Trump signs the Iran MOU at Versailles and tells the G7 "I'm the boss." Plus: the study admitting remote work made us miserable, the feds' war on jobless-fraud, and Europe votes to send them back.
No. But I'll let you guess why Trump delayed the release of the MOU.
It was to get the Ds and the Pravda to demonstrate they have no idea what's going on, thereby exposing them as frauds, anti-american, imbeciles & liars.
Brilliant. But easy for a person paying attention to understand the strategy.
It gives one cause to remember the very many voices all claiming, in tones of terror, "this deadly disease" (stress increasing on the middle word). So many different voices. So many voices speaking the same message.
I wonder too if the Trump admin leaked different details about the when and how of the signing to catch another leaker (similar to the Camp David meeting leak a few weeks back).
He certified a fraudulent election. He committed treason and should face justice,...unless he was playing a role at Trump's request. Anything's possible.
More likely, Pence was a plant by the Establishment Republicans' to keep eyes on Trump and report back! Much like they did with Reagan/Bush as VP and Nixon/Ford as VP.
In reading this I was struck with another thought: what if the point of this was to get Congress to ENDORSE a continuing war against Iran, rather than opposing it?
Holy cow I hope you’re wrong. We have been at war my entire adult life. Enough young people’s physical and mental health has been sacrificed. We need to be done.
Jeff, this was a sharp roundup. One of the reasons your work hit early during covid is that you’ve always had a good instinct for where the real machinery sits—coercive overreach, incentive distortion, and the administrative‑state cracks most people don’t see until they’re standing in them.
If we zoom out one level, the pattern across all these stories is the same: incentives shifted, cost‑bearing returned, and the underlying structure snapped back into alignment.
Iran: the MOU isn’t a peace deal, it’s a tempo device—pause the conflict, run out the midterm leverage, reset the field.
Remote work: technocrats externalized the downstream costs; once institutions had to bear those costs again, the narrative collapsed.
Unemployment fraud: emergency‑era throughput incentives created a crack; reintroducing friction closes it.
EU migration: USAID’s shutdown removed the subsidy that kept the system distorted; once Europe had to carry its own weight, policy flipped overnight.
Different domains, same mechanism: remove the subsidy → collapse the crack → the system reverts to sanity. And by “crack,” I mean the place where incentives misalign — the gap where someone extracts value without bearing cost. Close the crack and the system snaps back to coherence.
That’s the real through‑line here. Not ideology. Not personalities. Just structure reasserting itself after a long extractive cycle. The story isn’t just that things are turning around—it’s why they’re turning around. When the incentive field changes, the politics follow like iron filings.
Great breakdown Paul. I retired full time just prior to Covid. Then found a parttime job. I worked without a taking any time off for Covid. I watched former employees totally abuse work from home. I also found many people around me start to "substance abuse". Amazing with all the shutdowns, liquor stores were booming.
I want to see the turn around. I want to see people communicating without the "which side of Covid are you on" and are you Pro or Anti Trump.
Sadly, it will take time, but I am seeing movement.
"Amazing with all the shutdowns, liquor stores were booming."
That was part of the design of the program. You recall liquor stores were "essential businesses" - but churches were not. Walmart was "essential", but the local Mom & Pop stores were forced to close.
I love work from home. I retired before covid, but my husband no longer had to commute 100 miles a day, to sit in his office, alone, working. I'm supposed to believe that just having people in other offices around him makes him mentally healthy? Standing around the water cooler? Oh, that's right, everyone carries their own plastic bottle of water nowadays.
I'm pretty sure that his mental health was not affected by working from home. I call bs on that claim. It's right up there with "Video games cause heart attacks".
As someone who had to commute to work my entire career, I can tell you that sitting in traffic for an hour, after you've worked all night, fighting sleep, is no recipe for mental health. It is exhausting and miserable.
Please …..quit trying to fit all people into your idea of the right way ! We're all different and one size does not fit all . That works for you but not all !
ha ha, I'm with you Mrs RW. I thoroughly enjoy my solitude. If I need to see people, I'll head on out to the brew pub for a pint and watch them from my table.
I am a physician so my work life was unchanged during Covid. I still went to the office M-F. There were some patients who stayed away from the office but others came in for seemingly minor things. I think it was more for the social interaction. People were starving for human interaction. We are not meant to be isolated.
There are many jobs that happen behind keyboards and phone meetings/zoom. My concern would be for those in lock-downed Cities and np land of their own to give them access to the earth, sun, birds, pets.
Back in the 2000's after completing a 9 month remodeling project, of which I designed and oversaw crews and most decisions and choices, I sank into a cocoon of comfort next to a remote controlled gas fireplace. Now this was a much deserved Winter rest, but come Spring, the home across the street and t the right of mine both began projects that lasted more than a year. So, no peaceful gardening (no vitamin D production), Strangers in trucks, jackhammers, nail guns, concrete trucks, etc.,(noise 8 hours /day, 5-6 days per week).
I emerged from that with depression, likely induced by giving up outside time in my garden, which was also exercise! Couple that with my walking partner taking a more demanding job and the kids becoming more independent.
I can definitely see how the isolation and lack of peaceful access to nature can cause depression!
I believe the study showed that specifically people who live ALONE had significantly negative impact: “Remote workers living alone spent entire days without human contact,” the summary stated, “and their mental distress, use of mental healthcare, and antidepressants increased acutely.” This would exclude people like your husband who obviously had human contact every day despite his working from home. I myself think that there are people who would do just fine living alone and working from home but I am sure there are many who would be better off with at least one person eyeballing them every day to make sure they are still okay. We are social creatures, and human contact is good for us for the most part.
Our daughter had finally worked her way and earned the credentials to land a GS 14 working for the Coast Guard. Her dream job. All they asked of her was to make sure any and all regulatory issues were cleared when they came up. Otherwise, show up and just amuse yourself. She was not happy that she was not included in their meetings, like HR was excluded too. . She wanted the social interaction so much she was looking for another job after less than 2 months. Then she blew her brains out. People are different , so I can vouch for at least one person who both refused to take a job where she always worked from home, or have a job without being part of the group. And this was before the Covid lockdowns . .
I've seen this with many women who go from working to staying home when they have kids. We started SAHM groups and tried to scoop up the ones with newborns even before they gave birth. Our best one was a fitness group that met 3x weekly plus on weekends once a month. It's a very isolating exsistence if you don't have friends/family around you, helping you and giving you someone to talk to. It was very concerning when everyone suddenly went to WFH with no support.
I agree! I'm not much of a joiner, but I stayed involved in the kids' school, with PTA, music programs, fundraising, field trips and other filling other creative needs the school community had need of. The trouble comes when the kids age out of parent participation requirements. Then it helps to find p/t work.
