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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Dept of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears on Face the Nation to discuss the escalation of violent protests in Los Angeles, California.

As President Trump called for the National Guard to enforce order in Los Angeles amid protests over ICE activity, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tells “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that “we are not going to let a repeat of 2020 happen,” referring to the unrest in Minneapolis following the killing of George Floyd. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz deployed the state’s National Guard to deal with the 2020 riots in Minneapolis. Video and Transcript Below:

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who joins us from her home state of South Dakota. Good morning to you, Madam Secretary.

SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM: Good morning. Thank you for inviting me, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we are seeing from the President’s proclamation that he can federalize- he says, 2000 California National Guard forces for 60 days under Title 10 authorities. Which units are being deployed? Are they military police, and exactly what are their orders?

SECRETARY NOEM: Yes, President Trump is putting the safety of the communities that are being impacted by these riots and by these protests that have turned violent, and he’s putting the safety of our law enforcement officers first. So these 2000 National Guard soldiers that are being engaged today are ones that are specifically trained for this type of crowd situation, where they’ll be with the public and be able to provide safety around buildings and to those that are engaged in peaceful protests, and also to our law enforcement officers so they can continue their daily work.

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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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President Trump was traveling from Washington, DC to New Jersey aboard Airforce One and took the time to walk back in the plane to the assembled press pool.  President Trump took numerous questions on the topics of Kilmar Garcia, the Chinese trade negotiations, Elon Musk and current economic conditions.

President Trump also notes the Big Beautiful Bill is gaining support in the Senate and he is optimistic it will pass without too much issue. Additionally, President Trump responded to a question about Ukraine by noting the drone attack against the bomber installations ends up giving President Putin the motive to continue more aggressive bombing of Ukraine, “here we go”… WATCH:

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First, a message from the White House:

“In the pre-dawn hours of June 6, 1944, American and Allied forces stormed a 50-mile stretch of beach in Normandy, France, winning a crucial victory that turned the tide of World War II and changed the course of history.  The largest amphibious invasion in history—Operation Overlord—was achieved through meticulous planning, utilizing 13,000 aircraft and gliders, 23,400 paratroopers, 5,000 ships and landing craft, and roughly 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops. 

By nightfall, the valiance and intrepidity of the Allied soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and merchant mariners had carried the day, establishing beachheads on all five of the landing beaches – Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold, and Juno.  This victory, though, was achieved at great cost.  More than 9,000 Allied service members were killed or wounded that day, to ensure that freedom would once again prevail over the European continent.

On the 81st anniversary of D-day, we pause to pay homage to the warfighters whose indescribable valor, fierce determination, and unwavering patriotism delivered this pivotal victory for the global cause of freedom.  The monumental victory forged on land, at sea, and in the skies of Normandy led to the liberation of Europe, the defeat of the evil Nazi regime, and the preservation of democracy. 

We are grateful for those young men who answered their nations’ calls and faced the carnage of war in order to defeat tyranny—and we are eternally indebted to the souls who gave their lives in this noble struggle.  It is our solemn obligation to remember their heroic stories, honor their sacrifices, and ensure that the freedom for which they died for may never again be in peril.”

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That puts that to rest. During a White House press briefing today, Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt was asked if Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy notified President Trump in advance of the attack on Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers. Leavitt replied curtly, “he was not.”

Prompted Video:

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First the cliff notes version: There’s an important detail to remember.  People are laughing at the long-range Russian bombers being left out in the open, vulnerable to attack. However, the bomber visibility is required as part of several nuclear agreements between the USA and Russia (SALT and START).  Our U.S. long range nuclear capable bombers, covered under the same agreements, are also visible.

Ukraine President Zelenskyy is playing with fire by targeting them, which also explains why Zelenskyy never told President Trump in advance.

The U.S and NATO have provided the means. However, #1) did Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just exploit a vulnerability by targeting Russian long-range nuclear capable bombers?  and #2) was the CIA and NATO intelligence community a willfully blind participant knowing they would benefit?

Both the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), call for U.S. and Russian long range nuclear capable bombers to remain “visible and observable by national technical means of verification.”  That open visibility creates a mutual vulnerability as well as a method of surveillance and verification for both the USA and Russian Federation.

[Article III, Paragraph 7, START Treaty Overview]

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and by extension his NATO enablers, just exploited that SALT/START vulnerability and used drones to attack Russian bombers covered by USA-Russia treaties.  There are reports (and videos) now surfacing from inside Russia showing the Russian Federation moving strategic long-range mobile missile launchers into position for a counterattack against Ukraine.

This situation is obviously very fluid and let us all hope that President Trump and President Putin are in communication about this escalation as created by Zelenskyy and his enablers, even if -and probably especially if- our own intelligence agencies are part of the enabling.

Think about the ramifications of NATO enabled Ukraine targeting major Russian military assets which are vulnerable only because they are part of a previously agreed U.S-Russia negotiation to remain vulnerable.  In essence, an argument can be made by Russia that NATO -and by extension us- have targeted nuclear capable missile systems, and those systems were protected by the SALT/START treaties.  How would we respond if an adversary launched a strike against our strategic long-range nuclear capable bombers in the USA?

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The basic outline of what took place are now a bit clearer.  In what was called “Operation Spider Web” Ukraine counterintelligence operatives staged a series of semi-trucks near five strategic air bases deep inside Russia.  The trucks were loaded with explosive drones, and the drones came out and attacked the bases.  Most of the truck drivers and drone operators were captured by Russian military. It was a suicide mission.

According to Ukraine government officials the mission was a big success; however, the claim of 40 strategic long-range Russian bombers being destroyed seems more like a PR narrative than likely actual outcome.

Factually, it was a counterintelligence success to pull off such a well-coordinated significant operation deep inside the Russian Federation.  However, on the other hand this operation outlines how Russia is more like the USA than people think as it relates to the locations of their military bases and the vulnerable proximity around them.

Most Americans think of Russia as some form of locked-down totalitarian state where every square inch is under strict surveillance.  My recent travels throughout Russia highlight exactly the opposite.  Russia is far more open and unmonitored; yes, even around military bases, than our own country.  There is not a big matrix of surveillance around the Russian Federation at all.

Some of the five known attacks took place 2,000km deep into Russia. According to Axios, “Ukrainian intelligence agents launched 117 attack drones from trucks that have been covertly placed near Russian air bases — some of them in Siberia — thousands of kilometers from Ukraine. Around 40 Russian military planes — most of them strategic bombers — were reportedly hit in the attack. Zelensky said 34% of Russias strategic bombers were hit.”

I doubt the accuracy of that “40” hit target number with 117 drones; yet even if true, not all the targeted aircraft would be completely disabled.

According to CBS, “The drones hit airfields including the Belaya air base in Russia’s Irkutsk region, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. It is the first time that a Ukrainian drone has been seen in the region, local Gov. Igor Kobzev told AP, stressing that it did not present a threat to civilians. While White House spokespeople declined to comment on the attack, administration sources told CBS News on Sunday that the White House was not aware it was coming.”

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