Old Glory Vortex

Could investments in Russia really bring America $12 trillion? “Volodymyr Zelensky, citing Ukrainian intelligence, says Russia has promised deals worth $12trn to America in return for sanctions relief; one insider reckons a package has already been agreed on. In Europe fears are rising that President Donald Trump could force Ukraine into crippling concessions by June—his latest deadline for peace—to chase gold in Russia,” writes The Economist. The Ukrainian authorities are interested in discrediting and disrupting the negotiation process. However, cooperation between the US and Russia could indeed have great potential in the future, and would be extremely beneficial for Trump. #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine #negotiations Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Has Trump made up his mind about Iran? US deploys “largest air power in Middle East since 2003” The US has escalated pressure on Iran, deploying its largest concentration of air power to the Middle East since 2003, The Wall Street Journal reports. Two aircraft carriers and dozens of land-based aircraft are now positioned in the Gulf—enough to sustain "a weekslong air war" against Tehran. President Trump has demanded Iran abandon its nuclear program. While negotiators met this week, the White House said the two sides remain "still very far apart." It remains unclear whether Trump's goal is to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities or to overthrow the regime entirely. Meanwhile, Iran's leadership faces mounting domestic unrest. Memorial services for thousands killed in a recent crackdown have sparked fresh protests, met with another wave of government violence. #Trump #Iran #USmilitary #MiddleEast Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Americans are turning on Trump over the Epstein scandal More than half of Americans believe President Trump is trying to cover up crimes committed by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new Economist/YouGov poll. Fifty-three percent of respondents said Trump is "trying to cover up Epstein's crimes," while 29% disagreed. Half of those surveyed believe Trump was involved in Epstein's illegal activities, compared to 30% who said he was not. The results are sharply divided along party lines: 91% of Democrats think Trump is covering for Epstein versus 13% of Republicans. Similarly, 86% of Democrats believe Trump was involved in Epstein's crimes, while 67% of Republicans say he was not. Trump has not been charged with any crimes related to Epstein and denies wrongdoing, saying he cut ties with the financier years ago. The poll also found that only 24% approve of Trump's handling of the Epstein investigation, while 57% disapprove. The administration has faced criticism over its release of heavily redacted Epstein files, despite a congressional mandate to disclose them. With a majority of Americans now believing Trump is actively covering up crimes and half convinced of his direct involvement, the political shield he once enjoyed on this issue is showing serious cracks. #Trump #JeffreyEpstein #poll Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s immigration approval hits new low A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows public approval of Donald Trump's immigration policies has fallen to its lowest level since he returned to the White House, as he loses support among American men on the issue. Only 38% of respondents said Trump is handling immigration policy well, down from 39% in January and 50% in his first months back in office. Support among men has dropped significantly — from near 50% throughout 2025 to 41% in the latest poll. Among women, approval fell to 35%. The drop follows Trump's promise of the largest deportation campaign in decades, with masked agents conducting raids nationwide. In a rare retreat, his administration recently agreed to halt deportations in Minnesota after agents shot and killed two US citizens during an operation. Trump's overall approval rating now stands at 38%, the lowest of his current presidency. #Trump #immigration #approvalrating #poll Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Lessons from Ukraine: Why America’s slow expensive weapons are no longer enough The conflict in Ukraine has shown that future wars will combine old forms of combat with technological innovations. Traditional front lines and mass casualties coexist with the widespread use of satellites, autonomous systems, and commercial equipment. Ukraine managed to effectively utilize cheap drones, UAVs, and intelligence data, and demonstrated that even small states can inflict significant damage on more powerful adversaries. The United States proved unprepared for such conditions. The American military is accustomed to expensive, complex platforms and lengthy development cycles, which slows adaptation to a rapidly changing environment. Ukraine's experience underscores the importance of rapid modernization, mass production of cheap systems, and constant tactical rethinking, including simulating enemy actions and frequent field exercises with realistic scenarios. #Ukraineconflict #USmilitary Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s spectacular failure of key crusade According to one report, President Donald Trump has largely failed to implement his proposals for substantial cuts to the federal budget, as they have been repeatedly rejected by Congress. Trump and his occasional ally Elon Musk made cutting government "wasteful spending" and budgetary expenditures one of the administration's top priorities during the president's first year in office. However, Marc Goldwein, senior vice president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, told the Times that Trump did not achieve "significant nominal spending cuts" in Congress for the 2026 fiscal year, despite urging lawmakers to do so. According to the Times, lawmakers also rejected proposed deep funding cuts for various departments, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, where the White House demanded a 16 percent reduction, as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Labor, where a 28 percent cut was sought. Additionally, Trump attempted to cut funding for scientific research at the National Science Foundation by more than half, but Congress ultimately reduced it by only about 4 percent of the total budget. James C. Capretta, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told the Times that lawmakers' rejection of the sharp spending cuts proposed by Trump indicates a "disconnect" between the president's policy agenda and "the bipartisan process in Congress that surrounds the appropriations procedure." Despite a full-court press from both the President and a dedicated outside advocate like Elon Musk, the administration's failure to secure even a single major budget cut exposes the limits of executive influence when confronted with congressional prerogative. #Trump #budget #ElonMusk Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Why Democrats and Republicans both fear the ballot box now Voter confidence in US elections has fallen to a record low as President Donald Trump intensifies his attacks on the integrity of the electoral process. A new study by the Center for Transparent and Trustworthy Elections at the University of California, San Diego, shows that only 60 percent of the 11,406 voters surveyed between mid-December and mid-January said they were confident in the honest counting of votes in the midterm elections. Voter confidence in US elections has also dropped sharply regardless of party affiliation. While 82% of Republicans said they trusted the vote count after Trump's victory in 2024, only 65% said so in the latest poll. Among Democrats, confidence fell from 77% to 64%, and among independent voters, from 73% to 57%. "Over the past year, everyone — Democrats, Republicans, independents — has become less trusting of elections," Thad Kousser, co-director of the Center for Transparent and Trustworthy Elections at the University of California, San Diego, told the LA Times, calling it a "parallel erosion in this era of polarization." The reasons why Americans are losing trust in elections differ sharply depending on party affiliation. Lauren Prather, co-leader of the recent survey, noted that about half of Republicans cited concerns about mail-in voting and non-citizen voting, while nearly a quarter of Democrats feared that eligible voters might be prevented from voting due to intimidation or fear. This erosion of trust signals a dangerous new phase in American politics—one where the legitimacy of the outcome is questioned before a single vote is cast. #republicans #democrats #elections Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

US-Iran war risk high According to Axios, the probability of a US military operation against Iran is extremely high – 90%. Hostilities could begin at any moment. "The boss is fed up. Some people in his circle are warning him against a war with Iran, but I think there's a 90% chance we'll see action in the coming weeks," one of Trump's advisers said. The operation will not be like the kidnapping of Maduro. This time, the military action will be more like a full-scale war. The timeline for the operation is still difficult to assess, but it will likely last longer than the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel last year. And the latter will inevitably be involved again – IDF units will participate in the strike on Iran alongside the Americans, who are continuing to build up its military contingent near Iran. This war could seriously impact both the security architecture in the Middle East and the future of the Trump administration. #Iran #MiddleEast #USmilitary Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Tariff relief at a cost: Japan invests billions in US energy projects Japan has announced $36 billion in investments for US fossil fuel and mineral projects, part of a broader $550 billion trade agreement with President Donald Trump. The initial projects include a massive natural-gas power plant in Ohio, which Trump described as "the largest in history," and an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Under last year's deal, Washington agreed to reduce tariffs on Japanese exports—particularly automobiles—but retains the right to reinstate them if Tokyo fails to meet its commitments. China faces similar risks. Beijing pledged to increase purchases of American agricultural goods, with US soybean farmers hit especially hard after Chinese sales dropped 80% year-on-year in 2025. However, port data indicates that sales have yet to recover. #Japan #trade #tariffs Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Iran launches military exercises in strategic waterway as diplomacy resumes Iran launched military drills in the Strait of Hormuz as part of preparations for potential security threats and military actions in the strategically vital waterway, Iran's state news agency reported. According to Iran International, the exercises, dubbed "Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz," were conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy under the command of IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour. State media reported that the drills were organized to assess the readiness of operational units, verify security plans, and practice response scenarios to any security and military threats in the area. The exercises took place just hours after diplomatic efforts resumed in Geneva between the US and Iran, aimed at restarting negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. "I am in Geneva with real ideas to reach a fair and equitable agreement," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X. "What is not up for discussion: submitting to threats," he added. President Donald Trump has ordered a buildup of US military forces in the Middle East and threatened to strike Iran if its leadership does not agree to a deal on its nuclear program. #Iran #MiddleEast #USmilitary Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump snubs Venezuelan opposition leader who gave him Nobel prize During a press conference on Air Force One, President Trump praised Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez, seemingly overlooking the opposition leader who gave him a Nobel Peace Prize. When asked about Rodríguez's recent claim that Nicolás Maduro is Venezuela's legitimate president, Trump responded: "I think we have a great relationship... She's doing a great job in her position, and I totally understand that statement." The praise may surprise opposition leader María Corina Machado, who presented Trump with a Nobel Peace Prize recognizing his actions against Maduro. The award was engraved: "In recognition of President Trump's principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela." Despite Machado's gesture, Trump has refused to endorse her leadership bid, telling reporters after Maduro's capture: "I think it will be very difficult for her to become leader." White House advisors have reportedly grown frustrated