Rolandttg, I am so sorry for your loss. We are all different indeed. Many elderly & retirees also struggle if they have been accustomed to having contact with many then suddenly, there is no one around and they feel there is nothing to strive for.
I know personally about one tiny example of what I consider unemployment fraud, so if this could happen imagine the magnitude of what is out there. In 2020 this then 67 year old non-working woman who has not worked since 1995 when she was 42 (she just stopped working and after that lived with her mother, and then when she was 62 she got early social security to live on) applied for "unemployment" and got it with virtually no effort. I was astounded because not only had she not worked for 25 years, she wasn't even looking to work, so I couldn't figure out how on earth she got all that money. I went to the government website and took a look at the application she filled out. The one and only question she had to answer was whether or not Covid was making it difficult to look for and find a job. Yes or no. That's it. Nothing else was asked, not things like "what was your previous job" or "when did you lose your job", nothing. That was it. She had answered "yes" to that question, filled in her name and all relevant information, there was no interview with anyone, no follow-up of any kind, no verification process, and the money started to flow in. I figured she raked in over $10,000 on that program. Disgusting.
Good Grief! In your frist few sentences, I thought you were describing my older sister! That is until you said, "she was collecting Social Security". We tried to get her to fill out the forms, even printed them for her! She has been living off our elderly Mother's meager benefits and using Mum's vehicle, though refusing to take Mum anywhere.
The vehicle is being sold this week and the money cut off next month! When she was told this, she gives the "deer in the headlight", look of disbelief. These people are complete narcissists!
You should definitely report the fraud! These types actually think that others owe them a living.
All of Europe has been subsidized by the US. We have paid for their defense, NATO, the UN, USAID and all the open border insanity, etc. that has allowed them to be open borders, have socialized medical programs, free universities, etc., etc., etc. Now that all of our financial support is ending and they are facing the bills and the consequences of the One World agenda, they are changing their tunes. Finally!!! It is a slow but sure reclaiming of their own national identities and some measure political correction going on to support their own citizens and cultures.
Now we need to continue the work here to ensure free and fair elections and tightening our own borders and clearing judicial house so we can be a nation following our amazing Constitution!
I think the US policy (for the longest time) was to protect our European vacations (all is like Epcot/Disney) and all those lovely, varied cultures. But now I don't get the same kick out of a visit to the Top of Switzerland only to have my lower-quality Rösti meal made and delivered by central Africans. Eurodisney no longer.
Trump's critics, including Pence, do not understand how Trump makes deals, how he establishes peace, how he always wins in spite of naysayers, or how he had all his pieces lined up MONTHS in advance of beginning the Iran operation. I'm glad he didn't wait to sign the MOU on Juneteenth. He likes the number 17, for some reason.
If you’ve read Sun Tzu’s the Art of War, you can understand Trump’s strategy. One is to not do total destruction.
Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.
One big piece that he obviously didn’t have lined up in advance was the closing of the strait, despite our generals warning him about it ahead of time.
I notice Jeff mentioned gas prices dropping, that's good, but will it continue? Yesterday even Trump mentioned 4 weeks of reserve. I don't think Jeff mentioned that; sort of like mentioning Versailles without citing the WWI connotations.
I think people are assuming, now that some ships are moving through the strait, all is back to normal. From what I'm reading, normal is months away. A lot of supposed experts are saying it will get worse before it gets better. I hope they are wrong but I'm living like they are correct.
Which is why he should have filled them up BEFORE he went to war when the prices were low. Planning ahead doesn’t seem to be one of Trump’s strong suits.
I read or heard the same thing. It’s going to take time to get the damaged and shut down wells operating again. In the meantime countries reserves are running out.
Not so. The idea was to have the straight closed, Lloyd's of London (Financial City of London) stop insuring anyone, and have the US take over and deprive the globalists of their oil fear premium.
The terror premium. I don't blame you for being behind, but you need to watch Promethean Action. Someone posted a You-Tube link above. It's usually 3 times a week, Thursdays are long, but most of their videos are 15 minutes. You will understand everything about Iran in one sitting. The "City of London"---the bankers and Lloyds of London have imposed the terror premium around the Strait of Hormuz for decades & made wild money doing it. Trump is asserting the American Sustem & dismantling globalism right in front of their eyes.
Lloyds stopped issuing insurance for ships passing through the straight , so no income from that. Lloyds is Financial City of London (one of the 3 pillars of the globalists) No brainer that globalists know ahead of time what Lloyds is going to do, so they can short or buy puts on oil and make money on that too. Trump took all that away by them freezing themselves out of the market.
By Trump using the USG to insure ships going through the Strait & using the US navy to escort them through. Bypasses Lloyds & that's MAJOR cash that every country has paid for decades for EVERY ship that passes through to pick up oil. See it now?
Well, I know this may "feel" counter-intuitive especially when we are being bombarded on all sides by war propaganda but Iran did NOT close the Strait. The US closed the Strait. Iran never wanted the Strait closed as that was their income. Also, if the Strait is closed too long, that will begin to degrade and destroy their oil fields and their oil production infrastructure.
Trump closed the Strait. That weapon struck at the very heart of Iran's economy. Of course, he would like to shift the blame for high gas prices onto Iran... especially with mid-terms approaching. As to why he closed the Strait, that may be a deeper question than most realize. And I'm very skeptical of Promethean's narrative. They have the slick feel of a deep state intelligence network.
In the fog of war, nearly everything we are told, by all sides, is just war propaganda. Ask yourself, could such a threat even be carried out IF the US was protecting the Strait? Then ask, why would Iran want to blow up it's only income source? Doesn't add up, does it?
I'm sure you also noticed Trump never said he was really going after the Financial City of London. Promethean Action is not the only one saying that, not by a long shot. I trust no one implicitly , and neither should anyone.
Trump closed the Strait for vessels to and from Iran, but allowed vessels from other ports to go through. Iran then allegedly mined the Strait to prevent those vessels, and used their speed boat ‘Navy’ to try to attack them.
I think Iran closed the strait, it's still closed to US Navy.
As for all of the other theories, we will have to wait and see. I know nothing about Promethean Action, if it's on utube and nowhere else it must be compromised because utube censors anything outside approve narratives. I suspect, but can't say authoritatively that Promethean Action mixes fact with fiction to make it believable. If it is available outside of utube I would listen to see what it's about.
I'll just throw this out there for those who have a bandwidth capable of handling more than just "TAW". This is a very informative exchange between Michael Yon and Alex Jones. To cut to the chase, go to minute 45 and begin listening there....
