The Trump Presidency 2.0

[Lathum]

We bought our first house, condo actually, with about 3% down and paid PMI. Sold it and made a little money. Bought second one with about 5% and paid PMI. Sold it and with the equity from our second house were able to put down 20%, get out from PMI, and have lower payments. Sold it and bought 4th house with 20% and money left over to renovate. Now we already have a lot of equity in a nice house in a desired suburb in NJ.

None of that would have been possible with a 50 year mortage. All the nterest would be so front loaded you would never build up enugh equity.

[RainMaker]

It sounds like there may be a deal in the Senate to end the shutdown.

Dems caved. What a shock!

[Lathum]

Dems caved. What a shock!

Yeah. I am seeing the only concession is the Senate is promising a vote on subsidies.

I'm guessing the dems strategy is when that vote inevitably fails they can use that as messaging.

[JPhillips]

Dems were always going to have to cave. I'm really surprised they have beaten up the GOP as bad as they have, but I always expected them to fold. There's not much other option.

[Atocep]

Yeah. I am seeing the only concession is the Senate is promising a vote on subsidies.

I'm guessing the dems strategy is when that vote inevitably fails they can use that as messaging.

At some point you have the let the GOP show who they are to voters. The dems highlighted the issue and people are paying attention now. They have no leverage other than to continue to keep the government shut down and watch the public eventually turn on them.

It's a gamble, but a calculated one. We can't continue to keep the government shut down. Most people aren't seeing the impact right now, but it's there. Ignoring the federal workers not getting paid, our hospital is running out of money for anything. They shut down our flu drive because they can't get more shots. They shut down the vanpool, which puts a lot of workers at risk for even getting to work. Eventually they're going to have to shut down chemo treatments and other procedures that have a direct impact on people's health and lives. That's just the stuff I'm seeing first hand.

[Ksyrup]

Thanksgiving travel would be the biggest impact. It's already hitting now, but that would be catastrophic, to the point where both parties would probably be hurt by it.

[Ksyrup]

They need to add in a resolution to the YTTV/Disney fight too.

[RainMaker]

Yeah. I am seeing the only concession is the Senate is promising a vote on subsidies.

I'm guessing the dems strategy is when that vote inevitably fails they can use that as messaging.

There will never be a vote.

[RainMaker]

Dems were always going to have to cave. I'm really surprised they have beaten up the GOP as bad as they have, but I always expected them to fold. There's not much other option.

They did not need to cave. Public support was overwhelmingly on their side. Guessing some donors demanded it end.

[JPhillips]

I expect the government unions are the big problem.

Let's see what the deal is. If it isn't just the CR I expect Johnson is going to have some problems in the House, especially since he'll have to seat Grijalva now.

[RainMaker]

I expect the government unions are the big problem.

Let's see what the deal is. If it isn't just the CR I expect Johnson is going to have some problems in the House, especially since he'll have to seat Grijalva now.

He is not going to seat her.

[Passacaglia]

We bought our first house, condo actually, with about 3% down and paid PMI. Sold it and made a little money. Bought second one with about 5% and paid PMI. Sold it and with the equity from our second house were able to put down 20%, get out from PMI, and have lower payments. Sold it and bought 4th house with 20% and money left over to renovate. Now we already have a lot of equity in a nice house in a desired suburb in NJ.

None of that would have been possible with a 50 year mortage. All the nterest would be so front loaded you would never build up enugh equity.

My assumption is that other mortgages would be available, and that you wouldn't HAVE to do a 50-year mortgage. If it's a 50-year mortgage for everyone, then yes, that's insane.

Although I disagree that it would not be possible with a 50-year mortgage. Yes, there would be more interest, but a lower payment, allowing you to either have more cash coming in for savings, or to buy a more expensive house, which would increase your equity.

And, in order for this to be a good idea, families don't need to build up enough equity to buy nicer and nicer houses. But, if a family can use this to eventually build up enough equity in time so that they have an asset over a long period of time instead of dying penniless, it's helping some people.

[JPhillips]

Housing costs will rise as the driver is what people can afford monthly. We'll end up with 50 payments equal to what 30 payments are today.

edit: As long as supply is still low. That would change if there is a much greater supply.

[Passacaglia]

A far better solution would be to make building easier, which would start with killing off the tariffs. Then provide government grants for down payments for first time home buyers that meet certain criteria. Another approach would be creating a new type of loan for first time buyers that simply waives the down payment, similar to VA loans.

50 year loans would require current law to be rewritten and would be a boon to mortgage lenders. It also doesn't solve the primary issue with a lot of young buyers, making that down payment.

I agree. I'm not saying "this makes the tariffs okay" or "this is better than waiving a down payment", I'm just saying it would help.

[NobodyHere]

Am I the only one who turned the Lions game off because I don't want to look at or listen to our douchebag-in-chief?

[bronconick]

Red Zone saved me

[flere-imsaho]

I turned it off because the Commanders suck.

[GrantDawg]

The word is rhe deal is set, but Schumer says he is a "no" vote. This feels like some kind of gamey crap, whete Schumer found enough Dems to cave so that he can protect himself.

[RainMaker]

LOL Dems

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Q: Will you assure House Democrats they'll get a vote on ACA subsidies by a date certain?<br><br>MIKE JOHNSON: Ah -- no. I'm not promising anyone anything. <a href="https://t.co/MS6jZguChy">pic.twitter.com/MS6jZguChy</a></p>&mdash; Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1986460444609941798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[bronconick]

Schumer should've been kicked out of leadership years ago, but they'd have to find non-spineless Senate Democrats to replace him.

[RainMaker]

Why even bother voting in 2026?

[Lathum]

Way more democratic senators wanted this than voted. Not one who voted for this is up for reelection next year. Thats not a coincidence.

[Lathum]

FAFO

https://fortune.com/2025/11/09/aca-subsidies-republican-states-government-shutdown-affordable-care-act-obamacare-medicaid/

[RainMaker]

Rough day for the folks who thought voting Dem would change things.

[Lathum]

Rough day for the folks who thought voting Dem would change things.

What do you think they should have done?

I would say it is a much rougher day for those who voted Trump given the article I just posted.

[Ksyrup]

You have to change the electorate (or they have to change themselves) to truly change anything. If most people would rather shoot themselves in the dick, then changing the caliber of the bullet is the only change they are going to see. And if they continue to pull the trigger, oh well.

[Mota]

This is a good example of why life expectancy in the USA is 5 years less than in Canada. A lot of people will go uninsured when rates double.

[JPhillips]

https://davekarpf.substack.com/p/the-shutdown-surrender

The vote is indefensible on the merits. The timing and politics are awful. This is the reason why practically no one who votes for the Democratic Party actually likes the Democratic Party.

And yet… I don’t ultimately think it will matter much in the grander scheme of things.

This is a really good take on the situation.

[Lathum]

You have to change the electorate (or they have to change themselves) to truly change anything. If most people would rather shoot themselves in the dick, then changing the caliber of the bullet is the only change they are going to see. And if they continue to pull the trigger, oh well.

If they were just shooting themselves I wouldn't care, but they are taking us all down with them.

It is also going to get worse after the next census. I just heard an interview where they were discussing the fact that the population in southern states is growing at a much higher rate and could result in 18 more electoral votes for southern states in 2032.

[Lathum]

Maybe I am misreading the situation but what could the dems have done differently? At some point the court of public opinion would have turned against them, or worse there would have been an air disaster or something similar.

If you stary from a place of the GOP was never going to cave because they couldn't give a shit about anything other than fealty to Trump, I see 3 outcomes.

1. The GOP votes to extend the subsidies or make them permanent. Doubtful, but would be an obvious win for the Dems

2. The GOP votes and rejects to extend the subsidies. They then own the fact the stripped millions of their own supporters of healthcare.

3. They refuse to vote at all. Then they just shut it down again late January and the dems can say, see, we told you they won't negotiate in good faith.

I'm not sure how any of these are bad for the dems. They were never getting the vote, or even the discussion, while the shut down continued. They can now also focus on the Epstein files again.

I get it that is sucks, but election have consequenses.

[RainMaker]

What do you think they should have done?

I would say it is a much rougher day for those who voted Trump given the article I just posted.

Act as an opposition party. Who do you even vote for these days if you want health care costs to come down?

[RainMaker]

Maybe I am misreading the situation but what could the dems have done differently? At some point the court of public opinion would have turned against them, or worse there would have been an air disaster or something similar.

If you stary from a place of the GOP was never going to cave because they couldn't give a shit about anything other than fealty to Trump, I see 3 outcomes.

1. The GOP votes to extend the subsidies or make them permanent. Doubtful, but would be an obvious win for the Dems

2. The GOP votes and rejects to extend the subsidies. They then own the fact the stripped millions of their own supporters of healthcare.

