Things are hotting up in the internecine MAGA struggles and the Epstein saga is becoming more ludicrous by the minute. So by way of distraction, Trump has revived the Greenland annexation for security reasons. This is pure horseshit, they already were a security ally of the US. There was no problem there that needed to be fixed. Everyone knows this.
As for the Epstein files release, I saw a funny post on Facebook. I'll paraphrase, 'Why do they have to redact a Democratic hoax?' Why indeed. They're saying now that they had to redact to protect the innocent. Except for the Clinton photos, no need to protect him, I guess. As transparent as glass.
The government of the US is acting like a criminal enterprise running extortion rackets. Trump wants to annex Greenland so he can install himself as the rent-seaking middleman in various mining operations. He doesn’t even have to annex it, just install himself as middleman by treaty, which may be his real purpose. It's not like the US has ever done a good job running other countries. If he gains commercial control of the place then mining companies have to bribe HIM to get the development rights. He has been doing this since taking office in other sectors, granting tariff breaks in exchange for favours to him and his family. Government by favour is pretty much the definition of a shit hole undemocratic country.
There seem to be a lot of Trump supporters who don't seem to understand the concepts of free market and rule of law. It's all just Corporatism now so it's no surprise that the top Corporatists are in arse-lick mode. The only people who believe in the free market are economists who write textbooks. Businessmen hate free market competition, it prevents them from raising prices and increase profits. Businessmen desire monopoly more than anything, and they have engaged in years' long struggles to cripple anti-trust. And it worked because politicians and Supreme Court Justices can be bought for a song.
It is amazing what a wholly manufactured fear of trans kids and university protests can lead to. I was at university in the 1970s and students engaged in lame protest then too, which led to largely nothing. There's nothing easier than frothing up student protest. You don't even to false flag it, impetuous youth does the work for you.
Putin is taking advantage of the void by launching new attacks on Ukraine. In hindsight, it was a bad decision for Ukraine and Canada to give up their nuclear weapons. But who could have foreseen the US turning into a criminal enemy.
There's open talk of the USA running Maduro out of Venezuela. The laughable argument is that he's a bad guy and needs to be removed. You could say the same for a lot of places, including many places in the past where the asshole in charge was installed by the US. But no one remembers anything.
The minions of Trumpistan are lined up at the door waiting for Trump to bow out and seem to be eating each other in the process. No one should be surprised. Is there any one of them who you would trust to lead you into battle?
Switzerland gave Trump a gold bar and he reduced their tariffs. FIFA gave him some trophy or other. Does anyone else get the impression that the rest of the world is just humouring a madman hoping he'll exit soon. MTG confessed that Republican members of Congress make fun of him when he's out of earshot. That has the ring of truth, which is odd coming from her, but that's more a condemnation of those politicians than anything else.
And in the middle of it all, the USA is retrenching on vaccines and medical research. Demographers are already predicting increases in US mortality in the coming years. Self-destruction just like when the Soviet Union imploded.
On a more optimistic note, let me recommend Michael Lewis's latest book, "Who is Government?". It's a good read. In it he makes the radical suggestion that government is not at all bad. I know Americans don't like to hear that, but risk it guys, read the book, it won't hurt you one bit.
