#Financial Conduct Authority

[lexlawuk]

Account Freezing Order Guide

An Account Freezing Order (AFO) is a type of a freezing order used by enforcement agencies in the UK to freeze monies held in accounts that are subject of an investigation into suspected criminal activity. This article explains the purpose, application process, legal implications, and consequences for you or your business that has been made subject to an AFO. Our expert team of AFO Solicitors and…

[commercialawarenesstoday]

UK government to introduce new rules to restrict ‘de-banking’

The UK chancellor has announced new rules to restrict the practice of ‘de-banking’ amid reports that some banks may have closed customer accounts because of their political beliefs.

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Jeremy Hunt revealed plans to introduce revised ‘threshold conditions’ for banks, aiming to ensure that they uphold their responsibilities in safeguarding freedom of speech. He said the changes to the rules, which determine a bank’s eligibility to operate, will set clear guidelines for banks to meet their existing legal obligations regarding freedom of speech.

The announcement follows the publication of an in-depth initial investigation into the issue (85-page / 1.77MB PDF) conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The regulator collected data from 34 firms for its report, which highlighted four potential cases of political de-banking. But further analysis indicated that these closures were primarily due to customer behaviour, such as racist language directed at staff, rather than the legitimate expression of political beliefs.

According to the FCA report, the most common reasons for personal account closure were inactive or dormant accounts, financial crime, and customer failure to produce identification. For business account closures, the primary reason was the commercial cost of complying with anti-financial crime requirements, which particularly affected cash-intensive, adult entertainment, pawnbroking, and crypto businesses.

Mike Hawthorne, banking and financial services disputes expert at Pinsent Masons, said: “The quality of the data collected by the FCA varied greatly, so it is difficult to come to concrete conclusions about how widespread de-banking really is. For example, further analysis of account closures for ‘reputational reasons’ or ‘other’ could uncover connections to customers' political views. Withdrawing banking services on grounds of political beliefs is already illegal so you would not expect banks to have been collecting data on the frequency of this happening.”

“The weakness in the self-reported data will be addressed by the regulator conducting a separate exercise to gather feedback from so-called ‘politically exposed persons’, which may provide different insights. Ultimately, the report underscores the need for more research into the impact of so-called ‘de-risking’, whereby financial firms exclude certain customer categories due to concerns about financial crime or ethical considerations,” Hawthorne said.

He added: “While the societal consequences of de-risking fall outside the FCA's jurisdiction, the regulator suggested that the government should consider addressing this issue at a policy level, which is what is happening now.”

In his speech at the Conservative Party conference, the chancellor confirmed that the government would introduce new rules that will require banks to provide explanations and delays in the event of account closures. The notice period for terminating payment service framework contracts will be extended from two months to 90 days, and banks will be obligated to provide customers with clear and tailored justifications for closing their accounts, except in limited cases where such disclosure would be unlawful.

The FCA’s report also examined the reasons why 2.1% of the UK’s adult population do not have bank accounts. Hawthorne said: “While no clear trend emerges, factors including deprivation, unemployment and long-term sickness appear to contribute. There is a discrepancy between racial groups too, with a lower incidence of unbanked individuals among Black and Black British at 0.9% and a higher incidence among Asian and Asian British at 5.9%. Other reported groups include white at 1.7%, mixed/multiple ethnic groups at 3.1%, and ‘other’ at 3.8%.”

The FCA said it could not currently explain these disparities and plans to commission further research on the issue. Although the incidence of unbanked individuals is higher than expected, the report notes that 53% of affected individuals surveyed expressed no interest in having a bank account.

[36crypto]

UK Cracks Down: No More Credit Cards for Buying Crypto, FCA Declares Ban

Retail crypto buyers in the United Kingdom will face a major restriction. According to a Friday report by the Financial Times, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is set to ban the use of credit cards for purchasing cryptocurrencies. This regulatory move will prevent individuals from borrowing funds through credit lines to buy digital assets. The FCA proposes restricting retail access to crypto…

[littlefireball]

ʏꜱ|ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ᴍᴇ, ᴛᴀꜱᴛᴇ ᴍᴇ, ꜰɪʟʟ ᴍᴇ ᴜᴘ (ᴍ)

ɢᴏᴅ ᴏꜰ ʙʀᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ʏᴇᴏꜱᴀɴɢ x ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ꜱᴍᴜᴛ|ᴜɴᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ꜱᴇx|ʏᴇᴏꜱᴀɴɢ ꜱᴀᴠᴇᴅ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ|ᴄʜᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ (ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ɢᴏᴏᴅ (?) ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴏɴᴇꜱʜᴏᴛ)|ʀᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱᴇx|ᴄʟɪᴛ ᴘʟᴀʏ|ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀɪɴɢ|ᴅʀʏ ʜᴜᴍᴘ|ᴏʀᴀʟ|ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴋ*ʟʟɪɴɢ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 2.4ᴋ

Other members: ATEEZ as Fake Gods, Seonghwa

Masterlist

Rumors abound in the city about the miraculous powers of the holy water in the temple, believed to bestow fertility upon barren women. Little do they know, the so-called holy water is actually a disguise for the gods themselves. Concealed within the temple, the deity assumes the form of a male priest, carefully selecting his chosen women. His divine 'touch' brings forth new life for those he deems worthy, while others are left untouched by his favor.

And as usual, he was entrenched in the temple, looking for his favorite "prey".

You were compelled into a marriage with that pig in the urban center due to your family's financial ruin, or should I say that oily old man who was as corpulent as a pig. His conduct exuded disdain towards women, and his utterances lacked any semblance of decency. He demanded you to have children for him, but who would consent to such a disgusting request.

Whenever he attempted to forcefully have sex with you, you resorted to narcotics or simply delivered a blow to render him unconscious. Of course, it was not a long term solution. He brought you to the temple, despite your unwillingness.

"You better get pregnant or I'll just throw you to the brothel," The old man warned, gripping your wrist hard enough to leave a clear red mark. "Get off me! You fucking old man!" "How dare you talk like this to your husband?!" As he was about to slap you, a sudden deep voice stopped him. "Quiet!"

Yeosang walked out from behind the statue with a serious look on his face. "This is a holy land, how can you be allowed to cause trouble?"

"I apologize. My wife is trying to hurt me so I…" "Is it true? Why do I perceive a desire in you to strike her?" Yeosang maintained a stern face as he advanced, radiating an aura of authority that left the elderly man faltering. "No, no, my lord, you have misunderstood. I simply intended to catch her, not harm her."

