1. Oil Prices & National Security
- Lower global oil prices weaken hostile regimes like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela by reducing their revenue.
- The Trump administration aims for a “sweet spot” oil price ($60–$70/barrel):
- Low enough to hurt adversaries.
- High enough to avoid bankrupting U.S. independent oil producers.
- If prices drop into the $40s, it could collapse small oil producers in Texas and the Permian Basin.
2. Venezuela’s Oil Infrastructure
- Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but decades of mismanagement have destroyed its infrastructure.
- Estimates from oil executives:
- Increasing production from 1 million to 3 million barrels/day could take 10 years and require $100B+ in investment.
- Even going from 1 million to 2 million/day would take 5–7 years.
- Gulf Coast refineries can process Venezuela’s heavy sour crude, but expanded imports would mostly affect Canada and Mexico, not U.S. light-sweet crude producers.
3. Cuba’s Economic Crisis
- Cuba historically survived on financial support from:
- The Soviet Union (until its collapse).
- Venezuela under Chávez/Maduro (oil and money).
- With Venezuela no longer able to support Cuba, the island is in economic freefall.
- Mexico is currently providing oil that helps sustain the Cuban regime.
- The Trump administration may pressure Mexico to cut this supply, potentially pushing Cuba toward political collapse.
4. Jack Smith & January 6th Investigation
- Smith is accused of leading a politically motivated prosecution against Donald Trump.
- He allegedly relied on questionable or disproven testimony, notably from Cassidy Hutchinson.
- Hutchinson’s dramatic claims (e.g., Trump lunging for a steering wheel) were not confirmed by eyewitnesses.
- Jim Jordan challenged Smith in hearings, accusing him of:
- Using unreliable witnesses.
- Conducting a partisan, anti-Trump investigation.
- Targeting large numbers of Republicans with subpoenas.
5. Crime Statistics & Trump Administration Policies
- Nationwide murder rates reportedly declined ~20% from 2024 to 2025.
- Approx. 1,400 fewer murders.
- Major cities showing decreases:
- Chicago: 30%
- NYC: 20%
- Baltimore: 31%
- Oakland: 33%
- Washington, D.C.: 31% (after National Guard deployment)
- Other violent crimes also declined:
- Motor vehicle theft: ↓25%
- Robbery: ↓18%
- Aggravated assault: ↓8%
Law enforcement stats cited:
- Violent crime arrests: ↑100%
- Gangs disrupted: ↑210%
- Fentanyl seized: ↑31%
- Missing/abducted children located: ↑22%
- Human traffickers arrested: ↑15%
- Significant increase in arrests of espionage suspects and fugitives.
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