Yes, whatever we do, let's make sure that the guy telling truth here is canceled. This must be a congregation of Democrats!
The truth hurts and it seems many here cannot deal with it. You all react like those college students who Charlie Kirk spoke to and debated. The crazed Dems ended up shooting him. I'll be sure to duck from y'alls anger.
But, the truth hurts. My comments are all spot on. They expose the stupidity and bully-boy cowardice of Trump and the utter lack of coherent thought among this Cult of Childers here. You are apparently running for assistant tattle tale of the Cult.
This is the greatest example of TACO we have ever seen.
I love the evening shows. Most are MAGA, and Gutfeld makes me laugh.
Also, I refuse to watch the other legacy networks, and I know I can count on Fox to keep me informed of the b.s. they are peddling because they constantly highlight it. 🙄 So it’s a “tool.” Sort of how Jeff informs us of what the NY Times is up to so we don’t have to wade through their slop ourselves.
I prefer the other conservative outlets’ reporting, but use Fox to stay informed about the libtard lunacy.
I don't believe I directed that comment to you. Since I don't permit ad hominem attacks from quarrelsome people and bots, I am now blocking you. I don't have time to play games with you.
Awful as it is to read, I hope that the UK Rape Gang Inquiry coming out is another reason the EU is swinging anti-immigration. It’s been all over X, nothing in mainstream media, of course. Thread on X here: https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2066974274368180556
I'm pretty sure that the reason the EU is sending migrants back "home" is that the Kiev regime is running out of meat for the grinder, and the EU wants to keep the grift that is "Slava Ukraine" going.
So they will send more men back to die, while Ursula's slush fund keeps slushing.
This is another instance where I am so thankful for Elon Musk purchasing Twitter and allowing this information top finally be shared freely. He has also been very loud about this story himself.
Guess I'm an outlier. I've never been happier than I have been working remotely. Being in- office was what caused me depression and anxiety and painful headaches and had me using all manner of otc pharma to cope. I was also far less inclined to stand up and move a bit since i was always sure I would get in trouble for taking that moment from my work, even though they like to say they want you to stand up every hour or so. Working from home fixed all my problems and made me healthier and more productive.
Studies usually agree with whatever corporate America wants to do regardless of reality on the ground, imo. Usually just a vehicle to manufacture consent and justify an unpopular position by creating something that can be pointed to to make the majority think they are an unrepresentative minority. Or just plain crazy.
With one working car, possible aspergers, environmental semsitivity, frequent need to keep an eye on my nieces over the summer, and taking care of an elderly mom with heart failure, working from home has been a literal miracle and no studies can ever prove otherwise to me.
I know several people who transitioned to working from home 6 years ago and they still cannot adjust, they really struggle. It’s 100% their fault too, they are just too lazy or stubborn to adapt.
If you want to be with people but you work from home you have to make a small effort to go out into the world to be with people. Very simple. One guy I know has put on at least 50 pounds. In the office he was always walking around and moving constantly and now he just sits all day. I told him 5 years ago to go to the SPCA, adpot a dog and walk it twice each day no matter what. 50 pounds later he still doesn’t listen.
My advice to most people struggling is 1) get a dog and walk it and 2) go take a martial arts class, preferably Jiu Jitsu. You’ll get plenty of exercise and be around people 2-3x per week. Zero people who are struggling have taken that advice. Stubborn and lazy.
Here's something that parents and young people should think about.........................................
More Evidence Skilled Labor Is Rising in Value
....Young people are beginning to realize that practical skills tied to energy, manufacturing, transportation, construction, and infrastructure may offer far greater security than unstable corporate office jobs increasingly threatened by automation. Many of the highest-paying opportunities no longer require sitting behind a desk pretending to answer emails all day.
The labor force built on debt, speculation, and endless financial manipulation has had enough.
Hoping everyone has a blessed day! Thank you Jeff for your excellent reporting on what might be happening behind closed door. Keep praying for our country and leaders!
The problem with the work from home, it only really relates to single people working from home. Those that have a spouse that works from home as well do just fine (well, most of them). That coupled with those single folks that prefer work from home (introverts, those with toxic offices) also do just fine. This study to me is an example of a generalization of a specific set of people to poo-poo on WFH. Personally, I believe that if you are NOT seeing customers and you are NOT needed to physically do work on site (repairs, monitor machines, etc) then WFH SHOULD be an option that the person can chose. It shouldn't be only WFH, nor should it only be On-Site. Literally, let the employee chose. Some people not only work better, but save a lot of $ not commuting daily, as well as a lot of time, and love being able to spend that extra time and $ on their family...
Have there been studies on productivity, or customer service satisfaction? I pretty much agree with you, but I've had a few calls with babies screaming in the background, (though call centers can also have loud background noise). A relative of mine does a hybrid schedule where she goes to the office twice a week, which can be a good option.
I can only say that when my husband was working (before they workforce reduced him out after 20 years) from 2020-2023 they were all excited over how much MORE productive their employees were working from home instead of being in the office. In late 2023, they did an abrupt 360 on that, not citing declining productivity but stating that they needed people back in offices. My guess, they had $ invested in offices and they didn't want to pay for them being empty. But that's just info from one one major company.
My daughter is single, but she had a dog and two cats that were thrilled to have her home, instead of them being abandoned all day. She was happy to work from home, because her boss was a jerk, always coming into her office to demand the impossible. At home, he could call her, but at least he wasn't in her face.
I think that "experts" will say whatever the bosses want them to say, and I agree that it probably has something to do with real estate values, not human mental health.
as ok as you can be doing interviews and still not getting a job. We keep scratching our heads over ones like the last one where he had all the qualifications, was even a supervisor doing that exact type of job. They didn't hire him and re-posted the job listing. HR will not call back or take calls. I can only guess it's age related since he has the qualifications and nothing in his background. He is getting about 10 hours a week of gig work digging ditches, but it's hard on him at his age especially since he's been in an office behind a computer his whole life and not out doing manual labor in the FL heat. I wish we had a network or someone we knew who could tip the scales in him getting a job, but no dice.
Thanks, I'll forward him this link. I know he went to a job fair (1.5 hrs away in a major city) and they said his resume and cover letter was perfect. So we know that isn't an issue.
Digging ditches by hand? Sounds like it, I wouldn't call using a trencher manual labor. It's awesome he would actually do that, he's a rarity these days. Especially in a FL summer. I wonder how his fitness will fare. Digging by hand is great exercise up to a point. All day every day might wear you down, rather than build you up, for an older person.
