Close Reading

Trumps own words, “Vote for me, you will never have to vote again!” \nThis one is showing up on several pages. Make up your own mind. \nThere is something rancid in America, a slow, creeping rot that smells like cold McDonald’s fries, aerosol hairspray, and the unmistakable musk of a country too sedated to recognize its own hostage situation. For years, the idea that Donald Trump was compromised by Russia was dismissed as paranoid fantasy—just another wild-eyed conspiracy theory, another overblown headline in the endless saga of American political dysfunction. \nBut now, two former Soviet intelligence officers—Alnur Mussayev and Yuri Shvets—are saying it outright: Trump was recruited by the KGB in 1987, groomed as an asset, and remains under Russian control to this day. \nAnd the worst part? He’s already back in the White House. \nThat’s right, America. You did it. You walked face-first into the banana peel of history, slipped, and fell straight into the arms of Vladimir Putin. Trump was kicked out in 2020, spent four years plotting his comeback, and now he’s returned, like a bloated, orange cockroach that just won’t die. The Kremlin’s favorite stooge is running the country again, and this time, he knows exactly how to stay in power. \nIf you think this is just another round of the Trump Show, you’re not paying attention. This isn’t politics anymore. This is treason. This is foreign subversion. This is a God forsaken coup in slow motion. \nLet’s break it down, nice and simple. \nAlnur Mussayev isn’t some Twitter conspiracy theorist with a tinfoil hat and a podcast. He’s the former head of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee, which means he knows exactly how Russian intelligence works—because he was part of the system. And what he’s saying should make every American’s blood run cold. \nAccording to Mussayev, Trump was identified, recruited, and compromised by the KGB in 1987 during his first trip to Moscow. They saw him for what he was: a narcissistic, greedy, attention-starved buffoon who could be easily manipulated. The KGB flattered him, promised him business deals, and planted the seeds of political ambition in his empty little head. And from that moment on, he was their man. \nBut Mussayev isn’t alone. Former KGB major Yuri Shvets said the exact same thing in 2021: Trump was cultivated by Soviet intelligence because he was an easy mark—too stupid to realize he was being played, too egotistical to care. They saw him as a useful idiot—a man who could one day be nudged into power, a walking, talking Trojan Horse for Russian interests. \nAnd now? The plan has worked. Trump spent four years in office weakening America from within, got booted out, and now he’s back for round two. \nIf you had told the American public in 1962 that a Soviet-backed asset would one day sit in the White House, they would have burned Washington to the ground before letting it happen. But today? Nobody seems to care. \nThe media treats this like just another wacky subplot in the never-ending Trump reality show. Congress is too busy fighting over meaningless culture war nonsense to do anything about it. And the American public? Exhausted. Numb. Checked out. Years of scandals—Russia collusion, Ukraine blackmail, classified documents, tax fraud, sexual assault, an attempted coup—have fried the country’s brain like an overcooked steak at Mar-a-Lago. \nTrump has done the impossible. He has committed so many crimes, so openly, so brazenly, that none of them matter anymore. \nAnd now, with Mussayev’s revelation that Trump is an active foreign asset, we have finally reached the point where the biggest political scandal in American history is met with a collective shrug. \nThis is how democracy dies—not with a bang, but with a goddamn eye-roll. \nThis is the part where the skeptics start clutching their pearls. “Oh, come on,” they say. “If Trump were really a Russian asset, wouldn’t there be more proof?” \nTo which I say: Are you blind, or just willfully stupid? \nLet’s go through the evidence, shall we? \nTrump spent his entire first term doing exactly what Russia wanted. He attacked NATO, calling it “obsolete” and threatening to pull the U.S. out. He tried to blackmail Ukraine into manufacturing dirt on Joe Biden, because weakening Ukraine helps one man and one man only: Vladimir Putin. He pulled U.S. troops out of Syria, handing power over to Russian forces. He picked fights with Canada and Europe while cozying up to dictators. \nEven now, in his second term, he is more openly pro-Putin than ever. He has made it clear that he will not protect NATO allies from Russian aggression. He is actively dismantling America’s alliances, just as Russia planned. And while Americans scream at each other over whether Target should sell rainbow t-shirts, Trump is quietly selling the country to the Kremlin. \nAt some point, you have to stop calling it a coincidence and start calling it what it is: treason. \nThe United States is running out of time. If Trump serves out this term without being removed, America as a functioning democracy is finished. \nThe media needs to wake up. Enough with the “Trump fatigue” excuse. This is not just another scandal—this is the single greatest infiltration of American power in history. Journalists need to dig into Mussayev’s claims, demand declassification of intelligence files, and treat this like the national emergency that it is. \nCongress needs to subpoena Mussayev immediately. His testimony must be public, and every document he has should be reviewed. If there is proof that Trump has been compromised since the 1980s, the American people need to know. \nThe Justice Department needs to stop pretending that Trump is just another politician. If there is evidence that the sitting president of the United States is working in Russia’s interests, he must be removed from office and prosecuted for espionage. \nAnd the American public? You have one last chance. This is not about Republican vs. Democrat. This is not about taxes, gas prices, or whatever nonsense outrage is dominating the news today. This is about whether the United States remains a sovereign nation, or if we spend the rest of the century as a Russian client state with a golf course. \nThe sheer volume of Trump's corruption, the blatant nature of his crimes, the mountain of evidence that should have ended his political career a hundred times over—none of it mattered. He survived it all, not because he was innocent, but because he drowned the country in so much scandal that nothing stuck. \nBut this time, it’s different. If Mussayev and Shvets are right, this isn’t just another chapter in the endless Trump circus. This is the culmination of a decades-long Russian intelligence operation to install an asset in the White House. \nThere is no coming back from this. If America lets Trump serve out this term without removing him, then the United States as a democratic republic is finished. The country won’t collapse overnight. There won’t be tanks in the streets. Instead, the destruction of democracy will happen in slow motion—buried under lawsuits, propaganda, and corruption so blatant that people stop caring. \nIf America lets this happen—if Trump is allowed to complete his mission—then Putin wins. The West crumbles. And the people who could have stopped it will look back, years from now, and wonder how they let it happen. \nGood night, and good luck. Because if people don’t wake up, America is going to sleepwalk straight into its own funeral.

