The cannons saluted Trump; a finance minister met everyone else. But the real tell wasn't the welcome in Ankara — it was Putin's 85-minute phone call, and a Europe promising a war economy it can no longer build. Susan Kokinda on the century of geopolitics quietly coming apart.
What does it truly mean to be an American citizen? Mike Steger explores the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling, Justice Clarence Thomas' dissent, and the principles that built America.
June 2026 Promethean Perk — free for ALL members, made possible by our Promethean and Firebringer supporters. Download the 26-page briefing inside.
The cannons saluted Trump; a finance minister met everyone else. But the real tell wasn't the welcome in Ankara — it was Putin's 85-minute phone call, and a Europe promising a war economy it can no longer build. Susan Kokinda on the century of geopolitics quietly coming apart.
Susan Kokinda breaks down the NATO summit in Ankara, where President Trump signaled a new foreign-policy dynamic by prioritizing Turkey and President Erdogan—nearly skipping the summit, praising Turkey's independent role on Iran, and floating renewed F-35 sales despite Turkey's S-400 purchase and its ties to both Moscow and Kiev. In contrast, European leaders and Canada's Mark Carney arrived with a “Resilience” agenda—claiming Europe can stand without the U.S.—after months of planning that included Carney's coordination and MI6 guidance on “managing” Trump. She argues that posture is undermined by Europe's industrial decline: falling German production, Volkswagen's expected job cuts, and Britain's shrinking steel capacity, while Carney's answer amounts to new defense and Ukraine lending facilities. Finally, she frames Putin's July 4 call with Trump—its emphasis on shared historical ties and “colossal” cooperation potential, including a joint space launch—as evidence the old geopolitical rules are breaking down.
00:00 The Midweek Update - HE ALMOST DIDN'T GO: Why Trump Snubbed NATO for Erdogan - July 8, 2026
01:39 Trump in Turkey
05:04 Europe Walks Into the Corner
09:18 The Phone Call, and Russia
Support our Political Briefings!
Keep our work fierce, fearless, and 100% independent by becoming a paid Promethean Action newsletter subscriber for just $10 a month.
Your subscription powers every deep-dive we publish—no corporate sponsors whispering in our ear, no annoying ads cluttering your screen.
If you value honest analysis and want to help us keep shining a light on the real power plays shaping America’s future, hit that subscribe button now and stand with us.
What does it truly mean to be an American citizen? Mike Steger explores the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling, Justice Clarence Thomas' dissent, and the principles that built America.
Trump and Vance speeches in 72 hours answered the left’s attacks on America’s 250th — from Mamdani’s July 3 “oligarchs” broadside against Elon Musk to Trump at Mount Rushmore and Vance at New York Harbor defining American culture, character, and self-reliance.
How do fringe ideological movements rise to power? Mike traces patterns from history to explain why America has survived past crises and what he believes remains its greatest strength.
On America's 250th, Susan Kokinda shows how Trump is reviving the American System of political economy—suppressed since McKinley's assassination in 1901—and why the Declaration's "pursuit of Happiness" was a declaration of war on the British System.
Get our free newsletter. Zero Spam.
