Allies Become Enemies as Trump Brazenly Promotes Russia

Trump's love affair with Putin was formalized with America's new security strategy that appeases Putin and alienates our longtime allies in Europe. 

After the announcement of the new security strategy, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X: "Dear American friends, Europe is your closest ally, not your problem. And we have common enemies. At least that's how it has been in the last 80 years. We need to stick to this; this is the only reasonable strategy of our common security. Unless something has changed."

Something has changed. The president of the United States is a traitor who has turned the country into a burgeoning fascist state. 

A member of the European Parliament, Barry Andrews, publicly stated his concerns that Trump's new strategy supporting right-wing groups throughout Europe, is a clarion call for Europe to wake up.

Europe's leaders are recoiling against the cultural challenges and anti-immigration rhetoric used by Trump, with relations set to worsen as frictions continue over Ukraine. 

The fact of the matter is there's an imbalance of power in the 21st-century leaving Europe and NATO without the arms nor the wealth to impel Russia or the US to take peace settlements seriously. The world is watching the US favoring Russia in all of its negotiations to end the war.

It's also telling that Trump has refused to give arms to Ukraine since he slunk into power in his second term. There's a silver lining to this drama, however. NATO minus the US - is managing to frustrate Trump from making a sweetheart deal with Putin. The NATO allies' consistence dedication to this task hasn't been widely publicized for fear of provoking Trump, but it's impossible to miss.

Thus far, the European scramble on Ukraine's behalf has repeatedly managed to hold the line against Trump and Putin. It did so again this week when the Witkoff plan was tweaked before the Putin meeting.

For the record the West has frozen Russian assets, worth $253 billion. The turning point in the war could be if those assets ended up in Kyiv, instead of being returned to Moscow. Either way, NATO could prove to be yesterday's solution to tomorrow's threat.

Trump has reached a fateful fork in the road, where he must decide to choose between Europe and Ukraine on one hand, or Russia on the other. That moment is getting closer than any time since 1945. 

This looming tragedy may end up with a new world order consisting of fascist and totalitarian governments if NATO falters and can't hold back the enemies of Democracy.

As it Stands, because Trump is such a wild card no one can accurately predict which way he'll go - but if the present situation continues to deteriorate it looks good for Russia.

Crickets in the Press and White House - Not a Word About the Recent Assassination Attempt Against Zelensky

On Monday Dec.1st, Ukraine's President Zelensky's plane landed in Dublin, Ireland. If his flight would have arrived on time, it's likely he would have been assassinated.

What? You didn't hear about that? It's because America's so-called mainstream press basically ignored the whole story. Where all-cap headlines should have been on front pages nationwide there were none acknowledging this recent attempt on Zelensky's life.

What we know so far. A group of four drones entered, unidentified, military-style drones entered the no-fly zone and began circling over Dublin International Airport, according to reporting by The Telegraph newspaper.

Sources are reporting that the drones would have been directly in the flightpath of the plane carrying Zelensky if it had not taken off and landed in Dublin ahead of schedule.

After circling over the airport for a short time, the drones flew east, orbiting over a warship with the Irish Navy that had been secretly deployed to the Irish Sea ahead of the visit by Zelensky. 

He went there to address the Irish Parliament about the need for support for his struggling country against the Russian invasion. He also emphasized that only a dignified peace would provide real security.

Trump's latest peace plan brokered with the Russians was so one sided that European intelligence agencies leaked out that American Ambassador Witkoff's attempt to pressure Zelensky was a mockery. European powers have been closely monitoring Trump and Putin's unserious attempts to end the war.

So, here we are. Instead of covering such a huge story the legacy media has cravenly played down the murder attempt. My question is why? Has Trump's goal of controlling the media been successful after all? 

Meanwhile Trump just gave another gift to his dictator buddy Putin. He stopped imposing sanctions on the Russian multinational energy corporation Lukoil, extending a waiver authorizing Lukoil-branded gas stations throughout Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and the Americas until at least April 29, 2026.

