The Morning Sixpack - March 3, 2025
Trump & Vance gang up on Zelenskyy, S. Carolina battles wildfires, and car prices are about to SOAR (#ThanksTrump)
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The Vance-Trump Tag Team: Zelenskyy Ambushed, Putin Cheering
Trump and Vance just pulled off one of the most brazen Oval Office spectacles in recent memory—ambushing Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and driving a wedge between the United States and its European allies.
Instead of extending the hero’s welcome he deserved, they rolled out the red carpet for humiliation, making it crystal clear that “America First” now translates to “America Alone.”
As if that weren’t enough, they’ve hinted at freezing military aid to Ukraine, effectively hitting the snooze button on any deterrence against Vladimir Putin.
“This was worse than mere incompetence. It was a coordinated effort to discredit Zelenskyy and, in so doing, strengthen Moscow’s hand in negotiations.”
Naturally, America’s closest allies are already shifting their game plan.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron showed up in D.C. to present a unified front—only for Trump to mock Ukraine’s fight and broadcast to the entire world that the United States can’t be counted on.
Now Europe is preparing to defend itself without America’s help, and Germany’s next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has no illusions about a White House that seems determined to cozy up to a nuclear-armed adversary.
Turns out, if you spend enough time trashing your allies, they eventually take the hint and move on.
What’s the endgame here?
Instead of bolstering the alliances that have kept America safe for decades, Trump and Vance are feeding Putin’s delusions of grandeur.
Meanwhile, China and other global heavyweights watch gleefully as the U.S. undercuts its own leadership on the world stage.
Supporting Ukraine isn’t just charity—it’s a down payment on the stability that keeps Americans from footing an even bigger bill later.
But hey, if the administration insists on riding solo, let’s hope we don’t all pay the price. But we will!
Source: MDGN
State of Emergency Declared as Wildfires Ravage South Carolina
More than 150 wildfires are tearing through South Carolina, prompting Governor Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency.
Dry, gusty conditions have fueled the blazes, which have also spread across North Carolina and Georgia. By Sunday, over 175 fires had scorched 6.6 square miles, forcing evacuations in multiple neighborhoods. Officials have imposed a statewide burning ban as firefighters work tirelessly to contain the infernos. "The situation remains fluid, and we're throwing every resource we have at it," said a South Carolina forestry official.
In Horry County, soldiers deployed two Blackhawk helicopters to drop water on the flames, while firefighters gained ground in Carolina Forest, where mandatory evacuations had been issued. By late Sunday, residents were allowed to return home, though the Red Cross had already sheltered 135 evacuees.
Meanwhile, North Carolina and Georgia are also battling wildfires. In Polk County, NC, authorities ordered evacuations as firefighters attempted controlled burns to slow the advancing flames. Georgia, too, saw at least six active fires burning nearly six square miles.
Firefighters are hopeful that a cold front arriving Tuesday will bring rain and much-needed relief to the region.
The combination of warm temperatures, dry air, and strong winds—consistent with this season’s La Niña pattern—has created the perfect storm for these devastating wildfires. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the blazes. As the battle continues, residents remain on high alert, bracing for what could be a long and dangerous fire season.
Source: SKy News
I won’t suggest that Trump shouldn’t give South Carolina FEMA relief because I’m not his kind of asshole.
Sticker Shock Incoming: Trump’s New Tariffs Could Jack Up Car Prices by $12,000
Thinking about buying a new car? You might want to act fast. Thanks to Trump’s latest round of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, U.S. car prices could skyrocket by as much as $12,000—because who doesn’t love an extra five figures tacked onto their bill?
A new study from Anderson Economic Group reveals that just building a crossover utility vehicle will cost at least $4,000 more, while electric vehicles could see a price hike three times that amount.
And in case you thought automakers might eat those costs, think again—those increases will be dumped right onto consumers.
The move is set to wreak havoc on the finely tuned automotive supply chains that crisscross North America, with manufacturers scrambling to adjust. The tariffs will slap extra costs on essential parts and materials, meaning everything from your standard SUV to your fancy new EV will come with a much heftier price tag. If you were hoping to snag a more affordable ride this year, good luck—these tariffs are about to make that dream a whole lot pricier.
Consumers, already battling inflation and rising loan rates, now face yet another financial gut punch.
With car prices surging and supply chains in chaos, one thing is certain: Buying a new vehicle is about to become even more painful. Better start scouring Craigslist for a used beater now.
Source: Bloomberg
Warren Buffett weighs in:
Tariffs are actually, we've had a lot of experience with them. They're an act of war, to some degree… Over time, they are a tax on goods. I mean, the Tooth Fairy doesn't pay 'em!
