But before this impending doom, a few words about Trump, et al. With much showmanship,  Donald Trump this morning talked to Vladimir Putin on the phone .  This was a well-orchestrated affair, as American school teacher Marc Fogel was released from Russia, and met with Trump yesterday, showing good faith by his pal Vlad.  This was a prisoner swap with Alexander Vinnik, a convicted Russian criminal.  Initial step in ending the war in Ukraine.  By what has so far been leaked, the war will soon end, with Ukraine losing a lot of territory and being banned from joining NATO. The U.S. Senate today confirmed 43-year old Tulsi Gabbard as Director of national intelligence.  She represented Hawaii as a Democrat in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2021.  Only Republic to not vote for Gabbard was Senator Mitch McConnell, who couldn't care less what Trump will do to him.  I posted on everything you should know about Tulsi on  30December2024 .  She...

I did say I would post part 2 of my Democracy series today, but I haven't quite perfected a better future for   Mayday Mayday , so this will come later in the week.  Instead, as this is nostalgia Tuesday, I will reach back and specifically look at the eighth ash drop for Pearl at the Taj Mahal.  However, first, a few of the latest developments imposed on the world by President Donald Trump. Trump had a press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House, the first world leader to do so.  Shockingly, Trump indicated that the USA will take over the Gaza Strip.   Watch this video .  Previously, he took credit for brokering this peace, but new American boots on the ground in the Middle East is almost beyond the pale. China is the only country currently struck with Trump's tariff, 10%, and announced a counter tariff. Remember my travels to China and how this blog site had problems because of the ongoing  fuss with Google , which began in 2...

The subject of today will be Tulsi Gabbard, of Hawaii.  But first, a couple of other Trump developments. That MAGA vs Elon Musk civil war on immigration .  Was never a real issue anyway, for the new Trump administration will target  undocumented  immigrants.  Elon Musk and his techie friends only want to continue to have access to  documented immigrants , those science and engineering products from other countries, something Trump supports.  The heel in most of this is that odious Laura Loomer. You win some, you lose some.  Trump learned today that the  federal appeals court rejected his 2023 appeal regarding the sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll .  In a  77-page ruling , the 3-judge panel said Carroll should get the $5 million previously granted.  And oh, by the way, there is that  other New York jury judgement this year  ordering Trump to pay Carroll $83 million for continuing to insult her.  So does ...