by Met Middleson
June 19, 2025
Just one day after Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of a “meaningful amount” of inflation arriving in the coming months, President Trump is lashing out, calling Powell one of “the dumbest, and most destructive” people in government.
In a post this morning on Truth Social, Trump claimed Powell had cost the U.S. “hundreds of billions” by failing to cut interest rates sooner, blaming him and the Fed Board for missing an opportunity to lower borrowing costs on Biden’s short term debt. “Europe has had 10 cuts, we have had none,” Trump wrote. “TOO LATE’s an American Disgrace!”
But Powell’s comments on Wednesday painted a more cautious picture. While long term inflation expectations remain anchored, short term pressures tied to tariffs and trade disruptions are still rising. The Fed signaled it may delay cuts if inflation proves more persistent than expected. That restraint has been key. It was the Fed’s aggressive rate hikes, not political posturing, that pulled inflation down from record highs. The current economic stability is not a fluke, it’s the result of hard calls made early and held through pressure.
by Met Middleson
June 18, 2025
Trump is back on Truth Social, not just pushing policy but pitching product. He called the GENIUS Act an “incredible bill” that would make America the “undisputed leader in digital assets.” He told the House to pass it clean, with “NO DELAYS, NO ADD ONS.” What he didn’t mention is that the bill could also make his family a fortune.
Critics are calling it a conflict in plain sight. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley have raised alarms that the bill opens the door for industry insiders to profit off regulation they helped write. While it bars members of Congress from investing in stablecoins they oversee, the bill says nothing about the president or his family. The exemption may be legal, but it leaves the door wide open for presidential self-dealing.
The GENIUS Act creates the first full federal framework for stablecoins, requiring issuers to back their digital dollars with cash or Treasury assets and to meet new audit and disclosure rules. It bans unlicensed coins, sets redemption guarantees, and gives regulators the power to approve or shut down stablecoin firms.
And the Trump family owns sixty percent of one of those firms. World Liberty Financial, the company behind USD1, is already in compliance with the new standards. It is backed by dollars and Treasuries, positioned to benefit as the law forces out less regulated competitors. Trump backs the law. His family holds the asset. The gains are personal.
by Met Middleson
June 18, 2025
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a stark warning during his Q&A session Wednesday, stating that policymakers expect a “meaningful amount” of inflation to appear in the near term. The comment reflects growing concern inside the Fed that recent price pressures, especially those tied to tariffs and trade disruptions, are beginning to ripple through the economy.
While Powell emphasized that the long-term outlook still includes a return to lower inflation, his acknowledgment of short-term price surges marks a shift in tone. It suggests the Fed may not be as close to cutting rates as markets had hoped. Instead, the central bank is signaling a “wait-and-see” approach, where flexibility will depend on how quickly inflation shows up, and how persistent it proves to be.
The remark comes just after the Fed voted to hold rates steady and reiterated its forecast of two cuts by year’s end. But Powell’s off-script language hints at rising internal uncertainty. If higher inflation does materialize in the months ahead, the Fed could be forced to delay rate cuts, or even consider tightening further.
by Met Middleson
June 18, 2025
President Trump claimed earlier today that Iranian officials had offered to “come to the White House,” calling it “courageous” and suggesting they made the offer because he could not travel abroad. “They even suggested they come to the White House. That’s courageous, but it’s not easy for them to do,” Trump said. “But they suggest because I can’t go now because of what is going on.”
Shortly after, Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a fiery public statement denying the account entirely. In a sharply worded post, the official @Iran_UN account declared, “No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House.” The statement went on to call Trump’s remarks cowardly and accused him of clinging to relevance through threats.
The Iranian delegation added that Iran would “respond to any threat with a counter-threat, and to any action with reciprocal measures,” further escalating tensions following Trump’s recent remarks suggesting a willingness to “take out” Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Photo by Diego Cambiaso
by Met Middleson
June 18, 2025
In an off-the-cuff moment outside the White House, President Trump gestured toward the cameras and warned that anyone undocumented would be “checked” and have their life “destroyed” simply for appearing at a press conference.
The comment came during a brief exchange with reporters in front of construction workers installing two 100-foot flagpoles. When asked about illegal immigration, Trump responded with mock suspicion—“Any illegal immigrants here?”—before escalating: “They’ll be checking you and you won’t believe. Your whole life will be destroyed because of this press conference.”
