THOUGHTS About The News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

PONDER. Especially in the U.S. or in richer economies, one day of war or one day of disagreement in a global political table means (non)buying/selling of stocks. Then Wall Street waits and chills. Progress in talks means millions$ and billions$ in one day! Meanwhile, bored peeps "bet" online. Wager on "to be or not to be." Venezuela, Cuba, Greenland, Taiwan (per China), Lebanon (per Israel). Would Volo Zelensky launch a new drone, per post-G7 summit? Etc etcetera. Like this is the World Cup or NBA Finals.

      Many of my brilliant Left-wing friends don't see that, actually. They just want to tell you they are smarter than most. Well, a much younger Shayne Coplan is smarter than them or us, grizzled analysts of geopolitics, LOL! Prediction market, right? 😏😒🤨

Good Morning America: “Moscow hit by largest Ukrainian attack since the start of the war.” Whoa! Right after the EU tried to work things out at G7 in France, with President Trump on centerstage? Wow! Of course, Russia will retaliate. BRICS buddy China can probably persuade Vladimir Putin to stand down a bit, or Mr Trump can also cool down the Kremlin? But then, Russia is not "mellow touch." This Ukraine move easily derails what current peace negotiations are being worked out, this time Europe in it. 

       Volodymyr Zelensky is a complete magnificent idiot. Since the Iran crisis seems to be subsiding, now it's time to regain the limelight again? More military aid coming to Kyiv, and onto Volo’s offshore accounts? 🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦

CBS: “Trump promised a tougher Iran deal. How it compares with Obama's.” How do we compare, really? You see, when Barack Obama sat in 2009, China/Russia’s BRICS was also born. But it took a few years before the trade bloc gained, globally, and exerted influence, mainly on the trade territory. Then there was the Arab Spring in 2011, the impact of which Mr Obama largely ignored. Recheck how we handled Afghanistan and his upgrade of U.S. military aid to Israel before he left White House in 2016.

      Fact of human existence: Geopolitics evolves and alters the grid. Superpower leaders and their so-called allies need to adapt.

      I reiterate this as I did before the advent of Donald Trump in Washington. Barack Obama is a traditional hawk, not the coolest dove that his doowops on Social Media chant, just because he said the nicest words.

      Mr Trump and Iran: He “relaxed” the nukes/WMD talk and zoomed in on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reassures the Arab League that their economic agenda carries on, and deals with the Iranian people’s recovery from the gargantuan pain by releasing their $24 billion frozen money (+ Gulf states' pledge of $300 billion investment fund). These are also in consonance with China’s MENA trade stakes. All of these will hopefully be finalized in Switzerland tomorrow.

      Tell me, Donald Trump’s playbook isn’t good because it isn’t “tough” enough? What is tough? Pulverize Iran to bloody smithereens? 🏛🗽🏛

Time: “Trump Says Netanyahu Has to Be 'More Responsible With Respect to Lebanon'.” The President adds: “I'm not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah," amid concerns the parallel conflict could derail the U.S.-Iran peace deal.

       I am kind of baffled that many seem shocked or infuriated by President Trump’s Iran moves. I am thumbs-up, from Day 1. These: <>Long talks to avoid a U.S. military operation after the IRGC massacred thousands of protesters. <>Decision to hit after the negotiation failed. <>The erasure of the Supreme Leader. <>Meeting with China (Iran's top oil client and BRICS boss); right after, Vladimir Putin conferred with the CCP. <>The day before the deal was announced, the UAE (another BRICS member) pledged a $15 billion aid to Iran. <>Per the paperwork, I concur with the release of the frozen $24 billion Iranian assets and Gulf nations’ proposed $300 billion (whoa!) for Iran's reconstruction, provided Tehran meets the U.S. requirements. And more.

       I mean, wow! These happen when the world's superpowers (starting with America and China) decide to fix stuff rather than use a crisis as a tool for a power play contest. ☮️☮️☮️

The Guardian: “Stephen Colbert used unauthorized 'Peanuts' music on 'Late Show.' CBS is paying up.” The lowdown: CBS reached a licensing agreement with Lee Mendelson Film Productions to pay an undisclosed fee for the unauthorized use of the Peanuts track "Linus and Lucy" during the May 21 finale of The Late Show. The copyright owners, who have been actively enforcing their rights, agreed to donate all proceeds to World Central Kitchen.

      Left-wingers and their hallelujah peeps on Social Media now trumpet that Mr Colbert himself has donated the moolah to charity. I am not saying he doesn't give to the poor, he does as do other known people. In fact, cartel bosses and Mafia dons, powerful politicians and dubious corporate gods, also heavily donate to charity. You dig?

      Of course, this comedy/drama emanates from President Trump’s lawsuit vs CBS, regarding the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris. Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, agreed to a $16 million settlement with Mr Trump. Mr Colbert blames The D for his termination; CBS counters his show ain’t earning. (Note: “Late Show” viewership average is only half of the numbers that Fox’s Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld individually generate.)

      My issue? I don’t dig Stephen Colbert’s cheap trick as he goes out of CBS, in cahoots with his TV crew. Juvenile mischief. The shrewd “sabotage” could even be planned out with Lee Mendelson FP, who knows? A probe is necessary. But still, the tactic is what I call “unprofessionally immature” (sic). Oh well. Overall, I see all these as grandiose frivolity while the world hurts from gut-level imperatives. 🤨😞🤨

My pleasure from various forms of entertainment, such as music, movies, sports, literature–are not affected by my political bent or ideological beliefs, or even my cultural/religious background. Sure, I get pissed by Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young’s bloated (overkill?) partisanship angst these days, but I still listen to their old songs. I am a fan of their art/music. Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Meryl Streep, and those other mouthy Hollywood liberals? Give me a good movie or TV series, I’ll go watch. 

      Conservatives or Right-wingers? Before I gave up my virulent Left-wing girth (in the mid-1990s) I was high on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s southern blues-rock (still is), and of course, I remain as a Clint Eastwood diehard, from his spaghetti western days to directorial craft. I do revisit the classics by John Wayne and Charlton Heston. Etc etcetera.

      In all, I never was interested in “The Apprentice” or listened to Donald Trump talk about himself on TV or elsewhere, but I essentially thumb-up his political playbook or POTUS policies. Need I say more? 🎼😎🎥

Associated Press: “Federal government seeks to halt 1st U.S. reparations program for Black people.” I am not against redemption per se or correcting the evils that humanity committed in the past. But I’d prefer a more realistic, doable system on how to implement the “paying up” process. Not ideological overreach, that the “new” Left is hot and high with. Anyhow, imagine the budget to “fact-check” lineage or direct links to slavery in the U.S. that lasted for 246 years? From Jamestown 1619 to 1865’s 13th Amendment. 

       There’ll be whole lotta court hearings and piles of paperwork, massive research. Note that there are approximately 49.2 million Black Americans living in the United States, and we are not counting the biracial population. Meanwhile, what about the people who were colonized by powerful countries in history? Do we have “reparations programs” for them, too? 🏛🗽🏛

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! ⚾️🏈🏀