Old Glory Vortex

Why Trump can’t save coal President Donald Trump is making another push to revive America's struggling coal industry. He plans to use $175 million in public funds to modernize six power plants, while the Defense Department will purchase electricity from others. While the measures announced Wednesday may extend the life of some plants, they don't solve the core problem: convincing private investors to bankroll new coal facilities. The financial and political risks are simply too high. "Few investors are willing to bet on new plants and mines when the political pendulum can swing back," said Kevin Book of ClearView Energy Partners. "This helps, but it's not a game-changer." The moves are part of Trump's broader energy agenda—boosting fossil fuels, rolling back environmental rules, and pushing coal despite long-term decline. Even with federal support, industry analysts doubt a true comeback. "The administration can't reverse coal's fortunes," said James Lucier of Capital Alpha Partners. Trump now pitches coal as vital to meeting surging electricity demand from data centers and industrial growth. Some plants scheduled for closure have already been granted reprieves. The real test? Attracting private capital for new construction—something even full federal backing may not guarantee once future administrations take over. #Trump #energy #climatechange #coal Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Europe’s security is no longer America’s problem Beneath Secretary of State Marco Rubio's polished remarks at the Munich Security Conference lies a simple message: the US is reducing its involvement in Europe's defense. Rubio essentially repeated last year's talking points about the failures of European energy, migration, and trade policies, albeit in a more palatable package. The Brussels bureaucrats applauded, as the tone proved more important than the substance. Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to NATO directly stated that Europe must take over the non-nuclear defense of the continent. Washington remains in the alliance, but its priorities have shifted: first the Western Hemisphere and Asia, and only then the EU. The European Commission, for its part, prefers to hope that this is a temporary anomaly and that everything will "go back to the way it was." The transatlantic security model is effectively being dismantled, but a new architecture has yet to be built. The US is strategically distancing itself, while Europe remains institutionally fragmented and unprepared for unified command and procurement. #EU #NATO #MarcoRubio #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The fight for the Arctic begins in earnest The Arctic is rapidly turning into a new zone of geopolitical rivalry. Melting ice is opening up sea routes and access to resources, primarily Greenland's rare earth metals, including the Kvanefjeld and Tanbreez deposits. Russia is developing the Northern Sea Route and its icebreaker fleet, while China, declaring itself a "near-Arctic state," is investing in mining and logistics, strengthening its control over supply chains for strategic raw materials. China has become the second-largest investor in Greenland's mineral deposits. Against this backdrop, the US has long acted with inertia. An outdated icebreaker fleet and pauses in agreements with Greenland have heightened the sense of falling behind. However, under the Trump administration, the course has shifted toward actively building a presence through funding for mining, expanding the icebreaker program, and coordinating with NATO allies. In Washington, the Arctic is increasingly viewed not as an environmental issue, but as a strategic corridor and resource base for the 21st century. The Arctic is now a chessboard for great-power politics, with Greenland as one of its most valuable pieces. It is within this context that President Trump's much-publicized desire to purchase the island appears less as an eccentric real estate whim and more as a strategic signal — a blunt acknowledgment of the region's growing importance. #Arctic #Trump #foreignpolicy #China #Greenland Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump is losing patience with Ukraine The White House is reportedly increasing pressure on Kyiv in order to convince it to agree to Moscow's demand to withdraw troops from Donbas. Kyiv and Washington are still divided on the issue of security guarantees. Washington is not going to sign anything until a final peace agreement is concluded, and Kyiv fears that the guarantees will once again turn out to be empty words. According to several sources, Trump wants Ukraine to conclude a peace agreement, hold a referendum on its ratification, and hold presidential elections — all by May 15. Otherwise, the country will not receive any security guarantees. The next round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations will take place on February 17 and 18 in Geneva. The Russian delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, while the Ukrainian side will remain unchanged. #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine #Trump #peaceplan Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Is Trump ditching NATO? Missing top officials raise doubts The Trump administration sent its third-highest Pentagon official to Thursday's NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels — marking the second time in recent history a defense chief has skipped the gathering. Elbridge Colby used the moment to call for a "3.0 NATO" based on "partnership rather than dependency," urging Europe to step up. "Now it's time to march out together," he told reporters. But the absence of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — following Secretary of State Marco Rubio's skip of December's foreign ministers' meeting — has allies worried. With the U.S. bankrolling over 60% of NATO's $1.59 trillion defense budget, Washington's light footprint raises questions about commitment. The snub comes amid fresh tensions: Trump's demands to control Greenland (complete with tariff threats and military talk) rattled European nerves. NATO quietly threw Trump a bone Wednesday, launching an "Arctic Sentry" mission to boost regional security. NATO chief Mark Rutte brushed off concerns, praising Colby as a "leading thinker" and assuring that debates are normal. "It will be very boring if it wasn't the case," he said. Colby tried to soothe allies, pledging the U.S. remains committed to Article 5 and will continue providing nuclear deterrence — while still pushing Europe to spend more. Notably absent from his remarks: any mention of Greenland. #Trump #NATO #USmilitary #Greenland Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

