President Donald J. Trump took the stage in Nashville on Saturday and gave an impassioned speech to thousands of raucous attendees. This was a historic moment in the history of Bitcoin and potentially international finance. For the first time, a leading presidential candidate (apologies to RFK Jr., who spoke on Friday) gave a full-throated defense of crypto and Bitcoin. The security to get into the event with two presidential candidates speaking was intense and with good cause. The attempted assassination of the GOP nominee hung in the air like an ominous cloud. Secret Service required journalists to arrive at 9 p.m. the evening before to drop off our bags and cameras in the auditorium. They tore apart our bags in the security line, and the agents scanned the journalists with the intense gaze of predators. As Trump's speech approached, the crowd grew more restless and excited, and shouts of “Trump, Trump, Trump” began to fill the venue. The attendees were an intellectually and culturally diverse group of out-of-the-box thinkers who distrust most institutions, especially the central banks. After years of quantitative easing and printing money out of thin air, much of the fundamental critique Bitcoiners have leveled at the Fed has been borne out. Inflation is out of control, and Bitcoin presents a deflationary alternative to the fiat money supply. There were rumors of RFK Jr. dropping out or Elon Musk introducing the president, but when the time came, it was just Trump who came on stage to a standing ovation. It’s hard to overstate what an incredible and historic moment this was. Bitcoin began as a very niche network that only a small corner of the internet understood or cared about. When I wrote my first magazine feature about it in 2014, it took hours to explain to the editors of a tech magazine what it even was. For most of Bitcoin’s history, politicians viewed it with contempt or simply ignored it. Why get involved with some weird, fake internet currency that everyone predicted would collapse into oblivion? Unfortunately for the naysayers, the doom predictions never came true; even Donald Trump had tweeted about how he didn't trust it. — (@) Instead, Bitcoin went on a growth curve never seen before in history. When COVID-19 struck and the price went to the moon, it was clear that the Bitcoin moment had arrived and it wasn’t going anywhere. Even with the explosive financial gains, politicians wanted to keep a safe distance. Undoubtedly, the Sam Bankman-Fried FTX debacle spooked people, although his con really had nothing to do with the fundamentals of Bitcoin. Elizabeth Warren has been on a one-woman warpath to regulate Bitcoin into oblivion, with most Democrats painting Bitcoin as some right-wing-adjacent scam. But on Friday and Saturday in Nashville, it was clear that Bitcoin was having a political moment and Republicans were ready to embrace it. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Bill Haggerty (R-Tenn.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) were all there to express their support. When Donald Trump finally walked out, a vibe shift occurred, and Bitcoin will probably never be viewed the same ever again. — (@) He wasted no time in praising the crowd and the possibility that Bitcoin represents. “You are the modern-day Edisons and Wright brothers and Carnegies and Henry Fords. And what you do in your lifetime stands a chance to outlive us all and inspire humanity for generations to come. This will go down as a very important day in the history of your industry,” Trump said to the crowd. He also promised to fire Gary Gensler, the head of the SEC, and roll back the regulatory war Biden’s administration has waged against Bitcoin. “As president, I will immediately shut down Operation Choke Point 2.0. They want to choke you out of business. We're not going to let that happen. And no longer will your government sit by and watch as Bitcoin jobs and businesses move to other countries because America's laws are too unclear, too tough, too angry, and too stiff,” he explained to the crowd. It’s clear Trump and the GOP were there to speak to the very wealthy people who have created this new industry. Regardless of why they were there, the change has occurred, and there will be no going back to the status quo. Bitcoin has arrived. How exactly it shakes up the American political landscape remains to be seen. President Trump ended with a call to rebuild our economy, as only he can say it. “With your help, we will save our nation, we will restore our republic, and we will make America and Bitcoin bigger, better, stronger, richer, freer, and greater than ever before.”

