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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Alaska Governor: Don't Blame Trump Tariffs for Copper Price Inflation
Record-high copper prices have some observers blaming the introduction of tariffs for the recent spike in prices. But pointing the finger at President Donald Trump misses the underlying problem. We need to increase our supplies of, and access to, copper and the other critical materials so vital to our 21st-century infrastructure. And whether we're able to expand access to copper and other important natural resources depends on four simple letters: N-E-P-A. "NEPA" stands for the National Environmental Policy Act, which has constrained the development of mining and refining facilities, and much else along with it, for decades. The law—or, more accurately, courts' and radical leftists' interpretation of the law—has resulted in incessant delays for important infrastructure projects, which get bogged down in never-ending red tape. In Alaska, for instance, the Ambler Mining District offers multiple deposits of high-grade copper totaling 9.3 billion pounds, as well as other critical minerals. Yet the Biden administration, after a years-long NEPA review, rejected permits for a road the state needed to gain access to the district, preventing the development of Alaska's natural resources for the good of all Americans. The Biden administration took this action to block the road last year even though federal law explicitly requires the Department of the Interior to permit access to the District. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 21, 2025. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on February 21, 2025. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP/Getty Images But NEPA doesn't just interfere with energy exploration. It impedes approvals for refineries that process raw ore, and slows down permitting for the bridges, railroads, and highways that companies use to transport finished products. While our adversaries like China have been building projects that can grow their economy, the radical Left has utilized NEPA to keep our infrastructure projects stuck in neutral. Fortunately, two factors should help to bring an end to this foolish regulatory overkill. First, the Supreme Court in a recent unanimous decision ruled that courts should not "micromanage" agencies' approval of environmental impact statements, and should instead give them "substantial deference." For instance, courts should not consider upstream or downstream impacts—such as the oil that might travel on a new railway—when evaluating the impact of a particular project (in this case, the railroad). The Court's ruling will rein in the ability of judges to collude with the environmental lobby in ways that prevent projects from ever getting approved. Second, President Trump, unlike his predecessor, wants to supercharge growth, and is taking numerous steps to move in that direction. Several of his executive orders, including a day-one executive order specifically dedicated to "unleashing Alaska's extraordinary resource potential," have focused on marshaling all our nation's natural resources to release our economy's full potential. The new National Energy Dominance Council will help coordinate these efforts, and the Supreme Court's ruling can cut through unnecessary permitting bureaucracy. In announcing his tariffs, President Trump said he wanted the United States to "once again, build a DOMINANT Copper Industry." With a new mine taking an average of 29 years to develop—the second-longest such process in the world—it will take permitting reforms and an impatience for red tape to see that vision through to success. Here's hoping that President Trump's actions and the Supreme Court ruling will help make it happen. Mike Dunleavy is the governor of Alaska. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Women Climbed The Corporate Ladder—Then Watched The "Alpha Males" Take Over Again
A resurgence of combative, masculine leadership among high-profile male CEOs is drawing criticism from female executives and equity advocates, according to Business Insider. The shift has prompted many women to leave traditional workplaces in favor of entrepreneurship and more inclusive company cultures. Alpha-Male CEOs Take the Stage The CEOs of major firms—including Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)—have embraced a more aggressive leadership style in recent months. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told podcaster Joe Rogan that corporate culture had become neutered, advocating for a return to 'masculine energy.' On X, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, said he gave the paper's opinion editor a clear choice: if the answer to leading a new editorial direction focused on free markets and personal liberties wasn't a "hell yes," then it had to be "no." The editor later resigned. Don't Miss: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to grab $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, Tesla CEO Elon Musk brought a chainsaw onstage to symbolize his commitment to shrinking the federal workforce under a potential Trump administration. Musk also challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a physical duel in a post on X. A Reassertion of Old Power Female founders, alongside psychologists and sociologists, view this resurgence of aggressive leadership—along with rollbacks in diverse, equitable, and inclusive programs, mandates for returning to offices, and intensified layoff pressures—as a counteraction. "The backlash is a sign that we're making serious progress," Maureen Clough, host of the "It Gets Late Early" podcast, told Business Insider. "Now we know who these people are, the masks and the gloves are off." University of Washington psychology professor Sapna Cheryan described it as an effort to reclaim corporate spaces. "It's less about money and more about having the playground they've always had," she told Insider. Meanwhile, aggressive rhetoric from CEOs appears to influence company culture, according to Business Insider. After Musk used a slur in an X post, a study from Montclair State University found a 207.5% surge in posts using the term — over 312,000 in total — along with a rise in related online searches. Trending: This AI-Powered Trading Platform Has 5,000+ Users, 27 Pending Patents, and a $43.97M Valuation — Corporate Gains and Entrepreneurial Shifts Women now account for 10.4% of Fortune 500 CEOs, according to the 2024 Women CEOs in America report by the Women Business Collaborative. And while that marks progress, representation remains uneven, particularly in the tech sector, where women held just 27% of roles in the U.S. in 2023, according to data from Nash Squared. Still, women are making strides on their own terms. A Wells Fargo report released last year found that women now own nearly 39% of U.S. businesses, driven by a 17.1% increase in women-led firms between 2019 and 2024. Facing rigid corporate norms and rising machismo, many women are choosing to build companies that align with their values. "Oftentimes the easiest way to find [flexibility] is to build it yourself," Fabrik CEO Jaclyn Pascocello to Business Insider. In today's climate, she said, she sees more women launching ventures that address gaps often ignored by male-led firms, such as caregiving and women's health. "It really feels like there's a ton of women trying to lift each other up." Founders, Funding, and Frustration Despite this momentum, persistent barriers remain, especially in venture funding. According to a Harvard Kennedy School report, women make up just 11% of investing partners at U.S. VC firms. Only 13% of VC dollars go to startups with at least one female founder, while all-female founding teams receive just 2.4% of funding, a number virtually unchanged over 30 years. Nearly three-quarters of VC firms have no female investing partner at challenges, alongside toxic workplace norms, are pushing more women to leave traditional corporate paths altogether. "Even if you have more women, they'll still assimilate to the workplace culture you have," StitchCrew and VEST CEO Erika Lucas told Business Insider. "Women are being conditioned to fit into this meritocracy, or fit within these toxic systems because that's all we have." Opting Out — and Rebuilding Better Business leaders and equity advocates are responding with new strategies. DEI strategist Virginia Cumberbatch told Business Insider that diversity efforts have been misrepresented and diluted by political narratives. "We've allowed DEI to be a catchall that's kind of lost its meaning," she said, adding that equity must look different across industries and be woven into every dimension of an organization. "Otherwise, it is just rhetoric." Some women are taking direct action. Founder of parenting platform Leva, Vanessa Jupe, began organizing canvassing efforts and economic blackouts to call out systemic inequities. "The time to play nice is not now," she said. The girlboss era may be over—but women leaders are no longer waiting for permission. "Nobody should be made into a hero," Lucas told Business Insider. "My hope is that we start building power collectively." Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Women Climbed The Corporate Ladder—Then Watched The "Alpha Males" Take Over Again originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Bolsonaro's son says Brazil's top court froze his assets
FILE PHOTO: Brazilian politician and lawyer Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, speaks as he attends an interview with the media during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Mexico City, Mexico, November 18, 2022. REUTERS/ Henry Romero/File Photo SAO PAULO - Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the freezing of the accounts and assets of former President Jair Bolsonaro's third son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the latter said in a post on social media on Monday. Eduardo, a Brazilian congressman who has been in Washington to drum up support for his father, called the decision in a post on X "another arbitrary and criminal decision" by Moraes. CNN Brasil reported that the confidential decision was issued on Saturday as part of a probe into Eduardo Bolsonaro's conduct in the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has tied the imposition of steep tariffs on Brazilian goods on what he called a "witch hunt" against the former Brazilian president. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week revoked the visas of "Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members." The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the former president wear an ankle bracelet and banned him from using social media, among other measures over allegations he courted Trump's interference on the case. REUTERS
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Korea Herald
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Alex Hinton] Trump's America Is a tinderbox
