RJ Hamster
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RJ Hamster
Trump foreign licensing income surged to $59.5 million
Nearly two-thirds of Trump’s foreign licensing fees came from two Gulf developers, in the UAE and Qatar, including one pursuing a $20 billion U.S. expansion.
— Read on www.cnbc.com/amp/2026/08/10/trump-foreign-real-estate-licensing-income-gulf-deals.html
RJ Hamster
🦉 The Night Owl Newsletter for August 9th
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Albemarle’s Blowout Quarter Shows Why Lithium Still Matters
Written by Chris Markoch
Albemarle (NYSE: ALB) faced high expectations heading into its Q2 2026 earnings report. The stock was down over 30% from its 52-week high in June. ALB is also down over 50% from its all-time high in 2022. It hasn’t been an easy stock to hold, but the company’s earnings report illustrated why that’s a good strategy.
To sum it up, Albemarle’s adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were up over 3,300% year over year (YOY). That’s not a typo. The company generated adjusted EPS of $3.75, massively higher than the 11 cents per share from the prior year.
The gain was largely due to higher lithium prices. Still, the $3.75 in adjusted EPS was higher than the forecasted price of $3.20. This was a strong number, and it wasn’t the only one. Revenue of $1.74 billion beat expectations of $1.61 billion and was 30% higher YOY.
Albemarle Earnings Show Lithium Recovery Is Real
But the quarter wasn’t just about pricing power. After all, the price of lithium is down about 30% from a peak of nearly $30,000 per metric ton made earlier this year. That explains a significant reason for the dip in ALB stock.
But this is a moment when demand is reinforcing the case for owning a stake in the physical economy in 2026 and beyond. There may be some bumps along the way, but this is a long-term story with room to run.
Strong Execution Extends Beyond the EPS Beat
The EPS and revenue beats matter, but the details underneath tell a more durable story. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $858 million, up 155% year-over-year, and margin expanded to 49% from just 25% a year ago. The takeaway is that evidence of pricing gains is dropping to the bottom line rather than being absorbed by costs.
Albemarle also delivered roughly $100 million in cost and productivity run-rate improvements in the first half of 2026. The company is also on track to hit the high end of its $100-$150 million full-year target, with debottlenecking projects at La Negra, Jordan Bromine Company, and its Chinese conversion facilities cited as concrete drivers.
The company is also generating cash. Operating cash flow conversion hit 69% in the first half of 2026, trending toward the company’s 60-70% long-term target after languishing as low as 37% in 2023. Free cash flow reached $638 million for the quarter. That backs up years of management assurances about self-funded growth.
Not everything was clean. Albemarle flagged an estimated $70-90 million unmitigated hit from Middle East-related supply chain disruptions, and narrowed full-year lithium sales volume guidance to 225-235 kilotons LCE after a fire delayed the CGP3 expansion at Greenbushes.
That plant restarted Aug. 1 and should reach full production by Q1 2027, with better-than-planned output at the Wodgina joint venture largely offsetting the delay. It’s a reminder that Albemarle’s diversified asset base cushions single-site setbacks.
Why Lithium Demand Still Has Years of Growth Ahead
Lithium has become a foundational input to the physical economy. But it’s easy to overlook when the conversation stays fixated on software and AI. Every electric vehicle (EV), every grid-scale battery, and increasingly every data center backup system depends on lithium-ion chemistry.
Albemarle’s own data shows global lithium consumption up 45% year-over-year through May. That’s ahead of the company’s already bullish 15-40% forecast range.
The clearest driver is energy storage. Global Energy Storage Systems production has surged YOY in 2026, more than doubling at points earlier in the year, as utilities race to add capacity amid rising electricity demand. Some of that demand is coming from an unexpected place: AI data centers straining power grids, pushing automakers to repurpose EV battery lines for stationary storage instead.
Albemarle’s long-term forecasts for stationary storage battery production growing at a 20-30% compound annual rate through 2030. The company also forecasts total lithium demand nearly doubling from 1.6 million metric tons LCE in 2025 to 3.6 million by 2030.
That’s the raw material backbone for electrifying transportation, building grid resilience, and now powering AI infrastructure. Investing in Albemarle is driven by the belief that physical inputs will remain scarce relative to demand, regardless of quarter-to-quarter price swings in lithium.
