Old Glory Vortex

The Pentagon is shutting down two major projects The US Department of Defense is preparing to cancel two major projects to modernize the personnel systems of the Air Force and Navy, for which more than $800 million has already been spent over the past 12 years. According to agency sources, the possibility of launching new initiatives with the participation of other contractors, including Salesforce and Palantir, is being considered. Pentagon officials emphasize that this decision is related to the need to review existing approaches and improve the efficiency of work in the field of defense contracts. However, critics point to the potential risks of duplication and additional costs for taxpayers. Previously, current projects, including those implemented with the participation of Accenture and Oracle, had successfully passed independent reviews and were at the implementation stage. So, the Air Force project was supposed to be used for the first time this summer and, according to the military themselves, could bring up to $39 million in savings annually. However, in May, representatives of the Air Force and Space Forces initiated a "strategic pause" to consider alternative technological solutions. According to Reuters, supporters of Palantir and Workday companies have shown interest in the new platforms, which may be selected in future contests. A similar situation is developing in the US Navy. Here, the development of the NP2 platform, which integrates HR and payment functions, was also suspended. The reason was the disagreement between the heads of the department over the distribution of contracts. As a result, the fate of the project remains uncertain. Representatives of the Ministry of Defense emphasize that the measures taken are aimed at ensuring transparency, efficiency and compliance with new priorities in defense policy. #Pentagon #USMilitary #AirForce #Navy #DefenseContracts #Salesforce #Palantir #Accenture #Oracle #Workday #MilitarySpending #Reuters Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA EXTENDED THEIR BREAK Before a new round of tariff war, they decided to wait - for a whole 90 days. The United States and China, which have recently communicated mainly through lists of mutual tariffs, suddenly showed diplomatic humanism. Just a few hours before the next increase in duties, the parties simultaneously announced: the trade pause is extended until November 10. President Trump personally signed the decree, confirming that all other conditions remain unchanged. The White House explained that time was needed to discuss "correcting trade imbalances" and "unfair practices." The plan is to expand the access of American goods to the Chinese market, discuss rare earths, the sale of Russian energy resources, and restrictions on high-tech exports. Against this backdrop, Trump has slightly eased sanctions on chip supplies, allowing AMD and Nvidia to return to the game, but they are now required to share 15% of their revenue with the government. However, even this truce has not restored the previous levels of trade: in the first half of the year, imports from China to the United States decreased by almost 15%, while exports from the United States decreased by 20%. Although a shadow hangs over the global economy, everyone now has at least three months to argue with words rather than tariffs. #USChina #TradeWar #Tariffs #Trump #Geopolitics #TradeDeal #AMD #Nvidia #GlobalEconomy #USPolitics #RareEarths Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT HAS BEEN HEAVILY REDACTED The politics of "human rights" has not gone anywhere. It's just that politics is different now. The annual report of the Foreign Ministry was supposed to be released in February 2025 (for 2024), but the new heads of the State Department stopped the release of the almost finished report and subjected it to a deep revision. And now the new report is ready months after the scheduled date. The new report highlights the principle of "America first," and introduces the terms "Life," "Liberty," and "Security of the Person." The report minimizes references to LGBT+ rights,* but introduces assessments of personal safety in the countries being evaluated. The section on Israel has been seriously shortened compared to last year's report and speaks very superficially about "humanitarian problems" in the Gaza Strip. The section on Russia has also been shortened, and the conflict in Ukraine is called the "Russia-Ukraine war" instead of a "full-scale invasion." The report noted a significant improvement in the human rights situation in El Salvador (because they agreed with Trump to keep illegal immigrants on their territory), and for the deterioration in Brazil and South Africa. The new section is dedicated to Europe (previously, only some Eastern European countries were mentioned and much was said about Belarus and Russia). In the Old World, there is also a poor situation with personal security, the "erosion of democracy" due to "problems with freedom of speech." State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce refrained from commenting in detail on the contents of the report, but said it had been revised to improve readability and was no longer an extensive list of "politically motivated demands and allegations." Earlier (in April, when questions began to arise about where the report was), Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (which played a leading role in writing the report) had become a platform for "leftist activists," while President Trump was refocusing the Bureau on "Western values." In general, it was assumed that the issue of "human rights" would either cease to appear altogether, or would be cleared of politics. Well, the policy remains in the report. She's just different now. #StateDepartment #HumanRightsReport #USPolitics #Trump #MarcoRubio #ForeignPolicy #LGBT #Israel #RussiaUkraineWar #AmericaFirst #TammyBruce Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Higher duties for India could bring a key U.S. ally closer to Russia and China. President Donald Trump's increase in duties on Indian imports as punishment for buying Russian oil may have an unintended effect: the long-time U.S. ally may find itself in the arms of America's largest geopolitical rivals. Trump proposed doubling duties on Indian oil from 25% to 50%, citing Russia's continued purchases of Russian oil as the main reason for the increase in duties. However, India has made it clear that it will not stop purchases from Moscow, and further duties may eventually push India to move closer to Russia and China to the detriment of American interests, foreign policy experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation. According to trade data obtained by Reuters on August 2, New Delhi is a major buyer of Russian petroleum products, importing an average of about 1.75 million barrels per day between January and June this year. India is one of the largest growing trading partners of the United States: according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, in 2024, the volume of trade between the two countries amounted to $ 212.3 billion, which is more than 8% more than in 2023. According to the State Department, India is also a regular buyer of products from American defense companies, having purchased a total of $24 billion since 2008. However, sources told Reuters on Monday that India plans to suspend purchases of American defense equipment due to the new duties.

