Category Blogger C0nservative Tree House

Jul 12 2026

Media Apoplectic at DOJ and FBI Investigating Four New York Times Reporters for Compromising President Trump Security During Turkey Visit


Posted originally on CTH on July 11, 2026 | Sundance 

Generally speaking, CTH is against the Dept of Justice filing warrants and subpoenas against journalists.  However, in this case the actions are warranted.   If this was the Obama or Biden DOJ taking action against journalists, yes, CTH would support the govt side – on this specific point.

The issue surrounds four journalists for The New York Times who filed a public report that President Trump’s new Airforce One airplane did not have anti-missile defense systems at the time it was used in the trip to the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey.

Beyond the issue of the reported leak to the media, the FBI requested the NYT not to publish their article as it would compromise the presidential security detail in a designated hostile environment.  The NYT refused to withhold their reporting and did so specifically with the intent on compromising the security of a United States President.  There is no circumstance where that type of journalistic motive is okay; regardless of who is President.

From the Times perspective, their report reflected an opportunity to cast snark at President Trump’s decision to convert a gifted Airforce One from Qatar.  Additionally, the New York Times knew their report would put the lives of those aboard the airplane at risk.  The journalists went forward specifically knowing the report could lead to a severe security compromise.

NEW YORK TIMES – The Trump administration issued subpoenas on Friday to several journalists for The New York Times, after the news outlet reported this week on security concerns involving President Trump’s new Qatari-donated Air Force One.

The subpoenas — which seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday — were an extraordinary escalation in President Trump’s efforts to threaten and intimidate independent news organizations.

In some cases, the subpoenas were delivered by federal agents who showed up at reporters’ homes.

[…] “Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used,” Mr. McCraw wrote. “This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs.”

The subpoenas contain few specifics, asking only that the journalists testify “in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law.” They were issued by Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan. Mr. Clayton, who leads one of the country’s most prominent law enforcement offices, was recently nominated by Mr. Trump to serve as director of national intelligence.

[…] The Times reported that the new Air Force One, a Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8, lacked some of the advanced security features of the older aircraft, including antimissile capabilities. Both articles cited sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security issues.

Before the Wednesday article was published, a senior official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted The Times to ask that the article be held, calling it an issue of national security, according to a person familiar with the conversation. The F.B.I. official spoke with a reporter and a senior editor in The Times’s Washington bureau; the official declined to explain the security issue when asked. (A spokesman for The Times, Charlie Stadtlander, confirmed the account.) (read more)

There is a point at which severe opposition to the President needs to be moderated in the interests of national security and common sense (decency).  There was/is no value in publishing the article at the time it was made public, except to compromise the security of President Trump.

The escalating resistance to President Trump from American media is increasingly, intentionally crossing a line.

The Trump administration is right to take all appropriate measures against such reporting.

Jul 12 2026

U.S-Canada Strike Deal on New Gordie Howe International Bridge – Opening Date July 27th


Posted originally on CTH on July 11, 2026 | Sundance

The issue was never really about Canada tolling; the real issue was about ‘cost overruns’ against the backdrop of how the tolling revenue was being used for repayment to the govt of Canada.  It’s a rather sticky situation.

The Canadian government backstopped the financing of the bridge construction.  The deal was that Canada would use tolling to pay the govt back and subsequent tolls would split 50/50 with U.S.  However, cost overruns made the Canadian payback a little less clear as the govt expected more revenue than originally proposed.  Sketchy.

[SOURCE]

The deal currently being revealed as a compromise includes an immediate 50/50 split where Canada gets 50 per cent of the toll profits — after operational expenses — and the other half will go to a U.S-run regional development project for a 15-year time frame.

According to Global News, “The agreement also requires the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority to consult the U.S. on any toll changes greater than 10 per cent, the source said, or if it’s looking to lower tolls below those of comparable regional averages.”  Additionally, in Politico “they will guarantee and ensure that we’re not pouring Chinese cars over that bridge.”

Jul 12 2026

Promethean PAC Visits Trump Policy Contrast Against Energy Priorities


Posted originally on CTH on July 11, 2026 | 

Barbara Boyd argues Trump is pursuing peace talks with Iran while warning the ceasefire is over and the U.S. will respond with crushing force if Iran interferes in the Strait of Hormuz. She says media claims that Trump is a warmonger are false, citing Trump’s regional “Board of Peace,” Iran’s long-term proxy war through Hamas and Hezbollah, and Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear ambitions.

The script describes U.S. strikes—Operation Midnight Hammer (2025) and Operation Epic Fury (Feb. 2026)—and claims these actions weakened Iran, shifted Gulf states against Tehran, enabled changes in Gaza and Lebanon, and collapsed Iran’s economy, leaving Hormuz harassment as its main lever. Boyd frames the conflict as part of a broader struggle against a London-centered “petrodollar” energy order and Net Zero policies, highlighting Trump’s energy expansion, economic metrics, and new nuclear and fusion initiatives as the future economic strategy.  WATCH:

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Jul 12 2026

Turkey Gave NATO Leaders Handguns as Gifts – EU Leaders Don’t Know What to Do


Posted originally on CTH on July 11, 2026 | Sundance

Personally, I believe Turkish President Recep Erdogan knew exactly what would happen when he gave all the NATO leaders a “Magnum” .357 handgun at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey.  What happened next is exactly the reason he did it.

President Trump brings Erdogan’s gift back to the White House, with a casual ‘cool gun’ nonchalant approach.  Meanwhile, back in Europe, the apoplectic recipients, administrators’, various office bureaucracies and support staff that surround each NATO politician are physically and mentally stuck, not knowing what to do.

I have read many of the media reports, and they are incredibly funny -and sad- but mostly funny {SEE HERE}.

The general response is that President Erdogan has just handed the NATO leaders something akin to an unstable, portable nuclear device.  Most of the European’s won’t even touch the custom case that accompanies the handgun, let alone actually touch the alarmingly scary pistol itself.

THE MESSAGE – AGAINST THE BACKDROP: How is NATO going to “defend itself” if they cannot even receive, handle or carry a firearm?  A poignant and not-s0-subtle message that is more than a little funny; in a typically Turkish manner of irony.

The main NATO request in Turkey was for U.S. patriot missiles. {CITATION} Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union commission president, thanked Erdogan for the gift, which will be decommissioned and donated to a military museum, her spokesperson said. […] “It struck me that ⁠my gift of maple syrup kind of undermatched,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters, adding that the firearm was now in police possession. “I would like to reassure Canadians, they keep guns away from me.” {CITATION}

Sometimes life makes you feel like you are sitting alone, looking at the geopolitical world – and no one can see the absurdity of it all.  We need advanced weapons to protect ourselves against the horrible Russians, NATO proclaimed.

Meanwhile, “The Belgian prime minister, Bart De Wever, only “learned of the exact nature of the gift” after landing in Belgium. “The prime minister was surprised and immediately handed it over to airport police so it could be placed in a secure safe and the matter was handled in accordance with relevant procedures,” an official said on Thursday.”

Several revolvers, including those belonging to Starmer, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the Dutch prime minister, Rob Jetten, have for now remained in the Turkish capital.  Depending on the laws in force, transporting firearms is often far from straightforward, especially when they are fully functional. {source}

The Magnum styled .357 revolvers came with six bullets.  “Beyond the logistical challenge, the gift also puzzled several delegations attending the summit.” … “The question asked over and over again: why such a gift?” … “The Turkish presidency did not immediately respond.”

Von der Leyen “expressed her thanks” to Erdoğan for the gift, her spokesperson said, adding that it would be decommissioned and donated to a military museum.

These same NATO leaders are asking President Trump for advanced Patriot Missiles.

Perhaps I’m the only one who can see the point Erdogan is making.

European NATO leaders dislike Recep Erdogan immensely.

For many years I have outlined Erdogan’s duplicity; quite simply – I am not a fan, yet you cannot deny the respect he has created against his adversaries within his position as the world’s most powerful gatekeeper for the future of Europe.

Europe says Erdogan cannot be trusted with American F-35 technology.

Europe asks President Trump for advanced patriot missiles.

Erdogan gives European leaders handguns.

European leaders and every layer of their bureaucratic staff are frozen.

Well played.

Jul 11 2026

Volkswagen Will Eliminate Almost Half of Production Brands After Losing Market Share to China


Posted originally on CTH on July 10, 2026 | Sundance 

The European auto industry is a case study on how short-sighted trade policy goals, results in consequences.

Previously, German auto companies like Volkswagen entered into trade agreements with China and began manufacturing their vehicles with immediate financial success in the market.  However, it did not take long for Chinese auto companies to reverse the engineering and begin to deliver the same quality vehicles at much lower prices.

The Chinese then stop purchasing the Volkswagen vehicles and purchase the cheaper version, while simultaneously begin exporting those same vehicles into the home market from where the technology originated.

Today, with a double-digit decline in production, Volkswagen announces they will cut almost half of their brands due to diminished sales.