Why Albemarle Still Belongs in a Long-Term Portfolio
Is the post-earnings rally in ALB the start of a larger bull case for Albemarle? The answer is yes, but maybe not quite yet. Investors should strongly consider investing in miners like Albemarle, which have direct exposure to the commodities sector.
While not a precious metal, lithium will remain in high demand, with supply likely to lag. Albemarle is at the center of that story, which is a key reason why analysts continue to raise their price targets for ALB.
For the long-term thesis to collapse, every lithium application, including electric vehicles, battery storage, and semiconductors, would have to show significant demand destruction. That seems unlikely.
But that doesn’t mean ALB won’t have volatility. Any stock that’s tied to a commodity will be a prisoner to that commodity’s price.
But that volatility works both ways, which makes the case for a buy-and-hold strategy with ALB. Although the 1.27% dividend yield may not attract many income investors, the company has a track record of raising its dividend for 30 straight years, supported by steady cash flow and projected earnings growth. READ THIS STORY ONLINE
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Can DICK’S Turn Foot Locker Into a Winner?
Written by Peter Frank
Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS)is growing at a blistering pace thanks to its purchase of Foot Locker. Now, investors are waiting to see if adding these shoes will speed Dick’s along or slow the chain down.
That’s the central tension right now. The sporting goods giant is one of the top players in athletic retail, and its $2.5 billion acquisition of Foot Locker in September 2025 has given it a much broader platform when demand for sports and fitness gear remains resilient.
At the same time, the stock has pulled back from its highs on worries about integration costs and a trimmed earnings outlook.
The question is whether the current price, after pulling back more than 10% over the past month, now reflects those risks or if it still assumes that the Foot Locker buyout will deliver.
Foot Locker Changes the Game
Over the years, Dick’s built its reputation as a steady, well-run operator of big-box sporting goods stores. It generated dependable comparable-sales growth even as other retailers struggled with foot traffic.
The Foot Locker deal changed the scale of the business overnight. Folding a major footwear-focused chain into Dick’s operations, it reshaped both the top line and the cost structure.
Sales Surge While Profits Face Pressure
The company’s most recent earnings told both sides of the story. Net sales came in well above analysts’ expectations at $5.16 billion, up about 63% from $3.17 billion a year earlier, driven largely by the Foot Locker acquisition. Reported net income reached $320 million, or $3.54 per diluted share under GAAP, while adjusted earnings per share of $2.90 missed analysts’ estimates by a penny.
Dick’s own stores delivered a 6% increase in comparable sales, driving 4.1% overall comparable growth company-wide. Pro forma comparable sales at Foot Locker also edged up compared with the year-ago period, improving to 0.6% from a nearly 3% decline a year earlier.
Integration Costs Are Weighing on Results
While some of those numbers looked strong, the picture beneath the surface is a bit more nuanced. Integration costs are weighing on profit, the company showed, as Dick’s booked $96.5 million in Foot Locker-related expenses during the quarter, split between merger costs such as severance and store closures and the cost of liquidating excess inventory.
Those charges pulled down the bottom line even as the core sporting-goods business kept showing solid margins. Gross profit came in at $1.68 billion, and operating income hit $451 million before special items.
Stripping some of the Foot Locker impact away, Dick’s continues to show it can grow. For all of fiscal 2025, consolidated net sales rose 28% to $17.2 billion, with the core Dick’s business alone contributing $14.1 billion, up 5% year-over-year. In other words, before Foot Locker’s impact began showing up, Dick’s was still clearly growing on its own.
Management Sees Strong Growth Ahead
This track record helps explain management’s forward guidance. Dick’s expects fiscal 2026 net sales between $22.1 billion and $22.4 billion, above the level that Wall Street had modeled. Of the total, the company expects Dick’s to bring in $14.5 billion to $14.7 billion in net sales, while Foot Locker will account for $7.6 billion to $7.7 billion.
Consolidated earnings per diluted share are also now guided to jump from $9.97 in 2025 to a range of $13.27 per share to $14.27 this year. Basically, the company is telling investors it can deliver strong profits even as the Foot Locker merger might cost more than first expected.
Analysts Still See Upside
Valuation also tells the story. With 20% swings frequent this year, DKS is currently trading about $205 per share, relatively flat from the start of the year. Analysts remain broadly positive on the stock, giving the company a consensus rating of Moderate Buy. Twelve analysts recommend the stock as a Buy, four recommend Hold, and one suggests Sell.
With a 12-month consensus price target of $257.19, the upside sits at 29%, and the highest price target is $300 and the lowest is $177 per share. It’s clear from the range just how much the outlook can differ.
