Ashley Biden, daughter of former president Joe Biden, has filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years.
The 44-year-old former first daughter filed the documents in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, per <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/ashley-biden-divorce-howard-krein-20250811.html">The Philadelphia Inquirer</a>. Ashley married Dr. Howard Krein, a plastic surgeon, 13 years ago on June 2, 2012, while President Biden was serving as vice president under Barack Obama.
She and Krein lived in Philadelphia and had no children.
The outlet also noted that Ashley posted a photo of herself to her Instagram stories walking through a park while giving a thumbs up with the Beyoncé song &#8220;Freedom&#8221; playing in the background.
She also reportedly posted the quote, “New life, new beginnings means new boundaries. New ways of being that won’t look or sound like they did before,&#8221; to the social media site with Lauryn Hill’s “Freedom Time” playing as the featured song.
Ashley and Krein began dating in the summer of 2010 after meeting through Beau Biden, one of her older half-brothers who died from brain cancer in 2015.
Ashley and Krein were married at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church, in Greenville, Delaware, and hosted a reception for 200 people at her family’s home.
As the activist and social worker <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/ashley-biden-files-divorce-2112172">recounted</a> at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, &#8220;I had my wedding reception in my parents&#8217; backyard. At the time, my dad was vice president, but he was also that dad who literally set up the entire reception. He was riding around in his John Deere 4-wheeler, fixing the place settings, arranging the plants, and by the way, he was very emotional.&#8221;
Besides speaking at the DNC, Ashley has remained mostly out of the spotlight during her father’s public career &#8211; but she did go viral in 2020 after pages from her private journal were published in the run-up to the presidential election. 
Pages from the first daughter’s diary, including one talking about being “hyper-sexualized” at a young age and “showers w/ my dad (probably not appropriate),” were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/snopes-changes-fact-check-rating-on-contents-of-ashley-bidens-diary-from-unproven-to-true">published</a> by a website called National File.
At the time, Ashley claimed that she was targeted because her father had been running for president, and the publicity the diary had drawn led her to be “constantly re-traumatized by it.”
She also said: “Repeatedly, I hear others grossly misinterpret my once-private writings and lob false accusations that defame my character and those of the people I love.”
This was far from the only drama in the Biden family. Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau, became romantically involved with Hunter Biden and said she was &#8220;ashamed&#8221; to have become addicted to crack in 2018 after Hunter introduced her to it.
“I found it [crack] and Googled it because I didn’t know what it was,” Hallie said during Hunter&#8217;s gun trial in 2024. “He told me what it was, crack cocaine.”
“It was a terrible experience I went through and I’m embarrassed and I’m ashamed,” Hallie said. &#8220;I regret that time of my life.”

Ashley Biden

Another Biden Files For Divorce, Celebrates ‘Freedom’ From 13-Year Marriage

Democrats

divorce

General

Joe Biden

Philadelphia

Politics

United States

The White House updated its tariff plan on Thursday evening hours before President Donald Trump’s deadline for new trade agreements was set to kick in.
The new <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/further-modifying-the-reciprocal-tariff-rates/">plan</a> pushes the implementation of tariffs back a week from August 1 to August 7 to give Customs and Border Patrol officials time to adjust to the new levies leveled at dozens of countries. The new plan also reveals a host of tariff rates that are set to kick in.
The 10% universal tariff will remain the floor for tariff rates for trade with the United States. Only countries that have a trade deficit with the United States – meaning they import more from the United States than they export – will receive the 10% tariff rates. For countries that have a trade surplus with the United States, their goods will be tariffed at least at 15%, according to the White House plan.
Other countries that have struck new trade agreements with the United States will have various tariff rates based on the terms of the agreement.
More than a dozen countries will face a higher tariff rate than 15%, ranging from 19% to 41%.
“President Trump is using tariffs as a necessary and powerful tool to put America First after many years of unsustainable trade deficits that threaten our economy and national security,” the White House said in a statement, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/trade-deadline-tariffs-trump-deals#cmds0clsz0000356toc8am68m">CNN</a>.
A senior administration official briefing reporters on the details of the plan on Thursday evening said that “the president has essentially reordered global trade,” according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07/31/us/trump-news/8ca2d2ab-bb6b-5e71-b748-5ddfc556b984?smid=url-share">The New York Times</a>. The official added that Trump is accomplishing “the type of outcomes that the WTO and the multilateral trading system have failed to accomplish at scale over the last 25 years.”
Alongside its new tariff plan for international trade, the White House announced steeper tariffs on Canada. The Trump administration said in a statement that the United States would be “increasing the tariff on Canada from 25% to 35%, with the higher tariff set to go into effect on August 1, 2025.”
“Canada has failed to cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and it has retaliated against the United States for the President’s actions to address this unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States,” a White House fact sheet <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-amends-duties-to-address-the-flow-of-illicit-drugs-across-our-northern-border/">says</a>.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford hit back immediately at the White House announcement, urging Canada’s government to fight the tariff hike. “Canada shouldn’t settle for anything less than the right deal. Now is not the time to roll over. We need to stand our ground,” Ford said in a <a href="https://x.com/fordnation/status/1951059263943745566">post</a> on social media.

