President Trump and US politics catchall

[Guy Smiley]

The insurance companies too were so certain of looming disaster that, fearing bankruptcy, they recently cancelled fire insurance for homes in that LA area.
At about the same time, the black female mayor of Los Angeles cut the firefighting budget by $17.5 million to divert multi-millions to woke causes instead.
Meanwhile, California had donated its 'surplus' fire fighting equipment to Ukraine.

Can you explain why the "black female" descriptor is relevant please?

Maybe because she was in Ghana when she should have been in LA.

Again... the descriptor is irrelevant. Try this...

'the white male mayor'.

So, she was jumped at the airport by some self declared reporter who eagerly posted the interaction on Twatter. Apparently, she'd flown to Ghana earlier in the week to attend an inauguration. Nothing really wrong with that... and the wildfires sparked off very quickly over the space of a day, while she was already away. She's back in the country now, within a day or so of the fires starting.

Seems like a witch hunt.

[Ali Cadoo]

Can you explain why the "black female" descriptor is relevant please?

Maybe because she was in Ghana when she should have been in LA.

Again... the descriptor is irrelevant. Try this...

'the white male mayor'.

So, she was jumped at the airport by some self declared reporter who eagerly posted the interaction on Twatter. Apparently, she'd flown to Ghana earlier in the week to attend an inauguration. Nothing really wrong with that... and the wildfires sparked off very quickly over the space of a day, while she was already away. She's back in the country now, within a day or so of the fires starting.

Seems like a witch hunt.

I think ‘lynching’ is the correct term, in this case.

[Guy Smiley]

I think ‘lynching’ is the correct term, in this case.

Uppity black folks causin' all them fires

[TB63]

[Uncle fester]

Can you explain why the "black female" descriptor is relevant please?

Maybe because she was in Ghana when she should have been in LA.

Oh cool, you have racists on NPR, too. That’s very inclusive.

We don't celebrate them though.

[sockwithaticket]

She's had a few quality responses to the Shitgibbon's verbal diarrhea when it gets pointed in Mexico's direction.

[Ali Cadoo]

Maybe because she was in Ghana when she should have been in LA.

Oh cool, you have racists on NPR, too. That’s very inclusive.

Oh fuck off idiot, first you have no clue of what you’re talking about, second I was quoting an article from todays NYTimes and making sarcasm of the way the other poster described her and finally you should know that this is not the UK, Americans depict all the time people by their origin, colors or faith.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/us/l ... ponse.html

Only black people in Ghana. Got it.

[Slick]

Oh cool, you have racists on NPR, too. That’s very inclusive.

Oh fuck off idiot, first you have no clue of what you’re talking about, second I was quoting an article from todays NYTimes and making sarcasm of the way the other poster described her and finally you should know that this is not the UK, Americans depict all the time people by their origin, colors or faith.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/us/l ... ponse.html

Only black people in Ghana. Got it.

I’d maybe step away as you are barking up the wrong tree with Maryland

[Ali Cadoo]

Oh fuck off idiot, first you have no clue of what you’re talking about, second I was quoting an article from todays NYTimes and making sarcasm of the way the other poster described her and finally you should know that this is not the UK, Americans depict all the time people by their origin, colors or faith.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/09/us/l ... ponse.html

Only black people in Ghana. Got it.

I’d maybe step away as you are barking up the wrong tree with Maryland

I dunno, they are giving off strong ‘cunt’ vibes…

[convoluted]

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/public-safety ... 6#image=10

[Uncle fester]

Only black people in Ghana. Got it.

I’d maybe step away as you are barking up the wrong tree with Maryland

I dunno, they are giving off strong ‘cunt’ vibes…

You could try listening to people who frequent here or just be a wanker with your tiny sample size.

[Ali Cadoo]

I’d maybe step away as you are barking up the wrong tree with Maryland

I dunno, they are giving off strong ‘cunt’ vibes…

You could try listening to people who frequent here or just be a wanker with your tiny sample size.

Don’t recall asking you a fucking thing.

[Gumboot]

[sockwithaticket]

Ok, seriously, what is with this Greenland fixation all of a sudden?

I was catching up on The Daily Show and they had a lot of footage of Republican politicians talking about it and from the prime right wing media outlets (Fox, Newsmax) earnestly discussing it.

A lot of Trumpelstiltskin's random utterances don't really get praised or treated seriously outside of the online sphere and the amount of coverage feels very different to the average dead cat.

[Uncle fester]

Ok, seriously, what is with this Greenland fixation all of a sudden?

I was catching up on The Daily Show and they had a lot of footage of Republican politicians talking about it and from the prime right wing media outlets (Fox, Newsmax) earnestly discussing it.

A lot of Trumpelstiltskin's random utterances don't really get praised or treated seriously outside of the online sphere and the amount of coverage feels very different to the average dead cat.

The visa MAGA civil war is all forgotten about now.

[Hal Jordan]

Ok, seriously, what is with this Greenland fixation all of a sudden?

I was catching up on The Daily Show and they had a lot of footage of Republican politicians talking about it and from the prime right wing media outlets (Fox, Newsmax) earnestly discussing it.

A lot of Trumpelstiltskin's random utterances don't really get praised or treated seriously outside of the online sphere and the amount of coverage feels very different to the average dead cat.

Shitloads of mineral resources I think.

In the old days the good folk of Greenland would have sent Junior's head back in a bag as a message.

[sockwithaticket]

Ok, seriously, what is with this Greenland fixation all of a sudden?

I was catching up on The Daily Show and they had a lot of footage of Republican politicians talking about it and from the prime right wing media outlets (Fox, Newsmax) earnestly discussing it.

A lot of Trumpelstiltskin's random utterances don't really get praised or treated seriously outside of the online sphere and the amount of coverage feels very different to the average dead cat.

The visa MAGA civil war is all forgotten about now.

It certainly seems to be forgotten about (although I suspect it will rear its head again), but they actually sent Don jr. to Greenland, Trump keeps mentioning it when often he would've moved on by now. Like I said, it feels different to prior dead cat strategy. Or maybe we're now in an era of dead lions.

[dpedin]

Ok, seriously, what is with this Greenland fixation all of a sudden?

I was catching up on The Daily Show and they had a lot of footage of Republican politicians talking about it and from the prime right wing media outlets (Fox, Newsmax) earnestly discussing it.

A lot of Trumpelstiltskin's random utterances don't really get praised or treated seriously outside of the online sphere and the amount of coverage feels very different to the average dead cat.

The visa MAGA civil war is all forgotten about now.

This is standard MAGA approach - flood the news arena with lots and lots of garbage to distract everyone with what they are doing behind the scenes. Make it difficult for everyone to decide what is important and what is just bullshit and confuse everyone whilst they destroy the USA. They dont give a shit how much chaos they create, in fact they want more, and they dont give a shit about the human cost of doing this ie personal threats to Jess Phillips. Musk is just fulfilling a big 'look over here' role and it is working. They are real busy behind the scenes and think they are so clever and are laughing about the chaos they are hiding behind and are getting on with the deregulation agenda etc. We are all, particularly the likes of the BBC, Sky etc are being taken for mugs with our pavlovian response to whatever shite they spew out.

The thing they are most worried about is the LA fires as this derails their 'green agenda is woke nonsense' agenda and might mean more folk are pissed off once they start drilling for oil everywhere in the US and beyond, hence the huge unfounded attacks on Newsome, Biden and the water, raking leaves, etc shite. However they think, rightly, that within 6 months folk will have forgotten all about this and they will just crack making more money with the oil and gas producing mates.

Better get used to this folks, it is going to be utter shite 4 years for the US and the world.

[Slick]

Ok, seriously, what is with this Greenland fixation all of a sudden?

I was catching up on The Daily Show and they had a lot of footage of Republican politicians talking about it and from the prime right wing media outlets (Fox, Newsmax) earnestly discussing it.

A lot of Trumpelstiltskin's random utterances don't really get praised or treated seriously outside of the online sphere and the amount of coverage feels very different to the average dead cat.

Shitloads of mineral resources I think.

In the old days the good folk of Greenland would have sent Junior's head back in a bag as a message.

Resources, strategic defence and newly navigational waters with ice melting I think

[sockwithaticket]

Better get used to this folks

But this is my point, the chaos spreading isn't new, but the level of mobilisation in their media about Greenland and the extent to which they seem to be trying to sell it as a genuine issue feels different to much of the randomised shit-flinging we've witnessed and become accustomed to over the last several years.

