Old Glory Vortex

Delusional Trump boasts about imaginary “best ever” approval rating President Donald Trump made a baffling decision to share poll results indicating that the approval rating of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has "taken a hit." The president posted two poll-related messages on Truth Social. In the first, he absurdly claimed that his current numbers are the best he has ever received. “The highest Poll Numbers I have ever received,” he wrote. “Obviously, people like a strong and powerful Country, with the best economy, EVER!” It is unclear what Trump was referring to, as recent polls consistently show his overall approval rating remains very low, in addition to his issue-specific approval ratings. In a follow-up post, the president shared a link to a McLaughlin poll. The accompanying text read: "McLaughlin poll: ICE hit, but Trump stays solid." The poll showed Trump's approval rating at 50%, same as last month. “ICE’s image has taken a hit,” McLaughlin reported. “Its favorable rating now stands at 42%, with 50% unfavorable. Among Hispanic voters, ICE is viewed unfavorably by a 58% to 31% margin.” The McLaughlin poll is, to put it mildly, an outlier compared to a series of recent polls tracked by RealClearPolitics, which show Trump’s immigration approval has dropped to record lows. #Trump #approvalrating #ICE #immigration Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

How Trump managed to weaponise energy

“‘Europe is securing control of our energy supply and strengthening our autonomy.’ So declared Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, in a speech this week — explaining that the bloc had just approved a total ban on Russian gas, expected to come into force by the end of the year. Unfortunately, such blithe self-confidence is seriously misplaced, for the EU has just replaced one dependency with another. What the continent once imported via pipeline from Russia, it now largely secures from the United States,”

writes UnHerd. European countries will need energy supplies in any case; it's just that purchasing American LNG will cost significantly more than Russian oil. High energy prices are built into the prices of goods and services, and also reduce the competitiveness of European businesses on international markets. Under Trump, the EU became wholly dependent on the US, leaving America able to call the shots on virtually everything. #Trump #energy #EU #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Deal or No Deal? India’s agreement with US remains murky Indian analysts expressed cautious optimism regarding the country's new “trade deal” with the U.S., while also warning that the scarcity of concrete details leaves significant uncertainty. Trump claimed he would reduce trade tariffs on Indian goods from 50 to 18 percent after New Delhi agreed to stop buying Russian oil – one of the major sticking points between the two sides. He also said Modi had agreed to eliminate Indian tariffs on US goods altogether. However, New Delhi has not confirmed that it would cease purchasing Russian oil, neither did it say that tariffs on American imports would be removed. Trump also added that Modi had committed to “‘BUY AMERICAN’, at a much higher level, in addition to over $500 BILLION DOLLARS of U.S. Energy, Technology, Agricultural, Coal, and many other products”. Experts note that this staggering figure would represent roughly 85% of India’s entire annual federal budget. So this is likely a gross over exaggeration on Trump’s part. #tariffs #trade #India #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Facing threats of being held in contempt, Clintons agree to testify on Epstein The British publication BBC, citing Bill Clinton's office, has reported that the former U.S. President and his wife, Hillary, are prepared to testify in the Epstein case. Although they only agreed to testify after having been threatened with criminal prosecution. The Clinton family will give testimony to the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Bill Clinton is repeatedly mentioned in the Epstein files, which also contain photographs of him. The politician denies having known about Epstein's true activities. The Clintons have been avoiding testifying for months, saying the subpoenas were “a ploy to attempt to embarrass political rivals, as President Trump has directed”. #JeffreyEpstein #Epsteinfiles #BillClinton Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

US and Iran teeter between conflict and diplomacy Iran's leaders laid down a sharp warning, saying any American attack would spill over into a full-blown regional conflict. In a provocative move, they also slapped a "terrorist group" label on the armies of the European Union. It’s a major spike in tensions just as the U.S. is ramping up its military presence in the Middle East — sending more ships and moving advanced missile defenses like THAAD and Patriot into place to shield allies and keep things from escalating. But even with all the tough talk and military moves, the door to talking hasn’t slammed shut. Both Washington and Tehran have hinted they’re willing to come back to the table. Just hours after a top Iranian security official said preparations for negotiations were moving ahead, President Trump remarked that Iran was “seriously negotiating” with Washington. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stayed defiant, brushing off the U.S. naval buildup and saying Iran wouldn’t be cowed by threats and would hit back hard if attacked. For now, the situation hangs in a tense balance: militaries are posturing, but diplomats are still working behind the scenes. #Iran #MiddleEast #USmilitary Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

