Venezuela Death Toll Tops 1,400 as Desperate Search and Rescue Efforts Continue


Posted originally on CTH on June 27, 2026 | Sundance 

The first three days are always critical in a major disaster. Aid agencies consider those first 48 to 72 hours as crucial for retrieving people alive, though that can be extended if they have access to food and water.

Venezuelan officials said 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 rescue team members had touched down by Saturday as rescue workers fan out in the most devastated areas.  Approximately 6 million people are affected in the quake zone.

Search teams from Mexico, the U.S.A, Brazil, El Salvador, France and other countries are now on the ground. Rescuers search through partially collapsed buildings, pushing their heads into holes in pancaked concrete to search for signs of life, occasionally hearing movement and digging to locate survivors.  The work is physical and emotional.

LAGUAIRA/CARACAS, June 27 (Reuters) – The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes rose above 1,400 on Saturday as ​foreign rescue teams poured into the country and authorities pressed on with the search for survivors in the hardest-hit coastal areas.

The updated toll came as ‌rescuers fanned out across La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and bodies from the rubble, often complaining of scant heavy equipment and a limited official presence.

Officials said more than 1,600 foreign rescuers had arrived and that additional teams were on the way, adding to a growing international response to the twin quakes that struck on Wednesday and unleashed hundreds of aftershocks.

In Caraballeda, one of the ​worst-hit areas of La Guaira, U.S. helicopters ferried rescue teams into a dusty landing zone, according to Reuters witnesses, dropping off crews before taking off again.

Among the crowds ​of volunteers was Alejandro Serrano, a 33-year-old industrial engineer who had traveled from San Cristobal in western Venezuela searching for his 24-year-old sister, Ana ⁠Serrano, who lived in the Bahía Mar building in Caraballeda, which was destroyed in the quakes. (read more)

The Far Left Can Crush Republicans in Midterms if They Just Give Professional Republicans Everything They Want


Posted originally on CTH on June 26, 2026 | Sundance

This is a very unusual election year.  This year, more than any other election year, the Democrats have two major weapons they can deploy to crush the Republican party in every election:

First, give the Washington DC Republicans everything they want.

Second, be completely silent about it, and control their crazy.

Again, this is a weird election year; I’ll explain.

If the Communists and Progressives, together with all the various subsects under the tent of ‘Democrats’ can have enough self-discipline to follow this guide – they will crush almost every republican candidate and win every key race.  It will be the biggest electoral wipeout since 2010, but they also have to be absolutely silent over the next several months.

If the Communists and Progressives can put their crazy into a box for a few months, they will defeat their opposition.  Democrats need to take a long summer vacation, stay completely silent, avoid anything political and surface again in late October.  That’s it. That’s all they need to do.  They can put every nickel of donations and fundraising in the bank and exit the 2026 midterms with billions in saved funds – But they’ve got to hide their crazy; I mean really hide it.

The professional Republican Party in Washington DC is completely disconnected from the American voter, and more importantly from their base of support.  This creates a very unusual dynamic.  First, let me explain what Republican priorities the Democrats need to support:

♦ Republicans will demand more funding for Ukraine.  So, Democrats should give it to them. Two-thirds of the American voters are against the stupid spending on this nonsense proxy war against Russia.  If Democrats quietly, silently, just let the GOP fund their proxy war, voters will punish them.

Democrat voters will not care about this, and GOP voters will sit home in frustration.

♦ Republicans will demand re-authorization of FISA (702).  Again, two-thirds of the American people do not support warrantless surveillance of American citizens.  Again, the Democrats should just give them this demand and then remind voters this is the Washington DC Republican priority.

Democrat voters will not generally care about this obscure issue, and the GOP base will again stew in frustration.  BONUS: Democrats then get to weaponize the authority when they get power again and target republicans creating more frustration.

See how easy this is?

There are many more policy points just like these.  Why?  Well, basically, this is a year when the professional republican priorities in Washington DC are entirely disconnected from their base voter.

♦ The Republican voters have asked DC Republicans for a few simple things like:

1. Voting integrity (SAVE act);

2. Fast track migrant deportations;

3. Confronting lawlessness (Antifa et al);

4. Arrests for criminal corruption and transparently visible violent activity;

5. Spending priorities that focus on Americans’ first, not migrants or foreign interests.

That’s essentially it.

