It was a rainy March evening in British Columbia, but that didn’t stop 29-year-old Giancarlo Zorrilla from attending his first political rally. Like many young Canadians, Zorrilla is fed up – and he’s placing his hopes in Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, while the Liberal Party is seeking a fourth term after globalist Justin Trudeau was forced to take the L.

“It’s time for a change,” Zorrilla told Bloomberg, heading into a Poilievre campaign stop near Vancouver. Though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is out of the picture, Zorrilla isn’t buying the Liberals’ rebrand. “Still the same rock band,” he quipped.

That frustration is bubbling over across Canada’s younger voters. Once wooed by promises of legalized pot and eco-friendly reforms, Millennials and Gen Z are now reeling from runaway housing prices and a cost-of-living crisis that’s left dreams of home ownership and early retirement in the dust.

While Poilievre has found resonance among the youth – roughly 39% of 18-to-34-year-olds back the Conservatives vs. 36% for the Liberals, per Nanos Research, not enough to catapult him ahead but still significant. With less than two weeks before election day, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals are holding a narrow lead overall, thanks in part to strong support from Canadian boomers.

Carney, 60, is virtually a stranger to the TikTok generation. His political playbook caters more to Baby Boomers than Zoomers, like the ad where he and “Austin Powers” star Mike Myers wax nostalgic about Mr. Dressup and The Tragically Hip. Good luck finding a Gen Z’er who knows who Howie Meeker is.

Yet it’s that very throwback charm that’s roped in voters like Tracy Nice, a 64-year-old lifelong Conservative who flipped blue over Carney’s steady hand and Canada’s souring relationship with the U.S.

“Carney just seems like a very smart, calm, thoughtful man who I trust,” Nice said. “And obviously the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England trusted him.”

Poilievre, meanwhile, has taken a different approach. He’s leaned into the social media era, ditching stuffy suits for tight tees, donning aviators, and even puffing hookah with a shawarma shop owner on YouTube while chatting about cryptocurrency. His message? Axe taxes, cut red tape, and let Canadians save – all wrapped in a swagger that channels online populism.

As Mark Jeftovic of Bombthrower.com notes, Canadian boomers are generally dicks:

The Liberal base has had it easy for a decade. With a compliant, sycophantic press and a loyal army of boomers—presumably the only ones still answering calls from pollsters on their wall-mounted rotary-dial landlines during CBC commercial breaks—they greet any resistance to the prospect of four more years of controlled demolition of the Canadian economy with smugness and derision.

There are endless cases caught on video of deranged elderly liberals gyrating in spasmodic fashion chanting “elbows up” at each other and the rest of us and they seem to think it’s some kind of “gotcha moment” to fly off the handle or flip us the bird…

Mating call of the white-haired Canadian boomer looking to fuck over their grandchildren. pic.twitter.com/XtAOBtLS40

— Tokyo Rosie (@RosieRocks29) April 19, 2025

But none of them has become more iconic than this one (at least not yet):

Elbows and/or fingers up. #cdnpoli #Brantford #Elxn45 #ProtestMania pic.twitter.com/jTKswfmgVp

— Caryma Sa’d – Lawyer + Political Satirist (@CarymaRules) April 19, 2025

Now, the “liberal boomer” image has gone viral and the guy who probably thought he was “0wning the opposition, lol” is a meme now – it has captured the essence of the Liberal Party’s campaign platform:

• Rack up another quarter-trillion in national debt by 2029.
• Build a bunch of “modular homes” and stick the rabble in them.

pic.twitter.com/INj7RZbytG

— Ryan Gerritsen🇨🇦🇳🇱 (@ryangerritsen) April 20, 2025

*  *  *

Thus, it’s no mystery why young men are flocking to the Conservatives – though the gender gap is hard to ignore. Twice as many women support Carney’s Liberals, while nearly half of male voters back Poilievre. Liberals were quick to pounce on the Tory leader’s use of the phrase “biological clock” during a speech on housing affordability, accusing him of tone-deafness on gender issues.

“Poilievre’s style is coded masculine,” said Laura Stephenson, a political science professor at Western University. “And the Conservative Party in general… has often been favored by men over women.”

Still, the youth surge behind Poilievre marks a generational reversal. Traditionally, young Canadians leaned left, while older voters skewed conservative. Now, with sky-high rents and stalled economic growth, the Liberal record is falling flat — even as the party racks up wins on progressive policies like pharmacare and dental care.

“We have legalized marijuana, we have pharmacare, we have dental care,” said Stephenson. “What many [young voters] still struggle with, though, is paying rent, or buying a home.”

And that, for Poilievre, may be his most potent talking point yet. Whether it’s enough to close the gap before voters hit the polls, that’s the billion-dollar question.

Update (1628ET): 

Pope Francis’ death earlier this morning triggered centuries-old traditions and rules within the Roman Catholic Church, including mourning and the selection of a new leader. 

Here are the key steps in selecting the new pope: 

Vacancy of the Papal See:

• The process begins when the papacy becomes vacant, typically due to the death of the reigning pope or, more rarely, resignation (e.g., Pope Benedict XVI in 2013).

• The Camerlengo, a cardinal appointed to manage the Church’s temporal affairs during the vacancy, verifies the pope’s death (historically by tapping the forehead and calling his baptismal name) and assumes interim administrative duties.

Preparation for the Conclave:

• The College of Cardinals gathers in Rome for General Congregations, daily meetings to handle Church business and prepare for the conclave. These meetings include all cardinals, but only those under 80 years old can vote.

• The conclave must begin 15–20 days after the vacancy, allowing time for cardinals to travel, though this can be adjusted slightly.

• The Sistine Chapel is prepared as the voting venue, secured to ensure secrecy, with electronic jamming devices to prevent leaks.

