In the background of other interesting matters, it’s worthwhile taking a glance into the TikTok battle every once in a while.  While I retain a slight ambivalence to the issue of TikTok and social media control mechanisms, it is also true that TikTok is currently the only larger used platform that is not directly under the wing of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

As we noted in the recent Romanian election outcome, the winner of round #1, a nationalist-minded Romania First candidate named Călin Georgescu, strongly directed his campaign message to the Romanian people, via TikTok. Georgescu campaigned on an anti-EU, anti-NATO and anti-war with Russia platform; simultaneously supporting domestic farmers, domestic energy production and advocating for a Romania that is free from foreign influence.

Suddenly, the Romanian officials who lost the election are asking the EU to investigate TikTok for allowing the organic message of Georgescu to flourish and generate support.

(Via Politico) […] TikTok is under mounting pressure to explain how it handled political content in Romania after a first round presidential vote on Sunday propelled the ultranationalist, pro-Russian firebrand Călin Georgescu to a shock victory, in part thanks to his sudden surge on TikTok. A top EU lawmaker demanded on Tuesday that TikTok’s chief executive appear before the European Parliament to answer questions, and Romanian NGOs have urged the Commission to look into whether TikTok and other platforms complied with Europe’s social media laws.

The European Commission oversees TikTok’s compliance with the bloc’s new DSA rulebook, which sets the rules for how large online platforms moderate content, including in political campaigns.

(more…)

Unburdened by the agency of what has been, Kamala tells the remaining voices shouting at trees, “they still have power.”

While it is never polite form to laugh in public as the Moonbats step on rakes, sometimes it is impossible to retain a straight face and watch them do it.

Vice President @KamalaHarris’ message to supporters. pic.twitter.com/x5xMUGTtkz

— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) November 26, 2024

.

Approximately 16 people viewed this and felt good about it.

(more…)

At this part in the transitions process, Little Marco has to be asking himself what exactly he is going to be responsible for. lol

Despite prior rumors, President Trump has announced that Retired Lt General Keith Kellogg will serve as his special envoy to Ukraine and Russia.  This puts General Kellogg at the center of the upcoming negotiated peace deal that will ultimately end the conflict in Ukraine.

[SOURCE]

Kellogg is a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues.  Kellogg served as National Security Advisor to former Vice President Mike Pence. General Kellogg’s plan for ending the conflict involves freezing the battle lines at their current locations and inviting both Kyiv (Zelensky) and Moscow (Putin) to the negotiating table, Reuters reported in June.

… And, with that envoy announcement, I suspect we have now identified who will be President Trump’s emissary.  Or, more accurately said, who Melania Trump identified as the best selection.

(more…)

There are four general aspects to the larger Trump legacy term that are starting to become very visible.  This is the era when political change starts to become visible in real terms.  We are all in the front row, on the cusp of a historic moment.

♦ The four generalized fronts are: (1) The economic front, which will be both domestic (Main St) and foreign (multinationals) as executed. (2) The IC/Justice front, which is inherently domestic. (3) The Legislative Branch front, this is where DOGE (Dept of Government Efficiency) comes into play; and lastly (4) The Dept of State confrontation with allies and enemies on all three other fronts.

Within #3, the legislative branch battle against the executive, this is where the spending issue, the purse strings, the power center dynamic over taxpayer distribution will be fought through the Dept of Government Efficiency, or DOGE led by Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and a few key allies in both the House and Senate.

Because the nature of the DOGE battle is centered around money, the root issue is ultimately who controls the power within Washington DC.  Control the money and you control the power.  Inside this battle over spending the historic dynamic of the UniParty will be visible.  Remember, Democrats want power, Republicans want money.

Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer have already started to position their defenses against DOGE and Trump {SEE HERE}.  The committee chairs and vice-chairs are selected to keep the power of control of spending away from DOGE/Trump.  Republican Chair Susan Collins, appointed by Thune/McConnell will not willingly let DOGE/Trump interfere in the way the Senate assigns funds. Ultimately this distribution is their power center.

DOGE is reported to be looking carefully at the Impoundment Control Act, challenging the system that places limits on a president’s ability to unilaterally withhold funding. According to Politico, Musk and Ramaswamy “believe the Supreme Court, which has three justices nominated by Trump, would be favorable to them.” The bottom line is the Executive v Legislative battle, where President Trump is going to try and reduce the size of government while congress keeps spending to maintain it.

