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Extreme weather has already wiped out millions of dollars in crops in recent weeks, and Trump's trade war threatens to cut off markets with China and Mexico for US farmers whilst also increasing costs such as fertilizer. Trump won all but 11 of the nation's farming-dependent counties last year, with an average of 78-percent support, and his vote share rose in those communities, despite a trade war in his first term that required a $23 billion taxpayer bailout for farmers in 2018 and 2019. But this time it's unsure how fast any help can be provided with a dysfunctional Congress, local USDA offices closed and fewer staff. “The U.S. reputation has taken a huge hit. We can no longer be considered a reliable trading partner which is terrible for farmers,” added Ben Lilliston, director of rural strategies and climate change at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IAPT) Apart from the trade war and weather disasters, rural communities are also being hit by Musk's mass layoffs in the Department of Agriculture which provides technical help to farmers and provides loans and disaster assistance. Jesse Womack, policy expert at the National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition lamented the seemingly senselessness of removing billions of dollars for projects that improve long-term farm viability and resilience, only to then spend billions bringing back farmers from financial collapse. Struggling farmers call for new bailout as Trump delivers new caps-heavy threat to China

Look, it's not St. George's fault he became revered as England's patron saint despite never visiting the country, and he's certainly not trolling. He became a symbol of Christian chivalry and bravery during the Crusades and was adopted by the English monarchy. Shame the English kings couldn't find someone in Blighty to put on a pedestal.

St George wasn't English, he was actually born in the 3rd century AD, more than 2,000 miles away in Cappadocia (modern day Turkey). He is thought to have died in Lydda (modern day Israel) in the Roman province of Palestine in AD 303. It is believed that his tomb was in Lod and was a centre of Christian pilgrimage.

There were sweet words for Europe from J.D. Vance yesterday but everyone knows the man will say anything. He once called Donald Trump “cultural heroin” and said he feared he could be “America’s Hitler.” According to David Maddox, those close to Trump say “JD is his mouthpiece. He says what Trump doesn’t want to say personally.” The aggressive language used last month by Vance in briefings about Europe and the UK represents Trump’s view of Starmer and the UK government much more than Trump's praise for the “special man” Prime Minister Starmer with his “lovely accent”! Unfortunately for the UK, Vance is leading trade talks for the US with the UK. What does Vance want? He wants to impose tariffs on the UK over what he thinks is a two-tier UK legal system, a policing of social media with people jailed for the content of their tweets, and new laws coming in cracking down on social media. Vance, Musk, etc actually believe Tommy Robinson is a political prisoner. They see online restrictions as a protectionist assault on the American tech sector. Recently Vance criticised the conviction of Isabel Vaughan-Spruce for praying silently outside an abortion clinic. However, the UK ambassador to the US, Lord Mandelson, wants a trade deal focused on the vital industries of artificial intelligence and biosciences. He is convinced it makes sense for the US and UK, the two countries with the most Nobel prize winners, the top two destinations for foreign investment and the top two for universities to connect in this manner. Under his vision the partnership between the two could see the UK and US dominate in these spheres as closely connected allies for decades to come. But Vance may not play ball. He is no friend of the PM’s and the Mandelson vision of the renewed special relationship means little to him. As one Trump insider warned: “No one appears prepared for the level of aggression the US is going to display. It will be their way or it will be no way at all.” Starmer’s ambitions for a Trump trade deal have a big problem – JD Vance

I could start one about Trump's rottweiler, the one that could only stand the cold in Greenland for three hours.

President Donald Trump's trade war and the significant cuts in scientific research at U.S. agencies are moving "America down the value chain," political analyst Jonathan Chait wrote for "The Atlantic" on Monday. Trump inherited a "healthy economy," only to "burn [it] down," Chait wrote. He questioned whether it was incompetence or if there was something strategic Trump was attempting to do. In a way, he said, the answer is both. "The administration does have a plan, or at least a vision, for what will spring up from the ashes," he wrote. "The trouble is that the long-term economic program is even worse than the short-term one." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said that all of the new factories he claims will be built for manufacturing in the U.S. after Trump's tariffs will make perfect jobs for federal workers who were recently dismissed. However, Bessent said most of those jobs would be handled by AI or robots. Chait explained how a nation's economy moved up the value chain: A poor country develops export markets by specializing in low-wage manufacturing, gradually these industries become more complex, adding more value, For example initially they build toasters and cameras, then cars, then robots. These industries generate tax revenue that can support better education and other forms of public investment, feeding back into the developmental cycle. That’s how the 'Asian tigers' (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan) enjoyed rapid economic growth over the past two generations. Trump is running the same play, but "in reverse," said Chait. He said that removing staff from the National Institutes of Health and cutting funding grants from the National Science Foundation "has had a catastrophic effect on a wide array of high-tech fields." It was so serious that a "group of medical-innovation investors took the immense risk of putting their names on a letter to the administration warning that the research cuts 'are an assault on the foundation of biomedical and technological progress.'" Meanwhile, Trump has raised tariffs on metals, making building things more expensive, although it is an incentive to restore the production of steel and aluminium back to the US. In this way Trump moves the US industrial economy down the value chain, rather than up. Trump's long-term strategy is 'even worse' than his 'burn it down' plan: analyst

