Conservative Blogger
Friday, May 15, 2026
The Latest: Trump Wraps up China Visit and Holds Private Meeting with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping
U.S. President Donald Trump wraps up his visit to Beijing on Friday with a private meeting at Chinese leader Xi Jinping's official residence before he departs for Washington. During a series of meetings and events on Thursday the two discussed divisive issues such as the Iran war, trade, technology and Taiwan. During those meetings, Trump said Xi told him China wants to help negotiate an end to the war and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil and Trump hopes Xi will use that leverage to prod Iran into a deal on U.S. terms. Trump also said Xi assured him that China wouldn’t provide Iran with military equipment. Trump has taken a decidedly rosy outlook on the U.S.-China relationship during this trip. But that has collided with some difficult truths about the thorniest issues between the two superpowers including Taiwan, the Iran war and trade. In a summit marked by fanfare and flattery, Xi warned Trump that differences over Taiwan, a self-governed island claimed by Beijing as its own territory, could bring the U.S. and China into clashes or conflict. Trump authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, but has not moved forward with delivery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned later on Thursday it would be “a terrible mistake” for China to take Taiwan by force. Trump also focused on trade and deals for China to buy more agricultural products and passenger planes, setting up a board to address their differences and avoid a repeat of the trade war ignited last year after Trump’s tariff hikes. Here is the latest: Next to Beijing’s Forbidden City lies a secretive compound wrapped around two man-made lakes built for the pleasure of emperors. Today, Zhongnanhai, or “middle and southern seas,” is synonymous with China’s seat of power as the primary residence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the headquarters of the central government. Zhongnanhai is often compared to the White House, the Kremlin or South Korea’s Blue House. But unlike the other presidential residences, Zhongnanhai does not serve as the main venue for diplomatic visits. China’s top leaders reserve the highly secure grounds for only their closest allies and carefully selected dignitaries. Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Xi has called his closest friend, was received at Zhongnanhai at least twice, in 2024 and 2025. Xi also welcomed former U.S. President Barack Obama to Zhongnanhai in 2014. The two leaders took an evening stroll and had dinner. Elon Musk’s 6-year-old son showed up Thursday at the Great Hall of the People decked in Chinese-style clothing and wearing a tiger bag that has since gone viral in China. The tiny, tiger-head crossbody bag is produced by artisanal brand YASTEE, which works with embroiderers in south China to make handcrafted goods. A bag like the one worn by Musk’s son takes several days to make and decorate by hand, according to local media. The bag went viral on Chinese social media and sold out in hours on the company’s online stores. The president said in the interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News that he asked them to join his meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People even though their participation wasn’t scheduled. Trump said the American business executives were nearby in the building “and I said I think I can get them in five minutes.” Trump wouldn’t identify which executives participated but said they introduced themselves and said a few words, and seemed to impress Xi. He said most of them had never met the president of China. “He actually said that was very good. That was a good idea,” Trump said of Xi. Trump, whose delegation for the trip included the CEOs of Mastercard and Visa, said he also raised with Xi expanding access to the China market for U.S.-based credit card companies. “I said, ‘What about using Visa in China?’” Trump said in his Fox News interview. “For some reason they were blackballed and maybe that’ll come off.” China allows foreign cards to be linked to instant pay apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay. But physical card usage is limited mainly to international hotels, high-end shopping malls, and some upscale restaurants. Visa and Mastercard have been long pushing for inroads to Chinese consumers and businesses in the world’s second largest economy. Trump asked about the release of Jimmy Lai, the 78-year old former newspaper publisher and pro-democracy activist who is serving a 20-year sentence in Hong Kong, in his meeting with Xi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with NBC News Thursday. “We would like to see him released. We would be open to any arrangement that would work for them, as long as he’s given his freedom,” said Rubio. Lai was the publisher of Apple Daily, a tabloid that was critical of Chinese and Hong Kong government authorities. “He’s all business,” Trump told Sean Hannity of Fox News in a taped interview that followed Thursday’s meeting with the Chinese leader. “There’s no games. There’s no talking about how nice the weather is.” Trump said Xi is a “very smart person” and that they have a “good relationship.” “He’s all about China,” Trump said. The president suggested during the Fox News interview that Irian officials at first “said very strongly” that the U.S. could send it teams to