Category Blogger C0nservative Tree House

Jan 11 2026

Russia Strikes Back Using Hypersonic Missiles Against Kiev Following Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence


Posted originally on CTH on January 10, 2026 | Sundance 

President Trump, President Zelenskyy and the CIA continue to deny any involvement on the drone attack against Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin’s state residence.  However, Russia has released evidence from the drones that were shot down including the guidance and targeting systems.

Someone launched the drones from Ukraine and targeted them at Putin’s residence to send a message.  There is considerable debate online about it, but if President Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are speaking truthfully, the most likely suspect who launched the drones was British intelligence inside Ukraine.  Then again, if the CIA was factually involved, everyone would have to deny it.

In retaliation for the December 29th attack, yesterday Russia fired a hypersonic Oreshnik missile and counterattack drones directly into the heart of Kiev, Ukraine.

The use of the Oreshnik missile comes just hours after Russian President Putin asserted publicly that Ukraine, Europe and NATO have no defenses against the hypersonics.

President Zelenskyy said the Russian attack involved 242 drones, 13 ballistic missiles, one Oreshnik missile and 22 cruise missiles. However, as with all things Zelenskyy, this dramatic claim seems to be slightly exaggerated.

Russia claims they targeted key electricity infrastructure as well as the production facilities for building drones in Kiev which are collocated in residential areas.

Images of the hypersonic missile warheads hitting their targets is shown at left.  Much of Kiev is now without power and electricity.

The Russian Defense Ministry said, “in response to the terrorist attack by the Kiev regime on the residence of the President of the Russian Federation in Novgorod region, launched on the night of 29 December 2025, the Russian Armed Forces launched a massive strike with high-precision long-range ground- and sea-based weapons including the Oreshnik mobile ground-based medium-range missile system as well as attack unmanned aerial vehicles at critically important facilities on the territory of Ukraine. All the assigned targets have been hit. Production facilities of unmanned aerial vehicles that were used during the terrorist attack as well as power infrastructure enterprises that supported the defense industry of Ukraine have been damaged.”

Moscow appears ambivalent to the demands of the EU/NATO as they pertain to a ceasefire, and it appears the Kremlin has comprehensively rejected the European 20-point peace plan solution based on President Putin’s rejection of the ‘security guarantees’ as outlined by EU leadership.

Statement from Russia: “The document turned out to be extremely far from a peace settlement. The declaration is not aimed at achieving a lasting peace and security but rather at continuing the militarisation, escalation and further conflict aggravation.

Its core element is the deployment of “a multinational force” on Ukrainian territory that the coalition will have to form to contribute to the “rebuilding” of the Ukrainian armed forces and “support deterrence” [against Russia] following the cessation of the hostilities.

The document also includes clauses on further consolidation of Ukraine’s and NATO’s military industrial sectors.

As clarified by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who signed the corresponding trilateral statement along with Zelensky, London and Paris plan to establish their own military bases in Ukraine post-ceasefire and build weapon and military equipment storage facilities.

The Russian Foreign Ministry warns that the deployment of military units and the setting-up of military facilities, storages and other Western infrastructure on Ukrainian territory will be qualified as foreign intervention that directly threatens the security of Russia and other European countries.

All such units and facilities will be considered as legitimate military targets for the Russian Armed Forces.

Warnings to this effect have been repeatedly made at the highest level and remain relevant.

We also reaffirm that a peaceful resolution of the conflict is solely possible through the elimination of its root causes, the re-establishment of Ukraine’s neutral non-aligned status, its demilitarisation and denazification, and Kiev’s observance of the language, cultural and religious rights and freedoms, including those of ethnic Russians, Russian-speaking people, and members of ethnic minorities, and through the recognition of the current territorial realities that emerged as a result of the peoples’ exercised right to self-determination.

All these goals will, undoubtedly, be achieved either by political and diplomatic means or in the course of the special military operation, in which the Russian Armed Forces are maintaining full initiative on the battlefield.

