Tennis icon Martina Navratilova backed Olympic gold medalists Nancy Hogshead and Kaillie Humphries after they criticized California’s handling of the issue.
“Right on Nancy!!! We are just built different!!!” Navratilova wrote on X. She later added: “Newsom could overturn this in a second. No excuse.”
Understanding the US - Again
Re: Understanding the US - Again
From the above,
Re: Understanding the US - Again
From happily fantasizing about Midwest's martial "TFTA" dudes 
to despairing over trans issues in one swift keyboard stroke. That’s one hell of a rabbit trail.
Oh, where art thou, Lake Wobegon?
to despairing over trans issues in one swift keyboard stroke. That’s one hell of a rabbit trail.Oh, where art thou, Lake Wobegon?
Re: Understanding the US - Again
@Jay gaaru, defend this.
Los Angeles-area mayor to plead guilty to acting as Chinese propaganda agent
By Steve Gorman
Mon, May 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM CDT
3 min read
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/los ... 56512.html
Los Angeles-area mayor to plead guilty to acting as Chinese propaganda agent
By Steve Gorman
Mon, May 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM CDT
3 min read
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/los ... 56512.html
LOS ANGELES, May 11 (Reuters) - The mayor of Arcadia, California, a heavily Chinese-American suburb of Los Angeles, has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of acting as a foreign agent of China, spreading propaganda on behalf of Beijing, U.S. officials said on Monday.
Within hours of the case being made public, Eileen Wang, 58, resigned from Arcadia's city council, along with the position of mayor she assumed in February on a rotating basis, according to the city manager's office.
She appeared briefly before a federal magistrate judge who instructed attorneys to agree to a date for a future hearing when Wang will formally enter her plea. Bond was set at $25,000. Monday's proceeding was conducted through a Mandarin interpreter.
In the 19-page plea deal filed April 1 and unsealed with the charging document on Monday, Wang agreed to plead guilty to a single felony count of acting as a foreign agent of the Chinese government without prior notification to the U.S. Justice Department.
The charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.
"Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in announcing the case.
In the plea agreement, Wang admitted to promoting propaganda favorable to China "at the direction and control" of Chinese government officials from late 2020 through 2022, when she was elected to a four-year term on the Arcadia city council.
Specifically, she helped to run a website called the "U.S. News Center," which purported to be a legitimate news source for the predominantly ethnic Chinese local community but was actually a mouthpiece for the Beijing government, the plea ...
...
According to the filing, Wang received and carried out directives from Chinese government officials to post pro-China content on the website, including articles disputing reports of human rights abuses committed against ethnic Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang region.
Responding to a complimentary text message from a Chinese government official acknowledging her work, Wang replied "Thank you leader," her plea agreement said.
According to the document, Wang had worked closely with an associate named Yaoning "Mike" Sun, who she had once publicly described as her fiance and was briefly listed as a campaign finance adviser.
Sun, 65, was sentenced in February to four years in prison after his guilty plea in October 2025 to one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
Among Wang's contacts with the Beijing government, prosecutors alleged, was a Chinese Communist Party figure named John Chen, who according to court documents was a high-level member of China's intelligence apparatus who met personally with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in prison for a similar guilty plea.
A statement released by Wang's attorneys said she "apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life."
City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said in a separate statement that the federal charge stems from "conduct that ceased after Ms. Wang was sworn into office in December 2022." It said "no city finances, staff or decision-making processes were involved." (he he, we are asked to believe)
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Jay gaaru: Californians can do no wrong.
I ask: What say you about KD Harris?
Jay gaaru: KD Harris is, after all, a Midwest gal who made her way to CA.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
The US only imports 2% crude oil from hormuz strait, the rest it produces. Why then are gasoline prices going up in the US. The crude oil produced in the US can be charged at less than going rate of crude price and hence gasoline prices don't need to rise. This increase is confounding to me at least. Who is benefitting from the increase of prices - the likes of Chevron, Exxon, etc in the US. DJT wanted to remove the federal tax on gasoline temporarily but don't know whether it got traction.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
So OM and a huge entourgae of CEO's visitng the Emperor's court
What churan will they sell one another??
More importantly what concession will US make.
Things may come to light in the coming days, but given Eyeran issue is going south what is OM expecting from Eleven??
More importantly the fallout in our neighbourhood.
