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Tag: Donald Trump
May 21, 2025
Crime

Fresh Trump Crackdown on Brutal Mexican Cartel.

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❓What Happened: The Trump administration sanctioned two top members of Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

👥 Who’s Involved: Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, leaders of Cartel del Noreste; U.S. Treasury Department; Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.

📍 Where & When: Sanctions announced Wednesday; Cartel del Noreste operates near the Laredo, Texas border region.

💬 Key Quote: “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

⚠️ Impact: The sanctions aim to disrupt Cartel del Noreste’s operations, including drug trafficking, arms procurement, and violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on two senior leaders of the Cartel del Noreste, a violent Mexican drug cartel and designated foreign terrorist organization, according to an announcement from the U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda for their roles in facilitating the cartel’s operations. Officials say the group exerts significant control over the border area near Laredo, Texas.

Ledzema, a high-ranking cartel member, was identified as overseeing the acquisition and trafficking of firearms into Mexico. According to the Treasury Department, he coordinated payments to U.S.-based straw purchasers who misrepresented themselves to obtain weapons, later smuggling them into Nuevo Laredo. One such weapon was reportedly recovered after a March 2024 cartel attack on the Mexican military.

Sauceda, previously second-in-command of the cartel, was arrested in February by Mexican authorities. He allegedly led an armed enforcement unit and was linked to violent assaults on Mexican military and police forces. At the time of his arrest, he was found with firearms, methamphetamine, and fentanyl pills.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the administration’s commitment to confronting the cartel threat, stating, “We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities.” Bessent also highlighted the cartel’s role in campaigns of violence, intimidation, and terrorism that endanger communities on both sides of the border.

The sanctions were coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.

Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council, praised the administration’s actions, saying they fulfill President Donald J. Trump’s promise to prevent cartels from operating with impunity. “These actions deal a significant blow and send the message to all cartels that President Trump will follow through,” Perez stated.

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May 21, 2025
NatSec

EXPLAINER: How Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Defense Shield Will Work.

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❓What Happened: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has drafted a plan for the “Golden Dome” missile defense system, which includes space-based sensors, to counter advanced threats from nations like China and Russia.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, the DoD, Space Force General Michael Guetlein, General Chance Saltzman, and former Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair.

📍 Where & When: The system is planned for development in the United States, with key manufacturers from Georgia, Alaska, Florida, and Indiana. Trump expects it to be operational before his administration ends.

💬 Key Quote: Trump described the Golden Dome as “capable even of intercepting missiles launched from space, or launched from the other side of the world.”

⚠️ Impact: The system aims to counter hypersonic weapons and space-based threats, with initial funding of $25 billion, though long-term costs could exceed $500 billion.

IN FULL:

The U.S. Department of Defense has unveiled plans for a large-scale missile defense system, dubbed the “Golden Dome,” which aims to counter advanced aerial and space-based threats from adversaries like China and Russia. President Donald Trump announced the initiative, stating he expects the system to be operational before the end of his administration.

The Golden Dome would incorporate space-based sensors and is designed to intercept missiles launched from space or across the globe. Trump noted that the system would be significantly larger and more advanced than Israel’s Iron Dome, which has been operational since 2011. The U.S. system would target a broad array of threats, including hypersonic weapons and fractional orbital bombardment systems (FOBS).

According to Trump, Canada has expressed interest in joining the project. Former Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair confirmed this during a visit to Washington earlier this year, describing participation as being in Canada’s “national interest.”

The project will be developed entirely in the United States, with manufacturers in Georgia, Alaska, Florida, and Indiana playing key roles. The system will be managed under a centralized command, with oversight from Space Force General Michael Guetlein. General Chance Saltzman, also of the U.S. Space Force, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the mission, citing “new and emerging requirements” for space-based military operations.

Initial funding of $25 billion has been allocated, but the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates long-term costs could exceed $500 billion over the next 20 years. Other government agencies project the total fiscal impact to range from $175 billion to $542 billion.

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May 21, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

BREAKING: Trump Confronts South African Prez on Rallies Calling for Murder of White Farmers.

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❓ What Happened: President Donald J. Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with evidence of Julius Malema inciting violence against white farmers and opposed South Africa’s land expropriation laws, while offering Afrikaners U.S. refugee status.

👥  Who’s Involved: President Trump, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters.

📍 Where & When: Diplomatic meeting, with Trump’s confrontation reported on May 21, 2025.

⚠️  Impact: Trump’s bold stance champions human rights and counters South Africa’s dangerous policies, reinforcing America First by protecting persecuted Afrikaners and challenging Ramaphosa’s denialism.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with videos of Julius Malema, leader of one of the largest parties in the South African legislature, calling for the murder of the country’s white minority.

Malema, previously the president of the youth wing of Ramaphosa’s party, the African National Congress (ANC), could be seen leading a packed stadium in chants of “Kill the Boer” and “Shoot to kill,” and performing impressions of a gun being fired. “Boer” refers to Afrikaners, mostly Dutch-descended, from South Africa’s Western Cape, but is commonly used to refer to all Afrikaners.

President Trump also showed video of a field of white crosses, representing white farmers who have been murdered over the years, often with extreme brutality. Ramaphosa reiterated the South African government’s official line that these farmers are victims of mere “criminality.” Still, the attacks frequently involve a racial element, with phrases like ‘Kill the Boer’ sometimes being left at the scene. Trump also held up a number of printouts of news articles about these farm attacks.

The Trump administration is particularly opposed to the Ramaphosa government’s new legislation authorizing the expropriation of white farmers’ land without compensation—a policy previously tried in Zimbabwe, with disastrous consequences for the white minority and the country at large when food production subsequently collapsed.

In response to South Africa’s expropriation laws, the Trump administration has begun accepting Afrikaners into the United States as refugees. Ramaphosa has slammed these Afrikaners as “cowards.”

This story is developing…

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May 21, 2025
News
Politics

‘Maybe One Day,’ Don Jr Says of Presidential Ambitions.

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❓What Happened: Donald Trump Jr. hinted at the possibility of a future presidential run during a panel discussion in Qatar.

👥 Who’s Involved: Donald Trump Jr., eldest son of President Donald J. Trump, and attendees of the Qatar Economic Forum.

📍 Where & When: Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, May 21, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “I don’t know, maybe one day, you know—that calling is there.”

⚠️ Impact: Sparks speculation about a potential continuation of the Trump family’s political influence.

IN FULL:

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald J. Trump, suggested on Wednesday that he may consider a bid for the presidency in the future. Speaking at Bloomberg’s Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Trump Jr. was asked about the possibility of seeking the White House after his father.

“It’s an honor to be asked and an honor to see that some people are OK with it,” he said during the panel discussion, receiving applause from some audience members. “You never know,” he added.

The 47-year-old executive vice president of The Trump Organization has been a strong advocate of his father’s America First agenda, serving as something of a de facto ambassador for the MAGA grassroots to the administration. Reflecting on the transformation of the Republican Party under his father’s leadership, he said, “I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party. I think it’s the America First party now, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it,” he remarked.

He further emphasized the strength of the party’s current lineup, stating, “For the first time ever, the Republican Party actually has a bench of America First fighters.”

In March, speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run for Trump Jr. surfaced in a report by the left-leaning website Mediaite, which he denied at the time. However, his comments on Wednesday leave the door open for future political ambitions. “I don’t know, maybe one day, you know—that calling is there,” he said.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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May 20, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Migrants Face Fines Up to $1.8 Million.

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❓What Happened: U.S. immigration authorities are issuing fines, some as high as $1.8 million, to illegal immigrants who failed to leave the country after deportation orders.

👥 Who’s Involved: Wendy Ortiz, a Salvadoran migrant; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Customs and Border Protection (CBP); immigration lawyers; and the Trump administration.

📍 Where & When: United States, with fines beginning to be issued in recent weeks under the Trump administration.

