President Trump Announces Board Members of Presidents’ Intelligence Advisory Board, Chaired by Devin Nunes


Posted originally on the CTH on February 12, 2025 | Sundance

On the eve of DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard’s full senate confirmation vote, President Trump announces his Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB), which will be chaired by the former head of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, former Gang of Eight member and current CEO of Truth Social, Devin Nunes.

WHITE HOUSE – Today, President Donald J. Trump is pleased to announce a distinguished and trusted group of Patriots to serve on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB). These individuals will advise the President on our nation’s most important security challenges and ensure that the Intelligence Community is working to advance the President’s America First agenda. The President’s PIAB appointees represent a broad range of experience and intellect that will help restore integrity to our Intelligence Community. The following individuals have been appointed to the PIAB:

Devin Gerald Nunes, Chair
Scott Glabe
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy
Brad Robert Wenstrup
Wayne Berman
Reince Priebus
Robert O’Brien
Joshua Lobel
Sander R. Gerber
Katie Miller
Jeremy Katz
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Jr

♦ Scott Glabe was previously a DHS senior official performing the duties of Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY).  He was also Staff Director of the U.S. House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, under Chairman Devin Nunes.

♦ Amaryllis Fox Kennedy was a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, and campaign manager for her father-in-law Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 2024 presidential campaign.  Married to RFK Jr II, and friend of Tucker Carlson.

♦ Brad Wenstrup is a former congressman from Ohio who served as chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.  He left congress last year.

♦ Wayne Berman is an American businessman and former lobbyist. He now works for Stephen Schwarzman as the senior managing director for government relations at the Blackstone Group. He manages political and legislative risk for the firm and supports its portfolio companies, overseeing a global team of political risk specialists.  Blackstone has $1.1 trillion in assets under management.  Schwarzman is a big republican donor who supported Ron DeSantis before acquiescing to Trump.

♦ Reince Priebus was the former RNC Chairman, former Chief of Staff to President Trump in the first term (’17), and president and chief strategist for the government affairs group at Michael Best & Friedrich, his former law firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as a political analyst for CBS News.

♦ Robert O’Brien was former National Security Advisor to President Trump from 2019 to 2021. Earlier in the administration he was presidential envoy for hostage affairs. He is the co-founder and chairman of American Global Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that advises on foreign policy and national security issues.

♦ Joshua Lobel is Founder of Archer Capital Management LP.  Rabbi Joshua Adam Lobel currently occupies the position of Chairman of Red Cell DRM Acquisition Corp. and Chairman of Focus Roq Holdings LLC. He is also Founding Partner of Red Cell Partners LLC and on the board of 7 other companies.

♦ Sander R Gerber served as a member of the Senior Advisory Group to the Director of National Intelligence (Dan Coats) from 2017-2019. Formerly, he was the Vice Chairman of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and Chairman of its Investment Committee. Gerber is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Hudson Bay Capital Management LP.  A long-time advocate for Israel and the Jewish people. In 2017, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) awarded Mr. Gerber its Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award for championing the Taylor Force Act, a bipartisan bill that cuts US funding to the Palestinian Authority.

♦ Katie Miller is Stephen Miller’s wife. Katie Rose Miller is also an American political advisor who served as the communications director Mike Pence from 2020 to 2021. She was previously Pence’s press secretary from 2019 to 2020. From 2017 to 2019, she served as a deputy press secretary at the Department of Homeland Security.

♦ Jeremy Katz was deputy director of President Trump’s National Economic Council (NEC) in the first term.  Katz also served in the Administration of President George W. Bush, including as Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce and Special Assistant to the President for Policy in the Chief of Staff’s office. Jeremy Katz is the President and Chief Operating Officer of D1 Capital Partners and currently serves on the board of the George W Bush Center.

♦ Thomas Hicks Jr. is an American private equity investor living in Dallas, Texas. He is a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

• Forward Face – The PIAB is an independent body within the Executive Office of the President tasked with providing the President with objective, expert advice on the effectiveness of the Intelligence Community. The board evaluates the quality, scope, and coordination of intelligence activities and ensures that intelligence efforts are aligned with national security priorities.

• Quiet Part – Everyone supports the American surveillance state, FISA-702 and the use of AI technology for targeted enhancements and national security.

