Things are getting very interesting as the clock ticks toward the end of the USMCA trade agreement.

Almost no one is watching the USMCA element because it quietly exists only in the background of events. However, pay close attention to the ancillary stories because they will eventually merge with the end of the USMCA and two bilateral trade agreements between the U.S-Canada and the U.S. and Mexico later this year.

NATO funding and Canadian economic independence, and by extension the EU and China, comes into the northern agreement.  Border security and Mexican economic independence, and by extension immigration and China, comes into the southern agreement.  The strength of MAGAnomic policy flows directly through both.

In the quiet sphere, a few days ago Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a key player in the trade program, announced sanctions against three Mexican financial organizations that underline the influence of the Mexican cartels and the Mexican government. [Treasury Announcement Here]

“The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued orders identifying three Mexico-based financial institutions—CIBanco S.A., Institution de Banca Multiple (CIBanco) [ORDER HERE], Intercam Banco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple (Intercam) [ORDER HERE], and Vector Casa de Bolsa, S.A. de C.V. (Vector) [ORDER HERE]—as being of primary money laundering concern in connection with illicit opioid trafficking, and prohibit, respectively, certain transmittals of funds involving CIBanco, Intercam, and Vector.  These orders are the first actions by FinCEN pursuant to the Fentanyl Sanctions Act and the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which provide Treasury with additional authorities to target money laundering associated with the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, including by cartels”. (more)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is furious. “The Treasury Department hasn’t provided a single piece of evidence to show that any money laundering was taking place,” she said. “We aren’t going to cover for anyone, there isn’t impunity here. They have to be able to demonstrate that there was actually money laundering, not with words, but with strong evidence.”

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Last night U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer issued a ridiculous temporary restraining order (TRO) removing President Trump’s control of the California National Guard [SEE RULING HERE]. Charles Breyer is the 83-year-old younger brother of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

What made the TRO ruling transparently ridiculous was: (A) the state of California never requested a TRO; and (B) the citations Breyer used to underpin his decision were all left-wing media reports about the events.  The facts, his facts, underpinning his judicial opinion, were wrong.

Those who follow judicial writing will note that using media reports as citations inside judicial decisions is a common attribute of Lawfare operations. Factually, it seemed unlikely District Judge Breyer even wrote his own ruling; it reads like something from Norm Eisen or Mary McCord.

This morning, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked Breyer’s order just hours after he issued it [SEE RULING HERE].

The appellate intervention retains the power of President Trump as commander in chief over the California national guard. The appeals court set a Tuesday hearing on the full context of the matter, thereby ensuring Trump’s deployment will remain in place at least into next week.

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Apparently, the prior narrative that everything was fine, there’s nothing to see here, just didn’t work.  As footage of looting, arson, violence and riots against law enforcement continues to highlight the false presentations of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, the mayor has now declared a local state of emergency – with an immediate 8:00pm curfew, starting tonight.  WATCH:

The same people burning cars, breaking into businesses, destroying property and throwing objects at law enforcement, are suddenly going to adhere to a curfew!  Huh, imagine that.

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U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer rejected California Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency ruling request for a temporary restraining order to stop the Trump administration from deploying military personnel to support the enforcement of immigration law in California.

Judge Charles Breyer granted the Trump administration’s request for more time to respond to the governor’s filing. The federal government has until 2 p.m. ET Wednesday to file its response. Breyer noted the state will have an opportunity to file its opposition ahead of a scheduled Thursday hearing.

While the initial ruling was against the political interests of Governor Newsom, do not look for this ruling to predict further action by the judge. District Judge Charles Breyer is former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s brother.

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Prior to leaving the White House for the celebration at Fort Bragg, President Trump answered questions from the press during an oval office press conference about professional forest management.

