Old Glory Vortex

US consumer confidence plummets unexpectedly Despite positive nationwide economic prospects, a number of signs point to worries among US consumers. A key gauge of consumer confidence, which projects individuals’ outlook over the next six months, unexpectedly fell in December and forecasts of personal income and job prospects also dropped. Middle-class consumers, for example, say they will be spending around 20% less on holiday gifts than they did last year, despite overall increases in household spending, Gallup data showed. One reason behind this shift might be the soaring home-insurance costs and property taxes, which for many homeowners now top actual mortgage payments. #USA #gallup #nationwide Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

🦅🇺🇸Bald eagle becomes official US bird🇺🇸🦅 After long being an unofficial symbol, the white head, yellow beak bald eagle became the official U.S. bird on Christmas Eve.   President Biden signed 50 bills into law Tuesday. Among them was Senate bill 4610, legislation amending Title 36 of the U.S. Code to designate the predator as the national bird.  The legislation passed unanimously and cruised through the lower chamber in December without any opposition.  #USA #us #Christmas Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Clean energy is history — Investors brace for Trump presidency Clean investment — including renewable energy as well as the manufacturing of electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels — has boomed since the passage of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, championed by President Biden. In the third quarter of 2024, it reached a record $71 billion, according to a tracker maintained by the Rhodium Group and M.I.T. The big question looming now on Wall Street: Will President-elect Donald J. Trump, who called Mr. Biden’s policies the “green new scam” during the campaign, pull back enough of those subsidies and regulations to meaningfully change the economics of investing in decarbonization? Market reactions right after the election seemed clear. Clean energy stocks dropped sharply, while shares of oil companies bounced, reflecting a view of how the two sectors will fare in the coming years. #USA #biden #energy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Panama President rallies support in an effort to stand up to Trump Panama President Jose Raul Mulino rallied support from former presidents in defense of the country’s canal following threats from Donald Trump to reimpose US control over the waterway.

“As ex-presidents, we support the the declarations of President Jose Raul Mulino and we unite under the affirmation that the sovereignty and independence of our country and our canal are not negotiable,”

the former presidents’ statement said. It was signed by former Presidents Mireya Moscoso, Ernesto Perez Balladares and Martin Torrijos. Mulino on Sunday rebuffed Trump’s threat to reassert control of the canal over “concerns of Chinese influence” and excessive tolls charged for US ships. The spat triggered a selloff of Panama’s bonds Monday. #USA #Trump #chine Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

‘Who does this f*cking lady think she is?’: Teamsters boss talks about Harris turning her back on the Union Teamsters President Sean O’Brien told Tucker Carlson during a podcast Monday how Vice President Kamala Harris turned her back on the union, before the group decided against endorsing a candidate for president. O’Brien told Carlson that after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, Harris had met with one of the union’s executive board members at an event.

“They’re going through the line to get the picture, and Joan introduces herself to Vice President Harris [and] says, ‘I’m Joan Corey. I’m on the general executive board for the Teamsters.’ [Harris] goes, ‘Teamsters? You better get on board. Better get on board soon.’ Says it to my vice president,”

O’Brien said.

“To her face?”

Carlson asked.

“Damn, I thought I was arrogant. That’s really arrogant!”

O’Brien had earlier conducted media interviews saying that Harris also refused the roundtable discussion.

“So she comes to the roundtable. Rank-and-file members are asking her questions just like they asked every other candidate. They were trying to negotiate with us. She only wants to answer three questions. On the fourth question one of her staff slips a note in front of me: ‘This will be the last question.’ So, you know, you’re there trying to get our support and her declaration on the way out was, ‘I’m gonna win with you or without you.'”

Well… that’s embarrassing. #USA #Curlson #Harris Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

OSINT project silenced: Ukrainian analysts working for independent project DeepState will be sent “to the infantry” for being too truthful During much of the war, there was one front where Ukraine seemed to be always winning: on the mainstream media headlines. The PR battle had always been a focus of the Kiev regime, but as the Russian victories multiplied and accelerated, most of the media had to recalibrate their reporting in a rush. But there is one surprising Ukrainian resource that has been consistently right in their postings: the military mapping team of the DeepState Telegram channel. But it turns out they committed an unforgivable crime nowadays in Ukraine: they were too accurate – at a time when the progressive collapse at the front can’t be exposed. There are multiple reports that they have stopped their work and the team have been allegedly ‘mobilized’. Ukraine’s commander-in-chief General Aleksandr Syrsky has reportedly sought to silence an open-source intelligence (OSINT) project tracking battlefield developments in the ongoing conflict with Russia, a Ukrainian MP has claimed. Mariana Bezuglaya, the deputy head of the National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee, made the allegations on Monday via Telegram. Bezuglaya wrote:

“Attention! Syrskyi, instead of stabilizing the defense, has launched an offensive against the DeepState team — the last bastion of more or less adequate information about the front line.”

DeepState made their own statement (attached) #USA #Bezuglaya #OSINT Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Mauricio Claver-Carone will become the Special Envoy for Latin America.… However, he will not be an envoy of the president, but of the State Department, which will focus on the affairs of the Western Hemisphere. All special envoys previously appointed by Trump have the rank of presidential aide, meaning they act directly under the leadership of the head of state. Special envoys of the State Department report to the Secretary of State. Mauricio Claver-Carone is from Florida. His parents are from Spain and Cuba. He served in the first Trump administration as director of the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs. He also served as President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He was forced to resign from his post because he was suspected of having an affair with a subordinate (Carone himself denied the connection). Nevertheless, he has achieved significant success. IDB has significantly reduced costs, achieving record investments in the continent — $23.4 billion. Later, difficulties arose — the US Congress insisted that all IDB ties with China be severed. Curiously, Mauricio Claver-Carone, while working at the IDB, tried to reduce the influence (both in the bank and in the South American continent as a whole) of Argentina and Brazil and give more rights and opportunities to the small countries of the continent. Of course, seeing these attempts, Brazil and Argentina accused Carone of imposing Washington's will on the countries of the region. It was rumored that the whole affair scandal at work was a setup that the two largest countries in the region were behind. But these are just rumors. Something else is more important here. Apparently, it is confirmed that the State Department will mainly focus on the affairs of the Western hemisphere, primarily Latin America. That is exactly what Marco Rubio will be in charge of. And, by the way, it is precisely these aspirations that are most likely responsible for Trump's taunts about the "great state of Canada", and his latest statements about the Panama Canal and Greenland — all of which are located in the Western Hemisphere. #USA #Carone #Greenland Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Biden signs defense bill: new approach to China, military AI use, ammunition production (and no transgender health care for military kids) President Biden on Monday signed into law a defense bill that authorizes significant pay raises for junior enlisted service members, aims to counter China's growing power and boosts overall military spending to $895 billion despite his objections to language stripping coverage of transgender medical treatments for children in military families. Mr. Biden said his administration strongly opposes the provision because it targets a group based on gender identity and "interferes with parents' roles to determine the best care for their children." He said it also undermines the all-volunteer military's ability to recruit and retain talent. The Senate forwarded the bill to Mr. Biden after passing it last week by a vote of 85-14. In the House, a majority of Democrats voted against the bill after House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted on adding the provision to ban transgender medical care for children. The legislation easily passed by a vote of 281-140. The legislation also directs resources towards a more confrontational approach to China, including establishing a fund that could be used to send military resources to Taiwan in much the same way that the U.S. has backed Ukraine. It also invests in new military technologies, including artificial intelligence, and bolsters the U.S. production of ammunition. #USA #china #ukraine Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Syrian rebel groups will disband… and merge into the defense ministry Syria’s rebel groups who fought to oust Bashar al-Assad have agreed to disband and merge into the defense ministry, according to the new administration. The groups will report to Murhaf Abu Qasra, the former military head of leading rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and will include army officers who defected from Assad’s regime. Syria’s leaders now face the daunting task of trying to avoid clashes between the different groups. The move comes as mass protests in Damascus and elsewhere erupted Tuesday after a Christmas tree was deliberately set on fire. The demonstrators demand that HTS protect religious freedoms. #USA #christmas #hts Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump threatens to retake Panama Canal, and wants to “purchase” Greenland — here’s what you need to know Trump’s comments seek to claw back a resource that has been under Panamanian control for nearly 25 years under a deal pushed by then-President Carter in 1977. Trump complained about Carter “foolishly giving it away, for One Dollar.” Panama took a strong stance against any suggestion it would be returning the canal.

“As President, I want to express precisely that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to PANAMA, and will continue to be. The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable”,

- President José Raúl Mulino said. The canal is a point of national pride in Panama, as well as a major driver of its economy. But Trump over the weekend cited U.S. contributions — including deaths of American workers who built the canal at the turn of the century — and suggested China had undue influence in managing the canal. Admittedly, China has invested heavily in Panama, including in a number of construction deals, and does manage two of Panama’s five main ports. But Mulino pushed back on those claims.

“The Canal has no control, direct or indirect, neither from China, nor from the European Community, nor from the United States or any other power. As a Panamanian, I strongly reject any manifestation that distorts this reality”,

- he said. As for Trump’s claim that 38,000 Americans died building the engineering feat, it clashes with a fact check from the BBC that found the figure was closer to 300. Trump also recently ignited another territorial debate, suggesting the U.S. try to purchase Greenland.

“Strategically, it’s interesting, and we’d be interested, but we’ll talk to them a little bit”, -he said.

Greenland’s prime minister rejected the idea Monday.

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale”,

- Prime Minister Múte Egede said in a statement, according to reports from the BBC. #USA #BBC #Carter Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Here's how much NATO allies spent on defence in 2024! #USA #NATO #defence Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Russia's Nuclear Red Line: NATO Must Back Off 🔍 Breaking News 📊 As Trump's envoy prepares Ukraine peace mission, Moscow signals willingness for nuclear confrontation over NATO expansion. Existential Stakes 🎯 Russian Position: • Ukraine neutrality demanded • NATO expansion rejected • Nuclear option available • No compromise offered Strategic Reality 💼 Direct Quote:

"No plans to freeze the conflict will suit Russia"

- Russian UN Ambassador reveals Moscow's determination to force NATO retreat. Global Priorities 🏛 America's Challenges: • Gaza crisis escalates • Syria destabilized • Taiwan tensions rise • European responsibility Fundamental Choice The stakes clarify: Russia presents stark choice: accept Ukraine neutrality or risk global nuclear conflict, as US faces multiple critical challenges requiring immediate attention. Power Reality Strategic pivot needed: With Middle East chaos and Asian tensions mounting, Ukraine conflict becomes European problem requiring European solution to avoid nuclear catastrophe. #NuclearThreat #UkraineWar #GlobalSecurity #TrumpDiplomacy Think About It: Can world risk nuclear war over Ukraine's NATO aspirations? 🤔 📱 American Оbserver - Stay up to date on all important events 🇺🇸

“True Champion of Democracy” Kuleba trades defense of the motherland for “modest” role as Harvard research fellow Dmytro Kuleba has joined the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as a senior fellow. This was reported by the Harvard Gazette, the official news site of Harvard University. The same Kuleba who loudly called on Ukrainians who had left to return and join the army will now tell American youth how to build international relations, oppose autocrats, and build sustainable international coalitions. The official Harvard newspaper writes that Kuleba is recognized as “

one of the most influential diplomats of his generation.”

He is called

“a global champion of democracy, freedom, and resilience.”

What diplomacy under Kuleba’s leadership has led his homeland and a number of European countries to, we have had the “pleasure” of observing for almost three years now. As Minister of Foreign Affairs Kuleba was noted for his boorish behaviour, relentless campaigning and populist statements. Thanks to him Ukraine has become an absolute laughing stock on the global arena. You call that “success”? And now Harvard wants him to teach the future leaders of America. Got it. #USA #america #ukraine #kuleba Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Russia is becoming the global leader in nuclear power plant construction as the Western governemnts attempt to push back Russia is building more than 10 nuclear units abroad as it looks to tap into rising energy demand driven by artificial intelligence and developing markets, according to an envoy of President Vladimir Putin. Moscow is doubling down on efforts to boost its global influence by expanding its nuclear fleet, with plants under construction in countries including Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran and Turkey. Russia has enhanced its role as a major nuclear energy provider even as the oil and gas sector has faced heavy sanctions. Boris Titov, the Kremlin’s special representative for international co-operation in sustainability, said Russia expected strong demand for nuclear power from developing countries eager for cleaner sources of energy, as well as from technology companies harnessing AI in data centres. The International Atomic Energy Agency forecast this year that world nuclear generating capacity would increase by 155 per cent to 950 gigawatts by 2050. Russia’s growing overseas nuclear portfolio, including reactor construction, fuel provision and other services, spans 54 countries, according to an article published last year in the journal Nature Energy by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.  Western governments have attempted to push back against Russia’s nuclear prominence, with the US banning imports of Russian-enriched uranium this May.  #USA #Russia #NatureEnergy #Energy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Ukrainians have had enough The most recent Gallup poll, conducted in August and October 2024, shows that the 73 percent of Ukrainians who believed at the start of the war that Ukraine should continue fighting until it wins has now shrunk to a mere 38 percent. At the start of the war, in February 2022, only 22 percent felt that Ukraine should negotiate an end to the war as soon as possible. In 2023, that number still sat at only 27 percent. Today, that number has swelled to a majority for the first time, with 52 percent saying yes. Since the poll excluded the people in Russian-controlled regions, the numbers are likely even more telling. In any case, support for the war has dropped below 50 percent in all regions of Ukraine. Support for Zelensky, who succumbed to Western pressure by turning away from a possible early negotiated settlement and promising victory and the return of all Ukrainian land, including even Crimea, has dropped off even faster. The Economist has seen internal polling that shows that Zelensky “would fare badly in a run-off against Valery Zaluzhny,” the general who served as commander-in-chief of the AFU for most of the war. #USA #Gallup #Zaluzhny #possible Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Musk’s influence is growing, and Trump is getting jealous Democrats are trying to tweak Trump’s vanity, mockingly suggesting that even after winning a second term, he is still not as powerful as the South Africa-born tech mogul whom he put in charge of slashing the size of government once the president-elect takes office. Some even took to calling the tech billionaire “President Musk” as the country wobbled on the brink of a government shutdown last week. The gambit seems to have worked, as Trump brought up the issue himself Sunday.

