Tag Archives: Donald Trump

Jan 15 2026

Detailed Consumer Price Index Shows No Substantive Inflation from Tariffs


Posted originally on CTH on January 14, 2026 | Sundance 

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) released the December price information on Tuesday 1/13/26 [DATA HERE].  Overall, the topline inflation number is moderate at 2.7% much lower than economists projected.

However, that’s not the only important element.  To get an understanding of the impact from tariffs to imported consumer goods, you can look at TABLE-2 [DATA HERE].  As you skim the categories we import the most, electronics, television, sporting goods, apparel, shoes, tools, furniture, etc. what you will note is that the prices are stable with negligible inflation impact noted.

What this means is that tariffs are not creating any upward price pressure on the imported good.  The December ’25 imported good prices are stable despite massive tariffs applied in the second and third quarter of 2025.  As expected, based on history from 2018/2019, the exporting nation (and company) are absorbing most of the wholesale price increased due to tariffs.

The imported goods are reaching the consumer with no substantively changed price.  Some domestically generated goods (food and housing) are still driving the overall inflation number, particularly in the year-over-year calculation, but no substantive price pressure is coming from the import sector.

Export dependent nations are squeezing their own productivity, their governments are subsidizing the critical industries, and the tariffs are being absorbed before the products leave the docks.   This is the USA “rust belt” in reverse.  The same scenario played out in the USA for decades as domestic manufacturers tried to retain U.S. industry.  Now the foreign countries are experiencing their own economic squeeze.

President Trump has been cutting waste, fraud and abuse in runaway government spending; slashing costly regulations across all sectors of the economy and ending Green New Scam energy policy in favor of drill, baby, drill.  As noted by NEC Chairman Kevin Hasset, Trump has reduced deficit spending overall.

There’s still a long way to go, but significant MAGAnomic progress is being made.

That skyrocketing “tariff inflation” the same shocked pundits proclaimed was sure to happen this time, well, that has not surfaced; just like it didn’t surface in 2018 or 2019 when the tariffs were applied the first time.

It was Joe Biden’s economic, monetary and energy policies that created two years of massive inflation.  That inflation skyrocketed the cost for goods and services.  Those high prices became the baseline and were then handed to the entering Trump administration, under the narrative of the “affordability crisis.”

Having gaslit the American electorate over the issues of Joe Biden’s economic/energy policy which created record inflation, the same media who ran cover for Joe Biden then switched during the Trump administration to calling the subsequent high costs an “affordability” crisis.

In essence, Biden’s economic, energy and monetary policies drove 2021/2022 inflation to record levels, this made all prices rise massively.  Those high prices are now the “affordability problem” all U.S. consumers are dealing with.

Jan 15 2026

DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro Gives Full Context to DOJ Investigation of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell


Posted originally on CTH on January 14, 2026 | Sundance

U.S. Attorney for the District of Washington DC, Jeanine Pirro, goes public explaining the backstory of the DOJ reviewing the Federal Reserve Board and Chairman Jerome Powell.

As noted by USAO Pirro, Chairman Powell refused to respond to questions for two months despite three repeated requests.  The DOJ was then forced to issue a subpoena to get a response. Again, Powell never responded; instead, he went to the media to claim he was being politically targeted.  WATCH:

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Jan 14 2026

President Trump Delivers Remarks from Ford Truck Plant – “The USMCA Means Nothing to Me”


Posted originally on CTH on January 13, 2026 | Sundance 

President Trump’s impromptu remarks from inside the Ford F150 plant will probably not make headline news because, well, quite frankly, what President Trump says below is something the financial media just don’t want to discuss.

This is really an important point.  In the era where information is skewed based on the interests of the organization sharing the information, government or private sector media, it is extremely valuable to just listen to what President Trump says directly.  In comments such as this brief segment below, you can see exactly where he is going with manufacturing and trade policy.

Specifically pay attention to how President Trump emphasizes, then reemphasizes the irrelevance of the USMCA from his perspective.  As we have noted all along, the Trump administration (USTR Greer) will abandon the trilateral USMCA this year and instead begin a formal process for two bilateral free trade agreements.

Now, the entire financial media system is pretending this is not going to happen, especially in the statements by every stakeholder north of the border.  However, listen to how President Trump himself describes the USMCA or CUSMA as the Snow Mexicans like to call it.  Trump is completely nonplussed about what is going to happen.  WATCH:

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Jan 14 2026

President Trump Delivers Remarks from Detroit – 2:00pm ET Livestream


Posted originally on CTH on January 13, 2026 | Sundance 

Following a tour of a Ford truck plant, President Trump will be delivering remarks on the status of the economy to the Detroit Economic Club.   The anticipated start time for his remarks is 2:00pm ET with livestream links below.

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Jan 14 2026

Chopper Presser – President Trump Delivers Remarks Departing the White House


Posted originally on CTH on January 13, 2026 | Sundance 

Chopper pressers are the best pressers.  President Trump delivers impromptu remarks departing the White House to deliver a speech in Detroit.  WATCH:

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Jan 14 2026

Rubio Designates Egyptian, Jordanian and Lebanese Chapters of Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations


Posted originally on CTH on January 13, 2026 | Sundance 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the first official set of Muslim Brotherhood chapters that are designated as “global terrorist” organizations. The first set will not come as a big surprise: Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood were chased out of the country by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi over a decade ago. The Jordanian chapter is similarly aligned and was previously targeted by King Abdullah. The Lebanese faction is not as well known, but their support for Hamas is well understood.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio – Today, as a first step in support of President Trump’s commitment to eliminate the capabilities and operations of Muslim Brotherhood chapters that pose a threat to the United States as described in Executive Order 14362, the United States is imposing terrorist designations against the Lebanese, Jordanian, and Egyptian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Department of State is designating the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), and the group’s leader Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh as an SDGT. Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood as SDGTs for providing material support to Hamas.

These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ violence and destabilization wherever it occurs. The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism. (READ MORE)

Keep in mind, the Muslim Brotherhood is the fabric on the umbrella of political Islam. Each faction represents an individual spline on the umbrella construct, but the Muslim Brotherhood overall is a political extremist system for various levels of authentic Islam.

The regional chapters that really matter, the difficult ones to navigate, will be in Qatar, Syria and especially the Turkish factions. These are more politically connected to the home government interests.

Jan 13 2026

Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett Discusses Economic Situation and Jerome Powell Investigation


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:

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“FED Chair?”

Jan 12 2026

U.K Asks Germany and France, EU NATO, to Support Expanded Presence in Greenland


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)

“We’ve got him this time, fellas!”

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.