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Sunday, July 14, 2024

Dad of Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks trying to figure out ‘what the hell is going on’: report

The father of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks reportedly said he is trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” as his son was identified as former President Trump’s attempted assassin.

Matthew Crooks wouldn’t provide details about his son and wanted to “wait until I talk to law enforcement,” before speaking out on the horrific shooting, the elder Crooks told CNN on Saturday night.

Thomas Crooks was shot and killed after he opened fire at former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Crooks’ bullet grazed the 45th president’s right ear as he killed a male spectator and critically injured two others.

Crooks had set himself up on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the stage.

The counter-sniper team, which sources told The Post killed the shooter, returned fire from the roof of another building close to where Trump was located — behind the audience stands.

The would-be assassin was a registered Republican but donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project in 2021, a Democratic-aligned political action committee.

Keep up to date on updates with the Post’s live blog on the assassination attempt on Trump

Records indicate Crooks lived in the town of Bethel Park, Pa. approximately 45 miles south of Butler Farm Show grounds where the shooting took place.

https://nypost.com/2024/07/14/us-news/dad-of-trump-shooter-thomas-matthew-crooks-trying-to-figure-out-what-the-hell-is-going-on-report/

Biden Snaps In Meeting Called To Reassure House Dems

Embattled President Biden opened up a meeting with a group of Democratic US representatives by challenging them to ask him "hard questions" about his candidacy and his fitness to serve -- only to jump down the throat of a member who sought reassurance about the 81-year-old's ability to serve as a strong commander-in-chief. His loss of temper and ill-preparedness for the meeting reportedly did nothing to bolster his audience's confidence.

That audience for the Saturday video conference call was the New Democrat Coalition, a group comprising some 100 centrist Democrats. While the group's chairwoman, New Hampshire Rep. Anne McLane Kuster, politely characterized the conversation as "candid, respectful and productive," members speaking to reporters anonymously were far less charitable about Biden's performance.

"That was a complete disaster. We saw the same Joe Biden from the debate," one of the House reps on the roughly 30-minute, late-afternoon call told Axios. Another said the call was "awful," while a third said "members were not holding back."

Another source who was on the call told The Hill it was "tense." That tension hit a crescendo when Colorado Rep. Jason Crow told Biden that, from a national security perspective, voters were uneasy about Biden being "at the helm when they go to sleep at night.”

"Biden ripped him...the exchange was hard to watch," The Hill's source said. According to three sources who spoke to Politico, Biden raised his voice and said, "I don't want to hear that crap!" before forcefully touting his foreign policy record, citing -- as he incessantly does now -- his role in expanding NATO, an undertaking that does nothing to increase US security.

"He started shouting at Jason Crow for no reason," a member said. Undaunted by Biden's rebuke, Crow -- a former Army Ranger -- told Biden his accomplishments weren't persuading voters who have doubts about his ability to serve another term.

**Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger who represent's Colorado's 6th Congressional district, previously blasted Biden for the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle** (Jason Connolly/AFP/Getty Images via *Axios*)

The Hill's source said members were "really dismayed" by overall Biden's performance, saying he seemed unprepared to handle the questions that everyone is asking about him since his disastrous June 27 debate performance. As he is prone to do, Biden was said to have given rambling answers -- offering just another confirmation of his declining mental strength.

One lawmaker summed it up with this blistering report card:

"He had no answer to questions about his electability. He seemed oblivious to the polling that shows him losing swing states. He didn't want to hear it ... He didn't try to reassure anyone. He took no responsibility."

Multiple reps were queued up to ask questions, but Biden said he had to leave to attend mass near his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home. Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley was said to be "visibly not happy that he was not going to be able to ask a question."

Earlier in the day, Biden had a much longer and more harmonious call with progressive Democrats, who've emerged as his staunchest defenders. In a Saturday op-ed at the New York Times, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called on Democrats to stop "bickering and nit-picking," calling Biden "the most effective president in the modern history of our country and...the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump."

Saturday's attempted assassination of President Trump, which came within an hour of the conference call's conclusion, is certain to galvanize his support. At the same time, it's had the effect of at least temporarily erasing Biden's mental-fitness controversy from news headlines.

