Sunday, June 8, 2025

Europe's Cascade of Self-inflicted Wounds


Over the last 30 years, Europe's ruling class has embarked upon reckless immigration policies and insufficient military preparedness. Signs indicate that the European Union and some of our key allies have lost their way.

In France, vast numbers of migrants were allowed into the country without the government maintaining any kind of monitoring or data collection. Most of these migrants dwell in poor neighborhoods. Meanwhile, white working-class families are relocating to safer locales.

“I See Nothing”

The French government doesn’t want to admit that no-go areas, where migrants rule, are overwhelming the police. Rising levels of crime, including robbery, burglary, vandalism, arson, and rape increasingly go unreported. Many native French, shielded from such areas, have no concerns as long as nothing affects them.

In Ireland, following murders committed by illegal aliens, when professional fighter Conor McGregor decried the situation, the nation’s Leftist leaders threatened to imprison him. Indeed, many European leaders brazenly disregard their own native citizens when they urge restrictions on immigration. The elite view such citizens as enemies, while ignoring huge problems linked to highly woke immigration policies.

In 2015, German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the borders to more than one million migrants. She did this, seemingly, to demonstrate that Germany had reformed and was no longer the same nation that perpetrated so many atrocities during World War II. Consequently, some communities were flooded with aliens who did not speak German, had no intention of assimilating, and yielded no discernible benefits to the nation.

Swamping the Culture

Sweden, similar to other Scandinavian countries, allowed migrants to infiltrate Swedish society. These migrants now commit a disproportionate share of murders, rapes, robberies, and other heinous crimes. Like major French cities, Stockholm has no-go sections where even police fear to tread.

Swedish heads of state and parliament members have expressed their regretsover the decades of poor decisions which have diluted a proud cultural legacy and imperiled native born Swedish women. Swedish law enforcement now grapples with such issues daily and faces unprecedented challenges.

Elsewhere, the UK, Spain, Norway, and Brussels, among others, are dissipating their respective heritages, including patriotic and national pride, long-held religious traditions, a solid work ethic, and an implacable industrial base. When native citizens express concern over the rising number of immigrants and the impact on the culture, what do European elites do? They regard their own long-term citizens as xenophobes, racists, or white nationalists.

A Disdain for Reality

As Donald Trump has widely exposed in his first term, and is emphasizing once again, Europe’s ruling class has been asleep at the wheel while notably resisting developing strong defenses. Many such leaders have had an outright disdain for engaging in military preparedness.

As the war in Ukraine continues, with Putin and Zelensky exhibiting fleeting gestures that a lasting ceasefire might be possible, many of Europe's elite actually have an invested interest in seeing the war continue. Unlike President Trump, a committed peace president, many European leaders support this war, while knowing Ukraine cannot win.

What appeals to the elites is that they don't have to get their hands dirty – the battle is far from their borders. The unfolding misfortune is that the U.S. needs a strong Europe, with leaders who have a vested interest in maintaining the strength and traditions of their respective nations.

Pockets of Hope

Fortunately, enlightened, non-woke leaders are in power in Italy, Hungary, and most recently, Poland. Also, Germany recently witnessed a rise in voters opting for conservative values. To counter this, however, Germany’s ruling Leftists, joined by the center Right, cobbled together coalitions to purposely squelch conservative victories in the offing.

However, in countries currently with effective non-woke leaders, each of them has a shelf life. New elections will occur. One cannot safely predict the political winds in Italy, Hungary, and Poland.

If Donald Trump had not been reelected, Europe as we know it might have been lost within a decade. Trump, truly a transformative president, is holding European leaders’ feet to the fire. This is for their own good, whether or not they recognize it. He has another three years and seven months to work his magic to restore Europe to some semblance of sanity. And a sane Europe will be of great benefit to the world.



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VP J.D. Vance: America Was Run by ‘Morons’ Before Trump

  


Vice President J.D. Vance took aim at the pre-Trump political establishment, asserting that the United States was “governed by complete morons” before President Donald Trump came into office.

Vance made the remarks during the fifth anniversary gala for American Compass, explaining how the pre-Trump administration failed to even ask basic questions about the country’s supply chain vulnerabilities.
“If I on Jan. 21 — in fact I did ask this question — ‘where are the biggest deficiencies in our supply chains? What are the 100 products that we’re completely reliant on some other entity to make for us?’” Vance said.
“We don’t know,” he added, referencing the response he received at the time.

“What was so crazy about the hyper-globalized era is that you had these basic questions about the brittleness of our supply chains that were completely uninvestigated by the very people who supported globalizing those supply chains.

