The Trump Card...

[ATeam]

Navy Escorts Now Provided in Straight of Hormuz

A number of ships are now receiving navy escorts and safe passage through the Straight of Hormuz. The problem is the escorts are provided by the Iranian navy.

Yes, Trump has correctly claimed that many Iranian navy ships have been sunk. But the Iranian navy remains operational and is clearly in full control of the Straight. They are running what has come to be known as the Tehran Toll Booth.

From Grok (prompt: "Tell me about the Tehran Toll Booth."):

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has evolved into a "managed corridor" where the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) acts as both the gatekeeper and the escort. This system, colloquially known in maritime circles as the Tehran Toll Booth, has effectively replaced international freedom of navigation with a permission-based regime.

The Northern Routing Pattern: Instead of using the standard international shipping lanes (the Traffic Separation Scheme), all approved traffic is being funneled into a narrow corridor within Iranian territorial waters, specifically hugging the northern coast near Larak and Qeshm islands.Vetting and Clearance: Ships must submit full cargo manifests, crew lists, and ownership documentation to the IRGC several days in advance. If approved, they receive a unique clearance code and specific GPS coordinates for entry.

The Escort Process: Once a vessel reaches the entry point, it is met by IRGC Navy fast-attack craft or patrol boats. These assets do not just "watch"; they physically lead the tankers through the corridor, shielding them from the "rogue" drone or mine threats that Iran claims exist in the international lanes.Identification

Signaling: To avoid being targeted by shore-based batteries, ships in this corridor are often instructed to broadcast specific messages on their AIS (Automatic Identification System), such as "All Crew China" or "Destination India," to signal their "friendly" status.Who is Using the Escorts?The corridor is not open to everyone. It is being used as a diplomatic and economic tool to reward "non-hostile" nations while pressuring U.S. allies.

China and India: These are the primary users. Chinese tankers and Indian vessels like the Jag Vasant and Pine Gas have been confirmed to use this escorted route.The "Zombie" Fleet: Sanctioned tankers carrying Iranian oil move freely through this corridor, often using recycled or "zombie" identities to mask their origins while under IRGC protection.Exclusions: Vessels with any link to the U.S., Israel, or "hostile" European nations are strictly barred. Recently, a UAE-linked container ship, the SELEN, was forcibly turned back by IRGC naval units for failing to follow these "legal protocols."

Analysis: This is all part of Trump's secret master plan. Keep the faith. Trump is brilliant and in full control. For reasons the public cannot yet be permitted to know, Trump wants Tehran to earn millions of dollars by extracting tolls from approved nations, and he wants US and allied ships to be denied the access and safe passage Iran's friends now have.

 

[Ragman]

Fun fact:: Obama had oil over $100 a barrel for 5 consecutive months in his presidency.

Typical Maga nonsense.

 

[muttly]

Typical Maga nonsense.

It’s a fact. Ask Grok.

 

[ATeam]

It’s a fact. Ask Grok.

Yes, it's a fact. But in what way is it relevant today?

 

[Ragman]

Yes, it's a fact. But in what way is it relevant today?

It's got no relevance to today. Its just more nonsense and what aboutism.

 

[muttly]

It's got no relevance to today. It’s just more nonsense and what aboutism.

It’s relevant because the spike in oil prices per barrel is due to a temporary situation and not some long term systemic anti fossil fuel national policy like Obama and Biden had. Also, paying roughly 30 dollars for a couple months is an acceptable trade-off for defeating a regime that was a threat to use nukes against us.

 

[muttly]

Navy Escorts Now Provided in Straight of Hormuz

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has evolved into a "managed corrider" where the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) acts as both the gatekeeper and the escort. This system, colloquially known in maritime circles as the Tehran Toll Booth, has effectively replaced international freedom of navigation with a permission-based

That managed corridor needs a new manager.
Grok:

 

[ATeam]

It’s relevant because the spike in oil prices per barrel is due to a temporary situation and not some long term systemic anti fossil fuel national policy like Obama and Biden had.