"Catch her?" Yeosang tilted his head, gazing at the man with impatience and anger. "What a good husband?" Yeosang forcefully released the man's grip on your wrist and pushed his hand away with determination. The oily man's wrists bore the marks of yeosang's strength, as his fingers left visible bruises on the old man's skin. Despite the pig's cries, Yeosang remained resolute and refused to release his hold.

"Ah, say something to help me, explain it! Y/N!!" That fat pig bellowed in desperation, beseeching you to come to his aid. But how could you do this? Your delight in witnessing his suffering is beyond comprehension, as he was left in a state worse than death. "He is trying to hurt me, my lord." "You bitch─!!!" Without allowing the oily man to utter another word, Yeosang flung him to the ground like a piece of refuse.

"Leave. Before I changed my mind." The old man struggled to stand up and ran away without looking back. "You stay here, Y/N."

"Me?Stay here?" Yeosang nodded as he slowly walked back to his throne-like sofa. The sophisticated man reclined against the opulent throne, his demeanor exuding an air of refinement. "Come here," he beckoned, his voice laced with an unprecedented softness. You obediently knelt before him, a blush creeping onto your cheeks at the sight of his striking features.

"Tell me, my dear, do you desire to conceive?" Gently cupping your face, his thumb grazed your lips, applying a slight pressure. "I…" You found yourself captivated by his presence, rendered speechless. "Never, right?" He echoed your unspoken thoughts, causing you to flinch. "But what if the child is mine?" "What?"

"Don't worry, that man won't pester you anymore." He grabbed your chin to press his lips on yours. "It'll be good, I promise."

It was the first time your lips met. That fat pig had never shown you the same kindness as Yeosang. To him, you were nothing more than a fertility tool. There was no hint of aggression or intrusion in the kiss, only warmth and tenderness. A pulsating sensation coursed through both of your bodies, and you felt the heat spreading throughout your entire being.

"Are you feeling hot?" Yeosang inquired in between kisses, to which you shyly nodded. "Then you need to cool off." His hand slipped down your back, unzipping and slipping inside. You gasped at the chilly touch of his fingers, causing him to smirk.

He drew you nearer, settling you on his lap, encircling your legs around his waist as he trailed his kisses along your jawline and neck. Tilting your head back to grant him better entry, he nestled himself in the curve of your neck, exploring with his mouth everywhere he could reach. With a swift movement from Yeosang, your top slipped down, and after unfastening your bra and tossing it aside, he gently guided you down onto the plush sofa.

"Have you had sex before?" You shook your head as you trailed off. "I never let my…that old man touched me."

"Do you want me to touch you?" He hovered you, his tone tingled with a hint of desire. "Please…" "Say it again, Y/N." His thumb brushed your bottom lips, then sliding down to hold your chin. "Please, I want you to touch me." Yeosang smiled as his ego grew at your answer. "Do you know my name?" You shook your head. "It's Yeosang. No one knows but only you."

"Because you are special." His words ignited a blush on your cheeks, evoking feelings of tenderness and timidity. You sensed a new emotion blossoming within your heart. Could it be the sensation of falling in love? Oh, the irony of it all! How amusing to think that mere sweet words could stir such emotions. Despite your rational mind attempting to awaken you, the yearning within your being refused to be silenced.

You watched him leave a trail of kisses from your chest to the tummy. "That old man doesn't deserve you." Yeosang sat up straight to tear apart your dress, making you gasp at shock. He cupped your clit and moved up and down, giving a little hard press to make you moan at sudden touch.

"Gosh…" "You're so warm, honey." This was your first time to feel such pleasure. All the heat rushed to your clit and something flowed out, wetting your underwear. Feeling his fingertip went deep into your cunt, you arched your back as he gently caressed it. "It was your first time and I don't want to hurt you. Gotta prepare you well."

Yeosang buried his face between your thighs, sucking your fold slightly. "Yeo…Yeosang!" You arched your back and moaned at pleasure. Even though there was a fabric, you could still feel his tongue every move. The wet muscle shifted from the bottom to the top as he ate you out like a starved man. Gripping his hair lightly, you pulled him closer to your core as you wanted more.

Yeosang pushed your thighs to either side as he got your signal. "Hold it." You obeyed his words and grabbed your calves, feeling a cold touch on your clit followed by a hot, wet sensation as he pulled the hem of your panties aside. His tongue was tapping your fold at a quick pace, making you let out a choppy moan.

But it was not enough. You wanted, no, needed something more exciting.

"Yeosang…" "Be patient, doll. I know what you want but you have to wait." Dropping a kiss on your clit, he sat up straight again and took off all his clothes. You felt worried as you gazed on his big, long cock, not knowing if it fit you. "You can take it, don't worry. Let's adjust it first, okay?"

He guided his member to rub against your clit. Everything was slow and gentle. Each time his hard tip brushed your fold, you couldn't help but pant heavily as the numbness took over you. "How does it feel?" "It…it feels good." Covering your mouth to suppress the moaning, Yeosang rubbed faster and harder that made you wetter.

"Want me to thrust in? Words, honey." Yeosang asked, leaning closer to make a fast friction.

"Yes,yes, please, my lord." You cried. "Oh fuck!!" He plugged in with a smooth motion after finding your entrance, reaching the sensitive spot.

"Ah~yeosang~oh my god~" The alluring moan caused a flush of embarrassment to spread across your cheeks, yet it also further inflamed Yeosang's desire. He folded you up as a mating press, penetrating even deeper. His powerful thrusting resembled an unstoppable force of nature. Every penetration delved as deeply as could be, forcefully meeting your tender flesh. The combination of pain and arousal left you gasping for breath, your exhilaration expressed through high-pitched cries.

You enveloped him in your embrace, drawing him near to feel the warmth of your body against his. With each thrusting, the friction of your bodies created a thrilling sensation, igniting a new level of excitement. His cock nestled so deep in your cunt as if breaking through your limit.

Your nails dug into his back as he battered your sweet spot again and again. The numbness from thrusting made you reel and moan messily. "Gonna fill your pussy with my seed, it must be good." He huffed, trying to catch his breath. "Keep squeezing my cock to make me cum?How thirsty you are." Well, Yeosang totally forgot he was supposed to be elegant, gentle but not rough and dirty. Maybe his possessiveness was stirred up when he saw how that fat pig forced you to bear his child. No, he couldn't accept this.

