The Trump Presidency 2.0

[Ksyrup]

Someone's got to think at least a bit long-term about some of this stuff that Trump wants, because all he cares about is himself, right now. I think we're seeing this with the filibuster, too. GOP has resisted Trump's call to do away with it. And that was before last night. Imagine nuking the filibuster, 2026 elections go along the lines of yesterday, and suddenly DC is the 51st state. You know GOPers are thinking further down the line than just 2028.

[Atocep]

FIFA is creating a peace prize for Trump.

Fifa has announced the creation of a peace prize, which it plans to award at the draw for the World Cup on 5 December in Washington.

The award, called the Fifa Peace Prize, will “recognize exceptional actions for peace”, soccer’s governing body said Wednesday.

[Ghost Econ]

I hate it when the gas pumps and self checkouts ask for my ID.
TikTok - Make Your Day

Do you think he has ever purchased something in a grocery store or pumped his own gas?

[PilotMan]

The grocery police won't stop me today!

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

The Hispanic voter flip-flop is pretty drastic.

This is from the Bulwark:



I can't imagine Trump on the ballot would have done much to increase those numbers.

Yup. The hispanics (generalizing) who were already citizens thought Trump wouldn't impact them, hey we're here, we are good, etc and then it turned out Trump and ICE don't give a shit. If you're brown you're the enemy.

Nobody saw this coming though

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

I seem to remember that it was expected the Supreme Court would be a bit hostile to the Trump admin on the tariff topic specifically, and I had somebody very well connected when it comes to the national Dem party tell me this would be the issue that they sacrifice to show they aren’t totally in his pocket, but the timing of them giving the admin what appears to be a beating has to be a little interesting given yesterdays results?

Possibly a little bit of discomfort in Republican circles about the way things are trending for them? I’m sure it won’t last.

This was always going to be a weird case. Sure SCOTUS will side with Trump on most issues, but the justices are owned by people in big business which the tariffs are hurting. So they likely have loyalty to their masters before Trump.

It's also a really tough case to side with Trump on because the constitution is quite clear. I don't even know how you make an originalist argument in his favor. Even the government is struggling to make a case and mostly just saying "hey, we kind of need to do this regardless of the constitution".

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Yup. The hispanics (generalizing) who were already citizens thought Trump wouldn't impact them, hey we're here, we are good, etc and then it turned out Trump and ICE don't give a shit. If you're brown you're the enemy.

Nobody saw this coming though

In fairness, the Democrats were running on massively increasing border funding too. They bragged during the campaign about supporting Trump's border bill. So if you were Hispanic and concerned over this stuff, there wasn't an option you could vote for (maybe the libertarian candidate?).

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

I guess as not as optimistic as others about the results. I mean those results were expected kinda. I guess it's not enough to really impact a lot. The cycle seems to always continue. DUring the major years, GOP latches onto one or two stupid pointless talking points and stupid people everywhere just buy it.

It wasn’t that they won. It’s how they won. We were pretty nervous here in Jersey with most polls within the margin of error for him to win. Trump only lost Jersey by 6 points. Lots of signs Jack could win. He ended up losing by 13 points. Mikie outperformed Harris in every county and Jack underperformed Trump in every one. It just shows in the last year how many people have soured on Trump and the GOP.

The sad thing is if more people had been paying attention instead of voting for cheaper eggs we would t be in this spot since he told us all what he was going to do.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Someone's got to think at least a bit long-term about some of this stuff that Trump wants, because all he cares about is himself, right now. I think we're seeing this with the filibuster, too. GOP has resisted Trump's call to do away with it. And that was before last night. Imagine nuking the filibuster, 2026 elections go along the lines of yesterday, and suddenly DC is the 51st state. You know GOPers are thinking further down the line than just 2028.

Thune is.

Trump actually addressed what could happen if they nuke it and the dems gain power. His answer was they won’t gain power.

[RainMaker]

They've nuked it multiple times before. It's not a big deal. They just don't want to do it because they would be responsible for everything bad coming from it. They want to be able to say it was bipartisan when everyone's health insurance premiums skyrocket.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

In fairness, the Democrats were running on massively increasing border funding too. They bragged during the campaign about supporting Trump's border bill. So if you were Hispanic and concerned over this stuff, there wasn't an option you could vote for (maybe the libertarian candidate?).

