Jens Spahn Faces Criticism Over Ongoing Costs From Mask Purchases
The Munich Eye wrote on July 7:
“The ongoing financial implications of mask procurement during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to draw scrutiny, particularly towards Jens Spahn, the former Health Minister of Germany. Despite the passage of time since the initial purchases, the federal government is still grappling with substantial follow-up costs associated with the acquisition of protective masks. According to a report by the Federal Court of Auditors submitted to the Bundestag’s Budget Committee, there remains a significant stockpile of 800 million masks as of 2024, for which no effective distribution strategy has been established. The expenses related to managing this excess procurement have surged by EUR57 million, totaling EUR517 million in 2024. Projections for the current year indicate an allocation of EUR45 million, with an anticipated total expenditure of EUR67.3 million for the years 2026 and 2027. This figure includes costs for storage, logistics, destruction of unused supplies, external consultancy, and legal advice.
“Spahn is under increasing pressure due to the procurement strategies employed by the Health Ministry during his tenure. In 2020, the Ministry engaged directly in the procurement process, entering into fixed-price contracts without prior negotiations, which led to disputes with suppliers over unaccepted deliveries. The Federal Court of Auditors highlighted that the Ministry spent approximately EUR5.9 billion on 5.8 billion masks, yet only 1.7 billion were distributed domestically. Consequently, a significant portion of the procured masks had to be destroyed or remains pending destruction.
“In response to the looming possibility of an inquiry, Spahn expressed a calm demeanor… He defended his actions during the pandemic, arguing that decisions made during that time should be contextualized within the crisis and criticized what he described as malicious allegations against him… However, subsequent investigations by several media outlets revealed that Spahn had played a crucial role in the mask procurement process, allegedly leading to inflated purchasing costs, favoring associates, and neglecting proper needs assessments. Spahn has denied all allegations of impropriety…
“As discussions continue regarding the implications of the mask procurement strategy, further inquiries and testimonies are expected in the upcoming sessions of the Bundestag’s Budget and Health Committees.”
Germany’s Judicial Appointments Postponed
Deutsche Welle reported on July 11:
“The conservative CDU/CSU bloc has pushed for postponing the vote on one of the [three] judges… The union’s junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats, were outraged by the decision… The conservative bloc, made up of the CDU and the allied Bavarian… CSU, requested postponing the vote on the appointment of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf following plagiarism allegations. Brosius-Gersdorf’s candidacy was put forth by the… SPD, the junior partner in the ruling coalition.
“The conservatives had already expressed skepticism over her liberal stance on abortions and her support for mandatory vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic… A two-thirds majority is needed for judges to be elected to the high court. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has said it would support [Federal Labour Court judge Günter] Spinner [who was proposed by the CDU], but not the SPD candidates. The conservative may be reliant on AfD votes to get its candidate through as it has so far rejected talks with the Left Party. However, votes are secret so it will not necessarily be clear if the AfD votes are what gets Spinner across the line.”
But there is much more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye. Especially “power-hungry” Jens Spahn is again in the midst of controversy.
Note the next article.
This Disaster Has a Name: Jens Spahn
Bild Online published the following commentary by lead author Peter Tiede on July 11:
“A catastrophic day for our parliament!… The election of three lawyers to Germany’s highest court has become a scandal today. A monstrous embarrassment for parliament, the constitutional court, and the country. A brutal blow to this coalition. A subterranean dismantling of a lawyer. A unique event in the history of our parliament. And this scandal… bears two names: that of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and, above all, that of Jens Spahn, his CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader.
“Because: Spahn should have fixed all this for Merz. Spahn should have recognized that his parliamentary group would NOT elect the SPD candidate for the highest court with a majority. Now, the scandal’s glaring traces are also sticking with Merz. Spahn should have protected Merz, his own parliamentary group, and, above all, his coalition partner from this damage. Spahn slept through this for weeks, or underestimated it, or let it run.
“But almost worse than his failure at work… is his cowardice. Because what happened that Friday morning was cowardly: Spahn hid behind a flimsy, barely investigated accusation of plagiarism against the SPD’s candidate for judge. When it became clear that even individual discussions with MPs who did not want to vote for the SPD candidate were fruitless, when it became clear that many dissenters had NOT contacted HIM, Spahn hid behind the plagiarism hedge. And then the star witness, the plagiarism hunter, came along and said: He never mentioned plagiarism. And whoosh: the hedge was gone! Behind it was a caught Jens Spahn. And a duped chancellor.
“For this coalition… the debacle is a catastrophe. Brutal for Merz: The SPD now has every reason for bloody revenge. It can now demand even higher prices for everything it doesn’t actually want, but which is agreed upon in the coalition agreement. From pensions to citizen’s income to investments – the SPD can demand, block, and pay back. Thanks to Spahn, it can lead Merz around the ring. There’s only one thing, according to SPD leadership, the SPD can no longer do: work with Jens Spahn in a spirit of trust. And so Friedrich Merz must ask himself whether he can and wants to continue to rely on Spahn, whether [Spahn] has the trust of his parliamentary group – and whether he, the Chancellor, can still expect the SPD to put up with this Jens Spahn.
“Merz had also been warned from within his own ranks against appointing the power-hungry Spahn as parliamentary group leader. He did it anyway. Even though Spahn, as Minister of Health, is under massive pressure due to the procurement of masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Spahn has been in self-defense mode for weeks. And now it’s obvious that Merz was wrong, that Spahn can’t do both: take care of himself and the parliamentary group; cover both his own back AND the Chancellor’s.