The Conclave:

• Eligible Voters: Only cardinals under 80 years old at the start of the vacancy can participate (maximum 120 electors, though the number varies; currently ~130 eligible cardinals exist, per Vatican estimates).

• Seclusion: Cardinals are sequestered in the Domus Sanctae Marthae (a Vatican residence) and the Sistine Chapel, swearing oaths of secrecy. No external communication is allowed.

Voting Process:

• Voting occurs in the Sistine Chapel, with two rounds in the morning and two in the afternoon each day.

• Cardinals write a name on a ballot, fold it, and place it in a chalice, saying, “I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge.”

• A two-thirds majority (e.g., 80 of 120 votes) is required to elect a pope.

• If no candidate achieves this, the ballots are burned with a chemical to produce black smoke (indicating no decision). If a candidate secures two-thirds, the ballots are burned to produce white smoke, signaling a new pope.

Scrutiny and Counting:

• Three scrutineers (elected cardinals) count votes, with infirmarii collecting ballots from any sick cardinals. Ballots are burned after each session.

Deadlock Provisions:

• After ~13 days (33–34 ballots) without a two-thirds majority, cardinals may vote to reduce the requirement to a simple majority or hold a runoff between the top two candidates (per Universi Dominici Gregis).

Acceptance and Announcement:

• If elected, the candidate is asked by the Dean of the College of Cardinals: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” and, if yes, “By what name will you be called?”

• The new pope chooses a papal name (e.g., John Paul, Francis) and is vested in papal garments.

• The Cardinal Protodeacon announces “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”) from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, introducing the new pope’s name and title.

• The pope imparts the Urbi et Orbi blessing to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square.

Who are the contenders to be the next pope (list courtesy of The Guardian):

Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy

Seen as a moderate “continuity candidate”, Parolin was close to Francis. He has been the Vatican’s secretary of state since 2013, playing a key role in diplomatic affairs, including delicate negotiations with China and governments in the Middle East. He is regarded as a reliable and trusted papal representative by secular diplomats. In 2018, he was the driving force behind a controversial agreement with the Chinese government on the appointment of bishops, criticised by some as a sellout to the communist regime. Parolin’s critics see him as a modernist and a pragmatist who places ideology and diplomatic solutions above hard truths of the faith. To his supporters, he is a courageous idealist and avid proponent of peace.

Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, the Philippines

Tagle, a former archbishop of Manila, would be the first Asian pope, the region with the fastest-growing Catholic population. At one time he was considered to be Francis’s preferred successor and a strong contender to continue the late pope’s progressive agenda, but recently appears to have fallen out of favour. He has suggested that the Catholic church’s stance on gay and divorced couples is too harsh, but has opposed abortion rights in the Philippines.

Peter Turkson, 76, Ghana

Turkson would be the first black pope in centuries. He has been vocal on issues such the climate crisis, poverty and economic justice while affirming the church’s traditional positions on the priesthood, marriage between a man and a woman, and homosexuality. However, his views on the latter have loosened and he has argued that laws in many African countries are too harsh. He has spoken out on corruption and human rights.

Péter Erdő, 72, Hungary

A leading conservative candidate, Erdő has been a strong advocate for traditional Catholic teachings and doctrine. He would represent a big shift away from Francis’s approach. He is widely regarded as a great intellect and a man of culture. Erdő was a favourite of the late cardinal George Pell who believed he would restore the rule of law in the post-Francis Vatican. In 2015, Erdő appeared to align himself with Hungary’s nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, when he opposed Francis’s call for churches to take in migrants.

Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy

Appointed a cardinal by Francis in 2019, Zuppi is considered to be on the progressive wing of the church, and would be expected to continue Francis’s legacy, sharing the late pope’s concern for the poor and marginalised. He is (relatively) liberal on same-sex relationships. Two years ago, Francis made him the Vatican peace envoy for Ukraine, in which capacity he visited Moscow to “encourage gestures of humanity”. While there he met Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox church and Vladimir Putin’s ally. He has also met Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president.

José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça, 59, Portugal

Tolentino is one of the youngest potential successors to Francis, which could count against him – ambitious cardinals may not want to wait another 20 or 30 years before another shot at the top job. He has attracted controversy for sympathising with tolerant views on same-sex relationships and allying himself with a feminist Benedictine sister who favours women’s ordination and is pro-choice. He was close to Francis on most issues, and argues that the church must engage with modern culture.

Mario Grech, 68, Malta

Grech was seen as a traditionalist but began to embrace more progressive views after Francis was elected in 2013. His supporters argue that his changing opinions show his capacity for growth and change. He has criticised European political leaders who sought to limit the activities of NGO ships and has expressed support for female deacons.

Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, Italy

Since 2020, Pizzaballa has been the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, a crucial role in advocating for the Christian minority in the Holy Land. After Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, Pizzaballa offered himself as a hostage in exchange for children who were being held by Hamas in Gaza. He visited Gaza in May 2024 after months of negotiations. He would be expected to continue some aspects of Francis’s leadership of the church, but has made few public statements on controversial issues.

Robert Sarah, 79, Guinea

Sarah is a traditional, Orthodox cardinal who at one time sought to present himself as a “parallel authority” to Francis, according to a Vatican observer. In 2020, he co-authored a book with the then retired Pope Benedict defending clerical celibacy that was seen as a challenge to Francis’s authority. He has denounced “gender ideology” as a threat to society, and has spoken out against Islamic fundamentalism. Like Turkson, he could make history as the first black pope in centuries.

Could American Cardinal Raymond Burke be in the running?

American Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of the top contenders to become the next Pope:

“Limiting the number of Muslims allowed to immigrate to traditionally Christian nations would be a prudent decision on the part of politicians. It’s to be patriotic and responsible.

