When America’s largest power grid operator warns of “growing risks” of summer power shortages, people pay attention—especially now, after witnessing Spain’s brief brush with net-zero collapse, when its failing green energy grid triggered the worst blackout in a generation.

PJM Interconnection, the largest power grid operator in the U.S., issued a warning Friday that extreme heat this summer could collide with record electricity demand, potentially triggering disruptions… 

“This season also marks the first time in PJM’s annual assessment, however, that available generation capacity may fall short of required reserves in an extreme planning scenario that would result in an all-time PJM peak load of more than 166,000 MW,” the grid operator warned. 

PJM reported it expects around 179,200 MW of available generation capacity this summer, along with 7,900 MW of contracted demand response—resources activated during extreme heat when 65 million customers across its service area, spanning 13 states and the District of Columbia, are setting air conditioning thermostats to max cool. 

The grid operator warned that a perfect storm of retiring fossil fuel plants, sluggish renewable energy growth, and soaring demand could trigger shortages for the first time:

“PJM continues to voice concerns about the supply and demand imbalance driven by generator retirements and the slow build of new resources in the face of accelerating demand growth.”

Meanwhile, U.S. power demand continues to increase because of electrification trends that fall under the ‘Powering Up America’ theme we have laid out for readers (read here), including the buildout of massive AI data centers, electric vehicles, and onshoring trends. Earlier this week, Goldman’s Hongcen Wei offered his take on America’s power.

PJM’s warning about potential summer shortfalls is a direct consequence of aggressive net-zero and green energy policies, which have destabilized power grids and driven prices higher—particularly in Mid-Atlantic states governed by far-left lawmakers. 

Goldman Says Mid-Atlantic Power Prices “Finally Caught Up To AI Data Center Load Growth Story” https://t.co/6BInBek7Zz

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) August 4, 2024

It’s now up to the Trump administration to push for the restoration of reliable fossil fuel generation to reestablish grid stability (some good news so far). A fragile power grid isn’t just an infrastructure issue—it’s a national security threat. Those who undermined the nation’s grid with green agendas to force grids to retire stable power production for unreliable power generation with Chinese solar panels must be held accountable. 

Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said on May 7 that it has canceled about half a million “unneeded” credit cards used by federal agencies.

In a post on social media platform X, DOGE wrote that over the past 10 weeks, its program to audit “unused” or “unneeded” credit cards has been expanded to 32 federal agencies.

DOGE, led by tech billionaire and Trump administration adviser Elon Musk, said that more than 500,000 agency credit cards were deactivated in that time period, out of roughly 4.6 million active cards and accounts used by the government.

“So, still more work to do,” the organization wrote in the post, which included a screenshot of a spreadsheet showing the canceled agency cards.

The spreadsheet showing what cards were canceled included ones used by the Office of Personnel Management, General Services Administration, Labor Department, Small Business Association, Treasury Department, Commerce Department, Interior Department, Education Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development Department, Defense Department, Health and Human Services Department, State Department, and others.

The May 7 statement means that DOGE has canceled another 30,000 credit cards used by agencies since mid-April, when it provided the last update on the effort.

At the time, Musk reposted DOGE’s comment and claimed that “twice as many credit cards are issued and active than the total number of government employees.”

DOGE’s website says that it has saved about $165 billion, or $1,000 per taxpayer, since it was established through an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January.

Days before that, top congressional Democrats alleged that DOGE, the Trump administration, and Musk were holding up some $430 billion in funds that they said were appropriated by Congress.

Trump’s drive to downsize and reshape the federal government has already led to the dismantling of entire agencies, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

DOGE has been a major part of that effort, and the White House has said it is responsible for tackling what it calls fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government, while streamlining operations.

The government overhaul has led to numerous lawsuits seeking to block the Trump administration and DOGE from proceeding with some of the planned dismissals and other activities.

Musk’s government tenure is nearing its end. As a special government employee, the Tesla CEO is allowed only 130 days to work before he must depart.

Musk told Tesla investors last week that he would be stepping away from DOGE and the Trump administration in May. However, he said he would still be involved in some capacity to ensure that DOGE’s cuts remain intact. In its quarterly report released on April 23, Tesla posted lower-than-anticipated profits due to a variety of factors.

Musk told Trump at a Cabinet meeting on April 30 that it had been “an honor“ to work with his ”incredible Cabinet” and with Trump himself.