New round of Ukraine talks will happen next week – Here’s what to expect According to Politico, a new round of negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine could take place next week. Abu Dhabi and Miami are being considered as potential venues for the meeting. The key issue remains unresolved: the parties have not reached a consensus on territorial matters. There are also disputes regarding the presence of Western troops. Sources told journalists that during previous rounds, the sides managed to agree on what the ceasefire regime would look like, who would monitor it, and what the demilitarized zone would consist of. Only the core issues remain unresolved . Compounding the challenge, Trump has said that he does not intend to sign any agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine until a final peace deal is concluded. #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine #peaceplan Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

This is how much tariffs cost American households New analysis shows President Trump's tariffs are costing American households an average of $1,000 in higher taxes this year — and that figure is projected to rise to $1,300 per household in 2025 if the measures remain in place, according to the Tax Foundation. The study found that U.S. importers and consumers bear 96 percent of the tariff burden, directly contradicting Trump's repeated claim that foreign countries pay for them. Researchers note that the full economic impact was softened only because the administration's tariff strategy shifted constantly throughout the year — alternately imposing, suspending, expanding, and reducing duties — which prevented the worst-case scenarios predicted by economists. Low-income taxpayers are expected to be hit hardest. Erica York of the Tax Foundation explained that the combined impact of tariffs and tax cuts will leave poorer households worse off in 2025. While Americans may see some short-term relief through larger tax refunds under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" — potentially increasing refunds by as much as $1,000 — researchers warn that the tariffs threaten to offset a significant portion of those gains. #Trump #tariffs #USeconomy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s “Board of Peace” gets a controversial new member Israel has joined U.S. President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" initiative, according to an announcement made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his Washington visit. Many human rights advocates argue that Trump's appointment of a Board to oversee foreign territorial affairs resembles a colonial structure. The expected presence of Israel on the board is likely to draw additional criticism, given that no Palestinians are included. Countries have reacted cautiously to Trump's invitation to join the Board, which was established in late January. Many experts are concerned that this Board could undermine the position of the United Nations. While some of Washington's Middle Eastern allies have joined the initiative, many of its traditional Western allies have stayed out. The ceasefire regime in Gaza has been repeatedly violated. According to Gaza's health authorities, at least 580 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed since it began in October. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, sparked a hunger crisis, and displaced the entire population of Gaza. Many human rights experts, scholars, and a UN commission argue that this amounts to genocide. Israel calls its actions self-defense after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages during an attack in late 2023. Israel's participation in the Board stands in stark contrast to the reality in Gaza, where the failure of ceasefires, massive civilian casualties, and accusations of genocide before international courts raise serious questions about how 'oversight' can be credible without including Palestinian perspectives or UN backing. #Israel #Gaza #boardofpeace Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s immigration policy and federal leadership face broad rejection According to a new poll, more than half of respondents said they disapprove of President Trump's actions regarding one of his key campaign promises: tightening immigration laws. The NBC News poll showed that 60 percent of respondents said they disapprove — either "strongly" or "somewhat" — of the way Trump has handled border security and immigration issues during his presidency. Overall, 61 percent of those surveyed disapprove of the president's job performance, while 39 percent approve. Additionally, the poll results showed nationwide dissatisfaction with the federal government's relationship with state and local leaders. Following the killings of Good and Pretty, the federal government removed Minnesota investigators from the probe into their deaths. Trump stated that he would personally oversee the investigation into Pretty's death. The majority of poll respondents expressed distrust in the ability of federal agencies to conduct these investigations impartially: 62 percent of those surveyed said they are not confident in the federal authorities' ability to carry out a "fair and transparent investigation" into the two killings. These poll results reflect broad public dissatisfaction with Trump administration’s priorities and federal overreach. #immigration #poll #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