“Today’s election disaster is far worse than a million pointless or overpriced masks… The damage to Merz, the CDU/CSU, and Spahn is one thing. The damage to our country is something else entirely: Friedrich Merz and the CDU/CSU must ask themselves what and who they want to continue to subject us to. Because our country has never seen such a scandalous drama as today. This must not go without consequences…”
t-online reported on July 13 that Merz clearly supported Spahn and described the process as “undramatic.” Due to tremendous pressure, Spahn has finally admitted that he has “some” culpability and liability for the disaster.
And More and More Tariffs
Thomson/Reuters wrote on July 11:
“U.S. customs duty collections jumped again in June as President Donald Trump’s tariffs gained steam, topping $100 billion for the first time during a fiscal year and helping to produce a surprise $27 billion budget surplus for the month, the Treasury Department reported on Friday. The budget data showed that tariffs are starting to build into a significant revenue contributor for the federal government, with customs duties in June hitting new records…
“Trump has long touted tariffs as a lucrative revenue source, saying on Tuesday that ‘the big money’ would start to flow in after he imposes higher ‘reciprocal’ tariffs on U.S. trading partners on Aug. 1. Trump disagrees with economists who consistently say those taxes are paid by U.S. consumers and importers… tariffs have now grown into the fourth-largest revenue source for the federal government…
“… the president has put his tariff assault into overdrive, announcing 50% levies on copper imports and goods from Brazil and a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, all due to start on Aug. 1. The Trump administration is preparing more sector-based tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.”
Trade War Continues
Deutsche Welle wrote on July 12:
“The US is set to impose a 30% tariff on all goods from the European Union from August 1, 2025… The 27-member bloc and the US failed to reach an agreement to strike a comprehensive trade deal, including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods…. The US president said the trade relationship with the EU has been ‘unfortunately, far from Reciprocal,’ as such ‘we will charge the European Union a Tariff of only 30%.’ Trump has frequently described tariffs as charges on other countries, but in reality, the charge is usually paid by the consumer within the US. Tariffs make imported goods more expensive and thus less competitive…
“The German economy, the biggest in Europe, is heavily reliant on exports and thus particularly vulnerable to a trade war with the US.
“European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is prepared to take the necessary steps to safeguard its economic interests if the US proceeds with imposing a 30% tariff rate on EU exports…’ including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.’”
Trump also announced a 30% tariff against Mexico. The AP wrote: “With Saturday’s letters, Trump has now issued tariff conditions on 24 countries and the 27-member European Union.”
Politico wrote on July 12:
“GOP warning sign in new poll: Trump’s voters don’t love his tariffs… About 1 in 4 self-identified 2024 Trump voters… said last month that the president’s tariffs are hurting the United States’ ability to negotiate better trade deals with other countries. They’re also evenly divided on whether Trump should have the ability to unilaterally impose tariffs on other countries in the first place, with 45 percent saying he should and 44 percent saying he should get approval from Congress
“… while the tariffs he has raised on imports like steel, aluminum and auto parts, as well as a baseline 10 percent duty on all foreign goods, have brought in billions of dollars, they are paid for by the companies and individuals importing the goods — costs many companies pass onto their consumers.”
Crazy!
EU’s Proposed Retaliatory Tariffs
Politico wrote on July 14:
“The European Union is looking at targeting €72 billion in U.S. goods in a second round of trade countermeasures, including aircraft, cars and car parts…
“The bulk of those exports targeted are industrial goods, totaling €65.7 billion, while €6.4 billion in agricultural products would also be hit if EU countries back the new retaliatory tariffs. The list includes bourbon whiskey… The biggest line item in the 200-page list is aircraft and aircraft parts, with tariffs set to target almost €11 billion of U.S. exports — potentially dealing a heavy blow to plane maker Boeing…
“Then comes machinery, followed by cars and car parts; chemicals and plastics; medical devices and equipment; electrical equipment; and industrial goods — all of which fall into multibillion-euro categories.”
Chaotic Raid on California Cannabis Farm
The New York Post wrote on July 11:
“A migrant farm worker died after sustaining ‘catastrophic’ injuries from a 30-foot fall during Thursday’s chaotic immigration raid at a southern California marijuana farm… The worker… suffered a broken neck and skull, along with a severed artery, after immigration agents descended on Glass House Farms in Camarillo during a large-scale operation that erupted into a violent scene as authorities clashed with dozens of demonstrators…
“Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the worker wasn’t being pursued by federal authorities when he climbed onto the roof of a green house and fell… Several other farm workers were also critically injured during the raid, which resulted in the arrest of about 200 migrants suspected of being in the country illegally. US citizens were also detained, with some still unaccounted for, farm union officials said.
“Ten migrant youths, most of them who crossed the border unaccompanied, were also found at the Ventura County pot farm… The facility is now under investigation for child labor violations… Glass House Farms has since denied claims that it violated hiring regulations or employed minors. The farm, which uses half of its space for cannabis while the other is dedicated to tomatoes and cucumbers, said it ‘fully complied with agent search warrants’ ahead of the immigration operation… Thursday’s raid is believed to be the largest carried out under the Trump administration….