Donald Trump

White House Drops New Tariff Plan On Eve Of Trump’s Trade Deadline

Economy

Executive

Global Politics

Tariffs

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States has struck a trade agreement with South Korea just days ahead of his August 1 deadline.
As part of the deal, South Korea will “give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President,” said Trump in a post on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114944494894008041">Truth Social</a>.
“Additionally, South Korea will purchase $100 Billion Dollars of LNG, or other Energy products and, further, South Korea has agreed to invest a large sum of money for their Investment purposes,” he added.
Trump said goods from the United States to South Korea would not be subject to tariffs, while South Korean goods sold in the United States would be subject to a 15% tariff. 
South Korea will be “completely OPEN TO TRADE” with the United States, Trump declared.
The 15% tariff is a reduction from the 25% tariff the president had placed on goods from South Korea previously, though both are significantly higher than the tariffs on South Korean goods prior to Trump’s negotiations. The United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement ratified in 2011 <a href="https://kagc.us/biden-vs-trump-where-do-they-stand-on-u-s-korea-trade/">removed</a> tariffs from 95% of goods over its first five years.
The deal came just hours after the president <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/other-countries-are-making-offers-trump-announces-oil-reserve-deal-with-pakistan">announced</a> an agreement with Pakistan for a joint United States-Pakistan agreement to develop the latter’s oil resources.
“We have just concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves,” said Trump in another social media post. “We are in the process of choosing the Oil Company that will lead this Partnership. Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling Oil to India some day!”
Trump, who recently scored <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-secures-biggest-of-all-trade-deals-with-eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">breakthroughs</a> in talks with the European Union and Japan, suggested that other deals may come soon as negotiators rush to strike agreements ahead of his August 1 deadline to raise tariffs again. 
“Likewise, other Countries are making offers for a Tariff reduction,” Trump said. “All of this will help reduce our Trade Deficit in a very major way. A full report will be released at the appropriate time. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump Unveils South Korea Trade Deal, Boasting $350B Investment In U.S.

Trump Says New Trade Deal With South Korea Includes $350B Investment In U.S.

