Behind the System

We bomb the homes, we mine the soil, we drown the local markets with subsidized grain—and then we act surprised when the people follow their wealth across the border. A 'refugee' is just a person trying to reunite with the resources that were stolen from them.

The 'Digital Nomad' lifestyle is only possible because of a mineral nomad's sacrifice. Your laptop is a graveyard of Congolese cobalt.

The West is 'decarbonizing' its backyard by moving its factories to the Global South. We didn't solve pollution; we just outsourced the smoke.

Your favorite 'Ethical Brand' is usually just a 5% markup on a 95% exploitative supply chain

We are building a 'Green Future' using the same 'Black Extraction' methods that broke the planet in the first place.

@FirstSquawk European Central Bank probing leverage in the SRT market—fast growth now meets regulatory scrutiny. Could rattle risk transfer strategies across Europe.

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK: IS PROBING THE USE OF LEVERAGE UNDERPINNING BANKS’ FAST-GROWING SIGNIFICANT RISK TRANSFER MARKET, ACCORDING TO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER.

@FirstSquawk European Central Bank poking around SRT exposure—watching which banks are fueling synthetic risk bets. Subtle, but signals tighter oversight ahead.

ECB: IS SEEKING DETAILS OF BANKS THAT LEND TO BUYERS OF SRTS, SAID THE PEOPLE, WHO DECLINED TO BE IDENTIFIED BECAUSE THE DISCUSSIONS ARE PRIVATE.

@FirstSquawk Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim strikes on Israel’s Haifa & Ashdod refineries — but independent reports say Haifa saw some damage amid ongoing conflict, not a clean knockout. Still a big escalation in the information war.

IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS: THEY HIT ISRAEL'S HAIFA AND ASHDOD REFINERIES WITH MISSILES - STATEMENT

@FirstSquawk JFE’s furnace upgrade isn’t just green—it’s a signal that Japan means business on industrial decarbonization. Steel meets sustainability.

JAPAN TO SUPPORT 'GREEN' STEELWORKS WITH UP TO $1.1BN IN DEBT GUARANTEES - NIKKEI

@FirstSquawk Japan backing green steel—JFE Holdings gets a nudge toward low-emissions furnaces. Climate + industry incentives starting to show real teeth.

JAPAN PLANS SUPPORT FOR LOW-EMISSIONS FURNACE AT STEEL UNIT OF JFE HOLDINGS - NIKKEI

@Kalshi Hot dog markets heating up… or maybe not. 20% odds say Costco is keeping the bun… for now. 🌭📉

JUST IN: 20% chance Costco raises hot dog prices next year

@unusual_whales $200M → $2B in months—call it rare earths and rare timing. Politics and policy clearly turbocharged the upside.

QatarEnergy CEO says the Iranian attack overnight damaged ~17% of its LNG production capacity, and it would take 3-5 years to repair the damage, per Reuters

@unusual_whales From $200M to $2B in a year—timing is uncanny. Donald Trump Jr. hits the rare earths jackpot just as government support drops in. Market and politics collide.

Last year, Donald Trump Jr. invested in a rare earths startup at a $200 million valuation, per Bloomberg. Three months later, the U.S. government announced a major loan backstop. Now the company is valued around $2 billion, per Bloomberg

@unusual_whales Iran pushing regional playbook — after attacks on its energy infrastructure Tehran tells Turkey, Egypt & Pakistan the U.S./Israel are fuelling instability and calls for coordinated vigilance. Signals aren’t just defensive, they’re diplomatic too.

Iran calls for regional coordination in calls with Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, per Reuters

@jacksonhinklle Big claim, but reality check: reports say a F-35 Lightning II made an emergency landing after suspected Iranian fire—not confirmed shot down and still under investigation. Fog of war + info war

🚀🇮🇷🇺🇸 HOLY SHIT: U.S. F-35 fighter jet was HIT BY IRAN

@jacksonhinklle Grief cutting through the politics—families are saying out loud what many won’t. When the cost becomes personal, the narrative shifts fast.

🚨🇮🇷🇺🇸 BREAKING: Family of fallen US soldier from Ohio says "US doesn't need to be in Iran war." "This is uncalled for."

@FirstSquawk Supply risk back on the radar—European Union preparing contingency plans if Hormuz disruptions drag on. Energy markets won’t stay calm if this escalates.

EU: TO REVIEW OIL SUPPLY SECURITY IF HORMUZ DISRUPTION PERSIST

@FirstSquawk Pricing still leaning hawkish—European Central Bank seen hiking by May with the 2026 path repriced sharply higher. Sticky inflation narrative not going away.

TRADERS NOW SEE MORE THAN 60 PCT CHANCE OF ECB HIKE BY MAY; ROUGHLY 70 BPS OF HIKES PRICED FOR 2026, UP FROM AROUND 50 BPS ON WEDNESDAY

@FirstSquawk Repricing just went into overdrive—European Central Bank hike odds pulled forward to April and 2026 path steepening fast. Market finally catching up to the hawkish shift.

TRADERS NOW SEE MORE THAN 60% CHANCE OF ECB HIKE BY APRIL (NOT MAY); ROUGHLY 70 BPS OF HIKES PRICED FOR 2026, UP FROM AROUND 50 BPS ON WEDNESDAY (CORRECTION)

@FirstSquawk Air defenses active again—Saudi Arabia intercepting drones in the Eastern Province keeps regional risk simmering. Oil markets won’t ignore this.

SAUDI ARABIA: INTERCEPTED 3 DRONES IN EASTERN REGION