May 10 2025

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett Gives Updates on “Two Dozen” Trade Deals

White House NEC Director Kevin Hassett gives an update on the current status of trade negotiations around the world. After finishing a CNBC interview (also linked below) Director Hassett noted that Asia was likely to be the next place for an announcement following the completion of the United Kingdom deal.

Hassett outlines that approximately “two dozen” bilateral free trade agreements are completed within the reciprocity framework, and the sequencing of announcements is up to President Trump. Japan, South Korea and ASEAN nations would be candidates for the next deal as announced. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer are currently in Switzerland and will be meeting with their Chinese counterparts to begin the first point of discussion. WATCH:

The press availability above comes immediately following a more extensive CNBC interview which is outlined below.

Director Hassett is always very professional and careful not to step on the toes of the primary trade negotiators: Secretary Lutnick, Secretary Bessent and USTR Jamieson Greer.

The U.K. deal helps to structure the parameters of expectation for all other trade agreements. Second to China, India is perhaps the most complex and the sequencing plays a key part of the strategy. Happy warrior Hassett also discusses the tax policy negotiations that are taking place between the White House, the House and Senate.

No tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on U.S. auto loans is all campaign promises that are priorities for President Trump.

May 9, 2025 | Sundance

May 10 2025

Texas AG Ken Paxton Announces $1.375 Billion Settlement from Google for Privacy Violations

Posted originally on CTH on May 9, 2025 | Sundance

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has won a $1.375 billion settlement from Google as a result of the state suing the tech company for continued privacy violations. [Press Release Here]

TEXAS – […] In 2022, Attorney General Paxton sued Google for unlawfully tracking and collecting users’ private data regarding geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric data. After years of aggressive litigation, Attorney General Paxton agreed to settle Texas’s data-privacy claims against Google for an amount that far surpasses any other state’s claims for similar violations.

To date, no state has attained a settlement against Google for similar data-privacy violations greater than $93 million. Even a multistate coalition that included forty states secured just $391 million—almost a billion dollars less than Texas’s recovery.

“In Texas, Big Tech is not above the law. For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This $1.375 billion settlement is a major win for Texans’ privacy and tells companies that they will pay for abusing our trust. I will always protect Texans by stopping Big Tech’s attempts to make a profit by selling away our rights and freedoms.” (more)

May 10 2025

Brussels Organizes Pro-EU Rally in Romania Attempting to Influence Run-Off Election

Posted originally on CTH onMay 9, 2025 | Sundance

Previously we watched Brussels organize pro-EU rallies in Great Britain (they lost), Hungary (they lost), the Netherlands (they lost), Poland (they won), Georgia (they lost), Moldova (they won) while Germany & France still in a state of flux. Now the EU/NATO operation focuses on Romania.

With eurosceptic George Simion winning the first-round election and leading in the polls, the EU/NATO must increase their influence operation, or they lose position.

The largest NATO base is currently being constructed in Romania and Brussels cannot afford to permit the Romanian people to be an impediment to their militaristic progress.

The narrative is the same each time; if the citizens of the targeted country vote to support their own nationalistic interests, they are Russian sympathizers.

The pro-EU rally organizers are the same people who showed up in Warsaw, Prague, Budapest and Tblisi.

BUCHAREST, May 9 (Reuters) – Thousands of people rallied in Romania’s capital, Bucharest, and other cities in support of the European Union on Friday, one week before a presidential election run-off that could see a hard-right eurosceptic sweep into power.

Hard-right nationalist George Simion won the first round of the presidential ballot on Sunday, and an opinion survey earlier this week showed him leading ahead of the May 18 run-off vote against centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

Simion, 38, opposes military aid to Ukraine, is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.

Analysts have said a Simion victory could isolate Romania, erode private investment and destabilise NATO’s eastern flank, where Bucharest plays a key role in providing logistical support to Ukraine as it fights a three-year-old Russian invasion.

In Bucharest on Friday, an estimated 15,000 people rallied, waving EU and Romanian flags and chanting, “Russia, don’t forget Romania is not yours” and “We want our country forward not backward.” (read more)

In the larger picture the European Union is a failed effort. Much of the political support for Ukraine stems from the EU refusal to accept the predictable future.

The control agents in Brussels cling to power through control of the economic conditions, and from that perspective they will align with any entity who permits them to retain a strong financial position. As we watch this dynamic continue to unfold, I would not be at all surprised to see the EU align itself with China. Indeed, there are already indications this is happening.

The primary influence that defeats ideology, is money.

May 10 2025

Newark New Jersey Mayor Arrested for Criminal Trespass During Political ‘Resistance’ Stunt at ICE Detention Facility

Posted originally on CTH on May 9, 2025 | Sundance

Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka and three congressional representatives, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver attempted a political stunt at a local ICE detention facility in Newark. Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested.