I am extremely saddened and embarrassed by our president's actions. Seeing what Donald Trump has done in the past and is doing now, I pray for him and other world leaders every day. Their political choices matter. I did not vote for Trump, his first nor second term. He did so much harm during his last presidency that fueled so much division. And yes, Vladimir Putin is absolutely playing him, and he can not see that. I'll keep on praying, and leave it in God's hands. I stand with Canada, Ukraine, and Mexico.

After trump’s first term every single adequate person new what a clinical idiot he was. Why the hell the country which was considered by many as a great nation elected him again?!

This is total Anti US propoganda ! This man is about as sinister as they come, and in bed with billionaire led WEF ! He clearly displayed that in his lock step response to covid and how he treated his citizens ( like caged animals)! This leader is a socialist and has nothing to offer Americans but to leech our tax dollars & use our military defenses for protection without contributing their fare share to support it! We have been the sugar daddy to so many nations with only the consequence of our tax dollars not improving our nation, but every other that we are used by! I’m not a maga but, but this president is using leverage the US still has ( although we’ve suffered greatly under the Biden Admin ). President Trump is trying to balance our budget by smart and fair trade, that puts this country’s legal citizens first! Fair trade hasn’t existed for many years, and while there may be increases felt by these tarrifs, our hope is that long term we manufacture more excellent goods here & use more of our own natural resources! Those commenting about what we are doing to Ukraine need to get their heads out if the sand…the Ukrainian people don’t want Zelinski but cannot get rid of him! He has taken hundreds of billions of dollars from the US and has no plan for peace in his nation…Pres Trump says enough is enough, and he is trying to not only end the war, but recoup massive amounts of money we wrongly gave through a deal for natural resources. Sounds like a plan that’s good for everyone involved, and that’s how you make deals! We cannot give whst we do not have & with our debt , we cannot afford to keep printing money, devaluing the dollar, and giving it away at the expense of hard working N Americans!

