Ukraine's Former Energy Minister Charged With Money Laundering As 'Operation Midas' Expands

Key Events This Holiday-Shortened Week: All Eyes On Friday's CPI After Friday's blowout jobs report, attention now turns to inflation. Economists expect headline CPI (Friday) to rise by +0.4% month-on-month in August, up from +0.07% previously, while core CPI is expected to print at +0.2% month-on-month, broadly unchanged from July’s +0.22%. Higher gasoline prices are likely to support the headline reading, while core inflation should continue to benefit from gradually moderating shelter costs (which however are turning higher again per Case-Shiller). If realized, the forecasts would leave headline CPI broadly...

FBI Director Kash Patel Files $250 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against The Atlantic, Reporter FBI Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit Monday against The Atlantic magazine and its national-security reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, escalating a high-profile clash over a Friday article that alleged Patel's "erratic behavior,” excessive drinking, and unexplained absences have alarmed colleagues and raised national-security concerns. FBI Director Kash Patel speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice on Dec. 4, 2025. Daniel Heuer/AFP In the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia,...

WTI Extends Gains As US Oil Product Exports Hit Record Highs, Huge SPR Release, Production Dips Oil prices are modestly higher this morning, erasing overnight losses on Trump's 'ceasefire extension' after Iran attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. While headline roulette continues to drive oil prices incrementally, this morning's inventory/supply data from DOE will provide some color on how the API Crude -4.5mm Cushing +700k Gasoline -5.2mm Distillates -4.6mm DOE Crude +1.925mm Cushing +806k Gasoline -4.57mm - 10th weekly draw in a row Distillates -3.43mm - 4th weekly draw in a row Crude stocks unexpectedly saw a build last week...