March 2025 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

Here’s What Came Crashing Down Yesterday for Trump’s “Genius” Guy, Elon Musk: Tesla Stock, Access to Twitter (X), His Years of Secret Calls with Putin
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

https://wallstreetonparade.com/2025/03/heres-what-came-crashing-down-yester… By Pam Martens and Russ Martens: March 11, 2024 ~ Elon Musk and Donald Trump in the Oval Office Billionaires Donald Trump and Elon Musk share a common credo: It’s legal if you can get away with it. (Key evidence to support that claim is the jury conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts and his ability to secure a second term as President and the fact that Musk and his companies were under investigation by five federal Inspectors General – right before Donald Trump fired them and made Musk the investigator. There is also the not insignificant detail reported by the Wall Street Journal that Musk uses illegal drugs.) This credo came crashing down on the heads of both men yesterday. The U.S. stock market, a barometer of presidential leadership, plunged. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 890 points while the tech heavy Nasdaq dived 727.89 points or 4 percent. Tesla, the electric vehicle company where Musk serves as the missing-in-action CEO, whose stock represents the largest portion of Musk’s wealth, lost a stunning 15.43 percent – in one day. That brings the decline in Tesla’s share price from the Friday before Trump took office on Monday, January 20, to yesterday’s closing bell, to 47.9 percent. Musk can now expect more shareholder lawsuits alleging breach of fiduciary duty — to the pile that already exist. Trump will now attempt to do damage control by meeting with the CEOs at some of the largest U.S. corporations today. Musk, for his part, on a day when his hubris was unraveling all around him, thought it appropriate to post a Tweet calling Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a decorated former Navy Captain and combat pilot and a former astronaut, a “traitor.” Musk was responding to Kelly’s visit to Ukraine and his Tweets about why the U.S. must stand firm in support of Ukraine. It should be noted that supporting Ukraine over the illegal invasion of the country by Russia was the official policy of the U.S. until Trump unilaterally decided recently that it wasn’t. Now, one has to question what role Elon Musk, Trump’s largest campaign donor to the tune of more than a quarter billion dollars, has played in that decision. In October of last year, the Wall Street Journal reported the following in an article titled (paywall) Elon Musk’s Secret Conversations With Vladimir Putin. “Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a linchpin of U.S. space efforts, has been in regular contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022.” “At one point, Putin asked the billionaire to avoid activating his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, said two people briefed on the request.” “Musk has forged deep business ties with U.S. military and intelligence agencies, giving him unique visibility into some of America’s most sensitive space programs. SpaceX, which operates the Starlink service, won a $1.8 billion classified contract in 2021 and is the primary rocket launcher for the Pentagon and NASA. Musk has a security clearance that allows him access to certain classified information.” At the same time that Musk was chatting it up with Putin, the Russian dictator was on a U.S. sanctions list over his illegal invasion of Ukraine and bombing of its cities and towns. Immediately upon learning about the Wall Street Journal article, NASA administrator Bill Nelon called for a government investigation, citing national security concerns. Musk owns the Twitter social media platform, which he renamed “X.” According to DownDetector data and comments posted on its website, Twitter (X) was inaccessible for much of yesterday to users in the U.S. and countries around the globe. According to Musk, it was under “a massive cyberattack.” That Musk cannot put up adequate firewalls to protect Twitter (X) from many hours of global outages is not a comforting thought for a man being allowed by Trump to send teams of his software engineers to tap into federal government computer systems. The dangerous threats to U.S. national security, trust by our allies, market stability, consumer and business confidence, which directly impacts the U.S. economy, of this Musk/Trump/Russia realignment will no doubt come up when Trump meets with corporate CEOs today. Will any have the courage to break their silence on the subject? The fact that the Dow is down another 361 points as of 10:03 a.m. EDT this morning suggests that the worst is yet to come.

