For some reason I imagine Whitaker’s physical stature as a small part of this decision-making, perhaps just a bonus. “Peace through Strength.”

President Trump has selected former Acting AG Matt Whitaker to be his Ambassador to NATO.  In this role, Whitaker will quickly be taking on the task of positioning President Trump’s remarkably different foreign and national security policies at the forefront for NATO to accept.  Not a small challenge, given the nature of the Ukraine-Russia conflict sucking up all the NATO oxygen.

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VIA NPR – […] Trump has long criticized defense spending by other NATO member countries, arguing that the U.S. was shouldering an oversized burden while many European allies failed to pay their fair share. His pick for ambassador is likely to take on that stance, sparking some consternation across the Atlantic Ocean from the United States’ NATO allies.

After Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, NATO countries pledged to move toward spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2024. According to data released in July 2024, 23 of the 31 member countries are estimated to have hit that target, with the U.S. contributing 3.38% of its GDP.

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The RGA as an organization is the state level equivalent of the Mitch McConnell’s federal never-Trump group.  The RGA is notorious for selecting the “approved republican” candidates who are permitted to run for Governor.

If a gubernatorial candidate does not get the approval of the RGA, the candidate can never win the election.  All strategies are deployed to stop him/her.

With the American voters having previously rejected the RGA candidate for Republican president, Ron DeSantis, the RGA announces who will lead their counterattack to regain control.

MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT – The Republican Governors Association (RGA) today announced Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has been elected to serve as RGA Chair, and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte will serve as RGA Vice Chair for 2025. (read more)

The RGA is as predictable as the “six ways from Sunday” organization.

And tomorrow is a Thursday.

…“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.”

~ Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince

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Glenn Greenwald appears for an interview with Tucker Carlson on the topic of the Biden administration directly making a decision as they exit the White House to attack Russia and provoke a direct war between U.S-led NATO and Russia.

Greenwald notes the accurate context of the recent decision to provide, launch, target and direct ATACMS missiles to hit targets inside Russia.  This is not the U.S. providing Ukraine with weapons for use.  This is the USA using the auspices of Ukraine geography to launch missiles into Russia that can only be launched, directed and targeted by U.S-NATO members.

Ukraine does not have the targeting systems or satellites to use these longer-range ATACM missiles for strikes into Russia. Ukraine is merely the launch geography for the U.S/NATO to launch missiles directly into Russia.  President Vladimir Putin specifically said he has clear eyes on what this deployment means.  WATCH:

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On an ancillary note, having spent three months inside Russia this summer and having the associated contacts therein, the Russian government is currently in the process of shutting down their nation in preparation for what comes next.  All of the previous rules and regulations for entry visas are essentially gone.  You will not read this anywhere else, but I can assure you Russia is isolating in preparation for war. This is not a good sign at all.

Having spent some time in the weeds this morning, I’m not sure the current trajectory is reversible before President Trump’s inauguration.  President Trump is going to face a considerable challenge.  Without doubt the Intelligence Community control agents in the Biden administration are monitoring every call and intercepting every contact that President-elect Trump might have in the next 6 weeks, in order to ensure their objectives are accomplished.

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The interview below is a little complicated at first on the issues of economics. If you are not an economic wonk, or deep research into the theories and realities of how finance and human activity can transact in the world of economics, it might be a little complicated. However, if you are a person who enjoys a deep discussion on the intricacies of the battle between economic freedom -vs- socialism, then this is for you.

Lex Fridman does an excellent job of asking a short ‘big picture’ question, then listening to a lengthy response and answer. The interview is very substantive and as the interview progresses beyond the economic issues, Argentina President Javier Milei pulls back to give perspective on the real battle within the financial ‘west’.

The first hour is wonky, complex and full of answers about what a very intelligent President Milei did to correct the course in Argentina. The second hour pulls back to the broader landscape of freedom. Find some quiet time to enjoy and absorb. WATCH:

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Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction
3:27 – Economic freedom
8:52 – Anarcho-capitalism
18:45 – Presidency and reforms

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Perhaps the most telling line in the announcement is the last one. “We will send education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”

President Trump has announced the nomination of Linda McMahon to be the next Secretary of Education.  Likely with the intention to eliminate the federal Dept of Education.

[Source]

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Suspicious Cat smells some possible streamlining and downsizing afoot.

Not only has President Trump announced the nomination of Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary, but he has also announced that Lutnick will carry the role and “responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative” (USTR).

[LINK]

Perhaps in the second term President Trump and Howard Lutnick are going to fold the USTR into the Dept of Commerce?  Interesting.