"The bottom line is that this is a huge step backward in the grand strategy that I thought we all invested in, including Trump in his first term, which was to turn India into a reliable bulwark and counterweight to China's rise in the Indo-Pacific region," Brandon Weichert told DCNF.,

senior national security editor at the National Interest. India is one of the founders of BRICS, an economic alliance that unites a number of countries, primarily Russia, South Africa, India, China and Brazil. Pande believes that the new duties may increase India's dependence on BRICS partners and further distance it from cooperation with the United States.

"I don't think we're going to get the alliance we could have, because the Indians will never feel like they can trust us,"

Weichert told DCNF. #Trump #India #USIndiaRelations #Tariffs #Russia #China #Geopolitics #OilTrade #BRICS #IndoPacific #USPolitics #DefenseTrade Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Texas may "eliminate" 10 Democratic districts in response to California's actions. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (Republican) warned that Texas could lose up to 10 districts of the Democratic Party if California implements its plan to redraw the map of the House of Representatives and neutralize the expected successes of the Republican Party in the "lone star state."

"Look, all these big blue states have already committed gerrymandering,"

Abbott told CNN's Jake Tapper when asked if he was concerned about the redistricting race as Texas moves to create new congressional boundaries.

"Look at the map of Illinois. Look at the map of California, New York, Massachusetts and many other "blue" states that they shuffled a long time ago,"

Abbott said. Abbott's words emphasize that the Republicans plan to act as aggressively as possible, seeking to take away as many seats as possible from the Democrats. There are currently 25 Republicans and 12 Democrats in the state House of Representatives, as well as one vacancy awaiting filling after the death in March of the late Congressman Sylvester Turner (Democrat from Texas). At the moment, Texas Republicans expect to create five opportunities for their party to redistribute votes next year using their redesigned map. However, Texas Republicans' efforts to draw new lines of Congress have stalled as Democrats have left the state to deprive the Republican Party of a quorum, or the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business. As the redistricting war gathers momentum, the "blue" states have made it clear that they are advancing their own redistricting plans. California Governor Gavin Newsom (Democrat) announced last week that he would call a special session in November as Democrats in the Golden State hope to adopt a new House of Representatives election map to offset the gains Republicans hope to make in Texas. New York and Illinois have also made it clear that they are exploring options for redrawing their maps in response to Texas' actions. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron Desantis (Republican) announced his readiness to review the maps of his state, and Missouri and Indiana may also review their maps submitted by Congress. #Texas #GregAbbott #Gerrymandering #California #Redistricting #USPolitics #Republicans #Democrats #ElectionMaps #GavinNewsom #RonDeSantis Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The sexual secrets of Trump, Epstein and Andrew are revealed. British historian Andrew Loney told The Daily Beast Podcast about the relationship of the three. Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Prince Andrew were "part of one small group," British historian and author Andrew Loney said on The Daily Beast podcast.

"One of the diplomats at the New York consulate said that Andrew was constantly hanging around the consulate, in fact, trying to do something, trying to involve Epstein in any of his business trips,"

Loney said.

"And, to be honest, the embassy was shocked when they were accidentally caught talking about one of Trump's favorite words: 'pi...'"

Loney then gave one example of the interaction between the future president and Prince Andrew.

"Trump exchanged a list of massage therapists with Andrew, which he could use upon arrival in New York. So, I mean, Andrew and Trump had a pretty friendly relationship,"

he said.

