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Elon Musk accused of censorship as H1B migrant controversy deepens By LAURA PARNABY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 15:05 EST, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 15:19 EST, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Elon Musk has been accused of censorship after his X social media platform allegedly removed premium features from accounts which criticized his stance in the fierce ongoing debate about immigration visas. Several prominent conservative accounts have complained this week about having their blue verification badge revoked, cutting them off from features including the ability to monetize their content. One account, called ConservativeOG, claimed more than 50 users had been affected by the apparent censorship by Musk, who prides himself on promoting free speech. It comes after the South Africa-born Tesla boss and incoming White House official voiced support for H-1B visas, which allow highly-skilled foreigners to work in the US for six years, rather than prioritizing American employees. Musk this week even threatened to 'go to war' with MAGA republicans after he defended the visas, and Donald Trump shocked faithful followers by siding with the SpaceX founder on the hot-button topic. Now, Musk appears to have stepped it up a notch by revoking privileges from X users who disagreed with his views, according to several prominent conservative accounts. 'With Elon's shift on H-1B visas, we now would like answers for losing our gold checkmark. Cooler heads must prevail to restore badges for our 50+ affiliates. Right or wrong, this platform claims to champion free speech—so let's see it in action,' ConservativeOG wrote on X. 'We pay 1K a month for a "free speech platform," we want that!' Elon Musk has been accused of censorship after his X social media platform allegedly removed premium features from accounts which criticized his stance in the fierce ongoing debate about immigration visas Trump with hard right influencer Laura Loomer Conservative pundit Laura Loomer also weighed in. 'Why are X users who pay for @premium having their posts listed as "probable spam" on my posts @elonmusk? This is censorship. I understand you don't like me, but this is nothing but retaliatory censorship?' she wrote on X. The accounts were still active on Sunday. Some conservatives said the move was a betrayal of Musk's pledges to make X a free speech haven when he bought the app, which was then called Twitter, in 2022. Musk, who immigrated to the US from South Africa and became a citizen in 2002, did not respond to requests for comment, but he posted about the X algorithm on Thursday night. 'Just a reminder that the algorithm is trying to maximize unregretted user-seconds,' Musk wrote. 'If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly.' But the post sparked further accusations that Musk has been shadow-banning his conservative critics by sabotaging their engagement with other users. Preston Parra, 23, the influencer who runs the ConservativeOG account, accused Musk of staging a 'political takedown' in retaliation for publicly disagreeing with his views on visas and immigration 'If anyone thinks for one minute the REAL backbone of the right wing and MAGA is gonna stand idly by while these big tech gillionaire Silicon Valley dweebs who didn't get bullied enough in high school, steal our country, they're mistaken,' Parra told NBC News in a text message. Parra said he believes Musk to be a 'Trojan horse' in the Trump camp. Several accounts have also referred to Musk as 'the monarch', suggesting he has absolute control over the website. Musk this week even threatened to 'go to war' with MAGA republicans after he defended the visas, and Donald Trump shocked faithful followers by siding with the SpaceX founder on the hot-button topic Musk, who immigrated to the US from South Africa and became a citizen in 2002, did not respond to requests for comment, but he posted about the X algorithm on Thursday night On Saturday, the president-elect praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S. 'I ́ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That ́s why we have them,' Trump told the New York Post . In fact, Trump has in the past criticized the H-1B visas, calling them 'very bad' and 'unfair' for U.S. workers. During his first term as president, Trump unveiled a 'Hire American' policy that directed changes to the program to try to ensure the visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants. Despite his criticism of them and attempts to curb their use, he has also used the visas at his businesses in the past, something he acknowledged in his interview Saturday. 'I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I ́ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It ́s a great program,' Trump told the newspaper. He did not appear to address questions about whether he would pursue any changes to the number or use of the visas once he takes office Jan. 20. On Saturday, the president-elect praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S Trump's hardline immigration policies, focused mostly on immigrants who are in the country illegally , were a cornerstone of his presidential campaign and a priority issue for his supporters. But in recent days, his coalition has split in a public debate largely taking place online about the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Hard-right members of Trump's movement have accused Musk and others in Trump's new flank of tech-world supporters of pushing policies at odds with Trump's 'America First' vision. Software engineers and others in the tech industry have used H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers and say they are a critical tool for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated. Share or comment on this article: Elon Musk accused of censorship