AwesomeCapital

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Deadly Oklahoma weed shootings expose network tied to New York money and China

A string of deadly shootings connected to Oklahoma marijuana farms — including a quadruple execution and a home-invasion murder — has exposed a shadow network tied to New York money, organized crime and groups with links to China, according to a new report.

Authorities told the New York Times that the operations were fueled by out-of-state cash, concealed ownership and lax marijuana laws — allowing criminal groups to scale up illicit grows, exploit immigrant labor and divert massive amounts of weed into the black market.

The trail led investigators far from rural Oklahoma to New York City, where real estate figures, political fundraisers and leaders of Chinese hometown associations allegedly bankrolled or backed the farms — groups that lawmakers say have ties to Beijing and have drawn scrutiny from federal authorities.

Oklahoma’s wide-open medical marijuana law, which placed no limits on how much licensed growers could produce, created fertile ground for the scheme, investigators say, flooding the state with oversized grows that far outpaced local demand and fueled an illegal interstate trade.

One central figure was New York real estate developer John Lam, a major fundraiser for former Mayor Eric Adams. Lam built at least 50 projects in the city and, according to the Times, bought a $1.5 million Oklahoma marijuana farm for his protégé Wyan Wang while later insisting he was merely an unpaid landlord with no role in day-to-day operations.

Wang was found shot dead in his Edmond, Okla., bedroom in January 2025, lying face-down and still gripping a bloody kitchen knife investigators said he used to try to fend off intruders during a targeted home-invasion robbery — one of a string of violent attacks tied to the cash-heavy marijuana trade in the state.

Wang, 61, worked for Lam’s company recruiting investors in China and ran multiple Chinese hometown associations in New York, including the pro-Beijing Taishan Du Hu Association of America, records show — groups that backed Adams’ mayoral campaign and publicly supported Chinese government policies, including the crackdown on Hong Kong’s civil liberties, the Times reported.

One of Wang’s Oklahoma operations was shut down in August 2022 after firefighters responding to black smoke found Chinese workers living on-site in cramped quarters, cooking over an outdoor fire made of scrap wood and construction debris — with no valid marijuana license or certificate of occupancy, officials said.

Former owner Chelsey Davis said the Chinese laborers who took over the site worked around the clock, with some forced to urinate in five-gallon fertilizer containers rather than step away from the processing line.

“You could go at midnight — they were working. You could go at 5 o’clock in the morning — they were working,” Davis was quoted as saying.

Firefighters also discovered the workers were relying on geese and turtles caught from a nearby city-owned lake for food, housing the animals in makeshift pens built from road netting and discarded marijuana trays, before officials ordered the operation shut down on the spot.

City records obtained by the Times show that weeks after the shutdown, an application to reopen the farm surfaced bearing Lam’s name. But planners swiftly rejected it for failing to secure a marijuana license and meet basic safety standards — a move Lam later said he had not personally authorized.

Even after Wang’s operation was shuttered, records show he continued working in the marijuana business, as Oklahoma authorities opened broader investigations into farms linked to New York–based hometown association leaders amid concerns about hidden ownership, labor exploitation and illegal diversion of cannabis out of state.

The scrutiny has since expanded to other New York–based hometown association leaders, with the Times identifying nearly a dozen people tied to those groups who invested in or had connections to Oklahoma marijuana farms — many of them now under investigation as authorities probe concealed ownership, labor abuses and possible interstate trafficking.

In November 2022, four people were executed at an unlicensed Oklahoma marijuana farm near Hennessey in Kingfisher County, authorities said, after a Chinese citizen and former worker, Wu Chen, allegedly opened fire in a dispute over a $300,000 investment he demanded back.

The grisly killings have been cited by prosecutors and investigators as a grim marker of the violence swirling around the state’s illicit grow operations.

https://nypost.com/2026/01/01/business/deadly-oklahoma-weed-shootings-expose-network-tied-to-new-york-money-china-report/

Expect The Precious Metals Rally To Continue In 2026

by Michael Wilkerson via The Epoch Times,

2025 was an extraordinary year for precious metals. Gold, silver, and platinum each outperformed other asset classes, including equities, bitcoin (2024’s best performer), and even indexes tracking artificial intelligence (AI)—one of 2025’s most popular investment themes.

Silver and platinum rose by approximately 170 percent in 2025, while gold returned a highly respectable 73 percent.

Among AI stocks, only Palantir outperformed gold.

Why such stellar performance from assets once derided by governments as “barbarous relics” and shunned by investors as outdated?

The reason I wrote at the start of last year that we should “expect gold to shine in 2025” was because global conditions had fundamentally - and perhaps irreversibly - shifted.