💬 Key Quote: “It’s not fair. Where is someone going to find that much money?” — Wendy Ortiz, fined $1.8 million.

⚠️ Impact: Illegal immigrants face steep financial penalties, potential property seizures, and legal challenges, with many unable to pay the fines for ignoring their deportation orders.

IN FULL:

U.S. immigration authorities have begun issuing substantial fines to illegal immigrants who have failed to leave the country after being ordered to do so, with penalties reaching as high as $1.8 million. Wendy Ortiz, a 32-year-old Salvadoran illegal immigrant living in Pennsylvania, was among those fined. Ortiz allegedly left her home country a decade ago.

“It’s not fair,” Ortiz told reporters. “Where is someone going to find that much money?” Her attorney, Rosina Stambaugh, has requested a 30-day extension to contest the fine, citing Ortiz’s lack of a criminal record and the supposed dangers she faces if deported. Notably, Ortiz failed to show up for her asylum hearing and later ignored a deportation order, though she claims she never received notification of either.

The fines are part of a Trump administration policy aimed at encouraging voluntary departure, or “self-deportation,” among illegal immigrants. A senior Trump official disclosed that over 4,500 migrants have been issued fines totaling more than $500 million. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been responsible for issuing the fines, while Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is tasked with handling potential property seizures.

The fines stem from a 1996 law that Trump administration immigration officials are enforcing. Under this policy, illegal immigrants can be fined $998 per day for failing to comply with deportation orders, with penalties applied retroactively for up to five years. This framework has resulted in fines as high as $1.8 million.

Immigration lawyers across the country have expressed shock at the severity of the penalties. Robert Scott, a New York-based attorney, noted that one of his clients, a low-income Mexican woman living in the U.S. for 25 years, was also fined $1.8 million. Scott—like attorneys for other illegal immigrants—claim the woman was unaware of her 2013 deportation order and is now seeking to reopen her case.

The Trump administration previously withdrew the imposition of similar fines during its first term after legal challenges but resumed issuing smaller penalties. The Biden government later dropped the fines in 2021.

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May 20, 2025
News

This Georgia Governor Candidate Couldn’t Help But Obsess Over Trump in Her Campaign Launch.

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❓What Happened: Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced her campaign for Georgia governor, criticizing Donald Trump in a video.

👥 Who’s Involved: Keisha Lance Bottoms, Donald Trump, current Governor Brian Kemp, Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves, and Olu Brown.

📍 Where & When: Georgia, campaign launch on Tuesday.

💬 Key Quote: “Donald Trump is a disaster for our economy and our country. From his failure to address rising prices to giving an unelected billionaire the power to cut Medicare and Social Security. It’s one terrible thing after another.” — Keisha Lance Bottoms,

⚠️ Impact: Bottoms joins a competitive race for the governorship of Georgia, with significant political and economic implications.

IN FULL:

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has officially entered the race for Georgia governor, launching her campaign Tuesday with a video that sharply criticized former President Donald J. Trump.

“Donald Trump is a disaster for our economy and our country,” Bottoms rails in the video. She accuses the America First leader of delegating powers to “an unelected billionaire” to make decisions about Medicare and Social Security, referencing Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk. “Georgia families deserve far better than what Donald Trump and Republicans are giving us,” she complains.

Bottoms, who served as Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden for Public Engagement in 2022 and was later appointed to the President’s Export Council in 2023—but was fired by President Trump on his first day back in office—says that “expanding Medicaid” would be her “top priority” if elected. Currently, the program is already exploited by illegal aliens.

The race for Georgia’s governorship is shaping up to be highly contested. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves, and Olu Brown, a former pastor, have also declared their candidacies. Current Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican serving his second term, is ineligible to seek re-election in 2026.

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May 20, 2025
Economy

Major U.S. Chain Blames Fed for Slower Sales, Not Tariffs.

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❓What Happened: Home Depot reiterated its full-year sales forecast and announced it would not raise prices in response to tariffs.

👥 Who’s Involved: Home Depot, Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail, U.S. consumers, suppliers.