Marc Fogel Thanks President Trump for Securing His Early Release from Prison in Russia


Posted originally on the CTH on February 11, 2025 | Sundance

Pennsylvania schoolteacher Marc Fogel traveled to Russia with marijuana.  The magic lettuce is considered a narcotic in Russia.  Marc Fogel found out you cannot take medicinal marijuana to Russia.  Marc Fogel was arrested in 2021.

Today Russia released criminally convicted Marc Fogel as a good faith gesture to the administration of President Donald Trump.  Marc Fogel thanks President Trump for securing his release from prison.  President Trump hints there is another prisoner who will be released tomorrow.  WATCH:

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It sounds like Russia replaced Fogel’s medical dependency on Marijuana (no idea what the prescription was for) with some other medical ‘anxiety relief’ substance.  Fogel notes he “met many” wounded Russian soldiers, likely when he was receiving medical treatment – because most consequential health services for high priority patients take place in Russian military affiliated institutions.  I suspect this, because I accidentally ended up inside one last year, saw the same, and it makes sense.

Congratulations America, We Have Reached Peak Graham


Posted originally on the CTH on February 11, 2025 | Sundance

Senator Lindsey Graham (U-DC) was asked for his thoughts and perspectives about USAID today during a press conference.

Senator Lindsey Graham is senior senator in charge of the upper chamber oversight of foreign government influence operations via the “150 account” that supports the goals and objectives of the State Dept.

Senator Lindsey Graham culminates his entire political career in one brief segment of pretending not to know.

We can officially say this moment achieves ‘peak Graham.’  The part where Graham tells former USAID Director Samantha Power to “quit texting me” is epic.  WATCH: 

It is said that in 1860 literary master Ralph Waldo Emerson found a stargate, entered and traveled to this day in history.  Upon return, he wrote:

“The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.”

Every face tells a story:

President Trump and Elon Musk Hold Stunning Press Availability During Executive Order Signing


Posted originally on the CTH on February 11, 2025 | Sundance

Earlier today President Trump and Elon Musk, head of the Dept of Government Efficiency, held a press conference in the oval office to answer questions about the ongoing DOGE review of government.

Elon Musk outlines examples of how the various government agencies spend money without any standard accounting principles that facilitate audits and reviews.  In material fact the system of government that Elon Musk and President Trump outline, appears fully designed to generate fraud.

In essence, “waste, fraud and abuse” within government, is a feature of how the government systems are organized, not a flaw. WATCH:

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It is amazing how the media reporters present the structure of their questions to support the waste, fraud and abusive systems within the administration of government as it is outlined.  We do not dislike the media enough.

President Trump and King Abdullah of Jordan Hold a Press Availability in the Oval Office


Posted originally on the CTH on February 11, 2025 | Sundance

President Donald Trump and King Abdullah II of Jordan are having bilateral meetings today on the Israel v Hamas war and the subsequent issue with displaced Palestinians.

During the first press availability in the oval office, both President Trump and King Abdullah delivered remarks about the regional challenges, approaches and overall perspectives on the issues.  As expected, both President Trump and King Abdullah noted they await the plan from Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi who has been tasked with taking the lead on developing a peaceful solution and broader long-term plan for regional stability.

Jordan doesn’t want to take more Palestinian refugees, though King Abdullah did say he was going to take 2,000 sick children for care in the kingdom of Jordan.

President Trump has given Hamas a deadline of Saturday at noon to release all the remaining hostages or, “there will be hell to pay.”  President Trump is willing to take part in rebuilding Gaza in the aftermath of the chaos and rubble as soon as Hamas is removed from the issue.

After President Trump Talk with President Putin, Russia Releases U.S. Prisoner Marc Fogel


Posted originally on the CTH on February 11, 2025 | Sundance

It’s good that Fogel is returning, and the gesture of his release is an act of good faith between the Russian government of Vladimir Putin and the U.S. government of Donald Trump.

However, that said, Marc Fogel was not arrested and detained for some arbitrary reason. The American teacher was arrested, tried and convicted for taking marijuana into Russia.  The Russian government doesn’t recognize medicinal marijuana, and they do not play around with illegal drugs or classified narcotics. It’s a big issue and considered a serious crime with severe penalties.

President Trump on Tuesday secured the release of an American imprisoned in Russia as part of a deal with the Kremlin negotiated by Mr. Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.  Mr Witkoff flew to Moscow Sunday for discussions with Russian officials.

