Monthly Archives: May 2025

Washington Post: U.S. pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk’s Starlink, cables show

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Some countries have turned to the satellite internet firm in conjunction with trade talks, State Department staffers wrote. The U.S. has a strategic interest in countering Chinese internet providers, but Musk’s role complicates the picture.

Corruption at its finest!

Less than two weeks after President Donald Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on goods from the tiny African nation of Lesotho, the country’s communications regulator held a meeting with representatives of Starlink.

The satellite business, owned by billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk’s SpaceX company, had been seeking access to customers in Lesotho. But it was not until Trump unveiled the tariffs and called for negotiations over trade deals that leaders of the country of roughly 2 million people awarded Musk’s firm the nation’s first-ever satellite internet service license, slated to last for 10 years.

The decision drew a mention in an internal State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post, which states: “As the government of Lesotho negotiates a trade deal with the United States, it hopes that licensing Starlink demonstrates goodwill and intent to welcome U.S. businesses.”

Lesotho is far from the only country that has decided to assist Musk’s firm while trying to fend off U.S. tariffs. The company reached distribution deals with two providers in India in March and has won at least partial accommodations with Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam, although this is probably not a comprehensive count.

Hopefully there will be some prosecutions after the 2028 elections!

U.S. pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk’s Starlink, cables show
Some countries have turned to the satellite internet firm in preparation for trade talks, State Department staffers wrote. The U.S. has a strategic interest in countering Chinese internet providers, but Musk’s role complicates the picture.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/elon-musk-starlink-trump-tariffs

Los Angeles Times: ‘Even the cops don’t like us anymore’: Under Trump, ICE is despised and divided

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Poor crybabies!

Across the nation, ICE has never seemed more visible, especially as anger continues over the separation of immigrant families at the border under the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy. Protesters have rallied across the U.S., demanding that the agency be abolished — calls that have been echoed by politicians. Earlier this month, WikiLeaks published the identities and information of more than 9,000 supposed current and former ICE employees.

Being an ICE agent has always come with challenges. The agency has faced criticism for years from immigration activists, including during the uptick in immigration enforcement during the Obama administration.

But Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration has made ICE much more of a target. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf won praise from many of her constituents and criticism from the White House earlier this year when she alerted her city to upcoming ICE raids.

Many California police departments have longstanding policies against working with ICE to arrest suspects on immigration charges. But since Trump took office, California has enacted even tougher “sanctuary state” policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration officials even more, and that has heightened the strains.

…

Recently, “Occupy ICE” protests have sprung up across the nation. In Portland, Ore., protesters were able to shut down an ICE facility for at least a week.

On Saturday, hundreds of coordinated rallies were scheduled around the country to protest Trump’s zero tolerance policy, which has resulted in the separation of more than 2,000 children from their parents or guardians crossing the border.

This week, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) stated that he plans to introduce legislation to eliminate ICE. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who beat Rep. Joe Crowley, the House Democratic Caucus chair, in New York’s Democratic primary, ran on a platform that called for the abolition of the agency.

And this is total bullshit:

ICE “fully respects the Constitutional rights of all people to peacefully express their opinions,” ICE said in a statement. “That being said, ICE remains committed to performing its immigration enforcement mission consistent with federal law and agency policy.”

Just ask all the students who are being deported for espousing pro-Palestinian views.

‘Even the cops don’t like us anymore’: Under Trump, ICE is despised and divided
In May, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were spotted in Union Station.

https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ice-conflict-20180630-story.html

Raw Story: ICE officers whine that everyone hates them now: ‘Even the cops don’t like us anymore’

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As ye sew, so shall ye reap!

I can’t blame them. Seriously, I don’t like you either!

Agents who work for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in California have found that they’re so unpopular even other law enforcement officers want nothing to do with them, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In the Times story, ICE agents complain that people are calling the police on them as they try to operate—or even when they try to get coffee in the city.

