from The National Pulse: Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz allocated state funds to a nonprofit that distributes controversial “booty bumping” or “boofing” drug-use kits. As Governor of Minnesota, Kamala Harris’s running mate announced a $100 million initiative on May 14 to support services for the homeless, including funding for Southside Harm Reduction Services in Minneapolis. The […]

BREAKING: IRS Whistleblowers Involved in Hunter Biden Tax Case Reveal IRS, DOJ, and FBI Knew Laptop “Was Real” Immediately; Claim Prosecutors Demanded They Not Ask Questions About Joe Biden Ahead of 2020 Election “There were a lot of overt investigative steps that we were not… pic.twitter.com/WKyS8Pi5pj — Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) October 29, 2024

"I've been a Democrat my whole life, the party that I see in front of me today is literally the inverse of the party I signed up for. This is now the party of war. This is the party of racism. This is the party of censorship. I don't recognize this party." – @BretWeinstein… https://t.co/5SpsxZs3tM […]

from Redacted News: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Alastair Crooke, Strategic Culture: Centuries ago a boy was born. His parents understood that he had a remarkable fate before him which reflected the Will of the Great Shaman. His hair was light, his eyes were light green, and his skin was pale. It seemed obvious that he enjoyed divine favour. But then, one […]

  Though it is an unofficial office, the First Lady has a great deal of influence and has evolved as the country has. The role of the First Lady in US elections depends on the first lady herself. She can have social sway and, thereby, political influence on behalf of the president, but this has developed and changed over time. This article will look at the evolving role of the first lady in the social and political fabric of the United States.   The Title of First Lady Anna Eleanor Roosevelt by Clara Sipprell, 1949. Source: National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC   Being the president’s wife or female relative did not always come with a de facto title. The title’s origins are somewhat convoluted, with the title only entering the popular zeitgeist somewhere between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries.   Martha Washington, for instance, was often simply referred to as “Lady Washington.” This expressed the prestige that came with the role but also did not set any expectations as to a formal role for the wife of the president. Others were known as “Mrs. President,” “Mrs. Presidentress,” or “the president’s wife.”   A popular story for the origin of the title is that President Zachary Taylor first coined the term in an 1849 eulogy, referring to President James Madison’s wife, Dolley Madison. However, there is no record of this eulogy in existence today, leaving the story unconfirmed. Other scholars have popularized the idea that the title comes from another reference to Dolley Madison, this one in a play titled The First Lady in the Land from 1911.   Whether either of these theories is true is unknown, but it is known that whenever the title came about, the media helped popularize it. By the time of President Hoover and his wife, Lou, the shortened term “First Lady” was in existence, with its use becoming commonplace with Eleanor Roosevelt.   The Role of Early First Ladies Martha Washington, unidentified artist. Source: National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC   Martha Washington, the first first lady, set a precedent, as is to be expected for being the first on the job. She established that the president’s wife would serve as the social counterpart to the president, the hostess of the president’s home, and the manager of his social calendar.   One of the only ways for women to access political power before women’s suffrage was through marriage. This aligned with the strict societal gender norms of the time while also allowing women access to a position of power that was rare in the 18th and 19th centuries. Though the First Lady was responsible for managing the household of the president and organizing social functions, she was also able to have close encounters with many politicians and dignitaries.   Martha Washington began what was known as the Republican Court, a sort of emulation of the British royal court, which put the wives of important government officials among the most elite women in the new nation. Wielding this influence, the First Lady could strategically have political influence.   Dolley Payne Madison (Mrs. James Madison) by Gilbert Stuart, 1804. Source: Google Arts & Culture   Dolley Madison, for instance, designed seating plans at social functions to segregate her husband’s allies from his detractors. She would then personally be able to charm those who were in support of her husband, ensuring their continued loyalty. Julia Grant, the wife of Ulysses S. Grant, did the same, using her social skills during formal functions to positively impact the perception of her husband’s administration, which was otherwise considered fairly unaffecting.   While some first ladies wielded their social roles as political power tools, some passed the power onto other female relatives. Abigail Filmore, the first lady from 1850-1853, did not enjoy social functions. However, recognizing the importance of a female host fulfilling this role, she sent her daughter, Mary Abigail, to attend formal functions in her stead.   