May 19 2026

Treasury Secretary Bessent Extends Russian Oil/Gas Sanctions Waiver Another 30-Days

Posted originally on CTH on May 18, 2026 | sundance

I’m not going to spend too much time on this as I suspect most readers are well aware of my predictions on the matter. Suffice to say Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has extended the sanctions waiver on Russian oil and gas for another 30-days. {citation}

The OFAC waiver targets Russian oil/gas that was loaded onto floating storage platforms as of April 17, 2026. The destination of the oil/gas will primarily be China, India and Southeast Asia; westbound Arctic supply route. The general license means all of the ASEAN countries can purchase in dollars and provides Russia with an exchange for the same currency valuation. Once again, Zelenskyy -and Europe- will not be happy.

There is a certain irony in Europe previously banning the import of Russian oil/gas (EU sanctions) and now, when they desperately need it, the supply is flowing in the opposite direction. Both Russia’s Arctic I and Arctic II platforms are operating to produce the supply; however, as many readers here will note they coincidentally :::nudge, nudge – wink, wink::: started pumping supply to “on the water” storage for six months prior to the beginning of the Iran conflict. This is the third U.S. waiver of sanctions.

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday. {GO DEEP}

May 19 2026

President Trump Gives Media a Tour of White House Ballroom and Defense Infrastructure

Posted originally on CTH on May 19, 2026 | sundance

President Trump took the press pool on a tour of the White House ballroom and defense infrastructure that is being incorporated into the design itself. As noted by President Trump the ballroom will sit atop a sub-surface system of hardened rooms, research facilities and military operations that will form a hub of interconnected executive office government defense operations.

The building is being built to withstand missile and drone attacks, with several floors underground that will serve as a defense system for the President and cabinet members. The ballroom that sits atop the underground network will be paid by President Trump and donors; the government funding is for the military defense complex that will sit underground approximately six stories down. This is a remarkable explanation by President Trump. WATCH:

May 19 2026

IRS and DOJ Settle Lawsuit Filed by Trump Following 2024 Leak of IRS Files – $1.7 Billion in Compensation for Victims Harmed by IRS Targeting

Posted originally on CTH on May 18, 2026 | sundance

In 2017 the DOJ and IRS settled a class action lawsuit filed by Tea Party groups for unlawful targeting by Lois Learner and the Cincinnati office of the IRS. The DOJ paid over 400 lawsuit participants dating back to 2013 and the IRS apologized for the unlawful targeting based on political affiliation. {citation}

Between 2018 and 2020 former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn — who worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, a defense and national security tech firm — leaked President Trump’s tax returns to two news outlets. In 2024, Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty. {citation}

President Trump filed a lawsuit against the IRS for $10 billion in compensation following the intentional IRS leaking of his tax returns. Today, the IRS and DOJ settled with President Trump by establishing a $1.7 billion fund for victims of IRS targeting.

The Associated Press, mainstream media and leftist in congress are framing the settlement announcement as President Trump paying his allies and MAGA supporters. However, the fund is set up to pay all victims of IRS targeting regardless of political affiliation.

If the media and democrats are correct that only President Trump supporters will benefit from the $1.7 billion IRS victim compensation fund, then by direct implication the media are asserting that only President Trump supporters were targeted by the IRS.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday announced the creation a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies of the Republican president who believe they were mistreated by the Biden administration Justice Department.

The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” was announced by the Justice Department as part of a deal to resolve President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in announcing the fund in a statement that it was “a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”

Democrats and government watchdogs immediately pledged to fight what they called a “corrupt” and unprecedented resolution, warning that the arrangement would unjustly enrich people close to the president with taxpayer dollars and open the door to meritless claims of political persecution. (read more)

How can the claims be “meritless” when the IRS contractor pleaded guilty in 2024 to leaking Trump’s tax returns and was sentenced to five years in prison?