Well, there it is.  Quietly within the deliberate words from Vice-President Mike Pence a revelation that explains the origination of the Central American invasion force.  For those who are not deep in the geopolitical weeds, the subtlety can pass unnoticed; for those who travel within the deepest international conflicts, Pence’s words here are as subtle as a brick through a window:

[…] “Financed by Venezuela; and sent North to challenge our sovereignty and our border”…

https://videopress.com/embed/tXWLlFMs?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0Announcing the migrant caravan is “financed by Venezuela” is a direct notification the Central American invasion force is being funded by Russia and China.  Venezuela doesn’t have any money to sustain its own operational government – let alone a 10,000 person convoy.  Venezuela is entirely reliant upon massive investment from Russia and China.

In fact China owns 49% of Venezuela’s state run PDVSA energy production. A collateral system where Beijing takes oil as payment for prior loans the Maduro regime cannot pay back.  With the crippling treasury department sanctions President Trump put on Venezuela last year, Trump has punched Maduro and Xi-Jinping hard.

With Mike Pence pointing a finger at Venezuela the politics behind the invasion force begin to make much more sense.  The invasion objective takes on a geopolitical angle directly targeting a series of U.S. policies that are against the interests of Russia and China.

It helps here to remember the strategic moves taken by President Trump that have put the geopolitical/economic squeeze on both China and Russia:

♦Squeeze #1. President Trump and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin sanctioned Venezuela and cut off their access to expanded state owned oil revenue. Venezuela needs more money. China and Russia are already leveraged to the gills in Venezuela and hold 49% of Citgo as collateral for loans outstanding.  China and Russia now need to loan more, directly.

However, China cannot engage in economic commerce with Venezuela or they risk losing access to the U.S. banking system.  Therefore all current Chinese aid to Maduro comes in the form of IOUs.  These ongoing loans are likely impossible to be repaid.

♦Squeeze #2. China’s geopolitical ally, Russia, is already squeezed with losses in energy revenue because of President Trump’s approach toward oil, LNG and coal. Trump, through allies including Saudi Arabia, EU, France (North Africa energy), and domestic production has influenced global energy prices.  Additionally, President Trump is demanding NATO countries, specifically Germany, stop supporting financial dependence on Russia.

Meanwhile, and directly connected, Russia is bleeding out financially in Syria. Iran is the financial reserve, but they too are energy price dependent and President Trump is now putting pressure on Iran vis-a-vis new sanctions and new demands on allies.

♦Squeeze #3. In 2017 Trump and Secretary Tillerson, now Secretary Pompeo, put Pakistan on notice they need to get involved in bringing their enabled tribal “extremists” (Taliban) to the table in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s primary investor and economic partner is China. The U.S. removed $900 million in financial support to pressure Pakistan toward a political solution in Afghanistan, China has to fill void.  [NOTE: Last month the World Bank began discussions about a financial bailout for Pakistan.]  Again, more one-way bleed for China.

♦Squeeze #4. China’s primary economic threat (competition) is next door in India. President Trump has embraced India as leverage over China in trade and pledged ongoing favorable trade deals. The key play is MFN (Most Favored Nation) trade status might flip from China to India. That’s a big play.  It would have massive ramifications.

♦Squeeze #5. President Trump launched a USTR Section 301 Trade Investigation into China’s theft of intellectual property. This encompasses every U.S. entity that does manufacturing business with China, particularly aeronautics and technology, and also reaches into the financial services sector.

In March of 2018 U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer completed a section 301 review of China’s trade practices.  [SEE HERE] Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 authorizes the President to take all appropriate action, including retaliation, to obtain the removal of any act, policy, or practice of a foreign government that violates an international trade agreement or is unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory, and that burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.  However, as talks with China progressed, President Trump shelved the 301 action to see where negotiations would end-up. The May and June, 2018, negotiations between the U.S. and China provided no progress.  The 301 review of China was pulled back off the shelf, and President Trump assembles his trade-war strategy.  The 301 tariffs/sanctions are currently being worked out with U.S.T.R Robert Lighthizer.

♦Squeeze #6. President Trump, Secretary Ross, Secretary Mnuchin and USTR Robert Lighthizer dissolved NAFTA in favor of the USMCA.  One of the primary objectives of team U.S.A. was to close the 3rd party loopholes, including dumping and origination, that China uses to gain backdoor access to the U.S. market and avoid trade/tariff restrictions. [China is a Non-Market Country without a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and sends parts to Mexico and Canada for assembly and then back-door entry into the U.S. via NAFTA.]

As we see in the details within the U.S-MCA trade agreement, China’s ability to use Mexico and Canada as a backdoor into the United States is now gone.

