The US system is based on ‘enlightened self-interest’, not bald ‘self-interest’. A system like ours demands a fundamentally moral population that largely agrees with basic Rawlsian morality — don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you. Our system works best within that framework, as that is what allows individual freedom and creativity to flourish. Almost all of that has been lost, inundated with too many migrants who have have no idea and corroded by too many groups who are entirely selfish. ABN
Until then, Musk’s criticisms of the president had been confined to relatively measured arguments against the deficit.
…Trump was handed the dossier on Isaacman just moments before a televised send-off for Musk in the Oval Office.
The president tempered his rage through the farewell but when the press were gone, he confronted the SpaceX boss.
He began reading some of the donations aloud, shaking his head.
‘This is not good,’ Trump told him.
The world’s richest man begged the world’s most powerful to reconsider.
But the president, by now growing suspicious of the deficit hawk DOGE chief, wouldn’t hear it.
‘I don’t care, this guy is gone,’ Trump said.
…Trump pointedly addressed the decision during an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last Thursday as Musk’s attacks on X spiraled out of control.
‘I didn’t think it was appropriate,’ Trump told reporters. ‘He happened to be a Democrat, like, totally Democrat. And I say, you know, look, we won. We get certain privileges. And one of the privileges is we don’t have to appoint a Democrat. NASA is very important.’
Currently only DNI Tulsi Gabbard and Sec of State/Nat Sec Advisor Marco Rubio are rising to the challenge. As collaborating NSA and DNI, they are slowly -but effectively- deconstructing the corrupt Intelligence Community tools. DHS Secretary Kirsti Noem is also doing an effective job, but her focus is narrower on the IC elements.
Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, Pam Bondi and John Ratcliffe need to get their asses in gear!
Barack Obama and Eric Holder did not create a weaponized DOJ and FBI; instead, what they did was take the preexisting system and retool it so the weapons only targeted one side of the political continuum. This point is where many people understandably get confused.
In the era shortly after 9/11, the DC national security apparatus was constructed to preserve continuity of government and simultaneously view all Americans as potential threats. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) were created specifically for this purpose.
What Barack Obama and Eric Holder did with that new construct was refine the internal targeting mechanisms so that only their ideological opposition became the target of the new national security system. This is very important to understand as you dig deeper into this research outline.
Washington DC created the modern national security apparatus immediately and hurriedly after 9/11/01. DHS came along in 2002 and within the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 the ODNI was formed. When Barack Obama and Eric Holder arrived a few years later, those newly formed institutions were viewed as opportunities to create a very specific national security apparatus that would focus almost exclusively against their political opposition.
The preexisting Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Dept of Justice (DOJ) were then repurposed to become two of the four pillars of the domestic national security apparatus. However, this new construct would have a targeting mechanism based on political ideology. The DHS, ODNI, DOJ and FBI became the four pillars of this new institution. Atop these pillars is where you will find the Fourth Branch of Government.
UPDATE: This is high school, college level speech. Mildly engaging and I can see why Vance did it. Von lets him glide over whatever issue is raised. Vance is planting political seeds that will grow to his advantage. The giggling they do perplexes me as I can’t believe it’s real and yet they must be representing something. He is the VP and therefore worth listening to once in awhile. As long as he toes Trump’s line I support him. There is no alternative line today. ABN
Current Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio, was chair of the senate select committee on intelligence (SSCI) and a Gang of Eight member since day one of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Due to his role in the Gang of Eight Senator Rubio was briefed on all the covert activities being carried out in Ukraine by the CIA and Pentagon.
That is why when Secretary of State Marco Rubio told media months ago that “Ukraine was a proxy war for the United States against Russia,” it was a jaw-dropping statement. If anyone would know the receipts, it’s the former Chair of the SSCI, who became the Secretary of State. However, to say the truth so openly and publicly was something entirely unexpected, especially from Rubio.
As Secretary of State Rubio represented President Trump’s America-First foreign policy and national security interests very effectively, many people were shocked at the seemingly 180° degree turn Rubio took to represent the MAGA perspectives. Rubio adroitly navigated the media with exceptional support for President Trump’s positions, and diplomatic action to back it up.
While most of us continue watching Rubio closely, obviously President Trump saw the unique perspectives held by the former Senator on intelligence matters. President Trump then appointed Rubio to a dual role as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State.
While the Secretary of State represents the public face of President Trump’s diplomatic policy toward the world, the Nat Sec Advisory represents President Trump’s outward view to the global intelligence network. Marco Rubio now carries both extremely important titles and responsibilities.
Keeping in mind the prior statements by Rubio about Ukraine being a proxy state for U.S. operations against Russia, both Marco Rubio and President Trump have been mostly silent and very measured in their comments about Russia after the Ukraine attack on the Russian nuclear-capable bombers.
Obviously, both Secretary Rubio and President Trump know the Senate control of the BBB is unfortunate timing for their solutions to the Ukraine-Russia war. Their solution is likely to be something the Senate will not like. The Senate will never publicly admit that Ukraine is a U.S. proxy war against Russia.
