White House NEC Director Kevin Hassett gives an update on the current status of trade negotiations around the world.  After finishing a CNBC interview (also linked below) Director Hassett noted that Asia was likely to be the next place for an announcement following the completion of the United Kingdom deal.

Hassett outlines that approximately “two dozen” bilateral free trade agreements are completed within the reciprocity framework, and the sequencing of announcements is up to President Trump.  Japan, South Korea and ASEAN nations would be candidates for the next deal as announced. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer are currently in Switzerland and will be meeting with their Chinese counterparts to begin the first point of discussion. WATCH:

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The press availability above comes immediately following a more extensive CNBC interview which is outlined below.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has won a $1.375 billion settlement from Google as a result of the state suing the tech company for continued privacy violations. [Press Release Here]

TEXAS – […] In 2022, Attorney General Paxton sued Google for unlawfully tracking and collecting users’ private data regarding geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric data. After years of aggressive litigation, Attorney General Paxton agreed to settle Texas’s data-privacy claims against Google for an amount that far surpasses any other state’s claims for similar violations.

To date, no state has attained a settlement against Google for similar data-privacy violations greater than $93 million. Even a multistate coalition that included forty states secured just $391 million—almost a billion dollars less than Texas’s recovery.

“In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law. For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This $1.375 billion settlement is a major win for Texans’ privacy and tells companies that they will pay for abusing our trust. I will always protect Texans by stopping Big Tech’s attempts to make a profit by selling away our rights and freedoms.” (more)

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Previously we watched Brussels organize pro-EU rallies in Great Britain (they lost), Hungary (they lost), the Netherlands (they lost), Poland (they won), Georgia (they lost), Moldova (they won) while Germany & France still in a state of flux.  Now the EU/NATO operation focuses on Romania.

With eurosceptic George Simion winning the first-round election and leading in the polls, the EU/NATO must increase their influence operation, or they lose position.

The largest NATO base is currently being constructed in Romania and Brussels cannot afford to permit the Romanian people to be an impediment to their militaristic progress.

The narrative is the same each time; if the citizens of the targeted country vote to support their own nationalistic interests, they are Russian sympathizers.

The pro-EU rally organizers are the same people who showed up in Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Tblisi.

BUCHAREST, May 9 (Reuters) – Thousands of people rallied in Romania’s capital, Bucharest, and other cities in support of the European Union on Friday, one week before a presidential election run-off that could see a hard-right eurosceptic sweep into power.

Hard-right nationalist George Simion won the first round of the presidential ballot on Sunday, and an opinion survey earlier this week showed him leading ahead of the May 18 run-off vote against centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

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Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka and three congressional representatives, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver attempted a political stunt at a local ICE detention facility in Newark.  Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested.

The intention of the group was to shut down deportation operations at Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed detention facility used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the removal process for illegal aliens. Baraka, Coleman, Menendez and McIver created a public disturbance as part of their stunt and trespassed on federal facilities.

As an outcome, Mayor Ras Baraka was handcuffed and led away by federal authorities as the agitated crowd tried to fight the police and federal officials. WATCH:

NEW JERSEY – […] The arrest followed a chaotic scene in the facility’s parking lot involving protestors, federal law enforcement officers and the three members — Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver — at Delaney Hall. The Trump administration reopened the 1,00-bed facility this month to house migrants amid a lawsuit from the city against the private operator, GEO Group, alleging it does not have the proper inspections and permits. GEO group has denied that allegation.

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White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller held an impromptu press availability at the White House to discuss ongoing immigration enforcement and the deportation program repatriating illegal aliens. Miller also discusses the U.S. refugee program to support white South Africans who are being targeted and killed.  The first set of 54 refugees are scheduled to arrive soon.

In addition, Mr Miller outlines the basic framework of the ongoing trade deals that are being constructed.   WATCH:

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing from the Brady Room at the White House.  Anticipated start time 1:00pm ET. Livestream Links Below.

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One of the least understood dynamics about how the DC silos operate, pertains to review and investigative work done by government officials into government misconduct.  In essence, special counsels, special investigators and appointed special prosecutors do not look at government activity if that activity can be framed as political.  The silos protect themselves from external review.

As a consequence, the only administrative review of government misconduct happens when the silos look internally at their own agency.  In this short video below Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard outlines that 11 internal investigations are ongoing to target Intelligence Community officials, staff and employees who are leaking classified information to the media.

After the internal review, the DNI then sends (criminal) referrals to Main Justice and the FBI if warranted.  Currently three criminal referrals have been sent to the FBI/DOJ as eleven investigations continue.  WATCH:

DNI GABBARD REVEALS 11 PENDING INVESTIGATIONS INTO INTEL LEAKS AND UNDERMINING OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

U.S. Director of National Intelligence @DNIGabbard reveals to @MattGaetz “we have 11 other internal investigations ongoing now within ODNI and we intend to continue to… pic.twitter.com/s0SAwTQIjt

— One America News (@OANN) May 9, 2025

TRANSCRIPT … […] “as I said, the politicization of our intelligence community needs to end—to even begin to start to earn the trust of the American people. The actions that we’ve taken—unfortunately—there continue to be significant leaks coming out of the intelligence community. Not only my organization, but the CIA and others—again, by those who are very directly trying to undermine the agenda and actions of President Trump. Once again, the President who was elected by the American people with an overwhelming mandate.

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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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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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Ancillary to the takeover of the Columbia University library ¹yesterday that led to the subsequent arrest of dozens of campus chaos agents, Acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman has announced a decision to terminate 180 paid research staff.

The termination of employment comes as a result of the Trump administration withdrawing funding for the University.

COLUMBIA PRESS RELEASE – […] “Across the research portfolio we have had to make difficult choices and unfortunately, today, nearly 180 of our colleagues who have been working, in whole or in part, on impacted federal grants, will receive notices of non-renewal or termination. This represents about 20% of the individuals who are funded in some manner by the terminated grants.”

Instead of using their endowment to retain staff, the University terminates them.

¹Additionally, it is now being reported that Columbia University leadership knew in advance of the pro-Hamas protest group that planned to take over the school library.  The University chose to allow the confrontation on campus that ended with the arrest of the group.

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