Nepal seems to be itching to make noise.
So do Beedis and Pakis
Rest seem to be quiet
What churan will they sell one another??
More importantly what concession will US make.
Things may come to light in the coming days, but given Eyeran issue is going south what is OM expecting from Eleven??
More importantly the fallout in our neighbourhood.
Nepal seems to be itching to make noise.
So do Beedis and Pakis
Rest seem to be quiet
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Fox News is throwing around numbers like China is going to order 500 Boeing 737 Max planes and GE engines. They will be buying lots of soy as well. What would the US have to give? Probably stop the Iran conflict. All indications are that Trump is going to comply. 500 planes will be worth 67 Billion USD, which is a non-noise number.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/worl ... dents.html
What China’s Choice of Airport Greeter Says About Trump
Beijing welcomed President Trump with a high-ranking vice president, but the choice of a ceremonial leader suggests China is trading symbolism for substance.
Lily KuoPei-Lin Wu and Pablo Robles, May 13, 2026
President Trump arrived Wednesday night in Beijing, where he was welcomed by a military band, an honor guard, hundreds of Chinese youth waving flags and China’s vice president, Han Zheng.
Such carefully designed receptions for foreign leaders telegraph Beijing’s attitude toward these visits. Sometimes Beijing sends a lower-level official to convey displeasure or distance. Sometimes they send someone senior and influential to signal a high degree of respect.
This time, they sent someone who is high-level but whose position is mostly that of a figurehead — which could be a way to send a layered message.
“Beijing sent Han Zheng to Trump’s inauguration and knows that his title of vice president, even though it is a ceremonial role, will impress the status-conscious American president,” said Julian Gewirtz, a China historian at Columbia University who served in senior China policy roles in the National Security Council under President Biden.
“It’s an example of how, throughout this summit, China is hoping to trade symbolism for substance — using protocol and Trump’s preference for pageantry to hold off a return to economic escalation and buy time for China,” he said.
In his role as vice president, Mr. Han is often sent to formal diplomatic events, such as the coronation ceremony in Britain of King Charles III or Mr. Trump’s second inauguration as president. But Mr. Han, who stepped down from the elite Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in China’s ruling Communist Party, now has little influence over policymaking.
The choice of Mr. Han could also signal how Beijing is approaching a visit by the leader of the most powerful country in the world, but who now faces a more defiant and assertive Beijing. It would suggest that Mr. Trump could be feted with the honors of a formal state visit but not given special treatment beyond that of another other power in the world.
“In Chinese diplomacy, protocol is substance, especially during a state visit,” said Evan Medeiros, a professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University who served as an Asia adviser to President Barack Obama. “The arrival ceremony is the first threshold in the protocol game; it is how China signals respect.”
Mr. Han’s presence is a slight downgrade from the welcome Mr. Trump received in 2017, some analysts say. During that state visit, Mr. Trump was greeted by Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat and a member of the Politburo, the party’s second-most powerful body. At the time, Xinhua, China’s official news agency, described the presence of such a “heavyweight” as a sign of “the importance China attaches to the meeting” between the two leaders.
.....
Gautam
Also:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watc ... sit-begins
WATCH LIVE: Trump and Xi hold meeting as China state visit begins.
What China’s Choice of Airport Greeter Says About Trump
Beijing welcomed President Trump with a high-ranking vice president, but the choice of a ceremonial leader suggests China is trading symbolism for substance.
Lily KuoPei-Lin Wu and Pablo Robles, May 13, 2026
President Trump arrived Wednesday night in Beijing, where he was welcomed by a military band, an honor guard, hundreds of Chinese youth waving flags and China’s vice president, Han Zheng.
Such carefully designed receptions for foreign leaders telegraph Beijing’s attitude toward these visits. Sometimes Beijing sends a lower-level official to convey displeasure or distance. Sometimes they send someone senior and influential to signal a high degree of respect.
This time, they sent someone who is high-level but whose position is mostly that of a figurehead — which could be a way to send a layered message.
“Beijing sent Han Zheng to Trump’s inauguration and knows that his title of vice president, even though it is a ceremonial role, will impress the status-conscious American president,” said Julian Gewirtz, a China historian at Columbia University who served in senior China policy roles in the National Security Council under President Biden.
