Category Blogger C0nservative Tree House

Mar 13 2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio Outlines Next Steps Toward Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire


Posted originally on CTH on March 12, 2025 | Sundance

We should keep in mind; a potential ceasefire carries with it a potential benefit for Russia in that a cessation of hostilities provides the opportunity for Ukraine to hold elections.  There is a strong sense that current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not win if elections were held in the embattled country.

During his trip to Ireland, Secretary Rubio took multiple questions about the framework of the ‘ceasefire’ terms that Ukraine has outlined.  From the Trump/Rubio perspective, the goal is to stop the killing.  It is likely that Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia with a broad outline of the discussions so far.  From that point another conversation between President Trump and President Putin is likely.

Secretary Rubio stays focused on the primary objective, to get both sides to agree to come to the table, with an interim goal to talk about the conditions for a 30-day ceasefire.  WATCH:

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Mar 13 2025

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Outlines Global Impact and Response from USA Tariff Hammer


Posted originally on CTH on March 12, 2025 | Sundance 

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appears on CBS News to outline how the MAGAnomic tariff program immediately creates positive outcomes when President Trump identifies the specific targets.

As Lutnick appropriately notes, the EU has received one-way tariff benefit since the creation of the Marshal Plan in 1945.  President Trump is on track to finally end this exfiltration of American wealth.  Lutnick cuts through the nonsense and delivers a very non-pretending reality as he outlines how Canada doesn’t stop fentanyl, and Mexico doesn’t stop migration caravans.

This is an excellent explanatory outline of how President Trump paints the target, then Commerce Secretary Lutnick supports the targeting, and how foreign nations immediately respond to change their approach. WATCH:

As we notice today, for the first time since last year the Consumer Price Index now shows inflation slowing rapidly [CPI DATA HERE] as basic essential prices on energy and gasoline are dropping quickly and all downstream products start dropping in sequence.

Here is our current status after one month: – mortgage rates are down – egg prices are down – gas prices are down – overall inflation dropping – illegal immigration stopped at the border – wages going up – foreign aid shut down – woke initiatives being removed – massive manufacturing investments ongoing.

Hey, it’s winning folks, and it has only just begun.  Lutnick is absolutely correct.

Mar 12 2025

USAID Employees Told to Destroy Documents, Shred and Burn Everything


Posted originally on CTH on March 12, 2025 | Sundance

If USAID was the charitable wing of the U.S. State Dept., why would the remaining senior leadership be instructing all employees to urgently start destroying all records?   The answer is easy, the charity mission of USAID was a front for the real operational mission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

USAID has always been a CIA operation within the U.S. State Department silo.  The documents they are now being told to shred and burn with urgency are the CIA operational details of how USAID manipulated foreign governments and CIA assets.  This is one big coverup operation.

WASHINGTON DC – A senior official at USAID instructed a number of the agency’s remaining staff to convene at the agency’s now-former headquarters in Washington on Tuesday for an “all day” group effort to destroy documents stored there, many of which contain sensitive information.

The materials earmarked for destruction include contents of the agency’s “classified safes and personnel documents” at the Ronald Reagan Building, said an email sent by USAID’s acting executive director, Erica Carr, and obtained by POLITICO.

“Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” the email said. Carr instructed staff to label the burn bags with the words “SECRET” and “USAID/B/IO/” (agency shorthand for “bureau or independent office”) in dark Sharpie. The email didn’t provide any reason for the document destruction. (read more)

Average Americans are just now starting to get a glimpse of how the DC political system is factually a Potemkin village maintained as a front to give the illusion of democracy while the Intelligence Community controls the functional outcomes of government.

President Trump is like Toto from the Wizard of Oz, exposing the groups behind the DC curtain.  More and more people are getting alarmed as their preconceptions of American government are being challenged and destroyed before their eyes. Questions about how long this has been going on are commonplace.

The Intelligence Community has been in slowly increasing control of American government for decades.  The Patriot Act was simply booster fuel to complete the takeover.   The CIA now operates domestically, domestic clandestine operations inside America, and congress does absolutely nothing to try and stop it because they know the ‘six ways from sunday’ group are too dangerous to confront.