Execution Remains the Biggest Risk
The clearest risk is execution. Dick’s has already flagged potential pre-tax charges of $500 million to $750 million tied to closing underperforming Foot Locker stores and clearing excess inventory.
It booked $96.5 million of those costs in the first quarter of 2026 alone, with another $200 million expected during the rest of fiscal 2026. Of the total $486.5 million has been recognized to date, the company said.
Worries about the costs have surfaced before. Despite the guidance for a strong 2026, the first quarter’s projections of earnings per share this year represent a cut from the forecast three months earlier, dropping from $13.70 to $14.70 to the current $13.27 per share to $14.27, a move at the time that sent shares sharply lower.
Indeed, if the turnaround drags on longer than expected, or additional charges surface, even today’s guidance could prove too optimistic.
Competition also compounds the risk. Dick’s competes against big-box chains, online specialists, and brand-owned stores in categories that can turn quickly if the economy slows or promotions intensify.
The Long-Term Opportunity Remains
With the understanding of risks, Dick’s still has a track record that’s worthy of notice.
Investors who believe management can integrate Foot Locker, protect margins, and keep profiting from the ongoing sports and fitness demand have good reason to consider the stock. With a $5 per share annual dividend and a 2.51% yield, the income side is solid, and the company has a history of increases.
Investors who shy away from multi-year integrations and the potential for further guidance cuts might want to look elsewhere. READ THIS STORY ONLINE
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Why Dutch Bros Plunged Despite a Q2 Earnings Beat and Record Revenue
Written by Jessica Mitacek
On Aug. 5, 2026, quick-service coffee retailer Dutch Bros (NYSE: BROS)reported Q2 results after the close, announcing record revenue and an earnings-per-share (EPS) beat.
However, the stock dropped sharply on Thursday, losing nearly 19% since Wednesday’s close.
Following the sell-off, shares are now down around 35% from their all-time high in February 2025. And despite the company’s improving financials, a tempered outlook and Dutch Bros’ aggressive expansion plan soured the market’s reaction. Here’s why.
Dutch Bros Delivered the Beat Investors Wanted
On paper, the headline numbers were strong. In Q2, record revenue of $550.85 million surpassed analyst expectations of $525.39 million and marked a 32.5% year-over-year (YOY) increase. EPS of 33 cents also beat the forecasted 29 cents, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased to $114 million, marking YOY EBITDA growth of 32.49%.
Dutch Bros continues to aggressively expand. In Q2, the company opened 48 new shops while acquiring the rights to 31 Phoenix-area locations, and pursuing additional drive-thru locations tied to Salad and Go leases. The company’s focus on mobile app orders and rewards is also paying dividends, having accounted for more than 73% of transactions in the quarter.
In her earnings call comments, CEO Christine Barone said Q2 marked Dutch Bros’ eighth consecutive quarter of transaction growth and its 13th straight quarter of positive comparable sales. She added that the company’s “development momentum remained exceptionally strong during the quarter…reinforcing our confidence in our pipeline and the path ahead to reaching 2,029 shops in 2029.
As a result, the company raised its 2026 outlook. Dutch Bros now expects full-year revenue in the range of $2.1 billion to $2.13 billion—representing 28% to 30% YOY growth—as well as $385 million to $390 million in adjusted EBITDA, and at least 185 new shops despite anticipated coffee-cost and occupancy pressures.
Why Investors Looked Past the Beat
In part, Thursday, Aug. 6’s plunge was a “sell the news” market reaction following a strong Q2 report and a nearly 41% run-up in share price from BROS’ year-to-date low on March 27 through Wednesday. Aug. 5’s close.
But profit-taking alone was not responsible for the correction. BROS remains a high-valuation growth stock, trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 63.47. That is a marginal improvement upon its trailing 12-month P/E ratio of nearly 75, but it can still be considered comparatively expensive.
As the company continues to pursue its goal of 2,029 Dutch Bros locations by 2029, free cash flow growth remains under pressure as the company continues investing heavily in expansion. That matters because investors want to see the company’s store growth translate into stronger cash generation over time.
While record quarterly revenue is always welcome, investors were discouraged by management’s expectations of Q3 systemwide same-shop sales growth between 5% and 6%, with the company trending toward the midpoint of that range, down from Q2’s 5.8% systemwide and 8.3% for company-operated comparable sales growth.
