patternsofpower
@patternsofpower.bsky.social
Assessing the performance of those who hold power
Trump is losing his trade war with Canada. Mark Carney’s Pacific Energy Alliance—uniting Canada, China, and the European Union—may redirect $1.31 trillion in energy investments away from the US www.youtube.com/watch?v=GANW...
1 MIN AGO: Trump LOSES Control — Carney REDIRECTS $780B to China, Alaska FREEZES | Rachel Maddow
YouTube video by USA Daily
www.youtube.com
February 18, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Trump is losing his trade war with Canada. Mark Carney’s Pacific Energy Alliance—uniting Canada, China, and the European Union—may redirect $1.31 trillion in energy investments away from the US www.youtube.com/watch?v=GANW...
Trump's confrontational tactics in deporting immigrants have backfired, leading to a drop in his poll ratings – and now some Democrat States are withdrawing their cooperation apnews.com/article/immi...
Trump is recruiting thousands of local officers to aid immigration effort. Some states are saying no
New laws in some Democratic-led states are forcing local sheriffs to stop cooperating with President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement efforts.
apnews.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Trump's confrontational tactics in deporting immigrants have backfired, leading to a drop in his poll ratings – and now some Democrat States are withdrawing their cooperation apnews.com/article/immi...
Trump's support for Orban will make Ukraine nervous. Orban is pro-Russia and wants Ukraine to surrender as soon as possible so that he can have cheap Russian oil again www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Ahead of Hungary's elections, Rubio says Trump is committed to PM Orban's success
U.S. President Donald Trump is committed to the success of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban because his leadership and rapport with Trump are crucial to U.S. interests, U.S. Secretary of State Ma...
www.reuters.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Trump's support for Orban will make Ukraine nervous. Orban is pro-Russia and wants Ukraine to surrender as soon as possible so that he can have cheap Russian oil again www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Trump has announced that he will start work on Gaza reconstruction by chairing his Board of Peace on Thursday. He makes big claims for it, but international support is patchy apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump says Board of Peace will unveil $5 billion in Gaza reconstruction pledges at inaugural meeting
President Donald Trump says that members of his newly created Board of Peace have pledged $5 billion toward rebuilding Gaza and will commit thousands of personnel to international stabilization and po...
apnews.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Trump has announced that he will start work on Gaza reconstruction by chairing his Board of Peace on Thursday. He makes big claims for it, but international support is patchy apnews.com/article/trum...
Rubio’s language on global security acknowledges partnership with Europe, but he was dismissive of a rules-based world order and he criticised European immigration, trade and climate policies www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Marco Rubio says US and Europe 'belong together' despite tensions
The US secretary of state reassures European leaders that the Trump administration backs the transatlantic alliance.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Rubio’s language on global security acknowledges partnership with Europe, but he was dismissive of a rules-based world order and he criticised European immigration, trade and climate policies www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump is continuing to ramp up deportations, despite the political backlash against ICE. It is also very costly. It is dangerous for political leaders to ignore the public mood, but he feels that he can do no wrong www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
February 13, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Trump is continuing to ramp up deportations, despite the political backlash against ICE. It is also very costly. It is dangerous for political leaders to ignore the public mood, but he feels that he can do no wrong www.reuters.com/world/us/ice...
Trump is contradicting science, whilst claiming to save money by continuing to make dirty cars. He ignores US loss of competitiveness and higher costs of disease. His political stance hurts the economy and people's lives www.axios.com/2026/02/12/e...
EPA abandons the foundation of greenhouse gas rules
It's the Trump administration's most direct effort yet to rip out climate regulations root and branch.
www.axios.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Trump is contradicting science, whilst claiming to save money by continuing to make dirty cars. He ignores US loss of competitiveness and higher costs of disease. His political stance hurts the economy and people's lives www.axios.com/2026/02/12/e...
Attorney General Pam Bondi didn’t answer Congress questions on the Epstein files and her department has not released them all. It’s obvious that she is shielding the rich and powerful, including Trump www.reuters.com/world/us/bon...
US lawmakers accuse Bondi of hiding names of Epstein associates
A Republican U.S. lawmaker on Wednesday accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of concealing the names of powerful associates of the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as she faced ...
www.reuters.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Attorney General Pam Bondi didn’t answer Congress questions on the Epstein files and her department has not released them all. It’s obvious that she is shielding the rich and powerful, including Trump www.reuters.com/world/us/bon...
Trump is threatening to block the opening of a new bridge connecting the US to Canada, even though he had previously approved it. It would benefit the US economy, but he prefers to pursue a damaging trade war news.sky.com/story/why-is...
