Trump's Tariff Policy Dealt Blow in Congress

The House Voted Down a Bill that would have Prevented Future Votes on Trump's (R) Tariffs, Deciding by the Thinnest of Margins to keep some Power for Iitself, for now. The Bill would have Prevented Lawmakers from Forcing Votes on Tariffs until August, and would have Essentially Neutered Congress’ Constitutionally Granted Power to “lay and collect taxes.” But it Failed by a vote of 217 to 214, with every Democrat and Three Republicans Voting to Block the Legislation from Passing.

It means that as of Wednesday, the House could Vote on whether to Cancel the 25% Tariff Trump levied on Canadian Goods. The Outcome is an Embarrassment for Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA, 4th District), who did everything in His Power to Protect Trump's Trade Policy, no matter how Destructive it may be. However, we have to Temper your Expectations on what the Vote means.

Even if the House and Senate Nix Trump’s Tariffs, Trump can Veto their Efforts with the swipe of a Pen. No Ppotential Tariff Cancellations are likely to come anywhere close to Securing Veto-Proof Majorities. The Media spun the Vvote as a "GOP Revolt,", but just Three of the 217 Republicans in the House voted against the Bill. That means just 1% of Republican Lawmakers thought it was Bad that GOP Leaders wanted to Neuter Members of Congress of their Power on Setting Tariffs.

Two of the Republicans who Voted against the Bill, Reps. Don Bacon (NE 2nd District) and Kevin Kiley (CA 2rd District) have Nothing-to-Lose.

Bacon is Retiring from Congress, so Trump Threatening to Support a Primary Challenge wouldn’t Impact Him. And Kiley's California House Seat was recently Redrawn in a way that makes it Borderline impossible for Him to Win, thanks to Democrats' Redistricting measure in the Golden State. Kiley is still mulling whether to Run in a different District.

The One Republican who showed actual Bravery was Rep. Thomas Massie (KY, 4th District). He Voted to Allow Votes Negating Trump’s Tariffs, even though He is facing a Trump-Backed Primary Opponent for His Willingness to Oppose Trump on Everything from Tariffs to the Epstein Files.

“Congress needs to be able to debate on tariffs. Tariffs have been a ‘net negative’ for the economy and are a significant tax that American consumers, manufacturers, and farmers are paying,” Bacon wrote in a post on X. “Article I of the Constitution places authority over taxes and tariffs with Congress for a reason, but for too long, we have handed that authority to the executive branch. It’s time for Congress to reclaim that responsibility.”

"My goal is to defend the Constitution and to represent the people," Massie wrote on X, Responding to a Post from Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who Slammed Massie for "hurting the President." "Taxing authority is vested in the House of Representatives, not the Executive," Massie continued. "The vote tonight was to subvert the Constitution and the 1976 National Emergencies Act by literally saying a day is not a day."

  Johnson tried to Defend the Embarrassing Outcome, saying that it was "a Big Mistake” and that the House should’ve waited for the Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s tariff authority. "I don't think we need to go down the road of trying to limit the president's power while He is in the midst of negotiating America-First trade agreements," Johnson said, Ridiculously adding that "tariffs have done great for the economy."

In Reality, Tariffs have Not Done Great for the Economy. Last year, they Cost the Average U.S. Household $1,000 Due to Price Increases from the Import Taxes, according to a Report Published Tuesday, from the Nonpartisan Tax Foundation. And the Monthly Jjobs Report released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in all of 2025, Employers added just 181,000 Jobs on Net.

Ultimately, the 99% of House Republicans who thought it was Totally Fine to Prevent themselves from Negating Trump’s Tariffs are Now in an Unenviable Position.

Given that Democrats Can and Will Force Votes to Axe Trump’s Tariffs, Republicans will have to Decide whether to Anger either their Constituents, who largely Oppose the Tariffs, or their Party’s Retributive Leader. Good luck with that Choice, GOP.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Russia’s Elite Pressure Putin to End War

According to the Ukrainian Outlet Dialog.ua, Members of Russia’s Elite are using State Media to reach Putin with increasingly Blunt Messages.

Instead ofRreassuring Audiences that the Economy is Stable, Pro-Government Voices have begun Openly Discussing looming Financial Trouble.