When it comes to used cars, it's still a seller's market. Inventory is thin, which means that vehicle you're getting tired of could fetch a nice price. But don't rush off to the dealership unprepared. Follow these steps to boost your car’s trade-in value and negotiate the best price. 1. Do your homework Knowing the current trade-in value your car is obviously important. You can find it using sources like Kelley Blue Book, True Car, and Edmunds. Remember, however, that this is just a benchmark; you should also be honest with yourself about repairs and your vehicle’s condition. You likely won’t get the current value as a car trade-in unless the car is in truly pristine condition. Also keep in mind that you’ll get less for your trade-in than you would if you sell your car on your own. Many people think they are going to get the top value, but dealers taking in the trade need a margin of profit and will offer you less than the trade-in price listed on these sites. 2. Take care of known mechanical problems The mechanical and physical conditions of your car are big drivers of value. So it’s best to resolve any issues that are relatively simple to fix. In general, minor repairs that don’t cost much out of pocket are still likely to increase the resale value of your vehicle. This might include small cosmetic fixes such as dents and scratches or replacing lights that are blown out. Of the repairs that could increase the resale value of your car, you'll want to research which are most cost-effective. Sites like Repair Pal can give you a good idea of what a given repair will run you. You should also check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database for any vehicle recalls affecting your car. Recalled parts can be fixed free of charge, and the extra effort may also increase your car’s resale value. Keep receipts for repairs and maintenance. These can prove to the dealer or buyer that you cared for the vehicle. 3. Make sure that your car looks its best A clean and well-maintained car is most likely to get the highest trade-in value. This may sound obvious, but many people bring cars in for trade without bothering to do a simple cleanup. Detail your car the way you'd stage your home — curb appeal matters. 4. Shop around for trade-in value It’s important to shop around for trade-in potential. Don't go to the dealer you plan to buy your next car from until you've gotten a few competitive quotes from CarMax as well as any major used car dealers in your area. 5. Negotiate trade-in value and purchase price separately Negotiating your trade-in and purchasing separately ensures that you get the best trade-in value possible and the best price on the new vehicle you’re buying. Watch out for dealerships that try to combine the two transactions into one deal. They do this because there are more opportunities for a dealer to generate profits when working on two transactions at once. It’s also a good idea to get the trade-in offer in writing separately. This protects you from the dealer changing or going back on the offer for any reason. A formal offer is especially important if you leave the dealership to shop around further and return to the same dealer later. 6. Time your trade-in Trading in your car to buy another vehicle may work better some times of the year than others, depending on the year, make, and model of your vehicle. Weather conditions and other factors could also affect the offer you receive. Timing is everything. All-wheel-drive SUVs would be in high demand during winter, and convertibles are best to sell in spring and summer weather. The first two quarters of the year can also be a good time to trade in a vehicle because buyer demand tends to be higher. Dealers need more vehicles on their lots to meet the demand and may offer a higher price for your trade-in. Timing also matters when it comes to your current car payments. Trading in your car may not be the right choice if you’re still paying off your car, particularly if you owe more than your car is worth. You may want to postpone your next car purchase or sell the car on your own to earn a higher price. It's important to remember that any negative equity is rolled into the subsequent car loan, which will make your monthly payment higher. The Federal Trade Commission cautions against using a dealership that promises to “pay off your loan no matter how much you owe.” While a dealership might pay off your old loan, it must make up the difference somewhere — and that “somewhere” will eventually catch up with you. The bottom line Ensuring you get the best trade-in value can help you get a lower price and monthly payment on the new or used vehicle you want. It’s well worth it to research, make much-needed repairs, spruce up your ride, and secure multiple quotes. When it’s time to buy, use the same research skills to compare auto loans. A dealership you’re working with might offer in-house financing, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best deal. You may be able to get pre-approved for an auto loan online with better terms and use the loan offer as leverage when negotiating a deal on your next car purchase.