Foreign to Relations: President Trump opened the NATO summit lecturing allies about defense spending at a breakfast meeting. He also called Germany “captive to Russia” because of a plan to build a natural gas pipeline between the two countries. “Germany is totally controlled by Russia,” he said.

Now there’s a common theme.

Trump renewed his criticisms of NATO shortly before departing for the summit in Brussels. He complained via Twitter about what he claims are unfair trade relations with Europe and the amount of money the US spends on defending Europe.

“The U.S. is spending many times more than any other country in order to protect them,” Trump said about other members of the Atlantic alliance. ‘Not fair to the U.S. taxpayer.”

Trump said he thought he would have an easier time meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin rather than European allies who fear that he will divide them and present a weak front to the Russians. Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council retorted, “Appreciate your allies. After all, you don’t have that many.”

Baby Jail: The Trump administration yesterday failed to meet a court-ordered deadline to reunite 102 immigrant children 5 and under with their parents who entered the country illegally or seeking asylum.

The administration also appeared to capitulate on its stand against the “catch and release” handling of illegal migrants, announcing that hundreds of them will be let go from custody wearing ankle monitors.

Spokesmen said there would be 34 child reunions by the end of yesterday. Chris Meekins, a senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services said,  “Our process may not be as quick as some might like but there is no question that it is protecting children.” He told reporters on a telephone conference, “If we had just reunited kids with the adults, we would be putting them in the care of a rapist, a kidnapper, a child abuser, and someone who was charged with murder in their home nation.”

The children were automatically separated from the adults they were with when they entered the country under President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on illegal immigration. It seems evident that now they are having trouble identifying and matching parents and children.

Asked about the confusion and emotional damage before he boarded the Marine One helicopter yesterday, President Trump said, “Well, I have a solution. Tell people not to come to our country illegally. That’s the solution.”

Judgement in Washington: Opening a fight they are likely to lose, Senate Democrats yesterday began to portray Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as an archconservative who would roll back abortion rights and Obamacare while easing gun laws and protecting President Trump from criminal indictment.

Kavanaugh made the rounds of friendly Senate offices yesterday in the company of Vice President Mike Pence.

As an indicator of what the Democrats face, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of few potential swing votes, told reporters, “When you look at the credentials that Judge Kavanaugh brings to the job, it’ll be very difficult for anyone to argue that he’s not qualified for the job.”

Pardon them: In a play to government-hating supporters, President Trump yesterday pardoned two Oregon cattle ranchers whose arson conviction and imprisonment sparked the 2016 armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in the eastern side of the state. Dwight Hammond, 76, and his son, Steven, 49, have been serving five-year prison sentences.

The Hammonds have had a long fight with the government over grazing rights on federal land. They were convicted under anti-terrorism laws of starting a fire that spread to federal property. Their supporters said they were treated too harshly and yesterday the Trump administration agreed. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “The evidence at trial regarding the Hammonds’ responsibility for the fire was conflicting, and the jury acquitted them on most of the charges.”

An Arizona ranchers was killed in a shooting at the conclusion of the Malheur Wildlife standoff.

Cave Boys: The last members of the Thai soccer team and their coach were pulled out of a flooded cave yesterday after a rescue that took 17 days and cost the life of a former Thai Navy SEAL. It took 10 days just to locate the 12 trapped boys and their coach and another week to get them out. The rescue involved 90 divers, dozens of air tanks and miles of rope. Each of the rescued people was escorted out, mostly underwater, by two expert divers. The Thai Navy SEALS posted on their Facebook page, “We are not sure if this is a miracle, or science, or what.”

World Cup: Croatia plays England today to determine the second team in Sunday’s final. France beat Belgium 1-0 yesterday with a miraculous head shot. This is a big deal in the rest of the world.

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