3. They refuse to vote at all. Then they just shut it down again late January and the dems can say, see, we told you they won't negotiate in good faith.

I'm not sure how any of these are bad for the dems. They were never getting the vote, or even the discussion, while the shut down continued. They can now also focus on the Epstein files again.

I get it that is sucks, but election have consequenses.

At some point the Republicans would have to cave or use the nuclear option. Both would be huge wins for the Democrats.

[Lathum]

At some point the Republicans would have to cave or use the nuclear option. Both would be huge wins for the Democrats.

Disagree.


What indications did the GOP give at all that they would have caved?


I think the GOP would starve their own people to death before caving. At some point the narrative would have flipped to it being the fault of the dems.

[Lathum]

Act as an opposition party. Who do you even vote for these days if you want health care costs to come down?

If enough people had voted Harris people wouldn't be losing their healthcare, but hey, eggs are ten cents cheaper....

MAGA is literally going to die to own the libs, hope it was worth it.

[RainMaker]

Disagree.

What indications did the GOP give at all that they would have caved?

I think the GOP would starve their own people to death before caving. At some point the narrative would have flipped to it being the fault of the dems.

The President was pressing his party to use the nuclear option. He has immense power over the party. Would have gotten much more persuasive as time went on. Do you really think the Republicans wanted to go into the holidays with this? And if so, that's kind of on them as they are the party in power.

If enough people had voted Harris people wouldn't be losing their healthcare, but hey, eggs are ten cents cheaper....

MAGA is literally going to die to own the libs, hope it was worth it.

The Democrats literally just voted to re-open the government and kick people off their health care (and massively raise premiums). They were not going to fight for that stuff if they had power. They never do.

[JPhillips]

I think Dems were always going to lose, and I'm surprised they didn't have a plan for how to lose. Yes, all they can do is messaging, so why is the losing messaging so bad?

[Lathum]

Thune want going to go nuclear. Polls were already showing blame shifting to the dems and I think a shitshow of a holiday would have made it worse. It’s a tough position to be in when you have zero power and the other side doesn’t really give a shit about consequences.

As for the dems opting to reopen the government this owning the healthcare crises. That’s some next level blaming as they aren’t the ones who removed the subsidies and are actively campaigning for a vote to extend them.

You seem to think they have some leverage that they absolutely do not have. Elections have consequences. We are seeing that play out.

[RainMaker]

They voted for it so yes, they are now responsible for it as well.

Their leverage was not voting for this. Forcing the Republicans to use the nuclear option or negotiate. They chose to just give Republicans everything they wanted with nothing in return. They will never fight for you.

[Passacaglia]

At this point is "the nuclear option" even a bad thing? Why do we insist that the government shut down if we can't get 60 senators in a two-party sytem to agree?

[Ghost Econ]

I mean, nuking the filibuster is right up there with court packing in terrible ideas. If the Dems actually expanded the supreme Court, we'd probably be looking at an even larger Conservative majority that would have fucked the country even worse. These short term moves only make sense of you have an electorate that isn't functionally retarded. Conservatives see how dangerous the that is and seem to be planning accordingly should they lose power.

[RainMaker]

At this point is "the nuclear option" even a bad thing? Why do we insist that the government shut down if we can't get 60 senators in a two-party sytem to agree?

It is there to protect Republicans and big money interests.

[Passacaglia]

I mean, nuking the filibuster is right up there with court packing in terrible ideas. If the Dems actually expanded the supreme Court, we'd probably be looking at an even larger Conservative majority that would have fucked the country even worse. These short term moves only make sense of you have an electorate that isn't functionally retarded. Conservatives see how dangerous the that is and seem to be planning accordingly should they lose power.

It still seems better than giving the minority party the options of taking a stand and watch the government shut down, or vote the way the majority party wants them to and get accused of caving. Why are we pretending the minority party actually has power?

[RainMaker]

The filibuster benefits Republicans and big money donors. The things that Republicans and donors want (tax cuts for the rich, subsidies) can be achieved through reconciliation and only requires 50+1. It also provides Republicans an out on unpopular positions they have to support like banning abortion. They know with a filibuster that those things will never pass.

The stuff that voters on the left of the aisle want require 60 votes to pass. Health care expansion, minimum wage increase, DC statehood, regulations, etc. But most Democratic Senators don't want to actually have to vote on that stuff because they are controlled by the same donors that the right are. So the filibuster gives them an out where they can shrug their shoulders to their base and argue there is nothing they can do.

It's a uniparty and you're just voting on the optics (fascism vs neoliberalism).

[JPhillips]

You have two options: majority rules or minority rules. There is a body of primarily old-timers who would like to see disagreement end in politics, but in the actual world, people are not going to always agree. I'd much rather have a system where the majority makes decisions rather than a system where 41 people is more powerful than 59 people.

[Ghost Econ]

I think people are about to be shocked how much their employer sponsored insurance premiums are about to go up this year. I'm not talking Obamacare, I'm talking"regular" insurance. It's going to become unaffordable for a lot of people. Think 40% increase on average.

[Danny]

I think people are about to be shocked how much their employer sponsored insurance premiums are about to go up this year. I'm not talking Obamacare, I'm talking"regular" insurance. It's going to become unaffordable for a lot of people. Think 40% increase on average.

My wife is in union negotiations, they are trying to triple the cost of premiums paid by the employees. Effectively a huge paycut.

[Passacaglia]

I think people are about to be shocked how much their employer sponsored insurance premiums are about to go up this year. I'm not talking Obamacare, I'm talking"regular" insurance. It's going to become unaffordable for a lot of people. Think 40% increase on average.

I would imagine pretty much all employers have already started open enrollment periods at this point, so people know how much premiums are.

[BYU 14]

I would imagine pretty much all employers have already started open enrollment periods at this point, so people know how much premiums are.

Yeah, it is not bad with my company, the plan I take went down 4 dollars a pay period, but my deductible went from 1650 to 1700, so a wash. Then again I also work for an insurance company, so premiums stay decent, but benefits are middling. Before this company bought my long time company out, I had my premiums covered in full for a PPO plan with 10 dollar copays and 500 deductible 90/10 coinsurance. Miss those days!

[Atocep]

I would imagine pretty much all employers have already started open enrollment periods at this point, so people know how much premiums are.

My open enrollment started yesterday and I'm in a weird situation where I don't need insurance but my son does. They don't have plans for that so I have to sign up for insurance for myself and add him as a plus one. My current BCBS plan is going up about 25% so I'm moving off that one to one that's not quite as good but still good for a college aged healthy male. We looked into the Medicaid plans last year and they suck in Nebraska where he's going to school. To continue his Tricare prime plan under the young adults program it would cost us $700 a month. So we're paying about $500 a month for him to have coverage that covers him in Nebraska and back here at home.

[RainMaker]

I don't know how any of it works but mine only went up 6% which I'm guessing is a win. Although they did raise the deductible, co-pays, and some other crap to make it worse.

[Arles]

I think people are about to be shocked how much their employer sponsored insurance premiums are about to go up this year. I'm not talking Obamacare, I'm talking"regular" insurance. It's going to become unaffordable for a lot of people. Think 40% increase on average.
We just did the 2026 planning and it's pretty similar to 2025. Most employers are trying to get people away from the PPO setup and more to the HSA with a $4000ish family deductible and a $7-8Kish max out of pocket in network. After the deductible, 90% coinsurance kicks in. It really make a lot of sense for most families. Would you rather pay a $450-$500+ monthly PPO and pay your co-pay each visit... or do a HSA with a $4K deductible. You can put $400 a month in your HSA and have nearly $5K for Health care and save $100+ a month (or even put $500 in your HSA and roll it over each year). Even if you pay cash for DR visits in the $100-$150 range, most people would still come out way ahead and the 90% coinsurance and OOP max helps protect against disaster situations.

[RainMaker]

Trump rolling out the red carpet for the Al-Qaeda guy on Veteran's Day sums up this country so well.

[Lathum]

Just heard part of trumps Veterans Day speech at Arlington. He is such a disgrace and embarrassment.

[GrantDawg]

Mine is staying the same amazingly enough. My company chose to eat the hike. Only my dental is going up a couple of bucks, but they increased the yearly cap as well so it was a fair trade.

[GrantDawg]

We just did the 2026 planning and it's pretty similar to 2025. Most employers are trying to get people away from the PPO setup and more to the HSA with a $4000ish family deductible and a $7-8Kish max out of pocket in network. After the deductible, 90% coinsurance kicks in. It really make a lot of sense for most families. Would you rather pay a $450-$500+ monthly PPO and pay your co-pay each visit... or do a HSA with a $4K deductible. You can put $400 a month in your HSA and have nearly $5K for Health care and save $100+ a month (or even put $500 in your HSA and roll it over each year). Even if you pay cash for DR visits in the $100-$150 range, most people would still come out way ahead and the 90% coinsurance and OOP max helps protect against disaster situations.
Our HSA plan is not as good as that. I did the math, and I would end up paying more for that plan to cover what my PPO covers. The carry over does most likely make it better in the in the long run, but I have too many medical expenses and the possibility of a major need to risk it.

