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TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's Journal
TexasTowelie's Journal
December 1, 2025
Swiss voters reject proposed tax on super rich
ZURICH, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Switzerland on Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a proposed 50% tax on inherited fortunes of 50 million Swiss francs ($62 million) or more, with 78% of votes against the plan, an outcome that even exceeded the two‑thirds opposition indicated in polls.
Bankers have watched the vote closely, casting it as a litmus test of appetite for wealth redistribution in Switzerland, as other countries, such as Norway, have beefed up their wealth tax or debated similar moves.
-snip-
The proposal from the youth wing of the leftist Social Democrats, or JUSOs, aimed to fund projects to reduce the impact of climate change. "The super rich inherit billions, we inherit crises," they argued.
Critics of the initiative said it could trigger an exodus of wealthy people from Switzerland, reducing overall tax revenues. The Swiss government urged voters to reject it.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/swiss-voters-reject-proposed-tax-super-rich-with-79-public-broadcaster-estimates-2025-11-30/
December 1, 2025
The votes are still being counted in Honduras after Sunday's presidential election, with partial results showing the conservative candidate Nasray Asfura with a narrow lead.
Asfura received a public endorsement from US President Donald Trump in the final days of the race. Trump said that Asfura is the only candidate his administration would be willing to work with, threatening to cut US aid if he lost. The ruling leftist party has accused Trump of interventionist meddling.
Chapters:
0:00 Honduras elections
0:33 Fritz Pinnow, Journalist
Conservative candidate Nasray Asfura leads in Honduras elections - DW News
The votes are still being counted in Honduras after Sunday's presidential election, with partial results showing the conservative candidate Nasray Asfura with a narrow lead.
Asfura received a public endorsement from US President Donald Trump in the final days of the race. Trump said that Asfura is the only candidate his administration would be willing to work with, threatening to cut US aid if he lost. The ruling leftist party has accused Trump of interventionist meddling.
Chapters:
0:00 Honduras elections
0:33 Fritz Pinnow, Journalist
December 1, 2025
This is a first in the Ukraine War. Ukraine has humiliated Vladimir Putin. They've struck two Russian shadow fleet vessels - and claimed credit for it. This isn't just another strike, it's a message. In this video, we take a deep look at Ukraine's strategy against Russia, covering both economic and psychological warfare, to show how devastatingly effective Ukraine's strategy really is.
Ukraine is Now Sinking Russia's Shadow Fleet - Paul Warburg
This is a first in the Ukraine War. Ukraine has humiliated Vladimir Putin. They've struck two Russian shadow fleet vessels - and claimed credit for it. This isn't just another strike, it's a message. In this video, we take a deep look at Ukraine's strategy against Russia, covering both economic and psychological warfare, to show how devastatingly effective Ukraine's strategy really is.
December 1, 2025
This political commentary critiques President Trump's response to a shooting involving an Afghan refugee, where he halted immigration from "third world countries" and made inflammatory statements about immigrants. The author argues that Trump and many conservatives don't genuinely love America because:
Main Arguments:
Scapegoating entire groups: Trump punished all Afghan refugees (including those who helped the U.S. military) based on one individual's crime, while white Americans never face collective suspicion for crimes committed by people who look like them.
Selective love of country: Conservatives claim to love America but show hostility toward large portions of its population (immigrants, minorities, refugees) and only embrace people "like them."
Rejection of history: Conservatives oppose teaching uncomfortable parts of American history (slavery, discrimination, indigenous genocide), preferring a sanitized version. The author cites conservative backlash to Ken Burns's American Revolution documentary as an example.
Loving an imaginary America: The author concludes that conservatives love an idealized, nostalgic concept of America rather than the real, diverse nation with its complex history.
Core message: True patriotism requires acknowledging both the good and bad aspects of your country and working to improve it, not fantasizing about an imaginary version that never existed.
What Do Conservatives Actually Love About America? - Steve Shives
This political commentary critiques President Trump's response to a shooting involving an Afghan refugee, where he halted immigration from "third world countries" and made inflammatory statements about immigrants. The author argues that Trump and many conservatives don't genuinely love America because:
Main Arguments:
Scapegoating entire groups: Trump punished all Afghan refugees (including those who helped the U.S. military) based on one individual's crime, while white Americans never face collective suspicion for crimes committed by people who look like them.
