🇺🇸 EJC & DJT

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Good morning, and happy Thursday! World War II veteran Louis Graziano looks back on his service and tells Marine Vet Johnny 'Joey' Jones his secret to living to 100 years old. 

Plus, the United States owes a whopping $7 trillion to foreigners. Here's which countries hold the most debt.

Also, the surprising investment that beat 94% of the S&P 500...

FLAG POLLS

🐎 Wednesday, May 10: General Election: Trump vs. Biden: Trump 43, Biden 45 (Yahoo News)

🐎 Wednesday, May 10: General Election: Biden vs. DeSantis: Biden 45, DeSantis 42 (Yahoo News)

🐎 Wednesday, May 10: Pennsylvania: Biden vs. DeSantis: Biden 48, DeSantis 39 (Susquehanna)

🐎 Wednesday, May 10: Pennsylvania: Kennedy vs. DeSantis: Kennedy 42, DeSantis 38 (Susquehanna)

TRENDING

Left: Can Biden Escape Fallout From Banking Turmoil? Larry Elliott, The Guardian

Left: McCarthy-Biden Showdown Is About More Than U.S. Debt Stephen Collinson, CNN

Left: The Dark Side of Working in the Weed Industry Dusty Christensen, The Nation

Right: Tucker Carlson Is Right About the Stupidity of Cable News Inez Stepman, USA Today

Right: GOP Can Get Busy Ballot Harvesting or Get Busy Losing Eoin Lenihan, The Federalist

Right: Soros-Backed PAC Spends Big To Install Pittsburgh's DA Salena Zito, Washington Examiner

POWERED BY MASTERWORKS

The surprising investment that beat 94% of the S&P 500

In just 604 days, a $10,000 investment in a securitized offering from Masterworks would have secured a $4,900 profit. That's a 27.3% net annualized return – better than 470 of the world's 500 largest stocks over the same time period. (Nov 2020 to July 2022)

And although not all artworks see those gains, it's not the first time art prices rose quicker than stocks. In fact, over the last 26 years, contemporary art prices outpaced the S&P 500 by 131%.

It's also not the first time Masterworks has delivered impressive results for investors.

Because every single one of Masterworks 13 exits have been profitable so far, with 8 of those securing 20% net annualized returns or better.

Even better, over $10 trillion is expected to pour into alternative assets as a whole like art over the next few years, which means Masterworks is sitting at the heart of a major market megatrend.

Don’t you think it’s time you checked it out? The Flag readers can skip the waitlist with this exclusive link.

See important disclosures: masterworks.com/cd

QUICK CLICKS

Biden Accused, Santos Arrested, Google Goes AI

US: Biden family received millions from foreign nationals, tried to conceal source of funds: House Oversight (Fox News) + FBI refuses to give Congress informant file alleging Biden took bribes as vice president (New York Post)

US: George Santos pleads not guilty to federal indictment and says he won't resign (AP)

US: Dianne Feinstein casts first votes in Senate since February (NBC News)

World: Trump vows to end Ukraine conflict in 24 Hours as president (Daily Wire) + Tributes pour in for an AFP journalist killed in Ukraine (NPR)

Tech: The most popular search engine in the world is about to look different (CNN)

US: Army sergeant who fatally shot BLM protester in Texas sentenced to 25 years (POLITICO)

LAW

EJC & DJT

On Tuesday, former President Trump was found liable for battery and defamation, but not rape, after writer E. Jean Carroll accused him of rape and sexual assault in a Manhattan department store dressing room. Carroll alleges the incident happened sometime in the 1990s. Trump denied all the allegations against him and called the verdict a "disgrace," adding it is part of the witch hunt against him.

Reporting from The Left: ‘I Don’t Think He Can Get Elected’: GOP Senator Slams Trump After Sexual Abuse Verdict Nikki Ramirez, Rolling Stone

Reporting from The Right: Trump to appeal verdict in E Jean Carroll civil case, says he has 'absolutely no idea' who she is Brooke Singman, Fox News

From The Flag: Combining the damages for battery and defamation, Trump owes Carroll upwards of $5 million. The jury determined he defamed her with a 2022 Truth Social post in which he called her claims a "hoax." Here's more from both sides about the case itself and what it means for Trump's political future.

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Trump's Liability Laid Bare, Future Victims See Pathway To Justice

• In a fair trial of his peers, Trump was found liable for sexual assault and forced to pay up as a result — that, and his boorish behavior, remind voters what they rejected.

• Thanks to a change in New York law, this case shows defamation now offers a pathway to justice for rape victims.

• E. Jean Carroll's heroism on the stand and when making allegations drove this case, but Trump's villainous character sealed his fate.

Decision in E. Jean Carroll's civil suit holds Trump accountable Editorial Board, Washington Post: "Tuesday brought a stark moment of accountability for Donald Trump. The former president, who leads in the latest polling for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, has not just been credibly accused of sexual abuse but found liable for it by a jury of his peers. That and the behavior he showcased at trial should remind voters of what they rejected in 2020. Mr. Trump received a fair trial. A mixed decision after three hours of deliberations underscores that jurors weren’t out to get him: The six men and three women did not find Mr. Trump liable for allegedly raping E. Jean Carroll, as she claimed, but they agreed that he was liable for sexually abusing and defaming her, awarding her $5 million in damages."