That’s the proverbial “big ask” that is just too much for the Washington DC Professional Republican party to accept.

Washington DC Republicans are fighting every voter ‘ask’ and telling voters their requests are ridiculous and stupid.

♦ DC Republicans always hate republican voters. There’s a long history of this.  As a consequence, the only thing that will motivate the republican voters in ’26 and ’28, is the insanity of the Communist left. Republican voters have nothing to vote ‘for‘ because all their ‘asks’ are just, well, being ignored.

If you are a Democrat this is easy, Republicans are handing you the election by keeping their base voters frustrated and at home.  However, this also requires the professional Democrats to do something challenging for them; don’t be crazy.

The only thing the communist/leftists need to do in order to win the election, is not be crazy. Actually, just shut up – don’t talk about all that stuff in their head – bank all their donations, do nothing else. Don’t even campaign. Just be completely and entirely quiet.

If the Communists can find enough self-restraint to do that in every election this November, literally just go on vacation until late October, they will crush the Republican party for a decade without spending a dime.

♦ Republican voters are exhausted. They are exhausted from asking for the easiest and simplest things and getting rejected and dismissed by the totality of all Washington DC Republican political leadership.

Obviously, this level of DC disconnect is not accidental.  The Republican preference to be in the minority is well known and very well documented.  We all understand how each wing of the UniParty operates.

The left-wing demands power.  The right-wing demands money.  Democrats use money to get power; Republicans use power to get money.  Donors to the left-wing support the ideology; the ideology of the right-wing is dependent on donors. This is the difference between the two wings of the DC UniParty.

On the bright side, Communists often struggle to rein in their extreme behavior, so there’s a chance the Democrats could stir up enough wild ideas to drive Republican voters to turn out in large numbers against them.

[SOURCE]

President Trump Faith and Freedom Speech – 1:30pm ET Livestream


Posted originally on CTH on June 26, 2026 | Sundance 

President Trump will be delivering remarks today at the Faith and Freedom Coalition.  President Trump has indicated the context of his speech will surround the current advancement of communism within the Democrat party.

The speech is expected at 1:30 pm ET with livestream links below:

VIA TRUTH SOCIAL – “I will be speaking at 1:30 P.M. to The Faith and Freedom Coalition, and one of the Statements I will be making, perhaps the most important of them all, concerns the recent Election of Communists in our Country.”

“Communism is very easy to sell. I’d be the Greatest Communist in History. I’d give free rent, free houses, free food, everything is free. Unfortunately, after two or three years, the Country where this is taking place would fail. It always does, and then you’ll start living in squalor. There will be no food, there will be no housing, there will be no Military, there will be no nothing. You’ll be Third World every way, and everyone will suffer or die.

I’m sorry to say, but Assassinations of those who oppose them is a very important element of their Ideology. They’re animals! In many cases, not smart but, in some cases, they are. It’s easy for them to get followers because they make promises that they know they can’t keep, and the Dumocrats aren’t fighting back. In many ways, they’re allowing them to go their own way. They’re afraid they will lose their Election, they’re afraid of conflict. They’re not smart enough or tough enough to fight this plague. If they fought them the way they fight Republicans, or me, they’d be victorious, but they don’t have the courage to do so.

These are not social Dumocrats, these are hard core, godless Communists. This is the most serious threat to our Country since its existence 250 years ago. Isn’t it ironic, we’re celebrating a very important Birthday, and instead of speaking about Christ, Freedom, and Victories of all different kinds, we’re speaking about yet another threat to the Foundations of America.

These ruthless Communists will attack all Religions but, in particular, Christianity – They always do. All Communist Countries attack Religions violently. As you know, we recently struck Nigeria, and largely ended the slaughter of their Great Christian population. They know that if they go further, the attack will be far greater and, in that, they don’t want to get involved. I am saving Christians throughout the World, even though we are not in those various Countries, by hitting these Terrorists violently and hard. They will close your Churches, they will kill your people. This is what they’re about. This is the Greatest Threat to our Country since its Founding 250 years ago!” President DONALD J. TRUMP

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Bolton Pleads Guilty – Max Sentence 5 Years, Plus $2.25 Million Fine


Posted originally on CTH on June 26, 2026 | Sundance 

The original indictment carried 17 counts against him.  Today, John Bolton has pleaded guilty to one felony of willfully retaining classified information.  The plea agreement includes a max term of 5 years prison, $2.25 million fine and forfeiture of his federal pension.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes made the announcement saying: “John Robert Bolton II plead guilty in federal court to the unlawful retention of national defense information…Mr. Bolton faces a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison followed by a term of up to three years of supervised release. He will also pay a fine of $2.25 million and will forfeit his pension.”