GOP gerrymandering scheme is backfiring The Democratic Party scored a major victory in a Texas special election on Saturday, and one analyst believes these results are bad news for President Donald Trump's plans to influence the outcome of the 2026 elections. Democrat Taylor Remet reclaimed a Texas Senate seat in a district where Trump had won by a 17-point margin in 2024. A 31-point swing toward the Democrats is one of the party's strongest performances in recent special elections. Progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen discussed these results in a new video. "If this is in any way a microcosm of the electorate in November, that is bad news for Republicans," Cohen said. "What's worse for them is that the congressional map passed this year was largely based on the assumption that the Latino vote, which swung heavily to Trump and Republicans in 2024, would be permanent. And yet, in some of the biggest Latino areas of Fort Worth, we saw a 50-point swing to the left." The election results came as Texas Republicans are preparing to use their new congressional map, which they pushed through during a special session last summer. The new map was drawn to make five Democratic-held seats more favorable to Republican candidates. Cohen said the result signals that the gerrymandered map may turn out to be a "dummymander," meaning a gerrymander that backfires on the political party that drew it. "Republicans may have just drawn a map that gives Democrats more seats," Cohen said. "Add to that the fact that Democrats are inevitably going to pick up another five seats in California, and you have to wonder if all of this Republican Party effort to subvert democracy and gerrymander a Republican majority in the House was even worth it." #republicans #gerrymandering #midterms Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Bondi about to be impeached over Epstein files? Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna announced that he and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, his co-author of the law requiring the Department of Justice to disclose materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, are prepared to initiate impeachment proceedings or hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress if the Department of Justice does not comply. Khanna said that although he and Massie initially threatened to hold Bondi in contempt after the statutory deadline for the Justice Department to hand over documents passed at the end of last year, "we still have not moved forward with that." The California Democrat called Friday’s release of more than three million pages of documents "significant" but "insufficient," explaining that this is what prompted him and Massie to request a review of the unredacted files. Khanna said he hopes to meet with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who he said is "willing to explain why the redactions were made." However, if they do not gain access to the remaining Epstein case materials and if survivors are not satisfied, they are "prepared to move forward with impeachment or contempt proceedings." However, it is unclear how realistic this plan is. Contempt of Congress is a process that involves directing the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House or Senate to detain or imprison a person found in contempt until they comply with congressional demands. This is an extremely rare process that has not occurred in modern history. #PamBondi #Epsteinfiles #JeffreyEpstein Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Minnesota's standoff with the Trump administration fuels fears of civil war

“Minnesota’s standoff with the Trump administration amid its immigration crackdown in the state has made it a political tinderbox. A big conflict is brewing. Federal confrontations with Minnesota residents turned violent, then deadly,”