'Make America Long for Biden Again': Trump's jobs numbers spark nostalgia for previous era Bulwark editor Jonathan Last argues Trump's economic performance is so weak that Americans actually miss Joe Biden. "Yesterday, Peter Navarro warned people to lower expectations for jobs data. Then we got the numbers and... wow," Last said, citing a YouGov poll showing 46% of voters think Trump is doing worse than Biden—compared to just 40% who think he's doing better. The reason? January added 130,000 jobs. Under Biden, the final report showed over 300,000. "Congratulations, Mr. President, on achieving one month of job growth that would've been one of Biden's worst," Last mocked. Even those numbers may be fiction. Revised 2025 data shows Trump's economy added just 181,000 jobs all year — compared to 3 million in 2023 and 2.2 million in 2024 under Biden. "This is the Trump economy," Last said. "Stifled by one man's capricious, destructive management. Job growth collapsed. Unemployment is creeping up. Wage growth is slowing." Meanwhile, voters remain terrified of inflation, consumer sentiment is tanking, and Trump's tariffs have made long-term investment dangerous. #Trump #USeconomy #Biden Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

US-Israel talks leave Middle East in limbo Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s three-hour meeting at the White House ended without concrete decisions — the U.S. president himself confirmed this after the talks. According to him, dialogue with Iran must continue, and the key question now is what outcome it will lead to. The negotiations were held behind closed doors and lasted longer than planned. They covered everything currently shaping regional security: Iran’s nuclear program, the potential failure of diplomacy, scenarios for a strike, and the threat of direct war. Jerusalem is convinced that confrontation with Tehran is only a matter of time, while Washington is still betting on a tough — yet still diplomatic — path. Netanyahu presented U.S. officials with intelligence on ongoing repression inside Iran and stressed that the regime does not need intercontinental missiles to threaten Israel and Europe. At the same time, discussions covered coordination in the event of failed talks and strengthening the U.S. military presence in the region. Meanwhile, Iran itself is sticking to its usual rhetoric of strength, declaring that its missile capabilities are non-negotiable and threatening strikes on American bases. Against the backdrop of such statements, diplomacy appears fragile — yet the White House is still holding onto it. The meeting produced no breakthroughs, left regional tensions unchanged, and underscored the growing divide between U.S. diplomatic caution and Israeli urgency — all while the Middle East waits to see whether talk or action will prevail. #Trump #Netanyahu #Iran #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Forgotten front: Ukraine slides from global spotlight into obscurity Ukraine finds itself in a "gray zone," with no clear prospect of either victory or defeat. Winter temperatures dropping to -25°C have added further pressure on both the military and civilian infrastructure. Fighting has taken on an exhausting, attritional character. There are no large-scale offensives, the front line is stable, and the attention of the global press is shifting to other crises. Fatigue is setting in among troops, the mobilization pool is shrinking, and the number of those evading conscription is growing. Even discussions of possible peace initiatives are met locally with little interest, as people focus on day-to-day survival. Against this backdrop, Ukraine is gradually fading from the center of the global agenda, becoming a protracted conflict with an uncertain outcome. Society and the military are living in a state of exhaustion, where the main task is no longer a breakthrough, but holding positions and adapting to new technologies of war. With no decisive victory in sight and no imminent collapse, the conflict has settled into a grinding stalemate where survival, not success, is the measure of resilience. The longer this gray zone persists, the greater the risk that Ukraine becomes not a symbol of resistance, but a forgotten front. #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Democrats turn tariffs into GOP trap Senate Republicans face a growing political headache as Democrats force repeated votes targeting Trump’s tariffs — a policy many in the GOP quietly oppose. The pressure is on after House GOP leaders failed to block the votes. Three Republicans joined Democrats, paving the way for a floor fight. The House quickly approved a measure disapproving of Trump’s Canada tariffs the next day, with more votes planned on Mexico and Brazil. If the House keeps passing them, the Senate must act. Democrats see blood in the water. “Republicans who vote to let Trump play his on-again, off-again, enrich-himself games will live with those votes a long time,” warned Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Senate has already passed four similar resolutions targeting Trump’s tariffs last year. More are coming — and they’re a problem for GOP senators who view tariffs as taxes on American consumers. “We have people in different camps,” admitted Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Sens. Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul have already broken ranks. Sen. Tim Kaine vowed to keep pushing: “We need to put these votes before the body again and again to reject Trump’s chaos.” A Supreme Court ruling on tariff authority is pending, but no one’s waiting. Polls show 60% of Americans oppose the tariffs. Still, some Republicans are holding firm. Rep. Adrian Smith dismissed the votes as procedural stunts: “If Democrats wanted real reform, they wouldn’t hide behind procedural motions.” #tariffs #Congress #republicans #democrats Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