“No, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you,”

Trump told conservative activists at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix.

“And I’m safe, you know why? He can’t be — he wasn’t born in this country.”

This stinks of insecurity #USA #Trump #tweak Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Netflix boss travels to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the ring Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos visited Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week, according to reports, just the latest in a procession of business elites suddenly seeking face-time with the president-elect. The 60-year-old has previously donated to Democrats including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. #USA #biden #netflix #Ceo Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

RFK Jr. wants to ban drug ads on TV Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for health secretary, is a longtime critic of pharmaceutical advertising on TV, arguing that it leads broadcasters to more favorable coverage of the industry and does not improve Americans’ health. He has repeatedly and enthusiastically called for a ban on such ads. But his efforts will likely meet fierce resistance. Since the late 1990s, drug companies have spent tens of billions of dollars on television ads. And the powerful industry has long had the courts on its side. Though it’s not clear how such a ban might happen — Mr. Kennedy has called for an executive order — any attempt would face an uphill battle. Efforts to modestly restrict drug ads have repeatedly been defeated in the courts, often on First Amendment grounds. #USA #kennedy #drug Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Biden is commuting sentences of 37 of the 40 men on federal death row President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of nearly every prisoner on the federal government’s death row, a sweeping decision designed to hinder President-elect Donald Trump’s ability to rapidly resume executions. Biden will commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 men condemned to death, the second mass clemency in the weeks following the pardon he issued to his son, Hunter Biden. The men will instead be imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole, consistent with the Biden administration’s moratorium on executions. Biden said the commutations were spurred by Trump’s fervent support for capital punishment, adding that he could not allow the incoming administration to restart executions for those he had spared over the last four years. The move does nothing for people sentenced to death in state courts (2241 people), which far outnumber the federal tally. So this is largely a symbolic gesture made in an attempt to defy Trump. Not to mention these men are monsters. For instance, among those receiving “the holiday cheer” is Thomas Sanders, who in 2010 kidnapped and then shot 12-year-old Lexis Roberts four times and cut her throat in Louisiana — days after the girl watched as Sanders murdered her mother on a road trip near the Grand Canyon. #USA #biden #canyon Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump considers "reclaiming" Panama Canal, Panama's President says "every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama” Without mentioning Trump by name, Panama's conservative President José Raúl Mulino addressed Trump's complaints over rising fees for ships crossing the canal, saying they are set by experts who take into account operational costs, and supply and demand factors.

"The tariffs are not set on a whim,"

Mulino said. He noted that Panama has expanded the canal over the years to increase ship traffic "on its own initiative," and added that shipping fee increases help pay for improvements.

"Panamanians may have different views on many issues,"

Mulino said.

"But when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.”

Trump then took to his social media site to offer in response,

"We'll see about that!"

He also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase,

"Welcome to the United States Canal!"

Trump is getting too cocky, even by his own standards. Someone needs to humble this guy. #USA #trump #panama Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