[Atocep]

Nothing surprising here. Just more proof that, at best, our current president is pedophile adjacent.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/epstein-email-trump-knew-victim-b2863760.html?utm_source=reddit.com

[Lathum]

Republicans will use these emails to exonerate Trump, not indict him of any wrongdoing.

[Atocep]

Republicans will use these emails to exonerate Trump, not indict him of any wrongdoing.

Trump, Bondi, and Patel are having an emergency meeting with Lauren Boebert to try to get her to take her name off the discharge petition.

[Lathum]

Trump, Bondi, and Patel are having an emergency meeting with Lauren Boebert to try to get her to take her name off the discharge petition.

Will be an interesting litmus test. Will she stay loyal or go the MTG route and see the writing on the wall.

[RainMaker]

They've already started to spin it as the kids wanted to be there and some other gross age of consent stuff. It was always going to turn pro-pedo when he got outed.

[RainMaker]

Trump, Bondi, and Patel are having an emergency meeting with Lauren Boebert to try to get her to take her name off the discharge petition.

lol good lord how bad are these files??? From the e-mails that have been recently released it's clear the CIA and Mossad was running a child sex trafficking ring.

[Lathum]

Apparently they are trying to get Nancy Mace to flip also. Good luck with that one. Especially since she wants to be governor.

[RainMaker]

I guess we should have known someone would flip when they revealed they would swear in that new Congresswoman.

[Thomkal]

Apparently they are trying to get Nancy Mace to flip also. Good luck with that one. Especially since she wants to be governor.


And given her own recent public exposure of abuse, I think they would have a hard time getting her to flip

[JPhillips]

Mace I think, is the easier one to flip. I expect she would for a Trump endorsement in the governor's race.

[JPhillips]

dola

Reading the rule on discharge, it's pretty clear that names can't be removed, but of course rules don't matter anymore.

[RainMaker]

And given her own recent public exposure of abuse, I think they would have a hard time getting her to flip

She is deeply mentally ill and will do anything for attention or whatever she perceives as giving her attention.

[Lathum]

Mace I think, is the easier one to flip. I expect she would for a Trump endorsement in the governor's race.

Shes spent the last few years cultivating this persona of being a fighter for young girls. I would be shocked if she flips.

Based on what we saw last week is his endorsement even worth much? If it is I'm not sure it is worth enough to go back on releasing the files. that is the one thing the Trump can't seem to distract MAGA from.

[JPhillips]

I think it matters in the primary and whoever wins the GOP primary will be the Governor of SC.

[Thomkal]

Saw a story about Boebert says there must be some conspiracy going on over the files because they are trying to get her to flip and she needs to know so she's not flipping.

[RainMaker]

Reading through that new trove of e-mails, I don't know how anyone can argue that Trump isn't a pedophile at this point.

[Ksyrup]

There is nothing that these people won't rationalize/ignore/refuse to believe that could come out about Trump. After everything that's happened in the past 10 years, that's the only thing I am 100% sure of. Admitting Trump is wrong or did something wrong is tantamount to personally admitting it.

[whomario]

Mace I think, is the easier one to flip. I expect she would for a Trump endorsement in the governor's race.

Considering the level of pathetic in her practically begging for that endorsement i think that's a safe bet. She's just playing a role to give herself some cover.

[NobodyHere]

Reading through that new trove of e-mails, I don't know how anyone can argue that Trump isn't a pedophile at this point.

The Trumpbots I'm seeing are just saying it is fake news made up by the Democrats and fake news.

[RainMaker]

The downfall of the empire was inevitable but did anyone see it being this pathetic? The President is begging a Congresswoman best known for giving a handjob to her BF during the Beetlejuice musical to protect files that would implicate him as a pedophile. The administration is filled with reality TV castmembers, podcasters, and talk show hosts. We're bombing fishemen so some losers can try to make themselves look cool. The economy is 7 companies passing money around to prop up a chatbot that none of them know how to make money on. Meanwhile the Press Secretary is out there citing statistics provided by Doordash to tell us everything is going great.

Just start teaching kids Mandarin before it is too late. The American century of humiliation is in full effect.

[Ksyrup]

That's a pretty fair summation.

Shen Yun will be here in early 2026. Maybe we'll go so I can pair my fantasy US thoughts with a Chinese fantasy as well.

[Lathum]

Idiocracy was a documentary. It just arrived sooner than we thought.

[Lathum]

It's been 0 days since someone from MAGA blamed the current state of the nation on Biden

[Lathum]

So apparently they minted the last penny at a ceremony today. The sec of treasury was on hand when the last one was minted. He of course used it as an opportunity to give Trump North Korean like praise.

[PilotMan]

That's a pretty fair summation.

Shen Yun will be here in early 2026. Maybe we'll go so I can pair my fantasy US thoughts with a Chinese fantasy as well.


Shen Yun is fully responsible for this. They are run by the Epoch Times guy, and he is a super trumper.

[RainMaker]

The Trumpbots I'm seeing are just saying it is fake news made up by the Democrats and fake news.

I think the new line is "these were 15 year olds, not children who were 8" so he's not an actual pedophile. Megyn Kelly trotted it out and a few others are falling in line. Tells me that maybe they're sensing that will be what is revealed and they'll downplay it by saying 15 year olds are fine.

[RainMaker]

JFC


<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEW: For the first time, the story of the 17 year old girl who testified that she had sex with Matt Gaetz for money.<br><br>She was living in and out of a homeless shelter. She was working at McDonald's. She had just finished her junior year in high school. And she wanted extra money…</p>&mdash; Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) <a href="https://twitter.com/nytmike/status/1989030477768933647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>

[Lathum]

I think the new line is "these were 15 year olds, not children who were 8" so he's not an actual pedophile. Megyn Kelly trotted it out and a few others are falling in line. Tells me that maybe they're sensing that will be what is revealed and they'll downplay it by saying 15 year olds are fine.

When you are arguing at Edward level over the literal definition of a pedophile you have already lost.

[Atocep]

Doesn't creating tariff exemptions for certain agriculture products to help lower prices undercut the Trump administration's entire argument about tariffs?

[CrimsonFox]

Doesn't creating tariff exemptions for certain agriculture products to help lower prices undercut the Trump administration's entire argument about tariffs?

Are agricultural products a euphamism?

[Mota]

"Trump orders DOJ to probe Epstein’s ties to high-profile figures"

How about we start with the people who are named the most often?

[Mota]

His rants on Truth Social are starting to sound more and more desperate. I think he knows he's losing control.

[flere-imsaho]

It's going to be interesting. It sounds certain the votes exist in the House to release the files, one assumes probably the Senate as well, but it's unclear if there are enough votes in each/either chamber to override Trump's veto.

The irony here is that the only reason this is moving forward is that a faction of hardest-core MAGA absolutely want it to.

[Atocep]

It's going to be interesting. It sounds certain the votes exist in the House to release the files, one assumes probably the Senate as well, but it's unclear if there are enough votes in each/either chamber to override Trump's veto.

The irony here is that the only reason this is moving forward is that a faction of hardest-core MAGA absolutely want it to.

MAGA followers online have gotten really quiet about this lately. Its almost like they only wanted them released when they thought it was damaging to democrats.

[Lathum]

It's going to be interesting. It sounds certain the votes exist in the House to release the files, one assumes probably the Senate as well, but it's unclear if there are enough votes in each/either chamber to override Trump's veto.

The irony here is that the only reason this is moving forward is that a faction of hardest-core MAGA absolutely want it to.

It really will be a litmus test to your loyalty to him. They have gone so hard about the files that to vote against releasing them will go over like a fart in church with their hard core base, but do you go against dear leader which also goes over terrible with the base.

I think it will be a barometer to measure how much of a grip he still holds. We have already seen MTG and now Boebert show some level of dissent. Now I have zero illusions about their motivations, but doesn't change the fact that some cracks are showing.

[RainMaker]

It's going to be interesting. It sounds certain the votes exist in the House to release the files, one assumes probably the Senate as well, but it's unclear if there are enough votes in each/either chamber to override Trump's veto.

The irony here is that the only reason this is moving forward is that a faction of hardest-core MAGA absolutely want it to.

I'm confused. I thought this was just to release the files to the House for investigative purposes. That it doesn't need Senate or Presidential approval.

[Danny]

It really will be a litmus test to your loyalty to him. They have gone so hard about the files that to vote against releasing them will go over like a fart in church with their hard core base, but do you go against dear leader which also goes over terrible with the base.

