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 My son has narrated the last book I wrote.
Please consider listening to it and encouraging others to do so too. (Click on Book Cover) World & Nation A Deal With Iran Over Hormuz May Require a Compromise From Trump To reach a deal with Iran that reopens the economically vital Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump may need to do something out of character — compromise. "He divides the world into winners and losers, and this would make him a loser," said Eliot Cohen, who served as counselor of the State Department in the George W. Bush administration. "And the image of being a loser, I think, would be intolerable for him." The sticking point has been over control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil normally flows. While both sides say a deal is close, the Trump administration has ruled out any arrangement that would cement Iran's grip over the Persian Gulf waterway, including Tehran charging fees.
Something strange happened in Tehran within hours: The deal was postponed, then declared to be in its final stage instead Iran Keeps Pouring Cold Water On A Deal - But Does It Matter? - Iran has once again thrown efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz into disarray, publicly disputing Washington’s description of how negotiations are progressing only hours after the U.S. suggested that an agreement could be announced as soon as Wednesday, August 5. The most recent confusion arose when Axios reported early today, citing two regional sources and a U.S. official, that Iran, Oman, and the United States were close to finalizing a new 60-day interim arrangement governing the passage of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state-linked media, however, subsequently reported that the Iran-Oman agreement had been postponed, blaming American interference and President Donald Trump’s military threats. The Islamic regime also reportedly took umbrage with Washington’s attempts to characterize itself as a party to the negotiations. Ex-Obama, Biden diplomat blasts former boss’ border failures: 'They woke up too late' Salazar argues neglect of Mexico and failure to communicate strategy handed Trump his strongest political issue Former Cabinet secretary and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar says the Biden administration "woke up too late" to address the border crisis, arguing its failure to prioritize Mexico and effectively communicate its strategy helped hand President Donald Trump one of his strongest political issues. Salazar, whose family has lived in the southwest since it was part of Mexico, laid out in his new book "Borderlands" how America’s foreign policy is too often on an "east-west paradigm" looking to Asia and Europe and neglecting Mexico and the Americas. He also argued that same mindset plagued the Biden administration, leaving it overly focused on Europe and Asia while neglecting Mexico and the Western Hemisphere. "From day one, there should have been a great sense of urgency in addressing the crisis of a broken border and the migration crisis that we are seeing," Salazar said, arguing the Biden White House lacked both a comprehensive strategy and a coherent communications operation, creating what he described as a communications vacuum that Republicans filled. Russia could attack NATO, allied country as early as this fall, US intelligence warns Russian President Vladimir Putin may test the NATO alliance’s strength with an attack on an allied country as early as fall — including a possible land invasion, according to new US intelligence reports. The reports on the potential of a limited assault, which could range from a cyber attack to a military incursion, come as the US deals with a shortage of critical munitions it would need to respond to such an attack from Russia or China, US officials told the Wall Street Journal. An attack is estimated to happen between this fall and 2029, the intelligence assessment warned. Putin’s goal of an attack on a NATO nation is to force the US’s hand and fracture the 77-year-old alliance. Ukraine’s latest long-range drone attack sets fire to Russian retail giant’s warehouse
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky making first official visit to Russia-friendly Serbia Secret ‘Oxferd Comma’ probe cast Trump as potential Russian asset after Comey firing The investigation, codenamed 'Oxferd Comma,' opened after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017 Article III Project president Mike Davis discusses the DOJ subpoena of former FBI Director James Comey in an investigation into a ‘grand conspiracy’ to undermine Trump’s presidency on 'The Ingraham Angle.' The White House released a trove of documents showing that the FBI opened a 2017 investigation into whether President Donald Trump was acting on behalf of or under the influence of Russia when he fired FBI Director James Comey. The investigation, codenamed "Oxferd Comma," opened after Trump fired Comey in May 2017, according to the White House’s release. Investigators sought to determine whether Trump was "directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes," according to an FBI memo dated May 16, 2017. The memo also said investigators would examine whether Trump or others had obstructed or conspired to obstruct an associated FBI investigation. Saudi Arabia bracing for possible coordinated attack from Iranian allies in Iraq, Yemen: report Houthi activists stand on a platform against a banner depicting Houthi missiles, at an anti-Saudi rally in Sanaa, Yemen, on July 31, 2026. Saudi Arabia is expecting imminent attacks from Iraqi militias in the north and Yemen’s Houthis in the south under the direction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a report said. A senior Saudi official told Reuters that intelligence reports from Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and other countries indicated that energy infrastructure, ports and airports are among the potential targets. The official added that Saudi Arabia has observed drones and missiles being moved in preparation, suggesting a coordinated operation from both directions could be looming. Saudi Arabia is ready to respond to “any aggression,” the official also told Reuters. Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia sign mutual defense deal — as Israeli strike injures Lebanese soldier
Trump's DOJ henchman has strong warning for Jeanine Pirro after crossing the president Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche pointedly declined to guarantee Jeanine Pirro's job on Wednesday, reminding reporters that President Trump can sack any US attorney he chooses. 'If President Trump wanted to fire anybody within his administration, he understands he has the power to do that,' Blanche said when asked about the row. 'So when he makes a decision about whether to fire a US attorney or anybody else, that's his call.' Trump erupted on Monday after learning that Pirro's office had dropped charges against protesters arrested in June over the vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Blanche insisted she was doing a 'phenomenal job.' Vladimir Putin just got handed an impossible choice: Guard the nuclear launch sites, or leave Moscow and St. Petersburg exposed The War in Ukraine Continues Its Incessant Transformations - The original war in Ukraine was supposed to be executed quickly by Russia in a blitzkrieg style with combined arms in the air and on the ground. It quickly bogged down due to Ukrainian anti-tank missiles and loitering munitions that created a graveyard of Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers. Then both sides dug in. Trench warfare ensued. Multiple-launch rocket systems and old-fashioned field artillery belched death and destruction. This created a stalemate. First-person drones and kamikaze unmanned craft took out individual soldiers and created a killing field not seen since World War One. Now the war has shifted again. Ukraine and Russia are going after civilian targets. Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces have attacked energy infrastructure, creating gasoline shortages that have made the Russians furious as they wait in long lines. Plus, Ukrainian air raids have eliminated warehouses belonging to Russia’s top online retailer — an Amazon-like company that also sells dual-use civilian-military equipment. Sen. Cassidy Backs Todd Blanche for Attorney General Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said Friday he will back Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general, likely paving the way for Blanche to be confirmed to lead President Donald Trump's Justice Department. The Louisiana senator announced his support on the Senate floor after Blanche's confirmation was thrown into doubt over opposition from two other Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Cassidy said Blanche “is not perfect” but no one is, and he suggested another nominee may not be any better. “I will vote for Mr. Blanche,” he said.
