CFPB drops Zelle case against JPMorgan, BofA, Wells Fargo

 The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau told a federal court on Tuesday it was dropping a lawsuit filed in December against three of the nation's largest banks over their handling of the payment service Zelle, court papers show.

The agency, which was virtually shuttered by President Donald Trump last month, had accused JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo of failing to protect consumers from fraud costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

Representatives for the CFPB, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and Early Warning Services, the joint venture of seven different banks which operates the Zelle system, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the agency's action in an Arizona federal court. Bank of America declined to comment.

In an unprecedented move, the CFPB has now dropped seven of the enforcement cases brought under former President Joe Biden, including one against Capital One . Many of the other pending cases have been paused in court.

In the final days of the Biden administration, the CFPB accused EWS and the three banks of rushing the Zelle service to market to compete with apps like PayPal's Venmo and Block's Cash App without implementing proper user safeguards.

Hundreds of thousands of consumers subsequently lodged complaints about fraud but were by and large denied assistance, sometimes being told to ask the alleged fraudsters to return their funds, according to the CFPB.

Though Trump has said the CFPB should be eliminated, agency officials and government lawyers have maintained in court that the administration intends to operate a "streamlined" CFPB in keeping with its legal obligations.

An employee union and consumer advocates are suing, however, to stop what they say are administration plans that would effectively gut the agency and leave it unable to fulfill its obligations under federal law.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-cfpb-drops-zelle-case-173120869.html

Zelensky "Ready To Work Under Trump's Strong Leadership", White House Demands Recorded Apology

 Trump wants an explicit public apology from Zelensky - that's according to Fox White House correspondent Peter Doocy, who described the following on Monday...

"Nothing is gonna happen with this minerals deal until Zelensky goes in front of cameras and makes an explicit public apology for the way he behaved in the Oval Office with that meeting," Doocy said in a live broadcast from the White House lawn. President Zelensky on Tuesday is reiterating he's "ready" to sign the minerals deal with the US.

AFP/Getty Images

This is because in the wake of the disastrous Zelensky visit, "there's now quite a disconnect happening here at the White House with their allies in Kiev."

As for the requirement of a recorded apology by Zelensky to make amends, Doocy said he was specifically "told by a senior official" in the Trump administration.

President Zelensky himself had this weekend said he still hopes for "constructive dialogue" with Washington and has expressed willingness to still sign the agreement.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had just hours after Zelensky left the White House Friday advised the Ukrainian leader to apologize "for wasting our time" and for "turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became." Zelensky has still not done so. There are these 'regret' statements issues from his office Tuesday:

• the way the White House meeting turned out was regrettable
• Kyiv ready to work under 'Trump's strong leadership' for peace: Zelensky
• Zelensky says wants to 'make things right' with Trump

“My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” Zelenskiy said Tuesday on X. “The first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky — ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure — and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same.” Below is Zelensky's full, latest public statement:

GOP Congressional leaders are meanwhile still holding out hope that a deal will be reached. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said he's confident a minerals deal will still "be signed in short order."

Watch Fox's Doocy explain what's required of Zelensky below, based on US admin officials...

"We are 100% getting this train back on the tracks," Fitzpatrick wrote on X on Monday. "This mineral deal will be signed in short order, which will lead to a strong long-term economic partnership between the United States and Ukraine, and which will ultimately and naturally lead to security assistance."

But it sounds like from the White House's perspective a lot will be determined by Zelensky's actions in the coming days. Here's what US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told CNN on Sunday: "it’s unclear whether President Zelensky, particularly after what we saw on Friday, is ready to transition Ukraine to an end to this war, and to negotiate and have to compromise." Waltz then said that "we need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war" - in remarks that hinted at regime change in Kiev.

* * *

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/white-house-wants-recorded-apology-zelensky-mend-relations

Putin Agrees To Mediate Iran Nuke Talks After Trump Request

 A very unexpected and unlikely development and plan is being widely reported Tuesday: Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to help the Trump White House broker talks with Iran on curtailing the country's nuclear program.

Trump reportedly relayed the request for Putin to play a direct role in new negotiations with Iran during their February phone call. The topic was further broached and more details were discussed during the US-Russia Riyadh talks which followed, reports Bloomberg on Tuesday.

via NY Times

Neither the Iranian nor US governments have publicly commented on the Bloomberg report specifically, which was based on anonymous sourcing. But Russian state media did quickly acknowledge that Moscow stands ready to help the US and Iran resolve their issues through talks.

A TASS headline issued almost simultaneous to the Bloomberg report says as follows:

Moscow believes that Washington and Tehran should settle all their differences through talks and is ready to contribute to this, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Bloomberg.