collect hundreds of pounds of enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged by U.S. military strikes last year. But then, he said, Iran reneged. “They agreed to it. They take it back. They agree, you know it’s back and forth,” he said. Whether Iran would be willing to relinquish enriched uranium is a key point in negotiations to end the war. Trump has long insisted Tehran is willing to do so, but Iran has largely rejected such assertions. Trump added during the interview that Iran says only the U.S. and China had sufficient technology to remove the enriched uranium, given that its buried deep underground. “He’s all business,” Trump told Sean Hannity of Fox News in a taped interview that followed Thursday’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “There’s no games. There’s no talking about how nice the weather is.” Trump said Xi is a “very smart person” and they have a “good relationship.” “He’s all about China,” Trump said. Trump and Xi were scheduled to hold more talks Friday. They are set to spend time together at Xi’s official residence in Beijing before Trump flies back to Washington. Trump has taken a decidedly rosy outlook on the U.S.-China relationship during this trip. But that is colliding with some difficult truths about the thorniest issues between the two superpowers including Taiwan, the Iran war and trade issues. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC that “there’s going to be some agricultural purchases” made as a result of this trip. U.S. soybean farmers were hit especially hard by Trump’s trade war with China and have urged him to persuade Beijing to buy more of their crop. China is on track to fulfill its commitment to buy 12 million metric tons (13.2 million tons) of U.S. soybeans this year, although that is well below the 25 million to 30 million metric tons (27.5 million to 33 million tons) purchased in past years. China, the biggest foreign buyer of U.S. soybeans, stopped buying them altogether last year after Trump hiked tariffs on all Chinese goods. After Trump met with Xi in October, the White House said China agreed to purchase 12 million metric tons. The American Soybean Association hopes Trump can secure a deal for an additional 8 million metric tons (8.8 million tons) by Aug. 31. |
Sanctuary City DA Squirms When Confronted on Delayed Apology to Family of Mom Murdered by an Illegal
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Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano
looked visibly uncomfortable on Wednesday when a reporter confronted him and his staff by asking point-blank why it took a congressional hearing to issue an apology to Angel Mom Cheryl Minter. Minter’s daughter Stephanie was brutally murdered this year by an illegal immigrant with a long criminal history—numerous charges that Descano’s own office had previously dropped.
WJLA reporter Nick Minock, who has covered Descano and his rich history of offering leniency to illegal immigrant defendants, inquired as to why it took a congressional hearing to provoke an apology out of the sanctuary city district attorney. "Why didn't you apologize to Stephanie Minter's mother much sooner?" Minock asked. "Why did it take a Congressional hearing to apologize to her?" Descano can be seen trying to avoid the question like the plague. Undeterred, Minock keeps asking. Also undeterred by his unwillingness to accept responsibility, Descano instead addresses another reporter's less tense question. Minock then attempts to coax an apology out of Jenna Sands, the Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney for Fairfax County and Descano's second-in-command. Instead, another staff member runs cover as the group continues walking away from the cameras. Sands is seen smiling, seemingly amused by the situation. READ MORE: WATCH — Jim Jordan Brings Flamethrower to Capitol Hill Showdown With Sanctuary City DA Descano DOJ Launches Probe Into Fairfax DA Who Seems to Give Preferential Treatment to Violent Illegals Stephanie Minter, a 41-year-old single mother from Fredericksburg, Virginia, was stabbed to death in February. She had been doing little more than waiting at a bus stop. She was allegedly murdered by Abdul Jalloh, a 32-year-old illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone with over 30 prior arrests, including multiple violent crimes. As reported by RedState's Teri Christoph, Descano's office let Jalloh walk on those priors, on offenses that ranged from theft to sexual assault. The George Soros-backed attorney, in his opening statement at a congressional hearing Thursday, addressed Mrs. Minter. “I am deeply sorry for your loss. I say that as not only a prosecutor, but as a parent with a daughter,” he said. “I promise, my office is doing everything we can to prosecute the man responsible.” The Department of Justice earlier this month launched a formal investigation into Descano’s office, examining whether his plea bargaining, charging decisions, and sentencing practices discriminate against U.S. citizens by giving preferential treatment to illegal immigrant defendants. During what would become an explosive House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing, Chairman Jim Jordan torched Descano over his office’s repeated leniency toward illegal aliens, forcing him to explain why he scrubbed language from his campaign website stating that considering deportation in sentencing was a “perversion of justice.” Descano stumbled through evasive answers, at one point calling critics “obtuse."
This is pretty much the far-left mantra. Brag about protecting illegals, actually protect them, then when an innocent American and their family's lives are tragically ruined, suddenly avoid talking. Descano, like all sanctuary city officials, is a coward. |
LA Mayoral Candidate Proposes Backyard BBQ Ban to Fight Wildfires, Gets Raked Over the Coals
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During last Wednesday's Los Angeles mayoral debate, bad-a** candidate Spencer Pratt destroyed his opponent, LA City Councilwoman Nithya Raman (D-District 4), with his response to Raman's gaslighting about Pratt and incumbent mayor Karen Bass (D) teaming up against her. Raman made the incredulous claim that they would have an easier chance running against each other than running against her. RedState has extensively documented Raman's horrible record in her six years on the city council. At one town hall, her own constituents booed her after she dismissed their safety concerns over a homeless encampment being near a school. WATCH:
Pratt's epic response during the debate deflated some of Raman's pomposity, as RedState's Bob Hoge documented.
Read More: Spencer Pratt Crushes LA Mayoral Debate – Viewers Say He Smoked the Field After that scorching, Raman should have crawled under one of those homeless tents under the 101 Freeway in her district. Even the betting markets knew Pratt had smoked her. Only last week, they had Raman just slightly below Bass and ahead of Pratt. After the debate, Raman's fortunes sank like a stone. But Raman refuses to go quietly. Instead, she appeared on some D-list podcast hosted by her favorite Democrat Socialists, and claimed that "real" solutions were needed for L.A.'s problems, and if not presented, people would turn to fascism and "mini-Trumps" like Spencer Pratt. <insert *eyeroll* emoji> WATCH: Notice that Raman didn't bother to offer one solution. She just did what she tried to do in the debate: name-call and label. This is how afraid Raman is of Pratt: There was a second debate that was scheduled for this week. Bass bowed out, claiming she needed to be in Sacramento. That would have left Raman to face off against Pratt all by herself. You would think Raman would have jumped at the chance to discuss those pressing solutions she claims that L.A. citizens care about. Instead, like the cowardly person she is, Raman also backed out, proving she has no solutions, just slurs and talking points. Raman went back to business as usual at the council and then decided this brain fart of an idea to combat the wildfires was just the ticket. Mind you, she (and Bass) claim that wildfires are a result of climate change, and take no responsibility for their complicity in the horrible conditions that led up to the Palisades fires, where Pratt and thousands of others lost their homes. No, Raman decided that what would solve this problem of wildfires is for Angeleans to rein in their backyard BBQs during Red Flag days. It would be laughable if it weren't so terrible.
Part of Raman's district encompasses the San Fernando Valley, which gets into the 100s during the summer, when a number of Red Flag events occur. The beautiful part about Southern California is that the temperature does dip considerably in the evening, so most people want to enjoy their backyards and eat al fresco, which often includes firing up the grill. When we lived in the Valley, there was no way I was turning on an oven, so grilling was all we did. So, this proposal is not only Raman's typically dismissive and tone-deaf response to her constituents, but it is also beyond stupid. A fellow Democrat councilmember felt the same, so she blocked the proposal and then presented a motion to strip the BBQ ban completely.
I rest my case, but this is all Raman and her leftist ilk know how to do: take other people's earned money through taxation and fraud, while limiting any freedoms one could enjoy. When was the last time someone's backyard BBQ started a wildfire? I haven't been able to find one instance. However, there are a number of instances of fires started in the very homeless encampments that Raman deems more important than children's safety. This mid-April article from local ABC7 confirms this fact, citing over 16,000 Los Angeles Fire Department reports logged about fires started at homeless encampments — an average of 46 PER DAY.
