Beijing's enforcers may have received a free pass without Congress or the public hearing a word. Today, I'm tracking the missing Hong Kong sanctions, thin missile defenses, Biden's deportation roadblock, and a $37.5 billion war bill that may be far too low.

American, North Korean, and Chinese representatives signed the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953, ending major combat in the Korean War. The agreement stopped the fighting but never produced a formal peace treaty.

The New York Post editorial board says President Donald Trump's team allowed sanctions tied to Beijing's Hong Kong crackdown to expire without replacing them. Those penalties targeted officials connected to the destruction of Hong Kong's political freedoms. The reported lapse came quietly, even as Trump publicly maintained a tough position toward the Chinese Communist Party. The column also points to Chinese interference in American politics and Beijing's reported assistance to Iran while Tehran targets U.S. troops.

If the Post has the facts right, somebody inside the administration made this decision. Americans deserve the name, the rationale, and the timeline.

Sanctions freeze assets, restrict travel, and raise the personal cost of repression. Letting them die quietly rewards Beijing and abandons dissidents who trusted Washington's promises. The missed angle is bureaucratic accountability. Policies often disappear through expiration dates, delayed paperwork, and agency inaction rather than a public presidential decision.

That gives unelected officials room to weaken policy while elected leaders take the blame. Trump should order the State Department and Treasury Department to disclose which sanctions expired, who recommended the lapse, and whether replacements are coming. What to watch next: whether the White House renews the penalties or allows silence to become policy.

President Trump reportedly paused a major expansion of operations against Iran after Pentagon advisers warned that Middle East air-defense stocks were strained. The concern centers on interceptors needed to protect American troops, bases, ships, and allies from missiles and drones. This is inventory math, not weakness. Washington cannot widen a war while leaving Americans exposed, and Congress must demand exact stockpile and replacement figures before approving another escalation.

Sen. Eric Schmitt released a January 2, 2024, Biden White House memo urging an expansion of Temporary Protected Status before Trump returned to office. Advisers reportedly viewed TPS as a tool to complicate Trump's deportation campaign by granting work permits and blocking removals. The memo exposes an attempt to bind a future president through executive action. Trump now has to fight lawsuits and federal bureaucracy before enforcing the immigration platform voters approved.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations arrested nearly 260 criminal illegal aliens across Houston from July 1 through July 15. These arrests were part of sustained interior enforcement, not a one-day photo opportunity. Local jails cannot protect the public if criminal illegal aliens repeatedly return to the streets. ICE officers are putting offenders into the removal process and giving law-abiding Houston residents the priority they should have had all along.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the Iran war has cost roughly $37.5 billion. Analysts say that estimate may exclude missile replenishment, aircraft repairs, equipment replacement, extended deployments, and future unit reset costs. The Pentagon loves an opening number that leaves tomorrow's invoice off the page. Congress should demand one accounting standard before voting on more money, including every weapon fired and every replacement already ordered.

Shein disclosed a quarterly loss before its planned Hong Kong initial public offering. Chinese regulators approved the listing on July 10 after the fast-fashion company's New York and London plans collapsed. Investors are getting a rare look at Shein's finances, but Beijing still controls where this China-linked company can raise capital. Anyone buying the offering must price political control alongside revenue, growth, and profit.

A Washington Examiner column argues that airstrikes can punish Iran but cannot secure surrender or regime change. The author says true victory would require American troops to occupy territory. That means sending forces into a country of roughly 90 million people, difficult terrain, and armed proxy networks. Trump should define the mission before Washington's foreign policy class turns limited strikes into another generational war.

Big Tech earnings, the Federal Reserve meeting, and fresh inflation data could reset markets this week. Investors want proof that massive artificial intelligence spending is producing profits rather than expensive promises. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's rate guidance will hit mortgage costs, business loans, bond yields, and growth stocks. A hot inflation print could erase any earnings-driven rally before investors finish celebrating it.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple plans to reveal smart glasses at WWDC in 2027 and release them by year's end. Apple reportedly wants privacy protections to separate its product from Meta's controversial glasses. The problem is built into the device: a wearable camera and microphone capture people who never agreed to participate. Apple's recording indicators, data storage rules, and on-device processing will matter more than its marketing.

Detroit traded up to select Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold at No. 24 in the 2024 NFL Draft. Arnold showed promise, but inconsistent play and an injury disrupted his development. The Lions drafted him to become a long-term CB1, not another expensive question mark. If he cannot stabilize the secondary in 2026, Detroit may have to spend another premium pick or major cap space at corner.

Question: How many states must ratify a proposed constitutional amendment?

Answer: Three-fourths of the states, currently 38, must ratify it.

Tom Homan says ICE has reviewed officer vetting after the Maine shooting and already made changes. Acting ICE Director David Venturella also ordered officers to activate body cameras during vehicle stops. Better standards and reliable footage protect the public and honorable agents alike.

I see one pattern across today's stories: government decisions become dangerous when nobody owns them. Sanctions expire, war costs shrink on paper, and immigration barriers appear through internal memos. Accountability starts with names, dates, documents, and honest numbers. You are right to expect those answers from the people spending your money and exercising power in your name.

I'll keep following the paper trail and tell you who owns each decision.

Reply with one story you want me to cover this week.

Stay free,

Brett Lee
Editor, Project Liberty
projectlibertyus.com

Follow: @projectlibertyus | @real_brett_lee