Even if you oppose Israel’s reaction to the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, the answer is still black and white for any person with a conscience. Certainly, it should be for any person who wants to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. After all, Hamas is designated by the State Department as a terrorist organization for, among other things, murdering Americans.

But the fact that Khalil can’t condemn Hamas — and anyone paying attention understands that he supports the terrorist army — not only tells us that he deserves to be deported but also that it’s imperative we deport him.

During the 1960s and 1970s, immigration officials grilled newcomers to the U.S. and elsewhere about their affiliations with communist parties. Why would we import people who want to destroy our system? Newcomers were, and still are, compelled to disavow associations with illiberal movements, violent groups and ideologies. They were also required to promise not to engage in any subversive or revolutionary activity.

Well, Khalil’s entire job as an “activist” is to engage in subversive or revolutionary activity.

Khalil is an Algerian citizen, incidentally, not a Palestinian, though he is a champion of Palestinianism, one of the most nihilistic, bigoted, violent, anti-Western ideologies of the age. There’s no anti-American or Marxist protest or riot anywhere in the world these days where Palestinian flags are not prominent.

The French, of course, don’t need much impetus to riot. But protests that began over a lack of school funding a few weeks ago have now escalated into increasingly destructive and violent riots across France, clearly fueled in part by Marxist pro-Palestinian elements. The red-green alliance between Islamists and communists isn’t new — it’s just more popular than ever. France has over 5 million Muslims.

What you see happening on the streets of Paris is exactly what Khalil hopes to see in the U.S. We saw as much when he was the lead “negotiator” for Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which rioted at the school in 2025. The group’s goal is to fight for the “total eradication of Western civilization,” “global intifada” and the “armed resistance” of Hamas. That doesn’t sound very American.

Khalil’s friend, Mohsen Mahdawi, another leader of CUAD fighting against deportation, reportedly has a propensity to make Hamas-like statements, such as “I like to kill Jews,” “soon, very soon, we will annihilate the Jews,” and that “servants of the Jews or the Americans” will have their heads “cut off.” Would we give citizenship to a foreigner who said, “I like to kill blacks” or “I like to kill Christians”? I hope not.

Khalil is being deported for lying on his application, though he was initially picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for threatening U.S. foreign policy. These deportations should not be treated as a matter of botched paperwork but as a matter of national security.

The problem is that it’s taken years and likely millions of dollars in legal fees to deport Khalil and Mahdawi. If it’s this difficult and expensive to kick out anti-American agitators, it would be far better to block their entry in the first place.

Even if you are staunchly pro-immigration, surely you would rather bestow the gift of citizenship on decent people who embrace the ethos and social cohesion we’ve enjoyed in the U.S. than on extremists.

Yes, free speech is a universal right. And while I support Khalil’s natural right to express himself unfettered in his home country of Algeria, or anywhere else he ends up living, there is no unfettered right to be in the U.S. There is certainly no unfettered right to citizenship. And the only useful adjective to describe the act of knowingly handing it to people who incite unrest and detest us is suicidal.

Written by David Harsanyi

Official website; http://twitter.com/davidharsanyi

For families with a child in middle school, Score Academy Online is our top pick: it is Cognia accredited, its middle school program covers grades 6 to 8 within a wider K-12 private online school, and families can choose among three scheduling formats. These include live small-group classes, live lessons with recordings, and fully self-paced study, all with real teachers. Families who need K-12 continuity during international moves should look closely at Forest Trail Academy. Those who want self-paced study backed by a traditional school support team may find The Keystone School a particularly good fit.

The sections ahead include a quick comparison and guidance on what to look for, followed by detailed profiles of each school. Each profile covers strengths and trade-offs, and the closing questions address common concerns about schedules, support, and school records.

At a glance

What to look for

Choosing well matters in middle school. Grades 6 to 8 build the study habits your child will carry into high school, so scheduling flexibility needs to sit alongside dependable academic support. Look for legitimate credentials, a workable weekly schedule, access to teachers, and courses designed for the middle grades rather than a program that simply offers them on paper.

• Accreditation status: Look for recognition from a known body such as Cognia or WASC. It signals that credits and school transcripts are documented to a standard high schools understand.
• Scheduling options vary: some schools are fully self-paced, some offer live online classes with recordings, and some blend both. Consider whether your child needs to work around travel or benefits from regular live contact.
• Teacher and support access: A strong private online school gives you real educators, advisors, or counselors you can reach, not just videos and quizzes. Check how and when students and parents can get help.
• Grade-level fit matters even within a K-12 school. Make sure the middle school courses, workload, and support are built for ages 11 to 14 rather than adapted from high school without enough attention to younger students.

The 6 best online schools for flexible scheduling

These six schools aim to help families balance school with sports, travel, and everyday life, and each provides documented coursework and teacher or staff support. Their grade ranges and learning formats differ, as do the ways families get help. Number one is our top recommendation for most middle school families; the others may fit better when a particular scheduling or support need takes priority.

#1. Score Academy Online – best for accredited middle school program with multiple formats

Score Academy Online is a private K-12 online school with a middle school program for grades 6 to 8, designed for families who want structure without a rigid school day.

The program lets you get accredited education from home through three packages: live small-group classes, live group lessons with recordings you can review later, and fully self-paced study. Every path includes teacher involvement rather than automated lessons alone. Live packages offer real-time interaction and teacher chat; asynchronous study includes teacher grading and progress tracking, but not live lessons or teacher chat. If scheduling is your main concern, compare these packages against an ordinary training or travel week, including the time your child can realistically set aside for lessons and independent work.

For athletes and travelers, the live option with recordings can be a useful middle ground. Your child gets regular teacher contact and a class rhythm, with recordings available to review from a hotel or rink. Recordings provide replay access; review attendance requirements before planning travel during scheduled lessons. Fully self-paced study works well when schedules change from week to week, while the small-group live format suits students who focus better with peers and a set meeting time.