(more…)

“This was no small thing, to restore a republic after it had fallen into corruption. I have studied history for years and I cannot recall it ever happening. It may have been that our task was impossible. Yet, if we did not try then how would we know it could not be done? And if we did not try, it most certainly would not be done. The Founders’ Republic, and the larger war for western civilization, would have been lost.”

“But I tell you this: We did not go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. Indeed, we made with our defiance such a sound as ALL history from this day forward will be forced to note, even if they despise us in the writing of it.”

~ Mike Vanderboegh (adapted)

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

(more…)

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…)

President Trump has announced Jay Bhattacharya as nominee to serve as Director of the National Institutes for Health (NIH), and Jim O’Neill to serve as Deputy HHS Secretary to Robert F Kennedy Jr.

Dr Jay Bhattacharya is a famous critic of the NIH and the COVID-19 policy they put forth. Bhattacharya has advocated for a major shakeup of the NIH and accused former NIH leaders Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci of suppressing scientific debate and research during the pandemic.

[SOURCE]

To support Robert F Kennedy Jr, President Trump has also announced the nomination of Jim O’Neill to serve as Deputy HHS Secretary.  O’Neill comes from the stable of Peter Thiel a billionaire ally of RFK Jr and Elon Musk.  O’Neill was CEO of the Thiel Foundation.

(more…)

President Trump has announced the nomination of Jamieson Greer to be the United States Trade Representative (USTR).  Jamieson Greer was the Chief of Staff to former USTR Robert Lighthizer.

In a previous nomination of Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary, President Trump noted Lutnick would have responsibility overseeing the office of the USTR.   Apparently Lutnick and Greer will be working closely together.   Great news.

[Source]

Greer is likely to be facing China first and most directly, as President Trump economically faces the EU and NATO over the Ukraine issues.

The second announcement on the economic team does not need confirmation.  President Trump announces the return of ¹happy warrior Kevin Hassett as Director of the White House National Economic Council (NEC).  This is awesome news, and Hassett is a great communicator.

(more…)

The President Trump transition team has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to start the process of transferring control of the federal government.  The landing teams from each of the cabinets will now begin to engage with their exiting counterparts.

There were many articles written about the delays in signing the agreements.  However, President Trump waited until he has his cabinet fully assembled before signing the first part that permits the landing teams to engage.  The second part with government provided offices and technology is NOT being accepted.

President Trump’s Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, announced the Trump transition team has refused to sign an MOU with the Government Services Administration (GSA), and will not be using cell phones, computers, offices or “any technology” provided by the GSA.  This is a smart move to avoid the Deep State surveillance situation that was faced in the first term.

In the first Trump administration, the GSA had wiretaps, office bugs, and gave all the electronic communication information from the Trump transition to the FBI, IC and later Robert Mueller. In essence, the GSA spied on the Trump team, then gave all the data to the operatives who were in place to target them.  The Trump team is not making this mistake again.

The Trump transition team is also not going to use the office space provided by the GSA and will instead have their own offices and security systems in place to coordinate the transition to power.

(more…)

The New York Times is admitting something they previously pretended did not exist, Mitch McConnell is ready to fight Donald Trump.  You guys have watched this battle before, and you guys know that John Thune is the exact same ideological construct as his mentor, Mitch McConnell.  We do not need to pretend here.

An additional aspect to watch closely.  We know the Intelligence Community, the “Six Ways from Sunday” group, are going to do whatever is needed in order to protect their equity interests from the return of President Trump.  Again, no pretending is needed.

Currently, as Senate Majority Leader, John Thune elevates to the intelligence “oversight” group known as the Gang of Eight.  Four members of the Gang of Eight (Go8) come out of the Senate, and four from the House.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, SSCI Vice-Chairman Mark Warner, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are three of the four from the Senate.  However, we still do not know who will join Thune from the GOP side. Who will be the Republican SSCI Chairman?

Internally, Susan Collins is now Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Mitch McConnell is now Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, a specifically taken position to retain control of Senate rules (think Cloture, Filibuster and importantly, Recess Appointments via Senate schedule).

With Thune on the Gang of Eight, Collins as Appropriations (spending), and McConnell in charge of ‘rules’, who joins Thune on the Gang of Eight?

(more…)