Old Glory Vortex

It doesn't work. The Houthis are not broken by Trump's first round of strikes. US strikes on Yemen's Houthis have not destroyed military infrastructure or killed all commanders or officials, but President Trump has called these efforts " incredibly successful." They failed to achieve the campaign's goal of deterring a terrorist group recognized by the United States. The Iranian-backed militia that controls most of Yemen's territory continues to launch rocket attacks on Israel almost daily. Most commercial vessels are still being diverted on the long route around South Africa and away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, underscoring the importance of the US authority as a guarantor of freedom of navigation on the high seas. Houthis Weakened but Not Broken by First Round of Trump Strikes #trump #us #Houthis #strikes Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

A deadly drug-resistant fungus that the CDC calls a "serious threat" is spreading in hospitals. A deadly drug-resistant fungus that preys on the sick and elderly continues to spread in hospitals and facilities for the elderly across the country, killing more than one in three infected people. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Candida auris, a type of yeast that can cause life-threatening diseases, was first identified in the US in 2016, when 52 cases of infection were reported nationwide. The number of cases has more than doubled each year, and in 2023, the last year the CDC received data, it reached 4,514. During the same period, 1,566 cases of infection were reported in California, which is more than in any other US state. Deadly, drug-resistant fungus CDC calls ‘urgent threat’ is spreading in hospitals  #CDC #DRUG #California #hospital Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The Trump Administration Plans to Cut About 10,000 Jobs at Federal Health Agencies The Trump administration plans to cut about 10,000 full-time employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the department announced, reducing about a tenth of the staff of the country’s federal health agencies.

In combination with other events at HHS, including early retirement and the Fork in the Road program, restructuring results in an overall reduction in staffing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees,

the department said in a release, estimating that taxpayers will save $1.8 billion through these changes. A fact sheet distributed to senior health officials stated that "no additional cuts are currently planned" beyond those announced on Thursday and in recent weeks. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy will cut 3,500 jobs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and 2,400 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the fact sheet. At the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), staffing will be reduced "by approximately 300 employees," with a focus on "reducing minor duplication." The reorganization will not affect Medicare or Medicaid services, the agency emphasized. According to a U.S. official, the staff of the Center for Infectious Disease Control will not be reduced. The administration is also cutting 1,200 jobs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and 300 at CMS. Health officials had expected the announcement of these drastic staff cuts this week, part of a major reorganization crafted by the White House Department of Public Administration Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting task force. Several medical agency employees reported seeing increased security this morning when they arrived at work. Officials noted that executives were largely unaware of the restructuring, except for a few previously announced changes. Earlier this week, Kennedy stated at the White House that the DOGE team, led by Elon Musk, had "identified extraordinary embezzlement in my department and HHS," citing duplication in communications, procurement, IT, and HR departments across HHS's 40 operational divisions. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which expected to reduce up to 90% of its staff, will be merged with another agency to form a new Strategy Office. Meanwhile, the Administration for Community Living, which provides services for seniors and people with disabilities, will have its functions transferred to other agencies, including CMS.

"The entire federal staff is now being reduced. So this is going to be a painful period for HHS,"

Kennedy acknowledged in his speech. Details about which specific roles will be cut remain unclear under the new reorganization plans. As of Thursday morning, several federal health officials said they had received no guidance from the department aside from Kennedy’s public remarks. #Trump #Health #Funding #HHS #Layoffs #Kennedy #ElonMusk Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

There’s at least one piece of advice Donald Trump gave in his book The Art of the Deal that anybody who’s ever had to negotiate anything would agree with:

“Know when to walk away from the table.”

When it comes to the partial ceasefire deal he’s trying to strike with Russia in the Black Sea, it’s time. A read of the US and Russian statements issued after an agreement was supposedly reached makes clear that it wasn’t. Even Trump has expressed rare frustration with Vladimir Putin’s tactic of adding a range of pre-conditions to his supposed yes.

