As noted by Secretary Rubio tongue-in-cheek, all the FIFA “drama” is turning into an “international incident” that might even be discussed at the NATO assembly in Turkey.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

During an event to launch the official beginning of the ‘Trump Accounts’ for kids, savings accounts specifically created for American children at no cost to the family, President Trump took questions from the media.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

Casual sports observers often wonder why the sport of Soccer has never been successful in the United States. This story is a big picture example of exactly why.

The country of Belgium is filing an appeal with FIFA World Cup organizers to stop the United States from playing the game of soccer with their best players. You just cannot make this stuff up, folks.

Only in the sport of EU soccer can a bureaucratic agency file a parliamentary objection with the intent to force the official bureaucratic agents of the soccer administration, FIFA, to block a team from fielding their best players – because the business of the bureaucracy is more important than sportsmanship.

SEATTLE (AP) — The Belgian soccer federation is demanding explanation from FIFA about a decision to let U.S forward Folarin Balogun play at the World Cup despite getting a red card in his previous game.

Belgium takes on the United States later Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The Belgian federation said it has still not received either “FIFA’s decision or any explanation regarding this matter. In these circumstances, it has no choice but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.” {LINK}

Here comes the really funny part.  All the soccer nations continue to be befuddled why soccer has never made progress within the American sport psyche. Think about it.

Soccer is a ‘sport system’ bureaucratically designed to fail when contrast to a brutally honest American perspective on sport.

Soccer succeeding in America is the inverse to Liberty succeeding worldwide.

Soccer is the United Nations of sports.

If soccer is ever to succeed in America, the United States is lost forever!

(more…)

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

(more…)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

.

(more…)

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra appears for an interview on CBC News to share perspectives on U.S-Canada relations.  However, what happens within the interview is a case study on how Canadian media represent an extension of the Canadian government.

This example is exactly why the Canadian people have no reference point for information counter to the official propaganda policy from their government offices. Rebecca Zandbergen, host of CBC’s Ottawa Morning represents the voice of government in combative tone, condescending attitude and refusal to accept counter arguments.

The level of passive-aggressive condescension highlights why Canada has continued to lose position in a world where pretending has become devalued.  However, it’s clear why the Canadian people will be stunned when it all collapses around them.  They have no reference points. Ambassador Hoekstra should get hazard pay. WATCH (prompted):

I like how Hoekstra reminds Rebecca Zandbergen that the 51st state issue surfaced as an outcome of a discussion between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Trump in Mar-a-Lago that centered around NATO spending and reciprocity in trade via non-tariff barriers.  The points Ambassador Hoekstra makes at the end of this interview are exactly on point, and yet Zandbergen pretends not to understand them.

The American govt is not running anti-Carney advertising in Canada. Americans are not banning Canadian products. The American Government is not telling Americans not to travel to Canada.  The American govt has not banned Canadian companies from bidding on contracts.  These are all actions taken by the Canadian government.

(more…)

It’s an unfortunate state of affairs when you cannot review the U.S. media take on the phone call due to the propaganda script that underpins the Western narrative they promote.  Instead, a more direct and reliable review of the important discussion comes from the Russian Federation side.

RUSSIA – […] Of course, today’s conversation between the two heads of state began with President Putin congratulating Donald Trump and the American people on their landmark holiday and recalling Russia’s contribution to the development of American statehood. In this context, the presidents noted the importance of treasuring the historical heritage which our nations share. It was pointed out that our nations will never forget their alliance during World War II.

The United States is widely celebrating Independence Day today. This is being done in style and on a grand scale, as Donald Trump knows how to do it, and our President has mentioned this.

Their conversation, the fourth one this year, was not only formal but also business-like and constructive. The leaders candidly discussed current issues on the bilateral and international agenda. Incidentally, that conversation lasted nearly an hour and a half, or more precisely, 85 minutes.

Naturally, the presidents also talked about a Ukrainian settlement, including in light of Donald Trump’s participation in the upcoming NATO summit in Turkiye on July 7–8.

(more…)

Starting with purposefully created propaganda, CNN pundit Dana Bash begins questioning Interior Secretary Doug Burgum about protest marchers in Washington DC who Bash describes as extremists and racist.

The heavy media promotion of the event is the first indicator of manufactured propaganda.  Ms Bash then lets the second indicator slip when she notes a viral photograph on a bus “taken by Reuters.”  How did Reuters know to have a photographer on that specific bus, to capture that specific moment?  WATCH: 

There is a part of the interview where Burgum finally has enough of the narrative engineering pushed by Bash on the topic of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool; however, other than that these scripted pantomime performances by the insufferable pundits are tiresome.

(more…)

The media and Canadian government discussions around the U.S-Canada trade and economic relationship, specifically as they pertain to the USMCA (CUSMA) continue to be fascinating.

As we noted over a year ago, the expressed perception from the Canadian side was remarkably disconnected from the most likely scenario.

The level of entrenched disbelief that the U.S. could completely separate from a trilateral trade deal in favor of a bilateral replacement has been remarkable to watch.

However, for the first time today Canadian media began admitting to themselves the USMCA can technically be terminated within six months; albeit buried at the end of the article.

GLOBAL NEWS – […] “I’m not in a position to guarantee anything. These decisions are made at the White House. They are made by the president,” Hoekstra said.

His comments come just days after the Trump administration declined to extend the trilateral pact with Canada and Mexico for a new 16-year term, citing what the U.S. calls “shortcomings” and “trade deficits.” Mexico and Canada both publicly pushed for a renewal.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested last month that the U.S. is “better without” CUSMA, and that he’d even prefer to see it “terminated.”

When asked by Global News, Hoekstra would not say if the administration is considering ripping up the deal, which can be done by any party with six months’ formal notice. 

(more…)

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

(more…)