Donald Trump just completed the much heralded summit in China with Xi Jinping, and no major breakthroughs on the US-China relationship seem evident.
Trump went to China at a low point, with the war against Iran having major opposition at home and among NATO allies; with the highest inflation in the past few years; with clear differences with China over Taiwan, and the fear that Trump will abandon Taiwan, much as he has done with Ukraine; and with Trump’s own mental and physical state in rapid decline.
Summits are supposed to lead to major accomplishments, but this particular summit seems like a dud, with the only “accomplishment” being trade deals that seem to have been achieved for many of the sixteen “oligarchs” who went with Trump to China.
Trump-Xi summit: the 3 big takeaways from historic meeting in Beijing
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/15/trump-xi-summit-the-3-big-takeaways-from-historic-meeting-in-beijing.html
Trump leaves China, short on deliverables but with signs of a stabilized relationship
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/15/politics/takeaways-trump-china-visit-xi-intl-hnk
House Republicans narrowly block effort to end Trump’s war with Iran
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5878803-war-powers-resolution-iran-house-2/
Trump Says He Wants Iran’s Uranium Mostly for ‘Public Relations’
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-15/trump-says-he-wants-iran-s-uranium-mostly-for-public-relations
‘No idea it was coming’: Pentagon officials stunned by Hegseth decision on troops in Poland
“It wasn’t clear why the Defense secretary issued the order not to send troops on a routine mission to a country the administration refers to as a ‘model ally.’”
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/14/poland-pentagon-hegseth-troop-withdrawl-surprise-00922169
Orban’s media empire crumbles after Hungary election defeat
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/orbans-media-empire-crumbles-after-hungary-election-defeat-2026-05-15/
C.I.A. Director Visits Cuba as Tensions Rise and Island Runs Out of Oil
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/us/politics/cia-director-visits-cuba.html
The Christian right hijacks America’s 250th
“Trump’s Rededicate 250 event erases the U.S.’s secular history”
https://www.salon.com/2026/05/15/the-christian-right-hijacks-americas-250th/
Southern Poverty Law Center Got Rich Opposing Trump. Now He’s Trying to Crush It.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/southern-poverty-law-center-trump-587424b5?mod=hp_lead_pos7
Wild corruption!
Trump Bought Corporations’ Stock as His Administration Boosted Their Business
https://www.notus.org/money/donald-trump-stock-investments-palantir-axom-nvidia
OUTRAGEOUS!
Trump poised to drop IRS suit, launch $1.7B ‘weaponization’ fund for allies:
https://abcnews.com/US/trump-poised-drop-irs-suit-launch-17b-weaponization/story?id=132962661
Trump misses deadline to disclose tens of millions of dollars in stock trades
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/05/15/trump-misses-deadline-disclose-tens-millions-dollars-stock-trades/
Trump allies want D.C.’s July 4 fireworks to set world record
https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/05/14/trump-dc-july-4-fireworks-guinness-world-record-freedom-250
Declare climate crisis a global public health emergency, experts tell WHO
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/16/who-should-declare-climate-crisis-global-public-health-emergency-experts-say
Antisemitic Hantavirus Conspiracy Theories Are Spreading—and the Platforms Are Hands Off
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/05/hantavirus-hebrew/
One of the biggest, most disastrous mistakes U.S. policymakers made over the past couple decades was failing to regulate social media heavily; unregulated social media is a DISASTER on multiple levels.
Totally unacceptable behavior.
Trump waffles on Taiwan arms deal after Xi talks
https://www.axios.com/2026/05/15/trump-taiwan-arms-sale-xi-summit
Rubio, Once a China Hawk, Strikes a Softer Tone to Align With Trump
“As a senator, Marco Rubio even hinted at the need for regime change in China. Now he talks about cooperation.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/16/us/politics/rubio-china-trump-trip.html
Rubio will do anything for power; that’s it.
