ALL Nazis are BAD

·     

 I am an old retired middle class white guy. I work part time delivering pizzas for play money.

 A young white guy came to work recently at the same place I work. I was familiarizing him with his duties. I encouraged him and advised him on how to most effectively perform his assigned tasks.

 He felt we had developed a more intimate relationship than I presumed to exist. Hence, he asked for my views on certain recent public events. His manner was such he apparently assumed I would share his views. He felt the removal of statues of leaders of the Confederacy was an act of disrespect towards heroic men and a promotion of revisionist history.

 Since he asked how I felt, I told him. I made it clear I was familiar with the history of the Civil War posited by both the North and the South. Without regard to either, it being a slavery issue or a state's rights issue there are some facts which are not subject to spin. 

I said personally, my view is a bunch of rich white guys were upset their labor force was threatened. Consequently, their revenue stream was at risk. Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson all chose to swear allegiance to a state other than the United States of America. They then chose to take up arms against their native land and engage in war. They lost.

 I advised I considered them to be traitors and guilty of treason. The statues he referred to were erected to celebrate ideals and individuals I find to be abhorrent to a patriotic American. 

I do not equate patriotism with nationalism. These were men who volunteered to participate in a lost cause for reasons which have been repudiated.

 I volunteered that I also would never support any individual or group which identifies with the ideology of Hitler nor WWII's National Socialist party.

 I told him ALL Nazis are bad. 

Apparently he no longer felt working with me would be appropriate.

Whaduyathink?

Promise Hope/Deliver Betrayal. Business as Usual/WAD

Here are some comments from Donald J Trump as both candidate and President. 

‘I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid. Huckabee copied me.’

“I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.” 

 "Save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security without cuts. Have to do it," 

“Republicans will protect Medicare for our great seniors who have earned it.”

A few days before Election Day, he suggested that Hillary Clinton wanted to “destroy” Medicare, the public health-care system for the elderly, which she had vowed to expand, and claimed that he alone would “protect” it.

Major Savings and Reforms, Fiscal Year 2020,

Even with a booming economy, excluding Social Security and Medicare spending and revenues, the Federal Government is still running a net deficit of $608 billion.

National debt as % of GDP

2016 105%

2017 104%

2018 107%

At Whitehouse.gov as part of the Trump administration budget proposal it shows the % of debt to GDP to be 106.1%.  If you actually do the calculation from the real numbers, it is 107.1%.  For 2019 and 2020 it is projected to be 107.0% and 107.4% respectively.

He, DJT/POTUS, has repeatedly said he would not make cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  He has been believed because people want to believe things that comfort them, validate their cultural biases. or bring them hope.  Mexico will pay for the wall., Everybody can now feel much safer than the day I took office. There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.  Save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security without cuts. Have to do it. 

Here’s the deal; the President of the United States will tell you whatever he thinks you want to hear while acting in any manner he perceives to be most advantageous to himself and the United States’ other oligarchs.  He will lie and mislead while seeking to enrich himself.  Your lack of access to health care, a life of dignity, or a social safety net is of no consequence to him.  If you still think POTUS is anything other than a lying narcissistic coward there is a technical term for you that I can only provide upon request.

Following is a summary of the proposed budget from the Trump Administration just for Medicare and Medicaid.  The numbers presented are representations of millions.  The minuses are cuts.  Do not be misled by their characterization as “savings” and “efficiencies”.  They are projections for the next 10 years. 339,180,000,000, that’s 339 billion 180 million to be cut just from Medicare.  That figure is not even comprehensive.  It is discernible just from glancing at a few charts available via Whitehouse.gov.  Some of them are provided below.  I know, it’s hard to believe but I didn’t just find a meme that supported my views or an MSM source that conformed to them.  You too can actually get your information from principals rather that talking heads or pundits who make you feel validated and comfortable.  There are many hundreds of billions more that are being eliminated from America’s primary social nets.  This includes the big 3, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.   When the proposed budget talks about any increases it is based on the rate of inflation.  Trump and his cronies are speaking of the national rate of inflation, not the increase in health costs.  There is a huge difference.  Over the past decade the rate of inflation for the U.S. has ranged from 0.7% to 3.0% Since 2007, health care prices have increased by 21.6%.  The faster you run, the farther behind you get   Although the majority of Americans rely on these to some extent, those who possess most of the wealth, thereby access to and influence of policy/budget makers, do not.  However, these non-users will spend a lot of money to cut your benefits derived from a social contract to help offset the deleterious effect of THEIR substantial benefit from the most recently implemented tax cut.