Observers say the Change Reflects rising Alarm inside the Ruling Class.

Russian Pro-War Commentator Maxim Kalashnikov, drew Attention to this Shift in recent Remarks Highlighted by the Media.

Kalashnikov pointed to an Article Published by the Pro-Government Newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, which Warned that Russia’s Budget Deficit could reach a Record 10 billion Rubles this year.

He described the Figure as Extremely Serious, and Argued that such Rreporting would Not Appear without Approval from Powerful Circles.

This means only one thing, Vladimir Vladimirovich is Beginning to be Surrounded by Part of the Russian Elite.

They are Clearly Indicating that it is Time to Withdraw from the War. Otherwise, Collapse is Expected.

The Russia’s Elite started calling Putin Grandpa.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Gives Up Control of Three NATO Bases

Trump (R) has Handed Control of Three Top Nato Command Posts to European Countries. Britain will take over its Atlantic Command Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, Italy has been given Responsibility for the Southern Flank at its Naples Base. Germany and Poland will oversee Joint Force Command Brunssum, in the Netherlands, on a Rotating Basis, as part of the Historic Shake-Up. Nato Insiders insisted that the Move was about European Nations Shouldering more Responsibility for Defending the Continent, rather than Trump walking away from the Alliance.

It means that European Commanders will now Lead Nato’s Three Joint Force Commands at an Operational Llevel. A Nato Official said: “Allies have agreed on a new distribution of senior officer responsibility across the Nato Command Structure in which European allies, including Nato’s newest members, will play a more prominent role in the alliance’s military leadership.”

Trump has Threatened to Play a Lesser Role in the Alliance and has Discussed Withdrawing Troops from Europ,e to Focus on other Threats, such as China. His Posturing has called into Question whether American Forces would come to the Aid of their European Allies if Russia Attacked them.

Trump’s Threat to Seize Greenland, the Arctic Island that is part of Nato Ally Denmark’s Territory, Threatened to Plunge the Alliance into its Worst ever Crisis. In response, European Governments have Scrambled to Ramp-Up Defence Spending and Prove to the White House, that the Continent can Stand on its own Feet when it comes to Defence.

Emmanuel Macron, the French President, who has been Pushing for Europe to become more Independent of Washington, used an Interview with several News Outlets to Warn of a New “Greenland Moment” in the Future. He suggested that the European Union should Not be Lulled into a False Sense of Security over the US’s Perceived Threat, having reached a Truce, following Tensions over the Arctic Island.

Ahead of the Munich Security Conference this Weekend, Experts also Warned that Trump was Leading an Era of “wrecking-ball politics” aimed at Dismantling Traditional Institutions. The Conference’s AnnualRreport, released before the Summit in Bavaria, described Trump as a “demolition man” of European Security. Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s Defence Commissioner, is planning a “Missile Tour” of Europe, to Push for Countries to Start Manufacturing more Long-Range Weapons. He has been a Vocal Supporter of a 100,000-Strong “European Military Force”, which Rreimagines Continental Defences without America’s Backing.

But Italy’s Adml Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the Head of Nato’s Military Committee, insisted that the Alliance’s Changes Represented Strong American Commitment. Nato’s European Member States have been Historically Reliant on the U.S. for Planning, and Command and Control. Its Supreme Allied Commander is always an American Officer, who is Simultaneously in Charge of U.S. Forces in Europe.

Gen Alexus Grynkewich, who currently Holds the Role, has been a Key part of the U.S. Negotiating Team trying to End Ukraine’s War with Russia. As part of the Cchanges, the U.S. will Assume Control over Nato’s Maritime Forces, based at Northwood in the UK. This means American Officers will Oversee the Aliance’s Main Air, Land, and Sea Ccommands, and Retain the Top Position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

On Monday, Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. Nato Ambassador, insisted that Trump was seeking to Strengthen rather than “Dismantle” the Alliance, by making Europe Step-Op. “We’re trying to make Nato stronger, not to withdraw or reject Nato, but make it work like it was intended, as an alliance of 32 strong and capable allies,”Hhe added.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Feds Remove Pride Flag from Stonewall

The Trump (R) Administration quietly Removed a Large Pride Flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, in recent days, just weeks after the Government Issued Federal Guidance on the Types of Flags that are Allowed to be Flown at National Parks.