It might have been temporary earlier but Trump let the situation persist and oil facilities continue to be destroyed and the Straight remains closed. The longer it is closed, the longer it will take to get things flowing again. The war is nearly 30 days old and its end seems further away than when Trump first started it (illegally and unconstitutionally).

Also, paying roughly 30 dollars for a couple months is an acceptable trade-off for defeating a regime that was a threat to use nukes against us.

Maybe, but the regime is not defeated. Trump likes to say we won but Iranian missiles keep flying, the Straight remains closed. And Iran is mocking Trump and doing everything it can to goad him into putting US troops on the ground in Iran. The Iranians are itching for the opportunity to kill American soldiers in Iran and Trump may well give it to them.

For that you're willing to pay $30?

Side note. As fuel prices stay high, the costs are being passed on and are inflationary in the US economy. The US Postal Service just announced an 8% rate surcharge due to its increased fuel costs. The next package you ship via USPS, will cost you 8% more than it did a month ago. So you're not just paying $30. Now you're paying $30 plus 8% extra for shipping. And if fuel prices drop, how quickly will USPS lower their rates (if ever)?

As businesses of all types see their fuel costs and shipping costs increase, they will have no choice but to increase their prices for the goods and services they offer.

Finally, as inflation fires up and gains momentum through November, how many voters are you going to convince to vote Republican by telling them about Obama's fuel policy long ago?

 

[ATeam]

That managed corridor needs a new manager.

Yet the corridor remains firmly in Iranian control. That's one of the remarkable things we've learned about Iran in the last month. They anticipated and prepared for these kind of leadership deaths. They have developed a leadership system that persists even with multiple leaders killed. And not only that, when the Supreme Leader was killed, the group that assembled to replace him were mostly killed too. And even after that, the third tier are being killed. Yet leaders keep stepping in to fill the voids and their government remains intact.

 

[ATeam]

Trump's Fuel Actions

In recent weeks, Trump has taken the following actions affecting oil and gas prices:

• Issued emergency waiver allowing year-round sale of E15 gasoline (said to expand supply, lower price at pump)
• Issued emergency waiver of Jones Act (allows foreign ships to transport oil between US ports, said to relieve bottlenecks)
• Release 172 million barrels of oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve (said to increase supply)
• Waived sanctions on the sale of Russian oil (said to increase supply)
• Waived sanctions on the sale of Iranian oil (said to increase supply)
• Waived sanctions on the sale of Venezuela oil (said to increase supply)
• Streamlined federal permitting for energy infrastructure (longer term play to increase supply)
• Issued executive order that opens federal lands for drilling (longer term play to increase supply)

Illegally and unconstitutionally started a war with Iran which resulted in the

• Closure of the Straight of Hormuz
• Destruction of refineries, gas processing plants, and pipelines) in nine nations.
• Extended down time (some facilities will be offline 3-5 years, specialized refinery components are not easily replaced)
• Increased repair costs, currently estimate is $25 billion (adds to the price of crude)

Net Effect:

• US gas prices have increased $1.00 per gallon.
• US diesel prices have increased $1.67 per gallon
• Brent Crude oil price has increased 56.0% ($111.00 at the moment)

Short Story:

Trump blew up the house with a bomb, and he's trying to make things better with a feather.

 

[ATeam]

Why Don't the Markets Understand?

On Thursday, regarding Iran war, Trump posted on Truth Social, "Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

A Trump fan who believes Trump might wonder, if talks are ongoing and going well, why don't the markets understand? Why is oil higher than anytime since 2022, and why are the stock markets crashing?

The answer is the markets understand something Trump fan's don't. They understand Trump is lying. No talks are underway. Trump may think and say otherwise, but the talks he perceives are imaginary, running freely in Trump's declining brain. In the real world, there are no talks.

In the real world, the markets (and everyone who buys gas) also understand the effects of this war. They can be seen in the US and global economy.