“Even the cops don’t like us anymore because they’re listening to the news also,” said an ICE agent who the Times allowed to remain anoymous. “ ‘Oh you guys are just separating families.’ ”

You asked for it!

You got it!]

Toyota!

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/06/ice-officers-whine-everyone-hates-now-even-cops-dont-like-us-anymore

Raw Story: Newark mayor decries ‘egregious’ warrantless ICE raid

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Federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement carried out a warrantless raid on Thursday targeting a local establishment in Newark, New Jersey, according to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka—who decried the move as an “an egregious act” in violation of the U.S. constitution.

Federal agents detained both undocumented residents and citizens, including a U.S. military veteran, Baraka said in a statement Thursday.

The local outlet PIX11 reported that ICE agents targeted the Ocean Seafood Depot, a wholesale seafood distributor. Store owner Luis Janota told the outlet that three people were taken into custody, including a Puerto Rican employee who is a military veteran. People from Puerto Rico have U.S. citizenship.

https://www.rawstory.com/newark-mayor-decries-egregious-warrantless-ice-raid

Newsweek: Iraq War Veteran in US for Nearly 30 Years Can Be Deported: Judge

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An Arizona resident who has lived in the U.S. legally for decades―and even fought a war for the country―may be deported, after an immigration judge’s ruling on Friday.

Iraq War veteran Marlon Parris, who moved to the U.S. from the Caribbean in 1997 and was repeatedly issued Green Cards, was detained in January earlier this year.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) had previously ruled the Green Card holder should be allowed to stay in the U.S. despite serving prison time for a drugs offense back in 2011 because the crime was nonviolent.

However, airport officials confiscated his Green Card in 2023 when he returned from a vacation abroad with his wife. Parris was still embroiled in the legal process to have his card returned when he was unexpectedly pulled over in his car by ICE officials in January, who reportedly told him he was “on a list” to be detained and he now faces deportation.

The 2011 decision should be honored. It is grossly unfair to do otherwise 14 years later.

Iraq War veteran in US for nearly 30 years can be deported: Judge
Marlon Parris, who moved to the U.S. in 1997 and was repeatedly issued Green Cards, may be deported to Trinidad and Tobago.

https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-veteran-deported-immigration-marlon-parris-2070513

Latin Times: Stephen [“Goebbels”] Miller Says Trump Admin is ‘Looking At’ Suspending Habeas Corpus To Enforce Deportations

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White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said on Friday that the Trump administration could suspend habeas corpus to carry out deportations currently being blocked by courts.

Speaking to reporters at the White House grounds, Miller said Trump could invoke the Constitution to enforce the decision. “The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, is clear. It says that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. So it’s an option we’re actually looking at,” Miller said.

“A lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not,” Miller added. He sought to back his argument by claiming courts around the country are overreaching and undermining the two other branches of government. He has repeatedly accused judges of committing a “judicial coup” when referencing rulings he or the administration disagree with.

The courts are doing EXACTLY WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING. The only problem is ASSHOLE DICTATORS like you who don’t want to provide the due process that everyone is entitled to under our Constitution.

Stephen Miller Says Trump Admin is ‘Looking At’ Suspending Habeas Corpus To Enforce Deportations
Stephen Miller, President Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff, suggested the Trump administration could suspend habeas corpus rights to enforce deportations

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/stephen-miller-says-trump-admin-is-looking-at-suspending-habeas-corpus-to-enforce-deportations/ar-AA1EuH75

Independent: Backstabbed US auto companies blast Trump’s trade deal with Britain

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America’s automakers have strafed President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful” tentative trade deal with the U.K.

Ford, GM and Stallantis complained the “deal,” which hasn’t yet been officially agreed to, will actually hurt U.S. automakers by putting them at a competitive disadvantage with British companies.

Under the deal, Britain can send a quota of 100,000 cars annually to the U.S. with a 10 percent tariffs (amounts over that level will face 27.5 percent tariffs). Steel exports will be tariff free.

