Well, the headline attention on Venezuela’s collapsing democracy provides the tripwire trigger to go deeper into the South America crisis and how it is not rising up organically without geopolitical and ideological connection.  Always remember, in the battle for U.S. sovereignty, there are multiple facets connected to larger and more consequential issues.

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro Moros, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13692, which authorizes sanctions against current or former officials of the Government of Venezuela and others undermining democracy in Venezuela. (more)

♦Venezuela’s democracy is collapsing. ♦Argentina and other South American nations have been engaged by the Trump administration for over six months. ♦President Trump signed pro-active executive orders. ♦Mexico’s economy and political apparatus is infected with corruption. ♦NAFTA is on the cusp of renegotiation. ♦Candidate, now President Trump, proposed a Southern security “Wall”. ♦Believe me, these things are not disconnected, and they are not NEW concerns.

To really absorb some of these geopolitical issues we must analyze specific 2014 events through the reality of prior, more consequential, events.  We must look into the way-back machine. To that end we have read the entirety of:
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A press conference is scheduled for 5:00pm PDT / 8:00pm EDT by the Mayor of Los Angeles and U.S. IOC officials. It appears a deal has been reached for the U.S. to host the 2028 Olympics and the 2024 Olympics will be held in Paris.

(Via USA Today) Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics after the city reached a deal with the International Olympic Committee.

The deal will allow Paris to host the 2024 Games, which had been expected. In waiting four years to host the Games, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee will receive funds from the IOC “in view of the longer planning period” and to support youth sports programs in the city, according to a news release. (more)

Earlier in July President Trump said on Twitter he was “working hard” to bring the Games to Los Angeles, and he met in the Oval Office with Thomas Bach, the president of the I.O.C., to pledge his “full support” at the time.

You might also remember in 2009 former President Barack Obama tried to get the Olympics for Chicago (2016) and even personally traveled to Copenhagen – HE FAILED.
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Against the backdrop of White House Communciations Director Anthony Scaramucci being fired, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivers the White House press briefing for Monday July 31st.
UPDATE: Video Added

President Trump will present his first Medal of Honor to a Vietnam hero today.  Former Specialist Five James C. McCloughan risked his life on nine separate occasions to rescue wounded comrades while serving as a medic in Vietnam.

UPDATE: Video Added

Don’t focus on the waves, look closely at the tide.

You wouldn’t know if you just paid attention to the MSM presentations on developments in China, however internally China has already made the shift from Panda to Red Dragon. Over the past twenty years China has climbed economically driven mostly by massive internal manufacturing bolstered by strong central authority controls over their growth.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) is rarely discussed within most media conversations about China’s economic strength. However, in the face of a U.S. President who is no longer going to enable an erosion of America’s economy, President Trump’s trade policies become a risk to the objectives of Xi Jinping.
Big Panda drops the mask and shows the Red Dragon beneath the surface.
The exhibition of China’s military during a parade last weekend, and the words from China’s President Xi Jinping in combination with their facilitation of N-Korea’s aggression, reflect an increasingly obvious outlook China is preparing for conflict; and the Communist Party of China is rallying the Chinese people with a call for economic patriotism.

CHINA – […] The CPC undertakes noble responsibilities to ensure China’s peace and development, and enable people to realize their dreams. The ambitious responsibilities will be better identified when viewed in a historical context.
The CPC, Chinese government and the military should take on their responsibilities. National cohesion is critical for the people’s wellbeing and country’s competitiveness, yet opposing voices often find favor in diverse public opinions. Hence, having a firm leader is crucial for a power’s comprehensive national strength.

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General John Kelly begins his official duty as White House Chief-of-Staff today with a swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office and full cabinet meeting.

On May 20 Wyatt Patrick entered the world a month before he was scheduled to arrive, and he’s been pushing the limits ever since. He held that beautiful little head up when he was a couple of weeks old, he turned over before he was two months old, and when he does his tummy time he wriggles around trying to move and you can see him try to get those skinny little legs under him.
A few weeks ago a good friend of his father sent him a flag. This is the message his dad sent me with the picture above.

“This flag was flown by the first American forces to enter and assault Raqqa, Syria on 14 June 2017. It was raised to honor and celebrate the birth and lifelong freedom of Wyatt Patrick. OPPRESSORS BEWARE”

There have been a few great surprises along the way with having this little poo machine. The first has been how unbelievably adorable he is wrapped up in those animal towels after a bath. The second has been how incredibly well loved this kid is already by all our friends and family. It’s been humbling, really. This was given to Wyatt by a very great friend of mine, and even better American, that is a part of a fighting force that is truly the tip of the spear. These young men are fighting for a cause they believe in, and this flag represents everything that is great and unique about America. I hope I raise this kid to love the country as much as I do, and half as much as the steely eyed freedom fighter that fought under this flag in the face of our enemies.

As you can see from the picture, the first paragraph is the message written on the flag by the soldier for Wyatt. The next paragraph is the writing of my son, expressing his gratitude, pride, patriotism, and a vow for the future. (more…)

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

President Trump Twitter @POTUS / Vice President Pence Twitter @VP

Sarah H Sanders Twitter @SHSanders45 / Comms: @Scaramucci

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

This is actually a funny video, Mick Mulvaney did great.
Bubble Boy Tapper’s furrowed brow begins deepening when he asks OMB Director Mick Mulvaney if President Trump really means he’s willing to remove the congressional ObamaCare subsidy and Mulvaney responds with a simple: ‘Yep, sure does; and I just happened to talk to him yesterday about this’…
Bubble People never know what to do when ordinary people they are questioning embrace the ugly and and say “yes, bring it on”.  Oh, the indecency….  “Fireworks”!