President Trump and US politics catchall

[sockwithaticket]

Yeah, anyone who thinks what Dpedin and JMK said is nuts simply hasn't been paying attention.

In other news, with Trump having dribbled on about other countries emptying their jails into the US, I've already seen 5 or 6 headlines about pardoned Jan 6th insurrectionists getting into trouble with the law again.

Ranging from solicting a minor (a teenage boy btw, which seems fairly typical for the party that screeches so much abotu homosexuals and pedophiles) to being shot dead by the police.

[dpedin]

To be fair to Trump he has made a blistering start to put this into operation. He is getting well rewarded for his efforts.

[inactionman]

Only a little. The likes of Stephen Miller, the far right weirdos from the PayPal mafia, Steve Bannon, the religious crazies, etc are all very much gearing up to turn the US into a hellhole of their design. Things like Project 2025 show they're serious about this, along with the insane executive orders we've seen.

It is really difficult to talk about the extent of how fucked this all is without sounding nuts, but...

Nutter

Their pronatalist beliefs aren't just about more shagging, y'know. These creeps really do believe they're in an existential war against the mongrel hordes, that white people are under threat, and that technocracy (ruled by them, of course) is the future for mankind.

Silicon Valley is insane. Add in the religious fundamentalists and those Republicans still fighting the civil war, and you've got a lot of crazy working to turn trump's presidency into epochal change. And this time they know how to play him, I fear.

You might find this a fun read: https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2024/11/1 ... -and-musk/

I find Peter Theil very sinister.

Incredibly bright guy, his CV is hugely impressive, but some very weird positions and far too much influence. He'll play Trump like a trombone

[inactionman]

Yeah, anyone who thinks what Dpedin and JMK said is nuts simply hasn't been paying attention.

In other news, with Trump having dribbled on about other countries emptying their jails into the US, I've already seen 5 or 6 headlines about pardoned Jan 6th insurrectionists getting into trouble with the law again.

Ranging from solicting a minor (a teenage boy btw, which seems fairly typical for the party that screeches so much abotu homosexuals and pedophiles) to being shot dead by the police.

In a normal world, going to prison should be corrective and reformative.

You'd always worry that their release and relative martyrdom will embolden them, both to repeat their idiocy and to ever more ridiculous behaviour.

[Kiwias]

Yeah, anyone who thinks what Dpedin and JMK said is nuts simply hasn't been paying attention.

Trump is a useful idiot who serves the role of sowing chaos and stirring up emotions to a height that people miss the cabal of evil bastards behind him who are pushing through with Project 2025 as fast as they can. I'm with Dpedin and JMK on this one.

[Hal Jordan]

Yeah, anyone who thinks what Dpedin and JMK said is nuts simply hasn't been paying attention.

In other news, with Trump having dribbled on about other countries emptying their jails into the US, I've already seen 5 or 6 headlines about pardoned Jan 6th insurrectionists getting into trouble with the law again.

Ranging from solicting a minor (a teenage boy btw, which seems fairly typical for the party that screeches so much abotu homosexuals and pedophiles) to being shot dead by the police.

In a normal world, going to prison should be corrective and reformative.

You'd always worry that their release and relative martyrdom will embolden them, both to repeat their idiocy and to ever more ridiculous behaviour.

I heard the shenanigans of the released prisoners described as the equivalent of Final Destination for pardoned jailbirds.

[tabascoboy]

Wait, what? Is this with or without consent of the Mexico Government ( I assume it's about Cartel strongholds anyway not just random cross border shit)

[Niegs]

Hopefully there's a bunch of Jack Ryans in the system to do the right thing... I guess the difference here is that the fictional president and his yes-men were doing this underhandedly rather in front of the public / press.

[Uncle fester]

Wait, what? Is this with or without consent of the Mexico Government ( I assume it's about Cartel strongholds anyway not just random cross border shit)

They've been doing this already to an extent.

