Geopolitical Focus – January, 2024

January 10, 2024

Geopolitical Focus – January 2024: A Year in Review

If someone were to ask you to encapsulate 2023 in a couple of paragraphs, likening it to your personal life, would you consider it a year best left in the past? Alternatively, do you view any achievements worth celebrating?


The Climate Actions and the global movement, climaxing with COP 28, involved significant effort, but results, regardless of their impact, seemed to be overshadowed by political motives for gaining power. Describing COP 28 as anything but successful is fitting, and the global investments have adversely affected the EU economy. As for the US, there are no apparent results yet from the allocated funds, but can it be said that we saved the planet for another year?


This summary document provides an overview of the key outcomes of global climate action across the four pillars set by the COP 28 Presidency: i) fast-tracking a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition; ii) fixing climate finance; iii) focusing on people, lives and livelihoods; and iv) underpinning everything with full inclusivity.


Regardless of the climate or weather, the excessive cold and snow in Scandinavia are seemingly overlooked in the discourse of climate change. Not to mention fallen trees and massive rains in hurricanes that fail to materialize where reporters are stationed—pure drama without evidence, except for the assertion of it being the hottest year ever recorded in the past 150 years. A mere 0.2 degrees, a figure that science might categorize as a statistical error. And what a letdown for Al Gore!


Unlike the global record, the contiguous U.S. did not have its warmest year. Through the first 11 months of the year, the country hovered around an anomaly of 1.1 degrees Celsius (nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit) above average, which was warm enough for a top-10 finish.


A cold end to winter and start to spring in 2023 caused the year to miss breaking 2012’s record of 1.81 degrees Celsius (3.26 degrees Fahrenheit) above average.


The Electric revolution continues, with solar and wind installations popping up worldwide, a positive trend. Germany, for instance, aims to generate 80 percent of its energy during sunny and windy periods, leaving the other 50% of the time to be covered by coal or nuclear sources. Notably, electricity prices in Germany have doubled since 2021. Now, the decision lies in either doubling the investment to 160% during optimal conditions or consulting with climate activists to extend the days suitable for solar energy.


While battery technology and storage solutions offer assistance, a mix of diverse energy sources might provide a more transitional approach. However, the underlying factor remains political power at risk, necessitating the people in an elite democracy to bear the financial burden. Enthusiasm for the electric vehicle (EV) market exists, but it's worth noting that Norway subsidizes its EV fleet with revenue from oil sales. Looking at the overall perspective, one might argue for balance. Perhaps countries where technology is driving change are better positioned, but considering predictions over the last four years, optimism has waned. Greta Thunberg is currently no longer at the forefront of climate activism. In a recent development, Germany is facing financial constraints to continue subsidizing EVs.


In a time of communication, social media, influencers, political analysts, and experts in every field, global cooperation seems to have devolved into a fight for dominance of opinions and control. Newspapers, bloggers, Google, and Facebook are no longer politically neutral with respect to democracy. Instead, they may be sellouts to the highest bidder and their personal ideology. There seems to be a lack of reason, exemplified by "The VIEW" with its 5:1 ideological overload and suppression of opposition, all while shouting to defend democracy.


One could excuse "The VIEW" as substandard journalism, but what about the White House and particularly the Democratic party? Omnibus Bills the size of 5000 Amtraks, for Israel, the Ukraine, and, oh, the Southern Border to hire more attorneys to pass out Green Cards at entry? To fill the 8 million job openings? There's no clarity on how the money is used, as long as Ukraine continues to engage in a conflict that results in a high casualty rate.


If anyone in our military or congress had an understanding of "people" and not just hegemonic or financial interests, the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel might never have happened. After around 800,000 killed in Ukraine and 100,000 in Gaza when it's all said and done, diplomacy never had a chance. Power was the chosen medium to get results, and by the end of 2024, both might backfire.


