The Trump Presidency 2.0

[RainMaker]

Makes sense. Elon is deeply in bed with China and the goal was always to get it into the hands of a right wing billionaire.

[GrantDawg]

His goal would be to use the data to help build on his AI. That is sure to make people happy.

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[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

His goal would be to use the data to help build on his AI. That is sure to make people happy.

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It would also be a massive political tool to boost stuff he likes and block stuff he doesn't. He would have immense power.

[GrantDawg]

Variety is reporting Bytedance denies the Bloomberg story as "fiction." Of course the Bloomberg story said it was the Chinese government, not Bytedance that were in discussions, and that wasn't clear Bytedance was even notified.

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[Atocep]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Bloomberg is reporting that China is discussing the possible sale of TikTok US ....to Elon Musk.

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Ewwww just ban it then.

[RainMaker]

It would be another hilarious self-own for the Democrats to force the only left leaning social media app left to sell to Elon Musk and make those people heroes to millions of young people and small businesses.

[JPhillips]

WaPo wouldn't endorse for President, but now they are endorsing Trump cabinet nominees.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Variety is reporting Bytedance denies the Bloomberg story as "fiction." Of course the Bloomberg story said it was the Chinese government, not Bytedance that were in discussions, and that wasn't clear Bytedance was even notified.

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I saw the Bloomberg headline (but behind a paywall) and was wondering if China was conceding that TikTok/Bytedance was really controlled by China after all? The CEO sat in front of Congress saying otherwise so was surprised by the report.

[Edward64]

Performers at Trump's inauguration ...

https://www.euronews.com/culture/202...uration-events

Kid Rock - check
Carrie Underwood - check
Lee Greenwood - check
Christopher Macchio - who? (opera singer)

But the cherry on top is ...

“Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost. Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I saw the Bloomberg headline (but behind a paywall) and was wondering if China was conceding that TikTok/Bytedance was really controlled by China after all? The CEO sat in front of Congress saying otherwise so was surprised by the report.

No. They do have an ownership stake, and that ownership stake is the crux of the ban. Their decision would be to give up that stake, and selling it to Elon Musk would be the easiest way to get that approved.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

No. They do have an ownership stake, and that ownership stake is the crux of the ban. Their decision would be to give up that stake, and selling it to Elon Musk would be the easiest way to get that approved.

Take it FWIW, but according to TikTok's own page below, there is very little China government connection ... and certainly not to the extent that China can propose selling off US TikTok to Elon.

https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-au/th...h-about-tiktok


I have believed, regardless of public denials, there was likely more Chinese government control/influence than disclosed. I do think if not TikTok, there'll be something to turn our brains to mush. But good that China's ability to influence will be less (in the short term)

[GrantDawg]

Your misunderstanding. China owns a portion, not controlling interest, in the company and that portion is what is being discussed. This is the Chinese government discussing selling their portion of Tik Tok US (not global) to Musk, not the whole ownership stake.

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[Ksyrup]

What brave and noble people!

From a Financial Times article about corporate America going MAGA:

Even the way people on Wall Street talk and interact is changing. Bankers and financiers say that Trump’s victory has emboldened those who chafed at “woke doctrine” and felt they had to self-censor or change their language to avoid offending younger colleagues, women, minorities or disabled people.

“I feel liberated,” said a top banker. “We can say ‘retard’ and ‘pussy’ without the fear of getting cancelled . . . it’s a new dawn.”

[Kodos]

It is such a burden not to say offensive things all the time!

[Passacaglia]

God forbid we find a middle ground, where people can acknowledge that even if we didn't know a word was offensive, it did offend someone, and we learn from that, but no one needs to make a huge deal about it, but also people can decide not to use words they completely know to be offensive, just because they feel like it. No, it's either woke doctrine, or retard and pussy.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Performers at Trump's inauguration ...

https://www.euronews.com/culture/202...uration-events

Not that it matters, but do you think anyone knows whether these dudes are actually the Village People?

1. If there is a real Village People at this point, I bet none of them were in the original group.
2. Whether there is a current real Village People or not, you could probably just grab any set of guys, put these costumes on them, and just call them the Village People.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

God forbid we find a middle ground, where people can acknowledge that even if we didn't know a word was offensive, it did offend someone, and we learn from that

What's lost in that is the simple right to not give a fuck IF the word conveyed the meaning that was intended.

I'm not talking about looking for a word to intentionally offend, I'm talking about ... well let's go with a real world example.

If I call someone a half-witted mouthbreathing motherfucker, that's generally going to be an intentional choice specifically to convey my contempt for their intellect and general usefulness on the planet. It shouldn't be a federal case, it's a clear expression of an opinion.