“It’s an example of how, throughout this summit, China is hoping to trade symbolism for substance — using protocol and Trump’s preference for pageantry to hold off a return to economic escalation and buy time for China,” he said.
In his role as vice president, Mr. Han is often sent to formal diplomatic events, such as the coronation ceremony in Britain of King Charles III or Mr. Trump’s second inauguration as president. But Mr. Han, who stepped down from the elite Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in China’s ruling Communist Party, now has little influence over policymaking.
The choice of Mr. Han could also signal how Beijing is approaching a visit by the leader of the most powerful country in the world, but who now faces a more defiant and assertive Beijing. It would suggest that Mr. Trump could be feted with the honors of a formal state visit but not given special treatment beyond that of another other power in the world.
“In Chinese diplomacy, protocol is substance, especially during a state visit,” said Evan Medeiros, a professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University who served as an Asia adviser to President Barack Obama. “The arrival ceremony is the first threshold in the protocol game; it is how China signals respect.”
Mr. Han’s presence is a slight downgrade from the welcome Mr. Trump received in 2017, some analysts say. During that state visit, Mr. Trump was greeted by Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat and a member of the Politburo, the party’s second-most powerful body. At the time, Xinhua, China’s official news agency, described the presence of such a “heavyweight” as a sign of “the importance China attaches to the meeting” between the two leaders.
.....
Gautam
Also:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watc ... sit-begins
WATCH LIVE: Trump and Xi hold meeting as China state visit begins.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
If Obama's visits to ME and Europe in 2009 were an apology tour, Trump's visit to Beijing is an outright supplication tour.
What will Beijing demand (and probably get)?
1) An end to Quad and USN FONOPS in the South China Sea. Recognition that China's "nine-dash-line" in fact encompasses sovereign Chinese territorial waters.
2) Rescind political and military support to Taiwan.
3) Rescind political and military support to Japan and South Korea.
4) Continue boosting Pakistan's profile-- Pakistan must remain a central figure in any US-Iran war-ending negotiations. Also, continue support to Pakistan in case of any fresh outbreak of hostilities with India.
5) Align with China's political operations in the Indian subcontinent, especially with regard to India's neighbours (Nepal, Bangladesh, SL) and irredentist groups within India (Khalistanis, NE separatists).
These are in order of increasing acceptability to Washington. The US will find it very hard to swallow 1, 2, or 3 but could very easily give China what it wants on 4 or 5 (at India's expense).
In exchange for meeting its conditions, Beijing will leverage Tehran's dependency on Chinese arms imports and financial support to convince Iran to come to the table and give Trump a face-saving "victory".
What will Beijing demand (and probably get)?
1) An end to Quad and USN FONOPS in the South China Sea. Recognition that China's "nine-dash-line" in fact encompasses sovereign Chinese territorial waters.
2) Rescind political and military support to Taiwan.
3) Rescind political and military support to Japan and South Korea.
4) Continue boosting Pakistan's profile-- Pakistan must remain a central figure in any US-Iran war-ending negotiations. Also, continue support to Pakistan in case of any fresh outbreak of hostilities with India.
5) Align with China's political operations in the Indian subcontinent, especially with regard to India's neighbours (Nepal, Bangladesh, SL) and irredentist groups within India (Khalistanis, NE separatists).
These are in order of increasing acceptability to Washington. The US will find it very hard to swallow 1, 2, or 3 but could very easily give China what it wants on 4 or 5 (at India's expense).
In exchange for meeting its conditions, Beijing will leverage Tehran's dependency on Chinese arms imports and financial support to convince Iran to come to the table and give Trump a face-saving "victory".
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Cartoon by Jen Sorensen
Re: Understanding the US - Again
I like the first two. That is the limit. That is where the liberals should have stayed.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
I am not sure China is in a position to drive such a hard bargain. They have to give more and take less. Is their economy as good as they are making it out to be?
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Reportedly to improve the FBI Director's statistics, the FBI is putting on to the top-ten most wanted list suspects just a few hours or days before they arrest them. (That is, "we're about to arrest this so-and-so, can we put him on the top ten most wanted list before we do so?")
Also, now even when the local police or state police is making an arrest, if an FBI person was present, it now counts as an arrest by the FBI.
Also, now even when the local police or state police is making an arrest, if an FBI person was present, it now counts as an arrest by the FBI.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
The Mayor's office has a two minute video; which is in this 8:39 minute video.
