Fela’s ‘Zombie’ album inducted into 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame

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By Femi Akinyemi 

Late Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has been inducted into the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame for his 1976 classic album, “Zombie”.

The Recording Academy announced the induction during the week, noting that the album met the criteria for recordings with “lasting qualitative or historical significance.”

Only works released at least 25 years ago are considered for the honour.

Zombie now joins other notable entries such as albums by Jay-Z, Santana, and Cat Stevens in the Grammy Hall of Fame collection.

Fela’s eldest son, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, disclosed this on his official X handle on Wednesday.

“Our father’s legacy lives on. We are honoured to accept this Grammy Hall of Fame award on behalf of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

“His music continues to inspire and unite people across the world,” he wrote.

Released during Nigeria’s military era, Zombie was Fela’s criticism of military brutality and blind loyalty to authority. The bold message in the music triggered a major crackdown in 1977 when soldiers allegedly raided his Kalakuta Republic, setting properties ablaze and assaulting his family and supporters.

Nearly 30 years after his death, Zombie remains relevant across generations. Its influence can be seen in the works of Nigerian artistes like Burna Boy and Davido, while international stars such as Coldplay and Alicia Keys have also credited Fela’s legacy as a source of inspiration.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Israel kidnaps and then deports Greta Thunberg

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Israel said campaigner Greta Thunberg left the country on a flight to Sweden via France on Tuesday, after she was detained along with other activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid boat.

Of the 12 people on board the Madleen carrying food and supplies for Gaza, five French activists were taken into custody after they refused to leave Israel voluntarily.

Israeli forces intercepted the boat, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, in international waters on Monday and towed it to the port of Ashdod. They were then transferred to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the foreign ministry said.

“Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France),” Israel’s foreign ministry said on its official X account on Tuesday, along with a photo of the activist sitting on board a plane.

Five French activists who were also aboard the Madleen were set to face an Israeli judge, the French foreign minister said.

“Our consul was able to see the six French nationals arrested by the Israeli authorities last night,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.

“One of them has agreed to leave voluntarily and should return today. The other five will be subject to forced deportation proceedings.”

In the early hours of Tuesday, Israel’s foreign ministry said the activist group had arrived at Ben Gurion airport to “return to their home countries”.

“Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority,” it said on X.

The vessel carrying French, German, Brazilian, Turkish, Swedish, Spanish and Dutch activists had the stated aim of delivering humanitarian aid and breaking the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.

– Dire humanitarian conditions –

Israel’s interception of the Madleen about 185 kilometers (115 miles) west of the coast of Gaza, was condemned by Turkey as a “heinous attack” and Iran denounced it as “a form of piracy” in international waters.

In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, was damaged in international waters off Malta as it headed to Gaza, with the activists saying they suspected an Israeli drone attack.

A 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was part of a similar attempt to breach the naval blockade, left 10 civilians dead.

On Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said the blockade, in place for years before the Israel-Hamas war, was needed to prevent Palestinian militants from importing weapons.

Israel is facing mounting pressure to allow more aid into Gaza to alleviate widespread shortages of food and basic supplies.

Israel recently allowed some deliveries to resume after barring them for more than two months and began working with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

But humanitarian agencies have criticized the GHF and the United Nations refuses to work with it, citing concerns over its practices and neutrality.

Dozens of people have been killed near GHF distribution points since late May, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.

The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 54,927 people, the majority civilians, have been killed in the territory since the start of the war. The UN considers these figures reliable.

Out of 251 taken hostage during the Hamas attack, 54 are still held in Gaza including 32 the Israeli military says are dead.

AFP

Mysterious Drone Flies Over Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II As He Delivers Sallah Message In Kano

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By George Oshogwe Ogbolu

A tense moment unfolded at the Kano Government House on Sunday when a drone accidentally fell near Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II while he was delivering a speech during his Sallah homage to the state government.

The incident, which was caught on video and circulated widely on social media, led to immediate speculation, with some suggesting that the emir had been stoned. However, eyewitness accounts and a statement from the drone operator have since clarified the situation.

According to Salim Ameenu, the drone operator responsible for the device, the drone lost control due to a low battery and inadvertently crashed near the emir.

In a statement shared on social media Monday, Ameenu apologized to the emir, emphasizing that the incident was entirely accidental.

“Yesterday, I unintentionally flew my drone over His Royal Highness during his speech at Hawan Nasarawa. Due to a low battery, I lost control of the drone, and unfortunately, it fell near His Royal Highness,” he explained.

