A media reckoning is underway regarding the inadequate coverage of Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, with accusations of downplaying his decline. However, this focus overlooks a more significant failure: the mainstream media’s insufficient portrayal of the dangers of a second Trump presidency. This inadequate coverage, characterized by “false equivalence” and the normalization of Trump’s behavior, extended from his initial candidacy through the 2024 election. The media’s prioritization of “horserace coverage” and their late shift to focusing on Biden’s age further exacerbated this issue. Ultimately, the lack of acknowledgment of the media’s role in these failures hinders any meaningful self-reflection.
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Former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates asserts that Vladimir Putin’s ambitions extend to recreating the Russian Empire, with Ukraine viewed as crucial to this objective. Putin’s demands, including the occupation of eastern Ukrainian provinces, control of Crimea, a pro-Russian Kyiv government, and a weakened Ukrainian military, demonstrate this unwavering goal. Despite substantial Russian losses, Putin shows no signs of compromise, leading Gates to believe that Putin is unlikely to accept a peace deal without achieving his imperial ambitions. This assessment contrasts with President Trump’s push for direct talks, suggesting a potential misunderstanding of Putin’s intentions.
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President Trump urges Republican unity to pass his “big, beautiful bill,” claiming it will cut taxes for all Americans. However, analysis reveals the bill will raise taxes on those earning under $30,000 annually while significantly cutting taxes for millionaires. The legislation faces internal GOP opposition due to concerns over Medicaid cuts and the slow repeal of Inflation Reduction Act provisions. Despite these flaws, the party appears determined to push the bill through Congress, prioritizing the president’s agenda over the financial well-being of working-class Americans.
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Trump’s recent assertion that Walmart should “eat the tariffs” instead of raising prices reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of how tariffs and business economics interact. This isn’t simply a matter of a president telling a corporation what to do; it’s a statement that ignores basic principles of supply and demand, cost structures, and the very nature of tariffs.
The idea that Walmart, or any large retailer, can simply absorb the cost of tariffs without affecting their pricing strategy is unrealistic. These tariffs represent a significant additional expense added to the cost of goods sold. Walmart, like any for-profit business, operates on profit margins.… Continue reading
Ambassador Pete Hoekstra’s recent comments expressing outrage over Canadians’ reduced purchase of American products highlight the simmering tensions between the U.S. and Canada. His assertion that Canada’s actions are somehow an “insult” completely misses the mark, ignoring the larger context of strained relations fueled by aggressive trade policies and thinly veiled threats of annexation.
The idea that Canada’s decreased consumption of American goods constitutes an “outrageous” act is ludicrous. It’s a market response, a natural consequence of the strained relationship and the perception of unfair trade practices originating from the United States. It wasn’t a government-mandated ban, but rather a reflection of consumer choices, a direct consequence of American actions.… Continue reading
Vladimir Putin rejected a 22-point peace plan presented by the US, Ukraine, and European partners. This decision, communicated to US special envoy Steve Witkoff on May 8th, prompted the postponement of planned meetings between Witkoff and Putin. The plan, discussed extensively by Ukrainian and US officials including Andrii Yermak and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, included a proposed 30-day ceasefire. The rejection follows a joint statement from four European leaders urging a ceasefire and threatening further sanctions if Russia refused.
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Rep. Don Bacon confirmed a one-day pause in U.S. cyber operations against Russia in February 2024, during ongoing peace negotiations, contradicting previous Pentagon denials. This pause, while typical during diplomatic efforts, was described by sources as lacking specificity in its directive. The Pentagon’s subsequent statement denying any such pause has been criticized as misleading, highlighting a pattern of the department bypassing traditional media outlets and attacking critical reporting. Bacon’s testimony marks the first on-the-record acknowledgment of the directive.
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Chinese-made power inverters, widely used in Western solar farms and wind turbine infrastructure, have been found to contain covert cellular radios acting as potential “kill switches.” These devices, discovered during routine security checks, could remotely disable the inverters, causing widespread blackouts. The discovery raises serious national security concerns regarding potential Chinese control over critical energy infrastructure in the US and Europe. This capability could be deployed during geopolitical conflict.
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The preferential treatment afforded Afrikaner refugees starkly contrasts with the prolonged suffering of other refugees whose resettlement, already approved under President Biden, has been deliberately stalled by the Trump administration. This delay, despite a court order to resume resettlement, highlights the administration’s blatant disregard for these approved refugees. In contrast, Afrikaners benefited from a swift resettlement process facilitated by a Trump executive order, completed within months. This disparity exposes the hypocrisy and cruelty inherent in the administration’s immigration policies.
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Recently implemented Social Security anti-fraud measures, applied only to phone-based claims, identified a negligible 0.0018% rate of potentially improper claims—far below prior estimates of fraud. These measures, however, caused significant delays in benefit processing, contradicting claims by President Trump and Elon Musk of widespread fraud within the system. This low fraud rate undermines narratives suggesting a need for drastic Social Security reforms and supports concerns that these measures are a pretext for benefit reductions. The resulting delays in benefit disbursement have drawn sharp criticism from senators such as Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood