Happy Thursday and welcome back to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco—your daily briefing on U.S. politics. Let’s break it down.
Hurricane Melissa Wipes Out Parts of Jamaica and Cuba….Hurricane Melissa slammed Jamaica and Cuba with winds up to 185 mph, leaving streets flooded, power lines down, and entire communities in ruin. At least seven are dead in Jamaica, 27 across the Caribbean, and tens of thousands are displaced. The storm is now headed for the Bahamas and Bermuda, still dangerous as a Category 2. U.S. aid was delayed thanks to the government shutdown and USAID cuts, leaving nonprofits and the UN scrambling to provide water, food, and medical supplies.
Common Sense takeaway: Jamaicans are left without homes and Americans are stranded with no ability to get home. It’s a disastrous situation for all, and a humanitarian issue. This is what I want my tax dollars going towards, not funding wars or the president’s vacations.
Trump’s Asia Tour Was A Spectacle….President Trump wrapped up a
three-country tour of Asia this week, receiving a warm welcome from countries while finalizing trade agreements and flattery-filled photo ops. In Japan, he accepted gifts including cherry blossom trees and a putter from former PM Shinzo Abe, while in South Korea he received a golden Silla crown. The tour culminated in a trade truce with China, including lower fentanyl-related tariffs and delayed export curbs on rare earths. Leaders from Japan, South Korea, and Cambodia even floated the idea of nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Common Sense takeaway: Honestly, this reminds me of how I talk to my toddler son (i.e bribing them with goodies to get them to do what you want). That’s exactly what Japan, South Korea, and China did—and it worked like a charm because Trump has the mental acuity of a 3 year-old.
Trump Signals U.S. Nuclear Tests….President Trump announced the U.S. will begin testing nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with Russia and China, marking the first serious break from decades of moratoriums. The move comes ahead of his meeting with Xi Jinping and amid rising global tensions, with Russia and China already advancing their arsenals. Experts warn this could trigger a new arms race, as the U.S. hasn’t conducted an actual nuclear test since 1992. Trump framed it as “keeping up with others,” claiming it’s about strength and deterrence, while allies worry about destabilization.
Common Sense takeaway: The “peace president” is testing nuclear weapons. Makes sense—not. The last thing we need is countries flexing their muscles with nuclear arms.
Asbestos Questions Surround White House East Wing Demolition….Lawmakers are raising questions over whether federal health and safety standards were followed, particularly regarding asbestos removal. Senator Edward Markey has demanded documentation from the contractor, ACECO, asking whether corners were cut and if workers and nearby communities were put at risk. Asbestos exposure—even brief—can cause lung disease and cancer years later, and there’s no public evidence confirming proper inspections or abatement. White House officials insist all federal standards were met, though details remain vague, and some workers were forced to sign NDAs. The demolition, part of Trump’s $300 million private-funded ballroom project, remains deeply unpopular, with a majority of Americans opposing the teardown.
Common Sense takeaway: Not only is there a lack of regulation when it comes to the debris, it’s also being dumped on public land—the East Potomac Park golf course! This an atrocious risk and insult to the community in D.C. Civilians should not have to deal with any of the horrible ramifications of this ugly ballroom.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.




At what point do we stop this guy's wholesale bumbling? He’s the best example ever of what
Is wrong for the Country and the world
Thanks for your common sense updates.
Twittler could not be happier about his trips, especially since they all know stroking his ego is all they need to get him to capitulate on anything. Say your country is going to invest in the USA but it never happens, give him a gold crown (I’m sure he thinks it is the original not a clone), and he’ll give you anything you want. Calling him a toddler though gives toddlers a bad rap.