President-elect Donald Trump is preparing for a bold and aggressive start to his second term, with a business-friendly agenda centered on tax cuts, deregulation, and expanded energy production.

His incoming administration plans to fill key positions with billionaires, CEOs, and tech leaders, signaling a strong focus on corporate growth and investment.

With Republicans controlling both the House and Senate, Trump is expected to push policies benefiting industries like oil, gas, technology, and banking.

Philip Nicozisis, best selling author, Founder and Chairman of Nico Properties Group joins Veronica Dudo to discuss.

Capitol Hill hearing raises key questions about Justice Department’s independence

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. attorney general, Pam Bondi, faced intense questioning during her confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill this week.

The former Florida attorney general, known for her close ties to Trump, was grilled by lawmakers for hours as she defended her qualifications and addressed concerns about the independence of the Justice Department under her leadership.

Bondi’s nomination followed the withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick, Matt Gaetz, after a federal sex trafficking investigation and ethics probe raised doubts about his confirmation prospects.

Trump’s decision to nominate Bondi was announced in a social media post, emphasizing her extensive legal experience and prior public service.

Bondi, 59, a tough prosecutor in Florida has long been a fixture in Trump’s political circle, previously being floated for key roles during his first term.

As the confirmation process continues, her responses and the Senate’s decision will be closely watched for signals about the future direction of the Justice Department under Trump’s second administration.

Rednote: the dark side of TikTok’s refuge, where censorship masks itself as freedom and erodes user autonomy.

As TikTok encounters significant challenges in Western markets, users are migrating to RedNote, the international version of Xiaohongshu.

Though it presents itself as a lifestyle platform similar to TikTok, RedNote operates under a more stringent framework shaped by Chinese censorship laws.

While TikTok promotes free expression, RedNote prioritises compliance with China’s regulatory standards, emphasising socialist values over free speech.

Initially, Western users may not recognise the platform’s censorship, but RedNote’s moderation suppresses dissent and encourages self-censorship regarding sensitive political topics.

Reports indicate that posts addressing issues like Chinese cybersecurity laws or human rights in Xinjiang are often removed. Guidelines for handling politically sensitive content reflect a systematic approach to censorship.

This environment conditions users, particularly young people, to avoid discussing controversial topics, effectively narrowing the range of acceptable discourse.

RedNote’s algorithms favour state-approved content, reinforcing a controlled narrative.

The normalization of this trade-off between freedom and control is concerning. Many young users may not fully understand the implications of their consent to the platform’s extensive data collection practices.

RedNote’s privacy policy indicates that it collects a range of personal data, which can be shared with third parties, posing significant privacy risks.