“A tremendous amount has been accomplished in the first 100 days,” Musk said. “As everyone has said, it’s more than has been accomplished in any administration before. Ever. So this portends very well for what happens, for the rest of the administration.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

Via VigilantFox.com,

Bill Maher just dropped a brutal reality check on Democrats, saying they’re doomed if things don’t change soon.

But before that happened, a young guest pointed to a separate issue within the Democratic Party.

Maher’s Real Time opened with an interview with David Hogg, the youngest person ever elected as a DNC vice chair.

David is not someone most conservatives agree with on much, but he dropped a surprisingly good take on why Democrats are bleeding voters.

The answer? They’re no longer the party of fun.

He got a huge reaction from Bill Maher after saying Democrats need to reconnect with young men who just want to “get laid and have fun” without walking on eggshells.

He said the parties have flipped. Democrats are now the snobs who judge your every move, whereas Republicans are much less rigid.

“What I think happened last election is younger men—they would rather vote for somebody who they don’t completely agree with, they don’t feel judged by, than somebody who they do agree with, that they feel like they have to walk on eggshells around constantly because they’re going to be judged or ostracized or excommunicated.”

And because of that, young men are walking away.

“Nobody is perfect. But ultimately, what we have to do here is figure out how to bring people back in and work towards the bigger goal of advancing the future of this country and helping young people especially get by, so that they’re able to focus on their lives and getting with a young woman or something like that, instead of how are they going to pay their rent, for example, or how are they working their two jobs.

“Young people should be able to focus on what young people should be focused on, which is how to get laid and how to go and have fun.”

Maher clapped, stood up, and shook Hogg’s hand after that comment.

The show opened with an interview with David Hogg, the youngest person ever elected as a DNC vice chair.

David is not someone most conservatives agree with on much, but he dropped a surprisingly good take on why Democrats are bleeding voters.

The answer? They’re no longer the… pic.twitter.com/EyI2DsPiJ0

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) May 10, 2025

Then came the monologue—and this one was brutal. Maher unleashed a scathing critique of what he sees as a massive problem within the Democratic Party: young people who despise their own country.

He rattled off some jaw-dropping stats, then looked straight into the camera and said they “have no perspective.”

“Less than 1 in 4 Democrats under 30 say they’re proud to be an American. Fifty-four percent say they’re embarrassed by it. Embarrassed like America is your mom picking you up at school? You’re embarrassed to be an American?

“Well, guess what? The feeling’s mutual because you have no perspective,” Maher rebuked.

Then came the monologue—and this one was brutal. Maher unleashed a scathing critique of what he sees as a massive problem within the Democratic Party: young people who despise their own country.

He rattled off some jaw-dropping stats, then looked straight into the camera and… pic.twitter.com/fHwzmMkH0M

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) May 10, 2025

Maher didn’t stop there. He called out progressive rallies where the American flag is disrespected, and the Palestinian flag is cheered instead.

“At an AOC Bernie Sanders rally in Idaho last month, someone threw a Palestinian flag over an American flag, and the crowd erupted in approval,” Maher said with disgust.

“What should have happened after that is one of the adults on stage should have told their young, loyal followers, this is not a symbol of freedom. This is [the American flag].”

Maher didn’t stop there. He called out progressive rallies where the American flag is disrespected, and the Palestinian flag is cheered instead.

“At an AOC Bernie Sanders rally in Idaho last month, someone threw a Palestinian flag over an American flag, and the crowd erupted in… pic.twitter.com/LA2bwEmuGl

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) May 10, 2025

Then came a warning to Democrats about where their base is headed.

Then came a warning to Democrats about where their base is headed.

“The problem is, the energy of the party is with the young—and the young are with the terrorists. That’s not good. So talk to your children and remind them: you don’t really want to live like your heroes in… pic.twitter.com/KLYRE0oNIk

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) May 10, 2025

“The problem is, the energy of the party is with the young—and the young are with the terrorists. That’s not good. So talk to your children and remind them: you don’t really want to live like your heroes in Hamas,” Maher said, before dropping this reality check:

“All the sh*t you [young liberals] do all day, it was all made in America. Your smartphone, your Grubhub, your freedom to b*tch about America. That’s all American stuff. You tell your phone you want a milkshake, and a guy brings it to your house. Please, you couldn’t survive a week living in Intifadaville.”