I think it will be a barometer to measure how much of a grip he still holds. We have already seen MTG and now Boebert show some level of dissent. Now I have zero illusions about their motivations, but doesn't change the fact that some cracks are showing.

Just about all politicians have their own self interests primarily in mind but thats far preferable with them all just falling in line with Trump

[RainMaker]

Kristi Noem-Tied Firm Secretly Got Piece of $220 Million DHS Campaign — ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group)

[kingfc22]

"Trump orders DOJ to probe Epstein’s ties to high-profile figures"

How about we start with the people who are named the most often?

He's unable to comprehend that non-cult members don't care who is listed in these files. Democratic voters could care less if say, Clinton is in these files.

Burn them all.

[Kodos]

I heard somebody say “Burn, baby, burn! Epstein inferno!”

[RainMaker]

I posted this earlier but it is paywalled. This is a non-paywall version. Everyone should read. Truly depraved shit. Sitting U.S. Congressman sexually exploiting a homeless child who just wanted to make enough money for braces. Just bottom of the gutter stuff and in a real country people like him would be thrown into a woodchipper.


Congress didn't care, the DOJ didn't care, and this guy was almost made AG.

archive.is (https://archive.is/YOaVG)

[Lathum]

I posted this earlier but it is paywalled. This is a non-paywall version. Everyone should read. Truly depraved shit. Sitting U.S. Congressman sexually exploiting a homeless child who just wanted to make enough money for braces. Just bottom of the gutter stuff and in a real country people like him would be thrown into a woodchipper.


Congress didn't care, the DOJ didn't care, and this guy was almost made AG.

archive.is (https://archive.is/YOaVG)

This is why it angers the shit out of me when people, usually white men, always ask why these girls don't come forward. It's because nothing ever happens and they are in turn harassed and vilified.

[GrantDawg]

I'm confused. I thought this was just to release the files to the House for investigative purposes. That it doesn't need Senate or Presidential approval.

No, this bill would make the files publicly avaible.

[GrantDawg]

Trump announced he is pulling support for MTG and is calling for a primary challenger for her district.

[MrBug708]

"Trump orders DOJ to probe Epstein’s ties to high-profile figures"

How about we start with the people who are named the most often?

Now if the resolution passes, DoJ can say it’s all connected to an ongoing investigation.

Two more thoughts:
If this investigation was legitimate, why wasn't this investigation opened months ago?

If this investigation was legitimate, why isn't everyone mentioned in Epstein's emails being investigated?

[RainMaker]

Trump announced he is pulling support for MTG and is calling for a primary challenger for her district.

Those files have to be so bad.

[Fidatelo]

At this point why do we even need the files? The lengths Trump and his cronies have gone to in order to prevent their release clearly show he is complicit. There is absolutely no reasonable explanation for the behavior of him and his administration in regards to these files since they took power.


Just off the top of my head I can recall:
- them proudly stating they were going to release them
- then pretending they never existed
- then moving a sex-offender to a minimum security prison
- then saying Trump was an informant for the FBI
- then saying Bill Clinton is all over the files
- then closing the house for weeks to not have to release them
- then preventing the swearing in of the deciding vote for 6 weeks
- then attempting to make back door deals with Boebert and Mace to swing their vote
- then calling the whole thing a Democrat hoax
- then ordering a DOJ probe into the high-profile figures named in the files

What more do we need? If someone isn't convinced he's guilty yet there is literally nothing in the files that will change their mind.

[Thomkal]

I think its a long-term "own the libs plan" where they are going to release them before midterms just so everybody will have to vote for Trump' choices because he wasn't on it after all. :) I may have to borrow that list if I want to brave family Facebook on this.

[Sweed]

What more do we need? If someone isn't convinced he's guilty yet there is literally nothing in the files that will change their mind.

This has been the norm for almost 10 years.

I think its a long-term "own the libs plan" where they are going to release them before midterms just so everybody will have to vote for Trump' choices because he wasn't on it after all. :) I may have to borrow that list if I want to brave family Facebook on this.

This thought has crossed my mind too. ;)

[GrantDawg]

From what I have heard, it does look likely the bill will pass. It sounds like now it will pass in the House with even more Republicans voting "yes" just so they won't have the "no" vote recorded. The Senate might be trickier, because they will likely need 60, but even there it will most likely pass. Of course they could pull something like put a poison pill amendment on to try to stop/delay it. Still, not likely because no one wants to be the face of not releasing the files. What happens next?
1. Trump could veto. It is completely possible that they might have enough votes to override a veto, but that is such a large number of votes that it will be hard to pull off. He likely won't veto if he feels he it will be overridden.
2. It gets signed (or veto overridden) and then the DOJ fights the release in court. Likely they will try to use just what was suggested earlier, that they are investigating Clinton et. al. and the release of the files will interfere with the investigation. It will at very least delay the release once again, if not stop the release outright.

[flere-imsaho]

Kristi Noem-Tied Firm Secretly Got Piece of $220 Million DHS Campaign — ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group)

This is your regular reminder to donate to ProPublica.


What more do we need? If someone isn't convinced he's guilty yet there is literally nothing in the files that will change their mind.

Some people are saying that Trump gave Bill Clinton a blowjob.

[Danny]

His supporters will justify anything. He could literally take a shit on their dinner plate and tell them its gourmet cuisine and theyd take out the spoon and go to town.

The key is losing enough of the independents and those that voted for him but dont actively support him.

[flere-imsaho]

I dunno, I suspect photos of him blowing Bill Clinton might do it.

[NobodyHere]

I dunno, I suspect photos of him blowing Bill Clinton might do it.

They'll just say it's proof that Trump is willing to reach across the aisle.

[dubb93]

This is your regular reminder to donate to ProPublica.



Some people are saying that Trump gave Bill Clinton a blowjob.

They are also suggesting there is a photo of it. Is it true? Who knows. Trump is a degenerate but that seems a stretch. Could have just as easily been Epstein venting wondering why Trump was bending to Putin’s will. It’s also interesting that Epstein didn’t say does he have a photo. He said does he have THE photo. Who knows though. Bubba could not even be Clinton.

I mean if there is a photo…..

[Lathum]

They'll just say it's proof that Trump is willing to reach across the aisle.

More like reach around the aisle.

[Lathum]

A photo of Trump blowing Clinton would absolutely explain his desperation.

[Atocep]

Eh, I think that reference was Epstein's brother kind of joking. The internet has been absolutely amazing running with it though. Some amazing content from this.

[Atocep]

The DOJ posted photos of some recent pardons and when people jumped on the fact that the signatures were all identical and it was obviously done using auto-pen the DOJ pulled those photos, replaced them with photos with signatures that were all done by hand, and said the original photos were a "technical error".

[Thomkal]

The DOJ posted photos of some recent pardons and when people jumped on the fact that the signatures were all identical and it was obviously done using auto-pen the DOJ pulled those photos, replaced them with photos with signatures that were all done by hand, and said the original photos were a "technical error".


His whole Presidency is a technical error after another

[Atocep]

Only 3 emails out of 20,000 show Trump may be a pedophile is a crazy defense.

[Flasch186]

Imagine having to defend a a position of defending pedophiles? Wasn’t on my bingo card.

[Mota]

The DOJ posted photos of some recent pardons and when people jumped on the fact that the signatures were all identical and it was obviously done using auto-pen the DOJ pulled those photos, replaced them with photos with signatures that were all done by hand, and said the original photos were a "technical error".

If he is also using auto-pen, and he has absolutely no recollection of many of these pardons (which is public info), who is the actual person running the presidency? Isn't that the exact argument they were running with ... maybe a week ago?

[GrantDawg]

Trump is now telling all Republicans to vote for the release of the files. This after just this morning again trying to pressure congressional GOP defectors to not vote for the release. They are bout to move the goalposts.

[kingfc22]

Goal post moving is what they do. Dear Orange Clown can do no wrong.

[Atocep]

If he is also using auto-pen, and he has absolutely no recollection of many of these pardons (which is public info), who is the actual person running the presidency? Isn't that the exact argument they were running with ... maybe a week ago?

i know it's a rhetorical question, but Stephen Miller is our President. He's more than happy to allow Trump to take all of the attention and think he's really running things.

[miami_fan]

Some people are saying that Trump gave Bill Clinton a blowjob.

Being outside the United States when this information and the rest of the emails were released and seeing the media coverage there and coming back and seeing the media coverage is jarring despite knowing that the stark differences exist within both media communities. I think we would be left with Hallmark and maybe Nickelodeon would still have their licenses if some of the insightful serious commentary and relentless biting comedy over the last week would have been broadcast on U.S. airwaves based on the Kimmel stuff.

[Atocep]

Trump is now telling all Republicans to vote for the release of the files. This after just this morning again trying to pressure congressional GOP defectors to not vote for the release. They are bout to move the goalposts.

