CNN state media narrative engineers (think State Dept. in all things CNN) are running with a story to promote a new book by Josh Dawsey (Wall Street Journal – Author), Tyler Pager (New York Times – Author), Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post – Author) where they write about an audio segment by candidate Trump telling NY donors how he threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping.

The leaked audio is essentially unremarkable as President Trump has told this story several times. However, the background context is more interesting when we consider the motives of the WSJ, NYT and WaPo. Here’s the segment:

The WSJ is against President Trump based on economics; WSJ representing Wall Street. The NYT is against President Trump based on DHS/DOJ domestic opposition from within DC. The WaPo is against President Trump based on the CIA position and larger intelligence community. None of the motives within these outlets are challenged by the intellectually honest political observers.

So, what’s the play here?

(more…)

Some thoughts on what I would call ‘modern warfare’ for citizen preppers.  Some of this experience may pertain to urban areas, some perhaps pertinent overall.

Dimitri’s wife is grabbing her purse to go to the grocery store, when he casually says “it’s 5:45.” She just as ordinarily replies, “I’ve got cash.”  Dimitri sees the slightly puzzled look on my face and flippantly notes, “they turn off the internet at six thirty now,” shrugs, and goes back to reading his paper.

Perhaps similar to London life during the blitz. Various municipal govts coordinated the shut down of lights and people wait. Others got about doing what they needed to do, sirens notwithstanding.

There is a familiar life amid modern drone warfare, and with the similar control of electricity comes the need to add internet.

When the drones are coming they turn off the internet.

As I contemplate the contrasts in social resilience, my most familiar reference point is life after a hurricane.  In Florida when we are dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane, no power, no water, no internet, etc., you adapt to life without modern technological conveniences.

If you’ve ever lived amid the aftermath of natural disasters, you understand the need for a plan and quick adaptation. Do it a few times and adaption becomes ordinary. Horrible in ways, yes; awkward, certainly. But you take things in stride; overcome, figure out the optimal solution and keep moving.  However, not everyone is prepared to consider a disruption an ‘inconvenience’ and many people who need consistency to retain stability end up in panic.  I think long term readers well understand the reference.

As Dimitri goes back to the paper my mind shifts to stuff I’ve heard in bits and pieces but never given context before.

I think about this U.S. ‘Space Force’ thing, and now realize there are people who have gamed out modern warfare more than we discuss as a western technological society.

(more…)

President Trump held an impromptu presser aboard Air Force One traveling to New Jersey after July 4th celebrations. Interesting comments about Ukraine and Russia as President Trump took several questions.

At 07:51, “Mr President, are you confident you will be able to find a way to end the fighting in Ukraine?”  President Trump responds, “That’s an interesting question”….  WATCH:

.

(more…)

Huge win.  President Donald J Trump is officially unleashed.  Good stuff.

The final vote to pass the Big Beautiful Bill was 218 to 214.  The vote was almost entirely along party lines. Only Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-Ukraine) and Thomas Massie (KY-Sea Isl) joined Democrats in opposition to the bill.

.

Hang on to your bootstraps folks, your ability to withstand extreme winning is soon to be tested.

Who gets the first call?

(more…)

… Put yourself in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s shoes against the backdrop of 35 previously exiled Russian officials from the United States as a result of the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment and Joint Analysis Report {BACKGROUND}.

QUESTION: What exactly would Vladimir Putin think about this admission from the CIA?

[Source]

CIA Director John Ratcliffe admits the former CIA and FBI fabricated the intelligence that led to the expulsion of Russian officials under the false premise of Russia “hacking” the 2016 election.  Why now?

How would Putin interpret this very public message?

Then, consider the sequence….

(more…)

If my data alignment points are accurate, now that the BBB is passed through the Senate we are likely to see some very major geopolitical changes come rushing to the surface.

Keep watching and let’s see if things happen the way we expect.

WASHINGTON DC – The Pentagon has halted shipments of some air defense missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine due to worries that U.S. weapons stockpiles have fallen too low.