Watch the full monologue below:

Pressure is mounting on Moscow to take it’s offerings of short, three-day ceasefires (there have been two thus far) to the next level, by accepting terms for a 30-day ceasefire that would begin as early as Monday.

The so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ – including Britain, France, Germany and Poland on Saturday called on Russia accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Currently, Putin’s unliterally proposed 72-hour Victory Day ceasefire is partially holding – or at least has resulting in Ukraine halting sending drones onto Russian territory.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on X “Ukraine and all allies are ready for a full unconditional ceasefire on land, air, and at sea for at least 30 days starting already on Monday.”

“If Russia agrees and effective monitoring is ensured, a durable ceasefire and confidence-building measures can pave the way to peace negotiations,” he added. This is meant to basically extend the weekend 3-day ceasefire by a month.

The Trump administration has been pressing for faster results from Moscow. President Trump characterized an earlier Wednesday phone call with Zelensky as positive, after which the US leader called for “ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.”

And Macron and Trump then spoke Thursday, after which the French leader said had a “strong” conversation for a “unconditional 30-day ceasefire, as did our British and Nordic partners earlier this morning.”

Trump has offered as an incentive the easing of anti-Russia sanctions, but Moscow’s refusal to go along could result in the opposite, per Axios:

• They [European leaders] stressed to Trump that if Putin refuses the 30-day ceasefire, European countries will impose new sanctions on Russia, the sources said.
• “Trump seemed satisfied to see Ukraine embracing the ceasefire and accepting direct negotiations with Russia,” one source said.
• The second source said Trump was glad to hear they all back his proposal. “We’re waiting for Russia’s move now,” the source said.

But Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously warned that Washington may abandon efforts to mediate an end to the three-plus-year-long war if Russia and Ukraine fail to make a peace agreement.

“I think they’re closer in general than they’ve been any time in the last three years but it’s still not there,” Rubio said in an interview with NBC News on April 27.

A comprehensive (air, land, sea, infrastructure) cease fire for 30 days will start the process for ending the largest and longest war in Europe since World War II. As @POTUS has repeatedly said, stop the killing-now. https://t.co/OC49YEFP4P

— Keith Kellogg (@generalkellogg) May 10, 2025

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X that “We share a common view: an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire is needed for at least 30 days,” and that they “waiting for Russia’s response” – in reference to the European leaders Starmer, Zelensky, Macron, Tusk, and Merz – who are visiting Kiev on Saturday.

“Once the ceasefire begins, there will be the best moment for diplomacy,” he said. “Ukraine is ready for meetings and negotiations in any format.”

Authored by William Galston via RealClearPolitics,

When the Commerce Department released a report on April 30 showing that the economy had shrunk during the first quarter of 2025 – the first such decline since 2022 – President Donald Trump was quick to respond. “This is Biden,” he said, adding that “You could even say that the next quarter is sort of Biden [too].” Later that day, he told a group of corporate executives that “This is Biden’s economy.” He capped his day by posting on Truth Social that “This is Biden’s Stock Market, not Trump’s.”

By the end of the week, the president had refined his message. When asked about responsibility for the economy during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, he stated that “The good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy.”

But do the American people agree with President Trump? According to recent public opinion surveys, the answer is No. Specifically:

Gallup asked a random sample of Americans, “Who do you think is more responsible for the current state of the U.S. economy?” Forty-six percent said Trump (up from 43% in March), compared to 27% for Biden, while 21% said that they were equally responsible. Although Democrats and Republicans mostly responded along party lines, independents assigned principal responsibility to Trump rather than Biden by a margin of 43% to 24%.

A Morning Consult survey released on May 6 underscored the rapid shift of economic responsibility from Biden to Trump. “A slim majority of voters (53%) say current economic conditions are mostly the result of Trump’s policies, up from 46% in March and 39% in February, when voters were more willing to give the current president the benefit of the doubt,” the authors of the survey wrote.

Two recent surveys allow us to see how different groups view the question of Trump’s responsibility for the economy. The NPR/PBS News/Marist poll asked a sample of Americans whether current economic conditions are “mostly something President Trump inherited” or “mostly a result of President Trump’s own policies.” 39% chose the former statement, compared to 60% who selected the latter. Among key groups that moved toward Trump in the 2024 election, sentiments among Independents were divided 39-61; among young adults ages 18-29, 34-66; among Hispanics, 32-68. Not surprisingly, a strong majority of Americans-56%–disapproved of his handling of the economy, compared to 40% who approved. Among swing groups, his approval rating was even lower, hovering around one-third of the respondents.

