Donald Trump says it’s “an absolute necessity” for our nation to personal Greenland.
He says the U.S. ought to take again the Panama Canal until the “ridiculous” transport charges are lowered.
He threatened that any Republican who opposed him on the invoice to keep away from a authorities shutdown can and needs to be primaried.
The president-elect is incomes his fame as a disruptor, with sufficient affect over what’s now his occasion to explode rigorously negotiated bipartisan compromises. Let’s take a look at every of those.
HOW PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP COULD PULL OFF ‘THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY’ AS HE ENTERS OFFICE
Trump tried in his first time period to purchase Greenland, which is managed by Denmark however below dwelling rule. That went nowhere, although it created a diplomatic disaster with Danish officers.
Whereas the U.S. constructed the Panama Canal within the early twentieth century, it was turned over to Panama below a treaty authorised by each international locations. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino says “every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone is Panama’s and will continue to be so. The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable.”
That didn’t cease Trump from posting an AI picture of an American flag flying over a waterway presumed to be the canal.
The incoming president has actually demonstrated the flexibility to engineer major challenges to those that cross him. However three dozen conservative Republicans voted in opposition to him on the federal government shutdown invoice, together with on closing passage, which dropped his demand to remove the debt ceiling throughout his time period. Would he actually gin up primaries in opposition to all of them?
So the overwhelming chances are high that the standing of Greenland, the Panama Canal and rebellious Republicans gained’t change within the second time period.
The explanation Trump does that is that it reinforces his position as a disruptor, somebody taking up the decrepit Washington institution, although a president, by definition, is the brand new institution.
President-elect Donald Trump factors at AmericaFest, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Picture/Rick Scuteri)
Past that, whether or not he’s making outrageous calls for or not, Trump shapes, and infrequently dominates, the information agenda. Because the forty seventh president has acknowledged to me, he generally crosses the road as a result of he is aware of it would provoke a robust media response. As Trump sees it, even detrimental protection is sweet protection as a result of the press is taking part in on his turf.
And generally these are simply negotiating positions to win concessions, as with the threatened 25 % tariffs in opposition to Canada and Mexico.
Keep in mind, most individuals exterior the media-political complicated aren’t breathlessly following these developments. For the reason that authorities didn’t really shut down, they don’t see it as a setback for Trump that he didn’t get most of what he needed. They in all probability don’t recall that he tried to purchase Greenland earlier than.
What Trump clearly has the ability to do is to explode rigorously crafted bipartisan agreements. He did it after Speaker Mike Johnson–whose personal future is doubtful as a result of, like Kevin McCarthy earlier than him, he didn’t have the votes–let the invoice develop right into a Christmas tree monstrosity.
And he did it through the marketing campaign when each events agreed on a troublesome border enforcement deal, which was then trashed by Trump’s objections.
However there are clearly limits to Trump’s capability to form occasions, particularly with the nation. For 3 dozen Republicans to defy him on as elementary a matter because the debt ceiling reveals that he can solely push his occasion up to now.
TRUMP’S FAMOUS CHRISTMAS CAMEO IS FAR FROM HIS ONLY ACTING CREDIT: SEE THE FULL LIST
Rep. Nancy Mace, a Trump supporter who voted in opposition to him on closing passage–instructed me on Sunday’s Media Buzz that was as a result of she needs to maintain the debt ceiling.
However with the GOP clinging to a 1-vote Home margin, for now, the cauldron of marketing campaign rhetoric is operating up in opposition to the chilly, onerous math of attending to the quantity 218.
Democrats must surprise if it’s price negotiating with the opposite occasion in the event that they’re simply making a goal for Trump’s demolition derby.
It was Elon Musk who first tweeted about how unhealthy the unique invoice was–at Trump’s suggestion–and after 70-plus tweets (together with some falsehoods), the brand new president was drawn into the battle.
