text: EUROPE: President’s Biden and Putin will hold a call tomorrow to discuss Ukraine. This will be a key test of U.S. resolve on Ukraine and Russia is likely looking for any indication of hesitance. President Biden said in a recent press conference the U.S. would give Ukraine the tools to secure its borders, without committing U.S. troops explicitly. Meanwhile, U.S. surveillance and reconnaissance flights over the Black Sea region are increasing in frequency. The U.S. estimates Russia will invade in early 2022, consistent with Ukraine’s own public assessments. (AC: President Biden is unlikely to deter Putin in tomorrow’s talks, as the world recognizes our weak political leadership provides the opportunity to upset the international order. Without strong public commitments from U.S. leaders, NATO is unlikely to act in a unified manner, allowing Russia to exploit the lack of unity across the alliance and accomplish its goals in Ukraine. U.S. weakness in Europe will likely embolden Chinese provocations in the Pacific. – D.M.)HOUSE COMPROMISED: Senate Majority Leader Schumber (D-NY) is blocking an amendment in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act which would ban the import of products made using slave labor in China. He is blocking the measure based on a potential protest from the House Ways and Means Committee for violating the revenue generating clause of the Constitution, despite the Congressional Budget Office rejecting that claim. Sen. Schumer (D-NY) said, “It’s unfortunate that this misguided demand of a single Republican senator is preventing this important legislation to support our national security from moving in the Senate.” (AC: The inability of the Democratic controlled legislature to pass this amendment is a strong indicator the Chinese have compromised key individuals in Congress. Their expert use of lobbyist organizations and quiet “diplomacy” created a situation in which Far Left politicians will destroy their own history and culture for concerns over racism and slavery, but tacitly approve it in China. This is another sign of U.S. political weakness, pointing to a probable loss in future kinetic conflict with China as the Congress is responsible for declarations and funding of wars. – D