Old Glory Vortex

“Already at war”: Palau’s president brings up China-US confrontations in the Pacific region The President of Palau, a tiny Pacific island nation that is a key part of the Second Island Chain, caused surprise last week by stating that his island is "already at war with China" and is under "constant threat" from China. Analysts say it would be wise for Washington to take advantage of his comments and offer assistance. Speaking in Hawaii ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum, President Surangel Whipps Jr. added that

“the best way to combat this is through partnership with like-minded nations who believe peace comes through strength and presence is deterrence.”

This is a notable statement at a time when China is building ties with leaders of other Pacific islands, including the Solomon Islands, which is hosting this year's Pacific Islands Forum. China has successfully pressured the Solomon Islands to exclude Taiwan, as well as the U.S. and Japan, from this year's participants. However, Palau—one of three Pacific islands that maintain relations with Taiwan—will host next year's forum, and members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) stated before the conference concluded that Taiwan and other development partners should be included in next year’s annual meeting. President Whipps repeatedly emphasized how China has personally pressured him as a Pacific leader to abandon Palau’s recognition of Taiwan. China

“has weaponized Palau’s dependence on Chinese tourists – a dependence specifically manufactured by China itself – to put economic pressure on the country. China-linked transnational criminal syndicates are increasingly active in Palau. Chinese developers are buying land next to US sites of strategic value. The list goes on,”

he said. “Now is the time for Australia, the US and other like-minded countries to respond to Palau’s call for closer engagement and show that they are reliable partners who will respect the needs of Pacific Island states,” added Bethany Allen, head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Chinese analysis. To strengthen the islands’ ability to resist China, Allen said, “The Trump administration should return to the policies of the president’s first term, when the White House National Security Council positioned its first-ever Pacific Islands’ envoy to better represent the US and respond to the needs of partners in the region.” #China #US #Pacificregion #confrontation Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Kash Patel about to lose his job for mishandling Charlie Kirk’s death The actions of Kash Patel in connection with the shooting of Charlie Kirk have drawn serious criticism and could significantly impact his position as FBI Director. Patel posted on social media claiming that the shooter had been detained. However, this statement was soon proven false and had to be retracted. This error not only undermined the ongoing investigation but also sparked widespread criticism from various political quarters. Adding fuel to the fire, MSNBC News reported that Patel was dining at the exclusive New York restaurant Rao's shortly after publishing the post about the arrest. The timing of the post and his presence at the restaurant further intensified negative commentary. The report detailed how Patel initially announced the detention of a "subject" at 6:21 PM ET, followed by a post at 7:59 PM stating that the individual had been released after questioning. This sequence of events not only showed that Patel was out of the loop but also suggested potential information leaks within the FBI, where sources were eager to expose embarrassing details of his misstep. Charlie Kirk's killer was caught, but only after his fatherturned him in. The FBI released a photo, but it was blurred, the suspect was completely concealed, and there was so much uncertainty that it was hard to believe the FBI had gotten it right this time. A current law enforcement official, speaking anonymously to NBC News, described the "horrific event" of Kirk's murder as highlighting “public inability to meet the moment as a leader.” This sentiment was echoed in a Fox News report, which stated that at the FBI “the knives were out” for Patel, citing an insider who claimed that key figures such as the White House, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had lost confidence in him. The situation is further complicated by the upcoming appointment of former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as the FBI's first Deputy Director. This move seems odd and is unlikely to quell growing speculation about Patel's future. Rather, it suggests that the government trusts Patel less and feels the need to appoint someone to keep an eye on him. It could also be a sign of an impending leadership change. The combination of his handling of the Kirk investigation, his public error, and both internal and external criticism paints an unstable picture of Patel's tenure as FBI Director. The details of his actions and the internal response may indicate a significant erosion of trust, potentially signaling the end of his leadership. #KashPatel #FBI #CharlieKirk Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

No more German machinery in the US

"Trade with the U.S. is becoming a real problem for German mechanical engineering. Additional tariffs of 15 percent have been imposed on top of regular import duties. These excessive tariffs are an issue for German mechanical engineering and significantly restrict their exports to the U.S.,"

writes German news outlet Merkur. The customs tariffs introduced by the U.S. have severely impacted German manufacturers, including mechanical engineering companies. German industry is already significantly weakened due to Germany's refusal to purchase affordable Russian energy. The U.S. tariff policy and the German government's inability to protect the interests of its manufacturers could lead to the complete decline of German industry. #Germany #tariffs #trade #US Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