Ameenu also commended Emir Sanusi’s calm response: “What happened has only strengthened my admiration for HRH’s composure and bravery. His Royal Highness simply glanced at the drone and continued his speech without hesitation — a true display of courage and grace under pressure.”

According to eyewitness reports, the incident gained additional traction due to the heightened political tension in Kano, where two emirs currently claim legitimacy. Emir Sanusi, who was dethroned by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje and replaced by Aminu Ado Bayero, was recently reinstated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The development has triggered legal battles and divided public opinion.

NAIJANEWS

“No offering goes to heaven, it is men that spend it” – Pastor Abel Damina

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Abel Damina, founder and president of Abel Damina Ministries International (ADMI), has stirred fresh controversy with his assertion that church offerings and tithes are not given to God.

The outspoken preacher made the statement in a viral video clip from a Sunday service sermon, a platform where such bold and provocative remarks are rarely aired.

He declared, “No offering goes to heaven; men spend it every time we gather offerings in this church. All the offerings we give to God go to men.”

Damina has built a reputation for challenging mainstream Christian doctrines, especially those he believes manipulate believers’ perceptions.

In January 2025, he caused a stir online when he taught that smoking and drinking are not sins in Christianity.

Meanwhile, during Sunday’s viral sermon, Damina went further to suggest that some pastors distort the purpose of tithes and offerings to influence the thinking of their congregants.

“Even those tithe mongers that say when you pay tithe, the doors of heaven will open, the doors have been opened since Jesus rose from the dead, the doors have never been closed. They are just working on people’s minds,” he said.

He also addressed backlash over his views on tithing.

“I heard some of them saying I am evil because I said you should not pay tithe, that ‘he and his children would pay tithe’. He has to talk like that to keep collecting from people.” The preacher claimed that “people won’t keep giving him if he doesn’t talk like that.”

Damina further alleged that many pastors who demand tithes from their followers do not practice what they preach.

“And I won’t be surprised if he is not paying tithes to anybody. Most of them are greedy; they collect from everybody but they don’t pay anybody. I was there. There is nothing you will tell me that I don’t know because there is nothing new under the sun,” he said.

Trump administration steps up immigration crackdown with LA raids, NY courthouse arrests

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Masked and armed federal agents carried out sweeping immigration raids in Los Angeles Friday, while others pounced on migrants at a New York courthouse, in forceful displays of US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on people without papers.

From courthouses to hardware store parking lots in two of the most diverse cities in the world, federal agents wrestled migrants into handcuffs and unmarked vehicles.

Agents used extreme tactics, conducting unprecedented raids on at least three areas of Los Angeles to detain dozens of people.

At one sweep less than two miles from Los Angeles City Hall, agents threw flash-bang grenades to disperse angry crowds of people following alongside a convoy of ICE vehicles, as protesters hurled eggs and epithets at the agents, media reported.

- ‘Terror’ –

“As a Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place,” LA Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement.

“These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city.”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who grew up in LA’s Santa Monica community, responded on X, insisting that Bass had “no say in this at all.”

“Federal law is supreme and federal law will be enforced.”

Service Employees International Union leader David Huerta was among those briefly detained in Los Angeles.

“Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals,” Huerta said in a statement after his release.

Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe told the Los Angeles Times that federal agents were executing search warrants related to the harboring of people illegally in the country.

As the sun set in Los Angeles, broadcaster ABC7 reported a growing standoff as hundreds of protesters marched downtown to demand the release of detainees, where police officers in riot gear ordered them to disperse.

- NY courthouse arrests –

Across the country in New York, US agents in plainclothes pounced on two immigrants in the hallway of a New York courthouse Friday.

AFP saw the officers yell for the men not to move before forcing them to lay face-down on the ground as they were cuffed and arrested.

It was not immediately clear exactly why these two men were arrested.

Trump was elected to a second term with broad support for his promise to crack down hard on the entry and presence of undocumented migrants.

In recent weeks ICE agents have intensified such operations in and around American immigration courts.

After Trump swept back into power in January, the Department of Homeland Security revoked regulations that limited agents’ access to protected areas like the courts.

One of the men arrested in New York was a 34-year-old Dominican named Joaquin Rosario who arrived in the United States a year ago, registered as he came in, and who had his first immigration hearing Friday, a relative named Julian Rosario said.

“He was at ease. He did not think anything was going to happen,” the relative said, adding that Rosario was so unworried he had not brought his lawyer with him.

