Just for laughs
Did Trump Capture Maduro Because of His Dancing? | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G
Nicolás Maduro has been accused of everything from drug trafficking and narco-terrorism to plotting attacks on the United States. But Donald Trump has charged him with a bigger crime - dancing. So, did Maduro's dance led to his ouster? Palki Sharma tells you.
Understanding the US - Again
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Donald Trump Mulls Over 3 Options to Take Greenland | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G
After Venezuela, Donald Trump has shifted his attention to acquiring Greenland. From buying the territory outright to crafting a treaty or even using military force, the White House says all options are on the table to secure Greenland for “national security.” Copenhagen and six European powers have condemned the talk, insisting Greenland’s future belongs to its people and Denmark. NATO allies warn against undermining sovereignty.
US Captures Russia-linked Tanker After Intense Atlantic Chase | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G
U.S. armed forces have seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker from the Northern Atlantic after an intense maritime chase. The sanctioned tanker, which was stateless until last month, switched to Russian registration after being pursued by the U.S. How will Russia retaliate? Palki Sharma tells you.
After Venezuela, Donald Trump has shifted his attention to acquiring Greenland. From buying the territory outright to crafting a treaty or even using military force, the White House says all options are on the table to secure Greenland for “national security.” Copenhagen and six European powers have condemned the talk, insisting Greenland’s future belongs to its people and Denmark. NATO allies warn against undermining sovereignty.
US Captures Russia-linked Tanker After Intense Atlantic Chase | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G
U.S. armed forces have seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker from the Northern Atlantic after an intense maritime chase. The sanctioned tanker, which was stateless until last month, switched to Russian registration after being pursued by the U.S. How will Russia retaliate? Palki Sharma tells you.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Haley's Son Boasts of "Rage-Baiting Indians," Targets "Vivek Ramaslimey" | Firstpost America | N18G
A social media feud has erupted between Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Nalin Haley, son of former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, spiralling into accusations of racism and political hypocrisy. The clash began after Haley admitted to "rage baiting" Indians online, drawing backlash for amplifying racist abuse instead of condemning it. The controversy unfolded as Ramaswamy announced he was stepping back from social media, citing toxic online behaviour and distorted political discourse. Critics mocked the move, resurfacing Ramaswamy's past comments about leadership and online criticism. As Ohio's 2026 gubernatorial race approaches, the episode highlights how digital battles are increasingly shaping political narratives.
A social media feud has erupted between Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Nalin Haley, son of former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, spiralling into accusations of racism and political hypocrisy. The clash began after Haley admitted to "rage baiting" Indians online, drawing backlash for amplifying racist abuse instead of condemning it. The controversy unfolded as Ramaswamy announced he was stepping back from social media, citing toxic online behaviour and distorted political discourse. Critics mocked the move, resurfacing Ramaswamy's past comments about leadership and online criticism. As Ohio's 2026 gubernatorial race approaches, the episode highlights how digital battles are increasingly shaping political narratives.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
A_Gupta wrote: ↑08 Jan 2026 10:29 The Straits Times of Singapore reports:
Trump withdraws US from dozens of international organisations
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/unit ... op-storiesWASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Jan 7 signed a proclamation withdrawing the United States from 35 non-UN organisations and 31 UN entities that “operate contrary to US national interests”, the White House said in a statement.
Among the 35 non-UN groups and 31 UN entities that he listed in a memo to senior administration officials is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – described by many as the “bedrock” climate treaty, which is the parent agreement to the 2015 Paris climate deal.
...
...
The US will also quit UN Women, which works for gender equality and the empowerment of women, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the international body’s agency which focuses on family planning as well as maternal and child health in more than 150 countries. The US cut its funding for the UNFPA in 2025.
...
Since beginning his second term in 2025, he has sought to slash US funding for the UN, stopped US engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, extended a halt to funding for Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, and quit UN cultural agency UNESCO.
He has also announced plans to quit the World Health Organization and Paris climate agreement.
Other entities on the US list are the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the International Energy Forum, the UN Register of Conventional Arms, and the UN Peacebuilding Commission.