Worse still, it no longer appears this war will end soon. The markets are orienting themselves to that as well.

 

[Ragman]

Why Don't the Markets Understand?

Worse still, it no longer appears this war will end soon. The markets are orienting themselves to that as well.

November can't come soon enough. At that point when the Dems retake the house and senate, impeachment, trial and removal from office can finally commence.

 

[Ragman]

Sharpie Pens

I want everyone to take a moment and think about what the Republican Party and conservative media would be saying today about Joe Biden’s mental decline and competency if he had spent five minutes rambling incoherently about Sharpie pens in the middle of an important discussion about the war in Iran.

 

[ATeam]

History Repeating Itself

When Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election, he did so as the first president of the Republican Party, which had risen specifically to fill the vacuum left by the collapse of the Whig Party. The Whigs had been one of the two major parties in the United States (alongside the Democrats), but they effectively disintegrated in the mid-1850s.

While the Whig Party evaporation into nothingness was not instant, it did not take long. With their self-induced three-year implosion, the Whigs reduced themselves from a major national power to total obsolescence.

While the issues at hand are different, I believe we are seeing a similar process with the Republican Party today.

I could be wrong about this but my sense is the Republican Party will evaporate into nothingness. The Democrats will drift further left. An inspirational centrist will spearhead the rise of the Republican Party's replacement, and those who cannot find a home in either party will find solace in their Trump Bibles, Klan robes, and secret meetings in the woods.

I believe this will be part of the larger trend long underway. The American Century (1900's) is giving way to the China Century (2,000's). The American Empire (hegemony) is fading like the British Empire did in in early 1900's. The white race in the US is on its way to becoming a minority population as immigration and birth-rate trends continue.

America will be great in the years ahead, but in a different sense than the red hats express now. Democracy will prevail and the people will be free.

 

[ATeam]

Sharpie Pens

I want everyone to take a moment and think about what the Republican Party and conservative media would be saying today about Joe Biden’s mental decline and competency if he had spent five minutes rambling incoherently about Sharpie pens in the middle of an important discussion about the war in Iran.

I had to look that one up. My first response was, "Unbelievable!" But after a moment of thought, it's very believable because it comports perfectly with Trump's cognitive decline (dementia) . His sarcopenia symptoms are increasingly evident as well. The man is feeble. He can no longer get into or rise from a chair without using his hands and arms. If a standard sit-to-rise test was given, he would fail it.

The list grows:

• Age 79
• Sarcopenia
• Dementia
• Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
• Hypercholesterolemia (High Cholesterol)
• Actinic Keratosis
• Obesity

Aspirin Clue: A daily 325 mg dose of aspirin is a high-strength regimen. In clinical practice, this is rarely "preventative" for a 79-year-old with no history; it is typically a secondary prevention measure used after a stroke or a significant cardiovascular event to prevent a recurrence.

Gait and Grip: Independent neurologists often highlight his "forward lean" and the way he sometimes uses two hands to lift a glass or "brackets" his movements; a loss of proprioception or motor control consistent with cerebellar or vascular decline.
Facial Asymmetry:

Fallen Face: (or drooping eyelid) seen in high-definition captures is frequently compared to Bell’s Palsy or, more seriously, residual weakness from a minor stroke.

Pitting Edema: The visible "indentations" or heavy swelling in his ankles (often visible over the tops of his shoes) is frequently linked by outside doctors to congestive heart failure or advanced kidney issues, rather than just "vein issues."

Phonetic Stretching: The tendency to elongate or "slur" certain consonants at the end of long speeches is often cited as a sign of muscle fatigue in the face or a neurological "short circuit."

Loss of Executive Complexity: His vocabulary has shifted toward more repetitive, superlative-heavy structures. Sociolinguists sometimes track this as a compensatory mechanism for a shrinking active vocabulary.

In 2024, Trump was a candidate for president. In 2026, he is a candidate for removal from office under the 25th Amendment.