President Trump represents a threat to this system of intelligence control over government.

Mar 12 2025

Winning Bigly – President Trump Holds Impromptu Presser with Elon Musk at White House – POTUS Purchases a Tesla


Posted originally on CTH on March 12, 2025 | Sundance

Many of us well understand the value of “buycotts” where we purchase products and services that support the America-First objective.

The professional political left can only destroy things, tear down things, attack things; they have no capacity to build anything, to enhance anything, to promote and create beauty or value in the world around them.  That’s why leftists are always trying to tear down people, companies, groups and systems.  They have now targeted Elon Musk and Tesla.

President Trump steps in to promote Tesla, support Tesla, defend the interests of Elon Musk and his company from the hatred and animosity of the professional political left.  President Trump uses his light to keep the darkness of Musk’s enemies in retreat. It’s cool.  “When someone is a great patriot, they shouldn’t be hurt,” Trump said.

At a White House event to highlight President Trump purchasing a Tesla, our President takes questions from the assembled media pool on a lot of current issues.  WATCH:

I really appreciate how President Trump frames the next phases of the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire [28:34 video point], as “stopping death.”  You have to admire Trump’s ability to cut through the nonsense and just get to the BIG part.

President Trump frames the ceasefire as “stopping death.”  You either support stopping killing, stopping death, or you support extending killing, extending death.  Bold contrasts; light vs dark. Good vs Evil. Life vs Death.  No politician in our lifetime was ever able to pause the narrative mid-way and reset the conversation like Trump can do. It’s remarkable.

I will prompt that segment below.

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Mar 12 2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and NSA Mike Waltz Outline Ukraine Agreement to 30-day Ceasefire


Posted originally on CTH on March 12, 2025 | Sundance

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz brief the media on an agreement with the Ukraine delegation for a ceasefire in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

During their remarks both Secretary Rubio and Advisor Waltz reference a joint statement [SEE HERE] by both delegations.   The statement outlines the proposed terms for a 30-day ceasefire that will now be discussed by President Trump’s team with the Russian delegation and President Vladimir Putin.

Here’s the video of the Rubio/Waltz media availability and below I will post the joint statement for discussion. United States and Ukraine are calling for a 30-day ceasefire, subject to the acceptance of Russia. Secretary Marco Rubio also announced that the US would resume intelligence sharing with Ukraine “immediately.”

[BEGIN STATEMENT] – “Today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — the United States and Ukraine took important steps toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine.

Representatives of both nations praised the bravery of the Ukrainian people in defense of their nation and agreed that now is the time to begin a process toward lasting peace.

The Ukrainian delegation reiterated the Ukrainian people’s strong gratitude to President Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace.

Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation. The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace.

The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.

The delegations also discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts as part of the peace process, particularly during the abovementioned ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.

Both delegations agreed to name their negotiating teams and immediately begin negotiations toward an enduring peace that provides for Ukraine’s long-term security. The United States committed to discussing these specific proposals with representatives from Russia. The Ukrainian delegation reiterated that European partners shall be involved in the peace process.

Lastly, both countries’ presidents agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine’s economy and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security. [END STATEMENT]

The joint statement itself is diplomatically agreed, but as these things are reviewed, they do give some insight into the priorities of both sides.

We can see how “lifting the pause on intelligence sharing and resuming security assistance” to Ukraine was the priority of the Ukranian delegation.  We can see how a substantive commitment to peace was the priority of team USA.

The U.S, specifically anticipating Steve Witkoff likely traveling to Moscow, will take the message to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his representatives.  The Ukranian team will engage with their “European partners” for further advice and counsel.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the key.  As remarkable as it seems, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has the stronger neocon tendencies in this pairing.  Secretary Rubio is suspicious of motives and intentions, which is good.

Mar 12 2025

Tucker Carlson Interviews Col Douglas Macgregor on Escalating Geopolitical Events


Posted originally on CTH on March 11, 2025 | Sundance

Retired Col Douglas Macgregor sits down with Tucker Carlson for an extended conversation about current geopolitical events including, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, China and Mexican drug cartels.