as H1B migrant controversy deepens e-mail Add commentIt seemed like companies couldn’t hire information technology analysts fast enough in 2014 when Michael Deneen began his IT career. Job counts nationally soared in the 2010s and early 2020s, but then the market flattened and a profession that looked like it might grow uninterrupted started shedding jobs. Laid off twice this year from Minnesota IT jobs, Deneen said he’s found it hard to snag the next gig. “Before I could have three, four offers lined up and would have to choose between them,” the Columbia Heights man said. “It’s like I’m struggling to even get a foot in the door in places that I’m more than qualified for.” Even with the state’s relatively low 3.5 percen t unemployment rate, some mid-career Minnesotans and those just coming out of college are seeing a job market now that worries them. Recent layoffs at Cargill in the Twin Cities and last week’s announcement that Arctic Cat, the Minnesota snowmobile maker, will shutter its manufacturing operations next year in Thief River Falls and St. Cloud, have added to the anxiety. Analysts say Minnesota’s job market remains robust, but for some there’s a skills matchup problem as some sectors grow while others flatten or decline. “I’m not gonna lie, it’s been hard,” Deneen said of finding the next IT job. “I’ve had a lot of self-doubt now, like questioning is this really an industry I am good at? Is this something I should even be in anymore? I’m also 40. It’s like, I can’t really switch careers at this point.” Health care, government, leisure and hospitality and transportation are among the Minnesota sectors that continue to show strong job growth, according to state data. Other industries are growing slower, including construction and manufacturing. “We’ve heard from some folks that maybe it has taken a little longer than what they remember in the past if they were previously unemployed. Some individuals don’t say that at all,” said Sara Garbe, workforce development supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “November and reaching December, we certainly see a slowdown of hiring and folks may mention things like that they’ve heard from recruiters that maybe a decision won’t be made until after the holidays or after the first or the last quarter of the year,” added Garbe, whose staff works with new job seekers and those in mid-career. For recent college grads who haven’t landed work, the holiday season can bring its own pressures. Raina Hofstede, 22, studied English at Harvard University. Since graduating in May and coming back to Minnesota, she said job prospects have been nearly nonexistent. “I feel kind of directionless in the time period that I’m waiting,” said Hofstede, who grew up in Coon Rapids. “I feel like I really want to plan. I’m at a point where, like, I’d love to get things moving.” She’s applied to post-undergrad internships and career-advancing work. She’s looking into publishing, creative writing spaces and museums and hopes a stint working in comedy clubs while at Harvard might intrigue an employer. The search and the uncertainty around it is a grind, she acknowledged. “I think, as time goes on, and this feels sad, but I think as time goes on, my belief in myself slowly drops a little bit more with more rejections, and so I feel like I’ll be applying to less and less competitive things as I move forward,” Hofstede said. ' Minnesota showed strong steady job growth coming out of the Great Recession in 2009, reaching nearly 3 million jobs by February 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic torpedoed that growth — the state lost more than 400,000 jobs, nearly 14 percent of its employment, in the span of a few months. Job counts didn’t return permanently to pre-pandemic levels until September last year. The current state and national unemployment rates are relatively low, although they have ticked up over the past year. Minnesota’s unemployment rate is lower than the U.S. unemployment rate at 4.2 percent. Based on the most recent data, Minnesota has six unemployed people for every 10 job openings where nationally there are nine unemployed people for every 10 openings. Knowing that doesn’t make it easier for those looking for work, waiting for answers from prospective employers. “It just kind of feels like they have no respect for a candidate or their time, or them as a person,” Deneen said of the current market. “It’s an entire game, and it shouldn’t be this way.” Garbe said technology is transforming job searches in ways that may make landing work more challenging for some in mid-career or just starting out. Companies are using automated systems or in some cases artificial intelligence systems to screen applicants before a human gets to them. She encourages job seekers to reach out to one of DEED’s more than 50 CareerForce offices across the state where analysts can review resumes or cover letters with job seekers and offer help with writing and strategy. They can also connect people to needed training or certifications. Garbe also suggests reflecting on what you’ve accomplished to boost your self-confidence if you get overwhelmed. Social media has become a resource for job seekers as they look. Groups on Reddit like r/StudentJobSearch have become a space for venting and advice with conversations about job searching and applications. LinkedIn is also seeing similar support groups, including two Deneen is in that focus on networking and project management. Hofstede said she’s found solace leaning on those around her who are going through these same experiences. She and a group of new graduates meet at their public library to sift through job postings and work on cover letters and resumes together. “Something of a little community of people who are unemployed and looking for jobs, and I like having the friends support,” she said. “It is harder to go through something uncertain like this alone.”