The US can demand they return Kilmar Ábrego García. Of course El Salvador can refuse but I doubt they will seeing the US is paying El Salvador $6m to detain the prisoners, plus Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Bukele as "not only the strongest security leader in our region, he's also a great friend of the U.S." During a press conference with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele on Monday, the Associated Press reported that Trump passed the buck to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who said she would "facilitate" García's return by ensuring a plane was available. Bukele, however, said he would not release a terrorist to the U.S. Garcia, however , has never been convicted of being a terrorist. "The Abrego Garcia case is the crisis moment," wrote Jacob Levy, Tomlinson Professor of Political Theory at McGill University "An [sic] firm, open commitment to the destruction of habeas corpus — the creation of a new rule that says anyone the administration orders ICE to seize can be shoved onto a flight to a torture prison in another country and there's nothing any US court can do about it— destroys constitutionalism," he alleged. "The fact that the administration is, *at the same time,* announcing an intention to include US citizens in the shipments to El Salvador makes it all the more plain and open — the rule they're embracing in the Ábrego García case already includes citizens by implication," Levy continued. 'This is the crisis moment': Political scientist says Trump crossed a crucial red line

Beijing has suspended the export of certain rare earth minerals and magnets that are crucial for the global automotive, semiconductor, and aerospace industries. The New York Times stressed that stopping the export of magnets used to assemble so many products from drones to cars to missiles, was particularly troublesome as China produces 90% of the world market in magnets. The goods are currently in Chinese ports pending the introduction of new regulations. "Once in place, the new system could permanently prevent supplies from reaching certain companies, including American military contractors," notes the New York Times. In addition, the Chinese government has forbidden Chinese companies from maintaining any contact with certain American entities, including those in the military sector. China's rare earth export halt intensifies US trade tensions

Turmoil over Trump's tariffs. Paul Sadoff owns Rock Lobster Cycles, which makes custom bikes that ship worldwide from Santa Cruz, California. “This whole uncertainty over ‘tariffs are here, tariffs are gone’ has been damaging on its own,” he told The Post. “My orders have certainly slowed. Why would someone in Japan or Australia or Canada order an American bike if things could change dramatically again next week? It’s like everything is frozen.” Trump claims that the new tariffs were part of a plan to boost American manufacturing, even though less than 10 percent of Americans work in factories, and manufacturers consistently report they have problems filling vacancies. Since 2000, 4.5 million factory jobs have been lost. Suzanne Shriner is the President of Lions Gate Farms, which sells coffee grown in Hawaii to customers in Asia and Europe. “When you lay out tariffs and yank them back, over and over, the threat of it wears off and turns into an unwillingness to work with American companies,” she told The Post. “We’ve been exporting internationally for 20 years, and all of a sudden our markets are closing up.” Fox Rothschild international trade attorney Lizbeth Levinson told The Post. “Businesses are putting everything on hold,” she added. “They literally can’t plan from one day to the next.” Trump claims he wants to boost American manufacturing. But the industry is already in chaos over his tariffs Behind the constant flipflopping there is the nagging question regarding nostalgia in the US for the manufacturing era post WW2. At that time there was little competition amongst the rest of the world, but times have changed. if companies really did start producing I-phones in the US only, how much would they cost? Wedbush's Dan Ives claimed an Apple I phone produced in the US ,could cost $3500, and it would take over three years and $30 billion just for Apple to move 10% of its supply chain to the US.

