In this segment of a remarkable interview by MeAgain Kelly, DNI Tulsi Gabbard discusses the current intelligence community research into the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (aka COVID-19). Gabbard talks about the U.S. government funding of ‘gain of function’ research which is a soft sounding phrase to describe the weaponization of biological agents.
Gabbard notes the gain of function research taking place in the Wuhan lab, was coordinated and funded by the United States Government, and the Intelligence Community is close to making a direct link between the research and the release of the COVID-19 virus. Additionally, DNI Gabbard explains the concern of other biolabs around the world and then gets very close to the line of admitting the IC itself is politically weaponized (which it is but would be stunning to admit). WATCH:
CTH said in November 2024, I doubt he could succeed. I said in December 2024, he would be the first to get fired. I have said over the past several weeks it was obvious Mike Waltz was no longer in a position of National Security influence, and that President Trump had an NSA “in name only.”
Today, Trump fired National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and his deputy, Alex Wong….
VIA CBS – National security adviser Mike Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, will be leaving their posts in the Trump White House, according to multiple sources familiar with their departure.
[…] One source familiar with the situation at the National Security Council said the president thinks sufficient time has passed since the Signal incident that Waltz and Wong’s departures can be framed as part of a reorganization. The president has been hesitant to oust Waltz over the perception that doing so could be seen as bending to outside pressure.
Wong served in the first Trump administration as deputy special representative for North Korea and also as deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department. In announcing his appointment, Mr. Trump said that Wong helped negotiate his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (more)
I’m not going to repeat all the issues that made this outcome transparently predictable from the first day of then President-elect Trump’s announcement. You can read the background HERE and HERE and HERE.
As we saw previously in Term-1, President Trump has again divided and assigned trade negotiation responsibility to key cabinet members. In this interview with CNN National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett smiles and walks effortlessly through the narrative engineering attempt by CNN pundit Kassie Hunt.
This is a must watch interview if you are following the details of the current global trade renegotiation.
Hassett outlines the current status of trade negotiations with some of the biggest trade partners in the world. India and Southeast Asia are being handled by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is in control of the section 232 (national security) tariffs, and USTR Jamison Greer has 19 current Free Trade Agreements outlined with various partners all willing to accept the reciprocity agreement. WATCH:
Following her arrest for assisting a criminal illegal alien attempting to avoid capture, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended Judge Hannah Dugan from all judicial proceedings.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended a judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities, saying Tuesday that it is in the public interest to relieve her of her duties as she faces two federal charges.
[…] In its two-page order, the state Supreme Court said it was acting on its own initiative and not responding to a request from anyone. Liberal justices control the court 4-3.
[…] She is set to appear in court for arraignment May 15.
In addition to Mastantuono, her attorneys include Paul Clement, a prominent conservative lawyer, and Steve Biskupic, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin who was appointed by President George W. Bush. (read more)
Last week CTH noted, “interested political followers in the USA should pay close attention to how the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWA) respond to the corporate media narrative. … Will the International Longshoremen’s Association stand with Trump, or will they drop support as the global trade reset emphasizes domestically manufactured jobs? That will be an interesting aspect to watch because the dockworker union leadership will face massive pressure to comply with the anti-tariff narrative.” (full article)
Yesterday, we got the answer: “The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) unequivocally condemns the recent tariffs that the Trump administration has imposed.”
All these moves are so transparently political, it almost makes you laugh. However, that said, we are now in a better position to understand exactly how the Democrats and Deep State operatives will weaponize the supply chain along with their union orcs.
In the next phase of the anti-Trump tariff agenda, approximately 3 months from now it will begin, we will see/hear a constant drumbeat of empty shelves, missing parts and missing products. Whether factually true, or whether the shortages are an outcome of a strategy by the ILWA to assist the shortage narrative, the overall objective will be to blame President Trump for everything from shortages of medicine to shortages of parts to fix, repair or maintain consumer products.
President Trump holds an impromptu press conference traveling back to the White House from Morristown, New Jersey.
