Posted originally on CTH on January 12, 2026 | Sundance
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett appears on CNBC to discuss the current status of the Trump economy. Obviously, the first question to Hassett surrounds the announcement by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell that he is under a grand jury investigation.
Director Hassett rightly notes the DOJ is independently investigating the issues of Powell as a result of both a Senate Banking Committee (Tim Scott) and House criminal referral for misleading and false testimony related to the construction of the FED building in Washington DC. Both the decisions by the Federal Reserve and the Dept of Justice are not outcomes of President Trump’s decision making. Secondly, Hassett is considered a candidate to replace Powell in May, so it would be inappropriate for him to make any comments. WATCH:
Posted originally on CTH on January 11, 2026 | Sundance
Seriously folks, you would think that after all this time the Europeans would finally understand how President Trump manipulates the media cycle and gets them to do exactly what he wants – while they and the majority of their constituents think it’s exactly the opposite. This stuff is just too funny now.
According to European media outlets, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in discussions with Germany and France to send a NATO alliance to Greenland to establish a stronger NATO military footprint. {LINK}
The media present this, hilariously, as if European NATO is going to defend Greenland against President Trump and the USA military. {{INSERT SEVERAL LAUGHING EMOJIS HERE}} I mean, think about it rationally.
The U.K, France and Germany are unwilling to send troops into Ukraine without the protection of the U.S. military. But somehow, for some reason, the U.K, France and Germany are going to send troops to Greenland to defend against the U.S. military.
The narrative sounds silly when put into context, right?
The reality is, for several years President Trump has been telling NATO they need to take the Arctic (Greenland) seriously and position more strongly against encroachment by China and Russia. European NATO has not responded with urgency to the requests of President Trump… because orange man bad.
So, President Trump starts talking about the U.S. taking aggressive unilateral action to secure Greenland as a strategic national security matter. Suddenly, ‘Voila!’ European NATO, under the auspices of defending their Denmark democracy, wakes up and says, ‘No, wait, you can’t just take Greenland, that’s bad.’ Then they assemble urgent talks to send EU NATO military resources to Greenland. Exactly what President Trump has been requesting to formerly deaf ears.
See how that works?
The entire dynamic is so funny, it is difficult not to laugh. It’s like being the only observer in a Candid Camera scenario when you know the entire group is being spoofed.
The former Dutch Chief of Defense, General Berlijn, even warns annexation of Greenland will cost the US its military bases in Europe. “Forget about Ramstein, Lakenheath, Mildenhall, Aviano, Alconbury, Lajes, Móron and Zaragoza,” he said.
As if forcing U.S. troops out of Germany is a threat.
Oh dear, you mean U.S. military can pull back from German bases? Cool. And the EU will step up their own military to defend their own continent? Again, super cool. Punish us with a good time, General Berlijn; please!
President Trump has pulled off the impossible
The current EU plan, and keep in mind – this is NOW the EU plan, is to increase NATO defense forces in/around Greenland and then expand their own military in Europe so they can kick out the USA.
Perfect.
Now, we all know that Europe will never do the last part of that; especially when these same voices are demanding that President Trump protect and defend their troops in Ukraine. However, just reading about how they are talking about it is beyond funny.
Only President Donald J. Trump could achieve this masterstroke of geopolitical maneuvering, ending with him getting exactly what he wants and exactly what the EU previously didn’t want, while the EU proclaim it is their intention to give Trump what he wants by fighting against him.
You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried.
EUROPE – […] In a joint statement, the leaders of the European nations stressed that it was for Denmark and Greenland to decide on the future of the vast, frozen territory. and that they would defend its borders.
They spoke out after Trump said he wants to gain control of the autonomous Danish territory now.
[…] They emphasised that security in the Arctic must be achieved “collectively”, in conjunction with Nato allies including the US, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, “including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders”.
They added: “These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.
“The United States is an essential partner in this endeavor, as a Nato ally and through the defense agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States of 1951.”
The statement was signed by Sir Keir Starmer, French president Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain, and Prime Minister Frederiksen of Denmark. (Source)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Posted originally on CTH on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth deliver remarks to the media following a briefing of Senators on the ongoing Venezuela operations.
As noted by Secretary Rubio, the U.S. is now in control of all Venezuela oil production and distribution. WATCH:
Further to Rubio’s remarks: Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday that the United States will sell Venezuelan oil “indefinitely” after completing sales of the crude currently accumulating in storage there.
Wright said the proceeds from those sales would be “deposited into accounts controlled by the U.S. government” and then “flow back into Venezuela to benefit the Venezuelan people.”
“Instead of the oil being blockaded, as it is right now, we’re gonna let the oil flow … to United States refineries and around the world to bring better oil supplies, but have those sales done by the U.S. government,” he said at Goldman Sachs’ Energy, CleanTech & Utilities Conference.
