Worthington Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results

Worthington Industries, Inc.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR) today reported net sales of $731.1 million and a net loss of $74.0 million, or $(1.40) per diluted share, for its fiscal 2021 second quarter ended November 30, 2020. In the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company reported net sales of $827.6 million and net earnings of $52.1 million, or $0.93 per diluted share. Results in both the current and prior year quarter were impacted by several unique items, as summarized below, including a combined pre-tax loss of $148.4 million, or $(2.18) per diluted share, in the current quarter related to the Company’s investment in Nikola Corporation (“Nikola”). See Recent Developments below for further information regarding the Company’s investment in Nikola.

(U.S. dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

2Q 2021

2Q 2020

Pre-Tax

EPS

Pre-Tax

EPS

Impairment and restructuring charges

$

(11.4

)

$

(0.17

)

$

-

$

-

Incremental expenses related to Nikola gains

(4.6

)

(0.07

)

-

-

Unrealized loss on investment in Nikola

(143.8

)

(2.11

)

-

-

Gain on sale of WAVE international operations

$

-

$

-

$

23.1

$

0.33

Financial highlights for the current and comparative periods are as follows:

(U.S. dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

2Q 2021

2Q 2020

6M 2021

6M 2020

Net sales

$

731.1

$

827.6

$

1,434.0

$

1,683.5

Operating income

37.4

32.1

7.2

17.5

Equity income

25.6

47.3

49.3

72.1

Net earnings (loss)

(74.0

)

52.1

542.6

47.3

Earnings (loss) per diluted share

$

(1.40

)

$

0.93

$

9.97

$

0.84

“We had an outstanding second quarter, despite some noise in the numbers, due to continued great work by our teams as we navigate the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said President & CEO Andy Rose. “Steel Processing delivered strong year over year earnings growth, aided by stable automotive and construction demand and improving agricultural demand. Pressure Cylinders continued to experience solid demand for its consumer products, particularly for portable propane and helium products, while headwinds persisted in Europe and the oil & gas business.”

Consolidated Quarterly Results

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 were $731.1 million, down 12% from the comparable quarter in the prior year, when net sales were $827.6 million. The decrease was driven primarily by lower average selling prices in Steel Processing, lower volumes in the oil and gas equipment business in Pressure Cylinders, and the divestiture of the engineered cabs business in the prior year.

Gross margin increased $14.9 million over the prior year quarter to $135.5 million as lower conversion costs and improved spreads in Steel Processing were partially offset by a decline in the oil and gas equipment business in Pressure Cylinders.

Operating income for the current quarter was $37.4 million, an increase of $5.2 million over the prior year quarter. The impact of higher gross margin and lower SG&A expense was partially offset by higher combined impairment and restructuring charges, and the profit sharing and bonus expenses related to the Company’s investment in Nikola.

Interest expense was $7.5 million for the current quarter, compared to $7.3 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was due primarily to higher average debt levels.

Equity income from unconsolidated joint ventures decreased $21.7 million from the prior year quarter, which included a $23.1 million pre-tax gain related to the sale of WAVE’s international operations. Excluding the gain in the prior year quarter, equity income increased $1.4 million primarily due to higher contributions from Serviacero. The Company received cash distributions of $30.2 million from its unconsolidated joint ventures during the quarter.

Income tax benefit was $19.4 million in the current quarter compared to income tax expense of $15.9 million in the prior year quarter. The current quarter income tax benefit was due to the unrealized mark-to-market loss on the Company’s investment in Nikola. Tax expense in the current quarter reflects an estimated annual effective rate of 21.5% compared to 24.8% for the prior year quarter.

Balance Sheet

At quarter-end, total debt was $707.5 million, relatively consistent with debt at August 31, 2020, and the Company had $713.1 million of cash.

Quarterly Segment Results

Steel Processing’s net sales totaled $468.7 million, down 9%, or $48.2 million, from the comparable prior year quarter driven by lower average selling prices. Operating income of $37.8 million was $20.7 million higher than the prior year quarter as the impact of lower average selling prices was more than offset by lower conversion costs, improved spreads, and the lack of inventory holding losses, which negatively impacted the prior year quarter by an estimated $6.5 million. The mix of direct versus toll tons processed was 48% to 52% in the current quarter, compared to 49% to 51% in the prior year quarter.

Pressure Cylinders’ net sales totaled $262.3 million, down 10%, or $27.9 million, from the comparable prior year quarter due primarily to lower volume in the oil and gas equipment business. Operating income of $3.3 million was $12.3 million less than the prior year quarter. The decrease was driven by current quarter impairment and restructuring charges, which totaled $11.1 million, and lower volume in the oil and gas equipment business, partially offset by lower SG&A expense and improvements in the industrial products business.

Recent Developments

  • In October 2020, the Company sold its cryogenic trailer and hydrogen trailer business, including the Theodore, Ala. manufacturing site, to Chart Industries, Inc. and its cryo-science and microbulk business to IC Biomedical US, LLC. The combined sale proceeds from the two transactions were $21.2 million, resulting in a pre-tax loss of $7.1 million within restructuring and other expense.