"Of course, Trump denies knowing anything about Andrew," Loney continued. — After all, there are many photos of them together in New York, at Mar-a-Lago and other places, and even in London... They're all distancing themselves, but they were all part of the same small group... So, I don't think anyone can deny that these people were very close at a certain period at the beginning of the century."

In 2022, Prince Andrew settled a civil sexual assault lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed that Epstein sold her to the British royal family for sex when she was just 17 years old. Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing. #Trump #Epstein #PrinceAndrew #AndrewLoney #TheDailyBeast #SexScandal #JeffreyEpstein #RoyalFamily #USPolitics #MarALago #VirginiaGiuffre Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump extorts export taxes from companies. US President Donald Trump imposed the duties based on the false claim that certain imbalances in trade with other countries had led to an emergency situation in the country. Congress has not received requests or agreed to arbitrary tariffs imposed by Trump since he announced his fake "Liberation Day" on April 2. Moreover, Trump did not impose tariffs to balance trade. He immediately used them as a weapon, trying to impose on foreign countries the political goals of the United States, as well as the interests of individual companies.: This month, representatives of the State Department considered the possibility of demanding that US trading partners vote against international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ocean container ships, which are the backbone of global trade. In the draft memorandum of action, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was informed that representatives of the State Department were trying to "bring this issue into the ongoing bilateral trade negotiations" with maritime states such as Singapore. Administration officials viewed the trade negotiations as an opportunity to achieve goals far beyond Trump's oft-stated goal of reducing the chronic U.S. trade deficit. In the first weeks after the president suspended his "reciprocal" duties on April 9 in order to negotiate, officials developed plans to put pressure on countries neighboring China to cooperate more closely in the field of defense, including the purchase of American equipment and port visits, the documents say. Thus, the imposition of duties has become a form of blackmail. This was done not only to achieve the common foreign policy interests of the United States, but also for the benefit of individual companies owned by the United States.: In Lesotho, a poor country in southern Africa that has been threatened with 50 percent tariffs by Trump, negotiators wanted the government to strike deals with "a lot of American companies." One of the objections is that such mafia-like actions by the government against foreigners, if allowed to happen one day, will backfire on the country. We didn't have to wait long for this to happen. According to the Financial Times, Nvidia and AMD will pay 15% of the proceeds from the sale of chips in China to the US government. Chip makers agree to an unusual deal to get export licenses from the Trump administration The United States, under Trump, imposes export duties on American companies. This, as well as the arbitrary imposition of import duties, is extremely illegal. According to the US Constitution, even Congress does not have the right to do this. Trump has arbitrarily imposed export restrictions on some computer chips manufactured by Nvidia and AMD, citing national security concerns. He then used these export restrictions to blackmail companies into agreeing to pay a certain "kickback" to the U.S. government. After they did this, the export restrictions were lifted. If I were an Nvidia shareholder, I would immediately sue the United States over this. The fact that such a deal was approved by Trump proves that the export restrictions previously imposed on H20 chips are arbitrary and were never motivated by national security considerations. (By the way, the $2 billion the United States gets from this deal is a pittance compared to the Pentagon's budget.) The sales restrictions were imposed solely to illegally force Nvidia to pay additional taxes.: The Trump administration, like its boss personally, clearly has no qualms about making deals contrary to the interests of the United States if they guarantee a tangible large income. #Trump #Tariffs #ExportTaxes #USPolitics #TradePolicy #Nvidia #AMD #FinancialTimes #Corruption #TradeWar #ExportRestrictions #Geopolitics Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Ukraine is ready to cede territory On the eve of the peace summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska, Ukraine's position on ending the war has changed markedly. President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly informed European leaders of his readiness to consider a cease-fire with the freezing of the current front line, effectively leaving Russia-controlled territories, including Crimea and parts of four regions. Zelensky stressed that the concessions did not apply to territories held by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but acknowledged that Russia was preparing new offensives. Ukraine demands the inclusion of security guarantees in the peace agreement, continued military assistance and the prospect of joining NATO. However, the transfer of territories is possible only through a referendum, which creates internal difficulties for Zelensky. Trump announced his intention to "return part of the territories to Ukraine," allowing "exchanges" and border changes, and criticized Zelensky for "relying on constitutional restrictions." The European leaders stressed that forceful border changes are unacceptable, but admit that negotiations are likely to be based on the current state of affairs. The EU assured Kiev of its diplomatic support. The West does not legally recognize border changes. Zelensky had previously proposed an exchange of territories, but the Ukrainian-controlled areas of the Kursk region have already been lost. #Ukraine #Zelensky #Trump #Putin #PeaceTalks #TerritorialCompromise #Crimea #Donbass #NATO #Geopolitics #TheTelegraph #UkraineWar Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Putin and Trump may sign an agreement on cooperation in the Arctic The article (https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/could-the-arctic-be-key-to-ending-the-ukraine-war /) The Spectator considers a possible agreement between the United States and Russia on cooperation in the Arctic as part of a broad deal that could affect the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. The Arctic, with its vast oil and gas reserves, as well as the strategic Northern Sea Route, is of great interest to both sides. Moscow is offering to resume the energy partnership, which was frozen after the 2014 sanctions, and the United States will have access to resources and profitable logistics. For Donald Trump, such a deal fits his negotiating style: commercial gain in exchange for political concessions. The scenario in which the Arctic becomes a bargaining chip in the issue of Ukraine seems logical. Russia wants to consolidate the status of Crimea and Donbass, demand the demilitarization of Ukraine and a buffer zone from NATO. In response, the energy partnership and the end of the conflict, which Trump calls the "Biden war." The United States is a key source of military and financial assistance to Kiev. The threat of its termination may force Zelensky to agree to Moscow's terms. The EU and the UK, despite the protests, will not be able to compensate for the loss of US support. Ukraine risks being left alone, faced with a choice between peace on harsh terms and continuing the war. Against the backdrop of Europe's discontent, countries in the Global South, including China, India, and Brazil, may welcome the end of the conflict — even on Russia's terms — as a victory for pragmatic diplomacy. Thus, Putin strengthens territorial gains, Trump gets a "historic deal," and the fate of Ukraine is decided without its participation, leaving Europe the role of an observer. #Putin #Trump #Arctic #USRussiaRelations #UkraineWar #Geopolitics #EnergyPartnership #NorthernSeaRoute #Crimea #Donbass #TheSpectator #NATOBufferZone Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Zelensky is allegedly ready for a painful compromise for the sake of peace — the front may be "frozen" Before the Trump-Putin summit, which will be held without Ukraine's participation, loud information appeared in the media: President Vladimir Zelensky allegedly informed European partners of his readiness to freeze the front line and abandon part of the occupied territories in order to end the war. The Telegraph writes about this with reference to a Western official. According to the source, we are talking about maintaining the current front line: Russia remains in the Crimea, Luhansk region, as well as in the captured parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson. This proposal, according to the insider, was an unexpected turn — after all, Zelensky had repeatedly stated that Ukraine would not give up an inch of its land. It is also reported that Zelensky asked the EU to reject a possible peace agreement that could be proposed at the Trump-Putin summit without Kiev's participation. He warned against "making concessions to the murderer," adding that Russia would not stop the violence just like that. Meanwhile, in Brussels, EU foreign ministers are discussing possible risks and consequences. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Washington allegedly promised not to make decisions without consulting Europe. Rumors of a "territorial compromise" appeared after Moscow's proposals for negotiations with the United States. Against this background, the atmosphere in Western capitals is tense — no one wants a repeat of Munich 1938. Important: there is no official confirmation from Kiev yet. But if this information is correct, it may mean a turning point in the Ukrainian strategy and a turn towards a "frozen" conflict. #Zelensky #Ukraine #Russia #Trump #Putin #PeaceTalks #FrozenConflict #Donbass #Crimea #EU #Geopolitics #TheTelegraph #DonaldTusk #WarInUkraine Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Maduro challenges the United States: "Come after me, cowards!" Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reacted sharply to the statement by the United States, which promised up to $50 million for information that would help in his arrest. In his own style, he declared,