We were actually governed by complete morons, and we didn’t even realize it until the Trump administration started to get underneath the hood.”

Watch:
The American Compass event also featured remarks from both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rubio reflected on the shift in national security and economic priorities, recalling the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union during his upbringing.
“Literally the entire world was transformed before my very eyes,” Rubio said.
“We believed the Cold War was over, we won, and now the entire world was going to be just like us.”
Vance and Rubio argued that those assumptions were flawed.

They stated the country must refocus on rebuilding its domestic industrial base to strengthen national security and create better opportunities for American workers.

Rubio emphasized the need to reorient U.S. foreign and economic policy toward national interest, rather than globalist integration.
“The number one foreign policy of the United States needs to be the United States and what’s in the best interests of the United States,” he said.
“This is going to be the work of a generation.”
Vance echoed Rubio’s remarks, adding that “normal people who work hard and play by the rules” deserve an economy that rewards them.

Watch:
"I just want normal people who work hard and play by the rules to have a good life,” Vance said.
He credited President Trump with being the first post-Cold War leader to recognize that the promises of globalization had failed everyday Americans.
“That’s fundamentally why Donald Trump is the President of the United States. He was the first mainstream American politician to come along and say, ‘This isn’t working,’” Vance said.
“These trade deals are not working for the normal people who power our economy … I think the best way to summarize it is we just want normal people to have a good life.”
Vance also stated that production should return to the United States to help revive American innovation.
“The places that make products tend to become good at designing them,” he said.
READ: JD Vance Shuts Down Biden’s Criticism on Russia: “It’s Rich Coming From Him”



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X22, And we Know, and more- June 8

 



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The Cruel Case of Political Prisoner Derek Chauvin


Reading about the unjust prosecution and imprisonment of Tommy Robinson in the UK, my initial thought was, “I’m glad it doesn’t happen here.” But then it occurred to me that it does happen here in the worst possible way. Take a look at the arbitrary treatment of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin—a scapegoat to leftist politics.

Chauvin has gone down in American history as the murderer of George Floyd. Chauvin is serving a 22.5-year state sentence for murder and a 21-year federal sentence for violating George Floyd’s civil rights. The sentences are being served concurrently. His projected release date is in 2037. He is serving his time in a federal prison. Chauvin is a political prisoner who fell victim to social justice activism and media-induced mob hysteria.

At the time of Floyd’s death, the criminal Marxist enterprise known as Black Lives Matter was given a lot of attention in the media. The main allegation of BLM is the false narrative that cops are running around killing blacks. For BLM, this lie is proven by the smallest racial incident. “This is why one black man being beaten by police could trigger a massive riot,” said black author Shelby Steele in an attempt to explain how an isolated incident of alleged police brutality in Minneapolis caused massive demonstrations throughout the nation and the world.

George Floyd has been portrayed as a saint who racist cops deliberately murdered. The reality is very different. Instead of making him into a hero, the media would be doing us a favor by acknowledging that America is better off without Floyd. He was a vicious thug with a long record of violent offenses. Floyd served eight jail terms on various charges and in 2007 he faced charges for aggravated robbery where Floyd held a pistol to a woman's stomach. What a saint! He stood 6 feet 4 inches and weighed in at more than 220 pounds. Derek Chauvin weighed 140 pounds. Put yourself in the shoes of the police officers tasked with arresting this savage giant.

Derek Chauvin had the misfortune of walking into the middle of a charged atmosphere when he and three other officers arrested Floyd on suspicion of using a counterfeit 20-dollar bill. Floyd resisted the efforts of the officers to get him into a police car. They managed to take him to the ground and handcuff him. The allegation at trial was that Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes. For part of the time, two other officers knelt on Floyd's back. Floyd is alleged to have said, “I can’t breathe.” It is important to be aware that knee-to-neck restraints were allowed in Minnesota.

Dr. Vik Bebarta, an emergency physician and toxicologist, and others testified that Floyd could have been saved if officers had moved him into a position to breathe more easily. Another narrative emerged that Floyd died because of a drug overdose. According to the official autopsy, substances in Floyd’s system included a mixture of fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana compound, nicotine metabolites, and caffeine. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was one of many who believed that Chauvin did not cause Floyd’s death. “I strongly support Derek Chauvin being pardoned and released from prison,” Greene said, “George Floyd died of a drug overdose.”

