Category: News
DOJ Charges Afghan National Over Online Threats To Build Bomb, Kill Americans
DOJ Charges Afghan National Over Online Threats To Build Bomb, Kill Americans
Authored by Arjun Singh via The Epoch Times,
The Department of Justice has indicted an Afghan national residing in Fort Worth, Texas, for allegedly making online threats to construct an explosive and kill U.S. citizens using it.
Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, 30, was arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Texas Department of Public Safety on Nov. 30. A statement from the Department of Justice indicated that he was charged with “transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce,” which violates 18 U.S. Code, Section 875(c), for making threats on social media platforms, specifically TikTok, Facebook, and X.
“We have zero tolerance for violence and threats of violence to kill American citizens and others like those allegedly made by this individual,” said Ryan Raybould, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, whose office is prosecuting the case.
Alokozay on Nov. 23, while speaking in the Dari language, allegedly told two other men during a video stream on social media that he would build a bomb in his vehicle. He also allegedly described in detail bomb making techniques used by the Taliban in Afghanistan, who he described as “dear” to him. During his remarks, Alokozay allegedly stated that he intended to conduct a suicide attack on Americans, and that he was “not afraid of deportation or getting killed.”
The Epoch Times was unable to obtain a copy of Alokozay’s indictment, which is currently under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. If convicted, Alokozay faces a maximum of five years in prison for the crime.
Alokozay’s immigration status in the United States, and whether the federal government will place him in removal proceedings, has not been publicly disclosed. Currently, Afghanistan is ruled by the Taliban, a designated foreign terrorist organization, to which the United States has not conducted any publicized removal operations.
Normally, in cases where the country of origin of a deportee may present a risk to the deportee’s life, that person may apply for “withholding of removal” under Section 241(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and protections under the Convention Against Torture. These statuses, if granted by an immigration judge, prevent a person from being removed to their home country, though they may be removed to a willing third country.
Since Nov. 26, when one National Guard service member was shot and killed and another critically wounded in Washington, allegedly by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the U.S. government has increased scrutiny of existing Afghan nationals and other citizens of “high-risk” nations who reside within the country.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/03/2025 – 12:05
Valparaiso University kicks off holidays with tree lighting
From alumni and their toddlers to staff and students, the Valparaiso University community was in a jolly mood Tuesday evening as they came together for the 11th annual campus tree lighting.
Harre Union was the site of several stations offering traditional Christmas fun. Loretta and John Frank, of Valparaiso, were hamming it up at the photo booth with their three grown daughters and three grandchildren.
“I’m a longtime employee,” said John Frank, who’s worked at VU for 42 years.
His daughter Alicia Cooper is an adjunct professor in the Education Department. Her three children, Lucas, Andrew, and Eleanor, were sorting through two long tables of props. “I did the cheerleader and the princess,” said 5-year-old Eleanor.
“We started with the first grandbaby,” said Loretta Frank of the annual family tradition.
“My sister has pictures with this lovely backdrop from when we started coming with him,” said Cooper, gesturing to 13-year-old Lucas.
Valparaiso University senior Zach Stewart poses for a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus during Valparaiso University’s annual tree lighting festivities on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)
The next room over, VU MBA student and transfer admission counselor Emilly De Vita and her friend Elizabeth Messerschmidt, a ‘24 graduate, were decorating cookies.
“Lizzy’s VU royalty. Her whole family has graduated from here,” De Vita said as she piped icing.
“My dad was an alum of Valpo and he took my mom to the Valpo Christmas Concert on their third date,” Messerschmidt said.
“It’s so nice,” De Vita added of the festive atmosphere. She’s at the tree lighting for the second year in a row. “I love Christmas. I’m so homesick and it makes me feel like home.”
Valparaiso University MBA student Emily De Vita, on left, and alumni Lizzy Messerschmidt decorate Christmas cookies as part of the school’s annual tree lighting festivities on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)
Across the Union, a group of old friends gathered around the line to visit Santa. The former sports management majors get together for the tree lighting every year.
“He introduced us,” said Anthony Sansone of his friend Colin Terrill, who introduced him to his wife Lexi Sansone in a sports law class.
Terrill and his wife Heather, of Valparaiso, brought their daughter Olivia, two and a half, to see Santa for the first time. “No tears,” said Colin Terrill.
