
Why Trump Is Fed Up With Powell
Plus: A copper smelter stands alone, and a new episode of the Elon, Inc. podcast.
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The US Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates where they are. Bloomberg News senior economics reporter Enda Curran explains why Donald Trump isn't happy. Plus: The challenge of reviving US copper production, how Microsoft is standing by its climate goals, and is MAMUWT (Musk Always Makes Up With Trump) really a thing?
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Miami Herald
4 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Ditchit Detonates Iconic Twitter Bird to Symbolize Launch of Local Marketplace
DOVER, DE / ACCESS Newswire / June 20, 2025 / In a fiery spectacle worthy of Silicon Valley lore, Ditchit - a rising star in the online marketplace space and rival to OfferUp - has made headlines by purchasing and then blowing up the original 560-pound Twitter bird sign once perched atop the company's San Francisco headquarters. The marketing stunt, filmed in the Nevada desert with a 15-person production crew, four Tesla Cybertrucks, and a Hollywood pyrotechnics expert, marked a symbolic farewell to legacy tech monopolies and a bold introduction to Ditchit's mission: to build a local marketplace that puts people before profits. "Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X to support free expression. At Ditchit, we're doing the same for local marketplaces," said Ditchit spokesman James Deluca. "Today's platforms are filled with ads, fees, and algorithms that prioritize businesses over people. Ditchit is different-free to use, ad-free, and designed to support real communities and real sellers." The 12-foot-tall Twitter logo, affectionately known as "Larry," was purchased at auction for $34,000 earlier this year. While the initial acquisition was driven by nostalgia, the company ultimately decided to transform the artifact into a symbol of disruption. The resulting video, now live on YouTube, shows the massive sign's explosive end outside of Las Vegas, capturing a cinematic moment that's already garnering viral attention. But "Larry's" story doesn't end in smoke. Fragments of the sign have been salvaged and will be sold on the Ditchit app in a sealed-bid auction starting today. 100% of proceeds will go to the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that champions startup innovation and supports the next generation of entrepreneurs. "Many entrepreneurs get their start on local marketplace apps," Deluca added. "We're here to support that journey-not just through our platform, but through action." With the stunt, Ditchit isn't just selling a piece of tech history. It's signaling a new era for digital marketplaces - one powered by transparency, accessibility, and the belief that local economies deserve better. About DitchitDitchit is a community-first local marketplace built for everyday buyers and sellers. Unlike traditional platforms, Ditchit is ad-free, fee-free, and designed to keep transactions simple and fair. Founded in 2024, the Ditchit app is available for iOS and Android. Media Contact:James DelucaPR Manager, SOURCE: Ditchit

Miami Herald
6 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Top analysts reset oil price targets amid Middle East chaos
The world has gotten a bit crazy in 2025. An ongoing global trade war has sparked worries over worldwide economic growth, and now, Israel and Iran are locked in a battle with missiles flying back and forth, threatening global oil supplies. The potential for a major energy crisis to develop because of the Iran and Israel conflict has caused Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate oil prices to surge, and in turn, that's created an entirely new threat to the economy. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The potential for the battle in the Middle East to spread, potentially shutting off oil seaborne transports through the Strait of Hormuz, and possibly removing Iranian oil from the global market, has lifted Brent crude and WTI crude per barrel prices by 18% to $79 and 21% to $75 this month. The situation has captured the attention of Citigroup, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs' oil analysts, leading them to reset their oil price targets. CFOTO/Getty Images President Donald Trump has announced a string of harsher-than-expected tariffs this year to rekindle US manufacturing. The moves, which include 25% tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and autos, plus a 30% tariff on China and a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, have forced economists to rethink their global projections for economic growth this year. Related: Forget tariffs, Fed interest rate cuts may hinge on another problem For instance, earlier this month, the World Bank reduced its worldwide gross domestic product, or GDP, forecasting 2.3% from 2.7% previously, citing tariff uncertainty. Contributing significantly to the reduced outlook is a major downgrade of U.S. growth to 1.4% from 2.3%. The World Bank lowered its U.S. forecast to 1.6% in 2026, down from 2%. The Federal Reserve also anticipates the slowing