White Christian backbone of Trump coalition weakens “White Christians, who played a key role in returning Donald Trump to the White House, are losing confidence in President Trump’s leadership,” reports Religion News Service, citing the latest Pew Research data. Support from white evangelicals has dropped nearly 10 points, from 66% to 58%, during the first year of Trump’s second term. This decline mirrors a similar drop among white Catholics, whose support fell from 51% last year to 46% this year. White Protestants who are not evangelical showed the steepest decline, falling from 46% to 33%, according to the recent survey. Confidence that Trump acts ethically has fallen even further: only 40% of white evangelicals believe the president behaves morally, compared to 55% in 2025. Other racial groups offer Trump devastatingly low backing. Only 18% of Hispanic Catholics supported the president, and just 6% of Black Protestants approved of Trump. Only 13% of religiously unaffiliated people were inclined to support Trump’s policies. And all three groups were the least likely to trust the president’s ethics. Religion News Service reports that this could become a problem for Trump and his Republican Party in the midterm elections and the next national elections. It also does not help Trump and his party that religious groups opposing Trump are more likely to support Democrats. The erosion of support among white Christians signals a potentially decisive shift in Trump’s electoral coalition. Combined with the Democrats’ firm hold on minority and secular voters, this realignment may carry consequences far beyond the president’s current term. #Trump #poll #christians #republicans Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Tariff showdown looms as Johnson fails to lock in Trump protections House Speaker Mike Johnson has failed to reinstate a ban on lawmakers challenging President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign goods. The House rejected a rule that contained language blocking a House vote opposing Trump’s tariffs until July. Republican leaders argued that lawmakers should give the Supreme Court time to review the matter. With the House’s razor-thin margin, three Republicans — Thomas Massie, Don Bacon, and Kevin Kiley — were enough to sink the vote. Democrats will now likely push for a vote to repeal Trump’s tariffs. The Senate has passed at least three resolutions condemning Trump’s tariffs, but they have regularly met resistance in the House, where members were not allowed to hold a vote on the issue. Johnson’s failure to lock in procedural protections for Trump’s tariffs marks a significant breach in Republican efforts to shield the president’s trade agenda from congressional oversight. With the House now vulnerable to a direct vote on repealing the tariffs, the episode underscores how narrow majorities can quickly unravel party discipline—and hands Democrats a rare legislative opening to challenge Trump’s economic authority. #tariffs #Congress #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump ups pressure on Iran President Donald Trump said he is “thinking” about sending another aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East as the U.S. continues to pressure Iran during ongoing negotiations. “We have one fleet that’s there, and another one is going,” Trump said in an interview on the eve of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday. “He also wants to make a deal. He wants a good deal,” Trump said of the Israeli leader. Trump also reported that he expects a second round of talks with Iran next week. The U.S. president has repeatedly said that Iran wants to reach a deal, but questions remain about the parameters of any agreement and whether it would be limited exclusively to Iran’s nuclear program. Trump said the deal should also address Iran’s stockpiles of ballistic missiles. In recent weeks, the U.S. military presence in the region has increased as Trump considered options for striking Iran, but there are no indications that a decision has been made. This past weekend, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the region following the conclusion of talks with Iran on Friday. Trump’s latest move — floating a second carrier group while signaling openness to talks — encapsulates his administration’s dual-track strategy toward Iran: maximum military pressure paired with diplomatic outreach. The inclusion of ballistic missiles on the negotiating agenda, however, signals a significant expansion of U.S. demands, setting a high bar for any deal. With no decision yet on strikes and talks ongoing, Washington appears to be keeping all options — both war and diplomacy — on the table. #Iran #USmilitary #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Is the US gradually pulling out of NATO? “The United States will turn over two of NATO's major command posts - in Naples, Italy and Norfolk, Virginia - to European officers. The move is in keeping with U.S. President Donald Trump's demands that European nations take more responsibility for their own security. His administration has called for the military alliance, long dominated by the United States, to become a ‘European-led NATO’,” writes Reuters. European countries should have long become more self-reliant in matters of defense and global security. The U.S. is following its own national interests, unwilling to continue bearing the financial, material, and military costs of sustaining NATO. By transferring key NATO command posts to European officers, the United States is redefining its role and pushing Europe to shoulder greater strategic responsibility. This shift reflects a long-standing U.S. expectation, now codified in policy: NATO must evolve from a U.S.