OK, sounds more reasonable. As a 75 year old who does a lot of manual labor by choice (dismantling a massive oak with 40 inch logs into firewood at the moment, all by hand (well, I do use a chain saw), I've noticed real manual labor isn't something you see much of these days. Heavy manual labor is great, but I'm glad he's not digging by hand all day. That would be way too much.
Since he's the 'new guy' he gets the grunt work of digging the ditches for the install lines, especially around the bushes. The more seasoned workers get the use the trencher. He also has to dig up and around the broken heads back to wherever the pipes have busted so they can repair those...lots of digging actually. The other guys get to lay pipe and replace sprinkler heads lol
"Anyway, the Trump Team is now threatening to suspend or cancel transfers to states that can’t or won’t get their unemployment fraud under control.
The real question is: why did this take so long?"
I think the real question is: Why is he only threatening? Why not just lower the f'ng boom on them, then raise the boom if they do get it under control? Use the stick FIRST, then the carrot.
"I would reframe “trust the science” as “constrain the experts.” YES! Please!!
I REALLY wish people who say "trust the science" knew what "science" actually is. Besides never settled, in this day and age it's usually paid for partisans who, amazingly, always seem to get the results that would make them happiest. THAT ain't science, y'all. It just ain't.
My take - Trump taking out the mullahs was an attempt at repeating his success in capturing Maduro in Venezuela. A quick, painless success he tried to repeat. But it turned out the mullahs weren't running the country. They were puppets of the IRGC who continued not only fighting, but launching attacks across the Middle East.
Trump thought he'd have a quick resolution but instead wound up mired in a war. I think this MOU is to calm things down until the mid-terms. He didn't want this mess being an issue during the election.
Which brings me to my last point - how come the CIA didn't know the mullahs were NOT in charge? That's their job! Maybe they should be spending less time spying on US citizens, overthrowing duly-elected US Presidents, and forking over $40 million in gold bullion to a fraudster they hired and promoted 20 years ago without a background check.
Either they lied to Trump about Iran's power structure OR they are completely, utterly incompetent and should be dismantled. They are beyond useless and an embarrassment to the country.
Interestingly, I now see the Democrat party as America’s IRGC. It’s identical. And don’t think for a second they wouldn’t execute 40,000 MAGA if they could. They have already revealed that’s their deepest desire if only they could find a way.
Events cause me to disagree. After the first batch of mullahs were wiped out, the second batch were more than happy to negotiate with Trump. They came to an agreement with Trump and within 24 hours the IRGC launched attacks into Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, and of course, Israel. Is there another explanation for such polar opposite behavior?
I would disagree on one point. Being in a conflict for 4 months, annihilating their weapons of war, and destroying their economy i would not characterize as being “mired in a war”.
Does anybody, and I mean ANYBODY, give a rats ass what Pence thinks at this point?!? He’s not a has been, he’s a wished he was that’s never been.
No. But I'll let you guess why Trump delayed the release of the MOU.
It was to get the Ds and the Pravda to demonstrate they have no idea what's going on, thereby exposing them as frauds, anti-american, imbeciles & liars.
Brilliant. But easy for a person paying attention to understand the strategy.
not coincidental, methinks, that Pence and the Guardian used the same phraseology "what's not in it."
Can anyone say "Wankers"?
Wankers!!!!!
Almost like they got the same talking points ... 🤔
Exactly
It gives one cause to remember the very many voices all claiming, in tones of terror, "this deadly disease" (stress increasing on the middle word). So many different voices. So many voices speaking the same message.
I wonder too if the Trump admin leaked different details about the when and how of the signing to catch another leaker (similar to the Camp David meeting leak a few weeks back).
Yes. Almost certainly.
Bingo!
It's known as the Chauncey Gardiner Strategy.
Yes. You nailed it. Great comment
Thank you Ryan!
And if he stalls until after the mid terms it gives us time to rearm. Them to but I bet we rearm better. TAW.
He certified a fraudulent election. He committed treason and should face justice,...unless he was playing a role at Trump's request. Anything's possible.
You mean Pence, right? A pence ain’t worth much these days.
Well said
Wisely said. I too think many of these wankers are white hat doubles or flips in order to wake up the normies.
Keep it simple, you got it right when you called Pence a wanker.
More likely, Pence was a plant by the Establishment Republicans' to keep eyes on Trump and report back! Much like they did with Reagan/Bush as VP and Nixon/Ford as VP.
you can take that to the bank
In reading this I was struck with another thought: what if the point of this was to get Congress to ENDORSE a continuing war against Iran, rather than opposing it?
Holy cow I hope you’re wrong. We have been at war my entire adult life. Enough young people’s physical and mental health has been sacrificed. We need to be done.
I understand your feelings about this, but Iran’s murderous, extreme Islamist regime needs to go … forever … by any means required. Just like Hitler.
I agree.
The traitor Mike Pence? Absolutely not! It infuriates me every time he inserts himself into national events.
Him and Obama
and Hillary.
The fly was right. 💩
Lol 😆 💩
All other reasons aside, his weak leadership in running the Covid task force should disqualify him from having a say about anything.
It’s worse than that - he is Judas Prnce
Uniparty talk.
Best description of Pence I have ever heard. I may have to steal it.
‘Just two weeks to slow the curve’, lying SOB!
Yes, but only in the sense that the opposite of what he wants is likely better.
Splendid analyses, as always.
Wait, are you referring to Judas Pence?!
Unfortunately there are probably quite a few. FOX News types especially.
To put it quite bluntly, Pence is a dick.
My exact thoughts. Probably the most irrelevant politician alive.
✝️✝️✝️
You drew near when I called on You;
You said, “Do not fear!”
O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause;
You have redeemed my life.
— Lamentations 3:57-58 LSB
✝️✝️✝️
Jeff, this was a sharp roundup. One of the reasons your work hit early during covid is that you’ve always had a good instinct for where the real machinery sits—coercive overreach, incentive distortion, and the administrative‑state cracks most people don’t see until they’re standing in them.
If we zoom out one level, the pattern across all these stories is the same: incentives shifted, cost‑bearing returned, and the underlying structure snapped back into alignment.
Iran: the MOU isn’t a peace deal, it’s a tempo device—pause the conflict, run out the midterm leverage, reset the field.
Remote work: technocrats externalized the downstream costs; once institutions had to bear those costs again, the narrative collapsed.
Unemployment fraud: emergency‑era throughput incentives created a crack; reintroducing friction closes it.
EU migration: USAID’s shutdown removed the subsidy that kept the system distorted; once Europe had to carry its own weight, policy flipped overnight.
Different domains, same mechanism: remove the subsidy → collapse the crack → the system reverts to sanity. And by “crack,” I mean the place where incentives misalign — the gap where someone extracts value without bearing cost. Close the crack and the system snaps back to coherence.