Chapters:
0:00 The Ukrainian Drone Strike in Moscow
6:54 Why Is Ukraine Dragging Out This War?
13:11 Benjamin Netanyahu Wants War With Iran
17:27 Ukraine’s Black Market Arms Dealing
20:10 Why We Should Be More Worried About Mexico Than Russia or Iran
22:05 The Mexican Drug Cartel’s Javelin Missiles Systems
23:11 How Many Have Died in the Ukraine/Russia War?
27:59 Reacting to the Russian/Ukraine Proposed Ceasefire Deal
37:45 Can Europe Be Saved?
40:09 American Politicians on Cartel Payroll
50:43 Macgregor’s Advice to Trump
54:11 Should the US Strike a Mineral Deal With Ukraine?
1:03:19 The Future of Germany

Mar 12 2025

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Holds a White House Press Briefing – 1:00pm ET Livestream


Posted originally on CTH on March 11, 2025 | Sundance

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing, amid a day full of geopolitical news on several fronts. The anticipated start time is 1:00pm ET.  Livestream Links Below:

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Mar 12 2025

In Response to Canadian Decision to Tax U.S. Electricity Consumers, President Trump Raises Tariff on Canada to 50 Percent and Pledges to Destroy Canadian Auto Industry


Posted originally on CTH on March 11, 2025 | Sundance

Pledging never to relent and to destroy President Trump, Ontario Premier Doug Ford placed a 25% tariff on all electricity delivered to the United States. After announcing the tariff Ford said, “It needs to end. Until these tariffs are off the table, until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, Ontario will not relent,” Ford said.

President Trump has found out about the Ontario tariff and has responded, big time:

[Source]

President Trump made the following announcement:

“Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on “Electricity” coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th.

Also, Canada must immediately drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250% to 390% on various U.S. dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous.  

I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will allow the U.S to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada. If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada. Those cars can easily be made in the USA!

Also, Canada pays very little for National Security, relying on the United States for military protection. We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY??? This cannot continue.

The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever — And Canada will be a big part of that.

The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, “O Canada,” will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen! (more)

As previously noted, President Trump has a massive amount of economic leverage he can bring to bear on Canada from multiple simultaneous sectors, including autos, banking and finance.

Canada has a very small number of economic responses that can be triggered against the USA; however, some of their initial retaliatory effort is not tariffs but rather full-blown Canadian import bans of certain US products.

Minnesota Power bought only about $300,000 worth of electricity from Ontario last year, and only for four months out of the year. The utility serves over 150,000 customers, mostly with power it generates itself in Minnesota. 

Matt Helms, public information of officer for the Michigan Public Service Commission, said the impact on Michigan customers is likely to be “small” and most of Michigan’s electricity is produced by utility companies in the state or through long-term contracts. (source)

Mar 11 2025

Secretary Rubio: Minerals Deal Not Important, Finding Out if Ukraine Truly wants Peace is Goal of Saudi Meeting


Posted originally on CTH on March 11, 2025 | Sundance

The information from Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks good.  During his flight to Saudi Arabia, Secretary Rubio answered a few questions about the U.S. delegation expectations of the meeting with Ukraine officials.

Rubio notes the aforementioned “minerals deal” is not an important part of the larger objective.  Secretary Rubio says that finding out if Ukraine’s desire for peace with Russia is true, in good faith or not, is the key objective.  A pragmatic Rubio also notes that Ukraine is likely going to have to give up lost territory to achieve peace.

FOX NEWS – […] “”The minerals deal is on the table that’s continuing to be worked on – it’s not part of this conversation, per se,” he said, noting that Tuesday’s meeting in Jeddah can be considered successful even without securing such an agreement.

[…] “The important point in this meeting is to establish clearly their intentions, their desire, as they’ve said publicly now, numerous times, to reach a point where peace is possible,” Rubio said, adding that he will need to be assured that Kyiv is prepared to make some hard decisions, like giving up territory seized by Russia, in order to end the three-year war. 

“Both sides need to come to an understanding,” he said. “The Russians can’t conquer all of Ukraine, and obviously it will be very difficult for Ukraine, in any reasonable time period, to sort of force the Russians back all the way to where they were in 2014. So the only solution to this war is diplomacy and getting them to a table where that’s possible.