Why is Trump threatening Canada over a bridge?
The US president launched into a rant about a new bridge connecting Michigan to Ontario, saying he would not allow it to open unless his criteria were met.
news.sky.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Trump is threatening to block the opening of a new bridge connecting the US to Canada, even though he had previously approved it. It would benefit the US economy, but he prefers to pursue a damaging trade war news.sky.com/story/why-is...
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's massive win in Sunday’s election gives her a lot of power. Trump has praised her – but adopting his confrontational style will alienate close neighbour China www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Japan election: Stocks surge as Takaichi secures historic election victory
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party secured 316 out of 465 seats in Sunday's election.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's massive win in Sunday’s election gives her a lot of power. Trump has praised her – but adopting his confrontational style will alienate close neighbour China www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israel's proposed land grab in the West Bank makes a two-state peace solution harder to achieve. Netanyahu is visiting Trump on Wednesday, so the US President could then stop the plan – if he wants to apnews.com/article/west...
Israel's security cabinet approves measures to strengthen control over the West Bank
Israel's security cabinet has approved measures to strengthen control over the occupied West Bank and weaken the powers of the Palestinian Authority.
apnews.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Israel's proposed land grab in the West Bank makes a two-state peace solution harder to achieve. Netanyahu is visiting Trump on Wednesday, so the US President could then stop the plan – if he wants to apnews.com/article/west...
Iran is threatening to attack US bases as a signal that it isn’t impressed by Trump’s armada and negotiating tactics. It isn’t a promising lead-up to diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions: confrontation not negotiation www.reuters.com/world/middle...
If US attacks, Iran says it will strike US bases in the region
Iran will strike U.S. bases in the Middle East if it is attacked by U.S. forces that have massed in the region, its foreign minister said on Saturday, insisting that this should not be seen as an atta...
www.reuters.com
February 7, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Iran is threatening to attack US bases as a signal that it isn’t impressed by Trump’s armada and negotiating tactics. It isn’t a promising lead-up to diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions: confrontation not negotiation www.reuters.com/world/middle...
The Trump brand is becoming toxic. His racist video of the Obamas comes after ICE violence in Minnesota and refusal to release the Epstein material relating to himself. Republicans are beginning to distance themselves from him www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump removes video with racist clip depicting Obamas as apes
The White House defended the post at first, calling to
www.bbc.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 12:10 AM
The Trump brand is becoming toxic. His racist video of the Obamas comes after ICE violence in Minnesota and refusal to release the Epstein material relating to himself. Republicans are beginning to distance themselves from him www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Washington Post has been losing money while newspapers like the New York Times thrive. Under the ownership of Jeff Bezos it has been afraid to criticise Trump; it can no longer be respected as an independent paper www.axios.com/2026/02/05/w...
Washington Post cuts reignite concerns over Bezos ownership
The Post's financial struggles predate Lewis' tenure, but have been compounded by a series of unforced errors over the past two years.
www.axios.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:45 PM
The Washington Post has been losing money while newspapers like the New York Times thrive. Under the ownership of Jeff Bezos it has been afraid to criticise Trump; it can no longer be respected as an independent paper www.axios.com/2026/02/05/w...
Trump has lost his grip on reality. He had understood people’s disillusion with the political class but he doesn't seem to realise that they want to know about his links to Epstein’s rich, powerful and depraved circle www.axios.com/2026/02/04/e...
Trump and Vance differ in their responses to latest Epstein files
While Trump is ready to move on, Vance has signaled willingness to examine some accusations.
www.axios.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Trump has lost his grip on reality. He had understood people’s disillusion with the political class but he doesn't seem to realise that they want to know about his links to Epstein’s rich, powerful and depraved circle www.axios.com/2026/02/04/e...
It seems likely that Iran was probing US capability in drone defence and sending a signal to Trump that it is preparing for combat. Iran could launch swarms of drones in a military confrontation www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Exclusive: US shoots down Iranian drone approaching aircraft carrier, official says
The U.S. military shot down an Iranian drone that "aggressively" approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.
www.reuters.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:05 PM
It seems likely that Iran was probing US capability in drone defence and sending a signal to Trump that it is preparing for combat. Iran could launch swarms of drones in a military confrontation www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Amazon's huge investment in the film Melania is causing the company’s motives to be questioned. The Trump family will benefit by millions – and Amazon has big government contracts. The word ‘bribe’ has been used www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/b...