Trump Admin Shrugs at Russian Cyber Threats, Focuses Elsewhere
If you thought the U.S. would keep an eye on Russia’s cyber shenanigans, think again.
The Trump administration has quietly decided that Russian hackers just aren’t a big deal anymore—despite years of election meddling, disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks.
Instead, they’re shifting their focus to China and Iran, leaving Moscow free to do what it does best: wreak havoc online.
"The about-face comes as Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin have increasingly strengthened their ties," notes the report.
Translation: Nothing to see here, folks.
This policy pivot is showing up in multiple ways.
At a recent United Nations working group, the U.S. State Department's Liesyl Franz warned about cyber threats from China and Iran—but conveniently left Russia out of the discussion.
A memo from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency did the same, skipping any mention of Russian hacking threats. And in a particularly bold move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly ordered U.S. Cyber Command to halt all cyber operations against Russia, effectively taking America’s cyber defenses offline when it comes to the Kremlin.
Experts are sounding the alarm, pointing out that downplaying the Russian cyber threat is risky at best, reckless at worst.
But in an administration where priorities seem to shift based on personal relationships, the decision isn’t exactly surprising.
Meanwhile, cybercriminals linked to Putin are likely popping champagne as they celebrate their newfound freedom from U.S. retaliation.
Source: Wired
The SEC Just Rolled Over for Crypto—And the Grifters Are Celebrating
The SEC is dropping its biggest crypto lawsuits faster than a meme coin rug pull.
Since Trump waltzed back into the White House, the agency has gone from aggressive watchdog to enthusiastic lapdog, dismantling its enforcement arm and pausing high-profile cases against Binance, Coinbase, and other crypto giants.
“The dismantling of the SEC enforcement program is mammoth,” said former SEC attorney John Stark. “The radical turnabout that the SEC has undertaken in the last month is truly unbelievable.”
In other words, if you thought crypto was the Wild West before, you haven’t seen anything yet.
The shift isn’t exactly a mystery.
Crypto firms funneled over $150 million into pro-crypto super PACs during the 2024 election, helping to install a Congress stacked with industry-friendly representatives.
Now, the SEC’s "crypto task force" is rewriting the rulebook, promising "freedom to experiment"—which, in crypto-speak, usually translates to "freedom to grift without consequences."
Trump even let the industry help pick its new SEC chair nominee, Paul Atkins, a known crypto sympathizer who believes regulators were too hard on the industry.
Meanwhile, Trump's own memecoin launch—widely criticized as a blatant cash grab—suggests he's not just soft on crypto, he's personally invested.
While the SEC insists it will still police fraud, critics say the new approach all but ensures a free-for-all.
Expect crypto to seep into every financial product imaginable—401(k)s, college savings plans, ETFs, and beyond.
And as for memecoins? The SEC just announced they’re officially out of its jurisdiction.
“The likelihood of the SEC conducting an investigation into a memecoin is slim to none—and slim just left town,” Stark added.
Bottom line: the crypto industry just got a golden ticket, and Trump’s administration is happy to let them cash it in.
Source: Wired
Musk Says "I Agree" to Ditching NATO and the UN—Because Why Not?
Elon Musk, never one to shy away from a headline (or a half-baked geopolitical take), just threw his weight behind the idea of the U.S. bailing on NATO and the United Nations.
Late Saturday, the billionaire tech mogul responded with a simple “I agree” to a MAGA influencer’s post calling for the U.S. to walk away from two of its longest-standing international commitments. Musk didn’t bother to explain why he thinks the U.S. should pull the plug, but let’s be honest—when has elaboration ever been his style?
The timing, however, wasn’t random.
Musk’s comment followed Senator Mike Lee’s recent push to withdraw from both organizations, calling the UN a “platform for tyrants” and arguing that NATO allies don’t really care about the U.S. anyway.
This latest anti-NATO push gained traction after a Norwegian fuel supplier announced it would stop refueling U.S. Navy ships in protest of Trump’s recent confrontation with Zelenskyy.
Never mind that Norway itself, a NATO ally, immediately clarified that it would still support the U.S. military—because who needs facts when you have Twitter (sorry, "shitter") outrage?
Musk has previously complained that the U.S. spends too much on NATO and the UN, questioning why NATO still exists post-Cold War and griping about America footing too much of the bill.
His influence on Trump is no secret—he's an informal adviser and self-styled "efficiency expert" in the administration, despite the White House insisting he holds no official role.
But with Trump already slashing UN funding and threatening NATO members with ultimatums, Musk’s latest endorsement of isolationism is just more fuel for the fire.
Buckle up—this foreign policy ride is about to get even wilder.
Source: NY Post