  • During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company repurchased a total of 857,980 of its common shares for $38.6 million, at an average purchase price of $44.95.

  • During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company recognized a combined pre-tax loss of $148.4 million, or $(2.18) per diluted share, related to its investment in Nikola comprised of an unrealized mark-to-market loss of $143.8 million and $4.6 million of profit sharing and bonus expenses. At quarter end, the Company owned 7,048,020 shares of Nikola common stock.

Outlook

“We are optimistic that demand for our key end markets will remain steady,” Rose said. “The tight steel market, while challenging, is an opportunity to differentiate ourselves from our competitors. As we enter 2021, we are well positioned, and will look to drive growth through innovation, transformation and strategic acquisitions.”

Conference Call

Worthington will review fiscal 2021 second quarter results during its quarterly conference call on December 17, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Details regarding the conference call can be found on the Company website at www.WorthingtonIndustries.com.

About Worthington Industries

Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR) is a leading industrial manufacturing company delivering innovative solutions to customers that span many industries including transportation, construction, industrial, agriculture, retail and energy. Worthington is North America’s premier value-added steel processor and producer of laser welded products; and a leading global supplier of pressure cylinders and accessories for applications such as fuel storage, water systems, outdoor living, tools and celebrations. The Company’s brands, primarily sold in retail stores, include Coleman®, Bernzomatic®, Balloon Time®, Mag Torch® and Well-X-Trol®. Worthington’s WAVE joint venture with Armstrong is the North American leader in innovative ceiling solutions.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington operates 51 facilities in 15 states and six countries, sells into over 90 countries and employs approximately 7,500 people. Founded in 1955, the Company follows a people-first philosophy with earning money for its shareholders as its first corporate goal. Relentlessly finding new ways to drive progress and practicing a shared commitment to transformation, Worthington makes better solutions possible for customers, employees, shareholders and communities.

Safe Harbor Statement

The Company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Statements by the Company relating the impacts from the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19”) and the actions taken by governmental authorities and others related thereto, including our ability to continue operating facilities in connection therewith or to cut variable costs; future or expected cash positions, liquidity and ability to access financial markets and capital; outlook, strategy or business plans; future or expected growth, growth potential, forward momentum, performance, competitive position, sales, volumes, cash flows, earnings, margins, balance sheet strengths, debt, financial condition or other financial measures; pricing trends for raw materials and finished goods and the impact of pricing changes; the ability to improve or maintain margins; expected demand or demand trends for the Company or its markets; additions to product lines and opportunities to participate in new markets; expected benefits from Transformation and innovation efforts; the ability to improve performance and competitive position at the Company’s operations; anticipated working capital needs, capital expenditures and asset sales; anticipated improvements and efficiencies in costs, operations, sales, inventory management, sourcing and the supply chain and the results thereof; projected profitability potential; the ability to make acquisitions and the projected timing, results, benefits, costs, charges and expenditures related to acquisitions, joint ventures, headcount reductions and facility dispositions, shutdowns and consolidations; projected capacity and the alignment of operations with demand; the ability to operate profitably and generate cash in down markets; the ability to capture and maintain market share and to develop or take advantage of future opportunities, customer initiatives, new businesses, new products and new markets; expectations for Company and customer inventories, jobs and orders; expectations for the economy and markets or improvements therein; expectations for generating improving and sustainable earnings, earnings potential, margins or shareholder value; effects of judicial rulings; and other non-historical matters constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Act. Because they are based on beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties and impacts related to COVID-19 and other actual or potential public health emergencies and actions taken by governmental authorities or others in connection therewith, their potential impacts related to the ability and costs to continue to operate facilities and their potential to exacerbate other risks; the effect of national, regional and global economic conditions generally and within major product markets, including significant economic disruptions from COVID-19 and the actions taken therewith; the effect of conditions in national and worldwide financial markets and with respect to the ability of financial institutions to provide capital; the impact of tariffs, the adoption of trade restrictions affecting the Company’s products or suppliers, a United States withdrawal from or significant renegotiation of trade agreements, the occurrence of trade wars, the closing of border crossings, and other changes in trade regulations or relationships; lower oil prices as a factor in demand for products; product demand and pricing; changes in product mix, product substitution and market acceptance of the Company’s products; fluctuations in the pricing, quality or availability of raw materials (particularly steel), supplies, transportation, utilities and other items required by operations; the outcome of adverse claims experience with respect to workers’ compensation, product recalls or product liability, casualty events or other matters; effects of facility closures and the consolidation of operations; the effect of financial difficulties, consolidation and other changes within the steel, automotive, construction, oil and gas, and other industries in which the Company participates; failure to maintain appropriate levels of inventories; financial difficulties (including bankruptcy filings) of original equipment manufacturers, end-users and customers, suppliers, joint venture partners and others with whom the Company does business; the ability to realize targeted expense reductions from headcount reductions, facility closures and other cost reduction efforts; the ability to realize cost savings and operational, sales and sourcing improvements and efficiencies, and other expected benefits from Transformation initiatives, on a timely basis; the overall success of, and the ability to integrate, newly-acquired businesses and joint ventures, maintain and develop their customers, and achieve synergies and other expected benefits and cost savings therefrom; capacity levels and efficiencies, within facilities, within major product markets and within the industries in which the Company participates as a whole; the effect of disruption in the business of suppliers, customers, facilities and shipping operations due to adverse weather, casualty events, equipment breakdowns, interruption in utility services, civil unrest, international conflicts, terrorist activities or other causes; changes in customer demand, inventories, spending patterns, product choices, and supplier choices; risks associated with doing business internationally, including economic, political and social instability, foreign currency exchange rate exposure and the acceptance of the Company’s products in global markets; the ability to improve and maintain processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological environment; deviation of actual results from estimates and/or assumptions used by the Company in the application of its significant accounting policies; the level of imports and import prices in the Company’s markets; the impact of judicial rulings and governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad, including those adopted by the United States governmental agencies as contemplated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; the effect of healthcare laws in the United States and potential changes for such laws especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may increase the Company’s healthcare and other costs and negatively impact the Company’s operations and financial results; cyber security risks; the effects of privacy and information security laws and standards; and other risks described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in “Part I – Item 1A. – Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020.



WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended
November 30,

Six Months Ended
November 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

Net sales

$

731,092

$

827,637

$

1,434,001

$

1,683,496

Cost of goods sold

595,618

707,026

1,185,169

1,445,594

Gross margin

135,474

120,611

248,832

237,902

Selling, general and administrative expense

82,129

88,543

164,325

179,366

Impairment of long-lived assets

3,815

-

13,739

40,601

Restructuring and other expense (income), net

7,596

(50

)

9,444

405

Incremental expenses related to Nikola gains

4,570

-

54,081

-

Operating income

37,364

32,118

7,243

17,530

Other income (expense):

Miscellaneous income, net

376

636

827

1,331

Interest expense

(7,548

)

(7,315

)

(15,138

)

(16,795

)

Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates

25,631

47,346

49,265

72,113

Gains (loss) on investment in Nikola

(143,780

)

-

652,362

-

Loss on extinguishment of debt

-

-

-

(4,034

)

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

(87,957

)

72,785

694,559

70,145

Income tax expense (benefit)

(19,445

)

15,863

144,333

15,678

Net earnings (loss)

(68,512

)

56,922

550,226

54,467

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

5,532

4,836

7,595

7,157

Net earnings (loss) attributable to controlling interest

$

(74,044

)

$

52,086

$

542,631

$

47,310

Basic

Average common shares outstanding

52,988

55,059

53,532

55,150

Earnings (loss) per share attributable to controlling interest

$

(1.40

)

$

0.95

$

10.14

$

0.86

Diluted

Average common shares outstanding

52,988

56,072

54,439

56,205

Earnings (loss) per share attributable to controlling interest

$

(1.40

)

$

0.93

$

9.97

$

0.84

Common shares outstanding at end of period

52,754

55,094

52,754

55,094

Cash dividends declared per share

$

0.25

$

0.24

$

0.50

$

0.48

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

November 30,

May 31,

2020

2020

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

713,130

$

147,198

Receivables, less allowances of $1,291 and $1,521 at November 30, 2020

and May 31, 2020, respectively

441,936

341,038

Inventories:

Raw materials

152,824

234,629

Work in process

82,747

76,497

Finished products

68,872

93,975

Total inventories

304,443

405,101

Income taxes receivable

3,247

8,376

Assets held for sale

12,893

12,928

Investment in Nikola

143,850

-

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

68,371

68,538

Total current assets

1,687,870

983,179

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

209,952

203,329

Operating lease assets

30,007

31,557

Goodwill

320,014

321,434

Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $86,489 and

$92,774 at November 30, 2020 and May 31, 2020, respectively

174,376

184,416

Other assets

32,842

34,956

Property, plant and equipment:

Land

23,592

24,197

Buildings and improvements

292,544

302,796

Machinery and equipment

1,082,979

1,055,139

Construction in progress

63,526

52,231

Total property, plant and equipment

1,462,641

1,434,363

Less: accumulated depreciation

890,317

861,719

Total property, plant and equipment, net

572,324

572,644

Total assets

$

3,027,385

$

2,331,515

Liabilities and equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

337,976

$

247,017

Accrued compensation, contributions to employee benefit plans and

related taxes

101,812

64,650

Dividends payable

14,843

14,648

Other accrued items

51,439

49,974

Current operating lease liabilities

10,954

10,851

Income taxes payable

39,990

949

Current maturities of long-term debt

160

149

Total current liabilities

557,174

388,238

Other liabilities

85,105

75,786

Distributions in excess of investment in unconsolidated affiliate

107,951

103,837

Long-term debt

707,340

699,516

Noncurrent operating lease liabilities

23,695

25,763

Deferred income taxes, net

115,649

71,942

Total liabilities

1,596,914

1,365,082

Shareholders' equity - controlling interest

1,276,899

820,821

Noncontrolling interests

153,572

145,612

Total equity

1,430,471

966,433

Total liabilities and equity

$

3,027,385

$

2,331,515


WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

Three Months Ended
November 30,

Six Months Ended
November 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

Operating activities:

Net earnings (loss)

$

(68,512

)

$

56,922

$

550,226

$

54,467

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

21,560

22,596

43,771

46,773

Impairment of long-lived assets

3,815

-

13,739

40,601

Provision for (benefit from) deferred income taxes

(31,776

)

6,843

39,255

3,345

Bad debt (income) expense

(159

)

143

(65

)

311

Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of distributions

4,608

(19,879

)

(2,149

)

(14,797

)

Net (gain) loss on sale of assets

7,271

(17

)

7,673

601

Stock-based compensation

4,854

3,280

9,710

7,275

(Gains) loss on investment in Nikola

143,779

-

(652,362

)

-

Charitable contribution of Nikola shares

-

-

20,653

-

Loss on extinguishment of debt

-

-

-

4,034

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Receivables

3,580

(5,456

)

(78,614

)

9,525

Inventories

4,623

43,601

90,245

87,883

Accounts payable

48,176

(20,743

)

95,330

(57,977

)

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

13,960

9,619

37,812

(13,596

)

Income taxes payable

(44,623

)

(118

)

39,041

(1,132

)

Other operating items, net

(3,728

)

7,369

10,551

1,216

Net cash provided by operating activities

107,428

104,160

224,816

168,529

Investing activities:

Investment in property, plant and equipment

(16,073

)

(28,381

)

(48,944

)

(50,555

)

Proceeds from sale of Nikola shares

-

-

487,859

-

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(75

)

(29,283

)

(75

)

(29,283

)

Proceeds from sale of assets

21,580

23

21,580

9,199

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

5,432

(57,641

)

460,420

(70,639

)

Financing activities:

Proceeds from long-term debt, net of issuance costs

-

(134

)

-

101,464

Principal payments on long-term obligations and debt redemption costs

(96

)

(490

)

(193

)

(154,467

)

Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net of tax withholdings

2,294

(3,811

)

1,144

(7,024

)

Payments to noncontrolling interests

-

(1,453

)

(560

)

(1,453

)

Repurchase of common shares

(38,563

)

-

(92,883

)

(29,599

)

Dividends paid

(13,433

)

(13,954

)

(26,812

)

(26,914

)

Net cash used by financing activities

(49,798

)

(19,842

)

(119,304

)

(117,993

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

63,062

26,677

565,932

(20,103

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

650,068

45,583

147,198

92,363

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

713,130

$

72,260

$

713,130

$

72,260

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
(In thousands, except volume)

This supplemental information is provided to assist in the analysis of the results of operations.

Three Months Ended
November 30,

Six Months Ended
November 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

Volume:

Steel Processing (tons)

1,023,979

1,004,847

1,952,423

1,896,234

Pressure Cylinders (units)

19,180,746

21,608,356

40,923,811

41,792,044

Net sales:

Steel Processing

$

468,723

$

516,937

$

899,743

$

1,040,312

Pressure Cylinders

262,284

290,136

533,188

594,532

Other

85

20,564

1,070

48,652

Total net sales

$

731,092

$

827,637

$

1,434,001

$

1,683,496

Material cost:

Steel Processing

$

313,330

$

370,760

$

618,917

$

767,202

Pressure Cylinders

108,930

127,112

224,647

253,982

Selling, general and administrative expense:

Steel Processing

$

38,769

$

37,482

$

74,367

$

72,998

Pressure Cylinders

44,677

48,749

88,134

95,215

Operating income (loss):

Steel Processing

$

37,824

$

17,172

$

51,441

$

23,340

Pressure Cylinders

3,305

15,647

11,947

45,270

Other

(322

)

(1,919

)

(1,081

)

(47,051

)

Segment operating income

40,807

30,900

62,307

21,559

Unallocated corporate and other

1,127

1,218

(983

)

(4,029

)

Incremental expenses related to Nikola gains

(4,570

)

-

(54,081

)

-

Total operating income

$

37,364

$

32,118

$

7,243

$

17,530

Equity income (loss) by unconsolidated affiliate:

WAVE

$

17,280

$

41,738

$

34,936

$

65,655

ClarkDietrich

5,411

4,917

10,307

9,007

Serviacero Worthington

1,861

803

3,170

1,557

ArtiFlex

1,253

1,134

1,145

1,340

Other

(174

)

(1,246

)

(293

)

(5,446

)

Total equity income

$

25,631

$

47,346

$

49,265

$

72,113

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
(In thousands, except volume)

The following provides detail of Pressure Cylinders volume and net sales by principal class of products.