The new militarist declarations of the so-called Coalition of the Willing and the Kiev regime are forming a true Axis of war.

Its participants’ plans are becoming increasingly more dangerous and destructive for the future of the European continent and its residents, who are also forced by Western politicians to pay for such ambitions out of their own pockets.” {SOURCE}

President Trump was asked about the current status during his meeting with oil executives on Friday:

On the positive side, it is good to remember the U.S. has now established strong diplomatic ties for deconfliction between the U.S. and Russia.  The Europeans and many within the U.S. congress want and demand escalated conflict with Russia, President Trump does not.

The “coalition of the willing” (Brussels, Great Britian, Canada, France, Germany and Australia) cannot reasonably go to war with Russia without the assistance of the United States.  President Trump does not want to involve us in the growing quagmire either in Ukraine or any of the various ancillary venues the EU are promoting.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has recently joined with French President Emmanuel Macron to say perhaps it is time for the EU to engage directly with Vladimir Putin.  The EU has a position, a 20-point plan, that is not supported by President Trump because it is contingent upon American involvement.

Perhaps it is time for the EU to take responsibility for their own diplomatic efforts and figure out a solution.  In the interim, President Putin continues taking apart Ukraine bit by bit.

Jan 10 2026

Chevron CEO Mike Worth Outlines Current and Future Production Capacity of Venezuela Oil


Posted originally on CTH on January 10, 2026 | Sundance 

Energy Secretary Wright asked Chevron CEO Mike Wirth to give some information about the current status of the Venezuelan oil industry.  Chevron has been on the ground in Venezuela for a long period of time and has significant infrastructure investment already in place.

Wirth notes that with current personnel (3,000) and equipment (4 locations) on site, Chevron could likely double capacity almost immediately, however, from there it would take approximately 18-months to gain more significant outputs.

President Trump asked if Chevron was in a position of advantage from already having their people and material already in operation, Wright noted generally yes, they do; however, the opportunities for industrial capacity gains are significant.

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Jan 10 2026

Secretary Rubio Outlines the Three Phases of Stabilization in Venezuela


Posted originally on CTH on January 10, 2026 | Sundance

During the energy roundtable, Secretary Rubio made remarks outlining the three phases within the U.S. policy toward Venezuela.  Essentially the core of the policy is: (1) Stabilization; (2) Transition, and (3) a Return to sovereign representative democracy.

The initial phase is ‘stabilization,’ where the U.S. government is working with existing leadership in Venezuela under tight controls and clear expectations.  Reconciliation of political factions is supported. The U.S. leverage is maintained by financial and economic control, provided by the threat of U.S. military.  Venezuela’s oil production pays for U.S. oversight.

The second phase involves ‘transition’, where the civic and governing responsibilities are shared between the existing Venezuelan leadership and aligned policy of the U.S. government.  In the transitional phase the economic wealth is apportioned to the people of Venezuela with oversight by the U.S. government.

The third phase ‘sovereign representative democracy’ happens when the reformed government holds legitimate elections to decide the representative form of government, the voice of the people, within Venezuela.  The U.S. influence then begins to withdraw, and new sovereign political leadership takes control.

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Jan 10 2026

Topic, Venezuela – President Trump Participates in a Meeting with Oil and Gas Executives


Posted originally on CTH on January 10, 2026 | Sundance

President Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio participate in a roundtable discussion with major oil and gas executives on the issue of energy investment in Venezuela.

The primary concern for oil executives is stability within Venezuela.  The Maduro government previously seized the assets of U.S. oil companies, and the investment required to restart the industry at scale are significant.

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Jan 10 2026

Interim Venezuela President Delcy Rodriquez Begins Releasing Political Prisoners


Posted originally on CTH on January 9, 2026 | Sundance

She really doesn’t have much choice.  President Trump has shown the Venezuelan government how the U.S. can put a complete stranglehold on the South American country if they do not adhere to the transition plans of Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the enforcer.

Following the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s new government under Delcy Rodríguez has begun releasing political prisoners in a bid to foster unity and peace. The change in Venezuelan politics comes directly as the result of President Trump using the military to block oil shipments, the major source of revenue for the nation.

