The Phantom Deal: President Trump tweeted yesterday that “Great progress was made on the denuclearization of North Korea,” but the deal he signed with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un provides no concrete details or timetable.

Where’s the beef?

The most crucial clause in the deal says, “Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” That’s it. The agreement language adds only that, “President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un commit to implement the stipulation in this joint statement fully and expeditiously.”

It’s really just a statement of intentions.

Trump also said in his tweet, “will be getting the remains of our great heroes back to their families, no missiles shot, no research happening, sites closing…” While North Korea did agree to repatriate the remains of Americans killed in the Korean war, the rest is ad-libbed by President Trump. There’s nothing specific in the agreement about missile tests, ending nuclear research, or closing nuclear sites.

The deal does not specify that the US must end joint military exercises with the South even though President Trump said that’s what he’ll do.

Trump is banking on what he believes to be his personal magnetism and a relationship he thinks he forged with Kim. In return for signing a vague document, Kim won recognition as a world player and he doesn’t have to do anything in return for that soon, or maybe even ever.

Lack of Exercise: Trump’s decision to put a hold on joint military exercises came as a surprise to South Korea and the Pentagon. It appears that he did not consult or advise either of them.

Trump said stopping the exercises will save a tremendous amount of money and, “At some point, I have to be honest — I used to say this during my campaign … I want to get our soldiers out. I want to bring our soldiers back home.”

The US is obliged by treaty to defend South Korea and stopping the exercises will degrade the readiness of both armies for war.

Retired four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey told Yahoo News “I’m very concerned that Trump signaled that if Kim gives up his nuclear weapons, then the United States will withdraw our troops from South Korea. Once you start that process it’s a one-way street of retreat from the Pacific Rim, which would leave our allies to confront a belligerent North Korea and an aggressive and massively armed China alone.”

Out of Line: In what can be read as a warning shot to dissenters in the party, South Carolina Republican Rep. Mark Sanford, a vocal critic of President Trump, has lost his primary bid for re-election to the House. State Rep. Katie Arrington, the winner, made Sanford’s criticism of Trump a campaign issue.

Sanford said last night, “It may have cost me an election in this case, but I stand by every one of those decisions to disagree with the president.”

Sanford is the second incumbent in recent weeks to suffer for opposing the President. Last week Alabama Rep. Martha Roby, was forced into a runoff because of her opposition to the President.

Megamerger: A federal judge approved the giant merger between AT&T and Time Warner, blocking the government’s effort to kill the $85.4 billion deal. It blends the owners of HBO and CNN. The decision could lead to a wave of major corporate takeovers.

Judge Richard J. Leon of the US District Court in Washington said the Justice Department had not proved merger would result in fewer choices and higher prices in television and internet services.

The media companies say they need to be able to both produce and distribute material to be able to compete against the rising power of Netflix and Amazon, the streaming services that have been making their own shows.

It’s been a big week for corporate power in telecommunications. So-called “net neutrality” ended and internet companies are now free to push their own content while limiting competitors.

Legal-Ade: It’s summer and time for children to try to hustle up some cash with sidewalk lemonade stands. It’s illegal without a permit in a lot municipalities where, incredibly, sometimes eight-year old entrepreneurs get busted and fined.

“We heard a couple of these stories happening and frankly, didn’t believe that they were real,” Adam Butler, Kraft Heinz’s general manager for beverages and nuts told The Washington Post. “You look into it and, wow, this is actually real.”

The company, which makes Country Time lemonade, announced the establishment of “Legal Ade” and a fund of $60,000 to pay the lemonade fines of children. At the end of a YouTube video produced by the company, a lawerly-looking man finishes a drink of lemonade then crushes the cup and says, “tastes like justice.”

Goooooooooal: A joint bid by Canada, the US, and Mexico has won the hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup. It will be the biggest World Cup ever, with 48 teams playing 80 matches over 34 days. The soccer governing body FIFA took the risk of playing the Cup in North America even though the US, Canada, and Mexico might be at war by then.

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