This brings us to war crimes and international law, respectively the UN. Perhaps the US and Britain forgot to invite Stalin to the Malta conference, a main contributor to defeating the German Army. Perhaps Eisenhower was a Russia-phobe and Churchill had his own agenda? However, they did invite Stalin for the Yalta conference, and rather than a negotiation, it became a power game back then.


The Malta Conference was held from January 30 to February 3, 1945 between President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom on the island of Malta. The purpose of the conference was to plan the final campaign against the Germans with the Combined Chiefs of Staff (the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff and the British Chiefs of Staff Committee). Politically, the overriding purpose was to present a united front against Stalin in the Yalta Conference a few days later. That did not happen once Yalta began, much to Churchill's disappointment. Both leaders agreed on the undesirability of the Red Army advancing into central Europe.


Each of the three leaders had his own agenda for postwar Germany and liberated Europe. Roosevelt wanted Soviet support in the Pacific War against Japan, specifically for the planned invasion of Japan (Operation August Storm), as well as Soviet participation in the United Nations. Churchill pressed for free elections and democratic governments in Central and Eastern Europe, specifically Poland. Stalin demanded a Soviet sphere of political influence in Eastern and Central Europe as an essential aspect of the Soviets' national security strategy, and his position at the conference was felt by him to be so strong that he could dictate terms. According to US delegation member and future Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, "it was not a question of what we would let the Russians do, but what we could get the Russians to do".[11]


The UN with all its good intentions has degraded into a Climate – end of the World doomsday prognostic, unable to define any political solutions and completely under the control of the US, as is NATO. It is a sad scenario, but national interests are the determining factor in all of it. 


The history of the United Nations as an international organization has its origins in World War II beginning with the Declaration of St James's Palace. Taking up the Wilsonian mantle in 1944-1945, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed as his highest postwar priority the establishment of the United Nations to replace the defunct League of Nations. Roosevelt planned that it would be controlled by the United States, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and China. He expected this Big Four would resolve all major world problems at the powerful Security Council.[1] However the UN was largely paralyzed by the veto of the Soviet Union when dealing with Cold War issues from 1947 to 1989. Since then its aims and activities have expanded to make it the archetypal international body in the early 21st century.


What have we learned since Yalta? Germany is a united country, Russia withdrew its troops, and NATO is moving closer to Russia to defend Ukraine, deemed the most corrupt democracy, as claimed by Victoria Nuland and her husband.


In some European elections held in 2023, the global elite and universal one-party socialists faced setbacks, like in Italy or the Netherlands, resulting in hysterical cries about fascism and white supremacy in defense of democracy. Similar sentiments might surface, particularly in Germany. In summary, anticipate some hysterical reactions.


Israel, Ukraine, sanctions, Green Deals, G-7, G-20—all political organizations appear divided and without leadership. Nothing seems to be working, with blame directed towards fascist and right-wing conspiracy figures such as Italy's Meloni, Orban, Holland's Geert Wilders, and Germany's AFD. In contrast, the US and German governments have support in the 30 percentiles, yet the media continues to advocate for "democracy."


While the US President focuses on domestic priorities like combating white supremacy, he appears lost in global affairs. His administration is perceived as biased in either the anti-Trump war machine or ideological fervor, resulting in a series of disasters, including the loss of Afghanistan and uncertainty about Ukraine and Israel's survival in 2024.


So, what is the real global reset? If 2023 was supposed to ignite it, it seems to have only produced a lot of smoke. Following the liberal media on a global scale reveals a narrative advocating for more ammunition factories, more money for wars, more ideological warriors, and a propaganda front against any countries deviating from the green/red political spectrum.


Looking ahead to 2024, don't expect significant changes.Predictors of the free world, who endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016, seem to forget that we are engaged in wars on different fronts, all under the pretext of defending democracy. The same papers blame Russia as a nationalist country, while our actions reflect efforts to become a hegemon, resorting to aggression, sanctions, and misleading the public about the real reasons for being at war.