The move seems to indicate a potential shift in Venezuela’s political landscape, though compliance with the Trump administration is likely happening through gritted teeth.

[SOURCE]

MIAMI – The interim government of Venezuela is releasing of “an important group” of Venezuelan and foreign political prisoners to guarantee unity and peace, according to Jorge Rodríguez, the president of the parliament and brother of the new president in charge of the South American country.

Rodríguez, who also represented now-deposed Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro for years in political negotiations with the opposition and the United States, indicated Thursday that the government of his sister, Delcy Rodríguez, was working together with the rest of the state institutions to carry out what he defined as “a unilateral gesture” of the executive branch.

The measure comes three days after the swearing-in of Delcy Rodríguez, former vice president of Maduro’s government, following the armed, Saturday morning incursion of U.S. military forces in Caracas that culminated in the arrest of the socialist ruler and his wife Cilia Flores, and some 100 deaths.

Jorge Rodríguez, recently ratified as leader of the national parliament, avoided referring to those released as prisoners for political reasons and said that these releases were taking place simultaneous to his announcement, made at noon on Thursday.

[…] Rodríguez thanked, at times with a broken voice, the mediation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, the government of Qatar, the former president of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and the institutions of the Venezuelan state that responded “in a prompt manner” to the order of his sister and interim president.

[…] Regarding the economic agreements between the United States and Venezuela, including the sale of crude oil from the South American country, Rodríguez insisted that it is only a “commercial transaction” between two countries with these ties for “many years. (more)

Meanwhile, back in Washington DC, the established UniParty is working earnestly on a public relations campaign to install their selected candidate, María Corina Machado.

Apparently, the Jeb Bush aligned Republican supporters of Maria Machado will be using the roadmap previously deployed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Congress, create a narrative and then work to influence the White House to support Mrs. Machado. The professionally Republican want Venezuela to be the next Ukraine.

[SOURCE]

Thankfully, President Trump and Secretary Rubio appear immune to the congressional pressure campaign.  While they have spoken in nice diplomatic terms about the WEF-aligned Maria Machado – there is no indication the Trump administration is going to change current approaches.

As of right now, the Trump/Rubio approach is to leverage the U.S. control over the wealth and income of Venezuela (oil production and exports), while retaining stability in the structures of government and pressuring the Delcy Rodriquez administration toward strong institutional reform and eventually a new election.

If Mrs. Maria Machado wins the election, then she will carry the support of the Venezuelan people into office.  Winning a legitimate election is a better outcome than being installed and domestically/geopolitically being viewed as a puppet of the U.S. government.

♦ Stabilize the government. ♦ Push strong democratic reform. ♦ Keep Cuba, Iran, China and Russia out of the influence equation. ♦ Control oil sales to ensure financial returns and benefits to the Venezuelan people, while ♦ planning and organizing free and fair elections.

Jan 10 2026

Secretary Bessent Announces Regional Action to Block Remittances From any Entity Receiving Public Assistance


Posted originally on CTH on January 9, 2026 | Sundance 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is leading the charge to focus on Minneapolis, Minnesota Somali fraud rings for targeted regional actions.  The IRS Criminal Investigations division has been dispatched to focus on the Minneapolis region to identify fraudulent use of public assistance services, combined with the abuse of federal taxpayer funds.

These fraud cases, ongoing since the early 2020s and intensifying in 2024–2026, involve allegations of misappropriating hundreds of millions (potentially up to several billions) in taxpayer funds intended for child nutrition, autism therapy, housing stabilization, personal care assistance, and other Medicaid programs.

In a remarkable approach, Secretary Bessent announced during a Fox News interview that a regional targeting effort is now underway that will block anyone who receives public assistance from sending money overseas (remittances to foreign countries).  This is not a fee or tax on the remittance, or financial transaction; this is a complete block of their ability to send money overseas.  Anyone receiving public assistance will not be able to send money to foreign lands.