That slowdown in sales growth comes as Dutch Bros continues to roll out last year’s food menu—which reached 750 shops ahead of schedule—and acquire additional locations, both of which have contributed to 2026 capital expenditure projections of $350 million to $370 million.
The company’s shift toward build-to-suit leases is expected to create approximately 60 basis points of cost-of-goods-sold pressure and contribute to roughly 20 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin pressure by the end of 2026.
Wall Street Maintains Its Robust Outlook
In July, Dutch Bros expanded to Mississippi, the 26th state in which the company now operates. That long-term expansion plan—more than any near-term same-shop sales slowdown—is still being well-received by Wall Street.
Despite its high-volatility beta of 2.32, BROS carries a Moderate Buy rating, with 21 of the 24 analysts currently covering the stock assigning it a Buy rating. Meanwhile, the average 12-month price target implies nearly 45% upside from current levels.
Institutional ownership remains higher than average at 85.54%, with 336 buyers resulting in inflows of $2.07 billion over the past 12 months, which has been nearly double the outflows of $1.06 billion from 163 sellers over the same time.
Current short interest, 13.16% of the float, is worth monitoring, but that figure has steadily decreased over the past three reporting periods from $1.07 billion worth of shares on June 15 to $897 million as of July 15. READ THIS STORY ONLINE
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📖 He Lived Deliberately. Then He Wrote About It.
Here’s what happened on this day in history — the stories that shaped the world.
■ TODAY’S LEAD STORYThoreau published Walden on August 9, 1854 — a meditation on living simply and deliberately that has been asking the same urgent questions for 170 years.READ FULL STORY →
■ ALSO ON THIS DAYThree days after Hiroshima, a second atomic weapon detonated over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 — killing tens of thousands more and completing the pair of strikes that ended the war.READ MORE →
■ MORE FROM HISTORYJerry Garcia died on August 9, 1995, and the Grateful Dead’s three-decade experiment in communal music and perpetual motion ended with him — though the community it created never entirely dispersed.READ MORE →
■ DID YOU KNOW?
The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds. The bird was a domestic hen in Morpeth, England, in 1919 who achieved this feat without any assistance. Chickens are technically capable of flight but have been selectively bred for so many generations to prioritize meat and egg production over wing strength that sustained flight is essentially beyond them.
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Catch up on new stories you might have missed
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Your game stats are in 📊
Aug 9, 2026View Online© 2026 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. MLB trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. Any other marks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
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All-time strikeout list has new name in Top 10
Sunday, August 09
TOP NEWS
Lefty batters are dominating in 2026. Here’s why
Left-handed hitters have always had some inherent advantages, but this has been a banner year for lefties in both quality and quantity, and we identified four reasons for that.
Yanks’ past, present, future coincide as Cole hits milestone — and kids steal show
Pfaadt continues to dazzle (7 IP, 0 R) despite D-backs’ extras defeat
Mad Max passes Big Train to move into 10th on career strikeout list
After late-inning drama, Ohtani’s go-ahead hit snaps Dodgers’ 7-game skid
Tying run at the plate in the 9th, Sox stifled by A’s as 9-game win streak ends
Ohtani resumes playing catch, keeping regular-season return to mound on table
5-run rally carries White Sox to win after retiring Guillen’s number
Tommy John shares message thanking fans and teammates as he battles health issues
Alcantara sets a Marlins franchise record — for the 3rd time this year
Jobe brings the heat in winning first start back from Tommy John surgery
Kentucky, North Carolina reach Little League Softball World Series title game
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The Top 5 Field of Dreams Game moments … so far
As we wait to see what the third installment of the Field of Dreams Game brings us this coming Thursday, let’s look back at what made the first two contests so special.
Carroll steals HR, but his girlfriend steals the show
Before Corbin Carroll came through with a memorable home run robbery in the D-backs’ series opener vs. the Dodgers, he got a surprise when girlfriend Emma Broyles sang the national anthem.
250 for 250: Top 10 animal moments
In the latest list in our series, here are the various critters, fowls and furry friends who have created the most memorable moments in a baseball stadium.
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It’s an NL West showdown as Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers take on Corbin Carroll and the D-backs at 4 p.m. ET.