Selective love of country: Conservatives claim to love America but show hostility toward large portions of its population (immigrants, minorities, refugees) and only embrace people "like them."
Rejection of history: Conservatives oppose teaching uncomfortable parts of American history (slavery, discrimination, indigenous genocide), preferring a sanitized version. The author cites conservative backlash to Ken Burns's American Revolution documentary as an example.
Loving an imaginary America: The author concludes that conservatives love an idealized, nostalgic concept of America rather than the real, diverse nation with its complex history.
Core message: True patriotism requires acknowledging both the good and bad aspects of your country and working to improve it, not fantasizing about an imaginary version that never existed.
December 1, 2025
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismisses US President Donald Trump's threat to exclude Pretoria from next year's G20 summit, reaffirming South Africa's status as a founding member of the group.
Ramaphosa rejects Trump's threat to bar South Africa from G20 summit - Reuters
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismisses US President Donald Trump's threat to exclude Pretoria from next year's G20 summit, reaffirming South Africa's status as a founding member of the group.
December 1, 2025
CNN's Dana Bash speaks with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on "State of the Union" about his claims of Somalians in Minnesota and personal attacks on Ilhan Omar and Tim Walz.
Klobuchar responds to Trump comments on Minnesota - CNN
CNN's Dana Bash speaks with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on "State of the Union" about his claims of Somalians in Minnesota and personal attacks on Ilhan Omar and Tim Walz.
December 1, 2025
The November 28 purple plume incident at the Yasny missile complex (Orenburg region) indicates a critical oxidizer-rich exhaust failure within Russia's Strategic Missile Forces. This analysis identifies the specific nitrogen tetroxide leak signature and correlates it with supply chain disruptions in the Russian defense industrial base. We map the connection between this hypergolic anomaly and the broader reliability crisis facing the RS-28 Sarmat and Avangard programs.
Defense procurement data and the 2026 Federal Budget reveal how technical corrosion is increasing sovereign financial risk. By examining the cost of sanctioned alloys and precision tooling, we model the fiscal deficit impact of failed test schedules. This segment targets the intersection of aerospace engineering failures, global energy market volatility, and defense insurance liquidity.
Historical launch data from Plesetsk confirms the toxicology risks of hydrazine handling under deadline pressure. As Western intelligence monitors airspace closures and rail movements east of the Ural Mountains, this report determines if the Yasny event represents a temporary handling error or a systemic collapse in nuclear deterrence capability.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Nuclear Disaster at Yasny Base
01:15 Kremlin Losing Control
02:10 Why This Moment Matters
03:00 Support Ukraine Message
03:40 Inside Russia's Nuclear Weakness
05:10 Strategic Failures Across Russia
06:15 Ukraine Strikes Deep Into Russia
07:20 Russia's High Tech Weapons Collapse
08:20 Russia's War Machine Cut in Half
09:20 Sea Routes and Oil Under Attack
10:15 Russia's Economy Breaking Down
11:20 Kremlin Power Struggles
12:15 Putin Misreads the Crisis
13:10 Regime Near Breaking Point
Kremlin's Secret Nuclear Missile Test Just Failed - Jason Jay Smart
The November 28 purple plume incident at the Yasny missile complex (Orenburg region) indicates a critical oxidizer-rich exhaust failure within Russia's Strategic Missile Forces. This analysis identifies the specific nitrogen tetroxide leak signature and correlates it with supply chain disruptions in the Russian defense industrial base. We map the connection between this hypergolic anomaly and the broader reliability crisis facing the RS-28 Sarmat and Avangard programs.
Defense procurement data and the 2026 Federal Budget reveal how technical corrosion is increasing sovereign financial risk. By examining the cost of sanctioned alloys and precision tooling, we model the fiscal deficit impact of failed test schedules. This segment targets the intersection of aerospace engineering failures, global energy market volatility, and defense insurance liquidity.
