Hello everyone, welcome to “Current Affairs Scan”. I am Jin Ran. Please subscribe to our channel, support us, like, comment, and share.
Today’s highlights: Border Affairs Director hints at 10,000 Chinese troops infiltrating the U.S.; Trump’s top advisor with special forces background suggests speeding up arming Taiwan; new conflict between Russia and Ukraine begins, Israel aims to destroy Syria.
As a media person specializing in current affairs programs, I actively search for a large amount of news every day, then pick out the most interesting news that I want to discuss further. Sometimes I worry about lacking news to talk about, and recently, what have I been feeling? Since Trump’s election, every day when I wake up and check my phone and computer, it’s like suddenly being in the center of a water fight, with big news hitting me like water splashes, overwhelming.
Yesterday, I discussed Trump’s Eight Titans coming into play, and today, a new batch of tough characters has appeared, guaranteed to impress you.
Before introducing the new members of Trump’s cabinet, it’s important to mention a key factor that will significantly impact Trump’s executive orders and measures – the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. As I mentioned before, the Republican Party, who supports Trump, secured 52 seats in the Senate, gaining a majority from the Democratic Party, while in the House of Representatives, although the Republicans held a majority during Trump’s election, it wasn’t over half at the time. With the current trend, the Republicans should be able to take control of the House of Representatives.
With this, the U.S. election results have settled, with Trump winning the Electoral College, popular vote, and the Republicans taking control of both the Senate and House. Trump’s victory can be considered a resounding success, with the U.S. fully turning red. This means that when Trump officially takes office on January 20th, all his executive orders will likely receive unimpeded support from both chambers of Congress. Trump will essentially have the freedom to carry out his plans without hindrance.
In just one day, Trump has announced several new cabinet picks. Among them are two names from the aforementioned “Eight Titans.” First, Mike Walsh was appointed as the U.S. National Security Advisor. Many Chinese people may be puzzled by the term “advisor,” thinking, why is this advisor so significant when others have titles like ministers? The fact is, it is indeed crucial!
How was this position established? In 1947, the U.S. Congress passed the National Security Act, forming the National Security Council, with the Advisor becoming the top adviser who assists the President in formulating the most critical national security matters.
Perhaps some may ask, what is the relationship between the National Security Advisor and the Secretary of State? Logistically, the Secretary of State oversees the State Department, in charge of diplomatic affairs, often seen traveling to various countries. Both the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor are the President’s top two foreign affairs assistants.
However, in daily work, the National Security Advisor is under the President’s office, focusing more on strategic planning, while the Secretary of State focuses on executing foreign policy. Furthermore, the National Security Advisor generally spends more time by the President’s side, as you might understand!
Now you should understand how crucial this “National Security Advisor” is, hence being included among the “Eight Titans” in the cabinet. So, who is Mike Walsh, identified by Trump as the U.S. National Security Advisor? I’ve noticed that Trump likes people with military backgrounds, and Mike Walsh is a veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces, a unit known as the “Green Berets,” one of the four elite forces alongside the Navy SEALs we often see in movies.
After 9/11, the “Green Berets” were the first to retaliate against the Taliban in Afghanistan, with Walsh being part of this legendary unit. Later, he transferred to the National Guard and served for 26 years, deploying to Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa multiple times, receiving four Bronze Star Medals and holding the rank of Colonel. He just released a new book called “Harsh Truths, Thinking and Leading Like a Green Beret,” and he is currently a Florida state representative, becoming the first Green Beret member elected to Congress in U.S. history.
It seems Trump has recruited another tough character. Walsh recently outlined his vision on how to end the conflict in Ukraine, stating, “The U.S. should strengthen sanctions against Russia. Lift the arms restrictions on Ukraine and allow them to conduct strikes within Russian territory.”
Walsh is also a member of the U.S. House “China Task Force,” known for his strong stance against the Chinese Communist Party, consistently condemning its suppression of the Chinese people. He has proposed accelerating the process of arming Taiwan.
Moving on to another prominent figure in Trump’s cabinet, on the 11th, Trump appointed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, another figure causing headaches for the CCP. Noem has openly referred to the Chinese government as an evil regime, supporting cutting ties with evil countries and preventing businesses from communist countries from buying American land.
Upon taking office, Trump’s top priority for her is to work with ICE Director Tom Homan, as I mentioned in yesterday’s program, to block and deport 2 million illegal immigrants entering the U.S. Homan hinted that Chinese troops may sneak into the U.S., a startling suggestion.
