Coffee Talk with Tiff

July 7, 2025 12:04 pm EDT Tiff Editorial (Open Thread) Comments Off on Coffee Talk with Tiff
Coffee. Photo by Jonathan Thursfield.

It’s Monday…

President Shitshow’s public schedule for…

Monday, July 7 2025
9:00 AM
In-Town Pool Call Time
The White House 
In-Town Pool
4:00 PM
The President signs Executive Orders
Oval Office 
Closed Press
6:30 PM
The President greets the Prime Minister of the State of Israel
South Portico 
Closed Press
6:35 PM
The President participates in a dinner with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel
Blue Room 
Closed Press

You’ll be shocked to hear the weekend offered absolutely no clarity on how to wrangle this noon thread.

Here’s where things stand: when the blog started, my lane was covering Trump1.0’s tweets (plus other chaos we split into separate posts).

Then came former President Biden, following the worst transition in modern history. I stuck to the plan—covering his tweets and everything posted on WhiteHouse.gov.

Now we’re in the Trump2.0 era, and it’s a different kind of mess. Trying to keep up with his social posts the way I did with Trump1.0 and Biden isn’t just unsustainable—it’s exhausting. Trump2.0, via “Lies” Social, is flooding the zone with such a relentless stream of nonsense it’s less communication strategy and more digital smoke bomb.

Like for example, when you visit White House.gov…

The tabs take you to different sections. Remarks for example doesn’t take you to transcripts of remarks. It takes to YouTubes of his remarks.

Fact-sheets latest Fact Sheet…

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Previews Plans for the Grandest Celebration of America’s Birthday (07/03/2025):

ADVANCING PLANS TO THROW THE GREATEST BIRTHDAY PARTY IN AMERICAN HISTORY:

Today, President Donald J. Trump launched the year-long Great American State Fair in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. The Great American State Fair will begin in Iowa and travel to state fairs across the country. The celebration will culminate with a festival on the National Mall in 2026.

  • In July 2026, the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, in partnership with the America 250 Commission, will host the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.
    • This will be a unifying, patriotic, family-friendly event that will feature exhibits from all 50 states and attract visitors from around the world.
    • Over the next year, state and county fairs will be part of the Great American State Fair and feature America 250 programming.
  • Additional America 250 celebrations announced by President Trump at the kick-off celebration include the Patriot Games, an athletic competition for high school students across the country.
    • Led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Patriot Games will be a nationally televised first-of-its-kind youth athletics competition featuring athletes from all 50 states.
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill includes funding for events, celebrations, and activities in support of America 250.
  • As we prepare to celebrate this momentous milestone in our nation’s history, President Trump has invited communities of faith to pray for our country and to give thanks for the gift of freedom.

CELEBRATING AMERICAN GREATNESS: To honor America’s founding in 1776, President Trump will showcase our nation and celebrate American greatness.

  • President Trump will create a new outdoor “National Garden of American Heroes” park featuring statues of 250 American heroes.
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill includes funding to create these statues and build this new national landmark.
  • The events and initiatives announced today are just a few of the many underway.
    • Every Department and Agency has robust plans to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.
    • Every federal building will be patriotically decorated for a set period of time in 2026.
    • The America 250 Commission and the White House Task Force are working with the private sector on this grand celebration.
    • The America 250 Commission has major tentpole initiatives planned, including “America Innovate” expositions showcasing American innovation over the last 250 years and what America can achieve in the future.

PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT: President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise to “give America’s founding in 1776 the incredible anniversary it truly deserves.”

  • President Trump is delivering and expanding upon his promise in 2023 to host a year-long Great American State Fair.
  • President Trump is delivering on his promise in 2023 to create the brand-new Patriot Games.
  • President Trump is following through on his promise in 2023 to bring back the National Garden of American Heroes to honor the greatest Americans of all time.
    • When President Trump returned to office, he immediately signed an Executive Order to sustain the momentum from his first term to build a National Garden of American Heroes and protect America’s monuments from vandalism.
  • President Trump is following through on his invitation to encourage America’s religious communities to pray for our nation.

Today’s recent post under the “All” tab…

Gas Prices Plunge Under President Trump’s Energy Policies 📉 (07/07/2025):

Following the cheapest Independence Day gas prices in four years, drivers across America continue to enjoy plummeting prices — boosting family budgets and fueling economic growth from coast to coast.

The price decline is being reported nationwide:

All the links take you to news articles that talk about the gas prices.

These are just a few highlights from the disaster that is WhiteHouse.gov these days—even Trump1.0’s version looks functional by comparison.

Case in point: today he’s supposed to sign executive orders, but good luck figuring out what they are. Nothing’s posted. No fact sheets, no previews—just a black hole where information used to live. Say what you will about Biden’s team, at least they let us know what was coming before the pen hit the paper.

Now? We’re all just flying blind, guided by a madman and his cult cosplay cabinet.

So that’s where I’m at—still trying to decide if I stick to the plan and track every chaotic move of Trump2.0, or just accept the absurdity, toss the blueprint, and carve out an entirely new lane.


As you know Texas saw a horrible flooding over the 4th of July weekend. Official’s warn the danger isn’t over as more rain is expected through Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal (gift link):

[snip]

Some areas could expect up to 10 inches of rain Monday, the National Weather Service said.

“There remains a threat of flash flooding from slow-moving heavy rains overnight and through the day on Monday,” the weather service said. “Rainfall rates will be very intense in the heaviest showers and storms.”

The current flood warnings would remain in effect until at least 7 p.m. local time, the weather service said.

Most of the 82 fatalities so far were recorded in Kerr County, along the Guadalupe River basin. Of the 68 dead in Kerr County, 40 were adults and 28 were children, according to the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.

Another 14 fatalities were recorded in other flood-hit counties.

