(I really respect Bessent, he talks very politely, but under his breath, he’s saying, don’t fuck with me George, I was trained by Soros!)

Trump Treasury Secretary Admits Shutdown Economy ‘Getting Worse and Worse’ in Tense Battle With Stephanopoulos

Joe DePaoloNov 9th, 2025, 10:58 am

Scott Bessent — President Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary — was candid in his assessment of the economy during the government shutdown, in a pitched battle with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

In a tense discussion on ABC’s This Week, Stephanopoulos asked Bessent for a diagnosis of the economy — as the government shutdown enters its 40th day.

“Are we starting to see a permanent impact on the economy?” Stephanopoulos asked.

“Sure, George,” Bessent said. He added, “We’ve seen an impact on the economy from day one, but it’s getting worse and worse.” We had a fantastic economy under President Trump the past two quarters, and now there are estimates that the economic growth for this quarter could be cut by as much as half if the shutdown continues.”

After Bessent blamed Democrats for the shutdown, Stephanopoulos questioned Bessent on the prospect of nuking the filibuster — which Trump has been pushing repeatedly in recent days.

“The president continues to post about ending the filibuster,” Stephanopoulos said. “Is that the best way to end this shutdown right now? Is that what the administration position is?”

Bessent responded by turning up the temperature — referencing his time as a member of the Clinton administration in the 1990s..

“No, George, the best way to do it — and look, you were involved in a lot of these in the ’90s, and you basically called the Republicans terrorists — and you said that it is not the responsible party that keeps the government closed,” Bessent said. “And so what we need is five brave, moderate Democratic senators to cross the aisle.”

“I can disagree with you about the history there, but we don’t need to give a history lesson right now,” Stephanopoulos shot back.

But Bessent seemed determined to go down memory lane.

“I’ve got all your quotes here, George,” said Bessent.

“I’m sure you do,” Stephanopoulos fired back.

“I went back and read your book,” Bessent said. “So you got one purchase on Amazon this week. And that’s very much what you said.”

“It’s a mischaracterization of history,” Stephanopoulos said.

The ABC anchor tried to follow up on his original line of inquiry.

“Is the best way to end the shutdown right now to end the filibuster?” Stephanopoulos asked.

Again, Bessent would not echo Trump’s call to nuke the filibuster.

“The best way is for five Democratic senators to come across the aisle,” Bessent said..(don’t want to piss off a top economist and billionaire, that studied economic history for 800 years, trained under Soros’ that took the Bank of England down, that is gay, has a family and from South Carolina! George Don’t do it!

(I know more about Bessent than George does, weird how lazy he is)

https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-treasury-secretary-admits-shutdown-economy-getting-worse-and-worse-in-tense-battle-with-stephanopoulos/?cfp

>>23834122 why does that matter

9 Nov, 2025 17:30

US shutdown stalls arms deliveries to Ukraine – Axios(keep it going)

Political gridlock is affecting weapons exports to NATO allies, which are often forwarded to Kiev, according to the outlet

The US government shutdown has delayed more than $5 billion in arms exports to European NATO members and subsequent transfers to Ukraine, Axios reported on Sunday.

A budget standoff between Democrats and Republicans in Congress has dragged the shutdown out for 40 days, making it the longest in US history.

“This is actually really harming both our allies and partners and US industry to actually deliver a lot of these critical capabilities overseas,” Axios cited a senior State Department official as saying.

More than $5 billion in arms exports – including AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, HIMARS, and other weapons for European NATO members – have been affected, the outlet added.

The source did not specify the final destination of the arms, but US exports to NATO countries are often transferred to Ukraine, Axios reported.

The delay stems from a lag in congressional approval, as the State Department bureau that normally briefs lawmakers on arms exports is operating with only a quarter of its usual staff, according to the outlet.

The shutdown has also frozen talks between Washington and Kiev on future arms shipments, The Telegraph reported last month.

US President Donald Trump has increasingly pushed European NATO states to take over the burden of supporting Ukraine by buying American-made armaments.

“We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons,” Trump said earlier this year, shortly after European members of the US-led military bloc committed to a 5% of GDP military spending target.

Russia has long condemned the supply of weapons to Ukraine by Western nations, arguing it makes them party to the conflict, which Moscow sees as a NATO-led proxy war. Such supplies only prolong the fighting but cannot change its outcome, Russia has said.

https://www.rt.com/news/627536-us-shutdown-stalls-arms-ukraine/

9 Nov, 2025 14:38

Russia won’t break nuclear test ban unless US does – Kremlin

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dismissed concerns over recent tests of the Burevestnik missile and Poseidon drone,saying they did not involve nuclear explosions

Russia has no intention of violating its obligations under international agreements banning nuclear tests, but will resume testing if other countries do, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Peskov was responding to the controversy sparked by US President Donald Trump’s order last week directing the Pentagon to prepare to resume nuclear testing. Trump accused Russia and China of conducting “secret” nuclear tests – which both countries have dismissed.

President Vladimir Putin later reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to the internationally recognized Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but warned that if the US or others resume testing, Moscow would take “appropriate retaliatory measures.” Some Western outlets misinterpreted his remarks as an order to prepare for tests.

“Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is committed to its nuclear test ban obligations, and we have no intention of violating them,” Peskov said in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin aired on Sunday.

He added that Putin instructed officials to assess whether nuclear tests are necessary, rather than ordering their resumption, while warning that Russia would act in kind if the US or others resume testing.

“If another country does this, we will be obliged to do so in order to maintain parity,” he said, calling nuclear balance “one of the most important components of global security architecture.”

Peskov dismissed Western concerns about Russia’s recent trials of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone which preceded Trump’s announcement, arguing that neither involved nuclear explosions.

He accused Western “experts” of “superficial and incorrect” conclusions that confused nuclear tests with trials of nuclear-powered systems, adding that Moscow expects clarification from Washington about Trump’s statements on nuclear tests, calling the issue “too serious” to ignore.

US Vice President J.D. Vance earlier described Trump’s push for nuclear testing as a way to ensure the country’s arsenal still “functions properly.” Earlier this week, the US Air Force test-fired an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with an estimated yield exceeding 300 kilotons of TNT – roughly 20 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

https://www.rt.com/russia/627528-peskov-russia-nuclear-test-us/