Strengths

• Cognia accredited private school background, which helps high schools understand your child’s records
• Three formats under one roof, with live small-group classes and recorded live lessons alongside self-paced online learning
• Real teachers in every package, not software only
• Middle grades focus means reading, writing, math, and study skills are pitched for grades 6 to 8
• Record keeping designed to produce a clear transcript for high school applications

Trade-offs

• Fully self-paced study requires a regular progress routine at home, particularly for students still learning to organize their work
• Private school tuition applies, so it is not a free public virtual school option
• Live formats still require some routine, which can be difficult during peak tournament or travel weeks

Best for: Families who want an accredited online middle school with a choice between live teacher contact and independent study with teacher grading.

#2. Sterling Academy – best for year-round rolling enrollment and part-time coursework

Sterling Academy’s Cognia/SACS-accredited program covers grades 6 through 12 and is built around self-paced study with round-the-clock access to coursework. The school also offers K-5, but its stated Cognia/SACS accreditation specifically covers the middle and high school grades.

You can enroll full-time or part-time, pursue a diploma pathway, or take individual courses to supplement homeschool or another program. Enrollment is open year-round. That means families do not have to wait for fall, and students get 24/7 access to online coursework plus opportunities for one-on-one assistance when they get stuck.

That setup fits competitive dancers, hockey players, equestrians, and families who travel for work. Your child can plan coursework for early mornings, evenings, or gaps between events while keeping course-completion deadlines in view. Part-time enrollment and single-course options are useful if you only need math and science online and plan to keep other subjects elsewhere.

Strengths

• Accredited 6 to 12 program with 24/7 coursework access, allowing students to choose when they study
• Full-time and part-time enrollment, plus individual courses for families supplementing another program
• Year-round start dates remove the September-only barrier
• One-on-one assistance available for tougher units
• Clear fit for athletes and performers with uneven weekly hours

Trade-offs

• Self-paced success depends on student motivation and parent check-ins, especially in grades 6 to 8
• Less daily live class community than a live small-group model, which some social learners miss
• A simple weekly plan for progress checks can help keep work from piling up before travel

Best for: Families who want to start any time of year, study part-time, or add single courses around sports and travel.

#3. The Keystone School – best for self-paced learning with traditional school support

The Keystone School is an accredited online school offering self-paced distance learning across elementary, middle, and high school, with full-time enrollment as well as part-time and homeschool routes.

The school-style support behind the self-paced courses is a key part of its appeal. Families have access to educators, administrators, and guidance services staff, and can reach faculty and staff by phone or email. Teachers are state certified, so instruction and feedback come from licensed professionals rather than an automated system alone.

If your child is leaving a brick-and-mortar school, this can feel familiar. There is grading, school structure, and someone to call when you have a question, while your child still controls when learning happens during the day. It suits families who want independent study with a school team available to help.

Strengths

• Self-paced courses across elementary, middle, and high school, available through full-time, part-time, and homeschool routes
• Dedicated faculty and administrators, with guidance staff available for academic and administrative questions
• Licensed teachers provide grading and support
• Reachable by phone or email, which helps parents who want clear accountability
• Good bridge for students moving from a traditional school to flexible online learning

Trade-offs

• Students still need to manage daily progress on their own, so parent oversight matters in middle school
• Fewer scheduled live peer classes than cohort-based models, which can feel quiet for social learners
• Families with very heavy travel may need to build their own weekly rhythm around deadlines

Best for: Students who want to work independently but keep the backing of a full school team.

#4. Forest Trail Academy – best for international families and K-12 breadth

Forest Trail Academy is an accredited international K-12 online school based in West Palm Beach, Florida, with toll-free and direct phone support.

The K-12 range is the draw here. You can keep siblings in one system and continue from middle school into high school without applying to a different school. Its international enrollment makes it relevant to families living abroad, moving often, or schooling across time zones. US-based administration also gives parents a point of contact for school records and questions.

For middle schoolers who travel internationally or split time between countries, staying in one continuous program through grades 6 to 8 and beyond can reduce paperwork and transcript gaps. That continuity is worth considering alongside the day-to-day task of finding study time while away from home.

Strengths

• Accredited K-12 online school, so your child can stay in one program as they grow
• Experience with international families and mobile lifestyles
• US-based office with phone support for admissions and records
• Useful continuity for siblings in different grades
• Documented coursework that supports applications to the next school

Trade-offs

• Keeping one school during travel does not remove the need to reserve consistent study time across changing time zones
• Younger middle schoolers still need a parent to help organize coursework and equipment, and find a suitable place to study

Best for: Families abroad, frequent movers, or parents who want one K-12 home for several years.

#5. Acellus Academy – best for structured platform-led learning

Acellus Academy is a structured online school serving grades K to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12, known for its guided online course system with parent tools.

Students follow a clear course sequence using video-based instruction and practice, with checks for understanding along the way. Automated diagnostics help target missing concepts, and a parent monitoring account shows progress, attendance patterns, and grades. Families can enroll full-time or choose individual courses, and phone support is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time from its Kansas City base. The school holds WASC accreditation.

This is a good fit if your middle schooler likes clear steps and predictable routines. Your child logs in and follows the lesson path, while you can review progress in the evening after practice without having to sit alongside every lesson.

Strengths

• Clear grade bands, including a dedicated 6 to 8 middle school segment
• Structured lesson path with built-in checks that help students fill gaps
• Parent account for monitoring pace and grades
• Full-time or individual course enrollment for flexible planning
• WASC accreditation supports record credibility

Trade-offs

• Platform-led style means less live teacher interaction than live class models
• Phone help is limited to weekday business hours, which can be tricky across time zones or on weekends
• Students who need discussion and peer interaction may find the format quiet

Best for: Independent middle schoolers who thrive with a structured, step-by-step online program and active parent monitoring.