Three Months Ended
November 30,

Six Months Ended
November 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

Volume (units):

Consumer products

15,915,466

18,675,057

33,772,607

35,573,447

Industrial products

3,265,076

2,932,923

7,150,881

6,217,378

Oil & gas equipment

204

376

323

1,219

Total Pressure Cylinders

19,180,746

21,608,356

40,923,811

41,792,044

Net sales:

Consumer products

$

121,618

$

128,065

$

254,400

$

247,545

Industrial products

134,020

130,334

262,245

282,952

Oil & gas equipment

6,646

31,737

16,543

64,035

Total Pressure Cylinders

$

262,284

$

290,136

$

533,188

$

594,532

The following provides detail of impairment of long-lived assets and restructuring and other expense (income), net included in operating income by segment.

Three Months Ended
November 30,

Six Months Ended
November 30,

2020

2019

2020

2019

Impairment of long-lived assets:

Steel Processing

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

Pressure Cylinders

3,815

-

13,739

-

Other

-

-

-

40,601

Total impairment of long-lived assets

$

3,815

$

-

$

13,739

$

40,601

Restructuring and other expense (income), net:

Steel Processing

$

375

$

-

$

1,846

$

(26

)

Pressure Cylinders

7,257

-

7,571

-

Other

(36

)

(50

)

27

431

Total restructuring and other expense (income), net

$

7,596

$

(50

)

$

9,444

$

405

Contacts:
SONYA L. HIGGINBOTHAM
VP, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS AND BRAND MANAGEMENT
614.438.7391 | sonya.higginbotham@worthingtonindustries.com

MARCUS A. ROGIER
TREASURER AND INVESTOR RELATIONS OFFICER
614.840.4663 | marcus.rogier@worthingtonindustries.com

200 Old Wilson Bridge Rd. | Columbus, Ohio 43085
WorthingtonIndustries.com


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  • Exclusive: Fate Winslow, sentenced to life in prison for selling $20 worth of pot, is released after serving 12 years

    More than a decade into a life sentence for assisting in the sale of $20 worth of marijuana to an undercover cop in Louisiana, Fate Winslow is set to be released on Wednesday. "Today redemption has come," he told Yahoo News in an email.

  • One of the most isolated spots on earth faces a massive COVID wave

    Gaza has recorded just over 29,000 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, but it is now averaging about 1,000 new cases a day, driving that total figure up rapidly. While many countries have been hit hard by COVID-19, Gaza’s problems are made worse by blockade, which has devastated the economy.

  • ‘I’m not saying they’re not a bunch of f*****s’: Biden’s deputy chief of staff pick says of working with Republicans

    Jen O’Malley Dillon became first woman to manage successful Democratic presidential campaign this year

  • Trump is reportedly considering a pardon for the Trump Organization's chief financial officer

    Over the last six weeks, so many people have been calling and emailing the West Wing seeking pardons that White House staffers have had to create a spreadsheet to keep track of the requests, CNN reports."It's turned crazy," one person familiar with the matter said. "There's a lot of activity." The queries have been coming in from business associates close to Trump as well as high-profile criminals, CNN reports, and when people can't reach the president, they contact his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, or White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. After Trump goes over their case summaries, he often asks his friends for their opinions on whether a person deserves a pardon.As of now, Trump is contemplating pardons for more than two dozen people within his circle, CNN reports. One person he is considering for clemency is Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. Weisselberg has been investigated for his involvement in arranging hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, the adult film star who said she had an affair with Trump.Trump aides told CNN that the president is spiraling and devolving further into denial about the election, which he lost. Trump has told aides he won't leave the White House on Inauguration Day, but is then talked out of it. "He's throwing a f---ing temper tantrum," one adviser told CNN. "He's going to leave. He's just lashing out."More stories from theweek.com Joe Biden still doesn't get it Trump has reportedly been convinced he actually won, tells advisers he may not vacate the White House Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers guess what happens to Trump if neighbors bar him from Mar-a-Lago

  • Iran’s president accuses Israel of killing nuclear scientist to provoke war

    Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Monday claimed that Israel was behind the killing of a scientist who founded the Islamic Republic’s military nuclear program in the 2000s in an effort to start a war in the last days of President Trump's administration.

  • Turkish 'intelligence agent' claims he was ordered to assassinate Austrian politician

    A suspected Turkish intelligence agent turned whistleblower is being held under arrest in Austria after he handed himself in to authorities claiming he had been ordered to assassinate a prominent politician. In a clear sign Austrian authorities are taking the claims seriously, the targetted politician has been under police protection since the investigation started and is not allowed to leave her home without a bullet-proof vest. Lawyers for the arrested man, Feyyaz Öztürk, an Italian citizen of Turkish heritage, will confirm only that he is being held on charges of spying for a foreign state and that he willingly turned himself in to the Austrian authorities. Prosecutors refused to comment on the grounds the investigation is ongoing. But a police report on his initial interrogation leaked to the Austrian press and seen by the Daily Telegraph reveals details of his claims, that, if proved, would raise serious concerns over how far Turkey is prepared to go to silence its critics under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — and whether it is ready to resort to assassinations on European soil. In the interrogation, Mr Öztürk claims he was blackmailed by Turkey’s MIT intelligence service into taking part in an operation to assassinate Berivan Aslan, an Austrian regional politician of Kurdish heritage. “It wasn’t important whether she got hurt or died,” he told Austrian police. The aim, he claimed, was to “spread chaos” and for Ms Aslan and others to “get the message.” He also claimed violent attacks were planned against two other politicians, including Peter Pilz, a household name in Austria and the former leader of the opposition Now party. When offered the opportunity, Daniel Mozga, Mr Öztürk’s lawyer. declined to challenge the authenticity of the leaked report. He confirmed a police interrogation had taken place shortly before it was first published by a news website run by Mr Pilz. In what has become a major embarrassment to the Austrian authorities, Mr Öztürk attempted to hand himself in at a police station in the southern city of Graz in April but was turned away because of coronavirus rules — a detail confirmed by Mr Mozga.

  • Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Bill to Block Abortion of Fetuses Capable of Feeling Pain

    Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D., Hawaii) introduced a bill on Wednesday that would outlaw abortions for fetuses capable of feeling pain.The pro-life group Democrats for Life in America announced the content of the bill on Facebook and in an online petition. While the bill has been submitted to the House, its full text was not immediately available, and it was not clear what week of pregnancy Gabbard's bill designates as the limit for obtaining an abortion. Similar legislation has designated the 20th week of pregnancy as the cutoff."Former Democratic Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard introduced her SECOND Pro-Life bill this week, which would amend Title 18 of the U.S. code to give pain-capable fetuses rights under the law," DFLA wrote on Facebook. "Tulsi has previously voted against this bill three times, but is now the SPONSOR of the new bill. This is proof that DFLA can convince Democrats to join the right side of history."Last week, Gabbard also introduced legislation that aims to ensure medical care to babies born alive after an attempted abortion. National Review has reached out to Gabbard's office for comment.Gabbard ran for president in the Democratic primary, but polled well below other candidates throughout the race. The Hawaii representative dropped out in mid-March and endorsed Joe Biden.In October 2019, Gabbard announced that she would not run for reelection to the House in Hawaii. It is unclear what the congresswoman's plans are for when she leaves office.

  • Texas man found in bed with dead bodies after allegedly killing wife, children

    The children’s bodies were wrapped in blankets and comforters beside their mother. Officers in Texas discovered a gruesome scene when they entered a home in Copperas Cove. Bryan Richardson, 27, was found lying in bed with his wife and two children’s deceased bodies when Copperas Cove police discovered them.

  • Ex-Houston cop hired by GOP megadonor arrested for aggravated assault while hunting fake ballots

    Police in Houston arrested a former Houston Police captain on Tuesday, charging him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly running an appliance repair truck off the road and holding its driver at gunpoint in a failed bid to find fake ballots. The former cop, Mark Aguirre, had been hired by the Liberty Center for God and Country, a conservative group led by Republican megadonor Steven Hotze, to find evidence of the widespread voter fraud conservatives baselessly believed was being carried out in Harris County, The Texas Tribune reports."We are lucky no one was killed," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement. "His alleged investigation was backward from the start — first alleging a crime had occurred and then trying to prove it happened." The assault charges carry up to 20 years in jailAguirre told authorities he had been tailing the air conditioner repair technician for four days, aided by two other people, before forcing him off the road Oct. 19. He said he believed the technician was behind a huge voter fraud scheme and was carrying some of the 750,000 fake ballots Aguirre believed were in his possession. "There were no ballots in the truck," the Harris County district attorney's office said. "It was filled with air conditioning parts and tools." One of the people accompanying Aguirre allegedly stole the technician's van after Aguirre forced him to the ground at gunpoint, abandoning the vehicle a few blocks away.A lawyer for Hotze told the Tribune that the Liberty Center had hired a company led by Aguirre to investigate voter fraud ahead of the election, but said Hotze "did not direct or lead any of the investigations." The Houston Police Department fired Aguirre in 2003 after a controversial raid at a Kmart parking lot, the Houston Chronicle reports. CNN's John Avlon compared Aguirre's actions to the "Pizzagate" debacle.> Former Houston police captain charged with pointing gun at air-conditioner repairman, believing he was a voter fraud 'mastermind'. @JohnAvlon pic.twitter.com/MrTqfttGqY> > — CNN Early Start (@EarlyStart) December 16, 2020Hotze was one of the Texas Republicans who unsuccessfully sued to stop Gov. Greg Abbott (R) from extending early voting this year and tried to get 127,000 Harris County ballots thrown out. Earlier this year, the Tribune reports, he called Abbott's chief of staff and urged the governor to shoot and kill people protesting the police killing of George Floyd.More stories from theweek.com Joe Biden still doesn't get it Trump has reportedly been convinced he actually won, tells advisers he may not vacate the White House Trump is reportedly considering a pardon for the Trump Organization's chief financial officer

  • Trump has reportedly been convinced he actually won, tells advisers he may not vacate the White House

