The new mechanics of looting: Musk, Starlink, and Trump's tariffs.

[hay rick]

From Mike Brock's blog, Notes from the Circus: The New Belt and Road: https://www.notesfromthecircus.com/p/the-new-belt-and-road

A pattern has emerged with stunning clarity, yet insufficient alarm: Nations facing punitive Trump tariffs are suddenly finding ways to approve Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service, according to internal State Department cables obtained by the Washington Post. These aren't coincidental business developments but deliberate “goodwill gestures” during trade negotiations, explicitly characterized as such by the governments involved.

The mechanics of this arrangement are breathtaking in their naked fusion of personal profit and governmental power. Trump announces sweeping tariffs—50% on tiny Lesotho, 49% on Cambodia, significant penalties on India, Vietnam, Bangladesh and others. Within days, many of these same governments begin fast-tracking regulatory approvals for Starlink, in some cases for the first time ever. As a cable from Lesotho noted, the country hoped licensing Starlink would demonstrate “goodwill and intent to welcome U.S. businesses” during trade negotiations.

This creates a triangular power structure that undermines both legitimate market competition and democratic governance. At one vertex sits Elon Musk: mega-donor ($277 million to Trump and Republicans), federal appointee (DOGE Service), and CEO of Starlink. At another sits Trump: imposing tariffs, pushing for deals, and allowing embassies to promote Starlink's access. At the third sit foreign governments, who understand that regulatory friction for Starlink may result in economic retaliation—or favor if they comply.

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The State Department attempts to justify this system as “competing with China” in space infrastructure. But this isn't just geostrategy—it's privatized influence wielded through nationalist optics. Instead of U.S. state capacity rising to counter Chinese infrastructure development, it's Musk's private network being substituted for national public capacity. The administration's spokesperson claimed “any patriotic American should want to see an American company's success on the global stage,” but patriotism doesn't require confusing a billionaire's business interests with the national interest.

The corruption is undisguised and breathtaking.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Trump and his pals are stealing everything in sight.

The biggest heist in US history.