Foreign Policy endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US presidential election. This was the first time in its 50-year history the magazine endorsed a candidate.[9]


And they claim journalism as their profession, ideological power grab is a better term? 


Let’s just sit back, as for the Ukraine, let them continue the with fireworks, there is nothing for them to Win, because it will not happen unless NATO and the US send 500,000 troops. Then they could succeed, perhaps? 


Let's make some predictions; however, it's unlikely that the global wave of fascism and right-wing criticism will triumph in the elections. It requires more substance, but that is hard to find in the red/green dictatorships. So, let's observe the developments in 40 countries globally, where the US might be on the losing end of influence, akin to the situation in Ukraine. This scenario may persist despite McKinsey offering productivity improvements and emphasizing the necessity of strong governments. Yes, the same McKinsey that guides the WEF Global Forum.


But the economy? It all depends on Sanctions and International conflicts, but if you wear a Military hat, it is then what you know best? Fight Wars, at least for the US economy it was a blessing in 2023. 


And for the Biden Economics skillful diplomacy with China, hm? 


It was just a smartphone, and yet: when the Mate Pro 60 from Chinese manufacturer Huawei was launched in August 2023, it sent shockwaves through Washington. Because it contained something that many experts had hardly thought possible – a main chip with very advanced technology. How did the engineers at Huawei and the Chinese chip manufacturer Smic manage to develop and – above all – produce such an advanced processor?


Artificial intelligence, fast computers and modern weapons – if you want to be at the forefront of this, you need the latest, most powerful chips. The small silicon platelets have long since become the most critical technology in the world. The battle over this between the US and China has just reached a new level. The U.S. government brought forward a ban on certain machines for chip production, originally planned for the turn of the year, by a few weeks, as has now been announced.


Pressure from Washington

Since the Huawei shock, experts from politics, business and certainly also the intelligence services have been puzzling over how this could have worked. A crucial question concerns the machines of the Dutch manufacturer ASML. The production of high-performance chips, such as those found in the iPhone, has become so complicated that ASML is the only company in the world to master an important process for this. In 2019, under President Trump, the U.S. had already imposed an export ban on ASML's most advanced machines. The Biden administration expanded the export ban in 2023 to include the next weaker generation of machines, but was unable to enforce an immediate ban. It was not until the turn of the year 2023/24 that the export of these machines was to be banned.


As a result, many Chinese companies still ordered machines in stock. In the third quarter of 2023, business in China accounted for almost half of ASML's sales. Washington, in turn, did not like this at all, which is why national security adviser Jake Sullivan is said to have exerted pressure on the Dutch government and on ASML. This is reported by the Bloomberg news agency, citing informed circles. The goal: to bring forward the ban for the machines, so to speak. Which is exactly what happened. Weeks before the delivery stop was actually announced, the delivery of some machines was prohibited. 

US News May 2025 - Are "Tariffs the New Covid"? | The Role of Judges in Deomcracy

May 23, 2025

US News - May 2025 - James Comey Message and the Health of Joe Biden

May 23, 2025
86 – 47 : No more drinks for the President - That was Mr. Comey’s message from the beach .

