THOUGHTS About The News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Reuters: “Sweden passes 'good behavior' law to kick out immigrants.” Just by reading the banner pitch, you’d start howling wadda(!!!) right? Anyhow, Scandinavian countries are known, controversially known, for their strict immigration laws, most of which I concur with. Example: Denmark requires newly arrived asylum seekers to pay for their own housing and food. Under this controversial "jewelry law," police can seize cash and valuables over DKK 10,000 (roughly $1,450). The government justifies this by arguing that refugees must help cover their welfare costs, though sentimental items like wedding rings are exempt. Oh yes. Not all refugees are dirt-poor, you see.

      Hey, why do migrants, off the southern border, love America? They can nonchalantly cross the boundary, in and out whenever. Get government dole-outs etcetera. So regardless that many are delivered to farms and factories to toil as virtual slaves, the other amenities that the U.S. offers are enticing enough. (Nope, I am not talking about the cartel angle. That’s another huge subject.) 🇸🇪🏃‍♀️🏃

CBS: “Former SpaceX welder becomes a millionaire after historic IPO.” Elon Musk’s SpaceX completed its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on June 12, which resulted in an implied valuation of roughly $1.77 trillion. Easily, that makes Elon the first trillionaire on Planet Earth. Hey, I don't care about the super-rich or how their wealth measures to trillions$ or gazillions$, as long as their lowly workers become rich, too. So, yes! Elon Musk for President! LOL! 💰😎💰

People: “Just a tight circle gathered on Buckingham Palace's balcony for Trooping the Colour.” Just talking about numbers, okay? No judgment at all. The UK’s “Trooping the Colour,” which involves over 1,400 parading soldiers etcetera, costs an £10 million (or $13.4 million) to hold. Meanwhile, a U.S. review of troops or military parade is estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million. Concerned? 

       Well, check out China. Although the CCP does not publicly disclose the specific budget for its troop reviews or military parades, security analysts from Taiwan estimated that Beijing’s version of such an event approximately costs 36 billion yuan (or around $5 billion). Uh huh? Yet China’s military budget of $277 billion is “spare change” compared with America’s unbelievable $954 billion, and exponentially spiking! 🙂🙃😉

Reuters: “UAE reportedly releases billions for Iran in major diplomatic shift.” Makes sense to me. Instead of handing arms aid to a favored side in this war, the UAE offers money to the other side. This war has already stalled so much economic activity and the fact is, the Iranian people need help. 

       Plus this: The total business investments across Arab League nations exceed $910 billion. These state-owned investment funds manage over $4 trillion globally. They invest heavily into technology, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure. Take note as well that although the UAE and Iran are traditional rivals or non-allies, they are both new members of the China-led BRICS trade bloc. 👍☮️👍

THOUGHTS About The News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

The issue: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the Arsenal Premier League title after-party in Brooklyn on May 30, but snubbed the Israel Day parade the next day. You see, I may have an “untoward” word about the Jewish government on account of the Gaza annihilation but I am an ordinary dude, not the Mayor. Zohran can always voice his political displeasure of Bibi Netanyahu, of course, but he is also Gotham’s hizzoner. New York is the state with the largest Jewish population in America, with over 1.7 million Jewish residents. New York City has the highest number of Jewish residents of any city. 

       Forget that The Big Apple is also home to the world’s most number of billionaires, but who cares, right? Not all Jewish in NY are as rich as Mike Bloomberg or Steven Cohen. I have Jewish in Queens who are as “everyday people” as you and me; some of them share my anti-war activism. Anyhow, would Zohran attend the Knicks/Spurs Finals game/s at MSG? Well, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is Jewish, same with Timothee Chalamet and Ben Stiller. But then, the Mayor may sit with Arsenal buddy Spike Lee instead? Fosho. 😞🤨👎

Yahoo: “Ball State's Gavin Yates-Lyons fatally shot after graduating high school.” A year after I landed in America via New York City (from the Philippines), the Columbine school massacre shocked the world. I was also extremely baffled. Yet from that point, mass shootings spiked exponentially, and as politics divides Americans, hate and mental health crises heightened. And gun ownership increased to 120.5 per 100.

      Then, I may have agreed that “fascination” with guns was a Right-wing story. Not really. Guns are not a sole Conservative or NRA obsession. It is an American cultural fact. I know of many Left-wing or liberal/progressive friends who actually own more than 3 guns each. The U.S. hasn’t really gone past the 1880s Tombstone/O.K. Corral fix. So be it. Hence, the common sense reflex (sic) is to keep that firearm in a “secret safe.” Only you know the combination, especially if you have kids or minors in the house. And try to be cool. ☮️🗽☮️

MONDAY THOUGHT, 2. The Independent: “Former ICE chief accuses Trump's inner circle of 'watering down' deportation policy.” Pressure. That’s what the Minnesota drama was successful at. Push ICE away, as the Left made good as well in pushing public scrutiny about the state’s massive social services scam. Anyhow, this data matters why ICE had to step up: Historically, or before the 21st century, border crossings were at 100k a year. In Fiscal Year 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 400,651 apprehensions along the Southwest border. But the crisis level shuddered the most from 2021 to 2024, when the number exploded to 1 million+ average. (We are back to 1970s level a year after Donald Trump sat in White House.)

