her past role in challenging the state’s voter ID law and her appearance at a January event hosted by a liberal donor group aiming to unseat Reps. Bryan Steil of Janesville and Derrick Van Orden of Prairie du Chien.

    In January, Wisconsin Republicans also claimed that Crawford would seek ‘selling two of Wisconsin seats’ after a New York Times report cited donors hoping that Crawford’s win would lead to Steil’s and Van Orden’s ouster.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

    Peace talks between U.S. and Russian delegations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine are underway Monday in Saudi Arabia, according to media reports. 

    The discussions come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a delegation from his country had a ‘quite useful’ meeting with an American team in Riyadh on Sunday. 

    ‘Our team is working in a fully constructive manner, and the discussion is quite useful. The work of delegations continues. But no matter what we’re discussing with our partners right now, Putin must be pushed to issue a real order to stop the strikes – because the one who brought this war must be the one to take it back,’ Zelenskyy said. 

    The U.S. delegation meeting with the Russians on Monday is led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, the director of the policy planning staff at the State Department, Reuters reported. It added that the Russians are represented by Grigory Karasin, the leader of the Russian upper house of parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of Russia’s Federal Security Service. 

    The delegations will focus on a ceasefire in the Black Sea, according to a report by Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, citing U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. In the next stage of the talks, the two sides will discuss ‘issues related to the verification of the ceasefire, the peacekeeping contingent, as well as the ownership of territories.’ 

    President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News he doesn’t believe Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to invade Europe. 

    ‘Now I’ve been asked my opinion about what President Putin’s motives are on a larger scale. And I simply have said that I just don’t see that he wants to take all of Europe,’ Witkoff said during an appearance on ‘Fox News Sunday.’

    ‘This is a much different situation than it was in World War II. There was no NATO,’ he added. ‘I take him at his word in this sense.’

    ‘I think you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire,’ Witkoff also said Sunday. 

    Russia launched a massive drone attack targeting Kyiv and other major cities in Ukraine overnight on Sunday, highlighting just how far there is to go before a peace agreement can be made. 

    Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. 

    This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

    The Senate Republican campaign committee is calling on GOP senators to showcase the mission of President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk to ‘eliminate wasteful spending’ by the federal government.

    In a memo shared first with Fox News on Monday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is urging senators to spotlight that Trump’s recently created Department of Government Efficiency, better known by its acronym DOGE, is pushing to ‘streamline federal operations, eliminate wasteful spending, and reduce the size of the bloated federal bureaucracy.’

    The memo points to recent national surveys, including the latest Fox News poll, that indicate majority support by Americans to tackle federal waste and fraud and downsize the government.

    But those same surveys also point to the public’s dissatisfaction with how DOGE is carrying out its mission, including major cuts to the federal government workforce. And the polls indicate that Americans hold an unfavorable view of Musk, the world’s richest person and the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, whom Trump picked to steer DOGE.

    DOGE has swept through federal agencies during the first two months of the Trump administration, rooting out what the White House argues was billions in wasteful federal spending. Additionally, it has taken a meat cleaver to the federal workforce, resulting in a massive downsizing of employees. The moves by DOGE grabbed tons of national attention and have triggered a slew of lawsuits in response.

    The Democratic National Committee as well as congressional Democrats have repeatedly targeted both DOGE and Musk.

    ‘Trump’s Firing Spree Devastates Veterans, Children with Disabilities – and His Own Supporters,’ the subject line of a recent DNC email to supporters claimed.

    But the NRSC, pointing to the polls which indicate the popularity of the DOGE mission, calls on GOP senators to ‘drive the message that President Trump and Senate Republicans are undoing the Biden-Harris spending that drove inflation and higher costs of living.’

    The NRSC also emphasizes that senators and their communications staff should highlight the ‘overall popularity of cutting wasteful spending’ and offer ‘numerous examples of egregious waste, fraud, and abuse throughout the federal government.’

    The NRSC also calls on senators and their staff to ‘work with Musk, the DOGE team, and Cabinet secretaries to identify any mistakes, request quick action, and communicate as one team.’

    And Senate Republican communications staff are urged to ‘make suggestions about potential cuts publicly and privately. Be a leader on cuts your Senator is passionate about through regional and new media.’

    Looking ahead to next year’s midterm elections, when the GOP aims to expand its 53-47 majority in the chamber, the NRSC emphasizes that ‘Senate Republicans have one job: lock arms with the White House, amplify this fight, and ride this wave to victory in 2026.’

    And the NRSC warns that ‘the alternative – fracture, waffling, silence – cedes trust, voters, and the narrative to Democrats.’

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