News - February 19, 2025

In the neon-lit sprawl of the urban jungle, the power players keep flexing their chrome, but the streets ain't blind to their moves. President Trump, ever the puppet master, took to his soapbox to slam Ukraine's President Zelensky, dubbing him a "dictator without elections." This, after sidelining Ukraine in backdoor powwows with Russia in Saudi Arabia. Zelensky's crime? Pushing for a seat at the table while his nation's under siege. Trump's chest-thumping claims of being the sole peace broker ring hollow, especially when his cronies, like VP JD Vance and tech mogul Elon Musk, parrot his lines. Meanwhile, Zelensky's call for genuine dialogue and the backing of U.S. allies highlights who's really standing up for the people.

Speaking of Musk, the so-called visionary is hustling to raise funds for X, the artist formerly known as Twitter, pegging its worth at the same $44 billion he shelled out in '22. Despite the platform's nosedive post-takeover, Musk's pushing premium subs and cozying up his AI venture, xAI, which is also shaking the tin cup for a cool $75 billion. Fidelity's 72% markdown of their stake tells the real story. Banks offloading debt tied to Musk's buyout hint at a sinking ship, even as his personal coffers swell, thanks to his bromance with the Trump regime. Musk's pipe dream of morphing X into an all-in-one app, complete with "X Money" payments, seems more like a distraction from the platform's implosion.

Trump's domestic playbook isn't any better. He's pointing fingers at Ukraine for Russia's aggression, suggesting they should've cut deals to dodge conflict. Labeling Zelensky a "dictator" for pausing elections during wartime? That's rich, especially when Trump's eyeing a tête-à-tête with Putin. On the home front, his DOJ's shady move to quash corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams reeks of backroom deals. And pulling the plug on legal aid for unaccompanied immigrant kids? That's a new low, even for him. While Trump plays kingmaker, real leaders are tackling issues like renewable energy and public health, making his antics look like the sideshow they are.

Musk's latest brainwave, the "Doge dividend," proposes a one-off $5K tax refund to Americans, funded by cuts from his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This scheme, cooked up by Azoria's James Fishback, aims to sweeten taxpayers who've been burned by government waste. While Musk's toying with the idea, it's just another headline-grabber, especially when past stimulus checks came from fresh funds, not phantom savings.

In a move straight out of a dystopian playbook, Trump slapped a 25% tariff on lumber and forest products, set to hit around April 2. This, on top of planned tariffs on cars, chips, and meds. His beef? Countries like India making it "impossible" to sell American cars due to steep import taxes. But instead of real diplomacy, he's opting for trade wars, leaving industries and consumers to pick up the tab.

While Trump and Musk play their power games, the real MVPs are the everyday netrunners and street samurais pushing back against the system, fighting for a future that doesn't bow to corporate overlords and political puppeteers.