Mamdani says he has balanced the NYC budget while funding his voters' priorities; and outlines how he did it.
https://youtu.be/2fHolT4_vmw
---
I found the 2 minute video, in case you don't want the commentary
https://youtu.be/m4BIv5ebu_M?si=lYhGEN7TFYsvdO-o
---
My brief commentary - the high tech boom plus the financialization of the US economy has made the US cities rather difficult to afford for the people who run it - the police, teachers, emergency personnel, and so on; and the retail sales people, the staff at restaurants, librairians and so on; and the artists and actors and all the personnel who add to the cultural life of the city and give it a character.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
LMGTFY (Let Me Gemini that for you):
------------------------------------------
As of the 2024–2025 season, the average Broadway ticket price is approximately $129.12. While top-tier, star-driven shows can exceed $300–$900 per seat, many options, including hit musicals, are available for under $100, especially when utilizing lotteries, rush tickets, or the TKTS booth.
Key Pricing Details for 2025-2026
Average Cost: The average paid admission is around $129–$135.
Inflation Impact: Although prices have risen, they have lagged behind inflation; if they had kept pace since 2019, the average would be over $150.
Star Factor: Shows with high-profile celebrities (e.g., Othello, Good Night, and Good Luck) drive up the average, with some seats averaging over $300.
Budget Options: Options for under $70 are available for many shows, including Chicago>> and Hadestown.
Tips for Lower Prices: Avoid Third-Party Fees, Avoid sites like Broadway.com, which often add high fees, and buy directly from the official show website or box office.
Discount Options: Use TodayTix for discounts or TDF for members.
Lottery/Rush: Participate in digital lotteries or in-person box office rush for the cheapest seats.
-----------------------------------
(edited to format better. Added ighlighting)
My take:
As our friend Richard Stallman would say about programmers/artists - "They are neither programmers/artists nor starving."
------------------------------------------
As of the 2024–2025 season, the average Broadway ticket price is approximately $129.12. While top-tier, star-driven shows can exceed $300–$900 per seat, many options, including hit musicals, are available for under $100, especially when utilizing lotteries, rush tickets, or the TKTS booth.
Key Pricing Details for 2025-2026
Average Cost: The average paid admission is around $129–$135.
Inflation Impact: Although prices have risen, they have lagged behind inflation; if they had kept pace since 2019, the average would be over $150.
Star Factor: Shows with high-profile celebrities (e.g., Othello, Good Night, and Good Luck) drive up the average, with some seats averaging over $300.
Budget Options: Options for under $70 are available for many shows, including Chicago>> and Hadestown.
Tips for Lower Prices: Avoid Third-Party Fees, Avoid sites like Broadway.com, which often add high fees, and buy directly from the official show website or box office.
Discount Options: Use TodayTix for discounts or TDF for members.
Lottery/Rush: Participate in digital lotteries or in-person box office rush for the cheapest seats.
-----------------------------------
(edited to format better. Added ighlighting)
My take:
As our friend Richard Stallman would say about programmers/artists - "They are neither programmers/artists nor starving."
Last edited by Vayutuvan on 15 May 2026 01:18, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
It is tough. They shoudn't have majored in Leisure and Entertainment Studies with a major/minor in Theatre/Music/Tap Dancing or whatever.
-
sanjaykumar
- BRF Oldie
- Posts: 6862
- Joined: 16 Oct 2005 05:51
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Is Karp an anagram of something?
The Darwin Award awaits for when AI is 3-4 generations smarter. When cars drive themselves. When the your job is outsourced to silicon.
Oddly enough it will be the fecund marginal farmers in China India Indonesia equatorial Africa who will have the luxury of living a life where they are inured against mind numbing technology.
The Darwin Award awaits for when AI is 3-4 generations smarter. When cars drive themselves. When the your job is outsourced to silicon.
Oddly enough it will be the fecund marginal farmers in China India Indonesia equatorial Africa who will have the luxury of living a life where they are inured against mind numbing technology.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
They’re confronting anti-Indian bigotry at Texas city council meetings | Neha Suratran & Saahas Kaul
Hindu American Foundation
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Kudos to Vivek Ramaswami for standing up to this; but a pity he joined the Party of Trump.