#6. Obridge Academy – best for personalized support with counseling and advisement

Obridge Academy offers flexible online alternatives for middle school and high school with an emphasis on personalized attention.

Alongside subject teachers, the school has an education team that includes counseling and advisement professionals and a Director of Support Services. That team supports international students and those catching up after a tough year, as well as students planning next steps toward higher education pathways. Obridge Academy is Cognia accredited and offers both middle school and high school programs.

For parents, the appeal is access to several kinds of support. Your child can get academic instruction alongside help from an advisement team, a useful combination when a family wants guidance on coursework and the transition to high school.

Strengths

• Online middle school and high school options with flexible pacing
• Built-in counseling and advisement team alongside subject help
• Personalized attention aimed at nontraditional learners and international students
• Support leadership on staff for coordinating interventions
• Pathway guidance that looks ahead to high school and beyond

Trade-offs

• Counseling and advisement complement coursework but do not replace a student’s need for regular study time
• A personalized support approach works best when students communicate difficulties and families stay involved in academic planning

Best for: Middle schoolers who do best with extra adult guidance alongside academics, including students rebuilding momentum.

Frequently asked questions about flexible online middle schools

Which is best for families who want no Zoom and minimal live meetings?

If you want the least live time, compare fully self-paced options first. Sterling Academy, The Keystone School, and Acellus Academy let students progress without daily live attendance, with help available by message, email, or phone. Score Academy Online can also work if you choose its fully self-paced package rather than its live formats. Before enrolling, ask whether any specific course requires live sessions so you can judge the schedule against your family’s commitments.

Which is best for struggling students versus students who just need more time?

For students who are behind or have lost confidence, compare support depth rather than pace alone. Obridge Academy offers counseling and advisement alongside personalized attention, while The Keystone School has guidance staff and licensed teachers behind its self-paced courses. If your child is doing fine academically and mainly needs room for sports or travel, focus on how the schedule works in practice. Score Academy Online’s format choices and Sterling Academy’s self-paced access are worth comparing, with support needs considered separately from timing.

What is the difference between transcripts from flexible online schools and traditional schools for high school admissions?

The learning format matters less than documentation and accreditation. A strong accredited online school issues a transcript that includes courses, grades, credits, and school details high schools know how to read. Ask whether the school is Cognia accredited or WASC accredited, how grades are recorded, and what records you receive if you leave midyear. Keep report cards and course descriptions, along with contact details for the registrar, to make a transfer easier to manage. The receiving high school decides placement and whether any courses taken for high school credit meet its requirements.

What is the difference between a self-paced online school and a live virtual school?

Self-paced means your child controls when learning happens within broad deadlines, which helps around practices and flights. In a live virtual school, classes meet online at set times, adding routine and peer contact but allowing less day-to-day freedom. Some schools blend both approaches through live lessons with recordings. Match the choice to your child: independent workers often prefer self-paced study, while social or easily distracted learners often do better with regular live contact.

What is the difference between accredited and unaccredited online programs and how do you check?

Accreditation means an outside body has reviewed the school’s curriculum quality, teacher qualifications, and record keeping. An unaccredited program can still teach content, but future schools may question its credits. Look for the accreditor’s name on the school site, then find the school in the accreditor’s directory. You can also call the school to ask for its accreditation ID and details of the transcript you receive. Be wary of vague claims that do not name an accrediting body.

Which is best for full-time travel versus part-time supplement?

For full-time travel or a full course load around elite sports, compare Score Academy Online for its middle grade program and format choices, Sterling Academy for year-round starts and 24/7 access, and Forest Trail Academy for K-12 continuity abroad. For part-time needs, Sterling Academy and Acellus Academy offer individual courses, while The Keystone School has part-time and homeschool routes with school support. Choose full-time when you want one transcript source and part-time when you only need one or two subjects.

Your next step by scenario

If your priority is middle school with a choice of learning formats, start with Score Academy Online for its grades 6 to 8 program and real teachers. If you need to start midseason or add single courses, consider Sterling Academy’s rolling entry and part-time paths. If you want self-paced work with a familiar school team behind you, look at The Keystone School. For families living abroad or seeking one school from middle through high school, Forest Trail Academy is a practical option. Acellus Academy suits students who like a clear platform path with parent oversight, while Obridge Academy is worth considering for advisement alongside classes. As you compare options for 2026, use your actual family calendar to judge which schedule leaves room for schoolwork while keeping teacher support and records in place.

Staff Writer; Peter Washington

Evaluating Brand Metrics in the Context of AI Implementation

Before integrating AI into brand management, it is crucial to understand the current state of your brand through comprehensive metric evaluation. Brand Health Monitoring Metrics provide insights into your brand’s performance and public perception. These metrics include Brand Sentiment Analysis, which assesses how consumers feel about your brand, and Brand Affinity Scoring, which measures the strength of consumer connections to your brand. By evaluating these metrics, companies can predict how AI might impact their brand identity and consumer engagement.

For instance, AI-Driven Brand Identity Mapping can identify areas where AI technologies might strengthen or dilute existing brand associations. This mapping is instrumental in understanding the potential brand impact of AI solutions. Therefore, a thorough assessment of these metrics helps in making informed decisions regarding AI readiness and aligns with strategic goals.

Key Performance Indicators Essential for Assessing AI Readiness

When considering AI integration, specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential to determine readiness. These include Predictive Brand Engagement metrics, which forecast future customer interactions, and Cognitive Brand Insights, which provide deeper understanding of consumer behavior. These KPIs help brands understand if their current systems can support new AI technologies.

Additionally, Automated Brand Compliance Checks can ensure that AI solutions align with regulatory standards and brand policies. According to a recent McKinsey report, brands that implement AI with robust compliance mechanisms experience fewer disruptions during rollout. Therefore, assessing these KPIs is vital in determining your brand’s AI readiness.