I noted then that the primary factors driving gold prices included shifting geopolitics prompting central bank stockpiling, investor concerns over the creditworthiness of the U.S. government (and, by extension, the dollar), persistent inflation eroding the purchasing power of paper currencies, and widening supply-demand imbalances.

These forces are unlikely to abate in 2026.

As a result, we should expect precious metals—including gold, silver, and platinum—to continue performing well in the coming year. Indeed, deglobalization and the continued push toward resource nationalism and the protection of critical materials lend additional support not only to these metals but also to the broader commodities complex.

In recent years, central banks around the world have reduced their purchases of U.S. Treasury securities—formerly their largest reserve asset—and have instead been stockpiling gold. China, Russia, and India have all been significant buyers, as have many smaller, independent nations eager to remain outside the U.S.–China conflict.

Observing how the United States imposed financial sanctions on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, many countries have concluded that dependence on a dollar-dominated financial system is too risky. They fear that the U.S. government may weaponize the dollar system—via financial sanctions or trade policy—and they’re seeking alternatives. Shifting from Treasurys to gold and other metals offers a hedge. A prominent example of efforts to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar is the development of alternative currencies partially backed by gold reserves, such as those being pursued by BRICS nations.

Beyond geopolitics, foreign central banks are concerned about the deteriorating credit condition of the United States, which has been downgraded by all three major ratings agencies. The federal government holds more than $38 trillion in debt—growing by trillions each year—which cannot realistically be repaid except through issuing more debt.

Heavily indebted governments have few options other than allowing inflation to erode the real value of their obligations. The United States cannot default outright, as the dollar is the global reserve currency, and tax increases have political limits. Inflation, then, becomes a hidden tax, steadily undermining the dollar and diminishing household wealth.

A new generation of Americans has now experienced the painful effects of inflation firsthand. Since 2020, the dollar has lost more than 20 percent of its real value—and over 40 percent since 2000. The lesson of inflation, once internalized during the 1970s, had been largely forgotten after decades of relative price stability. But it’s once again relevant as people around the world lose confidence in government-issued money—paper IOUs that lose value annually.

Gold and silver, long regarded as hedges against inflation, are resuming their traditional role as stores of value amid geopolitical, monetary, and economic uncertainty.

Retail investors are also part of this trend, purchasing both gold-backed paper assets and physical bullion. In the third quarter of 2025 alone, tons of metal held by U.S.-based, publicly traded gold ETFs increased by 160 percent. In the first half of the year, 95 million ounces of silver flowed into silver-backed funds globally—surpassing the total for all of 2024. Costco and other retailers now offer gold and silver coins to a growing number of households, many of whom previously saw no need for anything beyond dollars in their pockets or savings accounts.

Gold supply remains constrained due to high production costs and limited new mine development. Meanwhile, silver and platinum have each faced multi-year supply shortages, though for different reasons. These imbalances are unlikely to ease anytime soon—except in the case of a global recession. With the United States and other nations designating these metals as strategic resources, pressure is mounting to develop new domestic sources—a multi-year process. In the meantime, stockpiling is accelerating.

I don’t expect the metals rally to end soon, as the underlying drivers remain intact. While price gains in 2026 may not match 2025’s dramatic surge, these commodities are still poised to advance. Assuming additional interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and other Western central banks—and ongoing government failure to rein in deficits and debt—investor concern about the inflationary effects of loose monetary and fiscal policy will likely persist. This will continue to support gold, silver, platinum, and other commodities and real assets that preserve value against fiat currencies.

https://www.zerohedge.com/precious-metals/expect-precious-metals-rally-continue-2026

Hochul proposes no NY state tax on tips after major backlash

New Yorkers may finally see relief from taxes on tips, with Gov. Kathy Hochul saying she’ll propose enacting the policy this year after garnering backlash — and a Post front-page story.

In a statement released Thursday morning, Hochul said she’d seek to eliminate state income taxes on up to $25,000 in tipped earnings — following through on President Trump’s initiative to eliminate federal taxes on tips.

“I’m kicking the new year off with a proposal of no state income tax on tips, continuing my efforts to make New York more affordable for hard working New Yorkers,” Hochul wrote.

The elimination of gratuity taxes will be included in Hochul’s state budget proposal to be released later this month, dropping taxes on tips earned in 2026.

Republicans have whacked blue states like New York, Illinois and California for not moving to make sure state income taxes were also eliminated starting this year.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running to unseat Hochul and was among those knocking her for being slow to act, cheered the move and said he’d be happy to provide the governor with “tips” of his own — tax free.

