Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has announced the U.S. debt ceiling is likely to be reached mid-January, while Joe Biden is still in office.  President Trump tells congress to deal with the issue now.

First, here’s Secretary Yellen:

WASHINGTON, Dec 27 (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury Department may need to take “extraordinary measures” by as early as Jan. 14 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told lawmakers in a letter on Friday.

Yellen urged lawmakers in the U.S. Congress to act “to protect the full faith and credit of the United States.”

U.S. debt is expected to decrease by about $54 billion on Jan. 2 “due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments,” she added.

She said: “Treasury currently expects to reach the new limit between January 14 and January 23, at which time it will be necessary for Treasury to start taking extraordinary measures.”

Under a 2023 budget deal, Congress suspended the debt ceiling until Jan. 1, 2025. The U.S. Treasury will be able to pay its bills for several more months, but Congress will have to address the issue at some point next year. (more)

The Biden spending is already baked into the proverbial cake. Congress will have to raise the debt ceiling limit and President Trump is urging them to do it now, before he takes office.

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When I read the New York Post article proclaiming that President Trump supports the fraudulent system known as H1B visa hiring, I knew something was amiss because we previously looked at Trump’s various business hires and use of the visa process.

Apparently, the NY Post called President Trump to get him to weigh in on the controversial subject that has been triggered by Elon Musk saying he would “go to war on this issue” to maintain the H1B visa system -and subsequent foreign employment for tech skilled workers- his various companies depend upon.

Here’s the topline takeaway from the article that has triggered many:

(NY POST) President-elect Trump told The Post Saturday he supports immigration visas for highly skilled workers, appearing to side with Elon Musk in the roiling intra-MAGA debate on the issue.

“I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump said by phone, referring to the H-1B program, which permits companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.  

“I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program,” added Trump, who restricted access to foreign worker visas in his first administration and has been critical of the program in the past. (more)

However, if you go to the Dept of Labor website, search or download the database of H1B employment, specifically filtering to Trump’s various companies, what you will discover is that Trump Inc doesn’t use the H1B visa system at all. [Check for Yourself Here]

How does this reconcile? Well, having previously looked at the visa use by President Trump in his various companies {SEE HERE}, I can confidently assert (Occam’s Razor) that within the interview President Trump conflated H2B temporary worker visas, which he does use in his service industry, with H1B visas which he does not use.

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Newsmax Rob Schmitt gives a good summary of the H1B immigration debate that has caught fire amid the Trump support base.

The initial issue surfaced with the appointment of Sriram Krishnan to serve as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. [Source] Krishnan has previously advocated for removing all limits on Indian immigrant use of H1B.

Vivek Ramaswamy, David Sacks and Elon Musk came to the immediate defense of their friend and colleague Sriram Krishan, while MAGA Americans started to look very closely at the use of H1B visas.  Things rapidly escalated from there.

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As noted yesterday, President Trump has announced his full support for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) trade union position in defense of their members. [SEE HERE]

Today, ILA Executive Vice-President Dennis Daggett releases a statement following his meeting with President Donald Trump.

To many people this confrontation over foreign ownership of critical port infrastructure seems detached and complicated when contrast against efficiency, lower prices for transportation and, essentially, a vital national interest. However, in the bigger picture President Trump has been consistent with a position that U.S. companies and labor organizations must look out for American interests first and foremost.

The chase for price, cost and Total Cost of Production (TCP) has led to our nation losing jobs, losing wealth, losing manufacturing capability and ultimately losing control over our own vital interests. The prior chase for less costly goods was a road paved with intentions that ultimately created negative outcomes for the American people (ex. The Rustbelt).

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The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the US Maritime Alliance (USMX) have until January 15 to agree on a new contract. This is the result of a temporary deal reached in October.

President Trump announced his support for the workers’ position following a meeting with Harold Daggett, the president of ILA, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president.

[Source]

“I’ve studied automation and know just about everything there is to know about it. The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Notice how the media always present the verbiage of the dockworker’s employers as “employers’ group USMX,” without actually noting the employers’ group are the port owners, multinational shipping conglomerates and as a consequence, foreign countries.

In material fact, most critical ports in the USA are owned by foreign entities.  As a result, the ILA are pushing back against the ideological, political and financial interests of mostly foreign entities (USMX).

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The “No Labels” group is the modern spin on the term “UniParty.”  These are the professionally political minds that see everything good about a singular ideological perspective in Washington DC that grows the administrative state and lives in a stratum far above the sheeple voters.

Perhaps the most transparently obvious part of Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski holding this mindset, is the moment at 4:26 when she talks about being responsible to the voters, “what’s this all about,” Murkowski notes with contempt.

