Category: News
Terrance Gore, a speedy outfielder who played for the Chicago Cubs and 3 World Series champions, dies at 34
Terrance Gore, a speedy outfielder who played for three World Series champions while spending parts of eight seasons in the major leagues, has died. He was 34.
Chad Funderburk, a family friend who also worked with Gore through his baseball academy, confirmed Gore died Friday night. Gore’s wife, Britney, posted on social media Saturday that Gore died from “complications after what was supposed to have been a simple procedure.”
While Gore was known for his athleticism, Funderburk said he was “a much kinder human.”
“Just a giving, giving man to so many youth. … That’s just who Terrance was,” Funderburk said.
Gore, a Georgia native, was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round of the 2011 draft. He batted .216, scored 33 runs and swiped 43 bases in 52 attempts over 112 regular-season games with the Royals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
“Terrance was an unforgettable part of our organization with a unique talent that catapulted him to some of the biggest moments in Royals history,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in a team statement. “While his speed and athleticism were what most people immediately noticed, those of us who had the opportunity to know him also remember his energy, his humility, and the impact he made in big moments on the game’s biggest stage.”
Gore was mostly used as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. He made his debut with the Royals in 2014 and stole 23 bases before he got his first hit, a single to center for the Cubs against Max Scherzer in the ninth inning of a 10-3 loss at Washington on Sept. 8, 2018.
Gore scored the Cubs’ lone run in their 2018 National League wild-card playoff loss to the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field. With the Cubs trailing 1-0 in the eighth inning, Gore came off the bench to pinch run for Anthony Rizzo, who had singled. Gore stole second and then scored on a Javier Báez double to tie the game. The Cubs went on to lose 2-1 in 13 innings, ending their season.
Gore came to the Cubs from the Royals in August 2018 and played in 14 regular-season games, going 1-for-5 with six stolen bases.
“The entire Cubs organization expresses their condolences to the friends and family of former Cub Terrance Gore,” the Cubs posted on X on Saturday.
Gore appeared in two postseason games during the Royals’ championship run in 2015. He played in two regular-season games when the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020. He appeared in one NL playoff game with the Braves in 2021, and they went on to win the World Series.
“Terrance brought a high level of excitement and anticipation to the game,” former Royals executive Dayton Moore said. “He was unstoppable as a base stealer, and he inspired athletes throughout our country to pursue baseball. He was loved and respected by his very special teammates, who will continue to love his family during this time of sadness.”
Tribune news services contributed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/07/terrance-gore-chicago-cubs-mlb-obit/
Washington Post CEO And Publisher Quits As Newspaper Implodes In Epic Chaos
Washington Post CEO And Publisher Quits As Newspaper Implodes In Epic Chaos
How the mighty have fallen.
In a “poetic ending” plot twist, that even jaded conspiracy theorists would have had trouble scripting, Washington Post CEO and publisher Will Lewis has abruptly and unexpectedly stepped down from his perch atop Jeff Bezos’s crumbling media empire. Well, maybe not that unexpectedly…
Will Lewis, the chief executive and publisher of The Washington Post, has stepped down
That’s right, the same WaPo that spent years hurling “fake news” grenades at us here at ZeroHedge, trying to get us deplatformed, demonetized, and disappeared from the internet, is now eating crow as their own house of CIA-funded cards collapses. Yes, this is our unapologetic victory lap – we’ve outlasted another establishment hack, which earlier this week saw an in house “Red Wedding” where hundreds of CIA conduits “reporters” were fired… and it feels good.
Lewis’s exit was announced late on Saturday around 6pm ET, just days after he orchestrated a bloodbath of layoffs that axed a whopping 30% of the staff – over 300 journalists sent packing in what can only be described as a desperation move to staunch the bleeding from years of financial hemorrhaging and dwindling readership.
Lewis, ever the gracious Brit, framed his departure as a noble sacrifice “in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post.” Sure, Will – because nothing says “sustainable future” like firing a third of your workforce and then bailing before the pitchforks come out. Also the news that he was at the Super Bowl after the biggest mass termination in WaPo history probably didn’t help.
Will Lewis has gone to Super Bowl every year since joining Washington Post… which is not a great excuse for missing a Zoom call. https://t.co/TMFJY1GrST
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) February 6, 2026
Meanwhile, as Semafor notes, the real reason for Lewis’ departure is the he presided over two major errors, one his, and the other that of his boss, Jeff Bezos who clearly has grown bored with his vanity media project.
First, Lewis blocked the Post reporting on his role in the UK phone hacking scandal, preventing the publication of a story few would have read anyway. Then, Bezos pulled a planned endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris at the 11th hour, for apparent fear of offending Donald Trump. That endorsement wouldn’t have made much of a difference politically, but hundreds of thousands of subscribers canceled over what they saw as a craven capitulation.
.@maxwelltani on the Post’s lost years, and strategic void pic.twitter.com/wc8OEdD8AM
— Ben Smith (@semaforben) February 8, 2026
Let’s rewind a bit on Lewis’ illustrious – if catastrophically short – tenure. Handpicked by billionaire overlord Jeff Bezos – whose Amazon tried three times to demonetize ZeroHedge not once, not twice, but three times (and only thanks to the FCC intervening do we have any Amazon ads showing) – at the start of 2024, Lewis was supposed to be the savior who would “transform” the once-venerable rag and reverse its slide into irrelevance.
Instead, he presided over a dumpster fire of epic proportions, culminating in this latest round of pink slips that left the newsroom in shambles. Former editor Marty Baron, the guy who once helmed the paper during its Watergate glory days or whatever passes for glory in legacy media these days, didn’t mince words: he called it one of the “darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organizations.”
Ouch. And Katie Mettler, ex-chair of the WaPo guild, piled on with a zinger: “I’m glad Will Lewis has been fired. I wish it had happened before he fired all my friends.” Tell us how you really feel, Katie.
Cutting through the shades of gray, we were more laconic: WaPo is finished.
In the interim, the keys to the kingdom go to some dude named Jeff D’Onofrio – the former CFO who’ nobody had ever heard of until now, and who is stepping up as the placeholder boss.
Good luck, Jeff – you’ll need it. With readership tanking, ad revenue in freefall, and trust in mainstream media at all-time lows, the WaPo’s “sustainable future” looks about as promising as a subprime mortgage in 2008.
But let’s not forget the delicious irony here. This is the same Washington Post that has repeatedly tried to kneecap ZeroHedge, labeling us as purveyors of “disinformation” and cozying up to Big Tech censors – such as Amazon and Google – in a bid to silence dissenting voices.
Remember when they accused us of being Russian bots or spies, or whatever flavor-of-the-month smear was trending? That aged like milk. And while the CIA’s favorite (well, no longer favorite) mouthpiece was busy playing hall monitor for the establishment narrative, we’ve been here, grinding away, delivering truth that their advertisers wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. And guess what? We’re still standing, stronger than ever, with record subscribers and 100 million page views per month, while their imported CEO packs his bags and slinks back across the pond.
Is there a Polymarket, we wonder, on when ZeroHedge will surpass WaPo in readership.
But we digress: Karma, folks, is real, and it’s spectacular. And as WaPo licks its wounds and hunts for yet another white knight to bail them out (or maybe they’ll go for a black knight this time, after all the whole equity thing), we’ll be over here popping the champagne. After all, in the cutthroat world of media, survival isn’t about being “respectable”; it’s about being right. And on that front, ZeroHedge wins again.
In the end, Democracy may well die in darkness, but WaPo’s time of death was 6pm on February 7, 2026.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/07/2026 – 19:46
Policía arresta a docenas de manifestantes en protesta por la muerte de Renee Good en Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Varias docenas de manifestantes fueron arrestados el sábado frente a un edificio federal en Minneapolis cuando la policía disolvió una protesta para conmemorar el primer mes del fallecimiento de una mujer de Minnesota a manos de un agente de inmigración.
Renee Good fue abatida el 7 de enero mientras se alejaba en su auto de los agentes de inmigración en un vecindario de Minneapolis. Su muerte y la de otro residente de Minneapolis, Alex Pretti, ocurrida pocas semanas después, han provocado indignación a nivel nacional por la intensificación de las medidas migratorias del presidente Donald Trump.
Decenas de manifestantes se reunieron cerca del mediodía en la acera frente al Edificio Federal Bishop Henry Whipple, lanzando botellas y juguetes sexuales a una fila de policías que custodiaban la propiedad. El departamento de policía del condado de Hennepin informó que los arrestos comenzaron después de que la multitud empezara a lanzar trozos de hielo y dañara parte de la propiedad. Un policía recibió un golpe en la cabeza y el parabrisas de un vehículo de patrulla fue destrozado, informó el departamento en su página de Facebook.
La policía declaró que la reunión era ilegal y ordenó a los manifestantes que se retiraran. Muchos lo hicieron, informó el Star Tribune, pero alrededor de 100 permanecieron en un enfrentamiento con los policías, patrulleros estatales y agentes de conservación del estado.
El departamento de policía luego informó a la estación de televisión KSTP que se realizaron al menos 42 arrestos. Hasta el sábado por la tarde, ningún elemento del departamento de policía había respondido a los correos electrónicos, mensajes de voz y de texto enviados por The Associated Press.