New York has to start voting every Democrat leader out of office… they need to remove all Democrats out of positions of power… pretty sure the Mayor will end up becoming an America First Republican before the end of Trumps term(s)

Trump says EU tariffs will ‘definitely happen’ as Mexico, Canada and China retaliate \nTrump takes softer line on UK, saying ‘I think that one can be worked out’, while Mexico and Canada vow levies and to strengthen ties with each other \n \nPhilip Wen, Léonie Chao-Fong and agencies \nMon 3 Feb 2025 03.57 GMT \nShare \nDonald Trump has threatened to widen the scope of his trade tariffs, repeating his warning that the European Union – and potentially the UK – will face levies, even as he conceded that Americans could bear some of the economic brunt of a nascent global trade war. \n \nIt comes as Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, announced on Saturday, sparked retaliation from all three countries. Mexico and Canada have vowed levies of their own while China and Canada are seeking legal challenges. \n \nTrump said on Sunday night that new tariffs on the EU will “definitely happen”, repeating previous complaints about the large US trade deficit with the bloc and his desire for Europe to import more American cars and agricultural products. \n \nEmpty shelves remain with signs ''Buy Canadian Instead'' after the top five US liquor brands were removed from sale at a British Columbia liquor store in Vancouver. \nAsian sharemarkets tumble in response to Trump tariffs \nRead more \n“It will definitely happen with the European Union, I can tell you that,” he told reporters. “I wouldn’t say there’s a timeline but it’s going to be pretty soon.” \n \nTrump appeared to take a softer line on the UK, citing a good relationship with prime minister Keir Starmer while saying tariffs still “might happen”. “The UK is out of line but I’m sure that one, I think that one can be worked out,” he said. \n \n“Well Prime Minister Starmer’s been very nice, we’ve had a couple of meetings, we’ve had numerous phone calls, we’re getting along very well, we’ll see whether or not we can balance out our budget.” \n \nIn Canada, the department of finance published a list of US products imported into Canada that it will target with a 25% retaliatory tariff starting on Tuesday. \n \nThe list shows products that will be hit in the first round of retaliatory tariffs by Canada starting on Tuesday, and mounts to $30bn Canadian dollars’ worth of goods (about US$20bn). The impacted products include tobacco, produce, household appliances, firearms and military gear. \n \nCanada is also preparing for a second, broader round of retaliatory tariffs in 21 days that will target an additional C$125bn (US$86bn) worth of US imports. The second list would include passenger vehicles, trucks, steel and aluminum products, certain fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, dairy products and more. \n \nFILES-US-CANADA-MEXICO-CHINA-TRADE-TARIFFS<br>(FILES) US President Donald Trump speaks to the press after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on January 31, 2025. Trump is imposing steep tariffs on major US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China, with a lower rate on Canadian energy imports, said the White House on February 1, 2025. Washington will impose a 25 percent levy on imports from Canada and Mexico, with a 10 percent rate on Canadian energy resources, until both work with the United States on drug trafficking and immigration. Goods from China, said the White House, would face 10 percent tariffs. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) \nTop Democrats warn tariffs will hit Americans hard as Trump says it’s ‘worth the price’ \nRead more \nClaudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, said her government will provide more details on the retaliatory tariffs she ordered on US goods on Monday. Sheinbaum, in a statement on Sunday, said she will announce details on her government’s “plan B” as she insisted that Mexico “doesn’t want confrontation”. \n \n“Problems are not addressed by imposing tariffs, but with talks and dialogue,” she said. “Sovereignty is not negotiable: coordination yes, subordination no.” \n \n'Coordination yes, subordination no': Mexican president responds to Trump's tariffs – video \nSheinbaum and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau spoke by phone on Saturday after Trump’s administration imposed the new tariffs – 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico, with a lower rate of 10% for Canadian oil, and 10% on imports from China. \n \nTrudeau’s office said in a statement that Canada and Mexico agreed “to enhance the strong bilateral relations” between