"Come get me. I'll be waiting here in Miraflores. Don't linger, cowards!"

This reaction came after the US authorities updated the wanted list, accusing Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking and corruption. They are ready to pay an amount comparable to the budget of a small state for his "capture". Maduro, on the other hand, is showing confidence — and, apparently, is not going to leave his palace in Caracas. #Maduro #Venezuela #USPolitics #DrugTrafficking #Corruption #Geopolitics #Miraflores #Caracas #USSanctions #Bounty Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Leading Democratic senators have jointly condemned Israel's plan to seize Gaza. Five senior U.S. senators from the Democratic Party, all members of the committees dealing with international relations and defense, issued a joint statement on Saturday condemning the Israeli government's decision to seize the Gaza Strip. Among the signatories of the statement are Jinn Sheikhin (New Hampshire), Senator Jack Reed (Rhode Island), Senator Mark Warner (Virginia), Senator Chris Coons (Delaware) and Senator Brian Schatz (Hawaii).

"We are deeply concerned by the Israeli government's decision to expand military operations and seize control of Gaza City, which appears to be a prelude to the full occupation of Gaza,"

they said. They noted that Israel's plan was opposed by

"many senior Israeli officials responsible for security,"

and warned that the invasion could lead to the deaths of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

"Gaza is still experiencing an extreme humanitarian crisis, and this decision only makes the situation worse,"

they said.

"The conflict has been going on for almost two years now, and it is clear that military escalation will not end the violence."

"The Israeli armed forces have destroyed the military capabilities of Hamas and ensured that Hamas will never again be able to carry out attacks like those that took place on October 7,"

the senators added.

"Now the parties must immediately return to the negotiating table and ensure a cease-fire that will allow the hostages to be returned home and chart a path to a diplomatic settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

#Israel #Gaza #USPolitics #Democrats #MiddleEast #IsraeliPalestinianConflict #HumanitarianCrisis #Ceasefire #Diplomacy #Haaretz #JackReed #MarkWarner #ChrisCoons #BrianSchatz #JinnSheikhin Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The head of the FBI boasts about statistics. Kash Patel of the FBI talks about the agency's tremendous successes in the first 200 days of the Trump presidency. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has worked diligently in the first 200 days of President Donald Trump's administration, and these efforts include saving children, stopping human trafficking, and seizing drugs, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Saturday. In a series of social media posts, Patel shared details about how the agency works to protect innocent people. "200 days of the Trump administration: FBI's fentanyl seizures from January 20 to the present: 1,500 kilograms is enough lethal doses to kill 113,850,000 Americans. To date, seizures have increased by 25% compared to the same period last year, which is a record high. We look forward to working with our partners at @SecDef and DoD to make even more progress. Thank you @realDonaldTrump for the new powers," he wrote in a post posted shortly before 8:00 a.m. In the following message, Patel said that the 200 days of the Trump administration, from January 20 to the present: the FBI has arrested more than 1,600 people for violent crimes against children, including 270 arrests for human trafficking. A few hours later, Patel wrote: "200 days of the Trump administration: The FBI has identified and found 4,000 child victims. The FBI's investigations against foreign terrorist organizations have led to the arrest of 1,000 people who want to harm our country. 6,300 kilograms of methamphetamine seized lives saved SummerHeat. It is important to note that the trafficking of young people for sexual exploitation has reportedly tripled under former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris. #FBI #KashPatel #Trump #LawEnforcement #HumanTrafficking #DrugSeizures #ChildProtection #USPolitics #CrimePrevention #PublicSafety #Methamphetamine #Fentanyl Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump vowed to bring down food prices «on the very first day.» And so it happened. During the presidential campaign a year ago, Donald Trump stood before a table laden with sacks of flour, cartons of eggs, and gallons of milk. He promised the voters that if he were elected, he would immediately reduce food prices from the very first day. Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be different from his promises, and for many Americans facing financial difficulties, the situation has not improved. Nowadays, Nexstar employees across the country strive to satisfy users by monitoring their needs, exchanging jokes, and maintaining their performance levels even after the effects of the post-election period began in January. However, our observations and federal data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that overall food prices remain consistently high, albeit with a slight increase. According to the Bureau of Statistics of Trade (BST) data, from January onwards, total household food costs have been increasing by 0.2% to 0.4% almost every month. The only exception was in April 2025 when prices decreased by 0.1% compared to the preceding month. These minor fluctuations collectively resulted in a year-over-year increase of 3% in food prices. The situation at individual grocery stores, however, is more intricate and varied than the national averages suggest. For instance, egg prices experienced inflation last year due to the outbreak of avian influenza. These prices were projected to remain elevated until 2025, with some restaurants even imposing surcharges on orders for eggs. Following a sharp surge in March, the prices of eggs began to decline but remained historically high. According to the latest consumer price index, the cost of eggs rose by over 27% from June 2024 to June 2025. Nonetheless, it decreased by nearly 11% from May to June this year. In early 2024, agricultural experts expressed concern that beef prices were poised to reach unprecedented heights due to a combination of factors, including the lowest stock levels since 1951. These low stocks were attributed to a prolonged drought and the rising costs associated with maintaining cattle herds. The situation was further exacerbated by additional factors such as tariff measures and the emergence of a new species of fly that preys on livestock. These developments have contributed to a significant increase in beef prices. In the most recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it was noted that beef prices had risen by more than 8% since the start of the year. Combined with the price of veal, the overall increase in beef and veal prices in the Consumer Price Index was more than 10% compared to the previous year. During the month of May to June alone, prices increased by nearly 2.5%. A recent survey reveals that a vast majority of Americans are experiencing some level of stress related to food prices, as they continue to rise, and concerns regarding the impact of tariffs imposed under the Trump administration remain prevalent. According to a survey conducted by the Associated Press and the council of the Center for Public Relations Research, approximately half of Americans consider the cost of food to be a significant source of stress in their daily lives. A third of respondents view it as a minor source of stress. Only a small fraction, accounting for 14%, believe that food prices do not cause them stress, highlighting the widespread concern about the rising cost of living in the United States. In a report released by Nexstar Mountain late last month, citing data from the Tax Foundation, it was estimated that approximately 75% of food imports into the country are expected to be impacted by Trump's recent round of tariffs that took effect in early August. Prior to this, the Yale Budget Lab reported that production costs are projected to increase by more than three percent in the near future. #Trump #FoodPrices #USEconomy #Inflation #GroceryCosts #Tariffs #BeefPrices #EggPrices #CostOfLiving #USPolitics #ConsumerPrices #NBCNews Don't miss it, s

