Investors are turning more defensive as geopolitical tensions rise and key U.S. labor market data approaches.
Energy and metals have been hot but a rally for agriculture commodities may now be getting under way, says technical analyst
An agriculture rally seems to be kicking into gear, says Fundstrat’s Mark Newton.
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Goldman Sachs raises its index earnings forecast for the third time this year and sets a 7,000 target for the KOSPI, 25% above current levels
Tampon Tim Walz MELTS DOWN about Minnesota fraud
Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.) was in front of the Oversight Committee this week when he was confronted by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) about fraud in his state — and his reaction did not make him look good.“Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison, you have presided over one of the worst government fraud scandals in American history. This was money intended to feed hungry children, help kids with autism, provide food and shelter and health care to the needy, and more,” Mace began.“You both allowed billions in these American taxpayer dollars to be pillaged and plundered by Somali pirates. You knew this was happening. You chose to do nothing about it. And in some cases, you even enabled it,” she continued.“My questions this morning, my first go to Governor Walz. And I hope you learned some lessons from your last hearing with me on the Oversight Committee. Have you learned anything since then?” Mace asked.“I did,” Walz responded angrily. “That if I didn’t speak up, two of my people would be dead, Congresswoman, and I warned you.”“Governor Walz, what is a woman? Have you learned that lesson? Do you know what a woman is?” she asked, ignoring his previous response.“I’m not here to be your prop for your obsession,” Walz said.“If you can’t define what a woman is, you certainly can’t define what fraud is,” she responded, before asking Walz how much money was spent on autism in Minnesota in 2017.“I don’t have those numbers in front of me,” he answered.As Mace continued to question him on the fraud, Walz repeatedly answered that he wasn’t there to be Mace’s “prop.”“Congresswoman Nancy Mace held him to account,” BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler comments.“Of course, you remember his nickname, Tampon Tim. The reason that we call him Tampon Tim is not to be vulgar. It’s not because we’re petty and we’re hurling an ad hominem at him,” Wheeler says.“It’s because Governor Tim Walz put tampons in boys’ bathrooms in Minnesota. Because he won’t answer the question, ‘What is a woman?’ Because he’s so captured by leftist ideology,” she adds.Want more from Liz Wheeler?To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
What It Means To Achieve Victory in Iran
Now that NATO has shot down an Iranian missile aimed at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and an American submarine torpedoed an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka, the conflict with Iran extends from the skies above NATO to the Indian Ocean floor. The Iranians are not just attacking U.S. and Israeli bases, but also civilian targets across the Middle East and neutral shipping in the Persian Gulf. As the battlefield widens, oil prices begin to climb, and the stock market starts to wobble, many onlookers are growing nervous about the prospects of a quick conclusion to this war or even of an American victory.
This stage of the conflict is only a week old, but the contours of both sides’ theories of victory are coming into view. The Iranian regime hopes to outlast the U.S. and Israeli bombardment and inflict enough damage on their neighbors and the global economy to force a settlement that leaves them in power. The Americans and the Israelis are suppressing Iran’s ability to launch missiles, destroying its prized facilities and—if necessary—preparing to tear the entire country apart. The Iranians aim to broaden the conflict; the allies threaten to deepen it.
From Iran’s perspective, this is an existential conflict. The revolutionary government in Iran intends to destroy Israel, slaughter Jews worldwide, and, in its leaders’ more fevered dreams, conquer the globe. The war it began 47 years ago ultimately is a war of annihilation.
Carl von Clausewitz argues the goal of a war is to “compel the other to submit to [our] will,” and the will of each side for this round of the conflict is clear. The rulers of Iran aim to maintain their grip on the Iranian people and ensure their nuclear program survives for later use. Donald Trump wants the mullahs to stop building long-range missiles, to cease their lavish support for terrorism, and to give up their nuclear ambitions.
Again, Iran is lashing out not just at American bases in the region and Israel, but also at most of its neighbors. Iranian missiles and drones are landing across an arc extending from Azerbaijan to Cyprus to Oman, and everything in between. Qatar and Oman have long sought to mediate between the United States and the “death to America” crowd, but they are nonetheless under fire along with their neighbors. Hezbollah has foolishly expanded the war to Lebanon.
Not content with terrorizing innocent civilians across the Middle East, the mullahs intend to make the rest of the world suffer. They are trying to close the Strait of Hormuz, a bottleneck in the Persian Gulf through which passes roughly 20 percent of the global supply of oil and natural gas. If they succeed, the global economy will suffer greatly: Saudi Arabia can shift only a fraction of its oil exports to the Red Sea, and in the short term, American shale producers can barely make up a small percentage of the Gulf’s daily output.
The Trump team is mitigating the damage the Iranians can inflict. Trump directed the Development Finance Corporation to insure tankers in the Gulf and said he will send naval escorts. (Escorts may not be necessary, since much of the Iranian Navy has been sunk.)
Air defense systems that intercept incoming ballistic missiles are expensive and in short supply, so the U.S. and Israeli militaries are blasting them before they get in the air. Iranian missile launches have decreased 90 percent since the first day of this conflict. Drones can be stopped the same way—launches are down 83 percent—and Ukraine is teaching America’s allies how to efficiently disable Iranian drones, which the Russians have used for years.
Israel and the United States remain on the offensive, too. In addition to jointly bombing command centers, airfields, and other military facilities, both countries are reportedly covertly arming separatist Kurdish movements. Israel is destroying the people and the organizations the mullahs employ to repress the Iranian populace, particularly in the Kurdish-heavy parts of the country.
The broadening and deepening of the war will significantly affect the rest of the world. Energy-importing Europe, India, and China will suffer if tankers cannot transit the Strait of Hormuz. Higher oil prices could stabilize Russia’s dismal finances. Arming the Kurds will not sit well with Turkey, which has fought its own Kurdish separatists for decades. But Azerbaijan, which collaborates closely with Israel, could be intrigued by the implications for the Azeri Turks just across the border in Iran.
Trump is offering another way out of this mess. He said on Thursday that he is open to another ruler in Tehran, but “I have to be involved in the appointment. … We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.” That would be a major victory, and not just for America.
The post What It Means To Achieve Victory in Iran appeared first on .
My husband and I have $13.5 million and 3 kids, but one is an addict. How do we fairly divide our estate?
“We are the first generation on either side of our families to experience this level of success.”
IRS rules for the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ car loan interest deduction: What you need to know
Sponsored StoryKey takeawaysThe federal car loan interest deduction is available for the 2025 through 2028 tax years.You may be able to deduct up to $10,000 of car loan interest per year, but the deduction is gradually phased out if your modified adjusted gross income is greater than $100,000 ($200,000 for married couples filing a joint return).The car loan interest deduction is allowed only if the motor vehicle you purchase with a qualifying loan satisfies certain requirements, such as being a new vehicle, having a final assembly point in the U.S., and having a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds.If all the requirements are met, you can claim the deduction for car loan interest payments on Schedule 1-A whether you claim the Standard Deduction or itemized deductions on your federal income tax return.What is the car loan interest deduction?The car loan interest deduction is a federal tax deduction for interest paid on loans used to buy a motor vehicle. It was enacted as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (also known as the Working Families Tax Cut), which was signed into law in July 2025, and applies for the 2025 through 2028 tax years.However, the loan and vehicle you purchase must satisfy certain requirements. For instance, the deduction is only allowed if your loan is taken out after 2024, and the vehicle’s final assembly must be in the U.S.If all the requirements are met, you can deduct up to $10,000 of qualified car loan interest per year (the limit is the same regardless of your filing status). If you’re paying off more than one car loan, you can combine the eligible interest from each of them to reach the $10,000 maximum.However, the deductible amount of interest is reduced – potentially to $0 – if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above $100,000 ($200,000 for married couples filing a joint return).TurboTax Tip: “To deduct car loan interest, your car generally must be new (not used), purchased after 2024, driven primarily for personal use, and under 14,000 pounds. Also, its final assembly must have occurred in the United States. You can find the assembly point by entering the VIN on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN Decoder website or checking the car’s window sticker.” – Victoria Adams, EA, Aberdeen, Wash.Related: Related:Which vehicles qualify for the car loan interest deduction?To qualify for the car loan interest deduction, the vehicle you purchase with a qualifying loan must be:A new car, minivan, van, SUV, pickup truck, or motorcycle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 14,000 poundsassembled in the U.S.driven mostly for personal reasonsbuilt primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highwaysLet’s take a closer look at these requirements.1. New vehicleSince the vehicle must be new, a used car doesn’t count – even if it’s new to you. The fact that other people test-drove the vehicle before you bought it, or that the dealer previously used it as a loaner vehicle, doesn’t necessarily make it a used vehicle for purposes of the deduction. However, you can’t take the deduction if the dealer actually registered or took title of the vehicle before you bought it.2. Weight limit Most non-commercial vehicles have a GVWR of less than 14,000 pounds. It’s when you start getting into work trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles that the GVWR becomes an issue. You can usually find the GVWR on the sticker attached to the driver-side door jamb, or you can verify the GVWR with the dealer before you purchase a new vehicle.3. Assembled in the U.S. To satisfy the assembly requirement, your vehicle’s “final assembly” must occur within the U.S. So, it’s OK if some parts or components are manufactured or assembled in other countries, as long as the fully-functional vehicle rolls off a U.S. assembly line right before it’s sent to a dealer.So, how do you know the final assembly point of your new vehicle? You can either:Look on the vehicle’s “window sticker,” which dealers must attach to all vehicles on their lot.Plug the vehicle identification number (VIN) into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN Decoder website.4. Personal use The personal use requirement is met if, at the time you take out a loan to purchase a new vehicle, you expect the vehicle to be driven by you and/or your family members for personal reasons more than 50% of the time. So, you can still claim the deduction if the vehicle is used for business purposes – for instance, if you’re an Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare driver – as long as you planned to drive it for personal reasons more than for business reasons when you borrowed the money to buy the vehicle. If your plans change after buying the vehicle, you can still claim the deduction if all other requirements are satisfied.If you use your vehicle for both business and personal purposes, you may also be able to deduct some of your interest payments as a business expense (for example, on Schedule C, Schedule E, or Schedule F). However, any interest deducted as a business expense can’t also be deducted as part of the car loan interest deduction.5. Built primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways Even if they’re sometimes driven on roads, the IRS generally doesn’t view certain “off-road” vehicles – such as golf carts, race cars, forklifts, riding lawn mowers, and farm tractors – as manufactured for use on public streets, roads and highways. So, unless you can show that your particular vehicle was indeed built for use on public roads, you can’t claim the car loan interest deduction if you borrow money to buy one of these or other vehicles that typically aren’t “street legal.”Other requirements While the vehicle requirements listed above are the main ones to consider, the tax law also states that your vehicle must:have at least two wheelsbe treated as a motor vehicle for purposes of the Clean Air Act’s emission standards provisions (that is, it has to be a “self-propelled vehicle designed for transporting persons or property on a street or highway.”)Any vehicle that satisfies the other requirements discussed above will likely satisfy these two requirements as well. But it may help to know that these additional requirements exist.Do all loans qualify for the car loan interest deduction?You can only claim the car loan interest deduction if the interest you paid is for a loan that:you took out after 2024was used to buy a qualifying motor vehicle (see above)is secured by a first lien on the qualifying vehicleSo, interest payments on pre-2025 loans that you’re still paying off aren’t deductible. Loans from a relative don’t qualify, either.You also can’t deduct interest paid on a loan that’s used to lease a motor vehicle (or any other lease financing payments), since you don’t “buy” a vehicle when you lease it.Other loans that don’t qualify for the deduction include those used to finance the purchase of a:fleet of motor vehiclesvehicle with a salvage titlevehicle intended to be used for scrap or partsHow do I calculate the car loan interest deduction?The maximum car loan interest deduction is $10,000. If two married people file separate tax returns, the $10,000 limitation applies to each spouse’s return.However, your deduction will be gradually reduced if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is greater than $100,000 ($200,000 for joint filers). If the phase-out is triggered, the deduction is reduced by $200 for each $1,000 of MAGI over the applicable threshold amount. The deduction is reduced to $0 once your MAGI hits $150,000 ($250,000 on a joint return).When calculating the car loan interest deduction, MAGI is equal to the adjusted gross income reported on your Form 1040, plus any deduction or exemption claimed for:foreign earned incomeforeign housing costsincome for residents of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or Puerto RicoExample:Here’s an example of how to calculate the car loan interest deduction: Suppose you’re single and you paid $12,000 of interest on a car loan in 2025. You also have a MAGI of $120,600 and satisfy all the car loan interest deduction requirements for the 2025 tax year.First, since your total of $12,000 in qualified interest payments is greater than the $10,000 limit, your maximum deduction is automatically reduced from $12,000 to $10,000.You then need to calculate an additional reduction, since your MAGI is $20,600 over the limit for single filers ($126,000 – $100,000 = $20,600). To do this, first divide $20,600 by $1,000, and round up to the nearest whole number if you end up with a fraction. The result of this is 21 (after rounding up from 20.6). Next, multiply that amount by $200 to determine the additional reduction, which is $4,200 ($200 x 21 = $4,200).That means your car loan interest deduction for 2025 is $5,800 ($10,000 – $4,200 = $5,800).Related: Learn more:How do I claim the car loan interest deduction on my tax return?Use Schedule 1-A to calculate and claim the car loan interest deduction (and other new deductions created by the One Big Beautiful Bill) on your federal income tax return. The combined total of all the deductions claimed on Schedule 1-A (including the car loan interest deduction) are reported on Form 1040.You also have to provide the VIN for the motor vehicle securing the loan on Schedule 1-A. If your qualified vehicle is replaced due to an unforeseen intervening event – such as a defective vehicle being replaced under your state’s lemon law – include the VIN of the replacement vehicle. You’ll need to know how much interest on a qualified loan you paid during the tax year to complete Schedule 1-A. If you paid at least $600 of interest in 2025, your lender should have provided a statement to you by Jan. 31, 2026, showing the total amount of interest you paid during the year. A regular monthly statement, annual statement, or other similar statement will suffice as long as it provides an accurate total of the interest paid. It can be delivered through the mail or posted on an online portal that you can access.Starting with the 2026 tax year, your lender will have to send you a Form 1098-VLI if you paid at least $600 of qualified interest during the tax year. The form will show the amount of interest paid during the year and other information you may need to claim the car loan interest deduction.Frequently asked questions about the car loan interest deductionQ1: Can I claim the car loan interest deduction if I refinance?If you refinance a car loan, you still may be able to deduct interest paid on the new loan. However, “you can only deduct the interest from a refinanced loan if both the original loan and the related vehicle met all of the deduction’s requirements,” says Victoria Adams, an enrolled agent and TurboTax Expert based in Aberdeen, Wash. The new loan also must be secured by a first lien on the same vehicle. However, you can only deduct interest paid on the outstanding balance of the new loan as of the date of the refinancing. What are the pros and cons of refinancing your car loan?Q2: Do I have to itemize to claim the car loan interest deduction?If you qualify, “you can deduct interest on a car loan whether you itemize or not,” says Adams. That’s because the car loan interest deduction is a “below-the-line” deduction, which means it’s reported on Form 1040 below the line for adjusted gross income (AGI). You can claim below-the-line deductions whether you claim the Standard Deduction or itemized deductions on your tax return. Are you better off claiming the Standard Deduction or itemized deductions?Q3: Can I claim the car loan interest deduction if I pay off the loan on a car I inherited?Generally, you can only deduct interest paid on a qualified motor vehicle loan if you’re the one who took out the loan. So, if someone else assumes the debt, they typically can’t deduct interest paid on the loan.But what if you inherit the vehicle tied to the qualified loan? In this case, the loan remains a qualified loan for purposes of the car loan interest deduction if it continues to be secured by a first lien on the vehicle. If you inherit a car, check to see if you owe state inheritance tax on it.Q4: Is there a limit on the price of a qualified vehicle that’s used to claim the car loan interest deduction?There’s no limit on the price of a qualified vehicle, but the deduction is limited to $10,000 of qualified interest paid during the tax year. Check out this auto loan calculator to see how much you may be able to borrow.Q5: Can I deduct interest on a loan used to buy a pre-owned car that’s new to me?No. The car loan interest deduction is only available if you’re the original owner of the motor vehicle purchased with your loan. See if you can deduct your car registration fees.Q6: How do I determine if a vehicle was assembled in the U.S.?Only vehicles assembled in the U.S. are qualified vehicles for purposes of the car loan interest deduction. To find out where a motor vehicle is assembled, you can rely on (1) the final assembly point shown on the vehicle’s window sticker, or (2) the “plant of manufacture” associated with the vehicle’s VIN. Enter your vehicle’s VIN in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “VIN Decoder” to identify your vehicle’s manufacturing plant. Let a local tax expert matched to your unique situation get your taxes done 100% right with TurboTax Expert Full Service. Your expert can work with you in real time and maximize your deductions, finding every dollar you deserve, guaranteed.You can also file taxes on your own with TurboTax Do It Yourself Deluxe. We’ll search over 350 deductions and credits so you don’t miss a thing.Get started now by logging into TurboTax and file with confidence.Related: Read next:
Coach Outlet’s new Loved Signature Canvas collection starts at $35
TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this collectionCoach Outlet has been showing some extra love to its collections lately, and in the best way possible. We couldn’t get enough of the spring-ready Powder Pink line, and neither could shoppers since most of it sold out almost instantly. Thankfully, there’s another spring drop to swoon over: the Loved Signature Canvas collection.Coach Outlet’s new Loved Signature Canvas collection is the polar opposite of the pink drop, but it’s just as stunning. The collection features the brand’s lived-in, vintage-inspired take on its classic monogrammed material with a dark brown hue, along with gold and Gunmetal accents. The canvas is specially treated for a “loved-worn look,” according to the brand. In the collection, you’ll find 16 pieces sporting the vintage-style design, including wristlets, wallets, crossbody bags, and more. Prices start at just $35 with discounts up to 72% off.Loved Signature Canvas ID Card Wallet, $49 (was $178) at Coach Outlet
Courtesy of Coach Outlet
Only need your ID and a few credit cards? This Coach Outlet wallet has you covered. It has three card slots and an ID window inside, and an outside open pocket for cash or receipts. One shopper called it “small but mighty,” saying it’s the perfect style for smaller bags. Originally $178, it’s $49, thanks to a 72% discount.If you want a slim ID case, there’s a Loved Signature Canvas style also on sale for $39.Loved Signature Canvas Finn Crossbody Bag With Pockets, $129 (was $350) at Coach Outlet
Courtesy of Coach Outlet
The Finn Crossbody Bag is the kind of spacious and convenient crossbody bag everyone needs in their bag collection. It has an adjustable 25-inch strap that you can wear on your shoulder or as a crossbody. It also features three zippered outside pockets and an inside zip pocket for extra organization.”This is my favorite Coach bag ever! So comfy to wear and so slouchy,” a reviewer said. “Fits everything I could ever need, too.”Loved Signature Canvas Corner Zip Wristlet, $35 (was $75) at Coach Outlet
Courtesy of Coach Outlet
We can’t talk about convenient accessories without mentioning a classic wristlet. This Coach Outlet wristlet in Loved Signature Canvas is 53% off, and can hold the essentials like your cash, cards, and ID.”Super cute! Love switching it up when I go out and don’t want to carry a purse. Great for the essentials on a night out,” a Coach shopper shared.Related: Coach’s viral messenger bag is back, and it’s the perfect slouchy everyday bagLoved Signature Canvas Rowan Bucket Bag With Charms, $189 (was $350) at Coach Outlet
Courtesy of Coach Outlet
Rather than a standard zippered top, this bucket bag has a drawstring closure that makes it easy to reach in and grab your belongings. Not to mention, it has a relaxed yet refined look, and it comes with charms. It comes with a detachable 8.75-inch handle and has a 22-inch detachable strap for both shoulder and crossbody wear, making it versatile, too.”I noticed this color way last on this drop, and I gotta say, I’m no longer heartbroken about missing out on the pink and denim. This print and bag is so unique and stunning,” a customer said.Loved Signature Canvas Mini Carey Crossbody Bag, $149 (was $250) at Coach Outlet
Courtesy of Coach Outlet
Like the practicality of a crossbody, but love the look and size of a mini shoulder bag? The Mini Carey gives you the best of both worlds. Measuring 7.25 inches long, 2.75 inches wide, and 5 inches high, it’s petite enough to wear on the go, but still has enough room to hold the essentials. It comes with two detachable straps — one 8.75 inches long and the other 21.75 inches long — that make it both a crossbody bag and a shoulder bag. For organization, there’s an outside magnetic snap pocket, an inside snap pocket, and two credit card slots.With prices starting at just $35, the Loved Signature Canvas collection is one of the latest Coach Outlet drops you’re going to want to snag before it’s gone.Shop more dealsLoved Signature Canvas Rowan Satchel Bag With Charms, $219 (was $350) at Coach OutletLoved Signature Canvas 3-In-1 Wallet, $79 (was $228) at Coach OutletLoved Signature Canvas Nolita 19 Shoulder Bag, $129 (was $225) at Coach Outlet
Oil at 20-month high as Qatar minister warns of halt to energy shipments
Oil futures traded at their highest levels since the summer of 2024 on Friday as the war against Iran entered a seventh day with no sign of it ending anytime soon.
‘Mr. Gold’ Warns Of ‘System Reset’ As Silver Lights Fuse Of Derivatives Time-Bomb
‘Mr. Gold’ Warns Of ‘System Reset’ As Silver Lights Fuse Of Derivatives Time-Bomb
Authored by Greg Hunter via usawatchdog.com,
Financial writer and precious metals expert Bill Holter (aka Mr. Gold) predicted that by March, silver would likely suffer a failure to deliver physical metal at COMEX. In other words, demand for physical silver will swamp the existing supply. The math is scary and simple, and Holter breaks it down, “The registered inventory at COMEX in silver is 86 million ounces. On the second day of March, there are already 52 million ounces of silver standing for delivery. That leaves 30 million to 35 million ounces unspoken for. . .. This looks dicey. If they have 52 million ounces standing for delivery now, where is it going to be at the end of the month? If silver fails to deliver, then what you are going to have in the gold market is buyers stepping up that normally would not even buy and ask for delivery. . .. The bottom line is if silver fails to deliver, gold will fail to deliver in 24 hours. Once that happens, then confidence breaks. . .. You are looking at two quadrillion dollars in derivatives in a global economy with $350 trillion in debt with an underlying $100 trillion annual GDP. The math does not work. I think silver, and I have said this for many years, silver will be the spark or the fuse that lights off gold, which then lights off the derivatives time bomb. Warren Buffett calls derivatives weapons of mass financial destruction.”
Mr. Gold thinks, “When the system resets, governments will start a money print fest that will touch off global hyperinflation. . .. The pure math of debt outstanding is that it cannot be repaid in current terms. It will be hyperinflation of the things we need and hyper-deflation of the things we already have. . .. How is somebody going to buy your house if the capital is not there? If the capital is not there, then the price is going to have to come down. . .. It is highly likely that silver will kick off the demise of the financial system.”
Mr. Gold thinks this kind of global debt will go bad fast. Holter warns, “When this thing cascades and collapses, you are either in place, or you are out of place. If you are out of place, you will not be able to repair your mistake. It will be a lifetime mistake to have not gotten ready. Let me just say there is a difference in being early and being wrong. In 2000 to 2005, if you were buying gold or you were buying silver, you were an idiot, a complete idiot, and people thought you walked around with a tin foil hat on. . .. Now, we are at the point where the best place to have invested your money since January 2000 would be in gold or silver. When Noah was running around building his ark, he looked wrong. He was not wrong–he was just early.”
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Tyler Durden
Fri, 03/06/2026 – 05:00