Trump Targets Merz in Geopolitical Maneuver

May 2, 2026 | Sundance |

Keep in mind the background issue of Germany supplying Ukraine with weapons and material to keep fighting Russia,while the Merz administration triggers policy to force increased German military troop levels.

Facing crushingly high increases in energy costs, last Monday in Marsberg, German Chancellor FriedrichMerz criticized the U.S. approach to Iran,saying Washington was being “humiliated by the Iranian leadership” and demanding the conflict end “as quickly as possible.”

Germany is facing a perfect storm of economic consequences. following their decision to chase the climate change agenda (Build Back Better) and eliminate their coal and nuclear power plants. Combine the German/EU policy to stop purchasing cheap LNG and oil from Russia, in addition to skyrocketing energy costs from oil/gas flows from the Middle East, and the. outcome is rising manufacturing costs leading to massive layoffs.

The German industrial economy is the heart of the EU economy, andPresident Trump is now hitting them both right where it hurts.

Today two announcements hit an already vulnerable Germany directly. The first is: “The Secretary of War hasordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 troops from Germany,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told Fox News Digital. “This decision follows a thorough review of the Department’s force posture in Europe and is in recognition of theater requirements and conditions on the ground.” {source}

Thesecond announcement is even more brutal for Chancellor Merz:

While the EU auto tariffs do not mention Germany specifically,it is the German auto industry(BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi) that will be impacted the most.A 25% tariff on German vehicles destined to the USAwill severely hurt the German auto industry. This is a massive hit to their already weakened position.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is already facing serious political issues within Germanyas the economy continues to contract. The political opposition parties are on the riseand Merz is in a very precarious position. President Trump is exploiting this vulnerabilityby applying further economic pressure on Germany.

One of the outcomes of this pressure in combination with theinternal friction Merz is facing, will be a demand by the German people tostop providing support for Ukraineand focus time, effort and energy on getting the structural economy back on solid footing. This can have an ancillary benefit to President Trumpas he seeks to have Ukraine come to the negotiating table with Russia to end the conflict.

There are.multiple facets within this geopolitical positioning, and it is worth watching it play out closely.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/05/02/trump-targets-merz-in-geopolitical-maneuver/

Georgia and South Carolina Will Not Postpone Primary Election to Review Redistricting Following Supreme Court Ruling. 1/2

May 1, 2026 | Sundance |

It has been said by many the reason the leftists on the Supreme Courtdelayed their minority dissent was in order to stall the high court ruling that would have given states an opportunity to redistrict prior to the 2026 primary voting. There is no data that disputes this assertion.

Today Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced he is calling the state legislature into special session to review the congressional districts in light of the Supreme Court ruling that dispatched ‘racially motivated’ district boundaries.However, Georgia and South Carolina will not review districts.

Georgia has already begun early voting, which gives Governor Brian Kemp justification to avoid redistricting for an election scheduled for May 19th.

GEORGIA – […] Kemp made it clear that he will not be a part of that push this cycle but praised the court’s ruling. “The Supreme Court’s decision Louisiana v. Callais restores fairness to our redistricting process and allows states to pass electoral maps that reflect the will of the voters, not the will of federal judges,” Kemp said Friday.

“Voting is already underway for the 2026 elections,” he added, meaning changes to the maps would not be possible this year. (read more)

SOUTH CAROLINA – […]Republican leaders in the South Carolina General Assembly say redistricting isn’t going to happen this year. House Majority Leader Davey Hiott, R-Pickens, told reporters the lower chamber wouldn’t redraw South Carolina’s congressional map this year. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, also said redistricting this year would be “unlikely.” (read more)

Georgia has been a target for the Democrats for several election cycles. The Chicago machine targeted Georgia some time ago, with Fulton County representing the epicenter of the effort.Meanwhile, South Carolina is DeceptiCon central. The network that binds both states together is the AME Church.

Those who follow elections closely understand thecompact between Chicago (Obama Inc.) and South Carolina Congressman, James Clyburn.This partnership was responsible for using Joe Biden as the 2020 vehicle, and this partnered alliance subsequentlywas responsible for the plan to elevate Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

Clyburn’s electoral control, which extends directly into Georgiacomes from the Emanuel AME Church network, that provides the poll workers who count the physical votes.In all of the precincts that matter, AME generates the poll workers. The poll workers control the vote outcomes.

