Greetings! It’s February 6, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Sen. Ernst warns of ‘willful sabotage’ at USAID, DeepSeek can transfer users' data directly to the CCP, Russians’ hunt to shield savings pushes gold purchases to record, ICE hits Tren de Aragua in Colorado, and much more…

***

🔥 New Podcast: Foreign Threats & Information Warfare with Dr. Ivana Stradner Coercive Capital

🎯 FEATURED STORY

Sen. Ernst warns of ‘willful sabotage’ at USAID, cites millions in funding for Wuhan lab, terrorists and more. This includes $2M in funding for Moroccan pottery classes, $2M backing trips to Lebanon, $1M to fund research in the Wuhan lab, $20M to make a Sesame Street in Iraq and $9M in humanitarian aid that “ended up in the hands of violent terrorists.” NYP

🚩 The Collapse of USAID Is Already Fueling Human Trafficking and Slavery at Scammer Compounds Wired

🚀 TOP STORIES

DeepSeek coding has the capability to transfer users' data directly to the Chinese government ABC

Lawmakers Push to Ban DeepSeek App From U.S. Government Devices WSJ 

Russians’ Hunt to Shield Savings Pushes Gold Purchases to Record Bloomberg 

ICE carries out raid in Colorado, 100 members of Venezuelan gang targeted for arrest ABC 

‘The biggest heist in American history’: DC is just waking up to Elon Musk’s takeover Verge

New target of Paragon spyware comes forward TC

Iran calls for OPEC to unite against U.S. oil sanctions Reuters 

Why the West is failing to fight corruption .coda 

US Set to Announce Seizure of Venezuela Vice President’s Plane Bloomberg 

Member of Al-Qaeda Sentenced to 44 Years for Terrorism Offenses DOJ

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

China restricts metal exports in response to US tariffs. Why they're important. USAT 

Addicted to War: Undermining Russia’s Economy CEPA 

Ex-Googler Charged by U.S. With Espionage to Boost AI in China Reuters 

Russian billionaires Fridman and Aven sell Alfa-Bank stakes in bid to overturn sanctions FT

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

DOGE Aides Search Medicare Agency Payment Systems for Fraud WSJ 

Thailand cuts power supplies to Myanmar border towns in effort to curb scam rings AP 

Billions in EU farm subsidies tied to greenwashing Politico 

EU court upholds €320M fine against Poland for violating rule of law Politico

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

FDIC Releases Documents Related to Supervision of Crypto-Related Activities FDIC 

Ransomware payments drop for first time in years following law enforcement disruptions Record 

SEC moves top crypto litigator involved in Ripple, Coinbase cases to IT department Block 

Former Malaysian PM’s X Account Hacked to Promote Scam Meme Coin BeInCrypto

🚚 TRAFFICKING

The Salvadoran Mega-Prison Offering to Take America’s Worst Criminals WSJ 

Coast Guard Cutter interdicts $91M in illicit narcotics during Eastern Pacific Ocean patrol DHS 

Tariff threats take aim at fentanyl trafficking. Here’s how the drug reaches the U.S. AP

“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” —Winston Churchill

Share Illicit Edge with friends!

They can subscribe here for free and never miss a story.