At this rate would US relinquish it's UN security council seat and the UN. itself
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Hard to believe the tanker was carrying just oil !!!uddu wrote: ↑08 Jan 2026 11:49 Donald Trump Mulls Over 3 Options to Take Greenland | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G
After Venezuela, Donald Trump has shifted his attention to acquiring Greenland. From buying the territory outright to crafting a treaty or even using military force, the White House says all options are on the table to secure Greenland for “national security.” Copenhagen and six European powers have condemned the talk, insisting Greenland’s future belongs to its people and Denmark. NATO allies warn against undermining sovereignty.
[youtube]wO8qf3iQ68[/youtube
US Captures Russia-linked Tanker After Intense Atlantic Chase | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G
U.S. armed forces have seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker from the Northern Atlantic after an intense maritime chase. The sanctioned tanker, which was stateless until last month, switched to Russian registration after being pursued by the U.S. How will Russia retaliate? Palki Sharma tells you.
[youtube]fDpjWD3v0h0[/youtube
Re: Understanding the US - Again
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wor ... 402391.cms
President Donald Trump has proposed a $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027, an increase from the previously discussed $1 trillion. He stated this expanded allocation is crucial for building a "Dream Military" to ensure national security amidst global instability. Trump also linked this increased defense spending to revenues generated from tariffs.
President Donald Trump has proposed a $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027, an increase from the previously discussed $1 trillion. He stated this expanded allocation is crucial for building a "Dream Military" to ensure national security amidst global instability. Trump also linked this increased defense spending to revenues generated from tariffs.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Donald Trump likes his oil like his politicians... crude! | This Hour Has 22 Minutes
Pedro Pascal came in and just took out these guys!
Pedro Pascal came in and just took out these guys!
Re: Understanding the US - Again
The Hindustan Times reports:
Enough to kill 1,13,000 Americans': 2 Indians arrested in US's Indiana for trafficking cocaine
The 309 pounds of cocaine was found concealed in the sleeper berth of the semi-truck that two Indians were operating in Indiana's Putnam County.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 29387.html
Enough to kill 1,13,000 Americans': 2 Indians arrested in US's Indiana for trafficking cocaine
The 309 pounds of cocaine was found concealed in the sleeper berth of the semi-truck that two Indians were operating in Indiana's Putnam County.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... 29387.html
Two truck drivers were arrested in the US state of Indiana for allegedly smuggling over 300 pounds of cocaine inside a semi truck, the US Department of Homeland Security said on January 5. The DHS release said that both individuals were from India, and were arrested after a routine truck inspection led to the recovery of 309 pounds of cocaine.
On January 4, Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged detainers for 25-year-old Gurpreet Singh and 30-year-old Jasveer Singh, after their arrest by the local authorities in Putnam County in Indiana.
“With a lethal dose of cocaine being as little as 1.2 grams, that is enough to kill more than 113,000 Americans,” the DHS release read. The authorities also said that 309 pounds of cocaine was found concealed in the sleeper berth of the semi-truck.
Both individuals were given Commercial Drivers' Licenses issued by the state of California, DHS reported. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called out Gavin Newsom for granting the individuals a driver's license, calling his policies “reckless.”
Re: Understanding the US - Again
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/it-was- ... s-10533057
The point to note is:
The point to note is:
Essentially this is East India Company in disguise. US is spreading colonialism and isn’t even hiding it.I have just been informed that Venezuela will exclusively purchase products manufactured in the United States with the money it receives from our new Oil Agreement. These purchases will include, among other things, U.S. agricultural products, medicines, medical devices, and U.S.-made equipment to improve Venezuela's electrical grid and energy facilities," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
In 2024 and 2025, NASA researchers accidentally rediscovered Camp Century, a secret Cold War-era military base buried approximately 30 to 36 meters (100 feet) beneath the Greenland ice sheet.
The discovery was made using advanced UAVSAR (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology during flights on a Gulfstream III aircraft. While the mission's primary goal was to map ice sheet thickness to predict sea-level rise, the radar unexpectedly revealed the base's internal structures with unprecedented detail.
Key Facts About Camp Century
Original Purpose: Built in 1959 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the base was publicly presented as an Arctic research center but secretly housed Project Iceworm.
The Secret Plan: Project Iceworm aimed to build a 2,500-mile network of tunnels to launch up to 600 nuclear missiles at the Soviet Union.
The "City Under the Ice": At its peak, the base featured 21 tunnels, a hospital, a cinema, a church, and the world's first portable nuclear reactor (the PM-2A) for power.