their countries. Canadian officials have had extensive dialogue with their Mexican counterparts, but a senior Canadian official said he would not go as far as to say the tariff responses were coordinated. \n \n“Now is the time to choose products made right here in Canada,” Trudeau posted Sunday on X. “Check the labels. Let’s do our part. Wherever we can, choose Canada.” \n \nTrump acknowledged the sweeping tariffs he has imposed on Mexico, Canada and China may cause “short term” pain for Americans as global markets reflected concerns the levies could undermine growth and reignite inflation. Asian markets, cryptocurrencies and US and European stock futures slumped in early Asian trading on Monday. \n \n“We may have short term some little pain, and people understand that. But long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world,” he said. day, Trudeau said: “We’re certainly not looking to escalate, but we will stand up for Canada.” However on Sunday evening, a senior government official from Canada briefing reporters in Ottowa on condition of anonymity said: “We will obviously pursue the legal recourse that we believe we have through the agreements that we share with the United States.” \n \nThe official said the Canadian government considered the move by Trump illegal and said it violates the trade commitments between the two countries under their free trade agreement and under the World Trade Organization. \n \n“If other legal avenues are available to us, they will be considered as well,” the official said. \n \nCanada is the largest export market for 36 states, and Mexico is the largest trading partner of the US. \n \nCanada and Mexico ordered the tariffs despite Trump’s further threat to increase the duties charged if retaliatory levies are placed on US goods. \n \nChina also said it would file a lawsuit against the tariffs. The imposition of tariffs by the US “seriously violates” World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, China’s commerce ministry said in a statement, urging the US to “engage in frank dialogue and strengthen cooperation”. \n \nFiling a lawsuit with the WTO would be a largely symbolic move that Beijing has also taken against tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles by the EU. \n \nThe commerce ministry also said the tariffs were “not only unhelpful in solving the US’s own problems, but also undermine normal economic and trade cooperation”. China has said it would take countermeasures to “safeguard its own rights and interests”. It is not clear exactly what form these will take yet. But for weeks Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said Beijing believes there is no winner in a trade war. \n \nLate Sunday night, Trump said he would speak with Trudeau on Monday morning and shortly after said he would speak with Mexico as well, although he did not specify that he would speak with Sheinbaum. \n \nBeyond the official response, people were already thinking of ways to cope with Trump’s decision, including by sharing suggestions on social media for alternatives to US products. \n \nCanadian hockey fans booed the US national anthem on Saturday night at two National Hockey League games. The booing continued on Sunday at an NBA game in Toronto where the Raptors played the Los Angeles Clippers. \n \nFrom left to right, Toronto Raptors forwards Bruce Brown, Scottie Barnes and Chris Boucher react as fans boo the United States national anthem before NBA basketball game action against the Los Angeles Clippers in Toronto, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) \nToronto Raptors fans boo US national anthem after Donald Trump tariffs \nRead more \nOne fan at the Raptors game chose to sit during the anthem while wearing a Canada hat. Joseph Chua, who works as an importer, said he expects to feel the tariffs “pretty directly”. “I’ve always stood during both anthems. I’ve taken my hat off to show respect to the American national anthem, but today we’re feeling a little bitter about things,” he said, adding that he will start to avoid buying US products. \n \nIn the streets, people in Mexico were trying to absorb the announcement on Sunday, although some in the capital acknowledged that they were unaware of the measures. \n \nIn the border city of Mexicali, across from Calexico, California, some people were concerned about the wider implications of a trade war. \n \nDriver Alejandro Acosta says that he crosses the border weekly in his truck to deliver vegetables to US companies. He said he fears US businesses in the Mexicali Valley will no longer want to operate in Mexico and they will move to the US. \n \n“If they raise taxes on the factories here, jobs may also decrease,” he said.