Free Trade

South Korea

WASHINGTON — As the United States Treasury Department sanctioned Brazil&#8217;s infamous Supreme Court justice, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday slapping an additional 40% tariff on the country in response to the &#8220;unusual and extraordinary threat&#8221; that Brazil poses to U.S. national security.
The president&#8217;s order uses the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to declare a new national emergency, saying that Brazil has engaged in practices and policies harming United States companies, United States foreign policy and economy, and the free speech rights of American citizens. The new 40% tariff is on top of the baseline 10% tariff already in place on Brazil, meaning that there is now a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports to the U.S.
&#8220;I find that the unprecedented actions taken by the Government of Brazil have violated the free expression rights of United States persons, interfered with the economy of the United States&#8230;.subverted the interest of the United States in protecting its citizens and companies, undermined the rule of law in Brazil, and jeopardized the orderly development of Brazil&#8216;s political, administrative, and economic institutions,&#8221; <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/addressing-threats-to-the-us/">the order states</a>.
A White House fact sheet shared with The Daily Wire specifically points to the prosecution of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters, denouncing the persecution, intimidation, harassment, censorship, and prosecution of these people, and calling the treatment &#8220;serious human rights abuses&#8221; that have &#8220;undermined the rule of law in Brazil.&#8221;
The move is another example of the president leveraging tariffs to protect American interests both at home and abroad, particularly when it comes to freedom of speech. The United States has serious concerns about the government of Brazil forcing U.S. companies to censor political speech, de-platforming users, demanding sensitive U.S. user data, or punishing U.S. companies for failure to change content moderation policies.
<div id="attachment_954707" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/extraordinary-threat-trump-unleashes-on-brazil-with-massive-tariff-sanctions-on-extremist-judge/topshot-brazil-politics-justice-trial-coup-bolsonaro" rel="attachment wp-att-954707"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-954707" class="wp-image-954707 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2218944579-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2218944579-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2218944579-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2218944579-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/GettyImages-2218944579.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>EVARISTO SA/AFP via Getty Images</div>
And it comes the same day that the U.S. sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, accusing him of serious human rights abuses, including &#8220;arbitrary detention involving flagrant denials of fair trial guarantees and violations of the freedom of expression.&#8221;
&#8220;Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has abused his judicial authority to target political opponents, shield corrupt allies, and suppress dissent, often in coordination with other Brazilian officials,&#8221; the order states. &#8220;Justice de Moraes has authorized politically motivated police raids, arrests, and bank account freezes.&#8221;
It continues: &#8220;He has also authorized the confiscation of passports, jailed individuals without trial for social media posts, opened unprecedented criminal investigations, including into United States citizens for their constitutionally protected speech in the United States, and issued secret orders to United States social media companies to censor thousands of posts and de-platform dozens of political critics, including United States persons, for lawful speech on United States soil.&#8221;
The State Department said Wednesday that de Moraes abused his authority when he engaged in &#8220;a targeted and politically motivated effort designed to silence political critics through the issuance of secret orders compelling online platforms, including U.S. social media companies, to ban the accounts of individuals for posting protected speech.&#8221;
In particular, de Moraes has headed the prosecution of Paulo Figueiredo, a Brazilian journalist and economist based in the United States, for speech that Figueiredo made in the United States. The White House accuses de Moraes of issuing hundreds of orders to secretly censor his political critics, and when U.S. companies refuse to comply with his orders, he imposes substantial fines upon them, threatens executives with criminal prosecution, and orders their exclusion from Brazil&#8217;s social media market.
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<div>The Treasury Department&#8217;s sanctions on de Moraes freeze any assets he might have in the United States and bars anyone in the United States from engaging in transactions with him.</div>
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“De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions — including against former President Jair Bolsonaro,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement. “Today’s action makes clear that Treasury will continue to hold accountable those who threaten U.S. interests and the freedoms of our citizens.”
The Trump administration says that by imposing tariffs on Brazil for its &#8220;reckless actions,&#8221; Trump is protecting not only the national security of the United States from a foreign threat, but also the foreign policy and the economy of the U.S.
&#8220;The policies, practices, and actions of the Government of Brazil,&#8221; the order states, &#8220;are repugnant to the moral and political values of democratic and free societies and conflict with the policy of the United States to promote democratic governments throughout the world, the principle of free expression and free and fair elections, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.&#8221;
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President Trump Holds Joint Press Conference With Brazilian President Bolsonaro

‘Extraordinary Threat’: Trump Unleashes On Brazil With Massive Tariff, Sanctions On Extremist Judge

Brazil

Jair Bolsonaro

Japan will invest over half a trillion dollars into the United States in “perhaps the largest Deal ever made,” President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday.
The deal followed Japan’s chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa coming to Washington this week to meet with top administration officials. Akazawa reportedly <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-22/japan-s-trade-negotiator-heads-into-meeting-with-trump-nhk-says">joined</a> Trump at the White House shortly before the president announced the agreement via a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114899417740854572">post</a> on Truth Social.
“We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made. Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90% of the Profits,” said Trump. “This Deal will create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs — There has never been anything like it.”
“Perhaps most importantly, Japan will open their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things. Japan will pay Reciprocal Tariffs to the United States of 15%,” he continued. “This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Negotiators for the United States and Japan rushed to work out an agreement ahead of an August 1 deadline when Trump set punishing tariffs to take effect on Japanese imports.
The rough agreement comes at a delicate moment for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who recently suffered a severe electoral setback in which his party lost control of the Japanese parliament’s upper house. Ishiba’s party lost the parliament’s lower house in an October vote, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/japan-election-throws-a-wrench-in-trade-talks-e6c1abde">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
Ishiba held out on striking a deal with Trump, betting that a tough stance on trade negotiations with the United States would earn support from Japanese voters. Polls showed that voters were more concerned with the state of inflation and immigration than on trade negotiations with the United States, however. The electoral loss could cost Ishiba his prime ministership.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that the United States was willing to slow walk trade negotiations despite the tight deadline ahead of Tuesday’s agreement.
“Our priorities are not the internal workings of the Japanese government. Our priorities are getting the best deal for the American people,” Bessent told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/21/cnbc-transcript-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html">CNBC</a>.
“If we somehow boomerang back to the August 1 tariffs, I would think that a higher tariff level will put more pressure on those countries to come with better agreements,” he said.