‘HE WORSHIPS COWS!’: MAGA Racism BACKFIRES SPECTACULARLY As Vivek ABANDONED IN OHIO! | Kyle Kulinski
https://youtu.be/nb9vM2TEv50?si=R0fDAqP9Anr4NvuO
‘HE WORSHIPS COWS!’: MAGA Racism BACKFIRES SPECTACULARLY As Vivek ABANDONED IN OHIO! | Kyle Kulinski
https://youtu.be/nb9vM2TEv50?si=R0fDAqP9Anr4NvuO
-
Manish_Sharma
- BRF Oldie
- Posts: 5368
- Joined: 07 Sep 2009 16:17
Re: Understanding the US - Again
https://x.com/TheNavroopSingh/status/20 ... 80446?s=20
No Joint Statement between US & China; independent readouts which are miles apart. China focusing on Taiwan while US focusing Hormuz, Iran & Trade ! Trump is en route to Washington after the humiliation of “America” being called a ‘Nation in Decline’ by President Xi ! Nothing materially delivered on Iran except platitudes !
Re: Understanding the US - Again
"Nothing materially delivered on Iran except platitudes " ?
Trump’s first readout on the Xi summit as he leaves Beijing...
Trump’s first readout on the Xi summit as he leaves Beijing...
Re: Understanding the US - Again
So china is supporting Trumps ball room ?!Amber G. wrote: ↑16 May 2026 02:05 "Nothing materially delivered on Iran except platitudes " ?
Trump’s first readout on the Xi summit as he leaves Beijing...
[img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HIWofuNWMAA ... me=360x360[/img
There has been reports of multiple Chinese cargo planes dropping off "supplies" in Iran this week . What China says is different from what it does
Re: Understanding the US - Again
https://archive.ph/iVtlP
In pageantry and politics, China summit yields Xi’s goal — equal footing with U.S.
In pageantry and politics, China summit yields Xi’s goal — equal footing with U.S.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
The high-stakes Beijing summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping delivered substantial diplomatic pageantry and a cooling of near-term tensions, but left markets underwhelmed due to a lack of officially signed, structural policy changes.
The actual tangibles and concrete takeaways from the meetings span aviation, energy, and geopolitical risk management.
1. The Jet and Agriculture CommitmentsThe most explicit corporate tangible to come out of the summit was an aviation agreement.Boeing Jet Purchase: Trump announced that China has agreed to order 200 Boeing commercial jets, with a potential commitment to purchase up to 750 more. This marks Boeing's first major breakthrough in the Chinese market in nearly a decade.
Agricultural Imports: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that deals for China to buy billions of dollars in American soybeans, beef, and poultry have been firmed up. However, Chinese state media has remained vague on the exact timelines for these purchase orders.
2. Middle East Leverage & Energy Security: With the ongoing war involving Iran threatening global energy supply lines, the two leaders focused heavily on maritime logistics.Trump secured a firm, public verbal assurance from Xi that China will not provide military equipment to aid Tehran.Both nations agreed on a course of action to push for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to secure international oil shipping.The White House confirmed that Beijing expressed explicit interest in purchasing more American crude oil to directly decrease China's reliance on Middle Eastern energy imports
3. Trade Guardrails & Technology: While structural tariffs were surprisingly not renegotiated or altered during this specific multi-day trip, new institutional guardrails were created.Board of Trade Established: The White House and Chinese commerce officials agreed to launch a formal "Board of Trade." This body is designed to manage economic friction and process market-access disputes dynamically, preventing sudden tit-for-tat tariff escalations. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the two superpowers will initiate formal discussions regarding guardrails for Artificial Intelligence. Advanced U.S. chip restrictions (like Nvidia’s next-gen Blackwell architecture) remain non-negotiable and firmly in place.
4. Hard Boundaries on Taiwan: No policy shift or breakthrough occurred regarding Taiwan, but the meeting forced explicit boundary-setting.In closed-door meetings, Xi delivered a stark warning, labeling Taiwan as the "most important issue" and noting that mishandling it would risk direct military conflict or collision.When pressed directly by Xi on whether the U.S. would militarily defend Taiwan, Trump purposefully declined to state a definitive answer, maintaining Washington's posture of strategic ambiguity.