The writing is on the wall for the whole world to see. Trump is never going to turn on his old pal Putin. Europe sees clearly that the U.S. can't be counted on to support Ukraine's sovereignty, so they are considering dumping $2,34 trillion in US debt if Trump abandons Ukraine, potentially triggering an economic crisis worse than 2008. 

Folks. This is serious business affecting millions of lives worldwide and here at home where we are stuck with the most corrupt president and administration in American history. 

Coverups are a common practice with this regime. We can no longer trust the legacy media but the independent media, like MeidasTouch, and Democracy Now online are providing truthful alternatives. I also recommend reading foreign newspapers across Europe to get a real feel on what's happening on the ground between Russia and Ukraine.

As it Stands, as a retired newspaper editor it grieves me to see the sad state that the American press has sunk to.   

Republican Women Going 'Woke?' What's Happening?

Why do women choose to be in the Republican party when the know that they will never achieve what their male counterparts will because of their gender?

This has always been a dirty secret in conservative circles where women are looked upon as inferior beings good only for bearing children and serving their husbands every desire.

I'm not going to take up a lot of space here with historical examples of how women have been marginalized - they're legion - and instead encourage you to spend some time researching the facts in our political history books. 

Today I'm sharing a current example of how Republican women are fed up with being treated like battered housewives.

A revolt has been brewing for months among the women representatives in the House who have reached the point of no return regarding their unfair treatment by House Speaker Mike Johnson.

In an unexpected development MAGA poster girl Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she was retiring early - in January - because of Johnson's lack of leadership and bias against women in general.

 Greene has publicly accused the current male GOP leaders of bias, telling The Washington Post in a recent interview she believes GOP women have been "marginalized."

Hardliner Nancy Mace is rumored to be considering retiring early because of decisions Johnson's made that were contrary to her beliefs and efforts in Congress. It's still a rumor, however.

What's not a rumor is a number of high-profile Republican women are fleeing the House for other opportunities, weighing retirement or quitting Congress early.

One of the big reasons is that Republican women have less representation in leadership and only hold a single elected committee gavel in the House of Representatives. 

At least four Republican women won't return in the next Congress, raising the possibility that the number of House Republican women could actually decline after the 2026 midterms.

All of this dissatisfaction is rooted in the fact that the Republican party has always struggled with the idea of elevating women into positions of power.

I see some irony if enough Republican women decide to leave the House early and MAGA Mike loses his speakership.

As it Stands, I see this whole situation as a matter of being awake to reality and a woke moment for those women representatives.

Gold-Loving Trump is a 21st Century Version of King Midas

What does Trump have in common with King Midas?

In Greek mythology, King Midas was known for his love of gold and being a rogue ruler whose antics bemused his people and irritated the Gods. 

Wannabee King Trump is also a rogue leader but instead of bemusing American citizens, he's on a mission to terrorize them if they don't bow before him.

King Midas and Trump are famous for their love of gold. Trump has redecorated the White House with so much gold trim it looks like a 19th century brothel. One political pundit commented that the White House looks like " a gilded rococo hellscape."

All of Trump's properties have gold gilded interiors. His cult members like to say he has a golden touch. 

So did King Midas... literally. He was granted a wish by Dionysus that everything he touched would turn into gold.

It didn't take long before Midas realized the consequences of his ill-thought wish. His food and his loved ones turned into gold when he touched them.

The moral of the story is those who are greedy to have more will lose everything they have. And remember what really matters and be careful what you wish for.

Unlike King Midas Trump's gold gathering experiences are ongoing and he hasn't suffered the consequences that the fabled king did. Yet.

In nearly all cultures gold represents luxury and wealth. It can also symbolize greed and excess.

Christopher Columbus once said, "Gold is a treasure, and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world."

With visions of his golden ballroom dancing in his tiny brain, Trump loves nothing more than to show off his gold bars and gilded Oval Office to foreign visitors. 

As it Stands, it's too soon to decide what the moral is from Trump's story, but I suspect it'll involve being locked up in a padded room in a super max prison somewhere in El Salvador.