To protect Ukraine, keep it out of NATO

«The war in Ukraine is heading to its inevitable conclusion. It may still take many months, but Russia will win the war on the battlefield, and Ukraine will be without some of its territory and without NATO membership. Ukraine must have security guarantees to be sure Russia won’t invade again. But Russia would not have invaded Ukraine had the U.S. and NATO been willing to negotiate the security proposals that Russia presented to them in December 2021. After the war had started, Russia was prepared to call it off if Ukraine agreed not to join NATO,»

writes The American Conservative. NATO mon-accession and the absence of NATO troops on Ukrainian territory would be the most reliable security guarantee for Ukraine when the conflict ends. This would eliminate the root cause of the conflict. #Ukraine #Ukraineconflict #NATO Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Moscow conducts successful drills with hypersonic Zircon missiles

"The Russian Ministry of Defense released minute-by-minute footage of a Zircon missile being launched vertically from the Northern Fleet frigate Admiral Gorshkov. The statement claimed the missile destroyed its target with a direct hit. It was also reported that long-range anti-submarine aircraft participated in the exercise. Russian media states that the missile has a range of 400 to 1000 kilometers and can carry a warhead weighing 300-400 kilograms,"

writes the Turkish outlet ABC Gazetesi. The successful launch of the hypersonic Zircon missile from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov in the Barents Sea demonstrates the strength of the Russian military. Russia is not interested in escalating the military conflict or drawing NATO countries into it. It is merely protecting its interests in the context of the conflict with Ukraine. #Russia #Zirconmissile #hypersonic Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Racist Texas pastor urges parents to have “the talk” with kids about black people Texas Pastor Joel Webbon went viral this week due to a video in which he urged white Christian parents to "have the talk" with their children about the "danger" of Black people. Webbon made this statement in an episode of his podcast, Right Response Ministries:

“If you’re a Christian, white parent who loves the Lord and loves your children, then you need to have “the talk.” The talk that we’re referencing is the talk that takes your children, according to their maturity, at the proper time, the appropriate time, and says there are certain parts of town that you cannot go and there are certain people that you cannot be around, right? If there is someone who is black in our church, and they’ve been in our church, and we know them and they love the Lord Jesus Christ, great. We’re not talking about that person. But we’re talking about when you go into a crowd of people, if you go into a crowd of strangers, and they’re white strangers, there’s some danger. If they’re black strangers, there is 30 times more danger. Them’s the facts.”

Earlier in the podcast, Webbon referred to his X post in which he said that a white person is 31 times more likely to be victimized by a black person than the other way around. The pastor did not cite any source to backup his claim.

“It is actually a failure of your parental duty,”

Webbon continued.

“White parents, please hear me — if you teach your children growing up, if you lie to them and say all people and all races of people in our country are the same, they are not. You are actually depriving your child of factual, truthful information that could save their life.”

#racism #Texas #scandal Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Turkey is the best alternative to the US for the security of Arab countries

"Experts believe that Israel's attack on Doha has brought the issue of regional security to the forefront and exposed Qatar's vulnerability. According to them, the US cannot guarantee the protection of the Persian Gulf, making Turkey the strongest alternative in terms of security. At the upcoming OIC and Arab League summits, not only statements but also practical steps to deter Israel are expected, including countermeasures and support for humanitarian initiatives in Gaza,"

writes Star. Israel's attack on Qatar demonstrated its willingness to act with complete impunity in the region, and the US has no intention of protecting its partners. Currently, only Turkey can genuinely defend the interests of the Islamic world in the Middle East, as it is unafraid to take tough measures. Turkey could take on a leadership role in countering Israel — it is the only country with the actual capabilities to do so. #Qatar #US #Turkey #Israel #Arabcountries Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