That’s the real through‑line here. Not ideology. Not personalities. Just structure reasserting itself after a long extractive cycle. The story isn’t just that things are turning around—it’s why they’re turning around. When the incentive field changes, the politics follow like iron filings.
—Paul
Great breakdown Paul. I retired full time just prior to Covid. Then found a parttime job. I worked without a taking any time off for Covid. I watched former employees totally abuse work from home. I also found many people around me start to "substance abuse". Amazing with all the shutdowns, liquor stores were booming.
I want to see the turn around. I want to see people communicating without the "which side of Covid are you on" and are you Pro or Anti Trump.
Sadly, it will take time, but I am seeing movement.
"Amazing with all the shutdowns, liquor stores were booming."
That was part of the design of the program. You recall liquor stores were "essential businesses" - but churches were not. Walmart was "essential", but the local Mom & Pop stores were forced to close.
BIGGEST WEALTH TRANSFER OF ALL TIME.
Makes Too Big To Fail look like kindergarten for scammers
I love work from home. I retired before covid, but my husband no longer had to commute 100 miles a day, to sit in his office, alone, working. I'm supposed to believe that just having people in other offices around him makes him mentally healthy? Standing around the water cooler? Oh, that's right, everyone carries their own plastic bottle of water nowadays.
I'm pretty sure that his mental health was not affected by working from home. I call bs on that claim. It's right up there with "Video games cause heart attacks".
As someone who had to commute to work my entire career, I can tell you that sitting in traffic for an hour, after you've worked all night, fighting sleep, is no recipe for mental health. It is exhausting and miserable.
And what a waste of gas it is.
Mrs. RW
I agree. But I also see those who are ‘a people person’ getting depressed , because they do NEED people.
This is an unfamiliar concept to me. I have my husband and I have my animals.
People who need people are not the luckiest people in the world, imo.
Mrs. RW
Please …..quit trying to fit all people into your idea of the right way ! We're all different and one size does not fit all . That works for you but not all !
ha ha, I'm with you Mrs RW. I thoroughly enjoy my solitude. If I need to see people, I'll head on out to the brew pub for a pint and watch them from my table.
That works for you and no one is disputing it ! It does not work for the majority !
I am a physician so my work life was unchanged during Covid. I still went to the office M-F. There were some patients who stayed away from the office but others came in for seemingly minor things. I think it was more for the social interaction. People were starving for human interaction. We are not meant to be isolated.
Many jobs require physical presence. Jobs that do not always make me wonder if they’re necessary at all.
There are many jobs that happen behind keyboards and phone meetings/zoom. My concern would be for those in lock-downed Cities and np land of their own to give them access to the earth, sun, birds, pets.
Back in the 2000's after completing a 9 month remodeling project, of which I designed and oversaw crews and most decisions and choices, I sank into a cocoon of comfort next to a remote controlled gas fireplace. Now this was a much deserved Winter rest, but come Spring, the home across the street and t the right of mine both began projects that lasted more than a year. So, no peaceful gardening (no vitamin D production), Strangers in trucks, jackhammers, nail guns, concrete trucks, etc.,(noise 8 hours /day, 5-6 days per week).
I emerged from that with depression, likely induced by giving up outside time in my garden, which was also exercise! Couple that with my walking partner taking a more demanding job and the kids becoming more independent.
I can definitely see how the isolation and lack of peaceful access to nature can cause depression!
I believe the study showed that specifically people who live ALONE had significantly negative impact: “Remote workers living alone spent entire days without human contact,” the summary stated, “and their mental distress, use of mental healthcare, and antidepressants increased acutely.” This would exclude people like your husband who obviously had human contact every day despite his working from home. I myself think that there are people who would do just fine living alone and working from home but I am sure there are many who would be better off with at least one person eyeballing them every day to make sure they are still okay. We are social creatures, and human contact is good for us for the most part.
Accountably is very important.
Our daughter had finally worked her way and earned the credentials to land a GS 14 working for the Coast Guard. Her dream job. All they asked of her was to make sure any and all regulatory issues were cleared when they came up. Otherwise, show up and just amuse yourself. She was not happy that she was not included in their meetings, like HR was excluded too. . She wanted the social interaction so much she was looking for another job after less than 2 months. Then she blew her brains out. People are different , so I can vouch for at least one person who both refused to take a job where she always worked from home, or have a job without being part of the group. And this was before the Covid lockdowns . .
I'm so sorry for your loss. That is horrible.
I've seen this with many women who go from working to staying home when they have kids. We started SAHM groups and tried to scoop up the ones with newborns even before they gave birth. Our best one was a fitness group that met 3x weekly plus on weekends once a month. It's a very isolating exsistence if you don't have friends/family around you, helping you and giving you someone to talk to. It was very concerning when everyone suddenly went to WFH with no support.
I agree! I'm not much of a joiner, but I stayed involved in the kids' school, with PTA, music programs, fundraising, field trips and other filling other creative needs the school community had need of. The trouble comes when the kids age out of parent participation requirements. Then it helps to find p/t work.
Oh God……..I am so, so sorry.
My former dil is very outgoing. She was not living close to any family. WFH almost destroyed her.
Rolandttg, I am so sorry for your loss. We are all different indeed. Many elderly & retirees also struggle if they have been accustomed to having contact with many then suddenly, there is no one around and they feel there is nothing to strive for.
I am so sorry for your loss. You are right, everyone is different.
I hate meetings.
I'm sorry she couldn't find another job in time.
Mrs. RW
The study specifically talked about people living alone. And obviously you have no idea.
💯
I know personally about one tiny example of what I consider unemployment fraud, so if this could happen imagine the magnitude of what is out there. In 2020 this then 67 year old non-working woman who has not worked since 1995 when she was 42 (she just stopped working and after that lived with her mother, and then when she was 62 she got early social security to live on) applied for "unemployment" and got it with virtually no effort. I was astounded because not only had she not worked for 25 years, she wasn't even looking to work, so I couldn't figure out how on earth she got all that money. I went to the government website and took a look at the application she filled out. The one and only question she had to answer was whether or not Covid was making it difficult to look for and find a job. Yes or no. That's it. Nothing else was asked, not things like "what was your previous job" or "when did you lose your job", nothing. That was it. She had answered "yes" to that question, filled in her name and all relevant information, there was no interview with anyone, no follow-up of any kind, no verification process, and the money started to flow in. I figured she raked in over $10,000 on that program. Disgusting.