Mientras tanto, el sábado, cientos de personas se reunieron en un campo cubierto de nieve en un parque de Minneapolis para honrar a Good y Pretti. Los organizadores del evento repitieron las críticas recientes a la ofensiva contra la inmigración en todo Minnesota, calificándola como una ocupación federal.
Un líder espiritual lakota, el jefe Arvol Looking Horse, dirigió una ceremonia al frente de la multitud, en la que muchas personas llevaban carteles y banderas estadounidenses. Otros compartieron música y poesía para honrar a las dos personas que, en las últimas semanas, se han convertido en figuras centrales en el polarizador debate sobre la inmigración.
El 7 de enero, un agente federal de inmigración le disparó y mató a Good, madre de tres hijos de 37 años, en su coche en Minneapolis. Tres agentes rodearon su SUV Honda Pilot en una calle nevada a pocas cuadras de donde ella vivía. En un video tomado por un transeúnte se muestra a un agente acercándose al SUV detenido en medio de la carretera, exigiendo que el conductor abriera la puerta y tomando la manija.
El vehículo comenzó a avanzar, y otro agente del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas que estaba frente a él sacó su arma y disparó inmediatamente a quemarropa, retrocediendo mientras el vehículo se movía hacia él. El gobierno de Trump calificó a Good como una terrorista doméstica que intentó arrollar a un agente con su vehículo. Autoridades estatales y locales han rechazado esa caracterización.
Pretti fue asesinado el 24 de enero durante un altercado con agentes de inmigración en la calle. En un video grabado por un transeúnte se muestra a media docena de agentes llevándolo al suelo. Uno vio el arma de Pretti, quien tenía licencia de portación, y gritó “Tiene un arma”. Luego, dos agentes abrieron fuego.
El zar fronterizo del gobierno de Trump, Tom Homan, anunció el miércoles que la administración retiraría a 700 agentes de inmigración de Minnesota, aproximadamente una cuarta parte de los elementos desplegados en el estado, después de que las autoridades estatales y locales acordaran la semana pasada cooperar entregando a los inmigrantes arrestados. Sin embargo, Homan no dijo en qué momento la administración terminaría su ofensiva en el estado.
La esposa de Good, Becca Good, emitió un comunicado el sábado diciendo que el esfuerzo de inmigración daña a las personas en Minneapolis y nadie conoce sus nombres.
“Conocen el nombre de mi esposa y conocen el nombre de Alex, pero hay muchos otros en esta ciudad que están siendo dañados y a los que no conocen; sus familias sufren igual que la mía, aun si no se parecen a la mía”, dijo Becca Good en el comunicado. “Son vecinos, amigos, compañeros de trabajo, compañeros de clase. Y también debemos conocer sus nombres. Porque esto no debería sucederle a nadie”.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Appeals court affirms Trump administration policy of jailing immigrants without bond
President Donald Trump’s administration can continue to detain immigrants without bond, marking a major legal victory for the federal immigration agenda and countering a slew of recent lower court decisions across the country that argued the practice is illegal.
A panel of judges on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday evening that the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to deny bond hearings to immigrants arrested across the country is consistent with the constitution and federal immigration law.
Specifically, circuit judge Edith H. Jones wrote in the 2-1 majority opinion that the government correctly interpreted the Immigration and Nationality Act by asserting that “unadmitted aliens apprehended anywhere in the United States are ineligible for release on bond, regardless of how long they have resided inside the United States.”
Under past administrations, most noncitizens with no criminal record who were arrested away from the border had an opportunity to request a bond hearing while their cases wound through immigration court. Historically, bond was often granted to those without criminal convictions who were not flight risks, and mandatory detention was limited to recent border crossers.
“That prior Administrations decided to use less than their full enforcement authority under” the law “does not mean they lacked the authority to do more,” Jones wrote.
The plaintiffs in the two separate cases filed last year against the Trump administration were both Mexican nationals who had both lived in the United States for over 10 years and weren’t flight risks, their attorneys argued. Neither man had a criminal record, and both were jailed for months last year before a lower Texas court granted them bond in October.
The Trump White House reversed that policy in favor of mandatory detention in July, reversing almost 30 years of precedent under both Democrat and Republican administrations.
Friday’s ruling also bucks a November district court decision in California, which granted detained immigrants with no criminal history the opportunity to request a bond hearing and had implications for noncitizens held in detention nationwide.
Circuit Judge Dana M. Douglas wrote the lone dissent in Friday’s decision.
The elected congress members who passed the Immigration and Nationality Act “would be surprised to learn it had also required the detention without bond of two million people,” Douglas wrote, adding that many of the people detained are “the spouses, mothers, fathers, and grandparents of American citizens.”