However, while the Senate needs to retain these ridiculous pretenses, ultimately Russian President Vladimir Putin does not. Putin is well aware of the USA support level, open and covert, taking place within Ukraine. This is the context for all of President Trump’s communication with Putin.
The Musk, Thiel, Sacks, Andreeson et al operation cannot succeed without: (A) a distracted President Trump not seeing their schemes; and (B) without JD Vance, who they positioned for installation of their interests.
Watch JD Vance in this dynamic through the prism that Vance is on team “Tech Bros.” That will be a big tell.
Remember, ultimately the goal is for the removal of President Trump no matter what that takes; and yes, the billionaire tech bros are willing to use their financial resources to upend the 2026 midterm election in order to achieve their larger objective, control retention over policy.
Do not allow yourself time for dark imaginings, just see things through the clarity of knowing their agenda.
To understand the dynamic, it is necessary to remain elevated and unemotional as the confrontation takes place.
The U.S. Senate currently has two issues of great importance to President Trump within their upper chamber. The first is the Big Beautiful Bill (a reconciliation spending and budget plan). The second is Senate positioning on sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine. Both are of great importance when you consider the domestic and geopolitical ramifications.
President Trump wants the BBB structurally passed and doesn’t care about the nibbling on the edges or customary Christmas Tree decorations (special interest add-ons). Trump wants the Term-1 tax cuts extended and the border security money, these are must haves.
On the Ukraine/Russia stuff, Trump basically wants the Senate to back away from doing anything that influences his leverage positions for a resolution he will construct. However, President Trump knows the Senate fully supports the proxy war aspect to the conflict (he doesn’t).
Trump has remained relatively quiet on Ukraine-Russia because he doesn’t want to antagonize the Senate who will use their affirmative votes for BBB as leverage to maintain the proxy war and support Ukraine. That’s the background on the BBB, Russia, Ukraine and Trump’s position.
Into this foray comes the always self-interested and short-sighted Elon Musk who -despite being an influence asset at times- has the most annoying habit of never considering the downstream consequences for his selfishness.
As Musk rails against the BBB, which took 14 months of work from the House to get across the line he runs the risk of collapsing the BBB in the senate.
The longer the BBB sits in the Senate and/or gets changed so much it will take forever to get through the House again; the longer Trump has to bite his tongue on solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Musk in his infinite selfishness, cannot see how he is doing real damage to Trump’s objective around Russia by stirring up opposition to the BBB. Things were getting ugly yesterday and became more so today.
Steve Bannon does not learn about the story of Elon Musk having a physical confrontation with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent without Trump saying he wants to hit back against Musk. The subsequent leak to Bannon is made, the story is told to the Dail Mail and Elon Musk is now facing the ire of a pissed off White House.
…[…]” Former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon told DailyMail.com that Musk’s turbulent time in the White House was marred when he physically ‘shoved’ 62-year-old Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after he was confronted over wild promises to save the administration ‘a trillion dollars’. ‘Scott Bessent called him out and said, ‘You promised us a trillion dollars (in cuts), and now you’re at like $100 billion, and nobody can find anything, what are you doing?” the prominent MAGA figure revealed. ‘And that’s when Elon got physical. It’s a sore subject with him. ‘It wasn’t an argument; it was a physical confrontation. Elon basically shoved him.’”
The revelation of a confrontation between the pair was confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday. (source)
If you have walked the deep political weeds with us, you will likely remember the warnings. Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Rand Paul and other fellow republican travelers will join with Elon Musk and the alligator emoji network to oppose President Trump as soon as they can get back into the minority.
There is an intention behind this alignment of interests, which includes the Tech Bros (and Sea Island), that ends with a Vance-DeSantis promoted effort in 2028. The only thing standing in their way is MAGA. As a result, MAGA must be fractured.
The money center behind the strategy is working on a learning curve. Having failed with prior launches of similar approaches (ref. DeSantis ’23/’24), they are now doing much more proactive seeding.
Ed Martin – Trump’s ultra-MAGA pardon attorney – said the Justice Department has been directed to investigate clemency granted by Biden in the waning days of his presidency, including the December pardon of his troubled son Hunter.
Martin’s unprecedented probe was revealed in a Monday email to staffers that was obtained by Reuters.
The attorney said the investigation involves whether Biden ‘was competent and whether others were taking advantage of him through use of AutoPen or other means.’
An autopen is a device used to automatically affix a signature to a document.
Hunter Biden, who was convicted last year of three felonies over an illegal gun, and the former First Lady Jill Biden have been accused of wielding significant power over the president in his final days.
The prodigal son was treated ‘almost like a chief of staff’ despite being ‘provably, demonstrably unethical, sleazy and prone to horrible decisions,’ Jake Tapper said in a recent interview about the behind-the-scenes health cover-up.
American Buddhist Net 