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Matthew 5:10-12 – Understanding Persecution as a Blessing in…
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Matthew 5:10-12
(10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
King James Version Change email Bible version
It may seem strange that Jesus passes so quickly from peacemaking in the previous beatitude to persecution—from the work of reconciliation to the experience of hostility. But we come to learn from life’s experiences following conversion that, however hard we try to live peacefully or to make peace through reconciliation, some refuse to live at peace with us. Indeed, as this beatitude shows, some take the initiative to oppose, revile, and slander us. We must live with and adjust to the fact that persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilablevalue systems. God has called us, selected us, to represent Him in patiently enduring and even overcoming persecution as part of our witness and preparation for His Kingdom.
God is not without sympathy for the difficulties these challenges pose for us, but He calls us blessed, counseling us to “rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is [our] reward in heaven” for successfully overcoming persecution. We should realize we do not earn the reward because we are doing only what we are supposed to do (Luke 17:7-10). But God freely gives the reward; He promises it as His gift.
We are to face persecution remembering “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). When it comes upon us, we should not retaliate like the world, sulk like a child, lick our wounds like a dog in self-pity, or simply grin and bear it like a masochistic Stoic. Our Savior tells us to rejoice in it because it proves the authenticity of our faith, puts us into a noble succession of towering figures of faith who have preceded us, and guarantees us great reward in the Kingdom. It may also put us into the company of many martyrs exalted in God’s Word.
Above all, persecution for His sake brings us into fellowship with the sufferings of our Savior. Our love for Christ should be so great that we rejoice that it has come upon us on His account. If He suffered so much to give us this awesome future, why should we not gladly suffer a little for Him?
Persecution is a blessing in disguise designed to bring out the best of Christian character. From it we frequently become aware of weaknesses in our character. Persecution’s pressures are humbling. They make us understand that our spiritual infirmities are so great that we cannot stand for a single hour unless Christ upholds us. How true are His words, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Persecution can also keep us from certain sins because it makes us more vividly aware of the impossibility of friendship with the world. Seeing we cannot have both the world and the Kingdom, it can help us set our resolve to live righteously. “And not only that,” the apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:3-4, “but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
At first glance, persecution seems contradictory to the way and purpose of God. Though we certainly do not wish it upon anyone, and though we sincerely hope we do not have to face it, we can understand in the broad overview that, because of the enmity of Satan, it is inevitable. And in reality, it is a disguised blessing, designed to complete our preparation for God’s Kingdom.
— John W. Ritenbaugh
To learn more, see:
The Beatitudes, Part 8: Blessed Are the Persecuted
Topics:
Persecution, Wrong Responses to
Suffering for Righteousness Sake
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August 9, 2026
VA Audit Exposes Serious Failures in Veterans’ Care
America’s veterans deserve timely, high-quality health care—not bureaucratic delays and broken promises. A recent Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General audit found widespread failures in the VA’s Community Care program, including veterans who were improperly denied eligibility for community care, significant delays in scheduling appointments, and millions of taxpayer dollars spent on ineligible care.
In response, I sent a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins urging the department to swiftly implement the Inspector General’s recommendations, strengthen oversight, and hold the VA accountable. These findings show that serious reforms are still needed to ensure veterans receive the care they have earned.
Our nation’s heroes should never have to fight their own government for access to medical care. I will continue working with the Trump Administration to improve accountability, expand veterans’ health care choices, and ensure every veteran receives the timely, quality care they deserve.
Another Wake-Up Call on Election Integrity
Every American should be outraged by news reports this week that a hacker breached Maricopa County’s voter registration system before the 2020 election, gaining access to the personal information of more than 633,000 Arizona voters. Even more disturbing, despite the FBI reportedly identifying the suspect and recommending prosecution, multiple prosecutorial offices declined to pursue the case.
At some point, you have to ask: Why does Maricopa County always seem to be at the center of election controversies? Whether it’s security failures, administrative mistakes, or unanswered questions, the same county keeps making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Arizonans deserve better.
This is exactly why so many Americans have lost confidence in our election system. When vulnerabilities are exposed, security failures are ignored, and those responsible are never held accountable, public trust suffers.
Election integrity is not a partisan issue—it is the foundation of our constitutional republic. Congress has a responsibility to secure our elections by strengthening voter registration systems, protecting against fraud, and ensuring that only U.S. citizens are voting in federal elections.
Which brings me to my next point: the House has already passed the SAVE Act. The Senate should stop dragging its feet and send it to President Trump’s desk. The American people deserve secure elections, accountability for those who compromise them, and confidence that every legal vote is protected.
