The world in flux and Trump’s role in a new equilibrium – Stephen Kotkin Lecture – Apr 25

The insanity, cuelity, and incompetence of Trump on the global stage is pushing forward a global transition that needed to happen. Europe needs to pay its fair share to defend itself and the world can’t continue to let China take advantage of the system. The U.S. led world order is undemocratic and deeply flawed, but what is the alternative?

The Biden administration went to Europe and asked if war breaks out in the Pacific, are you with us? Europe said no. Yet, they expect the U.S. to protect them from Russia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtgWytCmulg

ICE ordered to pause most raids on farms, hotels and restaurants

“U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has directed immigration officials to largely pause raids on farms, hotels, restaurants and meatpacking plants, according to an internal email reviewed by Reuters, a senior Trump official, and a person familiar with the matter.

The order to scale back U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids came from Trump himself, the person familiar with the matter said, and appears to rein in a late-May demand by top White House aide Stephen Miller for more aggressive sweeps.”

“The White House pointed to a Trump social media post on Thursday where he said farms and hospitality businesses were concerned the administration’s far-reaching immigration enforcement was taking away “very good, long time workers” and promising changes.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-immigration-officials-told-largely-044100625.html

A Former Israeli Prime Minister on Why the Gaza War Must End | The Ezra Klein Show

What is Israel’s goal in the war against Hamas and Gaza? To keep Netanyahu in power? To convince Palestinians to flee Gaza?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkyGyjvikmU

U.S. Abandons Afghan Allies as Trump Administration Shuts Down Resettlement Programs

“The State Department is eliminating the CARE office and ending the Enduring Welcome program, stranding U.S. allies who risked their lives and were told America would protect them.”

https://reason.com/2025/06/06/u-s-abandons-afghan-allies-as-trump-administration-shuts-down-resettlement-programs/

Police Blew Up This Innocent Woman’s House and Left Her With the Bill. A Judge Says She’s Owed $60,000.

“Years after a SWAT team in Texas destroyed an innocent woman’s home while trying to apprehend a fugitive, the local government will have to pay her $60,000 in damages plus interest, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
That decision may sound like common sense. But the ending was far from guaranteed in a legal odyssey that saw Vicki Baker of McKinney, Texas, left with a dilapidated house—and the bill for the damages—even though she was never suspected of wrongdoing.”

https://reason.com/2025/06/06/police-blew-up-this-innocent-womans-house-and-left-her-with-the-bill-a-judge-says-shes-owed-60000/