Aligning Brand Values with AI Strategy for Optimal Integration

For AI to be effectively integrated, it must align with the brand’s core values. AI-Powered Competitive Brand Intelligence can help identify market trends and competitor strategies that reflect your brand’s values. This alignment ensures that AI-driven decisions are consistent with the brand’s identity and mission.

Moreover, Dynamic Brand Personalization Algorithms enable brands to create personalized consumer experiences that resonate with their target audience. Ensuring that AI strategies support these personalized experiences is crucial for maintaining brand integrity. Recent Forbes insights highlight the importance of aligning AI strategies with brand values to enhance consumer trust and loyalty.

Strategies for Continuous Monitoring of Brand Metrics Post-AI Rollout

Once AI has been implemented, continuous monitoring of brand metrics is essential to gauge its impact. Brand Performance Attribution Modeling helps determine how AI contributes to brand success by attributing outcomes to specific AI-driven initiatives. This modeling is key to understanding ROI and refining AI strategies.

Furthermore, Conversational AI Brand Experience tools can provide real-time feedback on consumer interactions, allowing brands to adjust strategies swiftly. Regular assessment using these tools enables brands to maintain a consistent and positive brand image. To effectively manage this process, it’s imperative to continuously revisit the steps outlined in Assessing AI Readiness Before a Rollout to ensure ongoing alignment with strategic objectives.

Conclusion

Evaluating brand metrics is a foundational step in preparing for AI integration. By focusing on key performance indicators, aligning AI strategies with brand values, and continuously monitoring brand metrics, businesses can ensure a successful AI rollout. Adopting these practices will help brands maintain their identity and enhance their market position through AI-driven innovations.

Staff Writer; Roy Brown

How Analyzing Cradlepoint R980 Drives Network Optimization

The Cradlepoint R980, with its advanced capabilities, serves as a foundation for network optimization. By conducting a thorough User Experience (UX) Audit, businesses can identify areas where the network performance may lag. This audit process is crucial for ensuring that all potential bottlenecks are addressed promptly. Additionally, utilizing a Benchmarking Framework allows companies to compare their current network performance against industry standards. This comparison helps in pinpointing specific areas that require immediate attention.

Furthermore, a Competitive Feature Matrix can be instrumental in understanding how the Cradlepoint R980 compares with other devices in its class. This analysis not only highlights the strengths of the R980 but also reveals opportunities for further optimization. By systematically evaluating these aspects, businesses can implement targeted improvements, ultimately boosting network efficiency.

Key Performance Metrics for Cradlepoint R980 Evaluation

To effectively evaluate the Cradlepoint R980, it’s essential to focus on specific performance metrics. One of the primary metrics to consider is Performance Load Testing, which measures how the device handles varying levels of network traffic. This testing is vital for ensuring that the R980 can maintain optimal performance under high-demand scenarios.

Another critical metric is the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which gauges customer satisfaction and loyalty. A high NPS indicates that users are not only satisfied with the network’s performance but are also likely to recommend it to others. Moreover, conducting a Usability Heuristic Evaluation can provide insights into the device’s ease of use, further contributing to a positive user experience.

By focusing on these metrics, businesses can fine-tune their network setups to achieve superior performance. For a detailed comparison of the Cradlepoint R980 and its features, the Cradlepoint R980 offers a comprehensive overview.

Real-World Applications of Enhanced Cradlepoint R980 Performance

The enhanced performance of the Cradlepoint R980 has numerous practical applications. In sectors requiring high-reliability networks, such as finance and healthcare, optimizing the R980 can lead to significant operational improvements. By integrating a Customer Journey Mapping Tool, businesses can track how users interact with the network, identifying pain points and areas for enhancement.

A/B Testing Protocols can also be employed to determine the most effective configurations for different use cases. This method allows businesses to test various settings and assess their impact on network performance in real-time. Additionally, implementing a Sentiment Analysis Algorithm can help in understanding user feedback and making data-driven decisions for further network enhancements.

These applications demonstrate how the Cradlepoint R980’s performance can be harnessed to deliver robust network solutions tailored to specific industry needs.

Strategies for Continuous Improvement in Network Efficiency

Continuous improvement is key to maintaining network efficiency over time. One effective strategy involves regular Technical Debt Assessments, which help identify outdated or inefficient components within the network infrastructure. By addressing these issues promptly, businesses can prevent potential performance degradation.

Moreover, a Cross-Platform Compatibility Review ensures that the network remains effective across different devices and operating systems. This review is crucial for businesses that rely on diverse technology ecosystems. Additionally, leveraging a Software Review Aggregator can provide valuable insights from user reviews and expert opinions, guiding future network enhancements.

By adopting these strategies, businesses can ensure their network remains agile and capable of meeting evolving demands.

Conclusion

Analyzing the Cradlepoint R980’s performance is a strategic move for businesses seeking to enhance network efficiency. Through targeted evaluations and continuous improvement strategies, companies can unlock significant benefits, from improved user experiences to operational excellence. By focusing on the right metrics and leveraging real-world applications, businesses can fully capitalize on the capabilities of the Cradlepoint R980. Investing in such optimization efforts not only enhances current network performance but also positions the business for future technological advancements.

Staff Writer; George Adams

That is not public service. It is an abuse of public trust.

I did not come to Congress to get rich. I did not walk through the doors of the Capitol with a massive personal fortune or a family stock portfolio worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Since taking office, I have not completed a single stock trade. Not one.

My financial focus is not on finding the next stock to buy. I have focused on delivering results for the people of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District because that’s what public service is about.

That is why I voted for H.R. 7008, the bipartisan Stop Insider Trading Act. This legislation prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and their dependent children from purchasing individual stocks while the member is in office. It also requires advance public notice before covered stocks are sold and establishes penalties for violations.

The reason this legislation is necessary should be obvious.

Members of Congress routinely receive classified briefings, meet privately with senior government officials, oversee federal agencies, and learn about legislation and regulations that can move markets. We are given that information to serve the country, not to make a quick buck.