He can't let it be seen that large numbers of republicans were going to break with him. Now when it passes he can say this is what he wanted all along for transparency.

[Passacaglia]

Trump is now telling all Republicans to vote for the release of the files. This after just this morning again trying to pressure congressional GOP defectors to not vote for the release. They are bout to move the goalposts.

So that means he's heard they're scrubbed, right? Who has the files and who releases them?

[Atocep]

So that means he's heard they're scrubbed, right? Who has the files and who releases them?

They're likely going to release what isn't part of an ongoing investigation. Thats why Trump made the announcement last week to investigate dems and banks.

[RainMaker]

The latest tranche of Epstein e-mails shows how completely worthless our mainstream media is. Just go through them and you'll find so many stories that the media refuse or can't report on. Pathetic shit.

[cuervo72]

"Anti-Blackness is the Point: Racism, Misogyny, and Donald Trump’s Assault on Equal Opportunity"

ANTI-BLACKNESS IS THE POINT RACISM, MISOGYNY, AND DONALD TRUMP’S ASSAULT ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITY REPORT.pdf - Google Drive (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PGDX4A3_zxhrxzRgvQcarZ3nJlq9Zggl/view)

[GrantDawg]

They're likely going to release what isn't part of an ongoing investigation. Thats why Trump made the announcement last week to investigate dems and banks.
That is exactly my guess. The law as written wouldn't allow them to release anything involved in an active investigation. They are definitely going to selectively release stuff and fight everything else in court.

[Lathum]

We have reached beyond parody level of blaming everything on migrants.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Gives Bonkers Explanation for Rising Beef Costs (https://www.thedailybeast.com/treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-gives-bonkers-explanation-for-rising-beef-costs/)

[Atocep]

That is exactly my guess. The law as written wouldn't allow them to release anything involved in an active investigation. They are definitely going to selectively release stuff and fight everything else in court.

100%

That's why they're including the banks in the investigation . They're central to this and it can be argued they're involved in every aspect. That will be used to hold back anything they want.

[Thomkal]

We have reached beyond parody level of blaming everything on migrants.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Gives Bonkers Explanation for Rising Beef Costs (https://www.thedailybeast.com/treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-gives-bonkers-explanation-for-rising-beef-costs/)


Damn those illegal immigrants for somehow sneaking cattle across the border when they snuck in themselves. Bessent is very high on my list of those I want mentally examined when/if a Democrat becomes President again. Just stuff that can't possibly be true.

[RainMaker]

100%

That's why they're including the banks in the investigation . They're central to this and it can be argued they're involved in every aspect. That will be used to hold back anything they want.

Exactly. I think the financial stuff is way worse than any names being leaked. Like I don't think they have videos of Trump or anyone in the files, but they do have a lot of powerful people committing financial crimes.

From the latest e-mails which the media is basically ignoring.

1) Epstein was working as Israeli intelligence. There are so many e-mails in there with him talking to and about spies. He was transferring money for them, giving them places to stay, and even acting as a go-between for the Israeli government and and countries like Russia. Obviously media can't touch that story even though it is the biggest part of the e-mail dump.

2) There was a lot of money laundering involved with him. Some pretty big financial entities too. Media can't touch that either.

3) Larry Summers has some really creepy shit in there. This is a guy who is deeply involved in the Democratic Party and Harvard. The only news outlet that dug into that is the fucking Harvard student paper and everyone is piggybacking off them now.

4) Maybe the most insane part was a New York Times reporter giving Epstein a heads up about stories and providing cover for him.

5) Peter Thiel wasn't talking to him about "tax advice" like he said.

6) Bannon was trying to leverage dirt from Epstein into getting back in with Trump.

7) So many "thought leaders" are in those e-mails. Remember this is after he had been convicted of sex crimes with a child.

8) Michael Wolfe is incredibly slimy but also kind of understand how he gets so much juicy dirt.

[RainMaker]

Damn those illegal immigrants for somehow sneaking cattle across the border when they snuck in themselves. Bessent is very high on my list of those I want mentally examined when/if a Democrat becomes President again. Just stuff that can't possibly be true.

They are quite the go-getters. On one hand, they are bleeding our social welfare system dry by being so poor. They are also buying up all the homes, taking all our jobs, smuggling in cows, and raising the price of everything through magic.

Seems pretty clear that there are no answers to actual problems in this country so we just blame immigrants in increasingly comical ways to distract.

[Ksyrup]

I'm completely confused - why would beef prices go up if more cattle were being brought into the US? Not only is that batshit stupid as a matter of facts, but it doesn't even make sense. More cattle would mean more supply, which should lower prices, right?

[RainMaker]

I'm completely confused - why would beef prices go up if more cattle were being brought into the US? Not only is that batshit stupid as a matter of facts, but it doesn't even make sense. More cattle would mean more supply, which should lower prices, right?

He ran a hedge fund at a loss during one of the longest and most prosperous bull runs in stock market history.

[Thomkal]

They are quite the go-getters. On one hand, they are bleeding our social welfare system dry by being so poor. They are also buying up all the homes, taking all our jobs, smuggling in cows, and raising the price of everything through magic.

Seems pretty clear that there are no answers to actual problems in this country so we just blame immigrants in increasingly comical ways to distract.


Almost want to be an illegal immigrant they got it so good huh? Yeah they are just attaching every negative thing they can think to immigrants

[Atocep]

I'm completely confused - why would beef prices go up if more cattle were being brought into the US? Not only is that batshit stupid as a matter of facts, but it doesn't even make sense. More cattle would mean more supply, which should lower prices, right?

He claims they're bringing over screwworms which is tainting beef and raising prices. The problem with that claim is there isn't a single documented case in cattle in the US yet. Screwworms are concern and it's being monitored, but hasn't had any impact on our beef supply yet.

[JPhillips]

His "theory" is that the cattle were diseased and killed the good American stock. Just the same foreign vermin bullshit applied to animals.

[RainMaker]

Come on guys, he is a soybeans farmer himself.

A ‘soybean farmer’ himself, Treasury Sec. Bessent said he’s feeling ‘pain’ from China, too | CNN Business (https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/28/economy/bessent-soybean-china)

[Lathum]

Holy. Fuckkng. Shit. Did anyone just see the commercial on Monday night football?

[Atocep]

I'm sure conservatives will be consistent and absolutely lose their minds over this.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/838451190907928576/1440188776935718965/sshddgsmru1g1.png?ex=691d3fd1&is=691bee51&hm=fce24c1129638c82d40b0747fe5ed287ce53539a8d363ea4526c04ce06c1b6db&

[Ksyrup]

Holy. Fuckkng. Shit. Did anyone just see the commercial on Monday night football?

You couldn't pay me to watch that game.

[Lathum]

Holy shit. MTG going scorched earth on Trumpnin this Epstein presser.

[Lathum]

Mike Johnson currently holding a press conference, with charts and everything, about why it is dangerous to release the files. There is no bottom.

[kingfc22]

Up to reason #6,453 as to why MAGA is a fascist regime with Trump once again calling to censor a media outlet while simultaneously showing off his natural character to talk down and belittle any female who attempts to question him.

[GrantDawg]

Passes with only one dissenter. Now they are going to try to passes it unanimously in the Senate, but it will likely get blocked. Mike Johnson is trying to get some Senator to add provisions to the bill.

[RainMaker]

This admin has a type.

How the White House Intervened in an Investigation of Andrew Tate — ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/article/andrew-tate-investigation-dhs-paul-ingrassia)

[Ghost Econ]

So we all agree it was already going to be near unanimous once the Dems had enough votes, so to save face, Trump "allowed" everyone to vote for it

[Thomkal]

So we all agree it was already going to be near unanimous once the Dems had enough votes, so to save face, Trump "allowed" everyone to vote for it


And they will now claim Trump was for it all along

[HerRealName]

Mike Johnson currently holding a press conference, with charts and everything, about why it is dangerous to release the files. There is no bottom.

This thing is going to stall in the Senate if they don't have more leaks lined up.

[Ksyrup]

It's already passed through the Senate.

[HerRealName]

It's already passed through the Senate.

I nailed that one! :)

[MrBug708]

https://x.com/madrid_mike/status/1990874899775176909

[JPhillips]

DoJ admitted that the grand jury never saw the final indictment in the Comey case. That should end that.

[Lathum]

Halligan should be disbarred.

[Ghost Econ]

So, assuming these are being redacted... How would you redact them to hide Trump's involvement so that it's not completely obvious?

You can't just black out lines or words, you'd need to change the entire structure of the documents or else it's going to be completely obvious. And then you can't remove every mention of his name, because some number of innocuous mentions are surely in the documents. You can't just find and replace his name with Clinton because that's basically the same as redaction.

