So you think Trump wants to talk with Iran and won't attack (or let Israel attack) Iran?

Perhaps.

I think that as long as Trump is mired in his stupid tariffs and nothing happens in the Middle East, he won't take the initiative. Trade war with China is already a big issue.

Yet one third (or half of operational) B-2s are forward deployed still in Diego Garcia.

If there's a positive note, at least Secretary of the Treasury Bessent stated what the Trump administration is looking forward to do in an logical way. Basically a policy speach that Trump is utterly incapable of giving (apart of the very Trumpian attack on the IMF on going on woke issues like climate change). He gives a short interview after the speech:



In fact was positive is his view in energy policy of the importance of base load and then alternative production. Many politicians go for the trendy and politically correct view of alternative energy can give everything. But then Bessent is just one man who tries to influence just what Trump actually does.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick got Donald Trump alone and away from rival advisor Peter Navarro to convince him to put a 90-day pause on most tariffs, according to a report.

The president's financial team has taken hits over the administration's first 100 days, with many wondering if Lutnick should represent the administration on television. Perhaps no one has been more controversial than Navarro, however, particularly stoking the ire of 'First Buddy' Elon Musk

And another totally is what the Trump administration will end up doing.

Pretty funny.

Man arrested in theft of DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse is in the U.S. illegally, official says

The suspect who was arrested Saturday in the theft of Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse is in the country illegally, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia said in an interview with NBC News.

Ed Martin said a second suspect who also is in the country illegally is being sought by law enforcement.

It is not believed the suspect targeted Noem because she was the Department of Homeland Security secretary, Martin said.

“There is no indication it was because of that. It was frankly, it was a nice looking purse,” Martin said, in a recorded telephone interview.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/man-believed-stolen-dhs-chief-kristi-noems-purse-custody-rcna203176

Given that Biden’s immigration surge was the largest in US history, and 60% of all that was illegal immigration, Americans are enduring the effects of an odd phenomenon we find common among Trump’s opponents, virtue signalling into disaster.

It’s a form of virtue signalling, but the effects of that act of virtue signalling are often catastrophic, or even deadly. It’s like cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. In this case, it was that Biden and his 2020 campaign team were so offended by Trump’s immigration policies during his first term, that they swung the door wide open, ruining the lives not only of Americans, but the illegals that made the journey holding firm to Biden’s promises, which of course he finally reneged in order to win the election of 2024. Now everyone must deal with the conditions he created.

Fair enough - seems like we see that one hte same way.

This user has been deleted and all their posts removed.

Poll results show that most Americans see Trump as a "dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy" (52%) compared with "44% who agree that President Trump is a strong leader who should be given the power he needs to restore America’s greatness.”

Most Democrats (87%) agree with the first statement, while most Republicans (81%) agree with the second statement.

Among Americans who voted for Trump and regret their decision, 55% agree that Trump is a dangerous dictator; agreement that Trump is a dangerous dictator is even higher among non-voters who regret their decision not to vote (68%).

Nearly eight in ten Americans (78%) disagree with the statement “When decisions by Congress or the Supreme Court hold our country back, the president should be able to ignore them,” compared with only 18% who agree; Republicans are more than three times as likely as Democrats to agree (28% vs. 9%).

Musk’s work (or 'frolic') with the Department of Government Efficiency is very unpopular, as most Americans are concerned about his access to citizens’ private data and a majority think his efforts at combatting waste and fraud are harmful.

Just 38% of Americans approve of the job Musk is doing within the federal government — though his work is most approved by Republicans (78%) and Americans who watch Fox News (83%) or far-right TV news sources (90%).

Most Americans oppose allowing Musk to access private data about American citizens at federal government agencies such as the IRS or the Social Security Administration (68% vs. 28%).

The consequences of the tariffs are starting to show. The coming weeks will be interesting to witness how the public reacts to everything. Cargo ports are showing empty lots and ships are registered to not even begin the journey to the US.