“President Trump announced Friday that he’s granting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents ‘Total Authorization’ to arrest violent protestors following [the] chaotic California cannabis farm raid that resulted in rocks being hurled at federal law enforcement vehicles. The angry mob attempted to block a road between farm fields and several agitators appeared to be hurling rocks at the officers, who used canisters with an unknown substance and fired less-than-lethal rounds in an effort to get the crowd to retreat, according to ABC 7.
“One man among the crowd of protesters appeared to fire a gun at advancing agents. The FBI is offering a reward up to $50,000 for information leading to the apparent shooter’s conviction.
Officers speeding away from the scene in SUVs and vans were also pelted with several large rocks…
These violent confrontations will continue. They were so predictable. This won’t end well.
Homan Admits: ICE Engaged in Racial Profiling
Mediaite wrote on July 11:
“President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, sparked a wave of angry reactions on Friday after he told Fox News that border patrol doesn’t need probable cause to detain suspected illegal migrants… ‘[They just need] articulable facts based on the location, the occupation, their physical appearance, their actions…’”
The Forgotten Victims
MSN wrote on July 12:
“Federal immigration agents raided a Home Depot in Barstow last month and arrested a man who had his 3-year-old pit bull, Chuco, with him. A friend managed to grab Chuco from the scene and bring him back to the garage where he lives. The dog’s owner was deported to Mexico the next day. Pets belonging to people who are deported or flee are being left in empty apartments, dumped into the laps of unprepared friends and dropped off at overcrowded shelters… Unless people do take the initiative [and get the pets out], those animals will starve to death in those backyards or those homes… Yet with many animal refuges operating at capacity, it can be difficult to find temporary homes… Pets are like the collateral damage to the current political climate…
“Animals suffer from the emotional strain of separation and unceremonious change when their owners vanish, experts said. When a mother and three young daughters from Nicaragua who were pursuing asylum in the U.S. were unexpectedly deported in May following a routine hearing, they left behind their beloved senior dog. She was taken in by the mother’s stepmom. Not long after, the small dog had to be ushered into surgery to treat a life-threatening mass. The small dog is on the mend physically, but ‘is clearly depressed, barely functioning and missing her family,’ the stepmother wrote… She is used to spending all day with the girls and sleeping with them at night, the stepmom said. From Nicaragua, the girls have been asking to get their dog back. For now, they’re using FaceTime.”
LA Judge Orders ICE to Stop
NPR wrote on July 11:
“A federal judge in Los Angeles [who is black and was appointed by Joe Biden] ordered the Trump administration to stop carrying out immigration sweeps in which she said federal agents have been indiscriminately arresting people across southern California without reasonable suspicion that they’re in the country illegally. Since early June, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Border Patrol and other federal agencies have been roving Los Angeles and surrounding counties arresting thousands of people in what civil rights lawyers characterized in a lawsuit last week as an unconstitutional and ‘extraordinary campaign of targeting people based on nothing more than the color of their skin.’
“In her order, Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, said there is ‘a mountain of evidence’ to support the claim that agents are arresting people solely based on their race, accents, or the work they’re engaged in, in violation of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable government seizure. ‘The seizures at issue occurred unlawfully,’ Frimpong wrote.
“She issued two temporary restraining orders — one prohibiting immigration agents from arresting people without reasonable suspicion that they’re in the country illegally, and the other requiring agents to give people they arrest immediate access to lawyers. The orders, which apply to Los Angeles and six surrounding counties, are temporary while the case moves forward. But they could severely restrict the Trump administration’s ability to continue carrying out the raids that have sown fear and terror in immigrant and Latino neighborhoods since they started on June 6…
“In a statement, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin criticized the ruling. ‘A district judge is undermining the will of the American people,’ McLaughlin said. ‘America’s brave men and women are removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapists — truly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities. Law and order will prevail.’
“But the ruling is the latest potential roadblock for President Trump as he escalates his immigration crackdown by focusing on large, Democratic-run cities whose leaders he’s accused of trying to sabotage his efforts to carry out his mass deportation plans.
“It came a little more than a week after Public Counsel, the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups filed an emergency class action lawsuit alleging that ICE and Border Patrol agents are engaged in widespread racial profiling, arresting people they encounter in public solely because they have brown skin or because they’re doing work often done by immigrants. Since early June, agents have repeatedly raided known hubs for Latino workers, including car washes, day laborer gathering spots, and street vendor corners. They’ve also pulled people who appear to be Latino out of their cars, and picked them up from bus stops and on sidewalks. They’ve arrested immigrants without legal status and U.S. citizens alike. Many of the arrests have been filmed by bystanders and posted to social media…
“Judge Frimpong said during Thursday’s hearing that she was skeptical of the government’s general assurances that immigration agents are not arresting people arbitrarily… Whether immigration agents will scale back their aggressive tactics in response to the judge’s order is unclear…”
California’s Original King of Deportation
The Los Angeles Times wrote on July 12:
“He sent federal immigration agents into Southern California communities, farms and workplaces vowing to drive ‘illegal aliens’ back across the border. His raids regularly netted hundreds of arrests a day and he once boasted about apprehending 70,000 people in a single month in San Diego County alone.
“When L.A. declared itself a ‘sanctuary city’ for Central American migrants, he vowed to have Washington cut off the city’s federal funding. He took pride in arresting undocumented workers when they showed up to collect their lottery winnings… Before Donald Trump and Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem, there was Harold Ezell.