Good Grief! In your frist few sentences, I thought you were describing my older sister! That is until you said, "she was collecting Social Security". We tried to get her to fill out the forms, even printed them for her! She has been living off our elderly Mother's meager benefits and using Mum's vehicle, though refusing to take Mum anywhere.
The vehicle is being sold this week and the money cut off next month! When she was told this, she gives the "deer in the headlight", look of disbelief. These people are complete narcissists!
You should definitely report the fraud! These types actually think that others owe them a living.
Blame it on the seniors?🤣🤣🤣
All of Europe has been subsidized by the US. We have paid for their defense, NATO, the UN, USAID and all the open border insanity, etc. that has allowed them to be open borders, have socialized medical programs, free universities, etc., etc., etc. Now that all of our financial support is ending and they are facing the bills and the consequences of the One World agenda, they are changing their tunes. Finally!!! It is a slow but sure reclaiming of their own national identities and some measure political correction going on to support their own citizens and cultures.
Now we need to continue the work here to ensure free and fair elections and tightening our own borders and clearing judicial house so we can be a nation following our amazing Constitution!
I think the US policy (for the longest time) was to protect our European vacations (all is like Epcot/Disney) and all those lovely, varied cultures. But now I don't get the same kick out of a visit to the Top of Switzerland only to have my lower-quality Rösti meal made and delivered by central Africans. Eurodisney no longer.
Good morning to you all at C&C!
Another glorious day in America. Thanks be to God!
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8
Douay-Rheims Bible
Trump's critics, including Pence, do not understand how Trump makes deals, how he establishes peace, how he always wins in spite of naysayers, or how he had all his pieces lined up MONTHS in advance of beginning the Iran operation. I'm glad he didn't wait to sign the MOU on Juneteenth. He likes the number 17, for some reason.
I'm watching Promethean Action's breakdown of this MOU right now. They have the transcript and are discussing it. Barbara and Susan are brilliant.
I love those Promethean ladies! At the dr again, waiting…looking forward to their takes later
I hope your day goes well. Later when you watch them, be sure to start at the beginning of the show. They are addressing all the uninformed criticism.
I hope all is well
Here's the link. It's always a good watch.
https://www.youtube.com/live/fpc3UaagCWc
Thank you!
If you’ve read Sun Tzu’s the Art of War, you can understand Trump’s strategy. One is to not do total destruction.
Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.
Q
One big piece that he obviously didn’t have lined up in advance was the closing of the strait, despite our generals warning him about it ahead of time.
He knew. He had everything in place, waiting . This was planned long before and he knew they would close the Strait.
The thing you don’t seem to understand is that he was lining up ALL the pieces in the Gulf before. He was ready.
Are you saying he was ok with the strait being closed?
Ever wonder why the US Navy was in the Gulf of Oman? Trump, Hegseth, etc, understood all the variables that might occur, and planned for each of them.
I notice Jeff mentioned gas prices dropping, that's good, but will it continue? Yesterday even Trump mentioned 4 weeks of reserve. I don't think Jeff mentioned that; sort of like mentioning Versailles without citing the WWI connotations.
I think people are assuming, now that some ships are moving through the strait, all is back to normal. From what I'm reading, normal is months away. A lot of supposed experts are saying it will get worse before it gets better. I hope they are wrong but I'm living like they are correct.
If you need to refill the reserves, it's better to wait until the price drops.
Which is why he should have filled them up BEFORE he went to war when the prices were low. Planning ahead doesn’t seem to be one of Trump’s strong suits.
Good point
I read or heard the same thing. It’s going to take time to get the damaged and shut down wells operating again. In the meantime countries reserves are running out.
Including our own.
Not so. The idea was to have the straight closed, Lloyd's of London (Financial City of London) stop insuring anyone, and have the US take over and deprive the globalists of their oil fear premium.
Exactly. And he lined up our naval ships, our subs, the marines, the air force before they closed the strait.
“ and have the US take over and deprive the globalists of their oil fear premium.”
What does this mean?
The terror premium. I don't blame you for being behind, but you need to watch Promethean Action. Someone posted a You-Tube link above. It's usually 3 times a week, Thursdays are long, but most of their videos are 15 minutes. You will understand everything about Iran in one sitting. The "City of London"---the bankers and Lloyds of London have imposed the terror premium around the Strait of Hormuz for decades & made wild money doing it. Trump is asserting the American Sustem & dismantling globalism right in front of their eyes.
How are we depriving the globalists of their oil fear premium?
Lloyds stopped issuing insurance for ships passing through the straight , so no income from that. Lloyds is Financial City of London (one of the 3 pillars of the globalists) No brainer that globalists know ahead of time what Lloyds is going to do, so they can short or buy puts on oil and make money on that too. Trump took all that away by them freezing themselves out of the market.
By Trump using the USG to insure ships going through the Strait & using the US navy to escort them through. Bypasses Lloyds & that's MAJOR cash that every country has paid for decades for EVERY ship that passes through to pick up oil. See it now?
Well, I know this may "feel" counter-intuitive especially when we are being bombarded on all sides by war propaganda but Iran did NOT close the Strait. The US closed the Strait. Iran never wanted the Strait closed as that was their income. Also, if the Strait is closed too long, that will begin to degrade and destroy their oil fields and their oil production infrastructure.
Trump closed the Strait. That weapon struck at the very heart of Iran's economy. Of course, he would like to shift the blame for high gas prices onto Iran... especially with mid-terms approaching. As to why he closed the Strait, that may be a deeper question than most realize. And I'm very skeptical of Promethean's narrative. They have the slick feel of a deep state intelligence network.
Didn’t Iran threaten to blow up ships unless they paid a toll which is essentially closing it?
In the fog of war, nearly everything we are told, by all sides, is just war propaganda. Ask yourself, could such a threat even be carried out IF the US was protecting the Strait? Then ask, why would Iran want to blow up it's only income source? Doesn't add up, does it?
"Truth is the first casualty of war."
Iran blowing up ships who have gotten oil from other countries isn’t going to hurt their income.
I'm sure you also noticed Trump never said he was really going after the Financial City of London. Promethean Action is not the only one saying that, not by a long shot. I trust no one implicitly , and neither should anyone.
Trump closed the Strait for vessels to and from Iran, but allowed vessels from other ports to go through. Iran then allegedly mined the Strait to prevent those vessels, and used their speed boat ‘Navy’ to try to attack them.
I think Iran closed the strait, it's still closed to US Navy.
As for all of the other theories, we will have to wait and see. I know nothing about Promethean Action, if it's on utube and nowhere else it must be compromised because utube censors anything outside approve narratives. I suspect, but can't say authoritatively that Promethean Action mixes fact with fiction to make it believable. If it is available outside of utube I would listen to see what it's about.