This brings us to the Economist/YouGov survey released May 6. The poll asked simply, Which president “is more responsible for the state of the economy”? Fifty-one percent of Americans, and 55% of registered voters, chose Trump, compared to 28% and 31%, respectively, for Biden. Only 23% of moderate voters, 22% of independents and Hispanics, and 19% of young adults thought that Biden was more responsible than Trump for the economy.

This survey went on to test other key claims Trump made in response to the GDP report. For example, 75% of registered voters hold him “very” or “somewhat” responsible for the stock market. When asked for their response to the president’s assertion that this is Biden’s stock market, not his, 24% of registered voters agreed with him, but more than twice as many – fully 57% – disagreed.

In sum, the president is blaming his predecessor for the condition of the economy, but the American people aren’t buying it. One possible explanation for their rapid transfer of responsibility from the previous to the current president is that Trump is a victim of his own success. His unrivalled ability to command the public’s attention with vivid statements and bold action has highlighted his key economic measures, especially his imposition of record tariffs on friend and foe alike. He has drawn such a sharp line with his predecessor’s policies that it is hard for most people to understand how Biden’s influence on the economy could be continuing.

For better or worse, it’s now Donald Trump’s economy. If it performs poorly, he and his party will pay the price.

William A. Galston holds the Ezra Zilkha Chair in the Brookings Institution’s Governance Studies Program, where he serves as a senior fellow. A former policy advisor to President Clinton and presidential candidates, Galston is an expert on domestic policy, political campaigns, and elections. His current research focuses on designing a new social contract and the implications of political polarization.

The high-profile sex trafficking case against Sean “Diddy” Combs has taken a stunning turn; one of the prosecution’s key witnesses has mysteriously gone missing just days before opening statements are set to begin.

Federal prosecutors told a Manhattan judge this week that they’ve been unable to reach “Victim 3,” a central figure expected to deliver bombshell testimony against the hip-hop mogul.

The missing woman, who does not reside in New York, had planned to testify without using a pseudonym and was prepared to detail “very personal and explosive” abuse she allegedly endured at the hands of Combs, according to the Daily Mail.

Maurene Comey – daughter of former FBI Director James Comey and a member of the prosecution team – informed U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that efforts (or ‘efforts’) to contact the woman and her lawyer have so far failed.

Prosecutors admitted that if they can’t locate her soon, Victim 3 may not take the stand at all.

Combs’ defense attorney, Teny Geragos, demanded clarity by week’s end, pressing the court for a final decision on whether the witness will be called to testify.

Two other accusers, identified as Victim 2 and Victim 4, have been cleared to testify under pseudonyms during the upcoming trial.

Combs, 55, faces a mountain of federal charges alleging he ran his businesses like a criminal empire — orchestrating a slew of serious crimes including kidnapping, arson, bribery, and sex trafficking.

Prosecutors say the Bad Boy Records founder used his star power and deep pockets to trap young women in nightmarish abuse, including so-called “Freak Offs” — drug-fueled orgies where women were allegedly coerced into sex acts with male sex workers as Combs recorded the encounters.

If convicted on all counts, Combs could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Sources say the hip-hop mogul turned down a plea deal from prosecutors last week.

Jury selection for the blockbuster trial is ongoing, with both sides expected to finalize which jurors they’ll strike from the pool by Friday.

Stay tuned…

Authored by Robert Bork, Jr, via American Greatness,

The European Commission’s half-a-billion-euro fine slapped on Apple—and a €200 million fine on Meta—is a reminder that protectionism is a global trend, not just an element of the Trump agenda. Worse than the magnitudes of these fines is the message that they send: the European Union is determined to enforce its Digital Markets Act (DMA) to outlaw the basic business models that made Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon America’s most innovative companies. 

They are now explicitly targeted by this law as digital “gatekeepers” in need of wholesale restructuring.

At home, the Trump administration’s antitrust regulators continue complaints left over from the previous administration against these same companies. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson and Department of Justice Antitrust Chief Gail Slater are perhaps expressing the current administration’s residual desire to punish big tech companies for their past censorship of conservatives. The massive fine imposed on Apple by the EU should put antitrust in a new context for the administration. If Europe wins, the American tech sector will be broken.