The Budget proposes to reduce wasteful spending and incentivize efficiency and quality of healthcare in Medicare, extending the solvency of the program for America’s seniors consistent with the President’s promise to protect Medicare.  Tying future growth to inflation growth; the Budget also reduces Medicare’s spending on beneficiaries’ unpaid cost sharing obligations, consistent with private sector business practices.  The Budget proposes to expand seniors’ personal control and introduce more consumer power into the healthcare market by allowing Medicare beneficiaries to make tax-deductible contributions to HSAs associated with high deductible health plans offered by their employers or Medicare Advantage plan.  The numbers below represent millions.

Medicare: Eliminate cost-sharing on generics–70 –90 –100 –90 –90 –110 –110 –130 –140 –350 –930

Exclude manufacturer discounts from the calculation of beneficiary out-of-pocket costs in the Medicare Part D coverage gap–3,120 –5,260 –6,830 –8,230 –9,860 –9,170 –9,910 –11,590 –10,760 –23,440 –74,730

Establish a beneficiary out-of-pocket maximum in the Medicare Part D catastrophic phase 780 1,860 1,930 1,740 1,620 1,220 1,450 2,210 1,220 6,310 14,030 Give the Secretary authority to contract with pharmaceutical manufacturers entering into new coverage gap discount program agreements on a quarterly basis 3 ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... Permanently authorize a successful pilot on retroactive Medicare Part D coverage for low-income beneficiaries–20 –20 –20 –30 –30 –30 –30 –40 –40 –40 –120 –300

Eliminate pass-through payments for drugs, biologicals, and biosimilars–150 –280 –320 –350 –400 –440 –490 –550 –610 –680 –1,500 –4,270

Summary Tables Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Medicare–170 –2,710 –3,830 –5,380 –7,010 –8,800 –8,580 –9,160 –10,160 –10,400 –19,100 –66,200 Medicaid: Clarify authorized generic sales under the Medicaid Drug Rebate program–15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –15 –75 –150

Test allowing State Medicaid programs to negotiate prices directly with drug manufacturers and set formulary for coverage–5 –15 –25 –35 –40 –45 –50 –60 –65 –70 –120 –410

Exclude brand name and authorized generic drug prices from Medicaid Federal upper limit–90 –90 –100 –100 –100 –100 –100 –100 –100 –100 –480 –980 C

Clarify definitions under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to prevent inappropriately low manufacturer rebates–26 –26 –27 –32 –32 –37 –38 –38 –43 –48 –143 –347

 Allow rebates on drugs that exceed 100 percent of the Average Manufacturer Price

Total, Medicaid ............................... ......... –136 –146 –167 –182 –187 –197 –203 –213 –223 –233 –818 –1,887

Total, drug pricing and payment improvements ................................. ......... –381 –2,941 –4,092 –5,662 –7,297 –9,117 –8,913 –9,518 –10,548 –10,778 –20,373 –69,247

Allow States to extend Medicaid coverage for pregnant women with substance use disorder to one year postpartum 25 20 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 120 245

 Total, address opioids 25 20 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 120 245

Medicare Appeals: Improve the Medicare appeals system

Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—

Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029

Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029 Address wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse in Medicare: Improve and tailor the way Medicare educates beneficiaries about the program 40 60 70 70 70 70 70 70 80 80 310 680 Eliminate arbitrary thresholds and other burdens to encourage participation in advanced Alternative Payment Models 3–350 –350 –240 100 220 60 20 50 90 120 –620

Consolidate and block grant graduate medical education payments–790 –1,240 –2,110 –3,090 –4,030 –5,110 –6,120 –7,220 –8,440 –9,710 –11,260 –47,860