Trump defends Pete Hegseth after report he lashed out at war secretary: ‘One of my best’ President Trump expressed full-throated support for War Secretary Pete Hegseth Thursday – a day after a report claimed the president accused the Pentagon chief of misleading him about the state of America’s arms stockpile. “I think he’s actually one of my best,” Trump said of Hegseth, in an interview with NBC News Thursday. “I’m very good at this stuff.” Six months into the Iran war, and with the critical midterm elections fast approaching, the president gave no indication that he plans to shake things up at the Pentagon. “Smart guy,” Trump said of Hegseth. “He’s very much into it. Respected by the military.” Trump Unveils China Trade Actions on Solar, Chips The White House imposed a series of price floors and a 15% tariff on products made from polysilicon, the raw material used in semiconductors and solar panels that is primarily produced by China. U.S. President Donald Trump's proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on Thursday is aimed at supporting domestic chip and solar supply chains needed to compete with Beijing on artificial intelligence and energy. "The plan of action in this proclamation will, among other things, help ensure the commercial viability of United States production of polysilicon and its derivatives that is necessary to meet United States economic and national security requirements," the order said.
Rep. Dan Meuser: Fraud Nears $1 Trillion Government fraud equaling as much as 15% of overall spending "is just the tip of the iceberg," Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., told Newsmax on Friday. Meuser, appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America," said the scale of fraud involving taxpayer dollars could approach $1 trillion as the Trump administration and congressional Republicans push for tougher enforcement. "The fraud is extensive," Meuser said. "It literally could be as much as 10 to 15% of our overall spend. That gets into the neighborhood of almost $1 trillion." Appeals Court Blocks Trump's $400 Million White House Ballroom Project A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday ordered President Donald Trump's administration to stop construction on a $400 million ballroom on the site of the White House's demolished East Wing, dealing the Republican leader a major setback in a case testing his presidential authority. The Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a divided 2-1 order upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued last year after the administration tore down the East Wing and began building a 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) ballroom without seeking authorization from Congress. The appeals court placed its ruling on hold for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump appealed after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon twice blocked above-ground construction on the site while allowing underground work to continue. Fauci's contempt of Congress is challengeable, but not his contempt for the public Fauci invoked his right to remain silent 111 times despite holding a sweeping presidential pardon from Joe Biden By Jonathan Turley
"Today I am the most famous and talked-about person in the country." Those words from the diary of Dr. Anthony Fauci are certainly true as the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs moves forward with holding him in contempt for refusing to answer over a hundred questions about his past conduct and statements as the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The contempt vote will start a process that is fraught with political and legal challenges. Even putting aside the objections to the direct referral from the Committee to the Justice Department (rather than submit the matter to a full Senate vote), there remain serious questions about whether Fauci can be held in contempt after invoking his right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment. As I have previously stated, this area is rather murky and Fauci likely has the advantage in any litigation. At the outset, it is important to note that Fauci always faced a risk of perjury in his prior appearances. Even if immunized, a witness can always be prosecuted for false statements. Fauci is in a much stronger position today than he was in prior hearings due to the sweeping pardon he received from former President Joe Biden. Yet, he suddenly decided to remain silent when his own words came back to contradict him. Gavin Newsom’s rush to embrace Abdul El-Sayed makes me sick to my stomach By Jon Fleischman
When the dust settled Wednesday morning, Abdul El-Sayed had narrowly won Michigan’s Democratic nomination for the United States Senate. Gavin Newsom did not need much time to think about it. As soon as El-Sayed was declared the winner, Newsom endorsed him. And now, just days later, California’s governor is preparing to head to Michigan for a multiday campaign swing supporting the Democratic ticket. The trip reportedly was planned before the primary. Fair enough. But Newsom embraced El-Sayed without a word of qualification and with no apparent concern about the radical position his party’s newest Senate nominee has taken toward Jews and toward Israel. |
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