'Bomb threat! You need to exit — now,' a security officer shouted at me as I observed the Principles First conference, a gathering of moderate Republicans in Washington, on Feb. 22. Moments later, we learned that the threat had come from an untraceable email claiming that four pipe bombs had been planted 'to honor the J6 hostages recently released by Emperor Trump.' Sadly, I wasn't surprised. Just days earlier, former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and other insurrectionists pardoned by President Donald Trump for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol had been celebrated as heroes at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a major gathering of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' movement. As one of them boasted at the event, 'We're like gods.' During the conference, Tarrio led a group back to the US Capitol, where they chanted, 'Whose house? Our house!' He was later arrested for assaulting a protester. After his release, Tarrio traveled to the Principles First venue, where he verbally harassed Michael Fanone, the former Washington police officer who was severely injured while defending the Capitol during the insurrection. As an anthropologist who studies political violence, I see these events as a sign that the United States is in serious trouble. In my 2021 book "It Can Happen Here," I argued that bad actors are increasingly emboldened, heightening the risk of politically motivated violence. That threat became even more apparent on June 14, when Trump supporter Vance Boelter shot two Minnesota state Democrats and their spouses, killing State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband. Authorities later discovered a hit list with the names of 45 Democratic officials in Boelter's car. Four key factors are driving this surge in political violence. First, despite branding himself as a 'law and order' president, Trump has helped cultivate a culture of impunity. It's not just that he is a convicted felon whose three remaining criminal cases were dismissed or suspended after his re-election. Long before that, he famously proclaimed, 'I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters.' On his first day back in office, Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 1,500 January 6 insurrectionists, including Tarrio. He has continued issuing pardons to allies, with the Justice Department's pardon attorney, Ed Martin, posting on X, 'No MAGA Left Behind.' By politicizing the presidential pardon, Trump has sent the dangerous message that partisan violence is acceptable. The second factor is past acts of political violence, which heighten the risk of future violence. As I explained in "It Can Happen Here," the US has a long history of political violence to draw on. But even recent events offer ample cause for alarm. Trump bears much of the blame. Before the January 6 insurrection, he attacked election integrity and explicitly directed the Proud Boys — and, by extension, other far-right extremists — to 'stand by.' Like other scholars at the time, I warned that the risk of violence in the US was especially high. While dramatic, neither the October 7, 2020, arrest of militia members who plotted to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer nor the Jan. 6 Capitol attack came as a surprise. As the 2024 election approached, the threat of violence once again escalated. Trump himself was nearly assassinated during a July 13 rally in Pennsylvania, threats against election workers surged, and many feared that a contested election would again lead to an insurrection — a concern that Trump's victory ultimately rendered moot. Third, American society remains deeply divided. In my research on US political culture, I have seen this polarization firsthand, as people on both the left and the right often demonize the other side as authoritarian, framing politics in apocalyptic us-versus-them terms. The data underscores just how toxic and entrenched US polarization has become. Nearly half of Americans view those on the opposite side of the political spectrum as 'downright evil,' while an even greater share of Democrats and Republicans describe each other as 'closed-minded, dishonest and immoral.' While both parties have contributed to this division, Trump remains the polarizer-in-chief. He repeatedly stoked anger and resentment during his first term, and his 2024 campaign centered on promises of retribution and warnings about 'criminal' immigrants and 'woke' leftists — groups he continues to demonize. Lastly, the risk of political violence tends to rise during tumultuous periods, especially when the legitimacy of elections is challenged or when democratic institutions are weakened. Both conditions were present in the lead-up to the 2021 insurrection, and they persist today. Trump is now waging an aggressive campaign to consolidate executive power. Since returning to the White House, he has sought to undermine every check on presidential authority, including judicial independence, civil society, academic freedom, public-service neutrality, press freedom, and even basic civil liberties. As a result, today's America is a tinderbox. When and where the next would-be assassin might strike is anyone's guess, but one thing is certain: the risk of political violence will spike ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and could reach crisis levels by the presidential election of 2028. There's an easy way to mitigate this risk: Trump could choose to be a unifier rather than a divider. Polls show that most Americans want the political temperature brought down. Unfortunately, it is far more likely that Trump, who rose to power on a populist platform rooted in fear and grievance — much of it racially tinged — will continue to fan the flames of division, keeping the risk of political violence elevated.
Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Argentina's Javier Milei Keeps Proving His Critics Wrong
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Just months ago, Argentina seemed destined for another economic collapse: soaring poverty, runaway inflation and dire warnings from economists that President Javier Milei's radical austerity measures would choke growth. Instead, the economy is expanding at a pace few thought possible — leaving Milei's legions of critics scrambling for explanations. In a stunning reversal, Argentina's economy posted a 7.6 percent year-over-year growth rate in the second quarter of 2025 — its strongest in nearly two decades — fueled by deregulation, sharp cuts to public spending and the loosening of currency controls. Retail sales, manufacturing and finance all surged, helping consumer spending jump nearly 3 percent from the previous quarter. Since assuming office in December 2023, the firebrand libertarian economist has slashed government expenditures and secured a $20 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His administration promised to dismantle decades of state intervention in favor of free markets — policies that many observers warned would deepen recession and spark social unrest. Argentina's President Javier Milei holds up a chainsaw as he arrives to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill,... Argentina's President Javier Milei holds up a chainsaw as he arrives to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. More AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana The Milei Method Part of the turnaround has been Milei's dismantling of el cepo, the restrictive system of exchange controls first imposed in 2011 that prevented companies from moving profits abroad and limited Argentines' access to dollars. After he lifted the restrictions, the peso was allowed to float within a managed band, narrowing the gap between official and black-market exchange rates. Reserves at the central bank climbed to their highest level in two years, bolstered by IMF funds, a $5 billion swap line with China and fresh loans from multilateral banks. Milei also ripped up Argentina's rent-control law in late 2024, removing limits on lease terms and rent increases that had discouraged landlords from renting. Within months, the supply of rental housing in Buenos Aires jumped by 195 percent, according to the city's real estate observatory, and median asking prices fell by about 10 percent as more apartments returned to the market. "We have the best president in the world," Argentina's economy minister, Luis Caputo, wrote on X as he shared the recent growth figure. The surge in GDP has defied predictions from financial institutions, including the IMF, that growth would stagnate. On a June 18 panel hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Harvard economist Carmen Reinhart warned: "What you begin to see is cumulative real appreciation and then the end of the stabilization program with a big depreciation. We've seen this story before in Argentina." Former IMF official Alejandro Werner acknowledged Milei's fiscal adjustment as "remarkable" but cautioned that its sustainability depends on navigating political risks and avoiding another exchange-rate shock. "The next election might show that he has completed the first phase of consolidating political support for reforms, but the path is risky," Werner said. The strongest case for optimism has been Milei's success in driving down inflation. In May, consumer prices rose just 1.5 percent — the lowest monthly figure in five years, according to Argentina's national statistics agency. That decline is widely seen as a political and economic turning point. Still, some economists urge caution. "One has to consider in this disinflation process that we've accumulated a very high inflation rate throughout Milei's term," said Guido Agostinelli, an economist and professor at the University of Buenos Aires, in an interview with Newsweek. "That was driven both by the money supply inherited from the previous administration and by Milei's own decisions, like the exchange rate adjustment when he took office." People demonstrate during a protest of pensioners against the government of Argentina's President Javier Milei in front of the National Congress in Buenos Aires on March 19, 2025. People demonstrate during a protest of pensioners against the government of Argentina's President Javier Milei in front of the National Congress in Buenos Aires on March 19, 2025. Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images Agostinelli noted that inflation peaked at 25.5 percent in December and has since slowed month over month, but warned the decline is deceiving because it is at least partly driven by falling wages and collapsing consumption. "Since there is no strong demand, prices naturally don't rise as one might expect given higher input costs in industry and commerce," he explained. He added that the relatively stable exchange rate — backed by IMF lending and new debt — has also helped cool price pressures, at least for now. Yet, the government's fiscal overhaul and monetary tightening have come at a steep social cost. Poverty, while down from its December peak of 53 percent, still affects 38 percent of Argentina's population. In April, a general strike paralyzed Buenos Aires as unions protested budget cuts and reduced government transfers. Even Milei's allies acknowledge the precariousness of the moment. José De Gregorio, a former central bank governor in Chile, said at the Peterson Institute panel: "I have to admit they are doing the right things. They have a very good chance to succeed. But we know how hard it is here." Can It Last? While Milei's sharp fiscal and monetary tightening has won praise for restoring stability, economists warn Milei's recovery rests on a fragile foundation. As Agostinelli noted, that the current disinflation indicates collapsing demand that threatens to reanimate a recession that ended just last year. "Since there is no strong demand, prices naturally don't rise as one might expect given higher input costs," he said. Martín Redrado, former head of Argentina's central bank, cautioned that the country risks taking the wrong lessons from taming its inflation without addressing deeper structural challenges. "We've settled for defeating inflation, but we shouldn't be complacent," Redrado told Los Andes. He pointed to the lack of a comprehensive tax overhaul and persistent barriers to corporate capital flows as signs the recovery is not yet secure. External factors also pose serious risks. Global conditions — particularly the policies of Milei's ally, U.S. President Donald Trump — have weakened Argentina's key export markets. Trump's trade war has driven down prices for oil and agricultural commodities, reducing Argentina's export earnings and complicating Milei's effort to build reserves and attract investment. As The Economist reported, Trump's economic brinkmanship "makes for risk-averse investors," and Argentina, with its reliance on IMF lending and an overvalued peso, remains highly exposed to external shocks. Yet despite warnings about volatility ahead, Milei appears convinced that the economy is firmly on the path to recovery. On television, he keeps repeating his now-familiar refrain: "Instead of talking about growth at Chinese rates, the world will soon be talking about growth at Argentine rates."