A defense medical expert, Dr. David Fowler, contradicted the conclusion made by the medical examiner that homicide was the cause of Floyd’s death. When asked whether Chauvin’s knee “impacted the structures of Mr. Floyd’s neck,” Fowler replied, “No, it did not. None of the vital structures were in the area where the knee appeared to be from the videos.” Fowler testified that the manner of Floyd’s death should be classified as “undetermined” rather than “homicide.”

After the trial, Kansas pathologist Dr. William Schaetzel expressed the belief that Floyd died from complications of a rare tumor called a paraganglioma that can cause a fatal surge of adrenaline. Chauvin claimed that no jury would have convicted him if Schaetzel’s testimony had been heard.

It was never proved that Chauvin did it. Given the differences of opinion as to the cause of death, it is difficult to conclude with any degree of certainty that Chauvin and the other officers were responsible. It is equally plausible to conclude that Chauvin was trying to do his job under the most stressful conditions, for which Floyd must bear some of the responsibility. That did not stop the jury from issuing a conviction. Because of the political pressure, the actual cause of Floyd’s death didn’t matter. The public wanted a scapegoat, and they got one.

Statements by a juror in the case suggest that the jury system may have failed. During a local Minneapolis television interview, juror Brandon Mitchell said that jury duty should be a means to promote societal change. Former federal prosecutor Francey Hakes said it looks like Mitchell wanted to be on that jury for the wrong reasons. “He talks a lot about social change,” Hakes said. “That is not what the justice system is for. It is incredibly serious to take someone’s liberty away from them with the power of the state. We have to have impartial jurors, and it certainly looks as though we didn’t here.”

Mitchell lied during jury selection when he said he never attended a George Floyd protest. He later admitted that he attended a march for Floyd wearing a T-shirt that said, “Get your knee off our necks.” Jurors were under oath to ensure Chauvin would get a fair trial. Instead, he was railroaded to appease the social justice mob.

Footage of the event sparked weeks of global protests against alleged police brutality and racism. Mitchell and the other jurors were exposed to what has been described as “overwhelming pretrial publicity damning Mr. Chauvin.” Threats were issued that a new outbreak of disturbances would occur in the event of an acquittal. It is highly unlikely that any jury could be objective after Chauvin was convicted in the court of public opinion.

Chauvin’s lawyer requested a new trial after Mitchell’s confession. “The jury committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations,” argued the defense attorney, “in violation of Mr. Chauvin’s constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial.” The court denied the request.

Mitchell’s statements expose serious questions about Chauvin’s conviction. A jury's purpose is to determine a single individual's guilt or innocence, not to be used as a vehicle for social change. Chauvin was sacrificed in the name of social justice. His personal guilt or innocence was subservient to the real issue at trial, namely, whether America is guilty of systemic racism as alleged by Black Lives Matter. The pressure on the jury to bring in a guilty verdict was overwhelming.

Chauvin was the victim of the mass hysteria surrounding George Floyd. How could anyone get a fair trial under these circumstances? If Chauvin was guilty of excessive treatment of Floyd, departmental discipline was the appropriate punishment, not languishing in jail for 22 years. While serving his sentence at the FCI Tucson prison, Chauvin was stabbed 22 times with a shank by another inmate. He has suffered enough. We don’t need political prisoners in America. The president should issue a well-deserved pardon for the federal offenses. Governor Walz should issue a pardon for the state convictions, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.



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And In Other News…More Important Things Than Billionaires Fighting


In setting out to write today’s column, I spent a lot more time than usual on picking the subject. Not because I couldn’t think of one, but because I couldn’t think of anything to write about THE ONE that either has not been said or would not involve the use of expletives. The former is a function of the days my columns run, the latter is a function of how childish and self-defeating I found the whole thing to be. 

I’m not above a stupid tweet now and again, though my impulse control has progressed once I grew up to something beyond that of the world’s richest man, a feat not that difficult to achieve. 

Still, I like Elon and will be eternally appreciative for the work and money he put in to ensure Republicans are in the position to suck as hard as they always do when winning is within their grasp.

But I’m not bitter, I’m a realist. This ain’t my first rodeo. 

I went in another direction to avoid the repetition and frustration/language issues that would not sneak past editors.

I emailed a few friends who work in various aspects of politics to see if they had anything interesting on their radar and they did.

An old friend in Michigan sent me this article about Governor Gretchen Whitmer trying to panic Michiganders about “losing their health insurance” if the “Big, Beautiful Bill” becomes law. “According to Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson, 27% of residents are at the poverty line or below, meaning those people would lose their coverage if cuts come down. ‘This resource plays an integral part into this vision of people being able to succeed and dream and have hopes and be taken care of,’ Anderson said.”