Trump Says Japan Will Invest Half-A-Trillion Dollars In U.S.: ‘Largest Deal Ever Made’

Trump Says Japan Will Invest Half-A-Trillion Dollars In U.S.: 'Largest Deal Ever Made'

Japan

Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera, who’s been touring the United States with a supposedly haunted Raggedy Ann doll named Annabelle, died unexpectedly at a hotel, sparking a big reaction online.
Rivera, 54, was found dead in his room on Sunday at the end of his three-day stop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of his “Devils on the Run Tour” with the doll. 
Pennsylvania State Police shared a more detailed report on Wednesday.
“Members from PSP Gettysburg responded to a hotel in Straban Township, Adams County for a report of a deceased [man],&#8221; the report <a href="https://x.com/psptroophpio/status/1945469138668773605?s=46&amp;t=mwcG9TleShkOgZ4z0YNszA">said</a>. &#8220;The decedent was discovered in his hotel room by workers.
“Nothing unusual or suspicious was observed at the scene,” it added. “This case is pending autopsy results.”
The New England Society for Psychic Research (NESPR) <a href="https://tonyspera.com/about/">described</a> this particular doll as “demonically possessed.” It was given to a nursing student in 1968, and she claimed that something wasn’t right with it.
“Almost immediately, the roommates noticed strange occurrences with the doll and they were introduced to a medium who told them the doll was inhabited by the spirit of a young girl named Annabelle,” the organization reported. “The two roommates tried to accept the doll’s spirit and please it only to have it reciprocate maliciousness and violent intent.”
The society’s late founders, Ed and Lorraine Warren, kept the doll stored in a glass case in an effort to “contain the evil spirited entity.”
The movie “The Conjuring” is based on the story of the “haunted” doll Annabelle. Meanwhile, many people are skeptical of the claims that the doll is possessed. 
A statement from NESPR stated that the tour would continue. “We believe with all our hearts that Dan would have wanted the work to continue — bringing people together, sharing knowledge, and honoring the memory of Ed and Lorraine Warren,” it said. “We will carry his spirit in everything we do.”
Colleagues of Rivera also called out commenters who tried to claim that his death was in some way staged to drum up interest for the tour. 
“Ghost Hunters” star Jason Hawes shared his thoughts on Facebook, saying, &#8220;The world lost a good man. 
&#8220;Dan Rivera was an Army veteran, a father of four, a husband, and someone who truly cared about people,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;What’s even harder to see right now are the posts blaming his death on things like the Annabelle doll and attacking places like Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours and other locations for having events. That needs to stop.&#8221; 
 
&#8220;His family shouldn’t have to read that kind of nonsense while they’re grieving,&#8221; Hawes <a href="https://www.facebook.com/highlandpara/posts/well-said-jason-hawestaps-it-really-is-horrible-to-see-folk-attempt-to-cash-in-o/1161918589307430/">added</a>. &#8220;Some people are using his passing to push an agenda for profit, and it’s just disgusting. Dan was a family man, a respected paranormal investigator, and he left this world way too soon&#8230;Honor the man. Forget the garbage.&#8221;

Annabelle doll

Paranormal Investigator Dies While Touring With ‘Demonically Possessed’ Annabelle Doll

Paranormal Investigator Dies While Touring With 'Demonically Possessed' Annabelle Doll

Dolls

Pennsylvania

Toys

U.S.