[snip]

Kerrville resident George Moore woke up around 4 a.m. on Friday to the noise of weather alerts. He went outside to pull in a deer feeder and chairs along the banks of the river, where water was rising fast. He woke up his wife, Tammy Moore, and they joined others on the street who were going house to house to wake people up.

“The entire time I was out here, there were camper trailers and all kinds of things hitting those trees in the dark,” Moore said, pointing to broken cypress trees. “I could hear two people somewhere over here hollering for help and there was nothing you could do. It was horrible.”

Tammy Moore said they called 911 when they realized their street was no longer passable. The operator said that if the water rose too high, they should get on the roof and await rescue.

The water halted just a few feet up their yard and no one on their street was hurt. George Moore said that people are blaming the city but he is unhappy with the weather alerts, which come too frequently to know what to take seriously. “They say a flash flood warning. Well, you get 15 of them and you’re going, ‘OK, right.’”

On Sunday, search-and-rescue crews in helicopters flew low over the river, where massive trees were snapped in half or toppled in huge piles like dominoes, debris tangled in their limbs.

The Wall Street Journal (gift link).

Cosplaying DHS secretary Noem said this morning that the NWS has been trying to upgrade their system, but it’s not finished being installed.

Show more =’s and so President Trump recognized that right away and got to work on it … but that installation is not complete.”

Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) told Fox Entertainment this morning that “something went wrong” with the warning system.

This Washington Post article shares a map of the current flood watch areas.

It’s a live update thread, and I found no way to share it as a gift. It might not be paywalled.

My thoughts:

I’ve seen plenty of takes from last night and this morning—some say there wasn’t enough warning, others say there were so many alerts it became confusing.

But here’s the bottom line: firing a bunch of people, trying to upgrade the system, and then declaring FEMA useless right as hurricane season starts is reckless. It doesn’t help protect the areas at risk.

That doesn’t excuse anyone saying Texas deserved what happened. That’s unacceptable.

The bigger issue is this: frustration with MAGA’s constant attacks on anything liberal—just because it’s liberal—has led people to mimic that same toxic behavior.

We can’t become what we hate. The Republicans did that, and look where it’s gotten them.


This is an open thread

Unless something changes, tomorrow we will discuss the tariff paused ending on the 9th of July and the beautiful sharpie written letters that will be sent started today at noon to countries to inform them of the tariff’s the US consumer will pay on imports.

UPDATE:

I know I said we’d cover this tomorrow, but he dropped two letters on “Lies Social”…

Text page 1:

July 7, 2025

His Excellency
Ishiba Shigeru
Prime Minister of Japan
Tokyo

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship, and the fact that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Japan, despite having a significant Trade Deficit with your great Country. Nevertheless, we have decided to move forward with you, but only with more balanced, and fair, TRADE. Therefore, we invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by fair. We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Japan, and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, Trade Deficits engendered by Japan’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Japan a Tariff of only 25% on any and all Japanese products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods manufactured to avoid a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff. Please understand that the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country. As you are aware, we permit no Tariff in Japan, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a market of needs.

If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, we will add and do the 25% that we charge. Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Japan’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing the unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!

National security doesn’t mean what he thinks it means.

Page 2:

We look forward to working with you as your Trading Partner for many years to come. If you wish to open your heretofore closed Trading Markets to the United States, and eliminate your Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country. You will never be disappointed with The United States of America.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Thank you for your attention to this matter is cringe.

July 7, 2025

His Excellency
Lee Jae-myung
President of the Republic of Korea
Seoul

Dear Mr. President:

It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship, and the fact that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Korea, despite having a significant Trade Deficit with your great Country. Nevertheless, we have decided to move forward with you, but only with more balanced, and fair, TRADE. Therefore, we invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by fair. We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Korea, and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, Trade Deficits engendered by Korea’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge Korea a Tariff of only 25% on any and all Korean products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff. Please understand that the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country. As you are aware, we allow no Tariff if Korea, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a matter of weeks.

If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, we will add and do the 25% that we charge. Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Korea’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!

He still doesn’t know what National Security means.

Page 2:

We look forward to working with you as your Trading Partner for many years to come. If you wish to open your heretofore closed Trading Markets to the United States, and eliminate your Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country. You will never be disappointed with The United States of America.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Thank you for your attention to this matter is still cringe.

I asked ChatGPT to compare the letters text for similarities.

Similarities:

  • Both texts are formal letters discussing the trading relationship between the United States and another country (Japan in Text One, Korea in Text Two).
  • The overall message and structure are nearly identical:
    • They emphasize the trade deficit the U.S. has with the country.
    • They assert the U.S. desire to move toward a more balanced and fair trade relationship.
    • Both letters mention starting August 1, 2025, a 25% tariff on imports from that country.
    • Both discuss tariffs related to tariff evasion/manufacturing within the U.S.
    • Both mention that if the other country raises tariffs, the U.S. will add its 25%.
    • Both state that the trade deficit is a threat to the U.S. economy and national security.

Differences:

AspectText One (Japan)Text Two (Korea)
Country MentionedJapanKorea
Phrase on Tariff Evasion“Goods manufactured to avoid a higher Tariff”“Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff”
Sentence on No Tariff Allowed“we permit no Tariff in Japan, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States”“we allow no Tariff if Korea, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States”
Speed of Approvals“we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a market of needs.”“we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a matter of weeks.”
Mention of Trade Deficit“causing the unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States”“causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States” (slightly different wording)
Minor wording and punctuation differences scattered throughout

Summary:

Text Two is essentially the same letter as Text One but adapted for Korea instead of Japan, with minor wording changes to reflect the different country and slightly different phrasing regarding tariff evasion and approval timing.

I can’t link and share our private messages.

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About Tiff 3297 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.