President Trump spoke about putting the individual state governors in charge of emergency management response, and downsizing FEMA at the conclusion of this year’s Hurricane Season.  During the question-and-answer session, President Trump responded to numerous questions about the Los Angeles riots and the federal response.  WATCH:

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CONTEXT for Los Angeles Riots:  Approximately 12.3 million Mexicans live abroad, both legally and illegally, with 97% of them living and working in the United States, according to BBVA Research.  Last year Mexicans living abroad sent $64.75 billion back home in remittances, largely from Texas and California to states in central and western Mexico.

According to data recently released, in April of this year remittances back to Mexico dropped 12.1%.  The Mexico central bank said April saw 8.1% fewer transactions than a year earlier, that’s down to 12.4 million transactions. For Mexico this is a devastating outcome.

How dependent is the Mexican Govt on these remittances?  Remittances sent home by Mexicans working outside the country surpassed petroleum revenues in 2015. {link} Oil Revenue in 2015 was 23.4 billion; remittances were $24.8 billion.  Last year in 2024 remittances were $64.75 billion…. and in April of this year the remittances dropped by 12.1%.

If you don’t think there is a critical financial motive in this, think again.

CALIFORNIA – About 700 U.S. Marines were mobilized Monday to support the California National Guard to protect federal personnel and property in Los Angeles during protests there, officials said.

The mobilization of the Marines from their base in Twentynine Palms, California, is temporary, to give time for additional National Guard troops to arrive.

Earlier Monday, President Donald Trump said he would support arresting California Gov. Gavin Newsom for purportedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles.

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According to most media estimates, there are over a million illegal aliens in the greater Los Angeles area with many of them currently in a state of uprising against the United States government.  President Trump has authorized the Defense Department and Dept of Homeland Security to take any and all measures to protect the life and property of American citizens now held hostage within the conflict zone.

[Source]

The U.S Northern Command is prepared to deploy additional troops and approximately 500 active-duty marines if needed.

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – By direction of Secretary of Defense and in coordination with U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), approximately 2,000 California Army National Guard soldiers have been placed under federal command and control in a Title 10 status to support the protection of federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area.

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With California Governor Gavin Newsom willfully and intentionally abdicating his responsibility to ensure law and order in Los Angeles, President Trump authorizes the National Guard, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Dept of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to take charge of protecting federal law enforcement operations.

President Donald Trump, acting in his capacity as Commander in Chief, signs and Emergency Order [SEE HERE], activating the national security apparatus, DoD and DHS to immediately dispatch 2,000 National Guard troops, with active military as support as needed.

SUBJECT: Department of Defense Security for the Protection of Department of Homeland Security Functions

Numerous incidents of violence and disorder have recently occurred and threaten to continue in response to the enforcement of Federal law by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions and supporting the faithful execution of Federal immigration laws. In addition, violent protests threaten the security of and significant damage to Federal immigration detention facilities and other Federal property. To the extent that protests or acts of violence directly inhibit the execution of the laws, they constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced it is not his job to enforce the law, protect the citizens of California or provide for domestic tranquility.  He is giving the rioting mob carte blanche to continue the chaos:

[SOURCE]

As a consequence of the mayor, police commissioner and now Governor abdicating their responsibility to retain law and order, President Trump is now coordinating a full federal response to assist the citizens of Los Angeles.

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Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka and three congressional representatives, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver attempted a political stunt at a local ICE detention facility in Newark.  Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested.

The intention of the group was to shut down deportation operations at Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed detention facility used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the removal process for illegal aliens. Baraka, Coleman, Menendez and McIver created a public disturbance as part of their stunt and trespassed on federal facilities.

As an outcome, Mayor Ras Baraka was handcuffed and led away by federal authorities as the agitated crowd tried to fight the police and federal officials. WATCH:

NEW JERSEY – […] The arrest followed a chaotic scene in the facility’s parking lot involving protestors, federal law enforcement officers and the three members — Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver — at Delaney Hall. The Trump administration reopened the 1,00-bed facility this month to house migrants amid a lawsuit from the city against the private operator, GEO Group, alleging it does not have the proper inspections and permits. GEO group has denied that allegation.

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