Fighting for Families Living with Celiac Disease
Living with celiac disease myself, I know firsthand that something as simple as reading a food label can mean the difference between staying healthy and becoming seriously ill. That’s why I was proud to recently cosponsor the FASTER Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation that would require food manufacturers to clearly identify barley, rye, and oats as major food allergens alongside wheat, giving Americans the information they need to make safe and informed
Currently, the FDA requires wheat and wheat-based derivatives to be prominently identified among the major food allergens. But, as I and many of my constituents know all too well, celiac disease does not discriminate between wheat, rye, barley, or other sources of gluten. For someone with celiac disease, even a small amount of gluten can trigger an immune response that damages the small intestine and cause severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, brain fog, extreme fatigue, and joint pain. The effects can linger for days.
This issue was brought directly to my attention by the “MAHA Kid,” Jax Bari, a young man who approached me after a Children’s Health Defense event to pitch Representative Anna Paulina Luna’s bill. I was impressed not only by his passion for the issue, but by his courage. Jax walked up to a Member of Congress, introduced himself, and delivered an elevator pitch all on his own. We quickly discovered that we shared the same frustration: trying to determine whether everyday foods contain gluten that isn’t clearly identified on the label.
For people who don’t live with celiac disease, it can be difficult to understand just how consequential that uncertainty can be. For those of us who do, ingesting even a few milligrams of gluten can leave us feeling sick and exhausted for days. That is why greater awareness of celiac disease and better food labeling are so important. Secretary Kennedy and the Make America Healthy Again movement have helped bring much-needed attention to the importance of understanding what we put into our bodies.
For too long, individuals and families dealing with celiac disease have been forced to “guess and try” when deciding whether a food is safe to eat. That shouldn’t be necessary. The FASTER Act would remove much of that ambiguity and give parents, consumers, and families the information they need to make confident decisions about the food they bring into their homes.
And this legislation isn’t just personal to me—it’s personal to families across Arizona. Rose Koppy of Goodyear recently wrote to thank me for supporting the bill and shared that her son has celiac disease. She explained how clearer labeling could eliminate the daily guesswork her family faces when trying to determine which packaged foods are safe for him to eat.
Stories like Rose’s are exactly why this legislation matters. Every family deserves the confidence of knowing what is in the food they purchase and that the food they bring home will nourish their families rather than make them sick.
I am proud to cosponsor the FASTER Act and to stand with families living with celiac disease. I am equally proud of President Trump and Secretary Kennedy for their commitment to Make America Healthy Again and to giving Americans the tools and information they need to live healthier lives.
Senate Votes to Hold Fauci in Contempt of Congress
Last week, I wrote about the importance of finally holding Dr. Anthony Fauci accountable for the government’s disastrous COVID-19 response. That effort took another significant step forward this week when the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times rather than answer questions about his role in the pandemic, including federal funding of gain-of-function research and the government’s handling of COVID-19. The committee’s action reflects the growing determination in Congress to pursue answers the American people have been demanding for years. Millions of Americans suffered through lockdowns, school closures, vaccine mandates, and economic devastation, and they deserve transparency—not stonewalling.
Dr. Fauci refused Senator Paul’s offer to hold a closed-door hearing. Instead, Dr. Fauci continued playing games at the expense of honesty and transparency. Now, he’s earned himself a visit from the Department of Justice thanks to his bad faith shenanigans. I fully support ongoing efforts to uncover the truth, hold those responsible accountable where warranted, and ensure nothing like this ever happens again.
In related news this week, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, joined by the attorneys general of Louisiana and West Virginia, subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci for records related to the awards, grants, book deals, and other financial benefits he received during and after the COVI The subpoena seeks documents dating back to January 2020, including information on a nearly $900,000 international prize, federal grant funding, book contracts, paid academic positions, and corporate board appointments. According to Attorney General Uthmeier, while government officials enjoy certain legal protections for their official duties, any personal financial gain tied to official COVID guidance deserves careful scrutiny. For years, the American people have demanded transparency and accountability from those who drove many of the pandemic’s most damaging policies, including Dr. Fauci. This latest investigation is another step toward uncovering the full truth.
On the Ground in Parker
My August district work period kicked off with a visit to Parker, where I met with local leaders to discuss the Buckskin Sanitary District’s Phase 5 & 6 wastewater infrastructure expansion project. Investing in critical infrastructure today will help protect the Colorado River, replace aging septic systems, strengthen local businesses and tourism, and ensure the Parker Strip is prepared for future growth. I always appreciate the opportunity to hear directly from community leaders about their priorities, and I look forward to continuing to work together to advance this important project.