May 2025 - Geo Political News Round Up

May 20, 2025
As the tariff negotiations with China are currently underway in Switzerland, it appears the US and UK have agreed to a deal that seems to be an icebreaker in the ongoing saga of tariffs. However, in the end, there will be changes to the world order and a shift in focus toward more discussions about saving the planet rather than war. As of this writing, a 90-day pause with China was agreed , lowering tariffs, while China will likely have to consider some of the US demands. Here is a lesson in journalistic economies ? Friend shoring demonstrates that there are no friends or foes in politics , only interests. Even when the world’s resources were not material but simply dirt—more or less fertile—even in agricultural societies, wars and contests were common, whether for territory, ideology, or personal gain. So when people promote friend shoring, it’s more complicated these days. Just look at rare earths—it's not just dirt, is it? Friend shoring for military technology is another example; read about it for yourself. Still, there is ongoing dialogue but no long-term resolution. After Trump’s plan to control Gaza, Israel appears set to take charge instead, once again negotiating for the release of hostages and the evacuation of civilians , while the world looks on as bystanders . If trade can solve the problem , then make a deal. Here’s some food for thought —liberals may be rebellious about it, but the trend all over Europe is clear: MAGA is going global, especially with an economy in tatters and failing negotiations with Ukraine. There are more sanctions, but what can they sanction that the rest of the world cannot counter? The EU is simply a bureaucratic ideology serving its own interests. The EU wants more liberal students —which is fine, as long as we keep the STEM talent. They need more protesters , as long as the UK remains the leading provider of education ? European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign against American higher education as she unveiled a half-billion-euro plan to attract foreign researchers.

Victory, Aftermath, and the Endless Game: Reflections from WWII to Ukraine

May 16, 2025
May 8, a day in history, marks the end of WWII in Europe with the surrender of Germany , but was it really an ending? As with many wars, especially the ongoing Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, and the renewed animosities between India and Pakistan, one might wonder: have enough people died in wars? Perhaps some wars are justified, but often only after provocation. If you consider the basics of relationship building, communication is a key concept, but there is a difference between communication and simply talking. Perhaps we need more communicators and unified voices in government, whether rooted in realism or liberalism . Are these better choices, or in the end, are NGOs and individual voices the problem after all? We hope that reason will prevail—the only lasting fundamental principle—but is it really, or is it just another cause or excuse? Reason, the cause of an event or situation , or something that provides an excuse or explanation : War forever, according to this lawyer, yes . The UN Security Council is another voice that only speaks after the war, sometimes fueling the fire. Consider the Oxford Guide to Treaties —are these more sources of conflict than resolution? And historians—well, some of them are just presenting a version of their own vision of the world. How was Germany rebuilt after WWII ? Was it help on one side, and taking what you can on the other? The USSR suffered greatly and had to rebuild on its own, but why was the offer of the Marshall Plan rejected—was it due to mistrust, as we see today? Perhaps the reset button requires talks among all, but please, let the haters and ideologues out of the room—only communicators and stakeholders should be present, haters out, which probably means no Selinsky. Beginning immediately after the German surrender and continuing for the next two years, the United States pursued a vigorous program to harvest all technological and scientific know-how, as well as all patents in Germany. John Gimbel comes to the conclusion in his book, Science Technology and Reparations: Exploitation and Plunder in Post-war Germany, that the "intellectual reparations" taken by the U.S. and the UK amounted to close to $10 billion, equivalent to around $150 billion in 2024, [3] [4] concurrent to Operation Paperclip . The plea for a two-party political system (translation needed) stands in contrast to the idea of a global one-party or multi-party system as seen in European countries. Attempts at a global one-party system were made by the Romans and some other early cultures , but none proved sustainable by force or government—though that was before the advent of modern communications. Would things be different today? There are still forces hoping that may be realized, for global peace or power, as reflected in Elon Musk’s warnings about a single world government, Einstein’s global perspective , and people attempting to establish it, such as government by AI and supercomputer . Compare that to today’s European coalition building —for example, in Germany, Black/Blue coalitions seem politically unfeasible. In multi-party systems, the need to form coalitions to gain power may end in stalemates and concessions to the detriment of the people. Here is an overview of global systems and drivers of globalization . The ongoing cat-and-mouse game between advocates for peace and war continues as representatives try to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict. Does it matter that Europe seems unified in the effort to defeat Russia with sanctions and arms, while the US seems to favor a negotiated peace? You can argue endlessly that Putin is the aggressor and invaded, but he will counter that with claims about NATO expansion and broken treaties by the West . Is Germany evolving into the powerhouse of Europe, as it should be? After the election and the ousting of Chancellor Scholz, Friedrich Merz has somehow managed to establish himself as the new leader and has immediately begun to exert influence over Europe—at least, that’s what the German “Democrats” are hoping for. So, when Trump appoints loyalists, it's called a dictatorship, but when Germany does it, it's considered democratic? Also worth noting: another Carnegie piece—and apparently every member of the German Cabinet favors war? Expect Germany's defense Minister to keep Kaja Kallas as informant, hating in politics is never a good start. Imagine, 5 years to build up the military and then eliminate the hate, for good, using the Ukraine invasion as a reason. Merz has deliberately centralized foreign and security policy coordination in the chancellery. To start, he has done away with the long-standing tradition of giving the Foreign Office to the main coalition partner, a practice that baked in foreign-policy dysfunction by setting up a separate power base held by a different political party. Now, for the first time since 1966, the chancellor and foreign minister will be from the same party—in this case, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). New Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is a party loyalist who will ensure alignment rather than competition with the chancellor. Within the chancellery—where all important foreign-policy decisions are made—Merz has appointed close confidants to key posts: Jacob Schrot, a trusted trans-Atlanticist, as head of the newly created German National Security Council; veteran diplomat Günter Sautter as foreign-policy lead; and Michael Clauss to handle European Union affairs, which Merz wants to make a core strategic portfolio and to which Clauss brings credibility and experience, including significant work on China.