The other detainee looked to be Asian. He arrived accompanied only by one of many immigration advocacy group volunteers who walk immigrants to and from the courtroom.

The volunteers screamed out as the agents arrested the two men, but it did nothing to halt the raid.

- ‘Sound the alarm’ –

Human rights groups are outraged by these operations, arguing that they sap trust in the courts and make immigrants wary of showing up for appointments as they try to gain US residency.

“They’re illegal abductions,” said Karen Ortiz, herself a court employee who was demonstrating Friday against these sudden arrests of migrants.

“We need to sound the alarm and show the public how serious this is and one way we can do that is actually physically putting ourselves between a masked ICE agent and someone they’re trying to detain and send away,” she told AFP.

Since returning to power Trump has dramatically tested the limits of executive power to crack down on foreigners without papers, arguing that the United States is being invaded by criminals and other undesirables.

AFP

NGUGI WA THIONG'O: A COMPENDIUM OF A LITERARY LIFE WELL SPENT!

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By Yahaya Balogun

The journey of reading is a perpetual one. And it's awe-inspiring to witness how a simple arrangement of words can evoke such deep feelings and an ejaculation of wisdom within us or our willing souls!" - Yahaya Balogun.

The continent of Africa has lost another cerebral literary juggernaut. As Wikipedia aptly described him, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, originally named James Ngugi, graced the world from January 5, 1938, until May 28, 2025. Renowned as the premier novelist of East Africa, he emerged as a pivotal voice in the landscape of contemporary African literature.

The passing of our illustrious African son, the literary giant and prolific writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o, has deeply affected our hearts. Ngugi wa Thiong'o, a gifted author and scholar, has now joined his contemporary African ancestors, just a few days before his 87th birthday celebration.

Ngugi wa Thiong'o, a prolific literary figure and author, has an impressive portfolio of more than 34 published works. Ngugi wa Thiong'o's fictional contributions include seven remarkable novels: "Weep Not, Child" (1964), "The River Between" (1965), "A Grain of Wheat" (1967, 1992), "Petals of Blood" (1977), "Caitaani Mutharaba-Ini" (also known as "Devil on the Cross," 1980), "Matigari ma Njiruungi" (1986), "Murogi wa Kagogo" (or "Wizard of the Crow," 2006), and "Kenda Muiyuru: Rugano Rwa Gikuyu na Mumbi" (2018), which was published in Gikuyu. Ngugi wa Thiong'o's talent is evident in two collections of short stories: "A Meeting in the Dark" (1974) and "Secret Lives and Other Stories" (1976).

Ngugi's memoirs are a testament to his unique journey, which includes four significant titles: "Detained: A Writer's Prison Diary" (1981), "Dreams in a Time of War: A Childhood Memoir" (2010), "In the House of the Interpreter: A Memoir" (2012), and "Birth of a Dream Weaver: A Memoir of a Writer's Awakening" (2016).

In addition to these, Ngugi wa Thiong'o has enriched the literary landscape with thirteen essay collections and nonfiction works, such as "Homecoming: Essays on African and Caribbean Literature, Culture, and Politics" (1972), "Writers in Politics: Essays" (1981), "Education for a National Culture" (1981), "Barrel of a Pen: Resistance to Repression in Neo-Colonial Kenya" (1983), "Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature" (1986), "Mother, Sing For Me" (1986), "Writing against Neo-Colonialism" (1986), "Moving the Centre: The Struggle for Cultural Freedom" (1993), "Penpoints, Gunpoints, and Dreams: The Performance of Literature and Power in Post-Colonial Africa" (1998), "Something Torn and New: An African Renaissance" (2009), "Globalectics: Theory and the Politics of Knowing" (2012), "In the Name of the Mother: Reflections on Writers and Empire" (2013), and "Secure the Base" (2016).

Moreover, Ngugi has brought to life four compelling plays: "The Black Hermit" (1963), "This Time Tomorrow" (1970), "The Trial of Dedan Kimathi" (1976), and "Ngaahika Ndeenda: Ithaako ria ngerekano" (translated as "I Will Marry When I Want," 1977), along with three enchanting children's books: "Njamba Nene and the Flying Bus" (1986), "Njamba Nene and the Cruel Chief" (1988), and "Njamba Nene's Pistol" (1990).

