Dems mocked for protesting Trump speech with paddles: ‘It is giving bingo!’

 Democrats have been mercilessly mocked for protesting President Trump’s address to Congress with paddles — with even left-leaning TV hosts among those roasting lawmakers for bringing “Brazilian steak house” and “bingo” vibes.

The Democratic lawmakers were trolled after showing up to the joint session of Congress Tuesday night brandishing the black signs — complete with phrases like “false” and “Musk Steals” — which they repeatedly flashed as Trump was delivering his speech.

But the stunt was widely ripped for falling flat — even among notoriously left-leaning MSNBC hosts and late night comedians.

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Democrats were mocked mercilessly on social media over their protesting paddle stunt during President Trump’s address to Congress late Tuesday.via REUTERS

“Why are democrats just sitting there? The signs are not landing. It is giving bingo! Sigh,” MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend griped.

“‘B42. B42…BINGO!’ They are not taking back the house with these visuals,” she added.

Stephen Colbert also mocked the protests in a segment on his CBS’ “The Late Show,” sarcastically noting how the “Democrats are getting ready to fight back with their little paddles.”

“That is how you save democracy: by quietly dissenting,” Colbert added. “Or bidding on an antique tea set. It was hard to tell what was going on.”

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Stephen Colbert held up his own sign on CBS’ “The Late Show” as he trolled Dems.CBS

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The backlash online was fast, with some joking it was akin to “8 p.m. on a Friday night at the Brazilian steak house.”AP

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Trump addressed the behavior of Democratic lawmakers, saying calmly: “These people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won’t do it no matter what. Five times I’ve been up here, it’s very sad. And it just shouldn’t be this way.”AP

He then held up his own paddle with a message for the Dems: “Try doing something.”

The backlash online was swift, too, with some joking it was akin to “8 p.m. on a Friday night at the Brazilian steak house.”

“Congratulations to the Democrats’ leader who decided that bringing signs with a black background and white text was a great idea. You just enabled millions of people on social media to turn your party into the greatest meme in political history,” one user posted on X.

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People hold protest signs during U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress, in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.REUTERS

“The Democrats look pathetic. Whoever came up with the idea of those bingo signs should be fired,” another griped.

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“That is how you save democracy: by quietly dissenting,” Colbert added. “Or bidding on an antique tea set. It was hard to tell what was going on.”CBS
At one point during his speech, Trump addressed the behavior of Democratic lawmakers, saying calmly: “These people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won’t do it no matter what. Five times I’ve been up here, it’s very sad. And it just shouldn’t be this way.”

He added: “Democrats sitting before me, for just this one night, why not join us in celebrating so many incredible wins for America? For the good of our nation, let’s work together, and let’s truly make America great again.”

https://nypost.com/2025/03/05/us-news/democrats-mercilessly-mocked-for-protesting-trump-speech-with-paddles-it-is-giving-bingo-sigh/

US Cuts Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine On Heels Of Halting Arms Flow

 Despite much anticipation, especially after a premature Reuters article earlier in the day, President Trump's Tuesday night address before Congress didn't include any new unveiling or announcement of an agreed-to minerals deal. Trump only said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent him a letter that affirmed Ukraine was ready to work toward peace with the US.

Zelensky in the letter indicated he stands "ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts." He wrote, "We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence." But new action announced Wednesday suggests otherwise.

Getty Images

Trump also in the speech explained that Zelensky informed the administration that he's ready to sign the deal which would grant the US access to revenue from his country's rare earth minerals and other natural resources "at any time that is convenient for you."

But clearly the details haven't been hammered out and fully agreed to yet, and there was no done deal to announce - it didn't even feel like a signed deal was on the immediate horizon, and Trump moved on from this topic rather fast in what was overall a whopping hour-and-forty minute long address.

Perhaps this is why the newest headlines covering the deteriorating Washington-Kiev relationship report that the US has now cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine. "The US has cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russian forces, according to officials familiar with the matter," Financial Times reports.

If accurate, this appears a direct punitive measure in response to Zelensky refusing the sign the minerals deal, and last Friday's blow-up in the White House with Trump and Vance.

The halt in intelligence sharing also follows on the heels of Monday's announcement by the White House it is suspending all military aid deliveries, or a major pause in arms without which Ukraine's forces cannot last for long against the vastly better armed Russian army.

"US intelligence co-operation has been essential for Ukraine’s ability to identify and strike Russian military targets," FT continues in its Wednesday report. "Three officials familiar with the decision confirmed that Washington had frozen intelligence channels with Kyiv."

"While the US has also formally blocked its allies from sharing US intelligence with Ukraine, two officials said that recipients with assets inside the country were likely to continue passing on relevant intelligence to Kyiv," FT adds.

But the report notes that allies are able to still provide "time-sensitive and high-value intelligence, such as that needed for Ukraine to conduct precision strikes on moveable Russian targets" - likely including assistance in the cross-border attacks using Western weaponry which have blown past Russia's red lines.

CIA Director confirms intelligence cut-off...

Below are the key remarks of the CIA's Ratcliffe given to Fox News Wednesday morning

"Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process, and he said let’s pause," Ratcliffe told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo in an interview on Wednesday.

"I want to give a chance to think about that and you saw the response that President Zelensky put out," Ratcliffe added, "So I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think will go away."

