Trump administration 2024-2028

[Nvlgzr]

On a serious note:

France Was Reportedly Prepared for 'Shooting War' With U.S.

A stunning report in The Wall Street Journal described a marathon meeting of U.S. European allies who had come to view the country as a security risk under President Donald Trump.

www.mediaite.com

 

[OldSolduer]

I know I’m going to get from the moderator for posting dark comedy on this political thread:

Mitch McConnell is on the Mend

A Visit to McConnell's Hospital Room

representativejackkimble.substack.com

Like this?

 

[mariomike]

Quite a few Critical Care Nurses, and Docs are chiming in lately that survival rate for an 84 year old male with history of TIA/strokes, etc, found VSA and with CPR initiated on scene is well less than 10%.

Sounds like Mitch beat the odds.

He is , reportedly, working the phones with GOP colleagues.

For reference to the discussion, in today's news, for what it is , or is not , worth ,

It is reported, a neighbor who saw Mitch's face as he was wheeled out to the ambulance, said he was not wearing an oxygen mask.

There appears to have been a great sense of urgency going in to his residence, but not so much coming out.

The neighbor said they saw emergency responders bring the person on the stretcher out from McConnell’s residence about 30 minutes after first noticing emergency vehicles blocking the street.

Hardly sounds like a Load and Go.

Hopefully, he has a good recovery and returns to his Senate seat.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Usual reminder of presumed innocent until confirmed guilty via due process.

More on this, with some court docs attached.

The UFC match plot: how a far-right group tried to assassinate Trump at his own event

Court files show how men connected through TikTok and encrypted apps planned attack on White House UFC fight

www.theguardian.com

More on this - wonder how the guy with the nickname "Shrunken Shlong" will do in the prison system?

Federal Grand Jury Indicts 8 Men in Conspiracies Related to Plot to Attack UFC Freedom 250 Event at White House, Kill Government Officials

A total of eight defendants now face federal charges related to the alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House on June 14.

www.justice.gov

Eight charged with murder conspiracy over alleged White House UFC attack plot

Group accused of planning sniper and drone attack on Donald Trump’s UFC cage-fighting show in June

www.theguardian.com

Group planned to attack White House UFC event using snipers and drones, FBI says

In newly unsealed court filings, the government says the group allegedly expressed grievances about corruption, the Epstein files, and data centres.

www.bbc.com

List o' suspects:

Name/Also Known As/Age/City of Residence

• Abraham H. Alvarez/Shepherd/31/Omaha, Nebraska
• Daniel K. Eskridge/Fulcrum/32/Hamilton, Missouri
• William L. S. Falkner/Pepsi/21/Belfair, Washington
• Tycen J. Proper/Prox/19/Danville, Ohio
• Jordan W. Rincker/Shriveled Shlong/28/St. Joseph, Missouri
• Bryan O. Roa/Noble/25/Calimesa, California
• Chandler D. Scaggs/Viper of the S.O.G./21/Chapmanville, West Virginia
• Michael A. Thomas/Whiskey Six/32/Pinon Hills, California

For reference, Prox is the guy whose mom reportedly ratted him out to the authorities.

 

[armrdsoul77]

Like this?

Perchance like this as well...

 

[mariomike]

Like this?

I don't believe Mitch was DOA.

If paramedics pronounced him at home, they would have lifted him into bed, and called the Coroner for removal.

Unless DC EMS does removals as a courtesy?

They may have ROSC at his home.

That’s possible, but unlikely given the slow cadence of the paramedics loading him into the ambulance, lack of visible equipment, etc.

One thing caught my eye,"His bare, uncovered feet visible". I never saw or heard of that.
.
Sounds he was alive on arrival at hospital,

People can probably put away their fantasies about McConnell. Scott Jennings has reported talking with Mitch at length this morning. See here.

 

[brihard]

Looks like we’ve been strong armed on the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge. Further evidence that under Trump, deals signed with the Americans aren’t worth the ink it costs to sign them.

Delayed Gordie Howe International Bridge to open at end of July, Canada to forgo revenue

After weeks of delays and public criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to open at the end of the month, but Canada is set to forego more revenue than initially agreed upon.

www.ctvnews.ca

I suspect that on our side it will have come down to an analysis of the costs of foregone tolls under a new agreement versus the costs of foregone economic activity and efficiency from not opening it. If so, that’s the correct analysis to make. Not unlike oil pipelines, the economic benefit of the bridge is not realized in tolls, but the vast other economic activity it permits.

Still, it’s annoying, and another reminder of the risks now inherent in deals struck with the Americans. This wasn’t even originally a deal with the federal government, but with the state of Michigan. It looks like the Feds simply refused to open up the port of entry without major concessions on Canada’s part.

Money up front with them from now on I suppose.

 

[brihard]

And further to last, more details from Global.

“A source with knowledge of negotiations, who was not authorized to speak publicly about them, said that under the deal, 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.

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.“

So there we have it- unsurprisingly it’s just naked corruption benefitting the Moroun family.

Gordie Howe International Bridge to open July 27 after delay - National | Globalnews.ca

The announcement was made Friday by the Canadian government, which said it had reached an agreement with the state of Michigan with support from the U.S. government.

globalnews.ca

 

[Jarnhamar]

Looks like we’ve been strong armed on the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge.

Found this annoying from the story.

When asked on Thursday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia if he’d be open to renegotiating the terms to open the bridge, Carney said “I think we’re willing to clarify aspects of the current arrangements.”

A Canadian PM hasn't been in Saudi Arabia in 26 years and he gets pestered there about fluff Canada-US bridge questions.

 

[Czech_pivo]

And further to last, more details from Global.

“A source with knowledge of negotiations, who was not authorized to speak publicly about them, said that under the deal, 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.

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.“

So there we have it- unsurprisingly it’s just naked corruption benefitting the Moroun family.

Gordie Howe International Bridge to open July 27 after delay - National | Globalnews.ca

The announcement was made Friday by the Canadian government, which said it had reached an agreement with the state of Michigan with support from the U.S. government.

globalnews.ca

Now it will come down to ‘the market’ and people making the choice to use or not use the old Ambassador bridge.
I for one will not be using the Ambassador bridge ever going forward when visiting friends/family in the future in Michigan. I will use the tunnel, which is jointly owned by the city of Windsor and the city of Detroit and the new bridge.

 

[brihard]

Found this annoying from the story.



A Canadian PM hasn't been in Saudi Arabia in 26 years and he gets pestered there about fluff Canada-US bridge questions.

It’s a significant thing though. Very significant economic impact on a daily basis from it being open or not.

 

[Jarnhamar]

It’s a significant thing though. Very significant economic impact on a daily basis from it being open or not.

What's the chances Carney would have said no he's not willing to renegotiate? Just seems like opportunity wasted on low hanging fruit to me.

 

[brihard]

What's the chances Carney would have said no he's not willing to renegotiate? Just seems like opportunity wasted on low hanging fruit to me.

Saying a flat no would be stupid. Yes we could stonewall on a point of principle for two and a half more years, but what would that cost our economy? It would be a classic ‘good money after bad’. Voluntarily foregone economic gains are still a cost.

We continue to see that previously agreed upon rule sets no longer matter. We’ll bear that in mind for all future transactions. But faced with a bridge sitting there ready to open that our industry and supply chains need to work more efficiently, we have to make decisions based on the facts as they are. Make the best of the individual situation, and continually reassess what other situations to enter.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

And further to last, more details from Global.

“A source with knowledge of negotiations, who was not authorized to speak publicly about them, said that under the deal, 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.

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.“

So there we have it- unsurprisingly it’s just naked corruption benefitting the Moroun family.

Gordie Howe International Bridge to open July 27 after delay - National | Globalnews.ca

The announcement was made Friday by the Canadian government, which said it had reached an agreement with the state of Michigan with support from the U.S. government.

globalnews.ca

After the bridge opens, who says we have to abide by the new deal? If the US isn't bound by its word, why should we?

Go back to keeping all the toll money until the bridge is paid for, then split it with Michigan only. After all, the money is collected on the Canadian side by the Canadian corporation of the bridge.

You can always defend before the courts, if they are stupid enough to go there that the "new" deal is void because (1) the US didn't abide by its own original deal and (2) used duress to force the signing of the new deal.

 

[brihard]

An interesting catch someone made- the 15 year 50/50 split specifies “profits” as opposed to revenue. There may be a lot of theatre but not that much meat to this. The devil will be in the details.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2075802755235524795

 

[HavokFour]

Probably going to need to see the actual agreement. From what I'm understanding it's 50% right off the bat for 15 years after which we go straight back to the original agreement until we've fully recouped, then it's back to 50/50 again.

EDIT: Worded into more readable wording.

 

[brihard]

Probably going to need to see the actual agreement. From what I'm understanding it's 50% right off the bat for 15 years after which we go straight back to the original agreement after that period until we've fully recouped, then it's back to 50/50 again.

Right- and 50% of what exactly? That math will matter greatly.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Right- and 50% of what exactly? That math will matter greatly.

Playing devils advocate - Trump over turns Michigan’s portion of ownership and ‘sells’ Moroun that portion of the bridge. Moroun is then allowed by Trump to impose a ‘special’ toll for vehicles entering and exiting the US.
Moroun then declares the Ambassador Bridge as unsafe and closes it down.

 

[MilEME09]

50% of profit? I feel like we just pulled a fast one on them, I doubt the bridge will turn a profit for atleast 10 years.

 

[brihard]

50% of profit? I feel like we just pulled a fast one on them, I doubt the bridge will turn a profit for atleast 10 years.

Probably depends on how the financing is amortized.