I'll just throw this out there for those who have a bandwidth capable of handling more than just "TAW". This is a very informative exchange between Michael Yon and Alex Jones. To cut to the chase, go to minute 45 and begin listening there....
https://x.com/i/status/2065937511344680964
The number 17 is a prime number.
In Italy, the number 17 has the same reputation as our number 13.
Don’t tell me the day Juneteenth falls on. I don’t know and don’t want to … easier for me since I’m retired.
Gas went from $4.89 to $3.69 in the last few weeks in my area!
It was $3.58 here in E Tennessee yesterday.
$3.07 here in TX down from $3.79 a month ago
Here in Commiefornia, I was thrilled to finally see gas below $5. 4.99 at my local Costco.
But Greasy Gav is set to implement more gas taxes starting July 1. So celebrating will be short lived. :(
That guy is such a dick.
It was $3.58 here in E Tennessee yesterday.
What was it on Feb 26, 2026?
I find it hard to believe that anyone is still listening to Mike Pence.
well apparently he has one fan in Running Burning Man
Smirk smiling.
😂😂😂
Let’s just report all of that guy’s comments. He’s off his meds, obviously
Yes, whatever we do, let's make sure that the guy telling truth here is canceled. This must be a congregation of Democrats!
The truth hurts and it seems many here cannot deal with it. You all react like those college students who Charlie Kirk spoke to and debated. The crazed Dems ended up shooting him. I'll be sure to duck from y'alls anger.
Easier to block them which I just did. If majority do it, they will be left in their own little echo chamber.
All about dims https://x.com/townhallcom/status/2067244217856856224?
Doesn't it just burn your ass to realize that I am living rent free in your skull?
LOL…. Don’t flatter yourself…. You don’t live in anyone’s head but your own. You are annoying though.
Appears I have taken up rent-free residence in your head! Knock, knock!
Time for the 3 dot block treatment.
Certainly NOT.
Knock, knock!
seek immediate medial help for your severe case of TDA and lack of common sense
Knock, knock! That is me tapping on the inside of your skull. What a dolt you are.
well you leftist are nothing if not consistent - always go the name calling when you have nothing of substance to say and your comments are idiotic
But, the truth hurts. My comments are all spot on. They expose the stupidity and bully-boy cowardice of Trump and the utter lack of coherent thought among this Cult of Childers here. You are apparently running for assistant tattle tale of the Cult.
This is the greatest example of TACO we have ever seen.
What totally burns my ass…..FIRE about three feet off the ground
I groan every time Fox News has him on.
@Juju- Has who on? Pence?
Oh wait I’m thinking of Pompeo, another traitor
Why are you still watching FOX 🥴😳
I love the evening shows. Most are MAGA, and Gutfeld makes me laugh.
Also, I refuse to watch the other legacy networks, and I know I can count on Fox to keep me informed of the b.s. they are peddling because they constantly highlight it. 🙄 So it’s a “tool.” Sort of how Jeff informs us of what the NY Times is up to so we don’t have to wade through their slop ourselves.
I prefer the other conservative outlets’ reporting, but use Fox to stay informed about the libtard lunacy.
Exactly.
It's great, especially Gutfeld.
Just his fellow Democrats.
Dummy. I'm not a Democrat. You - just like a democrat - can't handle truth and project your own weaknesses on those who point out truth to you.
I don't believe I directed that comment to you. Since I don't permit ad hominem attacks from quarrelsome people and bots, I am now blocking you. I don't have time to play games with you.
No one is…
Awful as it is to read, I hope that the UK Rape Gang Inquiry coming out is another reason the EU is swinging anti-immigration. It’s been all over X, nothing in mainstream media, of course. Thread on X here: https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2066974274368180556
I'm pretty sure that the reason the EU is sending migrants back "home" is that the Kiev regime is running out of meat for the grinder, and the EU wants to keep the grift that is "Slava Ukraine" going.
So they will send more men back to die, while Ursula's slush fund keeps slushing.
Mrs. RW
This is another instance where I am so thankful for Elon Musk purchasing Twitter and allowing this information top finally be shared freely. He has also been very loud about this story himself.
God uses all kinds, and I am grateful for that.
The traitors who were running Ops out of USAID all need to be hung.
and then pissed on.
The main reason why Starmer and the British establishment in general will not take action is this: https://www.frankwrighter.com/p/epstein-files-the-rotten-state-of
Love Frank, he is spot on!
Mike Pence's opinion is worth neither pound nor pence.....
Good one!
Guess I'm an outlier. I've never been happier than I have been working remotely. Being in- office was what caused me depression and anxiety and painful headaches and had me using all manner of otc pharma to cope. I was also far less inclined to stand up and move a bit since i was always sure I would get in trouble for taking that moment from my work, even though they like to say they want you to stand up every hour or so. Working from home fixed all my problems and made me healthier and more productive.
I already replied that working from home has been a great blessing in our family.
"Studies show" is not convincing to me, at all.
Mrs. RW
Studies usually agree with whatever corporate America wants to do regardless of reality on the ground, imo. Usually just a vehicle to manufacture consent and justify an unpopular position by creating something that can be pointed to to make the majority think they are an unrepresentative minority. Or just plain crazy.
With one working car, possible aspergers, environmental semsitivity, frequent need to keep an eye on my nieces over the summer, and taking care of an elderly mom with heart failure, working from home has been a literal miracle and no studies can ever prove otherwise to me.
I know several people who transitioned to working from home 6 years ago and they still cannot adjust, they really struggle. It’s 100% their fault too, they are just too lazy or stubborn to adapt.
If you want to be with people but you work from home you have to make a small effort to go out into the world to be with people. Very simple. One guy I know has put on at least 50 pounds. In the office he was always walking around and moving constantly and now he just sits all day. I told him 5 years ago to go to the SPCA, adpot a dog and walk it twice each day no matter what. 50 pounds later he still doesn’t listen.
My advice to most people struggling is 1) get a dog and walk it and 2) go take a martial arts class, preferably Jiu Jitsu. You’ll get plenty of exercise and be around people 2-3x per week. Zero people who are struggling have taken that advice. Stubborn and lazy.
LOL... right?!
Here's something that parents and young people should think about.........................................
More Evidence Skilled Labor Is Rising in Value
....Young people are beginning to realize that practical skills tied to energy, manufacturing, transportation, construction, and infrastructure may offer far greater security than unstable corporate office jobs increasingly threatened by automation. Many of the highest-paying opportunities no longer require sitting behind a desk pretending to answer emails all day.
The labor force built on debt, speculation, and endless financial manipulation has had enough.