She went on to argue that the federal government was overriding the lawmaking process with DHS’ new immigration detention policy that denies detained immigrants bond.
“Because I would reject the government’s invitation to rubber stamp its proposed legislation by executive fiat, I dissent,” Douglas wrote.
Douglas’ opinion echoed widespread tensions between the Trump administration and federal judges around the country, who have increasingly accused the administration of flouting court orders.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the decision as “a significant blow against activist judges who have been undermining our efforts to make America safe again at every turn.”
“We will continue vindicating President Trump’s law and order agenda in courtrooms across the country,” Bondi wrote on the social media platform X.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/07/trump-policy-jailing-immigrants-without-bond/
AI ‘Kill Chains’ And Rise Of Skynet-Like Weapons Offer Glimpse Of 2030s Battlefield
AI ‘Kill Chains’ And Rise Of Skynet-Like Weapons Offer Glimpse Of 2030s Battlefield
Ukraine has become the proving ground for 2030s warfare, where Western weaponry, Russian weaponry, and anyone else’s “next gen” weaponry collide on a modern battlefield that’s already providing a sneak peek of what conflict will look like: weaponized AI, ground robots, FPV swarms, and automated kill chains, with humanoid robo-killers that could enter field testing as early as this year.
The focus of this note is how “kill chains” are becoming central to modern warfare, with humans increasingly pushed out of decision-making on the Ukrainian frontlines, according to a report by The Times, which adds: “AI will soon be able to meld weapons systems faster than armies’ commanders can think.”
Framed as an “intelligent kill web,” a human commander, analyst, or soldier sits at the center like a spider, viewing vast streams of sensor data and weapons systems that talk to each other faster than the speed of thought. The result is a compressed kill chain, in which identifying targets and killing opponents happen at extraordinary speed.
“You need to be able to collect information, to process information, to write and disseminate your order faster than your opponent,” Yvan Gouriou, a newly retired French army general, told The Times. He is now a strategy adviser to the defense software firm Systematic Defence.
According to dozens of current and former Western military officers, defense industry sources, and analysts who spoke with the outlet, the “intelligent kill web” marks the dawn of the age of algorithmic warfare.
Examples:
The French Army upgraded command software to add real-time AI analytics (moving beyond traditional homegrown tools).
The United States Army 4th Infantry Division ran exercises in Colorado testing an AI “lattice” that detected, labeled, and assessed targets, tied to a next-gen C2 prototype led by Anduril with software contributions from Microsoft and Palantir Technologies.
The United States Air Force ran “Dash” experiments where AI planners reportedly became far faster than human officers and, in newer results, materially more accurate on tactical viability (though earlier iterations made subtle errors).
An insider at one European arms manufacturer told the outlet that integrating AI into defense is “akin to the introduction of electricity.” The person warned that this technological advance raises a serious question: how much control human commanders will retain on a modern battlefield in the years ahead.
Here’s what 2030s warfare will look like:
Separately from the report, the Ukrainian military recently hosted a closed-door war-tech conference where they showcased AI already on the battlefield.
Drone boats with missiles…
The broader takeaway here is that weaponized AI, robots, FPVs, and other advanced systems, soon including humanoid robots, on the modern battlefield in Eastern Europe, offer a glimpse of what 2030s conflict could look like. Most disturbing of all, the rise of “Skynet-like” weapons and autonomous kill chains has already arrived.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/07/2026 – 19:15
Eason anota 26, Sengun logra triple-doble y Rockets vencen 112-106 a un Thunder diezmado
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tari Eason anotó 26 puntos, su número máximo de la temporada, y los Rockets de Houston vencieron el sábado 112-106 a un diezmado Thunder de Oklahoma City.
Alperen Sengun logró 17 puntos, 12 rebotes y 11 asistencias para su segundo triple-doble de la temporada y el décimo de su carrera. Jabari Smith Jr. sumó 22 puntos y diez rebotes para los Rockets, y Kevin Durant añadió 20 unidades.
Cason Wallace anotó 23 tantos para Oklahoma City, e Isaiah Joe agregó 21.
Fue el segundo partido de Oklahoma City sin el Jugador Más Valioso de la campaña anterior, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, quien se está recuperando de una distensión abdominal. El astro estará fuera hasta después del receso del Juego de Estrellas.
El Thunder ya estaba sin Jalen Williams, elegido al Juego de Estrellas de 2025, y sin el escolta de segundo año Ajay Mitchell, una de las Estrellas Emergentes para el fin de semana próximo..