“It could be they’re dragging their feet,”

he said in a Newsmax interview, going on to recall how he, too, used to do this kind of thing when he wasn’t sure he actually wanted to make a deal. That’s the kindest interpretation. The reality is that US negotiators are being played. As Bloomberg News has reported, the Kremlin sees the agreement to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea as a way to break the international sanctions regime that has hamstrung its economy and revenue since the start of its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A second goal is to divide the Western alliance that united against it. #Trump #Russia #Putin Putin knows Ukraine will find it extraordinarily difficult to agree to its conditions, and that a refusal makes it likely the US will again suspend arms shipments and intelligence sharing in punishment, enabling further Russian breakthroughs on the battlefield. He knows, too, that most European leaders will resist lifting sanctions. Some have already made that explicit, insisting that the sanctions imposed to punish Putin’s invasion should be lifted only when he ends it. #Trump #Putin #Russia #Ukraine Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Republican Voters Are Sounding the Alarm About Chinese Ownership of US Farmland According to a Fabrizio Lee poll exclusively obtained by the Daily Caller, Republican voters are extremely concerned that American agricultural land belongs to the Chinese. A poll conducted by prominent pro-Trump opinion researchers Tony Fabrizio and David Lee found that 88 percent of GOP voters are concerned about the prospect of Chinese companies buying American agricultural land. 55 percent were "extremely concerned," according to the survey, which polled 800 Republican voters across the country from March 13 to March 17, 2025. The majority of respondents also expressed concern about Chinese control over American food supplies, as well as China's influence on American companies and American universities. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2020, companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party bought up more than 338,000 acres of American farmland. The survey company also tested 11 proposals that received positive feedback from voters, including: – A law to combat fentanyl from China – A requirement for state infrastructure projects to purchase American-made products – A bill to combat China’s attempts to steal American intellectual property Voters also expressed concern about lawmakers who support legislation that “transfers key parts of our food supply to China.” 68% of GOP voters said they would be less likely to vote for such candidates. Only 6% said they would be more likely to support a lawmaker who does so. Republican lawmakers have previously sounded the alarm about Chinese ownership of American farmland, noting that many of the purchased lands are located near U.S. military bases. Republican Representative Brandon Gill from Texas introduced legislation in the current Congress banning China and Iran from owning American farmland, following several GOP-led efforts to restrict such practices.

"Republicans are very concerned about the transfer of our food resources to China and strongly support proposals aimed at ensuring that this does not happen,"

the survey concluded.

"Moreover, they will ensure that anyone who does not agree with this way of thinking is punished at the ballot box."

#Respublivans #China #Farmland Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

US Cuts Funding to Departments – $12 Billion Worth of State Health Services The US Department of Health and Human Services has canceled about $12 billion in federal grants to states allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives of the federal department and states said. The grants were used to track, prevent, and control infectious diseases including measles and avian flu, as well as to track mental health services and fund addiction treatment, said state lawmakers and governors, who sharply criticized the move. "The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer spend billions of taxpayer dollars fighting a nonexistent pandemic that Americans moved away from many years ago," the statement said. The administration of President Donald Trump has cut off more than $11 billion in funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and approximately $1 billion to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Senator Patty Murray said in a statement. Washington State has lost more than $160 million in funding to its health department, Native American tribes, and other groups, Murray said, calling on the administration to reverse a decision that she said put more than 200 jobs at risk. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the Trump administration has notified her of its intention to cut more than $300 million in funding for the state's Department of Health, the Office of Substance Abuse Support and Services, and the Office of Mental Health. #Health #Funding Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Landing in Greenland. JD Vance and his wife flew to the island without an invitation  The visit of US Vice-President JD Vance and his wife Usha to Greenland caused a storm of criticism both on the island and in Denmark. The plane with the couple landed at the US military base "Pituffik" in the north-west of Greenland-away from the capital Nuuk, where the visit was considered undesirable. The Greenlandic government has stressed in advance that it "has not invited anyone, either privately or officially." Greenlanders reacted strongly to the next visit, especially after Vance's joke published before the flight: "Since everyone is so excited about Usha's trip, I thought-let me get some fun, I'll fly with her".  Against the background of previous statements by Donald Trump about the intention to "annex or buy" the island, such words only increased the tension.