Longtime blue-collar job proponent Mike Rowe had heaps of praise for an acknowledgement made by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang about the future.
“What we need more than anything right now is we need to celebrate skilled craft workers,” Huang said during an appearance on MSNBC&#8217;s Morning Joe. “We’ve moved away from industrialization and manufacturing for so long that there’s a void for the ability to manufacture things,” he continued, saying he loves that the United States is building AI factories, which will “need skilled craft.”
“We need to go back and make sure that the trade schools are really well invested in,” Huang added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
My first two words on this particular Sunday morning were &quot;Hallelujah!” followed by, “Amen!”
I was not in church when I uttered them. I was at my kitchen table, watching the CEO of the most valuable company in the world say precisely what mikeroweWORKS has been espousing for the… <a href="https://t.co/oxNZZfzqTv">pic.twitter.com/oxNZZfzqTv</a>
&mdash; The Real Mike Rowe (@mikeroweworks) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikeroweworks/status/1944547209976164515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rowe responded with praise for what the tech industry exec was saying.
“My first two words on this particular Sunday morning were ‘Hallelujah!’ followed by ‘Amen!’” the “Dirty Jobs” host wrote as part of his lengthy response.
“If you haven’t already heard, a massive challenge is upon us. With regard to artificial intelligence and the energy we need to feed it, America will either change its current direction, or get left far, far behind. I know this because I run a modest foundation that has been arguing for decades that the portion of our workforce most often described as ‘the skilled trades’ will become the most essential component of our economy, our independence, and our collective future,” he went on. 
“Well, the future is here. Obviously, I didn’t know that the race to dominate artificial intelligence would be the thing that finally galvanized the folks at the grown-up table. When I founded mikeroweWORKS in 2008, I figured it would be a new commitment to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure that would necessitate a collective push to reinvigorate the trades.&#8221;
Rowe said, &#8220;That need is still pressing, but I never imagined the most urgent cry for more welders and electricians would be ushered in by the need for more data centers. Back then, I didn’t even know what a data center was. But today, here we are. Data centers are headline news, because they are – as Jensen Huang says &#8211; AI factories. And if we want to remain competitive with China, we need to build thousands of them. Now. And presently, we simply don’t have the workforce to do it.”
He went on to explain that skilled trades need “better PR” at a national level and that people need to realize that these skills are “in demand.” 
Rowe went into detail about attempting to help then-President Barack Obama push “shovel-ready jobs,” but not having much success. Now he’s turning his attention to assisting Trump.
“Just as I was rooting for President Obama in 2009, I’m rooting for President Trump today. I hope he succeeds in reinvigorating our industrial base and reshoring our manufacturing capabilities, and I want to offer my support. But if he does succeed, we’re talking about millions new jobs in manufacturing alone,” Rowe added.

Mike Rowe

‘Hallelujah’: Jubilant Mike Rowe Wakes Up To See The Economy Turn Back To Dirty Jobs

 Mike Rowe Praises Nvidia CEO For Admitting 'Skilled Craft Workers' Are The Future