 

[Pilgrim]

I had to look that one up. My first response was, "Unbelievable!" But after a moment of thought, it's very believable because it comports perfectly with Trump's cognitive decline (dementia) . His sarcopenia symptoms are increasingly evident as well. The man is feeble. He can no longer get into or rise from a chair without using his hands and arms. If a standard sit-to-rise test was given, he would fail it.

The list grows:

• Age 79
• Sarcopenia
• Dementia
• Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
• Hypercholesterolemia (High Cholesterol)
• Actinic Keratosis
• Obesity

Aspirin Clue: A daily 325 mg dose of aspirin is a high-strength regimen. In clinical practice, this is rarely "preventative" for a 79-year-old with no history; it is typically a secondary prevention measure used after a stroke or a significant cardiovascular event to prevent a recurrence.

Gait and Grip: Independent neurologists often highlight his "forward lean" and the way he sometimes uses two hands to lift a glass or "brackets" his movements; a loss of proprioception or motor control consistent with cerebellar or vascular decline.
Facial Asymmetry:

Fallen Face: (or drooping eyelid) seen in high-definition captures is frequently compared to Bell’s Palsy or, more seriously, residual weakness from a minor stroke.

Pitting Edema: The visible "indentations" or heavy swelling in his ankles (often visible over the tops of his shoes) is frequently linked by outside doctors to congestive heart failure or advanced kidney issues, rather than just "vein issues."

Phonetic Stretching: The tendency to elongate or "slur" certain consonants at the end of long speeches is often cited as a sign of muscle fatigue in the face or a neurological "short circuit."

Loss of Executive Complexity: His vocabulary has shifted toward more repetitive, superlative-heavy structures. Sociolinguists sometimes track this as a compensatory mechanism for a shrinking active vocabulary.

In 2024, Trump was a candidate for president. In 2026, he is a candidate for removal from office under the 25th Amendment.

Are there any credible medical sources for any of the above claims? The high dosage Aspirin assertion is totally false.

Donald Trump's most recent medical examination results

Executive Summary President Donald J. Trump’s most recent publicly described medical examination, released via a White House physician memorandum on April...

factually.co

 

[ATeam]

Are there any credible medical sources for any of the above claims? The high dosage Aspirin assertion is totally false.

You may wish to double check your sources (and your willingness to believe them). I asked Grok, "Is President Trump on a high-dosage aspirin regimen? If so, how is that known?"

Grok's Reply:

Yes, President Donald Trump takes 325 mg of aspirin daily, which is considered a high dose (often called "adult-strength" or full-dose aspirin) compared to the typical low-dose "baby aspirin" of 81 mg commonly used for cardiovascular prevention.

This is publicly known primarily from:Trump's own statements: In a January 2026 interview with The Wall Street Journal, he discussed taking the "larger one" (325 mg) rather than the smaller dose his doctors prefer, explaining that he has done so for about 25 years because he wants "nice, thin blood pouring through my heart" to prevent thick blood and reduce heart risks. He linked it to visible bruising on his hands (which he sometimes covers with makeup) and noted he is "a little superstitious" about continuing the habit despite medical advice. He has repeated similar comments in other settings, such as a press gaggle and a New York Times interview.

Confirmation from his physician: Navy Capt. Dr. Sean Barbabella (Trump's doctor) stated that the president takes 325 mg daily "for cardiac prevention" or "to maintain his exceptional cardiovascular health."

 

[ATeam]

Are there any credible medical sources for any of the above claims?

About Trump's sarcopenia, I can cite a few credible medical sources that say Trump suffers this condition. They are on YouTube and they have the requisite professional credentials (MD, Dr. of Physical Therapy, etc). But instead of that, let me say I don't have to be a certified meteorologist to tell you it's raining.