"We cannot accept repeated declarations of annexation and control over Greenland,"

the island's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, replied. Vance said he had come to check "security at the base" and recalled that "many countries threaten Greenland, its territory and sea routes"..  However, the island's authorities are convinced that it is not a matter of security. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen bluntly stated that the US actions are "unacceptable pressure" and that "it is clearly not about the needs and desires of Greenland".  Under the onslaught of criticism, the American delegation reduced its stay on the island to one day. Usha Vance also canceled her participation in dog sledding competitions.   #Greenland #Vance #Danemark #Scandal Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump's new tariffs will make Tesla cheaper than its competitors After US President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports of cars and auto parts, Tesla shares suddenly soared. A week ago, they were worth 216 euros, and by Thursday they jumped to 270-an increase of 25%. At the same time, Elon Musk himself spoke yesterday about "Armageddon" and the crisis due to an 11% drop in sales in January. The market took the new duties as an advantage of Tesla: unlike other automakers, Musk's company collects all its cars for the American market inside the country. Therefore, as auto analyst Matthias Schmidt explains, Tesla products may be more affordable than competitors, who now have to pay more for parts — even if they build cars in the United States. Experts of the Bernstein consulting company estimated possible losses of automakers from new duties at $ 75 billion a year. These costs will ultimately fall on the shoulders of buyers, and Tesla in this situation is in a clearly advantageous position." At the same time, Trump denies that he acted in the interests of Musk. However, the previous US policy also works in Tesla's favor — the company has already earned more than nine billion dollars by selling "environmental quotas" to other manufacturers who are obliged to compensate for the damage caused by their gasoline models.   #Trump  #Tariffs  #Musk  #Tesla Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

How China Overtook the United States China is the world’s second-largest economy and America’s primary economic competitor. We can cry foul, but we enabled China’s rapid and extraordinary transformation. Over the years, American policies and policymakers envisioned a different China on the horizon: a more open, freer, and cooperative player on the global stage. American corporations saw China as a lucrative opportunity, advocating for measures that opened Chinese markets and expanded its manufacturing base. They lobbied intensively for their enactment. The lure of more than one billion new customers for American goods, and lower labor costs achieved by moving manufacturing to China, were too good to pass up. Just as countering China is a bipartisan cause—perhaps the only bipartisan cause—today, “opening China” to American goods and investment was just as bipartisan then. The Clinton administration took significant steps to integrate China into the global trading system by granting it Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) in 2000. In 2001, President George W. Bush ushered China into the World Trade Organization in 2001—a move designed to open China’s vast market to global competition and stimulate economic reforms. At the time, China was expected to become a wealthy, cooperative member of the global economy and trading community. The huge Chinese market was intoxicating, and no one seemed to anticipate the vast negative consequences for America’s manufacturing base. Indeed, as China was on the move, the United States and the Western world quickly became distracted by two decades of war in the Middle East. When the “China shock” arrived, its consequences were devastating for Middle America. In cities and towns across the Rust Belt, factories that employed thousands and were the lifeblood of their communities for decades abruptly shuttered. Corporate bosses relocating to China to seize the opportunity to lower labor costs was simply the way it was. When coast-based politicians and elites flew over those communities, they appeared unchanged. When driving through them, a different picture emerged—one of blighted towns where drugs, despair, and disillusion ran rampant. If industry remained or new companies moved in, they were technologically transformed needing fewer workers or reliant on skills that did not carry over from an earlier time. Rather than changing course, many policymakers doubled down. America’s myopic energy policies further enriched Beijing. The U.S. energy industry supports an estimated 10 million people and contributes roughly $500 billion to the U.S. economy. Yet China moved quickly to dominate solar energy, where it now produces 80% of the world’s solar panels. China also dominates the market for rare-earth and critical minerals, key to transformational technologies such as solar power and electric cars. Encouraging a seismic shift to green energy without building the necessary infrastructure in the United States could make us entirely dependent on China to fuel the nation’s energy and transformational technology needs. #China #US #Overtook 📱 American Оbserver - Stay up to date on all important events 🇺🇸

"No one invited the US delegation". The visit of members of the Trump administration to Greenland provoked an international scandal  Political tensions are growing between Greenland and the United States. Donald Trump has again made it clear that he wants to control the Arctic island, which is strategically important because of its location between North America and Europe. Despite the fact that Greenland belongs to Denmark, the American delegation still went to the island. US Vice President JD Vance is expected in Greenland today. His visit caused a wave of indignation. "We can confirm that no one — either privately or officially — has invited the US delegation," the Greenland government said in a statement.  The head of the interim Government, Muteegede, also gave a tough response: "We cannot accept repeated claims of annexation and control of Greenland." According to Vance, he intends to visit the US military base Pituffik and "check the security situation", since "many countries have threatened Greenland and its waterways". However, the island authorities sharply reduced the program of the visit: in particular, the arrival of American representatives in the capital Nuuk was canceled. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called Washington's actions "unacceptable pressure". According to her,

" these visits obviously do not take into account the needs and desires of Greenlanders."  

