Mastodawn

Markus Weber May 24

Trump follows Xi's bidding.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c232z4yk437o

US navy chief says $14bn arms sale to Taiwan paused due to Iran war

Hung Cao told a Senate hearing they were "doing a pause" on the sale to make sure they had munitions for the Iran war.

Markus Weber May 21

Iran is Iran rearming faster than expected.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/21/politics/iran-military-rebuild

Iran rebuilding military industrial base faster than expected, already producing drones, according to US intel

Iran has already restarted some of its drone production during the six-week ceasefire that began in early April, one sign it is rapidly rebuilding certain military capabilities degraded by US-Israeli strikes, according to two sources familiar with US intelligence assessments. Four sources told CNN that US intelligence indicates Iran’s military is reconstituting much faster than initially estimated.

CNN

Markus Weber May 20

"All men are created equal." In tax matters Trump declares himself and his family more equal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/trump-irs-doj-lawsuit-audit.html

I.R.S. to Drop Audits of Trump and Family

As part of the Justice Department’s deal, officials vowed not to pursue any matters, including those involving President Trump’s tax returns, that are pending.

The New York Times

Markus Weber May 19

China is not neutral.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/russians-covertly-trained-by-china-return-fight-ukraine-sources-say-2026-05-19/

Markus Weber May 18

Die gesichert rechtsextreme AfD Sachsen-Anhalt könnte nach einem Wahlsieg Behörden in Sachsen-Anhalt mit Rechtsextremisten durchsetzen.

https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/afd-in-sachsen-anhalt-will-150-stellen-in-der-verwaltung-neu-besetzen-accg-200835507.html

AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt will 150 Stellen in der Verwaltung neu besetzen

In Sachsen-Anhalt liegt die AfD in aktuellen Umfragen bei mehr als 41 Prozent. Nach Recherchen der F.A.S. plant die Partei, wie sie die Landesverwaltung unter ihre Kontrolle bekommt.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Markus Weber May 17

Trump has the decision to continue war against Iran back on his table.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/us/politics/trump-iran.html

Back From China, Trump Faces Decision on Whether to Resume Strikes on Iran

Top aides have drafted battle plans as peace negotiations have stalled.

The New York Times

Markus Weber May 17

Investigative journalism point to Russia helping North Korea to build nuclear submarines, and presumably a western military had intervened.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/12/world/a-russian-ship-sank-in-mysterious-circumstances-it-may-have-been-carrying-nuclear-reactors-to-north-korea

A Russian ship sank in mysterious circumstances. It may have been carrying submarine nuclear reactors to North Korea

A Russian ship with an unusual cargo suffered a series of explosions and sank in unexplained circumstances off the coast of Spain, a CNN investigation has found.

CNN

Markus Weber May 17

Potential abuse of office and insider trading

https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/05/15/trumps-investments-in-palantir-and-nvidia-draw-scrutiny-heres-what-companies-were-traded/

Here’s What Stocks Donald Trump Traded So Far This Year

The president made between $220 million and $750 million worth of securities trades in the first quarter of this year, according to a Reuters analysis.

Forbes

Markus Weber May 17

Trump follows Xi's narrative on Taiwan as he is following Putin's on Ukraine. Trump is not a leader of the free world.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8p61v7l68o

Trump warns Taiwan against declaring independence after China talks

The US president says he wants Beijing and Taipei to "cool down" tensions over the self-governing island.

Markus Weber May 16

Trump intends to create political slush fund.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/us/politics/trump-allies-weaponization-fund.html

Trump Administration Weighs $1.7 Billion Fund for Allies Investigated Under Biden

Critics denounced the highly unusual plan, which has yet to be finalized or approved, as a vast political slush fund financed by taxpayers.

The New York Times