Aesthetica
Talked to a friend who has connections within the Democratic Party and he said the level of panic over Trump and Elon shutting down USAID is unlike anything he’s ever seen. By following the money DOGE has struck a killing blow to the heart of the Democrat deep state machine.
Direct quote: “This is worse than 9/11 for Democrats. USAID is the primary vessel they use to achieve their political agenda. USAID is and always has been the primary source of funding for their influence peddling schemes and for their indirect sources of income”
Another text “Based on the reactions from within the party it seems to me that dismantling USAID is Trump’s biggest political victory to date, it was his enemy’s golden goose”
Same source who told me during the campaign (well before it was made public) that Kamala’s internal polling had her behind Trump so his information is good.
Another important addition. He said initial plans by the Democrats is to have their people at USAID hide the partisan funding under “unimpeachable initiatives”. “They will push back really hard on certain line items that on their face look like reasonable USAID expenditures and hide their political spending under these programs” @Elon Musk Looks like the whole thing needs to be thrown out to avoid this from happening.
More: “Another likely solution for Democrats which they already use to reward VIPs is to use NGOs as an intermediary to direct funds where they want them to go” So basically USAID allocates funds for a certain initiative that looks reasonable. Democrat friendly NGO is contracted to carry out initiative. NGO #1 subcontracts “VIP” which is another NGO owned/operated by a political ally or Democrat politician. Eventually the funds reach the secret intended target and the original problem is not solved. This means they can continue to rinse and repeat this grift.
“If Trump/Elon want this to stick they need to completely shut down USAID or fire the entire staff, the party has instructed their allies to not make waves and blend in. USAID is 99% Democrats they will not be able to save it without risking internal sabotage.”

USAID Flacks Have Been Given Their Laughable Talking Points, Including a Fox News Reporter

Donald Trump’s war on the bureaucratic state has recently centered on USAID, a slush fund of taxpayer often money used to pay off NGOs, warlords, and anti-American states under the guise of “soft power.” In some cases, money was even funneled to left-wing domestic organizations claiming to promote “democracy.”

The drama began on Friday after Nick Gottlieb, USAID’s director of employee and labor relations, attempted to override the Trump administration’s order to place 60 officials on leave. As RedState reported, they were identified as trying to circumvent and undermine the newly inaugurated president’s executive orders. After Gottlieb refused, claiming due process rights, he too was placed on administrative leave, signaling that the White House wasn’t interested in playing games.

That was just the beginning, though. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) stepped in to start auditing USAID, leading to a freeze on all its spending. On Sunday, another attempt at a coup was made, with Musk’s team being locked out of the building. Within hours, the security officials involved in the decision were also put on administrative leave. Are you sensing a pattern?

Naturally, the developments at USAID have sent the press and their left-wing allies into a frenzy, and they’ve settled on a talking point: This helps Russia and China.

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Plan Ahead: A firearm is only one part of an integrated defensive plan.

Bob and Sarah (not their real names) owned a small grocery on the edge of town, not far from the interstate highway. On the evening in question, Bob was behind the counter manning the cash register, while Sarah was in their little office. Bob looked up to see a masked man enter the store and point a gun at him. Bob put his hands up and took a step backwards. Just then Sarah fired a shot from inside the office delivering a load of buckshot from her 20 gauge to the armed robber’s neck and head.

That sounds like a lucky save, but there was a lot of planning done ahead of time to insure a successful outcome. When Bob and Sarah first bought the store, they had a carpenter come in and frame up a small office against the wall opposite of the front door, situated so that someone in the office could see the front door and the checkout counter. Next, they had a small button installed on the floor beneath the cash register that would buzz in the office when it was stepped on. Finally, they installed security cameras inside and outside the store.

In this particular case, Sarah saw the crook while he was still outside, putting his mask on. By the time that Bob saw the crook and stepped on the buzzer at his feet, Sarah had already dialed 9-1-1 and was reaching for the office shotgun. Knowing what was about to happen, Bob put his hands up and stepped back to make sure that his wife had a clear line of fire.

My point in all of this is that the firearm in question was just one integral part of the security system. This couple had discussed the dangers of running a store on the edge of town and took steps to make themselves a harder target.

I happen to think that a firearm, and the ability to use it well and wisely, is just one part of what guarantees our personal safety. Merely locking the doors in our vehicle and our house doesn’t keep the crook out, but it buys us time to react, arm ourselves, and notify authorities. Being a lifelong shooter, my hearing is not what it once was, so I also rely on my little dog to tell me when someone is around. And, after hearing Bob and Sarah’s story, I am in the process of looking at inexpensive security cameras.