El escolta de segundo año Jared McCain jugó su primer partido con el Thunder desde que llegó en un canje con Filadelfia. Entró al final del primer cuarto entre aplausos. Terminó con cinco puntos en 14 minutos.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Daily Horoscope for February 08, 2026
General Daily Insight for February 08, 2026
Surprises could rock the boat, but they shouldn’t capsize it. With romantic Venus squaring unpredictable Uranus at 4:48 am EST, our connections and money choices hit friction as new needs clash with old comfort zones. Slow down! Rushing will probably cause more problems, especially if group commitments are involved. By evening, as the emotional Moon trines expansive Jupiter, we can take a wider perspective that allows for extra generosity. Any awkwardness can be banished with honest kindness. Choose steady changes to protect real progress.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
You set the pace with clear choices. Your 11th House of Friendship hosts Venus, who squares rebellious Uranus in your 2nd House of Resources, pushing group plans against changing costs. Your energetic style prefers action, yet a measured approach lets you renegotiate a shared bill or keep the mood warm during a reconnection after many years apart. If someone pushes, state what works for you and offer a simple alternative that respects time and money. Lead gently, because fairness keeps trust growing.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
This morning tests your patience and poise. Your 10th House of Jobs and your very own sign are the recipients of the chaotic energy from today’s Venus-Uranus square. Your comfort zone could seem basically unreachable as expectations shift. Whether the pressure is coming from an internal or external source, you can reduce stress by laying out what your specific goals are and when they need to happen. If plans change suddenly, ground yourself with that clear priority. Steady adjustments win respect without draining your energy.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Certain ideas likely need a little extra scaffolding before they’ll be able to stand on their own. Under this clash of Venus and Uranus, a blind spot could impact your literal plans or more metaphysical beliefs. Don’t let temporary doubts stop you from having a good time, but try to balance that with attention to any potential oversights. Think of it like this — you don’t have to answer every philosophical question, but you should know when your train leaves for your next big trip!
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Keep today’s plan as uncomplicated as possible. Why? Well, as Luna in your affectionate 5th house trines Jupiter in your caring sign, you’ll probably appreciate some space to be in your feelings a little! This doesn’t have to be a painful time at all; in fact, it’s more likely to be full of tender happiness. You may plan a surprise for a loved one (or them for you)! You can invite even more joy by using any free time to delve into your favorite hobby.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Agreements improve when expectations become truly specific. Certain connections could use a rebalance during this alignment of stubborn Venus and shocking Uranus across your connection zone and your business sector. Though you can handle personal or professional mixed signals, you shouldn’t have to! Be blunt about your needs to avoid future confusion. If you lead a team, model patience during frustration and be sure to comply with your own rules. That’s how you earn real respect and invite wholehearted, sustainable cooperation.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Change doesn’t have to be shocking right now (even though today’s aspects involve Uranus). Caring Venus is squaring Uranus, pitting your practical 6th house against your far-flung 9th house. You may need to streamline your process at work if you want more time for your evening plans. If you do have to shift your schedule, do your best to be patient, but firm in the face of any complications. Preparing in advance is the best way to avoid setbacks. Small wins will steadily stack up!
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Meeting people halfway shouldn’t involve giving up your genuine needs. You might not even have to give up that much today! Money may flow freely as the intuitive Moon moves through your 2nd House of Resources, trining lucky Jupiter in your 10th House of Goals. Your cooperative nature shines when you name fair numbers and ask for what you need in conversations with authority figures. If you felt stretched recently, you deserve a break. Value yourself enough to fight for what you need.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Your intuition is sharp enough to cut. The tempestuous Moon is in your heady sign, trining Jupiter in your 9th House of Learning. What truths are already at the tip of your tongue? Be sure to read the room before spilling the beans, because not everyone will be ready to hear what you’ve got to say. Contrarily, others could push for information beyond what you’re comfortable sharing. In any case, let the genuine desire to learn and understand take precedence over defensiveness whenever possible.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
A lively buzz colors conversations and errands. Plans shift as the Love Goddess Venus in your 3rd House of Distraction squares radical Uranus in your 6th House of Effort, possibly prompting a schedule change. Your optimistic style helps you laugh, yet you still benefit from confirming instructions carefully and setting a realistic time to circle back. If a peer cancels, you’re capable of pivoting without losing track of the overall goal. Handling chaos with humor is the ideal way to keep moving forward.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Excellence is attainable with a great team (and a little self-control). With Venus reaching from your resourceful 2nd house to square Uranus in your playful 5th house, you may be tempted to challenge your budget. Your disciplined nature can keep the fun alive while you set a cap that protects savings for everyone and supports peace of mind. If someone pressures for more, that’s their problem. Still, if you want, you could offer a playful alternative that fits their ideas and everyone’s wallets.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
A fresh wave of inspiration could wash over you at any moment. Independent Venus occupies your innovative sign, where she squares awakening Uranus (your sign’s ruling planet) in your 4th House of Foundations, stirring tension between personal expression and domestic responsibilities. Your independent streak wants space, yet you gain more by explaining your plans and honoring someone’s comfort while keeping your style intact. Be aware that as your identity shifts, your domicile may follow suit. Own your vibe respectfully to strengthen home harmony.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Figure things out when it’s quiet in order to act when it’s loud. Tender feelings may feel wounded by pointed news as Venus in your spiritual 12th house pokes Uranus in your talkative 3rd house. Do your best to steel yourself and ask for a moment to adjust if necessary — you can reply to any inquiries in your own time. If a sibling or neighbor texts in a rush (outside of a legitimate emergency), you shouldn’t have to drop everything for their sake.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/07/daily-horoscope-for-february-08-2026/
Washington Post publisher Will Lewis says he’s stepping down, days after big layoffs at the paper
Washington Post publisher Will Lewis said Saturday that he’s stepping down, three days after the troubled newspaper said that it was laying off one-third of its staff.
