Dan Beck 白东明

Today is a good day — any day is a good day — to read and share this February resignation letter from SDNY prosecutor Hagan Scotten to Emil Bove.

It’s the type of thing you show your kids as an example of how to be.

Thousands rally in Malaysia to call for PM Anwar's resignation Thousands of people rallied in the Malaysian capital on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as public discontent grows over rising living costs and allegations of failing to deliver promised reforms.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia…

In the modern era, the US has benefited mightily from “brain drain” from elsewhere…a reversal of that trend would be a major national security issue

Once upon a time the U.S. government needed rocket scientists for its supply of Nazis

Dems should strongly consider impeaching RFK Jr if they take back the House — and maybe should campaign on a pledge to do so

U.S. Marine F-35s Operating on U.K. Carrier HMS Prince of Wales - USNI News U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighters will join Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) on its Pacific deployment, according to the Royal Navy. One F-35B from Marine Fighter Atta...

US-UK interoperability is good, but the US, UK, Australia, ROK and Japan naval cooperation is better. We must continue to celebrate these accomplishments and preserve the military’s ability to be beyond politics.

Navy Inks New Logistics Deal with Japan, Australia - USNI News A new contested logistics deal could make it easier for the U.S. Navy to resupply and rearm warships should a conflict break out in the Pacific. The new logistics blueprint – signed earlier this month...

This is meaningful a good example of how military cooperation can be the glue that helps alliances and partnerships continue to develop despite political currents.

New video with Secretary Hegseth and Stuart Scheller, although briefs well, seems like more from a DoD leadership focused on sustaining the culture wars rather than getting serious about advancing the foundations of our defense

The Epstein situation might be the first thing to undermine Trump seriously if more things get unearthed, and it looks like the White House is doing everything to cover it up and move along. It feels qualitatively different than anything else that's come his way. Who knows.

Japan election: PM vows to stay on despite bruising election loss The result could destabilise Japan's government at a pivotal moment in trade negotiations with the US.

The increasing popularity of the “Japan First” Sanseito Party, and many others, may not bode well for pursuing regional reconciliation central to coalescing against China and may increase the volatility of Japanese domestic politics…I don’t see this as a good thing for our security objectives.

Will the United States Push Europe Toward China? Pressuring Europe with tariffs at such a critical time in EU-China relations could inadvertently lead to furthering China’s strategic advantage relative to Europe and undermine long-term U.S. interest...

Trump is “undermining U.S. long-term strategic interests by potentially reshaping Europe’s relationship with China….A better approach would help empower Europe as it negotiates with China in ways that benefit broader long-term U.S. interests.”

Couldn’t agree more…that is what real leaders do.

Senior staffer Fulcher latest to depart Pentagon. Although anecdotal, a lot of indications and rumor about a poor climate and ineffective leadership from the top of the DOD.

thehill.com/policy/defen...

Obama admin 'manufactured' intelligence to create 2016 Russian election interference narrative, documents show Obama admin officials “manufactured and politicized intelligence" to create the narrative that Russia was attempting to influence the 2016 election, despite information stating otherwise, according to...

Hmmm, purely coincidence that this story dropped right now…

(3rd LD) S. Korea, U.S., Japan reaffirm 'strong' N.K. deterrence in high-level diplomatic talks | Yonhap News Agency (ATTN: ADDS State Department's readout in paras 20-23; RECASTS dateline)By Kim Seung-...

Yes, more of this…while countering the DPRK is an easy mechanism for coordinating amongst the three initially, we need to push the ROK to more actively assert a role in “other regional security threats” alongside the US and Japan.

China likely to allow import of Japanese seafood after 2 years of it being halted…is Beijing slowly extending the olive branch while Washington-Tokyo relations grow increasingly strained?

Maurene Comey's goodbye note to SDNY colleagues:

Trump approval rating down to 41%, according to an Economist/YouGive poll.

Will Trump’s pivot on Putin change the war? Our experts unpack the US president’s turn toward providing military aid for Ukraine and applying economic pressure on Russia.

“Six months into the second Trump administration, the United States and Europe finally seem on the same page with respect to helping Ukraine resist Russian aggression.”…it is great that we have gotten here, but why did it have to take this long and at such cost to US credibility in the long term?

Since April 4, #SCOTUS has issued 15 rulings on 17 emergency applications filed by Trump (three birthright citizenship apps were consolidated).

It has granted relief to Trump ... in all 15 rulings.

It has written majority opinions in only 3.

Today's order is the 7th with no explanation *at all.*

Similarly, by forcing DOJ/Administration representatives to explain decision-making “on the record”, the courts are bringing the Executive’s arbitrariness and superficiality into light…filtering out the smoke and mirrors of the popular narrative space for anyone who wants to see it.

Justice Sotomayor dropping bombs, again. Her opinions are always so well developed, researched, and written…not to mention comprehensive.

Here we go again: Over an acerbic dissenting opinion by Justice Sotomayor (joined in full by Justices Kagan and Jackson), #SCOTUS, with no explanation, grants a stay in the Department of Education RIFs case—effectively clearing the way for the Trump administration to dismantle much of the agency:

“The majority is either willfully blind to the implications of its ruling or naive, but either way the threat to our Constitution’s separation of powers is grave. Unable to join in this misuse of our emergency docket, I respectfully dissent.” Justice Sotomayor continues to staunchly defend reason.

Good example of the importance of maintaining perspective. Despite the President fostering some positive outcomes, don’t lose sight of the Administration (the structure) he is building…one full of under qualified people reliant on his “gut feeling” decision-making. No way to run a country.

Viktor Orban's playbook is admired abroad but weakening at home Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban finds his power under threat, but not in the way one might expect.

Finally, some good news…

Kim Jong Un reaffirms support for Russia's war in Ukraine The North Korean leader pledges backing for Moscow, during talks with Russia's foreign minister.

DPRK is making the most out of the Ukraine War, getting prestige, technology, and real combat experience.

“But with Trump, the goal isn’t to advance facts—much less convince a court. It’s to inject fear and chaos into our institutions and force them to lean in to his advantage.” Concur.

Ukraine to receive US Patriot air defence systems, says Trump The US president says he will sell weapons to Nato, which would then give them to Ukraine.

Good that we are getting back to supporting Ukraine…but, kind of makes the antics of the President’s first couple months regarding Zelenskyy and Ukraine even more unnecessary.