“Ezell… ran one of — if not the — biggest deportation operation in California history… using his troops to, as he put it, turn back the ‘invasion’ and return America to ‘Americans’…
“Ezell himself admitted in 1986 that all the arrests were not keeping up with the estimated 2,000 new border crossings each day. He insisted it was about sending a message. That same year, Congress passed the landmark Immigration Reform and Control Act, which gave a path to citizenship to more than three million immigrants here illegally…
“Ezell eventually became a major supporter of Proposition 187, the California measure that prohibited undocumented workers from receiving public assistance. The measure passed, but it began a political backlash to anti-immigration policies. Changing attitudes and demographics made California much more supportive of immigration as a benefit to the economy and the culture… Ezell died in 1998… the extremism of the 1980s and 1990s anti-immigration movement were also the seeds of its destruction… Stephen Miller should learn well from Ezell, but not in the way he would like to think… History has not been kind to Ezell… that’s how history is already remembering Miller…”
“Support For Immigration Reaches Historic High in US Despite Trump Crusade”
El País wrote on July 12:
“Against the backdrop of an unprecedented crusade against migrants, the United States is experiencing a surprising turnaround in public perception on immigration, according to a recent Gallup poll. Despite the fact that this was one of the issues that marked the presidential election and delivered the presidency to Donald Trump just eight months ago, support for immigration in the country has now reached record highs, even among Republicans. About 8-in-10 Americans, 79%, say immigration is ‘a good thing’ for the country today, up sharply from 64% a year ago and a high point in a nearly 25-year trend. In contrast, only two in 10 U.S. adults say immigration is a bad thing, down from 32% last year.
“The poll, conducted between the 2nd and 26th of June, shows that the change in perception is across the political spectrum. While Democrats remain the most positive on immigration, at 91%, there was also a significant increase among Independents and Republicans over the last year: from 64% to 79%, and from 39% to 64%, respectively….
“More specifically, when asked about their opinion of President Trump’s immigration policy, only 35% approve of his administration’s management on migration, while 62% disapprove. Among Hispanics, support drops to 21%, 14 points below the national average, reflecting their strong opposition to policies such as mass detentions and deportations. However, the partisan breakdown on this point is stark: 85% of Republicans approve of Trump’s work on immigration, compared to just 28% of independents and a minimal 2% of Democrats. In contrast, 81% of Democrats report ‘strong’ disapproval.”
Hundreds at Alligator Alcatraz Without Criminal Charges
The Miami Herald wrote on July 15:
“Hundreds of immigrants with no criminal charges in the United States are being held at Alligator Alcatraz, a detention facility state and federal officials have characterized as a place where ‘vicious’ and ‘deranged psychopaths’ are sent before they get deported… Mixed among the detainees accused and convicted of crimes are more than 250 people who are listed as having only immigration violations but no criminal convictions or pending charges in the United States…
“A third of the detainees have criminal convictions. Their charges range from attempted murder to illegal re-entry to traffic violations. Hundreds of others only have pending charges… The information… suggests that scores of migrants without criminal records have been targeted in the state and federal dragnet to catch and deport immigrants living illegally in Florida…
“Nationally, nearly half of detainees in ICE custody as of late June were being held for immigration violations and did not have a criminal conviction or charge…”
And so, we are consistently being lied to. Note the next article
Mistrust the Government
The Ron Paul Institute published the following article on July 14 which was written by Ron Paul in his weekly column:
“The willingness of so many Trump allies to openly criticize the Epstein announcement and other actions like the bombing of Iran is a positive development. Advancing liberty requires that more people refuse to automatically trust government officials, whether concerning Epstein, wars, the economy, or other important matters…
“Those who understand the philosophy, history, and economics of liberty can explain that it is not just that some government officials lie. Instead, all governments lie, and the more important the issue the bigger the lie. In fact, the modern state is built on a series of lies…
“Exposing such lies is key for restoring liberty…”
So true! That’s why converted Christians must not have anything to do with it.
Mistrust the (Fake) Media
The Record wrote on July 14:
“A Kremlin-linked disinformation group has been impersonating real journalists and publishing fake articles on spoofed news websites to spread false narratives in France, Armenia, Germany, Moldova and Norway, researchers have found… Storm-1516 used the names and photos of legitimate reporters on bylines to lend credibility to false claims published on the fake news sites…
“A fake article targeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz claimed that he had illegally killed a family of polar bears during a hunting trip in Canada. The story was unsigned but listed several staff members of the Toronto Star as authors, none of whom were involved…”
Is Trump Falling Apart Over Epstein?
Showbiz411 wrote on July 12:
“The presidency is falling apart [over] Pam Bondi’s announcement that no Epstein files exist. They existed a short time ago, of course, when binders were waved around reading ‘Epstein Files.’… We can imagine Trump is [in the files] since Epstein called him his best friend and there is plenty of video evidence of their hanging out together.
“So what does Trump do? He announces this morning, apropos of nothing, that he might revoke Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship. Rosie has been living in Ireland just to get away from the madness here. She’s very much a US citizen, born in New York to American parents.
“Trump knows he can’t do this, but it’s a misdirection, a fake out to get the press off the Epstein story. He also announced 30% tariffs on the UK and EU today. He’s trying to get away from the court ruling last night stopping ICE from acting like the gestapo. Trump is losing bigly. Trump also lost his final appeal to not pay E. Jean Carroll $5 million in the sex abuse case.”