[Danny]

People have also seen the files so it will be hard to hide. Theres already been leaks. Ultimately people will believe what they want. It will be obvious to anyone who is giving a fair assessment that hes a pedophile or knowingly was part pf pedophia happening (and likely both). Trumps already got all time lows in support (though his supporters are still fanatics). Maybe Im being overly optimistic but as trump gets closer to his end, i expect a decent enough percentage to move away from supporting him. May take a couple years though.

[PilotMan]

You mean the ones that will say they never liked him anyway, as they toss the stickers and signs they got at the rally?

[Danny]

You mean the ones that will say they never liked him anyway, as they toss the stickers and signs they got at the rally?


Well of course lol

[Atocep]

Mike Johnson voted to release the files but is pissed it passed Senate. It sounds like they expected Senate to water the bill down and for it to get stuck there for awhile, but that that didn't happen. Trump is also reportedly furious and trying to decide if a veto attempt is worth it.

[PilotMan]

I really hope he does, but he's narcissistic enough to know that means he's on the losing side of something. He's already prepping the endless name dropping to both sides this bitch. I think though, for the most part, the biggest weakness to that is that the supporters on the left aren't interested in protecting anyone. Let them burn.

[NobodyHere]

Mike Johnson voted to release the files but is pissed it passed Senate. It sounds like they expected Senate to water the bill down and for it to get stuck there for awhile, but that that didn't happen. Trump is also reportedly furious and trying to decide if a veto attempt is worth it.

I thought the bill would stall in the senate as well.

[Lathum]

Mike Johnson voted to release the files but is pissed it passed Senate. It sounds like they expected Senate to water the bill down and for it to get stuck there for awhile, but that that didn't happen. Trump is also reportedly furious and trying to decide if a veto attempt is worth it.

I actually am wondering if this was all orchestrated so Trump can veto it and claim he has the same concerns Johnson has. He would be throwing Thune under the bus but Trump doesn't care about that.

[Danny]

I really hope he does, but he's narcissistic enough to know that means he's on the losing side of something. He's already prepping the endless name dropping to both sides this bitch. I think though, for the most part, the biggest weakness to that is that the supporters on the left aren't interested in protecting anyone. Let them burn.


Indeed. I couldn't care less if the person is republican or democrat, everyone involved in these disgusting awful crimes should burn

[Lathum]

Indeed. I couldn't care less if the person is republican or democrat, everyone involved in these disgusting awful crimes should burn

That is a calculus MAGA can't comprehend. They think everyone views their politicians with the same God like reverence that they view Trump with when in reality we couldn't care less if Clinton fries.

[GrantDawg]

That is a calculus MAGA can't comprehend. They think everyone views their politicians with the same God like reverence that they view Trump with when in reality we couldn't care less if Clinton fries.
Heck I will giggle cheerfully, and I thought he was a pretty good President. He was always sexually a slime bag, and running a good economy doesn't give you a free pass on that.

[JPhillips]

I would be thrilled if the new standard is that hanging out with known pedophiles has long-term consequences for your image and career. Every few years a new pedo scandal blows up and all of the enablers around the perpetrators generally go scot free. The same thing happened in the UK with Jimmy Savile and in Portugal with Casa Pia. Burn them all and make them spend years doing penance.

[GrantDawg]

DoJ admitted that the grand jury never saw the final indictment in the Comey case. That should end that.
The way this played out was there was a three bill charging paper. The grand jury voted on it, and did not indict on charge one but did on charges two and three. What commonly happens in that case (according to Federal legal experts) is they rewrite the charging papers with just the two bills, and then have the grand jury vote to approve it. They did rewrite it, but also the judge was handed the initial paper which was the altered to mark the first bill unindicted and the other two indicted. The jury never voted on the second paper. So both with turned in, the second one actually used as the operative indictment and the first one flawed because the alteration was made absent the presence pf the grand jury.
What happens now is anybodies guess. They could dismiss the case with prejudice, or without prejudice to allow them to redo the charges, or go on with the case with a very clear appealable flaw.


Here is that breakdown on Bluesky:
@annabower.bsky.social on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3m5yv5qucok2w)

[Atocep]

The way this played out was there was a three bill charging paper. The grand jury voted on it, and did not indict on charge one but did on charges two and three. What commonly happens in that case (according to Federal legal experts) is they rewrite the charging papers with just the two bills, and then have the grand jury vote to approve it. They did rewrite it, but also the judge was handed the initial paper which was the altered to mark the first bill unindicted and the other two indicted. The jury never voted on the second paper. So both with turned in, the second one actually used as the operative indictment and the first one flawed because the alteration was made absent the presence pf the grand jury.
What happens now is anybodies guess. They could dismiss the case with prejudice, or without prejudice to allow them to redo the charges, or go on with the case with a very clear appealable flaw.


Here is that breakdown on Bluesky:
@annabower.bsky.social on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3m5yv5qucok2w)


Complicating things is the statute of limitations. If the indictment is invalid then there wasn't a valid indictment by the time the statute of limitations expired.

[GrantDawg]

Complicating things is the statute of limitations. If the indictment is invalid then there wasn't a valid indictment by the time the statute of limitations expired.
As if there isn't enough complicated things here. :)

[Lathum]

It is almost as if an insurance lawyer who has never tried a criminal case being tasked with this was a bad idea.

It is unreal to me that so many people support a guy who hold loyalty above any actual competence.

[Atocep]

It is almost as if an insurance lawyer who has never tried a criminal case being tasked with this was a bad idea.

It is unreal to me that so many people support a guy who hold loyalty above any actual competence.

If they lose big in the midterms the last 2 years of his presidency are going to be fascinating. MTG seems to be betting on that and trying to get ahead of the others.

[NobodyHere]

It is almost as if an insurance lawyer who has never tried a criminal case being tasked with this was a bad idea.


What the hell are you talking about? We all know that Trump only hires the best people...

[RainMaker]

Mike Johnson voted to release the files but is pissed it passed Senate. It sounds like they expected Senate to water the bill down and for it to get stuck there for awhile, but that that didn't happen. Trump is also reportedly furious and trying to decide if a veto attempt is worth it.

Is Johnson a pedophile? Like is that how he got the position? Genuine question. He is really going to bat to prevent this and has a rather strange history with a child he "adopted" when he was in his 20's.

I think this ends with them just not releasing anything of substance. They'll claim they can't for national security reasons or to protect victims or claim it's part of an active investigation. No matter what happens, there is a 0% chance you'll ever see all the documents (just like with JFK, 9/11, and others).

[RainMaker]

Why is our government running McDonalds commercials?

[GrantDawg]

Why is our government running McDonalds commercials?
$$$$$$$
Our government has always gone to the highest bidder. This administration has just stopped the pretense and has gone to openly shopping for bribes.

[flere-imsaho]

Is Johnson a pedophile? Like is that how he got the position? Genuine question. He is really going to bat to prevent this and has a rather strange history with a child he "adopted" when he was in his 20's.

Given the history of Republican House leaders since Gingrich, it's not only plausible but likely.

[GrantDawg]

Given the history of Republican House leaders since Gingrich, it's not only plausible but likely.

It wouldn't surprise me if Nancy was a client.
Trump has signed the bill, btw. Now let the DOJ excuses begin.

[NobodyHere]

I thought the speaker wasn't a very desirable position at the moment. It's like trying to get 200 kindergartners to fall in line. Its like a position destined to fail.

[CrimsonFox]

It wouldn't surprise me if Nancy was a client.
.

HAWT

[miami_fan]

We are not okay.

hxxps://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/van-drew-staffer-staged-fake-attack-writing-trump-whore-across-her-stomach-and-alleging-men-held-her-down-and-cut-her-body/

A 26-year-old Ocean City woman who claimed she was brutally assaulted because she worked for Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Ocean City) instead orchestrated the entire incident — paying a scarification artist to wound her and staging the scene with zip ties and “Trump Whore” written on her stomach and “Van Drew is a racist” on her back, federal prosecutors alleged today.

I went old school with hxxps because some of the photos in the article are graphic as they show the actual cuts on her body.

[Lathum]

So for those who don't know, a large part of south Jersey may as well be West Virginia.

[Ghost Econ]

First, the answer is yes.

Second, I have more questions about the Maserati SUV she was driving. I'm not sure how a 26 year old first year law student/former congressional staffer affords this car unless:

1. Her parents are rich. Possibly would explain how she got the job, but...
2. Extracurricular activities with her former boss that led to her getting extra perks...
3. High end call girl/congressional staffer who used the money to pay for her car and law school.

[Lathum]

Likely family money. Lots of old school wealth in these Jersey Shore towns.

[NobodyHere]

So for those who don't know, a large part of south Jersey may as well be West Virginia.

And the other part is Jersey Shore?