If this sounds hyperbolic, consider what the DMA actually does. Apple has invested more than $100 billion in the last five years to produce products that are seamlessly and safely linked, providing levels of security and privacy valued by consumers worldwide. Central to Apple’s success is the willingness of developers to create new apps with powerful capabilities for Apple customers. But Apple enforces conditions on developers. They are granted a degree of access to Apple systems, but not so much that they can steal Apple’s proprietary algorithms or—most importantly for antitrust—access and exploit user data.

For example, when developers create apps that rely on sound, Apple requires them to ask users for their permission before accessing their microphones. If developers want to record audio, they also must get explicit permission. Similar guardrails are in place for apps used for banking, gaming, and a variety of content and services. Developers can access Apple’s Touch ID, but they cannot access data in the Secure Enclave inside the iPhone. Apple is like a bank that will allow access to a safe deposit box but won’t allow rifling through other people’s boxes.

Taken literally, the law’s demand for “interoperability” with developers and competitors would force Apple to expose consumers’ most sensitive data. The EU mandate would allow access to consumers’ communications over iMessage—whether 6-digit codes texted by banks, Wi-Fi passwords, or personal communications. Also at risk is data on AirPlay, CarPlay, and Siri. Every message, email, phone call, image, and calendar will be potentially exposed to myriad developers, sure to be exploited and likely to be resold on the international market. Thus, Europe, in the name of protecting consumers, will force the exposure of users’ data, commoditizing it in the name of interoperability. It is a virtual certainty that some buyers will be cut-outs for China. As the FBI has warned, China “uses elaborate shell games” and overweight voting rights to control companies without tipping off its real ownership.

Why is Europe doing this? It seems to be out of a mixture of progressive thinking and anti-Americanism. The largest seller of smartphones in Europe is Samsung, with 37 percent of the market. Add to that China’s Xiaomi market share, and the two Asian giants have a combined 53 percent share of the European smartphone market. And yet it is Apple’s 22 percent share that somehow defines it as a “gatekeeper” in need of radical restructuring. These latest fines for violating the DMA are eye-popping, but they continue an anti-American trend that has resulted in roughly $8 billion in fines imposed on another top American innovator, Google, over the past decade.

Europeans might be forgiven for feeling whipsawed. The DMA and its companion Digital Services Act were drafted with the active encouragement of the Biden Administration and former FTC Chair Lina Khan, who was in constant dialogue with European regulators. But the attitude in America is now hardening. In a letter to EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan wrote that the provisions of the Digital Markets Act “stifle innovation, disincentivize research and development, and hand vast amounts of highly valuable proprietary data to companies and adversarial nations.”

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, chair of the House antitrust subcommittee, noted that the fine “is a tax on U.S. companies operating in the EU. Any trade deal with the EU or its member countries must address the unfair targeting of our most successful companies.”

Will President Trump let this happen? Or will he rise to the occasion to defend America’s most competitive companies? As President Trump engages the European Union in trade negotiations, he should seize this opportunity to stand up for American investors, innovators, and more than 5 million U.S. tech workers.

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced plans this week to enter the crowded Mexican market, partnering with local firm Alsea—which operates brands like Starbucks, Domino’s, and Burger King—to open restaurants by early 2026, a new report from FastCompany says.

But the question then arises whether fast food Mexican can cut it in the land of tacos and burritos…

FastCompany explored the idea that Americanized versions of local cuisines have struggled abroad. Domino’s failed to win over Italians, and Taco Bell’s two attempts to conquer Mexico flopped.

In fact, Taco Bell’s 1992 debut collapsed within two years, as crispy tacos were “an anomaly” and had to be rebranded as “tacostadas.”

As one critic put it, it was like “bringing ice to Antarctica.” Taco Bell tried again in 2007, emphasizing convenience over authenticity. “Foolish gringos,” a Monterrey food writer commented, and the brand withdrew once more.

Chipotle hasn’t directly addressed these failures but promises its offerings “will resonate with guests in Mexico,” according to chief business development officer Nate Lawton.

“The country’s familiarity with our ingredients and affinity for fresh food make it an attractive growth market for our company.” Alsea CEO Armando Torrado added that his company brings “vast knowledge of the Mexican consumer.”

Still, some experts question Chipotle’s authenticity, noting its burritos prioritize heft over variety. Its current bestseller—a honey chicken burrito—seems designed more for American tastes.

