Category: Military Industrial Complex

Trump is negotiating with BOTH Russia AND Ukraine for Donbass’ minerals.

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Ukraine expected to sign a deal with Trump giving U.S. access to its rare minerals—but almost half are impossible to get to

Ukraine is nearing a deal to grant the U.S. access to its rare minerals in exchange for continued political and, perhaps, military support, though negotiations face challenges since 40% of these resources are in Russian-occupied territory. With Trump pushing for access to these minerals while also engaging in talks with Russia, Ukraine faces uncertainty over its strategic partnerships as it navigates its war effort and economic future.

…

That being said, information about what materials Ukraine has and where they are located presents snags for negotiations. Namely, Ukraine can’t promise access to all its materials when a reported 40% of the minerals are under land currently occupied by Russia.

On top of that, the main motivation for Zelensky agreeing to swap minerals is likely to be in return for military aid from America—which Ukrainian officials say has not been explicitly penciled into the draft.

Despite this, yesterday sources in Kyiv confirmed the terms to share materials—including oil and gas—are almost agreed after months of negotiation.

Related:

Read More »

US Ukraine Mineral Deal- Shades of Iraqi reconstruction scandal- US to provide security & the Trump admin connection to Iraq’s post-war reconstruction scandal

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

US Ukraine Mineral Deal- Shades of Iraqi reconstruction scandal- US to provide security

Elbridge Colby and Keith Kellogg both served in the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq in 2003 under Paul Bremer and are now part of the Trump administration. The CPA, which acted as the transitional government overseeing post-war reconstruction in Iraq, faced significant criticism for its mishandling of reconstruction funds. Over $8 billion allocated for Iraq’s rebuilding remains unaccounted for, including more than $1.6 billion in cash that was discovered in a basement in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, Chinese companies are actively engaged in constructing a wide range of infrastructure projects, including housing units, universities, commercial centers, schools, health facilities, and power stations. They have also played a key role in developing the Nasiriya airport.

Sources:

Read More »

Trump’s Medicaid reversal should worry Social Security recipients.

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)
Trump’s Medicaid flip-flop should worry any American on Social Security

House narrowly passes budget resolution containing $100B for defense

The House budget resolution would add about $3 trillion to the deficit in a decade while mandating deep cuts that threaten to significantly shrink Medicaid and food programs for low-income people. It also calls for the debt limit to be raised by $4 trillion.

Democrats decried the blueprint as a “betrayal of the middle class.”

Rep. Mark Takano of California, the top Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said the plan would harm 9 million veterans that rely on Medicaid for health insurance coverage and more than 1 million veterans who use the SNAP food assistance program, formerly known as food stamps.

He said the Republican budget blueprint would also “take a chainsaw” to the Department of Veterans Affairs. The resolution does not specify exact cuts, but it mandates committees find $2 trillion in total spending reductions to finance tax cuts or reduce the amount of the tax cuts.

Previously:

Speak Up Before VA Health Care Is Gutted #Project2025

Donald Trump’s Next Diversity Target: People With Disabilities

DOGE Sets Its Sights on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

DOGE Sets Its Sights on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)
Due Dissidence

The Republican record on Social Security: Getting worse all the time

Related:

‘$2 Trillion By 2026!’ Elon Musk’s Ambitious Push To Reinvent Government Spending With Silicon Valley Powerhouses

Social Security at Risk? The Impact of Trump and Musk’s Reforms

Cutting Social Security Disability Benefits Can Backfire Horribly

FAIRNESS OF REAGAN’S CUTOFFS OF DISABILITY AID QUESTIONED

The US Treasury Claimed DOGE Technologist Didn’t Have ‘Write Access’ When He Actually Did

Elon Musk’s DOGE Allies Search Medicare Agency Payment Systems For Fraud

2 new Chinese warplanes could mean the end of US air superiority

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

As if not enough is going on in the world, the Chinese military has flown two new stealthy jets. Some military observers consider them a tangible threat to the U.S. One is a bomber and one is a fighter. Lexington Institute military analyst Rebecca Grant joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to discuss what it all means.

2 new Chinese warplanes could mean the end of US air superiority

Related:

Read More »

As Elon Musk Begins Shutting Down Payments to Federal Contractors, a Strange Money Trail Emerges to His Operatives Inside the U.S. Treasury’s Payment System

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Elon Musk is the billionaire CEO of the publicly-traded EV company, Tesla. As such, under corporate law, he owes a Duty of Loyalty to Tesla. Notwithstanding this well-established law, Musk is engaged in an array of other corporate endeavors outside of Tesla, including being the CEO of SpaceX, a private rocket company.

Read More »