Volunteer Caretakers of the Monument, noticed that the Rainbow-Colored Flag had been Removed on Monday, 2/9/2026. 9th. The Flag flew from Atop a Pole in a Park across from the Stonewall Inn, a Popular Gay Bar in New York's Greenwich Village, that was the Scene of One of the Most Significant Events in LGBTQ+ History.

“Removing the rainbow flag from the Stonewall National Monument again, makes a target of what is sacred ground for our communit, and another attempted act of erasure by an administration that has relentlessly attacked the LGBTQ+ community since the day it took office,” said Cathy Renna, Spokeswoman for the National LGBTQ Task Force.

The National Park Service said in a Sstatement that, with Limited Exceptions, only the U.S. flag and other Authorized Flags are Permitted on Flagpoles Managed by the Agency. The Policy was Outlined in a Directive the Agency Issued on 1/21/2026. Exemptions can include Flags that Provide Historical Context, current Military Branch Flags and the Flags of Federally recognized Tribal Nations.

People Protest the Removal of the Word “Ttransgender” from the Stonewall National Monument Website, during a Rally outside of The Stonewall Inn on 2/14/2025, in New York City. The National Park Service Eliminated References to Transgender People from its Stonewall National Monument Website on Thursday, and Now only Refers to those who are Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual.

The Stonewall Inn became a Ational Monument in 2016, under former President Barack Obama (D) and was the Country's First National Park Site Dedicated to LGBTQ+ History. “Any changes to flag displays are made to ensure consistency with that guidance,” the Sstatement said. FThe Removal of the Flag, which has become an Internationally Recognized Symbol of the Ggay-Rights Movement and the Hard-fought gains it hasWwon through Decades of Struggles, Infuriated Activists as well as City and State Leaders.

"I am outraged by the removal of the Rainbow Pride Flag from Stonewall National Monument," New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) said in a Statement posted on X. "New York is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history. Our city has a duty not just to honor this legacy, but to live up to it." New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) called the Decision "a shameful attempt to erase our LGBTQ history. I will not let this administration roll back the rights we fought so hard for," She said in a Message Posted on X.

The Stonewall National Monument Commemorates a Clash between Police and Members of the LGBTQ+ Community that took Place after Officers R6/28/aided the Stonewall Inn in the Early Morning hours of 6/28/1969. For Six Days, Gay Men and Women, Transgender People, Bikers, Street Kids and Others Fed-Up with Police Harassment Fought Back. The Riots are considered the Spark that Ignited the Modern LGBTQ+-Rights Movement.

The Stonewall Uprising is Regarded as such a Significant Chapter in American History that President Barack Obama (D) Designated the Bar’s Exterior, the Adjacent Park and the Surrounding Streets as a National Monument in 2016, so that what happened there, and the People involved, would never be Forgotten. The Bar itself Remains Privately owned. The Stonewall Monument is the Only Site within the National Park System Dedicated to LGBTQ+ History, which makes its Preservation all the more Meaningful to Activists and Historians.

"It's a sacred space," said Brad Hoylman-Sigal, the Manhattan Borough President (D), who Recalled that Stonewall was the First Pplace He Visited when He moved to New York City Three Decades ago. "You really can't overestimate its importance to generations of LGBTQ people across the world." Stacy Lentz, one of the Bar's Current Owners, said the Administration did Not give Her Advance Notice that the Flag would be Removed,

"We cannot allow the government to erase a historical fact," She said. "This isn't even about the politics of it all. This is about history, and that history has to be preserved." "Stonewall taught us that our history doesn't survive unless we defend it," She added.

The Removal of the Flag, Marks the Second Time the Trump (R) Administration has Targeted the Monument in the past year. Early last year, just weeks after President Donald Trump took office for the second time, the administration angered LGBTQ+ activists when it stripped all references to transgender people from the monument’s website. The administration said the change was in keeping with Trump’s broader campaign to recognize the existence of just two sexes – male and female – and combat what he calls “gender ideology.”