📍 Where & When: United States, fiscal first quarter ending May 4.

💬 Key Quote: “We intend to generally maintain our current pricing levels across our portfolio,” said CFO Richard McPhail.

⚠️ Impact: Home Depot’s pricing strategy contrasts with competitors like Walmart, and the company reported muted sales growth amid a tough housing environment.

IN FULL:

Home Depot announced on Tuesday that it will maintain its current pricing strategy despite claims that President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs could result in higher retail costs for consumers, citing strong supplier relationships and operational efficiency. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Richard McPhail said that the company’s scale and partnerships would allow it to avoid price hikes.

“Because of our scale, the great partnerships we have with our suppliers and productivity that we continue to drive in our business, we intend to generally maintain our current pricing levels across our portfolio,” McPhail said during an interview with CNBC on Tuesday morning.

The Home Depot CFO noted earlier on Tuesday, during a company earnings call, that the tariffs provided an opportunity for the massive hardware and supply retailer to expand its market share against competitors. “It’s a great opportunity for us to take share, and it’s a great opportunity for our suppliers to take share as well,” he said.

McPhail highlighted that over half of Home Depot’s products are sourced domestically. Additionally, the company has diversified its import sources, reducing reliance on China. By next year, no single country outside the U.S. will account for more than 10 percent of its purchases, according to McPhail.

The announcement coincided with the release of Home Depot’s fiscal first-quarter results. The company missed Wall Street’s earnings expectations for the first time since May 2020 but exceeded sales forecasts. Net income for the quarter, ending May 4, stood at $3.43 billion, or $3.45 per share, down from $3.60 billion, or $3.63 per share, a year earlier. Total sales grew 2.8 percent year over year, bolstered by the acquisition of SRS Distribution, a supplier for home professionals.

Home Depot CEO Ted Decker, on the same earnings call, contended that the slower sales were because of “stubbornly high” interest rates, laying the blame at the feet of the Jerome Powell’s Federal Reserve—though he did not name the central bank directly.

Comparable sales fell 0.3 percent during the quarter, with U.S. comparable sales increasing slightly by 0.2 percent. McPhail attributed February’s decline to poor weather but noted that sales improved in March and April, with the latter seeing a 1.8 percent year-over-year increase. The company also reported a 2.1 percent rise in customer transactions, with an average ticket of $90.71.

Notably, McPhail’s comments add further evidence to the argument that many companies will attempt to maintain current price levels or mitigate increases as much as possible to maintain their market share. This appears to be especially true for suppliers and U.S. retailers who are considering shifting or even eliminating product sourcing in China.

Image by Harrison Keely.

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May 20, 2025
News
War

America’s ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Shield is Underway.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump is set to announce details about the Golden Dome missile defense system.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Space Force Vice Chief of Operations General Michael Guetlein.

📍 Where & When: Announcement scheduled for 3 PM ET today.

💬 Key Quote: A U.S. official confirmed the Pentagon will reveal recommendations and plans for the satellite-based missile defense system.

⚠️ Impact: The announcement will outline the architecture and implementation of a multibillion-dollar defense project.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is expected to reveal details about the Golden Dome missile defense system during a press conference at 3 PM Eastern Time today, according to a U.S. official.

The announcement will take place alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Michael Guetlein, Vice Chief of Operations for the United States Space Force. The focus of the event will be the Pentagon’s recommendations for the ambitious missile defense initiative.

The Golden Dome system, described as a complex satellite-based project, aims to bolster U.S. missile defense capabilities. The Pentagon’s drafted architecture and implementation plan for the system will reportedly be unveiled during the briefing.

Details about the system’s specific capabilities, timeline, and funding structure remain under wraps. However, the project is expected to represent a significant investment in national security infrastructure.

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May 19, 2025
Jack Montgomery
War

Vatican Could Host Peace Negotiations Between Russia and Ukraine.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced a breakthrough two-hour call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, paving the way for immediate Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks, with the Vatican offering to host negotiations.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Pope Leo XIV, and European Union (EU) leaders.