But this is how callous the bean-brained Raman and Mayor Bass are. To blithely claim climate change is the culprit of wildfires, despite mounting evidence that exposes the city's malfeasance and total disregard. Evidence like a phone call two days before the Palisades fires, between Bass and Los Angeles resident John Alle. A conversation that Alle somehow decided to record. In this phone discussion, Alle warned Bass about the predicted winds and the dry conditions, being ripe for fire events. Alle was most concerned that with the homeless's penchant for setting fires in their encampments, it could easily ignite and spread bigger fires. We know the sad history. Like Pratt, Alle and his parents lost their homes in the Palisades fires. With Bass seeking reelection, Alle felt it was important to release the audio, which he did in late April.
Here's the rub: What needs to be done, and what Raman, in her role as a city council member, is capable of doing, she refuses to do. But she'll attempt a verbal jig and blame everyone but herself for her failures. Spencer Pratt exposed her game at the debate, and after this sorry attempt by Raman at a supposed solution, Pratt used his social media game to rake her over the BBQ coals. I cannot stop laughing, and we all will be waiting for the next AI ad featuring Pratt to drop. Brain trusts like Raman are low-hanging fruit. |
Appeals Court Blocks Trump Settlement to E. Jean Carroll...for Now
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E. Jean Carroll, remember her, is still waiting to be paid by President Donald Trump regarding the civil suit she filed against him. She is the definition of a woman scorned, someone who will sue him for anything. That legal saga dates to 2022, when Trump was found liable for allegedly sexually assaulting her in the 1990s.
The president was also determined to have defamed Ms. Carroll. Trump was ordered to pay her over $83 million, but the president’s legal team has sought to stave off payment by appealing to the Supreme Court, arguing that the judgment should be vacated on grounds of presidential immunity. This seems to be the last bite of the legal apple. Carroll is fine waiting, as long as interest is tacked on to the principal here (via The Hill):
The Supreme Court is the last and only option left here. Keep in mind, this is how Carroll reacted to the judgment back then: |
What If Dems Are Shut Out of the CA Gov Race? Newsom Says There's a 'Break-the-Glass' Contingency Plan
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The California gubernatorial primary is in June. What happens if the Democrats are shut out? That’s the risk when many Democrats run, as it could split the Democratic vote and allow the Republicans to advance to the general election. The two top vote-getters move on, so it’s possible a Democrat could be completely excluded. The leading Democrats aren't necessarily strong contenders. There’s Katie Porter, whose campaign is struggling; Xavier Becerra, who is considered a lightweight; and Tom Steyer. What if this happens? Well, Gov. Gavin Newsom cryptically alluded to a secondary protocol in case this happens, but wouldn’t elaborate (via Politico):
Never underestimate the Democrats in plotting totally insane things to remain in power. |
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| A general view of the Louisiana State Capitol on April 17, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated Louisiana’s previous congressional boundaries, the state Senate approved a revised map on Thursday in a 27–10 party-line vote. Sponsored by Senator Jay Morris (R-La.), the proposal now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration as lawmakers rush to meet deadlines ahead of the November elections. This legislative push follows a high court ruling that found the state’s prior map had illegally used race as the “predominant factor” in drawing a second majority-Black district, requiring Louisiana to redraw its lines to comply with the Equal Protection Clause. The redistricting effort in Louisiana mirrors a broader trend across the South, where Republican-led legislatures have moved to redraw maps following recent legal shifts regarding the federal Voting Rights Act. President Donald Trump has actively encouraged GOP leaders in these states to finalize maps that maximize the party’s advantage, aiming to bolster the Republican edge in a narrowly divided U.S. House of Representatives. If the current measure backed by Morris is signed into law, it is expected to dismantle the state’s second majority-Black district, likely shifting the congressional delegation from its current 4–2 split to a 5–1 Republican advantage.