Modify payments to hospitals for uncompensated care–6,030 –7,540 –8,620 –9,670 –10,780 –11,940 –13,180 –14,460 –15,790 –31,860 –98,010

Reduce Medicare coverage of bad debts–410 –1,390 –2,940 –3,920 –4,250 –4,520 –4,810 –5,100 –5,420 –5,750 –12,910 –38,510 120

Summary Tables Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—

Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Address excessive payment for postacute care providers by establishing a unified payment system based on patients’ clinical needs rather than the site of care–1,210 –2,880 –5,000 –7,670 –10,470 –12,280 –13,440 –14,700 –16,570 –16,930 –27,230 –101,150

Authorize long-term care hospital site neutral exceptions criteria–530 –820 –890 –950 –1,000 –1,060 –1,120 –1,150 –1,210 –1,270 –4,190 –10,000

Pay all hospital-owned physician offices located off-campus at the physician office rate–1,100 –2,010 –2,220 –2,460 –2,720 –2,990 –3,280 –3,600 –3,940 –4,340 –10,510 –28,660

Pay on-campus hospital outpatient departments at the physician office rate for certain services–4,670 –8,600 –9,670 –10,870 –12,170 –13,580 –15,170 –16,940 –18,840 –20,890 –45,980 –131,400 Redesign Expand basis for beneficiary assignment for Accountable Care–10 –10 –10 –10 –10 –10 –10 –10 –30 –80 Reform and expand durable medical equipment competitive bidding–390 –690 –740 –795 –855 –910 –985 –1,045 –1,110 –2,615 –7,520 Support coverage for innovative alternatives to durable medical

Clarify the Part D special enrollment period for dually eligible beneficiaries–20 –20 –10 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –30 –30 –90 –210

BUDGET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 121 Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Give Medicare beneficiaries with high deductible health plans the option to make tax deductible contributions to Health Savings Accounts or Medical Savings Accounts 601 1,066 1,287 1,492 1,597 1,682 1,764 1,825 1,283 4,446 12,597

Expand prior authorization to additional Medicare fee-for-service items at high risk of fraud, waste, and abuse–430 –510 –540 –570 –610 –640 –680 –720 –760 –800 –2,660 –6,260

Prevent fraud by applying penalties on providers and suppliers who fail to update enrollment records–2 –2 –3 –3 –3 –3 –4 –4 –4 –4 –13 –32

Pass Treasury collection fees for CMS overpayment collections onto debtor  –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 –100 –200 37,486 –43,986 –50,141 –55,752 –61,765 –68,754 –75,171 –145,312 –456,895

122 Summary Tables Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Address wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid: Strengthen CMS’s ability to recoup Medicaid improper payments–100 –430 –460 –490 –520 –550 –590 –620 –660 –1,480 –4,420

Continue Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) allotment reductions–6,510 –6,490 –6,470 –6,450 ......... –25,920

Provide flexibility for enrolling out-ofState providers in Medicaid 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 9 Streamline the Implement pre-payment controls to prevent inappropriate personal care services payments–700 –730 –760 –800 –840 –880 –920 –970 –1,010 –1,060 –3,830 –8,670

Rescind remaining balances from the Medicaid Improvement Fund ........... ......... ......... –6 ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... –6 –6

Total, address wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid–700 –835 –1,189 –1,259 –1,329 –1,399 –7,979 –8,049 –8,099 –8,169 –5,312 –39,007

Other Medicaid reforms: Implement Medicaid community engagement requirement–8,300 –10,900 –11,500 –12,100 –12,800 –13,500 –14,200 –14,900 –15,700 –16,500 –55,600 –130,400

Allow States to apply asset tests to Modified Adjusted Gross Income standard populations–50 –100 –200 –210 –230 –240 –250 –260 –280 –290 –790 –2,110

Reduce maximum allowable home equity for Medicaid eligibility–570 –610 –650 –690 –730 –780 –820 –870 –930 –2,520 –6,650