[Sandstorm]

Wait, what? Is this with or without consent of the Mexico Government ( I assume it's about Cartel strongholds anyway not just random cross border shit)

They've been doing this already to an extent.

Season 2 of Lioness.

[JM2K6]

I see the Deeply Impressive Great Communicator, JD Vance, has been embarrassing himself with some bonkers take over the concept of "Love Thy Neighbour" and managed to make a dick of himself in a spat with Rory Stewart, of all things.

Gosh, can't imagine what it says about people when they find JD Vance impressive and reckon Musk doesn't interfere in other country's politics!

[Uncle fester]

I see the Deeply Impressive Great Communicator, JD Vance, has been embarrassing himself with some bonkers take over the concept of "Love Thy Neighbour" and managed to make a dick of himself in a spat with Rory Stewart, of all things.

Gosh, can't imagine what it says about people when they find JD Vance impressive and reckon Musk doesn't interfere in other country's politics!

This is the lad who thinks that adults should get votes based on the number of children they have.

[TB63]

Aaaand they've shut it down again after local officials and farmers complaining they were not notified and an imminent flood risk. Dumb cunt..

[Kiwias]

How do you say you are a racist without saying it? Listen to 1'45" on on this clip

[Raggs]

So it's now been declared illegal for public officials to vote for laws that may be considered sanctuary laws (think I've got the details right there). This is in Tennessee. Can come with a fine and upto 6 years in jail.

https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/01/29 ... y-suspect/

So quite literally illegal for democratically elected officials to democratically decide how their state etc is run...

Obviously there's questions on whether this is legal, but the very fact it's been included is stunning on its own.

[Uncle fester]

So it's now been declared illegal for public officials to vote for laws that may be considered sanctuary laws (think I've got the details right there). This is in Tennessee. Can come with a fine and upto 6 years in jail.

https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/01/29 ... y-suspect/

So quite literally illegal for democratically elected officials to democratically decide how their state etc is run...

Obviously there's questions on whether this is legal, but the very fact it's been included is stunning on its own.

Was going to post it. Bonkers, isn't it.
Gilead here we come.

[geordie_6]

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-con ... losed#tabs

Republicans have introduced a bill to "To implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person."

No documentation for it currently, presumably as it's being reviewed, but it looks to mean a nationwide ban on abortion...

[Hal Jordan]

And the Democrats just "pick their battles". They're fucking spineless.

[Enzedder]

Do NOT criricise Musk, it appears.

Fired for mocking his salute.

https://dailynews23.com/cbs-weather-rep ... -comments/

I mean, come on people - butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

[Oxbow]

This all seems perfectly normal.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgkj8gx1vy6o

[Uncle fester]

This all seems perfectly normal.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgkj8gx1vy6o

And buried down the end.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has fired a group of prosecutors assigned to investigate the US Capitol riot, and also demanded the names of FBI agents involved in those same inquiries, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

[Raggs]

This all seems perfectly normal.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgkj8gx1vy6o

And buried down the end.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has fired a group of prosecutors assigned to investigate the US Capitol riot, and also demanded the names of FBI agents involved in those same inquiries, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

I'd already seen reports that those involved in the investigation were expecting to be fired.

Surely people can see how this goes so far beyond the usual 2 party system of throwing out a few policies from the previous group etc.

I wonder how other world leaders are talking about this to each other at the moment. I'd love to be a fly on the wall. Last time there's clips and hints of them finding him a clown, that needs to be managed, this time it's got to be a whole lot more serious.

[tabascoboy]

[TB63]

It's 56 billion, not hundreds of billion, but hey, why get facts in the way..

Meanwhile..



Jesus didn't have electricity..who knew?..

[Uncle fester]

This all seems perfectly normal.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgkj8gx1vy6o

And buried down the end.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has fired a group of prosecutors assigned to investigate the US Capitol riot, and also demanded the names of FBI agents involved in those same inquiries, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

I'd already seen reports that those involved in the investigation were expecting to be fired.

Surely people can see how this goes so far beyond the usual 2 party system of throwing out a few policies from the previous group etc.

I wonder how other world leaders are talking about this to each other at the moment. I'd love to be a fly on the wall. Last time there's clips and hints of them finding him a clown, that needs to be managed, this time it's got to be a whole lot more serious.

I needed a little time to process just how evil the erasure of info about mpox is.

They WANT gay people to get sick and die, thus leaving the rest living in fear.
This is America folks.

[dpedin]

And buried down the end.

I'd already seen reports that those involved in the investigation were expecting to be fired.

Surely people can see how this goes so far beyond the usual 2 party system of throwing out a few policies from the previous group etc.

I wonder how other world leaders are talking about this to each other at the moment. I'd love to be a fly on the wall. Last time there's clips and hints of them finding him a clown, that needs to be managed, this time it's got to be a whole lot more serious.

I needed a little time to process just how evil the erasure of info about mpox is.

They WANT gay people to get sick and die, thus leaving the rest living in fear.
This is America folks.

The lunatics have now taken over the asylum, albeit rich racist lunatics. It is becoming very, very scary and serious and for those who just laughed at Trump or thought him and his henchmen were idiots should now be shitting themselves. Musk via Doge, whatever the feck that is, have now accessed the US Treasury payment systems etc and publishing on X all sort of confidential info which is illegal and are suggesting they are/will cut off funding to all sorts of Gov agencies. We are witnessing the complete disregard of Governmental and legal norms and the potential breakdown of US democracy. Trump now suggesting there will be 'pain' for the US citizens but this will be worth - aye right! Trump himself is now breaking trade agreements with the likes of Canada he himself signed when last in power - the US are quickly becoming an international pariah, who the feck is going to trust them now, who wants to deal with them?

Buckle up guys cause this mayhem is going to spread pretty fast out of the US and into the rest of the world. Economies across the world are going to be hit, It will be interesting to see how the markets react tomorrow?

[Flockwitt]

I still don't get Trump's tarrifs. If his previous free trade deal with Canada and Mexico was the biggly bestest eva, why does he now need to go out and trash it? I mean he trashed everybody else's trade deals because they were trash and he was going to put in better ones. But now he's trashing his own deal? Sounds like a man perhaps you can't actually trust.

[Raggs]

Private prison shares have apparently tripled recently. I can guess at to why, who do we think is going to be replacing all the labour lost from arresting the illegal immigrants...

That's right, the illegal immigrants, but now wearing orange and a billionaire getting paid instead of them.

[Hugo]

I still don't get Trump's tarrifs. If his previous free trade deal with Canada and Mexico was the biggly bestest eva, why does he now need to go out and trash it? I mean he trashed everybody else's trade deals because they were trash and he was going to put in better ones. But now he's trashing his own deal? Sounds like a man perhaps you can't actually trust.

I'm not entirely sure but one thing that did occur to me is that it is part of an overarching desire to make the world more nationalist in orientation versus globalist.

It is game changing in the sense that when you hear someone like Trudeau talk in nationalist terms - "Buy Canadian food, go on holiday in Canada" and you hear terms like "Canada first" there is a cultural shift occurring.

[Niegs]

The foundation that uses short dramatizations to promote Canadian history today reposted this old one which, I think, depicts the first time forces from the south (American colonial gov) tried to overthrow lands to the north (New France colony).



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Quebec_(1690)

[Hugo]

This time in history does have some approximation to late 19th and early 20th century Mexico.

During the Porfiriato Mexico underwent a period of rapid industrialisation and modernisation but it's new found wealth went primarily into the hands of foreign investors and an microscopically small set of wealthy Mexicans. The average Mexican did not benefit at all. Hence the Mexican revolution.

