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April 8, 2025

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DP Trading Room: Key Support Levels for the SPY

Stock 3 Mins Read

The market is in a tailspin as tariffs add volatility to the market. Carl and Erin believe the SPY is in a bear market given key indexes like the Nasdaq are already in bear markets. It’s time to consider where the key support levels are.

Carl addressed his thoughts of where key support lies on the SPY during our question section of the trading room. You’ll also get his insight on current market conditions with his review of the market indicators in general as well as a look at Yields, Bonds, Crude Oil, Bitcoin among others.

During the review he pointed out how the members of our 26 indexes, sectors and groups are faring from their recent highs. Many are in bear markets.

After his market analysis, Carl walked us through the Magnificent Seven which are currently all in bear markets with declines of more than 20% or more. He analyzed both the daily and the weekly charts to give us perspective and support levels.

Erin took the controls and gave us her view of sector rotation using the Price Momentum Oscillator (PMO) sort to bring the strong sectors to the top and the weaker sectors on the bottom. The results were not surprising.

Finally, the pair finished with a look at viewer symbol requests.

01:03 DP Signal Tables

05:05 Market Overview

18:55 Magnificent Seven

25:42 Questions (including Key Support Levels)

34:10 Sector Rotation

42:26 Symbol Requests

The DP Alert: Your First Stop to a Great Trade!

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(c) Copyright 2025 DecisionPoint.com

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

DecisionPoint is not a registered investment advisor. Investment and trading decisions are solely your responsibility. DecisionPoint newsletters, blogs or website materials should NOT be interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security or to take any specific action.

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Investing

PH Govt confirms MMCI’s Financial Capability, MPSA Now Permanent

Investing 3 Mins Read

Celsius Resources Limited (“Celsius” or “CLA”) (ASX, AIM: CLA) is pleased to announce that its Philippine affiliate, Makilala Mining Company, Inc. (“MMCI” or the “Company”), has received formal confirmation from the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (“DENR”) that it has satisfied the final financial compliance requirement under its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement for the Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold Project (“MCB” or the “Project”)1.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR has formally accepted the binding term sheet which outlines the key terms of a bridge loan facility between Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) and Makilala Mining Company, Inc. (MMCI) as sufficient proof of financial capability.
  • This confirmation marks MMCI’s full compliance with the remaining provisional requirements of the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) for the MCB Copper-Gold Project, locking the MPSA for a full 25 years, renewable for another 25.

This follows the DENR’s acceptance of the binding term sheet which outlines the key terms of a bridge loan facility of up to USD76.4 million, executed between MMCI and Maharlika Investment Corporation (“MIC”), a government-owned and controlled corporation, in February 20252 (“Binding Term Sheet”). The Binding Term Sheet was evaluated and endorsed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (“MGB”) which noted that:

  • The Binding Term Sheet provides a structured and credible financial mechanism for MMCI’s mining operations; and
  • The involvement of MIC significantly enhances MMCI’s financial standing and credibility, offering strong assurance of continued support.

MMCI is expected to submit all related and forthcoming financial documents to the DENR and MGB and to update its Three-Year Development/Utilisation Work Program accordingly, in line with the terms of the MPSA and DENR Administrative Order No. 2010-213.

Celsius Executive Chairman Atty. Julito R. Sarmiento, said:

“We are extremely pleased to have achieved this important regulatory milestone for the MCB Project. The acceptance of the Binding Term Sheet by the DENR and the MGB is not only a testament to MMCI’s commitment to responsible and well-funded development, but also reflects the strong support and credibility provided by our partnership with Maharlika Investment Corporation.

On behalf of CLA and MMCI’s management and staff, again, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to MIC for their confidence and catalytic funding support to the Project, and to the DENR and MGB for their professionalism and guidance throughout the compliance process.

We remain committed to ensuring that the MCB project delivers lasting and sustainable economic benefits to our host communities, particularly in Balatoc, the Municipality of Pasil, and the Province of Kalinga, as well as meaningful contributions to national development, all while upholding environmental stewardship and shared prosperity.

Now that we have fulfilled our compliance with the conditions of the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement, we are in a strong position to proceed with mine development and construction. We remain steadfast on our commitment to sustainable development by balancing resource efficiency with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.”