Hopefully, Howard Lutnick, like Wilbur Ross, will keep the U.S. Chamber of Commerce blocked from influence over the upcoming trade discussions and potential trade agreements.  We note that former USTR Lighthizer was part of the transition discussion, and it seems odd his name has not surfaced…. yet.

Regardless, Howard Lutnick is an excellent choice for all the reasons previously outlined.

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The “Big Ugly” was always a description of the battle that few understood.  You cannot be betrayed by your enemies; that happens when your allies reveal themselves against your interests.  Majority Leader John Thune will play his cards carefully in order to extract maximum damage.

The Senate is factually the core of republican opposition to MAGA and President Trump.  The visible battle against Obama, Biden, Harris and the professional political left, always consumes the most attention.  However, it is the less-visible battle against the entrenched ideological republicans that proves to be the hardest.

The Republicans in the upper chamber will not relinquish power easily.  They have a multitude of weapons to use against the insurgency of President Trump supporters.  We are seeing this play out now in the alignment of Republican Senators who stand in opposition to President Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General, and this recent report aligns with exactly the type of move we would expect.

The basic outline is that senate leadership will reluctantly support Matt Gaetz for Main Justice, where ‘support’ means they will not directly oppose; in exchange for the nomination of FBI Director Mike Rogers to defend their interests at FBI.

This is the typical type of deal the DeceptiCons are well known for.

Thune and McConnell (in background) have yet to reveal who they have planned to place in the chair positions of multiple committees. We are very interested to see who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence because that mutually dependent relationship is the core of the IC influence in the legislative branch.  The same may be said for the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and ultimately the Gaetz nomination.

This recent report aligns with information we have received from the senate staff offices who are discussing the Gaetz nomination.  Thune would not make such a proposal openly, for obvious reasons, but intermediaries would relay the message between the upper chamber and the transition team.

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In September we noted Howard Lutnick was the *ONLY* person, other than former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who accurately outlined: (1) Energy as the core source of sticky inflation; and (2) ending the Marshal Plan for EU tariffs as a key objective in term-2.

In combination with his eloquence in outlining MAGAnomics, which is remarkably impressive, this combination of skillsets would make Howard Lutnick the ideal candidate for Term-2 Commerce Secretary.  The guy simply ‘gets it.’ {SEE HERE}

Howard Lutnick was also in the running for Treasury Secretary; however, today several media outlets are reporting that Lutnick is likely to be nominated as Commerce Secretary, making him the first and leading WOLVERINE announced in the MAGAnomic team.

WASHINGTON DC – Donald Trump is expected to nominate veteran Wall Street financier Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department, according to people familiar with the matter, elevating one of the financial world’s most vocal supporters of the president-elect to a crucial position overseeing the incoming administration’s economic agenda.

Lutnick, chief executive of the financial-services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, in recent months has become a close Trump ally and had been a top contender to lead the Treasury Department. As the co-chair of the president-elect’s transition team, Lutnick has spent much of his time at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private Florida club, poring over shortlists of candidates for positions in the administration.

A spokeswoman for Lutnick declined to comment. A Trump transition team spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Punchbowl News earlier reported that Trump was expected to chose Lutnick for the role. (read more)

Howard Lutnick gets it. The essential core of MAGAnomics.  Drive down the cost of goods through expanded energy development, then leverage reciprocity in tariffs to end the exfiltration of wealth.  Then cut out regulation and unleash American enterprise. This is the way to reverse this insufferable economic trajectory that creates a “service driven economy.”   The entire interview is well worth watching:

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Jeff Clark has some keen insight into the strategy of how to confront the Lawfare operation within Main Justice, as well as how President Trump can navigate the process of ‘recess appointments’ against the likelihood of a reluctant Senate confirmation process. {Direct Rumble Link}. WATCH:

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According to NBC, DOJ Lawfare operatives and FBI agents within the corrupt and weaponized silos, are calling their friends for legal assistance and protection against investigations of their past activity.

It is easy to see how DOJ-NSD officials would be worried, particularly given the nature of how Deputy AG Lisa Monaco organized them over the past four years to continue Lawfare efforts against President Trump.  Perhaps one name, Mary McCord, should be concerned a little more than most.

Additionally, the FBI agents who participated in the witch hunts against President Trump and his allies are also concerned.  Both groups now reaching out to lawyers proactively evaluating their risk against the backdrop of demonstrably corrupt and illegal activity.

In short, the article outlines how they were nervous before, but they are extremely worried now that Matt Gaetz has been nominated as Attorney General.  Many of them planning to exit quickly and take a low-profile position.

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WASHINGTON DC – Multiple current and former senior Justice Department and FBI officials have begun reaching out to lawyers in anticipation of being criminally investigated by the Trump administration, according to three people with knowledge of their deliberations.

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