Category Blogger C0nservative Tree House

Mar 28 2025

Ontario Premier Doug Ford Vows to “inflict as much pain as possible on the American people”


Posted originally on CTH on March 27, 2025 | Sundance

President Donald Trump talks about placing tariffs on Canadian goods.  Ontario Premier Doug Ford talks about “inflicting as much pain as possible on the American people.”  See the difference?   Tell me again how the term “snowmexicans” is insulting.  I digress.

A few thoughts.  First, apparently Doug Ford doesn’t quite understand that tariffs on steel, aluminum and auto imports are not part of the “reciprocity” tariff regime.  They are an entirely different category classified under national security directives to ensure American industrial capacity.

Second, as Canada moves into the “freedom fries” phase, voices like Doug Ford might want to consider the end of this continuum that finds the word “embargo” in the lingo. Perhaps President Trump would consider elevating the conversation to “reciprocity” in the banking sector.  Again, I digress.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announces the Canadian government intention to “inflict as much pain as possible against the American people.”  WATCH:

Canadians just don’t get it.  Meanwhile, as it was within most of the originating negotiations of the USMCA, Mexico smartly stays quiet as stompy feet Canada draws the attention from President Donald Trump.

Canadians want to “inflict as much pain as possible” upon Americans.

♦ Revoke their free Visa access.

♦ Close the border.

♦ Embargo all goods.

♦ Restrict financial services.

♦ Turn off Swift access in Canada.

Let’s see how an independent Canada can function and “inflict pain.”

Mar 28 2025

AG Pam Bondi Announces Senior Leader of MS-13 Arrested in Virginia


Posted originally on CTH on March 27, 2025 | Sundance

MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — The alleged leader of the violent MS-13 street gang on the East Coast has been arrested in Virginia, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday.

Bondi lauded the the early morning arrest of the 24-year-old man from El Salvador, who was described as one of MS-13’s top three leaders in the United States, as a major victory in the Trump administration’s effort to crack down on a gang known for brutal violence and extortion.

[…] “We want to make our streets safer,” Bondi told reporters. “We want to make our schools safer. We want to make your neighborhoods safer. This guy was living in a neighborhood right around you, no longer.”

At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, citing the arrest, called it “a good day for our country.” (link)

Mar 28 2025

Auto Tariffs: German Carmakers Face Billions in Losses – German Auto Suppliers Have 330 Locations in Mexico


Posted originally on CTH on March 27, 2025 | Sundance

The atomic sledgehammer that President Trump just delivered to the German auto industry simply cannot be overemphasized.  A 25% tariff on imported cars and car parts completely negates hundreds of billions in pre-positioned investment dollars by German auto companies in Mexico.  [Executive Order Here]

[Cliff Notes Here]

To give scale to the impact on Germany, consider that German automakers currently have 330 automotive suppliers in Mexico according to information from VDA.  Audi (a subsidiary of Volkswagen) has no U.S. production sites; every Audi sold in America will be subject to a 25% tariff. The Audi brand access to the U.S. market was/is 100% dependent on Mexico, including for manufacturing the Q5 SUV, its top-selling U.S. model.

According to prior reporting from Politico, “Volkswagen’s most popular model for American consumers is the Tiguan, an SUV that is entirely manufactured in Mexico. The German automaker sold over 30,000 of the vehicles in the final quarter of last year, a nearly 50 percent year-over-year increase.”  But wait, it gets worse….

French-Italian-American automaker Stellantis is the most exposed of Europe’s automakers as it makes Jeep and RAM models in Mexico.

The tariffs will make European automakers’ Mexican factories completely redundant. They could make them in Germany for the same tariff impact. Making them in Mexico is now useless.  They were only being made/assembled in Mexico to gain access to the U.S. market without tariffs.

This reality will push all EU automakers to shift production to the U.S. There could also be an explosion in UAW membership depending on where in the USA the EU car companies end up manufacturing.

The auto industry is only one industry, but it is a huge economic driver for multiple countries, especially those countries who depend on access to the U.S. market in order to sell their cars and trucks.

German automakers will need three things, quickly: (1) Subsidies from German govt to help offset the impact of tariffs [Short term 2-5 years]. (2) Shift production of autos for U.S market into USA [Make in USA].  (3) Interim access to new markets to help offset the anticipated drop in demand [think Russia without sanctions].  Each of these facets plays into current geopolitics.

