In a world drowning in cynicism, sometimes it takes a meme to tell the truth.

That’s exactly what happened when Donald Trump posted an image of himself dressed as the Pope. To the untrained eye, it was trolling. To the regime media, it was scandal. But to millions who’ve awakened to the crumbling lies of globalism, it was a signal—the rising of a new age.

Dr. Steve Turley, in a sweeping cultural analysis, revealed what lies beneath the surface of the so-called "Pope Trump" meme: a civilizational declaration, a mythic realignment, and a spiritual revolt against globalist tyranny.

On May 3, 2025, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a significant ruling favoring the Trump administration by staying a lower court's injunction that had mandated the rehiring of Voice of America (VOA) employees and the resumption of certain broadcasting operations. This decision underscores critical jurisdictional boundaries and reinforces the separation of powers as delineated in the U.S. Constitution.

Background

In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order initiating substantial cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent organization of VOA. This action led to the placement of over 1,000 employees on administrative leave and the suspension of VOA's broadcasting activities for the first time in its 80-year history. Subsequently, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Trump administration to reinstate the employees and restore broadcasting services, asserting that the executive order likely exceeded presidential authority and infringed upon congressional appropriations. 

Appellate Court's Rationale

The D.C. Circuit Court, in a 2-1 decision, stayed Judge Lamberth's injunction, emphasizing that the district court lacked jurisdiction over the employment and grant-related decisions in question. The appellate court highlighted that:

• Employment disputes involving federal employees are typically under the purview of the Merit Systems Protection Board, not federal district courts.

• Disputes concerning federal grants fall within the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims.

Furthermore, the court noted that the absence of a bond accompanying the injunction posed potential irreparable harm to the government, reinforcing the necessity for judicial restraint in such matters.

The Founders’ View: Constitutional Restraint and Separation of Powers

The D.C. Circuit’s ruling finds solid grounding not only in legal precedent but in the constitutional philosophy of the Founding Fathers. The Founders were deeply concerned with restraining centralized power and ensuring a clear separation between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

1. Federalist No. 47 (James Madison): Madison wrote that “the accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands... may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” By this, he emphasized the danger of any one branch — including the judiciary — encroaching upon the rightful domain of another. The ruling respects this principle by reinforcing the boundaries of judicial authority over executive personnel and spending decisions.

2. Federalist No. 78 (Alexander Hamilton): Hamilton stressed that the judiciary must remain “the least dangerous” branch, possessing “neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment.” The D.C. Circuit’s emphasis on jurisdiction aligns with Hamilton’s view — courts must not usurp powers assigned to Congress or the Executive, especially through injunctions that compel executive action.

3. Article I, Section 9 and Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution: These clauses make clear that the power of the purse belongs solely to Congress, while the power to appoint and remove federal officers lies primarily with the Executive. Any judicial interference with these powers not expressly granted by statute undermines the constitutional structure the Founders so carefully crafted.

Implications

This ruling has broader implications beyond the immediate case:

• Reaffirmation of Separation of Powers: The decision reinforces the principle that each branch of government must operate within its constitutionally assigned boundaries.

• Limitation on Judicial Overreach: By delineating the appropriate jurisdictions for employment and grant disputes, the court curtailed potential judicial overreach into executive functions.

• Precedent for Future Cases: This ruling may influence the adjudication of similar cases where the judiciary is asked to intervene in executive decisions concerning federal employment and funding.

Legal analyst Margot Cleveland remarked that the court's decision is a substantial victory for the Trump administration, emphasizing that attempts to circumvent congressional limitations on district court jurisdiction through creative legal theories are impermissible.

In summary, the D.C. Circuit's ruling underscores the importance of adhering to constitutional frameworks and the designated roles of each governmental branch, particularly in matters involving federal employment and appropriations.

To start off...

In recent weeks, something big has been happening behind closed doors. China, once seen as a rising economic superpower, is quietly backing down in the trade war with the United States. While the Chinese Communist Party won’t admit it publicly, the signs are everywhere, tariffs are being dropped, American goods are being let in tariff-free, and secret early-morning meetings are being held with U.S. officials.