You don’t… pic.twitter.com/QrBhghSC24

— Dr. Maalouf ‏ (@realMaalouf) April 21, 2025

The latest from Polymarket shows that Pietro Parolin is in the lead with 37% and Luis Antonio Tagle is in second place with 26%. 

Everyone will soon become an expert at Pope selection. Let the games begin. 

*    *    * 

Vatican News reports that Pope Francis died at the age of 88 at 7:35 a.m. local time (1:35 a.m. EST). Earlier this year, he experienced a severe health crisis that resulted in over a month of hospitalization due to double pneumonia.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of the 266th pope via this statement:

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Vatican News provided more color on the Pope’s deteriorating health leading up to his death on Easter Monday:

• The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.

• Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.

• After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

To his 1.3 billion followers, Francis signaled a more inclusive stance toward LGBTQ+ Catholics and advocated for open borders in the United States.

The Pope is Appalled there are Discussions About Closing the US Border – He Says we Need to Open the Doors to Illegal Aliens

“The solution is migration. To open the doors to migration…. For an immigration policy to be good, it must have four things:

1. The illegal alien must… pic.twitter.com/EJmGVwvfPw

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) May 22, 2024

Francis was the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit to become the head of the Catholic Church, and the first to take the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, who gave up his vast amounts of wealth to live in poverty.

Throughout his tenure (March 13, 2013 to April 21, 2025), Francis also spoke about multiple recurring themes, including compassion, humility, and advocacy. He told followers, “My people are poor, and I am one of them.” 

On Sunday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Francis to exchange Easter greetings. 

“I know you have not been feeling great, but it’s good to see you in better health,” Vance told the Pope, adding, “Thank you for seeing me.”

The White House on Monday morning issued condolences on X: 

Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. ✝️ pic.twitter.com/8CGwKaNnTh

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 21, 2025

The death of Francis sets in motion a chain of centuries-old procedures to secure a new pope. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, will act as the head of the Vatican in the meantime.

The question is whether the cardinals who choose Francis’ successor will read the latest cultural shifts across the West and pick a more traditional pope or continue down the path of progressive inclusiveness.

Monday’s spotlight was on Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, who issued another warning to clients about a “code red” situation unfolding at Tesla if CEO Elon Musk continued devoting time to DOGE-related efforts in Washington. Tesla shares fell 7% by late afternoon. However, one bright spot emerged on X around midday: aerial images show that Cybercab prototype builds may have already begun.

Joe Tegtmeyer, a certified flight instructor, snapped high-resolution aerial images of the Tesla Giga Texas earlier today, which revealed what could be castings of the new Cybercab vehicle. 

“Interesting developments next to the Giga Texas Casting Machine section today … several new kinds of castings that do not look like Model Y or @cybertruck … looking for experts out there to identify these in the comments!” Tegtmeyer wrote on X. 

Interesting developments next to the Giga Texas Casting Machine section today … several new kinds of castings that do not look like Model Y or @cybertruck … looking for experts out there to identify these in the comments!

Also, what looks like more Giga Press parts being… pic.twitter.com/1wFWuoZxIj

— Joe Tegtmeyer 🚀 🤠🛸😎 (@JoeTegtmeyer) April 21, 2025

Tegtmeyer noted, “Also, what looks like more Giga Press parts being delivered today.” 

Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt quoted Tegtmeyer’s post on X, explaining:

“These do appear to be to rear Cybercab castings. The Cybertruck casting racks are marked with CTTX, which means Cybertruck Texas. On these new images from Joe today we can see RTTX, which likely means Robotaxi Texas.”

“Tesla has been installing Cybercab production equipment for months. Two months ago in a public interview Lars Moravy said that the first Cybercab prototype builds were slated to start this summer, with general mass production to start in early 2026.”

Merritt continued in a separate post…

I mean it’s not quite summer but…. https://t.co/7Slbcfvahr

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) April 21, 2025

Despite the negative news surrounding Tesla to begin the week, new aerial images appear to show a new casting that doesn’t resemble those used for the Cybertruck or Model Y—potentially indicating parts for the Cybercab. Perhaps an analyst—maybe even Dan Ives—will inquire about these images during Tuesday’s earnings call. 

Via The Vigilant Fox,

On the latest episode of Club Random, Bill Maher sat down with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk for what many expected to be a clash of political opposites.

But what unfolded was something far more surprising: a candid, wide-ranging conversation that revealed just how much common ground these two actually share—especially when it comes to calling out the modern left.

It kicked off with a sharp joke from Kirk, who warned Maher that the “purple-hair jihadis” would be coming for him next.

“They want to kill me just as bad. Oh, they really do!” Maher responded. He explained, “They hate their own apostates more. I’m supposed to get on the short bus to crazy town with them—and I won’t.”

From there, Maher began to draw a clear line between classic liberal values and what he called the “woke” ideology taking over the Democratic Party.

“I am one of them! They’re not one of me,” he said. “Liberal and woke are two completely different things—woke is very often the opposite.”

Maher explained, “Liberalism is, let’s live in a colorblind society. That’s the goal. Woke’s goal is, ‘We see race everywhere.’ Liberal is, ‘There’s a two-state solution.’ Woke is ‘river to the sea.’”

Then came a line that cut to the core of his frustration: “You got off the F-train, you fell asleep, and you got off at 20 stops too far. Don’t blame me for that.”

What started as a typical podcast on Club Random quickly turned into something way more revealing. @charliekirk11 and Bill Maher weren’t clashing on everything—they were connecting over one uncomfortable truth: the woke cult is tearing the country apart.

It began with a jab… pic.twitter.com/wv4cEvOYIw

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) April 20, 2025

The conversation pivoted to an issue even some liberals are struggling to defend: women’s sports. Kirk praised Maher for speaking out.

“You deserve credit for being a liberal that acknowledges male-female distinctions,” he said.

“Oh, of course! Of all the low-lying fruit the Democrats just hand the Republicans to win elections, that’s the one,” Maher responded.