That’s mainly just the German impact.  Then overlay Canada and Mexico (big impact), along with South Korea and Japan (lesser impact due to pre-positioned manufacturing/assembly in the USA).  The auto-tariffs carry a huge economic outcome around the globe.

[Source]

Europe – “European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded quickly to a decision by United States President Donald Trump to slap a 25 percent tariff on auto imports.

The tariffs, which Trump said will take effect April 3, are a heavy blow for the European car industry and represent the largest escalation yet in Trump’s multi-fronted trade war, which is expected to have severe global economic consequences.

“I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European automotive exports,” von der Leyen said in a statement released late Wednesday evening. “Tariffs are taxes — bad for businesses [and] worse for consumers equally in the US and the European Union.”

She said Europe would assess the tariffs, and anticipated that further measures would arrive from the White House in the coming days. Trump has stepped back from implementing tariffs on America’s allies and adversaries several times since his Jan. 20 inauguration.

“We’re signing today,” Trump said of the protectionist tariffs. “It goes into effect April 2. We start collecting on April 3.”

While von der Leyen’s language was guarded, she left little doubt that the EU is prepared to retaliate.

“The EU will continue to seek negotiated solutions, while safeguarding its economic interests,” she said. “As a major trading power and a strong community of 27 Member States, we will jointly protect our workers, businesses and consumers across our European Union.” (More)

Mar 27 2025

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Visits El Salvador Prison Housing Deported Criminal Alien Detainees


Posted originally on CTH on March 27, 2025 | Sundance

Dept of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem goes straight into the heart of the operation where deported criminal gang members are being housed by an agreement with the government of El Salvador.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sends a chilling warning to illegal criminal immigrants entering the United States. On Wednesday, Noem visited the high-security prison in El Salvador that recently received hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members.

Noem was given a tour of the prison by Salvadoran Minister of Justice Héctor Gustavo Villatoro during her visit. The Homeland Security Secretary then met with El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele and is expected to visit Colombia and Mexico next.

“First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed, and you will be prosecuted. But know that this facility is one of the tools in our toolkit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people,” she said.

Mar 27 2025

Vietnam Proactively Responds to April 2nd “Independence Day” Tariffs, by Lowering Import Tariff Regime


Posted originally on CTH on March 27, 2025 | Sundance

Wealthy nations will attempt to maintain exports against President Trump tariffs by subsidizing their industries. Corporations have deeper pockets, and the politicians are used to the bribes, we call it “lobbying.” Therefore, the government responds by subsidizing the corporations [ie. the WEF business model].

Canada will subsidize their export industries, Germany will subsidize their auto industry, the EU will provide subsidies to their manufacturing powerhouses, and China will once again start subsidizing their manufacturing industry. Each of these nations will in turn devalue their currency.

However, poorer nations will be faster to lower import tariffs on USA goods because they have lower lobbying (bribe) income from corporations to govt. That’s what we should expect to see.

VIETNAM – Vietnam said it plans to cut import duties on a range of goods including cars, liquified natural gas and agricultural products.

[…] The announcement on the finance ministry’s website late Tuesday came less than two weeks after Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the country was reviewing duties in order to encourage increased imports from the United States.

Vietnam represents the United States’s third-highest trade deficit, behind China and Mexico.

According to the finance ministry statement, import duties on some cars will be cut by half and the tax rate for liquified natural gas will drop from five percent to just two percent. Duties will also be cut for a number of other products including frozen chicken thighs, almonds, sweet cherries, raisins and wood. (more)

During President Trump’s first term, many companies proactively moved manufacturing operations from China to other nations in Southeast Asia.  Vietnam was a big benefactor of the manufacturing shift.  It is smart for them to respond to the reciprocal tariffs coming April 2nd by lowering their tariff rate.

President Trump has instructed the Commerce Department and U.S. Trade Representative to calculate both the tariffs and the non-tariff trade barriers as part of the reciprocity equation.  The non-tariff barrier calculation is the factor many foreign governments are anticipating with great interest.

This overall dynamic is a major reset in global trade as the U.S. market is the crown jewel for entry.  We are the customers that everyone wants access to.  President Trump is leveraging that access to trigger internal GDP growth.