So what’s going on? Why is China caving? To understand it, we have to walk through China’s economic problems, the power of U.S. tariffs, and how President Trump has flipped the global economic system on its head.

1. The Trade War Begins – And Why It’s Not Equal

President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs in April 2025. 57 countries were hit, but China was the real target. The U.S. started with a 34% tariff on Chinese goods, which quickly rose to 145% across all sectors as China retaliated. But here’s the kicker: China sells five times more to the U.S. than we sell to them.

That makes China far more vulnerable. We’re the deficit country, meaning we import more, so China has more to lose. The math is simple: if tariffs stay, China loses up to 10 million jobs. Even if reduced, it could still lose 5 million jobs. That’s devastating.

2. China’s Debt Problem and the Evergrande Collapse

China isn’t just dealing with tariffs. It’s drowning in debt, especially from the real estate sector.

Evergrande, once the world’s biggest real estate developer, defaulted in 2021.

It owed billions, and when it crashed, it dragged down the entire property market.

Home prices have dropped 30% since 2021.

This caused local governments to lose money, developers to collapse, and banks to panic.

China’s economy has been weakened from the inside, and they can’t afford more pressure from the outside. The trade war is hitting them at their worst moment.

3. Raw Materials Dependence – The Ethane Example

China wants to be independent, but it still relies on U.S. raw materials.

Take ethane, a gas used in plastics. Chinese factories can’t make their own. Because of Trump’s tariffs, China slapped a 125% retaliatory tariff on U.S. ethane. But guess what happened?

Their plastics industry started to collapse. Without ethane, the factories shut down. Plastics are used in nearly everything from electronics to packaging. That shut down ripple effects across the economy.

So what did China do? They quietly removed the 125% tariff on U.S. ethane.

And that’s just the beginning.

4. Secret Tariff Removals Across Multiple Sectors

According to Reuters and Gatestone, China is dropping tariffs on:

• Aviation parts
• Industrial chemicals
• Pharmaceuticals
• Semiconductors
• Medical devices

Some American companies in China are even reporting that they are now importing tariff-free.

It’s not public. It’s quiet. But it’s real. China is folding and fast.

5. Xi Jinping Can’t Admit It Publicly

Xi Jinping and the Communist Party can’t look weak. Saving face is crucial in Chinese politics. That’s why all of this is happening in the shadows.

On April 24, 12 Chinese officials, including someone from their Finance Ministry, entered the U.S. Treasury building at 7 AM (before cameras could catch them).

Chinese security tried to block photos. But reports got out anyway.

These quiet talks are proof: China is coming to the table.

6. The Bigger Picture: Trump Is Rewriting the Global Economy

For decades, China grew rich inside the globalist trade system. Organizations like the WTO, IMF, and World Bank. They joined the WTO in 1971 and exploded economically.

But they never became “liberal” like the West hoped. Instead, they used the system to grow their own power.

Now, Trump is tearing that system down. He’s replacing it with economic nationalism where trade deals are bilateral (one-on-one) and based on America First.

This is called mercantilism, where trade is used for national security, not global cooperation.

Under this new system, if China wants to keep selling to America, it has to play by Trump’s rules.

7. Why China Can’t Win This War

Even though China is a major power (the second largest economy in the world), it’s still too dependent on exports, too burdened by debt, and too weak internally to fight a prolonged trade war.

Their economic growth is expected to drop by 2.4% due to these tariffs.

The globalist system they depended on is collapsing.

Trump’s America controls the playing field now.

So they’re doing the only thing they can: quietly giving in.

In the end...

China may act tough in public, but behind the scenes, they’re admitting reality. The trade war is hurting them more than us. Tariffs are being dropped, industries are being saved, and secret meetings are happening.

Trump’s strategy worked because it was based on leverage, facts, and free-market power not on globalist fantasies or Marxist-style central planning.

The world economy is changing fast. And like it or not, America is back in charge.