      We can probably argue data per fentanyl addiction or whatever. The fact is, that gargantuan increase in the undocumented not just crushed or bankrupted U.S. immigration fiscal management, but the issue also heightened the U.S. divide. We are not really discussing the immediate outcome of the problem. We are using this as a weapon to demonize the other half of the partisanship caterwaul. 🗽🏃‍♀️🏃

Reuters: “Canada's new citizenship rules are opening a door many Americans didn't expect.” There is a huge population of Asians and Filipinos in Canada. I have many relatives there. You see, Canada has historically maintained more lenient and structured immigration pathways than many other developed nations, including the United States. Yet as Donald Trump got more strict in implementing border security (due to the obvious), the Left howled that POTUS is actually “limiting” U.S. entry, regardless of passport and visa. So go to Canada, which is more lenient. Duh. But get in, legally. Of course. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

CBS: “Jill Biden defends Hunter pardon: 'We could not let our son go to jail'.” That is a mother talking. That is an emotional reflex. Instinct. So that isn’t news. I remember my mom (when she was still alive), she’d pay bail (or whatever) + “bonuses” to narcotics agents, call kin who were government officials, to get my erring brothers out of jail. That was then, of course, my siblings have long been reformed. No one spent a day in the slammer.

      Imagine all the mothers who sold properties or took out massive loans to “save” their children from imprisonment? The difference with Hunter is, he is the son of the President of the United States of America. So before others were pardoned per Presidential Pardon privilege, Hunter should get it first. Uh huh. 🏛🗽🏛

Business Insider: “Peter Thiel's reported move to Argentina reflects a growing trend among billionaires.” Trend? Come on, now. Mr Thiel is a billionaire. The super-rich could have 15 residences, globally–especially in those countries that they have investments. Billionaires can “move” wherever and whenever they want. Then they can easily move back to their “roots” when the mood beckons. (They even have private airplanes sitting in their private hangars!) That is just the way they are, not because of "Trump's economy." Hey, there's still no "wealth tax" in the U.S. or wherever in the world. Those few economies who do, charge only an average of 1 percent. ✈️😰✈️

Rolling Stone: “Morgan Wallen knocks over a piano on stage during Denver concert.” Nobody hurt? So this is not news. This is typical rock music (or whatever genre) onstage antics. The Who’s Pete Townshend made it an art, actually. Destroying his Stratocaster or ramming it on the speakers as a concert finale. Remember Ron Mael of the less popular Sparks? His gimmick was wicked stoicism, before he kicked his piano down. In 1987, Billy Joel flipped over his keyboard during a concert in Moscow. Yes, in Russia! Hey, better than political grandstanding or anti-Trump howls, you reckon? LOL!

      On Friday night in Denver, the country star Morgan did a Billy “mischief.” While the reason given on Joel’s display of defiance was his displeasure with film crew lighting, Morgan’s piano uprising seems to have stemmed from some good, old-fashioned technical difficulties. Of course, critics and media often label Mr Wallen’s "outlaw" image and fan base as politically conservative or "MAGA-coded.” You dig? 🎸🎼😰 

Yahoo Sports: “Ohtani shows off his 2-way greatness with another historic performance.” Good to know that sports superstars are getting to be more (culturally) diverse. NBA’s Nikola Jokic is Serbian, Luka Doncic is Slovenian, and Victor Wembanyama is French (parents were from Belgium and Congo). Of course, Ohtani san is Japanese. And top NFL draft pick, Fernando Mendoza of the Las Vegas Raiders has roots in Spain and Cuba.    

       And need I repeat: These NBA guys are Filipino-Americans (or mother is Filipina): Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs), Jordan Clarkson (New York Knicks), Jared McCain (OKC Thunder), Jalen Green (Phoenix Suns), and Dylan’s bro Ron Harper Jr. (Boston Celtics). Dylan who played against Jared in the Conference finals, will be pitted versus Jordan in the Finals. Sweet! ⚾️🏈🏀

THOUGHTS About The News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Rolling Stone: “Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Director of National Intelligence” / Time: “Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Trump's Director of National Intelligence.” Reason given: Her husband's cancer diagnosis. Hint: She had recently stopped short of agreeing with President Trump that Iran’s nuclear program posed an imminent threat. Or whatever the “agreement” or “disagreement,” as told by Left-wing media.

       As I said in the early days of Trump appointments last year, I give these hires the benefit of the doubt. Many will get the “You are fired!” holler or pressured to resign. Expected. That’s a Trump mojo! The top Cabinet dude who's still in there is Defense chief Pete Hegseth. Meanwhile, I just sit here and read and observe–and judge by how policies are carried out or pursued. Whoever is in charge below the Bosschief. 🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “The Secretive Conglomerate That Controls Cuba’s Economy.” And adds: “A shadowy state enterprise run by the military is a focal point of Washington's pressure campaign against Cuba.” / Also: “Cuba Says It’s Ready to Negotiate.” Not so hard to link Venezuela's magnificent economic collapse to how the Caracas leadership managed PDVSA's massive oil wealth. Think Cartel de los Soles, which is controlled by military officials and traditional drug bosses. 

