Two things happened today that don't add up when you put them next to each other.

At 1 am, a federal judge ordered Trump to immediately reinstate CNN, MSNBC, and Politico's White House credentials. The order specifically said the national security justification was invented, "simply put, the record lacks factual support." The White House did not comply immediately. It waited until 12:45 pm, several hours after Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared together for the official welcome ceremony, ensuring the three outlets missed the biggest photo op of the week. The judge's two-week restraining order means this isn't over.

Meanwhile: Trump met Xi at the airport, something no president has done for a foreign leader in 60 years, normally reserved for popes. When Xi's plane landed, the literal red carpet wasn't ready, so White House staff had US Marines get on their hands and knees to smooth it out while Chinese officials watched. Trump stood at the ceremony in a winter coat and black gloves in 70-degree weather while Xi wore a suit. When the planned military flyover happened, Xi stood still, and Trump winced visibly. The White House later released a doctored photo of the moment; Grant put it through analysis, in which Trump is no longer grimacing, has one glove removed, and looks noticeably different. The White House did not respond to questions about whether AI or editing software was used.

Trump does not know what he wants from this meeting. When asked whether AI, Iran, or trade would be on the table, he talked about the grass.

The central irony: Trump's party has spent months saying communism is the root of all evil, and Democrats will turn America into a godless communist wasteland. With 39 days to the midterms, watch how they circle the square of rolling out the red carpet for the world's leading communist dictator.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Press ban update: a judge ordered reinstatement at 1 am. The White House ignored it until 12:45 pm.

2:00 - The judge's actual words: "Simply put — the record lacks factual support." That's judge-speak for you made it up.

3:30 - The real security risk the White House missed: a far-right influencer posting the presidential motorcade route live

5:00 - Trump TV averaged about 1,000 viewers and why the far-right replacement pool couldn't pull it off

7:00 - Why the dual-pool matters even when it looks stupid: building a parallel reality for the president

9:00 - Xi lands in DC: the first Chinese president on US soil in 11 years and what was at stake

10:30 - Trump meets Xi at the airport: something no president has done for a foreign leader in 60 years

12:00 - Marines on their hands and knees smoothing the red carpet while Chinese officials watched

3:30 - 70 degrees. Trump in a winter coat and black gloves. Grant explains why that's worth noting

15:00 - Trump winces at the planned flyover. Xi stands still. The image that will be used everywhere is of the president flinching

16:30 - The doctored White House photo: no grimace, one glove missing, Trump looks different. Grant ran the analysis

18:00 - Trump asked about AI, Iran, and trade with Xi. He talked about the grass

19:30 - What's actually on the table: AI, Iran, Taiwan, trade — and what China gets from the Iran war

21:00 - The red carpet vs. the red scare: Trump fawning over the world's leading communist with 39 days to go

Support the show

Follow along on social media

SaySo: @GrantHermes
X: @GrantHermes

Insta: @Grant__Hermes

Tiktok: Grant_Hermes