“We’re going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela, first this backed-up stored oil, and then indefinitely, going forward, we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela into the marketplace,” Wright added. (read more)
Posted originally on CTH on January 7, 2026 | Sundance
I’ll post the video outcomes of the Paris summit comments below. However, in the interests of time and cutting to the chase, the picture below highlights the reality of things as they present.
The British-based “coalition of the willing” (+1 USA) assembled in Paris as the operation to manipulate the U.S. into forming the cornerstone of the Ukraine “security guarantees” continues. A great deal of this is public relations and psychological operations intended to create something against President Trump’s expressed intention.
However, everything you need to know about the eventual end of this long exposition is evident in the image that everyone pretends not to see.
German Chancellor Merz, Ukraine President Zelenskyy, French President Macron, British Prime Minister Starmer and then you have Mr Witkoff & Mr Kushner. What’s missing? Trump. There’s your answer!
There’s no President Trump because the intent of the principals is against our America-first interest. Hence, the USA did not sign up to the EU created security guarantees, because Trump is demanding they do their own work.
Key word “proposed” [read agreement] …”These elements will be European-led, with the involvement also of non-European members of the Coalition, and the proposed support of the US.”…
President Trump is presenting: The U.S. will provide intelligence *monitoring* assistance, but that’s it.
Not in our strategic interest. Not our war. Not our issue.
Lots of support was mentioned. However, ultimately the responsibility for any agreed security guarantees will be carried by Europe, not by the United States.
As noted by Politico-EU: […] The statement from Kyiv’s European allies says they stand ready to commit to “legally binding” security guarantees to support Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia.
Crucially, the monitoring and verification of a future ceasefire would be led by the U.S., with contributions from countries including the U.K. and Germany.
The plan also sets out security guarantees that would include long-term support for the Ukrainian armed forces, the deployment of a European-led multinational force in Ukraine in case of a peace settlement, and “binding” commitments to support Ukraine should there be a future Russian attack.
French President Macron continues misleading the media, changing the intention of President Trump:
“The coalition of the willing declaration for a solid and lasting peace … for the first time recognizes an operational convergence between the 35 countries, Ukraine and the U.S. to build robust security guarantees,” Macron told reporters. Washington will participate in those guarantees, including with the “backstop” that Europeans wanted, he added.
It’s professional parseltongue from Macron, a man well-versed in the art of linguistic manipulation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that after a ceasefire, the U.K. and France will set up military hubs across Ukraine and “build protected facilities for weapons and military equipment to support Ukraine’s defense needs.”
France, the U.K. and Ukraine signed a separate declaration on Tuesday laying out these commitments.
The European-led multinational force will cover land, air and sea and will be stationed in Western Ukraine, far from the contact line, Macron said. France and the U.K. have previously said they would be willing to put boots on the ground — but most other coalition members, including Germany, have so far shied away from joining that commitment.
Other nations have suggested deploying aircraft based in neighboring NATO countries to monitor Ukrainian skies, and Turkey has agreed to lead the coalition’s maritime segment to secure the Black Sea.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin was open to deploying its troops in a neighboring NATO country that would act in case of Russian aggression, telling reporters “we are not ruling anything out.” But he stressed that the final decision would be up to Germany’s parliament.
“I will only make proposals to the Bundestag once there is a ceasefire and the coalition of the willing has agreed on the procedure to be followed,” he told reporters. “The prerequisite is a ceasefire.”
Some European countries, however, remain reluctant to deploy military assets in a post-war Ukraine. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis repeated that Greece will not participate in a European military force in Ukraine. However, Greek government officials said Mitsotakis has not ruled out other forms of assistance, such as in maritime surveillance. (more)
Witkoff and Kushner continued the Trump approach to heap praise upon the coalition, affirm their best intentions and openly, publicly advocate for the support therein. However, this is a European issue, supported by the U.S, but not operationally engaged with U.S. military despite the EU/Ukraine demands and continued requests.
The U.S. will monitor the Ukraine ceasefire situation and act as a diplomatic peacekeeper, establishing deconfliction channels of open communication between the USA and Russia. However, Europe, this so-called “coalition of the willing,” will be responsible for any military backstop within that approach.
Prime Minister Starmer is all-in to put his British troops on the ground. France less so, with Macron hedging. Germany even less so with Chancellor Merz saying his parliament needs to approve of troop movements.
Everyone is hedging, unsure, seemingly tenuous because they have never operated without the USA acting as the heavy enforcement mechanism. President Trump is coaching them to take responsibility for their own region. The ‘coalition of the willing’ is doing their typically European thing, shouting strong words at Vladimir Putin – but checking to make sure the biggest playground enforcer is standing behind them.
♦ My message to those who worry about President Trump committing us to something protracted that will eventually end in our being pulled into a European theater of conflict, quit worrying. Trump is telling the EU to quit talking and start actively being responsible for their own security. In the background Trump has bigger plans.
