Category: zerohedge

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

Across the country, Democratic leaders are resorting to what I have called “rage rhetoric” as supporters are turning to actual violence, including arson and other crimes directed against Tesla. 

In Hawaii, Gov. Josh Green (D) even reacted to Novak Djokovic playing tennis with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by hoping that he is hit in the head. However, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, currently one of the top Democratic candidates for New Jersey governor, appears to have gotten an early lead in this race to the bottom. In a video that has now attracted interest in his run for governor, Baraka gives a full-throated endorsement of the violent and racist rhetoric of Nation of Islam leader (and raging anti-Semite) Louis Farrakhan.

In a newly released video from 2004, Baraka is shown applauding and embracing Farrakhan as he calls for violence and denounces White people as “demons.” 

Those “demons” compose roughly 52% of the state that Baraka wants to lead.

The video from a Newark church shows Baraka introducing Farrakhan as “the leader of every Black person.”

“I don’t think that there’s any man today, present today, that has the kind of moral authority or spiritual strength. Not president, not community leader, not political international activist, nowhere that has the moral authority, the historical and political framework, that the Minister Farrakhan has, that. Who can stand where he stands and truly say that he is the leader of black people anywhere and everywhere.”

The New York Post uncovered the video showing Baraka giving Farrakhan a standing ovation as he denounces non-violence:  “We didn’t believe in no non-violence. The cracker hit you on your jaw, you break his neck. That’s the way we think.”

He also gives him a standing ovation in denouncing all white people as the “enemy.”

“Now the enemy comes in. You, the Crips, and the Bloods, they’ll send people in to give you rumors about your brother over there. These demons will even kill a policeman and then blame it on you. You dealing with a devil, man. You’re not dealing with righteous people. This cracker is the real devil. And you better wake up and realize that.”

Once again, this is the mayor of a major city and a leading Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey.

Baraka later arranged for Farrakhan to give a speech to over 1,000 high school students at Central High School in Newark, where he was principal.

Many on the far left shrug off such connections to racist or violent groups. It is reminiscent of former Democratic National Committee deputy chair Keith Ellison, now the Minnesota attorney general, who once said Antifa would “strike fear in the heart” of Trump. This was after Antifa had been involved in numerous acts of violence, and its website was banned in Germany. Ellison’s son, Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison, declared his allegiance to Antifa in the heat of the protests this summer.

With violence on the left increasing around the country, Democratic leaders continue to try to appease the most radical elements in their party. That was evident last week when Rep. Dan Goldman (D., N.Y.) denounced the investigation into the attacks on Tesla dealerships and owners as “political weaponization.”

This is a long history of downplaying or shrugging off such violence, including some who seem to fuel the violence.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., told George Floyd protesters in Minnesota to “get more confrontational” if a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin not guilty. And when Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was threatened in 2018 because she had not opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., mocked the concern over her safety with “boo hoo hoo.”

For her part, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declined to condemn left-wing mobs destroying statues and historic displays in her home city of San Francisco. Pelosi shrugged and said, “People will do what they do.”

In the case of Baraka, he appears to have a long history of associating with such violent and racist speech. In 2017, he organized another speech for Farrakhan titled “Separation or Death,” reportedly calling for a separate black state.

With the release of the videos, Baraka is standing firm in support of his association with Farrakhan, bizarrely defending his record of supporting “peace, equality, and equity.” He is blaming the “political establishment” for “false” claims based on these videos.

In his campaign for governor, Baraka is calling for voters to “reimagine New Jersey” and promising to “deconstruct the state budget and reassemble with equity as our north star; judging every decision as either a step towards equity or a step towards inequity.”

*  *  *

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”

Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times,

A federal judge in Massachusetts on Friday blocked the deportation of a Tufts University graduate student who was recently taken into custody by federal authorities.

U.S. District Judge Denise Casper ruled that Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student from Turkey, cannot be deported while Casper determines whether the court has jurisdiction over the case.

The Trump administration has been given until April 1 to respond to an amended petition and complaint filed by Ozturk’s lawyers, according to the two-page ruling.

“To allow the Court’s resolution of its jurisdiction to decide the Petition, Ozturk shall not be removed from the United States until further Order of this Court,” the judge stated.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has accused Ozturk of “engaging in activities in support of Hamas,” a U.S.-designated Palestinian terrorist group that launched the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

In her ruling, Casper cited the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate at Columbia University who was arrested and had his green card revoked earlier this month for allegedly leading activities aligned with Hamas. Khalil served as a lead negotiator for students during talks with university administrators over last spring’s pro-Palestinian protests on campus against Israel’s military response to the terrorist attack.