About Vetting: Trump Regime's Interpretation is Illegal

Under the Trump regime the word vetting has taken on a sinister meaning that you won't find in a dictionary.

When serial liars like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claim their actions in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific were lawful and vetted by military and civilian lawyers you have to wonder about who the lawyers are really loyal to. The Constitution or Trump?

Hegseth ordered a second strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea, basically ignoring the Geneva Convention and a host of other international laws to murder the two survivors of the first strike while they clung to ship debris.

From the start Hegseth's military buildup in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific violated international laws. Hegseth has taken credit for everything that's happened thus far but now that there's a scandal unfolding, he's suddenly crediting Navy Admiral Mitch Bradley with ordering a controversial second strike on the two survivors.

Only a coward would pass the buck to avoid telling the truth.  Hegseth came out in a press conference praising Bradley, calling him an American hero, and crediting him "for acting within his authority and the law." 

When the Washington Post first reported the "double tap" hit the White House and Trump were caught off guard and in the following coverup conflicting stories emerged. Trump reportedly told the press he "wouldn't have wanted a second strike" while Hegseth and company went out of their way to claim it was righteous and lawful.

Meanwhile members of Congress became concerned about the whole event. Congress' top defense lawmakers said they would conduct oversight and gather facts before drawing any conclusions about what happened. 

Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the panel would begin by seeking briefings from officials directly involved and echoed calls for the administration to release the video if it has nothing to hide.

Sen. Roger Wicker, the committee's Republican chair, said his panel would conduct its inquiry "by the numbers" and determine the "ground truth."

With a battery of loyal Trump lawyers interfering with the panel's efforts to get to the truth the odds aren't good any justice will come out of the inquires.

The controversy comes as Trump escalates pressure on Venezuela and weighs additional military options with his cabinet and cabal of larcenous lawyers.

As it Stands, Admiral Bradley has avoided making any public comments thus far, but it ought to be interesting when lawmakers interview him later this week.

Trump's Clown Cabinet Exists to Please Him

Here's the latest news about what Trump's clown Cabinet is up to.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has plunged the FDA into a morass of misinformation that is threatening the lives of millions of Americans. 

The FDA's former vaccine chief, Dr. Peter Marks, who was ousted by Kennedy when Trump assumed power, told reporters that the agency is misusing the database and the crazy claims Kennedy is making are right out of his controversial "anti-vaccine" book.

Kennedy is the political version of a canary in a coal mine signaling everything is fine, despite the reality that shows he's dismantling a key government agency. That's why Trump chose him.

In fact, if you look at all of Trump's Cabinet, you'll see that they are all seriously flawed individuals with one thing in common - total and abject loyalty to dear leader. That's why Trump picked them despite how unqualified they were to serve in such prestigious positions.

Take Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for example. He's pursuing an illegal military operation in Latin American waters and threatening Venezuela's independence in an effort to steal their vast oil supply. 

Hegseth claims that the whole operation was about stopping drug-runners in small boats but when you send the world's largest aircraft carrier (and group) to the coast of Venezuela, it looks more like a war is imminent. The United Nations says the buildup and threats are illegal under international law.

The fact that over 80 people have been murdered by this joint task force has world leaders denouncing the attacks and calling for Trump to stand down.

Moving on we have puppy killer and Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, who is being chastised by the court for lying about who gave the orders to deport immigrants when the judge demanded that the flights be stopped and she continued to make them anyway.

Noem has been the spearhead of the war against brown and black people. Working with ICE she has terrorized American cities by sending masked and armed agents into every walk of life from schools to churches. American citizens have been arrested for just having brown skin with over 170 documented cases since the raids began.

Trump's appointment of Pam Bondi as Attorney General, openly displays her efforts to please Trump by making the department a tool for his retribution. She's brought fraudulent charges against James Comey and Letitia James which have backfired on her. 

She doesn't care however because she's above the rule of law with Trump's blessing and will continue to enthusiastically pursue his enemies.

Space doesn't permit me to give a comprehensive summary of the rest of the crooked cabinet. 