📍Where & When: President Trump made his announcement on Truth Social on May 19, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s diplomatic masterstroke sets the stage for peace, leveraging U.S. influence to end a bloody conflict while opening trade opportunities, reinforcing his America First vision.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has announced what may be a significant step toward ending the Ukraine war after a two-hour call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a Truth Social post, Trump revealed that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” with the Vatican, under Pope Leo XIV, offering to host the talks.

“The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent,” Trump wrote. He stressed that Russia seeks “largescale TRADE with the United States” post-conflict, envisioning “massive amounts of jobs and wealth” for Russia and trade benefits for Ukraine during its rebuilding.

Trump said he had informed key leaders, mentioning Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Finland’s Alexander Stubb—but not Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The Vatican’s role as a neutral host, proposed by Pope Leo XIV, could add moral weight to the proposed negotiations. However, Russia and Ukraine are predominantly Eastern Orthodox rather than Catholic.

President Trump’s announcement comes as the Ukraine war, now in its third year, is estimated to have claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions, per United Nations (UN) estimates. Trump’s intervention contrasts with the Biden government’s prolonged support for the Ukrainian war effort, despite no signs of significant Ukrainian progress after 2022, prolonging the killing despite no obvious path to victory for Ukraine.

By contrast, Trump’s focus on immediate talks and trade-driven rebuilding positions the U.S. to break the impasse between Russia and Ukraine and end the “catastrophic bloodbath.”

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May 19, 2025
Economy
UK

Guinness Owners Revise DOWN the Expected Impact of Trump’s Tariffs.

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❓What Happened: Diageo, owner of Guinness and Johnnie Walker, is reducing the projected annual loss it attributed to President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies by $50 million.

👥 Who’s Involved: Diageo, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, Diageo CEO Debra Crew, and equity analyst Aarin Chiekrie.

📍 Where & When: Tariffs announced April 2, 2025; Diageo issued its update on Monday.

💬 Key Quote: “Looking ahead, we will continue to work on measures to mitigate this impact further,” Diageo stated, expressing confidence in navigating international tariffs.

⚠️ Impact: The company forecasts reduced profits but plans to mitigate losses and save $500 million by 2028.

IN FULL:

The British beverage giant Diageo, owner of Guinness and Johnnie Walker, has flagged a $150 million annual hit to its profits, claiming this will be due to U.S. tariffs introduced under President Donald J. Trump. However, the company’s newest estimate, released on Monday, is a significant decrease from the expected $200 million loss it projected earlier this year.

It is unclear whether Diageo’s estimate includes provisions laid out in the new landmark bilateral trade agreement signed earlier this month between the United States and the United Kingdom, or if the loss is based mainly on the revenue impact of the 10 percent global tariff imposed by President Trump on April 2, 2025. Notably, President Trump paused higher, country-specific reciprocal tariffs for 90 days in mid-April. However, the recent U.S.-UK trade deal would preclude additional trade duties from being imposed on British exports once the pause expires.

Diageo’s recent shareholder update noted that its tequila and Canadian whiskey brands remain exempt from these levies, and tariffs on U.S.-China trade have had minimal impact on its operations. The company stated that it expects to mitigate about half of the tariff-related losses and expressed confidence in its ability to manage the challenges posed by international trade policies.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to work on measures to mitigate this impact further,” the company said, adding that its long history of navigating tariffs provided reassurance. The expected financial impact is already factored into Diageo’s fiscal guidance for 2025 and 2026. Importantly, the British company says it believes it can achieve around $500 million in savings by 2028, suggesting the long-term impact of the Trump administration tariffs will leave its business and market relatively unaffected.

CEO Debra Crew emphasized the company’s resilience: “We continue to believe in the attractive long-term fundamentals of our industry and in our ability to outperform the market. We view the near-term industry pressure as largely macroeconomic driven, with continued uncertainty impacting both the timing and pace of recovery.”

Diageo also reported a 2.9 percent rise in net sales for the first quarter of the year, reaching $4.4 billion.

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