While the tone may have been half-joking, the message was clear. Trump directly tied “being an illegal” to media scrutiny, surveillance, and personal ruin. Whether the warning referenced ICE, journalists, or both, the implication was unmistakable: if you’re undocumented, even being near a camera could end your life as you know it.
by Met Middleson
June 18, 2025
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded sharply this morning to what he characterized as a demand for “surrender” from U.S. President Donald Trump. In a pair of posts from his official X account, Khamenei accused the American president of using “absurd rhetoric” to intimidate the Iranian people and vowed that the nation would never yield under pressure. “The Iranian nation isn’t frightened by such threats,” he declared.
Khamenei’s remarks appear to reject any diplomatic opening tied to concessions. “We will never surrender in response to the attacks of anyone,” he wrote. The posts were made after President Trump called for what he described as Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” amid escalating tensions in the region and reports of U.S. naval repositioning. The Supreme Leader’s language echoed Iran’s wartime ethos, positioning resistance as a core national value.
The exchange comes as pressure mounts across Middle Eastern capitals, with allies and adversaries watching for signs of military escalation. While U.S. officials have not publicly detailed any ultimatum, the rhetoric from both sides is growing sharper. Khamenei’s early morning statements suggest that Iran’s leadership views the confrontation not just as geopolitical, but as existential.
by Met Middleson
June 17, 2025
President Donald Trump issued two striking messages just three minutes apart on Truth Social. First, he warned that the United States knows the exact location of Iran’s “so-called Supreme Leader,” calling him an “easy target” but stating that the U.S. would not “take him out” for now. Trump added that attacks on civilians or American soldiers would not be tolerated and said, “Our patience is wearing thin.”
Minutes later, he followed up with a second message in all capital letters: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” The post contained no further details but appeared to escalate the tone from warning to demand. It drew immediate attention online and sparked speculation about whether it signals a shift in U.S. posture toward Iran.
The sequence of posts comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East and ongoing Israeli military operations. With Trump’s language becoming more direct, observers are watching closely to determine whether these statements are part of coordinated messaging or a prelude to new action.
by Met Middleson
June 17, 2025
President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social this morning that “we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” praising American-made military technology while mocking Iran’s air defense systems as inferior. The statement raises fresh questions about the level of U.S. military involvement in the escalating conflict.
By using “we,” Trump appears to align the United States directly with the air campaign underway over Iranian territory, despite no formal announcement from the Pentagon or public authorization from Congress from Congress. The post includes no clarification on whether U.S. assets are conducting operations independently or in coordination with Israeli forces.
The comment comes amid a flurry of military activity across the region and growing speculation about the extent of U.S. engagement. No official statement has been issued to clarify the nature of American involvement described in the post.
by Met Middleson
June 17, 2025
President Donald Trump is rejecting reports that he extended a peace offer to Iran, directly contradicting comments made just hours earlier by French President Emmanuel Macron. In a post published to Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I have not reached out to Iran for ‘Peace Talks’ in any way, shape, or form. This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS!”
Macron, speaking at the G7 summit before Trump’s early departure, stated that “an offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions.” The French president confirmed that both Iran and Israel were presented with a proposal. He framed the move as a chance for diplomacy but warned that its success would depend on American leverage, particularly with Israel.
The disconnect between Macron’s remarks and Trump’s denial raises new questions about who initiated the outreach and whether any diplomatic effort remains on the table. Trump’s earlier call for civilians in Tehran to evacuate immediately had already triggered speculation about a shift toward military escalation. With European diplomats suggesting Iran may be open to talks if bombing halts, the U.S. position appears far less clear.
by Met Middleson
June 16, 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed today that President Donald Trump has extended a ceasefire offer to both Iran and Israel. The announcement followed Trump’s sudden departure from the G7 summit in Banff, where he left a day early to return to Washington.
“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange,” Macron told reporters. “An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions.” He called the move a positive development but noted that real progress depends on whether the United States uses its influence, particularly with Israel.
In the same briefing, Macron cautioned against any military effort to topple the Iranian regime. He described such actions as a strategic error and added, “All who have thought that by bombing from the outside you can save a country in spite of itself have always been mistaken.”
Earlier in the day, Trump posted on Truth Social urging civilians in Tehran to evacuate immediately. The post alarmed observers and fueled speculation that the United States might be giving Israel approval for further military escalation.
European diplomats say Iran has signaled interest in returning to nuclear negotiations, but only if Israel halts its current bombing campaign. Whether Trump will push for that remains unclear. Macron’s statements suggest a ceasefire channel has opened, but the outcome now depends on what Trump chooses to do next.