 “Then we’ll have to determine how far they are from the Russian position, which we don’t know yet either. And then once you understand where both sides truly are, it gives you a sense of how big the divide is and how hard it’s going to be,” Rubio explained. “I’m hoping it’ll be a positive interaction along those lines.” (more)

Rubio also seems to indicate that if the U.S delegation senses this is all just lies and disinformation from the Ukraine side, then President Trump’s approach to providing financial support will moderate accordingly.  “The pause in aid broadly is something I hope we can resolve,” Rubio said. “I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that.”

Secretary Marco Rubio continues to surprise us in the way he has totally stopped pretending about geopolitical matters.  There is no sunlight between the continually expressed and defined positions of Marco Rubio and the identical positions, perspectives and policies expressed by President Trump.

This is quite a remarkable change in Rubio’s political persona.  Is it real?

Mar 11 2025

UK, EU and NATO Partners Launch Massive Wave of Drone Attacks Against Moscow


Posted originally on CTH on March 11, 2025 | Sundance

Approximately 60 drones were launched from Ukraine overnight to attack the Russian capital city of Moscow.  This is the largest escalation of drone/missile attacks into Russia so far.

The attack comes, predictably, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Nat Sec Advisor Mike Waltz and President Trump envoy Steve Witkoff arrive in Saudi Arabia for preliminary face-to-face talks with Ukraine officials. The pattern repeats.

Each time President Trump’s diplomatic team are scheduled to meet with Russia or Ukraine officials in their quest to stop the bloodshed, the intelligence apparatus in control of the NATO proxy war triggers an escalating disruption targeting Russia.

Hitting Moscow with a wave of 60 drones is a major escalation, because face-to-face meetings with U.S and Ukraine officials are at a critical inflection point.  Each uptick in the offensive action from Ukraine is directly proportional to the increased seriousness of the peace talks.

(VIA AP) – A total of 69 Ukrainian drones targeting the Russian capital were shot down in a massive attack on Tuesday morning, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

The attack, the biggest targeting Moscow in months, came as a Ukrainian delegation was set to meet with America’s top diplomat in Saudi Arabia about ending the three-year war with Russia.

At least 11 of the drones were shot down in the Ramensky and Domodedovo districts of the Moscow region surrounding the Russian capital, Sobyanin said on the messaging app Telegram. He didn’t specify where the other drones were shot down, noting only that they were “flying towards Moscow.”

The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, said that one person was killed and three more wounded as the result of the drone attack. The attack damaged seven apartments in a residential building in the Ramensky district, he said.

Sobyanin said the roof of a building in Moscow also sustained damage, which he described as “insignificant.”

Flights have been restricted in and out of three Moscow airports, including Domodedovo and Zhukovsky to the south and southeast of the city and Sheremetyevo to the north, according to Russian civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia.

Train traffic through the Domodedovo railway station also has been halted, local officials reported. (link)

At first review it seems like the terrain mapping component of the targeting system was not accurate or in place. Hence, unless NATO was intentionally targeting residential buildings, just like the attacks in Kazan some of the drones hit civilian high-rise buildings on the way to Moscow airport.

However, don’t get lost in the weeds on this.  60+ drones launched against Russia’s largest city is intended to draw a major retaliation from Russian President Vladimir Putin, that is what the UK/EU and NATO apparatus want.  The Zelenskyy people want Russia to attack Kiev so they can enlarge the scale and scope of U.S. involvement.

I sincerely hope President Trump is on the phone with President Putin, and I hope Trump’s instructions to Rubio, Waltz and Witkoff are to put fierce pressure on Ukraine at the meeting in Saudi Arabia.

Only through strong, extreme and even perhaps vicious diplomacy, is Ukraine going to be brought to heel.  The EU and NATO must also suffer strong geopolitical consequences for their efforts to disrupt any effort at peace.

The pretending must stop.  Each time the UK/EU/NATO team use Ukraine to escalate the fight, the EU and NATO must pay a price.  The American people need to understand what the dynamic really is here, even if it eventually means President Trump calling it out directly.