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Apparently, the fine is the income Bolton received from the book he authored using the classified information.

According to Politico the single charge plea “is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, but under the terms of the deal, Bolton, 77, can withdraw his plea and go to trial if Chuang decides a sentence of more than five years is warranted.”

President Trump Notes Iran Violated Ceasefire Terms During Faith Council Meeting


Posted originally on CTH on June 26, 2026 | Sundance

During a White House oval office meeting with President Trump’s faith council.  President Trump took a quick question about a current strike from the IRGC toward the Strait of Hormuz.  WATCH (prompted):

WASHINGTON DC – The U.S. conducted a strike against Iran on Friday in response to an attack on a commercial ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the most significant test yet of the deal to end hostilities that President Donald Trump signed last week.

U.S. Central Command said Friday that American aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites, along with coastal radar sites.

On Thursday, Iran attacked a Singaporean cargo ship that was exiting the strait along the Omani coast with a one-way drone attack, Central Command said. Trump earlier Friday called Iran’s attack on the ship a “foolish violation” of the ceasefire.

The attacks jeopardize a temporary peace framework that the Trump administration has trumpeted as an effective means for lasting peace in the region and the end of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. (READ MORE)

Secretary Rubio Announces Trilateral Peace Framework Between Israel and Lebanon Supported by USA


Posted originally on CTH on June 26, 2026 | Sundance 

PRESS RELEASE – […] Today, the Governments of Israel and Lebanon made a bold decision to agree to a framework that builds a realistic path out of endless conflict. This agreement establishes a clear and structured process to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty, disarm Hizballah and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and enable Israel to return to its borders once that threat to its citizens is removed. It also creates a trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L), facilitated by the United States, allowing the two sides to implement this Framework. For Lebanon, this Framework provides a genuine pathway out of a long crisis. For Israel, it creates a verifiable path to removing the persistent threat on its northern border.

The United States commends the courage of the two sovereign governments for taking this step to break the cycle of violence once and for all. The United States will remain fully engaged and commit significant resources, including an immediate $100 million in humanitarian assistance in coordination with the U.N.

[Speech Transcript Here]

“The United States also reaffirms its intent to improve the capability and capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to more effectively establish sovereignty throughout Lebanese territory. To that end, the Department of War is prepared to reimburse the LAF with more than $30 million under existing authorities and appropriations to support the President’s vision for an enduring peace in Lebanon.

We intend to work closely with our regional partners to implement this Framework and deliver a brighter, more secure future for Israel, Lebanon, and the whole Middle East.” (read more)

President Trump Outlines Retaliatory U.S. Tariffs Against EU Nations Who Implement Digital Services Taxes


Posted originally on CTH on June 26, 2026 | Sundance

Multiple countries have proposed ‘digital service taxes’ which are taxes on the domestic use of American tech platforms like META, Twitter, Amazon etc.  EU countries are planning to tax U.S. based tech platforms for the revenues generated by operations within EU countries.

President Trump announces retaliatory action via reciprocity taxes, in essence leveraging the entirety of the U.S. consumer market, if the EU proceed with this new tax revenue scheme against U.S. companies.   Canada was on the cusp of a digital services tax last year when Trump made a similar announcement forcing Canada to abandon the plan.

[SOURCE]

WASHINGTON DC – […] Trump’s promise to raise tariffs threatens to complicate trade talks with the European Union. Trump’s threat comes one day after EU member states approved an agreement that would slash tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and some agricultural products. In return, the U.S. would cap most tariffs on the European Union at 15 percent.

Outside of proposed taxes, the EU has in place various measures designed to crack down on outsized influence from big tech companies, such as the Digital Markets Act, which allows regulators to set strict operating rules and fine large platforms.

In a statement, the European Commission defended its “sovereign right” to regulate its own economic activity.

