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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 2d

Thousands of federal agents once tasked with investigating drug smuggling, sexual exploitation and organized crime have been redirected to immigration enforcement.

Trump’s Immigration Push Diverts U.S. Agents From Drug, Money and Sex-Crime Cases

Federal investigators are resigning, and morale is low, as they juggle complex cases and detain migrants.

on.wsj.com

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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 2d

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s emphasis on physical prowess comes as experts say future wars will depend more on cutting-edge technology, precision strikes and AI on.wsj.com/3KvrcH1

Hegseth Focuses on Fitness, Even as Pentagon Goes High Tech

The emphasis on physical prowess comes as experts say future wars will depend more on cutting-edge technology, precision strikes and AI.

on.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: Thousands of federal agents once tasked with investigating drug smuggling, sexual exploitation, and organized crime have been redirected to immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second-term push to accelerate deportations www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Trump’s Immigration Push Diverts U.S. Agents From Drug, Money and Sex-Crime Cases

Federal investigators are resigning, and morale is low, as they juggle complex cases and detain migrants.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · 23d

For those not steeped in online conservative circles, Charlie Kirk was hardly a household name outside the U.S. before this past week. But his death has galvanized right-wing figures abroad who have hailed him as a martyr for a global movement.

Latest ⬇️ www.wsj.com/world/charli...

Charlie Kirk’s Death Unites a Global Right That Sees Its Movement Under Siege

Conservative leaders from Pretoria to Tokyo framed the killing of the U.S. activist and organizer as proof of an existential threat.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 23

New: Inside the lobbying campaign by Ukraine, European officials and evangelical Christian organizations to bring the Ukrainian children forcibly removed to Russia to Trump’s attention & make their return a demand in peace negotiations

www.wsj.com/world/inside...

Inside the Lobbying Push That Put Ukraine’s Missing Children on Trump’s Agenda

Children that Ukraine says were taken by Russia are at the heart of peace talks thanks to a monthslong effort by Western officials and evangelical Christian groups.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 22

New: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., to carry weapons

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Defense Secretary Authorizes National Guard in D.C. to Carry Arms

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized National Guard soldiers in Washington to carry weapons, the latest move in President Trump’s efforts to ramp up security in the nation’s capital.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 22

Spotted in Mount Pleasant

Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 21

Also spotted in DC

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 21

Seen on my block in Columbia Heights

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 21

Earlier this week, federal agents parked outside a bilingual daycare center near Mount Pleasant, and made arrests. “The staff were terrified. Students were scared. Parents were scared."

Santos said her 5-year-old son “asked if Donald Trump was going to come into his school.”

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 21

“ICE is seeking to spend millions of dollars on SUVs and custom, gold-detailed vehicle wraps emblazoned with the words “DEFEND THE HOMELAND,” according to a contractor’s social media post and records that describe the decked-out fleet” www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

Paul Kiernan @pkwsj.bsky.social · Aug 21

Of the 465 total arrests from the start of operations in the District of Columbia through Tuesday, roughly 44%, or 206, have been arrests of immigrants in the country illegally, according to a White House official.

www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...

Trump’s ‘Law and Order’ Push in D.C. Looks a Lot Like an Immigration Raid

Nearly half of the arrests under the security crackdown have been of people in the country illegally.

www.wsj.com

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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · Aug 21

Nearly half of the arrests under President Trump’s security crackdown in the nation’s capital have been of people in the country illegally.

Trump’s ‘Law and Order’ Push in D.C. Looks a Lot Like an Immigration Raid

Nearly half of the arrests under the security crackdown have been of people in the country illegally.

on.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 21

ICE has parked outside daycares and churches. Nannies and children watched as ICE raided a business across from the Mount Pleasant library during story time. At Shrine of the Sacred Heart, an usher was arrested on his way to services. www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...

Trump’s ‘Law and Order’ Push in D.C. Looks a Lot Like an Immigration Raid

Nearly half of the arrests under the security crackdown have been of people in the country illegally.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 21

Trump said his security crackdown would focus on violent crime, but 44% of arrests in Trump's security crackdown in DC so far have been immigrants living here illegally.

