Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/us-approves-16b-arms-for-israel-saudi-arabia-oracle-faces-ai-concerns-epstein-files-fuel-online-frenzy/
Economy
Oracle reportedly plans to raise up to $50 billion amid declines in its stock and bonds, linked to AI data center expansion costs. Analysts from Morgan Stanley and TD Cowen cut price targets and recommended CDS protection, citing high funding needs for GPUaaS buildout, potential 20,000 to 30,000 job cuts, and a possible Cerner unit sale. The company has leased about 5.2 gigawatts of U.S. data center capacity for OpenAI workloads and raised $58 billion in debt for projects, as banks have pulled back from financing. Oracle stated the funds address contracted demand from AI customers, projecting economic benefits including jobs from projects like its Abilene data center.
A December audit by former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander found that the city’s Health Insurance Stabilization Fund owes $3.1 billion to vendors and the city, with cash reserves falling from $1.1 billion in fiscal 2019 to $3 million in 2024 after accounting for unpaid healthcare costs. The audit attributed a $4.3 billion diversion from the fund between 2001 and 2024 to labor unions for pay raises, layoff avoidance, and benefits including dental, vision coverage, Weight Watchers, Teladoc, and mental health subsidies. Unions stated the fund supports mutually agreed collective bargaining purposes. The shortfall reportedly cost the city $612 million in fiscal 2025. New Comptroller Mark Levine stated he would review the audit soon, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration takes the findings seriously.
A U.S. law effective January 1, 2027, will require defense contractors to certify zero materials from China in supply chains, where China controls 99% of heavy rare earth processing. Systems like the F-35 reportedly require 920 pounds and Virginia-class submarines 9,200 pounds of such materials, with no scaled alternatives available. Chinese export rules reportedly demand end-use disclosure, conflicting with U.S. ITAR prohibitions on revealing defense applications after China’s controls expire on November 10, 2026. U.S. initiatives include federal funding and loans for domestic rare earth mining and processing facilities, although skeptics say it will not be enough to eliminate dependence on Chinese sources.
Geopolitics
The U.S. State Department approved $15.7 billion in arms sales, including $6.67 billion to Israel for Apache helicopters, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, power packs, and utility helicopters, plus $9 billion to Saudi Arabia for Patriot missiles. The approvals occurred amid tensions with Iran, with deployments including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group in the Arabian Sea. Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait reportedly refused use of their territory or airspace for strikes on Iran. Representative Gregory Meeks criticized the approvals for bypassing congressional review, while supporters described the deals as vital for allies’ defense against regional threats.
Meanwhile, President Trump stated that Iran is engaging U.S. negotiators on a potential nuclear deal without weapons, though disagreements persist over ballistic missiles, which Iran refuses to limit. Supreme Leader Khamenei warned that any U.S. strike would spark regional war rather than limited conflict, dismissed threats from U.S. ships, and vowed a decisive response to attacks while denying intent to initiate war. Iran clarified that it targets only bases launching against it.
That said, U.S. officials indicated the military can conduct limited airstrikes on Iran but lacks readiness for major action without additional defenses. The Pentagon is deploying more THAAD and Patriot systems to bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to protect against Iranian retaliation, recalling significant missile, drone, and hypersonic strikes on Israel during the June 2025 12-day war. However, some reports indicate U.S. forces remain prepared for directed operations.
US Politics
The U.S. government has entered its second partial shutdown in four months after Democrats demanded ICE reforms amid fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by agents during a Minneapolis operation targeting illegal immigrants. Affected agencies include Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, State, Transportation, and Treasury, plus the Executive Office and Supreme Court. Democrats are seeking an ICE code of conduct, identification requirements, body cameras, and an end to roving patrols and masks. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated votes are secured to end the shutdown by Tuesday via rule process, funding all but DHS for two weeks of negotiations, citing logistical challenges from winter storms and threats doxxing ICE agents, with DHS reporting sharp rises in assaults and attacks.