“I see Kathy Hochul is doing a u-turn on taxing tips. I was told she changed her mind after I said I would never tax tips. Kathy if you want more of my ‘tips’ on how to govern just continue to follow my lead,” Blakeman told The Post.

Hochul, a Democrat seeking re-election this year, also faced heat from New York bartenders and restaurant workers, who urged her to extend Trump’s policy to state income taxes, The Post reported Friday.

“If we weren’t taxed on our tips, we’d be able to save more, we’d enjoy life a little more, maybe we wouldn’t have to pick up that extra shift,” said Rion Gallagher, a bartender at The Blasket in Midtown.

Hochul’s announcement came with little fanfare. It was mentioned in a press release dropped just hours before New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s public inauguration ceremony, which the governor was slated to attend.

Hochul also used the opportunity to tout other aspects of her flimsy knee-jerk “affordability” agenda, including a 0.1% decrease in state income taxes on most middle class earners, a planned increase in the minimum wage and a boost to the child tax credit going into effect in 2026.

https://nypost.com/2026/01/01/us-news/gov-kathy-hochul-proposes-no-ny-state-tax-on-tips-after-major-backlash/

How deadbeat Gavin Newsom put Cali businesses on the hook for his bills

Gov. Gavin Newsom has defaulted on California’s $20 billion COVID debt to the federal government — and local businesses will be stuck paying the bill, to the tune of thousands of dollars each year.

While our gallivanting governor has been touring abroad and running ads in Texas and Florida touting the excellence of California, he and his party once again have made life harder for business owners and employees who have to work for a living.

They ignore the mass migration of businesses to other states, thinking no matter what they do, California companies will just accept what they are handed.

You might have heard that, in 2022, the state supposedly had a massive surplus of roughly $90 to $100 billion.

That was caused by high earners and their stock gains — as well as heavy federal spending in the early Biden years.

While Gov. Gavin was out crowing about the surplus, I had a novel idea: He should use the extra money to pay down debt.

Our state currently owes about $450 billion, including pensions, when it should be near zero.

Instead, Newsom and the Democrats who hold absolute power in the state legislature set up a “rainy day fund” of about $37 billion, and spent the rest on their left-wing dreams — “health care for all,” “climate change” and the like.

Here is where the employers of the state got taken.

California handed out unemployment benefits like candy during the pandemic, even to self-employed individuals who didn’t pay into the federal unemployment system.

When everything was totaled, the state of California owed the feds $20 billion.

We’ve seen this situation play out before.

California created another large debt for unemployment payments of $9.7 billion in the 2008 downturn.

Employers had to pay that back over many years. They only learned how much they owed each year when they filed their unemployment tax returns in January.

That’s when they had to write a check, due Jan. 31.

The repayment rate grew every year to pay off the 2008 debt.

Employers never knew when the amount would be paid off until they were finally informed that the state debt was repaid.

This went on for about eight years.

What makes this situation different? First, California owes much more, at $20 billion.

Second, we have no clue how much of the debt is due to rampant fraud in the Employment Development Department.

Julie Su, who ran the EDD, initially announced there had been an estimated $10 billion in fraud.

Did she get fired for that gross incompetence?

No. She received a major promotion into the Biden Labor Department.

Later, the estimate was revised up to a possible $31 billion.

Su became the US Department of Labor’s acting secretary, and stayed in that position despite never being confirmed by the Senate.

She’s now failed up once again to work in the incoming Mamdani administration in New York City as “deputy mayor for economic justice.”

All told: $20 billion owed to the federal government, and $20 billion of fraud in California’s unemployment insurance program.

All the result of mismanagement by Gavin Newsom and his administration.

One might argue that in 2023 the tab for an employer was only projected to be $21 per employee. If you had ten employees, that would only have been $210.

But in 2030, the payment per employee is expected to be $189.

If you run a restaurant and have 50 employees, each making $7,000 (the federal unemployment-tax wage limit) for the year, you must write an additional check for $9,450.

That’s a chunk of change.

If you must pay this out for the next eight years, you face a bill running into the tens of thousands of dollars overall.

All because Gavin and his crew didn’t clean up their own mess when given the opportunity.

Many employers will see another reason to escape California — and to pick out their favorite new Texas BBQ restaurant, or best Florida fishing spot.

The amazing thing is Newsom & Co. think we’re all stupid and won’t figure out that they have forced these costs on us.

If you’re a California worker, you will have fewer opportunities as employers cut jobs to meet the cost of California’s default.

If you’re a California employer, you should be on the phone to either your state assembly member or state senator to remedy this injustice.