Khalil’s arrest followed President Donald Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism in colleges and universities. His deportation was blocked after a judge ruled on March 10 that he must remain in the United States while the court determines jurisdiction.

Columbia University was one of many campuses in the United States where protesters set up encampments to protest the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza. Some of these protests escalated into anti-Semitic rhetoric, as protesters set up barricades that prevented Jewish students from accessing certain buildings on campus. Trump has said the government will not tolerate such acts, alleging that many participants are not students but rather “paid agitators.”

The order in Ozturk’s case was issued in response to a petition filed by her legal counsel, which sought her release after she was detained by federal authorities outside an off-campus apartment building in Somerville, Massachusetts, on March 25.

Ozturk was later moved to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Louisiana. Government lawyers stated in a court filing that the transfer took place before a court order requiring a 48-hour notice was issued.

Ozturk’s lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, said in a statement that the student’s family members were unable to reach or locate Ozturk for nearly 24 hours after her arrest.

“The government must immediately release Rümeysa to continue her studies and rejoin her community,” the attorney stated.

Ozturk had previously co-authored a student newspaper article urging Tufts to sever financial ties with Israel in response to Israel’s retaliatory offensive following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks.

The article, published a year ago in the Tufts Daily, criticized the Tufts president for what it described as a “dismissive” response to the student government’s resolutions. These resolutions called on the university to acknowledge the “Palestinian genocide” and divest from companies that directly or indirectly do business with Israel.

Her lawyers have argued that Ozturk’s arrest violates her constitutional rights to free speech and due process.

“No person, regardless of their immigration status, can be arrested, detained, or deported as punishment for their political views. Ideas—and certainly op-eds—are not illegal,” Carol Rose, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said in a March 28 statement.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday that federal authorities have revoked Ozturk’s F-1 student visa. Rubio said that over 300 visas have been revoked so far, adding, “We do it every day.”

“We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses. And if we’ve given you a visa and then you decide to do that, we’re going to take it away,” he said. 

“Every country in the world has a right to decide who comes in as a visitor and who doesn’t.”

Tufts President Sunil Kumar said in a March 25 campus-wide email that the university had no prior knowledge of Ozturk’s arrest and had not provided any information to federal authorities before she was detained.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the ICE and Ozturk’s legal counsel for comment and did not receive a response by publication time.

Authored by Adam Sharp via DailyReckoning.com,

Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value – zero.

— Voltaire, 18th century

In films and TV shows set in the future, money is usually a digital government currency.

Credits, cubits, and chits are a few names I recall. This is a globalist CBDC-based vision of the future. Bleak.

But in one of my favorite sci-fi movies, Looper, precious metals reign supreme as money. In that film, the inevitable breakdown in fiat currency has already occurred and hard money has made a comeback.

This latter scenario is far more likely. Time and time again, central banks and governments have proven they cannot be trusted with the power to create unlimited money. It doesn’t matter whether it’s paper or digital money, central bankers will print too much of it given the chance.

Without exception, every fiat currency in history has trended towards zero. Government digital money will be no different.

Voltaire wasn’t exaggerating when he said, “paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value – zero”. In fact, he had just experienced it first-hand following France’s disastrous fiat experiments of the 1700s.

It’s a question of when, not if. And time is running short.

Our Unusual Fiat Era is Ending

Since 1971, the world has been under a highly unusual 100% fiat monetary system. Not a single country operates on hard money today.

Never before in history was every country simultaneously using fiat. We are living through an incredibly rare, and increasingly dangerous, monetary experiment.

For most of history, developed countries were on a gold and/or silver standard. Coinage was default for thousands of years.

Switching to paper money was always a desperation move. It often happened during or after a major war, when governments were running low on cash. So they switch to fiat to pay the bills, and debase everyone’s savings in the process.

The world has only been on a fiat standard since 1971. Which, not coincidentally, was when the U.S. abandoned the gold standard following huge deficits from the Vietnam War.

It has happened hundreds of times. After it all goes horribly wrong, gold and silver make their inevitable return.

The Dollar Had a Good Run

This fiat period has lasted longer than most. The dollar has been an unusually robust paper currency, and due some clever engineering, it essentially became an oil-backed currency (for many decades, oil producers would only accept dollars for oil).

