THE NEWS

Artworks by Henri Mattise, Paul Cezanne and Pierre-August Renoir stolen in two separate cases have been recovered in Brazil and Italy.

Energy Drinks Overtake Coffee As Gen Z’s Primary Caffeine Source

Filippo Falorni, Citi’s lead US equity-research analyst covering beverages and household and personal-care companies, published his latest survey of 2,400 US energy-drink consumers, revealing a significant generational shift in caffeine consumption.

Energy drinks, led by category giants Red Bull, Monster, and others, have overtaken coffee as the primary caffeine source among Gen Z consumers. In other words, younger Americans are increasingly abandoning the morning cup of coffee, even as Millennials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers continue to rely on it for their daily boost.

Among respondents aged 16 to 24, 30.6% now identify energy drinks as their primary caffeine source, up from 20.6% last year. Coffee fell to 27.3% from 40.4%, meaning energy drinks have overtaken coffee among the youngest cohort surveyed. Across all older age groups, coffee is the primary source of morning caffeine.

Falorni added more color: 

Based off our survey results, younger consumers are increasingly comfortable with using energy beverages as their primary caffeine source, with 30.6% and 24.3% of 16-24 and 25-34 year-olds, respectively, reporting energy drinks are their primary source of caffeine, up markedly from 20.6% and 19% in our 2025 survey and above the 23.6% for total respondents (vs. 16.6% in 2025) and only 12% for the 55+ age group (vs. 7.7% in 2025). We also highlight that coffee consumption is lowest for the youngest demographic we surveyed, with only 27.3% of 16–24-year-olds stating coffee was their primary caffeine source (down significantly from 40.4% in 2025) vs. 40.8% for total respondents (also down from 47.4% in 2025) and 60.4% for the 55+ age group

Looking specifically at energy drink consuming respondents, we can see the coffee category has been the largest share donor to energy beverages across all age groups, with 45% of all respondents reporting coffee was their primary source of caffeine before switching to energy beverages vs. 30% for soft drinks and 10% for tea. 

Other compelling findings in the survey:

Women accounted for 58% of consumers who entered the category during the past year, compared with only 29% of consumers who have been drinking energy beverages for six years or longer.
Zero-sugar products now represent about 49% of US energy-drink sales, up from 37% in 2021.
Energy-drink prices have risen only 4.9% since late 2021, compared with 42% for soda and 47% for coffee, giving Monster and Red Bull considerable room to raise prices.
About 40% of respondents increased their energy drink consumption over the past year, while just 20% reduced it.
Brand loyalty is soft: 51% switched their primary brand during the past year, making flavor innovation and shelf space critical.
Monster and Red Bull control about 70% of the market despite a surge of challenger brands.
In markets, Monster is outperforming Celsius year-to-date: 

Our latest coverage in the space includes the report that Rockstar founder Russell Weiner has accumulated a roughly $300 million stake in Celsius Holdings and is preparing an activist campaign aimed at accelerating the company’s turnaround. Read the full report here.

