THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CRUMBLING. AND TAKING AMERICA WITH IT

While we the people await the September return of Congress, and release of the Epstein files, we are not bored. We got to watch our reality-TV loving president roll out imagery, pomp, and circumstance for a war criminal on American soil. But, like most things related to Trump, it was a stylistic win and a massive substantive loss. He got played. Again. Despite all tough talk to the contrary, he bent to Putin’s will. This is what happens when you send a naive, suggestible, aging reality star into a meeting with a KGB operative turned dictator. “His inclination is to want to get along with Putin and therefore that makes him much more inclined to agree to Russia’s terms and see the world through Putin’s eyes.” 
Trump’s negotiation strategy is limited because he lacks basic knowledge of the facts of the war in Ukraine. And doesn’t seem to really care. 
“It is very hard to drive a hard bargain if you don’t know the facts. They were not negotiating on a level playing field because Trump just doesn’t have the mastery of the subject that Putin does.” Fiona Hill, Trump’s top Russia adviser during his first term says he “has met his match. Because Trump isn’t willing to coerce Putin. He is just not willing to apply pressure. Putin is a much bigger bully than Trump is.” Another take says Trump suffered “a distinct setback” as Putin once more deflected the full ceasefire he had demanded. “What the world sees is a weak and wobbling America.” We also got to watch an American president lay siege to our seat of government. We got to watch armed personnel roaming DC. Intimidating citizens. Provoking anxiety. Fomenting anger. Addressing an emergency that yet to be proven. Now other red-state governors are jumping to show their fealty to this charade. Voicing their intent to send their National Guards to become political pawns. All to serve the president’s American carnage agenda. Shameful. But at least we get to read about the continued benevolence of the Trump administration. The US state department announced on Saturday that it would stop issuing visas to children from Gaza in desperate need of medical care after an online pressure campaign from Laura Loomer, Trump’s far-right influencer who has described herself as “a proud Islamophobe”. And has shown herself to be more influential on his actions than we the people will ever be. Weak and wobbling and cruel.