       Quietly, a military junta also took over Myanmar in 2021. What has Myanmar got in abundance? Opium. Meanwhile, Cuba is not a top producer of illicit drugs but it is a known transit point for narcotics from South/Central America to the U.S. 🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺 

New York Times: “Military Fraternity Running Iran Has Long History of Hard-Line Positions.” And adds: “Decision making in Iran is guided by a small group of men associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.” Aside from branches in the navy and aerospace, IRGC's ground force number is around 200,000. Add paramilitary and auxiliary combatants. 

       Then there's the elite Quds Force that trains Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis, Iraqi Shia militants, pro-Assad militias in Syria, and Shia fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Defeating the IRGC and its so-called “Axis of Resistance” wouldn't be possible in war or military engagement. But containment of their power is possible. 🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷

CNN: “CIA reportedly escalates covert war against drug cartels inside Mexico.” Reportedly? If I am still in grade school, I’d probably be, “Whoa?!?” The fact is, the CIA, DEA et al have been working with Mexico against narcos since the 1940s, and became intensive in the late 1960s to 1970s, driven by rising U.S. recreational drug use. Then came the rise of cartel boss Felix Gallardo in the 1980s, and should we discuss “indirect” relations with the formation of NAFTA in 1994? Meanwhile, I haven’t seen an involved pursuit of drug cartels in many years until Claudia Sheinbaum and Donald Trump came into power. 🇺🇸💉🇲🇽

Washington Post: “Many Americans think Trump assassination attempts were fake, survey finds.” Oh yeah? Because those who were kind of interviewed by The Post in the "survey" are those who'd say the botched slay tries were fake? Tell me about a hate-Trump doomsday howler who’d say otherwise? Anyhow, these are how surveys, polls, and studies are conducted these days, especially on the subject of politics or political partisanship, or on the subject of Donald Trump. 🤨😞🤨

Associated Press: “Rubio responds to China's threat to take Taiwan by force.” Intrigues, intrigues. But a media-fed rabble-rouse. They simply wouldn’t stop goading this drama! Just these facts: Taiwan’s giant Foxconn, the world's largest contract manufacturer of electronics, operates 12 factories across China, with the largest located in Shenzhen. Where does top microchip maker TSMC get its silicon? China, the world’s runaway top producer of the chemical element. Etc etcetera. Both are Chinese, and their topmost cultural priority: Business. Refer to Taiwan as an Asian Tiger stalwart in late-1990s, and China’s entry to the WTO in 2001. War, quarrels, and such are bad for business, trade, or economics. 🇹🇼🇺🇸🇨🇳

The Guardian: “Gunshots fired in Philippines senate in standoff with senator Ronald dela Rosa.” I didn’t read fatalities or injuries, besides from a heavily “memefied” Bato dela Rosa tripping on the stairs as he evaded arrest. So I hope the dude who helped oversee the former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs” peacefully submit to ICC justice. Lose the drama, please! 

       Meanwhile, let me say this. Although the International Criminal Court (ICC) came into force only in 2002, then President (or dictator) Ferdinand Marcos Sr. should’ve been tried in an international court as well, post-1986. Yet his widow Imelda was acquitted in New York court in 1990. The family’s 20-year piles of crimes were definitely not just those that the wife was accused of (racketeering, conspiracy, fraud). Of course, the Marcoses are Washington buddies, the Dutertes are not. And when we talk of drug wars and wars per se, is the ICC looking at each and everyone? Selective justice? ☮️🇵🇭☮️

I read several posts exalting NYC Mayor Mayor Zohran Mamdani as "the best politician in the world," following news that he has taken steps to reduce the city’s budget deficit, cutting it by $5 billion. Zohran has released a $124.7 billion Executive Budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027, but it is not yet final or fully applicable. It is a Proposal, he didn't "erase" the debt or deficit, as the FB memes trumpet.

      While the proposal represents a balanced plan that closes a previous $12 billion deficit (that he inherited from Eric Adams), it now heads to the City Council for review and final adoption. Not too fast. And even if the plan is approved, Mr Mamdani still faces a remaining $5.4 billion to $7.1 billion deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, with proposed cuts targeting agency efficiencies, health plan audits, and reduced rental assistance. 🏛🗽🏛

Variety: “Sydney Sweeney's 'Euphoria' role sparks backlash from actual OnlyFans models.” Come on! Because Sydney is “supposedly” on the Right side of the culture war? Meanwhile, I don’t watch “Euphoria” but I get it. Meanwhile, I watch “Margo's Got Money Troubles,” which also deals with OnlyFans gigs for women. I do have a few friends who “moonlights” there, too. I don’t judge them, so be it. This is not political. Just a legit job for many. As in a movie/TV series role isn’t supposed to consider whatever the actress/actor’s personal politics or their perceived Left/Right angst are. Let them do their job! 🤨😞🤨

LA Times: “Calif. mayor resigns after being charged with promoting propaganda for China.” Eileen Wang, the erstwhile mayor of Arcadia, "agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government.” Ms Wang was born in China. Her father was a physician for the University of Southern California, while her mother was an acupuncture doctor. Espionage between superpowers is a fact but that’d be a long discussion. Anyhow, what I question here is the timing of this news or case. Dubious. Why?

