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Sunday July 12th – Open Thread

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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Media Apoplectic at DOJ and FBI Investigating Four New York Times Reporters for Compromising President Trump Security During Turkey Visit

Generally speaking, CTH is against the Dept of Justice filing warrants and subpoenas against journalists.  However, in this case the actions are warranted.   If this was the Obama or Biden DOJ taking action against journalists, yes, CTH would support the govt side – on this specific point.

The issue surrounds four journalists for The New York Times who filed a public report that President Trump’s new Airforce One airplane did not have anti-missile defense systems at the time it was used in the trip to the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey.

Beyond the issue of the reported leak to the media, the FBI requested the NYT not to publish their article as it would compromise the presidential security detail in a designated hostile environment.  The NYT refused to withhold their reporting and did so specifically with the intent on compromising the security of a United States President.  There is no circumstance where that type of journalistic motive is okay; regardless of who is President.

From the Times perspective, their report reflected an opportunity to cast snark at President Trump’s decision to convert a gifted Airforce One from Qatar.  Additionally, the New York Times knew their report would put the lives of those aboard the airplane at risk.  The journalists went forward specifically knowing the report could lead to a severe security compromise.

NEW YORK TIMES – The Trump administration issued subpoenas on Friday to several journalists for The New York Times, after the news outlet reported this week on security concerns involving President Trump’s new Qatari-donated Air Force One.

The subpoenas — which seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday — were an extraordinary escalation in President Trump’s efforts to threaten and intimidate independent news organizations.

In some cases, the subpoenas were delivered by federal agents who showed up at reporters’ homes.

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U.S-Canada Strike Deal on New Gordie Howe International Bridge – Opening Date July 27th

The issue was never really about Canada tolling; the real issue was about ‘cost overruns’ against the backdrop of how the tolling revenue was being used for repayment to the govt of Canada.  It’s a rather sticky situation.

The Canadian government backstopped the financing of the bridge construction.  The deal was that Canada would use tolling to pay the govt back and subsequent tolls would split 50/50 with U.S.  However, cost overruns made the Canadian payback a little less clear as the govt expected more revenue than originally proposed.  Sketchy.

[SOURCE]

The deal currently being revealed as a compromise includes an immediate 50/50 split where Canada gets 50 per cent of the toll profits — after operational expenses — and the other half will go to a U.S-run regional development project for a 15-year time frame.

According to Global News, “The agreement also requires the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority to consult the U.S. on any toll changes greater than 10 per cent, the source said, or if it’s looking to lower tolls below those of comparable regional averages.”  Additionally, in Politico “they will guarantee and ensure that we’re not pouring Chinese cars over that bridge.”

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Promethean PAC Visits Trump Policy Contrast Against Energy Priorities

Barbara Boyd argues Trump is pursuing peace talks with Iran while warning the ceasefire is over and the U.S. will respond with crushing force if Iran interferes in the Strait of Hormuz. She says media claims that Trump is a warmonger are false, citing Trump’s regional “Board of Peace,” Iran’s long-term proxy war through Hamas and Hezbollah, and Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear ambitions.

The script describes U.S. strikes—Operation Midnight Hammer (2025) and Operation Epic Fury (Feb. 2026)—and claims these actions weakened Iran, shifted Gulf states against Tehran, enabled changes in Gaza and Lebanon, and collapsed Iran’s economy, leaving Hormuz harassment as its main lever. Boyd frames the conflict as part of a broader struggle against a London-centered “petrodollar” energy order and Net Zero policies, highlighting Trump’s energy expansion, economic metrics, and new nuclear and fusion initiatives as the future economic strategy.  WATCH:

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Turkey Gave NATO Leaders Handguns as Gifts – EU Leaders Don’t Know What to Do

Personally, I believe Turkish President Recep Erdogan knew exactly what would happen when he gave all the NATO leaders a “Magnum” .357 handgun at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey.  What happened next is exactly the reason he did it.

President Trump brings Erdogan’s gift back to the White House, with a casual ‘cool gun’ nonchalant approach.  Meanwhile, back in Europe, the apoplectic recipients, administrators’, various office bureaucracies and support staff that surround each NATO politician are physically and mentally stuck, not knowing what to do.

I have read many of the media reports, and they are incredibly funny -and sad- but mostly funny {SEE HERE}.