Abandonment: The base was decommissioned in 1967 because the shifting ice sheet made the tunnels unstable and unsafe.
Environmental and Modern Concerns
The rediscovery has highlighted a looming environmental threat. When the base was abandoned, it was assumed the ice would entomb its waste forever. However, rapid melting due to climate change may expose the site's hazardous legacy by the year 2090:
Leftover Waste: Approximately 200,000 liters of diesel fuel, 24 million liters of biological waste, and low-level radioactive coolant remain buried.
Risk of Exposure: Scientists warn that as the ice sheet thins, these toxic materials could eventually seep into the surrounding environment and reach the ocean.
The discovery was made using advanced UAVSAR (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology during flights on a Gulfstream III aircraft. While the mission's primary goal was to map ice sheet thickness to predict sea-level rise, the radar unexpectedly revealed the base's internal structures with unprecedented detail.
Key Facts About Camp Century
Original Purpose: Built in 1959 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the base was publicly presented as an Arctic research center but secretly housed Project Iceworm.
The Secret Plan: Project Iceworm aimed to build a 2,500-mile network of tunnels to launch up to 600 nuclear missiles at the Soviet Union.
The "City Under the Ice": At its peak, the base featured 21 tunnels, a hospital, a cinema, a church, and the world's first portable nuclear reactor (the PM-2A) for power.
Abandonment: The base was decommissioned in 1967 because the shifting ice sheet made the tunnels unstable and unsafe.
Environmental and Modern Concerns
The rediscovery has highlighted a looming environmental threat. When the base was abandoned, it was assumed the ice would entomb its waste forever. However, rapid melting due to climate change may expose the site's hazardous legacy by the year 2090:
Leftover Waste: Approximately 200,000 liters of diesel fuel, 24 million liters of biological waste, and low-level radioactive coolant remain buried.
Risk of Exposure: Scientists warn that as the ice sheet thins, these toxic materials could eventually seep into the surrounding environment and reach the ocean.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
As I keep repeating: with this US administration, any treaty signed is not worth the paper it’s printed on:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp80ln97py5o
There is absolutely no point in trusting in anything this admin signs up to.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp80ln97py5o
There is absolutely no point in trusting in anything this admin signs up to.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
maybe they dont have money to spend..other than weapons that is.. orangutan has asked for 1.5 trillion annual budget for the US militaryTanaji wrote: ↑08 Jan 2026 21:17 As I keep repeating: with this US administration, any treaty signed is not worth the paper it’s printed on:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp80ln97py5o
There is absolutely no point in trusting in anything this admin signs up to.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Not likely to pass the legislature.drnayar wrote: ↑08 Jan 2026 16:09 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wor ... 402391.cms
President Donald Trump has proposed a $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027, an increase from the previously discussed $1 trillion. He stated this expanded allocation is crucial for building a "Dream Military" to ensure national security amidst global instability. Trump also linked this increased defense spending to revenues generated from tariffs.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
A massive march is currently surging through Manhattan on January 8, 2026, as part of a wave of national protests demanding "ICE OUT OF NEW YORK".
The demonstration follows the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and U.S. citizen, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7. The incident has sparked a national flashpoint, with activists in New York City rallying to oppose increased federal immigration enforcement and the presence of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the city.
Locations: Demonstrators gathered early Thursday at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan before marching toward 1 World Trade Center, where Secretary Noem was scheduled to hold a news conference regarding ongoing immigration operations.
Demands: Protesters are calling for "ICE Out of New York" and "ICE Out of Everywhere," protesting against what they describe as "ICE terror," violent raids, and the separation of families.
Political Response: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his commitment to the city's sanctuary city laws, which prohibit the use of city resources for civil immigration enforcement, and stated these policies will not change on his watch.
Wider Context: The march follows a vigil held Wednesday night in Foley Square. Similar protests and clashes with federal officers have been reported in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other major cities as tensions rise over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
on a related note :
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issues a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard following the ICE shooting in Minneapolis.
"To Minnesotans, know that our administration is going to stop at nothing to seek accountability and justice..."
"To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you've done enough. There's nothing more important than Minnesotan safety. I've issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard. We have soldiers in training and prepared to be deployed if necessary."
The demonstration follows the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and U.S. citizen, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7. The incident has sparked a national flashpoint, with activists in New York City rallying to oppose increased federal immigration enforcement and the presence of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the city.