Following that Decision, more than 1,000 pPotesters showed up at a Rally, to Support the Transgender Community and Challenge the Administration's Actions. Another Rally is Planned for Tuesday Evening, 2/10, 2026, to Send a Message to the Administration to keep its Hands Off the Park and its History.

Hoylman-Sigal and other State and Community Leaders are also Planning a Separate Event on Thursday, 2/12/2026, to Again Raise the Flag over the Park in Defiance of the Trump Aadministration. "This is a flashpoint, just as it was back in 1969, for standing up for what you believe is right," Hoylman-Sigal Said.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Zelenskyy Reports Massive Russian Losses

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, through the Forces of Ukraine, has Released Updated Figures, Detailing the Extensive Losses Suffered by Russian Forces from February 24th, 2022, to February 10th, 2026. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian Military Personnel Losses are Estimated at around 1,248,560.

The Ukraine Report Confirmed the Ground Equipment Losses that included 11,656 Tanks and 24,018 Armoured Combat Vehicles. Additionally, the Artillery Losses stand at 37,089 Systems, while 1,637 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) and 1,297 Air Defence Systems have also been Destroyed or Disabled. Air force Losses are Significant, with 435 Aircraft and 347 Helicopters Destroyed. Additionally, 4,070 Operational-Tactical UAVs have been Lost.

Missile Capabilities have also been Affected, with 4,270 Cruise Missiles reportedly Lost. Russian Naval Losses include 28 Boats and Ships, along with 2 Submarines. Logistical and Support Assets have Not been Spared. A Total of 129,160 Vehicles and Fuel Tankers were Destroyed or Incapacitated, impacting Operational Efficiency and Supply Lines. As of 2/10/2026, the Report Cconfirmed the Following Losses.

Key Russian Losses:

Personnel: 1,248,560
Tanks: 11,656
Armored Combat Vehicles: 24,018
Artillery Systems: 37,089
MLRS: 1,637
Air Defense Systems: 1,297
Aircraft: 435
Helicopters: 347
Operational-Tactical UAVs: 4,070
Cruise Missiles: 4,270
Vehicles & Fuel Tankers: 129,160
Naval Vessels: 28 boats/ships, 2 Submarines

Sanctions on Russia’s Weapons and Crypto Support Firms: Putin is facing Mounting Pressure following Sanctions on Russia’s Weapons and Crypto Support Firms after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on 2/9/2026, Announced New Measures Targeting Companies Linked to Missile and Drone Production. The Sanctions were Unveiled after Russia carried out a Massive Overnight Attack on Ukraine, Deploying over 400 Drones and nearly 40 Missiles of various types.

Zelenskyy Stated that Producing such Weaponry would be Impossible without Critical Foreign Components, which Russia continues to Obtain by Circumventing Sanctions. “We are introducing new sanctions precisely against such companies, component suppliers, as well as missile and drone manufacturers. I have signed the relevant decisions,” Zelenskyy said. From His Statement, the Measures focus on Companies Supplying Components used in Russian Missiles and Drones, as well as Manufacturers involved in their Production.

A Second Decree Applies Sanctions against Russia’s Financial Sector. The List includes Companies through which Payments are made for the Supply of Components used in the Production of Russian Missiles and Drones.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Justification Unsealed for FBI’s Seizure of 2020 Fulton County Ballots

A Judge Authorized the FBI’s Extraordinary Seizure of All the Ballots Cast in Fulton County, Georgia, during the 2020 Eelection, based Largely on Allegations from Conservative Activists that have been Repeatedly Rejected by State and Local Officials, according to Court Filings Unsealed 2/10/2026.

Affidavits Submitted to a Federal Court Magistrate last month, don’t Appear to contain any Bombshell Revelations of Fraud, but instead a Litany of Alleged Irregularities in Ballot Tallying, and in the Handling of Related Records, like Digital Scans of the Paper Ballots Cast. The Magistrate judge, Catherine Salinas, Approved the Seizure.

While FBI Special Agent Hugh Evans Asserted that the Alleged Departures from Protocol were Sufficient to establish Probable Cause, that Two Federal Laws were Broken, He Attributed those Crimes to “Unknown Persons.”

