Just a theory... Trump and Putin already had a deal. Putin gets to keep parts of Ukraine with minerals, Trump gets his mineral stake by extortion. They make "peace" with no protection for Ukraine. Trump bullying blew it up, and he no longer gets "his share." That's why he's so insanely angry.

Are we really going to make a deal based on business interests and not those of freedom? Is the treatment of Poland as a non-entity after WWII an example we should be following today?

Appeasing Russia in Ukraine simply strengthens its ability to work against western democracies and U.S. interests everywhere.
Is there no member of the GOP in either chamber who will call out Trump's parroting of Putin's lies?

...and Zelensky has done an admirable job keeping Ukraine alive against impossible odds, and thus protecting democratic governments in the Baltics, Moldava, and indeed all of Europe. He WAS democratically elected and his favorability in Ukraine is over 50%.

China is an existential threat on an economic front, a military threat to Taiwan and a bully toward the Philippines, but NOT an immediate military threat to U.S interests. Russia, however, IS an immediate threat to our interests in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. And...

So...the tariffs. Ignoring the WH noise, Trump's pretty simplistic (oxymoron alert). My guess:
Hitting our biggest trade partners brings a revenue hike before higher prices hit. That's a political win.
He wants to renegotiate the N. Am. trade deals yet again, as with NAFTA.

The GOP has gone from "a thousand points of light" to a thousand points of darkness.
Minor tremors have been reported in many locations across the country as deceased Republican presidents roll over.

Confession: I also posted this on FB.

@sdcrone.bsky.socialNot sure how this thing works, but I’m game…