Trump found liable in civil trial, vindicating E. Jean Carroll Jessica Levinson, MSNBC Opinion: "Carroll was able to allege battery (which in this case means sexual assault) thanks to an unusual law. She accused Trump of raping her in the 1990s, outside New York's statute of limitations. But last year, the state passed a law creating a one-year window for victims of sexual offenses to file civil suits even if the statute of limitations had expired. Not all alleged victims whose charges fall outside the statute of limitations will be able to count on such temporary measures. But they could find a path to justice in the other half of Carroll’s allegations: defamation. Her defamation case hinges on Trump’s denial of her allegations. The former president, in a typically vile denial, said Carroll’s case was 'a Hoax and a lie' and a 'complete con job.' He also repeated a claim he made previously: that he didn’t rape Carroll because she’s not his 'type.' This is, of course, a curious defense."

One more opinion piece from the Left: How Donald Trump’s abhorrent character made E. Jean Carroll’s case Harry Litman, Los Angeles Times Opinion

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

The Politicized "Pursuit of Justice" Continues in Blue NY

• There's no way to definitively know what happened back in the 1990s, but if Trump supporters ignore this case, the unhinged left and its media operatives are to blame.

• We now live in a Stalinist nation, with a Soviet-style, politically-motivated legal system.

• Carroll's story was implausible, but her victory was all but assured, so Trump decided to avoid testifying for political purposes.

Trump Loses a Sexual Abuse Suit Editorial Board, Wall Street Journal: "It’s impossible to know what really happened in the dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store when Donald Trump met E. Jean Carroll. There were no witnesses, Ms. Carroll can’t recall the exact year it happened, and she waited until 2019 to go public with her story. Mr. Trump denies it happened and said Ms. Carroll isn’t his 'type.' We also know Ms. Carroll was coaxed to file a civil lawsuit by longtime opponents of Mr. Trump, including lawyer George Conway. And her suit was financed by another Trump opponent, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. It’s plausible that the former President abused and defamed Ms. Carroll. It’s also plausible that he was falsely accused. ... (But) this lawsuit, like the two impeachments and the recent Alvin Bragg indictment... seems less an attempt to get at the truth than to find some way, any way, to disqualify him from ever becoming President again."

It seems that we are now a Stalinist nation Patricia McCarthy, American Thinker: "Since the day Trump came down that elevator, the Democrat party, securely aligned with the globalist left, has done everything in their power to destroy the man. They used every dirty trick in their playbook and so were understandably shocked when he won in 2016. ... E. Jean Carroll is on record (Facebook) planning to devise, as in make up, a way to take him down. She did not remember the year the alleged assault took place. Her story aligns perfectly with an episode of Law & Order, SVU, from which she most likely borrowed it! And a NY jury in just three hours, decided he was guilty of molesting and defaming her when he denied her charge. It’s clearly outrageous that this case got to court but then again this is how blatantly our justice system has been taken over by, well…actual criminals."

One more opinion piece from the Right: Trump jury's verdict debatable - but still baggage in 2024 John Hinderaker, Power Line

FLAG THIS

Poll Numbers A Positive for Trump

Polling data puts Trump seven percentage points ahead of President Biden in anticipation of a potential rematch in 2024.

Trump was backed by 44% of respondents, while 38% preferred Biden.

Biden's approval rating checked in at 36% in that same survey, which is among the lowest of his presidency (WaPo/ABC News).

FLAG FINDS

Major Market Megatrend, Plus Prime Delivery Finds

🖼️ Want to turn your investment portfolio into a work of art? Every single one of Masterworks' 13 exits has been profitable so far, and 8 have secured 20% net annualized returns or better. With over $10 trillion expected to pour into alternative assets over the next few years, Masterworks is sitting at the heart of a major market megatrend. Don’t you think it’s time you checked it out? Skip the waitlist with this exclusive link.

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📦 Sometimes good things come in big packages too. This modern tree bookshelf would make a great gift for moms who love to read — if only to clear off more room for books on the coffee table. Don't wait... tomorrow will be too late.

WATERCOOLER

Dangerous Entertainment, Hangover Cure, Snack Ban

On May 11, 1934, a massive storm sends millions of tons of topsoil flying from across the parched Great Plains region of the United States as far east as New York, Boston, and Atlanta.

MIT Press Review: The Most Dangerous Film in the World

Mental Floss: 15 Obscure Words for Everyday Feelings and Emotions

Smithsonian: The Inventor of Ibuprofen Tested the Drug on His Own Hangover

Today I Learned that Hot Cheetos and Takis burned up the snack world in 2012, with schools in several states banning the foods as unhealthy and disruptive while confiscating them on site. That sparked a black market at some schools, with Takis becoming an underground currency.