Remember, even the GDP calculation is a factor of the value of products we generate, minus the value of the products we import.  If we lower the import side of the equation and simultaneously increase domestic production, the GDP expands significantly more than just increasing production.

Mar 27 2025

President Trump Announces 25 Percent Tariff on Import Cars and Import Car Parts, Effective April 3rd and May 3rd Respectively


Posted originally on CTH on March 27, 2025 | Sundance

During an executive order signing session in the White House today, President Trump announced a major change in tariffs on the auto industry.  [Full Executive Order Here]

The 25% import duty applies on top of any preexisting tariff for cars and light trucks.  The 25% tariff also applies to imported car parts.  The USMCA trade agreement between the U.S. Canada and Mexico still applies.

If the content of a car assembled in Mexico/Canada contains 50 percent component parts from the USA, the 25% tariff only applies to the final value of the imported components. In this example the tariff rate would be 12.5% of the total value.

The tariff applies to all imported cars and light trucks.  Approximately half of all cars sold in the USA are currently American made, the other half are import vehicles from mainly Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany.

This is a very big kick in the teeth to Germany.  Previously in a long-term strategy to avoid U.S. tariffs, German automakers invested billions in auto assembly plants in Mexico.  Ex. the BMW parts were shipped from Germany and the cars assembled in Mexico.  Now that investment is worthless as the vehicle will be taxed at a rate of 25% regardless of whether it is assembled in Germany or Mexico.

Ex.2 High end auto Mercedes currently builds SUVs in the USA in order to avoid the previous 25% tariff; however, they still build cars outside the USA and export them into the USA market.  This will likely change quickly, and Mercedes will begin building all cars and SUVs in the USA.

From the Executive Order:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of articles specified in Annex I to this proclamation or in any subsequent annex to this proclamation, as set out in a subsequent notice in the Federal Register, shall be subject to a 25 percent tariff with respect to goods entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 3, 2025, for automobiles, and on the date specified in the Federal Register for automobile parts, but no later than May 3, 2025, and shall continue in effect, unless such actions are expressly reduced, modified, or terminated. The above ad valorem tariff is in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported automobiles and certain automobile parts articles.

(2) For automobiles that qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the USMCA, importers of such automobiles may submit documentation to the Secretary identifying the amount of U.S. content in each model imported into the United States. “U.S. content” refers to the value of the automobile attributable to parts wholly obtained, produced entirely, or substantially transformed in the United States. Thereafter, the Secretary may approve imports of such automobiles to be eligible to apply the ad valorem tariff of 25 percent in clause (1) of this proclamation exclusively to the value of the non-U.S. content of the automobile. The non-U.S. content of the automobile shall be calculated by subtracting the value of the U.S. content in an automobile from the total value of the automobile.

(3) If U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) determines that the declared value of non-U.S. content of an automobile, as described in clause (2) of this proclamation, is inaccurate due to an overstatement of U.S. content, the 25 percent tariff shall apply to the full value of the automobile, regardless of the actual U.S. content of the automobile. In addition, the 25 percent tariff shall be applied retroactively (from April 3, 2025, to the date of the inaccurate overstatement) and prospectively (from the date of the inaccurate overstatement to the date the importer corrects the overstatement, as verified by CBP) to the full value of all automobiles of the same model imported by the same importer. This clause does not apply to or otherwise affect any other applicable fees or penalties. [SOURCE]

It cannot be overstated how big a hit this will be to the German economy specifically.  That’s why EU President Ursula von der Leyen is couching her words very carefully.

Germany drives the economic engine of the EU, and the Germans care about their money far more than they care about the security of Ukraine.

“As I have said before, tariffs are taxes – bad for businesses, worse for consumers equally in the US and the European Union,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “We will now assess this announcement, together with other measures the US is envisaging in the next days.”

The next biggest impact will come to Canada.  The auto-sector in Canada only exists to send cars and trucks into the U.S. market.  That’s the entire purpose and business model behind the Canadian auto industry.  Every component part of a Canadian car that does not originate from USA will now be subject to a 25% tariff.