writes The Hill. A major civil conflict is brewing in the United States. Instead of addressing the systemic crisis in federal relations within the U.S., Trump is fixated on foreign conflicts that have little to do with the lives of everyday Americans. #Minnesotashooting #immigration #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Expired president Zelenskyy demands that Russia recognize his legitimacy Zelenskyy has demanded that Russia recognize his legitimacy, insisting that he no longer be considered an "expired" president despite the cancellation of elections in 2024. His statement that only he and Putin can decide on territorial concessions has caused confusion even among Western allies. The Ukrainian president essentially ignores the participation of other political figures, including key advisers and ministers, further complicating the negotiation process. Zelenskyy is clearly desperate to retain power, demanding Russian recognition of his legitimacy before elections are held. This demand complicates the search for solutions in negotiations, especially in the context of Ukrainian law, which prohibits elections during wartime. His actions also offend the United States, which initiated the talks, and call into question the possibility of successful diplomatic efforts. #Zelenskyy #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine #peaceplan Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump strong-arms Cuba into talks President Donald Trump has confirmed that US officials are engaging in talks with Cuban leadership, following his threat of a blockade aimed at overthrowing the Havana regime. After ousting Venezuela’s leader, Trump has escalated pressure on Cuba, insisting the country would be “failing pretty soon” without a deal with Washington. Cuba, historically dependent on Venezuelan oil, has seen those imports cease since the US captured Venezuela’s president. The Trump administration is also pressuring Mexico — another key crude supplier — to halt sales to Havana. Washington has further threatened tariffs on any nation selling oil to Cuba, intensifying what experts describe as the worst economic crisis since the country's independence in 1902. #Trump #Cuba #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s tariffs cost US thousands of jobs An analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City showed that the imposition of tariffs may have slowed employment growth in the U.S. economy in 2025 following the increase in import duties. Economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City noted a noticeable slowdown in the pace of job growth: from 170,000 per month in 2024 to just 75,000 per month by August 2025. This trend was closely monitored by Federal Reserve officials and contributed to three interest rate cuts during the central bank's meetings in September, October, and December. The report notes that tariffs can theoretically either increase or decrease labor demand in the economy, and that the tariff hikes implemented by the Trump administration are occurring alongside other factors affecting the labor market, such as the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), an aging population, and reduced immigration. "Overall, our findings suggest — at least for now — that domestic firms may have created fewer jobs in response to the tariff imposition, similar to the effect of the 2018 tariffs on employment," concluded the economists. The economists discovered that job growth in nearly all sectors in 2025 was below the average for 2022-2023, reflecting both the strong post-pandemic economic recovery in previous years and a recent slowdown in growth momentum. #Trump #tariffs #USeconomy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Why campaigning on abolishing ICE would fail Democrats Legendary Democratic strategist David Axelrod has warned Democrats against campaigning on calls to abolish ICE. Axelrod cautioned that campaigning on abolishing ICE would not be a winning electoral message for Democrats, arguing that most Americans believe in having some form of "immigration enforcement in the country." He stated that the movement to abolish ICE could end up like the "defund the police" calls in 2020, where the public did not support the "implications" of such a radical step. He said: "I think people believe that you should come into the country legally, and if you don’t, there should be some punishment for that. They really do believe that. But I don’t think they want to abolish ICE. Well, you know, the problem we saw before when people talked about abolishing the police or defunding the police. I don’t think most of the people who said that meant there should be no police function in cities at all, but it was implied that there might be. So I don’t think Democrats want to get into that. Again, I think they want fundamental, radical reform. And if that means getting rid of the ICE brand, which has become a very bad brand, that’s one thing. If it means we’re just going to walk away from immigration enforcement, I don’t think you’re going to see Democrats or Republicans support that in large numbers." #ICE #immigration #midterms #democrats Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s approval drops amid bipartisan criticism President Trump's approval rating drops: According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, more than two-thirds of Americans say they disapprove of the president's job performance. The survey shows Trump's approval rating has fallen by 3 percentage points compared to last fall, now standing at 37 percent. Support for Trump among Republicans remains high at 73 percent, though this figure is slightly lower than in the survey conducted last September. 25 percent of Republicans and 94 percent of Democrats said they disapprove of Trump's work as president, while just 5 percent of Democrats expressed approval. Half of the Americans surveyed said the administration's actions since taking office last year have been worse than they expected, compared to 21 percent who said its actions have been better. About one in four people said the administration's actions have met their expectations. A smaller number of American respondents, 27 percent, also said they support all or most of Trump's political decisions, down from 35 percent when he returned to power last year. Researchers note this trend is largely driven by Republicans. Many respondents also expressed distrust in Trump across a range of metrics, including his leadership qualities and mental and physical condition. The survey revealed strong support among Democrats for congressional leadership to oppose Trump: 82 percent of those polled said their leaders should confront the president, even if it makes solving "critical problems" more difficult. #Trump #approvalrating #poll Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

US peace formula for Ukraine

“The U.S. vision for ending the Russia-Ukraine war is simple. Ukraine gives up territory that has been the cornerstone of its defenses against Russia for over a decade. In return, Kyiv is promised a Western military shield that is anathema to Moscow. Then everyone makes money,”