New York Times –  […] Mike Waltz, Mr. Trump’s national security adviser, said in a statement that Mr. Witkoff, at the president’s direction, had brought Mr. Fogel out of Russia on his plane as part of an exchange. But he did not provide any details about whether the United States or an ally had released someone in return or what other steps the administration had taken to win Mr. Fogel’s release.

“President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the president’s advisers negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine,” Mr. Waltz said.

[…] the deal, in discussion for several days, is a gesture of good will for both sides, aimed at smoothing the path to talks over the war in Ukraine and potentially improving relations between Russia and the United States. (more)

All is good.

Killing stops soon.

Peace and stability returning.

JD Vance Delivers Keynote Address at European AI Summit in Paris


Posted originally on the CTH on February 11, 2025 | Sundance 

If you have followed the arc of Tech, Peter Thiel recruiting JD Vance, the creation of Palantir, the funding of Vance’s senatorial run, and eventually the roadmap to connect Vance to Trump, this is a video speech you absolutely must not miss. JD Vance was sent to the AI Summit for a reason.

JD Vance talks at the AI summit in Paris, France, about his core mission, his core purpose inside current political influence. This is the very origin of his legacy, unfolding in real time. Vice-President JD Vance talks about Artificial Intelligence, the future and the Trump administration position.

Vice President JD Vance warned European leaders against heavily regulating U.S. tech companies and said excessive efforts by the European Union to regulate artificial intelligence could stymie its growth, during an AI summit in Paris Tuesday that marks his first foreign trip since taking office. WATCH:

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Do you feel more or less confident about the future, having watched these remarks?

Tom Homan Confirms FBI Likely Tipped-Off California Criminal Aliens to Avoid Deportation Sweep


Posted originally on the CTH on February 10, 2025 | Sundance

Yesterday, Dept of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pointed a finger at the FBI for leaking the details of an ICE deportation sweep to the Los Angeles Times in order to tip-off criminal illegal aliens.  Today, Tom Homan says, “Kristi Noem was correct, some of the information they are receiving leads to the FBI.”

During an interview tonight with Sean Hannity, Border Czar Homan also said the Acting Deputy AG is going to pursue criminal charges against the FBI leaker.  WATCH:

The leak led DHS Secretary Noem to say, “The FBI is so corrupt.”

President Trump Holds XO Presser in Oval Office – Full Video


Posted originally on the CTH on February 10, 2025 | Sundance

President Trump held an Executive Order (XO) press conference in the oval office today and took questions from the assembled press pool.  Included in the executive orders was the reversal of the plastic straw ban, no more paper straws.  The President also implemented a 25% tariff rate on imported steel.  The import tariff rate for aluminum increases from 10% to 25%.

At 09:00 of the video, President Trump reads prepared remarks on the implementation of the steel tariffs. At approximately 15:00 of the video, President Trump begins taking questions from the media.  The full video of the event is below:

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(Via NBC) – President Donald Trump signed an order Monday that imposes a 25% tariff on all steel imports to the United States.

“This is a big deal,” Trump said while signing the order in the Oval Office. “The beginning of making America rich again.”

[…] Canada is the largest supplier of steel to the U.S., followed by Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and Vietnam.

Trump has floated the idea of reciprocal, tit-for-tat tariffs. According to analysts with the Capital Economics consultancy, such a scenario would, in essence, see Trump taking a more “measured” approach to trade negotiations if the threat of an across-the-board tariff, which Trump has previously mooted, is eliminated. (read more)

DNI Nominee Tulsi Gabbard Clears Cloture Vote Hurdle – Likely Full Senate Vote Wednesday


February 10, 2025 | Sundance

Nominee for the position of the Director of the Office of National Intelligence (ODNI), Tulsi Gabbard, has passed the Senate cloture vote (52-46) ending debate on her confirmation.  McConnell and Murkowski voted “yea.”  The full senate is likely to take the final confirmation vote on Wednesday, and the traditional outcome should follow the same result as the vote to affirm cloture.

WASHINGTON DC – […] Having secured the support of 52 Senate Republicans, Gabbard, one of President Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees, is on track to be confirmed as the nation’s top intelligence official in the coming days. Forty six Democrats in the chamber voted against Gabbard. Two senators were absent from the vote. (read more)

By the end of this week things could start to get very interesting on the Intelligence Community (IC) front.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is the newest office in the IC system. It was created as an outcome of the Patriot Act and the office represents the pivot point of all IC information flows.

