Tag Archives: One China

Jul 3 2025

The Big Beautiful Bill Now Back in The House – Speaker Johnson Timing Floor Vote


Posted originally on CTH on July 2, 2025 | Sundance

With the BBB back in the House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson now has the difficult job to push the bill to a final floor vote and get it to President Trump’s desk.

Anticipating pushback and refusal of support from the House Freedom Caucus, earlier this morning President Trump sent a message via Truth Social drawing attention to the objective of the bill to generate economic growth:

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “Nobody wants to talk about GROWTH, which will be the primary reason that the Big, Beautiful Bill will be one of the most successful pieces of legislation ever passed. THIS GROWTH has already begun at levels never seen before. Trillions of Dollars are now being invested into the USA, more than ever before. Likewise, hundreds of Billions of Dollars in Tariffs are filling up the coffers of Treasury. The Tariff money has already arrived and is setting new records! We are growing our way out of the Sleepy Joe Biden MESS that he and the Democrats left us, and it is happening much faster than anyone thought possible. Our Country will make a fortune this year, more than any of our competitors, but only if the Big, Beautiful Bill is PASSED! As they say, Trump’s been right about everything, and this is the easiest of them all to predict. Republicans, don’t let the Radical Left Democrats push you around. We’ve got all the cards, and we are going to use them. Last year America was a “DEAD” Nation, with no hope for the future, and now it’s the “HOTTEST NATION IN THE WORLD!” MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Meanwhile, as noted by Politico: “House Freedom Caucus members like Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) blasted the Senate’s bill Tuesday for adding to the deficit and softening clean energy tax credits. Roy and Norman both voted against the bill in the Rules Committee overnight.”

Speaker Johnson has to navigate the timing of the BBB reaching the floor, and in an effort to dissuade the concerns of the professional republican naysayers he is informing them of possible alternatives to changes in the current bill.  “In an interview on Fox News on Tuesday night, Johnson said the House will plan to do two more reconciliation bills during this session of Congress, which ends in 2026.”

Jul 3 2025

Paramount, Parent Company of CBS, Settles Trump Lawsuit for $16 Million


Posted originally on CTH on July 2, 2025 | Sundance 

President Trump sued CBS for manipulating the video interview of Kamala Harris to fabricate a response and assist the Harris campaign in 2024.

CBS didn’t just shape or modify the interview; they literally moved answers to questions. A Twitter user named @Mazemore was the first to notice one big substantial edit that completely manufactured a different question and answer. “The edited version that CBS put on YouTube is a work of art. Mix and match questions and answers.”

(VIA MSM) – Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump during last year’s presidential campaign — a decision that is likely to spur both internal and external backlash.

The agreement, announced late Tuesday night, comes after months of negotiation to find an amount that both parties would accept. Trump sued the network in U.S. District Court in Texas in late October, alleging that his electoral chances were harmed after the network aired two separate versions of an answer given by then-Vice President Kamala Harris during an interview for “60 Minutes.” (more)

Jul 2 2025

Steve Bannon: “The Republican Party Had 18 Senators That Voted To Raise Taxes On The Wealthy”


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannon’s War Room on: July 1, 2025, at 3:00 pm EST

Jul 2 2025

LAVORGNA: “If This Bill Doesn’t Pass, America Faces The Largest Tax Hike In History.”


Posted originally on Rumble By Bannon’s War Room on: July 1, 2025, at 2:00 pm EST

Jul 2 2025

43% of Americans Near Poverty Place Essential Purchases on Credit


Posted originally on Jul 2, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

Credit Cards

The PYMNTS Intelligence report “Financial Lifestyles Shape Credit Reliance” revealed that American consumers are struggling to afford the basic essentials. Prices have been elevated since the worldwide pandemic shutdown the global economy and have not gone down in a meaningful way. The study found that 43% of American households who are a paycheck away from poverty cannot afford the essentials without using credit.

The report surveyed 2,298 consumers and categorized them into three financial brackets: those who do not live paycheck to paycheck, those who live paycheck to paycheck comfortably, and those who live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to pay bills.

The 43% of households living paycheck to paycheck with difficulties are eight times more likely to depend on credit cards for the essentials. This group was also six times as likely to rely on credit cards for non-essential purchases. Consumers in this category are placing 41% of all essential purchases on credit and sinking deeper into debt. Around 56% of Americans who do not live paycheck to paycheck are also purchasing essentials with credit, albeit many are using credit cards for points and incentives offered through their credit agencies. Struggling households are far more likely to rely on personal or payday loans, with 31% reporting taking out a loan for the essentials.

