#US/Mexico Relations

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Ahmed Baba at Ahmed Baba's Newsletter:

We are witnessing one of the most abrupt and consequential foreign policy reversals in modern US history. While every president has a “doctrine,” few have made such a dramatic pivot.

Within just one month of returning to office, President Trump has changed America’s stance on the world stage, cozying up to adversaries, antagonizing allies, and uplifting the global far-right. The Trump Administration has brought Russian President Vladimir Putin out of global isolation, furiously insulted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alienated European allies, uplifted the German far-right’s AfD, and eroded America’s soft power with tariffs and the freezing of foreign assistance. When it comes to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, President Trump has made the most dramatic shift, turning away from America’s European allies and Zelenskyy and moving toward Putin - fully embodying Russian disinformation. Not only is Trump disrupting the US approach to Russia, he’s continuing the work of his first term, which was the upending of the post-WWII order. This week, Trump falsely blamed Ukraine for Putin’s invasion and called Zelenskyy a “dictator.” This came after an unqualified Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, gave away key concessions before Ukraine-Russia talks even began. Then, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Saudi Arabia negotiating with Russia without Ukraine at the table - with our European allies also sidelined.

Putin couldn’t have scripted this better himself. Over the course of days, Trump ended the Biden-era approach to the Ukraine war, which was to coordinate heavily with European allies to apply pressure on an isolated Putin regime and provide unwavering support for Ukraine’s defense. Biden also refused to make Ukrainian NATO membership or territorial concessions to Russia, which Hegseth did before talks even began. State Department officials reportedly advised Hegseth not to publicly take NATO membership off the table. Hegseth reportedly departed from a draft prepared that day and instead proclaimed that NATO membership for Ukraine and a return to pre-2014 territory before Russia annexed Crimea was “unrealistic.” Hegseth also privately told Ukrainian officials that the US was considering withdrawing many troops from Europe, shocking those officials, according to NBC News.

On February 12, the same day Hegseth made those remarks, President Trump had a phone call with Putin - the first time a US President has directly spoken to the Russian President since 2022. Trump later updated Zelenskyy on the details of the call. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was also in Kyiv on February 12 and reportedly delivered a demand letter directly to Zelenskyy requesting 50% of their rare Earth minerals. A shocked Zelenskyy refused to sign. Trump then said that he would send a team to Saudi Arabia for a first round of talks with Russia, sending a delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Notably missing from the talks - Ukraine and America’s European allies.

Zelenskyy was critical of the US exclusion of Ukraine from these first round of talks, and the Trump Administration, who was reportedly monitoring the Ukrainian President’s statements, did not like it. On Tuesday of this week, Trump essentially blamed Zelenskyy for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, claiming, “Today I heard, ‘Oh well, we weren’t invited. Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should’ve ended it after three years. You should’ve never started it. You could’ve made a deal.” Zelenskyy responded, saying Trump was getting false information: “Unfortunately, President Trump – I have great respect for him as a leader of a nation that we have great respect for, the American people who always support us – unfortunately lives in this disinformation space.”

Zelenskyy’s comments set Trump aflame. Trump took to social media, calling Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections.” This is, of course, false. Elections have been suspended by Ukrainian law due to the ongoing war. Trump also repeated Russian disinformation about Zelenskyy being unpopular. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio further brought Russia out of the cold - promising to restaff the Russian embassy.

[...]

NATO was founded 75 years ago to safeguard America and Europe from the Soviet Union. NATO has promoted the shared values of democracy and sought to uphold the common security of the West. It’s been the main deterrent against Russian aggression. This is why one of Putin’s key goals has been to weaken Western alliances, specifically NATO. And right now, President Trump is doing exactly that. By blaming Ukraine for Russia’s invasion, the Trump Administration is accepting Russia’s narrative that the mere existence of NATO and the potential for Ukraine to join was provocative and warranted Putin’s murderous invasion.

[...]

This isn’t all about Putin, of course. When you recognize that the authoritarian far-right has long been a globally collaborative movement, the Trump Administration’s foreign policy moves make a lot more sense. While in Europe last Friday, Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a Munich speech accusing European allies of suppressing the German far-right party AfD, without directly naming them. Vance then met with the AfD’s leader. Vance did not meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This comes after Elon Musk went even further than Vance last month, directly endorsing the German AfD on multiple occasions and appearing virtually at an event where he said that Germany has “too much of a focus on past guilt.” Musk made those comments just two days before Holocaust Remembrance Day— and only days after making what many believed was a Nazi salute at a Trump inauguration event. Musk’s comments were particularly controversial, given how important remembrance of the Holocaust is in German society. Germany prioritizes extensive education on WWII and the Nazis’ descent into genocidal mania, ensuring historical accountability remains central to its national identity.