Tyler Durden
Fri, 08/14/2026 – 15:20

Massachusetts Mayor Brian Depena
A Democrat Massachusetts mayor was arrested and charged on Friday with fraudulently obtaining over $1.5 million in Covid business loans.
The Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts, Brian Depena, used the proceeds from Covid small-business loans to fund his campaign, pay his personal taxes and pay off nearly $900,000 in high-interest, hard-money mortgages on his properties, according to the Department of Justice.
According to the charging documents during the pandemic back in 2020 and 2021, Depena applied for a taxpayer-funded Covid-era Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) for his tire business.
The EIDL loans must be used as working capital to provide relief to businesses that suffered economic losses during Covid.
However, Depena used the Covid loans to fund his struggling campaign, pay off two high-interest mortgages, and pay back taxes.
Per the DOJ:
Depena allegedly caused Tenares Tire to apply for and obtain an EIDL in the amount of $150,000 in June 2020 and then used the majority of those funds as working capital for the business. However, according to the charging documents, Depena needed cash by early 2021. It is alleged that his mayoral campaign was struggling to pay bills, he owed the IRS for back taxes and he owed almost $900,000 to two private, hard money lenders who were charging Depena 12% and 8% interest – significantly more than the EIDL rate of 3.75% – on loans that encumbered various properties Depena owned in Lawrence.
In April 2021, Depena allegedly caused a request for an increase of the Tenares Tire EIDL. On July 14, 2021, the SBA approved an increase of the loan by $350,000, bringing the total Tenares Tire EIDL to $500,000. However, the SBA did not release the funds for another month. While waiting, Depena allegedly sent the following texts (originally in Spanish, here translated to English) to his accountant and financial advisor, who had been assisting Depena with the EIDL application and modification.
Brian Depena texts
According to the charging documents, the $350,000 in EIDL funds were electronically deposited into the Tenares Tire bank account on Aug. 16, 2021. The pre-deposit balance in the account was only $20.23. Shortly thereafter, Depena allegedly paid $85,000 of the EIDL funds to the IRS to pay off personal tax debts. He also allegedly transferred $120,000 of the EIDL funds to a personal account and used that money to write checks totaling $90,000 to “The Committee to Elect Brian Depena.” It is alleged that these checks were deposited in the Depena mayoral campaign account, and characterized as loans to the campaign, in September and October 2021.
While the hard money, high-interest loans were still outstanding, and while his campaign continued to struggle financially, Depena allegedly caused a request for a second EIDL modification in October 2021. On Oct. 27, 2021, the SBA approved a modification that would increase the loan by $1,154,400, bringing the total Tenares Tire EIDL to $1,654,400.
On Nov. 30, 2021, $1,154,188 in EIDL funds were electronically deposited in the Tenares Tire account and Depena allegedly transferred the entire amount to one of his personal accounts – which had a balance of only $1,401 – the same day. It is alleged that Depena allegedly used $42,112.96 of the EIDL funds for his mayoral campaign, writing checks to the campaign for $10,000 and $32,112.96. The first check was deposited in the campaign account on Dec. 2, 2021, when the account allegedly had been overdrawn for approximately 20 days.
Finally, it is alleged that Depena used $883,293 of the EIDL funds to pay off his debts to the hard money lenders. On Dec. 9, 2021, Depena bought a $538,109.03 treasurer’s check and used it to pay off one of the loans. On Dec. 18, 2021, he bought a $345,184.13 treasurer’s check and used it to pay off the other loan.
According to the charging documents, as of Aug. 5, 2026, Depena had made only 16 payments on the Tenares Tire EIDL. The outstanding principal balance was approximately $1,654,420.
“Today, the FBI arrested Mayor Brian Depena for allegedly cashing in on a public health crisis and blatantly defrauding a government program meant to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic. It’s alleged the Mayor fraudulently obtained over $1.5 million in small business loans which he then used as his own slush fund to pay his personal taxes, fund his mayoral campaign, and pay off $883,000 in high-interest mortgages on several properties he owned. This was emergency financial assistance meant to be a safety net for struggling businesses, not Mr. Depena’s own personal ATM,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division.
“When elected officials misuse federal funds for personal gain, they’re breaking the trust of their constituents – and breaking the law. Together, with our partners, the FBI will continue to doggedly pursue anyone who defrauds the federal government. You’ll be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that ‘easy money’ won’t seem so easy after all,” Docks added.

The post JUST IN: Democrat Massachusetts Mayor Arrested on Fraud and Money Laundering Charges – Used $1.6 Million in Covid Loans as Personal Slush Fund to Pay Off Mortgages appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem lashed out at the Lebanese officials Friday for accepting a U.S.-brokered framework agreement with Israel.

The Democrats’ favorite Glamour Boy, Luigi Mangione, pleaded guilty Friday to two federal charges and admitted he shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The post Nolte: Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty to Federal Stalking Charges, Admits to Shooting CEO appeared first on Breitbart.

NBC legal drama ‘Law & Order’ sparked outrage after portraying a character obviously based on accused murderer Luigi Mangione as a folk hero.
The post NBC’s ‘Law & Order’ Paints Luigi Mangione-Like Character as a Folk Hero appeared first on Breitbart.

Hasan Piker sparked backlash on Wednesday when he argued that Luigi Mangione killed Brian Thompson because he committed “social murder.” 
The post Leftist Superstar Hasan Piker Justifies Luigi Mangione: UnitedHealth CEO Guilty of ‘Social Murder’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Court documents filed Thursday are revealing the details of a Department of Justice (DOJ) intelligence gathering effort called “Operation Puppet Master” which probed a potential conspiracy by left wing groups to sabotage immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
The post Report: Details Revealed Of DOJ Probe of Groups Thought to Drive Violent ICE Protests in Minnesota appeared first on Breitbart.

Disgraced former Washington Post reporter and erstwhile Vox Media podcaster Taylor Lorenz has gushed over accused murderer Luigi Mangione and defended his growing legion of fans.
The post Taylor Lorenz Swoons over ‘Handsome’ Accused Murderer Luigi Mangione appeared first on Breitbart.

Even nine Democratic lawmakers could not get on board with a “barbaric” new Massachusetts law signed this week that essentially would allow an infant to be terminated moments before birth.
The post Even Democrat Lawmakers Opposed ‘Barbaric’ Massachusetts Abortion Law appeared first on Breitbart.