Similarly, globalisation has benefitted a certain class of people but has also created a scenario where many people (or rather, their kids) are relatively worse off than they were in say, 1990. This whole America first, MAGA culture is a response to that and I think it is going to spawn a lot of copycats as politicians are under pressure to deliver for their constituents and compatriots rather than for people living thousands of miles away. Basically localism.

Not saying I agree with the MAGA movement but I think I grasp why it has gained traction.

[Uncle fester]

This time in history does have some approximation to late 19th and early 20th century Mexico.

During the Porfiriato Mexico underwent a period of rapid industrialisation and modernisation but it's new found wealth went primarily into the hands of foreign investors and an microscopically small set of wealthy Mexicans. The average Mexican did not benefit at all. Hence the Mexican revolution.

Similarly, globalisation has benefitted a certain class of people but has also created a scenario where many people (or rather, their kids) are relatively worse off than they were in say, 1990. This whole America first, MAGA culture is a response to that and I think it is going to spawn a lot of copycats as politicians are under pressure to deliver for their constituents and compatriots rather than for people living thousands of miles away. Basically localism.

Not saying I agree with the MAGA movement but I think I grasp why it has gained traction.

They'll end up winding the clock back to feudalism instead.

[Hugo]

The foundation that uses short dramatizations to promote Canadian history today reposted this old one which, I think, depicts the first time forces from the south (American colonial gov) tried to overthrow lands to the north (New France colony).



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Quebec_(1690)

This is fascinating. How Canada has been able to sustain its independent national identity for so long whilst bordering the world's most powerful nation is a feat in itself.

A certain set of Canadians (right wingers) would appear to be ok with being the 51st state. From what I can gather their angle seems to be that if demographic change happens in Canada at the rate that it has been happening then there's no national identity to preserve so we may as well be an American state. On the face of it is a traitorous position but their response would be that our politicians have already sold us out so what exactly are we being loyal to?

[Uncle fester]

Ronald Reagan:

*“Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies; they are our allies.We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends—weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world—all while cynically waving the American flag.”*

Ironically, it was Reagan who set a lot of this in motion.

[Biffer]

This is getting extremely worrying

The US president is sounding like a nineteenth century European imperialist, coercing and bullying their way into expanding territory.

The executive is issuing orders outside its powers, shutting down agencies who won’t follow illegally issued instructions and firing civil servants who have been involved with anything that doesn’t meet its ideology. That’s genuinely fascist.

They are burning bridges with allies and issuing threats to democratic nations.

People like to say Trump just throws around whatever is in his mind at the time, but this is something worse. This looks like a genuine concerted effort to turn America into an old school, aggressive and expansionist major power.

[sockwithaticket]

Trump is literally just signing whatever they put in front of him so they let him go golf. The fascists and neo-nazis writing the orders have never had it so easy.

[Hugo]

Ronald Reagan:

*“Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies; they are our allies.We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends—weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world—all while cynically waving the American flag.”*

Ironically, it was Reagan who set a lot of this in motion.

Interesting. When did Reagan say that and who was he referring to? We're there people to the right of him in the GOP in the 80s?

[sturginho]

Ronald Reagan:

*“Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies; they are our allies.We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends—weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world—all while cynically waving the American flag.”*

Ironically, it was Reagan who set a lot of this in motion.

Interesting. When did Reagan say that and who was he referring to? We're there people to the right of him in the GOP in the 80s?

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ronal ... trade-war/

[sockwithaticket]

Ronald Reagan:

*“Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies; they are our allies.We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends—weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world—all while cynically waving the American flag.”*

Ironically, it was Reagan who set a lot of this in motion.

Interesting. When did Reagan say that and who was he referring to? We're there people to the right of him in the GOP in the 80s?

Milton Friedman.

[Flockwitt]

The point I made at the other place is that the US public has been living with cheap overseas goods for generations now. They don’t actually know what the flip side of the coin is. So it’s easy to sell them the rhetoric. The realities of a non-global economy is actually beyond their comprehension.