[...]

The Trump Administration has done a significant amount of damage to America’s soft power. America’s ability to exert power and influence abroad without firing a bullet relies on American reliability. The US has used a combination of multilateral deal-making and foreign assistance to influence global affairs. That reliability has gone out the window in Trump’s first month. When it comes to foreign aid, the Trump Administration has essentially totally dismantled USAID and frozen billions in foreign assistance everywhere, from Latin America to Southeast Asia to Africa. They’re doing this in defiance of a court order. The USAID not only upholds key pro-democracy initiatives and humanitarian assistance that countries all over the world depend on, but it also creates global goodwill for the US and is a buffer against China’s efforts to expand its influence through its growing foreign aid programs. On trade, Trump is once again putting pressure on our biggest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, with tariffs that risk a wider trade war. Trump, who himself re-negotiated NAFTA and renamed it the USMCA, sought to directly undermine it as soon as he walked into office. Trump is using economic tools of isolationism that weaken US influence.

The Trump Doctrine on foreign policy is to piss off our allies and kiss ass to our enemies.

[mugiwara-lucy]

Do you guys remember when I posted that article of Trump wanting to invade Mexico last week?

Now you think him and his team would realize “hey that’s fucked up attacking a SOVEREIGN NATION.”, right?

This dumb old buzzard REALLY thinks he’s Whitebeard pulling into Marineford!

Claudia Sheinbaum is NOT someone to fuck with. He really thinks he’s dealing with these weak MAGA bitches like this cunt 😂

Nope President Sheinbaum will fuck him HARDER than Vice President Harris after their debate.

And need I remind you all? Mexico is our ALLY.

This dumb old fucker wants to be the American Putin and make Mexico into Ukraine. Good luck 👍

All you motherfuckers that voted Third Party, didn’t vote at all or voted for this dumb old tool are culpable in whatever happens.

[loboboss57]

Okay, there is some political fluff happening in Cibola County, New Mexico, that I worry will disenfranchise a whole group of rural people.

You see, a crisis arose tonight when the board unanimously approved a resolution to appoint current State Representative for District 69 Harry Garcia to fill the vacancy left behind from Representative Eliseo “Lee” Alcon in District 6.

District 69, District 6…

What does it matter? Two counties get to appoint anyone from their counties right?

Well, Cibola County Commissioners seem to believe that it doesn’t matter the people of District 6 will be represented by someone who doesn’t actually live in District 6.

But it matters to me.

Don’t take our representation away.

[always-undermining]

not only does she want to study art, she is also a lesbian! dont forget that when disowning

[karadin]

while you were sleeping ...

The U.S. Army has told units to prepare for deployment at the U.S.-Mexico border in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Trump declared a 'state of emergency' at the border, despite the fact that we have a fully staffed border patrol and we are not in a wartime footing with Mexico.

National Science Foundation freezes grants in response to Trump executive orders

Native Americans concerned that they may be rounded up in mass deportation efforts due to racial profiling

Trump states that GAZA should be 'swept clean' and over one million refugees to be moved to Egypt and Jordan. (these countries have refused by the way)

Trump also mentions that Gaza has 'great beachfront property' and his son in law Jared Kushner, a friend of Netanyahu since childhood, has made the same statements that Gaza would be great place to build condos (and not for Palestinians)

Despite a 'cease fire' attacks have continued in Gaza, many by settler groups with police esorts, as soon as Trump lifted Biden era sanctions on settler incursions.

some USAID officials were put on leave for not abiding Trump's order to halt all international aid.

Trump has placed all Diversity and Inclusion federal employees across agencies on paid leave for 30 days until their positions are terminated.

The US Air Force took down a video for new recruits showcasing the Tuskegee Airmen, a famous all black fighting force from WW2, as well as the WAVES, women who joined the service during WW2.

The advisory office of DOGE now run solely by Elon Musk, a US government contractor puts him in nominal charge of government programs, a conflict of interest, however he has been booted from an office next to Trump in the White House to another building.

This Department of Government Efficiency now is taking over the US Digital Service in charge of all US gov websites, including the new IRS Free File (where you can do your taxes online for free, a holdover from the Biden Administration.)

Trump is paving the way for the Pentagon to remove transgender service members

The Quaker faith have taken the Trump administration to court over a new policy to enter churches and religious spaces in mass deportation efforts.

Trump puts hold on refugees - hundreds of thousands of people fleeing strife in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti and Venezuela have been stopped from entering the US - the program was bipartisan and many have waited years in a legal process to enter.

Trump has revoked a Biden admin program that allowed 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans and nearly 1 million migrants allowed into the country through an app called CBP One, all of these individuals are now targeted for deportation.

Vice President Vance complained when U.S. Catholic bishops condemned ICE entering places of employment, churches and schools in mass deportation raids (lifting an Obama era restriction)

Vice President Vance states that Big Tech is too powerful in the US, at the same time Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg, along with other 'tech bros' were featured at Trump's inauguration, seated in front of his cabinet picks.

Trump fires DOJ employees who worked on Trump's prosecution for insurrection on Jan 6 as well as his stolen US government 'eyes only' documents. Republicans are investigating the bi-partisan Jan 6th investigations under the Biden administration.

Trump pardoned more than 1,500 individuals for their crimes during the Jan 6th insurrection, this has lead to backlash among a bi-partisan Congress as well as the public. One of the insurrectionists was killed by police at a conflict on his day of release, another was re-arrested for breaking his parole for previous convictions.

[ladyimaginarium]

from mikjikj-mnikuk/turtle island to inuit nunangat to kanata to kalaallit nunaat to anahuac to abya yala to alkebulan to the levant to moananuiākea to sápmi to éire to bhārata to zhōngguó to nihon to aynu mosir to siberia to niugini to nusantara to bandaiyan to aotearoa, from coast to coast to coast to coast, from sea to sea to sea to sea, none of us are free until all of us — men, women, enben, children, queer people, disabled & neurodivergent people, elders, animals and the land and the sea and the sky — are free!!!!

[exmojoe]

Gotta dress sluttier so I can piss off god, who will then — hopefully — make it rain in a failed attempt to get me to cover up

[wherepond]

China Sinophobia

Morgan Stanley economist Professor Stephen Roach reveals shocking secret about China trade war

Professor Stephen Roach joins the show to discuss US China Relations, the Trade War, Taiwan, and his solution to improve the relationship between these two superpowers.

✅  Join Professor Stephen Roach's Newsletter here:  https://stephenroach.substack.com/​

0:00​ -  Intro to Stephen Roach 1:40​ - How Did US China Relationship Get This Bad? 2:43​ - Why the US Needs Re-engagement with China 4:34​ - The US China Trade War 6:13​ - Why Americans Don't Understand Tariffs 7:40​ - Why Tariffs Against China Hurt Americans 8:41​ - Why is Canada and Mexico Targeted with Tariffs? 12:34​ - Is Donald Trump a China Hawk? 14:32​ - How Stopping China Completely Failed 18:07​ - What is the Future of Taiwan? 20:40​ - What if the Future of US China Relations? 21:45​ - Why America's Strategy with China is Flawed 22:17​ - How to Fix the US China Relationship Forever! 25:26​ - What Should the World Know About China? 27:15​ - Final Thoughts

Source Cyrus Janssen on YouTube   / @cyrusjanssen

JD Vance said "The professors are the enemy" 🤡

Psychopaths seeks revenge

[latestnews-now]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss trade and tariff tensions between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. With billions at stake, their conversation covered trade, border security, and more. Watch to learn how this meeting could impact North America’s economy and trade policies. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more global news updates!