(Link to Article 32 pdf)

♦Squeeze #7. President Trump has been open, visible and vocal about his intention to shift to bilateral trade renegotiation with China and Southeast Asia immediately after Team U.S.A. concluded with NAFTA. [Current discussions with Japan are ongoing]

♦Squeeze #8. President Trump positioned the U.S. relationship with the E.U. as a massive potential loss for Europe (via Steel, Aluminum, and Auto tariffs) if they did not: (A) shift their trade relationship toward greater reciprocity; and (B) reconsider the size of their trade relationship with China.  After initially trying to push-back, Europe acquiesced.

♦Squeeze #9. President Trump has positioned ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) as trade benefactors for assistance with North Korea. Last year the KORUS (South Korea and U.S.) trade deal was renegotiated, and announced in March. The relationship between ASEAN nations and the Trump administration is very strong, and getting stronger. Which leads to…

♦Squeeze #10. President Trump has formed an economic and national security alliance with Shinzo Abe of Japan. It is not accidental that North Korea’s Kim Jong-un fired his last missile over the Northern part of Japan. Quite simply, Beijing told him to.  However…

♦Squeeze #11. President Trump cut-off the duplicitous Beijing influence over North Korea by engaging directly with Kim Jong-un.  The open exchange and ongoing dialogue has removed much of the ability of Beijing to leverage the DPRK nuclear threat for their own economic benefit.  This dialogue was as much, if not more, about dismantling the Beijing geopolitical influence as it was about denuclearizing the Korean peninsula; however, no-one caught on to that part of the strategy.

SUMMARY: It makes sense from the perspective of China, Russia and Venezuela to use their alliance to create a border crisis between the United States and Mexico, especially since the interests of President-elect Lopez Obrador and President Trump are now aligned within the U.S-MCA trade agreement; which is structured to the detriment of pre-existing Chinese investment in Mexico under their prior -and corrupt- Mexican leadership.

Remember, President Trump out manuevered Chairman Xi Jinping in North Korea.  Xi lost most of his control position over DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-un; and while President Trump stood guard on the watchtower North Korea (Kim) and South Korea (Moon) are now happily joined in mutual fellowship.  In the grand trade-conflict between the Red Dragon and the United States, Xi needed a new form of leverage.

In the geopolitical realm this invasion force makes much more sense now…

Tonight President Trump dined with military leaders in the Cabinet Room. The president answered a few questions from the media at the beginning of the briefing.

Defense Secretary James Mattis is seated to President Trump’s right, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford seated to his left.  President Trump delivers remarks then answers more questions about: Jamal Khashoggi; the Central American migrant caravan; and Space Force.  WATCH:

Attendees include:

Lieutenant General Joseph Kellogg, Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President;

The Honorable Mira Ricardel, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor;

The Honorable James Mattis, Secretary of Defense;

The Honorable Patrick Shanahan, Deputy Secretary of Defense;

General Joseph Dunford, USMC, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;

General Paul Selva, USAF, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;

General Mark Milley, USA, Chief of Staff of the Army;

Admiral John Richardson, USN, Chief of Naval Operations;

General Robert Neller, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps;

General David Goldfein, USAF, Chief of Staff of the Air Force;

General Joseph Lengyel, USAF, Chief, National Guard Bureau;

Admiral Karl Schultz, USCG, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard;

General Joseph Votel, USA, Commander, U.S. Central Command;

Admiral Kurt Tidd, USN,”Commander, U.S. Southern Command;

General Curtis Scaparrotti, USA, Commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe;

General Thomas Waldhauser, USMC, Commander, U.S. Africa Command;

General John Hyten, USAF, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command;

General Paul M. Nakasone, USA, Commander, NSA, CSS, Cyber Command;

General Terrence OShaughnessy, USAF, Commander, U.S. Northern Command;

Admiral Phillip Davidson, USN, Commander U.S. Indo-Pacific Command;

General Stephen R. Lyons, USA, U.S. Transportation Command;

General Vincent K. Brooks, USA, Commander UNC/CFC/USFK;

Vice Admiral Craig Faller, USN,Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense;

Brigadier General Andrew J. Gebara, USAF, Director of Strategic Capabilities and Plans, National Security Council;

Colonel Adam K. Ake, USA, Director for Defense Policy and Strategy, National Security Council;

Lieutenant Colonel Ryan D. Skaggs, USAF, Director for Defense Policy and Strategy, National Security Council.

Following a signing ceremony for the ‘America Water Infrastructure Act‘ President Trump held a lengthy press conference in the Oval Office to cover a variety of topics.