Early on, the First Lady was perceived within the boundaries of her societally dictated norms, though she wielded covert power. However, as the 19th century rolled along, several first ladies began taking their roles into a more overt realm of power, sitting at the helm of projects that focused on deeper themes. While the role evolved as social norms did, the role of the first lady as the nation’s hostess remains.   Changing Expectations & Duties Frances Folsom (Mrs. Grover Cleveland), Artist Unknown, 1887. Source: Library of Congress   Beginning in the early 20th century, several first ladies took a more active role within the office of the president. The First Lady began serving as a co-campaigner and contributed to several more concrete projects and causes.   Upon her marriage to President Grover Cleveland while he was in office, Frances Cleveland set a precedent for the first ladies to come. The White House wedding caused a media stir, making the new Mrs. Cleveland a celebrity.   Harnessing this power, Cleveland became a co-campaigner for both of her husband’s next presidential campaigns. This role is still relevant and signified the shift of the First Lady’s role from one of a hostess and housewife to that of a public supporter and champion of the president.   This role was made especially clear when, in 1919, Edith Wilson took over her husband’s schedule after he suffered a massive stroke. According to one Republican senator, she was “the Presidentress who had fulfilled the dream of the suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man.”   Woodrow Wilson, half-length, seated, facing right; and his wife (Edith Bolling Galt) holding flowers, Unknown Photographer, 1919. Source: Library of Congress   Though Edith Wilson was never officially the president, her role exemplified the changing attitudes toward women and their public perception. Edith Wilson was a partner in the administration who understood and could carry out the president’s duties.   First ladies throughout the 20th century also increasingly began to select specific causes to support during their time in the White House. This ranged from Eleanor Roosevelt helping to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a US Representative to the UN Commission of Human Rights, to Lady Bird Johnson’s championing of environmental protection, to Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign. First ladies of the United States were beginning to be seen as civil servants alongside their husbands or male relatives.   The First Lady in Modern America “President Carter’s Appointments [Rosalynn Carter]” by Warren K. Leffler, 1977. Source: Library of Congress   The first first lady to have an office in the East Wing of the White House was Rosalynn Carter. She was also the first first lady to hire a Chief of Staff, and under her, the Office of the First Lady was implemented in 1977. Since Carter’s time in office, the First Lady has served in a more official capacity as the equivalent of a federal officer, funded by the Executive Office of the President.   However, with that power came intense scrutiny. In CNN’s documentary series First Ladies, Harvard professor Leah Wright Rigueur comments that first ladies are supposed to be the “representation of Americans’ better selves.” This puts undue pressure on modern first ladies, particularly during election cycles.   Some first ladies, like Nancy Reagan, were criticized for being too domestic, even though Reagan was an accomplished actress in her own right. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton was shamed for being too independent and playing too strongly toward the image of the career woman.   “First Lady Hillary Clinton, head-and-shoulders portrait, seated, facing left, smiling, during her presentation at a congressional hearing on health care reform” by Maureen Keating, 1993. Source: Library of Congress   With an ever-evolving society, it is no wonder that the role of the First Lady is ever-evolving as well. The women who have been first ladies are a reflection of the America that they represent. While before, a first lady like Dolley Madison would only be expected to have minimal education and serve solely as a skilled hostess, first ladies like Michelle Obama hold advanced degrees and have careers as lawyers in their own right.   Culturally and politically, the Office of the First Lady holds a lot of sway when it comes to elections and campaigns. They still represent the “feel” of a candidate’s campaign, whether for better or worse. Their styles, media presence, careers, and more can influence the American public when it comes to voting.   First Lady Michelle Obama pauses with former First Ladies Laura Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barbara Bush, and Rosalynn Carter during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson. Source: Flickr   While the role of the first lady can further polarize American opinion on a presidential candidate, it can also help a candidate, as many women see themselves reflected in the first lady. Laura Bush, for instance, was a librarian in Texas public schools, and Rosalynn Carter was an account manager for Jimmy Carter’s peanut business. These are women who affect the voting population because they often reflect them.   First ladies, and possibly also first gentlemen, will continue to serve as mediators between the cultural and political sides of the White House and may evolve to become even more important public servants who humanize political campaigns in the future.

