Dictator Envy: Displaying his admiration for totalitarian leaders. President Trump told reporters yesterday that he wished “my people” would sit up straight and give him the same respect commanded by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un over his subjects.

“He’s the head of a country, and I mean he’s the strong head,” Trump said on the White House lawn. “Don’t let anyone think anything different. He speaks, and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.”

Challenged about it by a CNN reporter Trump said,  “I’m kidding. You don’t understand sarcasm.” Trump has never been known for witty sarcasm or even saying something remotely funny. He wasn’t joking when he called Canada’s Justin Trudeau “weak” and a “liar.”

Trump was like a sloshing bucket of water yesterday, spilling his issues all over the White House lawn and Twitter. He railed about “scum on top” of the FBI who were out to get him and claimed the Justice Department inspector general’s report is proof that there’s a “deep state” conspiracy to get him.

His attack targets included congressional Democrats, Barack Obama, Special Counsel (correct spelling) Robert Mueller, Canada’s prime minister, professional football players, and the “Fake News.”

He claimed, “We’ve done more — I don’t say this in a bragging way, actually some of the haters actually say this — we’ve done more in 500 days, so now it’s 510 days, than any 500-day president, first term, by far.”

He said anything that’s gone wrong during his time as president is the fault of either his predecessor, Barack Obama, or the Democrats “When it’s my fault,” he said, “I’ll tell you.”

It’s His Fault: While we’re on the subject of fault, Trump continues to blame congressional Democrats for his policy of separating detained illegal immigrants from their children. He tweeted yesterday, “The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda. Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration. Go for it! WIN!”

As any as 2,000 children have been separated from their parents in the past six weeks.

It’s clear that the Trump administration is creating a humanitarian horror in an attempt to get the President’s way. We’ll say this every day if we have to. The Democrats passed no law and there is no law that requires the border patrol to take children away from their parents. It is strictly the policy of the Trump administration and the President’s Orwellian denial does not make it any less true.

Trade War: China immediately announced it would retaliate in kind and cancel trade deals after President Trump said he’s placing tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods imported to the US.

Trump has already threatened more tariffs in response to China’s retaliation in a trade war escalating with both friends and adversaries of the US. Trump has one strong point in regard to the Chinese. They demand that foreign countries hand over their technology and take a Chinese partner when they establish a business presence in China.

Trump said, “These tariffs are essential to preventing further unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China, which will protect American jobs.” But it’s also going to raise costs for American businesses and possibly put people out of work.

Directly to Jail: Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort had his bail revoked and was sent to jail after he was accused of attempting to influence witnesses in his upcoming criminal trial. Manafort had been under house arrest on a $10 million bond.

President Trump promptly complained via Twitter, demonstrating that he doesn’t understand the legal system. “Wow, what a tough sentence for Paul Manafort, who has represented Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other top political people and campaigns,” Trump wrote.  “Didn’t know Manafort was the head of the Mob. What about Comey and Crooked Hillary and all of the others? Very unfair!”

Manafort was not sentenced. He just had his bail revoked and the President of the United States doesn’t know the difference.

Bled Out: Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, a company that claimed to have a magical blood-testing technology, has been indicted on federal wire fraud charges along former chief operating officer, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani.

Holmes dropped out of Stanford and founded Theranos in 2003, claiming she had a revolutionary technology that could test a few drops of blood for multiple conditions including cancer and diabetes. With her company once valued at $9 billion, Holmes was a darling of the tech and financial worlds until it was revealed that she was selling snake oil.

She and Balwani are accused of duping investors into backing a technology that didn’t work.

Nation: Kellogg’s recalled a year’s worth of Honey Smacks after a salmonella outbreak linked to the cereal made at least 73 people sick in 31 states. The cereal was not recalled for addicting children to sugar. — From the school nurse. Sex and drugs are down but depression and suicidal thoughts are up for high school kids, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control. “An adolescent’s world can be bleak,” said Dr. Jonathan Mermin, an official with the CDC.

The Sports Section: Portugal’s soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals against Spain in a World Cup match that ended in a 3-3 draw, but that wasn’t the Ronaldo news of the day. He agreed to a $29 million fine and a suspended sentence for evading Spanish taxes. So it seems Spain won anyway.

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