The U.S. carmakers said their vehicles produced in Canada and Mexico, or produced with parts from those countries or with steel from those countries, continue to face devastating 25 percent tariffs.

Backstabbed US auto companies blast Trump’s trade deal with Britain
Backstabbed US auto companies blast Trump’s trade deal with Britain – Trump has put American automakers at a disadvantage with their British competitors, they complain

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/backstabbed-us-auto-companies-blast-trump-s-trade-deal-with-britain/ar-AA1Evtyt

Moneywise: ‘This is a tragedy’: Mark Carney warns the 80-year period of US economic leadership ‘is over’ — says America is no longer the anchor of global trade. Here’s how to survive the ‘new reality’

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Trump’s “Liberation Day” may be the first step in America’s exit from its role as the world’s economic anchor and trusted trade ally. That’s according to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who didn’t hold back in a press conference shortly after reciprocal tariffs on U.S. autos were announced.

“The system of global trade anchored on the United States … is over,” Carney said during the recent announcement. “The 80-year period when the United States embraced the mantle of global economic leadership … is over. While this is a tragedy, it is also the new reality.”

…

According to the BBC, world leaders, including EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen and Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, say the ongoing trade war will have “dire” consequences for millions of people across the world and undermine the global trading system.

…

The U.S. isn’t just the largest economy in the world, it’s also the largest consumer of goods and services.

‘This is a tragedy’: Mark Carney warns the 80-year period of US economic leadership ‘is over’ — says America is no longer the anchor of global trade. Here’s how to survive the ‘new reality’
He warns Trump’s tariff policy could “rupture the global economy.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/this-is-a-tragedy-mark-carney-warns-the-80-year-period-of-us-economic-leadership-is-over-says-america-is-no-longer-the-anchor-of-global-trade-here-s-how-to-survive-the-new-reality/ar-AA1Ew3q9

Crybaby Republican Loser Finally Throws in the Towel

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Republican Jefferson Griffin conceded the North Carolina Supreme Court race Wednesday to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs, bringing an end to the last unresolved contest from the 2024 election that dragged on for months after a barrage of lawsuits.

The announcement came two days after a federal judge ruled against Griffin’s legal challenge to tens of thousands of ballots and ordered the North Carolina State Board of Elections to certify Riggs’ 734-vote victory.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Richard Myers, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, effectively put an end to all ongoing litigation and provided Griffin with seven days to appeal. Instead, Griffin, chose to end his legal efforts six months after the final votes had been cast in November’s election.

Republican Jefferson Griffin concedes N.C. Supreme Court race after months of legal battles
The announcement, which comes six months after the final votes were cast, ends the final unresolved contest from the 2024 election.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/republican-jefferson-griffin-concedes-nc-supreme-court-race-rcna205358

Guardian: US considers special status for Greenland amid Trump push for control

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Officials float idea of compact of free association (Cofa), used by US to keep close ties with Pacific Island nations

US officials are discussing a plan to pull Greenland into America’s sphere of influence using a type of agreement that the United States has used to keep close ties with several Pacific Island nations, according to two US officials and another person familiar with the discussions.

Under the plan being considered, the Trump administration would propose to Greenland’s leaders that the island enter into a so-called compact of free association, or Cofa, with the United States.

While the precise details of Cofa agreements – which have only ever been extended to the small island nations of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau – vary depending on the signatory, the US government typically provides many essential services, from mail delivery to emergency management to military protection. In exchange, the US military operates freely in Cofa countries and trade with the US is largely duty-free.

Excuse me, King Donald, but the Greenlanders and Denmark have both made it clear that they want neither you nor J.D. Dunce, nor do they want the horses that you rode in on. To top it off, there’s not a single family in Nuuk that wants Dunce over for coffee. Not a one!

US considers special status for Greenland amid Trump push for control
Officials float idea of compact of free association (Cofa), used by US to keep close ties with Pacific Island nations

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/09/us-greenland-trump