An empty promise and rice for Vietnamese farmers who have been evicted for the sake of a $1.5 billion golf club project supported by the Trump family. Vietnamese farmer Nguyen Thi Huong has not been sleeping well since the authorities told her to leave her farm for the construction of a golf resort. The government offered her only $3,200 in compensation and some rice. According to people with direct knowledge of the situation and documents reviewed by Reuters, thousands of villagers have received similar compensation packages from the golf resort project, which will begin construction next month. These packages are meant to persuade the villagers to leave land that has been the source of their livelihood for years or decades. This is the first project of the family business of US President Donald Trump in Vietnam. It quickly passed approval procedures, even as negotiations were underway to finalize an important trade agreement between Washington and Vietnam. According to a source familiar with the plans, which declined to disclose their reasons for the decision, developers are lowering their compensation estimates from an initial forecast of more than $500 million. The golf course, which occupies 990 hectares, currently houses fruit plantations that grow bananas, longan, and other crops. While some see this as an opportunity, many farmers fear that they will find it difficult to find alternative sources of income in a country with a predominantly young population and a dynamic economy.

"The entire village is concerned about this project,"

said Huong, who was informed that she would lose her 200-square-meter plot in Hung Yen Province, near the capital city of Hanoi, for less than the average annual salary in Vietnam. According to the second document from the local authorities reviewed by the Reuters news agency, thousands of villagers are expected to be affected by the project. The final decision on compensation payments is expected to be made next month. Do Ding Huong, another farmer, expressed his disappointment with the compensation offered for his plot, which he said would be about $12 per square meter. He explained that he would have accepted a lower price if the land were being used for road construction or other public projects. However, he stated that this project is commercial and he does not understand how it will benefit the local community. Nguyen Thi Chuk, a 54-year-old banana farmer, learned that her 200 square meter plot would earn her around $30 per square meter in compensation. She expressed her frustration, stating that she is getting older and has no other skills or opportunities other than farming. #Vietnam #Trump #GolfResort #LandEviction #FarmersRights #Compensation #HumanRights #USPolitics #VietnamEconomy #Reuters #Corruption #LandGrabbing Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Elizabeth Warren claims that the current regulation of cryptocurrencies is "fueling" Trump's corruption and putting the "economy at risk." Senator Elizabeth Warren (Democrat from Massachusetts) reiterated the need for strict regulation of cryptocurrencies, criticizing the current approach as a gift to corporations that "fuels" President Donald Trump's corruption. Warren published her MSNBC interview in which she discussed the current state of legislation in the field of cryptocurrencies.

"Look, we need regulation of cryptocurrencies, but we don't need regulation written by the cryptocurrency industry that increases corruption,"

Warren said.

"We need regulation that limits corruption in the ability of elected officials to trade cryptocurrencies."