Yes, it seems like this is initially going to be subject to the honest admission of the money sender. However, with the IRS reviewing each transfer and cross referencing to public assistance records anyone who attempts to work around this regulation will be subject to federal laws on financial fraud, wire service fraud and potentially money laundering.  WATCH:

The interagency focus will eventually go nationwide, as with the new USAO position that focuses on public assistance fraud; but for now, that focused effort will target Minnesota.   Minneapolis will be the beta test for a national rollout.

All of the money service businesses in the region will now be reviewed and all financial transactions of $3,000 will be required to have an accompanying Suspicious Activity Report (SAR).  With DHS, FBI and now IRS investigators focused exclusively on the two counties involved in the Somali fraud rings, the fraudsters will be identified and prosecuted.

Jan 9 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Triggers the Clock with Notification of U.S. Withdrawal from UNFCCC


Posted originally on CTH on January 8, 2026 | Sundance |

Giddy up.  Yesterday, President Trump and Marco Rubio announced the U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). {GO DEEP} Today, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent makes the official notification to the UN.

The notification is important because the 1992 UNFCCC was ratified by the U.S. Senate 34 years ago, making it one of the first UniParty climate change pacts supported by the ¹DC business model.

According to the terms of the treaty, withdrawal from the UNFCCC requires an official notification to the United Nations, and the dissolution takes effect one year later.

TREASURY PRESS RELEASE – WASHINGTON – In alignment with the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the U.S. Department of the Treasury has notified the Green Climate Fund (GCF) that the United States is withdrawing from the Fund and stepping down from its seat on the GCF Board, effective immediately.

“Our nation will no longer fund radical organizations like the GCF whose goals run contrary to the fact that affordable, reliable energy is fundamental to economic growth and poverty reduction,” said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

The Trump Administration is committed to advancing all affordable and reliable sources of energy, which are fundamental to economic growth and poverty reduction. The GCF was established to supplement the objectives of the UNFCCC, and continued participation in the GCF has been determined to no longer be consistent with the Trump Administration’s priorities and goals. (SOURCE)

For those who have a tough time accepting wins, no, the next President cannot just rejoin the agreement; nor can the Senate block Trump’s withdrawal from it.  The entire process would have to be restarted, and it’s a heavy lift to sell the American public on paying higher prices just to make pontificating global elites feel better about themselves.

In addition, all the AI investments and infrastructure stuff needs quickly expanding massive amounts of energy. So, no, it’s not going to be reversed.

Now take some quiet time tomorrow over coffee and think about how many mechanisms of the U.S. govt are connected to this now removed climate change agenda.

¹God only knows how many ancillary government agencies, NGOs, think-tanks, academic groups, politicians along with their friends and families have been engaged in the business of managing the U.S. involvement in the climate change convention structure.  That entire U.S. Climate Change network is now going out of business.

[Trump Executive Order Here]

Last point.

Think about what an economic advantage this puts the United State in compared to the rest of the western world, and/or any nation that has signed up to the climate change agreements which trigger serious ongoing consequences.

One Example Here.

Almost too much winning….

…. Almost 

Jan 9 2026

U.S. Trade Deficit Drops 40% in Latest Commerce Dept Report


Posted originally on CTH on January 8, 2026 | Sundance 

As you review this latest data on trade, remember any drop in trade deficits has two big picture functions:

First, lower trade deficits generally mean the accompanying GDP release will be stronger than anticipated because imported products are a deduction from the valuation of all goods and services created in the U.S. economy.  Lower imports mean less is deducted.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, a drop in the trade deficit created by diminished imports means more wealth remains inside the USA.

We are not spending, sending money overseas, to import foreign goods at the same rate, and that money stays inside the U.S. economy. More wealth inside the U.S. provides the fuel for expanded domestic growth, more investment gains in USA manufacturing and USA industry and the ability to pay higher USA wages.