Yeosang turned you over harshly, making you bounce on the sofa and shout in surprise. Aiming at your hole again, he entered you in one go and fucked you at an inhuman speed. "Fuck!!Fuck!!Fuck!!" He propped himself with both hands on your lower back, hitting your ass with his ball, causing a loud skin slapping filled the temple.

"Oh my god, fuck it." Yeosang's thrusting went faster and faster as if there was no limitation. He needed to cum, to fill your pussy with his hot seed. "Cum for me, Y/N. Let's breed. Carry my child." He drew back his hips until only his tip inside your cunt and bumped into you. As a high-pitched moan left your tongue, you came before the hot liquid creamed your wall.

Yeosang took a moment to catch his breath before thrusting forward twice and then pulling away. "Are you alright?" he asked, turning you around and giving you a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I'm fine," you reassured him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders as he leaned in to kiss you. Despite feeling conflicted, Yeosang couldn't resist the urge to show you care. Normally, he would simply bid farewell to his prey and erase their memories. Hence, they would never know the truth and he could breed again and again.

This time, however, he discovered a desire to cherish your memories, to hold you close by his side. He believed he was never alone, surrounded by those who sought his attention, yet they were never truly his. You, unlike the rest, were forsaken, seen as a mere instrument, left in solitude. Two souls adrift in loneliness made for the most exquisite partnership.

"Stay with me, Y/N." He whispered against your lips, leaving a kiss on it. "But I'm not divorced yet and the engagement…" "It's fine. Everything is fine." He pecked at you again. "What you need to do is just stay here and let me deal with it."

���---

"Where is my wife?!" As Yeosang expected, that oily man came back to the temple with a team of villagers the following morning. He cast a disdainful glance at the door from the corner of his eyes, but his gaze softened as he tenderly caressed your face. "Sleep well, honey." After tucking you in with the quilt, he made his way to the door.

"Everyone can see clearly that he is the one who kidnapped my wife!He is no clergyman, but a mere charlatan! You see, I was injured by him yesterday while trying to save my beloved wife."

Yeosang rolled his eyes, regretting that he forgot to eliminate the man's memories. But never mind, everything would be solved soon and he could go back to cuddle with you.

"Are you done talking nonsense?" Yeosang cut him off with impatience.

"Give me back my wife."

"Who?"

"I said Y/N! I know you are here! Come out you bastard!!" Yeosang immediately saw red as he heard how this disgusting man called you. Waved his hand, and the unknown force knocked everyone away.

"It seems that you have no idea who I am, human." Yeosang gracefully lowered himself to seize the man's chin, compelling him to meet his gaze. His power surpassed that of mere mortals; indeed, he was mightier than any being on Earth. As bones cracked, the man's mouth filled with blood, yet he was unable to expel it.

"How dare you to be impolite in front of a God?" He exerted his power, causing the man's facial muscles to constrict. "If you dare, kill me and take her back. Can you?" He said provocatively, his eyes shining a red, gold light because of anger. And the others dared not to save the man and just ran away.

"See? They leave you." Yeosang twisted the man's neck, resulting in an unintended fracture. "Oops. Gosh." He waved his hand in revulsion, as though he had come into contact with something unsavory.

"Yeosang?" As your voice rang in his ears, he immediately looked up and rushed to your side. "Did I wake you up? Are you tired? Want to sleep more?" You shook your head and nestled yourself in his embrace. "Just…a little bit horny." Smirked, he picked you up and wrapped your legs around his waist.

"Then let me help you, my wife." Oh yes, he forgot, again, this was the aftereffect of having sex with him. Who called him the God of breeding?

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Understanding a Scientific Article

Abstract

A brief description of the key points you will find in the paper. This can include:

Objectives: What questions the researchers hope to answer.

Methods: What type of study the researchers used to conduct the study.

Results: What the researchers discovered.

Discussion/conclusion: What the results mean and/or the author’s interpretation of the results.

Look at the date of the study.

Was it conducted in the past year? 5 years? 15 years? As new information is learned, scientific standards and techniques change, and practices evolve.

New research may support results from older studies as well as lead to new methods to diagnose and treat conditions and diseases.

New research can, at times, also contradict other research, which may require additional research to explore and resolve these differences.

Research can separate the good results from the bad results. In this way, the scientific method is self-correcting, which is reassuring.

Looking at the date can provide insight into how the study fits into the larger evidence base on a particular topic.

Methods

Detailed information on the type of research or approach used, the study’s design, the participants, the measurements or outcomes recorded, and steps taken to avoid bias.

Types of Research

Basic research: Scientists ask questions about theories or concepts, and test hypotheses to improve scientific knowledge. It’s the first step in any research.

Translational research: Researchers build on the observations and results of basic research to develop and test new ways to prevent, detect, or treat conditions and diseases.

Clinical trials: Well-planned clinical trials are done with people and may vary in size and type. Clinical trials give the clearest information about whether a treatment or a lifestyle change is effective and safe in humans. However, because they are complicated, lengthy, involve many research participants and can be very expensive, they are usually done only after smaller preliminary studies have been completed.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses: When researchers review each other’s research to check for quality and look for converging evidence among studies, they may write systematic reviews and meta-analyses. These look at different studies on the same topic. When many studies come to the same conclusion, it helps us know that the results are reliable and valid.

While all research studies are important and contribute to our knowledge base, clinical trials are the types of studies you probably hear about most often in the news. They can have the most immediate impact on improving health and treating disease.

Results

What the study showed.

The data, summaries, and analyses of the study are presented in this section. Tables, graphs, and charts that show the results are often included.

To better understand the results, you can ask these questions:

How do these results compare with previous studies?

A single study rarely provides a final, definitive answer.

Repeating a study using the same methods with different volunteers and investigators helps us know that the results are reliable and valid.

What do “statistically significant” and “clinically significant” mean?

Statistically significant means the differences observed between the groups are real and not likely due to chance.

Clinically significant is a measure of the size of the effects observed in the study, which shows the impact of the treatment.

A study can find statistically significant differences between two treatment groups, but the differences may be so small that they are not clinically significant in terms of usefulness for patients.

Are there potential conflicts of interest?

Did the study sponsor or the investigators have any financial or reputational "stake" in the outcome?

Most medical journal articles include information about relevant financial relationships.

Discussion

What the results mean.

This is where you can often find out how the study relates to your own health.

This section includes the authors’ explanation of, and own opinions about, what the results mean.

Since the conclusions are the authors’ own, others may or may not completely agree with their explanation of the results.