Under this proposal, the current 6th District — represented by Representative Cleo Fields (D-La.) — would be dismantled and reshaped into a Republican-leaning seat centered around communities in South Louisiana and the Baton Rouge suburbs. To address the recent Supreme Court ruling, the legislation scraps the existing version of the 6th District. The measure preserves the 2nd District, currently held by Representative Troy Carter (D-La.). This district would extend from New Orleans to a portion of Baton Rouge and is expected to remain a Democrat stronghold. However, the new boundaries could potentially pit Carter against Fields in a future primary. If the state House of Representatives grants final approval to the map by the June 1st deadline, the bill will move to the governor’s desk for signature, likely securing a 5–1 Republican advantage for the state’s congressional delegation ahead of the November 2026 elections |
Spencer Pratt Calls Out TMZ: Media's Half-Truths Exposed Amid Campaign
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When TMZ ran a story claiming Spencer Pratt was bunking at the swanky Hotel Bel-Air instead of the Airstream he flashed in campaign footage, the click-hungry outlet thought it had exposed yet another fake-populist spectacle. What they didn’t reckon on was Pratt’s brazen, on-camera rebuttal and the readiness of his supporters to see past the media’s gotcha moment. Pratt didn’t meekly admit defeat; he pushed back hard, telling TMZ he never said he “lived” in the trailer and pointing to the nightmare of having his home burn down and receiving death threats as reasons he sometimes sleeps elsewhere. That defensive posture frustrated the narrative-hunters who wanted a simple scandal for their morning show hits. Let’s not forget how Pratt’s life was genuinely upended when his Pacific Palisades house went up in flames last year — footage of the blaze exists and should temper any rush to accuse a man of grandstanding during a personal catastrophe. Conservatives aren’t naive about celebrity stunts, but we also recognize when a story is being squeezed into a caricature for clicks. This kerfuffle comes as Pratt’s unlikely campaign for Los Angeles mayor heats up, and the establishment is unnerved that an outsider can cut through the usual political fog. The same outlets that pedal left-wing narratives about homelessness and city policy are suddenly lecturing a candidate for pointing out the failures everybody living in L.A. sees every day. What’s instructive is how TMZ and other outlets hustled to brand Pratt a liar without context, revealing the larger media playbook: weaponize a half-story, amplify it until it sticks, then move on. Conservatives should expect no mercy from a press corps that treats populist anger as a curiosity to be monetized rather than a legitimate civic alarm. Pratt’s message on homelessness — that the crisis enriches certain interests and destroys neighborhoods — resonates because it names winners and losers in the current broken system, and that truth terrifies the elites. If the media’s goal was to discredit the messenger, they’ve only made his point louder; hardworking voters smell the hypocrisy when TV anchors gush over Bel-Air while neighborhoods rot. At the end of the day, thinking Americans know a setup when they see one, and they won’t be browbeaten by smears spun for ratings. The real story here isn’t whether Spencer Pratt slept in a trailer or a hotel for a night — it’s that the media would rather posture than fix the mess in L.A., and that’s why outsiders who speak plainly are finding an audience. |
Trump’s Visit to China: Power Play or Diplomatic Win?
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President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing this week to a full ceremonial welcome — red carpet, military band and hundreds of children waving tiny American and Chinese flags while chanting “Welcome.” The images were unmistakable: a president treated like a visiting head of state who commands attention, not pity. Make no mistake, moments like this prove a simple truth conservatives have always known: strength earns respect. While the left frets about optics, ordinary Americans understand that when our leader stands tall and unapologetic for American interests, foreign capitals take notice and adjust their behavior accordingly. Mr. Trump’s trip was not a photo op but a high-stakes diplomatic mission, with talks aimed at Iran, trade, and the sensitive issue of Taiwan — the exact policy tests where weakness would have had dangerous consequences. The administration brought a roster of business and national security figures to signal that America means business and expects reciprocal behavior on economic fairness and regional security. China’s own Ministry of Foreign Affairs documented the welcome ceremony and subsequent talks, underscoring Beijing’s desire to stabilize ties after years of fraught relations. The formal exchanges and state-level hospitality show that Beijing recognizes the strategic value of engaging with a U.S. president who mixes diplomacy with leverage. This was also the first full state welcome for a sitting U.S. president in nearly nine years, a reminder that American leadership can reset global dynamics when it’s exercised with clarity and resolve. That reset matters: trade deals, supply chains and security guarantees don’t survive on wishful thinking — they survive on power balanced with principled negotiation. Conservatives should cheer careful engagement that preserves American interests while remaining skeptical of any cheap goodwill that costs us our advantage. The state banquet toasts and photo opportunities are fine, but the real victory is ensuring Taiwan’s security, fair trade terms, and restraints on Chinese influence without surrendering our principles. If this visit produces leverage rather than appeasement, hardworking Americans will reap the benefits. |
Thursday, May 14, 2026
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