[dpedin]

Better get used to this folks

But this is my point, the chaos spreading isn't new, but the level of mobilisation in their media about Greenland and the extent to which they seem to be trying to sell it as a genuine issue feels different to much of the randomised shit-flinging we've witnessed and become accustomed to over the last several years.

Agree that they have really ramped up the chaos ahead of the Inauguration. I haven't a clue about Greenland and if they are serious about it or not, ditto Panama Canal. Mineral value of Greenland is huge and there are concerns about the NW Passage as ice melt continues so it might be a real geopolitical issue for them. It would not take much to 'buy' Greenland - it would be quite cheap to buy off 57,000 population relatively speaking given the potential value of the deposits there. On the other hand the more ridiculous the issue then the louder they shout about it, Musks so called concern about gang based CSA in the UK for example. He doesn't give a shit about it and the victims but throws a lot of stuff into the fire and waits to see what burns the highest and the brightest and then amplifies them.

The reality is it is the deregulation agenda in the US that they crave for - reducing employment, environmental, social and healthcare protections in order for them and their backers to make bigger and bigger profits. Big Tech, big Pharma, oil and gas, healthcare, etc will all line Trumps pockets to ensure they have larger profits.

Having said all that there is a small but influential number of more radical, driven ideologists who have a wider scarier agenda. The likes of Thiel and Musk have so much money they are more driven by a 'world view' they want to establish. Interesting that Thiel wrote the preface of the 2020 publication of the Sovereign Individual, written by Rees Mogg Snr & Davidson. Thiel's world view has progressed - read his excruciatingly badly written article on the FT yesterday!

https://www.ft.com/content/a46cb128-1f7 ... 2a76583105

If he and his mates are successful then the US is in for a rocky ride indeed!

[Uncle fester]

Better get used to this folks

But this is my point, the chaos spreading isn't new, but the level of mobilisation in their media about Greenland and the extent to which they seem to be trying to sell it as a genuine issue feels different to much of the randomised shit-flinging we've witnessed and become accustomed to over the last several years.

Agree that they have really ramped up the chaos ahead of the Inauguration. I haven't a clue about Greenland and if they are serious about it or not, ditto Panama Canal. Mineral value of Greenland is huge and there are concerns about the NW Passage as ice melt continues so it might be a real geopolitical issue for them. It would not take much to 'buy' Greenland - it would be quite cheap to buy off 57,000 population relatively speaking given the potential value of the deposits there. On the other hand the more ridiculous the issue then the louder they shout about it, Musks so called concern about gang based CSA in the UK for example. He doesn't give a shit about it and the victims but throws a lot of stuff into the fire and waits to see what burns the highest and the brightest and then amplifies them.

The reality is it is the deregulation agenda in the US that they crave for - reducing employment, environmental, social and healthcare protections in order for them and their backers to make bigger and bigger profits. Big Tech, big Pharma, oil and gas, healthcare, etc will all line Trumps pockets to ensure they have larger profits.

Having said all that there is a small but influential number of more radical, driven ideologists who have a wider scarier agenda. The likes of Thiel and Musk have so much money they are more driven by a 'world view' they want to establish. Interesting that Thiel wrote the preface of the 2020 publication of the Sovereign Individual, written by Rees Mogg Snr & Davidson. Thiel's world view has progressed - read his excruciatingly badly written article on the FT yesterday!

https://www.ft.com/content/a46cb128-1f7 ... 2a76583105

If he and his mates are successful then the US is in for a rocky ride indeed!

This sort of thing will become routine if they get their way.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... dApp_Other

[Niegs]

Yes, CBC raised a warning about navigable more easily exploitable Arctic a few weeks ago. Gotta love that we don't give a shit about the environment, sovereignty, working out deals instead of ramping up tensions/taking...

[Slick]

Shitloads of mineral resources I think.

In the old days the good folk of Greenland would have sent Junior's head back in a bag as a message.

Resources, strategic defence and newly navigational waters with ice melting I think

Yep, what you guys and Dpedin are saying is correct.
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/11/nx-s1-52 ... nal-canada

And Slick, thanks for your input yesterday.

[Sinkers]

It’s a rum old turn of events when Bannon calls you racist and dangerous.