US Political News Round Up: Lawyers, Investors, and the New Age of Power and Policy

May 9, 2025
Remember the Biden-era stock market jubilations ? It was all about the Magnificent Seven —overhyped and overvalued. The tariff talk came at just the right time to disguise an overdue market correction. The administration framed it as “uncertainty over tariffs.” But no worries, like COVID, it will be “cured” by the same people who created it . Political noise on both sides continues to serve as distraction— like whistling at a referee during a soccer match. Are lawyers and investors the most destructive forces in America? On one side, there are legal maneuvers that deter people from investing. On the other, roll-up acquisitions concentrate wealth that was once shared broadly. Bernie Sanders is on his “Oligarchy Tour,” pointing fingers at Elon Musk—but what about private equity groups (PEGs) ? Are they not a form of oligarchy? And PEGs owning law firms is legal—and mostly supported by Democrats. Try buying a house and living in peace ; your appreciation goes to investors. Under Bernie, it might become a kleptocracy ; under Kamala, a kakistocracy. There are a variety of flavors of corruption. Currently, the most concerning kind is grand corruption . Grand corruption is when public institutions are co-opted by networks of ruling elites to steal public resources for their own private gain. It involves a wide variety of activities including bribery, extortion, nepotism, favoritism, cronyism, judicial fraud, accounting fraud, electoral fraud, public service fraud, embezzlement, influence peddling, and conflicts of interest. The “party of youth” —as someone once said, “If you’re still a socialist at 40, you have no brain.” Harsh? Maybe. But look at the Democratic Party: do they seem to get wiser with age? “If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by 40, he has no brain.” — Winston Churchill Why is fake news so persistent? It follows the same rule as bad customer service—the reputation sticks. On fake news, consider Isaiah Berlin and Friedrich Hayek , knights of classical liberalism. Maybe that’s why Trump won—elites don’t put food on the table. Liberalism and the Pursuit of Happiness The root of fascism, communism, and all totalitarian ideologies lies in the naïve belief that there is only one correct way to live and that intellectuals can determine it with the certainty of natural sciences. Liberalism, by contrast, does not prescribe a singular way of life and this is its strength. It enables individuals with diverse beliefs, goals, and ambitions to coexist. This principle is embodied in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims the “pursuit of happiness”—a pursuit meant for individuals to discover, not for the state to dictate. This is the core belief of liberalism. With the Pope absent from climate advocacy, perhaps churches can fill the role . Whether lawyers act out of conviction or cash is debatable, but climate lawfare is on the rise. Are we heading back to gladiator justice—only with no one to fight? The public trust doctrine had little to do with environmental law until the 1970s, when Joseph Sax argued it could support lawsuits to defend public resources. Are law firms above the law ? Consider the government’s action against Perkins Coie , blocked by Judge Beryl Howell , an Obama appointee. Will we ever find answers to the big questions—like assassination attempts? President Trump’s executive order against Perkins Coie was ruled unconstitutional and retaliatory. It cannot be enforced. This ruling marks the biggest legal setback in Trump’s campaign against firms representing his political adversaries— many of which challenged the order in court . It’s all in the family. Once lawyers secure a case , the food chain never ends. Knowing the system matters—justice is second. And sometimes the lawyers themselves become the story. Abbe Lowell’s communications were ruled outside attorney-client privilege in a 2020 opinion by Judge Howell. The reason: potential evidence of crimes and involvement of non-lawyer third parties. And finally, on tariffs: if your population can’t afford the goods they produce, your export model collapses. Without a home market , tariffs eventually hit hard. Two years from now, Democrats may still hate DJT—but maybe they'll admit he saw it coming.

