Giggling Putin Pals Celebrate Trump’s ‘Shocking’ Ukraine Surrender

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/giggling-putin-pals-celebrate-trumps-shocking-ukraine-surrender/

The generosity of President Trump’s unprecedented Ukraine peace proposal has stunned and delighted the Kremlin’s premier propagandists. Instead of the supposed Art of the Deal, they are celebrating President Putin’s “art of the steal.”

On Wednesday, state TV show 60 Minutes broadcast the clips of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on repeat. The Russian networks are thrilled with their words, which carry an enormous propaganda value for the Kremlin. Writer Sergey Strokan marveled, “Who could have imagined this?” Beaming ear-to-ear, host Olga Skabeeva replied, “No one ever—they can’t believe it even now—if you’re talking about Donald Trump. It’s shocking, it really is. Completely incredible!”

Trump criticises Zelensky as Ukraine refuses Russian control of Crimea BBC agrees with NY Post!

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78jx68d922o

Recognising Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea would not only be politically impossible for Zelensky to accept, it would also be contrary to post-war international legal norms that borders should not be changed by force.

He has consistently rejected the suggestion that his country give up its claim to the Crimean Peninsula.

"There's nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution," he said.

Why Ukraine is in an impossible spot with the White House peace deal

 https://nypost.com/2025/04/23/opinion/why-ukraine-is-in-an-impossible-spot-with-the-white-house-peace-deal/

Bottom line: Trump is asking Zelensky to make massive national-security concessions while abandoning hopes of a more realistic treaty and concrete security that might make such concessions strategically tenable — and allow him to try and sell the Ukrainian people on the bargain.

Trump can’t simply blame the war on Joe Biden and wash his hands of responsibility for what happens on his watch.

Trump’s Ukraine Ultimatum

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/russia-ukraine-settlement-donald-trump-ultimatum-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelensky-87eb20b8

The President puts pressure only on one side—not on Russia.

President Trump on Wednesday unleashed another broadside against Ukraine, and his dislike for President Volodymyr Zelensky isn’t news. But what matters to U.S. interests—and Mr. Trump’s Presidency—are the terms of a negotiated settlement. Mr. Trump’s current offer looks more like an ultimatum than grounds for a durable peace.

“We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process,” Vice President JD Vance said from India on Wednesday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded similar notes last week, and by “walking away” the Administration seems to mean abandoning Ukraine to Vladimir Putin’s designs.

Trump will pay a 'heavy political price' if he abandons Ukraine, WSJ editorial board warns

China sees 'world's biggest clown' Trump as most economically incoherent president

Trump now a 'historic failure' in 100 days: WashPo's Milbank on Trump slump & legal losses

‘Trump chickened out’: Chinese social media mocks Trump on trade

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DOGE loses its biggest advocate as Musk exits Washington

 https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/23/elon-musk-doge-trump-00306673

Elon Musk’s claim that his job in Washington is “mostly done” may calm Tesla shareholders — but his departure could sap the Department of Government Efficiency of its disruptive energy even as it continues to make major cuts to the federal workforce.

In an effort to reassure rattled Tesla shareholders after a bruising first-quarter earnings call, Musk told investors this week that his around-the-clock involvement in DOGE will soon be scaled back to just a day or two per week.

Trump’s Faith Adviser Says Women Should ‘Submit’ to Men in Bonkers Rant

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-faith-adviser-says-women-should-submit-to-men-in-bonkers-rant/

President Donald Trump in February signed an executive order establishing a White House Faith Office, pledging to “bring religion back” to the United States and “protect Christians.”

He appointed White, his longtime spiritual adviser, to lead the initiative. The two first connected in 2002, when Trump called her after watching one of her televised sermons.

Hegseth creates makeup studio in Pentagon

 https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5263819-hegseth-makeup-studio-pentagon/

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refurbished a green room as a makeup studio in the Pentagon for high-ranking officials to prepare before on-camera appearances

CBS News reported that the refurbishment cost several thousand dollars, which the Pentagon denied in a post on the social platform X. Officials said they were modest when making the changes to the space.

“For this upgrade we were deliberately conservative and opted for several less expensive, on-hand material solutions that provide the Secretary and other VIPs the needed support and space for on-camera press engagements,” the spokesperson added.

Is This Trump’s Mitterrand Moment?

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/francois-mitterrand-donald-trump-tariffs-trade-economy-markets-7e80c7e9?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

The French President saved his government by giving up socialism. It’s a precedent for tariffs.

President Trump continues to walk back his original tariff assault, and markets are pleased. They rose again Wednesday after Mr. Trump said he won’t fire the Federal Reserve Chairman and is likely to retreat from his highest China tariffs. Is this Mr. Trump’s François Mitterrand moment?

Readers of a certain age will recall how the French Socialist President swept into power in 1981 promising a far left agenda of government control over the private economy. The market reaction was brutal. Within a year he had put socialism on pause and by 1983 he had abandoned most of it. He went on to serve two terms.

Trump slams Zelensky for refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/23/europe/rubio-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-talks-intl-hnk/index.html

President Donald Trump slammed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday for his comments that Ukraine wouldn’t recognize Russian control of Crimea, calling the remarks “very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia.”

“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country,” he posted on Truth Social.

Any move to recognize Russia’s control of Crimea would reverse a decade of US policy and could upset the widely held post-World War Two consensus that international borders should not be changed by force.

Women president of Israel

Igros Moshe (YD II #45) Question You claim that when I questioned the Rambam’s view that all positions of authority are only for men not women and that it was his innovation that this creates a problem in that it justifies appointing a woman president in the Israeli government. Answer  I am not responsible for the conduct of the Israeli government which unfortunately is controlled by heretics who have no interest in what I think in the slightest nor the view of the Rambam nor do they care whether something is permitted or forbidden by the Torah and therefore my views don’t create a problem for them in that they might therefore have a woman president. Nor is there a problem that my view will result in women being elected as presidents of synagogues and organizations in America. That is because they do not do anything without the ruling of a major rabbi and the fact of the Rambam’s ruling is enough to prevent this. For those who have deviated from proper religious observation they have no concern with this at all and we have no responsibility to what they do.  Consequently no problems are created by my ruling.