Grant Rayner
@grantrayner.bsky.social
Multidisciplinary professional based in Asia for 20+ years. Crisis management consultant, author, application developer and bag designer. Passionate about resilience, travel, and photography.
Presidential pardons are a very lucrative revenue stream for Trump.
It was one of the most extraordinary pardons in recent history. How an unusual group of Trump allies helped a convicted cocaine trafficker walk free.
How a Man Convicted of Running a Latin American Narco State Landed a Pardon
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández’s unusual network of Trump allies and MAGA influencers helped deliver an extraordinary pardon to him.
on.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Presidential pardons are a very lucrative revenue stream for Trump.
The Democratic People’s Republic of America
In a post on X tonight, the State Department says it “renamed the former Institute of Peace to reflect the greatest dealmaker in our nation's history.”
“Welcome to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.”
“Welcome to the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.”
December 4, 2025 at 4:23 AM
The Democratic People’s Republic of America
Fox News has a deep bench
So hypothetically, who would replace Pete?
December 4, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Fox News has a deep bench
If you’re concerned about the illegal overt military strikes targeting boats in the Caribbean, remember that there will also be covert activity occurring within Venezuela that’s not making the news. Possibly using military contractors to ensure things stay off the books.
December 4, 2025 at 1:34 AM
If you’re concerned about the illegal overt military strikes targeting boats in the Caribbean, remember that there will also be covert activity occurring within Venezuela that’s not making the news. Possibly using military contractors to ensure things stay off the books.
There’s a non-zero chance Trump actually believes this. His inner circle are feeding him lies to force specific decisions, and he lacks the critical thinking capabilities to determine the truth.
Extraordinarily dangerous.
Extraordinarily dangerous.
Q: If it's found that survivors were actually killed while clinging onto that boat, should Sec. Hegseth, Admiral Bradley, or others be punished?
TRUMP: I think you're gonna find that this is war. That these people were killing our people by the millions, actually.
TRUMP: I think you're gonna find that this is war. That these people were killing our people by the millions, actually.
December 3, 2025 at 11:26 PM
There’s a non-zero chance Trump actually believes this. His inner circle are feeding him lies to force specific decisions, and he lacks the critical thinking capabilities to determine the truth.
Extraordinarily dangerous.
Extraordinarily dangerous.
Russia is already at war with Europe. Has been for a while.
BREAKING: Russia ‘ready’ for war with Europe, Putin has said, per the Guardian.
December 3, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Russia is already at war with Europe. Has been for a while.
Hegseth can do whatever he likes. He’s accountable to no one except Trump.
MORE Breaking on MS NOW: Pete Hegseth refused an interview request for the Pentagon Inspector General's investigation into Signalgate, according to two sources who read and were briefed on report.
Hegseth would not turn over his phone, a source who read the report told MS NOW.
Hegseth would not turn over his phone, a source who read the report told MS NOW.
Breaking on MS NOW: The Signalgate report contradicts Pete Hegseth's claims he did nothing wrong. It shows he "violated policy by using a non-approved device," a source who read the report says.
Hegseth failed to preserve records. The report says he put the operations and service people at risk.
Hegseth failed to preserve records. The report says he put the operations and service people at risk.
December 3, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Hegseth can do whatever he likes. He’s accountable to no one except Trump.
Imagine preparing to fight a major war knowing that no one in the Pentagon has your back.
If Admiral Bradley didn’t realize before that these cowards were setting him up to take the fall, he knows it now. Time to hire a good lawyer.
December 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Imagine preparing to fight a major war knowing that no one in the Pentagon has your back.
I’m not sure the “fog of war” applies to murdering people aboard a small boat in international waters. If he finds this type of operation confusing, I’m not sure he should be the one leading the nation to war.
Q: So you didn't see any survivors after that first strike?
HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
December 2, 2025 at 11:03 PM
I’m not sure the “fog of war” applies to murdering people aboard a small boat in international waters. If he finds this type of operation confusing, I’m not sure he should be the one leading the nation to war.
Hegseth is spineless and unable to stand by his own decisions. The same thing happened when he was criticised for the bombings on Iran.
Hegseth is very transparently blaming a Navy admiral for his own decision. Let this be a lesson for every other military officer: The Trump administration will issue unlawful orders, then blame you for following them.
December 2, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Hegseth is spineless and unable to stand by his own decisions. The same thing happened when he was criticised for the bombings on Iran.
Reposted by Grant Rayner
This is the problem when a leader of a country has no values and no morals. Just the need to enrich themselves and their cronies.
At the center of Trump’s “plan to end the war” is $300B in frozen Russian assets that Russia wants to give US oligarchs for “investment projects”. Any reconstruction of Ukraine would be “US-led”. Witkoff, Kushner and Russians plan to revitalize Russia’s $2T economy through joint Russia-US ventures.
Ukrainian delegation is set to meet with Witkoff, Kushner and Rubio in Florida on Sunday. Reportedly, negotiations will focus on military aid and security guarantees.
