🚨 Dirty Tissues – May 12 2025

*Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00AM.

Lead: Israeli Hostage Release

Photo credit: The White House

The White House announced that it negotiated directly with Hamas for the release of Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023.

Israel was reportedly not a party to the negotiations because U.S. diplomats continue to be frustrated with Israel’s lack of commitment to ending the war. President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly said this: “We want the detainees returned, but Israel doesn’t want to end the war.”

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of his plan to continue to “destroy” the Gaza Strip but the problem, as he sees it, is that not enough host countries will take the displaced civilians.

“We are destroying more and more homes, and Gazans have nowhere to return to. The only inevitable outcome will be the wish of Gazans to emigrate outside of the Gaza Strip,” he said. He also reiterated that Israel will not allow aid into Gaza since Gazans are reportedly “mixing with Hamas terrorists.” Even children?

President Trump is heading to the Middle East this week to meet with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Syria and Lebanon. He may discuss a plan for the Gaza Strip which could include a plan to recognize a Palestinian state.

Trade Deal with China

Photo credit: CATO Institute

The White House announced a trade deal with China on Sunday over meetings in Switzerland. Details were not announced yet but stock market futures jumped 400 points in anticipation of good news.

U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer said this in a statement about trade negotiations: “It’s important to understand how quickly we were able to come to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as maybe thought. That being said, there was a lot of groundwork that went into these two days. Just remember why we’re here in the first place — the United States has a massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit, so the President declared a national emergency and imposed tariffs, and we’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to work toward resolving that national emergency.”

Presumably, the deal will pertain to favorable tariffs between the U.S. and China but we await confirmation.

Markets feel like a rollercoaster right now—your money doesn’t have to.

Rate hikes, election‑year swings, and doom‑scroll headlines have turned Wall Street into white‑knuckle territory. But you can step off the ride and still grow your wealth.

Connect Invest lets everyday investors tap into real‑estate–backed Short Notes that pay fixed monthly income—up to 9% annualized—with as little as $500.

How it works

• Fund your digital wallet (starting at $500)

• Choose a 6, 12, or 24‑month Short Note

• Collect steady monthly payouts—no guesswork, no late‑night CNBC

Redacted readers get an extra $50 when they sign up and fund their account.

Sometimes “boring” beats the market.

Visit Redacted.inc/Invest  The steady way to earn more.

Trump Administration Tries Again For Affordable Meds

Photo credit: Harvard Health

President Trump announced a new order that is aimed at reducing prescription-drugs by 30-80%.

This is an awesome idea but before you get excited, keep in mind that President Trump tried to do this during his first term and Big Pharma sued to stop it, arguing that it would undermine profits and innovation. When President Biden took office, he rescinded the order altogether and the litigation stopped there.

What makes us think that they won’t do that again?

The White House is using the same method called MFN or most-favored-nation price, meaning that Americans should get the lowest cost of prescription medications instead of the highest, which is what they usually pay.

The White House is set to announce specifics of this new order on Monday. Perhaps they have found a way to prevent the courts from halting it.

News By The Numbers

Photo credit: Wikimedia

53 years. That is how long ago the Soviets launched Kosmos 482, a mission to Venus. It never made it and was stuck there until this weekend when it came crashing back to Earth. The Russians say that it landed in the Indian Ocean.

21-0. That was how badly The Rockies lost on Saturday. They are the worst in the Major League with 7 wins and 33 losses. They fired two coaches on Sunday: Bud Black and Mike Redmond in hopes that the only way to go from here is up.

240. That is how many days U.S. lawmakers want to offer Canadians to stay in the U.S. without a Visa with a new bipartisan bill aimed at Snowbirds. The current limit is 180 days, after which one would need a Visa.

Prayers for Peace

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV gave his first mass on Sunday from St. Peter’s Basilica. The Pope called for peace in all conflicts around the world, much like his predecessor Pope Francis did.

The Pope not only called for a ceasefire in Gaza but he also prayed that “humanitarian aid be provided to the stricken civil population, and let all the hostages be freed.” He also prayed for “everything possible be done to reach an authentic, just and lasting peace, as soon as possible” in Ukraine and said that he “welcomed with satisfaction the announcement of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and I hope that through the upcoming negotiations, a lasting accord may be reached soon.”

He called on the world’s most powerful people to hear his “ever-timely appeal: ‘Never again war!'”

These are similar sentiments to those of Pope Francis but there had been a question as to whether or not the new pope would get involved in geopolitical conflict. Pope Leo did not place blame on any one group. He only called for lasting peace for those who are suffering.

The reception to a U.S. born pope has been largely positive, especially tinged with hometown pride in the U.S. In Italy, the media calls him The Calm Pope and is careful to distinguish him from President Trump’s American politics.

President Trump doesn’t see it that way. He posted on Sunday that his influence DID help get Pope Leo elected because he won the Catholic Vote in the U.S.

Community note: The American voters are not the same people that voted in the Conclave for Pope Leo and the Cardinals that did vote – even the American ones – voted anonymously so their votes don’t have to represent their constituents. It is not likely that President Trump’s influence had much to do with the election of Pope Leo. It probably has more to do with the Pope’s character, influence, position and maybe, just maybe, Holy Spirit.

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM

Click here to go to our store to grab some of our exclusive Merchandise.