Trump returns from China with no Iran breakthrough — and a decision to make
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/16/politics/iran-trump-china-military-strikes
Pentagon quietly shut legally required program to prevent civilian deaths by military, watchdog finds
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/15/pentagon-civilian-death-program
Israel says it killed the leader of Hamas’ military wing, one of the architects of Oct. 7 attacks
https://apnews.com/article/gaza-hamas-israel-strike-2ae7c8e7a59b943a47f7a68fdc61051b
Pentagon halts deployments to Poland and Germany to cut troop numbers in Europe, AP sources say
https://apnews.com/article/poland-us-troop-reduction-deployment-europe-34138e62c7afc0b83ab7c7cc8fa60071
Trump says ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki killed by US and Nigerian forces
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-isis-second-command-abu-bilal-al-minuki-eliminated-2026-05-16/
Canada deepens Arctic defense ties with Nordics after Trump threats
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/canada-deepens-arctic-defense-ties-with-nordics-after-trump-threats-2026-05-16/
Threatened indictment of Raúl Castro ratchets up US pressure on Cuba
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/15/raul-castro-indictment-cuba-trump
Immigrants Are Dying in ICE Detention. A Key Watchdog Office Is Now Gone.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/05/how-the-trump-administration-gutted-immigration-detention-oversight/
What the US Would Lose If It Eliminates the National Center for Atmospheric Research
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16052026/dismantling-the-national-center-for-atmospheric-research/
Trump’s Rumored Payout Scheme For Political Allies Mirrors Proposed J6 Compensation Fund
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-lawsuit-irs-jan-6-settlement_n_6a0749b7e4b098065be99de5
Democrats blast Trump over ‘slush fund’ in possible IRS lawsuit settlement
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/15/trump-irs-taxes-democrats.html
And, of course, Republicans are fine with it.
The Trump administration is planning a prayer event on the National Mall. All but one of the speakers is Christian
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/15/g-s1-122276/the-trump-administration-is-planning-a-prayer-event-on-the-national-mall-all-but-one-of-the-speakers-is-christian
This is glaringly, 100% the government favoring one particular flavor of one particular religion over all others – and over no religion at all. That’s wildly against what the Founding Fathers intended.
US government planning dramatic Colorado River water cuts due to drought, overuse
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-government-planning-dramatic-colorado-river-water-cuts-due-drought-overuse-2026-05-15/
Pathetic.
American Bar Association votes to eliminate DEI rule for law schools
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/american-bar-association-votes-eliminate-dei-rule-law-schools-2026-05-15/
Gov. Jared Polis reduces Tina Peters’ sentence, says she will be released June 1
https://www.denverpost.com/2026/05/15/tina-peters-sentence-reduced-jared-polis-colorado/
Ugh, Polis…why???
Fetterman frustrates Democrats with pro-Trump remarks on Fox News
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5880487-john-fetterman-democrat-controversy/
He needs to switch parties.
Tennessee school district bans Alex Haley’s Roots under 2022 state law
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/15/tennessee-book-ban-alex-haley-roots
WTF?
Texas Children’s Hospital must create country’s first ‘detransition clinic’ under settlement with Paxton
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5880188-texas-childrens-hospital-paxton-detransition-clinic/
Check out the SNL “cold open” last night – the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein pays a visit to Donald Trump, lol.
China Will Host Putin, Days After Trump’s Visit
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/16/world/europe/putin-china-visit-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.i1A.rqof.k-HDC56JUNaL&smid=url-share
Trump is calling Xi a “friend”.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/16/world/europe/trump-xi-china-summit.html
Reality check: in no way/shape/form are Xi and Trump “friends”; utterly absurd.