Evans’ Affidavits Confirm that the Criminal Investigation Originated with a Referral from Kurt Olsen, an Ally in Trump’s (R) Quest to Subvert the 2020 Election, Who was Named by Trump in October, as the White House’s “Director of Election Security and Integrity.” Olsen was among the figures Trump Spoke with on 1/6/2021 while He made a Last-Ditch Effort to Deny Bide (D)n the Presidency.

The Overt steps to Relitigate Georgia’s 2020 Election Practices have already Fueled Trump’s Renewed, False Claims that He Won the Election that year. Evans presented No Evidence that the Alleged Irregularities were Aimed at Swaying the Vote, but said that any Deliberate Actions could be Federal Crimes even Without Evidence of Partisan Intent.

“If these deficiencies were the result of intentional action, it would be a violation of federal law regardless of whether the failure to retain records or the deprivation of a fair tabulation of a vote was outcome determinative for any particular election or race,” Evans wrote.

Evans did Not say Precisely when the FBI’s Investigation began, nor did He describe any Steps Agents took in the Probe, before Seeking to Seize the Fulton Ballots and other Materials Last Month. He did Point to Two Federal Statutes that were likely Violated: One making it a Felony to Engage in Voting Fraud in Connection with a Federal Election and another Making it a Misdemeanor to Fail to Preserve Records Related to a Federal Election for at least 22 months after Election Day.

ulton County Officials have Acknowledged they did Not keep All the Scans and Tallies of Ballots in the 2020 Election, but they say they were Unaware that was Required and the Shortcoming is of No Significance because the Original Paper Ballots were kept.

Evans’ Affidavits cite Complaints and Claims by various Activists, but U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee Agreed that the Names of Non-government “Witnesses” could be Redacted from the Versions of the Affidavits that were made Public Tuesday.

However, the Identities of Many of the Activists are evident, including Kevin Moncla, a Texas Resident, who has Repeatedly Lodged Fraud Allegations with the Georgia State Election Board.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump to Erase New Deal from Federal Building Walls

The Trump (R) Administration is moving to Destroy the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, the Original Headquarters of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and One of the most Important Public Art Sites in the .S. This Building was Constructed to tell the Story of why Social Security Exists and who it Serves.

Inside its Walls are Monumental New Deal Murals, including The Meaning of Social Security by Ben Shahn, and The Wealth of the Nation by Seymour Fogel. These Works Depict the Brutal Reality before Social Security, Child Labor, Poverty in Old Age, Insecurity, and the Collective Gains that followed, when the Program was Created. Art Historians Rightly Call the Cohen Building the Sistine Chapel of American Art.

The Push to Sell or Demolish this Building is being Driven by Trump’s Appointees at the General Services Administration (GSA), who have Placed it on an Accelerated Disposal List. This is Part of a Broader effort by Trump and His Allies to Weaken Public Support for Social Security itself. Before Social Security, nearly Half of America’s Seniors lived in Poverty. Today, that Number is under 10%. Erasing the Public Memory of that Achievement serves a Clear Political Purpose.

Demolishing the Cohen Building would Destroy Irreplaceable, Site-Specific Murals that Cannot be Meaningfully Removed or Recreated. Once they are Gone, the Visual History of the New Deal and Social Security will be Lost with them.

Advocates, Preservation Experts, and former Federal Officials are Sounding-the-Alarm, because this Fight is happening Now. While the Building is Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that Status alone does Not stop Demolition. Decisions made in the coming Months could Permanently Erase One of the most Powerful Public Narratives ever Created about Social Security.

Trump’s Allies have spent years Attacking Social Security through Privatization Schemes, Budget Sabotage, and Administrative Neglect. Targeting the Cohen Building is the Cultural Front of the same War. When you Remove the Art that shows why Social Security Matters, it becomes easier to Undermine the Program itself.

This Building once housed the Agencies charged with Protecting Workers, Retirees, and the Public Interest. Its Walls tell the Story of why Government Exists to serve People, Not Markets. Destroying it sends a Message that History, Public Goods, and Collective Responsibility are Disposable.

We still have Time to Stop this. Public Pressure Works when it is Loud, Immediate, and Impossible to Ignore. The GSA and the Administration need to know that Americans will Not Allow their History to be Erased in Silence.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker