4 Feb, 2025 15:57

Potential sites identified for Trump-Putin summit – Reuters

The US president has expressed willingness for dialogue with Moscow and a desire to end the Ukraine conflict

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been identified as potential venues for a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported on Monday, siting sources familiar with the discussions. This development follows Trump’s recent statements expressing his intent to swiftly end the Ukraine conflict and his readiness to meet with Putin.

While no direct contacts between the US and Russia regarding the summit have been confirmed, senior Russian officials have recently visited both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to Reuters. Both Middle Eastern nations have maintained neutrality throughout the Ukraine conflict, engaging in dialogue with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.Their neutral stanceand established relationships with both Trump and Putin make them suitable candidates for hosting the summit, the outlet reports.

Venue selection is reportedly being influenced by the current geopolitical landscape, with traditional Western venues deemed unsuitable due to the support for Ukraine in the region.

Both Trump and Putin have been cultivating good relations with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

SaudiCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the first foreign head of state Trump called after taking office. During a speech last month via video link to an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump described the crown prince as “a fantastic guy.”

Last September, Putin expressed gratitude to bin Salman for facilitating the largest US-Russian prisoner swap since the Cold War. “We are grateful to him, because this resulted in the return of our citizens to their homeland,” he said at the time.

Washington and Moscow have not commented on the potential meeting between the US and Russian leaders. In a recent statement, Trump announced that his administration had “meetings and talks scheduled with various parties, including Ukraine and Russia.”

Russian officials have said they are open to talks with the US on the Ukraine conflict, but stressed that no substantial agreements on discussions have been reached.

https://www.rt.com/news/612159-russia-us-talks-venue/

(KEK, Zelensky has demanded that America, Trump and Russia, Putin, cannot have a meeting without Ukraine there at the table.)

>>22505613 'International Republican Institute' Republicans connected to this USAID funded NGO may be connected to immigrationPN

DataRepublican (small r)

@DataRepublican

👀 A wild tip from

@DogeWatchReport

…

==The International Republican Institute (IRI)—a Republican-aligned NGO—has some big names on its board, including@LindseyGrahamSC,

@SenJoniErnst, @SenTomCotton, @SenDanSullivan, and more.==

Their latest report shows:

💰 Gov Funding: $130.7M (IRS Form 990)

📜 Active Grants: $9.2M

🔎 EIN: 521340267 | UEI: V2DWM1KMJNK5

Now here’s the kicker: Their own audit lists migration-related NGOs like the International Organization for Migration & Pan American

Development Foundation==.

Why? What’s the connection?👇 Receipts linked below.

https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/1886785021236928861

Arrest everyone from Congress that used US dollars for their pet projects, they knew it was illegalevery government employee including the CIA, major stealer Dept. Of State, everyone in and out of government, that used this money to destroy America, push Marxism, Communism etc. If the Republicans did this the Democrats got 97% of the USAID to destroy America. Every single politician and government worker that enabled this.All of this is Actual Treason Against America.clear case of Treason.

Republicans & Democrats have never been satisfied with legislating, they want to use Americans tax money to destroy the country we love. None of them should get off the hook.

Someone said, I think it was Poso or someone else "Watch Cotton", wasn't he a prior AG?

Political Polls

@PpollingNumbers

NEW - 2026 Generic Ballot poll

🔴 Republicans - 48% (+8)

🔵 Democrats - 40%

McLaughlin #C - 1000 LV - 1/27

8:29 PM · Feb 3, 2025

·232.4K

https://x.com/PpollingNumbers/status/1886587886679499038

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1886430824184123568

Citizen Free Press

@CitizenFreePres

ROBERT KENNEDY NOMINATION CLEARS COMMITTEE HURDLE.

Kennedy escapes Senate committee with 14-13 vote.

From Eddie

10:42 AM · Feb 4, 2025

·16.8K

Views

https://x.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1886802474322866397

>>22506291

Blackburn Voted NO! WTF?

Maine Sen. Susan Collins will vote for Trump's DNI pick

Maine Public | By Steve Mistler

Published February 3, 2025 at 5:46

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins said she'll vote for President Donald Trump's controversial pick to lead the Director of National Intelligence.

In a statement Collins said DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard shared her concerns about shrinking the agency and gave satisfactory answers about Edward Snowden.

Snowden is a former intelligence contractor who leaked classified documents and exposed surveillance programs put in place after the 9/11 terror attacks. He now lives in Russia.

Gabbard's confirmation was viewed as precarious in part because she had sponsored a bill as a Democratic lawmaker that would have dropped criminal charges against Snowden.

During last week's confirmation hearing, Collins asked Gabbard if she would support or recommend a presidential pardon of Snowden. Gabbard said she wouldn't, but the pardon authority rests solely with the president.

Collins vote could salvage Gabbard's confirmation. Republicans have just a one-vote edge on the Senate Intelligence Committee, meaning one GOP holdout could prevent Gabbard from advancing to the full Senate for final confirmation.

The committee is expected to vote on Gabbard on Tuesday.