References

Previously published articles the authors used to review what related research was done before, to help design the study and interpret its results.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[kookie-krumbss]

motion granted 03 : disorderly conduct

pairing : closer jungkook x corporate lawyer reader /// hard exterior jungkook x reader who brings jungkook out of his shell

genre : fluff & smut

synopsis : you began to develop a friendship with the snarky closer in the corner office. he holds the title of being 'arrogant', 'self-absorbed', and being 'too smart for his own good', but the more you hang out with him; the more you began to think those titles are half-wrong.

taglist status : open (comment to be added!)

01 : after (billable) hours | 02 : good faith negotiation | 03 : disorderly conduct | 04 : mutual agreement

song reccomendation : fxxk you by KARD

You walk into the office, nude heels clicking and clacking against the freshly mopped marble floors. Like herds, the droves of interns rush past you carrying financials, pro bono cases and fraudulent suits. There's a rush of bustling energy, one which seems unusual for an average Tuesday. Unless…the managing partner has come back from his business trip. Tensed with anxiety, your body buzzes as you quickly smooth out your skirt, fix your hair and pull out the recent financials from your bag. 

“Thought you didn’t have a boyfriend? Who are you fixing yourself up for?” a familiar grating sound resounds in the hallway. It’s Jungkook.

You gulp at his accusation. But you were in no mood to let him make fun of you today.

As you turn to face him, you notice something different about him. Immediately clocking it in, your eyes glint.

“Let’s forget about me and talk about you for a second.” You stare him down, analyzing his outfit and once your brain scans his look, at a robotic speed you begin your rant “you're wearing your brown shoes today, which means your feet hurt presumably because you took a long walk to clear your head after our late night meal. Negotiating my deal of taking you to out today?" Jungkook's eyes widen and his mouth opens to make a comeback. You lift your index finger to his face, and immediately he shuts up.

"You're also wearing a blue shirt today, which ironically means you're happy. You only wear blue when you win poker ... .or when you're working on a case with the managing partner…but since you weren't at poker last..you were with me.....that means you have a case with the managing partner!”

After your ramble he seems a bit shocked, but he contains his emotion ringing out an arrogant statement - “impressive, I'm usually not this impressed with fans of mine”. Slightly triggered, he begins to walking away from you.

Annoyed and puzzled, you chase after him, “But there’s only one case which Daniel is working on…and I’m a part of it!”

He snorts, turns his front to you on his heels, bending down to look you eye to eye, and shooting you a snarky reply - “Well I heard this morning that a real ass of a closer is joining the case. So, good luck dealing with him”.

You grunt in frustration, your heels click again the floor again. This time with anger. What a fucking asshole.

You have no choice now, you have to suck it up and work with him. What were you thinking being all nice with him yesterday and offering to help him relive his childhood? For all your concerned he doesn’t fucking deserve one.. based on the piece of shit person he is. You’ve been asking to be on this merger case for ages and when Daniel, the managing partner finally agreed…this was your chance to prove to him that you could be his number 2, be the robin to his batman and get your name on the goddamn wall. But with the best closer in the city working on this case, your fucked. 

Author Notes :

Well, well, well... I guess we've hit a roadblock.

Also thank you so much for 54 followers :)

Taglist : @minimoninini | @canarystwin

[sarkos]

The City regulator has warned UK banks over denying accounts for sex workers, after hearing that a lack of access to business banking could lead to “significant harm” for individuals. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that while banks said they were able to provide accounts for the adult entertainment industry in theory, they were often denying or shutting down business accounts in practice. Lenders often closed accounts on the basis of financial crime or reputational grounds, the watchdog said. That is despite sex work being legal in the UK apart from Northern Ireland, where it is illegal to pay for sex. A recent FCA roundtable meeting revealed serious concerns about a lack of access to financial services for individuals across the adult entertainment industry, which covers stripping, pornography, escort and dominatrix work and “full sexual service”, more commonly referred to as prostitution

Banks warned over denying sex workers business accounts | Financial Conduct Authority | The Guardian

[palpablestupor]

Vague lore-drop about my irl life, but I work in finance and all day every day I see mention of the Financial Conduct Authority, a regulatory body in the UK. They're also known as, you guessed it, the FCA.

Can't wait til the day I accidentally call them the Ferengi Commerce Authority to their faces.

[beardedmrbean]

A New Jersey teacher accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy reportedly exchanged 25,000 explicit texts with the victim, say prosecutors.

Former Freehold Intermediate School teacher Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 44, of Ocean County, Jackson, was charged Tuesday with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child via the manufacturing of child sexual abuse materials, two counts of second-degree endangering, official misconduct, and sexual assault, as well as third-degree endangering, according to a Monmouth County Prosecutors Office release.

Havemann-Niedrach, a special education teacher, is alleged to have abused a 15-year-old boy since the beginning of last year. She was formerly arrested in June 2024.

Upon handing his mobile phone over to authorities, police discovered over 25,000 lurid photo and video text exchanges between him and Havemann-Niedrach, according to Asbury Park Press.

Crucially, a video was found of the pair engaging in sexual conduct.

The alleged victim told investigators that the sexual relationship began in January 2024 with incidents taking place both at Havemann-Niedrach’s home and in hotels.

Authorities were reportedly able to corroborate the alleged events by tracking cell phone data and financial records, according to assistant prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki.

Alarm bells initially rang out when staff members at Freehold Intermediate noticed the 44-year-old woman bringing the teenage boy food and sitting with him daily for lunch in a classroom, shared Zanzuccki.

Zanzuccki, who heads the Special Victims Bureau, previously said Havemann-Niedrach was “obsessed” with the teen during a detention hearing in July 2024.

One teacher reportedly saw the suspect touching the alleged victims’ back, neck, and leg, and said the interaction between her colleague and the eighth-grader had been “flirtatious”, according to Zanzuccki as per Asbury Press.

A vice-principal raised the suspicions to the police at the start of June 2024.

Later, as authorities investigated the matter, the alleged victim’s mother disclosed to investigators that she held concerns about her son’s sudden inwardness.

The 15-year-old would reportedly sit inside Havemann-Niedrach’s car, according to his sister, and was frequently staying up late to go on his phone, shared the assistant prosecutor.

He also reportedly told a friend he had been dating a teacher, as per Asbury Press.

Yet upon being confronted about the matter, the boy denied all involvement and tried to deflect from the allegations by stating he had been dating Havemann-Niedrach’s daughter, shared authorities.

The police then witnessed the barrage of text exchanges on his device.