Require documentation of satisfactory immigration status before receipt of Medicaid benefits–190 –190 –200 –210 –220 –230 –250 –260 –270 –290 –1,010 –2,310

Increase limit on Medicaid copayments for non-emergency use of emergency department–60 –120 –120 –130 –140 –140 –150 –160 –170 –360 –570 –1,550

BUD GET OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 123

Table S–6. Mandatory and Receipt Proposals—Continued (Deficit increases (+) or decreases (–) in millions of dollars) 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Totals 2020–2024 2020–2029

Total, other Medicaid reforms ........... ......... –8,600 –11,880 –12,630 –13,300 –14,080 –14,840 –15,630 –16,400 –17,290 –18,370 –60,490 –143,020.

Whaduyathink?

Birds of a feather. Real tyrants and a wannabe.

    The following is a compilation of quotes which reflect the position of the President of the United States with respect to other heads of state.   Unfortunately, it illustrates a propensity of the President to most closely affiliate with and support tyrants and dictators.                 

                                                   Duterte

Trump-"I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem," Trump said, in a transcript of the call, according to the Times report. "Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that."

Duterte has waged a war the drug trade in his country, killing thousands, and alarming human rights groups around the world.

Trump-The New York Times reporting is false. They are a true ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!

 Duterte-"Just because you're a journalist," he said, "you are not exempted from assassination, if you're a son of a bitch."

Trump-There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news. The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out the flame...

Duterte then referred to the traveling pool of reporters as "spies," garnering a hearty laugh from Trump.

     One can only hope they don't injure each other patting themselves on the back in mutual acclaim and support.

                                            Erdogan

Erdogan-"You cannot put women and men on an equal footing.

Trump-"I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn't get there, and she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she's now got the big phony tits and everything." "I'm automatically attracted to beautiful [women] "I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star they let you do it. You can do anything ... Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."

Like minds sharing a common theme.

Trump-"Frankly, he's getting very high marks. He's also been working with the United States. We have a great friendship and the countries, I think we're right now as close as we've ever been, a lot of that has to do with a personal relationship."

     The president's remarks came shortly after Erdogan cracked down on Turkish civil society, the media, and his opponents.

                                                  

                                                  Putin

Trump-"If he says great things about me, I'm going to say great things about him. I've already said, he is really very much of a leader.

 Trump-"He said he absolutely did not meddle in our election. He did not do what they are saying he did.

Trump-"Every time he sees me, he said: 'I didn't do that.' And I believe - I really believe - that when he tells me that, he means it."

It's not like the President of the United States access to information from people or agencies who are sworn to uphold and defend the constitution of the United States as opposed to receiving his information from out greatest foe.  Oh wait, breaking news, "This report includes an analytic assessment drafted and coordinated among The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and The National Security Agency (NSA), "We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election""We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump… these activities demonstrated a significant escalation in directness, level of activity, and scope of effort.

                                       Xi Jinping

Trump- “President for life. No, he’s great. And look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot some day.”

                                       Kim

Trump-“He’s the head of a country, and I mean he’s the strong head. Don’t let anyone think anything different. He speaks, and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.”

     While extolling the virtues of and his admiration for the above, the President is castigating and belittling the historic allies of the United States.

                                     T May

Trump disparaged May's Brexit plan:"I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn't listen to me."

                                   J Trudeau

Trump-PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, "US Tariffs were kind of insulting, and he "will not be pushed around." Very dishonest & weak.

"We're very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don't like their representative very much," Trump said

Trump told reporters he had rebuffed a Trudeau request for a meeting "because his tariffs are too high and he doesn't seem to want to move and I told him "forget about it". "And frankly we're thinking about just taxing cars coming in from Canada."

                                            Merkel

"You, Angela," Trump chided Merkel. "totally controlled by Russia,"

"I think it's something that NATO has to look at," Trump said. "Germany is totally controlled by Russia."

Trump-"The German people are going to riot. The German people are going to end up overthrowing this woman [Angela Merkel]. I don't know what the hell she is thinking."

     The preceding is not derived from any right or left-wing pundits.  Rather, these are the utterances of our current President and those whom he apparently considers to be his cronies. 