President Trump departed Marine One with Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champion Saquon Barkley, then takes questions. The topics covered his message to President Putin, the Zelensky meeting, Iran – no bombs needed, Zelensky meeting #2, what Zelensky said, Crimea, opinion on Russian President Putin, actions vs Russia, taxes and tariffs, the Russia deadline, relationship with Zelensky, the Crimea factor, Virginia Giuffre, Tariffs Talks with China, Melania’s birthday dinner, and the Wisconsin Judge arrest. WATCH:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio appears on NBC Meet the Press to discuss the ongoing negotiations to bring a ceasefire to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Secretary Rubio notes the ongoing discussions have positive indications but also concerning elements where there are demands that are challenging to fulfill. Ultimately, the goal is to stop killing people and achieve peace. At the end of the day the USA has funneled billions of dollars into what appears to be a never-ending conflict, and our willingness to maintain support is close to an end. WATCH:
[Transcript] QUESTION: And joining me now is Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Secretary Rubio, welcome back to Meet the Press.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Good morning. Thanks.
QUESTION: Well, good morning to you. Thank you so much for being here. President Trump is about to mark his 100th day in office. It comes as a key campaign promise is to end the war in Ukraine and against the backdrop of that extraordinary meeting between President Trump and President Zelenskyy. Mr. Secretary, is Russia and Ukraine now closer to a deal in the wake of that meeting?
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov appears on CBS Face the Nation to discuss the position of the Russian Federation toward the ‘ceasefire’ in Ukraine. The interview took place on Thursday April 24th and was broadcast today.
This interview also takes place one day before President Trump Special Envoy Steve Witkoff flew to Moscow for his fourth meeting with Putin to discuss the settlement of the war in Ukraine. According to the Kremlin, the conversation between Witkoff and President Putin lasted about three hours.
Following the last meeting between President Putin and Ambassador Witkoff, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated President Putin is willing to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy without any preconditions. According to Peskov, the statement was made at a meeting with Trump’s special representative, Steve Witkoff. “Putin at the meeting with Witkoff confirmed Russia’s readiness for negotiations with Kyiv without any preconditions” according to the Kremlin.
In this interview, Sergey Lavrov dismisses the narrative building, maintains respect for the integrity of private negotiations, and outlines an optimistic view the terms of a ceasefire can be agreed between President Trump and President Putin. It is the CIA and their operative Volodymyr Zelenskyy that represent the challenge that might cause President Trump and Marco Rubio to walk away. WATCH:
[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov. Good morning, Minister Lavrov, I want to ask you about what happened in Kyiv. There was a large Russian attack on that capital city about one o’clock in the morning. President Trump has said publicly, the Russian strikes are not necessary and very bad timing. “Vladimir, STOP!” was his quote. What made it worth killing civilians when Ukraine says it’s ready for a ceasefire?
FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEY LAVROV: We only target military goals or civilian sites used by the military. President Putin expressed this for so many times, and this is not different this time as well. We never consciously target civilian sites unlike- unlike the Zelensky regime.
I am trying to avoid my own confirmation bias, which is difficult in this case, because when Congressman Mike Waltz was announced as NSA to President-elect Donald Trump, immediately I thought he would be the first to exit the national security team; his ideology just doesn’t mesh right.
Following the fiasco with Signal and his Jeffrey Goldberg foul up, it looked like Waltz was pushed out of the immediate circle of influence and instead told to focus on restructuring the National Security Council. His proximity still exists, but his immediate role appears -at least outwardly- to have shifted; he seems less influential as a direct emissary for President Trump to foreign intelligence peers and leaders.
I have this horribly annoying affliction to noticing small details and taking notes, and all indications point in that direction. When you start to notice this shift, what becomes evident is within the verbiage used as a proximity person begins describing events as if they were an observer, not a direct participant. [The “we” is lost.] Listen to how Mike Waltz describes current geopolitical events, he sounds like a pundit not a participant.
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If my suspicion is accurate, President Trump has a National Security Advisor in name only.
It is alarming how President Trump is calling for ceasefire talks while the U.S. government is simultaneously providing Ukraine with either fighter jets or M9 Reaper Drones to fly against Russia.
The stunning image captured in Arizona shows a Ukrainian Antonoff 225 the biggest transport plane, operated by Ukrainian transport company, being loaded with either M9 Reaper Drones (see picture below) or F-16/35 fighter jets.
In the background left (red tractor flatbed) you can see either an M9 Reaper drone or U.S. fighter ready for transport (white wrapped). Toward the rear of the Antonoff cargo plane you can see another (black tractor flatbed). Both aerial war assets are being loaded into the Antonoff 225 transport, and there are likely more not visible in the picture.