“Unilateral measures targeting such legitimate policies are unjustified. If pursued, the EU will respond swiftly and decisively to defend its rights and regulatory autonomy,” it said. “The EU has consistently supported a global solution to the fair taxation of the digital economy, in line with the G7 finance ministers conclusions. That remains our preferred path, and we are ready to engage constructively to get there.” (read more)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio Gives Media Remarks from Bahrain on GCC Discussions and Venezuela Earthquake Crisis Response


Posted originally on CTH on June 25, 2026 | Sundance

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers a post-meeting media briefing in Bahrain following talks with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers. Secretary Rubio begins with an outline of the U.S. crisis response to the requests from the Venezuela government, the Iran peace process, regional security, U.S.-Italy relations involving Giorgia Meloni, questions regarding JD Vance, and broader diplomatic priorities shaping Washington’s foreign policy agenda. WATCH:

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Death Toll Climbing Rapidly in Aftermath of Venezuela Earthquake


Posted originally on CTH on June 25, 2026 | Sundance

The news feed from Associated Press in Venezuela shows catastrophic damage in the aftermath of a pair of earthquakes that have devastated the Northern section of the country. [AP HERE]  Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said at least 164 were dead and 971 injured; however, the death toll is climbing rapidly.

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CIA and USAID


Posted originally on CTH on June 25, 2026 | Sundance 

In 2008 Joe Biden was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with oversight jurisdiction of the U.S State Dept. Foreign Service and the passport office, along with and all foreign policy nominations etc.

In 2008 John Brennan was working for the Obama campaign when someone from his outside government group, The Analysis Corporation, “hacked” into the state dept database to access the passport files and State Dept records of Barack Obama.

John O. Brennan, Obama’s then top terrorism and intelligence adviser, was the owner of The Analysis Corp.  The company was cited in March 2008 for penetrating the files of presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and John McCain in the State Department’s passport office.

At the time of the breach, John Brennan was working as an unpaid adviser to the Obama campaign.   After the breach was revealed by the Washington Times, Brennan stated:

“This individual’s actions were taken without the knowledge or direction of anyone at The Analysis Corp. and are wholly inconsistent with our professional and ethical standards,” Brennan’s company said in a statement sent to reporters after the passport breach was made public.  (link)

The Washington Times Reported – Passport application data includes such details as date and place of birth, e-mail address, mailing address, Social Security number, former names and travel plans. Mr. Obama was born in Honolulu in 1961 to a Kenyan father and American mother. He lived in Jakarta, Indonesia, from age six to 10.

Computer-monitoring equipment detected the activities by the three employees on Jan. 9, Feb. 21 and March 14, triggering alarms in each case, Mr. McCormack said.  Mr. McCormack said the officials accessed Mr. Obama’s records “without a need to do so.”

“In each case, we immediately contacted our contractors, their employer, and two were fired and one was disciplined,” he said.  (link)

But it is important to remember EXACTLY what Brennan’s background was before the State Department breach.   Brennan spent 25 years working for the CIA prior to the security breach:

Mr. Brennan spent most of his C.I.A. career as an analyst, but during the 1990s served a tour as the chief of the station in Saudi Arabia.   From 1999 to early 2001, he was chief of staff to George J. Tenet, the director of central intelligence, as the position was then called. At the end of his CIA. service, in 2004 and 2005, Mr. Brennan set up what is now the counterterrorism center.  (link)

Yet, people would have us believe, after 25 years within the CIA, and after being the Chief of Staff to the Director, and after being the person who set up the counter terrorism center, and after being the CIA approved contractor for the State dept., well, John Brennan just didn’t know that someone from his firm was penetrating the passport files within the State Dept. on three occasions in Jan and Feb 2008 to look at information of the candidate who he was specifically working for.

That was their story, and they stuck to it in 2008.

After the initial inquiry, federal investigators maintained that the target of the illegal activity was Senator Barack Obama’s passport file.   It does not take a stretch to come to the conclusion this was for the sole purpose of cleansing records of information that would jeopardize Obama’s candidacy.    As many people speculated at the time, the breach of the passport records of the other candidates was merely to create confusion.

Brennan was, at the time, an unpaid advisor working with Obama’s campaign. Passport files include an applicant’s name, gender, social security number, date and place of birth, and passport number. Additional information may include birth certificates, naturalization certificates, or oaths of allegiance for U.S. born persons who adopted the citizenship of a foreign country as minors.

It is important to remember the oversight agency that would be investigating the breach – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee oversees the State Department.