     If you cannot recognize this threat to our union for what it is then we are doomed as a country.

Whaduyathink?

Trump/Nobel? BS

Donald Trump in the Rose Garden February 15, 2019

“In fact, I think I can say this: Prime Minister Abe of Japan gave me the most beautiful copy of a letter that he sent to the people who give out a thing called the Nobel Prize.  He said, “I have nominated you…” or “Respectfully, on behalf of Japan, I am asking them to give you the Nobel Peace Prize.”  I said, “Thank you.”  Many other people feel that way too.  I’ll probably never get it, but that’s okay.”

“So Prime Minister Abe gave me — I mean, it’s the most beautiful five letter — five-page letter.  Nobel Prize.  He sent it to them.  You know why?  Because he had rocket ships and he had missiles flying over Japan.  And they had alarms going off; you know that.  Now, all of a sudden, they feel good; they feel safe.  I did that.”

The President of the United States told the American people the Prime Minister of Japan had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.  The Prime Minister of Japan would neither confirm nor deny this claim.  This, in and of itself is not alarming, “The Nobel Committee for the last 50 years has not disclosed who recommended and who was recommended. In line with this policy, I would like to refrain from giving a comment,”.

Japanese media reports, such as The Nikkei, quoting Japanese government sources confirm the submission of the nomination. 

What one might find distressing are additional reports that denote the U.S. government had requested that such a nomination be made. 

Donald Trump has no shame.  His ego requires constant and extraordinary stroking.  This is a man who must be unceasingly validated.  He denies the findings of his intelligence agencies because they do not conform to the perspective he is promoting at any moment.  He is incapable of considering that anyone who doesn’t agree with him and support his view is an honorable human being.  They are only to be denigrated, minimized, and bullied.  He has the bully pulpit and uses it for precisely that purpose.  He has no concept of how to govern, only to dictate and subjugate. 

The majority of the citizens who voted in the last Presidential election had no desire for this man to be our President.  Every day he makes it clear as to why.

Whaduyathink?

National Emergency? Time for some golf.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), hereby declare that a national emergency exists at the southern border of the United States, and that section 12302 of title 10, United States Code, is invoked and made available, according to its terms, to the Secretaries of the military departments concerned, subject to the direction of the Secretary of Defense in the case of the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Also, Donald Trump on February 15, 2019 “I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster,” he said. “I just want to get it done faster, that’s all.”

The first paragraph is from a Presidential Proclamation.  The second is from a televised statement in the Rose Garden.

There is a national emergency or there is not.  The President says there is a national emergency, the President says there is not. 

  “I hereby declare that this emergency requires use of the Armed Forces and,…”

  The President has declared he requires the U.S. military to operate within the domestic borders of the United States to perform civil functions.

Of course, there has never been a case in recorded history where this has gone poorly for the civilian populace.

The current situation at the southern border presents a border security and humanitarian crisis that threatens core national security interests and constitutes a national emergency…. In particular, recent years have seen sharp increases in the number of family units entering and seeking entry to the United States and an inability to provide detention space for many of these aliens while their removal proceedings are pending. 

According to cbp.gov In FY17, CBP recorded the lowest level of illegal cross-border migration on record, as measured by apprehensions along the border and inadmissible encounters at U.S. ports of entry.

Furthermore, there has been a steady decrease in the number of undocumented entrants since the year 2000.  You can see the data provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection 2017 Border Security Report.  In 2000 there were approximately 1.7 million.  In 2017 the number was less than 0.5 million. 

Where is the sharp increase of which the President speaks? 

The President has declared a National Emergency and goes to his resort in Mar-a-Lago. 

When is enough enough?

The above text in red is copied and pasted directly from whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning=southern-border-united states.  Contrary data is provided by government agencies and available to you. 

My opinion is the President of the United States will continue to lie, mislead, and obfuscate like a petulant child whose only desire is to achieve their own personal selfish aims.  However, where a child may throw toys and break things in a fit of pique, the President consumes the treasure and lives of the nation’s citizens.

Whaduyathink?