U.S. News – May 2025: Could American Education & Athletics benefit from the Integration of Apprenticeships and Academys?

May 7, 2025
The betrayal of the American school system is evident when education becomes a secondary priority—supplanted by sports and social wellbeing. While some countries prioritize STEM in their education systems, the U.S. seems increasingly focused on “alternative” social issues. The value system now places lawyers, judges, and welfare programs front and center—paving the way for more lawfare, entertainment, and injustice dressed as justice. Yes, football players generate revenue , but so do scientists and engineers. Imagine if every ambulance chaser became an engineer designing fault-proof devices—the only downside? An hourly rate of $50 versus $250–$1500. Where is Congress in setting the tone? Nearly all members are lawyers. And while student loan debt exceeds $2.8 billion , we’re still debating whether to pay a third-grade volunteer assistant coach. It’s legal insanity. Next up? Pool, pickleball, darts, and cricket just to earn a buck. Maybe we should only have Division I colleges—and let sports fund all education. That, of course, would be a myth for the ACLU . Claudia Wilken is the jurist who will have the final say on the pending $2.8 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit that is set to end the NCAA’s decades-old rules that have prohibited players from getting paid. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of college sports rests on her decision. The deal Wilken is scrutinizing would award back pay to thousands of athletes, while allowing schools for the first time to pay their athletes directly from the billions of dollars they help generate. For an NCAA that had long sold the public on unpaid amateurs as central to the appeal of college sports, it is an earthquake. To athletes, it’s a revelation. European countries with apprenticeship systems educate roughly 60% of their college-age population. Even China implemented apprenticeships to address labor skill gaps. Meanwhile, the U.S. nurtures a college-for-everyone model, wasting millions for the profit of lenders and sports leagues that draft “free” talent. Sports are not an academic curriculum. The education and sports industries must be separated—eliminating the need to “draft” students to fill classrooms. The NFL could easily run junior leagues with the money colleges spend on coaches . Adopting apprenticeship programs in the U.S. would have clear benefits. But what happens to colleges that lose 60% of their students? And where does that leave the millions glued to TVs each March and fall? Education versus entertainment. With only 0.1% of college players turning pro, what happens to the 99.9% after graduation? Watching from the couch? In much of the world , especially in soccer, elite athletes are developed from a young age by professional clubs—not schools. Take Alan Carleton , as an example of how the system could succeed in the US.. The summer before his junior year, he became the first “homegrown” player to sign with Atlanta United FC in Major League Soccer. Atlanta United’s owner, Arthur Blank—who also owns the Atlanta Falcons—picked up Carleton from his Powder Springs, GA home in a Mercedes-Benz van to take him to a signing ceremony at The Varsity, a local Atlanta diner. Is it time for the U.S. to adopt a European-style model where pro clubs develop athletes and schools focus solely on academics? Another cultural debate making waves is the missed opportunity of not following seahorses in the sexual evolution cycle. Today, anything outside of “gender neutral” is treated as scientific radicalism. Gender ideology debates rage on, while perhaps Elon Musk has a solution he’d never use. Like it or not, we are male and female. Clothes and cosmetics don’t change biology. Feelings— no matter how intense —aren’t science. Ask Meta AI , or just be yourself—and be tolerant in both directions. But that's not their only oddity. Seahorses swim vertically, lack pelvic fins, have bony plates over their bodies, and move their eyeballs independently. Perhaps most distinctively, the males carry babies and give birth to them instead of females.