      President Trump starts his China visit today. Apparently this news would be on the table, last-minute shudder–as POTUS and Xi Jinping talk. Integral in their meeting is how to end the Iran crisis. The truth: Whatever Mr Trump does, this side of Washington has got to demonize it. Or the playbook has got to fail. Sad. 🇺🇸☮️🇨🇳

NEWS STUFF. Polymarket fuzz. Teen-age brawls. Oil fields and stuff. Impossible war. Trump and Europe. Mexico and cocaine trafficking.

Time: “Chuck Schumer Urges White House to Follow Senate in Prediction-Market Ban.” Clearly, Mr Schumer is referring to New York City-based Polymarket, the world's largest decentralized prediction market platform. “Prediction market platform” is the tuxedo-styled way of saying “casino” or sidestreet betting. The issue with politics is “insider trading.” But there’s more to this “prediction” wagering that makes President Trump’s foreign policy playbook a mere game-room fodder. Polymarket's founder and CEO is 27-year old Shayne Coplan, who is now worth over a billion$. 😏😒🤨

Yahoo: “Deputy and umpire arrested after brawl at youth baseball tournament.” Not being able to prevent the brawl means the game officials are remiss or incompetent. Fire them! Anyhow, the larger issue here is the growing, widespread violence among youths. Grade school or high school youngsters. Sure, we have those shenanigans in our time but then, the way society now looks at “violence” is blurred by “culture war” complexity. Example: I saw this video of girls in a wild, loud, and nasty brawl. Everybody’s clickin’ their iPhones, heckling and laughing. Comments include, “Oh yeah! Girlz can do it, too! Why not?!?” I digress. 😞🤨👎

Jalopnik: “Inside the quiet heists siphoning a billion dollars a year from Texas oil fields.” The U.S. is the world's top oil producer and second top importer (next to China). America buys petroleum (including crude oil, refined products, and biofuels) from 86 countries (not including Iran, even before this war). Take note as well that the U.S. has just resumed importing oil from Russia and, you know, the deal with Venezuelan oil. Anyhow, the U.S. is only the world’s 3rd largest oil exporter, behind Saudi Arabia and Russia. So much oil in America! Yet the spike in gasoline prices consistently shudders consumers each time a global drama happens. Think about that. ⛽️🗽⛽️

ABC: “Trump must choose between 'impossible' war or 'bad deal,' IRGC says.” The grim fact about Iran's IRGC? The end of this war doesn't mean this dreaded Shia army will also stop training or supporting terror groups. The horror of terrorism lurking in the shadows stays with us, unless significant issues are fixed while talking, not fighting. Hence, an agreement between Washington and Tehran at this point, could calm situations down, leading to more negotiations. My pragmatic, at the same time, hopeful take: The 9 countries that keep nuclear warheads will hold on to their weapons of mass destruction but global terrorism can be contained and totally eradicated. 🇺🇸💉🇲🇽

BBC: “Senior Republicans push back as Trump eyes bigger troop drawdown in Europe.” I support President Trump’s “plan” to cut the number of American troops in Germany (or Europe). I don’t care if these soldiers are reassigned in Asia (in Japan and South Korea mainly) or sent back home to help fortify the U.S. border. The D's move in Europe is directly linked to his disapproval of Washington's costly role in NATO. As long as NATO is active, there will be no peace in Eastern Europe. 🇺🇸☮️🇺🇳

LA Times: “Alleged top cocaine trafficker arrested in Calif., officials say.” Yesterday’s news, Reuters: “Mexico arrests top cartel leader wanted by U.S. with a $5 million bounty.” Effectively, President Claudia Sheinbaum and POTUS are on the same page in regards to the pursuit of drug cartels. I am all for this. As I reiterated, the record number (1+ million average) of undocumented border crossings from 2021 to 2024 are facilitated by drug cartels (for obvious reasons). I have no conditions, whatsoever, with drug traffickers. These hounds are also, mostly the human/sex traffickers and gunrunners or weapons smugglers. 🇺🇸💉🇲🇽

NEWS & STUFF. Correspondents dinner shooting. Jimmy K. Panama Canal and Strait of Hormuz. Etcetera.

Good Morning America: “How the Secret Service was able to stop the D.C. shooting suspect.” Grownup discussion of this issue matters–especially in these dark days of widespread hate. And how political/societal hate implodes and explodes in (usually) deadly violence. Yet what I read: The Correspondents Dinner was “scripted.” A ready hate-Trump yarn, in the absence of an insight. Idiotic. Anyhow,  what are mostly scripted? Regime change. Pre-planned by a host country’s opposition and/or military “reformists/rebels” and the sponsoring foreign (super)power. Think Manila 1986 and Caracas 2026. (Hey, let’s talk as adults.) ☮️🗽☮️

The Independent: “Melania urges ABC to 'take a stand' after Kimmel's 'widow' joke before shooting.” The First Lady has criticised down-low jester Jimmy over a joke in which he called her an "expectant widow" just days before a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Of course, this dude has said more crap that only drunken roadside imps yap about. Why would ABC allow this “late night TV hooligan” to stay on the mic? Because he brings in viewership$? 🤨😞🤨

Associated Press: “Panama Canal fees spike to $4 million as ships flee Hormuz chokehold.” Sure, there are alternative routes, and the winners are big business, as ever. Although Panama has full ownership and control of the Canal since 1999, operations of its key ports are under these giants: The Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, a BlackRock-led consortium, and Maersk. For U.S. interests, it helps that President José Raúl Mulino maintains a “a pragmatic, cooperative relationship” with the Trump administration. Jose is on the same page with Washington, in regards to Chinese influence and migration. 🇵🇦⛽️🇺🇸

NBC: “Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden share their opinion on America's future.” POTUSes. I didn’t read their “opinions,” but you know. Anyhow, stuff that Donald Trump is dealing with are basically handed to him by past presidents. The difference is, The D tries hard to fix them.

      These: Bill Clinton’s trade pact with China’s Jiang Zemin in 2000 ushered in China’s relentless trade expansionism. George W. Bush’s handling of the post-9/11 anti-terror program only heightened global terrorism rather than contained the scourge. Barack Obama’s management of the war in Afghanistan and upgrade of military aid to Israel perked up Washington’s military brinkmanship. And Joe Biden’s relative nonchalance in “letting in” a record number of undocumented migrants (1+ million average) crashed an already bankrupt fiscal management of immigration policies. 🏛🗽🏛

Reuters: “United CEO reportedly raises industry-reshaping deal with American Airlines to Trump.” And so on and so forth. Sans the Iran war, which Mr Trump tried to avoid, his POTUS playbook is meant as a reset. Cut costs, review of U.S. aid and NATO share, foreign policy premium on trade, immigration whip and crime pursuit. So shudder is an understatement. Of course, he expected the thumbs-down. You see, the universe has evolved, especially with the economic advent of China. Trump is set to shake the Dragon’s expansionism as he maintains America’s stature as global #1. But look at how Europe deteriorated, as Asia and the Middle East move ahead. 🏛🗽🏛

STUFF. Hungarian elections. Fentanyl and drug cartels. Political party cliches.

Associated Press: “Hungary's election jolts Trump world, raising new concerns about midterms.” What is so big a deal with JD Vance’s endorsement or Donald Trump's so-called alignment with the vanquished chief, Viktor Orban? I look beyond the U.S. Left/Right angst.

      Seriously, new leader Peter Magyar's party Tisza is not very different from Mr Orban's Fidesz. They were former partymates, in fact. Tisza or Mr Magyar is Center-Right, hardcore European populist, and heavily anti-migrant. Essentially a MAGA parallel. Although Orban isn't really old at 62, Hungarians want a younger Rightist leader. Magyar is 45.

      Meanwhile, Europe has been going Right-wing in recent years, due to social issues, not necessarily political. They are hobbling from a gasping economy (below 1 percent) since 2009, and reeling from the migrant crisis since 2016. Yet it seems cool to stereotype voters or the people based on academic boxes or the "convenience" of drawing whatever to the hate-Trump board. As though the U.S. really changed that much, regardless of Donald Trump. It’s all relatively good. But look at Europe. The global power pre-21st century has considerably been weakened by the EU leadership's ineptitude and whacked sense of priority. 🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺

CBS: “Fentanyl lab uncovered as U.S. pressures Mexico on cartels.” I am diggin’ how Claudia Sheinbaum and Donald Trump are working together versus drug cartels. Carry on! Meanwhile, take note of the record number (1 million+!) cartel-facilitated border crossings from 2021 to 2024, as Joe Biden erased the Merida Initiative and replaced it with his “holistic” Bicentennial Framework for Security etcetera. Laughable!

      Yet these on Trump II: <>Lowest number of migrant crossings since the 1970s! <>Mexico has transferred nearly 100 high-ranking cartel members to the United States across three major operations since February 2025. <>And of course, the erasure of drug kingpin El Mencho. 🇺🇸☮️🇲🇽

When the smart-ass blah on your face about Far Right stereotypes or Far Left cliches, it’s as though you are clueless as dumb. Politics varies depending on where we are. Cultural facts more than ideological alignments. “Right-wing” parties in Europe, for example, are called Sweden Democrats, Freedom Party of Austria, Alternative for Germany or AfD, VOX, Reform UK etcetera. Per academia, they are Conservative populists, yet if you dig in what they’re fighting for, you’d see parallels with other cultures that are also boxed as revolutionaries, liberals or progressives. 🏛🏛🏛

STUFF. Occupy Backtrack. Monsieur Macron Whines. Children in Protest Rallies.

Another new Left-wing thought that I don’t concur with: Occupy. The “no leaders, no followers” dissent was inspired by the Arab Spring, a wave of pro-democracy protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across the Middle East and North Africa, which started in 2010. “Occupy Wall Street” was then born in the summer of 2011, initiated by the Canadian anti-consumerist magazine Adbusters.