Yet Taco Bell now has over 8,000 global locations, including hundreds in Central and South America, proving success is still possible. And with global trade rules in flux and about half its avocados sourced from tariff-vulnerable Mexico, Chipotle’s push to diversify its customer base makes strategic sense.

Whether Mexican consumers will embrace its burritos remains to be seen, the report concludes. 

India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, appeared to be spiraling toward broader conflict on Saturday, setting the stage for another day of scary headlines that could trigger World War III. But just moments ago, President Trump announced on Truth Social that India and Pakistan have “agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.” 

“After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE,” Trump said. 

The president continued, “Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Trump’s announcement is a surprise, but it comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began back-and-forth diplomacy to end the weeks-long confrontation between India and Pakistan. 

The Guardian provided more color on Rubio’s diplomatic mission: 

Rubio has been engaged in back-and-forth diplomacy between the two countries in recent days, calling for de-escalation as India and Pakistan have been engaged in daily clashes since Wednesday.

The US’s top diplomat “continued to urge both parties to find ways to de-escalate and offered US assistance in starting constructive talks to avoid future conflicts,” state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement on Saturday.

About 25 minutes after Trump’s Truth Social post, Rubio wrote on X:

Over the past 48 hours, @VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik.

I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.

We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace.

Over the past 48 hours, @VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 10, 2025

Earlier, G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for “immediate de-escalation” between the two countries. 

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his counterparts in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US urged “maximum restraint from both” countries. They cautioned that “further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability.”

“We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome,” said the G7 foreign ministers.

X user Matt Van Swol wrote: “How many hats can Marco Rubio wear and still deliver incredible results???? This is absolutely amazing.” 

Authored by Andrew Korybko via substack,

They’ve been shared by the vast majority of humanity throughout history in their own contexts…

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency designated the AfD, just topped a recent poll as the country’s most popular party, as “extremist” before withdrawing it pending litigation. This label would legitimize surveillance of them and can set the pretext for banning them. Vice President JD Vance condemned this earlier move as equivalent to building a new Berlin Wall while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Germany to reverse its decision and also end its “dangerous open border immigration policies”.

Lost amidst a lot of the debate over this controversial decision is the basis upon which it was made: “The party’s prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent is incompatible with the free democratic basic order.” 

The AfD believes that ethnic Germans have a special connection to their country due to their shared culture and experiences, which non-ethnic German citizens lack, especially those from civilizationally dissimilar societies across the Global South who only recently arrived there.

These views actually aren’t extremist at all since they’ve been shared by the vast majority of humanity throughout history in their own contexts. In fact, they’re still popular in non-Western societies, the same places from which most of Germany’s non-ethnic-German population originates. From Africa to West Asia and the Indo-Pacific, most of these countries believe that original inhabitants have a special connection to their country, which can take several generations for newcomers’ descendants to share.

It’s only the radical liberal-globalist ideology espoused by the Western elites that denies this special connection or pretends that it’s always shared by all newcomers once they step onto foreign soil. To be clear, acknowledging this special connection doesn’t imply that members of non-titular nationalities who obtain another country’s citizenship don’t deserve any rights, rather it’s meant as a safeguard of the titular nationality’s socio-cultural rights. It’s here where the Russian example is instructive.

One of the constitutional amendments that entered into force after 2020’s referendum stipulates that “The state language of the Russian Federation throughout its territory is the Russian language as the language of the state-forming people, part of the multinational union of equal peoples of the Russian Federation.” It reaffirmed the equality of all Russian citizens while emphasizing the role that ethnic Russians and their language have historically played in forming their cosmopolitan civilization-state.

Separately, legislation was passed mandating that foreigners pass tests on Russian language, history, and legal basics in order to obtain long-term permission to reside in Russia, let alone citizenship. This is meant to mitigate the socio-cultural threat posed by those who refuse to assimilate and integrate, which Patriarch Kirill drew attention to on three occasions in 2023 and 2024 here, here, and here. He and Putin, however, also united in condemning ethno-religious hate speech after the Crocus terrorist attack.

What the Russian example shows is that a titular nationality’s special connection to their country can be recognized without doing so at the expense of other nationalities. The same goes for having policies for ensuring that migrants assimilate and integrate. None of this is “extremist”; it’s respectful, pragmatic, and sensible, which is why the AfD wants the same in Germany. These views on nationality are the historical norm for humanity, not the exception, which makes the liberal-globalists the real extremists.