MIC and MMCI will now proceed with signing the Omnibus Loan and Security Agreements (“Agreements”) reflecting the terms of the Binding Term Sheet signed with MIC in February 2025.

Click here for the full ASX Release

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Investing

Christopher Aaron: Key Ratio Now in Gold’s Favor, Stocks to Grind Lower

Investing 1 Min Read

Christopher Aaron, founder of iGoldAdvisor and Elite Private Placements, discusses a key signal from the Dow-to-gold ratio, saying a multi-decade trend in favor of stocks has been broken.

This is only the fourth time this situation has played out in the last 125 years.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Investing

Stardust Power Inc. Appoints Carlos Urquiaga as Senior Advisor

Investing 5 Mins Read

Stardust Power Inc. (NASDAQ: SDST) (‘Stardust Power’ or the ‘Company’), an American developer of battery-grade lithium products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Carlos Urquiaga as Senior Advisor, effective immediately. Mr. Urquiaga will report directly to the Founder and CEO, Roshan Pujari.

Mr. Urquiaga is a highly accomplished financier with over 30 years of experience in the metals and mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors, specializing in capital raising, structuring, and financial advisory services. His expertise spans complex financing transactions, including those in the electric vehicle battery materials supply chain. Throughout his career, he has successfully delivered more than $40 billion in financing and advisory transactions, playing a key role in some of the most significant deals in the industry.

Mr. Urquiaga’s distinguished career includes senior leadership roles at BNP Paribas, Citi and Appian Capital, where he was instrumental in executing high-value transactions, including financing for major projects such as Teck’s Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 project funding and Freeport’s Cerro Verde expansion. His work has earned numerous accolades, including ‘Deal of the Year’ awards for his role in financing and strategic advisory efforts.

As Senior Advisor at Stardust Power, Mr. Urquiaga will focus on guiding the Company through its critical next stages, particularly leading efforts to achieve Final Investment Decision (FID) and supporting the Company’s capital raising activities, both through debt and equity financing. He will also assist in advancing the Company’s strategic initiatives to scale its lithium production and capitalize on the increasing demand for battery-grade materials.

‘We are thrilled to welcome Carlos to Stardust Power,’ said Roshan Pujari, Founder and CEO of Stardust Power. ‘His expertise in structuring complex financing transactions and his deep understanding of the metals and mining sector, particularly in the EV battery supply chain, will be invaluable as we move forward. Carlos will play a crucial role in helping us in reaching FID, secure the necessary capital for growth, and position Stardust Power as a leader in the battery-grade lithium space. His experience in critical minerals and capital markets will be a tremendous asset as we continue to scale and execute our strategic objectives.’

‘The demand for battery-grade lithium is rapidly increasing, and Stardust Power is well-positioned to be a key player in this space. I look forward to working with Roshan and the wider team at Stardust Power to support the Company’s efforts in securing the capital and strategic partnerships necessary to drive its growth and deliver long-term value to shareholders,’ said Carlos Urquiaga.

About Stardust Power Inc.

Stardust Power is a developer of battery-grade lithium products designed to bolster America’s energy leadership by building resilient supply chains. Stardust Power is developing a strategically central lithium refinery in Muskogee, Oklahoma with the anticipated capacity of producing up to 50,000 metric tons per annum of battery-grade lithium. The Company is committed to sustainability at each point in the process. Stardust Power trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ‘SDST.’

For more information, visit www.stardust-power.com

Stardust Power Contacts

For Investors:

Johanna Gonzalez

investor.relations@stardust-power.com

For Media:

Michael Thompson

media@stardust-power.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute ‘forward-looking statements.’ Such forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as ‘believe,’ ‘may,’ ‘will,’ ‘estimate,’ ‘continue,’ ‘anticipate,’ ‘intend,’ ‘expect,’ ‘should,’ ‘would,’ ‘plan,’ ‘predict,’ ‘forecasted,’ ‘projected,’ ‘potential,’ ‘seem,’ ‘future,’ ‘outlook,’ and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or otherwise indicate statements that are not of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: the ability of Stardust Power to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain key relationships and retain its management and key employees; risks related to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Stardust Power; risks related to the price of Stardust Power’s securities, including volatility resulting from changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Stardust Power plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Stardust Power’s business and changes in the combined capital structure; and risks related to the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and identify and realize additional opportunities. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

Stockholders and prospective investors should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in documents filed by Stardust Power from time to time with the SEC.

Stockholders and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which only speak as of the date made, are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks, assumptions and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Stardust Power. Stardust Power expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations of Stardust Power with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/47f9eb4c-015e-4c10-bc65-e5d797175745

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Investing

Cizzle Brands Announces that All 134 Metro Locations in Ontario Will be Offering CWENCH Hydration Ready-to-Drink Beverages

Investing 6 Mins Read

The availability of CWENCH Hydration in its ready-to-drink format at all 134 Metro locations in Ontario follows only three months after the initial launch of CWENCH’s Hydration Mix with Metro in its Ontario stores.

Cizzle Brands Corporation (Cboe Canada: CZZL) (OTCQB: CZZLF) (Frankfurt: 8YF) ( the ‘Company’ or ‘Cizzle Brands’) , is pleased to announce that the ready-to-drink (‘RTD’) version of the four original flavours of CWENCH Hydration (Rainbow Swirl, Blue Raspberry, Cherry Lime, and Berry Crush) are now being carried in all 134 Metro supermarket locations in Ontario. This placement fortifies the presence of CWENCH Hydration in key Southern Ontario markets including the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, and London, as well as throughout Northern Ontario markets including Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250408602047/en/

The ready-to-drink format of CWENCH Hydration is now offered for sale in all 134 Metro locations in Ontario

CWENCH Hydration is the flagship offering of Cizzle Brands and was first launched in the North American market in late May of 2024. It has since been picked up by over 1,800 points of distribution around the world with double-digit growth across its top North American accounts as of March 2025, and was the primary driving force behind Cizzle Brands’ $5.64 million in net sales achieved during the first half of its 2025 fiscal year (as announced in the Company’s March 17, 2025 earnings press release).

METRO Inc. is a food and pharmacy leader in Quebec and Ontario, operating a network of 995 food stores (as of December 21, 2024) under several banners including Metro , Metro Plus , Super C , Food Basics , Adonis , and Première Moisson , and 640 pharmacies primarily under the Jean Coutu , Brunet , Metro Pharmacy , and Food Basics Pharmacy banners.

The launch of CWENCH Hydration in its RTD format in all Metro Ontario stores follows on from the launch of its Hydration Mix in 47 Metro Ontario stores in January as well as its launch of both RTD and Hydration Mix formats at over 100 stores in Quebec in March.

More information about METRO Inc. and its retail banners can be found on the METRO corporate website: https://corpo.metro.ca/en/home.html

Cizzle Brands’ Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer John Celenza commented, ‘Our business relationship with METRO Inc. is continuing to grow and drive value, and we are happy to share that the success of CWENCH Hydration in Ontario and Quebec has led to broader distribution across Metro banners in both provinces. More and more Canadians of all ages are seeking and asking for CWENCH by name, which means that having the product available across chains such as Metro is an important aspect of gaining market share in the sports drink category. Cizzle Brands is proud to be a supplier to METRO Inc., and we look forward to continuing to work together as part of the growth journey for CWENCH Hydration.’

Charles Buhagiar, Sr. Category Manager of OTC, Health and Wellness for METRO Inc. commented, ‘The Hydration Mix SKUs of CWENCH Hydration are now available in Metro Ontario grocery and pharmacy stores since being added to planograms at the beginning of this year. We are therefore pleased to continue stocking CWENCH Hydration Mix in addition to the brand’s ready-to-drink offerings in our Ontario stores, just in time for the spring and summer seasons when it is all the more important to have a healthy hydration option as well as supporting Canadian brands.’

About Cizzle Brands Corporation

Cizzle Brands Corporation is a sports nutrition company that is elevating the game in health and wellness. Through extensive collaboration and testing with leading athletes and trainers across several elite sports, Cizzle Brands has launched two leading product lines in the sports nutrition category: (i) CWENCH Hydration, a better-for-you sports drink that is now carried in over 1,800 stores in Canada, the United States, and Europe; and (ii) Spoken Nutrition, a premium brand of athlete-grade nutraceuticals that carry the prestigious NSF Certified for Sport® qualification. All Cizzle Brands products are designed to help people achieve their best in both competitive sports and in living a healthy, vibrant, active lifestyle.

For more information about Cizzle Brands, please visit: https://www.cizzlebrands.com/

For more information about CWENCH Hydration, please visit: https://www.cwenchhydration.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

Cizzle Brands Corporation

‘John Celenza’

John Celenza, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains ‘forward-looking information’ which may include, but is not limited to, information with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as, but not limited to: new products of the Company and potential sales and distribution opportunities. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as ‘plans’, ‘expects’, ‘is expected’, ‘budget’, ‘scheduled’, ‘estimates’, ‘forecasts’, ‘intends’, ‘anticipates’, or ‘believes’ or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or ‘will’ be taken, occur or be achieved. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risk factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks include risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation, except as otherwise required by law, to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250408602047/en/

For further information, please contact:

Setti Coscarella
Head of Corporate Development
investors@cizzlebrands.com
1-844-588-2088

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Crypto Market Recap: Bitcoin Hashrate Soars, Price Dips and Pakistan Enlists CZ

Investing 6 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (April 7) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

At the time of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) has displayed a slight recovery to US$78,142.37, down 1.8 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has brought a low of US$75,822.10 and a high of US$80,818.20.

Bitcoin performance, April 7, 2025

Chart via TradingView

Within a 24-hour period, Bitcoin saw US$468.88 million worth of positions closed due to liquidations, based on data from Coinglass at the time of writing. Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone suggested to Cointelegraph that Bitcoin’s price could potentially fall to US$10,000.

Ethereum (ETH) is priced at US$1,544.90, a 5 percent decline over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,486.10 and a high of US$1,608.86. Coinglass data shows liquidations totalling US$348.04 million in 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) is currently valued at US$105.93, down 1.9 percent over the past 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$101.06 and a high of US$110.64 on Monday.
  • XRP is trading at US$1.90, reflecting a 4.9 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of US$1.76 and a high of US$1.97.
  • Sui (SUI) is priced at US$2.01, showing an increaseof 3 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$1.83 and a high of US$2.04.
  • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.5771, reflecting a 2.1 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Monday was US$0.5374, with a high of US$0.5926.

Crypto news to know

Mantra launches US$108 million ecosystem fund for RWA and DeFi projects

Mantra, a layer-1 (L1) blockchain built for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), has launched the Mantra Ecosystem Fund (MEF), a US$108,888,888 ecosystem fund to accelerate the growth and adoption of projects and startups on its network.

According to a press release, MEF will find potential investments through Mantra’s large network of partners, which includes incubators, accelerators, and investment firms like Laser Digital, Shorooq, and others. This wide network will help the MEF discover high-quality projects globally.

Mantra CEO John Patrick Mullin told Cointelegraph that the fund will operate an “open-arms policy, welcoming projects at any developmental stage globally with a particular focus on RWA’s and DeFi.”

Pakistan enlists Changpeng Zhao as crypto advisor

Pakistan’s Crypto Council (PCC), a newly formed regulatory body overseeing the country’s adoption of blockchain technology and digital assets, has appointed former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) to act as a strategic advisor on matters such as regulation, infrastructure and adoption.

‘Pakistan is opening its doors to the future of finance,’ said PCC CEO Bilal Bin Saqib. ‘And who better to guide us on this journey than CZ — a pioneer who built the world’s largest crypto exchange and changed the way billions think about financial freedom.’

Last month, Saqib told Bloomberg that Pakistan intends to actively pursue international investment in the cryptocurrency sector. The country aims to capitalize on its young, tech-savvy population and its potential as a growing, cost-effective market.

CZ was also tapped to advise the Kyrgyz Republic on blockchain and crypto-related regulation on April 3.

Bitcoin hashrate reaches all-time high amidst price drop

As Bitcoin’s price plummets, its network has demonstrated a surge in computational power, with the hasrate establishing a new all-time high record. Data gathered from Glassnode by CoinDesk shows Bitcoin’s hashrate hit 1.025 zetahash per second (ZH/s) on April 4 (Friday) for the first time since its inception, exceeding the previous record set on January 31, 2025.