Global Power, Trade, and Rising Nationalism - GEO April 2025

May 1, 2025

The Western War Paradigm – Russia, Ukraine, and the Rise of Hardliners

April 30, 2025

Democratic Divides: Immigration Policy, Party Tensions, and Defining Gangs

April 25, 2025

Generational divide - The Democrats dilemma

April 22, 2025
Generational divide, ideological alliance —the Democrats' dilemma. In the search for a new leader, Bernie Sanders with AOC may appear as the perfect ideological duo—but will their platform ever become mainstream? Probably not. Oligarchs exist on both sides of the political aisle—some overt, others working as lobbyists or influencers. George Clooney could be an intriguing candidate; he arguably has as much intellect as Joe Biden and could deliver a performance on par with Volodymyr Zelensky. Maybe someone will convince him. After all, Ronald Reagan became a great president. Clooney’s favorite, Wes Moore , could be the first president from Maryland—and that may be enough for Democrats. This thought is permeated by the fact that his wife, Amal Clooney, is a British-Lebanese activist who specializes in international law and human rights. She's known for representing high-profile clients like former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. She's also advocated for causes like the release of Al Jazeera journalists and the return of the Elgin Marbles. February 21, 2025: George didn’t think he’d have “much of a chance” with Amal when they first met. In an interview with The New York Times , Clooney said he didn’t expect Amal to be interested because of their age gap. “Then I didn’t really think I’d have much of a chance with her because I was 17 years older and she seemed to have everything she needed,” he said. He also admitted he wasn’t initially “in the market for being a dad,” but that quickly changed. “Then I met Amal, and we fell in love. I have to say that, after that, everything made sense,” he said. Then there's the infighting and wishful thinking. Take your pick. Maybe Thom Hartmann should run in 2028—he certainly offers the kind of fantasy-based commentary needed to stir debate. He’s from Grand Rapids, a town devastated by outsourcing to China. He could have starred in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” but instead, Amway revitalized the area, and now, the city is back on its feet. It’s time to retire some dinosaurs from Congress. Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell—their visibility is fading. While the rallying cry is to “save democracy,” what we often get is lawfare, not leadership. From immigration to budget battles, ideology seems to drive opinion polls more than solutions. The opposition seems more focused on ensuring the administration fails, just to say “I told you so.” Take tariffs —there’s a case to be made, but it requires action. Instead, it’s easier to redefine economics to fit a narrative or litigate the issue endlessly. The 50501 movement claims to speak for the people , but it dismisses the outcome of November 2024 and the agenda voters elected. Overall, the median age of House Democrats is 57.6, while House Republicans average 57.5. In the Senate, the median age of Democrats is 66.0, slightly higher than Republicans at 64.5. According to the Congressional Research Service, 170 House members and 60 Senators are lawyers. Out of 535 total legislators, lawyers make up 43% of Congress—60% of the Senate, and 37.2% of the House. There are 81 Republican lawyers and 123 Democrat lawyers who list "lawyer" as their profession. Some may also hold law degrees but work in other roles, such as doctor, industrialist, teacher, or real estate agent or broker. The medical and real estate professions are also strongly represented in Congress.
More Posts