For most Chinese people, the Director of the CIA is more well-known than the National Security Advisor. The new Director of the CIA is Kash Patel. He is not new to the intelligence community, having previously served as the Deputy Director of National Intelligence. In Trump’s first term, he held several senior positions in defense and intelligence. However, as is common with intelligence professionals, he keeps a low profile, leaving his background somewhat unknown. If a person with a harmless and honest face has been in such a high position for a long time, it’s likely he’s a tough character, best not to provoke.
This newly appointed CIA Director has expressed his wish to immediately declassify sensitive files regarding the assassinations of Kennedy and 9/11, as well as fully disclose the truth about Jeffrey Epstein’s Lolita Island that shocks many elites. Once he takes office, many high-profile individuals may shudder as they await what revelations he may bring.
Trump also named Lee Zeldin as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin, interestingly, lacks a background in environmental protection, surprising many. The 44-year-old Zeldin served as a state senator in New York and entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015. Trump believes Zeldin will ensure fair and swift deregulation to unleash American business vitality.
Zeldin has revealed his three-step plan upon assuming office, focusing on repealing various regulations, making America an energy powerhouse and AI capital, and bringing back the automobile manufacturing industry.
Zeldin emphasizes revitalizing American industrial chains while ensuring Americans have access to clean air and water. Don’t underestimate the tasks Zeldin will undertake as the EPA Administrator; Trump has already pointed out that the left’s so-called environmental protection is a lethal weapon halting America’s economic growth.
In recent days, the most talked-about topic in the U.S. is Trump likely nominating Florida Senator and Cuban-American Rubio as Secretary of State. Chinese people are aware of Rubio’s strong anti-communist stance. I mentioned Pompeo yesterday, stating he is one of the politicians with the deepest and most outspoken knowledge on the CCP. Many Republican bigwigs believe the Secretary of State will be Rubio. However, since Trump has not officially announced it, we’ll have to wait for confirmation before I provide a detailed introduction to this individual placed on the CCP’s sanctions blacklist.
You’ll notice that what began as the election of a new U.S. President has sparked global adjustments in policies and measures, as many countries scramble to adapt, with some even resorting to force to potentially alter the course of conflicts. Fortunately, with Trump taking office, there is better bargaining power available.
Recently, a new major battle is expected to commence in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Putin has issued strict orders to mobilize a large number of Korean troops with Russian forces, a total of approximately 50,000 soldiers, to reconquer the Kursk region occupied by Ukrainian forces by the year’s end. U.S. analysts predict the initial assault will likely begin in a few days, with Ukrainian forces prepared for a showdown. Currently, Russian forces along the eastern front in Ukraine have suffered significant losses, with casualties exceeding 1,200 per day on average. The tactics of artillery shelling combined with drones used by Ukrainian forces have been effective in stalling Russian offensives while minimizing their own casualties.
Strategically, both Putin and Zelensky view the Kursk and eastern Ukrainian battlefields as chips to capitalize on before Trump officially assumes office. At this critical time, a statement by Germany’s Chancellor candidate Merz has become a potential new factor that could influence the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Germany’s major election may be held as early as February next year, with Chancellor candidate Merz currently leading in the polls. He belongs to the Christian Democratic Union, holding a 17-point lead over the Social Democratic Party led by Schultz. Echoing Trump, who claimed he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of taking office, Merz recently declared, “If I become Chancellor, I will issue Putin an ultimatum regarding Ukraine.” Highlighting that if Putin fails to accept his demand to cease any military action within 24 hours, he is prepared to provide Ukraine with cruise missiles and authorize strikes on Russian territory.
Germany’s cruise missiles can reach up to 500 kilometers, with the shortest distance from the Ukrainian border to Moscow being only 450 kilometers. Meanwhile, unexpectedly, Israel has announced its plans to target Syria.
According to foreign reports, the Israeli military will soon issue evacuation orders to Syrian civilians, instructing anyone not supporting dictator Assad to immediately withdraw to the north. This signifies Israel’s readiness to intervene in the Syrian regime, beyond Gaza and Lebanon.
Remember last year when the CCP broke the century-old rule at the Hangzhou Lingyin Temple’s main gate for Assad, allowing him to enter through the front for blessings. However, a dictator who strays from the right path certainly won’t be favored by the deities inside. It seems the remaining time of this “old friend” in the CCP is running out.
Alright, that concludes this edition of “Current Affairs Scan.” We need your support, so please subscribe to our channel, like, comment, and share our content. If you are willing to provide direct financial support to us, we would be even more grateful. Until next time.
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