Yesterday Apples, Today Oranges

Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on current  world wide threats 01/29/19 at 0930 et.
In attendance as witnesses were:
Director Daniel Coats
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
ODNI 
Director Christopher Wray
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI
Director Gina Haspel
Central Intelligence Agency
CIA
Director General Robert Ashley
Defense Intelligence Agency
DIA
Director General Paul Nakasone
National Security Agency
NSA
Director Robert Cardillo
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
NGA

APPLES

     The opening statement was made by Daniel Coats.  The following are excerpts.

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea increasingly use cyber operations... 
China and Russia pose the greatest espionage and cyber attack threats...
China presents a persistent cyber espionage threat and a growing attack threat to our core military and critical infrastructure systems.  
We assess that Russia poses a cyber espionage, influence, and attack threat to the United States and our allies. Moscow continues to be a highly capable and effective adversary, integrating cyber espionage, attack, and influence operations to achieve its political and military objectives. Moscow is now staging cyber attack assets to allow it to disrupt or damage US civilian and military infrastructure during a crisis and poses a significant cyber influence threat...
Russian intelligence and security services will continue targeting US information systems,,,,
North Korea poses a significant cyber threat to financial institutions, remains a cyber espionage threat, and retains the ability to conduct disruptive cyber attacks.
Our adversaries and strategic competitors probably already are looking to the 2020 US elections as an opportunity to advance their interests. More broadly, US adversaries and strategic competitors almost certainly will use online influence operations to try to weaken democratic institutions, undermine US alliances and partnerships, and shape policy outcomes in the United States and elsewhere.
Russia’s social media efforts will continue to focus on aggravating social and racial tensions, undermining trust in authorities, and criticizing perceived anti-Russia politicians. Moscow may employ additional influence toolkits—such as spreading disinformation, conducting hack-and leak operations, or manipulating data—in a more targeted fashion to influence US policy, actions, and elections.

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND PROLIFERATION

North Korea Pyongyang has not conducted any nuclear-capable missile or nuclear tests in more than a year, has declared its support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and has reversibly dismantled portions of its WMD infrastructure. However, North Korea retains its WMD capabilities, and the IC continues to assess that it is unlikely to give up all of its WMD stockpiles, delivery systems, and production capabilities. North Korean leaders view nuclear arms as critical to regime survival.
We continue to observe activity inconsistent with full denuclearization. 
Russia We assess that Russia will remain the most capable WMD adversary through 2019 and beyond, developing new strategic and nonstrategic weapons systems.
China We assess that China will continue to expand and diversify its WMD capabilities.
Iran We continue to assess that Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device. However, Iranian officials have publicly threatened to reverse some of Iran’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments—and resume nuclear activities that the JCPOA limits—if Iran does not gain the tangible trade and investment benefits it expected from the deal. 
 Iran continues to work with other JCPOA participants—China, the European Union, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom—to find ways to salvage economic benefits from it. Iran’s continued implementation of the JCPOA has extended the amount of time Iran would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon from a few months to about one year

TERRORISM

ISIS ISIS still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria, and it maintains eight branches, more than a dozen networks, and thousands of dispersed supporters around the world, despite significant leadership and territorial losses. The group will exploit any reduction in CT pressure to strengthen its clandestine presence and accelerate rebuilding key capabilities, such as media production and external operations. ISIS very likely will continue to pursue external attacks from Iraq and Syria against regional and Western adversaries, including the United States.
ISIS is perpetrating attacks in Iraq and Syria to undermine stabilization efforts and retaliate against its enemies, exploiting sectarian tensions in both countries. ISIS probably realizes that controlling new territory is not sustainable in the near term. We assess that ISIS will seek to exploit Sunni grievances, societal instability, and stretched security forces to regain territory in Iraq and Syria in the long term.
Al-Qa‘ida Al-Qa‘ida senior leaders are strengthening the network’s global command structure and continuing to encourage attacks against the West, including the United States, although most al-Qa‘ida affiliates’ attacks to date have been small scale and limited to their regional areas. We expect that al-Qa‘ida’s global network will remain a CT challenge for the United States and its allies during the next year.
Homegrown Violent Extremists Homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) are likely to present the most acute Sunni terrorist threat to the United States, and HVE activity almost certainly will have societal effects disproportionate to the casualties and damage it causes. 