You’re right. Both parties have identical ideologies.

[JPhillips]

Trump: "For generations Miami has been a haven for those fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa. I mean, if you take a look at what's going on in parts of South Africa. Look at South Africa, what's going on. Look at South America, what's going on. You know, we have a G20 meeting in South Africa."

Even if you blame this on eyesight, it's weird that it took him so long to figure this out.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

You’re right. Both parties have identical ideologies.

On that particular issue, they ran on nearly identical platforms. The Democrats literally came out in support of Trump's border bill and dared the Republicans to block it before the election (which they did). I mean Harris even boasted about building Trump's wall.

Harris goes to the border to take Trump to task for blocking bill to fix migration issues: ‘He prefers to run on a problem’ | CNN Politics

[Ksyrup]

Increasing the number of border agents and putting restrictions on migrants coming into the country is a lifetime away from frothing at the mouth to unleash masked unidentified agents to disappear people regardless of what documentation they have. Harris specifically talked about wanting to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have been in the US for years.

The border was an issue that needed to be addressed. That legislation was pretty tame compared to what the current administration is doing. That's the difference.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Increasing the number of border agents and putting restrictions on migrants coming into the country is a lifetime away from frothing at the mouth to unleash masked unidentified agents to disappear people regardless of what documentation they have. Harris specifically talked about wanting to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have been in the US for years.

The border was an issue that needed to be addressed. That legislation was pretty tame compared to what the current administration is doing. That's the difference.

This.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Increasing the number of border agents and putting restrictions on migrants coming into the country is a lifetime away from frothing at the mouth to unleash masked unidentified agents to disappear people regardless of what documentation they have. Harris specifically talked about wanting to work with Congress on a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have been in the US for years.

The border was an issue that needed to be addressed. That legislation was pretty tame compared to what the current administration is doing. That's the difference.

What do you think the goal of hiring thousands more agents and increasing detention centers was for? You do know the plan she put forth was Trump's initial plan, right? It was literally her way of doing a "gotcha" knowing Trump would tell Congress not to support it.

Trump also offered a pathway to citizenship that was geared at white immigrants, just like Biden.

Yeah they wouldn't have done it so haphazardly and liberals would have mostly ignored any bad stuff that came out on video. But if your goal as a Hispanic person was not to be harassed by psychos at ICE, neither option was going to go well for you.

[Ksyrup]

Sure, Jan.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Atocep

As far as top of the ballot results go, it was expected. The margins were surprising and a few of the down ballot results were shocking. I don't think a dem had ever won a public works election in Georiga and they won 2. Those were the first 2 non federal election wins for dems in the state in 20 years. In Mississipi the state senate super majority was brokenfor the first time in 13 years. Dems won all 30 northern Virginia stage house seats and flipped a 2 seat minority to a 20+ seat majority.

It was also by the margins they won it that was amazing. Both incumbents only got 37% of the vote. They got completely hammered. Again, I wouldn't read too much on this nationally though. This was all about a local issue, Georgia Power's insane rate hikes. They have increased rates 6 times in the last 3 years. All the while bragging about record profits. PSC have long been a rubber stamp to utility companies greed, and I think the Republicans and Democrats are both sick of it.
(I'm lucky. I am on a Co-op power, along with buying a brand new high efficiency heat pump two years ago. My bills have actually lowered over the same time frame.)

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Sure, Jan.

What RM doesn't understand is the Hispanics that came here legally, and thus can vote, are not against border security. Many are actually quite hostile to those who don't follow the law. Trump's attempting to pull birth right citizenship along with deporting people who are actually following the law is what has caused many to turn against him. That and the Kavanah stops.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

It was also by the margins they won it that was amazing. Both incumbents only got 37% of the vote. They got completely hammered. Again, I wouldn't read too much on this nationally though. This was all about a local issue, Georgia Power's insane rate hikes. They have increased rates 6 times in the last 3 years. All the while bragging about record profits. PSC have long been a rubber stamp to utility companies greed, and I think the Republicans and Democrats are both sick of it.