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In other news: Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh face a surge in crime as hunger and malnutrition intensify following U.N. warnings of imminent food ration cuts due to funding shortfalls. [DW]
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

In other news The World Health Organization is providing essential equipment worth *$750,000 to the Democratic Republic of Congo to improve vaccination coverage* in remote communities where preventable diseases persist. [UN News <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBstJUs37D2G3J9n2JU6gv0pkgVa_033E…> ] *Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh face a surge in crime* as hunger and malnutrition intensify following U.N. warnings of imminent food ration cuts due to funding shortfalls. [DW <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBslFhFzG9aKK4hloRYa0X48y9Lr0RP9z…> ] *EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas vows to continue supporting Ukraine* and promoting global cooperation despite the Trump administration’s policies. [The Independent <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBssEJ32-sOk3g5rKD6CKXJZdOzcfD8-N…> ]

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Status: Pending That means, she says, that CSW must evolve — a stronger platform for feminists, real accountability for states, and urgent policy shifts.
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

*Status: Pending* From the U.S. DEI rollbacks <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POrHUo-5KRfbBK_1WFNkKZUKKctC9f51B…> and U.K. aid cuts <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POkUJbvhdB-rcJAedzEdXIbTS49vf-cnb…> to rising violence in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, *challenges to women’s rights are mounting*, writes Baishali Chatterjee, global gender justice adviser at Christian Aid, in an opinion piece for Devex. As the Commission on the Status of Women marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, *women still bear the brunt of economic inequality*. That means, she says, that CSW must evolve <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POhclVMjy-fPC1nQx1DZzXLnfgFS-vBal…> — a stronger platform for feminists, real accountability for states, and urgent policy shifts. Progressive tax policies and fairer financial systems could fund critical services and ease the burden on women. Partnering with ACT Alliance, Christian Aid is pushing faith leaders and grassroots activists to demand action. *Leaders at CSW69 must deliver on their commitments* — or be complicit in the rollback of women’s rights, Chatterjee says. *Opinion:* How we make this UN conference on women’s rights count <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POhclVMjy-fPC1nQx1DZzXLnfgFS-vBal…>

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The UN's glass ceiling: The numbers are stark. Since 1945, just 208 of 2,800 UN ambassadors have been women. Some countries — China, France, Russia — have never appointed one. Boardrooms aren’t much better: Women held just 29% of governing board positions in 2024.
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

The UN's glass ceiling <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlMtQCOqxGRuVFKc_yMZ-3khkft3QdVY…>*U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres delivers remarks on the occasion of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women program. Photo by: UN Photo / Mark Garten* With International Women’s Day behind us, it’s worth asking: How much has really changed for women in global leadership? A new GWL Voices report <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBslKQ4ab5JiMFmF3dMzAgwKpQENSuBB6…> shows progress at the United Nations <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBsnivhlV4y2FvI91kNHDf-zFR_BVzU7_…> and other international bodies — with more women in senior roles. However, *governments are still lagging*, and the *U.N.’s top job remains seemingly out of reach*. The numbers are stark. Since 1945, just *208 of 2,800 UN ambassadors have been women*. Some countries — China, France, Russia — have never appointed one. Boardrooms aren’t much better: *Women held just 29% of governing board positions in 2024*. In 2016, a strong slate of women — Helen Clark, Susana Malcorra, and Kristalina Georgieva — vied for the secretary-general position at the U.N. However, the U.N. Security Council <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBsg_W9rar9R1P0ZfYN2E9ptsj1sgiMB2…>’s power players picked António Guterres. Twice. Now, GWL Voices is rallying behind #MadamSecretaryGeneral for 2026 <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlMtQCOqxGRuVFKc_yMZ-3khkft3QdVY…>, with potential candidates such as Mia Mottley of Barbados, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, and María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador. But there’s backlash. Trump’s new anti-DEI executive order has the U.S. pushing to soften U.N. commitments to female leadership <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POiKRGbNY2OKC42jxnUn9zvqXkTWpMxh_…> , *while Russia wants them gone entirely*. “We are witnessing *an aggressive backlash against gender equality*,” Guterres warns. *Read: *Is the world ready for a woman at helm of the United Nations? <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlMtQCOqxGRuVFKc_yMZ-3khkft3QdVY…>

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Vought early and often: Yesterday, Trump nominated Project 2025 architect Russell Vought — current head of the White House’s budget office — to the boards of both USADF and IAF.
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