  Portugal’s maritime voyages in the 15th and 16th centuries initiated significant commercial and cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia. Similar to the Spanish encounters in the Americas, Portuguese chroniclers meticulously documented and mapped vast territories in Africa and Asia. In 1498, Vasco da Gama famously arrived in Calicut and started a trade route from Portugal to India. In 1513, Jorge Álvares made first contact with the Chinese, a lesser-known event that nevertheless marked the start of one of the first diplomatic interactions between China and the West.   The First Sino-Portuguese Encounters: A Complex Clash of Customs Anonymous map of Portugal’s expeditions in Eastern Africa, Asia, and Western Oceania, circa 1550. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Following Vasco de Gama’s ventures in India, which greatly boosted Portuguese trade through newfound access to the spice routes, the Portuguese Empire kept expanding its territories. In 1511, the conquest of Malacca opened the doors to East Asia and its precious mercantile goods.   The expeditions continued to China, where Álvares first approached the Chinese in the port city of Guangzhou in May 1513. The earliest written account of these encounters depicted the Chinese as good individuals seeking peace and camaraderie with the Portuguese. However, initial observations also underscored the challenges faced by the Portuguese, as they were barred from entering mainland China due to the local custom of restricting foreign entry into their domains. From a very early stage, even if the prospects for trade were very positive, the severity of Chinese traditions posed a significant obstacle to fostering a flourishing relationship.   Despite Chinese prohibitions, the Portuguese embassy persisted, entering new ports, waving their flags, and firing cannon shots, a customary European naval greeting sign of respect. However, the Chinese interpreted all these actions as hostilities. Additionally, the Portuguese were identified as the pirates who conquered Malacca, a tributary allied kingdom of the Chinese Ming Empire (1368-1644).   These acts led to many debates between Ming authorities on the future of the Portuguese. Many Chinese officials were totally opposed and wanted to declare war on the Portuguese, as they did not align with the required conventions. Other bureaucrats were curious about the future of Sino-Portuguese relations and in favor of trading with them.   Breaking Traditions: Prospects of Global Trade The Zhengde Emperor, the 11th Ming ruler, 1505-1521. Source: National Palace Museum, Taiwan   Among the group inclined to trade with the Portuguese was Emperor Zhengde. Upon learning of the Portuguese actions, he remarked, “These people do not know our customs; gradually they will learn them” (Zhang, 1973). The emperor’s position was a clear sign of hope for commerce to flourish between partners. Even if tradition directly clashed with the stance of the emperor and other officials, curiosity and economic gains forged a path toward a new set of values.   Nevertheless, the end of the Portuguese embassy was close. The death of Emperor Zhengde in 1521 prompted an official order for the Portuguese to cease foreign trade and a demand for departure under penalty of death. At first, they refused to obey the orders, but after many battles, the Portuguese were expelled from China in 1522, and commercial relations were severed for several years to come.   Who was to blame for the misfortunes of the first Sino-Portuguese relations? Were Chinese norms too strict for Westerners to follow? Were the Portuguese actions too ferocious and brutal to channel their expulsion? To gain insight into this matter, it is crucial to understand the political and economic system in place during the Ming dynasty, especially in relation to commerce.   The Ming Empire, long before the Portuguese arrival, was entering a prolonged and much-contested social, political, and cultural debate on behalf of its relations with foreigners. The influence of ancient traditions, particularly Confucianism, along with the economic structures of East Asia, reinforced the anti-foreign discourse. However, the rise of the merchant class, the potential for significant wealth accumulation, and the rapid changes of an expanding world all aligned with the idea of opening trade to unknown and foreign actors.   