Gabbard faced critical questions from Republican and Democratic senators during a nearly three-hour-long confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee last week. She faced questions about Snowden, as well as statements appearing to blame the U.S. and NATO for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and for her private meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Most of the focus, however, centered on Gabbard previous statements about Snowden, including calling him a "brave whistleblower."

Gabbard said repeatedly during Thursday's Senate Intelligence Committee meeting that Snowden broke the law. But Sen. Angus King, an independent, was skeptical.

"You introduced a bill in Congress, along with Congressman Matt Gaetz, to essentially pardon him," King said. "So, he broke the law, but it wasn't all that serious? Is that what you thought back in 2020?"

Gabbard responded, "I take very seriously upholding our constitution and have sworn an oath to support and defend that constitution over eight times in my life. My statements in the past have been reflective of the egregious and illegal programs that were exposed in that leak."

Collins' work in the Senate following the September 11 terrorists attacks led to the creation of the position that Gabbard now seeks.

https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-02-03/maine-sen-susan-collins-will-vote-for-trumps-dni-pick

Exclusive: Ohio Elections Chief Launches Portal Granting Citizens Greater Voter Roll Oversight

BY: SHAWN FLEETWOOD

FEBRUARY 03, 2025

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose launched an online portal on Monday increasing citizens’ ability to ensure accurate voter rolls, The Federalist learned.

“Transparency earns trust, and I’ll continue to do everything in my power to make Ohio’s elections the most transparent in the nation,” LaRose said in a statement.

According to an office press release obtained by The Federalist, the new data webpage will give “daily updates of voter registration changes across Ohio’s 88 counties, including new registrations, updates, and removals from voter rolls.” Ohio law mandates that local election boards “generate daily snapshots of their county voter registration database and provide those snapshots to the Secretary of State’s office,” according to a February 2024 memo issued by LaRose.

The GOP secretary of state’s office noted that citizens are encouraged to “crowdsource” information from the new online portal and use it to “report any discrepancies” to state election officials to maintain accurate voter rolls.

“On the heels of the smoothest presidential election in Ohio’s history, this new tool will generate an even deeper level of trust in our elections and bolster election integrity in 2025 and beyond,” LaRose said.

The new portal comes as part of LaRose’s implementation of the DATA Act, which was approved in July 2023 with the purpose of enhancing transparency and efficiency surrounding Ohio’s election data and voter list maintenance. The Ohio Republican used the law’s provisions to create the state’s Office of Data Analytics and Archives that same month, which oversees such matters.

The creation of the Buckeye State’s new online portal is one of several actions adopted by LaRose to ensure accurate and transparent elections.

In 2023,Ohio was among numerous Republican-led states to withdraw from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a leftist-linked voter roll “maintenance” group.

As The Federalist previously reported,the organization was founded by Democrat activist David Beckerand “sold to states as a quick and easy way to update their voter rolls.” In actuality, ERIC inflates voter rolls by requiring member states to contact eligible but unregistered residents to register to vote.

ERIC also reportedly shares voter roll information with the Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR), another Becker-founded group known for its “Zuckbucks” interference in the 2020 election.

In a March 2023 letter explaining his decision to withdraw fromERIC, LaRose noted that the organization “repeatedly [chose] to ignore demands to embrace reforms that would bolster confidence in its performance, encourage growth in its membership, and ensure not only its present stability but also its durability.” Ohio has since formedinterstate voter roll data-sharing compacts with several other states to maintain clean voter registration lists.

Other states that have withdrawn from ERIC in recent years include Texas, Virginia, and Florida, and others.

Landmark Data Act Continues… by The Federalist

HTTPS://THEFEDERALIST.COM/2025/02/03/EXCLUSIVE-OHIO-ELECTIONS-CHIEF-LAUNCHES-PORTAL-GRANTING-CITIZENS-GREATER-VOTER-ROLL-OVERSIGHT/

Every state should withdraw from this election manipulating software!

Trump orders creation of US sovereign wealth fund, says it could buy TikTok

February 3, 2025 at 5:50 PM EST

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Pete Schroeder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday ordering the creation of a sovereign wealth fund within the next year, saying it could potentially buy the short video app TikTok.

If created, the sovereign wealth fund could place the U.S. alongside numerous other countries, particularly in the Middle East and Asia, that have launched similar funds as a way to make direct investments with government dollars.

The text of the executive order was sparse on details, and simply directed the Treasury and Commerce Departments to submit a plan for such a fund within 90 days, including recommendations on "funding mechanisms, investment strategies, fund structure, and a governance model."

Typically such funds rely on a country's budget surplus to make investments, but the U.S. operates at a deficit. Its creation also would likely require approval from Congress.

"We're going to create a lot of wealth for the fund," Trump told reporters. "And I think it's about time that this country had a sovereign wealth fund."

Trump had previously floated such a government investment vehicle as a presidential candidate, saying it could fund "great national endeavors" like infrastructure projects such as highways and airports, manufacturing, and medical research.

Administration officials did not say how the fund would operate or be financed, but Trump has previously said it could be funded by "tariffs and other intelligent things."

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters the fund would be set up within the next 12 months.