At the time Senator Joe Biden was the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when the breach would be investigated.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice phoned Obama and personally apologized for the breach. “I told him that I myself would be very disturbed if I learned that somebody had looked into my passport file,” Rice told reporters. She phoned Clinton and McCain and offered similar apologies.

Following the breach, State Department managers met with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, whose committee has oversight over the Foreign Service and the passport office.  (link)

And, well, what do you know…  Biden became the VP pick of Obama.

State Department employee, Lieutenant Quarles Harris, Jr. who had the passport access, apparently was the guy who penetrated the database and scrubbed the records.  Harris was killed – April 18th, 2008.

Yes, Lieutenant Harris decided to cooperate with the FBI who were investigating the break-in.   Soon after his cooperation became a matter of record, his body was discovered in his parked car; he had been shot twice in the head, likely a “suicide”.

Last point. In mid-February 2010, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs alerted WH reporters that certain questions about Obama’s job with Business International Corporation (BIC) would not be subject to discussion.  BIC was well known in Washington DC to be a front company for the CIA; hence, many speculated the State Department passport records were scrubbed to erase any potential mention of Obama’s CIA activities and his personal information.  You decide.

Here’s the thing, and I do mean this with great seriousness:

If you take a close look at it, you realize that seemingly every function of the USAID as an institution came from the CIA.  In essence, USAID was the operational cover for the CIA.  The CIA seemingly created the mechanics of USAID for CIA purposes.

Now, once you look at USAID as an outreach arm of the CIA, then suddenly everything USAID partnered with can realistically be looked at -at the very least questioned- as a CIA operation working with joint partners for CIA intentions.

This agency relationship means everything.

The recent story of USAID funding The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which in turn was funding KKK ops, is just one example. In actuality, with the nature of the relationship now being spotlighted, was the CIA directing activity and funding KKK ops?  If so the implications are remarkable.

When we transition our thinking to accept much of the USAID activity was a CIA operation, it completely changes things. That shift in review, also reconciles things.  Additionally, it is worth noting that Barack Obama’s mom worked for USAID.

The Clinton Foundation had a partnership with USAID. Ergo, essentially Bill and Hillary were partnered with the CIA. Now, does the lack of accountability for “Clinton Cash” or the pay-to-play make sense?

The same thing applies to Joe/Hunter Biden in Ukraine.

The Anthony Weiner/Huma Abedin laptop.  The Awan Brothers.  The Hunter Biden laptop, labeled as “Russian Disinformation” by former Acting CIA Director Mike Morrell and others.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power traveling Europe organizing political movements inside European and non-European countries. Well, that can now become the CIA organizing ‘leftist’ political groups, when you accept CIA as the chicken and USAID as the egg.

The entire analysis of how our govt is structured completely changes under the perspective that CIA operations have been much more deeply enmeshed than previously accepted.  George H.W. Bush was a former CIA Director.

Now, we take recent events into that context.

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Marco Rubio, a long time Gang of Eight member, becomes the U.S. Secretary of State.

What changes first?

What is the first priority?

USAID!

USAID is dissolved inside the State Dept.

Concurrently, the Directorate of Analysis inside the CIA, the office that connects the NSA to the CIA, is removed from inside the CIA and put under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. The heads of the Directorate of Analysis are removed and input feeding officials lose their security clearances.

At the same time, the ODNI then replaces the CIA as the principal director to assemble the President’s Daily Intelligence Brief (PDB).

Put these actions together: the political manipulation of the CIA analysis desk is now confronted. ✔️ The outcome equities of the CIA are fact-checked and confronted (PDB)✔️…. and the biggest move, the USAID operation that is run by the CIA to influence both foreign and domestic government operations is dissolved. ✔

However, that said, we must remember these are generational CIA constructs, legacy networks with the ability to adapt, shrink and/or expand their muscle memory depending on the objectives of who is watching them.

Then overlay the 5-eyes aspect that supports the foundational CIA operation, and what we get is a likelihood that even if the domestic CIA is brought to heel, the U.K (GCHQ), Canada, Australia and EU alliance part can still operate on the original framework.

Now think about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent opposition, his words and network to whom he is speaking.  Then President Obama and Mark Carney assemble.  Again, does that shift in perspective change the way these events look?

This is our current status.

It certainly does seem that all roads, historic, recent and even generational; along with almost all significant political events and the political figures within them (Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, Obama); have some direct connection that leads back to Langley, Virginia.