Here ARE SOME of the remaining top stars performing for Trump; Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury; Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce; Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Ratcliffe, and Secretary of Veteran's Affairs, Doug Collins.

As it Stands, the rogues gallery that comprise Trump's corrupt cabinet are a collection of evil clowns from hell.

Trump's Road to Isolating America

It's been a long and twisting road these last ten months. Trump is well on his way to isolating America and creating an autocratic racist nation.

His latest move to mug America is calling for a "permanent pause" on immigration from what he called "third world countries." Trumps demanding a program of "reverse migration" after the National Guard shooting in Washington D.C.

If there's been one constant crusade in Trump's political life, it's been kicking people out of the United States because of their color, religion, and place of origin. From Day One he promised a massive campaign against immigrants. It's been the cornerstone of his racist messaging. 

Surging military troops into American cities under a false pretense (that's been challenged dozens of times in the last ten months by the courts) has caused chaos across the nation. This latest event, an attack against two national guards in Washington D.C. would never have happened if Trump didn't involve the National Guard and the military in a scheme to intimidate civilians and assert complete control of states.

Officials say the man who shot the two troopers was an Afghan national who worked with a CIA-backed group during the war in Afghanistan. He was also vetted for asylum by the Trump regime back in April. In his typical finger-pointing diversion tactic Trump has blamed Biden for the deadly shooting that's left one trooper dead and the other in critical condition.

The incident has served as a catalyst for his anti-immigration rhetoric into pledges that would likely face court challenges if enacted and further undermine American's global standing as a nation welcoming to immigrants.

Promising to permanently pause migration from all Third World countries Trump also pledged to "terminate" all of the immigrants that arrived during Biden's administration. No one knows what countries the orange tyrant is going to put on his nasty little list.

The Department of Homeland Security pointed out that there are 19 countries listed in a travel ban in June, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, that will likely be on Trump's latest list. In one of his recent rants on Truth Social he threatened to "end all federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens of our country" and to "denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic security."

When you consider how much Trump has already broken traditional ties with our allies across the globe a clear picture emerges from the chaos... Trump is isolating America by slapping unfair tariffs on every country in the world, siding with Putin, and treating all immigrants like their criminals. 

The results are already apparent as tourism is way down from prior years. Citizens from other countries are aware that we have a paramilitary group called ICE that uses Gestapo-like methods to round up people of color.

When Trump talks about America First, he's actually referring to an authoritarian regime that favors White Christian Nationalists that are his loyal cult members.

For the record, Trump's threats, if enacted by legislation or executive orders, are going to be challenged in the courts who have, thus far, ruled against Trump 93% of the time. Meanwhile it's going to be a long and ugly fight.

As it Stands, Americans can put up barriers on Trump's road to isolation and an authoritarian regime, by turning to the courts and voting blue next November.

Thanksgiving in 2025 America: Pardoning Turkeys and Criminals

In the holiday spirit of the season Trump pardoned two turkeys, Waddle and Gobble, who were illegal immigrants from El Salvador.

It must be noted however that he said Waddle and Gobble looked violent to him, but their bribe was acceptable. 

The pardoning ceremony was public unlike the other 142 pardons that Trump has granted since January.

Unlike past presidential pardons that had to be vetted before bringing them up to the president, Trump has skipped the formalities and has been pardoning criminals at a rapid rate.

The White House has been turned into a pardon bureau that personally profits Trump who accepts only the bigly bribes or Quid-pro-quo offerings in exchange for a pardon.

Here's just one example of a corrupt player buying his way to freedom or clemency; in mid-October Trump handed a full and unconditional pardon to Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges.

Here's the kicker; Binance has ties to the Trump family's cryptocurrency business. We also know that Trump is concealing his scheme when he lied to 60 Minutes in an interview that he didn't know who Zhao was. That's a sure sign he's hiding something.

It was apparent on Day One of Trump's second term that politics were going to be crucial in the pardoning process when Trump pardoned some 1,500 defendants for taking part in his attempted coup. 

