Surviving a second Trump admin*

[GoCubsGo]

I could've sworn we obliterated Iran's nuclear program last year.

A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela. Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary. Hopefully Iran will quickly "Come to the Table" and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS - one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn't, and there was "Operation Midnight Hammer," a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don't make that happen again. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

[Whack9]

I could've sworn we obliterated Iran's nuclear program last year.

A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela. Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary. Hopefully Iran will quickly "Come to the Table" and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS - one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn't, and there was "Operation Midnight Hammer," a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don't make that happen again. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

He can't remember more than a half hour or so into the past these days so he likely forgot.

[GoCubsGo]

I could've sworn we obliterated Iran's nuclear program last year.

A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose. It is a larger fleet, headed by the great Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln, than that sent to Venezuela. Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary. Hopefully Iran will quickly "Come to the Table" and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS - one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn't, and there was "Operation Midnight Hammer," a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don't make that happen again. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

He can't remember more than a half hour or so into the past these days so he likely forgot.

Maybe he should tie a string to his finger.

[GoCubsGo]

Guessing someone got the word the Supremes are about to rule against him on tariffs.

EXECUTIVE ORDER

ADDRESSING THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (NEA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby determine and order:

Section 1. National Emergency. As President of the United States, I have an imperative duty to protect the national security and foreign policy of this country. I find that the policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Cuba constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
The Government of Cuba has taken extraordinary actions that harm and threaten the United States. The regime aligns itself with and provides support for numerous hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors adverse to the United States, including the Government of the Russian Federation (Russia), the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Government of Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah. For example, Cuba blatantly hosts dangerous adversaries of the United States, inviting them to base sophisticated military and intelligence capabilities in Cuba that directly threaten the national security of the United States. Cuba hosts Russia's largest overseas signals intelligence facility, which tries to steal sensitive national security information of the United States. Cuba continues to build deep intelligence and defense cooperation with the PRC. Cuba welcomes transnational terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, creating a safe environment for these malign
groups so that these transnational terrorist groups can build economic, cultural, and security ties throughout the region and attempt to destabilize the Western Hemisphere, including the United States. Cuba has long provided defense, intelligence, and security assistance to adversaries in the Western Hemisphere, attempting to thwart United States and international sanctions designed to enforce the stability of the region, uphold the rule of law, and safeguard the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Cuba continues to try to thwart United States efforts to address threats to the United States posed by hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors, including in the Western Hemisphere.
Further, contrary to the interests and foreign policy of the United States, the Cuban communist regime supports terrorism and destabilizes the region through migration and violence. The communist regime persecutes and tortures its political opponents; denies the Cuban people free speech and press; corruptly profits from their misery; and commits other human-rights violations. For example, families of political prisoners face retaliation for peacefully protesting the improper confinement of their loved ones. Cuban authorities harass worshippers, block free association by civil society organizations, prohibit free press, and deny the ability to speak freely, including on the internet. The Cuban regime continues to spread its communist ideas, policies, and practices around the Western Hemisphere, threatening the foreign policy of the United States.
The United States has zero tolerance for the depredations of the communist Cuban regime. The United States will act to protect the foreign policy, national security, and national interests of the United States, including by holding the Cuban regime accountable for its malign actions and relationships, while also remaining committed to supporting the Cuban people's aspirations for a free and democratic society.
I find that the policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Cuba directly threaten the safety, national security, and foreign policy of the United States. The policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Cuba are designed to harm the United States and support hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors that seek to destroy the United States. The policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Cuba are also repugnant to the moral and political values of democratic and free societies and conflict with the foreign policy of the United States to encourage peaceful change in Cuba and to promote democracy, the principle of free expression and press, the rule of law, and respect for human rights throughout the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that the situation with respect to Cuba constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security and foreign policy of the United States and hereby declare a national emergency with respect to that threat.
To deal with the national emergency declared in this order, I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to establish a tariff system, as described below. Under this system, an additional ad valorem duty may be imposed on imports of goods that are products of a foreign country that directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba. In my judgment, the tariff system, as described below, is necessary and appropriate to address the national emergency declared in this order.