[Executive Order Here]

Mar 27 2025

Team USA and Team Russia Release Statements Following Technical “Ceasefire” Team Meetings


Posted originally on CTH on March 26, 2025 | Sundance

As the negotiations for a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire agreement are being worked out, here are the statements from each of the participants in the technical team discussion following their meeting in Saudi Arabia.

RUSSIA STATEMENT (SOURCE):1. “In line with the agreement reached by the presidents of Russia and the United States, the Russian and American sides agreed to provide for the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, which includes ensuring safe navigation, eliminating the use of force, and preventing the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, while adopting appropriate control measures by inspecting such vessels.

2. The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

Note:

Clauses 1 & 2 will come into force following:

the removal of sanctions imposed on Rosselkhozbank (Russian Agricultural Bank) and other financial institutions involved in ensuring international food trade (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers, their reconnection to SWIFT, and opening of relevant correspondent accounts;

the removal of restrictions imposed on trade finance operations;

the removal of sanctions imposed on companies producing and exporting food (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers, as well as restrictions banning insurance companies from working with food cargoes (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers;

the removal of restrictions on servicing ships in ports and sanctions against ships flying the flag of Russia, if they are involved in food trade (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers;

the removal of restrictions on supplies to the Russian Federation of agricultural machinery and other goods used in the production of food (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers.

3. Russia and the United States agreed to develop measures for implementing the agreement between the two countries’ presidents to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine for 30 days starting on March 18, 2025, with an option to extend the agreement or to withdraw from it in the event of non-compliance by either party.

4. Russia and the United States welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.

5. Russia and the United States will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.”

USA Statement / RUSSIA (SOURCE): “In line with presidential-level discussions between President Donald J. Trump and President Vladimir Putin, the United States facilitated bilateral technical-level talks with the Russian delegation March 23-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following those discussions:

The United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

The United States and Russia agreed to develop measures for implementing President Trump’s and President Putin’s agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.

The United States and Russia welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.

The United States and Russia will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.

The United States reiterated President Donald J. Trump’s imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh.

The United States expresses gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his leadership and hospitality in once again facilitating these important discussions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” (source)

U.S Statement / UKRAINE (Source): “In line with presidential-level discussions between President Donald J. Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the United States facilitated bilateral technical-level talks with the Ukrainian delegation March 23-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following those discussions:

The United States and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

The United States and Ukraine agreed that the United States remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

The United States and Ukraine agreed to develop measures for implementing President Trump’s and President Zelenskyy’s agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.

The United States and Ukraine welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.

The United States and Ukraine will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.

The United States reiterated to both sides President Donald J. Trump’s imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh.

The United States expresses gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his leadership and hospitality in once again facilitating these important discussions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Mar 27 2025

Guess Which DC Judge Was Just Assigned to SignalGate LawsuitSwatted, Ant-DOGE, Anti-Trump, Anti American, George Soros,, Alex Soros, FRI J6 scam, Deep State, CIA, WEF, Hilary, Christopher Steele, Forever War, NEOCON. James Comey , Assassin’s, Anti-MAGA, Boasberg, Tim Walz the loser, lefties acting up, Anti Musk, Susan Crawfird, Obama, Goldberg, SignalGate,


Posted originally on CTH on March 26, 2025 | Sundance

I doubt anyone in their correct and intellectually honest mind would believe this DC drawing assigning Judge James Boasberg to the recently filed lawsuit against the Trump national security cabinet members on the signal chat, was random.

There are 20 judges in the DC pool eligible to hear the case [CASE DETAILS HERE] and with a 1:20 chance, Judge James Boasberg was assigned.

American Oversight is a left-wing Lawfare outlet who sue President Trump while sipping coffee daily.  This time they are suing the administration to force govt preservation of the Signal app ‘non-classified’ chat messages that have already been published to the public.

The lawsuit issue is made moot by the Atlantic publication of the chat.  But I’m sure Boasberg will find a way to affirm the lawsuit and assign attorney fee damages to the Lawfare plaintiff.

WASHINGTON DC – U.S. District Judge James Boasberg — the object of President Donald Trump’s fury for blocking his effort to summarily deport Venezuelan nationals using wartime powers — just got a second crack at the administration’s handling of national security: Signalgate.