"Russia believes that the United States and Iran should resolve all problems through negotiations," he said, adding that Moscow "is ready to do everything in its power to achieve this."

This response from Peskov appears to support the Bloomberg report. This response marks something unexpectedly positive given that both Russia and Iran are heavily sanctioned by the United States - measures put in place under the Biden administration.

Biden officials had castigated the Iranians as part of the axis attacking Ukraine, given that Iranian-supplied suicide drones have been heavily relied upon by Russian forces throughout the more than three-year long conflict.

Iran has only offered very vague comments, with a foreign ministry spokesman saying Monday it is "natural" for countries to offer to help negotiations along in the cause of diplomacy.

"It's possible that many parties will show good will and readiness to help with various problems," the spokesman stated. "From this perspective, it's natural that countries will present an offer of help if it's needed."

Previously Tehran leaders, including the Ayatollah himself, expressed that at this point it's somewhat futile to engage in direct talks with Washington - given Iran in good faith entered into the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal with Obama, but then Trump unilaterally pulled out in 2018. The Ayatollah said in recent comments this means there's no way to know if a future US administration will honor prior commitments and deals.

There's also the greater complication of the standoff with Israel. Iran's missile sites are at the 'ready' amid constant fears of an Israeli preemptive attack on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities. Trump has been seen as giving Israel free reign to attack if it sees itself as under threat by Iran or its proxies in the region.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-agrees-mediate-iran-nuke-talks-after-trump-request

Neuronetics shares surge post Q4 revenue beat

 On Tuesday, Neuronetics Inc. (NASDAQ:STIM) reported mixed fourth quarter results, with revenue exceeding expectations but earnings falling short of estimates.

The company’s shares were up 5.87% in premarket trading following the release.

The medical technology company posted a loss of $0.33 per share for Q4, wider than the $0.24 loss analysts were expecting. However, revenue came in at $22.5 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of $18.97 million and representing 11% YoY growth.

For the full year 2024, Neuronetics reported revenue of $74.9 million, up 5% compared to 2023. The company’s U.S. treatment session revenue was $50.8 million for the year.

"2024 was a defining year for Neuronetics as we’ve strategically transformed our business model and market position," said CEO Keith J. Sullivan. He noted the company expanded its Better Me Provider network and acquired Greenbrook TMS, creating an "unparalleled TMS treatment platform."

Looking ahead, Neuronetics provided Q1 2025 revenue guidance of $28-30 million and full year 2025 revenue guidance of $145-155 million, both in line with analyst expectations.

The company expects to achieve cash flow positivity in Q3 2025 and is targeting double-digit revenue growth for the year. Neuronetics also said it has executed actions to realize over $21 million of the targeted $22 million in expected annualized cost synergies related to the Greenbrook acquisition.

https://www.investing.com/news/earnings/neuronetics-shares-surge-over-5-post-q4-revenue-beat-93CH-3905388

Repligen Purchases Bioprocessing Analytics Portfolio from 908 Devices

 

Portfolio includes PAT devices for real-time process monitoring, control and analysis

Repligen Corporation (Nasdaq: RGEN), a life sciences company focused on bioprocessing technology leadership, and 908 Devices Inc. (Nasdaq: MASS), a pioneer in purpose-built handheld and desktop devices for chemical analysis, announce that Repligen has purchased 908 Devices’ desktop portfolio of four devices for bioprocessing process analytical technology (PAT) applications. 908 Devices remains focused on the growth of its newly expanded handheld device portfolio for vital health and safety applications.

The addition of these desktop assets complements and strengthens Repligen’s differentiated PAT portfolio that provides its biopharmaceutical and CDMO customers with actionable insights to optimize development processes and improve manufacturing efficiencies. Products acquired from 908 Devices include MAVERICK and MAVEN for real-time monitoring and control of critical bioprocess parameters; REBEL, an at-line cell culture media analyzer; and ZipChip, a high-resolution sample separations device used in the characterization of product quality attributes.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250304869460/en

Republican Lawmakers Join Musk In Calling For US To Exit NATO

 A pair of Republican lawmakers have issued public statements of support for the United States exiting the the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. The rare call comes on the heels of the explosive row between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump at the White House last Friday.

First, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) posted to X Saturday, "Get us out of NATO." He highlighted a chart showing that the US represents around 70% of the entire annual combined defense spending of NATO countries. No other nation comes close. Lee's post also featured the conclusion of Rod Martin, who wrote: "Just to be clear, the Europeans aren’t gonna do jack."

The Europeans are at this moment trying to cobble together a "coalition of the willing" - in the Sunday words of UK prime minister Kier Starmer, to keep up strong support for Ukraine.

Second, posting in support of Sen. Lee was Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican from Kentucky, who wrote, "NATO is a Cold War relic that needs to be relegated to a talking kiosk at the Smithsonian."