Diplomacy & Commerce During the Ming Dynasty: An Ancient System Map depicting the Ming empire and the Sinicized countries, 1515. Source: Albert Herrmann, Harvard University Press 1935, via Wikimedia Commons   The Ming era represented a period of stability and growth for China, as it continuously built and improved alliances and good relations with the majority of its bordering states and ancient allies. These neighboring countries, such as Japan, Korea, or the region that later became modern Vietnam, are often referred to as Sinicized states, as they were established and evolved based on Chinese cultural values and customs.   All these states were influenced and fundamentally shaped by the Chinese written language, imperial system, and Confucian teachings, all of which originated in China. Therefore, the historical development of East Asia was profoundly conditioned by China’s influence over more than 3,500 years, long before the Ming dynasty. This reality fostered a Sinocentric worldview, culturally isolating China from foreign nations, especially those in the West.   By the 14th century, the Sinicized states had developed a set of institutions and international rules that established an organized socioeconomic structure. A crucial characteristic of this system was that China’s hegemonic position did not primarily derive from political or military power, as was the case in Western states. Instead, it stemmed mainly from China’s Confucian cultural and social achievements. Any kind of formal mutual agreement between China and Portugal contradicted this system, as it was based on the centrality of Chinese customs.   However, as mentioned, not all Ming officials were opposed to foreign contact. In fact, Zhengde was not the first emperor to welcome international trade. Just one hundred years before the arrival of the Portuguese, the Yongle emperor dispatched seven extensive overseas missions led by the admiral Zheng He. These expeditions were another clear example of how the Ming began to challenge some Chinese customs.   Betraying Cultural Customs for Profit: A New Set of Chinese Values Rice merchants in the ports of China, 1843. Source: Thomas Allom’s illustration, via Wikimedia Commons   International trade revenues not only opposed the economic organization of the Sinicized states, but they also posed a serious challenge to Confucian ideals. Confucianism developed in a context of a self-sufficient and small-scale Chinese peasant economy. This fact deeply influenced its teachings, which advocated for an equal distribution of wealth and discouraged the pursuit of material gains.   As Confucius preached: “The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain” (Lau, 1992). Consequently, Confucianism contained a strong philosophical prejudice against merchants, arguing that their motivation was profit rather than righteousness. As a result, in Confucian teachings, merchants were ranked last among the four categories of people, while scholars were put at the top of the social hierarchy in spiritual terms, followed by farmers and artisans. Nevertheless, as time progressed, many Chinese individuals realized that the potential wealth to be gained through commerce was so great that they chose to become merchants, even if, from a social and moral point of view, they were doomed.   The Chinese reality was changing, even before the arrival of the Portuguese. The world was rapidly evolving and the distances that isolated societies and cultures in ancient times were being shortened very fast. A remarkable change was occurring, particularly along China’s southern coast, where the merchant class was rapidly growing. Even if Chinese bureaucrats and Confucians disregarded merchants, ordinary people understood the value of trade and external contact. As the position of Emperor Zhengde exemplified, an adjustment in Confucian meaning was needed for it to accept the new trends set by international commerce.   Adapting to New Times: The Rise of Neo-Confucianism  A 16th-century Portuguese watercolor portraying Chinese people in the Códice Casanatense, circa 1540. Source: Wikimedia Commons   In the context of the first Sino-Portuguese encounters, a new branch of Confucianism was developing to grasp the transformations of an emerging era. This new Confucianism equated all four social classes (scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants), giving importance to and truly originating the rise of the merchant class. In this regard, Neo-Confucianism hoped for the social inclusiveness of the merchant class, revitalizing Confucian principles and linking them to major economic transformations.   