DOJ Shuts Four Iranian-Linked Websites
The Justice Department shuttered four websites allegedly operated by Iranian government-linked groups to post hacked data and threaten critics. These sites belonged to groups called Handala, Homeland Justice, and Karma Below, which the FBI said the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security runs using custom-built malware. For instance, Handala took credit for a cyberattack on a U.S.-based medical technologies firm, Stryker, which reported global disruption to its internal Microsoft systems last week. That incident followed threats from an Iranian Revolutionary Guards-linked agency against American tech companies amid the U.S.-Iran conflict. FBI Director Kash Patel stated, "We took down four of their operation's pillars and we're not done," highlighting the agency's ongoing efforts. The sites also shared personal information of Israel Defense Forces personnel and sent death threats to Iranian dissidents in the United States, including offers of a $250,000 reward linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. This action disrupts Iranian schemes for transnational repression, affecting online security for Americans.
Strike Idles JBS Plant in Colorado
More than 3,000 employees at the JBS beef packing plant in Greeley, Colorado, walked off the line on Monday, March 17, halting operations at a site that produces 7 percent of America's beef daily. Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union protested stalled wage talks and unsafe conditions, such as lines running at 370 head of cattle per hour on the night shift. A class action lawsuit by Haitian workers claims segregation onto faster shifts, leading to nearly unanimous strike votes last month. The stoppage left cattle pens empty and trucks idling, with picketers chanting in Spanish and Haitian Creole while wearing signs that read "PLEASE DO NOT PATRONIZE JBS." Union president Kim Cordova noted the event was "very organized" despite cold weather, as workers demanded better staffing to match line speeds and avoid injuries from dull knives. This shutdown forces JBS to redirect deliveries to plants in Nebraska and Texas, potentially raising beef prices for consumers.
Hacks and Strikes Escalate Security and Economic Pressures
Handala's hacks targeted a Michigan medical technology company, causing disruptions that former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Chris Krebs described as part of Iran's "all-hands-on-deck approach." At the same time, the JBS strike could constrict beef supply, with experts like Jennifer Martin from Colorado State University warning of immediate price hikes if the action persists. JBS claims it resolved non-economic issues and offered new knives, but workers dispute this, pointing to ongoing problems with sick time and protective equipment. The company's strategy includes hiring replacement workers, echoing past labor tactics that led to firmer industry control by giants like JBS and Tyson. Since Trump returned to the White House, beef prices have jumped 15 percent for steaks and 20 percent for ground beef. The Department of Justice has already announced an investigation into JBS and other Big Four meatpackers for alleged price fixing and market manipulation, following President Trump's call for action.
The sources also report that the JBS beef packing plant in Greeley, Colorado, produces about 30,000 head of cattle per week, not just 7 percent of America's beef daily.