“While financially stable individuals may use credit extensively to maximize benefits like rewards, those facing financial strain often depend on it simply to cover essential costs. Understanding the distinct behaviors and needs of the struggling paycheck-to-paycheck consumer is crucial for financial institutions,” the study notes

Those who are not living paycheck to paycheck use credit strategically to maximize incentives and credit scores. Those living comfortably paycheck to paycheck do not face significant financial stress and use credit as a financial mitigation tool. Then there is a segment of the population that needs credit as their lifeline.

Groceries are the top item that Americans are pulling out their cards to buy, with 44.1% reportingly needing to use credit to buy food. Approximately 27.5% reported relying on credit for clothing and accessories, 27% stated they needed credit for monthly bills, 18.6% for vehicle maintenance, and 15.3% for healthcare-related expenses.

America’s middle class has been shrinking for decades. According to Pew Research Center, 61% of adults were considered “middle class” in 1971, but that figure sank to around 51% by 2025. The issue here is that there is an increasing number of households falling into poverty who must rely on the government for essentials. This is what the globalists and Marxists want to see—You Will Own Nothing and Be Happy. Consumer behavior is a telling sign and credit can only be stretched so far until one can no longer borrow. The fact that most are reportingly needing to use credit to afford food indicates that the welfare state is likely to increase, and those costs are passed on to the taxpayers, who then may go from “comfortable” to “struggling.”

Jul 2 2025

Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria


Posted originally on Jul 2, 2025 by Martin Armstrong 

Syria Map

The United States has officially lifted sanctions on Syria via an executive order signed by Donald Trump. This historic achievement marks the end of a 45-year sanction period enacted back in December 1979 when Syria was declared a state sponsor of terrorism.

“The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it’s their time to shine … So, I say, ‘Good luck, Syria.’ Show us something very special,” Trump stated on May 13 when he first announced plans to remove sanctions. Trump further stated that he hopes the new Syrian government “will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country in keeping peace,” which should not be a problem considering the United States installed the current government.

Sharaa.Jihad_

Investments are pouring into Syria, and the nation is officially debt-free. Syria is still in dire condition after its 14-year conflict and is fighting to rebuild its basic infrastructure. The people of Syria are living in atrocious conditions. Over half the nation is food insecure, half cannot access water, and the majority barely have access to electricity. An estimated 90% of the public lives well below the poverty line. GDP plummeted by two-thirds since 2011, and the Syrian pound also fell by two-thirds in 2023 alone.

Before the world cut off Syria through sanctions in 2011, Syria’s GDP was around $61 billion USD. The sanctions coincided with the outbreak of civil war. War produces absolutely nothing and only detracts from an economy. Syria’s economy shrank by 85% in the past 14 years, with GDP reaching a mere $9 billion in 2024.

Lifting sanctions is a massive step toward rebuilding Syria. Nations are eager to pour investments into the nation and begin profiting. All of this is dependent on peace. The US has the right to reimplement sanctions at any time if the current regime loses control.

Jul 2 2025

President Trump Firm, No More Tariff Extensions Beyond July 8th


Posted originally on CTH on July 1, 2025 | Sundance

There is some interesting information within the video of President Trump aboard AF-1 as he returns from Florida. However, one of the more interesting aspects comes around 05:39 when asked if he was thinking about extending the tariff pause beyond July 8, 2025.

As noted by President Trump, very firmly, no. There is no reason to extend the deadline for reciprocal tariffs beyond July 8th for any country not in direct negotiations as of that date. Trump intends to just send them a letter outlining the applied tariff rate and that’s it. Done is done. WATCH:

This firm date is why India has extended their negotiation team in Washington DC, and is also the reason why Europe is coming Thursday.  The baseline tariffs are done, everyone pays 10% regardless of a FTA or not.  The reciprocal tariff rate will be applied to those without an FTA effective July 9th.

[The EU (who wants a trade deal now) is eventually going to align with Canada (who will need a trade deal later).  This factors into the current trade dynamic and looms over the decision making.]

Post July 9th, President Trump moves on to other important geopolitical matters with the tariffs as an ancillary weapon for adherence to the new international trade alignment.  Those who want to benefit commit to the U.S. dollar as the trade currency (that’s the reason for India’s announcement today), and trade preferences are then used to shake up the geopolitical alignments.  Watch for how this plays out with Trump’s planned UK visit.

From there, and after the gnashing of teeth settles down, later in the summer President Trump then triggers the USMCA renegotiation phase with Mexico and Canada.   President Trump is essentially ambivalent to the pleas from nations who want to continue their trade imbalance.  This sequencing and outline appears clear; but let’s watch and see what happens.