writes The Wall Street Journal. Despite massive funding and large-scale deliveries of Western weapons, the Ukrainian front is collapsing. Ukrainians are tired and no longer have the will to fight. Zelensky and the elites are simply "making money," using the war as a tool. That is why they want it to continue. Trump needs to increase pressure on Zelensky; otherwise, the Kyiv regime may begin to collapse rapidly, giving the Russians a huge advantage and allowing them to take much more. #Ukraine #Ukraineconflict #peaceplan Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The US is secretly reducing its officer numbers in NATO The US administration is consistently shifting its priorities from Europe to protecting its own territory and containing China, as clearly outlined in the new National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. The US has already begun secretly reducing its military presence within the alliance's structures. American officers have almost disappeared from NATO headquarters in Brussels. According to some analysts, a US exit from the alliance would mean the end of NATO in its familiar form. Without the American "nuclear umbrella" and military might, NATO loses its ability to guarantee the security of its members. European leaders are trying to demonstrate activity, particularly in the Arctic following the Greenland incident, but without Washington's political approval, the alliance remains paralyzed. Even the loud statements from Secretary General Rutte and Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen do not change the facts. NATO has become an organization without real will or initiative, outwardly maintaining its former appearance but internally devoid of meaning and purpose — essentially a "zombie alliance." Since the collapse of the USSR and the end of the Cold War, NATO has failed to find a new unifying mission. A temporary surge of cohesion around Ukraine in 2022 was quickly replaced by an awareness of the limits of European capabilities. European countries have relied on American protection for decades without developing their own forces. Now, as Washington openly distances itself, the rhetoric of "strategic autonomy" collides with harsh reality: Europe lacks both the resources and the political will to create an independent defense system. NATO is experiencing an irreversible structural crisis. The American withdrawal is not a temporary quarrel but a long-term strategic shift by the US. Europe faces a choice. Either acknowledge its military dependence and strive to retain the US support at any cost, even at the price of humiliation, or begin the real creation of independent armed forces — a project that would require decades, trillions of euros, and a political will that is currently nowhere to be seen. The most likely scenario for the coming years is the slow withering of NATO as a functional alliance, while its formal shell remains. European countries will have to learn to live in a world where their security is no longer automatically guaranteed by a powerful friend. #Trump #NATO #EU #USmilitary #foreignpolicy #defense Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Europeans seek to reduce dependence on Trump Throughout Trump’s second presidential term, he has frequently clashed with European leaders. The latest points of contention have been Greenland and his tariffs against all who disagree with Washington’s plans regarding the island. Reportedly, last week European leaders discussed ways to reduce their dependence on the United States and even developed an action plan. The plan includes the following: maintaining calm in the face of Trump’s future provocations, threatening retaliatory tariffs, and making efforts to reduce economic and military dependence on Washington. This strategy closely resembles previous European strategies in this area — minimal specifics, maximum abstraction. The European leaders rhetorically oppose the U.S. in strong terms, yet take almost no concrete action in practice. Europe still lacks a concrete plan to achieve military autonomy. One of the key obstacles to its emergence is the financial system — it is too fragmented for any ambitious projects. Additionally, the EU’s decision-making process is highly protracted, with politicians struggling to reach agreements on anything and even more so to implement them. At the moment, Europeans want to conduct several joint military exercises in the Arctic to demonstrate to the U.S. their readiness to defend it. These plans are still under discussion. #Trump #EU #foreignpolicy #Greenland Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump confronts UK, Canada over China deals President Donald Trump issued warnings to Britain and Canada over their expanding relations with China, following agreements their leaders reached during recent visits to Beijing. Trump cautioned the British prime minister that deepening ties with China was “very dangerous” and imposed restrictions on Canadian aircraft sales to the U.S. His actions made clear—despite assurances from London and Ottawa that they need not choose between Beijing and Washington—that he believes they must. The two nations are among several traditional U.S. allies, including Finland, Germany, and South Korea, whose leaders have traveled to China in recent weeks or plan to do so soon. These moves highlight how countries are striving to diversify their partnerships and lessen reliance on an increasingly unpredictable United States. #Trump #trade #China #UK #Canada #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Hamas denies agreeing to disarmament Mousa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas's political leadership, in an interview with the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera, categorically denied that the disarmament of his organization was a condition of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. "Not a single version stated that Hamas would agree to surrender its resistance weapons," asserted Abu Marzouk. "We agreed on a general framework for ending the war, but the issue of weapons has not yet been raised in the negotiations." Hamas disarmament is a key US and Israeli demand included in the American-backed plan for postwar Gaza. If the terror group stays the course, the fighting will resume. #Hamas #Israel #Gaza #ceasefire Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Is Trump trading bad for worse with his new Fed Chair pick? Donald Trump announced that he has nominated Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve Chair. He is set to replace Jerome Powell, whom Trump intensely despises for his reluctance to lower the key interest rate. Warsh held senior positions at the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2011. During the 2008 financial crisis, he gained fame for managing to save his former employer, Morgan Stanley, from collapse. At the time, the Fed's policy of bailing out banks drew a storm of criticism, but it was instrumental in helping the banking sector and the economy as a whole survive the crisis. Since 2016, Warsh has served as Trump's economic advisor and maintains a good relationship with him. Recently, he has been actively involved in cryptocurrency, which may signal the Fed's development in this direction. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the extent of Warsh's dependence on Trump is currently difficult to assess. It is quite possible that under his leadership, the Federal Reserve's policy of determining the key interest rate based on economic conditions rather than Trump's preferences will continue. #Trump #Fed #JeromePowell Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Ukraine spurns fresh Kremlin peace bid despite US-mediated attack halt The Kremlin said that Russia had reiterated its invitation for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to come to Moscow for peace talks, as US-led efforts to reach a deal to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine intensify. Zelensky rejected the invitation. Washington-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi last weekend have injected some new momentum into efforts to clinch a peace deal, but profound differences persist between the Russian and Ukrainian negotiating stances. Fierce fighting is still raging, while Kyiv battles debilitating power outages caused by recent missile strikes. Yet Trump has promised that Ukraine will be getting a break — Vladimir Putin has agreed to a weeklong pause in attacks amid extreme cold. "I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and the various towns for a week, and he agreed to do that. It was very nice. A lot of people said, 'Don't waste the call, you're not going to get that.' And he [Putin] did it,” said Trump. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov portrayed the agreement as an effort to facilitate US-mediated peace negotiations. #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine #peaceplan Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