Cheddar has learned exclusively that Grammy-nominated musician and crypto entrepreneur Akon is endorsing bitcoin billionaire Brock Pierce for President of the United States, and will serve as chief strategist for Pierce 2020.
Pierce is a cryptocurrency entrepreneur who announced his run for the Oval Office in July, running as an independent. In 2018, Pierce made Forbes' first-ever list of wealthiest crypto investors in the world, and is a chairman of the nonprofit Bitcoin Foundation. Pierce is also a former child actor, known for his roles in The Mighty Ducks and the Disney original film First Kid.
Akon, whose full name is Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, says of the endorsement, "I've always known Brock Pierce to be a standup guy. He's a real people's person and he doesn't operate between party lines. We share the same dream of pushing America forward for everyone without showing favoritism to one particular base."
The Don't Matter singer has invested heavily into the crypto space in recent years, recently founding his own digital currency called Akoin and founding Akon City, a "futuristic cryptocurrency themed city," in Senegal. Akon City features a massive investment in local infrastructure; according to bitcoin.com, the $6 billion project, "will include roads, a hospital, a mall, hotels, and a school. There will also be parks, universities, a stadium, and an industrial complex."
At the time of his campaign announcement, the Minnesota-born 39-year-old Pierce said, "Entrepreneurs are essential to the rebuilding of this nation that we love, and I'm running in this race because I know that together we can help build a pathway towards the rebirth of the America we love so much."
The campaign manager for Pierce 2020 is also a familiar face to many: Brittany Kaiser, who is best known from her role as a Cambridge Analytica whistleblower who helped sound the alarm about Facebook's complicity helping the Trump campaign in 2016. Kaiser told Cheddar of the Pierce White House run, "It's inspiring, and a breath of fresh air to have someone who has spent their life really understanding technology putting himself out there as the face of a presidential campaign…he not only understands how to improve and make systems more efficient, but also has a vision for a more inclusive political platform than what is currently being offered by the two big parties."
The Pierce ticket is rounded out by the addition of entrepreneur Karla Ballard for Vice President, who touts years of experience in brand development and corporate partnerships. Ballard said at the time, "My life's work has been devoted to finding solutions and bringing people together across all cultures and party lines and when Brock Pierce approached me to join his visionary campaign as his Vice President, I knew this was the next step I should take in this lifelong mission."
Pierce says in a statement about the Akon endorsement and campaign addition: "Not only is Akon one of the most well-known artists globally, he is a successful global businessman and philanthropist. I started my life as an artist so I have the utmost respect for culture and the arts -- without it we are lost. His aspirations to be in politics, to be in civil service, and what he has accomplished in Africa and beyond will be valuable for our platform on a regional, national, and world-wide level."
Kaiser was quick to note the strength of the Akon endorsement, and the artist's role in the campaign, adding, "Akon is an incredibly inspiring guy and he has so much energy. He's accomplished so much. It's an honor to have him with the team, with his track record of massive success in entertainment but also in entrepreneurship. He's a very important part of the team, especially as we dive into foreign policy issues."
The Brock Pierce campaign is currently on the ballot in eight states and Washington, DC, which is more than any other independent candidacy in 2020, with petitions to join the ballot in several more.
Inflation remains hot as the January PPI has increased by 1 percent, twice what analysts had been expecting with a jump of 9.7 over the year. Beth Ann Bovino, the U.S. chief economist, for S&P Global Ratings, joined Cheddar News to discuss the rapid pace of inflation alongside higher wages, predicting the Federal Reserve will act quickly and forcefully this year. "They haven't changed their forecast, yet, that's gonna come out soon. But we expect that a March rate hike is basically pretty much baked in the cake," she said. "We think six rate hikes in total for 2022."
For black history month, Cheddar is highlighting black business leaders who are driving the need for representation forward. On February 10, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted an event called 'Developing the Black-Owned Business Ecosystem.' The virtual event was organized under the lobbying group's two initiatives -- the Equality of Opportunity Initiative, and the Coalition to Back Black Businesses. The event highlighted the developments needed to develop more black-owned businesses in the U.S. Dr. Anthony Wilbon, Dean of the School of Business at Howard University, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss his experience as a speaker at the event.
A newly declassified letter by senators Ron Wyden and Martin Heinrich claimed the CIA. has been conducting a Secret Surveillance Program which has been collecting a bulk of data from American citizens. The letter which was written in April of 2021 urges the CIA to come clean about the kind of data it collects and how many Americans have been impacted. According to these two senators, the program did not have the safeguards of congressional oversight.
Art Hogan, Chief Market Strategist at National Securities, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he says investors are taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to the situation between Russia and the Ukraine and elaborates on the impact higher oil prices stemming from the conflict would have on the market.
Last week, Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote a a letter airing concerns that the CIA is collecting the data of American citizens without their consent. The lawmakers fear that the program might be exploiting private data. Morgan Wright, the chief security advisor at cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, joined Cheddar News to discuss the ramifications of the letter. "We don't have all the dots in one place to connect them," said Wright, cautioning against jumping to conclusions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that diplomacy is still possible, while U.S. officials warn that an attack on Ukraine is imminent. Cheddar News speaks with James Astill, Washington bureau chief of The Economist on the latest developments in Eastern Europe.
As the number of Russian troops rose to 130,000 along its Ukrainian border, hopes for a diplomatic solution remain among world leaders. Jason McMann, head of geopolitical risk analysis at Morning Consult, joined Cheddar News to break down the fluid situation. "We saw signs pointing towards an increase in tensions between Ukraine and Russia, whereas today we're seeing some signs that the Russian government may be willing to continue down a path of diplomatic negotiations to try and find some sort of non-military solution," he said.
Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders are now planning to amend the stop trading on congressional knowledge act, otherwise known as the 'Stock' Act. This 2012 law governs how members disclose the purchase or sale of stocks and amending it would close a loophole, eliminating the trading of individual stocks by members of congress. Pelosi has consistently opposed a ban on stock trading by lawmakers and congressional staff...so what's changed? Kedric Payne, Vice President of Campaign Legal Center, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
In a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed for a controversial new version of the Alabama congressional map to remain in place. The lower court had previously ordered that the state must redraw that congressional map because it violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the political power of Black voters. Redistricting expert Yurij Rudensky joins Cheddar News to weigh in.