Connecting with Kingman’s Business Community
From Parker, I traveled to Kingman to attend the Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce meeting and visit with local business owners and community leaders. Small businesses are the backbone of Arizona’s economy, and hearing firsthand about the opportunities and challenges they face helps me better represent our district in Washington. These conversations reinforce the importance of reducing unnecessary regulations, promoting economic growth, and ensuring rural Arizona remains a great place to live, work, and invest.
Standing with Arizona’s Ranchers
While in Kingman, I was proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to host a Grazing Roundtable focused on the future of Arizona’s ranching industry. I want to thank Lori Urban and the outstanding USDA team for bringing together ranchers, producers, and federal, state, and local officials for a productive discussion about grazing, public lands, and the future of agriculture in our state. The best ideas come from the people who live and work on the land every day, and meetings like this help ensure their voices are heard as we work to strengthen Arizona agriculture and protect our nation’s food supply.
Strengthening Rural Arizona
I also joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Small Business Administration in Kingman to host a Rural Communities Roundtable with local elected officials, community leaders, small business owners, and economic development partners from across the region. Together, we discussed ways to expand opportunities for rural Arizona through infrastructure improvements, housing initiatives, economic development programs, and other federal resources. My job is to make sure communities across Arizona’s Ninth District have a seat at the table and access to the tools they need to succeed. I’ll continue traveling throughout our district, listening to constituents, bringing people together, and fighting every day for rural Arizona.
President Trump Takes Action to Crack Down on Birth Tourism
Although I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s recent decision preserving birthright citizenship, President Trump is continuing to fight to end the abuse of our nation’s immigration laws. This week, the President signed two executive orders aimed at limiting birthright citizenship where longstanding legal exceptions apply and directing the Departments of State and Homeland Security to crack down on the growing practice of “birth tourism,” in which foreign nationals travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth so their child automatically receives U.S. citizenship.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that our Founding Fathers didn’t intend our citizenship laws to work this way. Not everyone who enters the United States loves and cares for it. Yet, according to 16th English law, we are supposed to give our enemies and foreign adversaries the most coveted treasure of the United States: U.S. citizenship. This is patently ridiculous and the very threat that Thomas Jefferson warned of when writing to John Colbin: “A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property.” Or, put more simply by a recent Supreme Court Justice, “The Constitution is not a suicide pact.”
President Trump’s actions are consistent with existing legal precedent and are designed to stop exploitation of our immigration system while protecting the integrity of American citizenship. I fully support these efforts and will continue working with President Trump and my colleagues in Congress to end incentives that encourage illegal immigration and abuse of our nation’s laws.
Tweet of the Week:
Photo of the Week:
📸 Steven Bales from Buckeye, AZ shares this great picture he snapped capturing a recent sunrise over a hayfield. Great photo, Steven. Thanks for sharing.
Do you want the chance for your photograph to be featured as our “Photo of the Week?” If so, send your best shots along with a brief description to Anthony.foti@mail.house.gov. Remember to include your name and where you live.
Gosar in the News and Other Must-Read Stories:
📰 The Blaze: Gosar: Ceuta is America’s border warning
🗞 AZ Free News: Gosar Calls For VA Reforms Following Inspector General Audit Finding Widespread Community Care Failures
📰 The Federalist: Four Prosecutors Refused To Pursue Hacker Behind 2020 Breach Of 633K Arizona Voters
🗞New York Post: Dr. Anthony Fauci subpoenaed by three GOP state AGs for allegedly ‘profiting’ off COVID-19 guidance
📰 Fox 10 PHX: Community rallies to help struggling Scottsdale donut shop
⚠ Warning!! The Gosar Weekly Newsletter is meant for discerning readers with above-average intelligence. We link to interesting stories. We get stories a couple different ways: Google alerts, a third-party aggregator and sometimes readers send stuff. We don’t vouch for every publication or every author. If we link to a story, it is because of that story. The views expressed in any of the publications do not represent any promotion, endorsement or reflection of Congressman Gosar’s views. While we try our best, we cannot guarantee every news organization spouting hatred, animosity or divisiveness will be filtered from appearing in the Gosar Weekly Newsletter. We will endeavor to prevent that from happening by never linking to Fake News organizations including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Rolling Stone, the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Mirror, Media Matters or the New Republic. 
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