In an interview with CBS News, Zelensky urged Trump to visit Ukraine to witness the devastation first hand caused by the Russian invasion. The President of Ukraine stressed the importance of taking a firm stance against Russian aggression. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the American financial aid, which totalled $175 (£133) billion, with most of it allocated for arms production. In a Russian missile attack on Sumy, 34 people were killed, including two children. Over 117 people were injured, among them 15 children. Zelensky invites Trump to war-torn Ukraine for firsthand view

At $36trillion (£29trillion), the national US debt is larger than the economy: it is the highest in the world. US debt rose from $5.8trillion in 2001, with Trump adding $7.8trillion in his first term, and Biden piling on another $8.5trillion during his tenure. However, the US government has been able to borrow almost unlimited amounts of money at reasonable rates of interest thanks to the status of Treasury bonds. In other words IOUs, as the ultimate in secure investments. Foreign governments have been big holders of US Treasuries because of their perceived security status. What to do? Stephen Miran, chair of Trump's council of economic advisers, proposed the 'Mar-a-Lago accord', a plan whereby foreign governments would be 'persuaded' into trading in the Treasuries they currently hold for much longer dated US debt, with maturities of up to 100 years. Trump has, however, recklessly squandered goodwill among former allies who might have been open to persuasion. Now it's 'Donald no mates' Trump except for Russia, Belarus and Israel. And China, the second-largest holder of US Treasuries holding about $760billion, is rumoured to have been steadily reducing their holdings, prompting Trump to refer to people getting 'yippy'. RUTH SUNDERLAND: Donald Trump has a big debt problem

In new filings, the Trump administration "says it has no updates" for Judge Xinis about the "efforts to facilitate" the return of the wrongly deported man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant , according to Politico's Kyle Cheney. The admin also claims that the Supreme Court's recent ruling "doesn't compel it to actually seek" the man's release from the prison, and instead only requires the government "to let him into US if he manages to get out.'' Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at American Immigration Council, said, "The Trump administration thumbs its nose at the Supreme Court, saying that there is nothing the judge can do to order them to bring Mr. Abrego back." "They also refuse to provide any information on the deal with Bukele, claiming it’s classified and maybe also a state secret," he added. The Supreme Court held 9-0 that Judge Xinis’s 'order properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador. Her order was also upheld 3-0 by the 4th Circuit. 'Defiant screw you': Expert stunned as Trump admin 'thumbs its nose' at Supreme Court

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Monday he hoped U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration would see that Vladimir Putin was "mocking their goodwill" following Moscow's deadly missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy. "Ukraine unconditionally agreed to a ceasefire over a month ago. The heinous attacks on Kryvyi Rih and on Sumy is Russia's mocking answer," Putin is 'mocking' Trump's goodwill with Ukraine attacks, Poland says

Yet his popularity keeps increasing in Ukraine.

Germany generally has a higher standard of living than the United States in several areas, despite the US having a higher median household income. Germany has more generous social programs like paid leave, stronger labour protections, and a lower cost of living for many essential goods and services. While the US has advantages in housing and educational spending, particularly at the tertiary level, Germany scores better in quality of life, safety, and access to affordable childcare and education. Germany generally has a higher standard of living in: Social Welfare and Protections: Germany grants more paid leave, sick leave, and parental leave than the US. German workers also benefit from strong labour protections and shorter working hours. Cost of Living: While US household incomes are higher, the cost of living in Germany, especially for rent, food, and utilities, is significantly lower. Quality of Life: Germany scores better in quality of life surveys due to factors like strong social safety nets, robust healthcare systems, and a higher focus on work-life balance. Public Services: Germans have more comprehensive and often free or subsidized public services like childcare, education, and healthcare. Areas where the US may have some advantages: Median Household Income: The US has a higher median household income, which fuels private consumption. Housing: Americans, on average, have more space per capita in their homes, although US housing is often less energy-efficient. Educational Spending: The US spends more per capita on tertiary education, although Germany's focuses strongly on vocational training. standard of living comparing germany and usa - Google Search

Exactly, far better at electing dumb leaders.

It certainly does, electing a complete idiot as President. Flipflopping daily on tariffs with a Cabinet whose every member has to obsequiously praise Trump on TV, the US is in serious trouble.