Bitcoin slides below US$75,000 as tariff chaos spooks markets

Bitcoin dropped over 5 percent on Monday (April 7) morning, briefly dipping below US$75,000 for the first time since Donald Trump’s re-election in November, as sweeping US tariffs and China’s retaliation triggered a market-wide selloff.

Ether plummeted over 10 percent to levels not seen since March 2023, while altcoins like XRP, Solana, and Cardano also posted heavy losses.

The total crypto market cap fell by 11 percent to US$2.5 trillion, wiping out nearly all gains made since Trump’s victory.

Traders had hoped a crypto-friendly administration would usher in tailwinds, but rising global tensions have proved overwhelming.

Analysts say the carnage could continue, with options markets flashing signs of sustained bearish pressure and over US$1.2 billion in long liquidations recorded in just 24 hours.

Strategy to log US$5.9B unrealized loss under new Bitcoin accounting rule

Michael Saylor’s Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTER) (formerly MicroStrategy) announced it will register an eye-watering US$5.9 billion unrealized loss in Q1 after adopting fair-value accounting for its Bitcoin reserves—a policy shift that reflects BTC’s steep price pullback this year.

The loss comes after a fresh buying spree in early 2025, which left the firm with roughly US$1 billion in paper losses on recent acquisitions alone.

Yet paradoxically, the company will also log a US$13 billion boost to retained earnings due to the new accounting standards, highlighting the volatile nature of being Wall Street’s leading BTC proxy.

Strategy’s stock tumbled as much as 14 percent Monday, raising new questions about whether Saylor’s “buy-and-hold forever” ethos can withstand institutional scrutiny in a more volatile macro climate.

Hong Kong greenlights staking for licensed crypto exchanges under strict new rules

In a major step toward institutionalizing crypto, Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) unveiled formal guidelines allowing licensed exchanges and funds to offer staking services, provided strict custodial and disclosure requirements are met.

Staking, crucial for securing Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks and generating passive returns, had previously been a regulatory gray area in the city.

Under the new rules, exchanges must retain direct control of client assets, explicitly barring third-party delegation, and provide full transparency on risks, fees, and lock-up periods.

The move reflects Hong Kong’s ambition to rival other financial hubs and attract global digital asset firms amid the regulatory vacuum in jurisdictions like the US, where staking remains under scrutiny from the SEC.

South Korea’s US$890B pension fund to adopt blockchain for fund operations and oversight

South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS), one of the world’s largest public pension funds, is moving to incorporate blockchain technology into its operational infrastructure, according to a recent Seoul Economic Daily report.

With over US$800 billion in assets under management, the NPS aims to use blockchain to improve tracking of transactions, client withdrawals, and investment flows, especially for foreign clients.

Though the fund is not directly investing in crypto, it has taken equity positions in firms like Coinbase and Strategy, signaling long-term confidence in the industry’s underlying technology.

The NPS initiative aligns with the nation’s growing retail enthusiasm for crypto—South Korea now boasts more than 16 million crypto investors, a surge that has accelerated since Trump’s 2024 electoral win sparked hopes of a more favorable global crypto environment.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Politics

Big-name anchors going independent, making money in the Substack era

Politics 5 Mins Read

Hamish McKenzie, the co-founder of Substack, is suddenly speaking out.

‘We are living through the most significant media disruption since the printing press, and it explains everything from why you can’t stand your neighbor to our current political tumult.’

Today, he says on his site, ‘we live in a more chaotic environment, where the narrative frenzy of social media has given rise to political movements that gain power through exploiting attention of any kind, positive or negative, from moral panics to fulminating podium-thumpers. We’ve gone from ‘Ask not what your country can do for you’ to dunk tweets and death-by-emoji.’

Obviously, it’s in McKenzie’s interest to portray a media revolution with him as the chief rebel. When Substack launched in 2017, it was viewed as an intriguing experiment, an outlet largely for those who didn’t have one.

But in the Trump era, with his constant cable appearances and Truth Social posts, there’s little question that we’re submerged in a toxic environment. The president gets this, which is why he’s done a number of podcast interviews. 