The notion that America wants Greenland for its raw materials is either insanely ignorant or just engagement bait. Extracting anything in the Arctic is prohibitively expensive, and often physically impossible, with extreme cold, thick ice, equipment that won’t function, and no roads, rail or ports to move anything once you have it.
The real reason America needs Greenland is its immense geostrategic military value, which should be obvious to anyone with a functioning brain, especially anyone who has ever looked at a map from above, with the North Pole at the center.
Sure, some tasks could be outsourced to NATO, but that alliance is on its last legs, burdened by too many countries with conflicting priorities, and has mainly served as a way for Europe to freeload on US security guarantees. Relying on it for American national security is reckless. It’s far smarter to cut out the endless middlemen and take direct control. (source)
Mahncke is correct. On one side of the ice, you have North America. On the other side of the ice you have, well, the reason for President Trump to order dozens of icebreakers.
October, 2025:Finland is slightly smaller than Montana and wedged between Sweden and Russia. Finland, a nation of approximately 5 million people, has a security outlook shaped by its geography, a strategic position within the new NATO/Arctic strategy.
President Trump holds a bilateral discussion with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, as the two leaders’ complete terms for eleven icebreaker ships valued at $6.1 billion. Under terms of the deal, three of the ships will be built by Davie in Galveston, Texas, and four by Bollinger Shipyards in Houma, Louisiana.
Finland is the world leader in icebreaker ship building and will help teach U.S. ship building companies the latest advances in the technology. [SOURCE]
Stay Elevated:
December, 2025: Appearing on Fox News to discuss the Ukraine v Russia conflict, Finland President Alexander Stubb is questioned about the conflicting U.S. intelligence reports pushed by Reuters saying Russia will invade Europe, versus DNI Tulsi Gabbard saying Russia has no capability or intent to invade Europe.
President Stubb notes his agencies work closely with U.S. intelligence and in his view, Tulsi Gabbard is correct regarding President Vladimir Putin’s intention. [SOURCE]
President Trump is dancing through a geopolitical minefield, deconstructing numerous long-standing economic and manipulative institutions along the way, while simultaneously keeping 100 domestic agenda plates spinning on sticks.
It is amazing to watch his navigation skills.
Do not join the opposition effort to divide. Instead, smile and enjoy this.
Be thankful that God has allowed you to see what is unfolding. Others that remain asleep are not as lucky as you.
Ask yourself in prayer, why you. Why now? Then, think about this daily in your quiet time.
Affirm your spirit and allow this sense of fortunate knowledge to elevate your faith and confidence in a loving and purposeful God. You have the unique gift of discernment. Ultimately, you have been chosen.
Posted originally on CTH on January 6, 2026 | Sundance
This is way beyond winning, this is stunningly brilliant strategy. Not only has President Trump successfully apprehended Venezuela dictator Nicolas Maduro, but the remaining interim government officials have acquiesced to fund a civil restitution plan to pay for their malfeasance.
The government that stole from its people is being forced to pay restitution for their own fraud, abuse and misconduct.
As we noted yesterday the immediate issue for Venezuela would be to fill the economic/financial void.
The Sea Island attendees support a quick Machado installation. Trump/Rubio prefer to proceed with more caution, especially because someone is going to be on the hook for financial support to Venezuela, because the domestic rewards from any expanded oil revenue are at least 5 to 10 years away.
Changing the regime in Venezuela may break China’s ‘belt and road’ grip, but China’s money is going to need to be replaced with independent domestic economic wealth for the Venezuelan people. That process takes time. [link]
Some type of short-term funding is needed during any kind of reconstruction of govt. Typically, the U.S. taxpayer would be on the hook during this phase; however, President Trump has found a way for the corrupt Venezuelan authorities to pay for their own civic shift back to democracy. Brilliant.
The 30 to 50 million barrels of oil is approximately a $2 billion self-created reconstruction effort.
Compare and contrast this approach with the trillions of U.S. taxpayer funds that were used in the failed efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, etcetera…. or even Kuwait, albeit the Kuwaiti’s offered, but prior U.S. leadership chose influence over restitution.
In this example, almost immediately the funds now in the control of President Trump can be deployed to the greater benefit of the Venezuelan people.
Another way to look at this is like a type of ‘sovereign wealth fund’ created by the corrupt Venezuelan officials, using the resources that belong to the Venezuelan people, to support the interim needs of the same citizens they victimized.
Posted originally on CTH on January 6, 2026 | Sundance
President Donald Trump will be delivering remarks today at a House Republican conference event. The anticipated remarks are scheduled to begin at 10:00am ET with livestream links below:
I have created this site to help people have fun in the kitchen. I write about enjoying life both in and out of my kitchen. Life is short! Make the most of it and enjoy!
This is a library of News Events not reported by the Main Stream Media documenting & connecting the dots on How the Obama Marxist Liberal agenda is destroying America
Centinel2012 