Lewis sent an email to the Post’s staff, saying that “difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post.” Lewis and the newspaper’s billionaire owner Jeff Bezos, did not participate in a meeting with staff announcing the layoffs this week.
The Post’s chief financial officer, Jeff D’Onofrio, was named acting publisher and CEO. He joined the newspaper only last June.
The British-born Lewis was a former top executive at The Wall Street Journal before taking over at The Post in January 2024. His tenure has been rocky from the start, marked by layoffs and a failed reorganization plan that led to the departure of former top editor Sally Buzbee.
The Post also lost tens of thousand of subscribers following Bezos’ order late in the presidential campaign pulling back an expected endorsement of Kamala Harris for president, and subsequent changes to turn the editorial pages in a more conservative direction.
While anticipated, this past week’s layoffs were deeper than anticipated, resulting in the shutting down of the Post’s renowned sports section, sharp cutbacks in foreign and metro coverage, and the laying off of its photographic staff.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/07/washington-post-will-lewis-stepping-down/
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — President Donald Trump’s second term has presented an array of opportunities for political opponents, from immigration crackdowns and lingering inflation to attacks on independent institutions and friction with overseas allies.
Many Democrats, however, are staying focused on health care, an issue that was once a political liability but has become foundational for the party in recent elections. They insist their strategy will help the party regain control of Congress in the November elections and fare better than chasing headlines about the latest outrages out of the White House.
Republicans last year cut about $1 trillion over a decade from Medicaid and declined to extend COVID-era subsidies that had lowered the cost of health plans under the Affordable Care Act.
Democrats are filming campaign spots outside struggling hospitals, spotlighting Americans facing spiking insurance premiums and sharing their own personal health care stories.
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, one of the party’s most endangered incumbents this year, said at a rally Saturday attended by more than 1,000 people in an Atlanta suburb that health care is part of Trump’s abandonment of working people.
“While prices are going up and jobs are getting harder to find, they decided to let health insurance premiums double for more than 20 million Americans, including more than a million Georgians,” said Ossoff, the only Democratic senator seeking reelection this year in a state that Trump won in 2024. He said 200,000 people in Georgia had lost their coverage.
Brad Woodhouse, a Democratic strategist and executive director of advocacy group Protect Our Care, said health care is “a banger of an issue for Democrats.”
“I think it will be part of every single campaign, up and down the ballot,” he said.
Republicans defend their votes as reining in ballooning health spending and cracking down on what they call waste, fraud and abuse. Trump recently launched a website to help patients buy discounted prescription drugs.
“They are working every single day to make sure that we bring affordability to the people,” said Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican National Committee.
But the party, despite controlling both chambers of Congress, has been unable so far to pass comprehensive legislation to offset Americans’ health costs.
Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist, said the issue would remain his party’s “Achilles’ heel” until its leaders draft realistic proposals that can become law.
Public opinion on health care wasn’t always in Democrats’ favor
Health care was once seen as a political liability for the left.
In 2010, Democrats lost their U.S. House majority after President Barack Obama’s signature health policy, the ACA, passed without a single Republican vote. In 2014, they gave up the U.S. Senate a year after his administration fumbled the rollout of Healthcare.gov.
Those tides turned when Trump “touched the stove” during his first term, Woodhouse said, by supporting unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the health overhaul, known as “Obamacare,” potentially leaving millions of people uninsured and making it harder for those with preexisting medical conditions to get coverage.
Last year Republicans passed legislation to reduce spending on federal health programs and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on people receiving aid and by shifting certain costs onto the states.
Republicans said that would stave off abuse of the Medicaid program, and added a $50 billion investment in rural health to offset losses.