5. Diplomatic Reciprocity: The primary non-commercial tangible was a formal timeline to institutionalize state visits.White House Invitation: Xi Jinping has accepted an invitation from the Trump administration to conduct a reciprocal state visit to Washington, D.C., officially scheduled for September 24.
Experts from the Council on Foreign Relations view the tangibles as a "risk management" exercise. The summit successfully lowered immediate geopolitical escalation risks, but left the deeper, structural economic conflicts unaddressed
The actual tangibles and concrete takeaways from the meetings span aviation, energy, and geopolitical risk management.
1. The Jet and Agriculture CommitmentsThe most explicit corporate tangible to come out of the summit was an aviation agreement.Boeing Jet Purchase: Trump announced that China has agreed to order 200 Boeing commercial jets, with a potential commitment to purchase up to 750 more. This marks Boeing's first major breakthrough in the Chinese market in nearly a decade.
Agricultural Imports: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that deals for China to buy billions of dollars in American soybeans, beef, and poultry have been firmed up. However, Chinese state media has remained vague on the exact timelines for these purchase orders.
2. Middle East Leverage & Energy Security: With the ongoing war involving Iran threatening global energy supply lines, the two leaders focused heavily on maritime logistics.Trump secured a firm, public verbal assurance from Xi that China will not provide military equipment to aid Tehran.Both nations agreed on a course of action to push for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to secure international oil shipping.The White House confirmed that Beijing expressed explicit interest in purchasing more American crude oil to directly decrease China's reliance on Middle Eastern energy imports
3. Trade Guardrails & Technology: While structural tariffs were surprisingly not renegotiated or altered during this specific multi-day trip, new institutional guardrails were created.Board of Trade Established: The White House and Chinese commerce officials agreed to launch a formal "Board of Trade." This body is designed to manage economic friction and process market-access disputes dynamically, preventing sudden tit-for-tat tariff escalations. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the two superpowers will initiate formal discussions regarding guardrails for Artificial Intelligence. Advanced U.S. chip restrictions (like Nvidia’s next-gen Blackwell architecture) remain non-negotiable and firmly in place.
4. Hard Boundaries on Taiwan: No policy shift or breakthrough occurred regarding Taiwan, but the meeting forced explicit boundary-setting.In closed-door meetings, Xi delivered a stark warning, labeling Taiwan as the "most important issue" and noting that mishandling it would risk direct military conflict or collision.When pressed directly by Xi on whether the U.S. would militarily defend Taiwan, Trump purposefully declined to state a definitive answer, maintaining Washington's posture of strategic ambiguity.
5. Diplomatic Reciprocity: The primary non-commercial tangible was a formal timeline to institutionalize state visits.White House Invitation: Xi Jinping has accepted an invitation from the Trump administration to conduct a reciprocal state visit to Washington, D.C., officially scheduled for September 24.
Experts from the Council on Foreign Relations view the tangibles as a "risk management" exercise. The summit successfully lowered immediate geopolitical escalation risks, but left the deeper, structural economic conflicts unaddressed
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Just because the chinese think so, does not make it true.drnayar wrote: ↑16 May 2026 06:34 https://archive.ph/iVtlP
In pageantry and politics, China summit yields Xi’s goal — equal footing with U.S.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Optics matter a lot to the Chinese.Lisa wrote: ↑16 May 2026 14:07Just because the chinese think so, does not make it true.drnayar wrote: ↑16 May 2026 06:34 https://archive.ph/iVtlP
In pageantry and politics, China summit yields Xi’s goal — equal footing with U.S.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Ji, I am not criticising you or aiming this post at you. China is a great deal of smoke and mirror. Sindoor, Venezuela and Iran prove this. They have good PR and this leads to sales and creates a reputation that both India and the US have burned to a cinder in a day or so. Strange how many articles are written globally on Indian aircraft losses without an iota of evidence and barely a sprinkle on chinese 'technological' failures, en masse in all those theaters.
Trump flies into china in a Boeing, what will Xi fly in? Equal, Yeah!