    President Trump was privately coming to terms with his loss to President-elect Joe Biden, but he "has now reversed and dug in deeper -- not only spreading misinformation about the election, but ingesting it himself," CNN reports, "egged on by advisers like Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis who are misleading Trump about the extent of voting irregularities and the prospects of a reversal." One adviser told CNN, "He's been fed so much misinformation that I think he actually thinks this thing was stolen from him."Even the Electoral College formalizing Biden's win "did not appear enough to shake Trump from his delusions of victory," CNN says, "but it is adding urgency to a push by several of his advisers to gently steer Trump toward reality." Discussions of Trump's post-presidency future tend to go nowhere because Trump "all but shuts down," CNN reports. "In his moments of deepest denial, Trump has told some advisers that he will refuse to leave the White House on Inauguration Day, only to be walked down from that ledge. The possibility has alarmed some aides, but few believe Trump will actually follow through.""To be perfectly clear about this, Trump 100 percent will leave the White House on Inauguration Day, if not well before," Jonathan Chait writes at New York. "Even the scholars who expressed the deepest fears of Trump's intentions to undermine the system did not put credence in the possibility he could defy the outcome by simply refusing to leave. Squatting is not one of the tools in his authoritarian tool kit." But the fact that Trump thinks that's even a viable option suggests he's "engaged in more than a scheme to grift his supporters," Chait says. He's "drinking his own poisoned Kool-Aid."If Trump does have to be forcibly removed from the White House, you can credit Bill Maher with the prediction. More stories from theweek.com Joe Biden still doesn't get it Trump is reportedly considering a pardon for the Trump Organization's chief financial officer Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers guess what happens to Trump if neighbors bar him from Mar-a-Lago

  • WHO says Beijing welcomes COVID-19 investigators trip to China

    Beijing will welcome an international team of COVID-19 investigators due to travel to China in January, said the World Health Organization (WHO), which is leading the mission. China has strongly opposed calls for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, saying such calls are anti-China, but has been open to a WHO-led investigation. However, it was unclear whether the WHO investigators will travel to the city of Wuhan where the virus was first detected, with discussions on the itinerary ongoing.

  • China Forces Hundreds of Thousands of Uyghurs to Work in Xinjiang Cotton Fields: Report

    China forces hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Tibetans to pick cotton in fields of Xinjiang Province, according to a new report from the non-partisan think tank Center for Global Policy.Around 85 percent of China's raw cotton supply, and 20 percent of the world's supply, comes from Xinjiang. Swedish clothing company H&M severed ties with its Xinjiang supplier in September over forced labor accusations.There is "strong evidence that the production of the majority of Xinjiang’s cotton involves a coercive, state-run program targeting ethnic minority groups," the CGP report concludes.The report, based on Chinese government documents and media reports, was authored by Dr. Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. Zenz has written extensive reports on the Chinese government's reeducation camps for Uyghurs and other minorities, as well as China's program of forced sterilization for Uyghur women.At least 570,000 people from three Uyghur regions alone were mobilized for forced labor in cotton fields in 2018, Zenz writes. However, "Xinjiang’s total labor transfer of ethnic minorities into cotton picking likely exceeds that figure by several hundred thousand."Around 70 percent of Xinjiang cotton is hand-picked, including nearly all of its high-quality cotton mainly sourced from Uyghur regions. Policy documents and media reports reviewed by Zenz indicate that the forced labor programs are justified by alleviating alleged "backwards" Uyghur attitudes toward work."Since cotton picking is hard work, state propaganda accounts of mobilizing pickers have the overarching theme of overcoming workers’ reticence to participate in the scheme," Zenz writes. "This is unilaterally ascribed to two main factors: their outdated and backward employment views, which are said to cause minorities to be stuck in their traditional ways of making a living; and an ingrained laziness and lack of work discipline, even a lack of valuing work."The U.S. has banned some, but not all, imports of cotton and textiles from Xinjiang. The Senate is considering passing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which would ban the import of any products made with forced labor in Xinjiang. Multinational corporations including Apple, Coca-Cola, and Nike, and pro-business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are reportedly lobbying to water down the legislation.

  • Man charged with DUI in box truck collision with bicyclists that killed 5 near Las Vegas

    The riders died on U.S. Highway 95 last week near Las Vegas due to "reckless behavior" by the defendant, the Clark County district attorney said.

  • 3 Female Marine Officers to Attempt Infantry Officer Course as Another Graduates

    The Marine Corps will soon have its second female infantry leader.

  • White House lawyers reportedly warn Trump of 'legal jeopardy' if he fires FBI Director Christopher Wray

    President Trump has reportedly considered firing the director of the FBI again, but White House lawyers have tried their best to talk him out of it.Trump, NBC News reported on Wednesday, "has come so close to firing" FBI Director Christopher Wray that the White House counsel's office "warned him not to do so because it could put him in potential legal jeopardy."The White House lawyers, according to the report, "strongly" advised Trump not to fire Wray, saying that it would "risk creating the perception that a 'loyalty test' was being imposed" on the position or that Trump was firing him out of "retaliation" for not taking investigative actions he wanted. Trump previously controversially fired former FBI Director James Comey in 2017 amid the Russia probe. In October, The Washington Post reported that Trump was considering firing Wray as he expressed "disappointment" in both Wray and Attorney General William Barr that they didn't "indicate that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, his son Hunter Biden or other Biden associates are under investigation" before the 2020 election. Hunter Biden revealed last week he's under federal investigation for his "tax affairs," and according to CNN, this investigation began "as early as 2018." Though Wray remains as head of the FBI, Trump earlier this week announced that Barr will resign as attorney general before Christmas. Now, NBC News reports that Trump's "advisers hope he's been persuaded against ousting Wray." More stories from theweek.com Joe Biden still doesn't get it Trump has reportedly been convinced he actually won, tells advisers he may not vacate the White House Trump is reportedly considering a pardon for the Trump Organization's chief financial officer