The Commerce Department is reporting today that the U.S. trade deficit for October 2025 dropped to the smallest amount in 16-years.  A significant amount of the deficit drop was because a high value of physical precious metals (gold/silver) was exported, simultaneous with big offshore pharmaceutical companies dropping the prices of imported products (policy and tariff pressure).

WSJ – The U.S. trade deficit shrank dramatically in October to its lowest level since 2009, the Commerce Department said Thursday, an unexpected twist in a year of volatile trade flows that have been buffeted by the Trump administration’s steep tariffs.

American imports fell to $331.4 billion in October, while exports increased to $302 billion. That yielded an October deficit of $29.4 billion, an imbalance nearly 40% smaller than September’s. (more)

Some may question whether internal consumer demand has declined, causing the significant drop in imports.  However, the U.S productivity rate is still very high – which generally means domestic consumer demand is still high and all units produced have a lower overall cost per unit.

Economic analysis can get weedy…. so, a simple way to look at productivity is to think about baking bread in your kitchen.

If you were going to bake 4 loaves of bread it might take you 2 hrs. start to finish. However, if you were going to bake 8 loaves of bread it would not take you twice as long because most of the tasks can be accomplished with simple increases in batch size, and only minor increases in labor time. Your productivity measured in the last four loaves is higher.

Economic Productivity is measured much the same way, within what’s called a production probability equation.

Additionally, if two hours of your time are worth $40, each of four loaves of bread costs $10 in labor; but if you make 8 loaves in the same amount of time the labor cost is only $5/per loaf.

Improved gains in efficiency/productivity (more bread needed) supports faster economic growth without generating higher inflation; no need to raise prices because your cost to make each loaf of bread decreases the more you make.

Higher sales and lower per unit cost means more profit for the bread-maker. No need to raise prices, and without inflation, there’s no motive for the Fed to raise or maintain high interest-rates.

Increases in productivity generally means the economy is generating more stuff. The more stuff generated the higher the value of all economic activity; this increases GDP growth.

When we see higher productivity in direct alignment with GDP increases, the increased production indicates sustainable GDP growth.

Additionally, we can look at the internal dynamics to see big happenings inside the domestic economy.

The data was delayed by the government shutdown, but in December the Bureau of Economic Analysis released the third quarter 2025 GDP {DATA HERE} showing a very strong 4.3% growth.  The second quarter was also revised up to 3.8%.

Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.3 percent in the third quarter of 2025, showing increases in consumer spending, increases in exports.  Third quarter imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, decreased boosting the overall GDP number.  This strong GDP result corresponds to today’s report showing a shrinking trade deficit.

Jan 9 2026

Vice President JD Vance and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Hold a Press Conference – 1:00pm ET Livestream


Posted originally on CTH on January 8, 2026 | Sundance 

This is a good move.  Given that Democrats and professional leftists are trying to create a national anti-Trump narrative based on the Minneapolis, Minnesota, ICE shooting incident, Vice-President JD Vance will be supporting White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at the podium today.  The anticipated press briefing is at 1:00pm ET.

Minnesota officials and activists are changing the headline topic from rampant fraud and criminal theft centered in the ethnic Somalia enclaves of the Minneapolis community, to the issue of federal law enforcement shooting an anti-ICE activist.  The scale of the Democrat reaction is in direct proportion to the scale of the Democrat fraud they are distracting from.

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Jan 9 2026

Vice President JD Vance and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Hold a Press Conference – 1:00pm ET Livestream


Posted originally on CTH on January 8, 2026 | Sundance

This is a good move.  Given that Democrats and professional leftists are trying to create a national anti-Trump narrative based on the Minneapolis, Minnesota, ICE shooting incident, Vice-President JD Vance will be supporting White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at the podium today.  The anticipated press briefing is at 1:00pm ET.

Minnesota officials and activists are changing the headline topic from rampant fraud and criminal theft centered in the ethnic Somalia enclaves of the Minneapolis community, to the issue of federal law enforcement shooting an anti-ICE activist.  The scale of the Democrat reaction is in direct proportion to the scale of the Democrat fraud they are distracting from.

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