Days later, the victim’s mother alerted authorities that her son had confessed to being in a sexual relationship with the teacher, 30 years his senior.

The alleged victim was taken to hospital for evaluation following concerns over his mental health, shared Zanzuccki.

At her second court appearance in August 2024, the disgraced teacher was reportedly accompanied by her husband and elderly parents, all of whom sat in silence during the legal proceedings, reported local outlet Jersey Shore online.

Before facing the allegations, Havemann-Niedrach was an active member of the local community. In 2017 she was one of ten young female leaders awarded by the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore as “Phenomenal Women Under 40”, reported the outlet.

A spokesperson since relinquished any ties with the suspect since the allegations arose, writing: “We want to make it unequivocally clear that Ms. Havemann-Niedrach is no longer associated with Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.”

She was released from the Monmouth County Jail in July and placed on home detention, reported the Asbury Press.

A judge reportedly barred her from having any contact with any minors, except her own two young daughters. When the allegations broke, and Havemann-Niedrach was arrested, her husband Eric Niedrach launched a desperate plea for funds titled “Help provide normalcy” to keep the family afloat.

However, his plea for emergency funds has been unsuccessful and only $75 of his $4,000 target has been raised since it was launched on July 27 2024. Eric Niedrach also shared in an update in October that one of the girls had been placed in the care of her biological father and he was granted weekly visitations while court proceedings were ongoing.

His wife was also prohibited from accessing computers to remove any possibility of communication with the alleged victim.

An investigation by the Special Victims Bureau of the prosecutor’s office and the Freehold Police Department is ongoing.

Anyone with information about Havemann-Niedrach’s activities is still urged to contact MCPO Detective Dawn Correia at 800-533-7443.

[lexlawuk]

Short Guide: 'Hidden' or 'Embedded' Swaps

Financial Institutions in the UK promoted interest rate swaps and fixed-rate loans as protective measures against potential increases in interest rates for customers. However, more often than not, such financial institutions neglected to adequately inform and advise customers about the substantial contingent liability risks associated with these swaps. We have successfully obtained redress…

[kabr0ztrousers]

Kabr0z Writes Episode 10 - Debt, Part 1

Find the rest of the Kabr0z Writes anthology here!

CWs: coercion; coercion via finance; mention of financial difficulties; dubcon; power imbalance; implied age gap; depiction of fellatio

Author's Note: This challenge is getting tougher as time goes by, so I'll reiterate, I'm accepting basically any good ideas to go on the inspo moodboard. If you have any kinks you'd like me to explore or scenarios you'd like to see, send a DM or an ask!

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Nobody wants to be in this situation. It felt like every time things were starting to come together you'd get another letter saying you owed another thousand pounds here or there. You used to think that ten grand would fix all your problems, you'd pay everything off and live free at long last.

When the letter came through your door, it seemed too good to be true. A benefactor asking for 3 tasks in exchange for £25k - enough to clear your debt, and have an awful lot left over. 

You read the fine print carefully. You wouldn't be asked to do anything illegal, or take the fall for anything, nor would you be asked to pay anything back at all, ever. The downside? You wouldn't get this offer again, and if you refused any of the tasks given to you, or failed a task, you wouldn't get anything at all. 

Why this letter came through your door, or how they knew how much you needed this money, you didn't know. There was an address on the other side of the letter, an office in the finance district of the city, and an instruction to come alone.

You weren't stupid. You told your friends you were going to a job interview, and gave the address. You made sure that if anything happened then people would know you're missing within a couple of hours, tops. All that preparation didn't stop the butterflies in your stomach as you got to the skyscraper and texted your group chat.

You swallowed your worry, and walked into the lobby, people in suits and dresses walking here and there. The receptionist gave you directions to the lifts and where you'd need to go when you got to your floor. Simple enough. 

It was an unassuming office, you knocked.

"Come in" the voice was like caramel, smooth and unhurried.

You entered, grasping the letter.

The office was larger than you expected, and you were expecting a lot, considering. A dark wooden desk dominated the floor, huge bookshelves on either wall, and the smell of antique paper in the air.

"Ah, good afternoon!" That voice again, you turned to see a middle-aged wolfman in a brown suit, his fur spilling over the collar and half-moon glasses on his muzzle "I am professor Blaidd, with the institute for debt studies. I'm conducting research on the effects of debt on inhibition. I have some consent forms for you, presuming that's why you're here?"

He took the letter off you, skimmed it, and handed you back a sheaf of papers. "Just give that a look over then give it a sign"

Most of the form was normal enough: assurances you'd be anonymous, data protection legislation, reminders that you are allowed to withdraw at any time. You skimmed it, more to make sure that when you got your pay it'd really be as string-free as advertised. By the time you finished and signed, Blaidd was already sat behind his desk, reading through documents and typing on his computer.

You handed the papers back to Blaidd. He filed them away in his desk draw and grinned at you, a big, toothy grin.

Your blood ran cold, some genetic memory of wolves making that kind of face to humans surfacing and filling you with dread. 

"Good, I assume you've got a few hours, yes? At least until this afternoon?" 

You nodded

"Excellent!" He beamed at you "In that case we can start the first task." His grin dropped "Get under the desk"

You stared at him

"Quickly now! Under the desk, on your knees"

You came around the desk and almost screamed. He wasn't wearing pants

"One of two things is about to happen: You're getting under this desk, or you're getting nothing"

You paused. Steeled yourself. Crawled under the desk.

"Good girl." Blaidd stroked your hair "Now, I've got some work to do. We'll go until about 12, then we can get some lunch. My treat"

You nodded, not sure if lunch was part of the task. 

Blaidd started work, you stayed under the desk, half-crouching, his paws occasionally reaching out and stroking you. It was a few minutes before you noticed his sheath moving, the tip of his cock poking out, vibrant red against the salt-and-pepper fur. The more you stared at it, the more it pushed out, revealing more and more as it began to leak "It's not going to suck itself"

You almost sniggered at that line, Blaidd clearly wasn't used to this. You shrugged, 25 grand for a few blowjobs? You've certainly done more for less

You approached his swelling cock, and teased the knot free from his sheath, he sighed with release and his balls tightened a little as you held his shaft in your hand. He was remarkably well-endowed, you could fit both hands on his cock and still have space left over "How do you want it?" You asked, looking up and meeting his gaze

"Nice and slow, there's no rush"

You took the head of his cock in your mouth, tasting the salty-sweet fluid oozing out of it. Blaidd grunted as you gently licked and suckled the tip, working his length with one hand and his balls with another.