The CIA information is supposed to enter the DNI silo from outside the USA, and the FBI information enters the DNI silo from inside the USA.  The combined information is then assembled and becomes part of the National Security Information (NSI) that is available to the Dept of Homeland Security.

As we have outlined, the Obama/Holder administration weaponized these information streams and the silos that control the outcomes.  The DNI became an information laundry permitting the CIA (John Brennan) to conduct domestic political operations, while the FBI partnered with their “sister agency” (CIA) and ran political targeting operations against Obama’s opposition.

Attorney General Eric Holder then created the Dept of Justice National Security Division (DOJ-NSD), filled it with legal ideologues (Weissmann, McCord, Eisen et al), and that sub-silo of the DOJ then proceeded to take the weaponized CIA/FBI information and target Americans (and some foreign adversaries).

Political attack narratives were created from within the DOJ-NSD using false pretenses like the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) and the domestic surveillance of political targets proceeded through the use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act/Court (FISA/FISC).  Meanwhile the FBI counterintelligence division ran cover operations for Hillary Clinton and other aligned political entities.

To ensure DOJ-NSD targeting operations were without review, the DOJ Inspector General was barred from having any oversight within the DOJ-NSD, under the justification of “national security.”  From inception (’09) the DOJ-NSD was without any oversight, until President Trump changed the rules in 2017.

All of the Trump targeting operations originated from within the DOJ-NSD, including the surveillance of candidate Donald Trump through the use of the Title-1 surveillance warrant gained against CIA asset Carter Page.  Nat Sec Advisor Michael Flynn was targeted using the pretense of FARA.

Throughout the Obama terms, the DNI (James Clapper) was presumably willfully blind to the activity.  Clapper was a useful doofus, so it was not difficult.  This is the background for the current status of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

Just as we now see receipts for the USAID silo as the front for CIA activity, so too was/is the ODNI the front for domestic intelligence operations by the same CIA operators.  The CIA is behind it all.

For many years the CIA had to be careful about domestic activity, always working to cloak their internal operations. However, once the ODNI office was created, they now had a legally authorized door that permitted them to expand their operations without fear of scrutiny, under the justification of “national security.”

Here is where I posit a note to moderate expectations of sunlight from the IC silos of the DNI (Gabbard) and CIA (Ratcliffe).

♦ Be really cautious about expecting any sunlight, review or inquiry to penetrate the CIA silo.

I’ve studied the construct of these IC silos for years, and I have yet to find a process (only one way) that gets any information from within the CIA dark place extracted against their will.

The CIA silo was constructed to be an information filter. Information goes in, but only one method (Presidential Daily Brief) exists for information to come out.   The President authorizes directed activity within the CIA through the use of “finding memoranda,” but the CIA operates all other activity without oversight.

The CIA gets instructions via presidential finding memos, which they act upon and keep in locked files, but the CIA never discloses any information unwillingly.  The CIA is a complete dark hole, with an entrance but no exit.

It is a very unique silo. No oversight (by design), no accountability (by design), no method of financial accounting (by design), and only one physical person (no delegation of authority) with power to engage over the entire agency.

It’s very complicated.

When you understand this dynamic, I mean really understand this dynamic, then you might understand why I suspect that Sheldon Snook’s wife, Mary McCord, is a career CIA operative. This likely reality also explains why Chief Justice John Roberts was in a dilemma with the Dobbs decision leak and subsequent investigative discovery by U.S. Marshals.  The result of that investigation, Roberts’ declaration, makes sense if this connection to the CIA is accurate.

Final note.  I am of the opinion that George H.W. Bush was the organizer of the current (modern era) CIA operational rules, processes, business model and activities.  All of the research into a host of political events, seems to circle back to GHW Bush in some manner or method.  The placement of Bush as VP to Ronald Reagan is akin to the placement of Pence as the VP to Donald Trump T-1.

The fingerprints of covert CIA activity, what I would call political tradecraft, are all over the prior term of President Trump (see graphic below). There’s zero doubt -at least in my mind- the impeachment effort was a domestic CIA operation.

I suspect, again just my speculation, that in T-2 the Office of the President is exploring the CIA silo with the well-publicized request for JFK/MLK files to be released.  I don’t think the “full” files will ever be released; however, I am cautiously optimistic the people around Trump are not really using this approach to get the files. I am hopeful they are testing the CIA membrane to gauge the opacity.