Given how long NATO military and intelligence has been deeply embedded in Ukraine, helping build and improve its intelligence-gathering infrastructure, the flow of intel from the West is likely to continue for the time being. But certainly the US intelligence cut off will soon be felt by Kiev forces, and for now constitutes an even bigger blow on a symbolic level.

Meanwhile, CNN has separately detailed, "A senior US military official said the US has already curtailed some intelligence sharing, including carrying out fewer intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights that could impact both offensive and defensive operations including air defense, since Ukraine depends on US intelligence for overwatch." All of this could send Zelensky rushing to tell Washington he's ready to finalize a minerals deal, unless Europe has convinced him of an alternate plan - though the EU will unlikely be able to fill the defense and intelligence gap left by the US absence.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-cuts-intelligence-sharing-ukraine-heels-halting-arms-flow

Merck’s Injectable Keytruda Plans Create Legal Dispute With Halozyme

 

The new formulation of Keytruda, currently under FDA review, is sparking conflict with Halozyme, which makes enzymes that convert intravenous drugs into injectable versions.

An investigational injectable formulation of Merck’s blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda is creating legal headaches for the company as Halozyme Therapeutics contends the subcutaneous version infringes on its patents for a specific enzyme, according to The Wall Street Journal. Public discussion of the dispute between the two companies is expected Wednesday at an investor conference.

Keytruda was the highest selling drug worldwide last year, raking in nearly $30 billion in sales. With patent protections set to expire in 2028, Merck’s moves to tweak its formulation could goose sales while the protections hold and potentially extend the patent runway.

Merck began collaborating with the South Korean company Alteogen in 2020 to incorporate its hyaluronidase enzymes into an injectable Keytruda formulation. Last year, Merck alleged to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that seven patents for Halozyme’s own hyaluronidase enzyme Mdase are too broad and therefore should not have been granted, according to the WSJ.

Halozyme countered Merck’s claims, saying that a new Keytruda formulation that uses the hyaluronidase enzyme infringes on those patents, and that Merck needs to sign a licensing agreement.

These petitions suggest the company is “tipping their hand that the Halozyme patents might be a problem for them,” Zachary Silbersher, co-founder of patent consulting firm Markman Advisors, told the WSJ.

The status of Alteogen’s enzymes in the U.S. is unclear.

In November 2024, Merck’s Phase III trial showed that the subcutaneous injection performed equally as well as the more invasive infusion delivery of Keytruda. Merck has estimated that if the injectable version is approved, up to 40% of patients taking Keytruda will switch within two years, according to the WSJ. The FDA is currently reviewing the application for the new formulation and Merck CEO Robert Davis said at the J.P. Morgan Conference in January that he expects to launch it this year, according to Seeking Alpha.

Mdase is a follow-up product to Halozyme’s Enhanze, which the company says can enable 4-6 hour intravenous treatments to be given in minutes instead. Halozyme has standing partnerships to incorporate Enhanze into Bristol Myers Squibb’s cancer drug Opdivo and Roche’s multiple sclerosis drug Ocrevus.

https://www.biospace.com/business/mercks-injectable-keytruda-plans-create-legal-dispute-with-halozyme-wsj

Cutera files restructuring plan

 Enters into agreement to reduce debt by nearly $400 million and raise $65 million of new money from existing lenders

Implementing pre-packaged financial restructuring plan with strong support of lenders, expected to emerge expeditiously within 60 days

Continues to operate as usual and provide best-in-class aesthetic and dermatology solutions to customers

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250305098533/en/

Kamada Affirms 2025 Guidance Representing Double-Digit Profitable Growth

 

• Record Year with Total 2024 Revenues of $161.0 Million, Representing a 13% Increase over Fiscal Year 2023 and Adjusted EBITDA of $34.1 Million, Up 42% Year-over-Year, and a 21% Margin of Revenues
• Cash Provided by Operating Activities of $47.6 Million During 2024 Resulted in a Year-End Strong Cash Balance of $78.4 Million; Solid Financial Position to Accelerate Inorganic Growth
• Net Income for the Year was $14.5 Million, or $0.25 per Diluted Share, Up 75% Year-over-Year
• Strong Performance Positions Company for Double Digit Profitable Growth in Fiscal Year 2025; Reiterates 2025 Full-Year Revenue Guidance of $178 Million to $182 Million and Adjusted EBITDA of $38 Million to $42 Million
• Declares Special Cash Dividend of $0.20 Per Share (Totaling Approximately $11.5 Million)
• Conference Call and Live Webcast Today at 8:00am ET

Fiscal 2025 Guidance
Kamada continues to expect to generate fiscal year 2025 total revenues in the range of $178 million to $182 million, and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $38 million to $42 million, representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 12% in revenues and 17% in adjusted EBITDA based on the mid-point of the 2025 guidance.

Conference Call Details
Kamada management will host an investment community conference call today at 8:00am Eastern Time to discuss these results and answer questions. Shareholders and other interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 1-877-413-7208 (from within the U.S.), 1-201-689-8555 (International), or 1-809-406-247 Investors (from Israel) using conference I.D. 13751522. The call will be webcast live on the internet at: https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1706625&tp_key=810bb27504 

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/03/05/3037298/0/en/Kamada-Reports-Record-Top-and-Bottom-Line-2024-Financial-Results-and-Affirms-2025-Guidance-Representing-Double-Digit-Profitable-Growth.html