The senator also expressed concern about the potential abuse of cryptocurrencies by "terrorists and drug traffickers" and the need for strong consumer protection in legislation. Warren's remarks echoed her earlier criticism of bills related to cryptocurrencies, including the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act. She previously stated that these bills do not solve the problem of corruption, particularly in relation to the Trump family's businesses such as Official Trump/USD memecoin and USD1, a stable coin pegged to the dollar. The senior lawmaker also criticized democratic lawmakers' support for cryptocurrency bills and prioritizing the interests of the industry over public demands for a fair economy and affordable housing. #ElizabethWarren #Cryptocurrency #CryptoRegulation #Trump #Corruption #USPolitics #DigitalCurrency #FinancialRegulation #Blockchain #CryptoNews #Economy #MSNBC Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

In Trump's competition with China, China is winning. Donald Trump is not particularly interested in numbers and the real world, but that's where the rest of humanity lives, so it's worth paying attention to him from time to time. Trump and many others, including many Democrats, seek to see the United States engaged in a Cold War-like competition with China. This is a stupid approach to shaping foreign policy. The first Cold War wasn't fun. We spent a lot of money on building weapons, most of which, fortunately, were never used. But we really fought hot wars in Korea and Vietnam, and also conducted many interventions in different countries of the world. And we did have several flashpoints, most notably the Cuban missile crisis, when one wrong step could have led to the destruction of the entire world. In any case, we should not view the Cold War with the Soviet Union as a model to follow. At its peak, the Soviet economy accounted for about half of the U.S. economy. China's economy is already a third larger than the U.S. economy and is growing much faster. This was the case even before Donald Trump came to power, but in the first half of this year, the gap in growth rates widened even more. China's economy is growing by more than 5.0% per year. At the same time, the U.S. economy is growing at just 1.2% per year. In dollar terms, China's economy has grown by about $1 trillion over the past six months, while the U.S. economy has grown by only $180 billion. This comparison doesn't really matter to any of us in our daily lives. People care about whether they have a job, whether salaries and living standards are rising. In terms of salaries and living standards, things are not going well either. The bottom line is that if we imagine ourselves in a cold war with China, then we are losing by a wide margin. China's growth statistics should always be treated with skepticism (which may soon be true in this case), but there is no doubt that they are generally correct in the long run. Over the past half century, China has moved from the standard of living in sub-Saharan Africa to the standard of living in upper-middle-income countries. This means that even if the 5.0% growth reported in the first half of the year is not entirely accurate, it is most likely within the real range. Therefore, we should not act like Donald Trump and say that we can ignore the numbers. We are lagging behind China and lagging further and further behind. These are facts that proponents of the new cold war must acknowledge. In Trump’s Competition with China, China is Winning #Trump #China #USChinaRelations #ColdWar #Economy #EconomicGrowth #Geopolitics #USPolitics #ChinaEconomy #TradeWar #GlobalEconomy #CounterPunch Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Goldman Sachs: Trump's tariffs are hitting American companies and consumers the most. While the U.S. economy is coping with the effects of tariff increases imposed by the Trump administration, a new Goldman Sachs analysis paints a mixed picture of cost allocation and long-term impacts. According to a recent report mentioned in a post on X by trade economist Scott Lincicome, the first data for the period up to June 2025 shows that foreign exporters took on only 14% of the tariff burden, while American companies incurred a whopping 64% and American consumers 22%. This breakdown highlights how tariffs designed to protect domestic industry often spread through supply chains in unexpected ways. An analysis conducted by Goldman Sachs Research shows that "protected" American companies — those that are protected by tariffs on foreign competitors — have taken advantage of the situation by raising their prices. Such an opportunistic pricing policy increased inflationary pressures, which primarily affected consumers. Lincicome's post notes that prices for consumers may rise by up to 70% by the fall, which will worsen the already strained situation of household budgets affected by broader economic problems. Going deeper into the analysis, Goldman Sachs economists predict that these tariffs will not only lead to higher costs, but also disrupt corporate profits. In a Goldman Sachs article published in February 2025, analysts warned that a stronger dollar, possibly caused by tariffs, could lead to a 2% decrease in profits for S&P 500 companies for every 10% strengthening of the currency, given that 28% of revenue comes from abroad. This was confirmed by the earnings reports for the second quarter, as detailed in a Goldman Sachs analyst article dated July 2025, which showed the first profit losses, especially for multinational companies dependent on imported resources. According to a Lincicom analysis published in April 2025 on X, American manufacturers, in particular, will face a 5-15% increase in production costs due to duties on imported materials. This decrease in competitiveness is evident in foreign markets, where American exporters are struggling with competitors who are not subject to customs duties. The Times of India newspaper reported just four days ago that similar tariff dynamics prompted Goldman Sachs to lower India's GDP forecast