Additional

Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy The global race to develop artificial intelligence (AI)—systems that imitate aspects of human cognition—is likely to accelerate the development of highly capable, application-specific AI systems with national security implications. As academia, major companies, and large government programs continue to develop and deploy AI capabilities, AI-enhanced systems are likely to be trusted with increasing levels of autonomy and decision making, presenting the world with a host of economic, military, ethical, and 16 privacy challenges. Furthermore, interactions between multiple advanced AI systems could lead to unexpected outcomes that increase the risk of economic miscalculation or battlefield surprise. 
Information and Communications Foreign production and adoption of advanced communication technologies, such as fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks, most likely will challenge US competitiveness and data security, while advances in quantum computing foreshadow challenges to current methods of protecting data and transactions.
Biotechnology Rapid advances in biotechnology, including gene editing, synthetic biology, and neuroscience, are likely to present new economic, military, ethical, and regulatory challenges worldwide as governments struggle to keep pace. These technologies hold great promise for advances in precision medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing, but they also introduce risks, such as the potential for adversaries to develop novel biological warfare agents, threaten food security, and enhance or degrade human performance.

TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME 

Global transnational criminal organizations and networks will threaten US interests and allies by trafficking drugs, exerting malign influence in weak states, threatening critical infrastructure, orchestrating human trafficking, and undermining legitimate economic activity. Drug Trafficking The foreign drug threat will pose continued risks to US public health and safety and will present a range of threats to US national security interests in the coming year. Violent Mexican traffickers, such as members of the Sinaloa Cartel and New Generation Jalisco Cartel, remain key to the movement of illicit drugs to the United States, including heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cannabis from Mexico, as well as cocaine from Colombia. Chinese synthetic drug suppliers dominate US-bound movements of so called designer drugs, including synthetic marijuana, and probably ship the majority of US fentanyl, when adjusted for purity. 
Transnational organized crime almost certainly will continue to inflict human suffering, deplete natural resources, degrade fragile ecosystems, drive migration, and drain income from the productive—and taxable—economy.  Human trafficking generates an estimated $150 billion annually for illicit actors and governments that engage in forced labor, according to the UN’s International Labor Organization.

HUMAN SECURITY 

The United States will probably have to manage the impact of global human security challenges, such as threats to public health, historic levels of human displacement, assaults on religious freedom, and the negative effects of environmental degradation and climate change. Global Health We assess that the United States and the world will remain vulnerable to the next flu pandemic or large scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates of death and disability, severely affect the world economy, strain international resources, and increase calls on the United States for support.  

Environment and Climate Change

 Global environmental and ecological degradation, as well as climate change, are likely to fuel competition for resources, economic distress, and social discontent through 2019 and beyond. Climate hazards such as extreme weather, higher temperatures, droughts, floods, wildfires, storms, sea level rise, soil degradation, and acidifying oceans are intensifying, threatening infrastructure, health, and water and food security. Irreversible damage to ecosystems and habitats will undermine the economic benefits they provide, worsened by air, soil, water, and marine pollution.  Extreme weather events, many worsened by accelerating sea level rise, will particularly affect urban coastal areas in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. Damage to communication, energy, and transportation infrastructure could affect low-lying military bases, inflict economic costs, and cause human displacement and loss of life.  Changes in the frequency and variability of heat waves, droughts, and floods—combined with poor governance practices—are increasing water and food insecurity around the world, increasing the risk of social unrest, migration, and interstate tension in countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Jordan.  Diminishing Arctic sea ice may increase competition—particularly with Russia and China— over access to sea routes and natural resources. Nonetheless, Arctic states have maintained mostly positive cooperation in the region through the Arctic Council and other multilateral mechanisms, a trend we do not expect to change in the near term. Warmer temperatures and diminishing sea ice are reducing the high cost and risks of some commercial activities and are attracting new players to the resource-rich region. In 2018, the minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic was 25 percent below the 30-year average from 1980 to 2010.