As a gym owner who regularly helps older people increase their strength, and gauges that strength with a clinical-grade body composition analyzer, I am well-acquainted with sarcopenia (age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength). By observing the progress our clients make under their trainer's coaching, and by my own experience as a competitive powerlifter, I know how to slow and even reverse sarcopenia effects (measured by time and the amount of barbell weight lifted, I am six years older and significantly stronger now than I was when I started my strength training).

When I see Trump on TV steadying himself by grasping the podium, and using his hands and arms to get into or rise out of a chair, I can tell you for a fact that there is no way Trump could pass the sit/stand test that is sometimes used to gauge an elderly person's strength. Because he does not work out to build his strength (resistance training), Trump is literally wasting away.

I have several 80+ year-old women in our gym who can outperform Trump in any athletic move and most if not all activities of daily life (like rising from a chair, standing on one foot, walking a mile, bending over to pick up a dropped pen, etc.). Compared to them, 79-year-old Trump is a weak, fat, deconditioned, unbalanced, limited-mobility blob.

Mentally and physically, Trump is a frail old man, growing more so every day.

 

[Ragman]

Hypocrisy at its finest

Let's all take a moment to imagine a different world where Kamala Harris won the 2024 election, then went on to make the same decisions Donald Trump has made that have created the dumpster fire we're all currently witnessing.

Do you think Trump, the GOP, and the conservative media would be defending her if...

She started a war with Iran she promised she wouldn't launch, leading to $100 oil and $4 gasoline.

We saw her literally roll out a red carpet for Vladimir Putin on American soil, then repeatedly set deadlines he completely blew off and ignored, all while the war in Ukraine raged on, making her look weak and pathetic.

She publicly celebrated the passing of someone she viewed as a political opponent.

2025 saw the weakest year for job growth in years.

Her war in Iran led to the U.S. military accidentally hitting and taking the lives of nearly 200 children who were in school.

She called for help from our allies, and they were blowing her off and mocking her.

She had allowed the Strait of Hormuz to get blocked because she apparently had no plan for such a possibility after starting her war.

Her DOJ was actively trying to protect potential child predators in the Epstein files.

The government was in the middle of another shutdown, just months after the longest in history, where her own party was admitting she's the person keeping it from being over.

Inflation was no better than when she first took office.

GDP growth was spiraling toward a recession.

A report came out showing that her main economic platform cost the average American family nearly $2,000 more last year.

The national debt was growing at a record rate.

Her net worth had grown by more than $2 billion since she took office.

Does anyone reading this think Trump, the GOP, and the conservative media — who are all defending everything I just listed that's linked to this president — would be defending these events happening under a Harris administration?

Absolutely f*cking not, and anyone who says they would is a liar. I have absolutely zero doubt that Republicans would be calling for her impeachment and possible imprisonment, while launching more investigations into her and the people working for her than we've ever seen Congress pursue.

And, hey, I'm not here to say that some Democrats wouldn't showcase their hypocritical side by trying to defend her had she been incompetent and corrupt enough to be involved in everything I just listed above. I'm sure a few would.

But I also know there's a hell of a lot more integrity among Democrats, such that if she were involved in all of that, there would be a sizeable chunk of the Democratic Party openly criticizing her, her policies, her decision-making, and seriously questioning whether they made a huge mistake in supporting her.

But not Republicans. All of this is perfectly acceptable for these shameless hypocrites. Because, as I've said before, these are people with no values, principles, morals, or beliefs — it's a cult of personality led and controlled by one person, Donald J. Trump.

And no matter how low he stoops, or how often he proves what a lowlife piece of human garbage he is, they're never going to stand up to him and hold him accountable for a damn thing.

Yep, hypocrisy at its finest.

 

[muttly]

Are there any credible medical sources for any of the above claims? The high dosage Aspirin assertion is totally false.

Donald Trump's most recent medical examination results

Executive Summary President Donald J. Trump’s most recent publicly described medical examination, released via a White House physician memorandum on April...

factually.co

Apparently we have medical “experts” in here as well as “expert”political pontificators.