He went on Joe Rogan and Kamala, uh, did not. 

Now, with big-name journalists giving up prime television gigs in favor of the site’s independence, we are living in the Substack Era. What was once viewed as the Holy Grail – an anchoring or hosting job on a major network – is now dismissed as old-school legacy media with too many corporate constraints.

Take my former Fox colleague Chris Wallace. He left for CNN (actually CNN-plus, which was euthanized in three weeks) and then launched a Saturday talk show. But Chris recently announced he’s leaving the network to go independent, which undoubtedly includes Substack.

Another ex-Fox colleague, Megyn Kelly, had a similar experience. Having been dropped by NBC after a bad experience there, she started a daily show and video podcast on Sirius XM, and now has 3.2 million subscribers on YouTube.

Chuck Todd, having been eased out of his ‘Meet the Press’ job, was given an online streaming show. But not long ago he announced he was leaving NBC to go independent. 

When Dan Abrams gave up his NewsNation show after three years, he said: ‘As much as I love this show and the mission of this network, I just can’t continue to give this show the attention it needs and deserves with all of my other professional commitments.’ The Mediaite founder later announced that he is concentrating on creating a YouTube channel for the site, working with other media folks.

McKenzie’s great insight is that he could connect writers and podcasters directly to their audience, with Substack taking a cut. They can opt for a revenue-sharing agreement. Now you might ask, what if you’re not a famous former anchor or commentator?

Turns out that niche sites do really well. They can work at other jobs at the same time. Many users report a six-figure income. 

This is especially striking in that most Substack people let you read their sites for free, or a shortened version, with the full column and special features available only for paying subscribers. The hope is that some of the freeloaders will become subscribers over time.

Not everyone winds up at Substack voluntarily. Chris Cillizza, the former Washington Post columnist, is quite candid in saying he came to Substack after being laid off at CNN. He found himself with little to do after dropping the kids at school.

‘I started this Substack — selfishly — to help me grapple with my changed life. To give me a platform where I could express myself — hopefully to an audience — about the world of politics, yes, but also how I was navigating a new reality.’

He has slowly built a following and chats with Todd once a week, which is something that Substackers do.

Casandra Campbell of Really Good Business Ideas analyzed the 29 most popular Substacks.

The first two are Letters from an American (hundreds of thousands of paid subscribers for political history) and Broken Palate. Michael Moore was No. 3, and the only other names I recognized were former candidate Allen West, the Bulwark, and ex-Labor Secretary Robert Reich.

The others had names like Dr. Mercola’s Censored Library, DeLa Soul, The Pragmatic Engineer and The Cryptonite Weekly Rap.

‘Our political culture now mirrors chaos media culture,’ McKenzie says. ‘Opponents are not just to be argued against, but humiliated.’ Good luck changing that.

Look, I subscribe to several Substack accounts. I’d like to subscribe to more but, with fees ranging from $5 to $40 a month, it gets expensive. So I read others for free and ponder whether to upgrade.

I don’t agree that this is the biggest deal since the Gutenberg press, around 1440, but it’s having an impact on the media and political culture. Substack is hot, and there are competitors, mainly because journalists and politicos crave a connection that goes beyond the craziness of the Trump age. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Politics

Monica Lewinsky leaves Clinton scandal in dust, joins Hollywood elite with bold new look, business venture

Politics 5 Mins Read

Monica Lewinsky has been welcomed with open arms by the Hollywood elite decades after her affair scandal with then President Bill Clinton in the ’90s.

Lewinsky, who has been in the public eye since 2017, attended George Clooney’s star-studded Broadway premiere of ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ in New York City on April 3.

While smiling for pictures before the event, Lewinsky wore a strapless, asymmetrical black gown that had ruffle detailing at the bottom. She paired her look with black heels and styled her hair down.

Several A-listers attended Clooney’s big Broadway premiere. Cindy Crawford attended the show with her husband, Rande Gerber, and daughter Kaia.

Hugh Jackman, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lopez and Julianna Margulies were also photographed at the event. 

Nearly three decades ago, Lewinsky, who was a former White House intern while Clinton was president, had an affair with the former president. Clinton subsequently had an impeachment trial that came about in December 1998.