  • Some vaccine doses kept too cold, Pfizer having manufacturing issues, U.S. officials say

    The first days of Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine rollout have seen unexpected hitches including some vaccines being stored at excessively cold temperatures and Pfizer reporting potential challenges in its vaccine production, U.S. officials said on a Wednesday press call. At least two trays of COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered in California needed to be replaced after their storage temperatures dipped below minus 80 Celsius (minus 112 Fahrenheit), U.S. Army General Gustave Perna said on the call. Pfizer's vaccines, made with partner BioNTech SE, are supposed to be kept at around minus 70C.

  • French customs seize 'priceless haul' of Roman coins and artefacts man claimed he 'found in garden'

    French customs officials say they have seized a "priceless" haul of over 27,000 archaeological artefacts after investigating a man’s claims he had stumbled across half of them in his back garden during a clean-up. In reality, the hoarder had secretly amassed his illicit treasure – ranging from Bronze bracelets to Iron Age torques and Roman coins – in secret searches throughout eastern France. He had gathered the precious artefacts himself using metal detectors and, apparently, expert archaeological knowledge. The seizure of the 27,400 objects, came after a year-long joint French-Belgian investigation involving customs authorities and the French culture ministry. The individual, a French national residing in Belgium who has not been named and now faces a criminal investigation, had acted out of personal interest and for trading purposes, according to the French customs service. Belgian authorities’ suspicions were initially aroused in 2019 when he told authorities he had found 14,154 Roman coins by chance while cleaning up an orchard he had recently bought. Under Belgian law, owners who make such chance finds are entitled to at least part of them. They sent an expert. “He opened the car boot and showed me two enormous plastic buckets filled to the brim. I had never seen so many coins,” Marleen Martens, archaeologist at the Flanders heritage agency in Belgium, told La Voix du Nord. She said she instantly recognised some silver coins as from the era of Roman general Mark Antony, who was a key ally of Emperor Julius Caesar and played a pivotal role in the growth of the Roman Empire as it moved from republic to autocracy. However, upon inspection of the ground, she concluded it was “impossible” that this was a Roman site given the “context”.

  • 27 Best Coffee Table Books to Buy & Gift This Year

    Discover the top tomes for every interest—from fashion to design to travel–that our editors loved this yearOriginally Appeared on Architectural Digest

  • Pregnant woman has hands amputated and is thrown from back of truck by Mexican drug cartel for ‘being a thief’

    The grisly incident happened in the Central Mexican state of Guanajuato.

  • Florida's Sun Sentinel found an odd gap in state COVID-19 deaths ahead of the election

    While looking at Florida's COVID-19 death tally, the South Florida Sun Sentinel found a pattern suggesting the state "manipulated a backlog of unrecorded fatalities" so the daily death numbers were artificially low ahead of the November presidential election, the newspaper reported Tuesday.There is a lag between the date a person dies of COVID-19 in Florida and the date the state reports the death as part of the public count. The Sun Sentinel found that with just a few exceptions, starting on Oct. 24, Florida stopped including deaths that occurred more than a month earlier in daily counts. It wasn't until Nov. 17, two weeks after the election, that these backlogged deaths were consistently included in the daily tally.These deaths have "long formed a significant part of the daily totals in Florida" because it can take some time for death reports to make it from a doctor's office to the health department, the Sun Sentinel reports. For example, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 20, the state included in its daily tallies 1,128 deaths that took place at least one month earlier. This accounted for 44 percent of the deaths that were announced over those four weeks.On Oct. 21, the state said it would start conducting additional reviews of each suspected COVID-19 death in Florida before adding it to the official count. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a supporter of President Trump, has a history of downplaying the coronavirus pandemic, and the Sun Sentinel reports he has also speculated that the death statistics in the state were inflated. The Sun Sentinel said it asked several state officials about the data patterns, including the spokesman for the Florida Department of Health, and no one would comment.Scott David Herr, a Florida computer scientist who tracks the state's daily COVID-19 data, told the Sun Sentinel "it's hard to know if there was a limitation around election time or random other things were happening. The Department of Health hasn't explained why lags have been inconsistent. When they keep changing whatever is going on behind the scenes, when the lags keep changing, that is where it gets confusing." Read more at the Sun Sentinel.More stories from theweek.com Joe Biden still doesn't get it Trump has reportedly been convinced he actually won, tells advisers he may not vacate the White House Trump is reportedly considering a pardon for the Trump Organization's chief financial officer