But Trump is also one of the biggest con men in American history and conducting shady and illegal business transactions are in his DNA.

The founders envisioned impeachment as one check on what is otherwise a nearly absolute presidential power, but Trump has faced virtually no criticism from the GOP cowards in Congress for his questionable use of pardons for profit or political gain.

As it Stands, I won't be posting anything on Thanksgiving Day because I'll be too busy visiting with family. I wish you a great day and a future without Trump.

Trump's Latest Absurd Accusations May Have Crossed a Red Line

It's common knowledge that Trump is a serial liar. 

You can go online and check out websites that document how many lies he tells daily, how many lies he's told in his second term, and how many lies he told in his first term.

Trump has been making unfounded accusations against his perceived enemies since he slunk back into the Oval Office in January. His list is a who's who of the Democratic party and he's been targeting the mainstream media with impunity.

When our thin-skinned tyrant turned his wrath against six Democratics for telling members of the military and the intelligence community not to comply with illegal orders from his regime, he crapped his diaper and ordered them arrested and tried for treason. Then executed.

A bipartisan uproar has resulted over his "seditious behavior" and "punishable by death" remarks he made. The six Democrats named are currently having their lives threatened by rabid Trump supporters.

They are Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona; Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan; Reps. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New York, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Jason Crow of Colorado. All are military veterans and former intelligence officials.

When Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth rushed to retaliate against the six's message - on Trump's behalf - he was only able to hassle one member of the group because they didn't fall under the Department of War jurisdiction. However, Mark Kelly is still subject to the UCMJ according to Hegseth.

Trump's loyal liar-in-arms Hegseth is talking like a tough guy proclaiming he's going to start court martial proceedings or administrative measures against the seditious Sen. Kelly.

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UPDATE: Late breaking development. The FBI is working to schedule interviews with the six Democratic lawmakers. The details are still unclear. Justice Department guidelines require investigative steps against sitting members of Congress to go through an approval process to ensure that enforcement power isn't being used for political purposes.

But Trump has dismantled the DOJ's Public Integrity Section, which traditionally served as a check on investigations into political figures. That office has just two prosecutors, down from 36 at the beginning of trump's second term.

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To be clear, Kelly and the others encouraged members of the military (see video) to OBEY lawful orders and to disobey unlawful orders. That's not a crime in anyone's book... but it is in Trump's book of anarchy. 

This latest dangerous lie about Kelly and the other five, is a decisive moment. "Trump is trying to incite violence, intimidate, and punish those who speak up to hold him accountable" Sen. Slotkin told the press. 

How far will this farce go? It remains to be seen what kind of pushback will come from Republicans who are increasingly becoming wary of Trump's spurious attacks on American civilians and members of the military.

It's becoming increasingly hard for Trump to go after his enemies as he continues to lose in the courts. This last week both the James Comey and Letitia James trial sagas resulted in exoneration when the judge found out that the government illegally appointed a prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, to her position.

In the last two weeks there's been over 12 court cases that have gone against the Trump regime, most of which were immigrant related and involved ICE, The Department of Justice, and The Depart of Homeland Security.

This latest assault against justice by Trump may have crossed a red line. No one is fooled by Hegseth's sudden attack on Kelly or the other five by the FBI. It's part of Trump's playbook that's increasingly falling apart.

As it Stands, as we watch, Trump is physically and mentally falling apart, and more people are now seeing the emperor has no clothes.

American Psychiatric Association Announces New Litmus Test for Crazies

Let's face it. 

It's not easy to tell who's crazy by just looking at them.

Especially nowadays when people run around wearing political cosplay costumes like Kristi Noem.

The only way to fully determine if someone is short a couple of bottles of a six-pack is to ask them some basic questions.

After seeking advice from the American Psychiatric Association, they shared an updated litmus test that I'm now going to share with you.

Some core questions to ask:

1. Who was elected president in 2020?

This is one of the quickest and most reliable ways of knowing if a person is a Maga dimwit.