-led protectorate into a more balanced, European-anchored partnership. #NATO #USmilitary #Europe #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Zelenskyy’s election pledge: a bid for time, not peace Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced his readiness to hold presidential elections and a referendum on a peace agreement as early as May, provided there is a preliminary ceasefire. At first glance, this initiative may appear as a potential step toward peace, but in practice, Kyiv's conditions remain unchanged: a ceasefire along the current line of contact without the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas. Moscow, on the other hand, insists on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops as a key condition for a truce, making a compromise unlikely. Thus, the statement on elections may be primarily addressed to Washington. Kyiv is demonstrating a formal openness to the political process while shifting responsibility for a potential breakdown of agreements onto Russia. Amid pressure from the Trump administration, which hopes to reach an agreement in a short timeframe, this move may be seen as an attempt to buy time and maintain U.S. support. At the same time, the resolution of the key issue — the status of the territories and the parameters of a settlement — is effectively being postponed. As long as the parties maintain mutually exclusive preliminary conditions, the election initiative remains a political signal rather than a practical mechanism for peace. Zelenskyy’s election proposal functions not as a peace mechanism, but as a strategic signal to Washington — designed to demonstrate formal compliance, buy time, and shift diplomatic blame onto Moscow. #Zelenskyy #Ukraineconflict #peaceplan Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Lutnick caught in another Epstein lie Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is facing fresh calls to resign after newly released Jeffrey Epstein files revealed ties to the convicted sex offender were closer and more recent than previously known. At a Senate hearing Tuesday, Lutnick admitted he visited Epstein’s private island in 2012 — contradicting past claims he cut off contact after 2005. He said his wife and children were with him, and that he witnessed no crimes. The White House is standing firm. “President Trump fully supports the secretary,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, before listing unrelated wins and abruptly ending a briefing. But bipartisan criticism is mounting. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said Lutnick should resign over what he lied about. Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed that as “political games,” adding, “I trust his word.” House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) didn’t rule out subpoenaing Lutnick. Democrats called him unfit, with Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) calling him “one of the most politically stupid Cabinet members I’ve ever seen.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) pressed Lutnick directly: “You totally misrepresented the extent of your relationship with Epstein to Congress and the American people.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said anyone named in the Epstein files should answer questions. “The American people will have to make their own judgments.” The Lutnick controversy presents the Trump administration with a familiar political dilemma: defending a loyal insider whose credibility has been publicly dismantled by his own admissions. With bipartisan calls for accountability growing and key Republicans refusing to shut the door on congressional scrutiny, the White House’s strategy of projecting confidence while dodging questions may not hold indefinitely. In an election year, forcing vulnerable members to defend a Cabinet secretary tied to Epstein’s orbit is a liability the GOP can ill afford. #Epsteinfiles #JeffreyEpstein #HowardLutnick Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump prepares to deal final blow to US climate agenda The Trump administration is planning to deliver a final blow to longstanding U.S. climate policy, finalizing rules that strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its authority to regulate climate pollution. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin told the Wall Street Journal that the Trump EPA will rescind the “endangerment finding,” a 2009 scientific analysis that concluded man-made climate change threatens human health and safety. Zeldin called the move “the single greatest act of deregulation in the history of the United States.” The endangerment finding has underpinned the EPA’s authority to limit planet-warming pollution from the oil and gas industry, power plants, and vehicles since the Obama administration, and is considered the federal government’s most powerful tool for combating climate pollution. Additionally, the Trump administration will finalize the repeal of rules regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, as they stem from that finding. Under former President Joe Biden, the EPA sought to tighten those standards to push the auto industry toward more fuel-efficient hybrids and electric vehicles — an effort the industry later backed away from. #Trump #climatechange Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