You kept on going, the fluid coming faster as Blaidd's grunts got more and more desperate. He put his hand on the back of your head and pushed you down, filling your mouth with his cock and languidly fucking your face. Your hand strayed under your waistband, rubbing small circles on your clit as you relished the cock pushing into your mouth. 

Blaidd pushed you further down. You gagged as his knot reached your lips. "It's nearly twelve, how about we finish up here"

He was fucking you harder now, pushing down into your throat as you increased the pace. You could feel a hot flush coming over you as you approached your orgasm. You could tell he was close too, his pre was getting thicker as he clutched your hair tighter. You came almost at the same time. The taste of his cum filling your throat as he forced himself deep into you pushing you over the edge. You moaned around his cock, swallowing everything he pumped into your mouth. He softened and pulled out, giving your hair one last stroke as he did "That was great. You did great." He got up and started to dress, offering you a glass of whiskey "You don't have to if you don't want, and lunch isn't part of the task either, but I'd like to go over today's test with you"

You accepted the drink

That money was as good as yours 

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Post script: I was intending for this to be much meaner than it turned out, but Professor Blaidd wound up being a bit more doddering than devious in my head, so I leave the question up to you, my viewing public:

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Trump Halts Enforcement of Foreign Bribery Law

Troy Matthews at MeidasTouch News:

Donald Trump issued an executive order Monday suspending enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977. The anti-bribery law, a scion of anti-corruption protection worldwide, has been responsible for some of the biggest corporate criminal cases investigated by the Justice Department for 50 years. The law, signed by President Carter, prevented corporations from bribing foreign officials in order to advance their own financial interests in other countries. Trump claims the law harms American businesses and makes them less competitive, stating that bribing foreign governments is a routine part of doing business.  "Overexpansive and unpredictable FCPA enforcement against American citizens and businesses — by our own Government — for routine business practices in other nations not only wastes limited prosecutorial resources that could be dedicated to preserving American freedoms, but actively harms American economic competitiveness and, therefore, national security," Trump's executive order reads. "It is therefore the policy of my Administration to preserve the Presidential authority to conduct foreign affairs and advance American economic and national security by eliminating excessive barriers to American commerce abroad."  Trump's order "diminishes – and could pave the way for completely eliminating – the crown jewel in the US’s fight against global corruption," Gary Kalman, executive director of Transparency International US, said in a statement.

Donald Trump, America’s most corrupt felon, suspends enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

See Also:

Daily Kos: Trump crime wave: Feds told to stop prosecuting bribery crimes

[transmutationisms]

do you feel like SSRIs are mostly pseudoscience? I'm not sure if I should be open to trying them or avoid them at all costs since I'm not sure if they even work or if they will mess me up permanently

a preliminary note that i don't find the category 'pseudoscience' to be useful & would classify SSRI research more as 'methodologically shoddy science' or 'ideologically slanted' or 'part of a centuries-long effort on the part of psychiatrists to secure themselves professional prestige by claiming neurobiological etiologies where none are shown to exist' &c &c. imo the notion of 'pseudoscience' is itself pretty positivistic, ahistorical, and ideologically noxious (particularly apparent in any analysis of epistemological imperialism).

that aside: you raise two major issues with SSRIs, namely whether they work and whether they will cause you harm.

efficacy of SSRIs is contested. a 2010 meta-analysis found that in patients with mild or moderate depressive symptoms, the efficacy of SSRIs "may be minimal or nonexistent", whilst "for patients with very severe depression, the benefit of medications over placebo is substantial". a 2008 meta-analysis found a similar distinction between mildly vs severely depressed patients, but noted that even in the latter population, drug–placebo differences were "relatively small" and argued that the differences between drug and placebo in severely depressed patients "seems to result from a poorer response to placebo amongst more depressed patients" rather than from a greater efficacy of SSRIs. a 2012 meta-analysis found some SSRIs consistently effective over placebo treatments, but several authors disclosed major relationships with pharmaceutical companies. a 2017 meta-analysis concluded that "SSRIs might have statistically significant effects on depressive symptoms, but all trials were at high risk of bias and the clinical significance seems questionable" (emphasis added) and that "potential small beneficial effects seem to be outweighed by harmful effects".

when evaluating any of this evidence, it is crucial to keep in mind that studies on antidepressant trials are selectively published—that is, they are less likely to be published if they show negative results!

A total of 37 studies viewed by the FDA as having positive results were published; 1 study viewed as positive was not published. Studies viewed by the FDA as having negative or questionable results were, with 3 exceptions, either not published (22 studies) or published in a way that, in our opinion, conveyed a positive outcome (11 studies). According to the published literature, it appeared that 94% of the trials conducted were positive. By contrast, the FDA analysis showed that 51% were positive.

meta-analyses are not immune to this issue, either. in addition to the problem that a meta-analysis of a bunch of bad studies cannot magically 'cancel out' the effects of poor study design, the authors of meta-analyses can and do also have financial interests and ties to pharmaceutical companies, and this affects their results just as it does the results of the studies they are studying. according to a 2016 analysis of antidepressant meta-analyses,

Fifty-four meta-analyses (29%) had authors who were employees of the assessed drug manufacturer, and 147 (79%) had some industry link (sponsorship or authors who were industry employees and/or had conflicts of interest). Only 58 meta-analyses (31%) had negative statements in the concluding statement of the abstract. Meta-analyses including an author who were employees of the manufacturer of the assessed drug were 22-fold less likely to have negative statements about the drug than other meta-analyses [1/54 (2%) vs. 57/131 (44%); P < 0.001]. [...] There is a massive production of meta-analyses of antidepressants for depression authored by or linked to the industry, and they almost never report any caveats about antidepressants in their abstracts. Our findings add a note of caution for meta-analyses with ties to the manufacturers of the assessed products.

so, do SSRIs work? they are certainly psychoactive substances, which is to say, they do something. whether that something reduces depressive symptoms is simply not known at this point, though it is always worth keeping in mind that the 'chemical imbalance' narrative of SSRIs (the idea that they work by 'curing' a 'serotonin deficiency' in the brain) has always been a profitable myth. look, any medical treatment throughout history has been vouched for by SOME patients who report that it helped them—no matter how wacky it sounds or how little evidence there was to support it. this can be for a lot of reasons: placebo effect, the remedy accidentally treating a different problem than it was intended for, the symptoms coincidentally resolving on their own. sometimes the human body is just weird and unpredictable. sometimes remedies work. i'm sorry i can't give you a more definitive answer about whether SSRIs would help you.

