Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/lng-joint-venture-between-us-and-japan-a-penny-for-your-thoughts/
Energy
President Donald Trump announced a joint venture between the United States and Japan focused on Alaska’s liquefied natural gas (LNG). During a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump stated that Japan will import American LNG, noting Alaska’s position as an oil and gas hub. This partnership is expected to create jobs and potentially reduce the trade deficit in Asia. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and Senator Dan Sullivan expressed optimism about the project’s potential to impact the American steel industry and provide energy to allies in the Asia-Pacific region. However, environmental groups like the Alaska Wilderness League have raised concerns about the potential greenhouse gas emissions from the project, which they argue could undermine global climate efforts.
Economy
President Trump has directed the U.S. Treasury to cease the production of pennies, citing the cost of minting the one-cent coin. The U.S. Mint reported that producing a penny costs 3.69 cents, marking the 19th consecutive year that production costs have exceeded the coin’s face value. Rising metal prices, particularly copper, have contributed to this increase. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has criticized the financial burden on taxpayers, noting that penny production cost over $179 million in the fiscal year 2023. Opponents, such as The Penny Coalition, argue that eliminating the penny could lead to price rounding that disproportionately affects lower-income individuals.
Politics
Elon Musk has claimed that FEMA misallocated $59 million intended for disaster relief to luxury hotels in New York City for housing migrants. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency plans to demand a clawback of these funds, citing a violation of the President’s executive order.
Meanwhile, a leaked FBI document has sparked controversy over planned ICE raids in Los Angeles. The leak, reportedly from FBI officials, has led to public criticism from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who condemned the FBI’s actions. The planned immigration enforcement operation aims to target individuals without legal status or with pending removal orders, with assistance from FBI and DEA agents. The FBI has denied involvement in the leak and announced an internal investigation to identify the source.
The UK government is reportedly involved in a controversy with Apple regarding iCloud encryption. Allegations suggest that the UK secretly ordered Apple to create a backdoor in its encrypted iCloud storage, potentially affecting two billion users worldwide. Apple is legally prohibited from disclosing this order, raising concerns about privacy and government overreach. Privacy advocates, such as Privacy International, have condemned the alleged order, calling it a violation of privacy rights and urging Apple to resist such demands.
USAID and BBC Media Action are facing scrutiny over allegations of censorship under the guise of combating misinformation. USAID has been accused of funding BBC Media Action, which is said to have participated in silencing independent health platforms through initiatives like the Trusted News Initiative. Critics argue that these efforts may undermine free speech and align with governmental interests. In response, USAID has stated that their funding is intended to support media development and freedom of expression, not censorship.
Finally, the problem of deteriorating infrastructure has been noted in advanced economies like the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Maintenance costs are rising, yet these expenditures do not directly contribute to economic output. The push for renewable energy adds complexity, requiring significant infrastructure investments without immediate economic benefits.
Sources
Trump Unveils Alaska-Japan LNG Partnership, Promises Energy Boost and Jobs
“Japan will soon begin importing historic new shipments of clean American liquefied natural gas in record numbers…We’re talking about the pipeline in Alaska, which is the closest point of major oil and gas to Japan by far…We’re talking about a joint venture of some type between Japan and us having to do with Alaska oil and gas,” Trump said during the news conference.
Source | Submitted by Mysterymet
The Infrastructure Time Bomb: When Maintenance Becomes a Liability
From the States to Europe and Japan, bridges, pipelines, dams, and a good portion of the electric grid has become a liability.
Source | Submitted by Barbara
UK Government Allegedly Orders Apple to Compromise iCloud Encryption for 2 Billion Users
The UK government secretly ordered Apple to backdoor encrypted iCloud storage worldwide.
Source | Submitted by bcoop
USAID and BBC Media Action: A Transatlantic Tango of Censorship and Influence?
USAID—the United States Agency for International Development—has funneled funds to the BBC, which in turn, through its development arm BBC Media Action, has engaged in activities that go beyond public service broadcasting.
Source | Submitted by PhilH
Trump Orders Treasury to Halt Penny Production Amid Rising Costs
“For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Source | Submitted by bcoop
Elon Musk Claims FEMA Misallocated $59M for Migrant Housing in NYC
The @DOGE team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants.
Source | Submitted by bcoop
FBI Leak Sparks Controversy Over Planned ICE Raids in Los Angeles
The operation, which would be spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will focus on people who do not have legal status in the country or who already have pending orders of removal, according to the document, which was circulated among some federal law enforcement officials this week.
Source | Submitted by AaronMcKeon
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Alaska Wilderness League, The Penny Coalition, The White House, Privacy International, USAID, The Washington Post, and FBI’s official account.