Sec. 2. Imposition of Tariffs. (a) Beginning on the effective date of this order, an additional ad valorem rate of duty may be imposed on goods imported into the United States that are products of any other country that directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba, in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
(b)(i) The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State and any senior official the Secretary of Commerce deems appropriate, shall determine whether, after the effective date of this order, a foreign country directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba. After the Secretary of Commerce finds that a foreign country directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba, the Secretary of Commerce shall inform the Secretary of State of his finding, including any information relevant to that finding.
(ii) The Secretary of Commerce may issue rules, regulations, and guidance necessary or appropriate to implement this order. The Secretary of Commerce may also make any other determinations or take any other actions necessary or appropriate to implement this order.
(c)(i) After the Secretary of Commerce makes an affirmative finding pursuant to subsection (b)(i) of this section and informs the Secretary of State of his finding, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, shall determine whether and to what extent an additional ad valorem rate of duty should be imposed on goods that are products of the foreign country found to directly or indirectly sell or otherwise provide any oil to Cuba.
(ii) If the Secretary of State determines that an additional ad valorem rate of duty should be imposed on goods that are products of the country found to directly or indirectly sell or otherwise provide any oil to Cuba, the Secretary of State shall inform me of his recommendation, and the Secretary of Commerce shall inform me of his finding related to that recommendation. I will then consider the recommendation and finding, among other relevant things, in determining whether and to what extent to impose an additional ad valorem rate of duty on goods that are products of the country in question.
(iii) The Secretary of State may issue rules, regulations, and guidance necessary or appropriate to implement this order. The Secretary of State may also make any other determinations or take any other actions necessary or appropriate to implement this order.

Sec. 3. Modification Authority. (a) To ensure that the national emergency declared in this order is dealt with, I may modify this order, including in light of additional information, recommendations from senior officials, or changed circumstances.
(b) Should a foreign country retaliate against the United States in response to this order or any action taken pursuant to this order, I may modify this order or actions taken pursuant to this order to ensure the efficacy of this order and the actions taken pursuant to this order to deal with the national emergency declared in this order.
(c) Should the Government of Cuba or another foreign country affected by this order take significant steps to address the national emergency declared in this order and align sufficiently with the United States on national security and foreign policy matters, I may modify this order.

Sec. 4. Monitoring and Recommendations. (a) The Secretary of State, in consultation with any senior official the Secretary of State deems appropriate, shall monitor the circumstances involving the national emergency declared in this order. The Secretary of State shall inform me of any circumstance that, in his opinion, might indicate the need for further Presidential action to deal with the national emergency declared in this order.
(b) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the United States Trade Representative, and any other senior official the Secretary of State deems appropriate, shall recommend to me additional action, if necessary, if the actions in this order or taken pursuant to this order are not effective in dealing with the national emergency declared in this order.
(c) The Secretary of Commerce shall monitor whether a foreign country directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba. The Secretary of Commerce shall continue such monitoring after a foreign country has been found to do so.

Sec. 5. Delegation. Consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce are directed and authorized to take all actions necessary to implement and effectuate this order including through temporary suspension or amendment of regulations or through notices in the Federal Register and by adopting rules, regulations, or guidance and to employ all powers granted to the President, including by IEEPA, as may be necessary to implement this order. The head of each executive department and agency (agency) is authorized to and shall take all appropriate measures within the agency's authority to implement this order. The head of each agency may, consistent with applicable law, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, redelegate the authority to take such appropriate measures within the agency.

Sec. 6. Reporting Directives. The Secretary of State, in consultation with any senior official he deems appropriate, is hereby authorized and directed to submit recurring and final reports to the Congress on the national emergency declared in, and authorities exercised by, this order, consistent with section 401 of the NEA (50 U.S.C. 1641) and section 204(c) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1703(c)).

Sec. 7. Definitions. For the purposes of this order:
(a) The term "oil" means crude oil or petroleum products.
(b) The term "indirectly" includes selling to or otherwise providing oil to Cuba through intermediaries or third countries, with knowledge that such oil may be provided to Cuba, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce.
(c) Cuba through intermediaries or third countries, with knowledge that such oil may be provided to Cuba, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce.
term "Cuba" means the territory of Cuba and any other territory or marine area, including the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the Government of Cuba claims sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction, provided that the Government of Cuba exercises partial or total de facto control over the area or derives a benefit from economic activity in the area pursuant to international agreements.
(d) The term "Government of Cuba" includes the Government of Cuba, any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, and any person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the Government of Cuba.