      Quickly, the “99 percent’s occupy” protest spread across the U.S. and globally. Yet the fact of the matter is: People cannot legally occupy any building they wish to, unless per owner’s permission. “Occupiers” in NYC were allowed to stay at the private Zuccotti Park by owner-controllers Brookfield Properties and Goldman Sachs. Of course, then Mayor Mike Bloomberg was cool. And since bathrooms weren’t easy to access and residents didn’t really support the protesters, the McDonald’s across the street opened, 24/7. Everybody can use the bathroom and wi-fi, regardless if they bought fries or not.

      By the time October cold set in, the “Occupy” was over. In Asheville (where I live), I suggested writing a grant proposal to legally “occupy” an empty building in the River District. (I’ve written grants in the past that were approved.) My idea simply bounced back at me. ☮️🗽☮️

Emmanuel Macron of France is leading an aggressive, "Europe-first" initiative to heavily regulate American Big Tech, citing risks to “child safety, digital sovereignty, and fair competition.” That’s not really the story. Monsieur Macron is responding to Mr Trump’s tariff threats, this time in relation to Big Tech products. So here are the industry facts: The world's largest Big Tech companies are dominated by U.S. giants: NVIDIA, Apple, Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, and Amazon. Add Meta/Facebook and Tesla in the group. 

       The EU is not a top tech consumer market. The Top 5: China, U.S., India, Japan, and South Korea. The top regional markets for digital growth: Asia-Pacific. For now, Europe is not a top market due to the obvious. A major reason: The economy hasn’t really improved in recent years. 

       Meanwhile, Big Tech is exploring other regions. This: Digital commerce in Latin America and Africa is expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2026, driven by rapid adoption of fintech and mobile platforms. Brussels may have to sit down and regroup per negotiating chips with POTUS.

ALL  the economy-related noise about the EU (mostly from France’s Emmanuel Macron) and Canada versus America under Donald Trump. Yaddayaddayadda. The fact of the matter is: Brussels and Mark Carney are having a hard time (trade) negotiating with a hardball that is Mr Trump. Yet the truth has always been the truth for years: <>The United States is the European Union's top total trading partner; over €1 trillion in bilateral trade volume. <>The United States remains Canada's top trading partner, with trade in goods and services exceeding C$3.6 billion per day. Also, more than 60 percent of Canada’s oil goes to the U.S. and 35 percent of all foreign-owned lands in America are by Canadians. 💸🏢💸

AMERICAN children. Spike in depression and performance in basics (reading and math). Official reasoning or expert excuse: Covid is to blame for the young’s mental crisis. I don’t think so. The pandemic contributed but not in a major way. Children are confused, lost and/or made to get angry as well because their moms and dads are angry per politics. It's not even a protest move or political thought that unites a community. It is a very partisan stand that widens the divide in the community. 

       Yet they enjoin children to go out and "fight" this adult world reality. Already 2 died because of noncompliance to no-brainer law enforcement/civilian interaction. ICE is doing its mandate to avert a real immigration crisis. If bad things in a rally happen, tear gas and worse, blame the government? Or get their kids arrested? Sadly, they see all these as heroism? 

       I was an activist and journalist in dictatorship years (20 years), real harsh times (not imagined), when my kids were little. Never did I bring my “baggage” home. I didn’t even discuss politics with my siblings, who are apolitical conservatives. They knew I was Left-wing but all they said was “Be safe.” But my kids didn’t know. But they are not dumb. They evolved and figured things out themselves. We guide children to a clearer path based on universal good; rather than “lead” them to a (political) path that we adults have decided on. Children need to find out truths/facts per their own experience in life. ☮️🗽☮️

[Photos: Protean.]

MORE Epstein Stuff.

Associated Press: “Top lawyer for Goldman Sachs to resign after emails show Epstein ties.” For all his evil, Jeffrey Epstein was (obviously) a genius in social networking, in person or with equally creative associates under his leadership. Probably he was more slick and suave than those that drug cartels approach to "wash" money for them. So how many unsuspecting, clueless, or gullible individuals fell into his sweet trap? Or those who knew him as “this guy” and not “that guy,” uh huh? I bet you only know (for real) a fraction of your Facebook “friends.” I don’t. 

       I am not saying that many actually, willingly availed of his sinister “services.” But how many more will the 3.5 million pages of E docs snag until we get to the Big Bosses of Human Trafficking? 

       Attorney General Pam Bondi was ushered into a grossly thankless (sic!) spot, indeed. She was made to respond to a crime mystery that is 17 years old (from the 2008 Epstein arrest). All through four U.S. Presidents (2 sat for 2 terms). A pile of 3.5 pages of documents glaring at her like a cat’s blank stare. Docs that already spewed names of VIPs or rich and powerful as "alleged" crime clients? 

       What do we expect her to say that'd satisfy the loud gallery of political bloodhounds? Do we expect her to stay cool, composed, with a Colgate smile? Her spot was worse than testifying as prosecution witness vs 5 Mafia godfathers and 5 drug cartel padrons. And Ms Bondi is not even an official witness, jury member, or a crime victim. ⚖️😒⚖️

MORE STUFF. Minnesota. ICE. And an icy winter.

Responses to my Facebook post/s.

