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Tuesday, December 16, 2025

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9 hours ago
Economy

Job Growth Stalls with Unemployment Hitting Four-Year High.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Employers added 64,000 jobs in November, exceeding forecasts, but October saw a loss of 105,000 jobs, according to new government data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. employers, the Labor Department, Federal Reserve economists, and private firms such as ADP.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data covers October and November 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Job growth has been anemic,” said Federal Reserve Bank of New York president John C. Williams.

🎯IMPACT: The labor market remains under pressure, with rising unemployment and economic uncertainty slowing job growth.

IN FULL

The U.S. economy added 64,000 jobs in November, surpassing economists’ forecasts, according to new government data. However, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent, marking the highest level since September 2021. Meanwhile, October’s figures revealed a loss of 105,000 jobs, signaling ongoing challenges in the labor market.

Notably, economists had predicted a gain of 40,000 jobs in November. The Labor Department also revised job growth figures for August and September, lowering them by a combined 33,000. Analysts attributed October’s weak performance partly to federal deferred resignation buyout offers.

The release of October and November employment data was delayed due to the 43-day government shutdown by Senate Democrats. During the blackout, economists turned to alternative sources, such as ADP, which reported private sector job cuts of 32,000 in November.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York president John C. Williams noted the gradual cooling of the labor market. “I should emphasize that this has been an ongoing, gradual process, without signs of a sharp rise in layoffs or other indications of rapid deterioration,” Williams said. Still, he acknowledged, “Job growth has been anemic.”

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13 minutes ago
News

Republicans Are Implementing Major Spending Cuts for Leftist Initiatives in This State:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Republican-controlled House in Michigan cut $645 million in funding, targeting leftist initiatives after rejecting a request for a budget extension from Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Michigan House Republicans, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Democratic state officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The cuts were made last week in Michigan during budget negotiations for the new fiscal year.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We had the opportunity using this law to cut more spending before Whitmer was able to put it into her slush funds.” – House Speaker Matt Hall

🎯IMPACT: The cuts redirected funding from initiatives such as diversity grants, green energy projects, and programs for illegal immigrants, sparking outrage among Democrats.

IN FULL

Michigan’s Republican-controlled House used a little-known state law last week to cut $645 million in government spending, targeting programs generally supported by Democrats. The move followed Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request to extend $2.7 billion in unspent funds beyond the end of the fiscal year.

“We had the opportunity using this law to cut more spending before Whitmer was able to put it into her slush funds,” House Speaker Matt Hall (R) said. He accused Whitmer and Democrats of requesting “a lot more money than they need” for discretionary, long-term purposes.

The largest reduction was $159 million from Whitmer’s Make It in Michigan Competitiveness Fund, which matches federal grants to state job creation goals. Nearly $103 million was cut from Community Enhancement Grants, which had supported diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Other cuts included $1.2 million for a program supplying feminine hygiene products in public restrooms, some of which were in boys’ bathrooms, and funding for electric vehicle charging stations along Lake Michigan.

Hall said funds could be restored through a supplemental budget and challenged Whitmer’s administration to justify each allocation. Democratic leaders have suggested they may pursue legal action to challenge the cuts.

The Michigan actions reflect a broader pattern of recent reductions to programs associated with progressive politics. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that approximately 83 percent of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contracts, roughly 5,200 of 6,200, would be terminated or shifted to State Department oversight. Rubio said many of the eliminated contracts “spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, and in some cases even harmed, the core national interests of the United States.”

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43 minutes ago
Crime
News

Trump Designates Colombian Cartel as Foreign Terrorist Group.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The State Department designated the Colombian Clan del Golfo as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. State Department and the Colombian Clan del Golfo drug cartel.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The designation was announced on Tuesday, targeting activities linked to Colombia.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The United States will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation and stop the campaigns of violence and terror committed by international cartels and transnational criminal organizations.” – State Department statement

🎯IMPACT: The move seeks to cut off funding and resources to the Clan del Golfo and curb its violent activities.

IN FULL

The U.S. State Department has officially designated Colombia’s Clan del Golfo drug cartel as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), citing the group’s role in large-scale drug trafficking and sustained violence. According to the department, Clan del Golfo has thousands of members and finances its operations largely through cocaine trafficking. U.S. officials say the organization has carried out terrorist attacks against Colombian public officials, members of law enforcement, military personnel, and civilians.

“The United States will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation and stop the campaigns of violence and terror committed by international cartels and transnational criminal organizations,” the department stated in its announcement.

The designation is intended to restrict the group’s access to funding, weapons, and logistical support by cutting it off from the U.S. financial system and prohibiting Americans from providing material assistance to it. Clan del Golfo has long been considered one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Colombia, with influence over major cocaine trafficking routes and a history of armed confrontation with the Colombian state.

The move reflects a broader U.S. effort to treat major transnational criminal organizations as national security threats rather than solely law enforcement challenges. Earlier this year, the State Department designated several other groups as foreign terrorist organizations, including the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua gang and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel. Those designations marked a significant escalation in how the U.S. government addresses international drug cartels and criminal networks.

The decision to apply terrorist labels to Mexican cartels prompted diplomatic tension, with Mexican officials warning Washington against actions they said could infringe on Mexico’s sovereignty. U.S. officials argue that the designations provide additional legal and financial tools to disrupt cartel operations, particularly those linked to drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violence that affects both the United States and its allies.

In a separate move later in the year, the U.S. government also announced plans to designate certain foreign-based groups linked to Antifa ideology as foreign terrorist organizations, signaling an expansion beyond traditional jihadist or insurgent groups.

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1 hour ago
Corruption
Immigration

Trump Cabinet Member Demands Tim Walz Resign Amid Fraud Scandal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon is calling for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) to resign over widespread fraud allegations in the state.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sec. McMahon, Governor Walz, and others accused of fraud links, including Somali-linked nonprofits like Feeding Our Future and Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The letter was sent on Tuesday, addressing fraud in Minnesota during Walz’s tenure as governor, which began in 2019.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Shame on you, Governor Walz, for allowing this to happen—and for benefiting from it.” – Linda McMahon

🎯IMPACT: Alleged fraud has cost taxpayers over $1 billion, with calls for accountability and potential political consequences for Walz.

IN FULL

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon is demanding Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) resign over his administration’s handling—and alleged enabling—of a massive social services fraud scandal tied to his state’s Somali immigrant community. In a letter sent to the Democrat governor and failed 2024 vice presidential candidate on Tuesday, McMahon accused Walz of failing to prevent widespread fraud in federal programs, including education aid, which saw several nonprofit organizations and Somali community leaders funnel an estimated $1 billion in taxpayer dollars into their personal coffers.

“You have been Minnesota’s Governor since 2019. During that time, your careless lack of oversight and abuse of the welfare system has attracted fraudsters from around the world, especially from Somalia, to establish a beachhead of criminality in our country,” McMahon wrote, adding: “As President Trump put it, you have turned Minnesota into a ‘fraudulent hub of money laundering activity.’”

The Education Secretary went on to reveal her discovery of fraud within Minnesota’s college education system, noting that nearly 2,000 “ghost students” were identified as having received $12.5 million in taxpayer-funded grants and loans. “They collected checks from the federal government, shared a small portion of the money with the college, and pocketed the rest—without attending the college at all,” McMahon wrote.

McMahon accused Walz of overseeing a “massive scandal of welfare fraud” that spanned programs such as housing benefits, food stamps, and small-business relief, among others. Secretary McMahon also criticized Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), alleging she borrowed “tens of thousands” in student loans and has been unwilling to repay them despite her taxpayer-funded salary.

The Trump administration’s Education Secretary concluded her letter with a call for Walz to step down as governor.

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2 hours ago
Immigration
Politics

ICE Denies Rep. Omar’s Allegation of Son Being Stopped for Citizenship Check.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons denied Representative Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) claim that her son was stopped and questioned by ICE agents at a Minnesota Target.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Ilhan Omar, her son, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, and ICE personnel.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The alleged incident took place over the weekend at a Target in Minnesota.

💬KEY QUOTE: “ICE has absolutely zero record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar’s son. It speaks volumes that Congresswoman Omar is leveling this accusation with absolutely zero proof.” – Todd Lyons

🎯IMPACT: Rep. Omar accused ICE agents of racial profiling, despite providing no proof of the incident actually happening.

IN FULL

The Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, is dismissing a claim made by Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) alleging her son was stopped by ICE agents at a Minnesota Target over the weekend and ordered to provide proof of citizenship. According to Rep. Omar, a Somali immigrant, her son presented a U.S. passport or passport card and was subsequently released.

“ICE has absolutely zero record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar’s son. It speaks volumes that Congresswoman Omar is leveling this accusation with absolutely zero proof,” Lyons stated on Tuesday. He also criticized Omar’s comments to local Minnesota media as a “ridiculous effort” to demonize federal law enforcement, linking such rhetoric to an increase in threats against ICE personnel. Notably, federal immigration agents have seen a reported 1,150 percent rise in assaults and an 8,000 percent increase in death threats.

Responding to Lyons, Rep. Omar’s communications director, Jacklyn Rogers, reiterated the Minnesota Democrat’s account of the incident, while accusing ICE of racial profiling and claiming the agency operates as a “rogue agency beyond reform.” Rogers added, “Our office would welcome the opportunity to review [ICE’s] records.”

The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny of Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community, following allegations of widespread social services fraud and concerns about taxpayer dollars being funneled to Islamist terror groups like al-Shabaab. Omar has criticized the Trump administration for what she described as the demonization of her community.

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2 hours ago
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Gets 20-Year Sentence for Vicious Attack on ICE Agent.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A criminal illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced to 20 years in prison after assaulting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Wichita, Kansas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Diego Barron-Esquivel, U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser, and Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent Charles J. Cole.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The sentencing took place on December 15 in Kansas following a guilty plea on December 3, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Violence against law enforcement is completely unacceptable and will be dealt with very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.

🎯IMPACT: Federal authorities reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy for violence against law enforcement, promising swift justice for offenders.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors secured the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico who brutally attacked a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Wichita, Kansas. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) officials emphasized that there is zero tolerance for violent assaults on federal law enforcement and immigration agents, warning that federal prosecutors will seek the maximum penalty under the law in such cases.

The sentencing of Diego Barron‑Esquivel, who violently punched and strangled an ICE officer with his own badge cord until the agent nearly lost consciousness, was described as a clear warning to those who threaten law enforcement. U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas Ryan A. Kriegshauser condemned the attack as “completely unacceptable” and praised the courage of officers who risk their lives daily.

“Violence against law enforcement is completely unacceptable and will be dealt with very seriously,” said Kriegshauser, adding, “Our society would cease to function without brave officers enforcing the law. We owe these officers our thanks and our respect. This sentence shows how egregious the conduct was in this case.”

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Charles J. Cole underscored that anyone who lays a hand on federal agents will face swift and severe justice. Barron-Esquivel pleaded guilty earlier this month to intentionally assaulting and strangling an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer while he was performing his official duties this past February.

According to DHS, Barron-Esquivel has an extensive and violent criminal record, including multiple charges for “domestic battery, multiple counts of violation of protection order, criminal damage to property, aggravated robbery, felony theft, transporting an open container, criminal restraint, possession of drug paraphernalia, and improper use of an automobile.”

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3 hours ago
Corruption
Health

House GOP Investigates Obamacare Brokers Over Fraud Allegations, Soaring Premiums.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: House Republicans, led by Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), are investigating potential fraud by major Obamacare health insurance brokers, citing concerns over soaring program costs.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The House Judiciary Committee, Blue Shield of California, Centene Corporation, CVS Health, Elevance Health, Kaiser Permanente, Oscar Health Inc., and GuideWell.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Letters were sent on Monday, December 15, 2025, as part of an ongoing investigation into Obamacare-related fraud.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Brokers have targeted individuals with deceptive advertisements and pressured enrollees to lie about their incomes to obtain Obamacare subsidies. Evidence suggests that many individuals do not even know they are signing up for health insurance or agreeing to switch plans.” — House Judiciary Committee letter

🎯IMPACT: The investigation could influence whether Obamacare’s enhanced premium subsidies are extended or allowed to expire, amid concerns of fraud and inefficiencies.

IN FULL

House Republicans are launching a probe to determine whether some of the nation’s largest health insurance brokers are contributing to rampant fraud plaguing Obamacare. With federal subsidies for Obamacare set to expire at the end of December, conservative lawmakers on Capitol Hill contend the healthcare program’s soaring costs are, at least in part, due to fraudulent claims enabled by insurance brokers.