Wang Yangming, one of the most famous Neo-Confucians, who shared his teachings during the period of the Portuguese encounters, wanted trade to be considered a good practice. In his words: “If you can balance yourself so that neither your mind nor your body becomes weary, then not even engaging in trade all day long will stand in your way of becoming a sage or a worthy” (Chan, 1963).   During the years of Portugal’s arrival in China, a big change in Confucian thought was underway. This development influenced the Chinese cultural identity in dealing with outsiders and possibly shaped the opinions of some actors present in the Sino-Portuguese debates. Traditional customs were slowly adapting to modern times. The emerging Neo-Confucian approach to business and trade embraced globalization, successfully navigating traditional practices to introduce innovative concepts.   When Portugal Met China: Toward the Age of Globalization   Xiamen’s harbors showing English (left), Taiwanese (middle), and Chinese (right) cargo ships, circa 1850. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Although the Portuguese were officially expelled from China in 1522, their initial encounters established a precedent for China’s integration into the global trade system and marked the beginning of formal diplomatic relations between the Western world and China. The arrival of the Portuguese in Guangzhou in 1513 challenged tradition and prompted the necessity to adapt ancient Chinese customs to new circumstances. The expansion of global trade not only fostered significant political and economic changes but also reshaped social values and cultures.   Moreover, by 1557, Chinese authorities ultimately granted permission for the Portuguese to establish a settlement in Macau, a new trade colony next to Hong Kong. In doing so, Ming officials came to acknowledge the strategic significance of the Portuguese, gradually transitioning from being perceived as foreigners to becoming recognized allies. In a way, Emperor Zhengde’s position ended up formally crystalizing 36 years after his death.   The Age of Discovery is usually linked to the Spanish Conquista of the Americas and the subsequent enslavement of the Indigenous people. However, the Age of Discovery also gave rise to overlooked events, such as the first Sino-Portuguese encounters in the 16th century, which significantly influenced the evolution of global trade and geopolitics. A rediscovery of the Age of Discovery holds the potential to view this period not merely as a tale of conquest but also as a story of adaptation and cultural flourishing.   Further Reading:   Brook, T. (1999). The confusions of pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China. University of California Press.   Brook, T. (2019). Great state: China and the world. Profile Books.   Chan, W. (trans.) (1963). Instructions For Practical Living and Other Neo-Confucian Writings by Wang Yang-Ming. Columbia University Press.   Coppolaro, L., & McKenzie, F. (Eds.). (2013). A global history of trade and conflict since 1500. Springer.   De Sousa, I. C. (2013). China, Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking Countries. East & West.    Gruzinski, S. (2014). The Eagle and the Dragon: Globalization and European dreams of conquest in China and America in the sixteenth century. John Wiley & Sons.   Lam, K. C. J. (2003). “Confucian business ethics and the economy.” Journal of Business Ethics, 43(1).   Lau, D. C. (trans.) (1992). The Analects (Confucius). Chinese University Press.   Mungello, D. E. (2012). The great encounter of China and the West, 1500–1800. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.   Pérez García, M., & De Sousa, L. (2018). Global history and new polycentric approaches: Europe, Asia and the Americas in a world network system. Springer Nature.   Subrahmanyam, S. (2012). The Portuguese Empire in Asia, 1500-1700: a political and economic history. John Wiley & Sons.   Yü, Y. S. (2021). The Religious Ethic and Mercantile Spirit in Early Modern China. Columbia University Press.   Zhang, T. (1973). Sino-Portuguese Trade from 1514-1644: A Synthesis of Portuguese and Chinese Sources. AMS Press.

The incident happened as Thom Yorke approached the end of his Everything tour set in Melbourne, Australia