Treasury Department OFAC

Business

Federal Narrative Shifts in Minneapolis Protester Shooting: From 'Violent Riot' to 'Yelling and Whistles'

The Department of Homeland Security has significantly softened its initial characterization of the events leading to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by border agents, now describing the scene as involving 'several civilians' rather than a riot, raising questions about the justification for the use of deadly force.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Washington Scrambles to Avert Shutdown as Minneapolis Tensions Influence DHS Funding Fight

Lawmakers are negotiating a short-term deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. The talks occur against the backdrop of heightened political pressure following recent violence in Minneapolis and a shift in the administration's enforcement rhetoric.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Slide Tied to $300 Billion Liquidity Squeeze, Says Arthur Hayes

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes argues that Bitcoin's recent downturn is a symptom of a broader $300 billion contraction in U.S. dollar liquidity, driven by Treasury cash management and tighter financial conditions, rather than crypto-specific weakness.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Dollar, Yields Climb as Trump Nears Fed Chair Pick, With Warsh Seen as Front-Runner

The U.S. dollar and Treasury yields advanced amid reports President Trump is set to nominate former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as the next central bank chief, a choice markets interpret as leaning hawkish and likely to slow the pace of interest rate cuts.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

L3Harris Declares "Best Year Ever," Charts Course with Missile Unit IPO and Strategic Portfolio Shift

Defense contractor L3Harris Technologies capped off a record 2025 with surging orders and a strategic pivot, announcing plans to take its high-growth Missile Solutions unit public in 2026 while securing a novel $1 billion investment from the Department of War to accelerate production.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Cameco's Westinghouse Venture Secures Key U.S. Agreement, Anchoring $80 Billion Nuclear Reactor Pipeline

A landmark agreement between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Cameco-Westinghouse joint venture aims to catalyze over $80 billion in new nuclear reactor construction by 2030, bolstering Western energy security and reducing reliance on Russian nuclear fuel.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

MicroStrategy Doubles Down on Bitcoin Bet, Raising Investor Concerns Over Share Dilution

MicroStrategy has added nearly 3,000 Bitcoins to its corporate treasury, solidifying its lead as the largest public holder of the cryptocurrency. The purchase, funded by new stock sales, intensifies the debate over the company's valuation and the risks of its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Crypto Mogul Justin Sun Plans $100M Bitcoin Buy Amid Market Downturn

Tron founder Justin Sun announces plans to acquire up to $100 million in Bitcoin as prices dip below $77,000, contrasting with corporate treasury losses and broader market caution.

Feb 2, 2026

Trump Nominates Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to Helm Central Bank Amid Probe into Current Chair Powell

Former President Donald Trump has announced Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor and economic advisor, as his pick to lead the central bank. The nomination comes as incumbent Chair Jerome Powell faces a federal investigation related to his congressional testimony.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Utah Banker Who Built a Wall: Marriner Eccles and the Battle for Fed Independence

As political pressure on the Federal Reserve intensifies, the legacy of Marriner Eccles—the Utah banker who architected its modern independence—offers a crucial lesson. A BYU expert explains why shielding monetary policy from politics remains vital for economic stability.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Warsh's Fed Nomination: A Hawkish Pick in a Dovish Political Climate

President Trump's reported selection of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to lead the central bank signals a potential shift in monetary policy approach, with a focus on strategic foresight over data-dependency, according to economist Mohamed El-Erian.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Powell Defends Fed's Models and Staff as Trump Taps Critic Warsh for Top Job

In remarks that now appear pointed, Fed Chair Jerome Powell robustly defended the central bank's personnel and economic frameworks just days before former Governor Kevin Warsh, a vocal critic, was nominated to potentially succeed him.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump Taps Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh for Central Bank's Top Job

President Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor and longtime critic of its recent policy, to be the next chair of the central bank, setting up a potential shift in monetary policy amid ongoing tensions over interest rates and Fed independence.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Winter Crisis Deepens as U.S. Energy Aid for Ukraine Remains Stalled in Bureaucratic Maze

Promised U.S. funds to repair Ukraine's war-shattered energy grid are caught in administrative limbo, leaving millions vulnerable to extreme cold amid renewed Russian strikes and internal U.S. agency disputes.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Alberta Separatists Seek Trump's Ear, Testing U.S.-Canada Ties Amid Sovereignty Fears

Reports of U.S. officials meeting with Alberta independence advocates have ignited a diplomatic row, as Canada's western province weighs a contentious push for sovereignty with an eye toward Washington.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump Poised to Name Kevin Warsh as Next Fed Chair, Setting Stage for Monetary Policy Shift

President Trump is expected to nominate former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair, a move that could signal a pivot toward aggressive rate cuts paired with a reduction of the central bank's balance sheet, reshaping the landscape for markets and cryptocurrencies.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions, Opens Door for American Firms to Revive Crude Sector

The Trump administration has issued a broad license allowing U.S. entities to engage in key oil activities in Venezuela, a major sanctions relief step aimed at jumpstarting the nation's crippled energy industry under its new U.S.-backed leadership.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Venezuela Opens Oil Sector to Private Investment in Major Policy Shift

In a landmark move, Venezuela's parliament has passed reforms to its hydrocarbons law, easing state control and aiming to lure back foreign capital to its struggling oil industry, coinciding with a partial easing of U.S. sanctions.

Jan 30, 2026

US

Lankford's 'Federal Fumbles' Report Targets Millions in NIH Grants for Transgender Animal Studies, Fetal Tissue Research

Senator James Lankford's annual oversight report details what he calls wasteful federal spending, including controversial NIH-funded projects on transgender-related animal testing and aborted fetal tissue research, reigniting debates on scientific priorities and fiscal responsibility.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Saks to Shutter Three New Jersey Stores, Cutting 69 Jobs Ahead of 2026 Bankruptcy

Luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue is laying off 69 employees in New Jersey as it closes three discount outlets, part of a broader restructuring following its acquisition of Neiman Marcus and a pre-negotiated bankruptcy filing.

Feb 2, 2026