USS Ford returns home after 11-month deployment supporting the Iran war and Maduro’s capture
https://apnews.com/article/uss-ford-aircraft-carrier-deployment-iran-maduro-ecb685f08110eec315a1dddb13e2bca4
As global crises multiply, scores of US diplomats say they have been forced out
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/16/politics/global-crises-state-department-cuts
Poll: Israel is dividing Republicans, too
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/16/poll-israel-aipac-gop-divides-trump-00919073
Extremist Jewish settlers eye Gaza, seek to expel Palestinians from enclave
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/gaza/extremist-jewish-settlers-gaza-expel-palestinians-enclave-rcna341575
Farmers growing desperate amid rising energy and fertilizer prices
https://www.axios.com/2026/05/16/farmers-agriculture-crops-iran-energy-prices
They voted heavily for Trump – and now they’re suffering because of it.
In the US South, an appeals court leans farther right than the Supreme Court
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-south-an-appeals-court-leans-farther-right-than-supreme-court-2026-05-17/
Fmr. government watchdog says Trump stock trades are ‘completely unprecedented’
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/fmr-government-watchdog-says-trump-stock-trades-are-completely-unprecedented-263411781651
Trump’s National Prayer Event Features Speakers Who Smeared Catholicism, Islam
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-national-prayer-festival-speakers-smear-islam-pope-leo_n_6a078931e4b0ee716972c871?origin=home-latest-news-unit
Ballroom security money nixed by Senate parliamentarian
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/16/ballroom-funding-senate-parliamentarian-00924612
Workers racing to turn reflecting pool blue for Trump may be at risk, union warns
“Union representative concerned about safety as workers rush to finish repainting DC pool before 250th celebrations”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/17/trump-washington-dc-reflecting-pool
New Virginia law banning `assault firearms’ prompts quick lawsuits from gun-rights groups
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/new-virginia-law-banning-assault-firearms-prompts-quick-lawsuits-from-gun-rights-groups/4104847/?amp=1
Global scramble to contain new Ebola outbreak as US looks to relocate ‘small number’ of citizens affected
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/18/africa/ebola-outbreak-global-efforts-americans-intl-hnk
China says preliminary agreement reached with US to lower some tariffs
https://www.politico.eu/article/china-says-agreement-reached-with-us-to-lower-some-tariffs-trump-xi-beijing/
Scoop: Trump advisers fear China may target Taiwan in next 5 years
https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/trump-xi-summit-china-taiwan-invasion
Trump warns Iran “clock is ticking” until U.S. launches harder strikes
https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/trump-iran-warning-harder-strikes
Stocks fall and oil rises after Trump warns Iran that ‘clock is ticking’
https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-china-trump-iran-e7b781e8e2394be6486fa5f006e5e06e
UAE blames Iran or proxies for strike near nuclear plant, as Trump tells Tehran ‘clock is ticking’
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/17/uae-blames-iran-or-its-proxies-for-drone-strike-fire-near-nuclear-plant
IDF Seized 10 Gaza-bound Turkish Flotilla Boats in International Waters, Organizers Say
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-05-18/ty-article-live/report-israel-operated-covert-outposts-in-iraq-during-war-with-iran/0000019e-38fb-df7e-a5be-3efb6ad20000
Starmer is not setting out timetable for his departure, says David Lammy
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/18/keir-starmer-not-setting-out-timetable-departure-david-lammy-andy-burnham-labour
In Closed-Door Talks, U.S. Demands a Major Role in Greenland
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/world/europe/in-closed-door-talks-us-demands-a-major-role-in-greenland.html
Exclusive: U.S. eyes attack-drone threat from Cuba
https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/us-military-drones-cuba
Pure evil.
Over 100,000 Children Separated From Parents in Deportation Push, Report Estimates
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/brookings-institution-report-family-separations.html
Trump’s immigration crackdown could cost up to $479bn in lost taxes over 10 years
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/18/trump-immigration-crackdown-lost-taxes-ice
RFK Jr.’s War on Antidepressants Could Have Dire Consequences
https://newrepublic.com/article/210530/rfk-war-antidepressants-dire-effects
A Crack in the Polling Floor Puts Trump in New Territory
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/upshot/trump-poll-times-siena-analyis.html
Stress, uncertainty as economy views decline; many voice frustration with Trump’s economic approach, CBS News poll finds
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-poll-stress-uncertainty-economy-views-decline/
The Newest Oldest President
“Donald Trump is turning 80. But will he face the scrutiny that Joe Biden did?”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/05/aging-president-trump-health/687194/
Of course not; the media is WILDLY biased against Democrats and towards Republicans.