[JPhillips]

The current Village People includes one original member, Victor Willis. He was one of the founding members and won the legal battles to own the name and rights to perform.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

What's lost in that is the simple right to not give a fuck IF the word conveyed the meaning that was intended.

I'm not talking about looking for a word to intentionally offend, I'm talking about ... well let's go with a real world example.

If I call someone a half-witted mouthbreathing motherfucker, that's generally going to be an intentional choice specifically to convey my contempt for their intellect and general usefulness on the planet. It shouldn't be a federal case, it's a clear expression of an opinion.

OK if you are talking about outside the workplace, but inside the workplace absolutely unacceptable.

[JPhillips]

Hegseth unwilling to say the USA will abide by the Geneva Convention.

[Ghost Econ]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

What brave and noble people!

From a Financial Times article about corporate America going MAGA:

Since we can't get canceled, that banker seems like a retarded pussy for refusing to put his name on that quote.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

Since we can't get canceled, that banker seems like a retarded pussy for refusing to put his name on that quote.

It sounds like he was too much of a pussy to actually put his name on that quote, unless his name is A. Top Banker.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Hegseth unwilling to say the USA will abide by the Geneva Convention.

He's completely unqualified. My current boss is an Army Major and he calls it the most useless rank in the Army. No experience managing anything of note.
Based on what's publicly available, he wouldn't get a security clearance. But he checks the Fox and Friends box and that's what really matters.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Hegseth unwilling to say the USA will abide by the Geneva Convention.

If we rename it the US Patriot Convention, he'd do it.

[RainMaker]

It is really funny that the best path to a high ranking position in government is to appear on Fox and Friends.

[NobodyHere]

[JPhillips]

There's a small chance RFK Jr. doesn't get confirmed, but my guess is everybody sails through. The GOP Senate is too terrified of Trump and/or supportive of the nonsense.

[Mota]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

What brave and noble people!

From a Financial Times article about corporate America going MAGA:

Within a few years, Donald is going to enable Americans to say the N word freely!

[Atocep]

Trump is the best at naming things. No one knows more about naming things than Trump. Today he announced he's creating the EXTERNAL revenue service.

[JPhillips]

GOP deciding to ignore the CBO score and say their massive bill doesn't add to the deficit so that it can pass through reconciliation.

[RainMaker]

Looks like Bitcoin users will get their welfare checks on day 1 maybe.


https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/t...stockpile.html

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

GOP deciding to ignore the CBO score and say their massive bill doesn't add to the deficit so that it can pass through reconciliation.

The funny thing is, the logic they're using is that since these tax cuts already exist and they're merely extending them that it's a cost already calculated. One GOP congressman compared it to deciding to keep your netflix subscription.

[Atocep]

DOLA

Republicans are mad and complaining that Michele Obama is skipping the inauguration.

I'm sure if she was a former president and skipped the inauguration because her failed attempt to overthrow the government failed they'd be ok with her skipping out.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I do think if not TikTok, there'll be something to turn our brains to mush. But good that China's ability to influence will be less (in the short term)

There's RedNote now.

Fair odds that Xi will restrict RedNote to US before US does it.

A looming TikTok ban has connected Chinese and American citizens like never before, as they swap jokes and memes in what one user described as a "historic moment".

It's all unfolding on a popular Chinese social media app called RedNote, or Xiaohongshu (literally translates as Little Red Book), which doesn't have the usual internet firewall that separates China from the rest of the world.

RedNote's rising popularity is not guaranteed to last though.

There is no reason to assume it won't face blowback for the same reasons as TikTok: concerns that it could be used by China to spy on Americans.

It's unclear how long Beijing would be open to such unfettered exchanges - control of the internet is key to its repressive regime.

The irony of the situation was flagged by one Chinese user, who posted: "Don't we have a (fire)wall? How come so many foreigners can enter, when clearly I can't leave?"

[Edward64]

Sometimes you gotta swallow your pride and do what you gotta do to save your bacon.

Just a moment...

Mayor Eric Adams will meet with President-elect Donald Trump Friday in Mar-a-Lago as federal corruption charges against Adams continue.

Trump, who will be sworn in three days later, has the power to pardon Adams.

The choice to fly down to Florida to meet the Republican president at his home, which doubles as his transition headquarters, presents an enormous political risk for the Democratic mayor as he struggles to defend his seat this year. It follows months of him parting ways with fellow Democrats to treat Trump with kid gloves, while publicly admonishing outgoing President Joe Biden for his handling of immigration.