Kirk grinned and asked, “Are they really gonna let us win every national election on this no-men-in-women’s-sports thing?”

Maher answered bluntly: “It’s so ridiculous.”

He cited the stat that 890 trophies had already gone to biological males competing in women’s events—and even pointed out that California’s own Gavin Newsom had backed away from the debate.

“You lost Gavin Newsom on this,” he said. “Take that as a hint.”

The conversation then shifted—this time to an issue even many liberals have started to question——sports.

“You deserve credit for being a liberal that acknowledges male-female distinctions,” Kirk said.

Maher didn’t hesitate:

“Oh, of course! Of all the low-lying fruit the… pic.twitter.com/Lt96BAnHnd

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) April 20, 2025

Then came the part no one saw coming. Maher opened up about a recent dinner he had with President Trump—and pushed back on the idea that engaging with him was somehow off-limits.

“I voted for Obama, I voted for Clinton,” Maher said. “But the idea that I could talk to them as freely as I felt this conversation was going, is emblematic to me of why the Democrats lose the elections. Because they just don’t feel that this is like a real person.”

He got even more honest: “And I know it’s so weird to say that about Donald Trump, who I’ve said a jillion times is, you know, a whiny little b*tch, I could go through my greatest hits of insults. But this was about getting past that and maybe seeing that if we met in person, we don’t hate each other as much. And we don’t!”

“I’m sorry, I’m not going to pretend that’s a bad thing,” Maher added.

Then came the part no one saw coming.

Maher acknowledged his dinner with President Trump—and made it clear he wasn’t going to pretend it was a bad thing.

That’s when he dropped the line about Trump that will have Democrats in shambles:

“I voted for Obama, I voted Clinton,” he… pic.twitter.com/Be0Jf5X6hF

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) April 20, 2025

That’s when Kirk delivered a line that stopped the conversation cold.

“You had more moral courage than pastors I know who went along with the woke crazy train,” he said. “You deserve credit for that—because it came at a high cost.”

Maher nodded in agreement. For a moment, the two ideological opposites sounded completely in sync. Maher didn’t sugarcoat his assessment of what’s dragging his party down.

“Until we get rid of that sh*t, they’re never going to win another election,” he said.

Kirk replied, “They’re not going to take political advice from me.”

Maher responded, “No, but they might from me. Not the 10%—but that’s 10%. They’re very loud, but that’s it.”

Then came a quote that’s never felt more relevant: “As FDR once said, ‘I welcome their hatred.’”

That’s when Kirk hit Maher with a line that stopped the conversation cold—and sparked one of the most powerful moments of their exchange.

“You had more moral courage than pastors I know who went along with the woke crazy train. You deserve credit for that—because it came at a… pic.twitter.com/aOCJdzq6Xg

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) April 20, 2025

Two men with very different worldviews just exposed what many Americans already sense: the far left isn’t leading the Democrats forward. It’s dragging them down. And unless the party finds the courage to cut that anchor loose, it’s going to sink with it.

Watch the full conversation below:

It’s starting to smell like a real trade war.

Just days after the WSJ reported that Scott Bessent’s grand trade war strategy was to force more than 70 US trade partners to sign bilateral deals while aligning against China, Beijing has warned it will retaliate against countries that negotiate trade deals with the US “at the expense of China’s interests”, fueling global tensions as the world’s two economic superpowers lunge at each other over tariffs.

“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests,” the ministry said on Monday. “If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner.”

“China respects the right of all parties to resolve their economic and trade differences with the United States through equal consultations,” the commerce ministry said adding that if countries encroached on Beijing’s interests, it was “determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights”.

The ministry added that “all parties should stand on the side of fairness and justice and should defend international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system”.

It said: “Once international trade returns to the ‘law of the jungle’, where the strong prey on the weak, all countries will become victims.”

The statement by China’s commerce ministry, which was in response to reports that Trump’s administration planned to use trade talks with multiple countries to try to isolate China, called on them to instead join Beijing to “resist unilateral bullying.”

The sharp escalation follows the failure to gain any traction in trade and tariff negotiations. Trump has called several times for Beijing to open negotiations to avert a trade war, and China has said it is open to talks, but neither side has signalled that high-level contacts are under way.

While last week’s WSJ report said the US strategy to gang up on China was intended to pressure Beijing to come to the negotiating table and abandon its defiant stance, China has shown little sign of backing down. Instead, president Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia last week, where he sought to shore up relations with Beijing’s trading partners.

South-east Asian exporters face steep tariffs under the Trump administration, which has also accused them of serving as a transshipment conduit for Chinese goods. Unfortunately for them, without the US as a final customer for most of their exports (including Chinese transshipments), and vows of solidarity will be hollow once countless Pacific rim factories go dark sparking an economic and labor crisis in countries which have virtually no social safety net.

And while China has ironically sought to portray itself as a pillar of the international trading system, it is struggling with weak domestic demand following a deep property slowdown, forcing policymakers to lean on manufacturing and exports for economic growth and leaving the economy vulnerable to the trade war with the US. As a reminder, some 40% of Chinese economic growth is in the form of trade, and while the hit to the US would be mostly along the inflationary and capital market pathways, once more than a third of China’s economy is forced to find new end markets,  the pain for the domestic economic will be orders of magnitude worse.

It’s also why Goldman now expects China’s Q2 real GDP growth to collapse to 0.8% qoq ann from 4.9% in Q1.

Meanwhile, Beijing has repeatedly promised various initiatives to spur consumption but has held back from launching a “bazooka” fiscal stimulus (something it can’t do since it has hit debt saturation), instead investing heavily in industry to shake off its reliance on western technology.

Why has public confidence in the Democratic Party collapsed to record lows?