Many were pulled from mopeds, construction sites, or stopped while selling fruit on the street
www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...

Trump’s ‘Law and Order’ Push in D.C. Looks a Lot Like an Immigration Raid

Nearly half of the arrests under the security crackdown have been of people in the country illegally.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 21

NEW: Trump’s ‘Law and Order’ Push in D.C. Looks a Lot Like an Immigration Raid www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...

www.wsj.com

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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

Andrew Buncombe @andrewbuncombe.bsky.social · Aug 17

Do read this: Blackwater’s Erik Prince muscles back into mercenary business @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/world/americ...

Blackwater’s Erik Prince Muscles Back Into the Mercenary Business

Prince has a new guns-for-hire firm to take overseas security jobs the White House doesn’t want to pay for.

www.wsj.com

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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

Kathleen Bush-Joseph @kathleenbush.bsky.social · Aug 16

National Guard soldiers prepare to carry weapons in Washington, DC

www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Exclusive | National Guard Soldiers Prepare to Carry Weapons in Washington, D.C.

The shift comes after defense officials said the soldiers deployed to the capital wouldn’t be armed.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 16

Local officials in Washington warn that the National Guard doesn’t have public-safety training, and that involving the military in civilian law enforcement is dangerous.

“National Guard soldiers are trained for warfare and natural disasters, not for community policing.” www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Exclusive | National Guard Soldiers Prepare to Carry Weapons in Washington, D.C.

The shift comes after defense officials said the soldiers deployed to the capital wouldn’t be armed.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 16

Late last night, some National Guard members deployed to Washington were told to expect an order to carry weapons, according to people familiar with the planning.

More here ⬇️ www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Exclusive | National Guard Soldiers Prepare to Carry Weapons in Washington, D.C.

The shift comes after defense officials said the soldiers deployed to the capital wouldn’t be armed.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 16

NEW: National Guard troops deployed to DC by President Trump are now preparing to carry weapons.

It's a significant shift—defense officials emphasized two days ago that troops would not be armed or have weapons in their vehicles.

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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

Sarah Kirchberger @sarahkirchberger.bsky.social · Aug 14

“People know that we Finns don’t have a hidden agenda, and we’re also quite blunt,” Stubb told The Wall Street Journal in an interview on July 31. “I can communicate what Europeans or Zelensky think to Trump, and then I can communicate what Trump thinks to my European colleagues.”

Iikka Korhonen @iikkakorhonen.bsky.social · Aug 14

At least the part about Stubb and Lindsey Graham calling Trump from (a bar?) Munich was a new detail for me!🇫🇮🇺🇸🇪🇺🇺🇦

www.wsj.com/world/finlan...

How Finland’s Golf-Loving President Got Trump to Hear Him Out on Russia

“He’s a very good player,” President Trump said of Alexander Stubb, who warned after the two played a round at Trump’s club that Russian President Vladimir Putin couldn’t be trusted.

www.wsj.com

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Vera Bergengruen @verambergen.bsky.social · Aug 14

Finland's President is usually up by 5 am for triathlon training and a sauna.

These days, his morning routine is often interrupted by a call from Donald Trump: “Why are you up already?”

My latest from Helsinki on the unexpected—and high-stakes—bond between the two presidents

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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · Aug 14

WSJ’s Vera Bergengruen sat down with Finnish President Alexander Stubb to discuss his rapport with President Trump, a bond over golf and how it’s driven Ukraine diplomacy.

Watch: How Golf With Trump Helped Drive U.S.-European Diplomacy on Ukraine

WSJ’s Vera Bergengruen interviewed Finnish President Alexander Stubb about how bonding over golf helped him become an influential envoy between President Trump and European allies.

on.wsj.com

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Reposted by Vera Bergengruen

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · Aug 14

President Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb have formed an unexpected bond, exchanging texts and calls at odd hours.

How Finland’s Golf-Loving President Got Trump to Hear Him Out on Russia

“He’s a very good player,” President Trump said of Alexander Stubb, who warned after the two played a round at Trump’s club that Russian President Vladimir Putin couldn’t be trusted.

on.wsj.com

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