BUTLER, PA – OCT. 5: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks with former president Donald Trump throughout a marketing campaign occasion on the Butler Farm Present, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. ((Picture by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Publish through Getty Photos))
Over the weekend, Trump denied that he had surrendered his presidential powers to his billionaire buddy, and half-mockingly stated Musk might by no means be president:
“You know why? He wasn’t born in this country. Hahaha.”
A favourite media parlor sport is whether or not the 2 strong-willed males will ultimately have a falling out.
For now, although, Trump’s robust discuss Greenland and the Panama Canal reveals that he’s most comfy taking part in offense, even when nothing a lot comes of it.
In different information:
–The Home Ethics report says Matt Gaetz “regularly” paid girls for intercourse, together with with an underage lady, and used unlawful medicine.
In 2017, the previous legal professional basic nominee “engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl,” who was additionally paid.
Gaetz used or had possession of such unlawful medicine as cocaine and Ecstasy “on multiple occasions,” and likewise accepted profitable presents, equivalent to transportation and lodging within the Bahamas.
“Many of the women interviewed by the committee were clear that there was a general expectation of sex,” with one girl telling the committee Gaetz paid her greater than $5,000 and that intercourse was concerned “99 percent of the time.”
The panel stated Gaetz was “uncooperative” and that he “knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct the committee’s investigation of his conduct.” The Justice Division investigated however introduced no expenses.
TRUMP COULD FACE RENEWED ISIS THREAT IN SYRIA AS TURKEY GOES AFTER US ALLY
Gaetz additionally misused Home sources when he had his chief of workers “assist a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport, falsely indicating to the U.S. Department of State that she was a constituent…
“There was substantial proof that Consultant Gaetz violated Home Guidelines, state and federal legal guidelines, and different requirements of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible presents, the availability of particular favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”
If Gaetz was still in the running for AG, this would have blown him out of the water.
Says Gaetz: “I used to be charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a marketing campaign finance violation. And the individuals investigating me hated me. Then, the very ‘witnesses’ DOJ deemed not-credible had been assembled by Home Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or problem from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no likelihood to ever confront any accusers. I’ve by no means been charged. I’ve by no means been sued.” He says he even sent money to women he wasn’t dating.
–A dogged reporter the Dallas Express discovered what happened to Texas Rep. Kay Granger, who went “lacking” months ago. He found her, and got on-the-record confirmation, at a nursing facility that specializes in dementia and other memory problems. She put out a statement about health challenges that utterly missed the point: How could she not tell her constituents about this? Why did she insist on hiding it? There would have been enormous sympathy for her. Instead, the congresswoman kept it all shrouded in secrecy.
–Actress Blake Lively was the target of an online smear campaign, as laid out in texts and emails that blatantly discuss planting stories to ruin her reputation, while cautioning that this must remain secret because they can’t very well admit that they are trying to “bury” her. “You recognize we will bury anybody.”
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively (David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images/Lia Toby/Getty Images)
Lively obtained these documents through legal action against her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, and reviewed by the New York Times. She is alleging sexual harassment, saying Baldoni and others routinely came into her trailer unannounced when she was topless, such as having body makeup removed, or breast-feeding.
The Wayfarer studio said that the company and its PR people “did nothing proactive or retaliatory” against the actress, accusing her of “one other determined try to ‘fix’ her detrimental fame.”
Lively says Baldoni tried to add unneeded sex scenes, had improvised unwanted kissing and discussed his sex life, including instances in which he may not have gotten consent. Another member of the team showed her a video of his wife naked.
The sad thing is that this sort of thing goes on all the time. We just happened to get the goods this time, with Lively being portrayed as difficult, tone-deaf and a bully.
–The Daily Mail reported that Jeff Bezos was going marry his fiancé Lauren Sanchez this weekend in a $600 million extravaganza in Aspen.
The Amazon founder, who owns the Washington Post, says that’s a crock:
“This complete factor is totally false — none of that is taking place…
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“The old adage ‘don’t believe everything you read’ is even more true today than it ever has been. Now lies can get ALL the way around the world before the truth can get its pants on. So be careful out there folks and don’t be gullible.”
Good for Jeff for punching again in opposition to a crappy story.