In short, the party that champions illegal alien terrorists and cultural Marxism lost its authenticity a long time ago.

Voters see right through the bullshit of lies, non-sense identity politics, performative accents, and teleprompter-scripted speeches. The American people became outraged last week after Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders were caught flying around on private jets while “fighting oligarchy.” 

Meanwhile, the rudderless party is being thrown into a civil war, caught between old-school moderates and far-left activists like David Hogg, Jasmine Crockett, Hakeem Jeffries, and AoC. 

The latest Gallup polling data was nothing more than disastrous for the party of wokeism:

“Democratic leadership’s latest 25% confidence rating is an all-time low for the group — well below the previous 34% low recorded in 2023 and the average of 45% since 2001,” Gallup wrote in a report, adding, “Confidence ratings were last at the majority level in 2009 for Democratic congressional leaders and in 2003 for Republican congressional leaders.” 

Given all of this—and returning to the theme of authenticity—it’s no surprise that a majority of Americans have gravitated toward the ‘America First’ movement. President Trump doesn’t need a teleprompter; he speaks his mind directly and genuinely, which resonates with people who just want peace and prosperity, not domestic terrorism and protests that Democrats seem to have embraced in recent weeks. 

With the theme of authenticity in mind, internet sleuths point out that the Biden team may have photoshopped the former president into a family Easter photo.

As some users noted on X, the giveaway was a strangely placed, almost creepy-looking hand.

We wish everyone celebrating today a peaceful and joyful Easter. pic.twitter.com/GQNsdZNaw1

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 20, 2025

Here’s what X users said:

That’s creepy AF. Whose hand is this? Surely not yours. pic.twitter.com/4y0umeNI0q

— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) April 20, 2025

You couldn’t even bother to show up for the family photo, loser. They had to photoshop you in. 🤣🤣🤣

— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) April 20, 2025

They had to Photoshop the retard in, so sad

— Retard Finder (@IfindRetards) April 20, 2025

How fake do you have to be to literally have yourself photoshopped into your own families Easter photo before then posting it online to convince the world you’re wholesome?

— Jay Anderson (@TheProjectUnity) April 21, 2025

Also good question:

No Biden???? Where is our Catholic President???? Why would you not want to publicize him if he was such a great President???? https://t.co/IglHGWoB7O

— Hayden Horn (@HaydenHorn6) April 20, 2025

 Why can’t Democrats be authentic?

*  *  *

Top products last week at ZeroHedge Store:

– ZeroHedge Waxed Canvas Hat

– ZeroHedge Shirt

– IQ Biologix Astaxanthin (extremely potent anti-inflammatory)

– ZeroHedge Multitool

– Anza SWAT Micarta Blued (made in the USA)

Authored by Lance Roberts via RealInvestmentAdvice.com,

In financial markets, few technical patterns generate as much attention and anxiety as the death cross. This ominous-sounding term refers to a crossover on a price chart when a short-term moving average, most commonly the 50-day moving average (50-DMA), drops below a long-term moving average, usually the 200-day moving average (200-DMA). The “death cross” is a fantastic headline for the media to generate clicks and views. However, for investors, the “death cross” signals a market correction and suggests a more cautious investing approach. But there are a few questions we must answer.

1. What does the death cross mean?

2. How reliable is it as an indicator?

3. And how should investors respond when they see it?

Let’s answer those questions by exploring the death cross’s history, data, and interpretations, and explaining why context matters more than the signal itself.

What Is the Death Cross?

According to Investopedia:

“The “death cross” market chart pattern refers to the drop of a short-term moving average—meaning the average of recent closing prices for a stock, stock index, commodity, or cryptocurrency over a set period of time—below a longer-term moving average. The most closely watched stock-market moving averages are the 50-day and the 200-day.”

For investors, it is essential to note that the death cross is a lagging indicator. It only tells you that price action has deteriorated during the previous two months. In other words, it often only confirms an already obvious trend because it relies on historical data from moving averages. Furthermore, when the death cross occurs, markets are often near a short-term low.

I would be remiss to state that there are periods where the death cross preceded more severe bear markets of the past century, including 1929, 1938, 1974, and 2008. However, that is an example of sample selection bias, expressed by using only the selected data points to prove the predictive power of the death cross. Unfortunately, selecting only those data points ignores the numerous occasions when the death cross signaled nothing worse than a market correction and provided significant buying opportunities for investors.

For example, the following table from Marketwatch shows that since 1950, markets tend to rise within the next 12 months following a death cross.

This is because, as noted, the markets tend to be very oversold by the time the death cross triggers, and previous optimistic sentiment has reversed. We noted this in this past weekend’s #BullBearReport.

“For example, net bullish sentiment among retail and institutional investors is at some of the lowest levels on record, including during the “Financial Crisis.” The extreme negativity is interesting because the recent decline was orderly and mild compared to the chaos during the financial crisis. Yet, investors are as bearish on the current market as they were then. However, it is worth noting that during previous instances when sentiment was as negative as it is currently, such readings were near market bottoms.”

“Furthermore, the sharp spike in the volatility index, which is considered a “market fear gauge,” spiked to the highest levels seen since the COVID pandemic. If we combine the sentiment measures with the volatility index, we again see more extreme negative readings that often coincide with market lows rather than the beginning of larger reversions.”

In other words, historically speaking, the death cross, more often than not, is a potential contrarian indicator. However, as noted above, there have been instances where the death cross led to much more severe declines. How can investors differentiate between the two?