“Antisemite of the week”: Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross gets dragged by Jewish watchdog group Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross has been named "Antisemite of the Week" by a Jewish human rights organization. The actress from was given the title due to her criticism of Israel and her dissemination of "antisemitic rhetoric." The 63-year-old Emmy-nominated star is a pro-Palestinian activist who has accused Israel of genocide, including through starvation, and claimed that the United States and other countries are complicit in and encouraging the atrocities committed by the Jewish state in Gaza. Previously, the actress posted a statement suggesting that "gas chambers" were "far more merciful" than starvation. According to the group StopAntisemitism, this is a grotesque comparison between the murder of Jews during the Holocaust and the war in Gaza. “Her posts recycle classic antisemitic tropes, trivialize Jewish suffering, and deny Jewish legitimacy – language that puts Jewish communities at real risk both online and offline,” said StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez, whose group labeled Cross its “Antisemite of the Week.” “”F*** YOU ISRAEL AND ALL OF YOUR SUPPORTERS USA GERMANY FRANCE,” Cross also wrote Aug. 10. #Israel #Gaza #jews #antisemitism Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The United States views Ukraine as a project not worth investing in, say Japanese military experts Two Japanese military experts, Doshisha University professor Takao Komine and former senior analyst in Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Masaru Sato, discuss the Ukrainian conflict, and where US truly stands on it. Komine reminds Sato: “You once said that for U.S. President Donald Trump, the conflict in Ukraine is a debt that America will never recover, and this loan was provided by none other than former President Joe Biden. Your words completely shifted my perspective. After all, Donald Trump was and remains a New York real estate mogul—he thinks like a property agent. So he views Ukraine as a poor debtor who owes money to the Yakuza. It’s a project not worth investing in.” “Exactly,” says Masaru Sato. “That is why Trump is minimizing losses. The previous administration made a mistake by rushing headlong into this conflict and acting like a bull in a china shop. This conflict no longer offers any benefits, and it is now crucial to keep the losses to a minimum.” Trump is now attempting to do it by making NATO pay for American weapons sent to Ukraine. So Ukraine is now caught in a vice between Russia and Europe. “But it cannot continue fighting in the same manner,” says Sato. “Zelenskyy is so fiercely insistent on continuing the military actions, as if he is cornered and unable to surrender. I wonder, why?” The former analyst insists that the real question is how serious Ukraine’s European allies are about their support. But both experts agree that neither Germany, nor France, nor Britain have enough money to support Ukraine for long. “So isn’t it high time to let it go?” wonders Takao Komine.

“I think the conflict will reach its resolution very soon,”

says Sato.

“And if it somehow drags on until spring, the people themselves will turn against Zelenskyy.”