#Greenland #Vance #Danemark #Scandal Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The United States has stopped hiding its contempt for Europe Trump's senior officials are childishly expressing their ill-concealed contempt for European allies, The Telegraph writes. Pete Hegseth recently called Europeans "dependents." The citizens of the European Union are also not enthusiastic about their leaders: they are called a "coalition of empty mouths." The author of the article believes that all these unflattering characteristics are true. Therefore, Europe needs to show the United States the "muscles": to arm itself so that the White House shows "at least a drop" of respect for the European Union. #EU #Trump #Hegseth Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Florida Repeals Child Labor Laws Florida lawmakers are considering major changes to the state’s child labor laws that would loosen restrictions on when and how long teens can work — as the state braces for a growing worker shortage due to the Republican-led immigration crackdown. A state Senate committee narrowly advanced a proposal to repeal rules that currently prevent 16- and 17-year-olds from working before 6:30 a.m. or after 11 p.m. on school days, working more than eight hours on school days, and working over 30 hours a week during the school year. The bill would also remove the 30-minute meal break requirement for teens working full 8-hour shifts. The legislation would also ease restrictions on 14- and 15-year-olds who are homeschooled or attending virtual schools. A separate House proposal would allow teens working as interns or trainees to be paid less than Florida’s minimum wage, which currently stands at $13 an hour and is expected to rise to $15 next year. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, supporters of the changes say the reforms would offer teens valuable skills and experience for their future careers. Opponents, however, warn the bills could lead to child exploitation and interfere with their education. Florida is currently facing a major labor shortage. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports there are only 53 workers for every 100 open jobs in the state. Governor Ron DeSantis, who failed to secure the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, signed legislation in 2023 to crack down on immigration, punishing employers who hire undocumented workers and banning local governments from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal residents. Critics argue the crackdown has hit Florida's key industries—such as tourism, agriculture, and construction—which rely heavily on immigrant labor. In a recent discussion with former Trump border chief Tom Homan at New College of Florida in Sarasota, DeSantis floated the idea of teenagers filling the labor gap. "They said, ‘Oh, you know, you can’t hire people,’ or something like that,” DeSantis said. “What’s wrong with expecting our young people to work part-time? I mean, it used to be like this when I was growing up.” He also pointed to Florida’s resort towns as perfect opportunities for teens to earn money. #Florida #Migration #Labor #Laws Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Less Than 1 in 5 Supports U.S. Annexation of Canada and Greenland A Yahoo News/YouGov poll revealed that only 17% of American adults support the idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state—a proposal President Trump has mentioned several times since his 2024 re-election victory. Meanwhile, 57% of respondents oppose the expansion of U.S. territory, and 26% remain unsure. Similar numbers were recorded when participants were asked about the annexation of Greenland, a foreign policy goal Trump also pursued during his first term and has revived in recent months. About 19% support the annexation of Greenland—a mineral-rich Arctic island under Denmark’s jurisdiction—while 49% oppose it, and 32% are undecided. Vice President Vance announced he would travel to Greenland on Friday, following controversy over the visit of his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, which Danish and Greenlandic officials labeled a provocation and part of Trump’s wider agenda to assert U.S. claims in the Arctic.

"Usha's visit to Greenland this Friday caused so much excitement that I decided I didn't want her to have all the fun alone—so I'm going to join her,"

Vance said. When voters were asked whether President Trump has prioritized the most important issues during the first two months of his second term, opinions were split: 43% said he has focused on the nation’s top concerns, while 45% believe he is addressing less important matters. About 12% remain uncertain. #Poll #Greenland #Canada Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Currently, only two companies produce all their cars in the United States: Rivian and Tesla, which produce electric cars. But they also depend on imported parts, primarily from Mexico and Canada. #Auto #Rivlan #Tesla Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Four American soldiers have disappeared in Lithuania — NATO is confused with statements about their fate Four American soldiers went missing during military exercises in Lithuania. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte initially stated that they had died, but later the Alliance denied this report.