Sec. 8. Effective Date. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 30, 2026.

Sec. 9. Interaction With Other Presidential Actions. Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions directed in this order is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.

Sec. 10. Severability. If any provision of this order or the application of any provision of this order to any individual or circumstance is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected. If the action in this order or any action taken pursuant to this order is held invalid, the other actions imposed to deal with the national emergencies declared with respect to the Government of Cuba shall not be affected and shall remain in effect.

Sec. 11. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of State.

/s/ DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 29, 2026.

[Vrede too]

Guessing someone got the word the Supremes are about to rule against him on tariffs.



https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2017021789654692135

Release the Cubastein files. Thank you.

[GoCubsGo]

[GoCubsGo]

Time to re live some greatest hits.

[GoCubsGo]

More Swamp Draining!

BREAKING: Trump‘s MAGA execs pop champagne and run up MASSIVE expenses at the Kennedy Center while artists and staff panic over their jobs.

As musicians and stagehands at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts wonder whether they’ll even have jobs after Donald Trump abruptly shut the place down for two years, Trump-aligned insiders have been living it up like it’s the Ritz — on the public’s dime.

Newly exposed receipts show senior MAGA-installed executives running up thousands of dollars in champagne, fine dining, and luxury hotels as attendance cratered and the institution slid toward chaos. One jaw-dropping tab totaled nearly $11,000 for meals featuring $175 bottles of Veuve Clicquot, shrimp cocktails, racks of lamb, Hendrick’s gin, and Negronis. Picking up the check? The Kennedy Center.

Among the names on that boozy bill: Nick Meade, a former aide to Kennedy Center interim president Ric Grenell, now installed as VP of governance; Rick Louhery, the Center’s EVP; and marketing chief Taylor Strand.

And the indulgence didn’t stop at dinner. The Center reportedly paid $740 for Meade’s birthday celebration, shelled out $4,000 for a “Chinese Buffets for the Ambassador,” and ran multiple invoices for “champagne services.” There was even a $400 delivery of bottled water for the so-called “Israeli Lounge.”

Then came the lodging spree.

Roughly $30,000 went to luxury stays at the Watergate Hotel, where rooms can run up to $700 a night — or $1,600 if you want the infamous “Scandal Room.” Executives and Grenell associates checked in while staff were left completely in the dark about layoffs, cancellations, or refunds.

Meanwhile, leadership launched a last-minute membership blitz, urging Americans to renew memberships costing up to $25,000, promising a bright future — all while refusing to answer basic questions about whether the doors would even reopen.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center board, is now investigating the spending, accusing Trump of turning the Kennedy Center into a “clubhouse for his pals.”

The contrast couldn’t be starker: Workers get silence. Members get billed. Execs get champagne. And Trump calls it “renovation” while America’s cultural crown jewel is stripped for parts.

[GoCubsGo]

Guess we're killing the fishing industry next.

[O Really]

OK, so I can see if Trump says "I'm gonna bomb Iran" the various news, semi-news, and faux news media will have to publish it even knowing it's the babbling of a mad man. But can anyone give me one good reason why every musing from his anal-shaped lips has to be "news"? So he doesn't like the new kickoff rule - so what? Does anybody need to know that? So he insults USA Olympians for not being trumpers - yawn, same ol' same ol'. Did anybody make him chief music/entertainment critic?

[GoCubsGo]

Honestly don't think anyone is paying that much attention except to make fun of him.

[O Really]

Honestly don't think anyone is paying that much attention except to make fun of him.

Maybe not, but look at my context:
I keep the news pages of MSN (Canadian version), Google news, Yahoo news, The Guardian, and Flipboard. Open any of them, and even with the Canadian filter and one Brit site, a large percentage of the articles are about Trump, and many if not most of those are trivial.

If there's anything I can do to filter this shit, I'm open to suggestions.

[GoCubsGo]

Honestly don't think anyone is paying that much attention except to make fun of him.

