It’s tough enough as it is, given Trump’s energy level, but it’s even tougher because Trump is going in many different directions and is probably engaging in a fair amount of misdirection to keep the Deep State and Ruling Class off balance.
Now apart from tariffs is the USAID tracking of payments made, to whom and for what. This has sent The Deep State into a frenzied panic mode. I"m wondering, we see a lot of CIA operations funded, what happens if or when some payments are found to lead to two failed Trump assassins cell phones or overseas accounts? That would produce a frenzied panic wouldn't it? Why panic if this aid is all questionable and just innocent misguided but defensible leftism?
When conducting offensive operations, speed is security. The quicker you raid an objective, the less time you’re exposed to counterattacks.
One of the reasons why Trump is so effective this time around is his speed of action. By urgently moving from one thing to another, the media simply can’t keep up with counteroffensive hit pieces and attack campaigns, like it was able to in Trump’s first term.
88 FBI officials were marched out of their offices on Friday.
Important Clarification: 88 is the number of FBI agents and top managers who ACTUALLY were walked out of their offices today, including those at the Washington Field Office, Palm Beach, and Miami FBI offices. That number also includes special agents in charge of various field… https://t.co/RUNtH76H1p
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) February 1, 2025
She's gonna vote yes for Tulsi. How many other senators saw that reveal about where Lindsey! was getting all that money and said, hmmmm, maybe I better confirm anyone Trump sends up here.
Oren Cass had a nice writeup on the four different uses for tariffs:
/quote
Use #1: Funding. Tariffs can generate revenue...
Use #2: Decoupling. Tariffs can shift supply chains to reduce reliance on imports from particular countries...
Use #3: Rebalancing. Tariffs can promote domestic production to reduce a nation's trade deficit and reindustrialize its economy...
All three of these uses are fundamentally economic in nature and the policymaker’s goal should be to impose them in a way that minimizes economic costs domestically (e.g., with a predictable phase-in) and creates confidence that they will remain for the long-term (e.g., by codifying them in legislation).
Then there is Use #4: Negotiating. Tariffs can threaten to cause more economic damage abroad than at home, creating an incentive for the other nation to comply with the demand...
Here, the goal will not be to minimize cost. All things equal, lower domestic cost is better than higher domestic cost, but the goal is to maximize cost for the counterparty...
A tariff that makes no sense from one of these perspectives might be entirely wise and effective from another.
Ignoring the impact of tariffs in general in this case, I think the takeaway is Trump's equating tariffs with sanctions here, which he implied in talking about pressuring Russia. They are not aimed primarily at raising revenue as a tax on imports or protecting domestic industry here, which is how economists would view them. They are being used as economic arm-twisting aka economic warfare to achieve political goals by exerting "maximum pressure" through limiting access. This use is political and not economic per se.
In 2016, the Deep State conducted a preemptive attack against Trump using the Russia Hoax OP, and this put him back on his heels even before he got into office. And then they continued this assault via many other tactics including impeachments and backstabbing throughout his first term. My guess is that they planned a similar campaign this time, but he anticipated it and came out swinging in response. I don't see him letting up and this is turnabout as FairPlay. His enemies can't seem to get any subversive narratives started because they face a firehose of new initiatives every day. And this blitzkrieg will only increase with his cabinet gets approved and enters the field of battle. RFK is a force of nature and both Tulsi and Kristi will cut your balls off. The Left will soon be screaming for the old Trump to return and cut them some slack. Methinks 2025 will be a hinge point in US history.
Now apart from tariffs is the USAID tracking of payments made, to whom and for what. This has sent The Deep State into a frenzied panic mode. I"m wondering, we see a lot of CIA operations funded, what happens if or when some payments are found to lead to two failed Trump assassins cell phones or overseas accounts? That would produce a frenzied panic wouldn't it? Why panic if this aid is all questionable and just innocent misguided but defensible leftism?
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/secret-service-agent-dei-contributed-near-killing-trump
SIMPLICIUS Ѱ @simpatico771
The Su-27S/UBM fighter of the Ukrainian Air Force was intercepted by a Russian Su-30SM2 using a long-range R-37M air-to-air missile
**from a distance of 130 km, industry sources report.**
Ukrainian media also confirm the pilot's death.
Nick Sortor @nicksortor
 #BREAKING: U.S. Air Force Intelligence aircraft have entered Mexican airspace after Mexico agreed to cooperate in fighting the cartels
This is practically UNHEARD OF.
Pete Hegseth sent a warning to the cartels saying “all options are on the table.”
President Trump demanded 100% operational control of the border, and Hegseth is delivering.
Jack Poso @JackPosobiec
How many of these pro-Ukraine OSINT accounts were being paid by USAID?
David Sacks @DavidSacks
Audit Ukraine.
Audit the senate and congress. You’ll find who the criminals are and why we are in the Ukraine.