"We're going to monetize the asset side of the U.S. balance sheet for the American people," Bessent said. "There'll be a combination of liquid assets, assets that we have in this country as we work to bring them out for the American people."

One approach would be to convert the U.S. International Development Finance Corp (DFC) to functionsimilar to a sovereign wealth fund, which the Trump administration reportedly considered in recent months, Bloomberg News reported.The DFC is a government agency that currently partners with private parties to finance projects in the developing world.(Audit it first)

Trump announced Friday he was nominating Benjamin Black to head that development agency. Black, a managing partner at investment firm Fortinbras Enterprises, is the son of Leon Black, the co-founder of asset management firm Apollo Global Management.

The Biden administration also was considering establishing such a fund prior to Trump's election in November, according to The New York Times and Financial Times.

(I bet Scott Bessent is so happy to have DOGE doing the Treasury First! Audit all energies now.)

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-signs-executive-order-create-175809898.html

China to launch probe into Google over alleged antitrust violations

PUBLISHED TUE, FEB 4 2025

Yeo Boon Ping

KEY POINTS

• China said on Tuesday it will launch an investigation into Google over alleged antitrust violations.

• The statement followed closed on the heels of China announcing additional tariffs on select U.S. goods.

China said Tuesday it will launch an investigation into Google over alleged antitrust violations.

The country’s State Administration for Market Regulation said that it would initiate aninvestigation into the technology giant because of alleged violations of China’s anti-monopoly law, according to a Google translation of the official statement.

The statement followed closed on the heels of China announcing additional tariffs on select U.S. goods.

China’s finance ministry said it will levy tariffs of 15% on coal and liquified natural gas imports from the U.S., starting Feb. 10. It will also impose 10% higher duties on American crude oil, farm equipment and certain cars and trucks.

Google stopped its internet and search engine services in China in 2010, but continues some operations including helping Chinese businesses looking to advertise on Google platforms abroad.

The Google investigation could end without any penalties, Julian Evans Pritchard, head of China economics at Capital Economics said in a note.

Google is facing regulatory scrutiny in several countries including the U.S.

The company lost a lawsuit in August filed by the U.S government in 2020. It accused the firm of having a monopoly in the general search market by creating strong barriers to entry.

Following the ruling, the U.S. Department of Justice pushed in November for Google to divest its Chrome browser.The department also argued that Google should not be allowed to enter into exclusionary agreements with third parties such as Apple and Samsung.

Google is also currently being investigated by the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authorityover whether it has “strategic market status” under a new UK law.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/04/china-to-launch-antitrust-probe-into-google.html

Elon Musk unleashes nerd army of college-aged engineers to dismantle government waste with DOGE

Six baby-faced men with little-to-no government experience have been handpicked by Elon Musk to help him dismantle America's foreign aid agency.

The billionaire Tesla founder was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency after months of campaigning with President Donald Trumpduring the election.

Now, Musk has taken over and enlisted a troupe of men aged 19-25 - three of whom are believed to still be in college - to fill high-powered engineering roles and cut costs.

At just 19, Edward Coristine is the youngest of the fresh-faced bunch taking on corporate America and longstanding government institutions.

According to WIRED, he's been dubbed an 'expert' in his field, and specifics about his role aren't yet clear.

Akash Bobba, 21, Ethan Shaotran, 22, and Luke Farritor, 23, along with Coristine, have reportedly been granted A-suite level clearance for their work, meaning they can work out of the agency's top floor with access to all physical spaces and IT systems.

Musk's DOGE has been rapidly growing in power and expanding its remit, most recently securing clearanceto access to restricted parts of the General Services Administration buildings and IT systems.

These systems store sensitive data including social security numbers, addresses and contact information.

The oldest of the bunch is 25-year-old Berkeley graduate Gavin Kliger, who while not identified as having top level clearance has already proven he wields significant power.

Finally, Gautier Cole Killian has been named for his role with DOGE, which is reportedly on a 'volunteer' basis at this stage.

After widespread criticism about the men's youth, Musk released a statement about the appointments.

'Time to confess: Media reports saying that DOGE has some of world's best software engineers are in fact true,' Musk wrote on X.

Gavin Kliger, 25

Kliger was named by the New York Times as the account holder behind a controversial company-wide email sent to employees at USAid.

The Berkeley graduate reportedly instructed all employees at the agency not to return to Washington headquarters on Monday.

Meanwhile, up to 600 staff began reporting they were being locked out of their work computer systems.

The reports were similar to those experienced by Twitter employees during Musk's takeover and the transition to X.

Kliger has since published a Substack article - which subscribers can read for $12 per month - titled: 'Why DOGE. Why I gave up a seven-figure salary to save America.'

Matt Hopson, who Trump appointed as the new chief of staff at USAid, reportedly resigned after the incident. Trump has ordered a sweeping freeze on foreign assistance.

Trump said the department had been 'run by a bunch of radical lunatics', insisting he is simply 'getting them out, and then we'll make a decision.'

The agency spends about $70billion a year in foreign aid. Projects include HIV/Aids treatments and encouraging women's health in conflict zones….

Long article

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14357585/Elon-musk-doge-college-aged-employees.html