From 1984 to 1985, I studied "Weep Not Child" in English Literature at Igbemo Community Comprehensive High School, Igbemo-Ekiti. It was a great memory for us to read Ngugi's poignant story, penned in his novels in Kikuyu, and he undertook the translations himself; however, he initially crafted "Weep Not Child" in English. Within its pages, one can discern the subtle influence of the Kikuyu language—the rhythm and straightforwardness of its formal prose and erudition. This interplay creates a vibrant echo of Kikuyu life, allowing the essence, mood, and hues of that culture to flow into the English text, imbuing the novel with a profound African spirit.

The death and words of Ngugi wa Thiong'o, our cerebral and literary giant, will continue to resonate and inspire us all! This renowned author, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, will be celebrated as a transformative influence, particularly for his steadfast dedication to liberating the African psyche from colonial remnants and neocolonialism. His eloquence, foresight, and scholarly bravery will continue to motivate budding authors and countless future generations throughout Africa. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Source and credit: Book titles and collections from Brittle Paper's tribute to Ngugi wa Thiong'o on his 82nd birthday.

“Our women prefer Nigerian husbands” — Kenyan President Ruto ‘concerned’

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By Ismail

Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed concerns about the growing number of Kenyan women marrying Nigerian men, including his own daughters.

Speaking at a recent wedding event, Ruto humorously reflected on what he called a noticeable trend, revealing that two of his daughters have married Nigerian men.

With a tone of playful concern, he questioned why Kenyan men seem to be falling behind in the romantic race.

“My daughter is married to a Nigerian, and this one is now married to a Nigerian. And our guys around; I don’t know, are you slow? I don’t know,” the president quipped.

Ruto went on to jokingly warn that if the trend continues, Kenya might face a “brain drain,” as more women choose Nigerian partners.

The comment, while delivered in jest, has stirred discussions on social media across both Kenya and Nigeria.

An Instagram user, @folajimijoseph wrote, “I was in the elevator with a Brazilian tourist in New York, she asked where I’m from, the moment I mentioned Nigeria there was this glow on her face. Then she said “I love Nigerians”. Nigerian men are gold worldwide.”

Another user, @xrixy_walker added, “Nigerian men keep representin’. The most highly sought after men in the world. ???.”

@chukwunonsoinoma penned: “The men should come and marry Nigerian ladies. We have great women that will help build the economy of Kenya and make great impacts.”

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PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU - TWO YEARS OF CHALLENGING ECONOMIC REFORMS

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By Yahaya Balogun

In his timeless book, "The Trouble with Nigeria," the late Professor Chinua Achebe poignantly pointed out that the core issue plaguing Nigeria arises "simply and squarely" from a deficit in leadership. Dismissing the leadership and two years of progress and contributions President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made would be disingenuous and preposterous. President Tinubu's meticulous strategy for governance reveals a leader who had come prepared and ready to embrace the demanding challenge of leading the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The ongoing discourse surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's turbulent two-year tenure, marked by extensive governmental reforms and renewed hope and optimism, warrants serious attention. It is indisputable that his socio-economic initiatives fundamentally rethink government operations in Nigeria. Nonetheless, a critical inquiry arises: How many ordinary Nigerians are truly reaping the benefits of these socio-economic reforms and transformations?

While it is accurate to acknowledge that certain statements from the administration regarding statistical achievements present a degree of truth—of which I am convinced, supported by numerous examples—the reality is that these assertions have not effectively translated into noticeable enhancements in the overall living conditions of the populace. Despite the veracity of these claims, their real-world impact on citizens' daily lives remains regrettably limited.

Consequently, I find myself at a juncture similar to that of many discerning individuals; our considerations regarding the reasons for this disparity are equally legitimate. We are left contemplating why, despite the potential for beneficial change, there has been a lack of substantial progress that improves the living standards for the majority. This intricate scenario compels us to scrutinize the efficiency of the existing systems and whether they genuinely fulfill the needs of those they are designed to assist.

To assess governmental policy achievements, it is essential to identify and evaluate six significant existential factors, among others below: 

• Tinubu's administration must implement an impactful and commendable policy aimed at identifying people's needs. It should be called Public Bureau of Access and Transparency (PBAT). This policy needs to resonate deeply within the lives of the underprivileged communities in Nigerian society. It is crucial that this suggested and well-intentioned initiative not only remains a lofty ideal to be discussed in boardrooms or legislative halls but manifests tangible, positive changes in the everyday realities of those facing socio-economic hardships. 

• PBAT's administration must continue with its comprehensive approach to security, encompassing many strategies, methodologies, and technologies designed to enhance public safety and maintain law and order. It must involve not only the deployment of law enforcement agencies but also the collaboration between various sectors, including community organizations, educational institutions, and private enterprises, all working together to foster a safer environment.