REGIONAL THREATS

North Korea Nuclear Ambitions Pyongyang has not conducted any nuclear capable missile or nuclear tests in more than a year, has declared its support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and has reversibly dismantled portions of its WMD infrastructure. However, we continue to assess that North Korea is unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons and production capabilities, even as it seeks to negotiate partial denuclearization steps to obtain key US and international concessions. North Korean leaders view nuclear arms as critical to regime survival, according to official statements and regime-controlled media.
 We continue to observe activity inconsistent with full denuclearization. North Korea has underscored its commitment to nuclear arms for years, including through an order to mass produce weapons in 2018 and an earlier law—and constitutional change—that affirmed the country’s nuclear status. 
Saudi Arabia Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman continues to control the key levers of power in Saudi Arabia, but his simultaneous push for economic and social reform creates potential flash points for internal opposition. Saudi public support for the royal family appears to remain high, even in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Moreover, we assess that the Saudi Government remains well positioned to stifle small-scale protests and discontent; it has preemptively arrested or forcibly detained clerics, business leaders, and civil society activists who could be nodes for discontent. 

Global Ambitions

 Russia’s efforts to expand its global military, commercial, and energy footprint and build partnerships with US allies and adversaries alike are likely to pose increasing challenges. Moscow will continue to emphasize its strategic relationship with Beijing, while also pursuing a higher profile in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We assess that Moscow will continue pursuing a range of objectives to expand its reach, including undermining the US-led liberal international order, dividing Western political and security institutions, demonstrating Russia’s ability to shape global issues, and bolstering Putin’s domestic legitimacy. Russia seeks to capitalize on perceptions of US retrenchment and power vacuums, which it views the United States is unwilling or unable to fill, by pursuing relatively low-cost options, including influence campaigns, cyber tools, and limited military interventions.  
After decades of increased spending to support modernization, Russia’s defense budget is decreasing to about 3.8 percent of GDP in 2019, from a peak of about 5.4 percent in 2016. Because of momentum in military acquisitions, we judge that the budget is normalizing to pre-peak spending levels.

ORANGES

President Trump said Russia does not pose a threat to the United States, contradicting his director of national intelligence on a critical security issue and deepening a political controversy that began at his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump, standing beside Putin after their meetings, suggested he gave equal weight to the Russian leader's denial of election meddling and the conclusion of the U.S. intelligence agencies that the meddling occurred. 

V. Putin "President Donald Trump is “right” to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, ..."

Donald Trump "“There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.”

Donald Trump “This horrible one-sided deal allowed Iran to continue its path towards a bomb and gave the regime a cash lifeline when they needed it most.”

Donald Trump "But we've done an excellent job. We've defeated ISIS. ISIS is defeated in all of the areas that we fought ISIS, ..."

Donald Trump "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! "

Donald Trump " Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago. "

I don't know about you, but I'm sticking with APPLES. The APPLES have over 150 years of legal, military, intelligence and public service experience. In the ORANGE corner we have ALMOST 2 years of public service that has been characterized by hyperbole and lies. Donald Trump claims to know more about everything than anyone. Donald Trump is commended by the leader of Russia, our most capable foe. Donald Trump is a threat to the union. When your enemies support your actions you may actually need to reconsider. This is not something Donald Trump is capable of. Donald Trump mocks the cold that is killing our fellow citizens and asks for the relief of "global warming". Climate change is significant enough it is considered to be a global threat by the APPLES, According to Donald Trump, his entire intelligence apparatus is incapable because they cannot support his flights of fancy, his "natural instinct". He can deny 10's of 1,000's of hours of research and analysis by professionals because, "My gut tells me more than anybody's brain".  Are you effing kidding me?  Who thinks it's a good idea for someone who can initiate the launch of nuclear weapons to actually operate on the basis that his uninformed, self serving, incomplete notions of policy are more valid than verified vetted data?

I am exhausted by his ineptitude.

*highlights added by me