During the Q&A the President said he may meet with Putin when he is in Paris in November. He also spoke about Saudi Arabia and Jamal Khashoggi, saying he wants all the facts before he makes a decision.  Noting his conversations with foreign leaders, the President said: “Nobody likes what happened.”

Speaking about the Central American ‘migrant caravan’, he said he thinks 10,000 people are coming which spells out something needs to be done. “We’ll have to call up our military if we need to we cannot allow our country to be violated like this”, Trump said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gives remarks on a variety of international issues including the central American caravan; Jamal Khashoggi/Saudi Arabia; and takes questions from the State Department press pool.

The transcript is not yet available; but will be posted HERE.

We Remember.

President Trump delivers remarks during a meeting between federal and state leaders. The conference is held to emphasize coordination between federal officials and their direct contacts at the state level.

The most recent reviews of media presentations for this story (The Hill and CNN) reflect MSM disappointment that SCOTUS has ruled in favor of the administration.

The U.S. Commerce Department is adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. An activist judge in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) -framing a challenge based on the question being discriminatory- ruled that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross must submit to a deposition to discover “the motives” of the decision.

An appellate circuit panel initially agreed with the lower court and ACLU lawyers. However, U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco asked the Supreme Court to stay the circuit court ruling.  SCOTUS agreed with the administration and blocked the ridiculous activist lawyers from questioning the cabinet; the supreme court does allow the plaintiffs to question the DOJ civil rights division lawyer.

(CNN) The Supreme Court blocked a deposition of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Monday in a case challenging the decision to reinstate a citizenship question on the 2020 census.

The action is a partial victory for the Trump administration that argued such a deposition of a cabinet official is “rarely, if ever justified.” The court did, however, allow the deposition of a top Department of Justice official in the case, acting Assistant Attorney General John M. Gore of the Civil Rights Division, as well as other discovery to proceed at least for now.

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas wrote to say they would have also blocked the deposition of Gore as well as related discovery.

Blocking the Ross deposition is a partial loss for a coalition of states and the ACLU, who are going to trial on November 5 and sought the deposition to bolster their argument that adding the question is unlawful and unconstitutional. (more)

Justice Neil Gorsuch filed an opinion, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, where they dissented in the part of the SCOTUS ruling that allowed the DOJ lawyer to be questioned.

Justice Gorsuch wrote he would have granted the government’s full request and blocked all of the lower and appellate court rulings for depositions and discovery.  Writing:

“When it comes to the likelihood of success, there’s no reason to distinguish between Secretary Ross’s deposition and those of other senior executive officials: each stems from the same doubtful bad faith ruling, and each seeks to explore his motives.”

The challengers are led by New York’s attorney general and left-wing activist groups such as the ACLU.  They are claiming that President Trump’s real reason for adding the citizenship question is to reduce the representation of immigrant populations in the census.  There is no structural basis for their claim. It is not likely their challenge will succeed on the merits.  The case is schedule to go to trial November 5th.

In a highly anticipated massive MAGA rally, tonight President Trump is in Houston, Texas, supporting Senator Ted Cruz. Approximately 100,000 people registered to attend the rally and the crowd is simply Texas; BIGLY. This is sure to be one of the biggest events of the midterm election.

The venue is the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and the anticipated start time is approximately 7:00pm with multiple simultaneous events and speakers ongoing.

UPDATE: Video Added

RSBN Livestream Link – Fox News Livestream Link – Alternate Livestream Link.

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Lara Trump hosts a massive MAGA tailgate pre-rally warm-up in Texas.

NBC News Data presents an analysis completed by TargetSmart showing key states and the registered affiliations of early voters.  Within the analysis Republican voters are leading Democrats in all states except Nevada.  [Note the Nevada result should not be a surprise because as we saw in the 2016 presidential campaign, there are several organized groups who coordinate bus loads of Californians into Nevada to vote in both states.]

Additionally, the underlying data must be troubling for democrats for two reasons.  First, NBC is admitting the ‘blue wave’ is in trouble; that’s not typical.  Secondly, within the NBC report they attempt to water down the result by saying that Democrats usually don’t turn out as well in votes before election day, and usually do better ‘on’ election day.  This is historically false.  Republicans usually vote much heavier on election day than democrats; and democrats have always relied upon pre-election day voting to carry them.

(Via NBC) […]  GOP-affiliated voters have surpassed Democratic-affiliated ones in early voting in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, Tennessee and Texas, the data showed.

Only in Nevada have Democratic-affiliated voters exceeded Republican-affiliated voters so far in early voting, according to the data.

[…] The latest data suggests robust enthusiasm among early Republican voters that could put a dent in Democratic hopes for a “blue wave” in next month’s midterm elections.  (See data here)