With insurgent forces growing in the Democratic ranks, the reprieve will likely prove short-lived. The New Democrat Coalition could end it: One rep on Biden's call said the group is considering a joint letter urging Biden to quit the race, and that his bad Saturday meeting "probably" increased the odds that they'll do so. Given the group's large size, that would make big waves, as it could cause the total number of Democratic House reps opposing Biden's campaign to grow by several multiples all at once.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/was-complete-disaster-biden-snaps-meeting-called-reassure-house-dems

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Did Eli Lilly Just Get a Leg Up on Novo Nordisk?

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has gotten off to an incredible start in 2024.

The company's diabetes and obesity care treatments, Mounjaro and Zepbound, continue to support unprecedented growth for Lilly in a heated race with its rival Novo Nordisk, the maker of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Saxenda.

Although GLP-1 medications are in the spotlight for Lilly, investors should be keen to learn that the company just achieved another milestone.

Let's dig into the catalysts propelling Lilly right now, and why I think the company may have just leapfrogged Novo Nordisk as a superior investment.

Eli Lilly's weight loss treatments are on the rise

GLP-1 medications have gained significant traction in recent years. A research report from J.P. Morgan suggests that 9% of the U.S. population could be prescribed a GLP-1 treatment by 2030, equating to a market size of more than $100 billion.

While this forecast may appear overly bullish, my take is that it could be conservative. Mounjaro was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) roughly two years ago. In 2023, Mounjaro eclipsed $5 billion in sales for Lilly. Moreover, during the first quarter of 2024, Mounjaro generated $1.8 billion in revenue -- implying an annual run rate of more than $7 billion.

Zepbound was commercialized more recently, having attained FDA approval in November. Nevertheless, Zepbound is on pace to become a $2 billion blockbuster drug this year in its first full year on the market.

Considering the company is actually struggling to fulfill demand for both Mounjaro and Zepbound, it's reasonable to believe that Lilly hasn't even scratched the surface when it comes to the full potential of its GLP-1 portfolio.

The company just notched another big win

Lilly has several other successful treatments outside of its GLP-1 medications. The company has a cancer drug called Verzenio, as well as a plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treatment called Taltz.

However, Lilly's biggest opportunity beyond the weight loss market appears to be in treating Alzheimer's disease. About a week ago, the FDA approved Lilly's Alzheimer's candidate, Kisunla, the brand name for donanemab.

This is a huge breakthrough for Lilly. Unlike other medical conditions, the Alzheimer's market is incredibly fragmented due to a lack of mainstream treatments.

With Kisnula approved, Lilly has entered yet another multibillion-dollar market and could quickly emerge as a leader.

Eli Lilly vs. Novo Nordisk: Is there a clear winner?

There are a couple of important themes to keep in mind when it comes to assessing investing in Eli Lilly over Novo Nordisk.

Although Lilly has gained significant traction in the GLP-1 market, Novo is the clear leader at the moment. According to Novo Nordisk's estimates, it has 70% of the international GLP-1 market and 54% in North America.

Considering that Wegovy was just granted approval in China, I suspect Novo's market position will continue to strengthen.

With that said, Lilly has proven that Mounjaro and Zepbound can compete at a high level with Novo's robust line of GLP-1 treatments. Moreover, I think Lilly's diversification makes it a more desirable investment choice.

Today, Novo Nordisk is primarily known for its weight loss and insulin treatments. As explored above, Lilly's medicines are used in patients across a much broader spectrum. Now, with the addition of Kisunla in its portfolio, Lilly is continuing to evolve into a prolific healthcare provider.

I'll admit that the one drawback with Lilly stock is its valuation. The company's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 68 is high, even for a growth stock. This could imply that some of the upside from GLP-1 growth is already priced into the stock.

However, I wouldn't be overly cautious when investing in Lilly. Trying to time the perfect moment to buy the stock is an exercise in false precision. Rather, investors should buy the stock over a long-term time horizon using dollar-cost averaging.

I think Lilly has a bright future and its best days are ahead. Considering its position in the GLP-1 market is nascent, coupled with the potential of treating Alzheimer's Disease, Lilly looks well positioned to remain a top name in the pharmaceutical industry for years to come.

https://finance.yahoo.com/m/4916e4d7-49c9-3edf-ad42-8084ab3b544b/did-eli-lilly-just-get-a-leg.html

Russia can counter US missile deployments in Europe, Kremlin says

European countries would be putting themselves at risk if they accept deployments of long-range U.S. missiles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a video published on Saturday.