Jul 2 2025

Speaker Mike Johnson Wants Big Beautiful Bill Through House by Independence Day


Posted originally on CTH on July 1, 2025 | Sundance

♦ Some people just can’t take a win.  For the “I need to be outraged” group I would suggest their best time for complaining would be to join the collective association of the tech crew (Musk/Thiel), the alligator emojis (DeSantis/Cruz Crew) and the CONservative free traders (Massie, Paul, Roy).  That group of always unhappy, whining and never satisfied knuckleheads will welcome the griping, bitching and moaning.

However, that doesn’t work here. We have a big win to celebrate.

♦ The Senate version of the previously passed Big Beautiful Bill cuts more spending than originally delivered from the House.  You might ask why then did spending opposition narratives surface now and not when it passed through the House? Good question, we’ll get to that ‘political answer’ in a moment.

For now, the BBB is on track as it was originally planned (by July 4th); albeit right at the outer limits of the predicted timeframe that was announced in January.

[SOURCE]

The Senate BBB passed on a 50-50 vote split, highlighting it was the most conservative bill that could possibly squeak through the Senate.  It is the culmination of MAGA interests -vs- MAGA opposition, with the biggest win being the $70 billion for border security and ongoing deportation operations.

The original plan was always to use rescission bills to cut out the DOGE waste. Per Senate rules, the rescissions/cuts cannot be done until after the initial funding bill is passed (that’s BBB). Timeline: July – BBB, Aug – Rescission bills to cut DOGE waste {examples}, and Sept – FY 2026 Budget bill which begins October 1st.

Additionally, the narrative about the Senate bill including Medicaid spending for illegal aliens is false.

♦ The ban on Medicaid for illegal aliens is actually stronger than initially thought [See page 602. Section 77109].  As noted by Senator Schmidt, “the bill actually goes much further than the house version – beyond banning Medicaid for 1.4 million illegal aliens, it: • Requires states to verify citizenship status before providing coverage • Bans automatic Medicaid enrollment for children of illegal aliens • Excludes DACA from Medicaid.”

♦ This brings me to the “political opposition” aspect.

The declared “spending opposition” to the bill is actually a cover narrative for those who demand expanded immigration (Wall Street) and stand against border control and deportation.

They are angry about the immigration enforcement aspect but must remain quiet about it because so many Americans support the border security part.  So, the CONservatives and Tech bros attack based on spending, but that’s really just a Mick “Cantaloupes” Mulvaney maneuver.

In addition to destroying the “Green New Deal” fiasco, the Big Beautiful Bill gives $70 billion to President Trump to secure the border and get rid of criminal illegal aliens. The border security money is needed to exit the illegal aliens who Obama/Biden imported.  Money for more ICE agents and repatriation flight costs.

The border wall needs to be finished and all measures to ensure the total lockdown. Trump is securing the border, the first step in any immigration reform effort.  This was Ronald Reagan’s biggest mistake.  If congress now wants to discuss what comes next after the criminal illegal aliens & Biden illegal aliens are removed…. with a secure border, that conversation is now possible.

♦ Spending?  Congress and the media have a vested interest in hiding the truth from the American public because factually everything in the BBB is fully funded.   I know, I know, many people are saying, “wait, fully funded? How is that possible?”

Here’s the part everyone keeps missing.  Within the global trade reset President Trump has established a baseline 10% tariff. That means from this moment until the end of time every country will pay a minimum of 10% tariffs on every single import. Even if they get a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S. the baseline 10% remains, just like the U.K. deal recently completed.

Yes, steel and aluminum and other targeted tariffs may exceed the baseline 10%, but the baseline will always remain at 10% for everything imported.  There will never be an item delivered to the USA that does not include a 10% baseline tariff.

That baseline 10% tariff revenue -in perpetuity- funds the BBB spending and all of the associated middle-class tax relief within it.  Tariff revenues create a neutral state of spending impact.  This fact is why and how the White House convinced the House and Senate on the deal.

In material fact, even a future Democrat political apparatus will never be able to discontinue the 10% baseline tariffs because they will be dependent on the revenue generated.  Tariff revenue makes spending possible, that stops Democrats from withdrawing it.  In a way President Trump has lowered the income tax burden by shifting revenue to tariffs.

Elon Musk is a disgruntled Tech Bro who: (A) doesn’t like tariffs; (B) is worried about the new visa reviews and H-1B limits under Marco Rubio; (C) angered about the elimination of his Green New Deal subsidies; and is (D) directly attached to and dependent on China.  Plus, wait to see the value loss in Palantir if Trump and Putin strike a deal. Musk is an evil person.