US trade with China is now only 16% of Chinese exports. Trump no longer has the leverage he had in his first term, and China has learned not to trust any agreements wth the USA because the US always breaks them, particularly Trump. From this point forward, every agreement will be transactional. If Trump goes over the top with tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada it will trigger an inflationary spiral that harms US consumers and an economy already in debt. Voter remorse will be swift.

What about the immigrants that have been working and contributing and trying to get citizenship for decades and the spouses of American citizens still fighting for their right after paying taxes for many years - are we raiding all families homes and splitting up kids from parents? Did we ever find the families for the 800+ kids that had no details taken still unable to contact families that trump split them from the first time? Or does that not matter cause it’s not YOUR kids? Huh. When they come and create the detention camps and ship people back to places they haven’t been in decades who cares right they have been paying American taxes and have no rights while their years of waiting for their citizenship - fix that maybe so those who are working, contributing can stay and work in the jobs they have and keep families together. But no let’s demonise EVERY single person because most who voted are ignorant just like abortion about the actual application and situations that arise within a MASSIVE spectrum. Just dumb it down to ANY illegal, and does that also include the legal folks that GOP decide aren’t anymore just cause they came from elsewhere on an invitation? Springfield residents I would suggest if you haven’t or can’t left the state already you find points of contact for legal battles. \n\nWelcome to the start of your facist, authoritarian, white nationalist, dictator era AMERICA. What follows was your own doing. To any woman that voted republican - No matter your faith there is no well I always vote republican defence. Women have and will die for lack of healthcare, their deaths are on your hands and every republican. And so we are clear there are ZERO babies ‘executed’ after birth cause anyone changed their mind. The deaths of fetus carried to term are due in almost all cases to massive complications, unviable development or other mitigating issues. Those babies were wanted. They were mourned. \n\nWhere is the magic money for all these deportations coming huh? Reconciliation won’t pay the bills, and once the workers who do the labour that effect service, hospitality, food supply the costs of things will rise. But apparently multiple Wall Street and top economists telling you outright that trumps plans will tank the economy still you don’t believe. Even though Biden landed the best recovery in the world post covid and gop. When musk and the rich are getting another tax break and the costs of food and gas rise who do you blame then? If it wasn’t for all the innocent ppl about to suffer I would wish you welcome to just implode with this vile plan but the dictators like putin are already rubbing their hands together in gleeful joy. People of Ukraine I am sorry. People of Yemen, Syria, Palestinian civilians, Israel hostages, lgbtq+ communities, non white Christian faith followers, blended families, veterans, minorities or anyone fleeing violence, death or persecution - there will be no aid or help by the GOP Trump administration and in fact I fear you will be targeted by hate and ignorance or selfishness and greed. But I hope enough columns of good remain to shield as many as possible from what is in their plans. Folks who voted for gop while being in the targeted communities you need to take a long hard look in the mirror and soon you may experience your choices in vivid regret. \n\nFor those who still have a conscience I share your heartbreak and wish the future 4yrs pass quickly and a flicker of hope that there is still good enough people who will offset the hate, division and evil that’s about to erupt all over the country. ?️

The biggest impact on the declining economic productivity coincides with the Trump administrations trade war against Canada. They ripped up the previous trade agreement, and tabled a new one that attempted to devour Canadian industry. No one ever talks about this, and it's unfortunate. That coupled with the pandemic, resulted in a one-two punch to the Canadian economy. On top of that the amount of investment into automation in the energy sector over the past 10 years has reduced the demand for labour. And now with the ever expanding encroachment of AI on nearly every industry, the Canadian economy is facing an uphill battle. Many think that a prime minister is the main reason, when it's not. Canada is at the whim of US economic policy, which I fear is going to get even worse when Trump returns to office. A transition to Conservatives at the Federal level may lighten the load on a few things like Carbon Tax, and Income Tax (maybe), but they won't be the party to introduce limitations and regulations on investors that are responsible for driving up housing prices, by treating the housing market like it's a stock exchange. \nI will applaud Trudeau on winning over the EV battery plant, for pulling us out of bombing Syria and Iraq, for legalizing Marijuana, and for including Dental Care in health coverage (albeit limited...), but some of his decisions should have been better thought through, like the capital gains tax, and should only be targeting investors that have more than 3 properties. While he increased the budget for the Military, he's spent his first two terms ignoring it and that's severely hampered our readiness, and equipment. And while I do think we needed to boost immigration to stave off economic disaster, the current level that its at is problematic, and many bad faith actors are taking advantage of it and enriching themselves like the diploma mills.