Trump Responds… But Fails
NBC News wrote on July 13:
“On the weekend President Donald Trump decided to pick his biggest political fight to date with the MAGA base he created in his own image, thousands of his adherents were gathered together… Trump pulled the rug out from his base Saturday evening when he released a lengthy social media post that completely dismissed the importance of the issue, which has consumed the right for the past week — and longer…
“Trump’s supporters have gone along with him through every scandal and policy shift. When he made a decision, his base backed him. But the Epstein issue is challenging this alliance like never before... There was no escaping the topic of the Epstein files this weekend in Tampa, with many attendees and speakers calling for Bondi to be fired — even as Trump sent the clear message that he wants his supporters to move on…
“Former Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who was among Trump’s biggest supporters when in the state Legislature and was in attendance at the event, called Trump’s Truth Social post ‘out of touch.’
“On the main stage at the Student Action Summit on Friday night, Megyn Kelly, a high-profile conservative commentator and Trump supporter, asked crowd a simple question: Bondi or Bongino? ‘Bongino!’ the crowd screamed in unison Friday night. ‘It’s 7,000 to 0,’ responded Charlie Kirk, prominent conservative activist and the head of Turning Points USA, who was the master of ceremonies for the weekend.”
Trump’s Achilles Heel
The Hill added on July 13:
“Elon Musk blasted President Trump on Saturday over his defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi… ‘Just release the files as promised,’ Musk added. Musk, a few minutes later, responded to a separate post calling the Epstein case Trump’s ‘Achilles’ heel,’ rebuking the president for pledging to release the files on the campaign trail and now dismissing the significance of the case.
“‘This is a very big deal,’ Musk responded. ‘What… kind of system are we living in if thousands of kids were abused, the government has videos of the abusers and yet none of the abusers are even facing charges!?’… The president suggested some of his political opponents ‘created’ the Epstein files…”
Trump’s opponents created files which don’t exist? Words fail…
Epstein Scandal Will NOT Go Away!
Fox News wrote on July 13:
“Longtime conservatives and supporters of Trump sounded off on social media this weekend, as well as in person during a convention in Florida, with various messages pledging that the Epstein scandal will not ‘go away.’…
“‘Donald Trump please understand the EPSTEIN AFFAIR is not going away,’ retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, Trump’s national security advisor from his first administration, posted to X on Saturday. ‘If the administration doesn’t address the massive number of unanswered questions about Epstein, especially the ABUSE OF CHILDREN BY ELITES (it is very clear that abuse occurred), then moving forward on so many other monumental challenges our nation is facing becomes much harder.’…
“‘We cannot allow pedophiles to get away. I don’t personally care who they are or what elite or powerful position they hold. They must be exposed and held accountable!!!’ Flynn continued in his X post.”
Lingering Doubts Regarding Epstein’s “Suicide”
Breitbart wrote on July 12:
“[A] Wired article said on Friday that the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released several hours of what it labeled ‘full raw’ video from a camera near the criminal’s cell the night before his demise.
“Metadata embedded in the video and analyzed by WIRED and independent video forensics experts shows that rather than being a direct export from the prison’s surveillance system, the footage was modified, likely using the professional editing tool Adobe Premiere Pro. The file appears to have been assembled from at least two source clips, saved multiple times, exported, and then uploaded to the DOJ’s website, where it was presented as ‘raw’ footage.
“Experts caution that it’s unclear what exactly was changed, and that the metadata does not prove deceptive manipulation. The video may have simply been processed for public release using available software, with no modifications beyond stitching together two clips. But the absence of a clear explanation for the processing of the file using professional editing software complicates the Justice Department’s narrative…
“During a recent episode of The Drill Down podcast, hosts Peter Schweizer and Eric Eggers interviewed Epstein’s former attorney David Schoen… He continues to doubt that Epstein killed himself… based on the findings of Dr. Michael Baden, whom he called the best forensic pathologist in the world. He also said Epstein asked him to do work that would only have had an impact much later, suggesting he had no intention to kill himself…”
Epstein Mysteries
Daily Mail wrote on July 14:
“Critics have pointed to the fact that there is a crucial minute missing from the jail house video that also does not show the door or, indeed, the inside of Epstein’s jail cell.”
Only two cameras were operational in the vicinity of the Special Housing Unit at the time Epstein was found, and neither of them captured his cell door. Closer cameras, which might have captured the door, were reportedly malfunctioning at the time.
Jeffrey Epstein’s cellmate was removed from his cell on the morning of August 9, 2019, as part of a routine, prearranged transfer. Despite a previous determination that Epstein needed to be housed with a cellmate, no replacement was assigned after this transfer. This left Epstein alone in his cell at the time of his death the next day.
Coverup to Protect Prominent Pedophiles?
Alter Net wrote on July 10:
“Alan Dershowitz… alleged in a bombshell disclosure that key documents tied to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein are being withheld — not to protect victims, but to shield powerful figures… Dershowitz continued: ‘I know who’s suppressing them, but I’m bound by confidentiality from a judge and cases, and I can’t disclose what I know… But… I know the names of people whose files are being suppressed in order to protect them, and that’s wrong…’
“Meanwhile, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) reacted to Dershowitz remarks Thursday and wrote on the social platform X: ‘RELEASE THE EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST!!!!’ Political analyst Dominic Tripi wrote: ‘The names, the concealed documents, who’s being protected, all of that is available. It’s a pure coverup, they think if you find out the truth it will thoroughly destroy the legitimacy of governing institutions.’”
Some claim that Epstein might have worked for the Mossad (Israeli intelligence) which Israel has denied.
Trump Supporters Unhappy With Trump
Mediaite wrote on July 16:
“President Donald Trump, in a stunning Truth Social post Wednesday, branded the Jeffrey Epstein story — which has been perpetrated by the highest ranking members of his Justice Department for years — a ‘hoax.’… The president made clear he no longer wants the support of those who remain interested in the Epstein investigation…
“The comments from Trump come amid a raft of public criticism from prominent MAGA influencers over his handling of Epstein, and even public polling showing broad dissatisfaction among his base.”
Deutsche Welle added on July 15:
“Trump repeated his claim [on Tuesday] that the Epstein files were fabricated by the Democratic presidents before him, despite having previously said during his 2024 election campaign that he would ‘probably’ release them… Many of Trump’s supporters… are accusing the administration of shielding powerful figures allegedly tied to the case…
“…far-right figures… and even his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump… have demanded more transparency. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also broke with Trump, calling for full disclosure of any Epstein-related files, saying, ‘We should put everything out there and let the people decide.’ Several other Republicans have echoed the same view… ‘For this to go away, you’re going to lose 10% of the MAGA movement,’ said Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, amid the growing political fallout…”
Other prominent Republicans demanding the release of all the Epstein files include former Vice President Mike Pence, Senator John Kennedy, and Senator Ted Cruz.
AFP wrote on July 16:
“US President Donald Trump blasted ‘foolish’ [and ‘stupid’] Republican supporters Wednesday as he went on the attack against anyone questioning his administration’s handling of the case of dead sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein… “Trump is facing the most serious split in his loyal right-wing base since he returned to power…”
Trump needs to be careful that he does not lose more and more supporters. Attacking them like that is not the way to do it.
Most Americans Disagree With Trump
The New York Post wrote on July 16:
“As much as President Trump and the White House would like everyone to shut up and move on from the dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, a new poll shows that the scandal isn’t going away.
Rasmussen polling this week shows Trump has suffered a sharp drop in approval over the period of the Epstein brouhaha, plummeting from a plus-4 popularity rating to a negative-4 in three weeks.
“The poll of 1,164 likely voters conducted on July 8-10 found that just 21% believe the Trump FBI and DOJ are telling the truth about Epstein, who was found hanged in his jail cell in 2019.
While FBI Director Kash Patel and deputy Dan Bongino insist that Epstein committed suicide, only 31% of voters believe them.
“Roughly two-thirds of every political category — 68% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans and 69% of unaffiliated voters — reject the idea that the Epstein case is closed and instead believe that there are dozens of powerful and wealthy offenders who need to face justice.”
Three Minutes Missing
WIRED wrote on July 16:
“Newly uncovered metadata reveals that nearly three minutes of footage were cut from what the US Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation described as ‘full raw’ surveillance video from the only functioning camera near Jeffrey Epstein’s prison cell the night before he was found dead…
“The metadata confirms that the first video file, which showed footage from August 9, 2019, continued for several minutes beyond what appears in the final version of the video and was trimmed to the 11:58:58 pm mark, right before the jump to midnight.”
Judge Blocks Trump Order on Birthright Citizenship
Newsweek wrote on July 11:
“The legal fight over President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship could soon return to the U.S. Supreme Court. A judge in New Hampshire on Thursday blocked Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship for children born to those without legal status from taking effect anywhere in the U.S. Judge Joseph LaPlante, who was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, issued a preliminary injunction and certified a class-action lawsuit that includes all children who will be affected.
“The judge’s decision comes just weeks after the Supreme Court limited judges’ authority to issue nationwide injunctions… without settling the underlying question of the constitutionality of Trump’s order.
“The court didn’t rule out whether judges could accomplish much the same thing by a different legal means, a class action. Birthright citizenship, enshrined in the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, makes anyone born in the U.S. an American citizen, including children born to mothers in the country illegally.
“LaPlante wrote in his order…: ‘Respondents’ arguments about irreparable harm remain unconvincing to the court, which has no difficulty concluding that the rapid adoption by executive order, without legislation and the attending national debate, of a new government policy of highly questionable constitutionality that would deny citizenship to many thousands of individuals previously granted citizenship under an indisputably longstanding policy, constitutes irreparable harm, and that all class representatives could suffer irreparable harm absent an injunction…’
“LaPlante’s order included a seven-day stay to allow for appeal.”
Judges Stand Up to Trump
The Editorial Board of the New York Times wrote on July 12:
“Many Americans in positions of power, including corporate executives and members of Congress, seem too afraid of President Trump to stand up to his anti-democratic behavior. Federal judges have shown themselves to be exceptions. ‘Judges from across the ideological spectrum are ruling against administration policies at remarkable rates,’ said Adam Bonica, a political scientist at Stanford University.
“These rulings have halted Mr. Trump’s vengeful attempts to destroy law firms, forestalled some of his budget cuts and kept him from deporting additional immigrants. Yes, the Supreme Court has often been more deferential to the president. Still, it has let stand many lower-court rulings and has itself constrained Mr. Trump in some cases…
“Courts have blocked some policies, including the deportation of additional detainees to a Salvadoran prison. Other policies remain in effect, including the confinement of immigrants previously deported to El Salvador. Many cases are still being heard.”