Drawing districts that no longer take race into the equationis against the interests of Democrats, the AME network, James Clyburn and Barack Obama. Thus, it will be very challenging for those two states specifically to redistrict while the non-black state representatives and governorsare worried about being called racist.

While it may not be politically comfortable to stop pretending around the issue,the fact remains that racially ideological poll workers essentially have the majority of control over the key precinct voting systems. The AME Church is well represented, andalmost all of the poll workers are black; this is not coincidental.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/05/01/georgia-and-south-carolina-will-not-postpone-primary-election-to-review-redistricting-following-supreme-court-ruling/

>>24564553

2/2

[GEORGIA] When Fulton County Fanni Willis wanted to defend herself publicly, she used the pulpits at AME Church’s. [South Carolina] WhenDemocrats wanted to change their presidential primary contests, they wanted South Carolinato be the first state that votes, again using the AME poll workers.

In 2020 President Obama brought the Black Lives Matter movement and James Clyburn brought the AME Church network. This partnership resulted in Joe Biden selected as their choice for the Democrat nominee, and togetherObama and Clyburn chose Kamala Harris as the VP nominee; Biden had no say in the matter.

The collaborationresulted in an effective system of Democrat control. Donor funding like Mark Zuckerberg provided the revenue stream to indulge and reward the poll workers.ActBlue is part of this system. The money is laundered through various activist groups until it ends up in the hands of the poll workers.

The AME Church network operates vote control operations through their poll workers in several states and key regions within them.Ballot harvesting, mail in voting and direct election vote counting is controlled through the operation.

There are a lot of states involved, however, elections in South Carolina and Georgiaare specifically controlled within this operation due to their proximity to the AME command HQ.

Lastly, political leaders in both states are well aware of this issueand the fear of racism keeps them from doing anything about it.

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/05/01/georgia-and-south-carolina-will-not-postpone-primary-election-to-review-redistricting-following-supreme-court-ruling/

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/05/01/georgia-and-south-carolina-will-not-postpone-primary-election-to-review-redistricting-following-supreme-court-ruling/

A deal without Ukraine: Inside the Putin-Trump talks 1/2

From the “Spirit of Anchorage” to sanctions shifts, Moscow and Washington areexploring a cautious thaw

Published 30 Apr, 2026 22:40

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have held another phone call.It was their 11th telephone conversation since February 2025.

Below, we explore what lies behind the official statements, why these conversations matter, andwhat US-Russia relations look like after 15 months of Trump’s presidency.

The spirit of Anchorage

Last summer, a new term entered the political lexicon of Kremlin spokespersons:“the spirit of Anchorage.” Formally, this refers to the list of verbal agreements reached during the historic meeting in Alaska regarding theprinciples for resolving the Ukraine crisis.

During that meeting,Trump dropped his demand for an immediate ceasefire, while Putin agreed to a ceasefireafter the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk and Lugansk regions.This set a trap for Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelenskyand allowed Putin to continue the military operation.

Moscow, however, sees the issue from a broader perspective. Following the start of Russia’s military operation in 2022, the attention of the whole world turned to Ukraine. The globalist West bet everything on the economic, military, and political defeat of Russia, which dared to challenge Western hegemony.

Trump has little regard for the unified West or the globalists. Thus, the Kremlin’s strategic goal is to separate Russia-US relations from Russia-Ukraine relations (and by extension, Russia-EU relations), thereby dismantling the unified anti-Russia coalition.

It would be best to achieve this while Trump is still in office. The future of American politics is unpredictable, but the chance of rallying a new unified anti-Russia front is minimal. Therefore, it’s essential to break this coalition now.

Separating the good from the bad

This scenario would effectively pull the US out of the conflict. Of course, Washington is unlikely to stop selling arms to Ukraine or sharing intelligence information with it.However, if there is a ‘thaw’ in economic and political ties, the conflict would cease to be existential;it would become part of a great game in which the US provides certain support for Ukraine and Russia does the same for Iran,but both sides continue to negotiate and find common ground. Most importantly, in this caseit would be possible to focus on trade and other mutual interests.