[GrantDawg]

The way this played out was there was a three bill charging paper. The grand jury voted on it, and did not indict on charge one but did on charges two and three. What commonly happens in that case (according to Federal legal experts) is they rewrite the charging papers with just the two bills, and then have the grand jury vote to approve it. They did rewrite it, but also the judge was handed the initial paper which was the altered to mark the first bill unindicted and the other two indicted. The jury never voted on the second paper. So both with turned in, the second one actually used as the operative indictment and the first one flawed because the alteration was made absent the presence pf the grand jury.
What happens now is anybodies guess. They could dismiss the case with prejudice, or without prejudice to allow them to redo the charges, or go on with the case with a very clear appealable flaw.


Here is that breakdown on Bluesky:
@annabower.bsky.social on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/annabower.bsky.social/post/3m5yv5qucok2w)

Looking like the judge is leaning toward not throwing out the indictment. Basically the ruling will be there is a defect but clear evidence shows the juries purpose was to indict and the defect is not enough to override that.

[Lathum]

And the other part is Jersey Shore?

I live on the Jersey Shore. Just like the rest of the state the further south you go the redder it gets.

I'm basically on the cutoff. It starts getting red in southern Monmouth county. I live in a very red town but go a couple miles north and its very blue.

[Lathum]

Trump seems extra unhinged today

[Ghost Econ]

Probably Stephen Miller

[Ghost Econ]

According to the CDC, vaccines do cause autism... So we're up to 3 or 4 things as the cause of autism... Kinda seems like maybe autism is just something that can occur with no one attributable cause.

Autism and Vaccines | Vaccine Safety | CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/autism.html)

[JPhillips]

The Coast Guard is downgrading swastikas from hate symbol to potentially divisive symbol.

Seriously.

[Lathum]

They aren't even trying to hide it anymore

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/20/coast-guard-swastika-noose/

[RainMaker]

$200 million in our tax dollars a year are going to Elon for this.


https://i.imgur.com/KXrf6b1.jpeg

[JPhillips]

I'm not really a Joyce Carol Oates fan, but I have to give her credit, she really broke Elon.

[Ksyrup]

"...would have outshined..." (or outshone, if you prefer). Jesus Grok, get your fucking tenses correct.

[Passacaglia]

Can we get "True yardage kings engineer gains under chaos" to be one of the quotes that show up when you load FOF?

[RainMaker]

Huckabee met with one of the biggest traitors in American history and tried to hide it.

nytimes.com (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/world/middleeast/huckabee-pollard-spy-israel.html)

[JPhillips]

Grok says Elon has the potential to drink piss better than any human in history.

lol

[miami_fan]

As if there isn't enough complicated things here. :)

How about throwing a collegue under the bus and accusing the judge of bias?

https://abcnews.go.com/US/doj-halligan-slam-judge-comey-case-hearing/story?id=127709589

This exchange peaked my interests from yesterday.

Judge Nachmanoff pressed DOJ attorney Tyler Lemons about the existence of a memo recommending against bringing charges, asking, "Was there a declination memo?"

"I don't know the world of what documents exist," Lemons initially said, to which the judge asked, "You did not seek to find out whether there was a declination memo?"

Lemons finally told the court that he did seek to find out if a declination memo existed, but said he was under instruction from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's office not to disclose the answer.

"What is it that the office of the deputy attorney general told you you cannot say?" Nachmanoff asked, to which Lemons only said he was aware of various draft memos.

Is this a normal line of questioning by the judge and if so why would the Deputy Attorney General office tell the judge not to disclose the answer?

[Atocep]

Autism and Vaccines | Vaccine Safety | CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/autism.html)

Rather than saying definitively that vaccines don't cause autism we have dozens of peer reviewed studies that show no link. Doctors can then look at these studies and confidently state "vaccines don't cause autism". The study itself isn't going to make that claim. That's not how science works.

However, because those studies don't conclude that vaccines don't cause autism then the CDC under RFK is now saying there isn't any proof that vaccines don't cause autism while jumping on the conspiracy train to also claim studies that show a link have been suppressed.

I'm now going to confidently conclude that working in the Trump administration causes brain worms until I see a study that concludes that it 100% does not.

[Atocep]

How about throwing a collegue under the bus and accusing the judge of bias?

https://abcnews.go.com/US/doj-halligan-slam-judge-comey-case-hearing/story?id=127709589

This exchange peaked my interests from yesterday.



Is this a normal line of questioning by the judge and if so why would the Deputy Attorney General office tell the judge not to disclose the answer?


Nothing about this case is normal because the DOJ decided to charge at the last minute with no grand jury indictment and no evidence, just as president that wanted to him charged.

The judge, in this case, seemed to be digging into the methodology used to reach the decision to indict here because nothing was done the way it would normally be done.

[RainMaker]

Autism and Vaccines | Vaccine Safety | CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/about/autism.html)

Rather than saying definitively that vaccines don't cause autism we have dozens of peer reviewed studies that show no link. Doctors can then look at these studies and confidently state "vaccines don't cause autism". The study itself isn't going to make that claim. That's not how science works.

However, because those studies don't conclude that vaccines don't cause autism then the CDC under RFK is now saying there isn't any proof that vaccines don't cause autism while jumping on the conspiracy train to also claim studies that show a link have been suppressed.

I'm now going to confidently conclude that working in the Trump administration causes brain worms until I see a study that concludes that it 100% does not.

It's cool that we've just reverted scientifically to just being peasants from the 1500's. Meanwhile China is healing bones with magical glue they've created. Century of humiliation.

[Mota]

The good news is that Americans can now wish death upon people and not have any repercussions, just say you didn't really mean it later. That's Trump's strategy.

[JPhillips]

I've never seen anything as nuts as the US negotiating a peace treaty without their ally being a part of the negotiations.

[JPhillips]

dola

Trump's in love with Mamdani.

[GrantDawg]

dola

Trump's in love with Mamdani.
Did Mamdani say something nice to him? That's generally all it takes.

[JPhillips]

Someone said Trump always loves a handsome winner. I do think Mamdani is very charming and I'm sure he flattered Trump a fair amount.

[GrantDawg]

Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning from Congress effective January 5th. I think she might be entering the Senate race regardless of Trump's blessing.

[GrantDawg]

Read her resignation letter. The line that gets me is: There is no "plan to save the world" or insane 4d chess game being played.

The less cynical side of me thinks she just might be legitimately done. She was a true believer in the Q-annon crap, and now after the full court press to stop the Epstein files from being released she sees Trump is not the savior. He is the protector of the true deep state.

[Thomkal]

Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning from Congress effective January 5th. I think she might be entering the Senate race regardless of Trump's blessing.


Funny someone noticed the date she chose is when she gets lifetime healthcare. And guess she couldn't take it when the President picked on her.
I think Governor.


Also Eric Swalwell is running for Governor of California

[Atocep]

Also Eric Swalwell is running for Governor of California

Katie Porter has been doing everything she can to give the GOP a win there.

[Thomkal]

Katie Porter has been doing everything she can to give the GOP a win there.


I saw there was some bad press about her, but I don't know the details

[RainMaker]

Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning from Congress effective January 5th. I think she might be entering the Senate race regardless of Trump's blessing.

She wouldn't need to resign to run for Senate.

I think she sees the writing on the wall for the GOP. Some of the recent polling is abysmal. Like they're down in a generic ballot with white voters for the first time in my lifetime I think. And having to sit around being pro-pedophilia and pro-Israel when those positions are not exactly winners with young voters is a great way to taint your future. And I'm guessing she has some actual data on where the economy is headed and it ain't great.

My guess is she'll go the media route for awhile. Kind of take the role Tucker Carlson has which is popular among younger voters. Let the GOP burn themselves down and then swoop in in a couple of years as the party outsider and run for Governor, Senate, or President without all the current GOP baggage attached to her (I still think Tucker is planning a Presidential run in 2032). There is an enormous divide between generations in today's Republican Party and I think she is playing the long game.

[Ksyrup]

I do think she is a true believer, a political outsider, and she's built up enough name recognition that she doesn't need politics and probably has had a bit of an awakening about how much it sucks being on the wrong side of Trump and broadly, having to play politics and flip positions or being asked to take positions against her beliefs.

It's like a lot of these people - I can't give her too much credit because she's still a stupid weirdo, but I will give her a bit a credit for standing on some sort of principle, which is more than you can say for almost all of the rest. Kinda put her in the same boat as Rand Paul and Thomas Massie.

[GrantDawg]

She wouldn't need to resign to run for Senate.

I think she sees the writing on the wall for the GOP. Some of the recent polling is abysmal. Like they're down in a generic ballot with white voters for the first time in my lifetime I think. And having to sit around being pro-pedophilia and pro-Israel when those positions are not exactly winners with young voters is a great way to taint your future. And I'm guessing she has some actual data on where the economy is headed and it ain't great.