• The government holds a profound responsibility not only to its own mechanisms and institutions but also to the very citizens it serves. This accountability is a cornerstone of a functioning democracy, anchoring the trust between the ruling authorities and the populace. It embodies a complex relationship wherein elected officials, public servants, and civil institutions are bound by a duty to operate transparently, ensuring that their actions and decisions reflect the interests and needs of the community.

• Equitable and prudent distribution of scarce resources to meet the needs of the disadvantaged population.

• The uniform application of justice, equity, and fairness among citizens, irrespective of geopolitical factors, would reinstate confidence and trust in the equal branches of government.

• A broad transformation of Nigeria’s varied cultural, religious, and political landscapes is essential, along with the necessity for all diligent Nigerians to re-engage with agriculture and commerce.

• Enhancement of the government's initiatives aimed at achieving both immediate and enduring success in revitalizing the economy and fulfilling the aspirations of the populace.

Straying from these suggested solutions could prolong the hardships faced by the people of Nigeria. The everyday Nigerian is entitled to relief from the nation's abundant resources. Those living in poverty should be able to feel the positive changes in the economy, experiencing rejuvenation and reforms that truly benefit every citizen.

The art of managing people

Editor-in-Chief 

Organizations struggle everyday with the germane issue of what the effective management of people, an organization's most prized asset, actually entails. The effective management of people within an organization requires a thorough understanding of the following: 
  

• Motivation - Whether intrinsic or extrinsic and the importance of positive triggers....
• Job design and environment....
• Company's rewards system and how it is structured and also possibly layered....
• Group influence as a function of Group-think and other allegiances....

Motivation
Human beings are creatures of habit and by that, I mean it is natural to expect that individuals will have different triggers within their genetic and socio-cultural make-up, that ultimately control what their motivations are, where they originate from or worse still, whether or not they have any at all.
Of course, as a business owner or a leader, you would hope you haven't hired someone or lead a group of people on the bottom rung of the Motivation Trigger Index™ (MTI).
Usually, one finds that most people with intrinsic motivation tend to have a higher MTI. They are the high achievers and are usually not driven to succeed or excel necessarily as a result of positive external triggers, but do so because it is just in their make-up. It is however important to note that for these group, the Positive External Triggers (PETs) only serve to further elevate their MTI scores. As for those, whose Motivational Intelligence (MI) require external triggers, they tend to be either in the middle or the lower rung of the Motivation Trigger Index™. People in this category tend to require an appreciable amount of Positive External Triggers (PETs) and ironically, if they have quite a bit of this, they are bound to excel at their tasks, in some cases, even with distinction. However, unlike the first group, their MTI scores tend to vacillate between just above average to poor, as a function of the amount of PETs they are exposed to in their work and related environment.

Job Design and Environment
Over the years, scientific management has sought to strip workers of their initiative, thus ridding the work environment of key intangibles such as skill set diversity, autonomy and most important of all, feedback, constructive or otherwise.
A perfect example of empowering employees and creating an environment that engenders optimum productivity and creativity is to seek input from your employees, even when you, as a leader, know what the solution to a problem is. They may even suggest the solution you have in mind and you can give them credit for it.

Rewards System
The rewards system must be one that does not give rise to suspicion or insinuations of favoritism. While majority of organizations, big or small, insist on building a "team atmosphere", it is imperative that top performers, particularly those that most closely espouse the company's core principles within the framework of its corporate culture, are duly rewarded and recognized as such.
This process should however be carefully monitored and managed, so as to ensure that everyone (including the non-monetary contributors) feels a sense of belonging to the organization, through their own respective contributions.
It is a well-known fact that the successful execution of a company's business strategy must involve everyone on the ship.

Group Influence
This can either be a "good thing" or a "bad thing", but it depends on how you look at it. Now, while it can create a negative work environment due to its potentially divisive and mostly political nature, it is an unavoidable phenomenon.
Most organizations have learned to not only exist but also flourish with just the "right amount" of group-think, as it actually may engender a spirit of collaboration towards reaching the ultimate objectives of the organization.
The overriding attitude becomes one where the conclusion is that if the company wins, then everyone wins. 

© 2025 2CG MEDIA. Coker Confidential™

‘Disgusting abomination,’ Elon Musk slams Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

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Elon Musk has launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling the sweeping legislative package a “disgusting abomination” and denouncing those who supported it in Congress.

“Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” Musk said.

The billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO posted his rebuke on X  Tuesday afternoon, expressing frustration with what he described as excessive and irresponsible federal spending.

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination”, Musk wrote.

He continued: “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”

The bill, which passed the House in May with near-unanimous Republican backing, includes provisions to cut Medicaid and extends tax cuts initially introduced during Trump’s 2017 term. The measure has already stirred debate among fiscal conservatives, and Musk’s comments are amplifying the tension.

During a weekly lunch on Capitol Hill, GOP senators were reportedly passing Musk’s post around. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a known fiscal hawk, acknowledged its rapid spread among colleagues.

“I texted it to a few people. I had a phone passed to me”, Johnson said.

While Musk had previously voiced his disappointment with the bill in a recent interview, his latest statements marked a notable escalation. The remarks come as Musk officially steps away from his advisory role in the Trump administration.

On Friday, Musk appeared alongside Trump at a press conference to commemorate his service. Trump praised Musk warmly and dismissed suggestions of discord between them.

Despite that public show of unity, Musk’s economic criticisms have not softened. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the legislation could balloon the national deficit by $2.5 trillion over the next decade.

“It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt,” Musk warned in a follow-up post. 

He added: “Congress is making America bankrupt.”

As the bill moves to the Senate, GOP lawmakers are under pressure to make adjustments. Senator Mike Lee of Utah responded to Musk’s post directly, stating, “The Senate must make this bill better.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the controversy during a briefing held shortly after Musk’s posts.

“The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the President’s opinion. This is one big beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it,” Leavitt said.

In a moment that quickly circulated online, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked how Trump would react to Musk’s scathing remarks. 

Leavitt reiterated: “The President already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change.”

Musk’s critiques date back weeks. In a CBS interview, he noted the bill’s conflict with the goals of the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), an agency he had supported.

“I was like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing. I think a bill can be big, or it could be beautiful. I don’t know if it could be both”, Musk said.

(Business Insider)

Sound advice from Mark Cuban on the best investment you can make.

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BY MARCEL SCHWANTES

When it comes to building a successful career, few principles are as powerful—or overlooked—as the habit of self-improvement. Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur and investor, credits much of his success to one simple but profound idea: Invest in yourself.

“Some of the best investments I ever made were investing in myself, first and foremost. When you’re first starting—you may or may not have a job, you don’t have any money, you’re [uncertain] about your career. What I learned early on is that if I put in the effort, I can learn almost anything.

It may take me a long time, but by putting in the effort, I taught myself technology. I taught myself to program. It was time-consuming—painfully so—but that investment in myself has paid dividends for the rest of my life.

The fact that I recognized that learning was truly a skill, and that by continuing to learn to this day, I’m able to compete, keep up, and get ahead of most people—because the reality is, most people don’t put in the time to keep up and learn. And that’s always given me a competitive advantage.”

Here are five practical reasons why investing in yourself as a leader is one of the smartest moves you can make to succeed in business:

1. You become your own competitive advantage.

In business, when you invest in learning—whether it’s public speaking, data analysis, AI, leadership, or emotional intelligence—you equip yourself with tools others may lack. Over time, to Cuban’s point, that edge compounds.

2. You build confidence and clarity. 

When you sharpen your abilities, you don’t just get smarter—you feel more capable. That confidence shows up in meetings, negotiations, and tough decisions. It also helps you stay clear on your goals, set boundaries, and lead your people with conviction.

3. Your team mirrors your growth. 

As a leader, your mindset sets the tone for the entire company. When you prioritize your own growth, you model what continuous improvement looks like. That inspires your team to do the same—and over time, it creates a culture of learning and accountability.

4. It sharpens your decision making.

The higher up you go, the fewer people are willing to challenge your thinking. Investing in coaching, training, reading, or peer networks gives you fresh perspectives and helps you make better, faster, and more strategic decisions—especially under pressure.

5. It protects you from burnout and blind spots. 

Leading a company is high-stakes and emotionally demanding. Investing in your mental, emotional, and physical well-being isn’t indulgent—it’s essential. When you’re self-aware and grounded, you’re less reactive and more resilient, which makes you a more effective leader for others.

In the end, your business can only grow as fast and as far as you do. Investing in yourself isn’t optional—it’s foundational. As Mark Cuban said, the effort you put into learning and evolving pays dividends for life. It’s the one investment no market crash or competitor can take away.

SOURCE - INC.COM