The intention of the group was to shut down deportation operations at Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed detention facility used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the removal process for illegal aliens. Baraka, Coleman, Menendez and McIver created a public disturbance as part of their stunt and trespassed on federal facilities.

As an outcome, Mayor Ras Baraka was handcuffed and led away by federal authorities as the agitated crowd tried to fight the police and federal officials. WATCH:

NEW JERSEY – […] The arrest followed a chaotic scene in the facility’s parking lot involving protestors, federal law enforcement officers and the three members — Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rob Menendez and LaMonica McIver — at Delaney Hall. The Trump administration reopened the 1,00-bed facility this month to house migrants amid a lawsuit from the city against the private operator, GEO Group, alleging it does not have the proper inspections and permits. GEO group has denied that allegation.

The interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Alina Habba, confirmed that Baraka was detained.

“The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon,” she wrote on X. “He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”

The detention unfolded after Baraka, who is also running for governor, was apparently allowed inside a fenced parking lot at the facility and then later told to leave.

The three House members had been inside the facility and then came out with officers wearing gear that identified them variously as federal police, ICE and homeland security personnel. At one point, the three Democratic members, who had been seeking a tour of the facility, came out as authorities threatened to arrest Baraka. They all exited to a parking lot outside the fence where protesters had gathered.

The three members then reentered the fenced area, but Menendez quickly came back and warned Baraka that the authorities still wanted to arrest Baraka. When Menendez came to warn Baraka, he looked through the fence and told the mayor, “They are talking about coming out to arrest you.” (read more)

May 10 2025

Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller Discusses Ongoing Immigration Enforcement with Assembled Press Pool

Posted originally on CTH on May 9, 2025 | Sundance

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller held an impromptu press availability at the White House to discuss ongoing immigration enforcement and the deportation program repatriating illegal aliens. Miller also discusses the U.S. refugee program to support white South Africans who are being targeted and killed. The first set of 54 refugees are scheduled to arrive soon.

In addition, Mr Miller outlines the basic framework of the ongoing trade deals that are being constructed. WATCH:

May 10 2025

White House Press Briefing – 1:00pm ET Livestream

Posted originally on CTH on May 9, 2025 | Sundance

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing from the Brady Room at the White House. Anticipated start time 1:00pm ET. Livestream Links Below.

May 10 2025

DNI Tulsi Gabbard Discusses Ongoing Internal Investigations into Intel Community Leaks to Media Allies

Posted originally on CTH on May 9, 2025 | Sundance

One of the least understood dynamics about how the DC silos operate, pertains to review and investigative work done by government officials into government misconduct. In essence, special counsels, special investigators and appointed special prosecutors do not look at government activity if that activity can be framed as political. The silos protect themselves from external review.

As a consequence, the only administrative review of government misconduct happens when the silos look internally at their own agency. In this short video below Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard outlines that 11 internal investigations are ongoing to target Intelligence Community officials, staff and employees who are leaking classified information to the media.

After the internal review, the DNI then sends (criminal) referrals to Main Justice and the FBI if warranted. Currently three criminal referrals have been sent to the FBI/DOJ as eleven investigations continue. WATCH:

DNI GABBARD REVEALS 11 PENDING INVESTIGATIONS INTO INTEL LEAKS AND UNDERMINING OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

U.S. Director of National Intelligence @DNIGabbard reveals to @MattGaetz “we have 11 other internal investigations ongoing now within ODNI and we intend to continue to… pic.twitter.com/s0SAwTQIjt
— One America News (@OANN) May 9, 2025

TRANSCRIPT … […] “as I said, the politicization of our intelligence community needs to end—to even begin to start to earn the trust of the American people. The actions that we’ve taken—unfortunately—there continue to be significant leaks coming out of the intelligence community. Not only my organization, but the CIA and others—again, by those who are very directly trying to undermine the agenda and actions of President Trump. Once again, the President who was elected by the American people with an overwhelming mandate.

The way that we start to end this is by bringing about transparency and accountability. In these cases, we conducted our own internal investigation. In three cases, we referred them to the Department of Justice. As you know well, Matt, sometimes—or historically—we could refer things to the Department of Justice, and they would sit on a desk somewhere or get lost in the paper shuffle. And you end up having to wait and you wonder, Well, is anything ever going to happen?

Well, I can tell you, with the leadership we have there now, not only has there been action taken, but they have been actioned by the FBI and are going through immediately to investigate these cases with the intent of bringing about prosecution.

We have 11 other internal investigations ongoing now within ODNI, and we intend to continue to carry them out to completion—to hold those who are illegally leaking classified information, trying to undermine the President, politicizing intelligence—hold them accountable. Because this has got to end.”

DNI Tulsi Gabbard is following a frustratingly slow process. However, if she is successful the DC apparatus will target her for removal.