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/north_america/americas-current-economy/more-evidence-skilled-labor-is-rising-in-value/
Working from home is great, I would never return to an office setting.
Perhaps you are an introvert?
Hoping everyone has a blessed day! Thank you Jeff for your excellent reporting on what might be happening behind closed door. Keep praying for our country and leaders!
The problem with the work from home, it only really relates to single people working from home. Those that have a spouse that works from home as well do just fine (well, most of them). That coupled with those single folks that prefer work from home (introverts, those with toxic offices) also do just fine. This study to me is an example of a generalization of a specific set of people to poo-poo on WFH. Personally, I believe that if you are NOT seeing customers and you are NOT needed to physically do work on site (repairs, monitor machines, etc) then WFH SHOULD be an option that the person can chose. It shouldn't be only WFH, nor should it only be On-Site. Literally, let the employee chose. Some people not only work better, but save a lot of $ not commuting daily, as well as a lot of time, and love being able to spend that extra time and $ on their family...
Have there been studies on productivity, or customer service satisfaction? I pretty much agree with you, but I've had a few calls with babies screaming in the background, (though call centers can also have loud background noise). A relative of mine does a hybrid schedule where she goes to the office twice a week, which can be a good option.
I can only say that when my husband was working (before they workforce reduced him out after 20 years) from 2020-2023 they were all excited over how much MORE productive their employees were working from home instead of being in the office. In late 2023, they did an abrupt 360 on that, not citing declining productivity but stating that they needed people back in offices. My guess, they had $ invested in offices and they didn't want to pay for them being empty. But that's just info from one one major company.
Probably more like the decline in real estate value due to a much lower rental since so many WFH.
My daughter is single, but she had a dog and two cats that were thrilled to have her home, instead of them being abandoned all day. She was happy to work from home, because her boss was a jerk, always coming into her office to demand the impossible. At home, he could call her, but at least he wasn't in her face.
I think that "experts" will say whatever the bosses want them to say, and I agree that it probably has something to do with real estate values, not human mental health.
Mrs. RW
wow! my first like by Jeff!! :D I've made it to the big time! WHEEEEEE
SYFY. Good to see you here again. How’s your husband doing?
as ok as you can be doing interviews and still not getting a job. We keep scratching our heads over ones like the last one where he had all the qualifications, was even a supervisor doing that exact type of job. They didn't hire him and re-posted the job listing. HR will not call back or take calls. I can only guess it's age related since he has the qualifications and nothing in his background. He is getting about 10 hours a week of gig work digging ditches, but it's hard on him at his age especially since he's been in an office behind a computer his whole life and not out doing manual labor in the FL heat. I wish we had a network or someone we knew who could tip the scales in him getting a job, but no dice.
Have you considered a career coach for feedback? I googled your situation and this is one link that came up.
https://www.careercontessa.com/advice/endless-interviews-landing-job/
I’ll keep praying for you both.
Thanks, I'll forward him this link. I know he went to a job fair (1.5 hrs away in a major city) and they said his resume and cover letter was perfect. So we know that isn't an issue.
Digging ditches by hand? Sounds like it, I wouldn't call using a trencher manual labor. It's awesome he would actually do that, he's a rarity these days. Especially in a FL summer. I wonder how his fitness will fare. Digging by hand is great exercise up to a point. All day every day might wear you down, rather than build you up, for an older person.
Yea, he's basically helping with installing and repairing irrigation systems.
OK, sounds more reasonable. As a 75 year old who does a lot of manual labor by choice (dismantling a massive oak with 40 inch logs into firewood at the moment, all by hand (well, I do use a chain saw), I've noticed real manual labor isn't something you see much of these days. Heavy manual labor is great, but I'm glad he's not digging by hand all day. That would be way too much.
Since he's the 'new guy' he gets the grunt work of digging the ditches for the install lines, especially around the bushes. The more seasoned workers get the use the trencher. He also has to dig up and around the broken heads back to wherever the pipes have busted so they can repair those...lots of digging actually. The other guys get to lay pipe and replace sprinkler heads lol
“constrain the experts.”
I would even find a different phrase for experts. These folks weren’t experts, they were puppets.
Muppets and puppets with someone’s hand always up their backside.
"Anyway, the Trump Team is now threatening to suspend or cancel transfers to states that can’t or won’t get their unemployment fraud under control.
The real question is: why did this take so long?"
I think the real question is: Why is he only threatening? Why not just lower the f'ng boom on them, then raise the boom if they do get it under control? Use the stick FIRST, then the carrot.
LTMW
"I would reframe “trust the science” as “constrain the experts.” YES! Please!!
I REALLY wish people who say "trust the science" knew what "science" actually is. Besides never settled, in this day and age it's usually paid for partisans who, amazingly, always seem to get the results that would make them happiest. THAT ain't science, y'all. It just ain't.
" amazingly, always seem to get the results that would make them happiest"
I would correct one word there - change happiest to wealthy
My take - Trump taking out the mullahs was an attempt at repeating his success in capturing Maduro in Venezuela. A quick, painless success he tried to repeat. But it turned out the mullahs weren't running the country. They were puppets of the IRGC who continued not only fighting, but launching attacks across the Middle East.
Trump thought he'd have a quick resolution but instead wound up mired in a war. I think this MOU is to calm things down until the mid-terms. He didn't want this mess being an issue during the election.
Which brings me to my last point - how come the CIA didn't know the mullahs were NOT in charge? That's their job! Maybe they should be spending less time spying on US citizens, overthrowing duly-elected US Presidents, and forking over $40 million in gold bullion to a fraudster they hired and promoted 20 years ago without a background check.
Either they lied to Trump about Iran's power structure OR they are completely, utterly incompetent and should be dismantled. They are beyond useless and an embarrassment to the country.
I disagree with one thing. I do NOT believe Trump ever believed it was a quick “resolution” - only a quick military operation, which it was.
I consider the mullahs and the IRGC to be one in the same.
Interestingly, I now see the Democrat party as America’s IRGC. It’s identical. And don’t think for a second they wouldn’t execute 40,000 MAGA if they could. They have already revealed that’s their deepest desire if only they could find a way.
Events cause me to disagree. After the first batch of mullahs were wiped out, the second batch were more than happy to negotiate with Trump. They came to an agreement with Trump and within 24 hours the IRGC launched attacks into Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, and of course, Israel. Is there another explanation for such polar opposite behavior?
You can disagree.
I would disagree on one point. Being in a conflict for 4 months, annihilating their weapons of war, and destroying their economy i would not characterize as being “mired in a war”.
I believe that the Mullahs were in charge…until there were no more Mullahs, and then the IRGC took control