On Monday, the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), issued notices to Blue Shield of California, Centene Corporation, CVS Health, Elevance Health, Kaiser Permanente, Oscar Health Inc., and GuideWell, requesting detailed data and other documentation regarding their enrollment operations. These companies administer programs that assist consumers in signing up for Obamacare’s enhanced health insurance premiums, which are central to the committee’s fraud concerns.

“Brokers have targeted individuals with deceptive advertisements and pressured enrollees to lie about their incomes to obtain Obamacare subsidies. Evidence suggests that many individuals do not even know they are signing up for health insurance or agreeing to switch plans,” the committee wrote.

Of particular interest to the House Judiciary Committee is data regarding the number of individuals enrolled in enhanced premium tax credits and the number of enrollees who do not utilize their benefits. Additionally, the committee is requesting all internal communications related to fraud and abuse, as well as a list of employees involved in anti-fraud initiatives.

The National Pulse reported earlier this month that a Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit found that tens of thousands of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) were used fraudulently in recent years to claim insurance coverage with advanced premium tax credits. According to the GAO, 58,000 SSNs that received advanced premium tax credits matched Social Security death data. Of these, at least 7,000 individuals were confirmed to have died before their coverage began. Investigators also created fictitious identities using fake or never-issued SSNs, all of which were approved for subsidized Obamacare coverage.

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3 hours ago
Health
News

Troops Discharged Over Biden’s Vaccine Mandate to Receive Honorable Status.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to identify and upgrade records of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary Pete Hegseth, Pentagon officials, and approximately 8,700 service members discharged under the Biden government’s vaccine mandate.

📍WHEN & WHERE: December memorandum, with a one-year timeline for review completion.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Department is committed to ensuring that everyone who should have received a fully honorable discharge receives one…” – Sean Parnell

🎯IMPACT: Potential restoration of honor and benefits for thousands of military members discharged under the vaccine mandate.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is directing the Pentagon to proactively review and upgrade the records of service members discharged from the U.S. military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine under the former Biden government. Administration officials say the effort aims to restore honor to individuals who received “general discharge” as a result of the mandate.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, in a December memorandum, emphasized the progress made since the initial directive to reinstate veterans who were involuntarily discharged or voluntarily left military service due to the “unfair, overbroad, and unnecessary” COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The new directive expands these efforts by ordering a review of personnel records to identify those discharged solely for vaccine refusal and facilitate appropriate upgrades.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell explained the impetus for the new directive, “Under the previous administration, the Department involuntarily separated approximately 8,700 Service members for failing to comply with the Department’s since-rescinded COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Of those, more than 3,000 received less-than-honorable discharge characterizations.” Parnell added that military departments have been instructed to complete their reviews within one calendar year, with no action required from former service members.

Military service members impacted by the former Biden government vaccine mandate may also access the military board review website to address any perceived errors or injustices in their records. “The Department is committed to ensuring that everyone who should have received a fully honorable discharge receives one and continues to right wrongs and restore confidence in, and honor to our fighting force,” Parnell noted.

Additionally, an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump in November reinstated GI benefits for veterans discharged due to the vaccine mandate.

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4 hours ago
News
Politics

Rubio Pledges to Support Vance If He Runs in 2028.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated he would not run for President in 2028 if Vice President J.D. Vance seeks the Republican nomination.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Marco Rubio, J.D. Vance, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Rubio’s comments were published on Tuesday in an interview with Vanity Fair.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If J.D. Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him.” – Marco Rubio

🎯IMPACT: Rubio’s remarks signal strong GOP unity behind Vice President Vance as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

IN FULL

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2028 if Vice President J.D. Vance decides to run, signaling early deference to the VP in what is expected to be a competitive post-Trump field. “If J.D. Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio said in an interview published Tuesday.

Rubio, 54, and Vance, 41, are widely viewed as leading Republican contenders following President Donald J. Trump’s second term. Trump, now 79, has previously suggested that the two could form a powerful ticket, saying, “We have J.D., obviously—the Vice President is great. Marco’s great. I’m not sure if anybody would run against those two. I think if they formed a group, it would be unstoppable.”

