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Republicans on track to control all three branches of government

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Polymarket, the betting market that predicted the presidential election with remarkable accuracy, shows Republicans have a 97% chance of winning control of the House.

Republicans are on track to control all three branches of government for the first time since former President Donald Trump took the nation by surprise with his win in 2016.

Although many votes are left to be counted and Americans will not know the final results with certainty for days or possibly weeks, analysts generally agree that Republicans are favored to take the U.S. House of Representatives after already reclaiming the Senate.

A big development broke Thursday evening when media outlets called the tight Pennsylvania Senate race in favor of Republican Dave McCormick, who narrowly beat incumbent Sen. Bob Casey.

Republicans have now taken 53 seats in the Senate, winning four previously Democratic seats and securing the majority.

The Senate conversation has quickly pivoted to who will serve as majority leader.

“We have been given a mandate by the American people to support President Trump’s agenda and Make Washington WORK again,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., wrote on X. “I’m running to be the next Senate Majority leader to do just that.”

Republican Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas are also taking a shot at the leadership spot.

Polymarket, the betting market that predicted the presidential election with remarkable accuracy, shows Republicans have a 97% chance of winning control of the House.

Media tracking and groups’ analysis vary on how many seats Republicans have secured.

Real Clear Politics has Republicans with 212 seats, having picked up 1 so far, and Democrats with 199 seats.

The New York Times election analysts have Republicans at 210 seats, just 8 shy of a majority in the House with about 25 race outcomes left to be determined.

The Decision Desk HQ, which also analyzes results, has Republicans with 213 seats and Democrats with 200, and is projecting an 85% chance that Republicans will win the House.

Those uncalled races are scattered throughout the country, with many on the West Coast and in the Midwest.

House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested Republicans are expecting to keep the House.

Republicans keeping the House will be a legislative boost to Trump but also likely keep him from the headache of facing another impeachment.

“House Republicans have been successful in securing critical flips in swing states including Pennsylvania and Michigan, while our battle-tested incumbents have secured re-election from coast to coast,” Johnson wrote on X. “The latest data and trends indicate that when all the votes are tabulated, Republicans will have held our majority, even though we faced a map with 18 Biden-won seats.”

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Chinese firm unveils palm-based biometric ID payments, sparking fresh privacy concerns

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By Ken Macon

Alipay’s biometric PL1 scanner uses vein and palm-print data for processing payments, raising security concerns over the storage and use of permanent biometric data.

Alipay, the financial arm of Alibaba, has introduced a new palm-based biometric terminal, dubbed the PL1, which enables individuals to make purchases simply by presenting their hand – no phone, card, or PIN required. Positioned as a faster, touch-free alternative for payment, this system reflects a growing industry shift toward frictionless biometric transactions.

At the core of the PL1 is a dual-mode recognition system that combines surface palm print detection with internal vein mapping. This multi-layered authentication relies on deeply unique biological signatures that are significantly harder to replicate than more common methods like fingerprints or facial scans. Alipay reports that the device maintains a false acceptance rate of less than one in a million, suggesting a substantial improvement in resisting identity spoofing.

Enrollment is designed to be quick: users hover their palm over the sensor and link their account through a QR code. Once registered, purchases are completed in around two seconds without physical interaction. During early trials in Hangzhou, this system reportedly accelerated checkout lines and contributed to more hygienic point-of-sale environments.

The PL1 arrives at a time of rapid expansion in the biometric payments sector. Forecasts estimate that more than 3 billion people will use biometrics for transactions by 2026, with total payments surpassing $5 trillion. Major players are already onboard: Amazon has integrated palm authentication across U.S. retail and healthcare facilities, while JP Morgan is gearing up for a national deployment in the same year.

Alipay envisions the PL1’s use extending well beyond checkout counters. It is exploring applications in public transit, controlled access facilities, and healthcare check-ins, reflecting a broader trend toward embedding biometric systems in daily infrastructure. However, while domestic deployment benefits from favorable policy conditions, international expansion may be constrained by differing legal standards, particularly in jurisdictions that enforce stringent rules on biometric data usage and consent.

Despite the technological advancements and convenience the PL1 offers, privacy remains a major point of contention. Unlike passwords or cards that can be reset or replaced, biometric data is immutable. If compromised, individuals cannot simply “change” their palm patterns or vein structures. This permanence heightens the stakes of any potential data breach and raises long-term concerns about identity theft and surveillance.

 

 

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Marco Rubio says US could soon ‘move on’ from Ukraine conflict: ‘This is not our war’

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From LifeSiteNews

By Conservative Treehouse

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling the EU/UK bluff here because he knows without the U.S. the EU/UK will not commit to fight Russia.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to reporters in Paris on April 18 about the prolonged peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. However, a frustrated Rubio warned that the U.S. could “move on” from its involvement in negotiations to end the war if no progress is made “within a matter of days and weeks.” That’s the mainstream media narrative.

The non-pretending summary is that Ukraine, France, Great Britain, the EU, NATO, et al are all trying to retain their interests in the conflict. Russia has simple terms, but the war machinery controlled by the intel apparatus (CIA and EU) and the financial stakeholders in the EU region are unhappy. A frustrated Secretary Rubio says, make up your mind, if no deal – we’re done.

Having followed this very closely, here’s what “we’re done” likely means.

President Trump ends the U.S. side of the proxy war. President Trump pulls back all support for Ukraine, stops sending money, weapons, and, to the extent he can, intelligence to Ukraine. This opens the door for Russia to go full combat as the ground thaws, without concern for U.S. to engage.

The EU will have to step up with funding, intelligence, and war material to continue supporting Ukraine. Rubio is calling the EU/UK bluff here because he knows without the U.S. the EU/UK will not commit to fight Russia.

Remember that if no one does anything, Russia has already gained the ground they want and will just continue grinding western Ukraine to ever-expanding rubble. Factually, doing nothing is a big win for Russia, especially if Trump withdraws.

Reprinted with permission from Conservative Treehouse.

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