Other world powers are figuring out that, sometimes, teaming up — even for selfish reasons — actually works

Photo: AP Images

While Donald Trump seems determined to pick fights with anyone who crosses his path, other world powers are figuring out that, sometimes, teaming up — even for selfish reasons — actually works. This week, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’s Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

Now, here’s the context: Trump slapped 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods because New Delhi keeps buying oil from Moscow. Meanwhile, India has a trade deficit with China of more than $99 billion (with a “B”). For those keeping score at home, that’s enough money to buy… well, most of India.

Joining them at the summit was none other than Vladimir Putin. And let’s be honest, if Putin attends a meeting, he’s not leaving without taking something.

Trump, meanwhile, keeps insisting on “America First.” Which is fine, unless the geopolitical scoreboard puts America… second.

All In on Voter ID

On his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump announced that he will issue an executive order requiring voter identification from every voter: “Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!!”

Trump also added: “No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military.”

The decision is part of the long-running theory Trump has championed — that he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden because legions of non-citizens voted illegally for Democrats, and requiring voter ID is the best way to prevent this.

Australia’s Right Marches

In Australia, the center is collapsing. For months, it was the left marching in the streets in support of “the Palestinian cause” and against Israel. But this weekend, the right finally decided it was their turn.

Under the catchy title of “March for Australia,” thousands protested against “mass immigration.” The media says “tens of thousands,” but in reality, only about 8,000 people showed up. Luckily for them, the Sydney Marathon was happening at the same time, so the crowd looked massive in every shot.

Critics from the center-left immediately labeled the marchers “neo-Nazis.”

But here’s the twist: those same critics have been awfully quiet during repeated anti-Semitic attacks against Australia’s Jewish community. They also took part in the marches supporting those who killed Jews.

So in Australia, the left hates Jews for one reason, the right hates them for another, and the middle has disappeared. The good news is: If you’re Jewish in Australia, you’ll probably have a lot of kavanah this Elul (as will Jews worldwide who are praying for you).

The Windy City Gets Windier

Chicago’s Democratic mayor, Brandon Johnson, announced that his city’s police force will not cooperate with the National Guard if President Donald Trump decides to deploy them.

This came in response to Trump’s own declaration that, after sending troops to Washington, D.C., he might extend the same policy to the Windy City.

The White House framed these drastic moves as part of an “urgent effort to tackle crime,” while Chicago officials pointed to declines in homicides, gun violence, and burglaries. (Other crimes, like aggravated assault and property theft, have shown concerning increases. It’s a little like bragging your boat is “less leaky” while it’s still filling with water.)

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker, another Democrat, added that the president simply doesn’t have the legal authority to send troops into his state without the governor’s request. Which is true — though recent history suggests Trump isn’t the kind of guy who gets hung up on things like “legal authority.”

Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson countered: “If these Democrats focused on fixing crime in their own cities instead of doing publicity stunts to criticize the President, their communities would be much safer.”

Democrats don’t have a clear leader for 2028, and no politician with any clout wants to look weak in front of the GOP. The only question left is: Can they withstand Hurricane Trump?

Don’t Look Too Israeli

The UK has banned Israeli officials from attending the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition — also known as “Four Days of Selling Explosions to the Highest Bidder.”

Israel normally has a strong presence at the event. This year? Not allowed. The excuse given: Israel’s “escalation” of its military operation in Gaza.

Private Israeli companies like Elbit Systems or Uvision, however, can still attend. Because apparently, selling Israeli weapons is fine — as long as you don’t look too Israeli while you do it.

This follows a similar move three months ago at the Paris Air Show, where France blocked Israeli companies from displaying attack weapons.

That’s right — Israel is banned from defense shows… for using defense equipment.

So let’s be clear: Britain has no problem hosting arms dealers from all over the world. But when Israel has to use weapons in an actual war, suddenly it’s “not welcome.” Which means either everyone else has switched to Nerf guns, or Europe really likes wars — just not the ones where Israel doesn’t lose.

Hacker Costs Tesla $243 Million

Tesla lost a $243 million lawsuit due to crash data uncovered by a hacker.

The case, decided only a few days ago, stemmed from a 2019 accident in Florida, when a Tesla Model 3 on Autopilot crashed and killed a 22-year-old man. Tesla claimed it had no access to the data that could show whether the system had failed to detect pedestrians, making it impossible to prove negligence.

Unfortunately for Tesla, a hacker known online as “@greentheonly” — whose day job is making cappuccinos in a coffee shop — managed to dig into the company’s software. He proved the car had actually accelerated seconds before the impact, with no sign of braking. In other words, the car saw danger ahead and thought, “Faster!”

The hacker’s evidence not only secured the family a massive payout, it also gave Elon Musk yet another reason to look skyward. After his disappointing gamble on DOGE, this might just be the final straw that finally convinces him to pack up and move to Mars.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1077)