[weepingfireflies]

People & countries mentioned in the thread:

DR Congo - M23, Cobalt

Darfur, Sudan - International Criminal Court, CNN, BBC (Overview); Twitter Explanation on Sudan

Tigray - Human Rights Watch (Ethnic Cleansing Report)

the Sámi people - IWGIA, Euronews

Hawai'i - IWGIA

Syria - Amnesty International

Kashmir- Amnesty Summary (PDF), Wikipedia (Jammu and Kashmir), Human Rights Watch (2022)

Iran - Human Rights Watch, Morality Police (Mahsa/Jina Amini - Al Jazeera, Wikipedia)

Uyghurs - Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) Q&A, Wikipedia, Al Jazeera, UN Report

Tibetans - SaveTibet.org, United Nations

Yazidi people - Wikipedia, United Nations

West Papua - Free West Papua, Genocide Watch

Yemen - Human Rights Watch (Saudi border guards kill migrants), Carrd

Sri Lanka (Tamils) - Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch

Afghans in Pakistan - Al Jazeera, NPR

Ongoing Edits: more from the notes / me

Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh/Azerbaijan (Artsakh) - Global Conflict Tracker ("Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict"), Council on Foreign Relations, Human Rights Watch (Azerbaijan overview), Armenian Food Bank

Baháʼís in Iran - Bahá'í International Community, Amnesty, Wikipedia, Minority Rights Group International

Kafala System in the Middle East - Council on Foreign Relations, Migrant Rights

Rohingya - Human Rights Watch, UNHCR, Al Jazeera, UNICEF

Montagnards (Vietnam Highlands) - World Without Genocide, Montagnard Human Rights Organization (MHRO), VOA News

Ukraine - Human Rights Watch (April 2022), Support Ukraine Now (SUN), Ukraine Website, Schools & Education (HRW), Dnieper River advancement (Nov. 15, 2023 - Ap News)

Reblogs with Links / From Others

Indigenous Ppl of Canada, Cambodia, Mexico, Colombia

Libya

Armenia Reblog 1, Armenia Reblog 2

Armenia, Ukraine, Central African Republic, Indigenous Americans, Black ppl (US)

Rohingya (Myanmar)

More Hawai'i Links from @sageisnazty - Ka Lahui Hawaii, Nation of Hawai'i on Soverignty, Rejected Apology Resolution

From @rodeodeparis: Assyrian Policy Institute, Free Yezidi

From @is-this-a-cool-url: North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA)

From @dougielombax & compiled by @azhdakha: Assyrians & Yazidis

West Sahara conflict

Last Updated: Feb. 19th, 2024 (If I missed smth before this, feel free to @ me to add it)

[aplpaca]

Do you have any cool bird facts

female raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons, etc) are larger than male raptors in pretty much all species. this happens even in groups not closely related to each other (ex: hawks and falcons), so its beneficial enough in their niche that its evolved independently a few times, though its unsure exactly what that benefit is atm (bc unlike males being larger in a lot of mammals, female raptors dont make a habit of fighting each other or using size to attract mates as far as we know). ex: heres a male and female Cooper's Hawk

somewhat mentioned above but falcons are more closely related to parrots than they are to hawks

Gray Catbirds and American Robins have been witnessed raising young in the same nest at the same time. In one instance (reported by Mulvihill and Murray), they were recorded caring for the young of both species in the nest, and when the Catbird young fledged, the adult Catbirds continued to provide food for the not-yet-fledged Robins. heres a pic of the nest from the report

the worlds oldest known bird as of 2024 is a wild Laysan Albatross named Wisdom who's 72-73 years old (at minimum, we dont actually know her birth date, just that she was at least 5 years old when she was banded in the 50s) and still raising chicks. here's her with one of her chicks

also Albatrosses have wingspans of up to 3.5m/11.5ft and have been recorded flying 49,700 miles without touching land (they do land in the water to eat tho)

this is from personal experience but if you walk around in a north american grassland for long enough, you Will get jumpscared by a Mourning Dove bc they make their nests on the ground in the grass and like to hang out on the ground in the grass and they also like to wait until youre right overtop of them to freak out and fly away from you

Bald Eagles don't get their fully white heads and tails until theyre about 5 years old

A lot of birds have been observed incorporating cigarette butts into their nests, and a study in Mexico on House Finches found that this actually results in drastic decreases in parasites affecting young compared to nests without them

Cedar Waxwings (and Waxwings in general) just look so smooth. they look like someone airbrushed them. look at this shit

in Jacanas, females lay eggs in multiple males' nests, and then the males raise the young by themself. Also they carry their babies under their wings like this

Horned Guan. Theyre endangered and live in a small area of central america. both the males and females have the little horn fez, the males just have taller ones

[shefightsforall]

Stay vigilant. While Trump is popping off about Canada, Greenland, and Mexico, Republican Andy Biggs has introduced House Resolution 7.

