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lostincalifornia
lostincalifornia's Journal
lostincalifornia's Journal
May 23, 2026
The one advantage with the East Wing trump hole I suspect, is you don't need tickets to see it.
May 23, 2026
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-22/gabbard-replacement-as-us-spy-chief-blasted-toxic-dei-culture
Another white trumper,against diversity, excuse me, correction, another racist asshole wanting to join the racist, sexist, bigoted trump administration.
Ex-CIA Officer Tapped to Replace Gabbard Blasted 'Toxic' DEI Culture
Aaron Lukas, the former CIA officer selected to replace Tulsi Gabbard as spy chief, aligns with some of President Donald Trump’s most ardent beliefs, including that intelligence agencies have become infected with wokeness, and that allegations of a Russian operation to sway the 2016 election are a hoax.
Trump, who announced in a social media post on Friday that Lukas would replace Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence in an acting capacity, praised him as “highly respected.”
In his confirmation hearing to be Gabbard’s deputy last year, Lukas warned that the American intelligence community, which comprises 18 agencies, had become “aimless, bloated, risk-averse, and disconnected at times from the core mission of intelligence.”
He praised Trump and Gabbard for “getting rid of a toxic diversity, equity, and inclusion political dogma that at best was a distraction and at worst pitted IC officers against one another.”
Trump, who announced in a social media post on Friday that Lukas would replace Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence in an acting capacity, praised him as “highly respected.”
In his confirmation hearing to be Gabbard’s deputy last year, Lukas warned that the American intelligence community, which comprises 18 agencies, had become “aimless, bloated, risk-averse, and disconnected at times from the core mission of intelligence.”
He praised Trump and Gabbard for “getting rid of a toxic diversity, equity, and inclusion political dogma that at best was a distraction and at worst pitted IC officers against one another.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-22/gabbard-replacement-as-us-spy-chief-blasted-toxic-dei-culture
Another white trumper,
May 23, 2026
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-22/uae-joins-saudis-qatar-in-urging-trump-not-to-restart-iran-war
UAE Joins Saudis, Qatar in Urging Trump Not to Restart War
The United Arab Emirates has made a more concerted push for an end to the Iran war in recent days, joining Saudi Arabia and Qatar in urging US President Donald Trump to give negotiations a chance, according to several people familiar with the matter.
The conversations were prompted by the countries’ fears that any retaliation from Tehran, if hostilities resume, will plunge Gulf economies into chaos, the people said. In separate calls with Trump, leaders of the three US allies said military action won’t achieve America’s long-standing goals with Iran, the people said, asking not to be named discussing sensitive matters.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Abu Dhabi’s stance indicates a shift for a country that bore the brunt of Iran’s attacks and has been more hawkish than its neighbors toward Tehran.
The conversations were prompted by the countries’ fears that any retaliation from Tehran, if hostilities resume, will plunge Gulf economies into chaos, the people said. In separate calls with Trump, leaders of the three US allies said military action won’t achieve America’s long-standing goals with Iran, the people said, asking not to be named discussing sensitive matters.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Abu Dhabi’s stance indicates a shift for a country that bore the brunt of Iran’s attacks and has been more hawkish than its neighbors toward Tehran.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-22/uae-joins-saudis-qatar-in-urging-trump-not-to-restart-iran-war
May 20, 2026
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-19/asian-stocks-to-track-us-drop-on-inflation-fears-markets-wrap?srnd=homepage-americas
Per Bloomberg TV: "trump said Washington is in the "final stage" with Tehran"
US crude fell to $98 on a report that President Donald Trump said Washington is in the “final stages” with Tehran. The S&P 500 broke a three-day losing streak. With Nvidia’s sales estimated to have grown at the fastest clip in more than a year, the shares led a rally in chipmakers. A rebound in Treasuries sent long-term yields down from the highest since 2007.
Trump said “we’ll see what happens” with Iran, adding that a deal will be made or “we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won’t happen,” according to a White House pool report.
“The only question is do we go in and finish it up, or are they going to be signing a document?,” Trump noted at a commencement ceremony, referencing the Iran conflict.
Trump said “we’ll see what happens” with Iran, adding that a deal will be made or “we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won’t happen,” according to a White House pool report.