2. Is Trump the son of God?

Be prepared to hear blasphemy if you ask this. It's a surefire way to judge just how crazy they are.

3. What year is it?

Sounds too easy, doesn't it? Well guess what? When they start talking about 2020 you caught them red-handed.

4. Should there be more gun safety laws?

Keep a good distance when you ask this question and wear a bullet-proof vest. A normal person wouldn't pull out an AR-15 to answer.

5. Is the earth round?

I know. Too easy. Crazies always feel strongly about their flat earth.

6. Describe what the American flag looks like.

If there's one thing a crazy enjoys its desecrating the national flag. A crazy will display numerous versions of the American flag with Trump's fat orange face surrounded with stars and stripes on it.

Once you've determined you are talking with a crazy here's some suggestions:

- Run in the opposite direction as fast as you can!

- Don't stop running

- Smile pleasantly and say "squirrel!" When they look. Run.

- Offer them a cheeseburger from McDonalds to go away.

- Back away slowly smiling stupidly (it soothes them) while looking for the quickest escape route.

- Agree with everything they say and even drool a little to put them at ease.

As it Stands, those savvy shrinks emphasized that humor was the best medicine and... defense!

It's Terribly True: The Constitution Didn't Plan on Someone Like Trump

The realization that the Constitution never counted on having such a corrupt president comes from Ty Cobb, former White House Lawyer in Trump's first term.

When a former crony who once defended Trump during an impeachment hearing in the House says he's "evil" then you have to pause... and consider the fact our country is facing a dilemma that our founders never considered would happen.

Our founders must have been naive when they constructed a constitution to live by without considering a lawless presidency by assuming only men of good character would be in charge of the country.

There is one alternative to challenging a poison presidency. It's called the 25th Amendment. Under Section 4: Involuntary Transfer of Power, the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet can send a written declaration to Congress stating the President is unable to discharge their duties. 

It could mean the president is too sick to discharge his duties, or it could be for other reasons. Like outright defying every law and endangering American lives while systematically destroying our democratic norms.

If the president contests this, Congress must decide. If two-thirds of both the House and Senate agree Trump is guilty then he's ousted and the Vice President takes over.

Here's the sad reality. Congress is controlled by spineless Republicans in both the House and Senate who are frantically loyal to dear leader. And the current Vice President is Trump's lapdog. So, the chances are slim to none for any possibility of this action being successful.

The same applies to impeaching Trump in Congress. He's holding all the cards (in this case loyal minions) who wouldn't dream of defying him in any way at this point in time.

Despite these challenges I believe things are rapidly coming to a head when Congress basically forced Trump to release all of the Epstein files. 

When GOP members made it clear they wanted the Epstein files - despite Trump's persistence in trying to conceal them - a page turned in their relationship with Trump. He was forced to sign the legislation although he tried to make it appear it was his idea to come clean.

Other signs of dissent within the GOP are becoming obvious as MAGA loyalists - like Marjorie Taylor Greene - have turned on Trump. 

Republican Rep.Thomas Massie partnered with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna in forcing a discharge petition to release the controversial files that finally ended up on Trump's desk to sign.

Recent elections in 39 states saw a blue wave as Democrats won nearly every contest across the country. Trump's popularity has never been so low as nearly two-thirds of Americans expressed dissatisfaction with his regime.

The polls are flashing red lights showing that no recent president has ever fallen so low in the polls as quickly as Trump has.

The biggest shift away from Trump has been among Americans under 30 years old. His net approval among that group was positive 3 when he returned to the Oval Office. 

Now it is minus 41. His ratings among Hispanic and black Americans, which began negative, have also plummeted.

I'm pointing out these facts to show that there's a chance - however slim - that Trump becomes such a threat to everyone in the nation he's either taken out by the 25th Amendment or impeached by Congress.

I'm not sure what would finally spur this change of heart among Republicans after they've let him run roughshod these last 10 months.

As it Stands, for 250 years the Constitution has been a firm bulwark for freedom. Unfortunately, that same bulwark is being bulldozed by Trump's lawless regime.