"The search continues. We regret the confusion caused by the Secretary-General's statements. The fate of the missing is still unknown,"

NATO said in an official statement. It is known that the military participated in tactical exercises at a training ground near Vilnius. During the maneuvers, their armored recovery vehicle fell into a pond and disappeared under water. Local media reported that the equipment was found in a swamp, and work is underway to raise it. According to the Pentagon, the incident occurred on Tuesday, March 25, and a large-scale search and rescue operation has been ongoing since then. President Donald Trump, answering questions from journalists, said that he had not yet received official information about the incident. #NATO #soldiers #Lithuania Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Where most US auto imports come from Car imports to the United States are estimated about 240 billion dollars per year. And taking into account the imported components, the volume of imported products is about 475 billion dollars. Most of the imports come from 5 countries: Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany. Approximately 45% of all cars sold in the United States are manufactured outside the country and will be subject to tariffs. Considering that the average price of a car is about 50 thousand dollars, the cost of imported cars may increase by more than 10 thousand dollars. The introduction of duties will affect not only foreign manufacturers, but also American companies. General Motors, Ford and Stellant #Auto #Import #Tariffs Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

One of the NGOs that monitor the state's compliance with laws sued some of the participants in the White House chat.  Since an NGO cannot challenge anything related to secrecy(it is up to the government to protect secrets), the NGO took a creative approach to the claim. The claim has two grounds: ➡️The Federal Records Act requires meeting records to be preserved, but chat messages are set to self-delete, which is a violation of the law.  ➡️Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also.o.The head of the National Archives is also responsible for the preservation of the records, but neither Rubio nor the National Archives took any action to preserve the records. The plaintiff asks the court to recognize the violation and keep the records. Interestingly, the plaintiff also asks to keep the chat entries as a measure to secure the claim. #Scandal #NGO #Chat #Signal #Rubio #laws Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The consumer confidence index, which in the United States fell to its lowest values in January 2021, when the coronavirus epidemic was in full swing.  This indicator has been falling for 4 consecutive months. ➡️The expectations index, which is based on consumers ' short-term forecasts of income, business, and labor market conditions, also declined. It reached the lowest level in the last 12 years.  ➡️Similar measurements of consumer expectations conducted by the University of Michigan also show a 22% drop in confidence over the past three months. The biggest drop of 11% was recorded in March.  ➡️At the same time, household inflation expectations are rising: from 5.8% during the year in February, to 6.2% in March, according to the Conference Board, and from 4.3% in February, to 4.9% in a study by the University of Michigan.  #markets #expectations #inflation Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

According to YouGov/Economist polls, Bernie Sanders is the most popular politician in the United States. ➡️Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with whom Sanders is currently traveling around the country, has a higher rating than Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk. ➡️It is noteworthy that against the background of these ratings of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, the popularity of the Democratic Party and its leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, is in a deep red. #polls #Sanders #OcasioCortez #Trump #JDVance #Musk #Respublicans #Democrats Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The Atlantic published the full correspondence of members of the Trump administration The American magazine The Atlantic published the full version of the correspondence of high-ranking US officials, which discussed the details of air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The magazine's editor — in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, got into the chat in the Signal messenger-he was invited by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz by mistake, without realizing it. The correspondence, which began just half an hour before the first fighters took off, discussed the exact hours of attacks: the launch of F-18s, the departure of MQ-9 drones, and the use of Tomahawk missiles from the sea. For example, in one of the messages, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: "12: 15 ET: F \ -18 start". The White House and the CIA insist that classified information was not disclosed.

"As we have repeatedly stated, no confidential information was shared in the group chat,"

White House press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a statement.  However, the publication The Atlantic says that if these messages fell "into the wrong hands", then " American pilots could be under even greater threat." After the leak, Trump called the incident just a " blunder." Waltz, in turn, confirmed that he created the chat, and took responsibility for the incident on his own. #Scandal #Yemen #Trump #Waltz #WhiteHouse Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