This line, "Whereas health care for women should also address the needs of men, families, and communities as they relate to women’s health care," implies that men could potentially dictate women's healthcare; for example, a woman might not be able to use birth control without her husband's permission.

I know that a few states still require written spousal consent for sterilization, and I am concerned that this bill could introduce the same concept for smaller healthcare decisions.

The primary focus of healthcare should be the patient, not the people surrounding them.

EDIT: Since I've shared this, a new bill to Ban Abortion nationally was proposed. Please share.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/722?fbclid=IwY2xjawIHL-RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVL5MOT6zFKNuV1ELJcsHheYZx3AIBtB79AqSLbV4ZJKYPxbP-wMdardlA_aem_SwI8xeC3KvFdBMMaQruF5g

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Oliver Willis at Daily Kos:

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mocked Donald Trump on Wednesday for his suggestion to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” During a press conference held in Mexico’s National Palace, Sheinbaum stood in front of a map from 1607 that labeled the United States as “Mexican America” and the gulf as the “Gulf of Mexico”—nearly 170 years before the United States was founded in 1776. “Why don’t we call it Mexican America? It sounds pretty, no?” Sheinbaum mockingly asked.

Large portions of the United States were originally part of Mexico. At the conclusion of the Mexican-American War in 1848, the country lost 55% of its territory, which became California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and most of Colorado and Arizona. Sheinbaum also accused Trump of living in the past, noting, “I think they told President (elect) Trump wrong, they told him Felipe Calderón is still president.” Calderón was Mexico’s president from 2006 to 2012. During his Tuesday press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said, “We’re going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate. It’s appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Donald Trump’s bat guano proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America in a hilarious way by renaming the USA “América Mexicana”. At least the renaming of the USA to América Mexicana makes much more sense, since parts of the USA were formerly in Mexico.

[lyxthen]

Touristification and Inequality in Oaxaca, México.

[g0ldenstar]

idk y but my entire instagram reels feed is like. all in spanish?????

[xtruss]

Close-Up Video Shows Texas Floating Barrier Has Circular Saws

— By Khaleda Rahman | August 9, 2023 | Newsweek

Migrants walk after crossing the Rio Grande River into the United States in Eagle Pass, Texas as seen from Piedras Negras, Coahuila State, Mexico on August 4, 2023. Democratic Rep. Sylvia Garcia has called the installation of the barrier "inhumane." Guillermo Arias/AFP Via Getty Images

The wrecking ball-sized buoys that make up the floating barrier that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott installed in July in the Rio Grande have circular saws between them, according to a video posted by Rep. Sylvia Garcia.

"Appalled by the ongoing cruel and inhumane tactics employed by @GovAbbott at the Texas border," Garcia, a Democrat, wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, alongside the clip. "The situation's reality is unsettling as these buoys' true danger and brutality come to light. We must stop this NOW!"

Mexican authorities said last week that two bodies had been recovered from the river in recent days, including one that was caught in the floating barrier. One body was found stuck in the lines of orange buoys, Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said in a statement on August 2. A second body was recovered about three miles upriver from the buoys, The Associated Press reported.

A repost of the video by Laiken Jordahl, a Southwest conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, amassed more than 8 million views.

The center is an environmental group where Jordahl works to protect wildlife, ecosystems, and public lands throughout the Southwest desert and U.S-Mexico borderlands, according to its website.

"Abbott has installed circular saws between the Rio Grande border buoys to maim or kill anyone who attempts to climb over," Jordahl wrote in the post. "Two bodies have already been found trapped in the floating barrier. He wants more migrants to die."

Jordahl told Newsweek: "Each day the floating wall, saw blades and concertina wire are allowed to stay up, more migrants will be injured or killed and more wildlife will suffer.

"Governor Abbott is turning this beautiful river into a death trap for people and wildlife. Our wildlands and communities will not be turned into war zones. Abbott must be stopped."

The U.S. Justice Department is suing Abbott over the barrier, after warning that it violates federal law and raises humanitarian concerns for migrants crossing into the country from Mexico. The lawsuit is asking a court to force Texas to remove it.

"We allege that Texas has flouted federal law by installing a barrier in the Rio Grande without obtaining the required federal authorization," Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a statement in late July.

"This floating barrier poses threats to navigation and public safety and presents humanitarian concerns. Additionally, the presence of the floating barrier has prompted diplomatic protests by Mexico and risks damaging U.S. foreign policy."