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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 †
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Today, President Trump travels to Corinth, Mississippi, for a midterm MAGA rally. The anticipated start time for President Trump is 6:00pm ET with livestream links below:
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Before he departed for a rally in Mississippi, President Trump gave remarks to the assembled press pool.
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Now, given the nature of energy policy impacts to private industry, where do you think a major oil-gas company would first consider cutting jobs. Common sense would tell you, the first regions to be reviewed would be those regions hostile to the exploitation of the product the corporation brings to market.
Thus, reductions in workforce and operational capacity are not only determined by contract leasing, but also by the regulatory environment that surrounds the business. Add the political hostility to the business sector at issue and you end up with a self-fulfilling prophecy. Advance anti-oil/gas policy and you get less oil/gas business investment.
Oct 26 (Reuters) – ConocoPhillips has informed its staff of a reduction to its workforce in Canada, a spokesperson for the oil and gas producer said on Monday. The reduction includes employees and contractors and is set to take place on Tuesday, the spokesperson added.
However, the Houston, Texas-based company did not disclose how many jobs were affected. ConocoPhillips has about 9,900 employees globally, according to its 2025 annual report.
“We routinely review our organization to align with our long-term strategy, operate safely and efficiently, and remain well-positioned for future opportunities,” the spokesperson said. (more)
While there are many ideological factors involved in the ‘western’ political opposition to the Russian Federation as a nation, I am of the opinion that one of the significant facets is the scale and scope of Russia’s oil/gas development.
Those who have followed the NAFTA/USMCA storyline will remember that Volkswagen made a strategic bet on North America when it decided to expand production into Mexico for the Audi Q5 mid-size SUV brand. That was an analytical mistake as Audi does not make any vehicles inside the USA.
The Volkswagen leadership have made several blunders since that initial decision to open plants in Mexico. The massive push on EVs without understanding the USA market was a strategic mistake. The decision to align financial survival with a deep Chinese partnership was another.
Meanwhile, back in both Brussels and Germany the political calculus around energy policy was catastrophic for the entire auto industry. The costs of industrial production skyrocketed, making the price of SUVs for the U.S. market far above the consumer’s pocketbook, and a pre-existing 25% tariff on Trucks/SUVs made things worse.
Essentially, every decision made by Volkswagen/Audi with the North American market in mind was exactly the opposite of what they should have done. In Germany the entire Volkswagen family of autos is shedding 100,000 jobs in a desperate restructuring effort. However, Audi is now looking at North America again and trying to correct their previous mistakes.
President Donald Trump and Audi Chief Executive Gernot Döllner
Audi is now announcing a $4 billion investment in an SUV manufacturing plant in Macon, Georgia. The facility will make the Q7, Q8 and Q9 SUV models in Georgia with the Q5 remaining in Mexico (for now).
GEORGIA – German automaker Audi has announced plans to invest $4 billion in its first American production facility, to be built in Georgia, with the goal of manufacturing up to 200,000 vehicles annually and creating about 4,500 jobs. The decision was revealed during a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, where President Donald Trump and Audi Chief Executive Gernot Döllner appeared together on stage, highlighting the significance of the investment for both the region and the company.
Construction on the new plant at the Middle Georgia Mega Site is expected to begin in 2027, with the first vehicles rolling off the assembly line in the early 2030s. The facility aims to produce premium SUVs specifically tailored for North American customers, establishing North America as Audi’s third major production pillar alongside Europe and China.
This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion 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 †
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Brazil’s presidential election concludes with the final round today. Nationalist Senator Flávio Bolsonaro faces incumbent Socialist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the runoff election that will determine the country’s next president.
The race remains close in the final pre-election polls. The first official results are expected after polling stations close in Brazil at 5:00pm (local) 4:00pm (US Eastern).
Consider this an open discussion thread for your thoughts, reviews, analysis and opinion of the biggest contest in Latin America in years. If you know of a solid election results link, feel free to share in the comments.
