As Donald Trump becoming a lame duck? As his troubles multiply at home and abroad, the prospect of dealing with a hobbled American president is enough to make foes and friends swoon with relief…
Alas, anyone hoping to see Mr Trump chastened by failure is misjudging the man. Political wisdom may soon declare Mr Trump the lamest of ducks, as his wishes are challenged by Congress, or as financial markets pass harsh and costly judgments on MAGA-nomics. Mr Trump may not care. Let little people worry about the Republican Party, public policy or America’s budget deficit. As long as Mr Trump is still commander-in-chief, he can secure a place in history by remaking, or breaking, the world.

https://x.com/ByrneHobart/status/2092735799976476950

https://x.com/RonFilipkowski/status/2092595527082713162

https://x.com/aintscarylarry/status/2092771640904134827

A State Department program that would see defense tech companies Palantir and Anduril provide expertise on digital freedom-of-speech issues is raising eyebrows among some experts…

https://x.com/j_fishback/status/2092629148577468498

https://x.com/LeahRain77/status/2092351075932140008

———— Blatant In-Your-Face Corruption ————

https://x.com/chucktodd/status/2092765858120495330

———— Putin&Krasnov vs. Ukraine ————

https://x.com/covie_93/status/2092753938223079433

https://x.com/Kasparov63/status/2092433177788768295

———— Smoot-Hawley 2.0 ————

Vietnam Has the Biggest Trade Surplus with the U.S.

A year after President Trump set out to rewire global trade in America’s favor, the biggest winner has turned out to be Vietnam.
For the first half of this year, federal data shows Vietnam’s trade surplus with the U.S. hit $114 billion, ahead of semiconductor hub Taiwan, Mexico, and even China.
It is an unexpected outcome for an economy a quarter the size of Mexico’s, and the result of years of reconciliation after the Vietnam War and turbocharged capitalist development in the Communist nation. But some of the biggest boosts to Vietnamese exports to the U.S. have come from Trump’s global tariff war.

———— Hegseth on the Rocks ————

https://x.com/covie_93/status/2092610443609084048

Fired General Was Advised to Drop Kid Rock Investigation

Days before the Army’s top officer was abruptly fired earlier this year, he was advised by a fellow general now vying to replace him to stop the military’s investigation into an unauthorized helicopter flyby of musician Kid Rock’s Tennessee estate.
Gen. Randy George, whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed as the Army chief of staff without explanation, felt it was important to follow typical protocol and determine whether any safety regulations had been violated during the March 28 flyby.

https://x.com/ruthbenghiat/status/2092668838538014851