“I know. You’ve never had a candy cane before,” Heather Terrill said to their daughter, who was waving the candy around. “She’s going to be so sticky.”
Eventually, the crowds moved outdoors, serenaded by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Outgoing VU President Jose Padilla said a few words before the tree was lit.
Visitors gather around the Valparaiso University Christmas Tree during the annual lighting ceremony and festivities on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)
“This means a lot because this is our very last Christmas lighting ceremony,” he said after introducing his wife and daughter. “You will be big deals someday,” he added, encouraging them to remember what’s important.
After a countdown that perhaps served to inflate expectation, a simple red, white, and green strand of lights sparsely wound its way up the live pine. “I thought it was going to be brighter,” said one young boy.
“She’s beautiful. She’s still beautiful,” conceded a woman near him as the fraternity sang “Joy to the World.”
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Hija de líder opositor González denuncia que su esposo se mantiene incomunicado en Venezuela
Associated Press
CARACAS (AP) — Mariana González, hija del líder opositor venezolano Edmundo González, denunció que su esposo es mantenido incomunicado desde su arresto en enero pasado, justo antes de la investidura de Nicolás Maduro para un tercer mandato como presidente.
En junio pasado, las autoridades venezolanas informaron que Rafael Tudares Bracho, yerno del excandidato presidencial opositor, sería llevado a juicio por los delitos de “conspiración, terrorismo, asociación para delinquir, legitimación de capitales”, entre otros.
“Mi abogado y yo nos dirigiremos a las autoridades competentes para solicitar la información oficial pertinente, a pesar de los grandes obstáculos y barreras que se nos han impuesto para obtener información sobre el caso y defender los derechos de Rafael”, afirmó González en un comunicado publicado el martes por la noche. “No he podido tener comunicación directa ni indirecta con Rafael desde el 7 de enero de este año”.
También señaló que “hoy 2 de diciembre de 2025, en horas de la noche, he tenido conocimiento de informaciones extraoficiales publicadas en redes sociales y en algunos medios digitales de comunicación, sobre la supuesta condena que se le habría impuesto a mi esposo Rafael Tudares Bracho, por la pena máxima de 30 años de prisión”.
Las autoridades venezolanas no respondieron el miércoles a una solicitud de comentarios por parte de Associated Press.
Dos meses atrás la hija del dirigente opositor había dicho en sus redes sociales que “su familia, sus amigos, su mamá, sus hijos y yo seguimos con las mismas preguntas elementales y básicas, sin respuestas. ¿Dónde está Rafael? ¿Cómo está Rafael? Nueve meses sin saber absolutamente nada de Rafael”.
A tres días de la toma de posesión de Maduro el 10 de enero pasado, el líder opositor aseguró que su familiar fue secuestrado cuando “se dirigía a la escuela de mis nietos a dejarlos por el inicio a clases” y que fue interceptado por “hombres encapuchados” vestidos de negro que se lo llevaron. Entonces Maduro informó de la detención ese día de siete personas, a las que acusó de pretender realizar “acciones terroristas” en el país.
“Volveremos una vez más a solicitar información sobre el estado del juicio que clandestinamente se le ha seguido a mi esposo”, agregó la hija de González, destacando que en el proceso judicial y el juicio penal en contra de su esposo se ha “violado flagrantemente sus derechos humanos”.
Según el Consejo Nacional Electoral, un organismo colegiado de mayoría oficialista, en la pasada elección presidencial Maduro obtuvo 6,4 millones de votos, frente a 5,3 millones que logró González. Maduro fue investido para un tercer mandato de seis años el 10 de enero.
González ha sido reconocido como presidente electo por Estados Unidos y varios países europeos y de América Latina, así como por organismos internacionales como la Organización de los Estados Americanos, tras presentar pruebas creíbles de su triunfo frente a Maduro.
Chicago weather: Bone-chilling temperatures arrive late Wednesday night — and will stay into Friday
National Weather Service officials warned of bone-chilling temperatures hitting the Chicago area Wednesday night and staying until early Friday.
Officials said the artic air will cover portions of north-central and northeast Illinois, and northwest Indiana. Windchills are expected to plummet to negative 10 to negative 20 late Wednesday night.
The artic air is expected to stick around Thursday and into Friday.
The city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications is working with the National Weather Service to monitor conditions during this period, a news release said.
There is a 40% chance of snow Wednesday before artic air infiltrates the region. Officials are expecting patchy blowing snow Wednesday morning with southwest winds expected to shift to the northwest Wednesday afternoon becoming blustery with gusts up to 25 mph, officials said.
Current morning conditions at O’Hare International Airport registered as overcast at 26 degrees with a wind chill of negative six degrees. Farther south, at Midway Airport, conditions are similar at 24 degrees with a wind chill of negative four.
More weather news
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Chicago weather: How our 2025-26 seasonal snowfall compares with previous years
Chicago’s winter parking ban goes into effect Dec 1. Here’s what to know — snow or no snow.
Saturday snow breaks record in Chicago, National Weather Service says
Christmas tree lots in Chicago prepare for heavy snow and customers: ‘When it snows, they feel more Christmasy’
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/chicago-weather-cold-temperatures/
Column: President Trump’s Grinches remain giddy over their hero
As we enter this joyous holiday season, Grinches are moving among us. Mainly they are cranky Trumpites who are not happy. With me.
They may or may not be pear-shaped or green, as Dr. Seuss described the original Grinch in 1957. They may or may not live in Whoville. They may or may not want to steal Christmas.
I don’t know since they expressed their displeasure in e-mails since I wondered last month: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?”
That question was one of the reasons an Illinois favorite son, Republican Ronald Reagan, was elected president 45 years ago. Sitting inside the moral kiosk, it was a fair question.
Those snarky and sarcastic responses should have been expected. I ignored the warning from Mr. Vernon in Lake Forester John Hughes’ classic 1985 film “The Breakfast Club”: “Don’t mess with the bull … you’ll get the horns.”
I questioned if those red-white-and-blue supporters of President Donald Trump continue to feel they are better off a year after their hero was elected to his second four-year term. It was a feat not accomplished since Democrat Grover Cleveland, a former New York governor, became the first president to serve nonconsecutive terms.
Despite continuing plunges in the president’s polling numbers, his supporters retain the optimism of Cindy-Lou Who. They say they are better off.
Others seemed honest in their appraisals of the president’s first year since the 2024 election. Most went after the messenger.
Like a reader named Fred: “It never ceases to amaze me the hatred that we get from the Left for our Nation’s President. Love him or hate him, President Trump is delivering on his campaign promises he made to ALL Americans.”
He believes the U.S. southern border is secure, the cost of the federal government and the national debt is being reduced, the stock market is running at record high levels, Americans will receive a tax cut, wages are up. Fred may be wrong on a number of issues, fact-checking may find.
“The average rate of inflation is less than the 3% rate Trump inherited from Biden and the Dems, who gave us the worst inflation in 42 years,” another said. “He stopped the ridiculous and dangerous gender-affirming care, and Trump is protecting women by keeping men out of women’s sports.”
A reader pointed out, “Trump is leading NATO and the world towards global peace with eight peace agreements to his credit — unmatched by any Democrat in our nation’s history!” Once again, a simple fact-check would negate that statement, but why quibble?
“Are we better off — you bet we are,” one wrote succinctly.
As for the president’s on-again/off-again tariffs on U.S. trading partners, “the impact on inflation was insignificant, in addition most companies have absorbed the cost of the tariffs.”
Christmas shoppers may have a different take on that.
“Economically, we’re headed in the right direction,” one concluded. “And most of us who work hard and don’t rely on government handouts are better off.”
Some take Trump’s pronouncements with a grain of salt, like his proposing invading Greenland or making Canada our 51st state. “You mention Canada and Greenland, really? None of us took him seriously about that … so move on.”
Hmm.
“He likes to throw crazy ideas out there to give the impression of being powerful,” reader Tom said. “That obviously was just stupid.”
Then there was this opinion: “Trump’s a knucklehead (as we all know) for saying those dumb things about Greenland & Canada.”
There’s one juncture many can agree on.
“My answer is YES I am, and more so we WILL be better off with him,” wrote one. “Are you really implying we’d be better off with Kamala?”
Guess we’ll never know.
One reader listed the main issues he agrees with President Trump: “Reduction in the size of government; reducing the bureaucracy; shutting down the borders and getting illegal criminals out; reducing the drugs coming in; reducing crime; stop the handouts and overspending and reduce our debt; have fair tariffs; reduce the excessive wokeness; having a strong, confident president to stand up to world leaders.”
Like Russian President Vladimir Putin?
One Trumpian backer has a few misgivings about the president: “I wish he wasn’t so divisive and egotistical. It’s adding uncertainty and not helping bring calm.”
Others feel the president is being picked on, like this person: “Democrats just hate Trump SO much I’m doubtful he could do anything where’d they’d publicly agree and the media doesn’t help.”
Blame the media!
Then there was the reader who declared: “We need strong, common-sense leadership.”
That’s something we can all agree on.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
sellenews@gmail.com
X @sellenews
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/president-donald-trump-grinches/
Lincoln-Way West Turning Point USA affiliate approved by Student Council
Students at Lincoln-Way West High School in New Lenox who applied to form a Club America, the high school affiliate of Turning Point USA, had their application approved Tuesday by the Student Council.
The club’s application generated some controversy when supporters, including Will County Republican Party Chair Christina Clausen, accused the school of treating the students unfairly and subjecting them to overly stringent requirements.
Lincoln-Way High School District 210 has said the process for club formation was the same for Club America as it is for every other club, requiring student signatures and a staff sponsor.
Turning Point USA became a political lightning rod across the country after its founder, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was assassinated in September. Teachers across Illinois were subjected to intense backlash for personal social media statements made following Kirk’s death, including one in Oak Forest.
elewis@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/03/lincoln-way-west-turning-point-usa-2/
Estrasburgo suspende al delantero Emmanuel Emegha por un partido
Por JEROME PUGMIRE
PARÍS (AP) — Estrasburgo suspendió al delantero y capitán Emmanuel Emegha por un partido por no respetar “los valores, expectativas y reglas” del club de la liga francesa.
Los blanquiazules anunciaron la decisión en un comunicado sin dar más detalles, pero dijo que el jugará neerlandés regresará para el siguiente partido.
“Esta decisión se tomó tras el reciente incumplimiento del jugador de los valores, expectativas y reglas del club”, rezó el comunicado. “Emmanuel sigue siendo un miembro importante de nuestro equipo, quien siempre ha dado todo por el club en el campo. Será reincorporado al equipo después de este partido”.
Estrasburgo visitará el sábado a Tolosa en la Ligue 1 y luego viajará a Escocia para enfrentar a Aberdeen en la Conference League el 11 de diciembre.
El diario deportivo francés L’Equipe informó que la decisión se tomó después de los recientes comentarios de Emegha a los medios.
En una entrevista posterior al partido el mes pasado, después de anotar dos veces en la victoria 2-0 contra Lille, insinuó que Estrasburgo no pudo vencer a Mónaco y Paris Saint-Germain esta temporada porque él no jugó en esos partidos.
En otra entrevista con un medio holandés, Emegha supuestamente dijo que pensaba que Estrasburgo estaba en Alemania cuando fichó con el club hace dos años.
Emegha, de 22 años, impresionó la temporada pasada con 14 goles en la liga. Estrasburgo finalizó séptimo.
El atacante suma cuatro goles en la liga en siete partidos hasta ahora esta temporada, y tres tantos en competición europea.
Estrasburgo accedió a la Conference League después de vencer al equipo danés Bröndby en un playoff, con Emegha como autor de un doblete en el partido de vuelta.
En septiembre, el entrenador Liam Rosenior arremetió contra los aficionados del club que mostraron una pancarta criticando a Emegha y pidiéndole que devolviera el brazalete de capitán debido a su traspaso la próxima temporada al Chelsea de la Liga Premier.
Estrasburgo ha sido propiedad del grupo que controla a Chelsea, BlueCo, desde 2023.
Una pancarta en la multitud durante un partido en casa contra Le Havre decía: “Emegha, peón de BlueCo. Después de cambiar de camiseta, devuelve tu brazalete”. Emegha había publicado un video en Instagram de él volando a Londres y firmando con Chelsea, lo que supuestamente molestó a los aficionados de Estrasburgo.
El vínculo entre los dos clubes ha sido explotado, sobre todo cuando Chelsea vendió al lateral izquierdo inglés Ben Chilwell a Estrasburgo en un acuerdo de dos años.
___
Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
James Boasberg Snubs Senate Hearing On ‘Rogue Judges’
James Boasberg Snubs Senate Hearing On ‘Rogue Judges’
Authored by Luis Cornelio via Headline USA,
Two of the federal judges facing impeachment threats refused to attend a Wednesday Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on “rogue judges.”
James Boasberg and Deborah Boardman, district judges in Washington and Maryland, respectively, told the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts that they would not appear over concerns about the separation of powers and judicial ethics.
Their refusal was delivered through a Nov. 12 letter sent by U.S. Judge Robert Conrad, the director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, to Sen. Ted Cruz, who chairs the subcommittee.
Conrad claimed that allowing the judges to testify could violate ethics rules and “encroach upon the separation of powers,” according to the Daily Caller.
He cited judicial rule Canon 3A(6), which forbids judges from testifying about matters they have decided or that may be pending before them.
“The commentary to this provision explains that the ‘admonition against public comment about the merits of a pending or impending matter continues until the appellate process is complete,’” Conrad added.
Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Judge Robert Conrad cited part of the code of conduct stating a judge “should not make public comment on the merits of a matter pending or impending in any court.”
— Katelynn Richardson (@katesrichardson) December 2, 2025
Cruz scheduled the hearing to examine possible impeachment proceedings against federal judges accused of overstepping their authority.
Boasberg is one of those judges, Republicans argue. He is facing impeachment threats from Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas,
Gill filed the articles of impeachment accusing Boasberg of abusing his “judicial authority” for approving Biden-era search warrants targeting Republican lawmakers and other conservative organizations part of the Jan. 6 investigation.
“Judge Boasberg was an accomplice in the egregious Arctic Frost scandal where he equipped the Biden DOJ to spy on Republican senators,” Gill wrote in a statement.
“His lack of integrity makes him clearly unfit for the gavel.”
Boardman is also facing impeachment efforts, this time from Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, over her lenient eight-year sentence for the convicted would-be assassin of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Boardman cited the attacker’s declared transgender identity to justify sparing him from a harsher penalty.
“Boardman unequivocally based this weak sentence on the attempted assassin’s ‘gender identity,’ as the attempted assassin expressed that he views himself as a woman,” Roy wrote in a separate statement. “Instead of doing what the Judiciary calls for and sentencing this man to the base 30-year sentence recommended by the Department of Justice, Judge Boardman purposefully allowed this man off easy.”
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/03/2025 – 11:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/james-boasberg-snubs-senate-hearing-rogue-judges
Presidente boliviano anticipa eliminación del subsidio al pan, algunos panaderos aumentan el precio
Por PAOLA FLORES
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Decenas de bolivianos hacían fila el miércoles afuera de la panadería de Nora Vargas, quien ha decidido mantener el precio del pan luego de que el presidente Rodrigo Paz anunciara que analiza quitar un subsidio a la harina implementado durante los precedentes gobiernos de izquierda y salpicado por denuncias de corrupción.
Mientras el poderoso gremio de los panaderos impuso unilateralmente un aumento de 7 a 12 centavos de dólar la hogaza de pan, Vargas se niega a sumarse a la suba.
“¿Cómo voy a vender caro? Yo no tengo ese corazón… También tengo mi familia, mis hermanos tienen sus hijitos… yo con un poquito que gano me conformo”, dijo a The Associated Press la mujer de 64 años mientras atendía su negocio en un barrio del noroeste de La Paz.
El precio del pan, el alimento básico de los bolivianos y llamado popularmente “de batalla”, se ha convertido en un símbolo de la peor crisis económica de las últimas cuatro décadas.
El gobierno de Luis Arce (2020-2025) subvencionada en un 80% la harina y otros insumos para la elaboración de pan a fin de mantener su precio congelado y que no repercuta en la inflación, que entre enero y octubre alcanzó el 19,2%. Este año el presupuesto para el subsidio fue de 107 millones de dólares. Bolivia importa harina, principalmente de Argentina, porque su producción no es autosuficiente.
La subvención a la harina se centralizaba en la estatal Empresa de Apoyo a la Producción de Alimentos (EMAPA), investigada por presunta corrupción.
La justicia estableció un daño económico por casi un millón de dólares que involucra a Rubén Ríos, dirigente del gremio de los panaderos. Ríos detenido por supuuesto incumplimiento de deberes, enriquecimiento ilícito, conducta antieconómica y contratos lesivos al Estado por venta ilegal de harina subvencionada.
“Subvención es igual a corrupción y eso no va más con este gobierno”, dijo el martes el ministro de Desarrollo Productivo, Rural y Agua, Óscar Mario Justiniano. “El gobierno trabaja en un plan para que los bolivianos tengan el mejor precio del pan”, acotó.
Paz anticipó el fin de semana que trabaja en un proyecto para eliminar el subsidio y a la vez fijar un precio justo del pan en el marco de un programa económico que busca poner fin a la política de subvenciones estatales de los gobiernos del izquierdista Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) que estuvo en el poder en los casi últimos 20 años.
Vargas aseguró que al mantener bajo el precio ha tenido que aumentar la producción, ya que cada día se concentran más compradores afuera de su negocio. Su decisión no le ha caído bien al gremio: la mujer denunció que ha sido intimidada y las autoridades municipales de La Paz le han asignado dos guardias para vigilar su casa.
La crisis económica en Bolivia comenzó hace dos años debido a una caída en las ventas al exterior de gas natural, el principal producto de exportación, lo que a su vez provocó una falta de dólares que el país necesita para importar combustibles que compra a precio internacional y vende subsidiados en el mercado interno.
La escasez de combustible y el alza en el costo de vida provocaron en las últimas elecciones la catastrófica derrota del MAS que había gobernado el país desde 2006, primero con Evo Morales y luego con Arce.
Paz llegó al poder con la promesa de eliminar gradualmente los subsidios, entregar bonos compensatorios a estudiantes y ancianos y distribuir de forma equitativa los ingresos entre el Estado central y las regiones.
“Sube el pan, sube todo, pedimos al gobierno que su proyecto no sea de golpe y sea gradual y sea pronto. No vamos a poder aguantar mucho”, dijo Emilio Chura, un taxista de 67 años que hizo fila por más de una hora en la panadería de Vargas.
WTI Holds Gains As Cushing ‘Tank Bottoms’ Loom; US Crude Production At Record High
WTI Holds Gains As Cushing ‘Tank Bottoms’ Loom; US Crude Production At Record High
Oil prices are higher this morning after API’s report showed crude inventories fell last week, while negotiations to end Russia’s war on Ukraine failed to reach an agreement.
Prices have stuck in a narrow range in recent weeks as geopolitical concerns have countered rising supply as OPEC+ returned 2.6-million barrels of production cuts to market amid increasing production outside of the cartel.
But a lack of progress in U.S.-led negotiations to reach a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia and the Trump Administration’s military build up off Venezuela continue to command a risk premium for the commodity.
“Traders weighed prospects for an end to the war in Ukraine while watching for Trump’s next moves on Venezuela. Ahead of today’s EIA report, the API said US crude stockpiles rose by 2.5 million barrels last week. Overall, Brent and WTI remain confined to tight ranges as ample global supply continues to offset geopolitical risk,” Saxo Bank noted.
Will the official data confirm API’s
API
Crude -2.48mm
Cushing -89k
Gasoline +3.1mm
Distillates +2.88mm
DOE
Crude +574k
Cushing -457k
Gasoline +4.518mm – biggest build since May
Distillates +2.059mm
The official report was delayed but once it hit, it showed a small crude build (as opposed to API’s reported draw). Products saw big builds (Gasoline largest weekly add since May) and Cushing stocks fell for the 4th straight week…
Source: Bloomberg
Cushing’s ongoing draws leave stocks near ‘tank bottoms’ once again…
Source: Bloomberg
US Crude production hovers near record highs despite the rapid decline in rig counts…
Source: Bloomberg
WTI is holding gains after the delayed data…
Source: Bloomberg
Geopolitical tensions are keeping the market jittery and adding a risk premium to prices, partly countering concerns about a surplus. That includes US rhetoric against Venezuela, with President Donald Trump suggesting the Pentagon will soon start targeting drug cartels with strikes on land.
“The Brent crude price remained roughly unchanged in the low $60s over the last week as Russia-Ukraine peace talks continue,” Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts including Yulia Grigsby said.
“Oil markets and prediction markets do not appear to price a large probability of a near-term peace agreement and removal of the sanctions on Russia oil.”
Grigsby also noted that overall levels of Russian oil exports have remained robust, even after US penalties on Lukoil and Rosneft, as sales rapidly pivoted to non-sanctioned producers.
On the bright side, the broadly weaker trend on crude oil prices has dragged gas (pump) prices down to their lowest since May 2021…
Source: Bloomberg
While it’s not exactly ‘drill, baby, drill’, it’s certainly what Trump wanted (the question is, will the lower price push shale producers to cut production… and round and round we go).
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/03/2025 – 11:18