growth in the US because of tariffs' bite. The Fed updated its closely watched Summary of Economic Projections on June 18. It expects unemployment to increase to 4.5% from 4.2%, and projects that Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation will climb to 3% this year, up from expectations in March for 2.7% inflation. Fed officials expect U.S GDP growth to be just 1.4% in 2025, down from 1.7% in March, and well below the 2.5% GDP growth the US economy delivered in 2024. In China, the World Bank expects that slowing activity due to higher tariffs will reduce GDP to 4.5% in 2025, down from 5% in 2024. In 2026, it expects GDP to fall further to 4%. The economic situation could get even more uncertain if Israel and Iran's conflict continues to prop up crude oil prices. Oil prices can significantly impact inflation, directly and indirectly, further crimping consumer and business spending. We're already seeing concerning signs that higher oil prices are translating into higher prices at the pump for gasoline. "WTI crude oil $77/bbl, the national average price of gasoline is now $3.21 per gallon, and could by next week climb to its highest ever while President Trump has been in office ($3.25/gal) due to Middle East tensions," wrote GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan on X. Roughly 18 million to 19 million barrels of oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz daily, representing 20% of global oil consumption, including crude, condensates, and fuel. Its proximity to Iran means it could become an oil chokepoint if Iran acts to block it. The possibility of that happening is "under serious consideration," said Esmail Kosari, an Iranian parliament member and IRGC general, on June 15. More Economic Analysis: Federal Reserve prepares strong message on long-term interest ratesMassive city workers union approves strikeAnalyst makes bold call on stocks, bonds, and gold Iran's oil production and its ability to export oil to its largest consumer, China, may also be significantly impaired. Iran is OPEC's third-largest member, producing about 3.3 million barrels per day. Citi estimates that if the conflict disrupts 3 million bpd for multiple months, crude oil prices could reach $90 per barrel, up from $75 now, and the low-to-mid $60s before Israel attacked Iran over its nuclear development program. JPMorgan's analysts believe that shutting the Strait of Hormuz could catapult crude oil prices to an eye-popping $120 to $130 per barrel. Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, believes the conflict creates a risk premium of about $10 per barrel. In one scenario, Goldman Sachs' analysts say that damage to Iran's export infrastructure that reduces Iran's supply by 1.75 million bpd "before gradually recovering," with OPEC+ production offsetting roughly half of the reduction, would lead to Brent crude oil peaking "just over $90/bbl." Goldman Sachs, however, expects that the increase would prove temporary, with prices declining "back to the $60s in 2026 as Iran supply recovers." However, the situation would be worse if the Strait of Hormuz were blocked for an extended period. "While an interruption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 1/5 of global oil production flows, appears much less likely, there is focus from investors and policymakers on this risk, because core OPEC+ producers may be unable to deploy spare capacity in this extreme tail scenario. Based on our prior analysis, we estimate that oil prices may exceed $100/bbl in an extreme tail scenario of an extended disruption." Related: Veteran fund manager sends dire message on stocks The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

Associated Press
10 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Supreme Court rejects toy company's push for a quick decision on Trump's tariffs
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal from an Illinois toy company pushing for a quick decision on the legality of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Learning Resources Inc. had asked the justices to take up the case soon, rather than let it continue to play out in lower courts. The company argues the tariffs and uncertainty are having a 'massive impact' on businesses around the country and the issue needs swift attention from the nation's highest court. The justices didn't explain their reasoning in the brief order rebuffing the appeal, but the Supreme Court is typically reluctant to take up cases before lower courts have decided. The company argues that the Republican president illegally imposed tariffs under an emergency powers law, bypassing Congress. It won an early victory in a lower court, but the order is on hold as an appeals court considers a similar ruling putting a broader block on Trump's tariffs. The appeals court has allowed Trump to continue collecting tariffs under the emergency powers law ahead of arguments set for late July. The Trump administration has defended the tariffs by arguing that the emergency powers law gives the president the authority to regulate imports during national emergencies and that the country's longtime trade deficit qualifies as a national emergency. ___