The president was 49 at the time of the incident. Lewinsky was 22. Following the scandal, Clinton was acquitted. After a few public appearances in an attempt to reinvent herself, Lewinsky disappeared from the spotlight in the mid-2000s.

In 2017, Lewinsky emerged back into the limelight and began writing for Vanity Fair. Now, according to its website, she is a contributing editor. 

‘She is an anti-bullying social activist, global public speaker, and producer with her company, Alt Ending Productions,’ the outlet states. 

Her latest story for the outlet was on March 31, and before that was an article published before the 2024 presidential election.

In January, Lewinsky launched her own podcast, ‘Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky.’ 

The synopsis of her show states, ‘Every week, I’ll draw from my own unique experiences (like say, surviving a global scandal at 24 years old), and delve into the personal and often messy ways people find their way back to themselves.’

Since launching, Lewinsky has had Olivia Munn, ‘Wicked’ director Jon M. Chu and Tony Hawk on her podcast.

At the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar party, Lewinsky posed with Munn and her husband, John Mulaney, for a photo.

A month after launching her own podcast, Lewinsky was a guest on the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast, which was then topping the charts.

During the appearance in February, podcast host Alex Cooper asked Lewinsky how she thought the media should have covered her scandal in the ’90s.

‘I think that the right way to handle a situation like that would have been to probably say it was nobody’s business and to resign, or to find a way of staying in office that was not lying and not throwing a young person who is just starting out in the world under the bus,’ Lewinsky said.

Beyond her own life falling apart, Lewinsky explained how her scandal affected women everywhere.

‘I think there was so much collateral damage for women of my generation to watch a young woman be pilloried on a world stage, to be torn apart for my sexuality, for my mistakes, for my everything,’ Lewinsky said.

‘I think there was so much collateral damage for women of my generation to watch a young woman be pilloried on a world stage, to be torn apart for my sexuality, for my mistakes, for my everything.’

— Monica Lewinsky

In 2021, Lewinsky told People magazine that she has found the courage to examine what occurred ‘between the most powerful man in the world and an unpaid intern less than half his age.’

‘For me, at 22, there was this combination of the awe of being at the White House, the awe of the presidency and the awe of this man who had an amazing energy and charisma was paying attention to me,’ she explained. ‘I was enamored with him, like many others. He had a charisma to him, and it was a lethal charm, and I was intoxicated.’

‘I think there are a lot of people who might find themselves in these situations,’ she continued. ‘It might be a professor or a boss, your immediate supervisor at your job. We think we’re on his terra firma in our early 20s, and yet we’re really on this quicksand. [You think], I’m an adult now. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t get a rental car without a parental signature.’

At the time, Lewinsky was a producer of ’15 Minutes of Shame’ on HBO Max, which explored cancel culture. Lewinsky insisted she no longer needed an apology from Clinton.

‘If I had been asked five years ago, there would have been a part of me that needed something, that still wanted something,’ she said. ‘Not any kind of relationship, but a sense of closure or maybe understanding. And I feel incredibly grateful not to need any of that.’

Lewinsky told the outlet at the time that she hoped her story would spark discussion about the dynamics between men in power and those without it.

‘As we all came to see, it wasn’t just about losing a job but about the power to be believed, the power to be inoculated from the press, the power to have others smear someone’s reputation in all the ways that work, the power to understand consequence having held many important jobs where this was my first out of college,’ she said.

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Trump admin fires Navy admiral at NATO targeted by conservative group

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The Trump administration has sacked a senior NATO official who was recommended by a conservative research group to be fired as part of a broader effort to purge wokeness from the Pentagon.

Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the only woman on NATO’s military committee, was dismissed from the alliance over the weekend without explanation, according to multiple reports. She is one of only a handful of female Navy three-star officers and was the first woman to lead the Naval War College, a job she held until 2023.

Chatfield reportedly got a call from Adm. Christopher Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was told the administration wanted to go in a different direction with the job, according to the Associated Press, citing officials. The officials said they believe the decision was made last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but it was unclear whether he received any direction from President Donald Trump. Reuters was first to report on her termination.  