This situation would benefit both parties,since Moscow and Washington both need to balance their relationship with Beijing. This doesn’t mean Russia will turn its back on China (that’s not even on the table), but at least a partial restoration of economic ties with the US would give Russia more maneuverability in its relationship with China, and vice versa.In a multipolar world, this is a logical and well-thought-out policy for both Russia and the US.

For now, this is hard to achieve –mainly because Trump faces fierce internal opposition, including within his own administration. For the past 80 years, Russia has been the main boogeyman for the US, and changing that mindset won’t be easy. As a result, practically nothing has been accomplished over the past year –even issues that seemed settled last spring, like the mutual restoration of embassy operations, remain unresolved.

A thousand-mile journey

Things have shifted somewhat with the start of the war in Iran. Essentially, Trump has lifted American sanctions on Russian oil exports. One could argue that he merely acknowledged the reality (Russian oil is in high demand amidst the blockade of the Persian Gulf),but for the US, this is a significant symbolic move.

https://www.rt.com/russia/639325-deal-without-ukraine-inside-talks/

>>24564706

2/2

Why is it an important step?Because Trump continues to dismantle the taboos imposed by Biden. Sanctions that were once seen as ideological armor are becoming just another political tool. And that’s a lot easier to deal with.

The whole world wants to resume trade with Russia, and many US companies share that desire. Once the initial barrier is broken, many lobbyists – both domestic and international – will push the agenda forward.

Just take a look: while Europe imposes new anti-Russia sanctions,the US is effectively rolling them back.

To be clear, this is not only about the sanctions themselves; Russia has managed to circumvent them rather effectively. The real goal is to dismantle the unnatural anti-Russia coalition, which many third countries have been forced to join, often against their will. Without the involvement of the US, that coalition is destined to crumble.

Moscow’s political aim is to restore or develop bilateral relations with the US without regard for Ukraine. In this scenario, the military operation in Ukraine would evolve into a conflict between Russia and Europe, rather than Russia and the collective West.

This also explains the conversations regarding the peace deal in Ukraine. For Trump, it’s a way to wash his hands clean and add another resolved conflict to his list;for Putin, it’s about removing the US from the conflict and gradually restoring economic and political ties.

Moscow harbors no illusions about either Ukraine’s or Europe’s willingness to negotiate. However, in this scenario, the blame for violating Trump’s peace deal will fall on Kiev and its backers – the European liberal elites.

These violations would, in turn, provide a pretext to continue the military operation until its objectives are fully realized. Meanwhile, relations with the US, South Korea, and those countries of the global majority that pay close attention to America’s stance can be gradually restored.

Is such a scenario actually possible? To be honest, the chances are slim. But that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t try.

That’s why Putin and Trump are talking and will continue to do so.

https://www.rt.com/russia/639325-deal-without-ukraine-inside-talks/

Epstein inheritor kills himself

The son of top Norwegian diplomats, implicated in the files of the notorious pedophile, has been found dead

Published 2 May, 2026 14:47 |

The son of two senior Norwegian diplomats under investigation over ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has taken his own life, Norwegian newspaper VG reported earlier this week, citing lawyers for the family.

Edward Juul Rod-Larsen, 25, was found dead in Oslo days after French and Norwegian police reportedly launched a joint investigation into his parents, Mona Juul and Terje Rod-Larsen. The probe is centered around allegations that the disgraced US financier had helped the couple purchase an apartment, and left $5 million to each of their two children in his will.

The probe is part of widening international fallout from the latest release of millions of Epstein documents, which have triggered criminal investigations, arrests, and resignations across politics, business, and even royalty.

Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting sex from a minor and served 13 months of an 18-month sentence, was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died by suicide in his jail cell ahead of his trial.

The US Department of Justice has gradually released materials related to the case under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by US President Donald Trump.

The released documents mention numerous high-profile figures, linking some to Epstein’s network or questionable financial dealings. The disclosures have triggered resignations, probes, and reviews worldwide, with many acknowledging contact but denying wrongdoing, with some charges brought in a limited number of cases.

