SHOCK POLL: MORE THAN HALF THE COUNTRY APPROVES OF TRUMP’S FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE. A new CBS/YouGov poll shows Trump’s approval at 53% one month into office, surpassing his 2017 numbers but trailing Obama’s and Bush’s early highs.
—> ECONOMIC ANGST: 66% of Americans say Trump hasn’t focused enough on lowering prices, with even 48% of Republicans agreeing.
—> TRADE TENSIONS: While 56% back Trump’s tariffs on China, majorities oppose his plans for steep tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and Europe.
—> MUSK’S INFLUENCE: Half of Americans think Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” should have a role in U.S. operations—support jumps to 74% among Republicans.
Source: CBS News.
TRUMP SHUTS DOWN ELIZABETH WARREN’S CFPB FOR A WEEK — MAYBE LONGER? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Warren’s brainchild, has been effectively shut down by the Trump administration. The agency, created after the 2008 financial crisis, is no longer allowed to conduct investigations, enforce rules, or regulate financial institutions.
WSJ reports:
Trump’s newly installed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief Russell Vought is closing the bureau’s headquarters and has ordered staff to halt all of their supervisory efforts, ramping up the administration’s attempt to revoke the financial regulator’s authority.
Vought, the head of the Office of Management and Budget who also became the acting director of the CFPB on Friday, issued a notice to staff on Saturday demanding they “cease all supervision and examination activity,” according to an email viewed by The Wall Street Journal.
In an email sent to staff on Sunday, Adam Martinez, the CFPB’s chief operating officer, said the bureau’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., would be closed from Feb. 10 to 14.
—> ELON MUSK WEIGHS IN: Musk posted “CFPB RIP” on X, celebrating its shutdown. His team will now have access to regulatory data as his platform eyes financial services.
—> POLITICAL BACKLASH: Warren slammed the decision, calling it a “green light for banks to scam families.” But with Trump in charge, expect more deregulation ahead.
Source: Associated Press.
hello, future. it’s me, kev.
…and this is a dispatch from the digital frontier. It’s time to meet the future NOW — with the latest on markets, tech, and freedom. The day is 40. The year is 2025. The planet is Earth. My name is Kevin Cirilli —> LinkedIn. Spotify. Sign-up to receive the future in your inbox here.
Back to the future...
SUPER BOWL TECH OPS: BIGGEST BROADCAST CHALLENGE OF THE SEASON. The NFL’s tech team is running its most complex operation yet to ensure flawless coverage of Super Bowl LIX. From managing wireless frequencies to securing communications for players and officials, this year’s setup is a masterclass in broadcast logistics.
—> FREQUENCY NIGHTMARE: With 73,000+ fans, media crews, and a halftime show packed with wireless gear, the biggest challenge is coordinating radio signals to prevent interference. Teams conducted full-stadium RF tests to replicate gameday traffic.
—> VERIZON BACKUP: The NFL has partnered with Verizon to install four on-field antennas—two active, two backup—to keep communication systems online, including coach headsets and referee mics.
—> NO ROOM FOR ERROR: The league is sticking to tried-and-true infrastructure, avoiding risky new tech. With replay systems and video feeds running at maximum capacity, the goal is stability over innovation.
Source: Sports Video Group.
FUTURES
INFLATION STAYS STICKY—FED HOLDS RATES AS JOBS BOOM. January inflation barely budged, with core CPI rising 0.3% for the fifth time in six months. With a hot labor market and Trump’s trade moves looming, the Fed is staying put on rate cuts.
—> POWELL’S PITCH: The Fed chair testifies before Congress this week, expected to argue that economic resilience justifies keeping rates steady for now.
—> TRUMP FACTOR: Proposed tariffs and tax policies could keep inflation elevated, complicating the Fed’s path to cuts. Brazil is already bracing for impact. The financial press is already chatting up a storm and freaking out about Trump’s additional tariff proposals.
📌 Source: Bloomberg, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
CRYPTO
TRUMP JR: CRYPTO IS ‘THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN HEGEMONY’—WHY IT MATTERS. Donald Trump Jr. made a surprise appearance at the Ondo Summit in NYC, declaring crypto as the key to maintaining U.S. global dominance.
—> WHAT IS AMERICAN HEGEMONY? Hegemony refers to a nation's ability to lead and influence the world economically, politically, and militarily. For decades, U.S. hegemony has been driven by the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency, giving America control over global finance. Trump Jr. argues that crypto could play a role in sustaining that power.
—> WHY THIS MATTERS: The U.S. dollar's dominance has been challenged in recent years, with countries like China and Russia pushing alternatives, including digital currencies. Trump Jr. sees crypto as a tool to reinforce U.S. financial supremacy, keeping American influence strong as global economies evolve.
—> TRUMP FAMILY EMBRACES CRYPTO: World Liberty Financial (WLF), the Trump-backed crypto firm, just bought $470K worth of ONDO tokens after Ondo Finance announced plans for its own blockchain. WLF has also invested in major tokens like Ethereum (ETH), Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), and Chainlink (LINK).
—> REGULATION WARNING: Trump Jr. cautioned against excessive government oversight, arguing that regulators who “don’t know what they’re talking about” could stifle innovation and push the industry overseas.
—> BITCOIN ETF INCOMING? Trump's social media company is eyeing a Truth.Fi Bitcoin Plus ETF, signaling a deeper push into the financialization of crypto assets.
📌 Source: CoinDesk
SPACE
☀️ NASA'S PUNCH SATELLITES—SOLAR STORMS IN 3D Four suitcase-sized NASA satellites will map how the Sun’s corona turns into the solar wind, helping predict space weather that can knock out power grids and satellites.
—> 🌌 NEW TECH: PUNCH will create a real-time 3D map of the solar wind.
—> ⚡ EARTH IMPACT: Solar storms disrupt GPS, power grids, and even airline routes.
Source: NASA
QUANTUM // ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CHINA’S AI PROPAGANDA MACHINE: DEEPSEEK PUSHES CCP TALKING POINTS. China’s DeepSeek AI is making waves in the AI arms race, but there’s a catch—it refuses to answer politically sensitive questions and parrots official Chinese Communist Party government rhetoric.
—> CENSORSHIP BY DESIGN: DeepSeek dodges questions about Tiananmen Square, COVID origins, and China’s trade policies. Users found it censors keywords and shuts down conversations about controversial topics.
—> CCP’S AI STRATEGY: Beijing is using AI not just for innovation but as a propaganda tool, embedding state-approved narratives into chatbots that could shape public opinion worldwide.
—> US VS. CHINA: THE AI WAR: DeepSeek’s rise poses a challenge to Western AI dominance. While U.S. companies focus on cutting-edge tech, China is betting on mass-producing AI models that align with its geopolitical agenda.
BOTTOM LINE: DeepSeek has zero credibility with anyone who embraces freedom to meet the future.
Source: Politico, CNBC.
ONE MORE THING
go birds.
With gratitude,
Kev
ABOUT mtf.tv’s meet the future: mtf.tv’s meet the future is a cutting-edge platform focused on addressing key challenges at the intersection of national security, technology, and business. With a mission to embrace freedom to meet the future’s challenges and opportunities, mtf.tv offers forward-thinking media offerings and forums.
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