This Week in the World Affairs Brief

TRUMP’S BASE IS BEGINNING TO FRACTURE

Trump’s luster is wearing off among some of his core supporters. The main issues are 1), Trump attacking his most principled supporters when they criticize his mistakes, 2) Trump’s unconditional support for Israel is at odds with many hard core conservatives who became critical of Israel during the war on Gaza, 3), the purging of MAHA hardliners within HHS by RFK, jr’s top assistant, Staphanie Spears, and Kennedy’s defense of her, and 4) MAGA faithful’s distrust of Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who limits access to Trump by hard core supporters who want to influence Trump. None of these divisions are going to affect Trump’s MAGA movement because conservatives have nowhere else to turn to and nearly the entire slate of Republicans in Congress are fearful of bucking what Trump wants. The biggest political danger to Trump is that some independent voters who supported Trump in 2024 are more likely to vote against those he supports in the midterms, perhaps enough to give power back to the Democrats who will restart their witch hunts against Trump. For now, the general direction of the movement is holding—as long as you avoid the details—but the Republican Party itself currently has no other leader willing or capable of refining Trump’s ideas and actions into a more principled movement, that would avoid the pitfalls of Trump’s incessant bragging, his erratic decisions (e.g. tariffs), and his very poor judgment about people, most especially the world’s dictators. To receive a free one-time sample of the Brief, along with options on how to subscribe, click on Request a sample on the left.

Also:
  • The Tragic Story of Aid in Gaza
  • Trump Plays Up to Questionable Leaders in Syria and Saudi Arabia
  • Preparedness Tip: 10 Hard-working Tools

Daily News

Senior US officials confirm details of 28-point plan to end Ukraine war

New York Post

In exchange, the US would orchestrate a web of security guarantees designed to deter further Russian aggression — but with strict conditions. Washington would respond decisively if Russia reinvaded Ukraine, reinstating global sanctions and voiding any benefits Moscow receives under the agreement. But the guarantees evaporate if Ukraine fires missiles at Moscow or St. Petersburg “without cause” or if it attacks Russian territory. The plan also commits Ukraine to limit its armed forces to 600,000 troops, enshrine permanent neutrality by pledging never to join NATO and codifying that ban in its own charter. NATO, in turn, would have to promise not to station troops in Ukraine — though European fighter jets would be based in neighboring Poland.

Putin In Military Fatigues Announces Another Key Ukrainian City Captured

ZeroHedge

Kupiansk, an important rail junction in the northeastern Kharkiv region, has been taken by Russia's military on Thursday, in another example of Moscow forces steadily, even if slowly, gobbling up territory along the front lines. President Putin was all business, showing up in military fatigues as commander-in-chief for a televised briefing from the defense ministry. Without doubt these optics were crafted to signal strength to the West, at a moment the Trump White House is floating a new 28-point peace plan.

NATO Scrambles Jets Amid One Of Deadliest Russian Attacks On Western Ukraine

ZeroHedge

Russia overnight carried out its typical aerial and drone strikes on Ukraine, but this time escalated attacks in Ukraine's West, which apparently were close enough to the border to cause alarm in nearby Poland and Romania. The two NATO member countries scrambled jet fighters in response amid the massive Russian and drone and missile strikes which killed at least 25 people, some of which were reported as children.

Newly-leaked emails reveal a legitimate LGBTQ mafia presence at the BBC

American Thinker

per the women who worked at the BBC, the LGBTQ “specialists” would bully wayward journalists, punishing dissent, and creating a “culture of fear” in the office: The women also described a culture of fear at the BBC, where even veteran reporters didn’t dare to stray from the position on trans issues, lest they be branded ‘transphobic,’ the Times reported.