We are setting forth below findings by some of the judges appointed by Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump:
“J. Harvie Wilkinson III, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed by Ronald Reagan
“On the refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia from El Salvador: ‘This is a path of perfect lawlessness, one that courts cannot condone.’…
“Patrick J. Schiltz, District of Minnesota. Appointed by George W. Bush
“On the revocation of a student’s visa: ‘The court cannot imagine how the public interest might be served by permitting federal officials to flaunt the very laws that they have sworn to enforce.’
“Clay D. Land, Middle District of Georgia. Appointed by George W. Bush
“On an attempt to designate someone as an ‘alien enemy’ without due process: ‘Allowing constitutional rights to be dependent upon the grace of the executive branch would be a dereliction of duty by this third and independent branch of government and would be against the public interest.’
“Roger L. Gregory, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Appointed by George W. Bush
“On a claim that Venezuela has invaded the U.S.: ‘As is becoming far too common, we are confronted again with the efforts of the executive branch to set aside the rule of law in pursuit of its goals.’
“Stephanie A. Gallagher, District of Maryland. Appointed by Donald Trump
“On the deportation of an asylum seeker to El Salvador: ‘Defendants have provided no evidence, or even any specific allegations, as to how Cristian, or any other class member, poses a threat to public safety. … This is a court of evidence.’
“Richard J. Leon, District of Columbia District. Appointed by George W. Bush
“On an executive order targeting the law firm WilmerHale: ‘There is no doubt this retaliatory action chills speech and legal advocacy, or that it qualifies as a constitutional harm.’
“John D. Bates, District of Columbia District. Appointed by George W. Bush
“On an executive order targeting Jenner & Block: ‘In short, the order raises constitutional eyebrows many times over. It punishes and seeks to silence speech ‘at the very center of the First Amendment.’
“Trevor N. McFadden, District of Columbia District. Appointed by Donald Trump
“On The Associated Press’s access to the White House being restricted for not using ‘Gulf of America’: ‘Indeed, the government has been brazen.’
“John C. Coughenour, Western District of Washington. Appointed by Ronald Reagan
“On the order denying birthright citizenship: ‘I’ve been on the bench for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.’
“Joseph N. Laplante, District of New Hampshire. Appointed by George W. Bush
“On the order denying birthright citizenship: ‘The executive order contradicts the text of the 14th Amendment and the century-old untouched precedent that interprets it.’
“Royce C. Lamberth, District of Columbia District. Appointed by Ronald Reagan
“On a funding cut for the agency overseeing Voice of America: ‘It is hard to fathom a more straightforward display of arbitrary and capricious actions than the defendants’ actions here.’
“Mary S. McElroy, District of Rhode Island. Appointed by Donald Trump
“On a claim that an agency was not responsible for a funding freeze it had announced: ‘In short, the government asks the court “to overlook the simplest, most logical explanation” for what happened. The court declines.’
“William G. Young, District of Massachusetts. Appointed by Ronald Reagan
“On a cut in funding for research into health disparities: ‘I have never seen government racial discrimination like this.’
There have of course been many more judges, appointed by Democratic presidents, taking issue with Trump’s actions.
The article continues:
“The judiciary’s willingness to confront Mr. Trump over the past six months has been vital. In other democracies that have slid toward autocracy, the complicity of judges has frequently been a key reason. For now, many American judges are standing firm. They have done so even as Mr. Trump and his allies have personally threatened judges and made many feel unsafe. It remains unclear what will happen next.
“One scenario is optimistic — namely, that judges on lower courts will continue to constrain Mr. Trump, the Supreme Court will ultimately uphold most of these rulings and the administration will largely obey them… Other scenarios are more disturbing: that the Supreme Court becomes even more deferential to him, or that the administration flouts court rulings more blatantly than it already has. Either way, federal judges have made clear that they consider Mr. Trump’s conduct to be more worrisome than the conduct of any other modern president.”
The Houthis as Powerful as Ever
The Telegraph wrote on July 10:
“A little over two months ago, Donald Trump was emphatic in claiming to have halted Houthi militants’ attacks on shipping in the Red Sea… Despite Mr Trump’s confidence, this week the Houthis have sunk two vessels in quick succession on the critical shipping route and shattered months of relative calm off Yemen’s coast… The Houthi resurgence has taken some nations by surprise, especially after its biggest backer – Iran – was hit first by Israel and then by US B2 bombers.
“But through careful alliance building, ruthless extortion rackets and more independence, the group is more powerful than it has been in years. This week’s attacks, which the Houthis said were conducted in solidarity with the Palestinians, not only show the hollowness of Mr Trump’s supposed ceasefire, but also the resilience of the militant group and the limits of air strikes…
“Mr Trump’s declaration of victory in May was murky from the start… While Mr Trump had publicly said the Houthis had agreed to stop attacks, the group itself had continued to say it would attack vessels linked to Israel and its allies. Any deal between the two was in fact probably only restricted to US vessels…
“A two-year campaign of strikes conducted under Joe Biden and then Mr Trump is estimated to have cost at least $7 billion… Last year, United Nations experts said the Houthis were allegedly collecting as much as $180 million each month from shipping agencies to allow vessels to sail through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden without being attacked. While the report was questioned by maritime safety experts, such income would be one of the Houthis’ main revenue streams….”
Iran Wants Trump Assassinated
Newsmax wrote on July 11:
“Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, Iran’s top Shiite cleric, and Grand Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamedani issued fatwas against Trump after the U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear facilities last month, citing alleged threats against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and that anyone who works with the U.S. and Israel is an ‘enemy of Allah.’ Shirazi proclaimed that any ‘Muslims of the world’ who successfully assassinate Trump or Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be deemed ‘warriors of Allah’ and ‘receive blessings.’
“The fatwas prompted the creation of an organization called the ‘Blood Covenant,’ which claims to have raised nearly $40.3 million for Trump’s assassination… Iranian religious figures at the Howza-e Ilmiyya seminary in Qom offered support for the fatwas on Trump, saying July 2 that the president’s ‘blood is permitted’…”
More Weapons for Ukraine
Deutsche Welle wrote on July 14:
“President Donald Trump said the US will send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine and that they will be paid for by the European Union. During his announcement, Trump expressed his frustration in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin… Trump has threatened to impose secondary tariffs of 100% on Russia and countries that trade with it (unless a deal to end the war with Ukraine is reached within 50 days)— in an attempt to bring the war in Ukraine to an end…
“Berlin has already provided Kyiv with three of the 12 Patriot systems it previously possessed. ‘We only have six left in Germany,’ [German defense minister Boris] Pistorius said. [He] added that at least one Patriot unit was always unavailable due to maintenance or training, and that two others had been lent to Poland. ‘We definitely can’t give any more,’ Pistorius said. Pistorius also stated that Germany would not deliver its long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine despite Kyiv’s renewed request.”
The Associated Press wrote on July 14:
“Trump said European allies would buy ‘billions and billions’ of dollars of U.S. military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine… Germany has offered to finance two Patriot systems…”
CNN added on July 14
“Trump spoke last week to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on the call he was looking for the US to deliver the systems to Germany so they could be transferred to Ukraine.”
EU Not Entirely Happy with USA Over Ukraine
Deutsche Welle wrote on July 15:
“‘The 50 days that Mr. Trump has announced is rather long,’ Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp said… The [European Union’s foreign affairs chief Kaja] Kallas told reporters after Tuesday’s meeting that she would like to see Europe and the US ‘share the burden’ of arming Ukraine… Denmark’s Rasmussen made a similarly veiled allusion…
“While the US ranks as Ukraine’s single largest donor since its full-scale invasion by Russia, the European Union as a whole has spent roughly the same amount as Washington over the same period… The EU outspends the US when the cost of hosting and assisting Ukrainian refugees is factored in.”
“US Navy’s Next-Generation Submarine Program Faces Alarming Delay”
Fox News wrote on July 14:
“The Navy’s next-generation attack submarine won’t be a reality for at least 15 years, according to a new report. The Navy’s SSN(X) was originally slated to enter production in 2031. That timeline has since slipped – to 2035 and now to 2040, due to escalating costs and budget constraints.
“The Navy requested $623 million in its FY 2026 budget to advance the program…
“Despite nearly doubling its shipbuilding budget over the past two decades, the Navy has consistently fallen short of its ship-count goals. The Government Accountability Office noted that Navy shipbuilding programs and yards are effectively operating in a ‘perpetual state of triage.’”
More Than Half of Canadians See U.S. as a Top Threat
National Post wrote on July 8:
“As U.S. President Donald Trump pursues his global trade war and talk of annexation, a new poll suggests the percentage of Canadians who view the United States as a top threat has tripled since 2019.
“While this year’s survey by the Pew Research Center suggests that 55 per cent of Canadians still say the U.S. remains this country’s most important ally, it also says that 59 per cent now see the U.S. as a threat — up from 20 per cent in the 2019 poll… In Canada, roughly three-quarters of respondents said the U.S. poses an economic threat and 53 per cent said it poses a national security threat.”
Israel-Syrian War Continues
Axios wrote on July 16:
“The Trump administration has asked Israel to halt its strikes on Syrian government targets and to open direct talks with Damascus, a senior U.S. official told Axios on Wednesday… U.S. officials are highly concerned that the Israeli attacks — including on Syrian military headquarters in Damascus and near the presidential palace — could destabilize the new Syrian government.”
The Jerusalem Post added on July 16:
“As of Wednesday afternoon, the IDF had undertaken 160 aerial attacks on Syrian regime forces in and around the vicinity of Sweida in southern Syria, where Israel says the regime’s forces are slaughtering Syrian Druze.
“In addition, the IDF has attacked, and possibly destroyed, Syria’s Defense Ministry, and also attacked part of the Presidential Palace in Damascus. Dozens or more Syrian regime forces are said to have been killed in IDF attacks.”
Daily Mail wrote on July 9:
“Spain’s hard-right Vox party has doubled down on a vow to deport illegal immigrants by declaring it would also remove foreigners who ‘have not adopted our customs’. ..
“’We don’t know how many there are,’ he added. ‘But when we reach the government, we will. And they will all go.’ The fiery rhetoric comes as Vox enjoys a significant boost in the polls after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist Party (POSE) slipped in the wake of a corruption scandal… Sanchez, who leads a minority coalition government comprising far-left party Sumar, has thus far resisted mounting calls from the opposition to resign and call a snap election…
“The main opposition People’s Party was well ahead on 33.3% support, while Vox – the third-largest party in Spain’s parliament – climbed 1.3 percentage points to 15.2%… The People’s Party has previously rejected proposed deportation plans put forward by Vox.”
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.