Historical launch data from Plesetsk confirms the toxicology risks of hydrazine handling under deadline pressure. As Western intelligence monitors airspace closures and rail movements east of the Ural Mountains, this report determines if the Yasny event represents a temporary handling error or a systemic collapse in nuclear deterrence capability.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Nuclear Disaster at Yasny Base
01:15 Kremlin Losing Control
02:10 Why This Moment Matters
03:00 Support Ukraine Message
03:40 Inside Russia's Nuclear Weakness
05:10 Strategic Failures Across Russia
06:15 Ukraine Strikes Deep Into Russia
07:20 Russia's High Tech Weapons Collapse
08:20 Russia's War Machine Cut in Half
09:20 Sea Routes and Oil Under Attack
10:15 Russia's Economy Breaking Down
11:20 Kremlin Power Struggles
12:15 Putin Misreads the Crisis
13:10 Regime Near Breaking Point
December 1, 2025
Legal Breakdown episode 631: Trump’s ballroom donors may face legal jeopardy.
Trump ballroom donors suddenly face legal trouble - Brian Tyler Cohen
Legal Breakdown episode 631: Trump’s ballroom donors may face legal jeopardy.
December 1, 2025
Let's talk about Trump losing another ally but maybe getting a duplicate.... - Belle of the Ranch
December 1, 2025
Today, there is interesting news from the Russian Federation.
Here, the Russian political leadership is claiming confidently that Russia will continue the war until it achieves all the goals it has set out at the start of the war. However, the latest poll results shocked them, because as it turns out, the Russian population has had enough of the so-called special military operation and wants the war to end now.
Recently, an internal survey prepared for regional Russian administrations ahead of the 2026 elections shows 83% of Russians feel fatigued from the war, and 56% want it to end right away, a sharp rise from the previous year. Support for continuing hostilities has fallen to around 23 percent, even as the Kremlin insists publicly that national unity remains strong.
The gap between state messaging and private sentiment has never been wider, as Putin still expects his forces to capture all of the Donetsk region and has set deadlines by February 2026, while his foreign-policy aides continue repeating maximalist demands. Foreign Minister Lavrov claims demilitarization and denazification remain non-negotiable, while spokesperson Peskov says Russia wants the war to end, but only once its original objectives are achieved. The new data is a shock, not because Russians suddenly oppose the war, but because the scale of fatigue is impossible to hide even from those in power.
The direct reasons named for this are that the Russians have endured hundreds of thousands of casualties, rising inflation, collapsing wages, and a permanent war economy that diverts nearly all resources toward the military. New taxes are imposed almost monthly to fill budget gaps, with the last one raising Russia’s value-added tax from 20% to 22% next year. Ukrainian deep strikes break through Russian air defenses every night, hitting refineries, power plants, ports, and ammunition depots, eroding the public confidence further. Many citizens now feel that the Kremlin has imported the war back into Russia itself, despite continual assurances that everything is under control. For the first time since the invasion, Ukrainians are hitting strategic sites far behind the front line, and Russians notice. The number of people who say their living standards have deteriorated is the highest since 2022. In October 2025, for every Russian who reported even a slight improvement in their finances, three said their situation had worsened.
Shockingly, the sentiment is changing even within the military, as communications among dozens of senior Russian officers reveal what many suspected: a growing belief that the war has reached a political and strategic deadlock, maintained only by Putin’s personal stubbornness. This does not signal imminent collapse, nor does it mean generals are preparing to challenge his power. Many are indifferent, and if the war ends, they will adapt. If it continues, they will send more men forward while falsifying reports and exaggerating successes, but beneath that cynicism lies a recognition that the conflict cannot be won in the form Putin demands. Some high-ranking officers quietly admit they would prefer the war to stop, simply to avoid wasting more soldiers’ lives, yet none will directly challenge a system that rewards their obedience and punishes honesty.