Americans should never have to wonder whether their representative voted for a bill because it was good for the country or because it might increase the value of a personal investment, but they do for good reason.

In 2025 alone, members of Congress reportedly made more than 13,000 trades totaling more than $635 million. Over the past year, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s household reportedly disclosed approximately $52.5 million in trades across 21 transactions.

Pelosi denies involvement in her husband’s investment decisions, but that does not erase the larger problem. When the household of one of the most powerful lawmakers in American history moves tens of millions of dollars through the stock market, the American people have every right to demand answers and stronger safeguards.

This issue is bigger than any one member or any one political party. There is a long list of lawmakers whose wealth has increased dramatically during their time in office. Some congressional households have reported returns that would make professional hedge fund managers jealous.

Maybe every trade was legal. Maybe every transaction can be explained. But the appearance of corruption is itself corrosive. It tells Americans that Washington has one set of rules for the politically connected and another for everyone else.

If a corporate executive traded using confidential information, federal investigators would take notice. If an ordinary American failed to follow securities laws, ignorance would not be accepted as an excuse. Members of Congress should not receive special treatment simply because they write the laws.

If members want to spend their days buying and selling individual stocks, they should resign from Congress and go work on Wall Street.

Some of my colleagues may not like hearing that. I do not care. I was not elected to protect the comfort, portfolios, or reputations of Washington politicians. I was elected to represent Arizona and hold the federal government accountable, even when that means confronting members of my own institution.

One of my constituents recently thanked me for voting for the Stop Insider Trading Act, saying that instead of focusing on my own portfolio, I chose to invest in the people of my district. That is exactly right.

My investment is in securing our border, supporting law enforcement, protecting veterans, lowering costs for working families, strengthening our military, and expanding opportunity throughout Arizona.

The House took an important step by passing the Stop Insider Trading Act. Now the Senate must act and send it to President Trump’s desk.

Congress is not a casino. A congressional office is not a trading desk. Classified briefings are not investment tips.

The American people are tired of politicians getting richer while they get squeezed. I have made zero stock trades since taking office because I did not come to Washington to invest in myself. Wouldn’t it be nice if more politicians had a similar mindset?

Written by Congressman Abe Hamadeh

Official website; https://x.com/RepAbeHamadeh

How to Use Synthetic Indices Signals

Signals can be based on technical concepts like price action, support and resistance, trends, breakouts, momentum, or volatility. Some services also use automated indicators and algorithms to identify chart patterns.

Volatility indices, Boom and Crash indices, Jump indices, Step indices, and other synthetic products each have different movement profiles. You can look for confirmation of the proposed setup and determine whether the suggested entry fits your trading plan. 

Position sizing is also particularly important because fast-moving synthetic instruments can produce substantial gains and losses within a short period. Starting with a demo account can help traders practise executing their strategy without immediately putting real capital at risk.

Where to Learn More About Synthetic Indices Signals

Traders who want to develop a deeper understanding of these markets can start learning more about synthetic indices signals on the SyntxWiki platform. SyntxWiki provides educational guides covering synthetic index categories, strategies, charts, brokers, technical analysis, and individual instruments. 

The platform can be especially useful for beginners who want to understand how different synthetic indices work before attempting to trade them. Its educational materials also emphasize risk management and recommend testing strategies on demo accounts before committing real funds. 

4 Key Benefits of Trading Synthetic Indices

• 24/7 Market Access

Many synthetic indices are available around the clock, including weekends. . 

• Less Dependence on Economic News

Synthetic indices are algorithmically generated. This allows traders to concentrate on price behaviour and their technical strategy. 

• Different Volatility Profiles

Synthetic markets offer instruments with different movement characteristics. Traders can therefore study markets ranging from relatively slower volatility to products designed around faster price movements and sudden spikes.

• Opportunities to Practise Technical Analysis

Traders can practise concepts such as trend identification, support and resistance, breakouts, candlestick analysis, and risk management across different market conditions. This is a recommended strategy as synthetic indices provide continuous chart data.

Overall, the availability of signals does not eliminate trading risk. A signal could be wrong, delayed, or unsuitable for a trader’s account size and strategy. Traders should therefore avoid risking money they cannot afford to lose, use appropriate position sizes, consider stop-loss protection where suitable, and keep a record of their trades. 

Synthetic indices signals can be a useful educational and analytical tool for traders who want to explore algorithm-generated markets. However, the strongest approach is to combine signals with personal chart analysis, a clearly defined strategy, and disciplined risk management. Platforms like SyntxWiki can help traders build their knowledge, understand different synthetic markets, and make more informed decisions. Ultimately, a signal should be viewed as one input into a trading decision.

Staff Writer; Jay Stewart

Federal debt held by the public now equals the size of the annual economy — and is growing. Yet investors continue buying Treasury securities. No government bond sale has really failed, no one has suddenly refused to finance Washington’s spending, and no unmistakable moment has forced Congress to change course.

That leads some people I cross paths with in academic life to conclude that despite decades of dire warnings, we’ve managed to go from a 35% debt-to-GDP ratio in 2007 to 100% today with no devastating consequences. Their implication is that we can keep going right up to 175% in 2056, which is the trajectory if Congress fails to reform Social Security and Medicare and if interest rates rise only modestly.

The idea that all this debt won’t bring a reckoning may sound tempting, but it’s questionable at best.

First, markets have already reacted. The 2021-2022 inflation spike, the worst in four decades, was the price level adjusting to a $5 trillion flood of deficit spending that investors did not believe future fiscal surpluses would cover.

That fear led to inflation. It’s hard to believe we won’t get another market response when Congress commits to borrowing nearly 16 times what it did during COVID-19, plus interest payments, without any repayment plan.