How bad was this situation? So bad that most of my most fervent (R) friends reacted with "maybe y'all will figure out it's time to put the rubberstamp away now". I know local level party officials who reacted that way in fervently red counties.

Even _I_ can't really get bothered about those two seats. Ga Power runs an very uncomfortable amount of this state, and has for several decades. THey need reigning in whatever it takes.

[RainMaker]

Sometimes elections come down to some hyper local issue that overrides party. There is an infamous Chicago Mayor backed by the machine who lost the primary to a largely unknown woman because he completely botched the response to a blizzard. Didn't have snowplows ready and the city got snowed in for a week.

Worth noting that ever since then, Chicago snow removal has been top tier. They go overboard with it as the trucks are pounding the pavement even with just an inch or two of snow.

[JPhillips]

Electricity prices are an issue in many states. With the growing strain from data centers it's going to be a top local issue for a lot of races in 2026.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

What RM doesn't understand is the Hispanics that came here legally, and thus can vote, are not against border security. Many are actually quite hostile to those who don't follow the law. Trump's attempting to pull birth right citizenship along with deporting people who are actually following the law is what has caused many to turn against him. That and the Kavanah stops.

He literally ran on ending birthright citizenship. His immigration policy was entirely based on race/ethnicity in his first term.

Now you can argue that they thought he was lying or that it wouldn't hurt them. But the alternative was someone running on Trump's bipartisan bill. I feel like I'm going crazy and people are forgetting the stunt Democrats pulled last year where they literally put Trump's immigration bill up for vote to "own the Republicans" and make them look like hypocrites.


I also don't think border security was or still is a major concern for Hispanic voters. It's the economy. Biden did a dogshit job and voters fled to someone they thought could do better. Trump has done an even worse job and those voters are shifting back. People ultimately vote based on how things are going in their own lives.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Electricity prices are an issue in many states. With the growing strain from data centers it's going to be a top local issue for a lot of races in 2026.

So many local races are going to come down to who does and doesn't support some data center moving in to the neighborhood.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Electricity prices are an issue in many states. With the growing strain from data centers it's going to be a top local issue for a lot of races in 2026.

It is horrible in NJ. My gas/electric in the summer was often over 1K a month combined.

[Passacaglia]

More fun party politics...

https://abc7chicago.com/post/midterm...nois/18112273/

Chuy Garcia retires just before the deadline to file a petition to enter the primary in a solidly blue district, and his chief of staff is the only one ready with signatures.

"If we had know sooner, like we saw in other congressional districts, I might have entertained that, but unfortunately, that is a mute point," Lopez said. "For someone who says he was above machine politics, someone who said he was about progressive, inclusive politics... to pull this maneuver that short-circuit the democratic process is hypocritical, at best, and disgusting, at worst."

Do you think he really said "mute" point, or did a journalist transcribe it poorly?

[Lathum]

GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClean was just on CNN saying the reason they got trounced yesterday was because republicans didn't turn out because they are so happy with whats going on and Jake Tapper literally laughed in her face.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

What RM doesn't understand is the Hispanics that came here legally, and thus can vote, are not against border security. Many are actually quite hostile to those who don't follow the law. Trump's attempting to pull birth right citizenship along with deporting people who are actually following the law is what has caused many to turn against him. That and the Kavanah stops.

It's more than that, though. His shtick is that both parties are the same, but with immigration, the difference is the far left objected to Harris' campaign push, while the far right wanted exactly what they are getting now (or maybe worse). Pretending like the passing of a bipartisan bill means both sides want to treat immigrants the same is laughable.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Lathum

It is horrible in NJ. My gas/electric in the summer was often over 1K a month combined.

The water fears are overblown, but AI electricity is a real problem. Demand is just growing faster than supply, especially with Trump's war on solar/wind.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

The water fears are overblown, but AI electricity is a real problem. Demand is just growing faster than supply, especially with Trump's war on solar/wind.

China is building hundreds of miles of solar panels while we are trying to bring back coal. Century of humiliation.

[GrantDawg]

So, I guess we are invading Nigeria?

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Of course Trump is going to argue Republicans lost because he wasn't on the ballot, but these numbers kinda tell a different story:

Trump gets MAGA voters to come out when he's on the ballot because he connects directly to their lizard brain. They stay home when he's not on the ballot. It's that simple. And it means that basically he's right.