BLOOMBERG – BERLIN — Volkswagen reported weak sales numbers on Friday, a day after the giant German automaker announced plans to slash the number of models by nearly half as sales plunged, particularly in China.

The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said group sales fell 8.6 per cent in the second quarter to just under 2.1 million vehicles, with sales in China alone plummeted by more than one-third.

After a board meeting on Thursday, Volkswagen said its “fundamental realignment” over the last three years had reached its next phase, announcing plans to streamline the model lineup by up to half, without providing specifics.

CEO Oliver Blume laid out plans to make VW faster and more competitive through less complexity, focused technologies, better alignment across regional markets and reduction of overcapacities, among other things, citing an “increasingly demanding environment.”

Among its main brands, the core Volkswagen unit saw deliveries of slightly over 1 million vehicles in the second quarter, a drop of 14 per cent from a year earlier. Deliveries at Audi declined 8 per cent and those at Porsche fell 18 per cent. (read more)

Maybe Canada will take note, likely they will not.

The only way to avoid this issue is to protect the domestic market.  As soon as you open your market to this claimed reciprocity (panda face), it will not take long until the mask drops, and you notice the dragon face behind it

Jul 11 2026

President Trump Will Not Sign Section 8 Expanding Housing Bill – Auto Effect Midnight Tonight


Posted originally on CTH on July 10, 2026 | Sundance 

The House of Representatives formally transmitted the Housing Act bill to President Trump last week. The delivery sets in motion a 10-day period where the bill becomes law without action from the president.

The legislation goes into effect at midnight tonight.

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, which is polling at 97% with the Republican Party, and very high with the non-politician Dumocrats. The Act states, quite simply, that to Vote a person must show PHOTO VOTER I.D., PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE CROOKED, CORRUPT, & DESTABILIZING MAIL-IN BALLOTS (EXCEPTIONS for Military, Disabled, Illness, and Travel!). THE SAVE AMERICA ACT’S non-passage is CRAZY, and a serious threat to any politician who votes against it!

If the Dumocrats, or any RINO (or worse!) working with them, do not allow a positive Vote on SAVE AMERICA, TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, and pass this, and every other Bill that true Republicans have ever dreamt of (In addition to the upcoming Budget BOMB and the 1929 catastrophic style DEBT CEILING BILL!). The Dumocrats will TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, if and when they ever get the chance to do so, in their very first hour – And I will no longer be able to call them Dumocrats again! The title of DUMB will revert to the Republicans who allowed this horrible calamity to happen to our Party, and our Nation, itself! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

~ President DONALD J. TRUMP

Jul 11 2026

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh Announces “Concerning” Leadership Task Force


Posted originally on CTH on July 10, 2026 | Sundance 

o the FED on labor policy that includes one of the most egregious violators of H1B fraud, XBox CEO Asha Sharma.

It is beyond frustrating to see our labor system for ‘qualified technical positions’ being abused by companies who are intentionally discriminating against American workers.

oAmerican born Asha Sharma was the former VP at Facebook during their $14M settlement with DOJ for discriminating against American workers.  Now as CEO of Microsoft XBox gaming, she has announced the termination of around 3,200 employees while Microsoft, company-wide, filed 2,879 Labor Condition Application for H-1B positions in fiscal year 2026.

There is a pattern at work within the high-tech industry where corporations factor in the price of lawsuits as a cost of doing business, a cost-effective way to continue discriminating against American workers.  Obviously, they deny this practice, yet the transparent visibility of the practice continuing tell a more honest story.

Into this mix, Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh announces an advisory network of business and economic leaders to help guide FED policy on a variety of subjects. [CITATION] Within the Productivity and Jobs taskforce, Asha Sharma surfaces as an advisor “to inform the Federal Reserve’s policy judgments.”

I’m sure all of these are lovely people, with the best intentions for their own personal interests.  However, where in the dynamic of FED policy advisors is the person who speaks directly to the needs of American workers who are being forced by policy to compete against the entire world for a tech sector job.

Arminio Fraga, founder and chairman, Gávea Investimentos; former president, Central Bank of Brazil. Mervyn King, former governor, Bank of England. Raghuram Rajan, professor of finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; former governor, Reserve Bank of India. Raj Chetty, professor of economics, Harvard University. Asha Sharma, executive vice president and XBOX CEO, Microsoft Corp. {SOURCE}

VGC – […] Notably, Sharma was named one of three advisors on the Productivity and Jobs task force, which the Federal Reserve says will be assessing, among other things, the impact of AI.