“I think we are getting a little bit of a preview now, of what it means to be allegiant to party,” Murkowski continues.  Where “allegiant to party” actually means accountable to the voters’ expectations.

How is this supposed to help the institutional operation of Washington DC, if the politicians are suddenly accountable to the voters, instead of the bureaucracy that provides the political influence and affluence. Murkowski is genuinely puzzled by this new era of political expectation represented by President Donald Trump. WATCH (prompted):

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What Murkowski fails to understand is that President Trump is not a cause of her republican party failure, President Trump is our response to her republican party failure.  President Trump represents our weapon, her last chance, her choice.

“Get in line” accurately interpreted means do what needs to be done to support the vessel, President Trump, that we have overwhelmingly elected to address our issues.  No apologies, get in line -get right- is exactly correct.

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Stephen Miller appears on Fox News to discuss the priorities of the President Trump administration and the objectives of the first 100 days.

As outlined by Miller, domestic security, safety and immigration policy will lead the first legislative effort between the White House and congress.

As Senior Policy Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller is hopeful the most transformative immigration bill in the past 50-years will be the first legislative victory for President Trump during his second term.  From there, the legislative focus shifts to taxes, extension of the 2017 tax cuts in combination with regulatory reform.  WATCH:

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President Trump is scheduled to arrive in Paris this weekend.  Today, almost in an act of divine providence, the government collapsed.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier will submit his resignation to French President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow, according to France’s BFMTV. He is expected at the Elysee Palace at 10am local time. Barnier’s resignation is a constitutional obligation after he lost a vote of no-confidence earlier Wednesday evening triggering the collapse of his government.

SUMMARY of EVENTS: •Michel Barnier lost a no-confidence vote, triggering the collapse of govt. •It marks the first time a French government has been toppled in this way in more than 60 years. •Barnier is now the shortest-serving prime minister in France’s modern Republic. •Left and far-right parties united to oust him following anger over his unpopular 2025 budget. •Both tabled motions of no-confidence after he used special powers to adopt part of the budget this week without a final vote in parliament. •Nationalist leader Marine Le Pen said the public needed to be protected from the “toxic” budget, and that pressure on Macron is getting “greater and greater”.

FRANCE – The government of President Emmanuel Macron collapsed Wednesday after the National Assembly voted for the first time in more than a half-century to oust a prime minister from office, a sign of the political gridlock that has paralyzed France. The development leaves the country’s public finances in limbo.

A no-confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier won the support of 331 lawmakers in the 577-seat lower house, forcing him to resign.

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Excellent news. Within trade and MAGAnomics Peter Navarro serves as the counterbalance to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the influence visible with David Macintosh (Club for Growth).

President Trump announces the return of Peter Navarro in the role of Senior Advisor for Trade and Manufacturing.

[SOURCE]

Note the word “FAST,” that’s the element Navarro brings to the dynamic.

Where USTR Lighthizer was/is excellent, he was also a little cautious. Current USTR Jamieson Greer was Chief of Staff to former USTR Robert Lighthizer in term #1. Within term #2, speed in delivering the trade outcomes is paramount. We have a Marshal Plan to remove, as well as tariff priorities and the reestablishment of American manufacturing to kickstart fast.

As well as kicking sand in the face of The CoC and CfG, Navarro brings the speed part of the equation to the forefront. Perfect.

As long as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and CfG can be kept away from the critical aspects of Trade negotiations, things will get done “FAST.”

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The picture of the seating assignments speaks so loudly you don’t need to hear a word they are saying.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is sandwiched between Secretary of Commerce nominee Howard Lutnick and the man who holds the hammer for Canada’s economic future, President-Elect Donald J Trump.

Also pictured to President Trump’s left is his pick for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and his wife Julia Nesheiwat, the sister of Surgeon General nominee Janette Nesheiwat. Also included in the photo is President Trump’s interior secretary pick, Doug Burgum.  Suffice to say, the economic half of the Trump Doctrine purposefully in place.

Corporate media are focusing on President Trump’s prior statements about imposing tariffs on Canada as the narrative to go with the hastily assembled visit by Justin from Canada….

ABC – […] The meeting came after Trump threatened sweeping 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada until both countries stop what he claims is a flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into the United States.

Trudeau told reporters earlier this week after he and Trump spoke on the phone following the tariff threat that they had a “good call.” He added that he looks forward to “lots of great conversations” with Trump. (more)

According to narrative media, stenographers for the status quo, the focus is on President Trump potentially seeking an early renegotiation of the USMCA trade agreement which is scheduled for a revisit in 2026.

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