The Trump Presidency 2.0

[JPhillips]

They aren't close now, but they were in the smart kids group when they were in HS in Eastern Kentucky. Their fathers were both physics profs and they still get together regularly.

[Atocep]

The EU is getting together without the US to commit to aid for Ukraine in order to put them in a position of strength for negotiations with Russia. The UK is committed to boots on the ground as part of a peacekeeping force in the event that a ceasefire is agreed to.

Trump is reportedly pissed that the EU has stepped up to circumvent the negotiations he had done so far and is complaining that this was supposed to be his Nobel Peace Prize (not joking).

He's not going to be able to pull us out of NATO but the damage that's going to be done to our standing on the world stage is going to take a generation or more to repair. Europe pulling off a ceasefire negotiation and leading the way with a peacekeeping opertation is Stage 1 of the US no longer being the leader of the free world.

[RainMaker]

He's absolutely loaded now since he was there pre-IPO. 18F was probably a passion project. Kind of insane because that's one group that actually did a ton of good on very little budget. Guessing they'll be begging to hire them back in a week.

The dichotomy between the US and China is striking. U.S firing people with actual skill for some script kiddies out of Peter Thiel's harem. Meanwhile China has their brightest minds working on shit. No wonder they've surpassed the United States in most technology.

[Atocep]

He's absolutely loaded now since he was there pre-IPO. 18F was probably a passion project. Kind of insane because that's one group that actually did a ton of good on very little budget. Guessing they'll be begging to hire them back in a week.

The dichotomy between the US and China is striking. U.S firing people with actual skill for some script kiddies out of Peter Thiel's harem. Meanwhile China has their brightest minds working on shit. No wonder they've surpassed the United States in most technology.

Mark Cuban said as much and advised 18F to create a consulting firm and wait for the government to come begging for them to come back.

[JPhillips]

I think he bailed during the first Trump admin. My wife said he's in Quebec now.

[SirFozzie]

Small world. I worked with him on spam filtering back in the day when he was at Google. Smart guy.

Just for the record, thank you for your service (remembering the days posting on Usenet's NANAE (which stands for news.admin.net-abuse.email). Thankfully, the days of open mail servers filling everyone's inbox with levels of garbage is over now that filtering is good.. I remember one prolific spammer claiming the Lumber Cartel was behind this because email advertising was so profitable no one would cut down trees anymore)

[Lathum]

He's not going to be able to pull us out of NATO but the damage that's going to be done to our standing on the world stage is going to take a generation or more to repair. Europe pulling off a ceasefire negotiation and leading the way with a peacekeeping opertation is Stage 1 of the US no longer being the leader of the free world.

Given 33 million people didn't vote and those that did elected Trump despite knowing who and what he is, maybe we don't deserve to be leader of the free world.

[Atocep]

Given 33 million people didn't vote and those that did elected Trump despite knowing who and what he is, maybe we don't deserve to be leader of the free world.

We're not. Macron sat with Trump and fact checked him to his face in front of reporters. The rest of the world is starting to realize that Trump is weak and they're willing to call him on this shit. They've effectively said, "the peace deal you were negotiating is shit, we're taking over from here". There's absolutely no way to spin that as anything other than a weak president that isn't respected by our traditional allies.

People have argued for years for a stronger Europe and that they need to step up. That's happening, but it's going to be entirely at the US's expense.

Look at it this way, the only time in NATO history that Article 5 has been invoked was in the wake of 9/11. If there was an escalation between Europe and Russia right now, is anyone confident in saying which side we'd be on?

[Lathum]

Look at it this way, the only time in NATO history that Article 5 has been invoked was in the wake of 9/11. If there was an escalation between Europe and Russia right now, is anyone confident in saying which side we'd be on?

I'm confident Trump would be on Russias side. There was a time I would have said that is a bridge too far for the congress but that time has passed.

[Edward64]

Nice pic.

I really hope they can come up with a ceasefire/peace plan that is palatable with Russia & Ukraine. And I really hope they have the political will to take the steps to defend themselves without assuming the US will help.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/03/europe-looks-to-broker-peace-for-ukraine-after-the-white-house-fiasco.html
European leaders pose for a family photograph at Lancaster House during the European leaders’ summit on March 2, 2025 in London, England.

https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/108109664-1740988333611-gettyimages-2202208790-BRITAIN-EU-DIPLOMACY-POLITICS-DEFENCE.jpeg?v=1740989005&w=800&h=709&ffmt=webp&vtcrop=y


Yeah, good odds the current NATO is going away. IMO not a bad thing, it's a relic from the Cold War. EU should create an EU centric replacement and/or totally reorg NATO where the US is not the primary protector.

[dubb93]

Yeah, good odds the current NATO is going away. IMO not a bad thing

I'm not real sure how losing all of our military allies makes us any safer, but if you say it's a good thing more power to you I guess.

[JPhillips]

Is there a single historical example of a nation choosing fewer allies, less trade, and less immigration and coming out more powerful and prosperous?

[GrantDawg]

So if we are leaving NATO, we can massively reduce our military budget right? I mean I keep seeing that these countries have free healthcare because we pay for their defense, so if we stop paying for their defense, then we get free healthcare. That's how it works, right?

[Lathum]

Honest question. Is there anything he or his cabinet can do that would result in enough of the GOP waking up and putting an end to this? He is so obviously unfit for office.

[Edward64]

So if we are leaving NATO, we can massively reduce our military budget right?

I looked to see how much US spend on NATO. I've seen wide ranges (based on different assumptions) and don't know the true number but below article talks about the intricacies of that calculation. Take it FWIW

NATO and the Claim the U.S. Bears 70% of the Burden: A False and Dysfunctional Approach to Burdensharing (https://www.csis.org/analysis/nato-and-claim-us-bears-70-burden-false-and-dysfunctional-approach-burdensharing)
An admittedly rough estimate by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) has far more credibility.[1] It only attempts to estimate the cost of U.S. forces in Europe and estimates that, "direct US expenses on defense in Europe (in current dollars) are estimated to range between US $30.7bn in 2017 and US $36.0bn in 2018,
As the IISS points out, however, simply costing the U.S. forces in Europe does not include the cost of any forces in the U.S. that are effectively dedicated – or earmarked or assigned to reinforcing NATO in a credible emergency or warfighting case. If one somewhat arbitrarily assumes that the total cost would be some three times higher than the cost of U.S. forces actually in Europe, a round number of $100 billion might be as good a guess as any.

But yeah, even if we remove significant amount of troops, assets etc. from NATO, and save (hypothetically) $50B a year, fair chance the $50B will go somewhere else pretty quick vs reducing the deficit.

[Edward64]

I'm not real sure how losing all of our military allies makes us any safer, but if you say it's a good thing more power to you I guess.

Trump 1.0 pissed off our European military allies and they're still around 4-8 years later. Yeah, they'll get even more pissed off in 2.0 and they'll become less reliant on us, but that's a good thing.

IMO I'd rather we focus against more recent & existential threats like China. Take the (hypothetical) $50B from NATO and use that money for Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, India etc. I'd toss in UK also since they are a NATO country invested in AUKUS.

[JPhillips]

No free healthcare, but if you own the right shit coins you can make a fortune.

[Lathum]

Trump 1.0 pissed off our European military allies and they're still around 4-8 years later. Yeah, they'll get even more pissed off in 2.0 and they'll become less reliant on us, but that's a good thing.

IMO I'd rather we focus against more recent & existential threats like China. Take the (hypothetical) $50B from NATO and use that money for Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, India etc. I'd toss in UK also since they are a NATO country invested in AUKUS.

Our allies in Europe got past the first Trump presidency because like most of us, we considered it an anomaly, especially after 1/6. By putting him back in power we are telegraphing to our allies we as a voting public can not be trusted. The damage done will take a generation to repair, if ever.

As for threats like China, we are already screwing that up also. By pulling aid from developing nations we are giving China the perfect opportunity to sweep in and play the long game, something Trump is incapable of grasping because frankly he does not care about the long term health of the nation.

China won the day Trump was elected. They were already winning, this was just the knock out punch. We will never recover from the lead they are going to take in the next 4 years with global relations, AI development, medical research, EVs, etc...

[Edward64]

Our allies in Europe got past the first Trump presidency because like most of us, we considered it an anomaly, especially after 1/6. By putting him back in power we are telegraphing to our allies we as a voting public can not be trusted. The damage done will take a generation to repair, if ever.
Western Europe will wait out Trump 2.0. Not saying that things will return back to how it was with Biden but our friendship, frayed as it may be, will resume after Trump.

Yes, unlike some here, I do believe there will be fair elections in 2028 and he won't be able to run for a 3rd term.

As for threats like China, we are already screwing that up also ...

China won the day Trump was elected. They were already winning, this was just the knock out punch.
We were definitely screwing it up prior to Trump 1.0. It was Trump that started to confront China and decouple us from China. Joe to his credit did great work with AUKUS and further strengthened alliances in that region.

I'll concede that Trump 2.0 may screw Taiwan and the AUKUS alliances, but right now, there is little evidence of it e.g. Trump increased tariffs against China (in addition to the ones he put in for 1.0) and that indicates he is just as confrontational as before

We will never recover from the lead they are going to take in the next 4 years with global relations, AI development, medical research, EVs, etc...
We can blame Trump for many things but he does not own the majority of this. The groundwork for China's emergence was due to WTO, globalization, decades of Dem & GOP administrations complacency etc. put us where we are today.

[Edward64]

By pulling aid from developing nations we are giving China the perfect opportunity to sweep in and play the long game,

I assume this is related to Trump greatly restricting USAID.

China isn't giving USAID-type assistance to countries. They are doing big investment projects like airports, roads, ports etc. and they expect a return on their investment. So no, I doubt China will swoop in and do these "good will" stuff.

Arguably, what China is doing with their "silk road initiative" provides a better return on investment than USAID. On the pro side, what they do have the opportunity to help a country economically and therefore, their people on a grander scale. On the con side, the country becomes indebted to China and sometimes the projects are a failure.

