Buy American = it costs more due to tariffs on raw materials

 

July 31, 2025 (192/1461)

You may want to check your seatmates next time you fly. Due to TOM pulling air marshals into sandwich and lice-check duty for ICE, the friendly skies may not be the safe skies anymore. “President Donald Trump announced plans to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, involving workers from various government agencies to achieve the goal of removing one million immigrants annually.

For the first time, Federal Air Marshals have been involved in this process, now providing security on some of the thousands of deportation flights conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this year.

The Federal Air Marshal Service was created in response to the rise in aircraft hijackings in the 1960s, with its primary mission becoming the prevention of terrorist acts after the September 11 attacks. However, since June, about 200 marshals have been reassigned to guard ICE flights transporting detainees or deportees to various countries, according to information obtained from sources and documents. According to two sources familiar with the situation and documents, these highly trained agents carry out ICE tasks – some voluntarily, others under pressure from leadership – distributing sandwiches and performing guard duties onboard.” Both insulting and dangerous to be requiring these federal employees to compromise themselves this way. The next step in the autocracy. Using any and all forms of “militia” to carry out one’s bidding.

One thing that TOM has provided (in a positive? way) no end of online and comedic entertainment. South Park is back! And with the largest viewership ever for its season premier. ““South Park” just delivered its most-watched season premiere in 25 years. The cable comedy’s latest episode took direct aim at President Donald Trump, and viewers tuned in by the millions.

According to Variety, the episode brought in 5.9 million viewers, earning a 0.996 rating among adults 18-49. That’s a 15% increase from the previous season and the highest-rated premiere for the show since 1999. While the show is no stranger to controversy, this time it turned up the volume — and audiences responded. Titled “Sermon on the Mount,” the premiere follows Trump as he threatens to sue the town of South Park. Much of the controversy unfolds around Jesus reappearing at a local school, where angry parents protest his presence.

In one scene, the Jesus character explained, “I didn’t want to come back and be in the school, but I had to because it was part of a lawsuit and the agreement with Paramount.” It continues from there, but I’ll let you find it yourself.

So much for those tariffs bolstering “bur American.” Guess where Ford gets a lot of its parts? Yup. Not ‘Merica. “Despite President Donald Trump’s push to “buy American” – and his repeated claims that tariffs on foreign cars and parts would benefit the U.S. auto industry – Ford has posted its first quarterly loss since 2023. The Wall Street Journal reports that Ford lost $29 million in the second quarter, compared to a $1.8 billion profit during the same period in 2024. Ford says it paid more than $800 million in tariffs in Q2. While that might seem at odds with the goals of the Trump tariffs, the automaker still imports parts from overseas. On top of that, suppliers importing steel and aluminum are passing those costs along to Ford. With five months left in 2025, Ford projects a full-year “tariff-related headwind of about $2 billion.” It now expects full-year earnings of between $6.5 billion and $7.5 billion, down from a pre-tariff forecast in February of $7.5 billion to $8.5 billion.” Nice plan, bucko. Buy American…..and pay for it.

Big Brother (read TOM) wants your health data

 

July 30, 2025 (191/1461)

Big Brother really is going to be watching in the near future. TOM & Co are implementing a “private” health tracking system. Private. Right. Pardon me as I laugh and choke at the same time. “The Trump administration is pushing an initiative for millions of Americans to upload personal health data and medical records on new apps and systems run by private tech companies, promising that will make it easier to access health records and monitor wellness. The initiative, spearheaded by an administration that has already freely shared highly personal data about Americans in ways that have tested legal bounds, could put patients’ desires for more convenience at their doctor’s office on a collision course with their expectations that their medical information be kept private. said Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor who specializes in public health. “Patients across America should be very worried that their medical records are going to be used in ways that harm them and their families.”

Yes. What he said. VERY WORRIED. Do not. I repeat, do not sign up for this trap.

And in the I’m For Palestine campaign. Next up – Canada. “Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday, the latest in a series of symbolic announcements that are part of a broader global shift against Israel’s policies in Gaza.

Carney convened a Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in the battered Palestinian territory. He said it came after he discussed the crisis with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who announced a similar move on Tuesday. “Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025,” Carney also said. He added that the intention is predicated on the Palestinian Authority “holding general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.”

This really is quite the coup over TOM. He thought he’s bust in and be the hero of the world (ok, of his own cowboy movie) but it seems someone has er, um TRUMPED him.

 In Texas, TOM has literally drawn the line. Per his request, the R’s in TX have gerrymandered their districts to assure they retain dominance in the House. Wow. Scared much? “Texas Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a redrawn map of the state’s congressional districts designed to help their party keep control of the House of Representatives after next year’s midterm elections. The redistricting proposal complied with a request from President Donald Trump.

The new map, which still needs the approval of the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature, carves up five districts now represented by Democrats, greatly diminishing the incumbents’ chances of winning re-election.” How is this not blatantly illegal? “The map places two current Democratic congressmen — Greg Casar, a rising progressive, and Lloyd Doggett, an old-line liberal — into the same new district in the Houston area, effectively pushing one out of office.

Casar called the move “illegal voter suppression of Black and Latino Central Texans.

By merging the districts, Casar wrote on X, “Trump wants to commit yet another crime — this time, against Texas voters and against The Voting Rights Act.” And good ole Gov Abbott is just fine n dandy with all. Yes sirree bob.

A potentially weak attempt to rally against this is coming from the D’s. “This is a moment that requires a forceful on-the-ground response,” Jeffries told Politico, adding that Republicans are “afraid of the voters in 2026 in the midterm elections, and they’re trying to cheat to win.”

From Austin, Jeffries will head to California, where Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened to push through a redistricting plan of his own to freeze out his state’s Republican members of Congress.

“Two can play this game,” Newsom wrote on X on July 15.

His party already holds 43 of California’s 52 congressional seats, and Newsom has said a new map could help elect an additional five Democrats.” Let’s see if good ole Gav can get it done.

UK also to recognize Palestinian state

 

 

July 29, 2025 (190/1461)

The UK and Keir Stermer have stepped in line with Macron in the threat to recognize Palestine as a state. “Keir Starmer has committed to recognizing a Palestinian state ahead of September’s United Nations General Assembly, Downing Street announced Tuesday.

The British prime minister told a special meeting of his Cabinet that “now was the right time to move this position forward” because of the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospects of a peace process. Israel’s government swiftly dismissed the move as a “reward for Hamas,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cried “appeasement.” Addressing a United Nations conference in New York, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that Britain bears a “special burden of responsibility to support a two-state solution” because of its historic role in the region.

Lammy said it was “with the hand of history on its shoulder” that the U.K. intends to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly — a statement greeted with applause.”

TOM will not like this. He wants to be the winner. The big guy. The Nobel Peace Prize winner. And he can see it slipping through his fingers.

Going rogue along with France and the UK is none other than MJT! “Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., labeled the situation in Gaza a “genocide,” becoming the first Republican in Congress to use the term to describe the humanitarian conditions in the region, according to The New York Times. In a social media post on Monday, July 28, Greene stated it was “truthful and easiest” to acknowledge both the horror of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the “genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza.”  How can it be that the Trumpiest Trumper has now multiple times made direct hits toward him. TOM has seemed quiet to date on her other outbursts. How long can that last? “Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, joined Greene in criticizing the humanitarian toll in Gaza. Gooden wrote that standing with Israel must also involve “rejecting the killing and starvation of children in Gaza.”

Could the house of cards have a little wiggle in the structure?