There is a massive amount of winning within this deal.  Just remember, the better something is the more the opposition will use all the tools and puppets at their disposal to keep you from realizing its value.

CNN asked me “Why is @ElonMusk wrong about the Big Beautiful Bill?”

My answer. pic.twitter.com/lKoNeNTWrz

— James Fishback (@j_fishback) July 1, 2025

Big wins today.

Huge.

We’re only five months in….

Jul 2 2025

OMB Director Russ Vaught Breaks Down Major Value of Big Beautiful Bill and Likelihood of Passage


Posted originally on CTH on July 1, 2025 | Sundance

Another facet not discussed in the BBB background is data released by the US Office of Personnel Management showing a reduction of approximately 23,000 federal employees since the Trump administration took office. [LINK HERE] OPM adds that hundreds of thousands will drop from payroll in October 2025. [link]

Office of Management and Budget Director Russel Vought appears on CNBC to discuss the non-pretending facts within the Big Beautiful Bill as it passed through the Senate.  The House now needs to reconcile, support the bill and send it to President Trump’s desk by July 4th.

The key notation from Vought comes at 06:07 of the video below as he explains the BBB is just one facet of a larger cost-cutting initiative (tariff revenue, recission cuts, discretionary spending reductions etc.). WATCH:

.

I’ve got two words for the Musk fanboys, Tech bros, CONservatives, Massie/Paul/Roy fools, and those who clutch pearls on the false budget apoplexy; those two words are not ‘Merry Christmas.’

Jul 2 2025

Europe in Rush For Initial Trade Framework – Reality of Baseline Tariffs Setting in


Posted originally on CTH on July 1, 2025 | Sundance

A serendipitous article about information from European Commission officials Björn Seibert and Sabine Weyand, as EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič urgently heads to Washington DC for emergency talks Thursday against the backdrop of a July 8 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump to do a deal or face 50 percent “reciprocal” tariffs.

Let me just remind everyone the ongoing failure to recognize or accept President Trump’s position regarding both the EU and Canadian trade position with the U.S. will be their undoing.  For whatever reason, likely because it has always been thus for them, they both have a massive cognitive disconnect.

EU trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is going to try and avoid the baseline tariffs; however, the aggregate EU now accepts after reviewing the details of the U.S-UK trade agreement, they will not be able to get below 10%.  This alone has them considerably triggered.

The only real tariff positions the EU have to try and escape are the auto tariffs (25%) and Steel/Aluminum (50%).  There is no way for them to avoid the baseline 10% on everything.   Keep in mind President Trump will add a tariff surcharge for Spain’s refusal to meet their NATO obligations.  Trump cannot single out Spain, so the entire EU will be punished with the surcharge for not bringing them into line.

BRUSSELS — The outline of a trade deal between the EU and the U.S. is taking shape. It would contain a baseline 10 percent U.S. tariff, relief for specific industries and an “up-front” U.S. commitment to tariff relief, four diplomats told POLITICO.

[…] Brussels is pushing to secure a U.S. commitment to “up-front” tariff relief at the time of the agreement in principle, according to the diplomats. This would resemble a deal already struck by the U.K. with Washington, which offered tariff exemptions on auto and steel exports while talks on a comprehensive deal continue. A number of EU countries told the Commission no deal of any kind would be possible without such relief.

[…] EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is flying to Washington for a crunch round of talks on Thursday with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. He is due to brief EU countries on their outcome on Friday.

In this potentially decisive round, Šefčovič is expected to signal that the EU still hopes to reduce the 10 baseline tariff that Trump imposed on most U.S. trading partners in April. However, under certain conditions, the bloc will say it could accept the 10 percent, according to the diplomats, who were granted anonymity to speak candidly about the closed-door talks.

Second, the EU is pushing for lower rates for key sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, alcohol and commercial aircraft — as sought by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The Commission, however, “sees the chance for this happening as quite small,” one of the diplomats said.

Additionally, Brussels still hopes to bargain down Washington’s tariffs of 25 percent on cars and 50 percent on steel and aluminum. According to another diplomat, concessions on steel are most likely, while the first diplomat quoted above said the idea would be to “create a ring of protection” around the EU and the U.S. against Chinese overproduction. (more)

President Trump is a modern honey badger on these issues. He genuinely doesn’t care about the EU position and is perfectly willing to send them a letter outlining their tariff rate.   The EU just cannot fathom this level of in-your-face ambivalence.

With the BBB battle almost behind us, MAGA is on the cusp of a whole ‘nuther level of winning; international edition.