“Whitmer said hundreds of thousands of Michiganders will lose healthcare coverage if Medicaid is cut,” the report reads. So, if Medicaid goes back to how it was just 4 years ago – meaning for poor Americans – the bottom will fall out for Michigan? That doesn’t really reflect well on a Governor fast approaching her 8th year in office, does it? 

Imagine a politician (Democrat, naturally) focusing on welfare as a way of life for more than a quarter of their city rather than fighting to create the circumstances in which people can better themselves and get off welfare is right on-brand for Democrats, isn’t it?

It’s not just Democratic Governors who are getting health care issues wrong, another friend sent me this Daily Wire story about Arkansas Governor and possible 2028 contender Sarah Huckabee Sanders risking screwing up her state’s health care in a fight to “lower the cost of prescription drugs.”

Drug prices are the white whale of politicians in both parties. It’s an easy boogeyman because there is no face, and it impacts everyone directly or indirectly. Plus, who doesn’t like complaining about costs? 

Actually, I don’t, at least on this issue. Thanks to our healthcare system, my mother lived a lot longer than doctors said she would. I will forever be grateful for that. Plus, I know that they do the same for countless other people.

But loved ones being kept alive doesn’t really move votes the way promising to make cheaper something that improves lives does, which leads us to Arkansas. 

“Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is not backing down after pharmacy giant CVS has threatened to leave the state over a new state law targeting drug middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs,” the Daily Wire story opens. Rather than simply explain to people why drugs cost what they do – and there’s no way Sanders doesn’t understand the red tape and R&D costs for drugs, or of the savings from not having to have various procedures thanks to them, it’s easier just to promise to lower prices.

The way Republicans in Arkansas are planning to do it will cost access for people living in rural areas, as the plan would result in CVS leaving the state. What’s the point of coverage if you can’t use it, and what’s the point of “lower prices” if you don’t have a place to buy them?

That’s the problem with politics attempting to dictate the business model for an industry, particularly one as regulated and complex as prescription drugs. While it is easy to pick a villain in any healthcare fight, in this case, the companies that use health insurance to negotiate lower drug prices – PBMs – actually do help lower prices. Maybe not enough for opportunistic politicians, but no “solution” for Republicans should be one that picks winners and losers and creates an anti-business regime in their state. 

As is often the case, there is a chasm between what plays well in an election and what actually does good for people. What Governor Sanders is doing may make a small segment of voters and pharmaceutical companies happy while grabbing headlines. Still, it will end up costing far more people convenience and maybe their health. Does anyone really think that trade-off is worth it?

Finally, in a non-health care related story, I got sent this clip sent to me by a couple of people. It's Van Jones calling for the firing and prosecution of DOGE employees. Their crime? There is an existing wrong, as far as I can tell, in Van Jones's mind. Who’s the fascist again? 

Jones declares some of the most successful people in the country, many of whom have already made a fortune, while others have a fortune waiting for them in the near future, to be “dangerous.” He never really says why, other than some vague notion of them having some kinds of data he doesn’t specify, but being a liberal means you don’t have to specify why; the allegation is enough. 

Anderson Cooper, “serious journalist,” just kind of lets it go, pretty much unchallenged, and will probably win an Emmy for it.

Again, I ask, who are the fascists here? Don’t answer, it was rhetorical.

There, I did it and I’m done – a column on three other important issues that probably wouldn’t warrant a whole column by themselves but are all worth knowing about, and I didn’t mention how insane and high school-esque the public spat between Donald Trump and Elon Musk was until the end. But honestly, it was, wasn’t it? 

Ok, not going down that road right now, I’m done.



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France Approaches Renault on Drone Production

 

France's defense ministry has approached Renault with a view to helping to manufacture drones, the automaker said on Sunday, after the ministry last week floated the idea French companies could help with production in Ukraine.

"We have been contacted by the defense ministry about the possibility of producing drones. Discussions have taken place, but no decision has been taken at this stage, as we are awaiting further details on this project from the ministry," Renault said in a statement to Reuters.

Earlier on Sunday, French news website Franceinfo reported the French carmaker was expected to produce drones in Ukraine. 

 

 

Asked about the report, the ministry told Reuters it was up to the carmaker, without naming it, to say whether it would participate.

Also without naming any companies, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu told French news channel LCI on Friday that France would set up a partnership between a major French carmaker and a small defense firm to equip production lines in Ukraine for building drones.

Drones have played a significant role in Ukraine’s defense since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, providing surveillance and strike capabilities that have shaped battlefield tactics against Russian forces.   

 

https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/france-renault/2025/06/08/id/1214058/    

 

 

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