Or you could call a couple of people named Abbott and DeSantis.

Bruce Bialosky is the founder of the Republican Jewish Coalition in California and writes about financial issues.

https://nypost.com/2026/01/01/opinion/how-cali-businesses-are-paying-deadbeat-gavin-newsoms-bills/

Blue states blow nothing but hot air on wind-power boondoggles

Your electricity bill reveals a stark political divide: Red-state residents pay less, while blue states gouge their citizens and businesses with exorbitant electric rates.

But even worse are the bald-faced lies of blue-state politicians who defend the gouging.

Instead of admitting that expensive electricity is a choice they’re deliberately making — your budget be damned — they constantly claim wind and solar power are “affordable” and “reliable.”

The shameless gaslighting was on full display last week, after President Donald Trump’s Interior Department paused offshore wind farm construction along the East Coast near Virginia, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The administration claims the huge installations obscure radar detection of potential foreign incursions, threatening “east coast population centers.”

Within minutes, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont accused Trump of “making things up.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul called the pause “B.S. “

Maybe. The announcement was short on evidence backing up the administration’s security pretext.

But the possible deception on Trump’s part is mild compared to the lies spewed by Democrats in response.

Hochul declared wind power will “keep energy costs down” and “strengthen reliability.”

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong insisted wind power will save ratepayers “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Lamont claimed a “diverse energy supply” that includes wind “will lower utility costs for families.”

Nonsense.

In fact, worse than nonsense. Deliberate lying.

Each state has the authority to decide the mix of energy sources that go into its electric grid.

Blue states have mandated ever-increasing reliance on wind, as well as solar, instead of fossil fuels, per the Institute for Energy Research.

New Yorkers pay 58% more for their electricity than the national average, because of green mandates imposed by state politicians and the power sources they exclude, like natural-gas fracking.

Connecticut ratepayers are fleeced even more, paying nearly double the national average rate for electricity.

Climate-driven pols, almost all of them Democrats, should at least admit they’re making decisions based on ideology — as well as pressure from the renewable-energy lobby.

Instead, they parrot falsehoods about “affordability” and “reliability.”

In truth, offshore wind power is at least twice as expensive per kilowatt as natural-gas-generated electricity, for example.

Bjorn Lomborg of the Copenhagen Consensus, citing data from 70 countries, concludes “the evidence is clear: Adding more solar and wind to the energy supply pushes up the price of electricity.”

How about “reliability,” the other word blue state pols repeat ad nauseam to defend their green obsession?

Germany learned how unreliable renewables are when it installed massive solar and wind generators meant to meet 70% of its grid’s needs.

But on cloudy or windless days, these renewables deliver a mere 4% of the nation’s power demands. Hardly “reliable.”

Germany has had to maintain two generating systems, at massive cost — so Germans pay 43 cents per kilowatt-hour, more than twice what Canadians, who still rely largely on fossil fuels, pay.

In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has flip-flopped over whether he will meet or miss his own plans to remove almost all fossil fuels from the UK’s electricity supply by 2030, because the cost is just too high.

He and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are jostling over whether adding more renewables in the mix will push energy bills to unaffordable levels.

Renewables are budget busters, burdening consumers and slowing economic growth, and they’re learning that the hard way.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed an increasing reliance on renewables — now up to 39% of its grid’s mix — which is why its residents and businesses pay the second-highest rates in the nation, behind Hawaii.

Those crippling costs are hobbling growth and causing “energy poverty,” with low-income residents unable to pay their electric bills.

Electricity costs were a hot-button issue in New Jersey’s gubernatorial election last year, where bills had skyrocketed because outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy retired fossil-fuel sources just as statewide power demand was soaring.

Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill promised that investing in offshore wind would “lower energy costs for families,” a blatant falsehood — but her fib won out.

As Sherrill takes office this month, New Jersey voters should remember her promise — and watch their power bills.

Blue-state Americans struggling to pay for electricity need political leaders who will make affordability a priority.

But to do that, voters need to hear the truth.

So far, they’re getting a pack of lies from windbag politicians like Sherrill, Hochul and Lamont.

And no one is discussing wind farms’ visual blight, as their towering hardware mars our magnificent oceanscapes, and their harms to whales and other animals.

If Republicans were demanding lines of similarly towering oil rigs across Long Island Sound or Nantucket Bay, the left would be screaming bloody murder.

Trump’s pause must force an honest discussion of wind power’s costs and consequences.

On the facts, instead of the lies, it’s a loser.

Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York.

https://nypost.com/2026/01/01/opinion/blue-states-blow-hot-air-on-wind-power-boondoggles/