Trump has openly expressed interest in pardoning Adams, and has said they face similarly bogus charges from a politicized Department of Justice — a view the mayor shares. Adams on multiple occasions has said he believes he was punished for criticizing Biden and told POLITICO — when asked earlier this month if he has proof of that — that he believes he was targeted by Biden’s team, even if not by the outgoing president himself.

“I was targeted because of my stance to protect the city from the migrants and asylum seeker issues that we were facing,” Adams said during a recent appearance on a local ABC affiliate. “And I have a legal team that [is] going to pursue every avenue to get the justice that I deserve.”

[Ksyrup]

Soooo.... the guy who wrote that weird NYT op-ed a few months ago calling for the dismissal of charges against Trump, in part by stating/rationalizing, "[a] central pillar of American democracy is that no man is above the law. But Mr. Trump isn’t an ordinary man," just got indicted for tax evasion.

This from a noted Supreme Court practitioner, Harvard law school professor, and Al Gore attorney. Seemed odd at the time. Now it seems this "ordinary man" might have seen his indictment coming and decided to get on Trump's good side like so many other people for whom Trump can, and has, pulled some strings once they prove their loyalty.

Interesting, ain't it?

[flere-imsaho]

Guess lil Donny won't have to worry about the crowds at his inauguration being historically small... like his hands and dick... again....

Donald Trump moves inauguration indoors due to severely cold weather | Donald Trump inauguration | The Guardian

[kingfc22]

A frozen chill across DC on inauguration day.

Absolutely no irony here.

[Jas_lov]

Forecast says high of 23 on Monday in DC. That ain't warm but laughable to call that "severely cold.'"

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

Forecast says high of 23 on Monday in DC. That ain't warm but laughable to call that "severely cold.'"

Guess it’s all relative but 23F is pretty darn cold. Article also said 8F with wind chill.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Guess it’s all relative but 23F is pretty darn cold. Article also said 8F with wind chill.

And 9 degrees that night.
And snow the night before is expected apparently

[cuervo72]

Yeah, my weather app has 8 as the high "feels like" for that day where I am, and that's in the morning, going down from there. I wouldn't be keen on being outside.

[miked]

We don't want another William Henry Harrison here.

[Kodos]

Well....

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Well....

Let's explore this deeper.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by miked

We don't want another William Henry Harrison here.

we don't not want it either...

[Ksyrup]

Trump got pneumonia and died because he stayed outside counting the number of people in the crowd and kept having to start over once he hit 9.

[JPhillips]

Trump selling his own crypto with disbursements over the next three years is probably the single most corrupt thing any President has ever done.

And nothing will come of it.

[Edward64]

Perfect timing for Yellen. It's that feeling I always got when I rolled off a project ... it's now someone else's problem.

US to hit debt ceiling Tuesday, starting Congress’ countdown clock | CNN Business

The nation will hit its roughly $36 trillion debt limit on Tuesday, when the Treasury Department will start taking extraordinary measures to allow the government to pay its bills, outgoing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a letter to congressional leaders on Friday. The notice comes just three days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Looks like the deadline is Mar 14 with the "extraordinary measures"

The extraordinary measures, which are mainly behind-the-scenes accounting maneuvers, will continue through March 14, Yellen wrote
:
Plus, lawmakers still must pass a government funding bill for fiscal year 2025, which began October 1. (A temporary spending measure expires on March 14.)

Looking forward to the fight and the compromise. Hope it stops the bleeding ... but doubt it, best is probably slows it down.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is already running up against resistance from some of his fiscally conservative members, who want to decrease the debt, not increase it. His super-slim majority will make it even more difficult for him to find a compromise — and he may need Democratic support in order to pass an increase to the limit.

[Edward64]

Maybe we can learn something from Argentina.

I get US has more levers to pull, time, and we don't want to go as draconian as Milei, but good to see a politician doing this. From what I've read in the reddit, still a lot of pain & suffering happening so not out of the woods yet. Fascinating experiment going on there.

reuters.com

Argentina brought in its first budget surplus in more than a decade in 2024, data published on Friday showed, marking a win for libertarian President Javier Milei and his sweeping austerity push in his first full year in office.
The nation's budget surplus came in at 1.76 trillion pesos, or 0.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the full year, the economy ministry said. Meanwhile the primary fiscal balance, which excludes debt payments, was up to a 10.41 trillion peso surplus, or 1.8% of the GDP.

Milei slashed public spending after taking office in December 2023 in a bid to tamp out rampant inflation, which hit an annual peak of nearly 300% in April of last year.