Maybe not, but look at my context:
I keep the news pages of MSN (Canadian version), Google news, Yahoo news, The Guardian, and Flipboard. Open any of them, and even with the Canadian filter and one Brit site, a large percentage of the articles are about Trump, and many if not most of those are trivial.

If there's anything I can do to filter this shit, I'm open to suggestions.

Clear your cookies and history then don't click on anything remotely related to his loony tunes behavior.

[Vrede too]

I keep the news pages of MSN (Canadian version), Google news, Yahoo news, The Guardian, and Flipboard. Open any of them, and even with the Canadian filter and one Brit site, a large percentage of the articles are about Trump, and many if not most of those are trivial.

If there's anything I can do to filter this shit, I'm open to suggestions.

Clear your cookies and history then don't click on anything remotely related to his loony tunes behavior.

Label it as porn in a parental filter?

[Anonymous too]

You asking them from experience?

[Vrede too]

Dementia Don's demented politics:

Annual governors' gathering with White House unraveling after Trump excludes Democrats

An annual meeting of the nation’s governors that has long served as a rare bipartisan gathering is unraveling after President Donald Trump excluded Democratic governors from White House events.

The National Governors Association said it will no longer hold a formal meeting with Trump when governors are scheduled to convene in Washington later this month, after the White House planned to invite only Republican governors. On Tuesday, 18 Democratic governors also announced they would boycott a traditional dinner at the White House....

Dozy Don can't even hold on to the support of a majority GQP org. Sad.


Crybaby DonOLD is bad for business:

Trump says Gordie Howe bridge won't open without Canadian concessions

Idiot. Michigan is a purple state, too. The GQP will pay for this.

[Whack9]

FAA randomly closes airspace around El Paso, TX for ten days

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/faa-groun ... til-feb-20

EL PASO, TEXAS — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a temporary flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso, including commercial, cargo, and general aviation.

The FAA's decision, which also affects the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, N.M., appears to be security-related.

The closest parallel to this was after 9-11. Other than due to a significant natural disaster, the FAA hasn't ever randomly closed down airspace like this.

[supesalemgr2]

FAA randomly closes airspace around El Paso, TX for ten days

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/faa-groun ... til-feb-20

EL PASO, TEXAS — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a temporary flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso, including commercial, cargo, and general aviation.

The FAA's decision, which also affects the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, N.M., appears to be security-related.

The closest parallel to this was after 9-11. Other than due to a significant natural disaster, the FAA hasn't ever randomly closed down airspace like this.

This is strange. Can't be a traffic controller issue as those can be handled without a 10 day disruption.

[Whack9]

FAA randomly closes airspace around El Paso, TX for ten days

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/faa-groun ... til-feb-20

EL PASO, TEXAS — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a temporary flight restriction halting all flights to and from El Paso, including commercial, cargo, and general aviation.

The FAA's decision, which also affects the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, N.M., appears to be security-related.

The closest parallel to this was after 9-11. Other than due to a significant natural disaster, the FAA hasn't ever randomly closed down airspace like this.

This is strange. Can't be a traffic controller issue as those can be handled without a 10 day disruption.

After 9/11, airspace was only closed for three days. Closing airspace for no apparent reason like this is very unprecedented and very extreme.

[Vrede too]

The closest parallel to this was after 9-11. Other than due to a significant natural disaster, the FAA hasn't ever randomly closed down airspace like this.

After 9/11, airspace was only closed for three days. Closing airspace for no apparent reason like this is very unprecedented and very extreme.

FAA lifts temporary closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, saying all flights to resume

The Federal Aviation Administration reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas on Wednesday morning, just hours after it announced a 10-day closure that would have grounded all flights to and from the airport....

Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes El Paso, urged the FAA to lift the restrictions in a statement Wednesday morning. There was no advance notice given to her office, the city of El Paso or airport operations, she said.

“The highly consequential decision by FAA to shut down the El Paso Airport for 10 days is unprecedented and has resulted in significant concern within the community,” Escobar said. “From what my office and I have been able to gather overnight and early this morning there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas.” ...

Are there any sane and competent adults in charge?

Comment:

Are we about to invade Mexico so that trump can divert our attention from the exploding revelations in the epstein files????