‘Europe is persecuting Christians’

Spiked

Free speech is under serious attack all across Europe. To criticise the sacred cows of the progressive worldview – from transgenderism to immigration and even Islam – is to invite a knock on the door from the thoughtpolice. The recent, harrowing trial of a Finnish parliamentarian reveals how it is often Christians who find themselves in the firing line. Päivi Räsänen has spent the past six years fighting a ‘hate speech’ prosecution, simply for quoting passages from the Bible and defending traditional marriage.

Two Ukrainians Working For Russian Intelligence Behind Unprecedented Rail Sabotage: Poland Claims

ZeroHedge

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Tuesday that an investigation at the scene points to two Ukrainian citizens who have "long worked for Russian intelligence" as the prime suspects in the case. A train track linking the Polish cities of Warsaw and Lublin had been destroyed in an "unprecedented act of sabotage". Tusk described the damaged railway is as crucially important for delivering aid to Ukraine.

China's Expanding Space And Arctic Reach Raises Western Concerns

ZeroHedge

After the Yinhe incident and later exclusion from Europe’s Galileo programme, Beijing built the BeiDou navigation system, now a 64-satellite network used over a trillion times daily. This move from dependence to autonomy now defines its national strategy. Recent five-year plans highlight deep-sea, polar and aerospace projects as “forward-looking and strategic,” and aim to make China a “major space power,” including an “ice Silk Road” to strengthen its polar role.

Trump Stuns Press In Defending MbS Over Khashoggi Murder, As Saudis Float $1 Trillion Investment

ZeroHedge

Things were a bit rough during a Q&A with the White House press pool as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) was at the White House Tuesday. One ABC reporter asked MbS point blank what he's for many years tried to avoid being asked - about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump was none too happy about the question, and said it sought to 'embarrass' a guest of the White House.

Threats Of Sanctions, Economic Warfare, As Japan-China Relations Sink To Decades Low

ZeroHedge

China and Japan are experiencing their most intense diplomatic tensions in years after Beijing issued economic warnings in response to recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about a potential Taiwan conflict. As we featured previously, Takaichi had suggested that any Chinese use of force against Taiwan could be considered a "situation threatening Japan’s survival" - which could justify Tokyo supporting allied nations in defense of the self-ruled island.

In Surprise Reversal, Trump Now Supports GOP Release Of Epstein Files

ZeroHedge

Less than 24 hours Days after President Donald Trump called Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene a traitor and mocked Thomas Massie's dead wife - because they were among four Republicans pushing for a House floor vote to force the DOJ to release the Epstein files, Trump - likely sensing he dun goofed, big time, reversed course Sunday night and now supports their release.

FT Confirms Our Report From 2024 That China Is Buying 10x More Gold Than Officially Disclosed

ZeroHedge

One year ago, Goldman's precious metal analyst Lina Thomas made the case that gold would rise to $3000 by the end of 2025 (it ended up rising more than $1000 higher) as a result of relentless central bank purchases in general, and thanks to China's ravenous appetite for gold in particular. The bank promptly got pushback on this thesis, with skeptics countering that it is unlikely that gold will manage to keep its ascent at the same time as the dollar rises to new record highs, one of the largest consensus Trump trades.

The Socialist Mayor Clown Show Is Truly Something To Behold

ZeroHedge

For example, Zohran Mamdani's campaign promises are drying up on the vine like grapes in the desert sun. His supporters are now realizing that his 4-year rent freeze policy faces serious obstacles, with the new mayor relying on full support from the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) appointed by Mayor Adams (which he is unlikely to get until a new board is appointed). The reality is, a rent freeze would result in an immediate selloff of rental properties and landlord flight from NYC, meaning, there will be an even worse housing shortage.

Iran's Elite IRGC Seizes Tanker In Strait Of Hormuz

ZeroHedge

After a long period of relative quiet, the Strait of Hormuz is flaring up again as on Friday Iranian forces are reported to have seized a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker. This is a first in a long time, but the Iranians are saying it is a somewhat 'routine' instance of intercepting a ship for "smuggling fuel", according to state IRNA. The Iranians are now claiming to be acting within the laws of the Islamic Republic.

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