Structural Bear Markets Versus Event-Driven Corrections

While the media often dramatizes the appearance of a death cross, seasoned investors know it is just one piece of the puzzle. Corrections are part of a normal and healthy market process. As discussed in “Bullish Years Have Corrections Too:”

“In bullish years, markets often have corrections. Yet, after a lengthy bullish run, it always surprises me how quickly investors and the media panic with the slightest hint of a market pullback. During bullish years, corrections happen more often than you think. However, when corrections occur, it is not uncommon to see concerns about a “bear market” rise. However, historically speaking, the stock market increases about 73% of the time. The other 27% of the time, market corrections reverse the excesses of the previous advance. The table below shows the dispersion of returns over time. Critically, note that drawdowns of greater than 10% only occur 13% of the time.”

The correction from this year’s market peak is currently in a range that has only occurred 7% of the time historically, with the market declining 19.4% from peak to trough.

So far this year, the market decline certainly ranks among some of the worst-performing years in history. However, we are only one-third of the way into 2025, so how this year ends is still widely unpredictable.

But it is worth noting that since 1980, only eight (8) years have ended with more significant declines. Could this be the ninth? Yes, but for that to occur, we must put previous market declines and larger bear markets into context.

The difference between whether the death cross is a shorter-term corrective process or a larger “bear market” decline depends mainly on whether the cause of the market decline is “event-driven” or “structural.” As noted recently by the Daily Shot:

“Structural bear markets have historically been the deepest and longest, averaging over 55% declines and lasting nearly four years. In contrast, event-driven bears tend to be shorter and shallower, with quicker recoveries—averaging around 30% declines and under 10 months in duration. Post-WWII averages (orange diamonds) suggest more moderate outcomes relative to the broader historical record.”

This context is important when examining the current decline and triggering of the “death cross.” The chart below shows the difference in the length of “event-driven” versus “structural” corrections, signified by the triggering of the “death cross.” The dot.com and financial crisis periods were structural events, as significant corporate failures and credit-market dislocations occurred amid deep economic contractions. However, outside of those two significant structural impacts, all other “events” were short-lived, and markets soon recovered.

Given that the current market correction is driven by concerns over “tariffs,” it will likely be short-lived. There are two reasons for this view. First, the announced tariffs, which were more onerous than expected, will likely be largely reduced or removed through negotiations. Second, once the tariffs are finalized, the markets will adjust expectations for earnings and focus on future growth.

The question for investors is how to navigate the current market turmoil until this event-driven correction completes.

Navigating The Uncertainty

Does this mean you should ignore the “death cross” entirely? No. While the current correction is “event-driven” and will likely resolve itself soon, there is always a risk that something could trigger a “structural” decline, such as a recession or credit-related event. While such a risk remains quite low currently, that risk is not zero.

Furthermore, the death cross should not be viewed in isolation or trigger panic-driven decisions. Instead, investors should use it as a cue to take a more thoughtful approach to their portfolio management.

✅ Stay the Course if Fundamentals Are Sound. If your portfolio is well-diversified and aligned with long-term goals, the death cross may just be noise within a broader market cycle.

🌐 Use It as a Risk Management Cue. As we noted in “Market Crash: Hope In The Fear,” we used the recent rally in the market to reduce risk, hedge portfolios, raise cash, and rebalance allocations.

📊 Combine with Other Indicators. As noted above, while ominous, the current death cross collides with deeply oversold technical readings, as shown below, which typically suggest markets are near short-term lows rather than starting more significant declines.

“Sentimentrader tracks 21 indicators in total, which are then combined into a single indicator, giving readings of when markets are trading at more extreme bullish or bearish levels. As shown, the market is currently trading at more extreme risk-off levels. While this does not mean the market is about to rise, historically, such extreme readings have been close to market bottoms.”

⚡ Consider Rebalancing or Rotating. Whether the current period is “event-driven” or “structural,” the market will have intermittent rallies which investors should use to rebalance risk, reallocate holdings, and increase cash levels to reduce volatility.

💡 Don’t Ignore the Golden Cross. While it is easy to become overly defensive during a corrective period, it is important to remember that eventually the “death cross” will reverse the crossover. When the 50-DMA rises above the 200-DMA, it creates the golden cross, which follows the market bottom. That signals a reversal of the previous process of reducing risk to increasing risk.

Conclusion

The death cross is a useful indicator, not a prophecy. It reflects short-term weakness, but doesn’t dictate the future. The key is to treat it as a signal to pay closer attention to the bigger picture, not a call to sell everything and flee to cash.

Long-term investors should remain focused on fundamentals, diversification, and goals. Short-term traders can use it as one of many tools to refine timing. Either way, understanding the death cross puts you in a better position to act with insight rather than emotion.

Authored by Daniel Greenfield,

The Supreme Court’s ruling in J.G.G. v. Donald J. Trump was not an unqualified triumph for the Trump administration’s deportations of foreign gang members, but it was a definite rebuke not just to Judge Boasberg, but to the entire D.C. Circuit Court shadow government.

The ACLU filed J.G.G. v. Trump in defense of five Venezuelan inmates in New York and Texas. All of the men claimed that they were not gang members and there was no indication that any of them were being deported, denying them any actual standing for coming before the court.

Especially before Judge James Boasberg who is thousands of miles away in Washington D.C.

Despite the lack of standing and the case being filed in the wrong venue, Judge James Boasberg, the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit Court, not only blocked the deportation of all gang members back to Venezuela, but ordered that planes currently over international airspace that were carrying gang members turn around and bring them back to the United States.

Boasberg fumed that the planes were not turned around on his mere word and threatened the Justice Department with repercussions for not recognizing his power over not only the entire country, but also the entire planet.

But why was a judge from the D.C. Circuit Court on a case involving inmates in Texas?

The answer is that leftist organizations and the judges of the D.C. Circuit Court were using one weird trick to seize power over the entire country (if not always the planet) and transform themselves into a shadow government able to block any Trump administration move.

The Supreme Court’s ruling vacating Boasberg’s order stated that, “the detainees are confined in Texas, so venue is improper in the District of Columbia” and directed that the appropriate “venue lies in the district of confinement”. So how did a D.C. judge ever get involved at all?

In Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurrence he noted that the “only question is where that judicial review should occur. That venue question turns on whether these transfer claims belong in habeas corpus proceedings or instead may be brought under the Administrative Procedure Act.” The Supreme Court’s ruling even noted that “initially the detainees sought relief in habeas among other causes of action, but they dismissed their habeas claims” and stated that “their claims fall within the ‘core’ of the writ of habeas corpus and thus must be brought in habeas.”

Kavanaugh then laid out a brief history of detainees, including those terrorists at Gitmo, bringing claims under habeas corpus rather than, strangely, under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Administrative Procedure Act had been created in response to the rise of a vast unaccountable government bureaucracy under FDR. The APA was supposed to stop the administrative state from turning into exactly the kind of self-governing machine it grew into which FDR had described as threatening to “develop a fourth branch of government for which there is no sanction in the Constitution.” It was not meant to block presidents from executing their policies or subject every one of those policies to the review of the D.C. Circuit Court.

The D.C. Circuit Court however has enabled every leftist ‘resistance’ group to go ‘judge shopping’ and file APA complaints to block anything and everything President Trump does.

And so the ACLU appealed to the D.C. Circuit Court, wielding the Administrative Procedure Act, to challenge the question of whether President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act (which predated the APA by 148 years) applied and what could be defined as wartime. The ACLU was asking Boasberg to block President Trump’s use of presidential powers based on an act meant to check bureaucratic overreach. And Judge Boasberg went ahead and tried to seize control of U.S. forces abroad from President Trump in the name of an act meant to regulate agencies.

The Supreme Court’s response to this unconstitutional abomination was milder than it deserved.

What gave the ACLU and Boasberg the idea that they could get away with it? The ACLU had previously sued the Trump administration for removing materials falsely describing the existence of a ‘transgender’ society as a violation of the “Administrative Procedure Act” by “removing articles without a reasoned basis” as if that were a matter subject to the APA.

In another case, ‘Judge’ Ana Reyes, a Uruguayan activist lawyer appointed by Biden as the first gay ‘Latinx’ judge in the D.C. Circuit Court, blocked the removal of mentally ill individuals who hallucinate the idea that they are members of some other sex than their biological one, by claiming that it’ss “soaked in animus and dripping with pretext, Its language is unabashedly demeaning, its policy stigmatizes transgender persons as inherently unfit” and argued, despite the mountain of evidence, that the Department of Defense had “not provided a legitimate reason for banning all transgender troops” and therefore violated the Administrative Procedure Act.

Reyes had confused the Administrative Procedure Act with her own personal opinion and rather than ruling on the legality of a policy based on actual laws, abused the APA to seize power over the Pentagon to promote her own favored social and sexual worldviews in the APA’s name.

But the Supreme Court has begun shooting down some APA abuses.

In its response to a Biden judge in Massachusetts blocking the Trump administration from ending education grants that violate its ban on DEI, the court noted that Judge Myong Joun and the court “lacked jurisdiction to order the payment of money under the APA” and that monetary cases involving the government are supposed to go to the Court of Federal Claims.

The APA has become a favored weapon of choice whether the issue at hand is financial, foreign policy, deporting illegal aliens or even publishing materials about the existence of transgenderism on government websites. During the first term of the administration, leftist groups had taken to boasting of having entire “teams of APA litigators and experts”.

And with a 93% loss rate for the Trump administration in APA cases, the judicial coup was a sound strategy. All a leftist judge had to do was declare that the Trump administration’s actions were “poorly reasoned” or lacked “sufficient rationale” and would override the president’s orders.

The APA enabled a massive shift of power from the executive branch to district courts, and to the D.C. Circuit Court which had seized virtually unlimited power from both the president and local courts and judges in the process creating an unelected shadow government.

But the D.C. judicial shadow government overreached itself. And Boasberg’s attempt to seize presidential powers has created a constitutional moment of crisis that may unwind the coup.

Nick Gerli, CEO and Founder of real estate analytics firm Reventure Consulting, has issued another troubling update on Florida’s housing market—this time sounding the alarm about a collapse in demand across the Miami metro area. He described the plunge in sales as “breathtaking.”

For the last few years, we’ve tracked the post-Covid surge in inventory hitting Sun Belt states, including this note from last summer: 

• Florida Housing Downturn “Keeps Getting More Intense By The Day”

This was followed by Gerli’s report in late January: “My Favorite Housing Market Graph Right Now“… 

“My Favorite Housing Market Graph Right Now” https://t.co/yzvc1WIyKM

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 30, 2025

Now Gerli has offered more color on the deteriorating housing market in Miami:

The collapse in demand in Miami’s housing market is breathtaking. Sales are down 50% from pandemic peak, and are 30% below the long-term average for March. There’s a narrative building in Florida that somehow Miami won’t be impacted by this housing downturn. And that narrative is likely wrong.

The collapse in demand in Miami’s housing market is breathtaking.

Sales are down 50% from pandemic peak, and are 30% below the long-term average for March.

There’s a narrative building in Florida that somehow Miami won’t be impacted by this housing downturn.

And that narrative… pic.twitter.com/JS9iHEfNYb

— Nick Gerli (@nickgerli1) April 19, 2025

Gerli debunked some misconceptions about the downturn, with some individuals saying this is “West Coast only.”

1) What I’m starting to hear here on the ground in Florida is that this is a “west coast only” downturn. And that it’s purely the hurricanes that hit Tampa last year that are causing issues.

But in reality – everywhere in Florida’s housing market is negatively impacted,…

— Nick Gerli (@nickgerli1) April 19, 2025

Inventory in Miami has surged to 51,000 homes – the second highest on record. 

