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The Brew: Political Storms Rage Across the U.S., Europe, Russia, and Ukraine

By Gayle McQueary Published on March 4, 2025

In a world on fire, it’s time we were refined by God’s fire.

This Time, Wildfires Ravage the Carolinas

Yesterday, marked a dire day for the southeastern United States as wildfires continued to blaze throughout the South. More than 175 fires that started Friday evening have already scorched more than 4,200 acres, with the largest blaze near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, consuming 1,600 acres and remaining only 30% contained. North Carolina — already devasted by Hurricane Helene several months ago and then walloped with flooding and snow in some of the same areas — is now burning, with at least four fires scattered statewide.

Palmetto State Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday, triggering evacuations in vulnerable areas in and near the Carolina Forest. Firefighting teams from across the region have been deployed, battling not only flames but also thick smoke that has slashed visibility and air quality.

In North Carolina, crews were working to contain four forest fires across the state with the largest (400 acres) just 50 miles east of Charlotte. Tryon, a small town in southwestern Polk County, urged residents to evacuate on Saturday after fire spread rapidly. As of Monday, there was no clear end in sight for the current disaster. Please join us in praying for the first responders and communities impacted by this disaster. No cause has yet been identified.

Jasmine Crockett Redefines the Term “Enemy”

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) ignited a political firestorm this weekend after calling President Donald Trump an “enemy to the United States” and accusing him of “occupying” the White House after Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy publicly dissed him and Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office in front of the press. In an interview with MSNBC‘s Alex Witt, Crockett voiced her concerns about Trump’s recent actions, especially that meeting.

This statement is part of a larger narrative among most Democrats that the war in Ukraine represents a “defense of democracy.” Instead of addressing serious global concerns, political leaders and media outlets continue to chant the tired, worn-out “Trump bad” mantra from years past without making clear if they even want the war to end.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to offer common sense in discussing Trump’s approach to Putin with several reporters over the weekend — yet the questions those reporters ask seemed to lack critical depth.

As tensions grow, some are asking the Americans cheering for Ukraine in general — and Zelenskyy in particular — “What exactly are you supporting?”

PM Defends Ukraine Having Borders, but What About the U.K.’s?

On the other side of the Atlantic, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened an emergency meeting in London with European NATO countries to discuss the peace efforts and support for Ukraine. Starmer reiterated that the U.K. maintains “unwavering support” for Ukraine, announcing plans to increase defense spending to help Zelenskyy counter Russian aggression.

Somebody forgot to tell the British ambassador to the U.S., Lord Peter Mandelson, about that before he appeared on ABC’s This Week. Apparently, he was unaware that the meeting had pivoted away from peace to providing more funds and weapons.

In the U.K., the government’s focus on foreign conflicts, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine, has sparked significant domestic criticism. With issues like illegal immigration escalating to the point that white people are persecuted minorities in their own land, many are questioning whether prioritizing foreign policy is wise. This dilemma points to a broader struggle within NATO over Ukraine’s potential membership — which some, like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, fear could lead to global conflict.

Tensions continue to mount in the U.S. over this. Early Monday, some outlets were reporting that Trump wants to withdraw all aid from Ukraine:

Also Monday, the Associated Press released its interview with Zelenskyy, in which he said that “peace with Russia is a far, far, far, far away idea.” Not exactly encouraging, considering what he was allegedly in the U.S. to do last Friday — and also showing former UN Ambassador John Bolton’s comments about it to be not exactly true. (“All Zelenskyy wants is for this war to end!” Bolton must have forgotten to add: “on his own terms.”)

Combine this with Trump’s response to Zelenskyy’s AP interview, and its easy to think things are brewing for a disaster.

Jason Jones Writes Letter of Apology to the Ukrainian People

In case you missed it yesterday, frequent Stream contributor Jason Jones wrote to the people of Ukraine to express regret, sorrow, and shame for the role the U.S. has played in Ukraine’s suffering. While you might immediately think this apology is about the recent Trump-Zelenskyy clash or U.S. military involvement, it’s actually about the broader actions of America’s “Deep State,” political elites, and media.