All of this appears to also be pushback to a number of political leaders and media pundits lately flooding social media to show support for Zelensky as the new savior of the EU, and many have even suggested that Europe can easily fill the void that the US leaves behind. This is dangerous delusion. 

On Sunday, Trump adviser Elon Musk wrote on X, "I always wondered why NATO continued to exist even though its nemesis and reason to exist, The Warsaw Pact, had dissolved."

He had said something similar on Saturday, responding "I agree" to a statement that said, "It’s time to leave NATO and the UN."

We previously featured Jacob Hornberger's words, who pointed out that the great big obstacle to bringing an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflict is NATO, the "Cold Cold War dinosaur that should have gone out of existence with the end of the Cold War, just like the Warsaw Pact did."

He explained that it's that critically important point which is lost on the US mainstream media. For them, the war began at the moment that Russia invaded Ukraine. Nothing that preceded that invasion matters to the mainstream media. What came before the invasion is simply considered irrelevant.

It's as if Putin merely woke up on the wrong side of the bed one day and up and decided to invade Ukraine, plain and simple. Such a plot and simplistic narrative would fail to be convincing even in a cheap Hollywood action movie.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/republican-lawmakers-join-musk-calling-us-exit-nato

Trans Surgeries Increase Risk Of Suicidal Ideation: Oxford Study

 by Steve Watson via Modernity,news,

A comprehensive study recently published in the Oxford Academic Journal of Sexual Medicine has raised significant concerns about the mental health outcomes of individuals undergoing sex-change surgeries.

Analysing data from over 107,000 patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria, the research suggests that those who pursue such procedures face a markedly higher risk of mental health challenges compared to those who do not.

The study, which focused on adults over the age of 18, compared two matched cohorts: individuals who had undergone sex-change surgery and those who had not. The findings were stark.

🚨 NEW STUDY: "Gender-affirming surgery" is associated with INCREASED risk of mental health issues.

Study of 100k+ patients found those with surgery had significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation & substance use disorder vs matched controls w/o surgery pic.twitter.com/e5Bf36AQnN

— Stats For Gender (@statsforgender) February 28, 2025

According to the researchers, “Our analysis reveals a significantly elevated risk of mental health disorders—including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorder—post-surgery among individuals with a prior diagnosis of gender dysphoria.”

Breaking down the data by gender, the study found that both males and females who underwent these procedures experienced a greater likelihood of depression compared to their counterparts who did not have surgery.

Here is a table of their findings. The red columns represent cohorts that underwent "gender-affirming" surgery, and blue columns represent cohorts that did not.

Outcomes for males with GD who receive surgery compared to males with GD who do not:

- Suicidal ideation: +35.6% 📈
-… pic.twitter.com/xQl5838Rcc

— Colin Wright (@SwipeWright) February 28, 2025

This challenges the narrative that so called ‘gender-affirming’ surgeries universally improve mental well-being by alleviating gender dysphoria. Instead, the research suggests that surgical interventions do not address the root causes of psychological distress and could, in some cases, exacerbate them.

The implications of these findings are profound, particularly as the number of individuals seeking sex-change surgeries continues to rise.

For years, advocates have argued that such procedures are a critical step toward mental health stability for those experiencing gender dysphoria.

The previous regime in the US even argued that blocking puberty, removing genitals, or adding fake genitals is necessary to keep people, including children, mentally healthy and to stop them from killing themselves.

Biden's assistant secretary for health says "gender-affirming care" for minors — meaning irreversible sex reassignment surgeries and puberty blockers — is "mental health care" pic.twitter.com/Wsyw6WiFaP

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 26, 2023

A bombshell study reveals that transgender individuals who undergo gender-affirming surgery face significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse.

This isn’t “life-saving care”—it’s medical malpractice.
https://t.co/rBo8qSKLFd

— Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold) March 1, 2025

So it’s the exact opposite of what they claim. Turns out chopping off peoples genitals and inverting them causes suicidal ideation? Wow. Shocker. Really, who could have possibly foreseen that outcome. Well, at least the doctors weren’t doing this to childre……… 😶

— Altuve 4HoF ⚾ parody/fan, I am not Altuve! (@ErinAstrosFan) March 2, 2025

Who would’ve guessed that genitalia mutilation isn’t the key to happiness?

— The Right Answer (@theright_answer) March 2, 2025

Let's see, person is depressed but told mangling their body will fix that. Then person has mutilated body plus existing depression, leading to even worse outcomes.

Failure to accept who you are IS the illness, not the cure

— The Judgmental Dog (@the_addressor) March 2, 2025

\https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/trans-surgeries-increase-risk-suicidal-ideation-oxford-study