Celebrities

China

Jobs

Anyone who is familiar with my opinion pieces knows how much I love this country. I proudly served in the U.S. Navy and would do anything for our nation. 
Thanks to a combination of work and vacation, I recently found myself traveling outside of the United States for seven of the past eight weeks. These trips have only served to reinforce why I believe America is the greatest country in the history of the world and will continue to reign over the rest of the world for the foreseeable future.
First of all, we have the best toilet paper in the history of mankind. I don’t know what kind of sadists designed the toilet paper in places like China, Germany, or France, but they did so with pain and suffering in mind. Who thought that sandpaper was a good idea for cleaning down there? When I am master of the universe, Charmin Ultra Soft or Quilted Northern Ultra Plush will be required in every bathroom both far and wide.
And while we are in the bathroom, what is the deal with European showers and the half glass shower curtain? All that does is focus the water into a specific spot on the floor, creating puddles and leaks. Not good.
Next, let’s discuss air conditioning. In Europe, if there is air conditioning, it is just there to trick you into thinking that, eventually, your hotel room will cool off. Nope. You can try to adjust the temperature and the fan speed, but it is only there for aesthetic value. Even China understands air conditioning. Let’s go, European Union — it’s cool to be cool.
Speaking of cooling things down, why can’t I get a drink with the proper amount of ice in it anywhere in the world, other than the United States? Ask a waiter in Paris, Hanoi, or Mexico City for a drink with ice, and you will get a hot drink with one ice cube, which is 90% melted before it reaches you. Please bring me a cold drink, with ice, with a side of ice.
Lastly, I cannot believe how long it takes to check into and out of international hotels. I understand they need to make a copy of my passport, but last I checked, that takes like, oh, I don’t know, ten seconds, and that is if you don’t know what you are doing. Why the ten-to-fifteen-minute marathon to check in? Checking out? Forget about it. Why do you need my credit card again, if you ran it just two days ago? Why can’t I simply leave like I do in the States, and get my bill emailed to me the same day?
Now, before you accuse me of being an American apologist, there are a number of things we would do well to steal from our friends overseas.
First, I say we implement the American Autobahn. We need to do some work first, because it wouldn’t work today. Too many Americans pass on the right-hand side, drive slowly in the left lane, with the blinker on, or simply do not pay attention. Let’s implement punitive fines on these people so they can’t drive any longer and those of us who can follow the rules can tool along at 125 miles per hour.
Next, let’s end tipping. I don’t have to tip in Asia, South America, Africa, or Europe. Why do I have to give a neck-tattooed, lip-pierced, failed gender studies major 25% of my dinner bill just for doing his job? Heck, in Chicago, I am even asked by the self-check-out machine at my local grocery store if I want to leave a tip. No more tipping (and we can still support no tax on tips).
Finally, perhaps it is time for hotels in the United States to embrace the customs of European, South American, and Asian hotel lounges – provide free dinner and drinks for elite travelers. Why is it that in Shanghai, I can drink free Johnny Walker Black while eating potstickers and dumplings, but in the States, a glass of wine in the lounge costs me $17.00?
America, as we prepare for our 250th birthday in 2026, we have a lot of work to do. But we are still the best damn country on the planet – no one else is even close.
* * *
Jim Nelles is a Navy veteran and supply chain consultant based in Chicago. His articles have appeared in the Washington Examiner, Newsweek, Foxnews.com, and The Daily Wire. He has served as a chief procurement officer, chief supply chain officer, and chief operations officer for multiple companies.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Busy airport terminal at sunset

Seven Weeks Abroad Made Me Love America Even More

Air Travel

Europe

Hotel

Humor

Opinion

President Donald Trump is threatening to slap a steeper 35% tariff on products from Canada beginning August 1 unless steps are taken to curb the flow of fentanyl over its shared border with the United States.
Trump warned Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114831716625825473">letter</a> on Thursday that the United States would hike the rate up from 25% – and possibly more. Still, Canada could avoid some or all of the added tariff, he suggested.
“If Canada works with me to stop the flow of Fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country,” the president wrote.
A White House official <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/trump-threatens-35-tariff-on-some-canadian-goods-d1306890" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Wall Street Journal that goods in compliance with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement would at least for now be exempt from the 35% tariff rate — as they had been with the 25% penalty Trump implemented earlier this year.
Canadian goods that are “transshipped,&#8221; or products sent to the United States via another country first to evade the tariff on Canada, would still be subject to the heightened rate.
Trump, who noted the larger penalty would be &#8220;separate from all Sectoral Tariffs,&#8221; railed against Canada’s trade policies. He said they &#8220;cause unsustainable trade deficits against the United States&#8221; and placed a focus on dairy farmers.
“Canada charges extraordinary Tariffs to our Dairy Farmers — up to 400% — and that is even assuming our Dairy Farmers even have access to sell their products to the people of Canada. The Trade Deficit is a major threat to our Economy, and, indeed, our National Security!” the president wrote.
Trump also mentioned in his letter how Canada previously &#8220;retaliated&#8221; with its own tariffs rather than &#8220;working with&#8221; the United States.
The escalation in the tariff fight with the United States’ neighbor to the north comes as the president has <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-tariffs-inflation-hasbro-ukraine-patriot-missiles-nato-russia-rcna218125">prepared</a> an increased blanket tariff for a slate of countries that have either not been notified of increased tariffs yet or have already agreed to a framework of a trade deal with the United States.
“We’re just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay, whether it’s 20% or 15%. We’ll work that out now,” Trump told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-tariffs-inflation-hasbro-ukraine-patriot-missiles-nato-russia-rcna218125">NBC News</a> on Thursday.
“I’d like to do it today,” Trump said of his plan to send letters laying out new tariff schedules. “I’m talking European Union, which is, as you know, many countries, and Canada. We’ll be putting them out over the next couple of hours.”
In recent days, Trump has posted a number of letters warning of new tariff rates. 
On Wednesday, Trump posted one of his steepest threats, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/trump-hits-brazil-50-percent-tariff-citing-ex-president-jair-bolsonaro-rcna217859">warning</a> Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that Brazilian products could face a 50% jump in tariffs over the government’s treatment of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing charges related to the 2022 election.
“This is nothing more, or less, than an attack on a Political Opponent — Something I know much about!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114812490799920916">post</a> defending Bolsonaro.
“The Great People of Brazil will not stand for what they are doing to their former President. I’ll be watching the WITCH HUNT of Jair Bolsonaro, his family, and thousands of his supporters, very closely. The only Trial that should be happening is a Trial by the Voters of Brazil — It’s called an Election. LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE!” he wrote.