This is their long game. Invest in countries with big projects; create relationships with (or bribe) the countries' leaders; expect a return; indebt those countries; ultimately they become more aligned with China's interest than the US.

[Passacaglia]

Honest question. Is there anything he or his cabinet can do that would result in enough of the GOP waking up and putting an end to this? He is so obviously unfit for office.

No. Too much of the platform is focused on "winning" with no regard for what is actually being "won".

[Atocep]

Trump 1.0 pissed off our European military allies and they're still around 4-8 years later. Yeah, they'll get even more pissed off in 2.0 and they'll become less reliant on us, but that's a good thing.

IMO I'd rather we focus against more recent & existential threats like China. Take the (hypothetical) $50B from NATO and use that money for Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, India etc. I'd toss in UK also since they are a NATO country invested in AUKUS.

You realize leaving NATO would likely mean closing our military installations in those countries, which is the biggest military advantage we have over every other country in the world. Specifically China.

[Atocep]

538 looked at Trump's approval on the top 14 issues plus a blanket "other" for everything else. The only things he's polling above water on are: LGBTQ, energy, ebvironment, and immigration. LGBTQ is the only one above water by more than 5 points. He's under water on everything else.

[Edward64]

You realize leaving NATO would likely mean closing our military installations in those countries, which is the biggest military advantage we have over every other country in the world. Specifically China.

Thanks for letting me set the record straight. I know it was implied above by someone else that I wanted NATO to be gone. My actual quote said ...

Yeah, good odds the current NATO is going away. IMO not a bad thing, it's a relic from the Cold War. EU should create an EU centric replacement and/or totally reorg NATO where the US is not the primary protector.


Specifically, "on NATO being the biggest advantage, specifically China" can you elaborate? How do you see a NATO, a defensive, European based alliance as the biggest advantage over China?


Arguably, the EU organization and its' economic policy, if in coordination with US economic policy could be a significant advantage over China. And, I definitely get UK because they are part of AUKUS but I don't get NATO per se.

[Atocep]

Thanks for letting me set the record straight. I know it was implied above by someone else that I wanted NATO to be gone. My actual quote said ...




Specifically, "on NATO being the biggest advantage, specifically China" can you elaborate? How do you see a NATO, a defensive, European based alliance as the biggest advantage over China?


Arguably, the EU organization and its' economic policy, if in coordination with US economic policy could be a significant advantage over China. And, I definitely get UK because they are part of AUKUS but I don't get NATO per se.

Our footprint in NATO countries gives launching points to quickly respond to anything, anywhere in the world. We have our own military airports in these countries, our own military hospitals in these countries. From a logistics and readiness standpoint that's and advantage no one else in the world has. We also conduct Intel and collection from some of these installations. It's highly unlikely that any conflict with China would be on their soil. Somewhere in eastern or western Europe is much, much more likely. We need that reach or responding to any conflict gets far more difficult.

If we lose these installations where are we sending casualties? Landstul is where we send a large number of our casualties, whether it's Europe, the middle east, wherever. Are we OK with the additional hurdles to getting supplies to our troops? Are we ok not having bases in Europe to stage troops and act as a launching point? How are we refueling our aircraft carriers and other other ships or planes without NATO support?

We get far more from NATO than we put into it. The idea that everything has to be transactional and must give us a direct return on investment or produce a profit is flawed thinking.

[JPhillips]

Has any country so aggressively hurled themselves into a recession?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On March 3, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GDPNow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GDPNow</a> model nowcast of real GDP growth in Q1 2025 is -2.8%: <a href="https://t.co/T7FoDdgYos">https://t.co/T7FoDdgYos</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATLFedResearch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ATLFedResearch</a> <br><br>Download our EconomyNow app or go to our website for the latest GDPNow nowcast: <a href="https://t.co/NOSwMl7Jms">https://t.co/NOSwMl7Jms</a>. <a href="https://t.co/FdSehrEcSg">pic.twitter.com/FdSehrEcSg</a></p>&mdash; Atlanta Fed (@AtlantaFed) <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaFed/status/1896598929564725716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Atocep]

Has any country so aggressively hurled themselves into a recession?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On March 3, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GDPNow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GDPNow</a> model nowcast of real GDP growth in Q1 2025 is -2.8%: <a href="https://t.co/T7FoDdgYos">https://t.co/T7FoDdgYos</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ATLFedResearch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ATLFedResearch</a> <br><br>Download our EconomyNow app or go to our website for the latest GDPNow nowcast: <a href="https://t.co/NOSwMl7Jms">https://t.co/NOSwMl7Jms</a>. <a href="https://t.co/FdSehrEcSg">pic.twitter.com/FdSehrEcSg</a></p>&mdash; Atlanta Fed (@AtlantaFed) <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaFed/status/1896598929564725716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

They were open about this too. They were saying sacrifices were going go have to be made and it would be really rough for a couple years.

It's goes back to these billionaires telling people they have to make sacrifices while creating tax breaks for themselves.

[Edward64]

Thanks for elaborating. I better understand your rationale. My comments below ...

Our footprint in NATO countries gives launching points to quickly respond to anything, anywhere in the world. We have our own military airports in these countries, our own military hospitals in these countries. From a logistics and readiness standpoint that's and advantage no one else in the world has. We also conduct Intel and collection from some of these installations. It's highly unlikely that any conflict with China would be on their soil. Somewhere in eastern or western Europe is much, much more likely. We need that reach or responding to any conflict gets far more difficult.
If there is a shooting conflict, it is highly likely it'll happen in Asia and not eastern/western Europe. The threat to Europe is Russia, not China.

What tension has China caused in Europe? In Asia, we have Taiwan; building artificial islands and contesting the Spratley islands which is pissing off everyone; conducting aggressive naval drills near Australia & Vietnam; border conflict with India etc.

Joe championed AUKUS which is primarily with UK and Australia. For all practical purposes, Japan & Philippines are also part of AUKUS or like affiliate members. South Korea, for obvious reasons won't officially be in AUKUS. Joe negotiated and is reopening Subic Bay & Clark Air Force bases in Philippines etc. See below article for how Joe has built up our presence in Asia.

U.S. builds web of arms, ships and bases in the Pacific to deter China - The Japan Times (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/11/asia-pacific/us-military-bases-arms-ships-china/)

If we lose these installations where are we sending casualties? Landstul is where we send a large number of our casualties, whether it's Europe, the middle east, wherever. Are we OK with the additional hurdles to getting supplies to our troops? Are we ok not having bases in Europe to stage troops and act as a launching point? How are we refueling our aircraft carriers and other other ships or planes without NATO support?
My position is, because the China military threat is much more likely in Asia and not Europe, that we should spend the (hypothetical $50B) in Asia and further build up the infrastructure you state above, and provide more training, arms etc. to our allies in Asia.

[Atocep]

Thanks for elaborating. I better understand your rationale. My comments below ...


If there is a shooting conflict, it is highly likely it'll happen in Asia and not eastern/western Europe. The threat to Europe is Russia, not China.

What tension has China caused in Europe? In Asia, we have Taiwan; building artificial islands and contesting the Spratley islands which is pissing off everyone; conducting aggressive naval drills near Australia & Vietnam; border conflict with India etc.

Joe championed AUKUS which is primarily with UK and Australia. For all practical purposes, Japan & Philippines are also part of AUKUS or like affiliate members. South Korea, for obvious reasons won't officially be in AUKUS. Joe negotiated and is reopening Subic Bay & Clark Air Force bases in Philippines etc. See below article for how Joe has built up our presence in Asia.

U.S. builds web of arms, ships and bases in the Pacific to deter China - The Japan Times (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/11/asia-pacific/us-military-bases-arms-ships-china/)


My position is, because the China military threat is much more likely in Asia and not Europe, that we should spend the (hypothetical $50B) in Asia and further build up the infrastructure you state above, and provide more training, arms etc. to our allies in Asia.

$50 billion isn't getting us anywhere close to replacing that we already have. I'm very skeptical that any conflict with China would be in Asia. Eastern/Western Europe or possibly Africa are far more likely. If it's Asia then the forces and infrastructure in NATO countries would still be vital to any response. The Asian countries that we have a foothold in generally aren't large enough to support what we need or replace what we have in NATO countries.

Improving our foothold in Asia isn't necessarily a bad thing but shouldn't be an either/or thing with NATO. Giving up what we have to respond to a current threat is shortsighted. Are you confident projecting who our biggest threat is going to be 10 years from now let alone 50 or 75?

[Edward64]

$50 billion isn't getting us anywhere close to replacing that we already have. I'm very skeptical that any conflict with China would be in Asia. Eastern/Western Europe or possibly Africa are far more likely.
This is the crux as to why you and I differ. I don't know how to convince you that China is much more interested in Asia militarily than Europe so we'll agree to disagree here.

Giving up what we have to respond to a current threat is shortsighted. Are you confident projecting who our biggest threat is going to be 10 years from now let alone 50 or 75?
As I've stated, I'm okay with NATO 2.0 just as long as US is not the primary driver.

I do agree that Russia is a threat, but unlike Asia, NATOexUS should be able to handle Russia with US playing a supporting role. Between Russia and China, IMO China is the greater threat. Russia is declining, China is emerging and therefore more likely to have conflicts with US interests.

[Atocep]

This is the crux as to why you and I differ. I don't know how to convince you that China is much more interested in Asia militarily than Europe so we'll agree to disagree here.

China doesn't want conflict in Asia because it's too close to home. That's not how superpowers fight wars. Direct conflict between the US and China is more likely to be part of a larger conflict where each of us is supporting allies elsewhere in the world. Whether that's Russia starting something where both of us jump into it or it's in emerging countries in Africa, I don't see it being Asia. Far too much risk there.

Even direct conflict is highly unlikely. More likely it's a proxy war between other countries we're supporting, similar to Ukraine now but with more direct support through training etc.

Strategically, giving up NATO would be shortsighted and a self own that we wouldn't recover from.

[RainMaker]

China won the day Trump was elected.

They've been winning for quite some time. If it wasn't for centuries of sinophobia, they'd probably be the global leader. They're better than the United States in just about everything at this point and don't waste their brightest minds making obscure financial products used to scam people.

If I was Europe, I'd make the switch. Better EV cars, better phones, and they won't drag you into a global conflict every few years to appease some defense contractors.

[Lathum]

I literally said they have been winning for some time and this was the KO. Creative edit of my quote.

[RainMaker]

I agree with you. I just think this has been trending this way for a long time. Outside of weapons and weird financial products, this country doesn't exactly make much worthwhile anymore.

[RainMaker]

Has any country so aggressively hurled themselves into a recession?

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B-b-b-b-but Gulf of America!
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[JPhillips]

Nobody can decipher whether or not Trump is saying that agricultural exports will be tariffed beginning in April.

[JPhillips]

dola

Time to start hoarding weather forecasts I guess.

The Trump administration has informed NOAA that two pivotal centers for weather forecasting will soon have their leases canceled, sources told Axios.

Why it matters: One of the buildings is the nerve center for generating national weather forecasts.

It was designed to integrate multiple forecasting centers in one building to improve operating efficiency. It houses telecommunications equipment to send weather data and forecasts across the U.S. and abroad.

[RainMaker]

Almost -3% GDP in just 6 weeks is some remarkable work.

[BYU 14]

Not as remarkable as taking stock gains from 16.2% and 11.65% for me in 2023 and 2024 down to 3.2% year to date and probably be in the break even range after todays bloodbath.

[flere-imsaho]

Orange motherfucker is single-handedly delaying my retirement.

[cuervo72]

Interesting that nightly there seem to be pro-Trump commercials…don’t recall those during Biden’s first year (for a president planning to run again).

[Atocep]

It's rather concerning when a former Trump commissioner and a guy that isn't a big fan of the department of education is sounding alarm bells for what the Trump administration is doing to education data.

Former Trump commissioner blasts DOGE education data cuts (https://hechingerreport.org/proof-points-former-trump-commissioner-blasts-education-data-cuts/)

[RainMaker]

Not as remarkable as taking stock gains from 16.2% and 11.65% for me in 2023 and 2024 down to 3.2% year to date and probably be in the break even range after todays bloodbath.

I don't think they've even fully priced in tariffs either. They still think he's bluffing.

[Ksyrup]

Interesting that nightly there seem to be pro-Trump commercials…don’t recall those during Biden’s first year (for a president planning to run again).

Yeah, I've seen the Kristi Noem one multiple times. Ridiculous, just kissing Trump's ass like an election year commercial.

[Fidatelo]

Tariffs hit 'allies' tomorrow. Sanctions being lifted on Russia. Aid ending to Ukraine. America is all-in on the Russia alliance.

[JPhillips]

Fucking disgraceful.

[RainMaker]

More welfare.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jaw-dropping corruption in the US:<br><br>Trump's billionaire crypto czar is heavily invested in a fund whose top 5 holdings are the 5 in the US government Crypto Strategic Reserve.<br><br>Mere hours before Trump announced it, someone bought $200 million in Ethereum &amp; Bitcoin on 50X LEVERAGE <a href="https://t.co/LQWZceeTvB">pic.twitter.com/LQWZceeTvB</a></p>&mdash; Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1896362200119538055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Atocep]

The DOJ announced they're reviewing the conviction of Tina Peters, who was found guilty of tampering with voting machines in a state case in Colorado.

[JPhillips]

Trump says he's going to eliminate the cap gains on crypto sales. That's not how things used to work, but I doubt the GOP in Congress say no and the IRS will just stop collecting.

[Edward64]

T-11

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/04/negotiations-to-avert-a-shutdown-sputter-as-disputes-over-doge-cuts-persist.html
Congress is careening toward a government shutdown in just 11 days as the discord between the two parties over funding talks grows, with no clear path to reach a deal.

The government is set to run out of money at the end of next Friday, March 14. Republicans control the House and the Senate, but they need Democratic support to pass a funding bill as it is subject to the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
Hopes of a full funding deal have faded, so President Donald Trump and congressional leaders are falling back on a short-term bill to keep the government open on autopilot, most likely through the end of the fiscal year. But even that is running into obstacles.

My guess is another CR.

But a shutdown game of chicken/stare down will be interesting to see how it shakes out with the Dems (e.g. how much resistance they put up).

[kingfc22]

Target and Best Buy CEO both say prices are going up.

I lose track of these things…which store is currently not “canceled” by the MAGAts that we should be looking out for to say they are raising prices to cause a .00001% blip on the radar?

[Edward64]

But a shutdown game of chicken/stare down will be interesting to see how it shakes out with the Dems (e.g. how much resistance they put up).

Timely, article just came out addressing my comment above ...

Just a moment... (https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/04/house-democrats-shutdown-doge-00205584)
Senior House Democrats have spent recent days privately surveying their members about whether they’d be willing to shut the government down over DOGE cuts, according to multiple well-placed Democratic sources I spoke to over the weekend.

So far, they’re encountering little resistance.

Democrats of all persuasions, even some centrists who have long been firmly anti-shutdown, feel that voting for a “clean” spending bill would be tacitly blessing Musk’s controversial work. Denying Republicans the votes they’ll need to keep the agencies open, they believe, would be the lesser evil.
A senior Democratic lawmaker was blunter: “At some point you’ve got to have a goddamn backbone. I am not giving them a blank check until September.”

[HerRealName]

Target and Best Buy CEO both say prices are going up.

I lose track of these things…which store is currently not “canceled” by the MAGAts that we should be looking out for to say they are raising prices to cause a .00001% blip on the radar?

Target has pissed off everyone (including the founder's daughters) at this point.

[JPhillips]

How do you make a deal with the GOP when Trump has shown he won't honor the terms of the deal?

[Ksyrup]

Keep the hits coming. I hope Canada does the export bans, I hope social security misses payments as an ex-agency head is warning could happen. Just heap tons and tons of bad shit on us, because we deserve it.

The only way people wake up is when things directly affect them. It happened with Covid, now measles, etc. Let's endure some real pain to maybe squeeze some common sense into some heads. It's not all fun and games when the pain isn't just directed at the people you hate. Fuck 'em all. I voted against my self-interest, and I'm in fairly good shape to withstand the pain of the choices made by others. Let them reap the consequences of their stupidity.

[Atocep]

There's enormous pressure on dems to go after DOGE. I don't see another CR this time unless it's a very short one to wrap up a deal. I think we're either going to get a budget or we shut down.

[sovereignstar v2]

https://i.imgflip.com/9m8ixl.jpg

[Kodos]

:D

[Lathum]

Keep the hits coming. I hope Canada does the export bans, I hope social security misses payments as an ex-agency head is warning could happen. Just heap tons and tons of bad shit on us, because we deserve it.

The only way people wake up is when things directly affect them. It happened with Covid, now measles, etc. Let's endure some real pain to maybe squeeze some common sense into some heads. It's not all fun and games when the pain isn't just directed at the people you hate. Fuck 'em all. I voted against my self-interest, and I'm in fairly good shape to withstand the pain of the choices made by others. Let them reap the consequences of their stupidity.

The flaw in your thinking is that people would blame him. They won't. Not only do cult members never blame the leader, it is also human nature to not admit you were wrong.

These people will blame whomever FOX News tells them to.

[NobodyHere]

The flaw in your thinking is that people would blame him. They won't. Not only do cult members never blame the leader, it is also human nature to not admit you were wrong.

These people will blame whomever FOX News tells them to.

Or we all just forget about it and move onto the next major news story.

[GrantDawg]

"It is Canada's fault that gas has gone up. It is Canada's fault that food is more expensive. It's Canada's fault that electricity is costing more." They are creating an enemy. It is not hard to see what will come next.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[Lathum]

"It is Canada's fault that gas has gone up. It is Canada's fault that food is more expensive. It's Canada's fault that electricity is costing more." They are creating an enemy. It is not hard to see what will come next.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

yup. which will then provide cover for annexing them, through force if need be.

[Danny]

The flaw in your thinking is that people would blame him. They won't. Not only do cult members never blame the leader, it is also human nature to not admit you were wrong.

These people will blame whomever FOX News tells them to.


Your both right and wrong. Some will never admit they are wrong. But some will. Theres a reason Trump lost to an old Biden the first time. We dont need everybody to change, even just a 5-10% swing is huge

[Atocep]

Your both right and wrong. Some will never admit they are wrong. But some will. Theres a reason Trump lost to an old Biden the first time. We dont need everybody to change, even just a 5-10% swing is huge

My most MAGA coworker is a great example. 2 months ago I would have never imagined her turning on Trump and she's now hoping for a dem in office in 2028. She gave up on Fox News and is completely unradicalized. She told me today that if she had continued watching Fox she would have never known all the stuff this administration is doing to harm people.

My mom is another. She's turned on Trump and now sends me links to the stuff he's doing. She was a Fox news and Facebook person that told me she hadn't heard any of the stuff I was telling but now goes to other sources to get news.

[Ksyrup]

The flaw in your thinking is that people would blame him. They won't. Not only do cult members never blame the leader, it is also human nature to not admit you were wrong.

These people will blame whomever FOX News tells them to.

Lathum, I say this with all due respect...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PG-qCyYZRms?si=pCjJXBq0lV9uqVyv" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[dubb93]

My most MAGA coworker is a great example. 2 months ago I would have never imagined her turning on Trump and she's now hoping for a dem in office in 2028. She gave up on Fox News and is completely unradicalized. She told me today that if she had continued watching Fox she would have never known all the stuff this administration is doing to harm people.

My mom is another. She's turned on Trump and now sends me links to the stuff he's doing. She was a Fox news and Facebook person that told me she hadn't heard any of the stuff I was telling but now goes to other sources to get news.

I’m just not seeing it at all. Everyone here that is pro Trump is still blaming Biden for all the stuff Trump is doing.

[Ksyrup]

The constant theme in everything Trump/Elon/GOP is doing is to destroy Americans' confidence in government. It's why they are trying to dismantle public education, health, social security, to make it unreliable and worthless, as the first step to getting broad public support for privatizing everything.

Everyone agrees that government waste exists and should be tackled. Cutting people, shutting down offices, shuttering entire departments, etc., isn't cutting "waste." That's just the guise under which they start the process of destroying peoples' expectations of what government can/should do to help them, and then they and their billionaire friends will come to the rescue of a self-made crisis to provide the high-cost, privatized solution. With strings, of course! What's so disheartening and frustrating is that it's all so obvious and happening in broad daylight.

[RainMaker]

I don't know if they're doing this as some 4D chess move. I think they're just incredibly dumb. Resentment politics is a huge part of the conservative platform but the smart ones like Reagan knew not to fuck over their own people.

[Atocep]

The constant theme in everything Trump/Elon/GOP is doing is to destroy Americans' confidence in government. It's why they are trying to dismantly public education, health, social security, to make it unreliable and worthless, as the first step to getting broad public support for privatizing everything.

Everyone agrees that government waste exists and should be tackled. Cutting people, shutting down offices, shuttering entire departments, etc., isn't cutting "waste." That's just the guise under which they start the process of destroying peoples' expectations of what government can/should do to help them, and then they and their billionaire friends will come to the rescue of a self-made crisis to provide the high-cost, privatized solution. With strings, of course! What's so disheartening and frustrating is that it's all so obvious and happening in broad daylight.

100%

What we're effectively seeing right now is a private equity has come in to strip the government down for profit so that it can be sold off in bankruptcy.

[RainMaker]

100%

What we're effectively seeing right now is a private equity has come in to strip the government down for profit so that it can be sold off in bankruptcy.

Yeah, that seems to be the plan. Sell off the buildings at bargain basement pricing and then have some rich folks rent it back to the government at exorbitant prices (just like private equity). Also gut departments and then hire their friends "consulting firms" to fill the void.


It's all a big grift.

[Atocep]

I'm not sure why Russia even bothered invading Ukraine. All they had to do was find an asset they could push into the Presidency to hand them the entire country without boots on the ground. Trump should have been the blueprint and would have saved a lot of money and lives.

[RainMaker]

It would be funny if Canada removed the tariffs on BYD.

[GrantDawg]

Florida AG is investigating charges against the Tates. The fun little tit-for-tat that DeSantis and Trump has is at least entertaining.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[GrantDawg]

So he can do this again in a couple of weeks. I wonder what the supposed concession will be? A bottle of maple syrup and an avocado?
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/04/trump-tariff-compromise-canada-mexico-commerce-lutnick.html

[JPhillips]

Lots of opportunities for insider trading each time Trump imposes or removes tariffs.

[RainMaker]

lol
<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" class="" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1896589274340012172&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.operationsports.com%2Ffofc%2Fnewreply.php%3Fdo%3Dpostreply%26t%3D99477&sessionId=07107df5b3c84fafbfad53c29ae75e4609112f97&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe>Excited to announce that today, @GOPMajorityWhip (https://twitter.com/GOPMajorityWhip?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) and I are launching the Congressional Crypto Caucus.

We hope to build a unified, bipartisan coalition to cement America’s leadership in the future of digital assets and blockchain innovation. https://t.co/qCjSt8PiQD
— Rep. Ritchie Torres (@RepRitchie) March 3, 2025 (https://twitter.com/RepRitchie/status/1896589274340012172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.2f70fb173b9000da126c79afe2098f02.html?origin=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.operationsports.com" title="Twitter settings iframe" style="display: none;"></iframe><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.2f70fb173b9000da126c79afe2098f02.html?origin=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.operationsports.com" title="Twitter settings iframe" style="display: none;"></iframe><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.2f70fb173b9000da126c79afe2098f02.html?origin=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.operationsports.com" title="Twitter settings iframe" style="display: none;"></iframe><iframe id="rufous-sandbox" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; display: none; width: 0px; height: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium;" title="Twitter analytics iframe"></iframe>

[GrantDawg]

Wow, I'm glad they made clear this was different than the American Blockchain caucus, because I was afraid they were grifting the exact same way.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[RainMaker]

Who Is Captive Dreamer? Nazi Account Followed by Musk, Vance (https://www.dailydot.com/debug/captive-dreamer-elon-musk-jd-vance/)

[RainMaker]

So the Democrats response was to praise Reagan and W Bush tonight. Party is so cooked.

[Ksyrup]

Glad to see that Trump's plan to "drain the swamp" is working so well that after putting up hundreds of federal buildings for sale, he pulled back all of them listed in DC and a bunch from MD and VA, resulting in the majority of the buildings being sold/offices closed being in *checks notes* states that Trump won in November.

[BYU 14]

So the Democrats response was to praise Reagan and W Bush tonight. Party is so cooked.

Eh Bernie Sanders went after him correctly in one of the rebuttals I watched this morning. I don't ever watch these SOTU circuses because it is always the same.

1-Party in power claps and stands every time the President breathes
2-Party not in power boos, holds up silly signs and disrupts
3-Rinse and repeat every administration.

[JPhillips]

Trump's selling meals with him for 5 mil. Seems odd for a guy who isn't running for office. I sure hope he isn't just keeping the money.

[CrimsonFox]

Trump's selling meals with him for 5 mil. Seems odd for a guy who isn't running for office. I sure hope he isn't just keeping the money.

Hell he was still campaigning during the zelensky meeting

[Atocep]

I didn't realize the "reporter" that asked Zelensky the suit question was MTG's boyfriend. That was an obvious setup.

[Ghost Econ]

Eggs are over $6 here in SC

[JPhillips]

Trump says he's using tariffs to fund a sovereign wealth fund that he'll control. He's literally stealing everything he can.

[RainMaker]

Eh Bernie Sanders went after him correctly in one of the rebuttals I watched this morning. I don't ever watch these SOTU circuses because it is always the same.

1-Party in power claps and stands every time the President breathes
2-Party not in power boos, holds up silly signs and disrupts
3-Rinse and repeat every administration.

Bernie was on his own and a good speech. The official Dem response was Slotkin, who's mostly supported Trump in her votes talking about how bad China, how we need more war, and how cool Reagan is. They'll never learn from their losses.

[RainMaker]

Trump says he's using tariffs to fund a sovereign wealth fund that he'll control. He's literally stealing everything he can.

It's being run by Musk's banker too if you're wondering how Tesla is going to juice their stock.

[dubb93]

Idk where to put this but a wild Bald Eagle in Indiana died from bird flu. Seems like that’s pretty symbolic.

[JPhillips]

The Trump admin's claims that tariffs will mean Americans don't pay taxes is the currently dumbest thing ever.

[dubb93]

The Trump admin's claims that tariffs will mean Americans don't pay taxes is the currently dumbest thing ever.

He doesn’t even know who pays for tariffs, or at the very minimum acts like he doesn’t.

[Drake]

Idk where to put this but a wild Bald Eagle in Indiana died from bird flu. Seems like that’s pretty symbolic.

In Indiana, we've been killing symbols of freedom my entire life.

ETA: That's not true. It started when we eliminated the single class basketball tournament.

Also, RIP Gene Hackman

[CrimsonFox]

Ontario pulled Jack Daniels and all alcohol from their shelves. :) lol
These reactions are great.

[Ksyrup]

KY bourbon distilleries are up in arms. Who could have seen this coming? Maybe I'll get some cheap(er) Blanton's and Eagle Rare out of this deal.

[kingfc22]

65% of the state voted Trump.

FAFO!

Keep it coming.

[Atocep]

Trump is revoking protected status for Ukrainians.

[QuikSand]

In Indiana, we've been killing symbols of freedom my entire life.

ETA: That's not true. It started when we eliminated the single class basketball tournament.

Also, RIP Gene Hackman

rare pop-up of a forum post masterclass

10/10

[Ksyrup]

The whole "Biden $8M transgender mice experiments" neatly sums up the entire GOP in one stupid non-story.

[GrantDawg]

Trump had a cabinet meeting and told all the Secretaries that they are solely responsible for their departments, and Musk can only advise and not order changes. This is how they are going to try to get around the Musk illegal shadow-President thing.
Just a moment... (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/06/trump-cabinet-musk-025093)

[RainMaker]

There was going to be dropoff when Trump took office but it's startling how Dems went all in on this during the election.


<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code">Gallup: Support for Israel plummets among Americans, reaching "the lowest in 25 years of Gallup's annual tracking" and below 50 percent.

Support for Israel among Democratic voters has crashed, leaving the AIPAC-aligned Democratic leadership totally out of step with their party. pic.twitter.com/vqQJMaTVrN (https://t.co/vqQJMaTVrN)
— Brian Tashman (@briantashman) March 6, 2025 (https://twitter.com/briantashman/status/1897707350347465031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.2f70fb173b9000da126c79afe2098f02.html?origin=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.operationsports.com" title="Twitter settings iframe" style="display: none;"></iframe>

[GrantDawg]

Trump already delayed tarriffs on automobile imports, now he is delaying everything specified under the USMCA, until April 2nd. So, market crash, delay tariffs, markets rebound (slightly) again.

[bhlloy]

And totally coincidentally anyone plugged in on the timing will be able to make billions I suppose?

[Lathum]

I’m at a bar grabbing a couple beers and a sandwich while my daughter is at softball practice. This is a very, very, red area. There is a guy at the bar wearing a hat that says “gulf of America 25.” It amazes me how these people allow themselves to be grifted endlessly.

[sovereignstar v2]

My favorite is the FUCK JOE BIDEN apparel. My young daughter and I caught that one buying balloons on July 4th. Someone should pick that stuff up on sale and use it for Secret Santa (Rainmaker)

[Edward64]

I don’t know if this is a smart move but there is a weird sense of satisfaction.

Doug Ford says Ontario will go ahead with 25 per cent tax on electricity it provides to the U.S. on Monday

[Lathum]

Just saw a video saying British Columbia is going to start taxing trucks going from the lower 48 to Alaska.

[Edward64]

I don’t know if this is a smart move but there is a weird sense of satisfaction.
Okay, not just Ontario.

Still not sure it's a smart move, but the FU message to Trump brings a smile to my face.

Canada&#x27;s tariffs to remain despite Trump postponing tariffs on many imports from Canada for a month | AP News (https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-trump-tariffs-trade-war-58eaa333ef96d4f17965bb7004e6bee7)
Canada’s initial retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. will remain in place despite President Donald Trump postponing 25% tariffs on many imports from Canada for a month, two senior Canadian government officials said.

Trump said Thursday that he has postponed 25% tariffs on many goods from Canada and Mexico for a month, amid widespread fears of a broader trade war.

Two senior Canadian governments official told the Associated Press that Canada’s first wave of response tariffs will remain. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Canada’s initial $30 billion Canadian (US$21 billion) worth of retaliatory tariffs have been applied on items like American orange juice, peanut butter, coffee, appliances, footwear, cosmetics, motorcycles and certain pulp and paper products.

[Ghost Econ]

Trump is such a pussy.

[Mota]

Well Trudeau went running to Trump after the election to try and make a positive relationship, and Trump sensed weakness and immediately started with the "Governor" thing. I prefer the current strategy of meeting chaos with strength and resolve.

[Fidatelo]

These aren't just FU Trump moves. Despite how the media portrays it the US is still leaving a considerable number of tariffs on Canada. The others are also not removed, just delayed. There are also additional tariffs scheduled in a week or two I believe, and even more threatened for April 2 on top of the ones that were just delayed to that date.


Throw in continued threats on our sovereignty and the start of anti-Canada propaganda from US politicians and media and why on earth would it be a surprise that we would continue to defend ourselves?

[Edward64]

Too many good nuggets, worth your time to read the article. There's some fun stuff and then there's politics.

Just a moment... (https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/07/lawmakers-spill-what-congress-is-really-like-00205491)
To get an inside look at what it’s like to serve on Capitol Hill — after years of gridlock, government shutdowns and now another Donald Trump stampede through Washington — we sat down with 25 lawmakers who were ready to dish.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, I've seen the Kristi Noem one multiple times. Ridiculous, just kissing Trump's ass like an election year commercial.

I commented about the Noem ad a few days ago. And then I saw this from The Bulwark:

AUDIENCE OF ONE: The Department of Homeland Security’s $200 million ad campaign thanking President Donald Trump for “securing our border” and warning migrants who are in the country illegally to “leave now” has aired in major media markets around the country. According to data from the ad tracking firm AdImpact, DHS has placed six-figure ad buys in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix, Miami, San Francisco, and Chicago.

But there was also a small but curious expenditure buried in AdImpact’s data: DHS also spent $30,000 to air the ads in West Palm Beach from February 25 through March 5. Palm Beach County has had some ICE activity under Trump. But it’s been relatively modest. The more likely explanation for that expense: Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago club that weekend. And as everyone—including the leadership at DHS knows—Trump likes watching TV.

The $30k is a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of the agency’s ad budget. But it’s yet another data point of how Trump officials will go out of their way—and even spend taxpayer money—to suck up to the president. That it comes as the Trump administration is ostensibly on a crusade to cut government spending at every corner is just a cherry on top.

Then again, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Noem’s hands may have been tied here. After all, we know Trump was really into the idea. At last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference, Noem told the gathering that Trump explicitly said he wanted her face in the ads and wanted her to “thank me for closing the border.”

[flere-imsaho]

Well, at least she didn't wear a tan suit. That would have been a real scandal.

[larrymcg421]

A new Canadian poll has the Liberals up by 5 points, their largest lead in any poll since August 2022.

[Mota]

A new Canadian poll has the Liberals up by 5 points, their largest lead in any poll since August 2022.

That's the funny thing, Canada had a 99% chance of Conservative majority, and the Trump threat is completely reversing this, and we'll likely get the center-left Liberals again. That's what Trump wanted, right?

[Fidatelo]

That's the funny thing, Canada had a 99% chance of Conservative majority, and the Trump threat is completely reversing this, and we'll likely get the center-left Liberals again. That's what Trump wanted, right?


I still think it's too soon to be overly hopeful on that front. Once the liberal leader is chosen next week the Conservatives will start to unleash their massive war chest on them. Presumably external interference on social media will begin to ramp up as we move into the election period as well. I'd love to think this unified nationalism can carry us through the next 8 weeks to a Liberal victory but it's by no means a sure thing.

[RainMaker]

I think the Canada hate is more Elon than Trump. Canada stopped a handout for EV buyers which Tesla relied heavily on. Then Tesla committed fraud to take in tens of millions in taxpayer money at the last minute. So Elon is probably just mad about that and that it's being investigated.

Tesla made a suspicious number of rebate requests on last days of Canadian EV incentive | Electrek (https://electrek.co/2025/03/07/tesla-made-a-suspicious-number-of-rebate-requests-on-last-days-of-canadian-ev-incentive/)

[RainMaker]

So it looks like the Bitcoin reserve will be $20B to start.

[JPhillips]

I read it's using what's been seized already, so as with most of Trump's EO it doesn't really do anything other than marketing.

[whomario]

Free Speech, Trump version: "You're not supposed to be asking that question ... that's enough"

[Carman Bulldog]

I think the Canada hate is more Elon than Trump. Canada stopped a handout for EV buyers which Tesla relied heavily on. Then Tesla committed fraud to take in tens of millions in taxpayer money at the last minute. So Elon is probably just mad about that and that it's being investigated.

Tesla made a suspicious number of rebate requests on last days of Canadian EV incentive | Electrek (https://electrek.co/2025/03/07/tesla-made-a-suspicious-number-of-rebate-requests-on-last-days-of-canadian-ev-incentive/)

No, the hate is much, much more Trump than Elon. Don't get me wrong, nobody likes Elon, but the hatred is for Trump.

[RainMaker]

I meant Trump's weird beef with Canada. I don't think he really gives a shit about Canada, it's more Elon pushing him to be an asshole because they're cutting off his handouts and investigating his fraud.

[RainMaker]

I read it's using what's been seized already, so as with most of Trump's EO it doesn't really do anything other than marketing.

That's still $20B worth of assets just sitting there propping up some fake internet money instead of being useful.

[JPhillips]

Sure. I just expected them to route other money into this. GOP still might, but at least they haven't yet.

[Fidatelo]

I think the Canada hate is more Elon than Trump. Canada stopped a handout for EV buyers which Tesla relied heavily on. Then Tesla committed fraud to take in tens of millions in taxpayer money at the last minute. So Elon is probably just mad about that and that it's being investigated.

Tesla made a suspicious number of rebate requests on last days of Canadian EV incentive | Electrek (https://electrek.co/2025/03/07/tesla-made-a-suspicious-number-of-rebate-requests-on-last-days-of-canadian-ev-incentive/)


Incorrect. The Canada 'hate' is much larger than any kind of stupid EV rebate Musk might be miffed about. This is a broad imperialistic play at securing natural resources and trade routes.


https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/world/canada/trump-trudeau-canada-51st-state.html

[GrantDawg]

Nvm

[JPhillips]

lol These fucking people.

Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg:

Yes, Trump promised to end the war in 24 hours, but he didn't say what day, what year.

[Edward64]

T-6

The master plan ...

Just a moment... (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/08/gop-funding-patch-boosts-defense-and-deportations-cuts-other-programs-00219797)
The speaker aims to pass the bill as soon as Tuesday with Republican votes only, and then jam the Senate by adjourning the House and putting the onus on Democrats across the Capitol to back a plan they loathe. Referring to the Senate minority leader, Johnson argued on Friday that any lapse in government funding would be “a Chuck Schumer shutdown” if Democrats don’t help Republicans clear the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.

A tough decision for the Dems. My guess is the Senate Dems don't have the stomach to hold out or, if they do, it won't be for long.

Just a moment... (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/07/senate-democrats-shutdown-decision-00217178)
Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said in a brief interview Thursday he didn’t sense there were enough Democratic senators yet willing to clear a seven-month stopgap — Republicans need at least eight, assuming more GOP lawmakers don’t join Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has pledged to vote no.

[miked]

They should not pass it at all. It calls for an increase to defense while decreasing other spending. I think they should let the public know that most of the fraud/waste is in defense and that is where they are dumping more money.

[Ksyrup]

BUT TEH FETANYL! THINK OF TEH CHILDREN!

[JPhillips]

The Dems are so worthless that I expect them to cave for relatively nothing. They should have spent the past few weeks yelling no votes until the lawbreaking stops. They haven't been working towards any stand.

[Atocep]

You're 100% right, if the dems were serious about it then you start prepping the public for the possibility of a shutdown and you tell the public why it's the GOP's fault. Instead, congressional dems would rather state attorneys general, and states in general, do their job for them as an opposition party.

Hakeem Jeffries just wants everyone to be friends and I'm not sure what Adam Schiff even does at this point.

[flere-imsaho]

Democrats have all the leverage here. MAGA/GOP controls all 3 branches of government, including the two legislative chambers. Economy is heading into a recession. The next GE is a year and a half away.

If the DNC, any House/Senate Democrat who didn't say one of the following in any public/press appearance should be shut off from fundraising money:

1. MAGA and the GOP have enough votes to pass it on their own. If they can't, that's on them.

2. Trump shutdown.

3. Trump recession.

[GrantDawg]

I haven't looked, but why aren't they trying to pass a budget through reconciliation?

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[JPhillips]

They have decided to wait for months on the budget and pass a continuing resolution until September. I expect the plan is by then all of the cuts will be made and/or the courts will have said the admin isn't bound to spend what is appropriated.

[Atocep]

They have decided to wait for months on the budget and pass a continuing resolution until September. I expect the plan is by then all of the cuts will be made and/or the courts will have said the admin isn't bound to spend what is appropriated.