[Biffer]

It’s a rum old turn of events when Bannon calls you racist and dangerous.

Is Bannon woke now then?

[dpedin]

It’s a rum old turn of events when Bannon calls you racist and dangerous.

Is Bannon woke now then?

Only when sober?

[Uncle fester]

Greenland are awful eijits if they think they can do a deal with the yanks and not get screwed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/worl ... iness.html

[Yeeb]

Greenland are awful eijits if they think they can do a deal with the yanks and not get screwed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/worl ... iness.html

Will be some kind of fudge , Trump threatens EU economically until Germany twists Danish arm to accept a pittance for allowing the yanks to build lots more military bases and access to mineral rights for a newly ‘independant’ Greenland.
The 57k inhabitants suddenly accidentally find themselves in mansions in Florida.

[Niegs]

The title of this is exaggerated, as so many are these days, but there were some wild removals from Hesgeth's confirmation hearing. (The full stream is up too, but fked if I'm going through the 4+hrs of it)

[Biffer]

The title of this is exaggerated, as so many are these days, but there were some wild removals from Hesgeth's confirmation hearing. Seems like old Uncle Jesse was for him, but I can't quite hear what the other two said. (The full stream is up too, but fked if I'm going through the 4+hrs of it)

Some of the shit he said himself and some that he refused to say was pretty crazy. For example, referring to the Geneva conventions as 'burdensome rules'.

[Uncle fester]

Greenland are awful eijits if they think they can do a deal with the yanks and not get screwed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/worl ... iness.html

Will be some kind of fudge , Trump threatens EU economically until Germany twists Danish arm to accept a pittance for allowing the yanks to build lots more military bases and access to mineral rights for a newly ‘independant’ Greenland.
The 57k inhabitants suddenly accidentally find themselves in mansions in Florida.

More likely a bunch of robber barons make a killing and Greenlanders get jobs in MacDonalds serving the miners and oilmen.

[Yeeb]

Greenland are awful eijits if they think they can do a deal with the yanks and not get screwed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/worl ... iness.html

Will be some kind of fudge , Trump threatens EU economically until Germany twists Danish arm to accept a pittance for allowing the yanks to build lots more military bases and access to mineral rights for a newly ‘independant’ Greenland.
The 57k inhabitants suddenly accidentally find themselves in mansions in Florida.

More likely a bunch of robber barons make a killing and Greenlanders get jobs in MacDonalds serving the miners and oilmen.

That’s another possibility , as is it will all blow over much like his Mexico wall policy that didn’t actually happen. All very probably just to keep all non US counties on their toes , Eu, Russia, even Canada

[Uncle fester]

Distraction from the MAGA visas civil war also.

[Yeeb]

Distraction from the MAGA visas civil war also.

Or any of his other many piles of bullshit and problems. It’s as sad as it is funny he got back in because there was nobody else better instead.

[TB63]

[Uncle fester]

I assumed it was a piss take so went to check.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump- ... 025-01-14/

Smells like a protection racket to me.

[TB63]

Wait till the prices skyrocket due to his tariffs....

[Sards]

Wait till the prices skyrocket due to his tariffs....

Its a long game. We had a very competitive textiles industry employing a lot of people in the Cape until Asian imports started flooding the market and basically closed down the local industry. You need to protect local jobs.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Wait till the prices skyrocket due to his tariffs....

Its a long game. We had a very competitive textiles industry employing a lot of people in the Cape until Asian imports started flooding the market and basically closed down the local industry. You need to protect local jobs.

We had a very competitive textiles industry in the UK, especially Lancashire, until the sceptics rather took over the scene. (And of course even whilst we had that market we were importing much of the raw material and adding value for ourselves rather than the producer, and by ourselves I mean the owners of the cotton mills rather than the workers)

Anyway, things change, and you can try being protectionist but others respond and the whole is less than good. That doesn't mean you simply abandon those left behind in a global market, but unless you're going to cancel things like air/sea travel, phones, the internet even then the market is global, so why advance less productive aims?

What there is scope for rather than the more simplistic tariff system is agreements between nations and supranational bodies that in essence establish NTBs, minimum standards if you will around worker, environmental considerations and whatnot, and that can alleviate some concerns around 'unfair' competition. What there shouldn't be scope for is going out of our way to avoid change, because that's backwards thinking