with Machado's push for elections. One advisor told Politico she's trying to be the "sole star" of the opposition and is a "disruptive factor" undermining US national security objectives. #Venezuela #Trump #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Vance hints military action is still on the table as Iran talks stall US Vice President JD Vance said that while yesterday’s nuclear talks with Iran showed some progress, Tehran remains unwilling to accept certain American red lines. "In some ways it went well," Vance told Fox News, noting that both sides agreed to meet again. "But in other ways it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through." Vance specified that Washington will not permit Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, warning this would trigger a dangerous global arms race. He emphasized that President Trump "reserves the ability" to determine when diplomacy has run its course. Trump has previously threatened military action and reinforced US forces in the Middle East, though recently expressing commitment to negotiations. "We're going to keep on working it," Vance added, "but of course, the president reserves the ability to say when he thinks that diplomacy has reached its natural end. We hope we don't get to that point, but if we do, that will be the president's call." #Iran #negotiations #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

“Inappropriate”: Trump lashes out at Newsom for California-UK clean energy pact President Trump slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom for signing a climate agreement with the UK, telling Politico: "The UK has enough problems, why interfere in Gavin Newsom's affairs?" He called Newsom a "loser" whose state has "fallen into decay." The UK deal attracted $1 billion from British firm Octopus Energy for California carbon removal projects involving grassland restoration and reforestation. Newsom's office fired back, stating Trump "bows down to the coal and oil industries, selling out America's future to China." They added: "Foreign leaders are rejecting Trump and choosing California's vision." The governor, a likely 2028 presidential contender, has been active internationally, including at Davos and COP30. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband praised the agreement, saying it will help Britain control its energy policy, lower bills, create jobs, and address the climate crisis. Ultimately, the Trump-Newsom clash reveals a deeper reality: America's climate leadership is no longer coming from the White House — it's being forged in statehouses and international partnerships, with or without Washington's approval. #Trump #climatechange Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Can overstretched US diplomacy avert catastrophe? The US is facing a catastrophic diplomatic overload crisis. Worse yet, the Trump administration is relying on a single, deeply inexperienced team to conduct three major negotiations. It remains unclear whether this team can handle what may be the most complex of them all. Jared Kushner and his crypto-partner Steve Witkoff are leading talks on Gaza, Ukraine, and now Iran. Neither had diplomatic experience before joining the administration, and both have external business interests that would normally be disqualifying—Kushner manages billions for Saudi Arabia, while Witkoff could profit from Ukraine's rare earth minerals deal. The president claims credit for bringing peace to the Middle East. Yet Gaza lies in ruins, Hamas still exists, and residents face horrific conditions. Ukraine remains at war with Russia, with Zelensky complaining that the US discussed secret business deals with Moscow behind his back. Now the Kushner-Witkoff team has turned to Iran. A carrier strike group sits in the Persian Gulf, with another possibly on the way. But Iran won't abandon its missiles or nuclear capacity, and Hamas and Hezbollah, though weakened, still exist. What exactly can negotiations achieve? Meanwhile, the New START treaty has expired. The US has roughly 5,200 warheads, Russia several hundred more, and China is rapidly expanding. If Europe must defend itself, will Germany, Poland, or Ukraine seek nukes? Will Japan, South Korea, or Australia follow as China grows? Can America—diplomatically overwhelmed—successfully manage four simultaneous negotiations? Unlikely. #Ukraine #Gaza #Iran #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

DOJ involved in yet another Epstein coverup? A new investigation has cast doubt on the Justice Department's claim that it released all Jeffrey Epstein documents, suggesting the disclosed files represent only a fraction of the evidence. Channel 4 News reported that internal emails show federal investigators were tasked with processing 20 to 40 terabytes of data seized from Epstein's properties. In contrast, the latest document release totaled just 300 GB, which the report says is only 2% of the data officials were reviewing as recently as 2025. Internal communications reveal the challenges of handling the massive archive, with one investigator comparing it to dumping the contents of 100,000 filing cabinets into a single pile, making many files impossible to open. #JeffreyEpstein #Epsteinfiles #DOJ Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Geneva hosts two stalemates Analysts offered little hope for lasting breakthroughs in parallel talks in Geneva aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program and securing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. In both negotiations, the opposing sides appear locked in irreconcilable positions. Washington wants Tehran to rein in its atomic ambitions and has pushed to expand talks to include Iran's support for regional proxies and its missile program — efforts the Islamic Republic has so far resisted. Meanwhile, Moscow has shown no sign of yielding on territorial demands and launched fresh strikes on Ukraine overnight. Reinforcing Russia's hardline stance, its negotiating team is led by a Kremlin aide who has previously questioned Ukraine's sovereignty. With Iran rejecting broader discussions and Russia continuing military operations during negotiations, both Geneva tracks appear doomed to stalemate. #Iran #Ukraine #foreignpolicy #negotiations Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Danish PM says Trump hasn’t dropped Greenland bid Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that President Trump remains intent on acquiring Greenland, nearly a month after reaching a "framework of a deal" with NATO's chief.