Locations: Demonstrators gathered early Thursday at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan before marching toward 1 World Trade Center, where Secretary Noem was scheduled to hold a news conference regarding ongoing immigration operations.
Demands: Protesters are calling for "ICE Out of New York" and "ICE Out of Everywhere," protesting against what they describe as "ICE terror," violent raids, and the separation of families.
Political Response: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reiterated his commitment to the city's sanctuary city laws, which prohibit the use of city resources for civil immigration enforcement, and stated these policies will not change on his watch.
Wider Context: The march follows a vigil held Wednesday night in Foley Square. Similar protests and clashes with federal officers have been reported in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other major cities as tensions rise over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
on a related note :
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issues a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard following the ICE shooting in Minneapolis.
"To Minnesotans, know that our administration is going to stop at nothing to seek accountability and justice..."
"To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you've done enough. There's nothing more important than Minnesotan safety. I've issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard. We have soldiers in training and prepared to be deployed if necessary."
Re: Understanding the US - Again
"The Son Also Rises". This individual is likely a gubernatorial candidate in training for SC, raised a Christian, and an acolyte of Bobby Jindal.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... past-views
Bloomberg reports Trump officials excluded Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard from months of planning to oust Nicolás Maduro
The move to cut Gabbard out of the meetings was so well-known that some White House aides joked that the acronym of her title, DNI, stood for “Do Not Invite”
Re: Understanding the US - Again
This admin seems more and more inclined to 'white & christ' policies, and people too...vijayk wrote: ↑09 Jan 2026 03:33 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... past-viewsBloomberg reports Trump officials excluded Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard from months of planning to oust Nicolás Maduro
The move to cut Gabbard out of the meetings was so well-known that some White House aides joked that the acronym of her title, DNI, stood for “Do Not Invite”
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Widely reported, this below from ABC News:
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/sen ... =129018473
In a rare rebuke to the Trump administration, the Senate on Thursday advanced a war powers resolution that would block the president's use of the U.S. armed forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.
A small group of Senate Republicans joined with all Democrats to narrowly advance the resolution by a vote of 52-47. It needed 51 votes to move forward.
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/sen ... =129018473
In a rare rebuke to the Trump administration, the Senate on Thursday advanced a war powers resolution that would block the president's use of the U.S. armed forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress.
A small group of Senate Republicans joined with all Democrats to narrowly advance the resolution by a vote of 52-47. It needed 51 votes to move forward.
Last edited by A_Gupta on 09 Jan 2026 03:42, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
At 10:00 am ET, the Supreme Court will decide whether Trump tariffs are legal.
Markets are pricing roughly a 77% chance that the Court rules them illegal.
If that happens, the US government may need to refund a large portion of the $600B+ that is already collected from tariffs.
Even if tariffs are struck down, the President still has other legal tools to impose it, but those tools are slower, weaker, and less predictable.
Markets are pricing roughly a 77% chance that the Court rules them illegal.
If that happens, the US government may need to refund a large portion of the $600B+ that is already collected from tariffs.
Even if tariffs are struck down, the President still has other legal tools to impose it, but those tools are slower, weaker, and less predictable.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Nazi Germany had Gestapo looking for "Jews" everywhere....
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Roughly this time last year folks were celebrating the appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as DNI and Kash Patel as FBI Chief as a showcase of Indian-American importance in the MAGA movement and Trump orbit.
12 months in and Gabbard is so sidelined that folks in White House joke that DNI stands for " Do not invite" while Kash is probably the least liked trump pick by his own supporters.
https://x.com/michaeldweiss/status/2009 ... 30477?s=20
Maybe a good thing that Vivek left when he did , At least he may end up as Ohio Gov.
12 months in and Gabbard is so sidelined that folks in White House joke that DNI stands for " Do not invite" while Kash is probably the least liked trump pick by his own supporters.
https://x.com/michaeldweiss/status/2009 ... 30477?s=20
Maybe a good thing that Vivek left when he did , At least he may end up as Ohio Gov.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
The alternative is to ultimately live together in this ramshackle location.
As for Ramalingam, from leading the governor's race by 10 points a few months ago, he is now trailing Amy Acton (a vastly better qualified candidate). Most likely a good number of the "conservative", "race-conscious" republican voters may either stay home or vote for Acton instead.