“The only question is do we go in and finish it up, or are they going to be signing a document?,” Trump noted at a commencement ceremony, referencing the Iran conflict.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-19/asian-stocks-to-track-us-drop-on-inflation-fears-markets-wrap?srnd=homepage-americas
May 20, 2026
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-20/us-seeks-to-unseal-indictment-against-cuba-s-raul-castro?srnd=homepage-americas
US Charges Cuba's Ral Castro With Murder Over 1996 Shootdown
The US charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder, sharply escalating a standoff with Havana as the Trump administration attempts to force change on the island after nearly seven decades of communist rule.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the move against Castro on Wednesday in Miami. The charges are related to the February 1996 downing by Cuba of two civilian aircraft operated by the Florida-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue.
The Cessnas were shot down outside Cuban airspace, killing four, according to an International Civil Aviation Organization investigation. The incident, which occurred while the 94-year-old revolutionary leader was defense minister, immediately became a highly sensitive diplomatic flashpoint and has been source of tension for the past three decades.
“For the first time in nearly 70 years, senior leadership of the Cuban regime has been charged in this country, in the United States of America, for acts of violence resulting in the deaths of American citizens,” Blanche said.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the move against Castro on Wednesday in Miami. The charges are related to the February 1996 downing by Cuba of two civilian aircraft operated by the Florida-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue.
The Cessnas were shot down outside Cuban airspace, killing four, according to an International Civil Aviation Organization investigation. The incident, which occurred while the 94-year-old revolutionary leader was defense minister, immediately became a highly sensitive diplomatic flashpoint and has been source of tension for the past three decades.
“For the first time in nearly 70 years, senior leadership of the Cuban regime has been charged in this country, in the United States of America, for acts of violence resulting in the deaths of American citizens,” Blanche said.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-20/us-seeks-to-unseal-indictment-against-cuba-s-raul-castro?srnd=homepage-americas
May 15, 2026
https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/trump-made-flurry-of-trades-in-q1-bloomberg-says-thefly-news
The corruption is unbelievable. He is involved with stocks that his policies DIRECTLY affect, and how this is even legal is unbelievable.
What is worse is most of the MSM and congress could care less.
Trump Traded Nvidia, Boeing, Intel in Flurry of Transactions
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-14/trump-bought-nvidia-boeing-microsoft-in-flurry-of-transactions
Trump made flurry of trades in Q1, Bloomberg says
President Donald Trump made a bunch of stock and bond purchases with major American companies in Q1, spending tens of millions of dollars or more, Bill Allison of Bloomberg reports. The transactions were listed in documents filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, which showed the president bought as much as $5M companies including in Nvidia (NVDA), Oracle (ORCL), Boeing (BA), Costco (COST). Six of Trump’s trades involved Intel (INTC), with the administration taking out a 10% stake for $9B. Trump also made investments in Netflix (NFLX), Paramount (PARA), and Warner Bros (WBD). Additionally, the president sold some of his stock, including $5M to $25M of his holdings in Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META), and Amazon (AMZN).
https://www.tipranks.com/news/the-fly/trump-made-flurry-of-trades-in-q1-bloomberg-says-thefly-news
The corruption is unbelievable. He is involved with stocks that his policies DIRECTLY affect, and how this is even legal is unbelievable.
What is worse is most of the MSM and congress could care less.
Trump Traded Nvidia, Boeing, Intel in Flurry of Transactions
President Donald Trump’s latest financial disclosures show that he made a slew of stock and bond purchases with major American companies in the first quarter of the year totaling in the tens of millions of dollars and possibly more.
The transactions, spelled out in documents filed with the US Office of Government Ethics that encompass more than 100 pages, list purchases and sales in broad ranges. In the first quarter, the president bought as much as $5 million each in companies including Nvidia Corp., Oracle Corp, Microsoft Corp., Boeing Co. and Costco Wholesale Corp., according to the documents posted on Thursday.
It’s not clear how many of the transactions involve equities. Unlike reports that members of Congress file, Trump doesn’t have to specify the classes of the asset he’s trading.
The president has made a number of policy moves that intersect with publicly traded companies including Nvidia, whose chips, critical to AI development, require US government approval for foreign sales. Executives from Nvidia and Boeing are part of a US delegation of business leaders who have accompanied Trump on a trip this week to China.
The transactions, spelled out in documents filed with the US Office of Government Ethics that encompass more than 100 pages, list purchases and sales in broad ranges. In the first quarter, the president bought as much as $5 million each in companies including Nvidia Corp., Oracle Corp, Microsoft Corp., Boeing Co. and Costco Wholesale Corp., according to the documents posted on Thursday.
It’s not clear how many of the transactions involve equities. Unlike reports that members of Congress file, Trump doesn’t have to specify the classes of the asset he’s trading.