36,000 people protested Donald Trump’s administration in Los Angeles Saturday, at the largest rally to date of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour Sanders accused Trump of “manipulating the markets” for his billionaire friends with his “tariff shuffle” this week On stage at Gloria Molina Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles, Sanders noted that the crowd went back half a mile. Sanders said that Trump was often “very envious of sizes”. Ocasio-Cortez spoke about activists being detained without charge for exercising their First Amendment rights ,mentioning the cases of Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk, before switching to the current turbulence regarding markets and tariffs. “Let’s be clear: the White House’s tariff shuffle had nothing to do with manufacturing, despite what they claimed. It was about manipulating the markets. It was about hurting retirees and everyday people in the sell-off — so Trump could quietly enrich his friends, who he tipped off to ‘buy the dip’ before reversing it all in the morning,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “Oligarchy or Democracy,” she said. “But, we cannot have both.” Concluding his remarks, Senator Sanders said: “When Trump looks out at this crowd… they pay attention to this stuff, Elon Musk does. You are scaring the hell out of them. Because they know what we know: They are the 1 percent and we are the 99 percent.” Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez were joined by fellow Democrat representatives Reps. Ro Khanna, Jimmy Gomez, Pramila Jayapal, and Maxwell Frost, among other elected officials. There were also performances by Neil Young, Maggie Rogers, and Joan Baez. ‘Greed, greed, and more greed’: AOC and Bernie Sanders blast Trump and Musk at largest anti-oligarchy rally yet

Prospects for a breakthrough in the deal between Washington and Kyiv are scant given the “antagonistic” atmosphere of the talks, a source told Reuters following last week’s meeting. As part of Donald Trump’s sweeping new demands for US control over all of Ukraine’s mineral and energy assets, Washington has proposed that its International Development Finance Corporation should take control of a natural gas pipeline running from the town of Sudzha in western Russia to the Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod. Senior economist Volodymyr Landa told The Guardian that Washington's bullying, “colonial-type” demands had little chance of being accepted by Kyiv. Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump ‘demands control’ of pipeline in Ukraine carrying Russian gas

Fox Business correspondent Charlie Gasparino irked MAGA when he suggested that conservatives were wrong to suggest Trump outsmarted the world with tariffs. In reality, according to Gasparino, Trump and his closest aides became terrified about impacts on the long-term bond market, which is seen as more stable than stocks. "I mean, I want to tell you right now that Donald Trump outsmarted the world, trust me," Gasparino told Fox News host Sandra Smith. "I'm an American. I support my president. But that's not really what happened here." He went on: ''It’s classic news management for Trump & Co to announce the so-called Apple carve out (no tariffs on electronics) late Friday when the news of the week is done.'' He added, "As one major GOP political adviser just told me 'Trump is finally bending to reality' that if you want to fix global trade with a sledge hammer, the cure can be worse than the disease." 'Trump is bending to reality': Fox reporter exposes President's latest 'sign of retreat'

China is looking for potential allies to form trading blocs. In late March, trade officials from China, Japan and South Korea met in Seoul to formulate plans regarding a trilateral free trade bloc, as well as enhance cooperation on supply chain management and export controls. On Monday Xi is heading abroad to cement ties with Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia. EU officials are reportedly travelling to China this summer for a summit with Xi.

Under Trump's executive orders, law firms known for representing Trump's political opponents are to be blacklisted by the federal government. Attorneys who work at such law firms can be stripped of their security clearances and banned from entering federal buildings The firms themselves can have their existing contracts terminated while federal agencies are prohibited from entering into any further contracts with them. In response, some law firms have agreed to provide Trump with millions of dollars of free work in exchange for no more harassment, while others have fought back. Could there be a more sinister move behind Trump's persecution of these law firms? Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade suggested that Trump could be recruiting these firms in an attempt to rewrite the history of the 2020 election. She indicated that through their agreements to do pro bono work on behalf of the administration, these law firms may now be legally bound to "advance Trump’s disinformation campaign" to legitimize his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. "These firms, which Trump said have agreed to pay from $40 million to $125 million each, are allowing themselves to be used as pawns in Trump’s game to change public perception about his own legal troubles," McQuade wrote. "He is characterizing the enormous payouts as concessions; proof that he has been a victim of what White House aide Will Scharf referred to as 'lawfare.'" However, not all law firms are caving in to Trump. Perkins Coie, Wilmer Hale and Jenner & Block all sued Trump successfully, winning temporary restraining orders allowing them to keep their contracts, security clearances and access to federal buildings. McQuade stated when defending attorneys' right to do their work uninhibited by the administration, "there is no right and left. There is only right and wrong."