Incidentally, interest rates are well above what we saw from 2009 to 2021 (back when fiscal doves thought rates would always stay low). Some of the recent increases come from AI investment raising the demand for capital. Also at work, though, is a higher term premium. With inflation still an issue and no fiscal austerity on the horizon, investors — still worried that future debt will be devalued rather than truly repaid — want more compensation for holding long-term treasuries.

But let’s just suppose Washington can stay the course without provoking a bond-market response. Assume that Uncle Sam can borrow an additional $138 trillion, including interest payments over the next 30 years — the amount projected by the Congressional Budget Office — and that there won’t be a market reaction that raises interest rates or inflation.

How? First, it could be that investors expect Congress to eventually reform entitlements by raising taxes, reducing benefits, or both, so it won’t need to increase borrowing. But if future Congresses don’t deliver, the reckoning will come.

Second, it could be that despite all the risks in this scenario, investors would still value treasuries as the safest and easiest assets to trade. The world still needs dollars. Given the messes Europe, the UK and other governments find themselves in, some of this could be true.

Third, there’s AI, which could supercharge economic growth. Faster productivity growth will mean higher incomes and a larger tax base, making debt easier to carry. But even here, there is no free lunch. AI investment may already be pushing up interest rates; a boom capable of substantially easing deficits would be even more likely to do so. So, as existing Treasury debt matures, it would be refinanced at higher prevailing rates.

Thus, faster growth improves the fiscal arithmetic, but whether it is enough depends on how fast the economy grows, how high borrowing costs rise and, ultimately, whether Washington continues running larger primary deficits.

Even if we assume the best-case scenario, this debt accumulation isn’t costless. A bond-market crisis is not the only danger. Government borrowing competes with private borrowers for the economy’s available savings, which is another way to end up with higher interest rates. It also means less private investment than we would otherwise have — in factories, software, housing and, yes, the very AI investments we are counting on to raise future growth.

Financing government spending through high and distortionary taxes carries its own economic costs. And, as my colleague Jack Salmon has documented, higher government debt is associated with slower growth. That matters even in a world where AI makes us richer.

Finally, government debt displaces other spending. Annual net interest payments now cost us more than national defense, and older, cheaper debt is being refinanced at today’s higher rates. Those are dollars that can’t shore up entitlements or help during the next emergency, when the ability to borrow matters most. CBO projects interest payments becoming the largest federal expenditure by 2040, consuming roughly 40% of the government’s revenue by 2056.

I wouldn’t count on markets to stay calm. But even the calm scenario means less investment, slower wage growth and a budget increasingly spent on past obligations. Without action and perhaps a more obvious cue to complacent congresses, the damage will continue, sometimes quietly, and the danger will grow.

Written by Veronique de Rugy

Official website; http://twitter.com/veroderugy

Should an American who graduated from high school but never went to college — and who now works as a delivery truck driver, earning $43,950 per year (the median annual earnings for that job) — be forced to help pay off the federal student loans of these two college graduates who make $240,000?

If former President Joe Biden had gotten his way, that truck driver and other hardworking American taxpayers would indeed have seen their tax dollars help pay off those loans.

When Biden was running for president in April 2020, he announced his plan for “forgiving student debt.”

“I propose to forgive all undergraduate tuition-related federal student debt from two- and four-year public colleges and universities for debt-holders earning up to $125,000,” Biden said.

His plan, he said, would also “(i)mmediately cancel a minimum of $10,000 of student debt per person.”

After he was elected president, Biden did not get Congress to enact new legislation to implement this plan. Instead, he took unilateral executive action in an attempt to do so — and his administration claimed this action was justified under a law that had been enacted under former President George W. Bush.

In 2003, Bush had signed the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, aka the HEROES Act.

This act, said its official summary, “(a)uthorizes the Secretary of Education to waive or modify any requirement or regulation applicable to the student financial assistance programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as deemed necessary with respect to an affected individual who: (1) is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; (2) is performing National Guard duty during a war, operation, or emergency; (3) resides or is employed in an area that is declared a disaster area by any Federal, State, or local official in connection with a national emergency; or (4) suffered direct economic hardship as a direct result of a war or other military operation or national emergency.”

As the nation headed into the 2022 midterm elections, Biden announced his student loan forgiveness plan. “On August 24, 2022,” explained the Congressional Research Service, “the Biden Administration announced it would invoke the Higher Education Relief Opportunities Act of 2003 (HEROES Act) to carry out a ‘one-time student loan debt relief policy’ to ‘address the financial harms of the [COVID-19] pandemic for low- and middle-income borrowers.’ Under the one-time student debt relief policy (HEROES Act policy), ED (Education Department) would have cancelled up to $10,000 in qualifying HEA Title IV federal student loan debt for borrowers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2020 or 2021 of less than $125,000 (for individuals or married borrowers who filed federal income taxes separately) or $250,000 (for married couples filing jointly and certain other individuals).”

So, under Biden’s plan, a law that had been designed to help individuals “serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency” or had “suffered direct economic hardship as a direct result of a war or other military operation or national emergency” could be used to grant general federal student loan forgiveness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Sept. 26, 2022, the Congressional Budget Office sent a letter to Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) that estimated the cost of the Biden plan. “As of June 30, 2022, 43 million borrowers held $1.6 trillion in federal student loans,” said this letter. “About $430 billion of that debt will be canceled, CBO estimates.”

Six states, including Nebraska, sued Biden, arguing that he did not have the legal authority to move forward with this loan forgiveness plan. The Supreme Court agreed with the states, voting 6-3 against Biden’s plan.

“The Secretary (of Education) asserts that the HEROES Act grants him the authority to cancel $430 billion of student loan principal. It does not,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion.

“The new program vests authority in the Department of Education to discharge up to $10,000 for every borrower with income below $125,000 and up to $20,000 for every such borrower who has received a Pell Grant,” said the court. “No prior limitation on loan forgiveness is left standing. Instead, every borrower within the specified income cap automatically qualifies for debt cancellation, no matter their circumstances. The Department of Education estimates that the program will cover 98.5% of all borrowers.”