Amazon’s Promotion of ‘Melania’ Has Critics Questioning Its Motives
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Amazon's huge investment in the film Melania is causing the company’s motives to be questioned. The Trump family will benefit by millions – and Amazon has big government contracts. The word ‘bribe’ has been used www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/b...
The arrest and subsequent release of a 5 year-old boy has shone a spotlight on ICE. There was no “probable cause of a crime”, so a judge released the child. Traumatising a child to meet a deportation quota was both inhuman and illegal www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
Five-year-old boy detained by ICE has returned to Minnesota, lawmaker says
Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father have returned to their home in a Minneapolis suburb.
www.reuters.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:30 PM
The arrest and subsequent release of a 5 year-old boy has shone a spotlight on ICE. There was no “probable cause of a crime”, so a judge released the child. Traumatising a child to meet a deportation quota was both inhuman and illegal www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
Israel repeatedly asserts that Hamas has violated the ceasefire that began in October, but it has killed more than 500 Palestinians in response. Disarming Hamas is important – but so is Israeli withdrawal www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Israeli air strikes kill at least 32 Palestinians in Gaza, rescue officials say
Israel's military confirmed the strikes, which come during a ceasefire that Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaking.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Israel repeatedly asserts that Hamas has violated the ceasefire that began in October, but it has killed more than 500 Palestinians in response. Disarming Hamas is important – but so is Israeli withdrawal www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Justice Department is trying to silence journalists who are reporting on the protests against ICE. This breaches the 1st Amendment right to free speech and is just a pathetic attempt to silence criticism of ICE www.axios.com/2026/01/30/d...
Don Lemon arrested after conservative backlash to Minnesota church protest
Lemon was targeted by conservative influencers and politicians after covering the protest.
www.axios.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:06 PM
The Justice Department is trying to silence journalists who are reporting on the protests against ICE. This breaches the 1st Amendment right to free speech and is just a pathetic attempt to silence criticism of ICE www.axios.com/2026/01/30/d...
Trump’s capricious weaponising of tariffs has destroyed trust in the US as a trading partner (probably permanently). Britain and others are talking to China, and the EU is also striking huge trade deals with South America and India www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...
Britain and China hail reset in ties as Starmer seeks 'sophisticated' relationship
Britain and China hailed a reset in relations on Thursday, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping pledged greater cooperation on trade, investment and technology to the mutual bene...
www.reuters.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Trump’s capricious weaponising of tariffs has destroyed trust in the US as a trading partner (probably permanently). Britain and others are talking to China, and the EU is also striking huge trade deals with South America and India www.reuters.com/world/uk/bri...
Trump's headline-grabbing military deployment to Iran may be to distract from politics at home, or to please Israel, but Iran will resist. Patient diplomacy would be a better approach than threats of violence www.axios.com/2026/01/28/t...
Trump warns Iran "time is running out" for talks, threatens "far worse" attack
"As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL!"
www.axios.com
January 28, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Trump's headline-grabbing military deployment to Iran may be to distract from politics at home, or to please Israel, but Iran will resist. Patient diplomacy would be a better approach than threats of violence www.axios.com/2026/01/28/t...
Trump’s aggression has become a parody of itself. It is astonishing that the White House thought that it was appropriate to post this x.com/WhiteHouse/s...
January 26, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Trump’s aggression has become a parody of itself. It is astonishing that the White House thought that it was appropriate to post this x.com/WhiteHouse/s...
Trump's aggression against Canada now includes the threat of 100% tariffs, and he referred to Carney as ‘Governor’ while showing a map with Canada as the 51st State. Carney remains calmly reasonable however apnews.com/article/carn...
Carney says Canada has no plans to pursue free trade agreement with China as Trump threatens tariffs
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his country has no intention of pursuing a free trade deal with China. He was responding to U.S.
apnews.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Trump's aggression against Canada now includes the threat of 100% tariffs, and he referred to Carney as ‘Governor’ while showing a map with Canada as the 51st State. Carney remains calmly reasonable however apnews.com/article/carn...
ICE agents have killed a third protester in under a month in Minneapolis. Tensions are rising dangerously. Locals strongly oppose ICE – and the Department of Homeland Security ought to be keeping people safe, not attacking them www.axios.com/local/twin-c...
Man fatally shot in federal agent confrontation in South Minneapolis
There have been multiple shootings involving federal agents in the city over the last month.
www.axios.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:02 PM
ICE agents have killed a third protester in under a month in Minneapolis. Tensions are rising dangerously. Locals strongly oppose ICE – and the Department of Homeland Security ought to be keeping people safe, not attacking them www.axios.com/local/twin-c...