According to a news release, the task force will look at “the economic impact of new general-purpose technologies, including artificial intelligence, to inform the Federal Reserve’s policy judgments.”

Supported by Federal Reserve staff, the task forces will operate independently, with “a mandate to follow the evidence, provide candid feedback, and produce rigorous findings for the Federal Open Market Committee”. (more)

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Jul 10 2026

SURVEY: Many Canadian Manufacturers Considering Relocation to U.S.


Posted originally on CTH on July 9, 2026 | Sundance

An interesting report from Bloomberg following a survey conducted by KPMG of Canadian manufacturers.  Keep in mind this is a survey of companies within Canada that do traditional manufacturing of products; this is not a survey of companies that assemble foreign goods for export – there is a substantial difference.

As noted within the report, approximately 10% of Canadian GDP comes from Canadian manufacturing.  Within that sector there are multiple companies now planning or considering moving out of Canada into the United States.

Many will claim the trigger for the consideration is based on the potential elimination of the USMCA (CUSMA) trade agreement, and there is truth to that aspect.  However, the systemic issues within Canada -including energy policy, regulation and corporate tax burdens- represent the larger problem; the termination of the USMCA is the straw that breaks their back.

The domestic hurdles to manufacturing, are the bigger issues that cannot be negotiated away in U.S-Canada trade agreements.  Specifically, the low-price and stable energy policies are the core consistencies that are no longer present in Canada; that fundamental cannot be easily fixed.

BLOOMBERG – […] KPMG Canada said on Tuesday that 42 per cent of Canadian manufacturing companies indicated they have or are considering moving production to the United States. Of those considering relocating, 77 per cent expect to make the transition within the next two years.

[…] the issues go beyond the trade situation though, with Canada needing to create a competitive environment for manufacturers to grow.

“This survey clearly shows that manufacturers need to feel more comfortable and see some action from the government in order to continue to produce and invest and grow in Canada,” she said.

“Some of the key factors that companies have cited are more certainty around interprovincial trade barriers, they need more tariff certainty, they want to see lower corporate taxes, they want better access to capital and cheaper energy.”

The survey also found 57 per cent of manufacturing firms have paused, reduced or cancelled capital investment projects. Thirty-six per cent said they have scaled back investments, 12 per cent have paused their plans and nine per cent have cancelled planned spending. (read more)

This survey is further evidence of the scale of leverage President Trump and USTR Jamieson Greer carry toward the Canadian trade negotiations.  Quite simply, despite their unwillingness to accept reality – Canada is economically dependent on the United States as the customer for any export.

Without the USMCA (CUSMA) trade agreement Canada is structurally incapable of economic growth.

Jul 10 2026

FISA 702 Surveillance Authorities Expired June 12th – Collection Authorities Continue Until March 2027


Posted originally on CTH on July 9, 2026 | 

FISA 702 authorization from congress expired June 12, 2026.  The world did not end, despite the predictions and proclamations from the DC proletariat and narrative engineers.

However, despite the statutory expiration, the intelligence collection continues under the FISA Court’s annual certifications, which were renewed in March 2026 and remain valid through March 2027. {citation}

The annual certifications allow the government to continue collecting communications from foreign targets and querying the Section 702 database, including incidental U.S. communications, without interruption.

Essentially, the surveillance program operates on a separate “certification clock” that is independent of Congress’s statutory timeline. That’s a remarkable workaround.

In ancillary news, I will be offline most of the day as it is a pre-scheduled travel day. I will catch up later tonight.

Jul 9 2026

UPDATE: Platner Quits – Nazi, Rapist Democrat Senate Candidate Negotiating Terms for Exit


Posted originally on CTH on July 8, 2026 | Sundance

Most people understand the dynamic with Graham Platner has come down to price.  How much are the Communists going to have to pay to get the Nazi rapist to leave the Maine senatorial race.

There are various storylines surrounding the negotiations [Example Here], but the bottom line is how much can Platner get for his exit?  Former Communist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders cashed out for a couple of new houses and various indulgences within the party apparatus.  Sanders is also reportedly counseling Platner on terms.

Platner has until Monday at 5:00pm to exit so that Democrats can appoint a replacement candidate.

…”Two sources say Katz has told allies he believes Platner should to leave the race before the 5 p.m. Monday deadline to withdraw from the ballot — but wants the exit to be on the candidate’s terms.

“It’s quite clear that he’s [Platner’s] gonna have to get out of the race,” a second source told The Post. “Their reluctance here … is a result of their larger political project, trying to get these types of candidates into places of power. {SOURCE}

Exit video below:

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