2) Inventory in the Miami metro is up to 51,000 homes, which is the 2nd highest level on record for March according to Realtor’s inventory data set. pic.twitter.com/JHV6g08dYW

— Nick Gerli (@nickgerli1) April 19, 2025

Meanwhile. 

3) Meanwhile, price growth in the 3-county metro is now shifting down.

Values are already dropping in Palm Beach (-2.5%) and Broward (-1.1%) YoY.

While they’re still up slightly in Miami-Dade (+1.8%). pic.twitter.com/aZXcn7AtpP

— Nick Gerli (@nickgerli1) April 19, 2025

“In some ways, it’s surprising prices haven’t dropped by more already due to the demand collapse. And resulting inventory spike. but in the end housing downturns can take time to play out. And the whole Miami area is at a big risk if the current trends in the market continue,” Gerli noted. 

According to the Reventure app, prices across Miami-Dade County are 20.3% overvalued. 

5) In particular, prices in Miami-Dade county are 20.3% overvalued compared to the long-run norms, indicating some major downside risk. pic.twitter.com/Gwboa5av7y

— Nick Gerli (@nickgerli1) April 19, 2025

He warned: “The more overvalued prices are, the greater the risk of downturns.”

6) The more overvalued prices are, the greater the risk of downturns.

You can see Miami went through an epic downturn in the last crash, when prices actually became 33% undervalued.

This is when a lot of people in Miami real estate made their money. pic.twitter.com/vLeaP6vqB9

— Nick Gerli (@nickgerli1) April 19, 2025

Separately, and more broadly, the US housing inventory for new homes has hit its highest level since 2007.

What could possibly go wrong in an oversupplied housing market, with 30-year fixed mortgage rates hovering around 7%?

Authored by Ken Silva via Headline USA,

A county judge in New Mexico has reportedly resigned after Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested a suspected Tren de Aragua gang member and other illegal aliens at his home.

The resignation of Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano comes after HSI agents executed a search warrant at his home on Feb. 28—arresting suspected 23-year-old gang member Cristhian Ortega-Lopez there. Agents also took an undisclosed number of other illegal immigrants into custody, and seized four firearms that he handled illegally.

The details of Ortega-Lopez’s case are wild.

According to court records, the suspected Tren de Aragua member was arrested while entering the U.S. illegally on Dec. 15, 2023. Due to overcrowded Border Patrol facilities, Ortega-Lopez was released three days later.

This is absolutely bonkers: It looks like the judge’s wife disclosed that the Tren de Aragua member was living with them — and she seemingly discloses multiples crimes, including that he worked illegally and crossed the border 5 times in recent months

The judge’s family might… https://t.co/nLnbo55oFD pic.twitter.com/rnRvRadly7

— Ken Silva (@JD_Cashless) April 21, 2025

Ortega-Lopez was supposed to stay in Denver pending removal proceedings. However, he moved to El Paso, Texas, without informing Homeland Security or any other government agency.

It was in El Paso where Ortega-Lopez met Nancy Cano, the wife of Judge Cano. The Canos admitted they hired Ortega-Lopez to install a glass door for them—which is illegal since the Venezuelan was not authorized to work.

Ortega-Lopez was evicted from his apartment last April, after which he moved in with the Canos.

The suspected Tren de Aragua member’s relationship with the Canos became cozy, so much so that he was introduced to their daughter, April Cano, who let him use her guns—which, like him working without authorization, is illegal.

Unfortunately for the Canos, Ortega-Lopez posted pictures of himself with those firearms on social media.

The story became arguably even stranger after the HSI agents executed the Feb. 28 search warrant. On March 13, Nancy Cano wrote to U.S. Judge Damian Martinez, pleading for him to have mercy on Ortega-Lopez. In that letter, Cano seemingly admits that she illegally hired the immigrant—and also hired him out to others.

“Each job he got I was told he did an excellent job. No one was ever disappointed. I started to receive more requests for him to return or referral for more jobs,” she said, also enclosing pictures of Ortega-Lopez with the Cano family.

“On five different occasions he went through Border Patrol check points with no problems,” she added—perhaps disclosing yet more crimes. “I took him in as my own son … Please consider his future and give him a chance.”

During a court hearing the next day, U.S. Judge Damian Martinez asked Justice Department prosecutor Maria Armijio if she knew Judge Cano. When the prosecutor said she didn’t know Judge Cano, Martinez said he did know him—and trusted him.

“I’ve met him before several times and he’s got a BS meter like you – a lot of people have never seen. He knows when somebody is BS’ing him,” Judge Martinez said. “I don’t think Judge Cano has a BS meter and I don’t think he would just let anybody live in his property.”

Judge Martinez found that Ortega-Lopez was not a flight risk, and ordered him to be released. The DOJ appealed on March 28, disclosing more information about Ortega-Lopez’s relationship with the Canos, as well as his affiliation with Tren de Aragua. According to the DOJ, agents found ample evidence of his gang affiliation while searching his cell phones.

“A search of the cellphones revealed the following, which affirms the fact that the Defendant is a TdA member: 

“(1) A conversation with an individual on April 30, 2024, in which he refers to his AK-47 tattoo as an ‘Aragua train,’ and comments that he is worried about telling [Nancy Cano] about it,” the DOJ said in its March 28 appeal.

“(2) A conversation with an individual in which they discuss the $5,000 award offered by the State of Texas for TdA members and joke about the reward money,” the DOJ’s appeal added.

“(3) A conversation with an individual in which the other participant warns Defendant about sending photographs that may jeopardize him in the United States that also includes a request to get a grenade or two 38s.”

Agents also allegedly found photographs of two brutal murder victims that includes mutilated bodies, decapitated heads and dismembered hands on Ortega-Lopez’s cell phones.

A hearing is schedule for April 30 for Judge Martinez to reconsider allowing Ortega-Lopez to remain free on bail. The Canos have reportedly declined to comment on the matter.