Trump has also publicly mused about the idea of running for a third term, although this is likely prohibited by the 22nd Amendment. Some have suggested the America First leader could potentially circumvent this by running for the vice presidency and then having the lead candidate step aside post-inauguration, but he appears to have ruled this out as “too cute,” adding, “It wouldn’t be right.”

Vance has not formally announced plans for 2028, but has indicated he will discuss the possibility with Trump after the 2026 midterm elections.

On the Democratic side, several prominent figures are also being discussed as possible 2028 candidates. Democratic insiders say former Vice President and failed 2024 candidate Kamala Harris is preparing for a potential run. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has acknowledged she is considering a future presidential bid. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are also viewed as possible contenders.

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4 hours ago
Economy
UK

Trump Halts UK Trade Deal, Citing Frustrations with Labour Leadership.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States has suspended the “Technology Prosperity Deal” with Britain, citing frustrations over trade negotiations with the Labour Party-led British government.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and officials from both governments.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The deal was struck during President Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom earlier this year. The suspension was confirmed last week, according to officials.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Negotiations of this kind are never straightforward, and both parties obviously want what’s best for their countries.” – Prime Minister’s official spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: The suspension raises questions about the future of British-American tech cooperation and broader trade relations, as well as the Labour government’s handling of non-tariff barriers.

IN FULL

The U.S. has suspended the “Technology Prosperity Deal” with the United Kingdom, a move reportedly tied to frustrations over trade negotiations with the Labour Party-led government. The agreement, initially signed during President Donald J. Trump’s state visit to Britain earlier this year, was designed to boost cooperation on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and nuclear energy.

U.S. officials have expressed concerns over Britain’s reluctance to address non-tariff barriers, including regulations governing food and industrial goods. Despite these challenges, Downing Street insists that discussions remain active and productive.

“First of all, we remain in active conversations with U.S. counterparts at all levels of government, and we’re confident of securing a deal that will shape the future of millions on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman. He added, “Negotiations of this kind are never straightforward, and both parties obviously want what’s best for their countries.”

The memorandum of understanding on the deal, signed by Prime Minister Starmer and President Trump in September, outlined commitments to work together on technology and innovation. It also included significant investment pledges in the United Kingdom from major U.S. tech companies, including $29.5 billion (£22 billion) from Microsoft and $6.7 billion (£5 billion) from Google.

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5 hours ago
Economy
NatSec

Trump Brings $7.4 Billion Korean Smelter to U.S.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Korea Zinc announced plans to build a $7.4 billion critical minerals smelter in Tennessee.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Korea Zinc, U.S. Department of War, U.S. Department of Commerce, Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced December 16, 2025; smelter location in Tennessee.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Trump administration will continue to leverage every tool at our disposal to end America’s foreign dependence for critical minerals and restore working-class prosperity.” – White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai

🎯IMPACT: The project will create 750 jobs and produce 540,000 tons of essential materials annually.

IN FULL

Korea Zinc has unveiled plans to construct a $7.4 billion smelter in Tennessee, marking the first U.S. zinc refinery since the 1970s. The project is being backed by the Trump administration as part of efforts to secure supply chains and counter China’s dominance in critical minerals.

The facility is set to cover 650,000 square meters, with the U.S. Department of War and the U.S. Department of Commerce investing jointly in its construction. Notably, the Department of War will hold a 40 percent stake in the venture. Korea Zinc will control less than a 10 percent stake and will sell an estimated $1.9 billion in shares to a joint venture comprising U.S.-based investors to finance part of the project. The remaining $5.5 billion in financing will be provided through $4.7 billion in U.S. government loans and a $210 million subsidy from the Department of Commerce.

“The Trump administration will continue to leverage every tool at our disposal to end America’s foreign dependence for critical minerals and restore working-class prosperity,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai said in a statement. According to the Trump administration, the partnership will help bolster and diversify global supply chains, reducing dependency on China, which currently leads in the supply of minerals crucial for military and technological applications.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg highlighted the project’s proximity to a major U.S. military base, emphasizing its role in creating 750 American jobs and increasing the availability of strategic minerals. Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the deal as a “Big win for America,” emphasizing the production of 540,000 tons of essential materials annually, which are vital for defense systems, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and more.

Image by Goodwin Steel Casting.

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