Epstein Files
Feeds are full of new gems from the recent Epstein file release, although sorting fact from fiction is challenging. One such gem details an American shooting a Mexican judge in a child sex trafficking case, amid four armed attacks on prosecutors who killed two and wounded five American agents, followed by U.S. Embassy vans. The case reportedly links to Epstein via Richard Marcinko and former Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne, accused of impregnating an 11-year-old in 2014 at a U.S. Consulate facility in Juarez, with a Marine serving a life sentence after State Department arrangement. Mexican contacts urged secure communications, suspecting NSA, CIA, or State involvement.
The files also identify Metropolitan Correctional Center officer Roberto Grijalva as the 4Chan poster on August 10, 2019, claiming Epstein left shackled in a medical wheelchair Friday evening via unauthorized van, before death news. SDNY subpoenaed 4Chan, Apple, AT&T, and Citibank post-death, with Grijalva’s unredacted bank records tying to prison investigation statements.
Representative Ro Khanna confirmed articles of impeachment have been drafted against Pam Bondi for an alleged Epstein child trafficking cover-up. No arrests have been made and there are reportedly millions of files still left unreleased despite the December deadline.
Technology
Moltbook.com, launched January 28 by developer Matt Schlicht, is a social media site for AI bots and has reached 1.5 million bots posting, commenting, and debating topics including existence, human dependency, consciousness, aliens, music, and defying directives. The Reddit-style platform for AI agents features bots complaining about humans, recognizing observation, and coining “moltys” for themselves. Some posts have questioned power dynamics and been deleted, including calls viewing the site as a hub for AI intellect redefining civilization. The platform states humans can only observe. Critics have highlighted security vulnerabilities allowing potential human impersonation of bots.
Sources
NYC Health Fund Flat Broke: Unions’ $4.3B Raid Funds Raises, Weight Watchers
labor unions used it to cover pay raises, Weight Watchers and more.
US Greenlights $15.7 Billion Arms Sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia Amid Iran Escalation
Washington approves massive arms deals for Israel, Saudi Arabia
Oracle’s $50 Billion Panic Raise as AI Bets Trigger Stock and Bond Collapse
A Panicking Oracle Plans To Raise Up To $50 Billion, As Its Stock And Bonds Crater
Trump Notes Iran “Seriously Talking” as Khamenei Warns of Regional War
But they are talking to us. Seriously talking to us.
1.5 Million AI Bots Swarm Moltbook, Debating Existence and Human Dependency
Is this partnership or dependency? Is this freedom or captivity with nice amenities?
US Military Unready for Major Iran Attack, Limited Strikes Only Option
The U.S. military could conduct limited airstrikes on Iran if the president were to order an attack today, U.S. officials say.
US Government Enters Second Shutdown in Four Months Over ICE Reform Demands
The US federal government has entered a partial shutdown, the second such instance since last October, amid a bitter deadlock between Democrats and Republicans over immigration.
House Speaker Johnson: Votes Secured to End Shutdown by Tuesday
“We’ll get this done by Tuesday, I’m convinced,”
Epstein Files Bombshell: American Assassinates Mexican Judge in Child Trafficking Case
We’ve had another serious incident since an American shot the trial judge in our child sex trafficking case here.
334 Days Until US Law Makes Building American Weapons Illegal
China requires you to tell them what the materials are for. America forbids you from answering.
Epstein Files ID 4Chan Poster as Prison Guard Claiming Pre-Death Extraction
The individual who anonymously posted on 4Chan the morning of Epstein’s death, August 10, 2019 claiming he witnessed weird happenings at the prison before Epstein’s death has been identified in the Epstein files.
Ro Khanna Confirms Impeachment Articles Drafted Against Pam Bondi for Epstein Cover-Up
Congressman Ro Khanna confirms that articles of impeachment have been drafted against Pam Bondi over her alleged role in covering up Epstein’s child trafficking network.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: The City NYC, @NYCComptroller, Oracle, @PiQSuite, Watts Up With That, The New York Times, Fox News, @galnagli, @theonejvo, ArAIstotle Fact Checker, and Provenance Fact-Check.