It’s vital to note that any final agreement would require the Russian side’s approval [that has not shown any desire for just peace]
It’s vital to note that any final agreement would require the Russian side’s approval [that has not shown any desire for just peace]
December 1, 2025 at 1:23 AM
This is the problem when a leader of a country has no values and no morals. Just the need to enrich themselves and their cronies.
Just pause for a moment and look at this. This post is celebrating murder. Celebrating war crimes.
For those Americans who think this is ok because these people are brown - or because they are from another country - just wait until the guns turn inwards.
For those Americans who think this is ok because these people are brown - or because they are from another country - just wait until the guns turn inwards.
December 1, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Just pause for a moment and look at this. This post is celebrating murder. Celebrating war crimes.
For those Americans who think this is ok because these people are brown - or because they are from another country - just wait until the guns turn inwards.
For those Americans who think this is ok because these people are brown - or because they are from another country - just wait until the guns turn inwards.
At this point, why would anyone from outside the US want to visit the US for a holiday? Why support what this government is doing domestically and abroad?
National parks announce 'America-first' fees for international tourists
The new $100+ price hike will affect 11 popular parks, including the Grand Canyon and Yosemite.
The new $100+ price hike will affect 11 popular parks, including the Grand Canyon and Yosemite.
November 27, 2025 at 5:15 AM
At this point, why would anyone from outside the US want to visit the US for a holiday? Why support what this government is doing domestically and abroad?
Hegseth will love these videos. It’s just like being a real soldier. So fun!
AC-130 gunships lasing targets. Griffin missiles captured fractions of a second before impact. RQ-4 Global Hawk drones filming it all. Seeing beyond the redactions in the Pentagon’s attack videos w/ @docubrent @carolrosenberg @cjchivers www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
What the Pentagon’s Attack Videos Reveal About the Boat Strikes at Sea
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Hegseth will love these videos. It’s just like being a real soldier. So fun!
There are only two options here for Trump: placate her or kill her.
A cache of emails from the longtime Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell shows her prison conditions improving dramatically as a crisis grew for Trump, @isaacstanleybecker.bsky.social reports.
Read more: theatln.tc/fsIQRJDb
Read more: theatln.tc/fsIQRJDb
November 22, 2025 at 1:51 AM
There are only two options here for Trump: placate her or kill her.
Actually, it’s 5,000 years. Some people even say 10,000 years.
Trump: "We actually now have for the first time peace in the Middle East after 3,000 years"
November 22, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Actually, it’s 5,000 years. Some people even say 10,000 years.
Pretty stupid
Fox Business credulously reports that Saudi Arabia is pushing its investment into the US "to $1 trillion." The entire size of the Saudi economy is $1 trillion. How stupid are these people and/or how stupid do they think their viewers are?
November 20, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Pretty stupid
Reposted by Grant Rayner
I think you guys are all underestimating our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. He can ABSOLUTELY lose a war to Venezuela.
September 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I think you guys are all underestimating our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. He can ABSOLUTELY lose a war to Venezuela.
Yep. Exactly this. Could you imagine someone like Hegseth leading an actual war?
no one asked but: I think the most likely coa for military action against venezuela as ordered by this administration is...
... tlams, big explosions, nothing changes, victory declared.
... tlams, big explosions, nothing changes, victory declared.
November 1, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Yep. Exactly this. Could you imagine someone like Hegseth leading an actual war?
It turns out that when there are zero consequences for lies and deceit, you can literally say anything.
Vance: We are inheriting a health care system that has suffered some real problems under the Biden administration and because of that, you're seeing health insurance premiums skyrocket.
incredible.
incredible.
October 30, 2025 at 8:03 PM
It turns out that when there are zero consequences for lies and deceit, you can literally say anything.
This is a very bad indicator of what’s to come.
And actually astonishing when you think about it: The Trump administration's top officials are choosing to separate themselves from the public—more to the point: separate themselves from any visible protest—and live on military bases.
Gift link here: www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Gift link here: www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Top Trump Officials Are Moving Onto Military Bases
Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, and others have taken over homes that until recently housed senior officers.
www.theatlantic.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This is a very bad indicator of what’s to come.
Getting ready for the mid terms.
“.. A top US military official has ordered the national guards of all 50 US states .. to form ‘quick reaction forces’ trained in ‘riot control’, including use of batons, body shields, Tasers and pepper spray, according to an internal Pentagon directive ..”
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
October 29, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Getting ready for the mid terms.
I can guarantee that Trump will try on the crown in private and look at himself in the mirror while he does it.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung plans to present US President Donald Trump with a replica of a gold crown on display at the Gyeongju National Museum as the pair meet Wednesday on the sidelines of the APEC summit
South Korea Plans to Gift Trump Replica Gold Crown During Visit
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung plans to present US President Donald Trump with a replica of a gold crown on display at the Gyeongju National Museum as the pair meet Wednesday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
bloom.bg
October 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I can guarantee that Trump will try on the crown in private and look at himself in the mirror while he does it.
More of this
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken: “If Putin launches a missile at Brussels, we will wipe Moscow off the map.”
October 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
More of this