Unrig Our Economy, a left-wing group, said it has funneled more than $12 million into ads criticizing Republicans on health care since early 2025.
Democrats saw another opportunity to win voters’ support last year as enhanced ACA tax credits headed toward expiration and they forced a government shutdown over the issue. The funding wasn’t restored but the party believes it gained political leverage going into this year’s campaigns.
“Republicans own it now,” said Eric Stern, a Democratic media strategist. “You better believe Democrats are going to be talking about that.”
Candidates highlight emotional stories
Stef Feldman, a Democratic consultant who was an aide to former President Joe Biden, said she is hearing from candidates that voters care about health affordability “more than just about anything else.”
A recent poll from the health care research nonprofit KFF backs that observation. It found that about one-third of U.S. adults are “very worried” about the cost of health care, compared with about one-quarter who feel the same way about the cost of groceries, housing or utilities.
For Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls, who is running for the U.S. Senate this year, tapping into those concerns has meant visits to vulnerable hospitals and tours of pharmacies. For Rebecca Cooke, a U.S. House candidate in Wisconsin, it has meant meetings with hospital leaders and telling personal stories, including about her dad’s expensive prostate cancer drugs and the $200 jump in her own ACA premiums.
Ossoff has called health care “a life-or-death question.”
Teresa Acosta, who frequently campaigns for Democratic candidates, said her ACA policy, which covers herself and two teenagers, including a son with Type 1 diabetes, now costs $520 a month, seven times more than before expanded subsidies went away.
“Ultimately, Trump and congressional Republicans refused to act,” Acosta said at the Ossoff rally. “They refused to stand up for the care that me and over 1 million Georgians rely on.”
ACA plans are heavily relied upon in Georgia, one of the 10 states that didn’t expand Medicaid. Advocates have warned that the expiration of the expanded subsidies could leave Georgia residents uninsured. Recent federal data shows about 14% fewer Georgians have signed up for plans in 2026 compared with last year, although those numbers aren’t yet final.
Republicans say they don’t want to throw money at a ‘broken system’
U.S. Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, two of Ossoff’s top Republican opponents, voted in January against a temporary ACA tax-credit extension that passed the House but languished in the Senate. Both deride the ACA as the “Unaffordable Care Act,” a phrase used by Trump, and favor a narrower Republican alternative.
Carter, who worked as a pharmacist, said an extension amounted to “throwing more money at a broken system, riddled with waste, fraud and abuse, without addressing the root cause of skyrocketing costs.”
U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, the Wisconsin Republican fending off a challenge from Cooke, was one of 17 Republicans who voted for the temporary extension. He said he did not support the subsidies but had to vote that way to protect his constituents. He noted that Democrats set the expiration date in the first place.
But Van Orden was also critical of his own party for allowing the tax credits to expire without another solution in place.
“For the last 15 years, when you said health care, they’d dive out the window and barrel roll into a bush and hide,” Van Orden said. “We’re the party of good policy, and so we should be writing policy, and we need to embrace this.”
Swenson reported from New York. Associated Press writer Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pa., contributed to this report.
Why This Crash Is Bitcoin’s Biggest Test Yet
Why This Crash Is Bitcoin’s Biggest Test Yet
Submitted by QTR’s Fringe Finance
Bitcoin has a way of faking its own death, and this past week delivered another such instance with theatrical flair. After flirting with the once-unthinkable level of $120,000, the world’s most famous digital asset promptly face-planted to around $62,000 at its recent lows on Thursday.
Even for crypto, a 50% drawdown in months isn’t just a bad couple weeks. In a nascent asset like Bitcoin it’s always a bit of a spiritual test. More than that, this drawdown looks and feels like yet another Bitcoin “moment of truth,” the kind that forces believers and skeptics alike to confront what this asset really is—and what it isn’t.
For veterans of Bitcoin, the pattern is familiar. Exuberance builds. Headlines turn breathless. Group chats fill with laser-eye emojis. Then, without warning, gravity reasserts itself. Prices collapse. Influencers go quiet or get ornery on social media. Everyone suddenly remembers that “number go up” is not, in fact, a law of physics. But then Bitcoin always does — back to new highs over and over.
These moments of truth are supposed to be Bitcoin’s specialty. The “maxis,” sometimes proudly, sometimes ironically—have spent more than a decade preaching the same sermon. Volatility is not a bug, it’s a feature. Pain is purification. Weak hands must be shaken out. Michael Saylor once famously framed volatility as “Satoshi’s gift,” a kind of built-in psychological stress test designed to separate true believers from tourists. If you can’t stomach 50% drawdowns, you don’t deserve the upside. That’s the doctrine. Eat a dick, Sharpe ratio.