Jones points out how the elites have exploited Ukraine for their own gain, citing historical betrayals like pressuring the country to give up nuclear weapons for an unenforceable promise, breaking assurances to Russia about NATO expansion, and fueling the tensions that led to war with Russia.

Back in 2016, those within our government saw Ukraine as a tool to weaken Russia — not liberate it — and influenced it through money and cultural exports after the 2013 revolution to accomplish that goal. In a stomach-turning way, Jones exposes how those elites profited from energy and arms deals during the Clinton administration. It’s a far cry from Trump’s peace-driven approach.

Without Trump’s diplomatic efforts to end this war, the people of Ukraine will be left to bear the cost of a conflict that’s killed or wounded more than a million of its citizens. Please read the article and join us in praying for a peaceful end to the senseless killing that has no need to continue ever again.

Coming to America

In a significant economic development, Honda announced yesterday that it will move the production headquarters of its next-generation Civic hybrid from Mexico to Indiana, according to Reuters. The decision, confirmed by sources close to the company, comes in response to looming U.S. tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, set to take effect today.

The Trump administration’s proposed 25% tariffs aim to bolster domestic manufacturing, and Honda’s move to its Greensburg, Indiana, plant — which is already producing Civic hatchbacks — signals a swift corporate pivot. This shift could preserve jobs in the Midwest while sidestepping tariff costs, but the change won’t happen until May 2028. The plant is expected to produce about 210,000 new Civic hybrids per year, with Honda looking to import materials from nations not hit by tariffs if production in Indiana falls short of demand.

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Honda has not publicly confirmed the move yet, but the announcement aligns with broader industry trends as automakers brace for a protectionist trade landscape. Analysts suggest this could set a precedent, with other manufacturers eyeing similar relocations — a huge early win for Trump’s “America First” agenda. However, it does place potential strain on U.S.-Mexico economic ties, which are already fraying under tariff threats. We’ll have to keep an eye on that one, but our guess is that Mexico will buckle under the weight of Trump’s threats almost as quickly as California Gov. Gavin Newsom did. (Remember way back in … oh, February … when Newsom and his Democrat allies across Sacramento signed a law devoting some $50 million of their own citizens’ tax dollars to fight Trump’s deportation mandate to rid the nation of illegal criminal immigrants? That crumbled approximately 10 seconds after Trump told them they’d get no more federal funding if they tried to go through with it.)

AOC’s Rights Forum Sparks Immigration Debate

Since we’re on the subject of February, remember when Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) sparked a heated debate for hosting an online webinar called “Know Your Rights with ICE”? The goal of this forum, if you will, was to educate her constituents — specifically migrants — and their “constitutional” rights should they have any run-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The forum, which was livestreamed and widely discussed on social media at the time, drew sharp criticism from Homeland Security Chief Tom Homan. When he openly questioned the legality of such a webinar, AOC quickly clarified that the guidance was intended for “all constituents” and therefore the speech is protected under the First Amendment.

There’s just one problem with that line of logical: The people ICE is hunting aren’t citizens, can’t vote, and therefore, aren’t constituents. This was clearly AOC’s way of subverting immigration enforcement.

This came back on our radar thanks to an interview AOC did with NPR yesterday, in which the host directly asked her about it (framing the problem with it as the fact that Homan “didn’t like it”):

We hope she makes good on her claim to follow up with the Department of Justice on whether they will seek to prosecute her. We hope even more that Pam Bondi’s DOJ records that call so we can all hear what she has to say.

Along The Stream…

Ever heard of “daguofan”? Neither had we until the incomparable Chenyuan Snider explained how’ it’s s like our own corrupt institution in “USAID and ‘Daguofan.’”

Coming up at the end of the day, election integrity activists Garland and Tamara Favorito break down the vulnerabilities in our elections, showing it’s time to “Get Rid of the Voting Machines.”

 

Gayle McQueary is The Stream’s social media coordinator. She has a background in production and is a scary judge of those who claim to help people while exploiting them instead.