Mark Carney, Donald Trump

Trump Threatens 35% Tariff On Canada Over Fentanyl Trafficking

Canada

Mark Carney

Trade War

The Pentagon is cutting bureaucratic hurdles to unleash “American drone dominance” and outcompete hostile powers such as China and Russia.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a slate of reforms to jolt U.S. production of drones and equip U.S. service members with the skills to use them effectively. The Department of Defense posted a video on social media Thursday of Hegseth signing orders delivered by drone.
“While our adversaries have produced millions of cheap drones before us, we were mired in bureaucratic red tape. Not anymore,” Hegseth said. 
After noting that President Donald Trump signed an executive <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/06/president-trump-signs-executive-orders-on-drones-flying-cars-and-supersonics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">order</a> in June to energize the drone industry in the United States, Hegseth said, &#8220;Today, I&#8217;m rescinding restrictive policies that stifle production. And this will unleash American manufacturing and the ingenuity of our war fighters.”
The Pentagon’s newest drone strategy has three main pillars, according to Hegseth. First, the Department of Defense will prioritize buying American-made drones to help expand drone-making on the domestic front.
Second, Hegseth said the military would leverage the United States’ &#8220;world-leading engineers and AI experts&#8221; to arm combat units with drones. And third, the secretary plans to stamp out a risk-averse mindset that he suggested has held back senior military staff from innovating with drones.
“We&#8217;re going to train as we expect to fight,” Hegseth said. “Senior officers must overcome bureaucratic risk aversion in budgeting, weaponing, weaponeering, and training.”
“This is the future. We&#8217;re in the fight. We&#8217;re in the fight to win it. And we’re never going to back down,” he concluded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> <a href="https://t.co/ueqQPc7rKI">pic.twitter.com/ueqQPc7rKI</a>
&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1943401411431026977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hegseth’s orders will allow for the first time commanders with the ranks of colonel or captain to obtain and test drones that meet national security standards, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-tears-up-red-tape-orders-pentagon-begin-drone-surge-trumps-command">Fox News</a>, which first obtained the memos signed on Thursday. The orders also cut through a series of approval processes so that the drones may be tested immediately.
The orders reclassified drones from being durable military assets to consumables, taking them out of bureaucratic tracking systems and allowing faster acquisition. The orders also directed military officials to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration on expanding range restrictions where needed and setting up sites for military training in drone use.
Drones have recently played major roles in the Ukraine-Russia war and in the Middle East. 
Ukraine and Russia used drones to attack and hamper each other’s forces. Israel employed drones as part of its &#8220;Operation Rising Lion&#8221; to damage Iran’s military command structure and nuclear program.

Pete Hegseth

Hegseth Unleashes U.S. Military ‘Drone Dominance’

U.S. Military To Unleash ‘American Drone Dominance’ To Compete With China, Russia