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ESAB Co. ( NYSE:ESAB – Get Free Report ) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, December 17th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of 0.08 per share on Friday, January 17th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.26%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. ESAB has a dividend payout ratio of 5.9% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect ESAB to earn $5.38 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.32 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 5.9%. ESAB Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of ESAB stock opened at $121.41 on Friday. ESAB has a 1-year low of $82.44 and a 1-year high of $135.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.92 and a quick ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market cap of $7.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.34. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $124.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $108.49. Insider Activity In other news, Director Rhonda L. Jordan sold 4,254 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.03, for a total value of $531,877.62. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, CEO Shyam Kambeyanda sold 59,120 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.96, for a total transaction of $7,269,395.20. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 53,902 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,627,789.92. The trade was a 52.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 68,418 shares of company stock valued at $8,431,773. 7.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ESAB has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Evercore ISI lowered shares of ESAB from an “in-line” rating to an “underperform” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $102.00 to $122.00 in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on ESAB from $120.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, September 30th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on ESAB in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. They set a “buy” rating and a $160.00 target price for the company. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $144.00 price target (up previously from $138.00) on shares of ESAB in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Loop Capital raised their price objective on ESAB from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $133.43. View Our Latest Stock Report on ESAB ESAB Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) ESAB Corporation engages in the formulation, development, manufacture, and supply of consumable products and equipment for use in cutting, joining, automated welding, and gas control equipment. Its comprehensive range of welding consumables includes electrodes, cored and solid wires, and fluxes using a range of specialty and other materials; and cutting consumables comprising electrodes, nozzles, shields, and tips. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for ESAB Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ESAB and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Malta Mustangs overcome Manhattan Tigers, snow, on way to state championshipDominated by No.2 Ohio State for years, surprising No. 5 Indiana has a chance for the big payback
Independence Realty Trust, Inc. ( NYSE:IRT – Get Free Report ) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, December 16th, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.16 per share by the real estate investment trust on Friday, January 17th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.21%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Independence Realty Trust has increased its dividend payment by an average of 4.7% per year over the last three years. Independence Realty Trust has a dividend payout ratio of 246.2% meaning the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Analysts expect Independence Realty Trust to earn $1.21 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.64 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 52.9%. Independence Realty Trust Stock Performance Shares of IRT stock opened at $19.96 on Friday. Independence Realty Trust has a fifty-two week low of $14.07 and a fifty-two week high of $22.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.77, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 1.19. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $20.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.90. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Read Our Latest Analysis on Independence Realty Trust About Independence Realty Trust ( Get Free Report ) Independence Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: IRT) is a real estate investment trust that owns and operates multifamily communities, across non-gateway U.S. markets including Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Oklahoma City, OK, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX, and Tampa, FL. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Independence Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Independence Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .How to Install And Use WhatsApp On Your Windows PC
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