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed outrage after Elon Musk posted a video ad with manipulated speech against Vice President Kamala Harris, but the billionaire responded with mockery. The video includes scenes with Harris while a voice sounding like hers goes through a set of talking points meant to deride her political past. 'This is the final straw.'"I, Kamala Harris, am your Democrat candidate for president because Joe Biden finally exposed his senility at the debate," said the video. "I was selected because I am the ultimate diversity hire, I'm both a woman and a person of color, so if you criticize anything I say, you're both sexist and racist!" Newsom reacted by saying that ads with voice manipulation should be illegal. "Manipulating a voice in an 'ad' like this one should be illegal. I’ll be signing a bill in a matter of weeks to make sure it is," he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Musk responded by ridiculing Newsom with a popular insult. "I checked with renowned world authority, Professor Suggon Deeznutz, and he said parody is legal in America," he responded from his official X account. The video racked up nearly 19 million views after being amplified by Musk and Newsom. Others criticized Musk, who owns X, for posting the video with manipulated audio that appeared to be contrary to the platform's terms of use. "If ⁦@elonmusk⁩ and X let this go and don’t label it as altered AI content, they will not only be violating X’s own rules, they’ll be unleashing an entire election season of fake AI voice and image-altered content with no limits, regardless of party," responded Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Musk had previously criticized California Democrats after they passed a law banning schools from informing parents about changes in their children's gender and sexual orientation choices. The billionaire said he would be moving his companies X and Starlink out of California to Texas over the controversial law. "Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies," said Musk. "This is the final straw." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Kyle Seraphin is a recovering FBI agent and whistleblower — and he has a theory as to what might have really driven Thomas Crooks, Trump’s would-be assassin, to pull the trigger on July 13. “There is a thing that we refer to as the ‘playbook,’” Seraphin tells Sara Gonzales of “Sara Gonzales Unfiltered.” “The ‘playbook’ essentially is this: ‘I found you online, and you’ve got a lot of really dumb ideas, and some of them are violent. And I’m going to encourage all of those dumb and violent ideas. I am either a CHS, a confidential human informant for the FBI, or what’s called a UCE, I’m an online undercover employee,’” Seraphin explains. “'We’re going to encourage you to do all your dumbest ideas. And not only that, but we’re also going to help you do it for the amount of money that you have. Oh you need a thermal sight belt fed weapon and you only have $940? Luckily for you my friend, $88.99 today only, my buddy will help you get it. He’s a weapons expert,'” Seraphin says, noting that the gun would likely be a dud. As the agents continue to groom the subject, the subject begins to solidify his plan. “That person says, 'You know what, I’ve been told to do a terrorism, and I’ve been told to do a terrorism, I’m going to do the terrorism. But I’m not going to wait for my new friend who’s going to give me a thing, I’m just going to steal my dad’s rifle ‘cause it’s right there,'” he says. “‘So, I didn’t wait for the neutered gun that the government safed and sent me with no firing pin or a shaved-down firing pin,'” Seraphin says. “Now you got a live gun in the situation that should have otherwise been a smooth takedown. I’ve seen these takedowns. I’ve seen a lot of them.” Seraphin calls these “set-up jobs” and “morally equivalent to entrapment even if they are not legally equivalent.” “If you want to put on the tin foil hat, that’s the one that I’d put on,” he adds. Gonzales is intrigued. “So we know that they do it. We know that it seems weird that this 20-year-old loner was even able to get onto the building,” she says. “I don’t think they’re morally above trying to set someone onto that path,” Seraphin says. “The goal is to interdict that thing, and then you get all the stats and the praise and you get to tell everybody how we saved the world, even though we created the terrorism. We also stopped the terrorism. That’s kind of the move of the FBI.” Want more from Sara Gonzales?To enjoy more of Sara's no-holds-barred take to news and culture, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

The grave dates back to the 7th century B.C.E. and holds more than 150 ancient artifacts, including a two-wheeled chariot, a bronze helmet, and a cauldron. The post Archaeologists In Italy Just Discovered The 2,700-Year-Old Tomb Of An Ancient Noble Filled With 150 Artifacts appeared first on All That's Interesting.

The Margaret A. Muir schooner sank in Lake Michigan during a storm in 1893, and spent more than a century undiscovered just 50 feet beneath the surface of the lake. The post Elusive Shipwreck Discovered In Lake Michigan 130 Years After Sinking With Captain’s Beloved Dog Onboard appeared first on All That's Interesting.

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