Drones

Pentagon

The United States is imposing sanctions on United Nations Human Rights Council special rapporteur Francesca Albanese over a “campaign of political and economic warfare” against the United States and Israel.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Wednesday in a post on X. Albanese is the UN rapporteur on Palestinian rights and has a long history of downplaying Palestinian terror and mischaracterizing Israeli military and defense operations.
“Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt [International Criminal Court] action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives,” Rubio wrote.
“Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated. We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defense,” he continued. “The United States will continue to take whatever actions we deem necessary to respond to lawfare and protect our sovereignty and that of our allies.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt <a href="https://twitter.com/IntlCrimCourt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IntlCrimCourt</a> action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives. 
Albanese’s campaign of political and economic…
&mdash; Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio/status/1942998936874054046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Last week, Albanese released a <a href="https://www.un.org/unispal/document/a-hrc-59-23-from-economy-of-occupation-to-economy-of-genocide-report-special-rapporteur-francesca-albanese-palestine-2025/">report</a> on “the corporate machinery sustaining Israel’s settler-colonial project of displacement and replacement of the Palestinians in the occupied territory.” The report, titled “From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide,” identified nearly 50 corporate entities that it accused of war profiteering for working with the Israeli government.
Last month, Albanese <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vicious-anti-israel-un-special-rapporteur-calls-for-un-to-expel-israel">called</a> for Israel to be expelled from the United Nations after Israeli forces bombed the headquarters of the UNRWA in Gaza City. Israel carried out the strike after learning that Hamas had set up a military base inside the headquarters after it had been evacuated.
Over the course of the war, close links between Hamas and the UNRWA have been revealed, including members of the UNRWA taking part in the October 7 attack and also being members of Hamas.
Albanese has been a supporter of the antisemitic Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) movement targeting Israel. She has also been an outspoken opponent of Israel’s military operation in Gaza. In February, Albanese <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/un-official-duped-by-fake-rabbis-invite-to-speak-on-morality-of-intifada-at-anti-israel-protest">said</a> that Israel did not have the “right” to invade Gaza after Hamas militants and Palestinians killed around 1,200 people and took hostage hundreds more in the October 7 terror attack.
“It didn’t have the right to act in self-defense, meaning waging a war because it couldn’t wage a war against the people it maintains under occupation,” Albanese told an audience of students at Harvard University. “What Israel had to do was to repel the attack on its own territory, arrest and detain and treat humanely the people who had been arrested and ensure justice.”
Albanese has also appeared to benefit from her close ties to Palestinian groups. In 2023, Albanese took a trip to Adelaide, Australia, that was funded by a cohort of Palestinian groups, including The Australian Friends of Palestine Association and Australia Palestine Advocacy Network.
The trip sparked concern from a watchdog group, UN Watch, that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anti-israel-un-official-takes-expensive-trip-funded-by-palestinian-lobby-groups-report">sent</a> a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling for Albanese&#8217;s removal. In the letter, UN Watch pointed out that “independence and impartiality are basic requirements for UNHRC Special Procedures under Article 3 of the <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/SP/CodeOfConduct.pdf">Code of Conduct</a>, which requires them to be ‘free from any kind of extraneous influence … either direct or indirect.’”

Francesca Albanese

Rubio Sanctions UN Official Waging ‘Political And Economic Warfare’ Against U.S., Israel

Israel

Marco Rubio

United Nations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed Monday that he has nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter the Israeli leader sent to the Nobel committee recommending the president to win the lauded peace prize. The prime minister handed the letter to Trump during a meeting at the White House.
“I want to express the appreciation and admiration, not only of all Israelis, but of the Jewish people and many, many admirers around the world for your leadership, your leadership of the free world, your leadership of a just cause, and the pursuit of peace and security, which you are leading in many lands, but now, especially in the Middle East,” said Netanyahu. “The president has an extraordinary team, and I think our teams, together, make an extraordinary combination to meet challenges and seize opportunities.”
“But the president has already realized great opportunities. He forged the Abraham Accords. He&#8217;s forging peace as we speak in one country, in one region after the other,” he continued. “I want to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize Committee. It&#8217;s nominating you for the Peace Prize, which is well-deserved, and you should get it.”
Trump accepted the letter, responding that “coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presents President Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize <a href="https://t.co/JUzpU2ZPYz">pic.twitter.com/JUzpU2ZPYz</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1942366276329914397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The two leaders met at the White House to discuss developments in the Middle East just weeks after the two worked together to take down Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel hit numerous military and nuclear program-related targets around Iran during what the White House later called the “12-Day War.” Trump ordered a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities that targeted Iran’s fortified facility built underground at Fordo, as well as two other sites. The ordinance delivered by U.S. B-2 bombers and submarines finished off the strikes against Iran’s nuclear program.
Last month, Pakistan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-mentum-from-iran-to-big-beautiful-bill-prez-scores-landmark-victories-in-past-two-weeks">nominated</a> Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize “in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis.”

Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu Nominates Trump For Nobel Prize: ‘Well-Deserved’

Benjamin Netanyahu

White House

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