Originally Posted by Atocep

Always hard to tell with this SCOTUS but it looks like Trump tariffs are going to get shot down.

Gorsuch sounded pretty skeptical. Alito & Thomas will support Trump because Unitary Executive and all that. If Gorsuch is on board, then one of the remaining three sounds quite possible. It is, after all, super unconstitutional.

Originally Posted by RainMaker

It's also a really tough case to side with Trump on because the constitution is quite clear. I don't even know how you make an originalist argument in his favor.

Clarence Thomas says hold his beer. His dissent with Alito will be interesting, that's for sure.

[Ghost Econ]

So Trump, with Walmart, is touting a $40 Thanksgiving meal that serves 10 people as proof that prices have dropped.

Except, last year, it was serve 8 people for $50. And you got more food last year.

So the argument is, the economy is doing better because you're feeding less food to more people and getting worse value. And conservatives are loving it.

Walmart Sets the Table Early With a Thanksgiving Meal for Less Than $7 per Person

Walmart’s Annual Thanksgiving Meal Returns — Serving 10 People for Less Than $4.00 Per Person*

[Lathum]

They are all so freaking creepy and weird

Dr. Oz: “We’ve dropped infertility drugs to make lots of Trump babies, I’m hoping by the midterms.”

NO ONE WANTS "TRUMP BABIES!"

Trust me on that. pic.twitter.com/HPY5gt36CY

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) November 6, 2025

[Ksyrup]

What does the midterms have to do with it? Children born before November 2026 are going to be allowed to vote?

[Lathum]

Oz just claimed by midterms Americans will lose a collective 135 billion pounds, or 400 pounds per American.

[Ghost Econ]

Biden was to dawdling old man who couldn't speak correctly, but everyone in the administration makes him sound like Lincoln.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Oz just claimed by midterms Americans will lose a collective 135 billion pounds, or 400 pounds per American.

Listen, given how people eat during Thanksgiving..that could happen.

[Ghost Econ]

The brand director of Novo Norodisk just had a stroke/heart attack in the oval office while they were announcing a new partnership with the white house.

Not a great ad for your weight loss drugs.

[Lathum]

White House put out a statement he’s fine. Trump probably just needed a diaper change.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Oz just claimed by midterms Americans will lose a collective 135 billion pounds, or 400 pounds per American.

I guess having more babies will help bring down the country's average weight per person?

Also, isn't it pretty clear he said "we've dropped in fertility drugs" and not "we've dropped infertility drugs"?

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

The brand director of Novo Norodisk just had a stroke/heart attack in the oval office while they were announcing a new partnership with the white house.

Not a great ad for your weight loss drugs.

Incredibly funny photo came from it.

[JPhillips]

Trump says we're bringing in "hundreds of trillions" of dollars in tariffs.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Incredibly funny photo came from it.

dola

That guy's going to have to make a public apology for fainting in the Oval.

[RainMaker]

Sure sounds like the tech world is dipping their toes into asking the government for a bailout for the AI bubble already.

[Ksyrup]

That picture pretty much sums up Trump in a nutshell.

[Lathum]

That picture is hysterical and what’s even funnier is people twisting themselves into pretzels on social media trying to downplay it.

[Lathum]

I do wonder if MTG and Cruz sounding normal and Thune refusing trumps demands to nuke the filibuster is an early sign his grip is slipping. He’s a lame duck and at some point you have to think people are going to start looking forward especially given Tuesdays drubbing. If midterms are half as bad it’s going to be a slaughter.

[Lathum]

Sandwiches guy was acquitted. I for one am glad my tax dollars went to something so important.

[RainMaker]

I think people like MTG are opportunists that see which way the wind is blowing. Economic populism is thriving right now. Anyone under 40 despises Israel. And protecting Epstein friends is incredibly toxic. She likely wants to run for Senator some day and realizes that tying herself to dying causes will crush her years down the road.

Same can be said for media personalities like Tucker. Rats fleeing the sinking ship.

As for those supporting the filibuster, I think that's just self preservation. They know Trump's policies are disastrous and will cost them elections. They desperately need Democrats to sign on to make these budgets bipartisan so they don't take all the blame going forward.