Jewish lawmakers face an explosion of antisemitism
https://www.axios.com/2026/05/18/antisemitism-politics-congress-2026-midterms-jews
Trump plans to build helipad at White House
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/05/18/trump-plans-build-helipad-white-house/
Spanberger’s collective bargaining veto tests relationship with labor
https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2026-05-18/spanberger-collective-bargaining-veto-unions-labor-liechtenstein
Ebola may be spreading faster than first thought, WHO doctor warns
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqp11gn1l8o
Rapid spread, militias, no vaccine, cut funding: Why this Ebola outbreak will be so difficult to contain
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/05/19/why-this-ebola-outbreak-will-be-so-difficult-contain/
An Ebola pandemic with RFK Jr. in charge of our nation’s healthcare. Great. That’s all we need.
Ukrainian mid-range strikes deal double blow to Russia’s war effort
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukrainian-mid-range-strikes-deal-double-blow-russias-war-effort-2026-05-19/
Fox News has claimed for months that Iran’s military had been destroyed. New reporting says US intelligence agencies have concluded otherwise
https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-has-claimed-months-irans-military-had-been-destroyed-new-reporting-says-us
Fox “News” is 24/7 disinformation and right-wing propaganda.
Trump Threatens Iran and Then Pulls Back, All in the Same Day
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/trump-iran-strikes.html
Iran says peace proposal includes reparations for war damage, US troop withdrawal
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/iran-says-peace-proposal-includes-reparations-war-damage-us-troop-withdrawal-2026-05-19/
Defense Watchdog Will Probe US Attacks on Boats in the Caribbean
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-18/pentagon-watchdog-will-probe-us-attacks-on-boats-in-the-caribbean
WTF is this racist cr*p???
Trump Moves to Admit 10,000 More White South Africans as Refugees
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/trump-afrikaner-refugees.html
Top Treasury Lawyer Resigns After Creation of ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/business/anti-weaponization-fund-brian-morrissey-treasury.html
EPA wants to repeal limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/05/18/epa-wants-repeal-limits-forever-chemicals-drinking-water/
Might as well rename it EDA – The Environmental Destruction Administration.
As always, just imagine the reaction if Obama, Biden, etc. had done this!
Trump Bought Stock in Drugmaker as His Government Boosted Its Obesity Drugs
https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/trump-stock-trades-eli-lilly-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-invest-ethics-disclosures/
Trump Is Pressuring John Thune to Fire the Parliamentarian Over Ballroom Funding
https://www.notus.org/donald-trump/reconciliation-senate-parliamentarian-pressure
Bipartisan Bill Would Impose New Annual Fee on Electric Vehicles
“A House transportation bill introduced this week would require owners of electric cars to pay $130 to cover the cost of road repairs.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/business/energy-environment/electrc-vehicles-annual-fee-congress.html
That’s f’ed up.
The anti-war crack in MAGA’s youth base
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/18/the-anti-war-crack-in-magas-youth-base-00926619
Trump U.S. Attorney Pick Darin Smith Accused Of Misconduct Ahead Of Senate Vote
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/us-attorney-darin-smith-misconduct_n_6a0b54a9e4b0df718a16a2a7
House Oversight interviews Epstein prison guard
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/05/18/congress/epstein-prison-guard-speaks-00926322
Jury hands victory to Sam Altman and OpenAI in battle with Elon Musk
“OpenAI CEO and president found not liable for breaking contracts made with Musk when founding the startup”
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/18/sam-altman-trial-victory-elon-musk-openai
Teen suspects fatally shoot three in suspected hate crime at San Diego mosque
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y7q66gq56o
Some in San Diego Islamic Center community feared attack for years
https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/05/18/san-diego-islamic-center-shooting-mosque-threats
Russia is losing in Ukraine. Xi has noticed — Trump should too
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/20/politics/russia-losing-ukraine-mcgurk-analysis
Exclusive: US plans to shrink forces available to NATO during crises, sources say
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-plans-shrink-forces-available-nato-during-crises-sources-say-2026-05-19/
That’s completely f’ed up; Trump doing Putin’s bidding yet AGAIN!
Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as Cassidy, after primary loss, flips to support
https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-senate-bill-cassidy-fe89d2df981a79ac816722d0115d3080
Iran threatens to extend conflict ‘beyond the region’ if U.S. and Israel resume attacks
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/20/iran-war-us-israel-middle-east.html
Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Big Hit’ If There’s No Deal Soon
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-19/trump-threatens-iran-with-big-hit-in-days-if-there-s-no-deal?srnd=homepage-americas
Early War Goal Was to Install Hard Line Former President as Iran’s Leader
“An Israeli strike designed to free Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from house arrest in Tehran, U.S. officials said, was part of an effort to bring about regime change and put him in power. ”
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/iran-israel-us-leader-ahmadinejad.html
Seriously? WTF?
The Gaza Peace Plan Has Gone Nowhere
“More than six months after the U.S.-negotiated ceasefire, Israel still controls more than half the territory in Gaza, and Hamas refuses to disarm.”
https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-gaza-peace-plan-has-gone-nowhere
US expected to unveil criminal charges against Cuba’s Raul Castro
https://nypost.com/2026/05/20/us-news/us-expected-to-unveil-criminal-charges-against-cubas-raul-castro/
The guy’s 94 years old and not president anymore, but we’re going to send the military in there to capture him like Maduro???
Trump’s Special Envoy to Greenland Receives a Cold Welcome From Locals
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/world/europe/us-envoy-greenland-visit.html
5M people may drop coverage from ACA marketplaces
https://thehill.com/homenews/5885476-aca-marketplace-tax-credit-loss-enrollments/
Vance defends stock-trading spree in Trump financial filings
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/19/trump-vance-stock-trades.html
Vance is scum.
IRS ‘Forever Barred’ From Investigating Trump After DOJ Expands Settlement
https://www.notus.org/trump-white-house/irs-forever-barred-investigating-trump-doj-expands-settlement-tax-returns-lawsuit0
Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘lawfare’ fund is making Republicans nervous
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/19/trump-settlement-fund-jan-6-00928221
White House ballroom is turning into a symbol of Trump’s failures
“The president’s only legacy will be greed and corruption”
https://www.salon.com/2026/05/20/white-house-ballroom-is-turning-into-a-symbol-of-trumps-failures/
DOJ official told GOP ally that big payouts were coming for Jan. 6 defendants
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/doj-official-told-gop-ally-big-payouts-coming-jan-6-defendants-rcna343847
Massively corrupt, inexcusable, illegal, unconstitutional dangerous, etc.
Longtime Trump ally Michael Caputo files first known claim for ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/michael-caputo-files-first-known-claim-anti-weaponization-fund-rcna346030
Google Search as you know it is over
“Instead of returning a simple list of links, Google Search will drop users into AI-powered interactive experiences at times. Google is also introducing tools that can dispatch “information agents” to gather information on a user’s behalf, along with tools that let users build personalized mini apps tailored to their needs.”
https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/google-search-as-you-know-it-is-over/
I hate all this AI cr*p
Senate GOP could ditch Secret Service funding tied to White House ballroom
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/19/senate-ballroom-funding-ditch-00928837
‘It would be 100 percent illegal’: Top Democrats blast Duffy over road trip
“Lawmakers tangled with the Transportation secretary on ethical questions regarding the reality-show-style trip.”
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/05/19/congress/duffy-road-trip-ethics-dems-00928470
Jared Polis says his Tina Peters decision “will be remembered fondly,” despite growing outrage
https://coloradosun.com/2026/05/19/jared-polis-tina-peters-sentence-colorado-sun-event/
Polis is, at best, delusional.