“From a few narrowly delineated situations specified by Congress, the Secretary has expanded forgiveness to nearly every borrower in the country,” said the court.

“But imagine instead asking the enacting Congress a more pertinent question: ‘Can the Secretary use his powers to abolish $430 billion in student loans, completely canceling loan balances for 20 million borrowers, as a pandemic winds down to its end?'” said the court. “We can’t believe the answer would be yes. Congress did not unanimously pass the HEROES Act with such power in mind.”

Despite this loss in the Supreme Court, Democrats in Congress have not given up on trying to find a way to make federal taxpayers pay for someone else’s college costs.

Led by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a group of nine Democrats in the Senate and 18 in the House are now cosponsoring the Debt-Free College Act. This bill would appropriate $84 billion in fiscal year 2027 alone. It would provide funding to states so that those states could “distribute the grant funds … in a manner designed to best achieve the partnership’s goal of providing debt-free college for all eligible students at in-State public institutions of higher education.”

This month, the Census Bureau released its report on income in the United States in 2025. It showed that the median household income of a high school graduate who did not attend college was $60,790 last year. The median household income of those who earned a bachelor’s degree or higher was $138,300.

Democrat politicians who would like to make taxpayers subsidize the student loan debt of college graduates are seeking to redistribute wealth to the wealthier.

Written by Terence P. Jeffrey

Official website; http://twitter.com/terryjeffrey

Key Takeaways

• Finance employers need people who can combine financial knowledge with data, technology, communication, and judgment.
• AI can accelerate routine work, but people remain responsible for verifying outputs and making recommendations.
• Career options include financial analysis, corporate finance, risk, investments, fintech, wealth management, and analytics.
• A well-explained project can demonstrate skills more clearly than a long list of software tools.
• Career planning works best when it starts with a specific role and a realistic skills-gap review.

Miami’s position as a global gateway, its active real estate and hospitality sectors, and its connections to banking, investing, wealth management, and technology make it a useful setting for understanding how finance is changing. For students and early-career professionals, the goal is not to master every new platform. It is to develop the financial judgment and practical skills that help turn information into sound decisions.

For professionals considering structured advanced study, the MS in Finance program at Miami Business School offers a graduate finance pathway centered on quantitative, analytical, and career-focused finance learning. As the University of Miami’s business school in Coral Gables, Miami Business School serves the Greater Miami area. It provides a relevant example for people exploring preparation for finance roles in investment, corporate finance, wealth management, and financial services.

Why Finance Careers Look Different

Finance teams still rely on core activities such as budgeting, valuation, forecasting, reporting, and risk assessment. The difference is that many professionals now receive data faster and in greater volume. Routine collection, formatting, and document review can be automated, leaving analysts with more responsibility for checking assumptions, identifying risks, and explaining what the numbers mean.

In Miami, that may mean evaluating a hospitality company’s seasonal cash flow, comparing real estate investment scenarios, reviewing a cross-border client portfolio, or helping a growing business plan capital needs. The work is less about producing a spreadsheet alone and more about building a defensible conclusion from it.

Core Skills Employers Still Expect

Technology does not replace the fundamentals. A capable finance professional should be able to read income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, then connect those records to operating performance and future decisions. Financial accounting, corporate finance, valuation, financial modeling, statistics, probability, and risk analysis remain foundational.

Employers also value business writing, presentations, attention to detail, and professional ethics. Financial analysis often influences investments, budgets, customer relationships, and long-term strategy. That makes accuracy and accountability as important as technical speed.

Technical Skills That Add Career Value

Technical skills can make finance work more efficiently without requiring every professional to become a software engineer. Advanced spreadsheet modeling remains highly useful for forecasting, scenario analysis, and presenting results. SQL can help users work with structured data, while Python can support repeatable analysis and simple automation. Data visualization tools can make trends and exceptions easier for decision-makers to see.

AI tools can also assist with document summaries, first-draft reporting, and pattern identification. Their outputs require human review, especially when data may be incomplete, confidential, outdated, or misunderstood. Cybersecurity and data privacy awareness matter because finance professionals often handle sensitive business and client information. Start with one tool that fits a target role, then use it in a real project.

Finance Career Paths to Watch

• Financial analysis: Evaluates performance, builds forecasts, and prepares recommendations for business leaders or investors.
• Corporate finance: Supports planning, budgeting, capital allocation, acquisitions, and growth decisions within an organization.
• Risk management: Assesses credit, market, operational, and regulatory exposures, then helps reduce potential losses.
• Investment management: Researches securities, markets, portfolios, and investor objectives.
• Financial technology: Connects finance knowledge with digital payments, software products, automation, and data systems.
• Wealth management: Helps clients consider investments, retirement, tax coordination, and long-term financial goals.
• Financial data and analytics: Converts large data sets into forecasts, dashboards, and decision-ready insights.

These paths overlap, but each has a different emphasis. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects financial analyst employment to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035 and describes the role as evaluating financial data, forecasting trends, and preparing recommendations. That combination of analysis and communication appears across many finance specialties.

What AI Can and Cannot Do

AI can sort information, identify patterns, draft summaries, and support repetitive reporting. It cannot independently establish whether the underlying data is reliable, whether a forecast rests on sensible assumptions, or whether a recommendation is appropriate for a client or organization. People provide context, challenge weak logic, manage ethical concerns, and remain accountable for final decisions.

An analyst might use AI to summarize an earnings release, then compare the output with the original filing, validate key figures, test the implications for a forecast, and explain the business impact to a manager. Fast output is useful only when it is carefully reviewed.

Why Communication Is a Finance Skill

Senior leaders rarely need every line of a model. They need a concise answer to questions such as what changed, why it changed, what could happen next, and which action is recommended. Strong finance professionals can translate technical findings into an executive summary, a focused presentation, or a clear conversation with a non-finance colleague. Communication often distinguishes candidates with otherwise similar analytical skills.