It was unclear if her firing was related to any U.S. policy direction on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Trump and Hegseth have been vocal in their insistence that so-called woke policies are dead and have vigorously sought to remove leaders who promoted diversity, equity and inclusion and to erase DEI programs and online content. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is ditching almost 400 books from its library with DEI content.

In December, the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), a conservative research group, sent a letter to Hegseth with a list of 20 general officers or senior admirals whom it said were excessively focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and other similar left-wing initiatives. AAF wrote that focusing on such policies is an impediment to national security and Chatfield was one of eight women who made the list. 

Chatfield made the list due in part to a 2015 speech where she bemoaned that lawmakers in the House of Representatives at the time were 80% males, proclaiming that ‘our diversity is our strength.’ The group said she also quoted a slide from a presentation by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute highlighting ‘Investing in gender equality and women’s empowerment can unlock human potential on a transformational scale.’

Chatfield, a Navy helicopter pilot who also commanded a joint reconstruction team in Afghanistan, had been serving as one of the 32 representatives on NATO’s military committee. The panel is the primary source of military advice to the North Atlantic Council and NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, according to NATO. It serves as the link between the political decision-makers and NATO’s military structure.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said that he was ‘deeply disturbed’ by her sacking while blasting President Donald Trump. 

‘Trump’s relentless attacks on our alliances and his careless dismissal of decorated military officials make us less safe and weaken our position across the world,’ Warner wrote on X.

Senator Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also sounded off on the president for the firing of Chatfield, describing it as ‘disgraceful.’

Admiral Chatfield is among the finest military officers our nation has to offer, and she has distinguished herself as the U.S. Military Representative to NATO. Her 38-year career as a Navy pilot, foreign policy expert, and preeminent military educator—including as President of the Naval War College—will leave a lasting legacy on the Navy and throughout the military. Admiral Chatfield’s record of selfless service is unblemished by President Trump’s behavior.

Reed also called out Republicans for not voicing their displeasure at her sacking, noting that Trump has fired 10 generals and admirals since taking office. It follows Thursday’s removal of General Timothy Haugh, the head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command. 

For the Navy, it follows the firing of its top officer, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to become Chief of Naval Operations.

‘I cannot fathom how anyone could stand silently by while the President causes great harm to our military and our nation,’ Reed said.

‘I will continue to call out this unconscionable behavior and sound the alarm about the dangers of firing military officers as a political loyalty test. I urge my Republican colleagues to join me in demanding an explanation from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.’

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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New 6-figure ad touts Trump policies that have key industry ‘booming’: ‘You voted for it’

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A conservative energy group has debuted its latest ad as part of a seven-figure campaign supporting President Donald Trump’s ‘all-of-the-above energy’ agenda.

‘You voted for it, you got it, America is booming,’ the 30-second ad from The Restoring Energy Dominance Coalition, a conservative nonprofit organization headed up by former U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, says.

‘Meeting a quickly growing energy demand with an all-of-the-above approach will make good on President Trump’s promise to restore American energy dominance,’ the ad continues. 

‘Solar and storage, wind, nuclear, oil and gas. All forms of energy, all across the country.’

The ad then cuts to Trump, who says, ‘All forms of energy, yep’, before the ad says, ‘And that means more jobs and higher wages for you.’

‘In America, we show up, we get to work, we win.’

The RED Coalition ad is supported by a six-figure ad buy that will air on broadcast, cable TV and digital platforms. 

This ad is the fourth major television ad launched by the group since the start of this year as part of a broader seven-figure campaign to ‘support the administration’s energy priorities.’

Last month, RED Coalition, along with Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, put out a polling memo stating that 51% of registered voters are in favor of Trump’s ‘All-of-the-Above Energy agenda,’ as well as 65% of GOP voters.

Trump has vowed to use his second White House term to re-exit the Paris Climate Accord, undo strict emissions standards for vehicles and power plants, and bolster production of U.S. oil and gas, including through fracking, which is the controversial technology by which pressurized fluids are used to extract natural gas from shale rock.

In the days after his victory, industry groups representing the nation’s biggest oil and gas producers told Fox News Digital they have little doubt Trump will make good on these promises in a second term.

‘Energy was on the ballot’ in the 2024 elections, American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers said in a statement.

Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.

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