If the sentiment for his presidency is low now, just imagine what will happen if the regular Trumpster begin to use their braincells to connect the dots between Trump's tariffs and the price of the product they hold in their hands... if they are even able to find a product to hold in their hand to begin with.

“You probably saw some numbers today,” Trump said at the start of a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “And I have to start off by saying, that’s Biden; that’s not Trump.”...He was reacting after new data showed that the U.S. economy shrank in the first three months of 2025. The contraction marked a stark reversal after nearly three years of solid growth and represented a reaction to many of Trump’s policies. His promised tariffs have compelled companies and consumers to rush to purchase foreign goods, leading to an increase in imports. A drop in government spending has also caused growth to slow. — WaPo

But of course! Dear Leader can literally do no wrong - whenever anything wrong happens, it's always someone else. Like with the poll numbers. Pollster is wrong! Should be fired! But those pollsters are showing that - astounding as it seems - increasing numbers are actually starting to question whether Trump is, indeed, always right. And it's all downhill from here - when current stock is exhausted and the tarriffs really begin rippling through.

Ukraine and US sign minerals deal. It’s crazy how quickly things are happening in the last few months where the entire world, with all its effete moral posturing, faltered for the last few years. Let’s hope this is a step towards ending this war and not towards beginning a new one.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ypw7pn9q3o.amp

Minerals deal signed. Another stupid and disastrous move by the clown train. But they sure do make idiotic decisions quickly. That counts for something.

Minerals deal signed. Another stupid and disastrous move by the clown train. But they sure do make idiotic decisions quickly. That counts for something. — Mikie

Why is it an idiotic decision? On the face of it, it seems favourable to the US. In fact, there's now (unfortunately) a framework under which Ukraine can more easily sell off part of its interest in exchange for continued support each time it's threatened to be taken away. Renewed support from the US will also deflate European will to improve military cooperation, making it unlikely that it will be an independent power in a future multipolar world, thereby ensuring the US only has to compete with China, with the EU condemned in a role of continued support for the US. Before the century is over, the EU will provide the US the same cover as we currently do for Israel.

It’s one step closer to his Nobel Peace prize. Now all he has to do is give Russia “a good deal” and it’s over the line.

Europe has now been weaned off the U.S. teat. It won’t be going back in this generation. Although the U.S. will play a brotherly role.
The Ukraine war is not over, there could be many twists and turns.

There is now an opportunity for Europe to collaborate with Ukraine in low cost battlefield defence technology. Leaving the U.S. behind with its over priced stock.

Europe has now been weaned off the U.S. teat. It won’t be going back in this generation. — Punshhh

That conclusion is rather premature.

It will depend on a lot of factors, the most important of which is whether Trumpism will continue after Trump's presidency.

If it doesn't, I can assure you Europe's Transatlantic clique will be back for more of Uncle Sam's grease. Things will return to 'business as usual' in the blink of an eye, just like they did after Trump's first presidency.

Why is it an idiotic decision? — Benkei

Because it’s an excuse to continue the war, to continue spending billions more lining the pockets of Lockheed Martin et al., and because it increases the chances of direct confrontation with Russia.

It’s one step closer to his Nobel Peace prize. — Punshhh

We’re all rooting for him to finally get it I’m sure.

Because it’s an excuse to continue the war, to continue spending billions more lining the pockets of Lockheed Martin et al., and because it increases the chances of direct confrontation with Russia. — Mikie

I'm wondering... Will defunding Lockheed Martin entail less need for defense?

“Defense” lol

Yes, everything is defensive. So the gravy train will always be running.

As far as Ukraine goes, prolonging this conflict is awful. The US should fuck off.

, you skipped the q. :shrug:

you skipped the q. :shrug: — jorndoe

No I didn’t. Since everything is defensive, the gravy train won’t stop. So the answer is no.

You do wonder when what the media is euphemistically describing as Trump’s radical downsizing of Federal agencies and departments will be seen for what it really is: a full-scale attack on the Federal Government from inside the White House. And also, whether the US will ever be able to recover.