The president has made a number of policy moves that intersect with publicly traded companies including Nvidia, whose chips, critical to AI development, require US government approval for foreign sales. Executives from Nvidia and Boeing are part of a US delegation of business leaders who have accompanied Trump on a trip this week to China.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-14/trump-bought-nvidia-boeing-microsoft-in-flurry-of-transactions
May 14, 2026
The PR headlines regarding this trump/China "lovefest", the elephant in the room is that
the trump created Iran/Strait of Hormuz shows no indication of being resolved, and that oil prices will NOT come down soon.
Ironically, trump and the republican efforts to destroy the electric and alternative fuel market development in the U.S., might just have just opposite effect, because of his incompetent administration which is directly responsible for the increase in fuel prices might just be enough of a motivating factor to push consumers to adopt alternative fuels.
That same incompentence caused over a million Americans to die because of his mishandling of the covid pandemic.
It is amazing that the stupidity of the American voting public's complete ignorance allowed this imbecille to occupy the White House twice, and along with it, probably lost the supreme court for decades to come.
If thomas and/or alito step aside or retire while the republicans still control the Senate, Democrats will have limited ability to stop a SC nomination, assuming Senate republicans stay united, because any nominee would only need a simply majority vote.
May 13, 2026
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-13/israel-s-netanyahu-made-secret-uae-visit-during-war-with-iran
Israel's Netanyahu Made 'Secret' UAE Visit During War With Iran
Israel’s government said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a “secret visit” to the United Arab Emirates, underlining the growing ties between the countries since the start of the Iran war.
Netanyahu met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at some stage after the war erupted in late February, the prime minister’s office said on X. “This visit led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” it said.
The war with Iran, now in a fragile ceasefire, has upended Middle Eastern geopolitics, with the increased military and intelligence collaboration between the UAE and Israel being one of the most significant shifts.
This is the first known visit of Netanyahu to the UAE. The Arab state’s foreign ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg.
Netanyahu met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at some stage after the war erupted in late February, the prime minister’s office said on X. “This visit led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,” it said.
The war with Iran, now in a fragile ceasefire, has upended Middle Eastern geopolitics, with the increased military and intelligence collaboration between the UAE and Israel being one of the most significant shifts.
This is the first known visit of Netanyahu to the UAE. The Arab state’s foreign ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-13/israel-s-netanyahu-made-secret-uae-visit-during-war-with-iran
May 10, 2026
and from Bloomberg:
Iran Offers Response to US Peace Plan Proposal, IRNA Reports
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-10/iran-submitted-response-to-us-peace-plan-proposal-irna-reports
Everything still seems quite vague, and nothing particularly concrete.
Iran submitted response to US ceasefire proposal to Pakistani mediators, state media says
Source: The Jerusalem Post - Israel News
Iran's response to the latest US proposal during ceasefire negotiations has been submitted to Pakistani mediators, Tehran's official news agency IRNA reported on Sunday.
According to the Iranian outlet, the negotiations are focusing on "ending the war in the region."
.........
The plan contains three main stages with a 30-day phase aimed at transforming a ceasefire into a complete end to the war. It was presented as a rebuttal to the US's nine-point peace plan.
The Iranian draft reportedly calls for the US to lift sanctions on Iran, end its blockade on Iranian ports, withdraw US forces from the region, and cease all hostilities, including Israel’s war in Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported at the time.
Read more: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-895690
and from Bloomberg:
Iran Offers Response to US Peace Plan Proposal, IRNA Reports
Iran has submitted its response to the latest US proposal to end 10 weeks of war, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Sunday, without providing any further details.
Tehran hasn’t yet given any public indication it would accept President Donald Trump’s plan that stipulates Iran permits passage through the Strait of Hormuz and Washington ends its blockade on Iranian ports in the next month.
The proposal implies Iran’s acceptance would end the conflict, which has killed thousands of people across the Middle East and sent energy prices soaring. The two sides would still need to negotiate a deal over Iran’s nuclear program, which remains a critical sticking point.
Tehran hasn’t yet given any public indication it would accept President Donald Trump’s plan that stipulates Iran permits passage through the Strait of Hormuz and Washington ends its blockade on Iranian ports in the next month.
The proposal implies Iran’s acceptance would end the conflict, which has killed thousands of people across the Middle East and sent energy prices soaring. The two sides would still need to negotiate a deal over Iran’s nuclear program, which remains a critical sticking point.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-10/iran-submitted-response-to-us-peace-plan-proposal-irna-reports
Everything still seems quite vague, and nothing particularly concrete.
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