A Tyrannosaurus rex named Gus, one of the largest and most complete specimens of its kind, will go up for auction on July 14 at Sotheby’s in New York. Gus was discovered on a cattle ranch in South Dakota and carefully pieced together like a complex puzzle consisting of 183 fossilized bones. The bidding will start at a whopping $19 million.
Photo credit: Gizmodo
MARKETS
Gold
$4,123.82
-0.54%
Silver
$60.51
-0.65%
Bitcoin
$62,790.99
-0.08%
Dow
52,925.15
-0.25%
S&P
7,503.85
-0.45%
Nasdaq
25,818.69
-1.16%
*Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00 a.m. ET.
Lead:Â The Intelligence Was Outdated. They Fired Anyway.
Photo credit: NBC News
A CNN report released Tuesday suggests the deadly strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed 168 children was not the unavoidable mistake the government portrayed it to be.
Nor did President Trump’s claim hold up when he said, “Based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran.”
According to multiple sources familiar with the investigation, senior U.S. military commanders were warned that the information used to identify targets inside Iran was based on intelligence that was years old. Those warnings were embedded directly inside the Pentagon’s targeting databases, flagging that the information needed to be re-vetted before strikes were approved.
Instead of re-vetting the intelligence before unleashing a deadly missile strike, commanders reportedly signed off anyway because it was faster and they were on a timeline.
This information was never disclosed to those demanding accountability, even when military officials reportedly determined within days that outdated intelligence had contributed to the strike. Months later, the public is still getting the runaround whenever the administration is confronted about what happened.
Just last month, when asked by a journalist at the G7 summit in France whether anyone would be held accountable, President Trump replied, “It’s such a strange question to be asked at this date, because you’re talking about a long time ago.”
A long time ago? Tell that to the parents who buried their children only four months ago. Grief doesn’t expire because the news cycle moved on.
In the same statement, Trump also said, “Nobody did that on purpose. Mistakes are made. War is nasty.” Can it really be called a mistake if commanders ignored warnings that the intelligence was unreliable? Doesn’t that sound more like criminal negligence?
But outdated intelligence wasn’t the only issue. The military’s safeguards had already been weakened after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reduced the personnel responsible for identifying and preventing civilian casualties.
In light of what we now know, it’s worth asking: If the tables were turned and Iran carried out the same attack on U.S. soil, taking the lives of innocent American children, would it still be acceptable to simply call it a “mistake” and move on?
A Nation Left in the Dark
Photo credit: Reuters
Cuba has suffered yet another nationwide blackout, with Union Electrica (UNE), the state electricity company, announcing a “total disconnection” across the entire island on Monday, leaving the country’s 9.6 million inhabitants without power.
For many Cubans, this isn’t an occasional inconvenience like a California rolling blackout. It’s a way of life. Some have electricity for only a few hours a day, while others go days without power, and this was all before the latest nationwide outage.
No electricity means no refrigeration, no lights, no internet, no running businesses, and often no reliable access to food or clean water on a regular basis.
Officials blame the blackouts on a lack of fuel, and it’s not hard to see why when the U.S. has imposed the longest-running trade embargo in history on Cuba.
Since January, the U.S. has tightened its oil restrictions, allowing just one Russian oil tanker to dock on the island. Without this needed fuel, power plants can’t operate, which causes the electrical grid to shut down. These economic sanctions are often sold as a way to pressure governments. But ordinary families are the ones sitting in the dark without food, medicine, or electricity.
Cuba is gradually restoring its power after the blackout, but the country’s energy crisis is far from over as sanctions continue to choke off fuel supplies.
Hoping to bring relief to its people, Cuba called an emergency session of the U.N. General Assembly, where it argued that the U.S. is carrying out what it describes as an “act of genocide” through its energy blockade and economic sanctions, saying the measures have created a humanitarian crisis for the Cuban people.
The United States wasn’t sympathetic. During the U.N. session, U.S. Ambassador Michael G. Waltz told Cuban representatives: “There always seems to be enough power for the Cuban dictatorship. Change your ways, turn the lights back on for your people.”
Translation: Give in to the demands of the United States, so that we may benefit, and then the suffering of your people will be over.
What’s Your Real Estate Investor Path?
After today’s headlines, one thing is clear: sitting still is not a strategy.
Whether you’re brand new to real estate or already investing, this quick 60-second Redacted Quiz helps you see which path may fit your goals—cash flow, retirement funds, diversification, or long-term wealth building.
You’ll get: • A clearer look at where you are now • A path based on your goals and starting point • Helpful resources, including the Freedom Cheat Sheet and Freedom 5 Formula PDF
No pressure. No noise. Just clarity on your next move.
If real estate belongs in your portfolio, this will help you see where to start.
Redacted Featured Video
Did you miss our latest show? No problem, you can catch the replay here! And don’t miss our recent conversation with Melissa Witte, where we discuss the confusing and pervasive propaganda driving online political discourse, and analyze why many influencers who correctly identified the lies surrounding the Ukraine war have now pivoted to promoting pro-Israel talking points.
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News by the Numbers
Photo credit:Â Gallup
11%. That’s the percentage of U.S. adults using GLP-1 medications for weight loss, according to a 2026 survey. The rate has nearly quadrupled since 2024, when it stood at 3%. GLP-1 drugs can help people lose weight, but at what cost?
$6.6 billion. That’s what U.S. airlines spent on fuel in May, nearly double what they spent a year earlier as the war with Iran drove oil prices higher.
94%. That’s the likelihood, according to traders on prediction market Kalshi as of July 7, that Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner will drop out before July 14. More than $4.4 million has been wagered on the outcome so far.
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