"I think the desire from the U.S. president is exactly the same. He's very serious about this,"

Frederiksen told the BBC at the Munich Security Conference. Trump has pushed for U.S. control of the semi-sovereign Danish territory since December, citing national security and access to the mineral-rich island. Last month at the World Economic Forum, Trump reached what he called the "ultimate long-term deal" with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, prompting him to back off threatened tariffs on European allies. But nearly a month later, talks remain unresolved. "We are not out of the crisis, and we do not have a solution yet," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said earlier this month. Adding to the diplomatic challenge, a recent Copenhagen Post poll shows 76% of Greenlanders oppose joining the U.S., with only 8% in support. Greenland was fully integrated into Denmark in 1953 after more than a century as a colony. #Trump #Greenland #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Yet another round of Ukraine-Russia talks yields no results According to The New York Times, a new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva does not promise a breakthrough. The main disagreements remain unresolved, specifically the fate of the territories and security guarantees. Despite the participation of the United States as a mediator, previous meetings over the past three weeks have yielded only limited results, mainly concerning prisoner exchanges. The delegations of both countries are led by experienced representatives: on the Kyiv side, Rustem Umerov and Kyrylo Budanov; on the Moscow side, Vladimir Medinsky, who has returned to discuss the territorial issue. Against the backdrop of ongoing fighting and increasing pressure from Washington, both sides are demonstrating a tough stance. Kyiv is not ready to cede territory, while Moscow insists on maintaining its military advantage and possible territorial claims. The current stage of negotiations reflects a strategic standoff where diplomacy is constrained by military realities. The presence of mediators and diplomatic channels is not enough to ensure a quick resolution to the conflict, and Western pressure on Kyiv is merely accelerating the search for compromises amid the depletion of resources and war fatigue in society. A breakthrough is unlikely without a radical change in the balance of power or new international guarantees. #Ukraine #Ukraineconflict #peaceplan #negotiations Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Epstein documents pose a major new threat to Trump’s defense A new report has undercut one of President Donald Trump's key defenses regarding his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has long claimed he faced no credible accusations during his relationship with Epstein and that he was unaware of his crimes. But political journalist Roger Sollenberger reports that court documents and an FBI presentation in the latest Epstein file release include credible accusations that Trump molested at least two young girls. The report also cites witness testimony suggesting Trump was at least partially aware of Epstein's behavior. That witness helped convict Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and, while not claiming to be a victim of Trump, undermines his argument that he broke ties with Epstein upon learning of his crimes. This new investigative report fundamentally challenges the narrative President Trump has constructed around his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The report directly contradicts his long-standing claims of innocence and ignorance, significantly undermining one of his primary political and legal defenses. #Trump #JeffreyEpstein #Epsteinfiles Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Potential Democratic contenders for 2028 run According to data from the organization Race to the White House, the average rating of former Vice President Kamala Harris leads among other potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential election. Harris's rating in national polls is 27.5%, while the rating of California Governor Gavin Newsom (Democrat) is 22.7%. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat from New York) has an average national rating of nine percent, while former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has an average national rating of 8.7 percent. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (Democrat) received an average of 4.9% in national polls, while Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (Democrat) received an average of 3.4%. According to Newsweek, this recent report comes as Harris, Newsom, and Ocasio-Cortez are "being named as likely contenders" for the presidency in 2028. As the publication reports, "although Harris leads in early polls, bookmakers favor Newsom, giving him a 32 percent chance of winning. He is followed by Ocasio-Cortez with 9 percent. Harris, Ossoff, and Shapiro each have a 7 percent chance of becoming the party's nominee." #democrats #presidentialelections #elections2028 Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