In a decision to position for long-term tariff avoidance, Mercedes Benz will shift production of their GLC (compact SUV) to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, away from Bremen, Germany.

Previously, the German automaker had shifted manufacturing of large SUV lines to the USA to avoid the pre-existing 25% ‘chicken tax.’  However, the smaller and less expensive crossover types were still made in Germany and shipped to the USA.  As the shipping vessels returned to Germany, they would take some of the SUV inventory back with them.  It was the most cost-effective solution, given the nature of the tariff situation.

Now, with larger import tariffs against all vehicles, Mercedes has shifted their business model to essentially an outcome where all USA marketed/sold vehicles will be manufactured in the USA, and all EU marketed/sold vehicles will be manufactured in Germany.

(Via Daily Mail) – Mercedes-Benz will shift production of one of its vehicles to Tuscaloosa, Alabama by 2027. The German luxury carmaker’s move is the latest response from an industry caught in the expensive crosshairs of President Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariffs.

The decision marks a potential win for Trump’s protectionist trade agenda, which aims to boost US manufacturing by slapping steep tariffs on foreign-made goods. But there are many complicating factors.

(more…)

[BACKGROUND STORY]

(more…)

In a rather remarkable message via Truth Social, President Trump proposes the reopening of Alcatraz prison.

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets.”

“That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” (link)

(more…)

At the behest of President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson previously removed House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) Chairman Mike Turner from his position. Representative Mike Turner is no longer Chairman of HPSCI. This was a big loss for the Deep State.

The removal timing was not coincidental as it followed President Trump announcing an intelligence advisory board headed by Devin Nunes {SEE HERE}. In addition to his manipulative support for Ukraine, in December of 2023 Chairman Turner lied about his FISA-702 renewal having support from Devin Nunes and John Ratcliffe {LINK}. Mike Turner was identified as a big fibber; he lied about Nunes; Turner was removed from the HPSCI chair.

After a few months of general invisibility, Mike Turner appears on CBS today to discuss the tariffs in addition to the removal of his good friend Mike Waltz from the position of National Security Advisor to President Trump.  Video and Transcript below.

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning and welcome to Face the Nation. We have a lot to get to, so let’s begin today with Ohio Republican Congressman Mike Turner. Good to see you here in person.

REP. MIKE TURNER: Thanks for having me, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I have a lot of national security topics to get to you, but at the heart of so much is America’s economic strength, and so I want to ask you about what President Trump said this week about the cost, the impact of his China tariffs on the supply of goods in the United States. Take a listen.

(more…)

Against the backdrop of Alberta, Canada proceeding with a plan to separate from the land of the Snow Mexican leftists, a leaked video conference call between U.S. President Trump, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney is created.

Keith Wilson provides the created leaked content for review. WATCH:

pic.twitter.com/JXfjQ2uFaf

— Keith Wilson, K.C. (@ikwilson) May 3, 2025

.

A very solid argument can be made that something akin to the Alberta-U.S. merging was the plan all along. {DEEP BACKGROUND}

(more…)

The Washington Post (but of course, CIA outlet) is reporting on a downsizing effort within the CIA to eliminate approximately 1,200 jobs.  The number represents approximately 5% of the workforce although the actual number of CIA employees is classified (national security, dontchaknow).

Within the report, Director John Ratcliffe is noted as shifting the focus of America’s leading spy agency to use more “human intelligence.”  That phrase, “human intelligence,” is IC silo code speak for shifting away from “analysts” (political operatives) and engaging in more ¹factual intelligence information.

According to the report, DNI Tulsi Gabbard has also reduced the employment level within the Director of National Intelligence office by approximately 25% (current payroll estimate of 2,000 employees).  The general narrative within the WaPo reporting is that “national security” is being compromised by large downsizing of spy agency employment.

Additionally, to bolster the positions of the current political operatives within the CIA, the WaPo waxes concerningly about China and other mysterious foreign adversaries recruiting the CIA employees who are now becoming increasingly concerned about their paychecks.

WASHINGTON POST – “The Trump administration is planning significant personnel cuts at the Central Intelligence Agency and other major U.S. spy units, downsizing the government’s most sensitive national security agencies, according to people familiar with the plans.

The administration recently informed lawmakers on Capitol Hill that it intends to reduce the CIA’s workforce by about 1,200 personnel over several years and cut thousands more from other parts of the U.S. intelligence community, including at the National Security Agency, a highly secretive service that specializes in cryptology and global electronic espionage, a person familiar with the matter said. The person, like others interviewed, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

(more…)

Think about it.  We’ve already heard about the massive stoppages of April factory work in China, causing serious concern for Beijing and Chinese worker protests.

American importers front loaded inventory in February and March with a 50% increase in orders.  Now, in addition to those factories going quiet, the de minimis rule kicks in.

(Via CNBC) – Chinese bargain retailer Temu changed its business model in the U.S. as the Trump administration’s new rules on low-value shipments took effect Friday.

In recent days, Temu has abruptly shifted its website and app to only display listings for products shipped from U.S.-based warehouses. Items shipped directly from China, which previously blanketed the site, are now labeled as out of stock.

Temu made a name for itself in the U.S. as a destination for ultra-discounted items shipped direct from China, such as $5 sneakers and $1.50 garlic presses. It’s been able to keep prices low because of the so-called de minimis rule, which has allowed items worth $800 or less to enter the country duty-free since 2016.

The loophole expired Friday at 12:01 a.m. EDT as a result of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April. (more)

The de minimis loophole comes from back in the 1930s. The idea back then was, say you went on a vacation to Paris, you shouldn’t have to file customs paperwork or pay taxes if you decided to ship some little Eiffel Tower statues to your friends back home.

(more…)

Kevin O’Leary appears on Fox Business to support President Trump’s tariff proposal against China that is targeted to confront the dragon behind the Beijing panda mask.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

I’m not exactly sure what this event is all about; however, at 4:45pm the White House says tune in.  Livestream Links Below:

.

(more…)

The report is coming from Axios, so take it with a grain of salt.  It could also be the White House testing the waters for DC reaction to the possibility.  The outlet is saying White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller is a top candidate for consideration to fill the National Security Advisor role to President Trump [SEE HERE].

Stephen Miller already runs the White House Homeland Security group, inside the executive office.  He has been an excellent organizer and spokesperson for DHS deportation operations, and the Homeland Security Council runs very smooth under his direction.

That said, from my perspective, the key qualification for Stephen Miller is that he DOES NOT carry the infection of time spent inside the Intelligence Community silos.  Miller’s autonomic outlook is not contextualized to believe everything the IC says. This is critical.

An effective National Security Advisor in the modern era (post Patriot Act) needs to look at all intelligence with cynicism, accepting that weaponized political perspective permeates the entire silo that might be providing the information.  The NSA cannot trust anyone in the IC, yet the NSA must be trustworthy to President Trump.

Remember, the Director of National Intelligence (Tulsi Gabbard) is an assembler of pre-existing intelligence, the DNI does not create intelligence.  The Director of the National Security Agency is under the DNI and operates as the librarian for data, from which other silos gather intelligence.  The Director of the NSA does not create intelligence.

It is the Pentagon, the State Dept., the FBI, the DOJ-NSD and the CIA who create most of the intelligence that flows to the President.  The National Security Advisor needs to be the filter between manipulated DoD, DoS, FBI and CIA information.

(more…)