Last month, Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland was hospitalized after a reported suicide attempt, days after being charged with gross corruption over accepting Epstein’s hospitality. World Economic Forum CEO Borge Brende stepped down over dinners and communications with the disgraced financier.

In the US, the release has placed renewed scrutiny on former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Both have been deposed about their associations with Epstein, but have denied knowledge of his trafficking operation.

Commenting on the disclosures, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the scandal as exposing the “pure Satanism” at the heart of the collective West, accusing Western elites of inventing threats from Russia to distract from their own “monstrous crimes.”

https://www.rt.com/news/639370-son-norwegian-diplomat-suicide-epstein/

Trump threatens more NATO members with troop withdrawals

The US president said he could consider reducing the number of American forces stationed in Spain and Italy

Published 2 May, 2026 04:57

US President Donald Trump has said he would consider withdrawing some American troops stationed in Italy and Spain, after making a similar threat toward Germany amid a deepening rift with Washington’s European allies over the war with Iran.

Trump threatened earlier this week to reduce the number of US troops in Germany, continuing to deride NATO as a “paper tiger” following the refusal of other member states to back the US-Israeli bombing campaign in the Middle East. On Friday, the Pentagon said it would withdraw around 5,000 of the roughly 36,000 active-duty service members from Germany.

Asked by a reporter in the Oval Office on Friday whether he would consider removing troops from Spain or Italy, Trump replied: “Yeah, probably. Look, why shouldn’t I?”

“Italy has not been of any help to us. And Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” Trump said. “It’s one thing if they said nicely, or if they said, ‘Okay, we’ll help,’ but the help is a little slow,” he added.

Spain denied the use of a naval base near Cadiz for attacks on Iran and closed its airspace to US planes involved in the campaign. Italy similarly refused to allow the US to use an air base in Sicily.

Trump reiterated that he considers NATO ungrateful for US military support to Ukraine. “We helped them with Ukraine. You know, they made a mess out of Ukraine, a total mess,”he said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has strongly criticized the bombing of Iran. “From my point of view, this war is illegal, it is a big mistake,” he said last month. In a recent op-ed in Le Monde diplomatique, Sanchez again condemned “the unilateral attempts by the United States to engineer regime change in Venezuela and now Iran – all without seeking even a veneer of international approval.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has saidthe war with Iran has added to instability in the Middle East and driven up energy prices. She also criticized Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV over his opposition to the conflict as “unacceptable.”

(I think Europe has No Idea How bad this will be without the US! If they get into a new WW, they won’t have America to fight their enemies. The lack of objectivity to the political framework that supported Europe, was something American will not and cannot do again. They are bringing it on them selves, if Muslims uprise it’s not Americas problem. Our country also has to send them home. The west is pretty stupid.)

https://www.rt.com/news/639353-trump-withdraw-troops-spain-italy/

RT crew films Israel striking Lebanon despite US-mediated truce (VIDEO)

Ali Rida Sbeity reports from the southern Tyre District as the IDF issues new evacuation orders

Published 2 May, 2026

An RT crew has filmed an airstrike in southern Lebanon as the Israeli military continued to pound targets despite a ceasefire declared last month.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck the town of Habboush on Friday, killing six people, including a woman and a child, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

“This comes just one day after Israel killed eight civilians in south Lebanon. Four of them were women, and two of them were children. All of this is happening during the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel,” RT’s Ali Rida Sbeity said, reporting from Lebanon’s Tyre District.

Sbeity said IDF aircraft and drones were flying at low altitude, and an airstrike was carried out near the area where he was reporting. Israel has previously issued evacuation orders for 24 villages in the area.

IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on Wednesday that there was “no ceasefire” with the armed group Hezbollah despite the US-mediated truce between Israel and Lebanon which was reached on April 16.

Under the agreement, Israel promised to halt offensive operations in Lebanon but reserved the right to defend itself against “planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

Hezbollah, which boycotted the negotiations last month, has demanded that the IDF halt all troop movements and return to positions it held before early March, when it began firing rockets at Israel in support of Iran.

An Israeli soldier was killed and three others were wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack in southern Lebanon on Thursday.

More than 2,600 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2, and around 1.2 million have been displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

https://www.rt.com/news/639351-south-lebanon-rt-report-israeli-strike/