Several prominent Russian military analysts have also begun to push for the peace settlement because they understood that Russia cannot achieve the objectives it set at the start of the invasion, as the army has lost too many men to sustain the current pace for the several more years needed to conquer the remaining territories. Despite recent claims of rapid advances, progress is fast only compared to the crawling pace of the last 3 and a half years. An army that once marched with new tanks and modern infantry fighting vehicles now advances with motorcycles, improvised Frankenstein trucks, civilian cars stripped of doors, and small infantry squads used as expendables. As Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte put it, Putin is running out of money, ideas, and soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of Russians are dying for his reckless aggression.
Overall, a widening rift separates Russian society from its leadership, and the military is no longer immune to this split. After nearly four years of war, Russian forces lose over a thousand men a day, and replacing them has become increasingly complex. Putin accepts this attritional pace because he views time as his ally, but even...
Reality hits Putin hard! Whole nation turns against war, amid 1 million losses, strikes, inflation! - RFU News
Today, there is interesting news from the Russian Federation.
Here, the Russian political leadership is claiming confidently that Russia will continue the war until it achieves all the goals it has set out at the start of the war. However, the latest poll results shocked them, because as it turns out, the Russian population has had enough of the so-called special military operation and wants the war to end now.
Recently, an internal survey prepared for regional Russian administrations ahead of the 2026 elections shows 83% of Russians feel fatigued from the war, and 56% want it to end right away, a sharp rise from the previous year. Support for continuing hostilities has fallen to around 23 percent, even as the Kremlin insists publicly that national unity remains strong.
The gap between state messaging and private sentiment has never been wider, as Putin still expects his forces to capture all of the Donetsk region and has set deadlines by February 2026, while his foreign-policy aides continue repeating maximalist demands. Foreign Minister Lavrov claims demilitarization and denazification remain non-negotiable, while spokesperson Peskov says Russia wants the war to end, but only once its original objectives are achieved. The new data is a shock, not because Russians suddenly oppose the war, but because the scale of fatigue is impossible to hide even from those in power.
The direct reasons named for this are that the Russians have endured hundreds of thousands of casualties, rising inflation, collapsing wages, and a permanent war economy that diverts nearly all resources toward the military. New taxes are imposed almost monthly to fill budget gaps, with the last one raising Russia’s value-added tax from 20% to 22% next year. Ukrainian deep strikes break through Russian air defenses every night, hitting refineries, power plants, ports, and ammunition depots, eroding the public confidence further. Many citizens now feel that the Kremlin has imported the war back into Russia itself, despite continual assurances that everything is under control. For the first time since the invasion, Ukrainians are hitting strategic sites far behind the front line, and Russians notice. The number of people who say their living standards have deteriorated is the highest since 2022. In October 2025, for every Russian who reported even a slight improvement in their finances, three said their situation had worsened.
Shockingly, the sentiment is changing even within the military, as communications among dozens of senior Russian officers reveal what many suspected: a growing belief that the war has reached a political and strategic deadlock, maintained only by Putin’s personal stubbornness. This does not signal imminent collapse, nor does it mean generals are preparing to challenge his power. Many are indifferent, and if the war ends, they will adapt. If it continues, they will send more men forward while falsifying reports and exaggerating successes, but beneath that cynicism lies a recognition that the conflict cannot be won in the form Putin demands. Some high-ranking officers quietly admit they would prefer the war to stop, simply to avoid wasting more soldiers’ lives, yet none will directly challenge a system that rewards their obedience and punishes honesty.
Several prominent Russian military analysts have also begun to push for the peace settlement because they understood that Russia cannot achieve the objectives it set at the start of the invasion, as the army has lost too many men to sustain the current pace for the several more years needed to conquer the remaining territories. Despite recent claims of rapid advances, progress is fast only compared to the crawling pace of the last 3 and a half years. An army that once marched with new tanks and modern infantry fighting vehicles now advances with motorcycles, improvised Frankenstein trucks, civilian cars stripped of doors, and small infantry squads used as expendables. As Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte put it, Putin is running out of money, ideas, and soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of Russians are dying for his reckless aggression.
Overall, a widening rift separates Russian society from its leadership, and the military is no longer immune to this split. After nearly four years of war, Russian forces lose over a thousand men a day, and replacing them has become increasingly complex. Putin accepts this attritional pace because he views time as his ally, but even...
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 02:57 AM
Number of posts: 124,585