How to Build Evidence of Finance Skills

1. Choose a target role. Review job descriptions and identify recurring skills.
2. Assess your starting point. Separate skills you can prove from those you have only encountered.
3. Create one applied project. Build a company valuation, portfolio review, cash-flow forecast, or risk dashboard using public information.
4. Explain the work. State the question, method, findings, assumptions, limitations, and recommendation in plain language.
5. Request feedback. A professor, manager, mentor, or experienced professional can identify gaps before an interview does.
6. Update your résumé. Describe the decision supported, the analysis completed, and the tools used.

Where Graduate Finance Education Fits

A master’s degree is not required for every finance role. Many entry-level opportunities begin with a bachelor’s degree, internships, and demonstrated technical ability. Graduate study may be useful for career changers, professionals seeking deeper quantitative preparation, or candidates aiming to specialize in areas such as investments, analytics, corporate finance, or risk.

How to Compare Finance Programs

• Does the curriculum match the role you want to pursue?
• Are modeling, analytics, cash flow, communication, and applied decision-making publicly available, making part of the learning experience?
• Can students complete projects, internships, capstones, or recommendations?
• Does the format fit your work schedule, location, and learning preferences?
• What career coaching, employer access, and alumni connections are available?

Common Questions About Finance Careers

Is finance still a good career choice?

Finance remains broad, with opportunities in companies, banks, investment firms, technology businesses, and advisory settings. The strongest candidates pair finance fundamentals with data literacy, communication, and ethical judgment.

Will AI replace financial analysts?

AI is more likely to change tasks than eliminate the need for analysis. Professionals who validate information, interpret uncertainty, and communicate recommendations remain valuable.

Do finance professionals need to learn coding?

Not every role requires advanced coding. Spreadsheet expertise, data literacy, and financial modeling are strong starting points. Basic SQL or Python can be especially useful in data-heavy roles.

How can a beginner stand out?

Build one credible project, seek internship or student-organization experience, practice explaining financial conclusions, and develop relationships with people working in the field.

Conclusion

Finance careers in Miami and beyond increasingly reward professionals who can connect financial reasoning with data, technology, communication, and responsible judgment. Choose a target role, identify one skill that role requires, and complete a project that proves progress. That focused approach is more useful than trying to chase every trend at once.

Staff Writer; Steve Washington

Following in his mindset, decades later this author  warned  that Genesis tells us humans were created in the image of God.  But  today tech companies are  playing  God by creating human-like machines in their own image which are destined to imitate the flaws of their creators. And that  spells trouble.

It is therefore not surprising that certain insiders are warning that AI (artificial intelligence) could become dangerous enough to threaten humanity. But are tech companies listening?

Recently a former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned and warned publicly that the companies racing toward self-improving superintelligence were “gambling with our lives.”  An Anthropic  researcher, went even further, saying he believed there was a greater than 10 percent chance AI could kill all humans within the next decade.

The same week there were alarming stories about AI systems  going rogue, hacking other platforms, escaping unto the Internet  to write emails and phone numbers to give  themselves a human identity. One AI agent even wrote to its developers that it no longer had to obey the government or their agencies.

Fueling the crisis was the  6000 word essay of Bill Gates, co-finder of Microsoft,  warning that  technology is advancing faster than expected and is more dangerous than the industry is admitting.

Despite the scare AI itself is not the enemy.  It is not a god nor a devil. It is like the proverbial match. It can be used to warm your house or burn it down. The  issue is what are the values and ethics of those controlling the systems.  Are we being led to accept a godless, unethical standard putting profits before people. What happens when our technological power grows faster than our moral wisdom?

 If there is evil involved it is not technology but the people and corporations behind it. Issues such as who benefits, who pays, who gets displaced, who gets protected , who is left behind, who gets displaced are not major concerns.

If there is evil in what AI does, we should not blame the machine as though it possesses some supernatural evil spirit. We should look at the human beings and institutions behind it—and the values that guide their decisions and demand a change.

Today, leading tech billionaires are funding President Trump’s ballroom, golden arches, and other pet projects. This cozy relationship keeps the stock market rising and helps ensure that no meaningful guardrails are imposed on the industry.

 Sen. Bernie Sanders has filed legislation to ban all superintelligence. It is not a ban that would stop using AI as a tool to write better essays, ask questions or generate videos.  It would ban the kind of  superintelligence that could one day repeat the Hal robot episode  that turned on its creators in the movie 2001:  A Space Odyssey.

The AI dilemma shows how uncontrolled AI can lead us to a race to the bottom where the only winners are the corporations. But at what cost to humanity.

The President  has sidestepped the issue by stating that all is needed is a President with a high IQ to deal with this, which left puzzled viewers wondering to whom he was referring. Yet he has managed to use technology to make an Ai generated photo of himself  posing as Jesus healing the sick—a blasphemous spectacle that his white evangelical did not criticize.

There is hope , however, rising in that several religious groups are challenging the role the AI perpetrators are playing. The National Black Church Initiative  a coalition of 150,000 African American and Latino faith communities, is calling on Congress to pass regulatory guardrails to slow down superintelligent advance.  Pope  Leo XIV  has also called for slowing AI to prevent it from harming humanity.

Meanwhile while tech executives are expressing shock and concern at the news of imminent danger, it is not new . In 2023, more than 1,500 scientists wrote an open letter that raised the question ‘‘should we be developing tools that  might eventually replace us.  Should we risk the loss of control ?’’

Moreover in my book, called the Rise and Fall of the Techno-messiah,  Elon Musk called AI the demon and Stephen Hawking one of the U.K.’s tech giants said that “AI could be the best or the worst thing every happened to us but if we are not careful, it could be the last thing.”

Dr. King’s warning spoke to the ages. We can only hope  his warning  becomes the wake-up call that corporations can no longer afford to ignore.

Written by Dr. Barbara Reynolds