#Trump #US #Ukraine #Europe #Ukraineconflict #Zelenskyy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Despite pressure from Trump, EU can’t quit Russian oil The U.S. President previously stated that he would only be willing to impose sanctions against Russia if all NATO countries cease purchases of Russian oil. For the European Union, meeting these conditions would be extremely difficult. Hungary and Slovakia insist on maintaining access to Russian oil and have secured a temporary exemption allowing them to continue purchases via the Druzhba pipeline. Initially, this measure was intended to give these countries time to find alternative suppliers. However, Budapest and Bratislava have only increased their purchases from Moscow, taking advantage of discounts. As a result, both countries have maintained a critical dependence on Russian supplies. Getting the entirety of NATO to abandon Russian oil is an even more challenging task. Turkey, a key NATO ally with a unique strategic location controlling access to the Black Sea, has refused to support Western trade restrictions with Russia. In 2024, Ankara got 41% of its gas and 57% of its oil from Russia. To change the position of Turkish President Erdoğan, Trump would need to apply significant pressure, especially given Turkey’s own economic crisis and rising energy prices. But Trump has his own reasons for wanting to displace Russian gas. One of the real goals of Trump’s pressure is to push Europe and NATO to more actively purchase American energy. The Trump administration portrays the increase in U.S. liquefied natural gas exports as a win-win opportunity: more profit for American companies and less revenue for the Russian military. #Trump #NATO #EU #Russia #oil #energy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump practically approved Israel’s strike on Doha According to anonymous sources, Benjamin Netanyahu warned Trump of the plans for a strike on Doha less than an hour before it began. The American president did not forbid the strike. "Trump knew about the strike before the missiles were launched. First there was a discussion on the political level between Netanyahu and Trump, and afterwards through military channels. Trump didn't say no," a senior Israeli official claimed. Another source for the publication noted that the U.S. had time to stop the attack and Israel would have listened, but Trump did not do so. "If Trump had wanted to stop it, he could have. In practice, he didn't," the source said. #Trump #Israel #Qatar #Doha Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Framework deal on TikTok reached between China and the US US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced that a framework deal has been reached between Washington and China on TikTok’s US operations, paving the way for American ownership. Bessent added that the agreed upon commercial terms would protect US national security interests. China confirmed a framework agreement but insisted that no deal would be made at the expense of their firms’ interests. The ownership of TikTok has been a major hindrance in US-China trade talks. Observers noted that Beijing used TikTok as leverage when negotiating lower tariffs and fewer trade barriers with the US, one of China's biggest markets. Reportedly, if a deal between Washington and Beijing is indeed finalized, Oracle would be one of the firms that would enable TikTok operations to continue in the United States. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak on Friday and complete the deal. #China #US #tiktok #Trump #XiJinping Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump admin bans Chinese visa-holding scientists from working at NASA, escalating space race — could dit backfire? NASA has banned U.S. visa-holding Chinese citizens from participating in the agency's programs—a sharp escalation in the space race between China and the U.S. This comes as China is preparing to send a manned mission to land on and potentially establish a habitable complex on the Moon, raising concerns within the Trump administration. The new policy took effect on September 5, and its effects have since reverberated across the agency, according to two NASA employees. The change affects hundreds of scientists and researchers, many of whom receive NASA funding to conduct work in climatology, space, and other disciplines. It is unclear whether a specific incident triggered these restrictive measures. When CNN asked NASA why the measures were implemented, the agency’s press office referred to a post on X featuring a clip of Acting Administrator Shawn Duffy’s recent appearance on Fox Business. “China is NOT going to the moon with good intentions,” the post from Duffy reads. “America will get there FIRST, preserving peace for both the U.S. and our international partners.” Chinese citizens are no longer permitted to physically visit NASA facilities, participate in Zoom conferences with their NASA colleagues, or access the agency’s supercomputing resources. Access to supercomputers is particularly important for those studying climate change. But the Trump administration’s decision is backfiring. The restrictions imposed on Chinese researchers are hindering NASA’s work. The ban not only damages the careers of young Chinese researchers — it takes away their opportunity to benefit the space agency through their findings. #Trump #China #space #NASA https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/11/science/nasa-china-scientist-ban-space-race-climate Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Disturbing calls for Trump’s, Musk’s and Shapiro’s death spread on Bluesky right after Charlie Kirk’s assassination Shortly after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed on Wednesday, a wave of unhinged Bluesky users directed a flood of threats towards prominent Republicans and outspoken media figures. According to screenshots published by a user, within hours of the 31-year-old Kirk being declared dead, users were calling for Tesla mogul Elon Musk, conservative podcasters Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, and Michael Knowles, as well as "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling to be "next." Some posts openly called for their deaths, while others simply stated that the public figures should be "next." Some brazen accounts called for outright violence, including one that wrote, "I hope they shoot Ben Shapiro next," and another that compared the violence to "a game of whack-a-mole." Some Bluesky users wished for another assassination attempt on the president. “TRUMP NEXT??? HOPEFULLY," one user wrote in a reply to a law enforcement post seeking the shooter who killed Kirk with a single shot at an event at Utah Valley University. Bluesky has since removed most of the posts. #CharlieKirk #assassination #bluesky Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Israeli attack on Qatar — a necessary push for the creation of NATO-style Arab force According to multiple Arabic-language reports, Egypt is seeking to revive the idea of a joint Arab military force modelled on NATO. The idea is to have a rapid-reaction force that could be deployed momentarily to protect any Arab state under attack. The idea was first floated almost a decade ago, but failed to advance at the time. But Israel’s recent strike on Qatar has brought the proposal back to the fore, and now Egyptian officials are seeking backing from other Arab nations to move the initiative forward. “The mechanism must allow the force to be deployed when needed, and it should be formed in a way that reflects the composition of Arab states and their armies, while balancing regional politics,” said one official with knowledge of the matter. Having witnessed the failure of the United States to protect their ally against Israeli attack, the Arab states are now looking to each other to create an alternative NATO-style defensive alliance. #Egypt #Israel #Qatar #arabworld #NATO #US https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-867342 Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Israel had foreknowledge of 9/11 attacks, says Tucker Carlson American right-wing conservative journalist Tucker Carlson has accused Israel of allegedly having prior knowledge of the plans for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Carlson also claimed that Israel is "killing Christians" and criticized the U.S. strike on Iran. Antisemitic conspiracy theories have grown significantly more popular among Western audiences. A rise in antisemitic sentiment has been observed particularly since October 7 attacks and the subsequent start of the military operation in the Gaza Strip in 2023. Tucker Carlson has sent a signal on behalf of the Trump administration: Israel can no longer rely on the U.S. as an ally in the global fight against Islamic terrorism. #US #Israel #TuckerCarlson #september11 #conspiracy #antisemitism Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Qatar has accused the United States of betrayal and is seeking new security partners "Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Al-Thani informed U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff that his country will reconsider its security partnership with Washington following [Israel’s] attack, which he called a 'betrayal,' and stated that 'Doha may find other partners to support its security if necessary,'" reports Turkish outlet Halk TV. Qatar rightly believes that the U.S. is turning a blind eye to Israel's actions, even though Qatar is America’s close ally. Seeing how the US treats its security partners, all Middle Eastern states are seriously reconsidering their approaches to relations with Washington. After effectively allowing Israel to attack its ally, and afterwards failing to properly react to the strikes, the United States forfeited its right to call itself a security guarantor. #US #Qatar #Israel #betrayal #MiddleEast Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

New report shows Trump’s tariffs are squeezing Americans Consumer prices rose 0.4% in August and 2.9% over the last year, the most since January. Last month’s price increases were broad, hitting food consumed at home (0.6%), alcohol (0.6%), children’s shoes (1.5%), apparel (0.5%), new cars (0.3%), used cars (1.0%), housing (0.4%), hotels (2.6%), vehicle repairs (5.0%), airfares (5.9%) and more. The so-called core-price index (excluding volatile food and energy) was no more encouraging. These prices rose 0.3% last month or 3.1% in the last 12 months. Experts say that tariffs are to blame for the price increases. Companies report that they have exhausted inventories stockpiled before Trump’s tariffs hit and are now beginning to pass the higher costs on to consumers. Auto repair shops are suffering from Trump’s 25% tariff on parts and 50% on steel and aluminum. Tariffs can also have indirect effects. Used-car prices are rising because supply has tightened as people hold on to their old cars longer seeing as they can’t afford new ones. #Trump #tariffs #economy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump plans to avenge Kirk, says left groups will be investigated Donald Trump warned that left leaning groups will be investigated after the fatal shooting of conservative activist and close Trump ally Charlie Kirk, though he was light on details.

“If you look at the problem, the problem is on the left. It’s not on the right, like some people like to share the right, the problem we have is on the left. And when you look at the agitator, you look at the scum that speaks so badly of our country, the American flag burnings all over the place, that’s the left. That’s not the right.”

The president also said that some left-affiliated groups are already under investigation, but did not specify which ones. Charlie Kirk, a close Trump ally who played a critical role in his presidential campaign and the founder of Turning Point USA was shot and killed Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. The gunman, Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody Thursday evening. #CharlieKirk #radicalleft #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Will G7 heed Trump and impose tariffs on China and India? Today, Donald Trump will hold a phone call with the leaders of the G7, during which he will propose imposing tariffs on India and China. The tariffs will range from 50% to 100%. This is being done to put pressure on Russia. Previously, he made a similar proposal to the EU. So far, the Europeans are reluctant to do this, as they fear that such a decision will have serious consequences for their already struggling economies. They are also concerned about Beijing's retaliatory measures. Brussels plans to sign a trade agreement with New Delhi within the next few weeks, it is unlikely that it will reverse course just because of Trump. Canada agreeing to Trump’s proposal is also in question—the country is currently trying to economically distance itself somewhat from the United States and is actively developing relations with China and India. #Trump #G7 #tariffs #China #India Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