The general response is that President Erdogan has just handed the NATO leaders something akin to an unstable, portable nuclear device.  Most of the European’s won’t even touch the custom case that accompanies the handgun, let alone actually touch the alarmingly scary pistol itself.

THE MESSAGE – AGAINST THE BACKDROP: How is NATO going to “defend itself” if they cannot even receive, handle or carry a firearm?  A poignant and not-s0-subtle message that is more than a little funny; in a typically Turkish manner of irony.

The main NATO request in Turkey was for U.S. patriot missiles. {CITATION} Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union commission president, thanked Erdogan for the gift, which will be decommissioned and donated to a military museum, her spokesperson said. […] “It struck me that ⁠my gift of maple syrup kind of undermatched,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters, adding that the firearm was now in police possession. “I would like to reassure Canadians, they keep guns away from me.” {CITATION}

Sometimes life makes you feel like you are sitting alone, looking at the geopolitical world – and no one can see the absurdity of it all.  We need advanced weapons to protect ourselves against the horrible Russians, NATO proclaimed.

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July 11th – 2026 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 538

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Saturday July 11th – Open Thread

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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Rubio Deports Alien Child Rapist Protected by Minnesota Governor

There’s something in the background of this story we are not being told. An illegal immigrant child rapist, Tou Lue Vang (42) was on the way to being deported after his arrest and prosecution for raping a 10-year-old child.  For some reason, just before his deportation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stepped in and pardoned Mr Vang.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio then changes the legal immigration status of Mr Vang, deports him out of the country and does a video announcement about it.  What is it about Mr Vang that warrants such highly visible conduct from U.S officials.

RUBIO – “Just weeks ago, a foreign child rapist was freed to once again endanger America’s children after receiving a pardon from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Tou Lue Vang admitted to committing heinous crimes against a 10-year-old girl in Minnesota.

He attempted to pay his victim for her silence and dismissed his acts of child abuse as a “minor thing.” Just days before he was scheduled to be deported, the Minnesota Governor pardoned him, setting him free to endanger American families once again.

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Volkswagen Will Eliminate Almost Half of Production Models After Losing Market Share to China

The European auto industry is a case study on how short-sighted trade policy goals, results in consequences.

Previously, German auto companies like Volkswagen entered into trade agreements with China and began manufacturing their vehicles with immediate financial success in the market.  However, it did not take long for Chinese auto companies to reverse the engineering and begin to deliver the same quality vehicles at much lower prices.

The Chinese then stop purchasing the Volkswagen vehicles and purchase the cheaper version, while simultaneously begin exporting those same vehicles into the home market from where the technology originated.

Today, with a double-digit decline in production, Volkswagen announces they will cut almost half of their models due to diminished sales.

BLOOMBERG – BERLIN — Volkswagen reported weak sales numbers on Friday, a day after the giant German automaker announced plans to slash the number of models by nearly half as sales plunged, particularly in China.

The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said group sales fell 8.6 per cent in the second quarter to just under 2.1 million vehicles, with sales in China alone plummeted by more than one-third.

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President Trump Will Not Sign Section 8 Expanding Housing Bill – Auto Effect Midnight Tonight

The House of Representatives formally transmitted the Housing Act bill to President Trump last week. The delivery sets in motion a 10-day period where the bill becomes law without action from the president.

The legislation goes into effect at midnight tonight.

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, which is polling at 97% with the Republican Party, and very high with the non-politician Dumocrats. The Act states, quite simply, that to Vote a person must show PHOTO VOTER I.D., PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE CROOKED, CORRUPT, & DESTABILIZING MAIL-IN BALLOTS (EXCEPTIONS for Military, Disabled, Illness, and Travel!). THE SAVE AMERICA ACT’S non-passage is CRAZY, and a serious threat to any politician who votes against it!

If the Dumocrats, or any RINO (or worse!) working with them, do not allow a positive Vote on SAVE AMERICA, TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, and pass this, and every other Bill that true Republicans have ever dreamt of (In addition to the upcoming Budget BOMB and the 1929 catastrophic style DEBT CEILING BILL!). The Dumocrats will TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, if and when they ever get the chance to do so, in their very first hour – And I will no longer be able to call them Dumocrats again! The title of DUMB will revert to the Republicans who allowed this horrible calamity to happen to our Party, and our Nation, itself! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

~ President DONALD J. TRUMP

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