Boasberg on Wednesday morning was assigned to preside over a lawsuit alleging that Trump cabinet secretaries and national security aides violated federal record-keeping laws when they used a Signal chat group to discuss a planned military strike in Yemen — and inadvertently included an Atlantic journalist in the group. (read more)

Random draw, eh?

[Moot and Silly Lawsuit Here]

Mar 27 2025

Atlantic Magazine Publishes Entire National Security Signal Group Chat Content


Posted originally on CTH on March 26, 2025 | Sundance 

Against the backdrop of the Trump administration saying nothing contained in the discussion was classified information, the Atlantic Magazine has decided to publish the full content of the Signal app chat group:

READ IT HERE

The full release coming after the coordinated SSCI effort to build upon the story, and ultimately the response from President Donald Trump toward the entire substance of the issue, seemingly indicates the Atlantic Mag realizes the juice for a bigger targeted outcome is just not there.

The content of the chat is a nothingburger, sans it makes VP Vance look better.

Mar 27 2025

President Trump Directs the Declassification and Release of FBI Russiagate Files – Essentially, “the Mar-a-Lago Binder”


osted originally on CTH on March 26, 2025 | Sundance

Yesterday President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting: “Immediate Declassification of Materials Related to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crossfire Hurricane Investigation.” [ORDER TEXT HERE]

Within the XO President Trump informs the Attorney General (Pam Bondi) the Director of National Intelligence (Tulsi Gabbard), and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (John Ratcliffe), “I have determined that all of the materials referenced in the Presidential Memorandum of January 19, 2021 (Declassification of Certain Materials Related to the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane Investigation), are no longer classified.”

However, there’s an important set of qualifiers.

“I have further determined that the material proposed for redaction by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in a cover letter dated January 17, 2021, remains classified.

My decision to declassify the materials described above does not extend to materials that must be protected from disclosure pursuant to orders of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and does not require the disclosure of certain personally identifiable information or any other materials that must be protected from disclosure under applicable law.” (link)

Caution is warranted.  Yes, there may be a few new items, perhaps a few redactions removed on previously released items, but essentially this is likely be a rehash of assembled component parts we have already discussed at length.  In essence, this sounds like the Mar-a-Lago ten-inch binder content the FBI was previously trying to get back.

There is also a possibility the FISA Court has ordered some materials related to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, sealed by the FISC.  President Trump does not extend his order to these materials.

There is a certain likelihood the CIA holds foreign intelligence equities that tangentially supports the origin of the Crossfire Hurricane targeting.  We already know officials and intelligence operations from the U.K, Australia, Italy and Israel were involved in the 2016 operation against Trump.  President Trump does not extend his order to these materials, because the equity ownership of the classified material rests in the foreign intelligence services.

The ODNI, DOJ and FBI are ordered to release their classified equities, and we may glean some new insight or confirmation from the intelligence documents those agencies created.  However, I would not expect to see anything remarkably new, given the qualifiers contained within the Executive Order.  [Example: I would not expect to see the full unredacted outline of Lisa Page and Peter Strzok’s text messages.]

Perhaps we may see a transcript of the FBI created “Flynn cuts.”  This is the transcript between then Nat Sec Advisor Michael Flynn and then Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak; that was an FBI intercept.  I doubt highly the Carter Page FISA application would be released in unredacted form, because it appears to be covered by the XO qualifiers related to the FISC.

So, absent the communication from foreign governments to the CIA, and absent the CIA internal documentation – which is going to be light anyway even if released, the DOJ and FBI background source material on Crossfire Hurricane is likely to be the only material contained in any release.

That said, it would be awesome if there was more, and even if it is only confirmational stuff perhaps more people will awaken to the biggest scandal in American political history.  Which is to say, the prior Obama administration used government agencies (CIA, FBI, DOJ) to target and spy-on the leading candidate for their political opposition in a presidential election.

After their 2016 efforts failed, everything else that followed was a cover-up operation to hide the fact that the Obama administration used the CIA, DOJ and FBI to target, spy-on and ultimately remove their political opposition.

All participants from the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branch then operated to protect themselves from President Trump’s capability to expose the operation in 2017.  Special Counsel Robert Mueller was used for this aspect, and post Mueller the impeachment process was triggered.  The use of Lawfare was part of the cover. The targeting never stopped.