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Quite right. but then psy ops is a thing with social media and "modifying" opinions and interests however warped they maybe. They will just find one that suits them and amplify it. One kind of wonders what exactly the huge American delegation of business leaders ( apparently between them the third largest GDP etc etc) gained other than a piddly promise of 200 off Boeing planes.. India s airlines between them have firm orders for 5x that number !Lisa wrote: ↑16 May 2026 14:31
Ji, I am not criticising you or aiming this post at you. China is a great deal of smoke and mirror. Sindoor, Venezuela and Iran prove this. They have good PR and this leads to sales and creates a reputation that both India and the US have burned to a cinder in a day or so. Strange how many articles are written globally on Indian aircraft losses without an iota of evidence and barely a sprinkle on chinese 'technological' failures, en masse in all those theaters.
Trump flies into china in a Boeing, what will Xi fly in? Equal, Yeah!
Re: Understanding the US - Again
@drnayar,
> Trump announced that China has agreed to order 200 Boeing commercial jets, with a potential commitment to purchase up to 750 more.
Have the Chinese also announced this?
Remember: in 2025 Trump secured $18 trillion in foreign investment in the US.
> Trump announced that China has agreed to order 200 Boeing commercial jets, with a potential commitment to purchase up to 750 more.
Have the Chinese also announced this?
Remember: in 2025 Trump secured $18 trillion in foreign investment in the US.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
> Trump secured a firm, public verbal assurance from Xi that China will not provide military equipment to aid Tehran.
China continues to deny previously supplying arms to Iran, at least during the war, so they will continue not to do what they were never doing anyway, per their narrative. Post-war? (is post-war anywhere on the horizon?)
E.g., April 30: China Daily:
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202604/ ... 46832.html
China continues to deny previously supplying arms to Iran, at least during the war, so they will continue not to do what they were never doing anyway, per their narrative. Post-war? (is post-war anywhere on the horizon?)
E.g., April 30: China Daily:
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202604/ ... 46832.html
A Chinese defense spokesman on Thursday denied claims that China supplied defense systems and drones to Iran during wartime.
Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing in response to a question about whether China had provided specific military equipment to Iran.
"We have responded to such questions many times, and we oppose the spread of false information," Zhang said.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
> Both nations agreed on a course of action to push for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to secure international oil shipping.
This will be good, if it happens: "...their agreed course of action centers on a unified diplomatic stance and the leverage of economic pressure to push Iran into reopening the waterway."
This will be good, if it happens: "...their agreed course of action centers on a unified diplomatic stance and the leverage of economic pressure to push Iran into reopening the waterway."
Re: Understanding the US - Again
The official Chinese Communist Party newspaper:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1361087.shtml
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1361087.shtml
On the Middle East situation, Wang said China maintains that on the basis of sustaining the ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened as soon as possible, and at the same time believes that the fundamental solution to issues concerning the strait lies in the realization of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
More CCP:
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1361083.shtml
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202605/1361083.shtml
On a question about whether China had agreed to purchase American oil in the future, the spokesperson said that China stands ready to work with all sides to ensure global energy security and keep global industrial and supply chains stable. "The pressing task is to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region," he added.
Agriculture, long a major area of bilateral trade, was another field that received attention. When asked by The New York Times if there are any further agricultural deals that China has agreed to, Guo said that during the visit, the two sides reached important common understandings on maintaining stable economic and trade ties, expanding practical cooperation in various areas, and properly resolving respective concerns.
The positive signals were followed by concrete business engagement. Later the same day, officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) held separate meetings with senior US corporate executives.
The meetings involved senior US corporate executives from aviation, technology and agribusiness, including Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg, GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO Larry Culp, Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon, and Cargill President, CEO and Board Chair Brian Sikes.
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Ortberg said during his meeting with NDRC head Zheng Shanjie that Boeing remains committed to the Chinese market for the long term and is willing to work with Chinese partners to deepen aviation cooperation and deliver more practical results.
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Cain Marko
- BRF Oldie
- Posts: 5717
- Joined: 26 Jun 2005 10:26
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Looks and sounds impressive? I haven't gone into the weeds though ..A_Gupta wrote: ↑14 May 2026 06:12The Mayor's office has a two minute video; which is in this 8:39 minute video.