The dollar will remain an important player for some time to come. But the era of the petrodollar system, where the dollar was the only way to buy oil, is over.

We are entering a new multi-polar era where countries use their own currencies to buy oil and other goods. And the U.S. is no longer the sole superpower.

Central banks around the world are gobbling up gold and diversifying away from the dollar as debt spirals out of control.

We’re approaching the end game now. This is why we’ve been pounding the table on gold and silver so much lately. And it’s why we will continue to going forward.

The Trump administration ordered two Pentagon intelligence agencies—the NGA and NRO—to use spy satellites to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border in a broader effort to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking., according to Reuters.

The involvement of spy agencies and troop deployments highlights the growing militarization of the southern border, where Trump declared a national emergency.

Though the extent of satellite surveillance over U.S. territory remains unclear, the NGA confirmed forming a task force for the border mission, while the NRO said it was working with the Pentagon and intelligence community to secure the border.

The Reuters report says that their role stems from Trump’s executive orders targeting illegal crossings, trafficking, and the deportation of up to 14 million undocumented immigrants.

Trump, who made immigration central to his 2016 campaign, is now expanding the use of military tools—originally designed for foreign conflict—to the U.S.-Mexico border.

While AI and drones have long been used for border surveillance, the new initiative taps battlefield-grade capabilities. AI could scan satellite imagery for people or objects of interest, sources said, much like it does overseas.

Though the full scope remains unclear, experts warned the administration must address legal limits on domestic surveillance. U.S. law bars spy agencies from targeting citizens, but immigration officials can operate within 100 miles of the border.

“If they follow the law, these agencies should only collect on the other side of the border in foreign territory,” said national security lawyer Paul Rosenzweig. “But how they implement that, and if they do, are legitimate oversight questions.”

An intelligence official insisted all surveillance is “legal and authorized” and respects Americans’ privacy. The NGA and NRO declined to detail their border operations, citing security concerns. The CIA, sources said, has no role in domestic enforcement: “Once foreign criminals are inside the United States, they are not within the purview of the CIA.”

Trump has elevated border security to a top national intelligence priority, channeling more resources to it. A recent U.S. intelligence report placed transnational crime above threats from Iran or North Korea.

Meanwhile, the National Security Council is reportedly receiving daily briefings on immigration arrests, including minors.

Authored by Bill Pan via The Epoch Times,

The University of Michigan said it will eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts following the Trump administration’s warning that colleges with discriminative policies could lose federal funding.

The changes, announced on Thursday, include shutting down two diversity offices and ending its “DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan.” This follows earlier steps to phase out DEI-related requirements, such as removing mandatory DEI statements in admissions, hiring, promotions, awards, and performance reviews.

The university said individuals who previously worked on DEI initiatives across various schools, colleges, and departments will now “refocus their full effort on their core responsibilities.”

“These decisions have not been made lightly,” University of Michigan President Santa Ono and three top administrators said in a joint statement. “We recognize the changes are significant and will be challenging for many of us, especially those whose lives and careers have been enriched by and dedicated to programs that are now pivoting.

“We are deeply grateful for the meaningful contributions of leaders, faculty, and staff who have advanced our ongoing efforts to create an ever-more inclusive and respectful community.”

Federal Pressure Intensifies

The changes come as the Trump administration ramped up the enforcement of federal anti-discrimination laws, including Title VI and Title IX, which prohibit discrimination based on race and sex, respectively, in education settings.

The University of Michigan specifically pointed to a “Dear Colleague” letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights division. The Feb. 14 letter warned that the 2023 Supreme Court decision that declared the use of racial preferences in college admissions unconstitutional would now extend to all university policies and programs beyond admissions.

“At its core, the test is simple: If an educational institution treats a person of one race differently than it treats another person because of that person’s race, the educational institution violates the law,” the letter stated.

Moving forward, the university said it plans to increase investments in student-facing programs, including financial aid, mental health support, academic advising and counseling, and a scholarship for students from foster care.

Massive DEI Spending Under Scrutiny

The university has been known for a sprawling and costly DEI bureaucracy. According to an analysis by UMich economics professor Mark Perry, as of January 2024, the university spent $30.7 million each year on salaries for 241 employees who work in DEI offices or have the keywords diversity, equity, or inclusion in their job titles. This figure does not account for additional staff and resources spent to support those DEI employees.

A New York Times investigation published in October 2024 further estimated that UMich spent $250 million on DEI since 2016. The Times noted that despite this enormous investment, race- and gender-based grievances on campus actually increased, with students filing more complaints than ever before.

Following the Times report, UMich published a lengthy response in which Chief Diversity Officer Tabbye Chavous accused the article of being “filled with misinformation, disinformation, and, sadly, sexism.”

Some officials agreed that the university’s massive DEI spending failed to directly benefit students. Jordan Acker, one of the six Democrats on UMich’s eight-member board of regents, said on Thursday that the resources have not been effectively used to achieve its goals.

“Over the past several years, the university has spent 250 million on diversity efforts, but yet the population of minority students at UM has grown little, and much of the resources we’ve devoted to these efforts have gone into administrative overhead, not outreach to students,” he said in a statement on social media platform X.

“At Michigan, the focus of our diversity efforts needs to be meaningful change, not bureaucracy.”

Authored by Samantha Flom via The Epoch Times,

A prominent Wall Street law firm has struck a deal with the White House to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will dedicate the services to causes supported by both the firm and the Trump administration, including assisting veterans and other public servants, ensuring fairness in the U.S. justice system, and combating anti-Semitism.

The firm also committed to funding at least five law graduates under a fellowship dedicated to supporting the causes each year and employing merit-based hiring practices, vowing not to deny representation to members of politically disenfranchised groups.

This deal comes as President Donald Trump has, in recent weeks, issued executive orders targeting multiple major legal firms, directing government agencies to revoke their security clearances and terminate contracts. While Trump has not issued one against Skadden, the deal seems to be a way to prevent that from happening.

“This was essentially a settlement,” President Donald Trump said in announcing the deal at a White House event.

“We appreciate Skadden’s coming to the table. As you know, other law firms have likewise settled the case. And … what’s gone on is a shame.”

A White House statement explained that Skadden had approached Trump about its “strong commitment to ending the weaponization of the justice system and the legal profession.”

Jeremy London, the firm’s executive partner, said the two parties worked “constructively” to reach an agreement.

“The firm looks forward to continuing our productive relationship with President Trump and his administration. We firmly believe that this outcome is in the best interests of our clients, our people, and our firm,” London said.

News of the agreement came just hours after two other law firms, WilmerHale and Jenner & Block, sued the president for ordering the retraction of their security clearances and the termination of their government contracts.

In WilmerHale’s case, Trump cited the firm’s employment of former special counsel Robert Mueller and his aides as one of the top reasons for the move.

Mueller “wielded the power of the Federal Government to lead one of the most partisan investigations in American history,” Trump wrote in the executive order, referring to Mueller’s investigation of claims Trump colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. Those claims proved to be unfounded.

Jenner, on the other hand, hired Andrew Weissmann, Mueller’s top prosecutor.

In separate legal actions filed in the District of Columbia, the two firms accused the administration of punishing its political opposition and asked the court to find Trump’s orders unconstitutional.

Paul Weiss, another Wall Street law firm, brokered a deal with the White House last week to provide $40 million in free legal services for mutually supported causes. In return, the administration revoked an order similar to those targeting Jenner and WilmerHale.

Maryland lawmakers are scrambling to address a staggering $3.3 billion budget shortfall.

To close the gap, far-left Governor Wes Moore and activist Democrats have proposed a wave of tax hikes that would hit Marylanders’ wallets the hardest amid a deepening affordability crisis. 

QUESTION:

Maryland lawmakers spent too much money. The state has a $3.5 BILLION deficit.

To close the gap, Annapolis is looking to raise your taxes/fees. Here’s a list of the proposed increases. Which affect you most? Or… have you already ordered the U-Haul truck?

Tax…

— Chris Papst (@chrispapst) March 29, 2025

With power bills already skyrocketing to record highs for many folks due to backfiring and disastrous green energy policies, these same progressive lawmakers are creating even more nightmares for taxpayers—this time by proposing a tax that effectively targets sleep.

A small but vocal group of conservative Republicans in the Maryland House of Delegates were stunned on Friday when far-left Democrats pushed through HB 858—a bill that establishes a mattress stewardship program under the guise of promoting safe disposal and recycling. This is another tax on Marylanders as the state sinks into financial turmoil and elevated credit downgrade risks. The new 6% tax on mattresses is on top of the existing 6% sales tax. 

Del. Mark N. Fisher (R-Calvert), one of the leaders of the Maryland House Freedom Caucus, blasted the “Sleep Tax” and asked if there would be a “snoring surcharge.”

Democrats just passed the ‘Sleep Tax’. Marylanders already pay a 6% sales tax when you buy a mattress. Now, @mddems want you to pay a surcharge. Is that a ‘snoring surcharge’? pic.twitter.com/Pt0atYzupZ

— Mark Fisher (@fisher4maryland) March 28, 2025

Torrey Snow of WBAL Radio said this about the ridiculous tax passed on sleep…

Oh, you think I’m joking! Maryland Democrats literally passed a bill to tax your good sleep! House Bill 858. Look it up! #maryland #democrats #mattresstax #wesmoore pic.twitter.com/HeI3yTHQht

— Torrey Snow WBAL (@TorreySnowWbal) March 28, 2025

Meanwhile…

Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania Mattress stores right now….. #Maryland #MooreTaxes #MooreFees https://t.co/MiVbY2t4Ex pic.twitter.com/pqOu0PXMU7

— Libertarian Party of Maryland (@LPMaryland) March 28, 2025

Also, Moody’s Ratings recently warned that Maryland—a state heavily dependent on the federal government—faces heightened recession risk in the era of DOGE-related cuts. The warning comes amid a twin crisis: a ballooning state deficit and a power bill crisis. 

If far-left Gov. Moore and Democrats are willing to tax Marylanders’ sleep, these woke activists could easily push another bill to tax thinking. 

Maryland Dems…

Maryland Dems Lose All Sense Of Reality: Focus On Condoms For Kids, Reparations As Crises Pile Up https://t.co/WnoOnJxnbi

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 5, 2025

It’s time for common sense to re-enter Maryland politics after decades of Democrats torpedoing the state to the brink of financial crisis. Perhaps the Maryland House Freedom Caucus will be those heroes needed to rescue the imploding state.

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at overhauling the Smithsonian to combat what he calls “divisive, race-centered” narratives pushed under the Biden administration, according to RedState.com.

Titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” the order criticizes the museum system’s recent direction: “Once widely respected… the Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology,” it states, arguing such views frame American and Western values as “inherently harmful and oppressive.”

The order tasks Vice President JD Vance, a member of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, with leading efforts to “remove improper ideology” across the institution.

President Trump’s latest executive order targets the Smithsonian, aiming to restore what he calls a truthful, uplifting view of American history and culture. The directive criticizes recent shifts toward “divisive, race-centered ideology” and tasks Vice President JD Vance with rooting out “improper ideology” across its museums and research centers.

https://t.co/BQy31t6E8Z
President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at restoring accurate representations of American history in educational institutions. https://t.co/BQy31t6E8Z

— Executive Order & Presidential Action News (@47_Tracker) March 27, 2025

The RedState.com report quotes the order: “It is the policy of my Administration to restore Federal sites… to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage,” the order states, insisting museums should educate, not “indoctrinate.” 

The order also instructs Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to review and “restore” public monuments removed over the past five years. A White House fact sheet says many were taken down to “perpetuate a false revision of history” or unfairly disparage historical figures.

Critics quickly lashed out. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) wrote on X: “You cannot erase our past.” But as Trump allies note, this comes from a party that demanded the removal of statues of figures like George Washington and Jefferson.

Trump’s move follows earlier efforts to reclaim institutions from what he calls far-left ideologues—turning places like the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center into cultural battlegrounds.

Past controversies at the Smithsonian include omitting Justice Clarence Thomas from its African American history museum in 2016—later correcting it only under pressure—and celebrating transgender activists like Sylvia Rivera in its American Women’s History Museum. It even preserved a suit worn by Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) during Capitol cleanup after January 6, a move critics call symbolic pandering.

The order sets a deadline of July 4, 2026—America’s 250th birthday—for completing all reforms. “President Trump aims to ensure that the Smithsonian… sparks children’s imagination, celebrates American history and ingenuity… and makes America proud,” the White House said.

Authored by José Niño via Headline USA,

Earlier this week, the House Judiciary Committee passed a bill HR 38, a bill that allows licensed concealed firearm holders to carry in other states that allow concealed carry. 

However, for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, this bill does not go far enough. On X, he said “ I support this bill, but there is a better option, and it is National Constitutional Carry.” 

He added, “29 states already have Constitutional (i.e. permitless) Carry. Why not extend it to all 50 states?” 

Yesterday, our Judiciary Committee passed HR 38, National Reciprocity. I support this bill, but there is a better option, and it is National Constitutional Carry.

29 states already have Constitutional (i.e. permitless) Carry. Why not extend it to all 50 states?

Under HR 38… pic.twitter.com/ddS2jECW0q

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 27, 2025

Constitutional carry is the simple concept that any lawful individual can carry a firearm without having to ask the government for permission.

Under HR 38, Massie noted that residents of constitutional carry states can carry firearms in any state that issues permits to its citizens. The recent Bruen Supreme Court decision requires all non-constitutional carry states to issue carry permits.

Massie highlighted how when HR 38 passes, residents of the 29 constitutional carry states will be able to carry in all 50 states without a permit. Though paradoxically, residents of the 21 states without constitutional carry will need permits in their own states, while visitors from constitutional carry states won’t.

In the Kentucky congressman’s view, if Congress can mandate California to allow permit-less carry for out-of-state visitors based on the Second Amendment, it only makes sense to extend this right to California residents as well. 

Massie posed the following question: “Why not pass national constitutional carry and afford everyone in the United States the right to ‘bear arms’ which is enshrined in the Constitution?”

He also called attention to how HR 38 may create a situation where a Kentucky resident could carry an AR-15 pistol with a 20-round magazine in California, while Californians themselves cannot own or carry such equipment. This appears to contradict the framework established by the Supreme Court decision in DC v. Heller.

In contrast, Massie’s proposed national constitutional carry bill stipulates that if a state allows possession of a particular firearm, it must also allow the carry of said firearm.

He introduced this bill as a substitute amendment to HR 38 in committee but withdrew it to avoid forcing his colleagues to choose between National Reciprocity and National Constitutional Carry. The current consensus is that HR 38 can pass the House, while Constitutional Carry may not have sufficient support.

Pro-gun organizations such as the National Association for Gun Rights are firmly behind Massie’s Constitutional Carry bill. NAGR President Dudley Brown tweeted, “Massie’s bill is INFINITELY better than *smirk* John Cornyn’s.”

Massie’s bill is INFINITELY better than *smirk* John Cornyn’s. https://t.co/vk6qXzKUkY

— Dudley Brown (@dudleywbrown) March 27, 2025

Massie’s bill is INFINITELY better than *smirk* John Cornyn’s.

Headline USA reached out to Brown, who said the following about Massie’s bill: 

“Massie’s Real Constitutional Carry law skips all the big-brother-may-I requirements and assumes citizens are law-abiding.  National reciprocity is a half measure compromise, as evidenced by the Senate sponsor, Sen John Cornyn.”

HR 38 was introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson, R-NC, and currently has 178 co-sponsors.

A new study ranks the best states for house flipping, using data on sale prices, remodeling costs, sales volume, and time on market. By standardizing these metrics into a single House Flipping Score, the study identifies where flipping is most profitable—higher scores mean better conditions for flippers.

Vermont tops the list of best states for house flipping with a score of 99, thanks to fast sales (32 days on market) and high transaction volume. Maine follows with a score of 95, offering the lowest remodeling costs ($27,486) among top states and similarly quick sales, the study from Badeloft shows.

New Hampshire ranks third (score: 93), combining low renovation costs with high average sale prices ($462,492). Delaware takes fourth (score: 86) with moderate remodeling expenses and solid sales volume.

Rhode Island (score: 85) has the second-fastest market (under 28 days) and low renovation expenses. Hawaii places sixth (score: 83), driven by the highest sale prices nationwide ($829,941).

Connecticut (score: 79) has the shortest time on market—just 27 days—and solid resale value. Virginia (score: 76) offers decent profits with moderate remodeling costs. North Carolina (score: 74) boasts the most active housing market among top states.

Massachusetts rounds out the top ten (score: 71) with high property values ($605,614) and a market time of 36 days.

Virginia is ranked eighth for house flipping potential, achieving a score of 76. Home improvement projects here generally require an investment of $39,215, with investors able to sell properties for an average of $382,930.

Finally, North Carolina is positioned ninth on the list of best states for house flipping, achieving a score of 74. The state features the most active housing market among the top-ranking states, with 6,649 houses sold per 100,000 residents.

A Badeloft study spokesperson said: “House flipping proves to be a profitable endeavor in many states, particularly those where the cost of remodeling is relatively low, and the potential for high sale prices is strong. It’s important to consider that prioritizing premium quality renovations is essential to maximizing the property’s value and securing a profitable return.”

“Carefully selected and stylish furnishings that complement these renovations can further enhance the home’s appeal, making it even more marketable and increasing its overall value”.

The full study data can be found here.