This time, though, the crash is being framed slightly differently by skeptics. Peter Schiff, Bitcoin’s longtime nemesis and professional eye-roller, has been quick to argue that this is not just another routine purge. In his view, this is not another dress rehearsal. He thinks it is the bubble finally popping after years of supposedly “mass” adoption.
Sure, he’s said this a lot over the years but unlike previous cycles, Bitcoin hasn’t been lurking in the shadows of Reddit forums and obscure exchanges. Over the past two years, it has marched directly into the mainstream. ETFs, retirement accounts, major banks, payment platforms, corporate treasuries, political campaigns—crypto didn’t just knock on the front door of the U.S. financial system. It moved in and started rearranging the furniture.
Which brings us to why “it’s different this time”.
Under Donald Trump, the United States has effectively gone all-in on crypto in ways that would have seemed absurd not long ago. Trump has openly branded himself as the “crypto president.” His campaign accepted crypto donations. Pro-crypto advisors and donors gained influence. Regulatory agencies softened their tone. Enforcement actions slowed. Bitcoin and digital assets were reframed less as speculative toys and more as strategic financial technologies.
At the same time, Wall Street embraced Bitcoin. Spot ETFs opened the floodgates for institutional money. Pension funds dipped their toes. Wealth managers added “digital assets” to client portfolios. CNBC began treating Bitcoin price movements like weather reports. You didn’t need to be edgy or rebellious to own BTC anymore. You just needed a brokerage account. Even Vanguard caved…
So if adoption was the rocket fuel, a fair question now is: how much is left in the tank?
That’s the core of the bearish argument. If nearly everyone who wants Bitcoin in the United States already has easy access to it, then where does the next wave of buyers come from? When your barber, your dentist, and your aunt’s financial advisor all know how to buy BTC, you’re not early anymore. You’re late-stage. If demand has peaked, then the recent crash isn’t just noise. It’s the market quietly admitting that the story may be running out of new chapters.
In that scenario, the downside could be ugly. Not just another dip-and-rip cycle, but something more structural. A slow bleed. A loss of cultural relevance. A gradual realization that Bitcoin might survive, but mostly as a niche asset rather than a world-changing revolution. Gold bugs would feel vindicated. Crypto Twitter would feel tired. Venture capital would move on to the next shiny thing…probably some AI-related bullshit.
Yet the bulls are not packing up.
As I ridiculed wrote last week, recurring financial media rash Tom Lee continues to argue that Bitcoin is still in the early innings of global monetization. My buddy Larry Lepard has also talked up targets in the $200,000 to $250,000 range, suggesting that monetary debasement, debt crises, and currency instability will eventually funnel massive capital into scarce digital assets. From this perspective, the recent collapse is just another pothole on a very long highway. Adoption in the US may be maturing, but the rest of the world is still warming up. Sovereign debt problems, geopolitical tensions, and distrust in central banks aren’t going away. If anything, they’re multiplying.
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In this telling, the current selloff is simply another rehearsal in Bitcoin’s long-running play: “How Many Times Can We Kill It Before It Actually Dies?” So far, the answer is “a lot.”
Still, even optimists are starting to acknowledge an uncomfortable reality. There doesn’t seem to be much untapped mainstream adoption left in America. The regulatory environment is friendlier than it’s ever been. The political branding is pro-crypto. The financial infrastructure is built. If Bitcoin can’t thrive in this environment, it’s hard to argue that a better one is just around the corner. When the so-called “crypto president” presides over a 50% drawdown, it raises questions.
Which brings us back, once again, to Bitcoin’s moment of truth.
From here, the paths diverge sharply. One possibility is a serious crash with no meaningful recovery, a slow deflation of the crypto dream that leaves Bitcoin alive but diminished. Another is a long, grinding crypto winter—years of sideways trading, fading hype, shrinking communities, and endless “this is accumulation” posts that age poorly. The third is the familiar miracle: confidence returns, liquidity floods in, narratives reboot, and Bitcoin charges back through old highs like nothing happened, leaving doubters to explain why they sold at $62,000.
History suggests Bitcoin is very good at humiliating both its critics and its fans, often in alternating cycles. Right now, it’s humiliating the optimists. In a year, it might be mocking the skeptics. Or it might finally decide to grow up and become boring, which would be the most shocking outcome of all.
For now, the only certainty is this: this really does feel like another defining moment of truth for Bitcoin. The volatility that maxis call a gift is still very much in circulation. And like most gifts that arrive wrapped in panic and red candles, it’s not entirely clear whether anyone actually wants it.
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Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/07/2026 – 18:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/why-crash-bitcoins-biggest-test-yet