<>“Should police be allowed to shoot you solely because you have a gun? Especially if it’s holstered and you are making no attempt to grab it.” 

No one is "allowed" to shoot me, or anyone, because I (or they) have a gun, ah. Are you simplifying the horror of the particular incident? As though ICE are like mass shooters or terrorists who mow down people or plant bombs in public buildings, as their “SOP.” Holstered or not, it is SOP to law enforcement, given THE Moment, to approach you and question you, and yes, show the damn permits but toss the gun where they can see it. Isn’t that common sense police/civilian procedure? Again, holstered or not, “gun carry” or none, I won’t bring my gun to the area where shit could happen. Done?

<>“Would you not intervene if you saw a big man push a woman hard to the ground?” 

In public or in a private house/building. Per U.S. laws, I’d think first per U.S. experience. To answer you, yes I did, when I was new–in New York City. Two examples: I pushed a man in a Greyhound/Port Authority melee when I saw him grab a woman by her neck and push him to the wall. (Note: I am small, 5’3” and the guy was maybe 6’1”) And in Los Angeles, while outside a Costco, I saw a man (turned out to be the BF) slapped his tiny GF in the parking lot. I intervened and ended up wrestling with the dude (again taller and heavier than me, but I was trained in some Bruce Lee Martial Arts, so!) Cops arrived. In the NYC incident, both me and the big dude simply said sorry. But in the second LA thing, I was handcuffed because I threw the first punch after the guy cussed at me (the witness was his GF). I had to pay the guy, anyhow. You get my drift?

       So you ask me a question that isn’t even parallel with “ICE agents and man with gun in a heated protest action site.” Which also brings me to, the mass shootings after-the-fact: Where are the cops? Why didn’t cops question a man with a gun? Second Amendment? Why weren't cops visible in a public place in a “gun carry” and 120.5 per 100 society? Second Amendment? 

       Anyhow, in my country, a man can’t even yell “Bitch!” (or puta!) to any woman. If the crowd hears you, you are mauled by the mob, no questions asked. Worse, if you lay a hand on a woman. I have 4 sisters, yet I digress on that subject. LOL! Hint: Reason why I don’t own a gun. 

<>“Would you not try to protect your face out of instinct if 4 men were on top of you, one of them smashing your face with a gas can?”

Again, common sense. Four “police-burly” personages on top of me? Even without guns, man. LOL! So the “smashing of a gas can” may not even happen. Because I already complied, even if they pin me to the ground with their heavy combat boots. Oblige. I ain’t gonna fight 4 trained dudes (men or women) to damn beat me up. I’d rather sue them later and if I win as a settlement? Enroll in a taekwondo class. Or send the money to my grandkids. 

<>“Beyond ICE, have you ever seen real? Police going after actual bad guys like this? Because I’ve never!?!”

You are a journalist and you haven’t seen “police going after actual bad guys” or “bad guys after police” or “bad guys and good guys in a shootout,” really? I was a police beat reporter in Manila and the U.S., mostly narcos-related and ICE stake-outs. 

<>“Have you watched the video from all angles?”

I saw the videos. And I am not stupid or dumb or clueless. Must I expound on this subject: Videos in 21st century cellphone cam era? I leave that to the court of law. Lawyers and stuff.

<>“Are you comfortable with the idea that we live in a society where you must show your papers, no questions asked, and any form of resistance can be met with deadly force?” 

First, you are asking a foreigner who isn’t black or white. And I do look Asian (or tribal/Nation American). But I am Asian. Yes, I am fine with showing them my papers or passport or whatever. Actually, it happened so many times, I lost count. That’s also what my (immigration) lawyers told me. And as a paralegal in New York City in the past, that’s what I told our clients (immigrants) as SOP.    

     Meanwhile, cops ask citizens for an ID or driver’s license. SOP. I don’t see anything wrong with that, if one isn’t hiding anything, especially. In your case, do you tell the cops, “No, you ain’t gonna see my driver’s license!” So that’d be an invite for them to insist. Man, isn’t this elementary/grade school stuff, in any part of the universe? Yes, I questioned a cop once why he was asking for my ID blah-blah. “I have a right to refuse, Mr Officer!” Yet the thing was, shit was going on in South LA that time and I do look like a cartel footman. So I obliged. Yet I know my rights. 

<> “Tackle you, and then shoot you if you don’t comply?” 

Again, the max situation will not go there, if I already complied. But that doesn’t mean my activism or however I view ICE or law enforcement or how I view POTUS matters. Just common sense. I ain’t the dude who wants to be on viral video. Maybe as a rock star (which I am not) but not someone who got pinned to the ground by 4 ICEmen or cops because I didn’t comply. Death is the max outcome of that lapse (life or death) in judgment. All the rest is social media over-drama and political caterwaul, without undermining the gravity of the current deaths. (Families of the “perps” are also victims here, BTW.) 

      Still, I am more interested in how Washington pressures Iran to prosecute and punish those responsible in the carnage last week. (Okay, gotta go back to cleaning my room and watch the NBA game or college ball. Thanks for the chat.) 🗽🏃‍♀️🏃

World War Paranoia. Nobel Talk. And Stuff.

Response to a Friend’s Facebook page/post. 

I DON’T see hints of a world war. Such as those events that blew up into WW1 and WW2. What I see is Donald Trump shaking hands with heads of state and a dictator is taken out and he isn't cool with NATO (he cut U.S. share from 22 percent to 16 percent in 2019). War in Ukraine or unrest in the Middle East were/are brought by a number of factors. It'd be sheer cluelessness to pin those on Trump or any POTUS, for that matter. Geopolitical shudder isn't that linear. 

       This divide in U.S. society was actually predicted by (revered historian) Howard Zinn before he died in 2010. Repeat: 2010 or before Mr Trump was even considered in GOP’s shortlist for a presidential candidacy. I am not American-born. I survived a 20-year dictatorship (real hardships). Yet I am baffled why Americans are this divided. Probably we don't worry as much about food on the table as others, so we have a lot of time to fight and talk about all-Trump. Meanwhile, he is compared with Adolf Hitler, as though the world doesn't know who Hitler was. Such a weird comparison. 

       I don't really pay attention to Nobel. I bet Bob Dylan would have tossed his in the dumpster. He didn't even want to accept it. All this Trump/Machado Nobel crap is media rabblerouse. And Trump seems like riding along with the insults. Such nonsense is bloated like a major American event! As though other heads of state were never recipients of "unexpected" gifts in the past. 

       The truths that are happening? As America wrestles with its own shadow, continually widening cracks between them, China surges on. China doesn't ambition to take over the world. But economic-wise, China and BRICS have been wobbling G7's geopolitical clout. America, it seems, is more concerned with internal fighting and demonization of Donald Trump. By the time we wake up and he is gone, the fissures are already so wide and bloodied that healing would take generations. 

       But no civil war. But, I fear hate in the streets. Mental crisis that implodes and explodes out there. Yet still, we will blame Left or Right for those horror. Or blame Trump. ☮️☮️☮️

Pragmatic take. Regime Change: Philippines 1986. Venezuela 2026.

Chat with a Friend on Facebook.

<>There was a “People Power” (sort of revolt) in the Philippines in 1986 but the end of the 20-year dictatorship was sealed when RAM (Reform the Armed Forces Movement) launched the coup. Since strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr was a Washington faithful, the family was rescued to safety in Hawaii. Per Constitution, veep Salvador Laurel took over and then an election installed Corazon Aquino as President, which was a no-brainer. Cory, widow of slain top oppositionist Benigno Aquino, was the obvious people’s choice. 

       Next: Attempts to recover the Marcoses and cronies’ ill-gotten wealth. But then Imelda Marcos won her racketeering etcetera court date in New York trial. The family's stash was secured. Offshore holdings and all that “wash.” Yet more than three decades hence, the Marcos family is back in power. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the President. 🇵🇭🇺🇸🇻🇪

<>Venezuela is a lot more complicated. Their People Power happened in 2019 but the dictatorship wasn't regime changed after Nicolas Maduro agreed per Donald Trump pressure that Chevron returns to Caracas. Chavez/Maduro kicked all U.S. companies out in 2007. The economy, regardless of largest oil deposits, crashed in 2014; oil was selling at $100/barrel--as crime rates catapulted Venezuela in the top 5 of most dangerous countries. In other words, oil was grossly mismanaged. Yet although technically Venezuela was still under sanction, Chevron was in and figured in state-owned PDVA management. 

       The economy improved a bit (to -1 percent growth) from 2019 to 2025, as China purchased the majority of oil exports (80+ percent). But inflation stayed super high at 270 percent into 2025. And this: The Cartel de los Soles was also somehow exerting power within PDVSA, with Colombia's Clan del Golfo. Venezuela is a drug contraband transit country. Mr Trump has somehow "checked" the Mexico cartels (or stopped) from facilitating border crossings. President Claudia Sheinbaum is on the same page. (Border crossings were record highs in Joe Biden time.) 

       President Trump pressured Mr Maduro to lose cartel influence in his government or PDVSA. Or don't meddle as The D takes out cartel boats. (Venezuela still owes huge amounts of money to American (oil) companies that the dictatorship sent away years ago.) But Nic didn't listen this time. He was unperturbed, obviously pumped up by the anti-Trump or wide-divide in the U.S. Maduro blunder.  

       Yet days before the “grab,” China and Russia mediated: Lose Cartel de los Soles and Tren de Aragua. Nic wasn’t listening. I mean, this truth: "Losing" the cartels or narcopolitics is like suicide. Lose them or the U.S. takes you out. No better choice. 

       <>Difference with the Philippines? Oil. My home country didn’t have that gargantuan reserve of oil. But contrary to a lot of clueless memes, the U.S. did not invade Venezuela. It was a regime change. But U.S. companies are back in. <>Must I type up the same Washington playbooks elsewhere in history? Or the Middle East from the 1920s discovery of oil? <>America (now with China) rules the roost. It's up to the leadership of countries how to work around that global fact. Example: Now prosperous Vietnam is now coming from the ruins of war. Or in a larger context, Japan after WW2. Etc etcetera. 🇵🇭🇺🇸🇻🇪