My mistake was thinking dems would listen to pissed off constituents and draw a line. I feel stupid for assuming by now dems would have a coherent plan and were read to stand for something.

They're going to win back the house in 2026 and nothing will change except we'll get a lot Trump and Elon investigations that amount to nothing.

[JPhillips]

Probably no investigations. They refused to look at any of the corruption last time.

[RainMaker]

My mistake was thinking dems would listen to pissed off constituents and draw a line. I feel stupid for assuming by now dems would have a coherent plan and were read to stand for something.

They're going to win back the house in 2026 and nothing will change except we'll get a lot Trump and Elon investigations that amount to nothing.

It's because they support this stuff too.

[HerRealName]

A good point I heard on the Majority Report this week. Jeffries' political career started after Citizens United. He only knows poitics in the context of doing the bidding of the donor class. He needs to be primaried but he's also bought and paid for by AIPAC so it will be next to impossible.

[miami_fan]

You're 100% right, if the dems were serious about it then you start prepping the public for the possibility of a shutdown and you tell the public why it's the GOP's fault. Instead, congressional dems would rather state attorneys general, and states in general, do their job for them as an opposition party.

Hakeem Jeffries just wants everyone to be friends and I'm not sure what Adam Schiff even does at this point.

I am not a political strategist but what does this prep look like? Telling the public that the R's control both House, the Senate and the White House? Explaining why Dems are not voting for funding that would keep the government open? Speaking on how the cuts will affect everyday people like the people who put them in the minority?

Anyone who wants to blame the Dems for the government shutdown despite them being in the minority all over the place does not seem someone who would be convinced by some sort of prep campaign that would appear to tell those people the obvious. I do see a bit more of a online presence that seem to be putting across the D's POV. Whether it is connecting or not is another story. Unfortunately for them, that presence does seem to be fractured among all every wing of the party.

I get the impression that people want the Dems and especially Dems leadership to act more like their counterparts on the other side of the aisle. I get the appeal of that. What I don't know if that sort of action is possible without the Dems' supporters acting more like their counterparts. I know that prep would have worked on the other side

[JPhillips]

I think leadership and as many Dems as possible say that there are no Dem votes until the lawbreaking stops.

[RainMaker]

A good point I heard on the Majority Report this week. Jeffries' political career started after Citizens United. He only knows poitics in the context of doing the bidding of the donor class. He needs to be primaried but he's also bought and paid for by AIPAC so it will be next to impossible.

I mentioned this before but this is the big issue with the party. How much money you raise as a candidate is all they care about. It doesn't matter if you can form a complete sentence as long as the money comes in.

So the party is left with people like Jeffries who can't hold a conversation or speak to people. That's why, despite all the talk of having Kamala do podcasts and such, she couldn't. She would have been embarrassed on Rogan or anywhere you have to think on your feet.

Only the old guard can do this. Guys like Obama and Bernie. Even Biden was terrific in interviews before his mental decline. Those are the kind of people they should be backing but they won't. The party should make a committment to not take donations from AIPAC or any other foreign government any longer.

[NobodyHere]

If Trump gets rid of turning your clocks back all will be forgiven in my books.

[RainMaker]

I think leadership and as many Dems as possible say that there are no Dem votes until the lawbreaking stops.

Yeah, this is one of those things where the Dems don't have to do anything. They should be talking as much as possible about the unpopular stuff going on (they won't because they mostly support it). But there is no reason to help Republicans pass an incredibly unpopular budget.

Pretty simple to say "we won't support any budget that cuts funding to veterans, Medicaid, and food stamps for tax cuts for the rich". They aren't in power and the Republicans have made that abundantly clear. Let them figure out the budget and deal with the consequences. No need to tack on bipartisian support to a budgets that will be political suicide over the next few years

[Ksyrup]

If Trump gets rid of turning your clocks back all will be forgiven in my books.

I don't have an issue with it, but it seems oddly political - the GOP has been pushing this for several years.

That said, I'm not sure what I think about it staying dark at the end of December and beginning of January until 9am here. That seems ... unnatural. Worse than it getting dark by 5.

[dubb93]

I don't have an issue with it, but it seems oddly political - the GOP has been pushing this for several years.

That said, I'm not sure what I think about it staying dark at the end of December and beginning of January until 9am here. That seems ... unnatural. Worse than it getting dark by 5.

Every time it comes up here the argument is always about kids having to walk to school/bus in the dark and extreme cold. Most likely schools would push start times back but it's doubtful that workplaces would follow suit. Seems like something that would be wildly unpopular with parents once they actually understand the logistics of it all.

[Atocep]

I don't know if it's been mentioned here but ESPN is shutting down 538. It's a shell of what it once was, but was still useful for it's polling averages and grading pollsters.

[Drake]

Looks like Anonymous has decided to target X today. That should be entertaining.

[RainMaker]

It's always a possibility but a service like Twitter is not getting taken down with a DDOS attack. This is likely incompetence or someone didn't pay a bill.

[Danny]

Trump is going to keep on keepin on with his supporters but I get the feeling there will be an Eion crash at some point.

[RainMaker]

"Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" already down $2 billioin.

[flere-imsaho]

Looking forward to the Trump Recession (tm).

[BishopMVP]

Looking forward to the Trump Recession (tm).It's the Biden Recession buddy, and you're not a true patriot if you're not happy about a 3% contraction in GDP or something.

[cuervo72]

Oh, I’ve seen FB replies stating that we were already in a recession during Biden’s presidency. So yeah.

[GrantDawg]

The economy is tanking, but Trump is going in the morning to buy a Tesla to help save Elmo's company.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[dubb93]

Nothing says I hear your concerns about the economy quite like going and paying cash for a Tesla.

[cuervo72]

The economy is tanking, but Trump is going in the morning to buy a Tesla to help save Elmo's company.

Honest question - what the hell is he going to do with it? He doesn't drive, and he's not going to ride in one. I don't know if anyone in his family drives. I can't imagine him just giving it away. So if he were to actually buy one, where would it go?

[JPhillips]

He's probably going to pretend to buy it.

[Fidatelo]

More tariffs, more threats to Canada's sovereignty. 6 weeks ago I assumed we had until sometime next year before an invasion but the way this is escalating I won't be shocked if it happens this summer. Fuck this.

[BishopMVP]

More tariffs, more threats to Canada's sovereignty. 6 weeks ago I assumed we had until sometime next year before an invasion but the way this is escalating I won't be shocked if it happens this summer. Fuck this.
Trump vs Rob Ford's brother is the political theatre we deserve.

[Ksyrup]

Suddenly, Le'Veon Bell's Trump support makes much more sense...

[PilotMan]

I never thought I'd come in here and see a Le'Veon Bell reference in 2025.

[Danny]

Trump kind of runs the country like a high school runs his madden team.

[GrantDawg]

He's probably going to pretend to buy it.
Ding ding ding. My guess is no actual money or vehicle changes hands. All just a big photo op. One that is the height of hypocrisy considering the attacks he has made on EV's. I mean, he would never ride in one because he might get electrocuted riding over a puddle.
They have a line of Tesla's outside the White House for him to choose from, but you know he is buying the dumpster on wheels.

[JPhillips]

Bloomberg alerts:
*TRUMP ON CUTTING CANADA TARIFFS: LOOKING AT IT
*TRUMP: LOOKING AT BACKING DOWN ON THE 50% DUTIES ON CANADA
*TRUMP: MAY BACK OFF DOUBLING STEEL, ALUMINUM CANADA TARIFFS
*TRUMP ON CANADA: WILL PROBABLY MAKE DIFFERENT TARIFF DECISION

Good, I guess, but hard to run things with this level of indecision.

[JPhillips]

Congress is supposed to have to vote on tariffs after 15 days, but the GOP has come up with a clever workaround, just declare that time doesn't pass.

“Each day for the remainder of the 119th Congress shall not constitute a calendar day”

[PilotMan]

What? Is that real?

[Passacaglia]

It was a bright cold day in April (okay March I guess), and the clocks were striking thirteen.

[SirFozzie]

What? Is that real?

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/us/politics/trump-tariffs-house-gop-vote.html

edit:

https://x.com/KDbyProxy/status/1899540259320254849/photo/1

[RainMaker]

We are finally defunding the police.


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[RainMaker]

I was trying to think of what the conservative platform is like these days and the only thing I can come up with is some right-wing "Great Leap Forward". Heavy on the nationalism, fight against intellectuals and science, low IQ radicals in charge, and the state having a huge imprint on industry.

The parallels are pretty striking. We're even getting the "just have your own chickens if you want eggs".

[Ghost Econ]

The conservative platform is Paula Abdul and MC Skat Kat If there were no steps forward.

[Ksyrup]

Paula Abdul, circa 2008.

[Kodos]

R.I.P. MC Skat Kat .He took two steps back and fell off of a fiscal cliff. :(

[JPhillips]

Fetterman says he'll never vote to shut down the government. I expect Dems to cave pretty easily and line up behind this short term budget. They just don't have any fight in them.

[GrantDawg]

New ad: "Buy a Telsa. Become a target for domestic terrorism."

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[Ksyrup]

Did I really see that Trump is advertising $1K off Tesla with his referral code? WTF universe am I living in?

[Atocep]

Did I really see that Trump is advertising $1K off Tesla with his referral code? WTF universe am I living in?

Brought to you by Carl's Jr.

[PilotMan]

Idiotcracy as in, the right is trying tie funding to prioritize areas have the highest birth rates.

[Atocep]

Idiotcracy as in, the right is trying tie funding to prioritize areas have the highest birth rates.

Make teen pregnancy great again.

[NobodyHere]

Make teen pregnancy great again.

I've been trying that for years but I keep getting arrested.

[flere-imsaho]

The amazing thing is that the denouement of Idiocracy is the realization that the government mandating the use of a salt-heavy energy drink to water & fertilize crops wouldn't even make the top 10 of the most stupid things done by the Trump Administration, and we're only 2 months into this thing.

[Drake]

If you would have told me two months ago that the GOP would be the party of EVs in March 2025, I wouldn't have believed you.

[Ghost Econ]

They aren't, they're the party of Tesla. If anything they're trying to destroy the rest of the EV market.

[JPhillips]

Sounds like Dems are going to pretend to fight the short erm budget. The plan is to vote for cloture and then vote on an amendment that would fund the government for only a month. That's certain to fail, so Dems are really just caving to the GOP budget.

[CrimsonFox]

https://scontent.fluk1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/480664670_10163352786158306_2233943875796036968_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=UVmU0zAtAsEQ7kNvgHKIVkA&_nc_oc=Adjd1aPcnSqTRQtTvsblgNVPXJfdWt9tXh5pT1-MyJ7QbK2xnfD3bMMP8M-FHOeKobh4KnP_C0VUWZuXzvTX6Yqk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fluk1-1.fna&_nc_gid=A3rn7VADVMD52OxSDQ3_TKI&oh=00_AYHCO3APTbu0PmL5Tgx8T7TpWCxOtsWFuVuh8c98kq9V2A&oe=67D7F087

[GrantDawg]

Seen on Bluesky:
"gavin newsom: thanks for joining us on the pod today&hellip;now childcare is obviously difficult, do you have any suggestions?

casey anthony: so many"

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[PilotMan]

Looks like Wal-Mart went to China and demanded they lower the cost of their supply items by as much as 10% to counteract the expected rise from tarrifs. The Chinese did not agree. Doesn't mean that something won't be worked out but clearly tarrifs impact consumers. Wally has been in trumps pocket for a long time. They will want to make it look like there's no impact as much as possible.

[Ghost Econ]

Can't wait for the explosion of US champagne thats produced in Illinois.

[HerRealName]

Can't wait for the explosion of US champagne thats produced in Illinois.

I lived in that area for almost 10 years and I regret to inform you that the Champaign there essentially has a fragrance of manure. :)

[NobodyHere]

Manure is really not that bad a word...

[HerRealName]

Manure is really not that bad a word...

It's a wonderful word and almost as evocative as the phrase "corn sweat". I miss that smell.

[dubb93]

Schumer tipping his hand and announcing he’s voting to keep the government open like the master politician he is.

[flere-imsaho]

Can't wait for the explosion of US champagne thats produced in Illinois.

Ahem. In Illinois we call it "sparkling corruption".

[Atocep]

I lived in that area for almost 10 years and I regret to inform you that the Champaign there essentially has a fragrance of manure. :)

There was a baseball field that my son played youth games at that sat downwind from a mushroom farm. Those hot summer games were a treat.

[Edward64]

T-0

A tough decision for the Dems. My guess is the Senate Dems don't have the stomach to hold out or, if they do, it won't be for long.

Today is the day! Not too surprised that Schumer conceded so quickly which leads me to believe enough Dem senators will concede the fight.

Sometimes you gotta pick your battles, and I don't see majority supporting a shutdown on "principles" especially since Trump has shown ability to impose his will on those principles regardless (and the courts seem to be fighting back right now); shutdown will adversely impact normal people; and my speculation is if there is going to be a recession, Dems don't want to give GOP any more ammo to say it was the Dem's shutdown that caused it (perception > reality).

My preference is hold firm on the debt ceiling fight coming up later this year. But then, many Dems have favored increasing/removing the debt ceiling in the past (just like GOP are doing now) so who knows.

[Ghost Econ]

I thought guns don't kill people, people kill people?

Musk Retweets Post Saying Hitler Didn’t Murder Millions (https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/03/13/musk-retweets-hitler-didnt-murder-millions-message-amid-ongoing-nazi-controversy/)

[Mota]

Wow, he really hates government employees.

[RainMaker]

It's also because Schumer has a book tour starting next week.

[RainMaker]

Some other news:

1) Biden talked to Harris before her debate and essentially told her not to deviate from him and that his legacy was important to keep intact. (https://www.mediaite.com/news/biden-reportedly-told-harris-not-to-distance-herself-from-his-positions-on-day-of-trump-debate-no-daylight-kid/)

2) 5 house Democrats have died in office in the past 11 months. The most recent was 77 years old and had terminal lung cancer when he ran.

I thought guns don't kill people, people kill people?

Musk Retweets Post Saying Hitler Didn’t Murder Millions (https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/03/13/musk-retweets-hitler-didnt-murder-millions-message-amid-ongoing-nazi-controversy/)

I'm sure the ADL will be up in arms!

[JonInMiddleGA]

The most recent was 77 years old and had terminal lung cancer when he ran.

Out of curiosity: did the candidate know that? and did the voters know that?

(I'm not even looking to toss any stones about it, I'm legit curious how it was handled from a campaigning standpoint)

[RainMaker]

Yes. I guess he was diagnosed in the beginning of April. Seems like he was unopposed in the primary. He did say he would be able to work through it but hasn't been in Washington for some time now which is understandable.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Yes. I guess he was diagnosed in the beginning of April. Seems like he was unopposed in the primary. He did say he would be able to work through it but hasn't been in Washington for some time now which is understandable.

Unopposed primary and diagnosis likely came to light after qualifying had closed. State law would vary as to whether replacing him on the ballot was even an option. And state law for replacing him would vary. There's an odd ... logic ... to basically electing him as a sort of placeholder for the eventual replacement.

It's at least better than a local state House race here a couple (few?) years ago. Candidate died maybe 10 days before the election, no time to reprint ballots. His deceased status was on the door of every polling place ... and he won a three-way primary with ease (no other opposition in November).

Election officials ultimately decided (and got by with) to simply ignore those votes and give the win to the 2nd place finisher ... someone that voters preferred a dead man to putting in office.

[RainMaker]

I guess the deadline in Arizona is April 1 and he announced the diagnosis on April 2. Still feels like a 77 year old who had been dealing with health issues that earlier that prevented him from voting might want to step aside. I think even a healthy 77 year old has like a 20% chance of dying during the term regardless.

[NobodyHere]

Trump's 200% Tariff on European Alcohol Causes Pete Hegseth to Angrily Resign - Borowitz Report (https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/trumps-200-tariff-on-european-alcohol)

:p

[Front Office Midget]

Elon Musk likening federal workers to the gestapo? And it's only like 6 weeks into this administration... Holy shit.

[Edward64]

CR passed. Next deadline is Sep 30.

Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and nine others crossed party lines to advance the bill in a key procedural vote, despite intensifying pressure from across the Democratic Party.

[Danny]

NCES eliminated
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/education-department-cuts-agency-compiles-nations-report-card/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/abcnews/library/media/511712541&id=119735831&fbclid=IwY2xjawJCpJpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdDG7NA9Ty_QTEls_teE_0ydnwLXLA6Jjgm6Qpbl8flzpa7SWPL49mIzjQ_aem_LU70kYfFjm_V6G4UBhu5ew

[GrantDawg]

NCES eliminated
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/education-department-cuts-agency-compiles-nations-report-card/story?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com/abcnews/library/media/511712541&id=119735831&fbclid=IwY2xjawJCpJpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdDG7NA9Ty_QTEls_teE_0ydnwLXLA6Jjgm6Qpbl8flzpa7SWPL49mIzjQ_aem_LU70kYfFjm_V6G4UBhu5ew
Red states can't be dead last in education if there is no report to say that.

[Atocep]

We're saving the country by making sure racist views are considered and held equal.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/teacher-ordered-remove-signs-classroom-rcna196582

[Ksyrup]

We're saving the country by making sure racist views are considered and held equal.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/teacher-ordered-remove-signs-classroom-rcna196582

But never fear, diversity and inclusion is a requirement when the target is a right-wing hack!

After JD Vance is booed, Kennedy Center head urges 'diversity and inclusion' (https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jd-vance-booed-arrives-kennedy-035914851.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmVkZGl0LmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALrWi_RqdRL6LGTO_CTTkawae9hzaacOKxMUqXgMQCPhOefE7YK4NHM5uFAQK880f0LDbGEI8pbMLEQANUpr5z7ojQw6jp27LI8LQMKif0vpHcJWYjpZ6nCTVoV-B4ZKGHq8xBMKARkDpTiI5GHxatUA3V0RMGpVoJSdaYfq0gJ-)

Several staffers, speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear for retribution, told The Post that they were confused by the email, particularly its defense of diversity and inclusion, a principle the Trump administration has assailed in public statements and executive actions.

[Atocep]

But never fear, diversity and inclusion is a requirement when the target is a right-wing hack!

After JD Vance is booed, Kennedy Center head urges 'diversity and inclusion' (https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jd-vance-booed-arrives-kennedy-035914851.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmVkZGl0LmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALrWi_RqdRL6LGTO_CTTkawae9hzaacOKxMUqXgMQCPhOefE7YK4NHM5uFAQK880f0LDbGEI8pbMLEQANUpr5z7ojQw6jp27LI8LQMKif0vpHcJWYjpZ6nCTVoV-B4ZKGHq8xBMKARkDpTiI5GHxatUA3V0RMGpVoJSdaYfq0gJ-)


They've moved the goalposts so much on what their anti-DEI movement is that they don't even know anymore.

[Mota]

I went to my local liquor store in Ontario, and it's like American booze never existed. It's GONE. There's a tiny section in the vintages area that is a bit understocked. But the California wine section which was probably the biggest wine section in the store, has been replaced with more international wines.

[CrimsonFox]

I always say, no one hates democrats more than other democrats

[JPhillips]

https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2824721/deimedal-of-honor-monday-army-maj-gen-charles-calvin-rogers/

Notice the bullshit DEImedal of honor? This is the new URL for the now deleted page of an African-American Medal of Honor winner. Just being black is enough to be deleted now.

[Fidatelo]

I went to my local liquor store in Ontario, and it's like American booze never existed. It's GONE. There's a tiny section in the vintages area that is a bit understocked. But the California wine section which was probably the biggest wine section in the store, has been replaced with more international wines.


I was at a Liquor Mart here in Manitoba yesterday and instead of removing the US booze from shelves they have just covered all the product with garbage bags. I'd prefer it was all just gone like yours in Ontario, and ideally replaced with new Canadian options when the inter-provincial rules get relaxed, but I do get a little kick out of the symbolism of it.

[JPhillips]

Crazy how everyone in the GOP now wears Trump style makeup.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Johnson: The adults are back in the room and we are going to turn this economy around <a href="https://t.co/rc975q0OKO">pic.twitter.com/rc975q0OKO</a></p>&mdash; Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1901074816997994651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[CrimsonFox]

they certainly ARE turning around this economy. It was going up during biden and they are defginitely making sure it tanks

[PilotMan]

Light it on fire, and celebrate your efforts to put it out.

[JPhillips]

The government is not bound by U.S. laws over international waters is a scary new argument.

[GrantDawg]

There is a little bit of "they are gone what, what are you going to do about it " in that. That is the whole philosophy of the White House right now. Push it so far that it can't be brought back.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[Atocep]

The government is not bound by U.S. laws over international waters is a scary new argument.

So the government could shoot down a plane carrying a political enemy as long as its over international waters?

[RainMaker]

Feels like an opposition party might want tO ask why so many alerts didn't go out or went out too late during the tornadoes the other day that killed an unusually high number of people right after gutting the NOAA.

[Lathum]

Trump trying to undo all of Biden’s pardons. I’m sure that’s will turn the markets around.

[GrantDawg]

Trump trying to undo all of Biden’s pardons. I’m sure that’s will turn the markets around.
And in doing so creating a shit-storm that I have to admit is quite impressive. He is claming the pardons are void because they were signed by autopen and not in President Biden's hand, and Biden had no knowledge that the pardons were happening. To fight that is going to require subpoenas to Biden, that is likely going to open up competency hearings on whether Biden is mentally fit to testify, which then could entail mental competency questions on basically anything he signed in the last days of his Presidency. This could get crazy.

[flere-imsaho]

Wish Merrick Garland had moved with this kind of speed on some of Trump's obvious criming in office.

[Mota]

And in doing so creating a shit-storm that I have to admit is quite impressive. He is claming the pardons are void because they were signed by autopen and not in President Biden's hand, and Biden had no knowledge that the pardons were happening. To fight that is going to require subpoenas to Biden, that is likely going to open up competency hearings on whether Biden is mentally fit to testify, which then could entail mental competency questions on basically anything he signed in the last days of his Presidency. This could get crazy.

Biden just needs to send a tweet saying he issued them, it's basically the same as when Trump declassified all of the info via either a tweet or in his own brain.

[GrantDawg]

But did Biden actually send the tweet? Did he actually know what the tweet was about, or did he just do what Jill told him to do? If the question is mental competentcy, everything comes into question.
It should be that they would need some hard proof Biden didn't know about the pardons. They shouldn't just be able to make an assertion without evidence. But then who knows? They get this in front of the right judge, and then of course how will the Supreme Court decide it is always the question.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[Atocep]

And we have a leaked memo this morning where the administration outlines and acknowledges their plan to sabotage social security.

[PilotMan]

Like they are with the post office? I mailed 2 pieces certified on the 28th. One went to Frankfort which is about 60 miles south of me and the other to Kansas City. Both should have been delivered by the 3rd. The one in state took an extra week, 10 days in total, and the other one seems to be stuck in the system and still hasn't arrived 17 days later.

[PilotMan]

And we have a leaked memo this morning where the administration outlines and acknowledges their plan to sabotage social security.


link (https://popular.info/p/exclusive-memo-details-trump-plan)


On March 12, the day before the Diaz memo was sent, the Washington Post reported that the SSA was considering a proposal to "end telephone service for claims processing (https://web.archive.org/web/20250312202840/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/12/social-security-phone-doge-elderly-disabled/)." That move, the paper reported, "would disrupt Social Security’s internal operations and threaten its ability to serve the public, current and former officials warned."
In response to the Washington Post's article, the SSA issued a press release (https://blog.ssa.gov/correcting-the-record-about-social-security-direct-deposit-and-telephone-services/) saying that "reports in the media that Social Security plans to eliminate telephone services are inaccurate." Rather, the press release said, phone service would only be eliminated in cases where beneficiaries need to change their banking information.
The March 13 Diaz memo appears to be a way of implementing the original policy without technically ending telephone service for claims processing. Under the system described in the memo, customers can still use the phone to submit an application for a claim. The claim, however, would be considered "unverified" until an ID was verified through the internet or in person.
The SSA source believes the Diaz memo "is DOGE’s workaround." The agency can technically claim that Americans can still make claims over the phone. But the fine print of the new policy means these claims will never be approved without using the internet or making an in-person visit.

[flere-imsaho]

Just completely ignoring the Judicial Branch now (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/17/brown-university-rasha-alawieh-deported-lebanon). Rule of law? What rule of law?


A Brown University medical professor was deported to Lebanon over the weekend despite having a valid US work visa, defying a judge’s order blocking her immediate removal from the country.

The case centering on Rasha Alawieh, 34, comes as Donald Trump’s second presidential administration has been escalating its immigration policies and attacking universities.

On Sunday, the US deported more than 250 migrants, allegedly members of a Venezuelan and Salvadorian gang, to El Salvador despite a judge’s order halting the flights.

Where does it stop, Trump apologists like Edward?

[Atocep]

Just completely ignoring the Judicial Branch now (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/17/brown-university-rasha-alawieh-deported-lebanon). Rule of law? What rule of law?



Where does it stop, Trump apologists like Edward?

He can just sue and it'll all be ok.

[Ksyrup]

Like they are with the post office? I mailed 2 pieces certified on the 28th. One went to Frankfort which is about 60 miles south of me and the other to Kansas City. Both should have been delivered by the 3rd. The one in state took an extra week, 10 days in total, and the other one seems to be stuck in the system and still hasn't arrived 17 days later.

We got some coupons from Meijer that were a month's worth of coupons that applied each week (like, $5-10 a week for 4 weeks). Since we were going on vacation and our kids could use them more than us, my wife took a simple birthday card, put the coupons in, and mailed it from Lexington to our daughter in Covington. The card arrived last week, 2 weeks after the last coupon expired.

Back in December, my mom sent a card to each of our kids with a check inside for Christmas. She sent it on December 13th. One came the day after Christmas, the other in early January.

[Atocep]

Our agency is now offering Bible study twice a month during work hours.

No recognizing cultural awareness during work but Bible study is OK.

[flere-imsaho]

Meanwhile the DoD has removed references to the Navajo Code Talkers: Just a moment... (https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/03/17/navajo-code-talkers-trump-dei-military-websites-wwii)

[Ghost Econ]

Nothing says making America great like wiping out Native Americans.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Where does it stop, Trump apologists like Edward?

Apologize? For what, doing something rather obviously right?

As for stopping? Maybe once every fucking piece of shit like that worthless bitch is out of the country, but that's going to take a while.

And anybody that gets in the way of doing something THIS obviously correct can go the fuck right on with 'em. Some oxygen wasting federal judges might be a good place to start.

[RainMaker]

Maybe you should just hop on Grindr already and get it out of your system man.

[Ksyrup]

When someone shows more empathy for a college basketball team getting a second-rate tournament invite rescinded than for human beings, there's really no point in engaging.

[Edward64]

Apologize? For what, doing something rather obviously right?

Eh, don't sweat it. I responded in the Immigration thread. Hezbollah sympathizer who attended Nasrallah's funeral.

[RainMaker]

Hezbollah sympathizer who attended Nasrallah's funeral.

Not a crime.

[Edward64]

Not a crime.

Doesn't have to be ... even pre-Trump.

[Edward64]

CNN Compares AOC's Rise to Post-Obama Republican Party (https://www.thewrap.com/cnn-compares-aoc-post-obama-republican-party/)
Washington Post reporter Paul Kane agreed. “Think of it this way,” he said. “If you’re a voter 30 and under, you’ve only participated in three elections, two of them Donald Trump won, one of them Joe Biden won. They’re all over 70 years old when they won. There [are] millions of voters out there craving something new, something younger, something closer to them.”
This is true. Can't blame the younger generation.

A new SSRS poll released March 16 revealed the majority of Democrats polled believe the party needs to do more to “stop the Republican agenda,” CNN revealed.

When asked to name “the Democratic leader they feel ‘best reflects the core values’ of the party, 10% of respondents named Ocasio-Cortez (9% named former vice president Kamala Harris, 8% named Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and 6% named House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries).
I can see the Dems positioning AOC and can see the < 40 (?) embrace her. I think she'll be too divisive to win, but then again, look at what Trump has done.

[HerRealName]

The centrists hate progressives as much as Trump and more than any normal Republicans if any still exist. The DNC would never allow AOC to win nomination. They would rather run Liz Cheney.

[RainMaker]

Yeah, the Dems will never allow her or anyone popular with working class voters to run. Heck, even Pritzker will get squashed by the party if he runs. It'll be Newsom, Shapiro, or Harris.

Doesn't have to be ... even pre-Trump.

I know, not that the rule of law means a whole lot these days. Basing your immigration policy around the whims of a reviled foreign country seems like a great way to keep talent and investment out. Not to mention how weak it makes us look to have a country repeatedly humiliate our President.

[JPhillips]

Anybody can win a primary. All the conspiracy thinking just isn't true. The big problem for a lot of the progressives is that they have little support in the black community and you can't win the nomination without a lot of middle-aged black votes. That was Bernie's problem, not some imagined conspiracy to give the nomination to someone else.

[RainMaker]

Well it seems like no one supports the moderate Dems these days. And it's not a conspiracy that the DNC puts their thumb on the scale in primaries.

[RainMaker]

I mean we are coming off an election where the party threatened to blacklist anyone who ran against Biden and then canceled a bunch of primaries.

[JPhillips]

Everything was rigged against Obama and he just won the primary. Losers complain about how elections are unfair when they lose.