[…] In a statement following the publication of this story, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said that the decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe. The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.”

Included among the items being pulled back are missiles for Patriot air defense systems, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire and other missiles that Ukraine launches from its F-16 fighters and drones.

The losses will surely be felt on the ground as Ukraine continues to beat back fresh assaults by Russian forces. (read more)

In related news not getting attention, French President Emmanuel Macron had a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin today. [LINK]  Also, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the president of Azerbaijan today, an ally of Putin [LINK]. Azerbaijan is to Russia as Mexico is to the United States.

(more…)

President Trump discusses the last two weeks with Fox News Maria Bartiromo.  The interview is broken down into a few segments below.  WATCH:

.

In the second segment below, President Trump discusses the Big Beautiful Bill.

(more…)

Russian President Vladimir Putin answered questions from the media earlier.  One of the questions was about President Trump against the backdrop of peace efforts, the middle-east conflict and Ukraine.

President Putin’s response is very interesting.  I am placing here as a datapoint for my own analysis without reading too much into it at the moment.  All of the points are converging in one direction.  WATCH: 

BREAKING: Putin says he deeply respects Trump, whom he describes as a courageous person who’s trying to do the right thing by bringing about world peace.

“I believe he truly wants peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, though it may be harder than he expected.” pic.twitter.com/utXlbaiPNf

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 27, 2025

.

Congratulations Treepers.  If you have followed the discussions [SEE HERE] you can see how we are on the cusp of a big geopolitical change.  GET THE BBB PASSED and things begin to unfold.  All of the datapoints go in one direction.

(more…)

U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, who was appointed by Joe Biden, has departed her position in Moscow as U.S. Ambassador to Russia.  There has been no announced name for replacement. [¹Get the friggin’ BBB passed!]

Remember, in the last 20+ years, no American official has spent more face-to-face time with Vladimir Putin than U.S. Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff.  On behalf of President Trump Witkoff has held multiple meetings and discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin lasting more than 4 and 5 hours at a time.  U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy was not present.

Do not forget, nor overlook this baseline fact.

MOSCOW, June 27 (Reuters) – Lynne Tracy, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, is leaving Moscow, her embassy said on Friday, noting she had served through one of the most strained periods in relations between Moscow and Washington.

The departure of a career diplomat appointed under the administration of former president Joe Biden comes as Russia and the United States discuss a potential reset in their ties which sharply deteriorated after Moscow launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022.

(more…)

Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff deserves a great deal of credit for what followed in the aftermath of President Trump’s final elimination of the Iranian nuclear threat.  Throughout the 12-day war, Witkoff maintained a diplomatic connection to the Iranian delegation in order to position a ceasefire upon conclusion.

The Trump administration is now taking a more firm stance toward who in Iran they will accept negotiations with.  As noted by Secretary Rubio, the use of intermediaries has exhausted its usefulness.  While Qatar may play a role as an interlocutor to bridge the two sides, the time has come for direct face-to-face discussions with Iranian officials.

With the potential of a peace agreement and increased stability throughout the region, there is an opportunity for an expanded investment and economic zone throughout the middle east, not just in Iran.  As CTH noted regarding the threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, technically it is not the Iranian government who closes the strait, but rather the maritime insurance companies who refuse to underwrite an enlarged risk.  The same concept applies when the absence of conflict becomes the norm.  Steve Witkoff draws attention to this background context within his remarks.

An ancillary benefit in the Russia-Ukraine conflict comes from a very public display of FAFO outcomes.  None of the principle characters within NATO, the EU, the U.K nor Ukraine or Russia want to face the Godzilla FAFO strategy that President Trump is willing to deploy.

The reason why the NATO partners responded with great deference to President Trump in the Netherlands is no global observer wants to face Godzilla in FAFO mode, militarily or economically.  Even before the dust settled from 70 tons of massive ordnance detonation deep underground in Iran the leaders of the world knew things would be different now.

How different?  We saw the outcome at the Hague.

(more…)