There's always a fire hydrant of Trump news stories, but this one is major: a judge has struck down his executive order aimed at punishing the law firm Perkins Coie. It was a scathing judgement, saying the order was unconstitutional on many fronts.

“No American President has ever before issued executive orders like the one at issue in this lawsuit targeting a prominent law firm with adverse actions,” U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell wrote in a scathing 102-page opinion. The case, she said, “presents an unprecedented attack” on the importance of independent lawyers.

Perkins Coie was the firm associated with the lawyer who commissioned what became the scandalous and salacious Steele Report, that hit the airwaves just before the 2016 election. Trump has always been utterly furious about it - with some justification, I might add. Regardless, trying to effectively shutter the firm (and after the lawyer in question has long since left) was definitely overkill (as usual).

It is going to be followed by a US 60 Minutes feature about Trump's war on the legal profession.

Great news from Australia. So 3 elections since Trump took office: Germany, Canada, and Australia. We can see a trend.

With Sheinbaum in Mexico, the US is now surrounded by governments that can’t stand Trump, and have alienated its overseas friends by interfering in the Germany election and slapping tariffs on everyone else. Not to mention pissing off the Danes with the unforced error of discussing annexing Greenland. You have a fairly weak but not friendly labor leader in the UK, and China willing to go to the mats (which apparently wasn’t considered) over trade.

All while two wars are still raging and prices are still high, despite promises of all that being solved on day one, or “very quickly.”

Amazing what can be destroyed in only 3 months! I admire the pace.

A glimpse into some of Trump's priorities for next year:

Trump Proposes $1 Trillion Defense Budget for 2026
^{— Greg Hadley · Air and Space Forces Magazine · May 2, 2025}
Trump's budget proposal would cut some discretionary spending, increase defense spending
^{— Kathryn Watson · CBS · May 2, 2025}
Trump budget proposes $1 trillion for defense, slashes education, foreign aid, environment, health and public assistance
^{— Tami Luhby, Ella Nilsen, Andrew Freedman, Samantha Delouya, Sarah Owermohle, Jennifer Hansler, Gabe Cohen · CNN · May 2, 2025}

"Attacks on education" (my wording) have been in multiple forms.


Populism Map (European Center for Populism Studies)

In this assessment, these share a score at the edge of "Full Democracy": the US, France, Croatia, Mongolia, South Korea.

That conclusion is rather premature.

My conclusion is based on two ruptures of conditions in the status of EU member states. Ruptures which cannot be reversed as the conditions which were broken were historic understandings adopted during a process of providing stability following the turmoil of the WW2. And the world has now moved on.
Firstly, the understanding the US would play a senior/caretaking role in providing this stability. Trump has clearly broken this commitment.
Secondly that European countries, primarily Germany would not re-arm following WW2 and would rely on the NATO alliance for security. Again Trump has clearly broken this commitment and Germany is now re-arming.

Both these genies cannot be put back in the bottle whatever happens in the US following Trump’s last term in office.

You're ascribing too much value to the words of politicians - those of Trump and those of European leaders.

Their words mean nothing.

Here's what factually happened so far under Trump:
- Trump said some things
- Trump imposed some tariffs
- Trump attempted to broker peace in Ukraine

None of this is irreversible, and one might even call it fairly insignificant.

People losing thier heads over some words the Orange Doofus said are dummies, and fundamentally misunderstand what geopolitics is about.

I was talking about developments. Developments are more concrete than words from individuals. They are changes in status agreed on by large numbers of people. A status which had become outdated and strained. It probably only needed a nudge to bring it about.

Your whole argument that European countries are lazy and just expect the US to carry the can all the time is false. It was a legacy of the post war settlement.

Your whole argument that European countries are lazy and just expect the US to carry the can all the time is false. It was a legacy of the post war settlement. — Punshhh

It is a legacy of the post-war settlement, and that doesn't change just because some politicians said some words.

In fact, I can think of few things that carry less weight than the words of western politicians.

And some things change and some things don’t.

It might very well change, but my point is that whatever politicians say about it is not much of an indication.

Straw man then, as I wasn’t talking about what some politicians said.