Quantcast

May 11th – 2026 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 477

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

(more…)

Monday May 11th – Open Thread

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

.

(more…)

The CIA, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and John Brennan

In 2008 Joe Biden was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with oversight jurisdiction of the U.S State Dept., and by extension all foreign policy nominations etc.

In 2008 John Brennan was working for the Obama campaign when someone from his outside government group, The Analysis Corporation, “hacked” into the state dept database to access the passport files and State Dept records of Barack Obama.

John O. Brennan, Obama’s then top terrorism and intelligence adviser, was the owner of The Analysis Corp.  The company was cited in March 2008 for penetrating the files of presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and John McCain in the State Department’s passport office.

At the time of the breach, John Brennan was working as an unpaid adviser to the Obama campaign.   After the breach was revealed by the Washington Times, Brennan stated:

“This individual’s actions were taken without the knowledge or direction of anyone at The Analysis Corp. and are wholly inconsistent with our professional and ethical standards,” Brennan’s company said in a statement sent to reporters after the passport breach was made public.  (link)

The Washington Times Reported – Passport application data includes such details as date and place of birth, e-mail address, mailing address, Social Security number, former names and travel plans. Mr. Obama was born in Honolulu in 1961 to a Kenyan father and American mother. He lived in Jakarta, Indonesia, from age six to 10.

Computer-monitoring equipment detected the activities by the three employees on Jan. 9, Feb. 21 and March 14, triggering alarms in each case, Mr. McCormack said.  Mr. McCormack said the officials accessed Mr. Obama’s records “without a need to do so.”

“In each case, we immediately contacted our contractors, their employer, and two were fired and one was disciplined,” he said.  (link)

But it is important to remember EXACTLY what Brennan’s background was before the State Department breach.   Brennan spent 25 years working for the CIA prior to the security breach:

Mr. Brennan spent most of his C.I.A. career as an analyst, but during the 1990s served a tour as the chief of the station in Saudi Arabia.   From 1999 to early 2001, he was chief of staff to George J. Tenet, the director of central intelligence, as the position was then called. At the end of his CIA. service, in 2004 and 2005, Mr. Brennan set up what is now the counterterrorism center.  (link)

(more…)

President Trump Rejects Latest Offer from Iranian Representatives

Delivering a message from his Truth Social account, earlier today President Trump rejected the latest proposal from Iran to settle the current embargo, sanctions and conflict.

[SOURCE]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also appeared on U.S. media today with a lengthy broadcast interview on CBS 60-Minutes.  The primary topic of the interview is the Iran conflict and Netanyahu’s perspective on what Americans should expect from this engagement.

Interestingly, one of the fatal flaws in the Tucker Carlson theory of Israel leading the conflict, is the position of the Arabs in the Middle East as it relates to the U.S. military confrontation with Iran.  Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt all strongly support the U.S-led military effort to eliminate the threat Iran represents.  The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) does not want the U.S. to ease up on Iran.

(more…)

Ahead of President Trump Travel to Beijing, NEC Director Kevin Hassett Discusses Current Status of U.S. Economy

President Trump is traveling to Beijing, China this week on May 14th and 15th.  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent left the U.S. earlier today for advance discussion with Chinese intermediaries.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett appears on Fox News to discuss the current status of the economy and the strong internal investment that is now frontloading a manufacturing surge.  As noted by Hassett one of the reasons the first quarter GDP was lower than expected was the amount of capital equipment imported to start a resurgence of the U.S. manufacturing base.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

Sunday Talks – Energy Secretary Chris Wright Discusses Current Status of Iran Conflict

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright appears on CBS Face the Nation to discuss the current status of the conflict with Iran.  As supplemented by additional confirmation from President Trump, Secretary Wright notes the Iranian military apparatus has been defeated but the goal to end the Iranian nuclear ambition remains.  VIDEO and TRANSCRIPT Below:

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re now joined by U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, good to have you here.

SEC. CHRIS WRIGHT: Great to be here. Happy Mother’s Day.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Oh, thank you for that. President Trump said that he expected a response from Iran. He said this yesterday. Has one been received and what is the U.S. going to do with it?

SEC. CHRIS WRIGHT: Not that I’m aware of, but I suspect we will get a response very soon. Things are tough for the leaders of Iran right now, and I think they’re- they get growing motivation to make it- make a deal, but we know where this is going to end. We don’t know the route to there, but at the end of the day, we’ll have free flow of traffic through the Straits of Hormuz, and we will have an end to the Iranian nuclear program. The end point we know. The route, we don’t.

(more…)

Sunday Talks – President Trump Extensive Interview with Sharyl Attkisson

President Trump sits down with Sharyl Attkisson for a one-on-one interview. The ‘Sinclair Media’ interview ranges in topics from the recently attempted assassination to the war in Iran, to the midterm elections and the government’s investigation into the NFL. WATCH:

.

(more…)

Happy Mother’s Day

Today is the day when we celebrate Moms and give thanks. Without Moms none of us would be here. Thank You!

To all the moms, grandmoms, stepmoms and women who are trying to become moms, THANK YOU!

For all the things you do that are seen and unseen; for all the choices you make that are known or unknown; for all the times you showed up very visibly – or even with purpose, invisibly; for every sacrifice, tear, laugh, choice and correction; for every moment that created a memory and every moment that sits quietly in the background that no one knows about except you, THANK YOU.

We, the beneficiaries, cherish you.

Today is a day of great appreciation, recognition and thankfulness.

Happy Mom’s Day!

 

(more…)

UPDATE: During “Victory Day” Presser, Russian Federation President Putin Outlines Warning Call with President Trump to Exit Kiev

Bumped and Updated as more of the transcript is now available.

Reports are beginning to surface about Russian President Vladimir Putin saying the end to the special military operation in Ukraine is close.  I am embedding the full press conference video below as only part of his remarks has been translated and transcribed.

President Putin is asked for his overall impressions of the Victory Day events, and the context of the ceasefire against the backdrop of a request by U.S. President Donald Trump.  As with most things Russian, the nuance is often between the lines.

[RU Transcript] – “President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good evening. Happy holiday once again, happy Victory Day.

Question: Let me start with today and the way you view it, if I may. Today is a great and momentous day. Earlier, US President Donald Trump came up with an initiative to declare a three-day ceasefire. You supported it, so did Zelensky. However, on the eve of May 9, there were still a number of grave and provocative statements coming from Kiev.

How would you assess today and the way events unfolded? Even the military parade was held in a somewhat reduced format due to security concerns. Could you share your overall assessment of the day? Were there any provocations?

Vladimir Putin: As for provocations, as you can see, I am here, and so far, the Defence Ministry has not reported anything of that nature to me, so I cannot comment on it.

Regarding the parade. You know that this year – which is not an anniversary year but nevertheless it is Victory Day – we decided that the celebrations would go ahead in any case but without a display of military hardware, and not for security concerns but primarily because the Armed Forces should focus on the decisive defeat of the enemy within the framework of the special military operation.”

(more…)

May 10th – 2026 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 476

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

(more…)