as to potential risks: these are significant. SSRIs can precipitate suicidal ideation, a risk that has been consistently downplayed by pharmaceutical companies and studies. SSRIs are also known to contribute to sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction, again a risk that is minimised and downplayed in much of the literature and in physician communication with patients. further (known) side effects range through emotional blunting, glaucoma, QT interval prolongation, abnormal bleeding & interaction with anti-coagulents, platelet dysfunction, decreases in bone mineral density leading to increased risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis, jaw clenching / TMJ pain, risk of serotonin syndrome when used in conjunction with other serotonergic substances, dizziness, insomnia, headaches, the list goes on.

i don't mean to sound alarmist; all drugs have side effects, some of the ones above occur rarely, and you may very well decide the risk is acceptable to you to take on. i would, though, always encourage you to do thorough research into potential side effects before starting any drug, including an SSRI. more on SSRI side effects in david healy's books 'pharmageddon', 'let them eat prozac', 'the antidepressant era', and 'the creation of psychopharmacology'; 'pillaged' by ronald w maris; and 'the myth of the chemical cure' by joanna moncrieff.

in addition to the above, SSRIs are known to come with a risk of 'discontinuation syndrome'—that is, chemical withdrawal when stopping the drug. this, too, is often downplayed by physicians; many still deny that it can even happen. some patients don't experience it at all, though i can tell you purely anecdotally that SSRI withdrawal was so miserable for me i simply gave up on quitting for over a year, despite the fact that at that point i was already thoroughly experienced with chemical withdrawals from other, 'harder' drugs. again, i am not telling you not to go on SSRIs if you decide these risks are worth it to you! i simply think this is a decision that should always be made with full knowledge (indeed, this is a core, though routinely violated, principle of medical 'informed consent').

ultimately this is not a decision anyone should make for you; it's your body and mind that are at stake here. as always i think that anyone considering any kind of medical treatment should have full knowledge about it and should be making all decisions freely and autonomously. i am genuinely not pushing any agenda 'for' or 'against' SSRIs, only against prescription of them that is done carelessly, coercively, or without fully informing patients of what risks they're taking on and what benefits they can hope to see.

[aadamkempfitness]

HeroFX Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Alleged Forex Scam

In the vast and often volatile world of forex trading, the presence of unscrupulous brokers is a constant threat to both novice and seasoned traders. HeroFX, a broker that has recently come under scrutiny, is the subject of many discussions and concerns. This review delves into the various aspects of HeroFX to determine whether it is a legitimate broker or a potential scam.

Background and Overview

HeroFX claims to offer a comprehensive trading platform with a wide range of assets, including forex, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Promising competitive spreads, high leverage, and a user-friendly interface, HeroFX aims to attract traders looking for a reliable trading experience.

Regulation and Licensing

One of the primary red flags for any forex broker is the lack of proper regulation and licensing. HeroFX is reportedly not registered with any reputable financial regulatory authority. This absence of regulation means that traders are not protected by any governing body, increasing the risk of fraudulent activities and loss of funds.

Trading Platform and Tools

HeroFX offers its own proprietary trading platform, which is marketed as intuitive and feature-rich. While the platform appears to be functional, there have been numerous complaints about its reliability and execution speed. Some users have reported significant delays in order execution, leading to potential losses.

The broker also provides various tools and resources for traders, such as educational materials, market analysis, and trading signals. However, the quality and accuracy of these resources are questionable, with many users alleging that the information provided is often outdated or misleading.

Customer Support

Effective customer support is crucial for any forex broker, especially when dealing with complex financial transactions. HeroFX has received mixed reviews in this area. While some traders have reported satisfactory interactions with the support team, many others have experienced long wait times, unhelpful responses, and unresolved issues. This inconsistency in customer service further undermines the broker's credibility.

Withdrawal and Deposit Issues

One of the most significant concerns surrounding HeroFX is the difficulty many traders face when trying to withdraw their funds. Numerous complaints highlight delayed withdrawals, with some users claiming they never received their money. This pattern of behavior is often indicative of a scam broker, as legitimate brokers prioritize transparent and efficient fund transfers.

Additionally, the deposit process has also raised suspicions. HeroFX allegedly encourages large initial deposits and offers enticing bonuses that come with restrictive terms and conditions, making it challenging for traders to access their funds.

User Reviews and Complaints

A cursory glance at various online forums and review sites reveals a plethora of negative feedback from traders who have used HeroFX. Common grievances include:

Unresponsive or hostile customer service.

Manipulated trading conditions leading to unexpected losses.

Inability to withdraw funds.

Suspiciously positive reviews that appear fabricated.

These recurring themes paint a concerning picture of HeroFX and suggest a pattern of unethical practices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while HeroFX presents itself as a reputable forex broker with attractive features, the overwhelming evidence points to the contrary. The lack of regulation, persistent withdrawal issues, and numerous negative user reviews all indicate that HeroFX may not be a trustworthy broker. Traders are advised to exercise extreme caution and conduct thorough research before engaging with this broker. In the unpredictable world of forex trading, it is always better to err on the side of caution and choose a broker with a proven track record of reliability and transparency.

For more check out this article: Herofx-review

[justforbooks]

How the world’s richest man laid waste to the US government

Elon Musk has achieved astonishing power in Trump’s administration – and spent the weekend wielding it

Since declaring his support for Donald Trump in July of last year and subsequently spending more than $250m on his re-election effort, Elon Musk has rapidly accumulated political influence and positioned himself at the heart of the new administration. Now as prominent as the president himself, Musk has begun to make use of that power, making decisions that could affect the health of millions of people, gaining access to highly sensitive personal data, and attacking anyone who opposes him. Musk, the world’s richest man and an unelected official, has achieved an astonishing level of power over the federal government.

Over the weekend, workers with Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) clashed with civil servants over demands for unfettered access to the computer systems of major US government agencies in a breakneck series of confrontations. When the dust settled, several top officials who opposed the takeover had been pushed out, and Musk’s allies had gained control.

Musk, with the backing of Trump, is now working to shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAid) – the world’s largest single supplier of humanitarian aid. He bragged on Sunday about “feeding USAid into the wood chipper”. He has also targeted several other agencies in an aggressive attempt to purge and remake the federal government along ideological lines, while avoiding congressional or judicial oversight.

Many of Musk’s actions have taken place without forewarning or transparency, sowing chaos and confusion among the thousands of people employed at the agencies like USAid that he has gone after. Humanitarian organizations that rely on US funding have halted operations and laid off staff, while government workers have been locked out of their offices. He is operating Doge as an unofficial government department with no congressionally approved mandate while he technically holds the position of “special government employee”, which allows him to sidestep financial disclosures and a public vetting process.

Musk has gleefully posted on X, the social media platform that he owns, throughout the chaos. He has accused USAid of corruption, and of being a “criminal organization” and “radical-left political psy op”, without any evidence. Why? He tweeted an explanation of simply doing Trump’s bidding: “All @DOGE did was check to see which federal organizations were violating the @POTUS executive orders the most. Turned out to be USAID, so that became our focus.” He said it was “time for it to die”.

Musk also suggested that opposition to his team will be punished, reposting a letter sent to him from the Trump-appointed federal prosecutor for Washington DC, who vowed to “pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people”.

The New York Democratic senator Chuck Schumer wrote on Tuesday morning: “An unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government. DOGE is not a real government agency. DOGE has no authority to shut programs down or to ignore federal law.” Musk responded that the reaction was “hysterical”.

As other Democrats and government oversight groups began to respond to the breakneck series of actions from Musk’s team, on Tuesday the Tesla and SpaceX CEO continued to plow ahead with his cuts and told his supporters: “We’re never going to get another chance like this.”

Musk takes over federal agencies

Immediately following Trump’s inauguration on 20 January, the president issued an executive order establishing Musk’s “department of government efficiency”. Rather than create an entirely new entity, the order renamed the US Digital Service, which was previously tasked with updating government IT systems, and brought the rechristened bureau into the executive office of the president.

Government accountability groups instantly saw red flags with its creation, filing four separate lawsuits that alleged Doge violated federal transparency laws while warning that the initiative was “slated to dictate federal policy in ways that will affect millions of Americans”.

The concerns from watchdog organizations have borne out. Musk and employees of Doge have gained access to sensitive government systems in the treasury department and USAid in recent days, as well as exerted control over the office of personnel management (OPM) and the General Services Administration, which handles federal real estate, with the goal of ending office leases. Two federal workers additionally sued on Tuesday for a temporary restraining order against Doge for allegedly operating an illegal server in OPM.

Attempts at blocking Musk’s team have resulted in several top agency officials being ousted. On Friday, the treasury department’s acting secretary, David Lebryk, resigned after refusing to grant Musk’s team access to highly secure systems that control about $6tn in annual payments to millions of Americans. The next day, two senior security officials at USAid attempted to stop Doge workers from gaining physical access to restricted areas at the agency – resulting in a standoff in which a deputy for Musk threatened to call the US marshals. Both security officials have subsequently been put on administrative leave, and on Sunday night staff at USAid received emails telling them to not come into work the next day.

The events unfolded swiftly and took place mostly outside of working hours, creating uncertainty over the weekend as to who was in charge and what authority the Doge team possessed. Many of the Doge team tasked with carrying out the overhauls of government agencies appear to have little to no experience in government and are extremely young. One of the engineers is as young as 19, Wired reported, while a 25-year-old who previously worked at two of Musk’s companies gained access to treasury department payment systems.

The Trump administration has maintained that all Musk’s actions have been legal and did not violate security protocols, although the details of what Doge employees are doing with access to government systems is still unclear. “No classified material was accessed without proper security clearances,” Katie Miller, a Doge spokesperson and wife of the far-right Trump administration official Stephen Miller, wrote on X.

Musk has claimed that his actions are cutting unnecessary costs and will allow for more efficient government, but he has also suggested his taskforce is ideologically opposed to liberal initiatives such as refugee services and the promotion of trans rights. He has routinely engaged with far-right and conspiracy theory-promoting accounts on X while touting his dismantling of USAid, an agency that has become a target in recent years among hardline conservatives. The far-right Heritage Foundation thinktank specifically called for reforming USAid in its controversial Project 2025 report, accusing it of spreading “climate extremism” and “gender radicalism”.

Musk acting with Trump’s backing

Trump has supported Musk’s aggressive approach to dismantling government agencies, confirming plans on Monday to shut down USAid and praising Musk as a “big cost cutter”. As backlash swelled and Democrats issued calls for action against Musk on Monday, Trump attempted to assuage some of the concerns and reassert that he was in charge.

“Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “We’ll give him approval where appropriate and where not appropriate we won’t.”

But there have been no public signs thus far that Trump has reined in Musk’s ambitions or prevented him from engaging in potential conflicts – he has many, as a number of his companies do extensive work with government agencies he now holds sway over. Several of Trump’s recent policy announcements also appeared to align with Musk’s worldview and personal grievances.

Trump declared on Monday that he would shut down all aid to South Africa, Musk’s country of birth, over what he alleged was a “massive human rights violation” in the form of a new land rights law. Musk has repeatedly accused the South African government of racism against white people and falsely claimed that the government is allowing a “genocide” against white farmers.

Another executive order from Trump on 31 January vowed to “unleash prosperity through deregulation” and declared that whenever a government agency issues a new regulation it must first remove 10 existing regulations. The order has echoed Musk’s longstanding calls for widespread deregulation of the federal government, which Musk reiterated in a livestream on Monday night on X, when he stated “regulations, basically, should be default gone”. He described the current administration as “our best shot” at this deregulation and “the best hand of cards we’re ever going to have”.

Musk has made sweeping and aggressive declarations about what else must change about the US government, indicating where he might strike next. He stated on Monday: “Activist judges must be removed from the bench or there is no justice,” and praised the representative Marjorie Taylor Greene for issuing calls for NPR and PBS to testify at a hearing about their operations. Greene, who is head of a “delivering on government efficiency” group within the House oversight committee that aims to support Musk’s efforts, accused the public media organizations of ideological bias – citing a PBS report that Musk “gave what appeared to be a fascist salute” during a speech last month.

It is uncertain what mechanisms may prevent further cuts by Musk. His immense influence coupled with his erratic behavior have made it difficult to quickly ascertain where the next axe may fall, such as on Monday when Musk claimed that a government agency that worked on a free IRS tax filing system was “deleted” while giving no further information. The agency’s program was still online as of Tuesday.

What is clear from Musk’s public statements is the intent to barrel ahead with accumulating more power over government agencies, while framing his crusade as an existential fight for the future of the country.

“It’s now or never,” the billionaire tweeted on Tuesday. “Your support is crucial to the success of the revolution of the people.”

Incredible things are happening already❗ 👀 🤔

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?