Asked by Russian state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin about the possibility of the United States deploying hypersonic missiles to Europe, Peskov said: "We have enough potential to deter these missiles. But the capitals of these (European) states are potential victims."

Peskov noted that throughout the Cold War, American missiles based in Europe were aimed at Russia, with Russian missiles aimed at Europe in return, making the continent's countries the chief victim of any potential conflict.

He said: "Europe is now coming apart at the seams. This is not the best time for Europe. Therefore, in one way or another, history will repeat itself"

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/news/russia-counter-us-missile-deployments-141710775.html

Possible security lapses in focus after Trump rally shooting

Republican lawmakers said they would launch swift investigations into how a sniper apparently managed to evade Secret Service agents and climb onto the roof of a building near where Donald Trump was speaking at an election rally and fire multiple shots before being killed.

While information about the incident is still sparse, early media reports said the shooter was outside the security perimeter of the rally venue in Butler, Pennsylvania. At least one person interviewed by the BBC said he tried to alert police and the Secret Service, to no avail, to the apparent sniper.

Trump supporters blasted the Secret Service, which has the primary responsibility for protecting Trump as a former U.S. president. Billionaire ally Elon Musk called for the agency's leadership to resign.

"How was a sniper with a full rifle kit allowed to bear crawl onto the closest roof to a presidential nominee," asked conservative activist Jack Posobiec on social media site X.

Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on social media that the House will have "Secret Service Director KIMBERLY CHEATLE and other appropriate officials from DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees ASAP."

The Secret Service said shortly after the shooting that it has begun an investigation and briefed Democratic President Joe Biden, Trump's rival in the Nov. 15 election, though the agency did not immediately respond to additional requests for comment regarding its protocols.

The Pennsylvania State Police referred questions to the Secret Service, which did not immediately respond.

Attendee Ben Maser was outside the rally perimeter, listening to Trump, when he noticed two officers seemingly looking for someone. Maser, a 41-year old welder, started scanning the area too.

"I saw the guy on the roof. I told the officer that he was up there. He went about looking for him," said Maser.

The attack is certain to lead to a review of Trump's security, and going forward he will likely be provided with a level of protection more akin to a sitting president, said Joseph LaSorsa, a former Secret Service agent who served on the presidential detail.

"There will be an intensive review" of the incident and "there's going to be a massive realignment," LaSorsa said. "This cannot happen."

The Secret Service said in a statement that it had recently added "protective resources and capabilities" to Trump's security detail, without providing further details.

A retired agent who worked in protective services, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident should spark an internal review, and ideally an external one too.

"The gravity of the situation demands thorough scrutiny to prevent such failures in the future and to ensure accountability on all levels," said the former agent.

SECURING TRUMP RALLIES

During most of Trump's campaign stops, local police aid the Secret Service in securing the venue. Agents from other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, such as the Transportation Security Administration, occasionally help.

It is no easy task. Many Trump rallies feature thousands of audience members, take place in the open air and last for hours.

Before the event, agents scan the venue for bombs or other threats, and Trump invariably arrives in a fortified motorcade.

Law enforcement officials typically put up barriers as a perimeter, and require all attendees to go through a metal detector to enter the venue. Armed protective agents search all attendees' bags and even wallets. Many rallygoers are patted down by hand.

Paul Eckloff, a former Secret Service agent who retired in 2020, said agents would have surveyed all the rooftops with a line of sight ahead of time.

"This person either concealed themselves until they became a threat, or were not a threat until they revealed their weapons," said Eckloff.

In the moments after Trump was injured, the former president was quickly surrounded by Secret Service personnel who formed a human shield, while heavily armed agents in body armor and toting rifles also took to the stage and appeared to scan the area for threats.

Trump was whisked by the agents to a black SUV, and taken to a local hospital, according to the campaign.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/possible-security-lapses-focus-trump-023746403.html

'Iraq in Talks With US Treasury Over Banks, Dollar Restrictions'

Iraq has engaged in discussions in Washington with representatives from the US Treasury to address dollar restriction issues, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said during a press conference aired on state-run media al-Iraqiya.

Describing the meetings as “very useful,” Hussein indicated that they would continue. Topics slated for upcoming discussions include further talks on the list of Iraqi banks under US sanctions and the status of accumulated Iranian funds in Iraq. “There are serious steps to resolve these issues,” Hussein said.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-13/iraq-in-talks-with-us-treasury-over-banks-dollar-restrictions

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