*Vought early and often* Despite how relatively tiny these aid agencies are, the Trump administration has clearly set the U.S. African Development Foundation <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBstetkfgc9FfyeGazNY2D5dt-1OC7PWo…> and the Inter-American Foundation <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBspAH7m7JsCKXBUjXYOtc_uTeOJR40lU…> in its crosshairs. Yesterday, Trump nominated Project 2025 <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POkrZ218GcgnHX2hd2Dfy8uAL3qKlMogN…> architect *Russell Vought* — current head of the White House’s budget office — to the boards of both USADF and IAF <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POjbW6rOsZ37Uc-AtgCDeIvcdUV6s-ATH…> . Vought’s name surfaced on the Senate’s calendar on Monday, along with the nominations of two other political appointees: *Kenneth Jackson*, who is now serving as USAID’s assistant to the administrator for management and resources; and *Laken Rapier*, who is noted as a “senior FO advisor,” or front office adviser, in internal USAID documents. For decades, IAF has provided small grants to civil society organizations in Latin America, while USADF has funded small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs, businesses, and groups in Africa. Trump appointed Peter Marocco, the acting deputy administrator of USAID, as president and board chair of both organizations. IAF has now virtually disappeared <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POjbW6rOsZ37Uc-AtgCDeIvf-tQPk7a-w…>, while USADF President and CEO Ward Brehm temporarily blocked Marocco’s appointment <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POkBQh3h_iqvAUwrNHENibFNcS2mF3YSQ…> by taking him to court. The initial results of that court case weren’t promising <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POgHnU0AEd8M6o_YcsV5JNkuR2m5WNE8J…>, though they weren’t definitive either, my colleague Elissa Miolene reports. While a federal judge yesterday cleared the way for the Trump administration to *shift the leadership of USADF and significantly downsize its operations*, Judge Richard Leon asked both legal teams to file a proposed briefing schedule for a preliminary injunction by March 12. It’s a route Brehm’s team had already said they would be taking. It’s not yet clear what will happen between now and a possible preliminary injunction, and whether Brehm will lead USADF until then. That being said, *the judge did not deny Brehm was the president*, and in his court order, Leon stated that he had found no existing statutes that would permit temporary appointments — such as Trump’s appointment of Marocco — to USADF’s board. *Read:* Trump taps Project 2025's Russell Vought to USADF, IAF boards <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POjbW6rOsZ37Uc-AtgCDeIvcdUV6s-ATH…> *Read more:* Judge rejects USADF chief’s bid to block Trump’s leadership shakeup <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POgHnU0AEd8M6o_YcsV5JNkuR2m5WNE8J…>

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Finance, bros: And with China ramping up global investments, Rep. Sheri Biggs underscored DFC’s role in countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative, calling it “America’s primary vehicle for soft power abroad.”
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

Finance, bros The U.S. Congress kicked off the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation reauthorization talks with a rare show of bipartisanship <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POoCHqzIMxFmx3uh1aeA9isGdJh4J2dpV…>, as the agency nears its $60 billion lending cap and faces an Oct. 1 deadline to have its mandate reupped. *Lawmakers are pushing to double its cap to $120 billion or more*, with Republican Rep. Young Kim calling the process “urgent” and stressing the need to keep DFC <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBsnW9mKgwheAjOhQkynFPM48QfvOIehM…> “agile, effective, and aligned with America's national security priorities.” The House passed a reauthorization bill last year, but the Senate stalled. *A key hurdle? How DFC’s equity investments are classified* — they’re currently treated as grants, limiting its ability to scale. Some lawmakers want them scored like loans, but budget officials aren’t on board, Devex Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger writes. Witnesses, including former Rep. Ted Yoho and former Overseas Private Investment Corporation CEO Robert Mosbacher, pushed for expanding investments, raising the spending cap, and fixing equity scoring. They also *highlighted USAID’s role in finding DFC investment opportunities*, despite limited staff abroad. Yoho defended USAID’s past work, saying: “They're often the ones that are boots on the ground that invite in that private equity.” And with China ramping up global investments, Rep. Sheri Biggs underscored *DFC’s role in countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative*, calling it “America’s primary vehicle for soft power abroad.” *Read:* Congressional hearing kicks off DFC reauthorization efforts <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POoCHqzIMxFmx3uh1aeA9isGdJh4J2dpV…> *Background reading:* Five years in, DFC navigates growth, reform, and global competition <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POhwJX4IQzAOIDV4z4rU8PlXwsN-ieCF7…>

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Shred alert: “Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” wrote Erica Y. Carr, acting executive secretary at USAID, in an email obtained by Devex. Staff members were told to label burn bags “SECRET” and “USAID/B/IO” in Sharpie markers.
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

Shred alert USAID staff members were told to shred and burn classified and personnel documents <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POiKRGbNY2OKC42jxnUn9zvqRZlTOTo-c…> at the agency’s former headquarters in Washington, D.C. yesterday — an order raising legal red flags. The American Foreign Service Association warns *this could violate federal records laws*, especially amid lawsuits over USAID’s dismantling. “*Shred as many documents first*, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” wrote Erica Y. Carr, acting executive secretary at USAID, in an email obtained by Devex. Staff members were told to label burn bags “SECRET” and “USAID/B/IO” in Sharpie markers. Democracy Forward and Public Citizen Litigation Group promptly filed a motion <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBsuc0TThZjwJJZSYRfVH18tMA40vbeBF…> for an emergency temporary restraining order to stop the destruction of federal records. “The mass destruction of federal records is not just unlawful—it’s *a blatant and calculated attempt to obstruct accountability* and cripple the ability to restore USAID’s vital mission as we pursue every legal option,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, in a statement <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBsgHq8XNAbFfWaJW4b757IIimbSH3BUT…>. “Federal records belong to the American people, not to any administration looking to cover its tracks.” Anna Kelly, the White House deputy press secretary, posted <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGZKQHBssGAtq51ZQfFnqVcQEjM6ZcQgPkQ6HJ…> on the social media platform X that the email was sent to roughly three dozen employees. “The documents involved were old, mostly courtesy content (content from other agencies), and the originals still exist on classified computer systems.” This comes as USAID is gutted — headquarters closed <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlEl9RSRUZlYbrmNpaBWzbMeW3UNwb2W…>, projects axed <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POnWoAy7kER6YdeYGxyc7JzG6WR3oDJSx…>, staff recalled <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlEl9RSRUZlYbrmNpaBWzbMJpzFzneHJ…>, and partners unpaid <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POgHnU0AEd8M6o_YcsV5JNktnxJ5zaA-n…>. “*I do not see how this follows protocol*. There are a lot of rules around documents. Especially classified,” a USAID staffer who was put on administrative leave tells Devex. *Scoop:* USAID staff instructed to shred and burn classified documents <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POiKRGbNY2OKC42jxnUn9zvqRZlTOTo-c…>

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Weapons Check Co. Sued In Del. After Hyped Reports, Probes
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

Weapons Check Co. Sued In Del. After Hyped Reports, Probes <https://www.law360.com/delaware/articles/2308960?nl_pk=9f0ef0c6-df48-47ce-8…> By Jeff Montgomery A shareholder of weapons screening system developer Evolv Technologies fired off a derivative suit on the company's behalf in Delaware's Court of Chancery late Monday, seeking recovery of damages arising from allegedly hyped marketing of flawed, artificial intelligence-enabled systems that failed to meet threat detection claims. Complaint attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/delaware/articles/2308960?nl_pk=9f0ef0c6-df48-47ce-8…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/delaware/articles/2308960?nl_pk=9f0ef0c6-df48-47ce-8…>

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Yale-Tied Doc Dies Amid Ongoing Insemination Fraud Cases
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

Yale-Tied Doc Dies Amid Ongoing Insemination Fraud Cases <https://www.law360.com/health/articles/2309122?nl_pk=0f5983ea-0173-4e74-85e…> By P.J. D'Annunzio A Connecticut doctor who worked at a Yale School of Medicine clinic who was sued for allegedly using his own sperm to impregnate unsuspecting patients has died during the pendency of the two cases against him, according to a court filing. 1 document attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/health/articles/2309122?nl_pk=0f5983ea-0173-4e74-85e…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/health/articles/2309122?nl_pk=0f5983ea-0173-4e74-85e…>

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Alaska's RICO Claims Advance Against PBM In Opioid Suit
by Gunnar Larson 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

Alaska's RICO Claims Advance Against PBM In Opioid Suit <https://www.law360.com/cannabis/articles/2308616?nl_pk=a981d81f-1a94-4659-8…> By Mark Payne An Alaska federal judge has allowed most of the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act claims to move forward against pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts for its alleged role in the opioid epidemic. Order attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/cannabis/articles/2308616?nl_pk=a981d81f-1a94-4659-8…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/cannabis/articles/2308616?nl_pk=a981d81f-1a94-4659-8…>

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