My situation may not be exactly like yours or Bob and Sarah’s. We each have to ask ourselves … How do I spend my days?  What criminal acts am I likely to be confronted with, and how can I prepare for them? Yes, a defensive firearm, and the ability to use it safely and effectively, is important. But it is only part of the whole situation. You’d be wise to study your particular situation and plan ahead.

Which POTUS Trump is in the process of

Cynical Publius

Like so many modern American federal agencies and policies, the United States Agency for International Development (“USAID”) was born amidst America’s existential struggle of the Cold War against Communism.

USAID’S founding principles were solid: use America’s economic might to provide targeted foreign aid that promoted American values and opposed global Communism.

That worked fine when global Communism really was an existential threat of annihilation AND “American values” were coherently understood and held by the great majority of Americans.

But somewhere along the way the global Communist threat evaporated, and unelected American bureaucrats decided for themselves that “American values” consisted of promoting childhood gender “reassignment” and a host of other neo-Marxist ideals that are antithetical to the values held by the vast majority of Americans.

USAID became a tool of the very forces it was created to fight.

Now, in 2025, one of the best things we can do for America, for Americans, and for global freedom is to terminate this Cold War relic that has become a tool of our enemies.

Abolish USAID.

Border Crossings Down 93%.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan told Fox News on Sunday that illegal border crossings are down 93% since Donald Trump won his belated reelection in November. Speaking with Maria Bartiromo, Homan also promised, “When we find that criminal, he’s most likely with others, and they’re gonna go too. So if you wanna be a sanctuary city, you’re gonna get exactly what you don’t want. More agents in the community and more non-criminals arrested.”

“We got more work to do,” Homan concluded — and what a welcome change that is from the last four years.

As a candidate, Joe Biden sent the message loud and clear that America would be open for… anything, really… for illegal aliens. Need a job? Want to sell drugs? Cartel or gang member? Terrorist? No problemo! The surge of illegals began virtually the moment Biden was declared the winner.

And for four years of record-busting waves of illegals, Biden and his Chief Enabler at DHS, Alejandro Mayorkas, swore up and down that the border was secure.

So here’s Homan, only in office at DHS for a couple of weeks, overseeing a 93% decline and admitting, “We got more work to do.”

The rapid decrease began before Trump was sworn in, before another foot of border wall was erected, and before a single soldier was ordered to the border.

So what changed?

The incentives.

Trump’s simple promise to begin mass deportations was probably enough, but Homan’s strong language — going back to before Trump appointed him — underscored Trump’s point with firm authority.

Now we have the DOGE boys stopping the flow of taxpayer dollars to the NGOs that worked so hard under the Biden cabal to incentivize illegal crossings and, frankly, widespread settlement with negative incentives for assimilation.

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SAAMI Announces Acceptance of New Cartridges

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute ®Inc., (SAAMI®) has announced the acceptance of three new rifle cartridges for SAAMI standardization, according to The Outdoor Wire.

SAAMI is the organization at the forefront of promoting firearm safety by creating standards that ensure safety, reliability and interchangeability of firearms, ammunition and components.

Click on the cartridge name to open the introduction package.

7mm Backcountry – The 7mm Backcountry (7mm BC) was introduced by Federal Premium Ammunition (The Kinetic Group) with a 170-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 3,000 fps and a Maximum Average Pressure of 80,000 psi.

25 Creedmoor – The 25 Creedmoor (25 CM) was introduced by Hornady Manufacturing Company with a 134-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 2,810 fps and a Maximum Average Pressure of 62,000 psi.

338 Advanced Rifle Cartridge – The 338 Advanced Rifle Cartridge (338 ARC) was introduced by Hornady Manufacturing Company with a 175-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 2,050 fps and a Maximum Average Pressure of 52,000 psi.

For further information on these new cartridges please visit https://saami.org/technical-information/cartridge-chamber-drawings/.

Argentinian TCOB

A 78-year-old retiree shot and killed a 15-year-old boy who tried to rob him outside of his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The teenager quickly leaps out of the car before it can even come to a full stop next to the white car, with the boy seen aiming what appeared to be a handgun at the Toyota driver. As the teen goes to open the driver’s seat door, the 78-year-old man pulls out a .357 Magnum pistol and fires at the boy, killing him, police said.

The teenager, who was described by a friend online as a “great person,” was holding a fake gun meant to resemble a grey 22-caliber mini Bersa Thunder, Page 12 reported.

Investigators said they are still on the hunt for the two people who were in the van at the time of the attempted robbery. The Departmental Investigations Directorate is treating the case as an aggravated robbery conducted by suspected gang members, officials added.

Local Prosecutor Diego Rulli, who is in charge of the case, will not seek charges against the 78-year-old man, who he said acted in clear self-defense with a weapon that he has a license to carry and use.