Germany is the largest economy in the E.U. However, due to a confluence of horrible events, most of them self-created as an outcome of ridiculous energy production decisions, the German industrial economy has been contracting since 2022.

Into this downward spiral of negative economic events within Germany, now comes the problem of President Trump eager to eliminate the Marshal Plan of one-way tariffs and start dealing with the trade inequities.  The German industrial manufacturing companies who make up the majority of the economic output are concerned, very concerned.

Within the discussion suddenly something appears that all Western financial pundits have yet to accept. Leo Barincou, a senior economist at Oxford Economics in Paris says:

[…] limited tariffs on selected products, such as cars, chemicals and agricultural products, may not be too much of a problem, Barincou says. A rising dollar, and hence a falling value of the euro, would offset some of the harm caused by the tariffs. “At a macro level, the impact would be limited,” he says. (read more)

Yep, here we go again.

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Julie Kelly shares the following from her Twitter account:

I just spoke with John Lauro, President Trump’s attorney in the J6 case in Washington, about the nomination of Pam Bondi as the next attorney general.

“Pam is a dear friend of 35 years. She is a friend and a colleague–we grew up together in the law.

I can’t think of a better nominee for the country on every level than Pam. There is no one more honest and who cares about the rule of law more than she does. She is a true patriot and does not have a political agenda. She has core integrity that makes her one of the best attorney general nominees ever.

No other lawyer in the United States has the president’s confidence more than Pam. She cares deeply about the president and the president’s agenda. Pam will do everything lawfully to carry out that agenda.

The president trusts her legal judgement completely and totally. Pam has the president’s complete trust. And she will do what’s best for the country.

Her legal capability is first rate–she will always do the right thing and tell the president the right thing.

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This will not end well.

[Source]

Implying that Robert F Kennedy Jr is the guy in charge, is not likely to make President Donald Trump pleased.

It would have been better if Ramaswamy said, “I am impressed with the team President Trump is building to support Robert F Kennedy Jr.”  Not vice-versa.

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Boy howdy, this article by The Associated Press is very telling.

First, it’s worth remembering that in the fine print of the USMCA deal, Mexico and Canada must comply with North American parts origination for anything they want to manufacture for sale into the United States.  Meaning, all trade manufacturers must either create their component parts domestically, or purchase them from the U.S, Mexico and Canada. It’s the core point of the USMCA trade agreement.

Secondly, in an aspect exclusive to the U.S. part of the deal that President Trump and USTR Lighthizer insisted upon, if either Canada or Mexico are deemed to be non-compliant with the agreement, the USA can cancel/override any trade agreement Mexico or Canada have with another nation.  It’s a heavy accountability hammer securing the gate into the massive USA market.

In an AP report today, Mexico is scrambling to find local or North American sources of parts and components, because President Trump is set to come into office and look at USMCA compliance.  Apparently, Mexico has been using excessive amounts of Chinese component parts for goods being sent into the USA and Canada.  Now they are quickly trying to source alternatives.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has been taking a bashing lately for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America, and officials here are afraid a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could try to leave their country out of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.

Mexico’s ruling Morena party is so afraid of losing the trade deal that President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday the government has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones.

“We have a plan with the aim of substituting these imports that come from China, and producing the majority of them in Mexico, either with Mexican companies or primarily North American companies,” Sheinbaum said.

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Apparently the widely circulated rumor of Kelly Loeffler for the job was wrong; or, there was a change of plan.  Regardless, President Trump has just announced Brooke Rollins as the nominee for Secretary of Agriculture.

“From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.”

[Source]

Brooke Rollins served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration. After leaving the administration Rollins co-founded the America First Policy Institute think tank and was the President and CEO of the organization.

Mrs Rollins will predictably play a vital role in protection and support of American farmers as President Trump confronts the global world of trade and tariffs.

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“This was no small thing, to restore a republic after it had fallen into corruption. I have studied history for years and I cannot recall it ever happening. It may have been that our task was impossible. Yet, if we did not try then how would we know it could not be done? And if we did not try, it most certainly would not be done. The Founders’ Republic, and the larger war for western civilization, would have been lost.”

“But I tell you this: We did not go gently into that bloody collectivist good night. Indeed, we made with our defiance such a sound as ALL history from this day forward will be forced to note, even if they despise us in the writing of it.”

~ Mike Vanderboegh (adapted)

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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Providing the baselines so the discussion can happen in the comments.  President Trump announced his nominees for Surgeon General, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

More than likely, nominated HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr had a key voice in recommending some of these names.  Perhaps not, but RFK Jr and Elon Musk are currently living in Mar-a-Lago for a reason.  So, here’s the nominees as outlined starting with the Surgeon General.

[Source]

FDA Commissioner:

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President Trump has announced the nomination of Teamsters union favorite Lori Chavez-DeRemer for U.S. Labor Secretary. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien backed Chavez-DeRemer for the cabinet position, and the alignment with the blue-collar union base made her a natural fit.

[SOURCE]

Look for many pro-labor Democrats to support this nomination.  Several major unions in Oregon endorsed Chavez-DeRemer’s reelection bid this year, but she lost to Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum in one of the most competitive house races in 2024.

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President Donald Trump has announced Scott Bessent as nominee for U.S. Treasury Secretary. The Secretary of Treasury implements tax policy, manages the nation’s debt, leads financial regulators, monitors and executes sanctions and conducts economic diplomacy. While the U.S. trade representative takes the lead on tariffs, the Treasury secretary typically plays a key role advising on that issue as well.

[SOURCE]

Bessent (62) is a hedge Fund manager, the founder of investment firm Key Square Capital Management.  Despite supporting President Trump early, he has faced criticism for working as the CIO at George Soros’s Soros Fund Management from 2011 to 2015. He lives in Charleston, S.C.

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