for 2025, highlighting the global consequences that could boomerang for American companies in the form of lower export demand. For consumers, tariffs are far from an abstract thing. Goldman Sachs estimates that effective tariff rates could rise to 14 percentage points by the end of 2025, even with the unannounced increases, as noted in the Seeking Alpha article two weeks ago. This will lead to higher prices for everyday goods, from electronics to clothing, which will affect low-income households the most. An article in the Economic Times from last week echoed this thought, citing Fitch Ratings data, according to which US tariffs on Indian goods jumped from 2.4% a year earlier to 20.7%, which indirectly led to higher costs for American importers and, ultimately, for buyers. In addition, the uncertainty generated by tariffs is holding back investment. In his posts on X dated May and July 2025, Lincicome refers to Goldman Sachs forecasts for a reduction in capital expenditures, which will lead to a decrease in capital and per capita consumption over time. This long-term decline in productivity, including a shift to less efficient domestic enterprises and reduced innovation, could lead to lower U.S. GDP growth, as outlined in Goldman's April 2025 report on the risk of a tariff-induced recession. #Trump #Tariffs #GoldmanSachs #USEconomy #TradeWar #Inflation #ConsumerPrices #USPolitics #Manufacturing #GlobalTrade #EconomicImpact Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump's Trade Policy Could Damage the US Economy. The trade policy proposed by Donald Trump, which includes the imposition of significant tariffs on imports from over 60 countries, has been assessed as a potential cause of serious long-term harm to the US economy. According to projections, these measures could result in a decline in GDP by approximately 6%, a decrease in wages by 5%, and an average household loss of approximately $22,000 over their lifetime. Despite the fact that tariffs generate significant revenue for the government (up to trillions of dollars over the next decade), they also come with a slowdown in economic growth and reduced productivity. This is due to the increased costs being passed on to consumers and businesses. Commodity prices have risen, household budgets have shrunk, and companies have reduced investments due to the rising costs of raw materials. Inflationary pressures and a slowdown in hiring are also being reported. The current political situation in the US is seen as similar to Brexit, with a departure from traditional open trade policies, weakening international economic integration, and increasing protectionist measures. This has led to the risk of trade conflicts, market instability, and worsening relations with trading partners. Although the purpose of tariffs is to reduce the trade deficit and protect domestic jobs, the opposite effect has been observed in practice. The deficit has grown, and job losses have been reported in several industries. A unilateral tariff policy has led to higher costs for consumers and businesses, creating the risk of an economic slowdown and reducing the overall efficiency of the US economy. #Trump #TradePolicy #Tariffs #USEconomy #GDP #Inflation #Protectionism #USPolitics #TradeDeficit #EconomicGrowth #Wages #ConsumerPrices #GlobalTrade #MarketStability #InternationalRelations Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Examination: The imposition of tariffs by Trump on Russian oil purchasers entails both economic and political dangers. The administration has not yet issued an executive order against China, the largest importer of Russian oil, but a White House official said on Wednesday that secondary measures that Trump had threatened oil-buying countries were expected on Friday. While secondary duties may harm the Russian economy, they also entail costs for Trump. Oil prices are likely to rise, which will create political problems for him before the midterm elections to the US Congress next year. The duties will also complicate the administration's efforts to conclude trade agreements with China and India. For his part, Putin made it clear that Russia is ready to overcome any new economic difficulties caused by the United States and its allies. Eugene Rumer, a former US intelligence analyst on Russia who heads the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, believes that the likelihood that Putin will agree to a cease-fire due to Trump's threats to impose duties and sanctions on Russia is "close to zero."

"Theoretically, if India and China stop buying oil, it will deal a serious blow to the Russian economy and military efforts. But that's not going to happen,"

he said, adding that the Chinese had made it clear they would continue to buy Russian oil. Brett Bruen, a former foreign policy adviser to former President Barack Obama and now head of the Global Situation Room consulting company, warned that Putin has found ways to evade sanctions and other economic sanctions. And even if duties and sanctions reduce Russia's revenues, Putin does not feel much internal pressure. According to Bruen, secondary duties may start to cause some economic difficulties.

"But the question is whether this will really change Putin's behavior."

The duties could also create new challenges for the Trump administration as it seeks to conclude large-scale trade agreements, especially with India and China. Kimberly Donovan, a former Treasury Department official, expressed concern that these responsibilities could hinder U.S.-India and U.S.-China bilateral trade relations.

"We have two major oil-importing nations that can adopt a stubborn stance and resist, aware of the United States' dependence on them,"

Donovan, the current director of the Economic Governance Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Geo-Economic Center, said. #Trump #Putin #Russia #OilTariffs #USPolitics #China #India #MidtermElections #Sanctions #Geopolitics #EnergyMarkets #NationalSecurity #TradeRelations #USChinaRelations #USIndiaRelations Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