BowTiedRanger @BowTiedRanger
When conducting offensive operations, speed is security. The quicker you raid an objective, the less time you’re exposed to counterattacks.
One of the reasons why Trump is so effective this time around is his speed of action. By urgently moving from one thing to another, the media simply can’t keep up with counteroffensive hit pieces and attack campaigns, like it was able to in Trump’s first term.
Oreshnik speed
Like shooting fish in a barrel.
88 FBI officials were marched out of their offices on Friday.
Important Clarification: 88 is the number of FBI agents and top managers who ACTUALLY were walked out of their offices today, including those at the Washington Field Office, Palm Beach, and Miami FBI offices. That number also includes special agents in charge of various field… https://t.co/RUNtH76H1p
— Susan Crabtree (@susancrabtree) February 1, 2025
More firings are expected today or tomorrow.
THE TRUMP EFFECT: Denmark Ready To Allow the US To Expand Its Military Presence on Greenland
Date:2/3/25 4:45 PM
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/whoa-rino-senator-susan-collins-announces-shes-yes/
She's gonna vote yes for Tulsi. How many other senators saw that reveal about where Lindsey! was getting all that money and said, hmmmm, maybe I better confirm anyone Trump sends up here.
Xactly.
Tariffs do work and Trump knows it.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/briandomitrovic/2018/03/09/when-tariffs-worked/
Oren Cass had a nice writeup on the four different uses for tariffs:
/quote
Use #1: Funding. Tariffs can generate revenue...
Use #2: Decoupling. Tariffs can shift supply chains to reduce reliance on imports from particular countries...
Use #3: Rebalancing. Tariffs can promote domestic production to reduce a nation's trade deficit and reindustrialize its economy...
All three of these uses are fundamentally economic in nature and the policymaker’s goal should be to impose them in a way that minimizes economic costs domestically (e.g., with a predictable phase-in) and creates confidence that they will remain for the long-term (e.g., by codifying them in legislation).
Then there is Use #4: Negotiating. Tariffs can threaten to cause more economic damage abroad than at home, creating an incentive for the other nation to comply with the demand...
Here, the goal will not be to minimize cost. All things equal, lower domestic cost is better than higher domestic cost, but the goal is to maximize cost for the counterparty...
A tariff that makes no sense from one of these perspectives might be entirely wise and effective from another.
/endquote
I swear I never read that before.
Ignoring the impact of tariffs in general in this case, I think the takeaway is Trump's equating tariffs with sanctions here, which he implied in talking about pressuring Russia. They are not aimed primarily at raising revenue as a tax on imports or protecting domestic industry here, which is how economists would view them. They are being used as economic arm-twisting aka economic warfare to achieve political goals by exerting "maximum pressure" through limiting access. This use is political and not economic per se.
As political pressure, they are working! Great comment.
Oh tariffs work. There are no American made autos in the EU and UK because of tariffs.
Here are current tariffs Canada had against U.S. all along:
Just love how uneducated both Americans and Canadians truly are.
Here are just some historic tariffs Canada hits
America with.
Milk: 270%
Cheese: 245%
Butter: 298%
Chicken: 238%
Sausages: 69.9%
Barley seed: 57.8%
Bovine/ meat: 26.5%
Cars: 25%
HVAC: 45%
Vacuums: 35%
Cable boxes: 35%
TVs: 45%
Steel: 25%
Aluminum: 45%
Copper: 48%
Here are Norways:
Amusing to read the coverage of Trump's "sky-high" tariffs in Norwegian news.
Here's just a few of Norway's import tariffs:
Cheese: 277%
Beef: 344%
Lamb: 429%
Milk: 443%
Potatoes: 191%
Beets: 158%
Roses: 249%
Baker's yeast: 21%
Casein-based glue: 21.2%
Women's tops: 10.7%
But when The U.S. does it it's a problem?
One of your more detailed lists Ray! Impressive.
Thanks for the stats!
In 2016, the Deep State conducted a preemptive attack against Trump using the Russia Hoax OP, and this put him back on his heels even before he got into office. And then they continued this assault via many other tactics including impeachments and backstabbing throughout his first term. My guess is that they planned a similar campaign this time, but he anticipated it and came out swinging in response. I don't see him letting up and this is turnabout as FairPlay. His enemies can't seem to get any subversive narratives started because they face a firehose of new initiatives every day. And this blitzkrieg will only increase with his cabinet gets approved and enters the field of battle. RFK is a force of nature and both Tulsi and Kristi will cut your balls off. The Left will soon be screaming for the old Trump to return and cut them some slack. Methinks 2025 will be a hinge point in US history.
No. There gonna come up with a new way to steal the elections.
Great article. Great analysis. I just subscribed.
Thanks. Welcome aboard.
Give em the initiation schpeel.