My guess is she'll go the media route for awhile. Kind of take the role Tucker Carlson has which is popular among younger voters. Let the GOP burn themselves down and then swoop in in a couple of years as the party outsider and run for Governor, Senate, or President without all the current GOP baggage attached to her (I still think Tucker is planning a Presidential run in 2032). There is an enormous divide between generations in today's Republican Party and I think she is playing the long game.
She doesn't, but it helps her concentrate on being in the state. The other option is governor. Kemp is term-limited out, and she might be trying to position herself much like did. A "MAGA" that is not beholden to Trump. But then she might be just done. Like you suggest, go into media and just cash checks.

[Atocep]

I really think she sees herself as constrained and powerless in the House. She's hit the point where she sees through Trump's bullshit and, at least in the house, there's no way of avoiding it. He's effectively both President and House Speaker.

She also has her eyes on going national, which isn't happening as long as Trump and Johnson can hold her back. Her being a loyal bootlicker for years and then Trump refusing to endorse her for a Senate bid was eye opening, I'm sure. She's calculated that holding water for what will likely be a massively unpopular president that has lost the House and will spend 2 years having his administration investigated isn't her path forward.

[miami_fan]

Read her resignation letter. The line that gets me is:

The less cynical side of me thinks she just might be legitimately done. She was a true believer in the Q-annon crap, and now after the full court press to stop the Epstein files from being released she sees Trump is not the savior. He is the protector of the true deep state.

The cynical side of me says she ensured she won't be in the House on January 6th.

[JPhillips]

Trump's Ukraine surrender plan has been rejected...

by Putin.

lol

[GrantDawg]

The cynical side of me says she ensured she won't be in the House on January 6th.

The cynical side of me thinks she has no designs on the Senate or the governor's mansion. She is shooting for the White House. It isn't crazy to think she could win MAGA over to her by 2028. Their alternatives aren't great.

[flere-imsaho]

She's a grifter who saw an opportunity to get free lifetime healthcare and a pension for 6 years of "work". Of course she's retiring. I'll change my mind when and if her next endeavor isn't naked grift.

[Thomkal]

Turning Point continues to find election fraud even after Charlie Kirk's death:


Just a moment... (https://azmirror.com/briefs/turning-point-leader-former-gop-rep-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-election-fraud/)

[Thomkal]

So the Feds are still trying to get Abrego Garcia deported, told the judge that Costa Rica would no longer take him, well surprise they lied and that's gotta be the end of this right? charges dropped now?


@juliedicaro.bsky.social on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/juliedicaro.bsky.social/post/3m6d7ffomys2m)

[Lathum]

Case against Comey is dismissed.

[Ghost Econ]

Also Leticia James... So much winning

[Lathum]

dola- James also dismissed. Both without prejudice, but Comey is past the statute of limitations.

From what I can see the Judge went with Halligan being unlawfully appointed so she has no authority to bring the charges.

[JPhillips]

They've moved on to Mark Kelly and threatening to reactivate him so they can court-martial him.

[Lathum]

Some crazy shit in here. I mean, anyone with a brain knows how corrupt they all are, but man, the damage FOX News has done is staggering.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On Sundays, tens of thousands of pages of exhibits were released from the Fox News/Smartmatic case.<br><br>I went through all of them to look for new exchanges.<br><br>In October 2020, for example, Lachlan Murdoch told Sean Hannity that Trump could not come back if he attacked Fox, calling… <a href="https://t.co/Nu5lXVkQzo">pic.twitter.com/Nu5lXVkQzo</a></p>&mdash; Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremymbarr/status/1993016900129784123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Atocep]

Sounds like Trump is surrendering on Obamacare and going to push for a 2 year extension on subsidies. The fact that it's 2 years instead of the 1 year the GOP was initially floating shows how worried they are about the midterms.

[RainMaker]

They've moved on to Mark Kelly and threatening to reactivate him so they can court-martial him.

Very smart to go after the military astronaut guy. We all know how unpopular those professions are.

[Atocep]

Very smart to go after the military astronaut guy. We all know how unpopular those professions are.

Far right masturbation material though. They're dying to see a military tribunal with executions.

[Ghost Econ]

Far right masturbation material though. They're dying to see a military tribunal with executions.

I'm fine with making that happen in 3 years.

[RainMaker]

Something you do when the numbers are great!

reuters.com (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-bea-cancels-advance-third-quarter-gdp-estimate-2025-11-24/)

[Atocep]

I'm fine with making that happen in 3 years.

Trump will pardon his entire administration on the way out. Thats a given.

[GrantDawg]

Sounds like Trump is surrendering on Obamacare and going to push for a 2 year extension on subsidies. The fact that it's 2 years instead of the 1 year the GOP was initially floating shows how worried they are about the midterms.
They have now postponed the announcement. I'm sure they will release it in two weeks...

[JPhillips]

Far right masturbation material though. They're dying to see a military tribunal with executions.

Filling the White House with far-right MAGA media is making them think that the country is desirous of far-right MAGA solutions.

[RainMaker]

I think that move will spectacularly backfire. Kelly is pretty well respected everywhere and would probably get more support than the 80 year old fat pedophile torpedoing the economy.

Trump will pardon his entire administration on the way out. Thats a given.

I sort of think he won't because he doesn't give a shit about any of them and they offer nothing of value to him anymore. Unless there is a bribe involved like with his other pardons, I doubt he cares.

[RainMaker]

So it sounds like with the news that Oracle is in trouble, the "AI Czar" is hinting that a bailout is necessary.

[Lathum]

At least they are admitting the quiet parts out loud

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: &quot;We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day&quot; <a href="https://t.co/S8c3hsDxEv">pic.twitter.com/S8c3hsDxEv</a></p>&mdash; Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1993064427176816732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Lathum]

lol

The Gang That Couldn’t Indict Straight - WSJ (https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-gang-that-couldnt-indict-straight-0d3300f6?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqdN3BYiqtJOzPb0VQZHKl6jBvTu0ZJQOEuRTDhgjPY5hyc-OHKv8PW4f5aMOA%3D%3D&gaa_ts=69259fdb&gaa_sig=THoAPPFhE2_GKojJKgX7AoY0jhCRxbZOBfthIuzuZBR0KW6NNIVIwzrtNdObXIKOx2XA7yMr7-dtEXsmQhZp8w%3D%3D)

[Ghost Econ]

At least they are admitting the quiet parts out loud

That's what is weird about the calling Democrats and ANTIFA terrorists. Normally, they save that designation for people who have oil.

[Lathum]

It would be amazing if they lose the house before the midterms.

It’s Not Just MTG: Other Republicans in Congress Are Reportedly Eyeing an Exit | Vanity Fair (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/marjorie-taylor-greene-republican-congress-exits)

[RainMaker]

And here's your AI bailout.

Trump Signs ‘Genesis Mission’ Order to Boost Innovation With AI (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-signs-genesis-mission-order-215843263.html)

[Atocep]

It would be amazing if they lose the house before the midterms.

There are 3 seats currently open. Dems should easily win 2 of them. It's unlikely, but if dems somehow pulled off an upset in Tennessee I'd say it becomes more likely than not that the GOP loses control of the house before the midterms.

Apparently everyone is sick of Johnson allowing Trump to be House Speaker and run over congress. It probably played a role in the house GOP killing the 2 year obamacare subsidy extension that Trump wanted to do. Everyone seems to have accepted that they're going to lose big in 2026 as well so we're likely to see a big wave of retirement announcements after the holidays.

[RainMaker]

Johnson just won't swear in any new Democrats.

[Lathum]

Johnson just won't swear in any new Democrats.

Maybe I am wrong but would he even need to?

Lets say 4 republicans quit, leaving open seats. Couldn't the dems then vote in a new speaker from their side?

[JPhillips]

The acting Chief Security Officer for DHS is a woman named Iwona B. Horyn.

And she looks like Melania in disguise.

[PilotMan]

Man the Onion gets closer to reality every day if that's even remotely true.

[MillionsDollarsManz]

Everyone seems to have accepted that they're going to lose big in 2026 as well so we're likely to see a big wave of retirement announcements after the holidays.


I don't think you got it, yet. They aren't losing in 2026. Democracy is over. Today's ruling in NC proves that the rig is in. The GOP will not lose the house. trump's Extreme Court will rig the vote by gerrymandering. They will reverse the Texas gerrymandering ruling by the lower courts to match today's NC ruling. The extreme court will then rule all blue gerrymanders illegal. You fucking mouth breathing idiots ruined America. You voted for a dictator. Hitler didn't even get voted in. You fucking worthless fucktards.
Pieces of shit like rainmaker fucked us all. Fuck you, you trump loving faggot.

[Lathum]

Hell of a third all time post

[Fidatelo]

Hell of a third all time post


But is he wrong?