Mamdani says he has balanced the NYC budget while funding his voters' priorities; and outlines how he did it.
https://youtu.be/2fHolT4_vmw
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I found the 2 minute video, in case you don't want the commentary
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My brief commentary - the high tech boom plus the financialization of the US economy has made the US cities rather difficult to afford for the people who run it - the police, teachers, emergency personnel, and so on; and the retail sales people, the staff at restaurants, librairians and so on; and the artists and actors and all the personnel who add to the cultural life of the city and give it a character.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
On the DJT Emperor Eleven summit:
China is pretty much screwed with the Iran war. Tis all pretense that they doing fine, but the oil supply to China has been disrupted and they cannot do much. China thought that they have an upper hand on rare earths but that is also slipping away. Russia has enough rare earths and in some they have huge reserves. With Ukraine war winding down and US trying to make a deal, Russia will be glad to share things with the US. BTW Russia captured those areas of Ukraine that have rare earths.
China's internal situation is really going down the tubes. Take a look at this non-sensical activity that youngsters in china are involved, no comment.
Whatever happened to their rip-off aircraft (from Airbus). Now they have to buy from Boeing and Airbus instead of their own kind.
BTW watch this from Maj Gen Rajiv Narayanan on the pathetic affairs of China. BRI is shot completely, even the Chinese don't talk about it. Most of their defence maal is a joke. Their export market is in tatters, huge unemployment, HSR is mostly running empty, its marquee cities (like Shanghai) have massive high rises that are all empty, most people have fled back to their native villages, PLA is not in synch with Emperor, banks are refusing requests to take out money by customers.
China is pretty much screwed with the Iran war. Tis all pretense that they doing fine, but the oil supply to China has been disrupted and they cannot do much. China thought that they have an upper hand on rare earths but that is also slipping away. Russia has enough rare earths and in some they have huge reserves. With Ukraine war winding down and US trying to make a deal, Russia will be glad to share things with the US. BTW Russia captured those areas of Ukraine that have rare earths.
China's internal situation is really going down the tubes. Take a look at this non-sensical activity that youngsters in china are involved, no comment.
Whatever happened to their rip-off aircraft (from Airbus). Now they have to buy from Boeing and Airbus instead of their own kind.
BTW watch this from Maj Gen Rajiv Narayanan on the pathetic affairs of China. BRI is shot completely, even the Chinese don't talk about it. Most of their defence maal is a joke. Their export market is in tatters, huge unemployment, HSR is mostly running empty, its marquee cities (like Shanghai) have massive high rises that are all empty, most people have fled back to their native villages, PLA is not in synch with Emperor, banks are refusing requests to take out money by customers.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Sigh. When did the GOP become "the Party of Trump"? Does this mean that all registered Republicans, those independents who voted for Republican party candidates even once, and Democrats who are moderate, are all racist? That is how HiC snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
When will elite Democrats learn that "Noblesse Oblige"?!!!
Mamdani, KD Harris, Obama, Pelosi, HiC (now that she has become a multimillionaire) have this warped sense of "Noblesse Oblige"
AI Overview
Noblesse oblige is a French phrase literally translating to "nobility obligates." It represents the ethical concept that privilege entails responsibility—specifically, that those with wealth, power, or high social status have an obligation to act generously, lead honorably, and protect those less fortunate.
Historical Roots
Originating in early 19th-century France, the exact phrase is often credited to the French writer and politician Pierre Marc Gaston de Lévis. Historically, it described the unwritten code of conduct for the aristocracy, ensuring that while the masses owed duties to the lords, the lords had to provide protection, charity, and fair governance in return.
Modern Applications
While the age of feudalism has passed, the sentiment remains relevant across modern society. It can be seen in:
Philanthropy & Social Responsibility: The expectation that the wealthy and highly educated will give back to the community.
Leadership & Duty: The idea that effective leaders must model the behavior they expect from their teams, prioritizing selfless service.
Pop Culture: It heavily informs the moral code of various modern stories, such as the Stark family's sense of duty in Game of Thrones.
Common Criticisms
While meant to promote generosity, the concept does face scrutiny. Critics argue that noblesse oblige can unintentionally reinforce assumptions of superiority. By casting the privileged as "saviors" and the less fortunate as passive beneficiaries, it risks being viewed as condescending or used to justify structural societal inequalities.
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Manish_Sharma
- BRF Oldie
- Posts: 5368
- Joined: 07 Sep 2009 16:17
Re: Understanding the US - Again
https://x.com/samartoor3086/status/2055 ... 89661?s=20
BREAKING
US forces have confirmed their withdrawal from Germany.
The first batch of 5,000 American soldiers We are witnessing the collapse of the NATO alliance. This is the beginning of the end.