President Trump and US politics catchall

[Biffer]

https://www.404media.co/nasa-dei-drop-e ... ive-order/

NASA personnel were told to “drop everything” to scrub public sites of mentions of DEI, indigenous people, environmental justice, and women in leadership, according to a directive obtained by 404 Media.
The directive, sent on January 22 and obtained by 404 Media, states:
“Per NASA HQ direction, we are required to scrub mentions of the following terms from our public sites by 5pm ET today. This is a drop everything and reprioritize your day request. Note that the list below is the list that exists this morning, but it may grow as the day goes on.
DEIA
Diversity (in context of DEIA)
Equity (“ “)
Inclusion (“ “)
Accessibility (“ “)
MSI
Minority Serving Institution
Indigenous People
EEJ
EJ
Environmental Justice
Underrepresented groups/people
Anything specifically targeting women (women in leadership, etc.)”

[Biffer]

Due to the freeze in FDA funding, some labs cannot do simple things like purchase liquid nitrogen. So decades of research samples around cancer and contagious diseases will be lost.

[Hal Jordan]

Just another normal day in normal democracy world.

[sturginho]

Just returned from Cambodia.
NGOs in turmoil, many pausing operations and in fear of shutting down for good.
Even the de-mining paused but might be able to recommence in some form after Aus stepped in with $1.25m

This must be great news for China (Chynaah!) who can now swoop in and be seen as heroes?

[Sinkers]

Just returned from Cambodia.
NGOs in turmoil, many pausing operations and in fear of shutting down for good.
Even the de-mining paused but might be able to recommence in some form after Aus stepped in with $1.25m

This must be great news for China (Chynaah!) who can now swoop in and be seen as heroes?

They’re already building the roads, bridges and airports so wouldn’t surprise me.

[Hal Jordan]

We're definitely in the Decline of An Empire stage as far as the US is concerned. China will take over in the same way we were the power in the 19th Century, and were superseded by America in the 20th.

[Guy Smiley]

Just returned from Cambodia.
NGOs in turmoil, many pausing operations and in fear of shutting down for good.
Even the de-mining paused but might be able to recommence in some form after Aus stepped in with $1.25m

This must be great news for China (Chynaah!) who can now swoop in and be seen as heroes?

In slightly related news....

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/02/05/cook ... -surprise/

[I like neeps]

Just returned from Cambodia.
NGOs in turmoil, many pausing operations and in fear of shutting down for good.
Even the de-mining paused but might be able to recommence in some form after Aus stepped in with $1.25m

This must be great news for China (Chynaah!) who can now swoop in and be seen as heroes?

They’re already building the roads, bridges and airports so wouldn’t surprise me.

It would be a surprise if China stepped into the Usaid vacuum.

Much like Trump, China is purely focused on trade and commerce. They aren't going to step into health funding etc.

[geordie_6]

This will go down well with the Palestinians who voted for Trump because Biden/Harris ...whatever.

Trump speaking about Gaza after his meeting with Netanyahu:

Even among the ludicrous statements he comes out with, this has to be amongst the most batshit? Middle East is already a powder keg, what amounts to ethnically cleansing Gaza by resettling Palestinians elsewhere is going to set off all kinds of shit.

Actually, contrarian thinking here, but it could be exactly what Gaza needs:
Present and recent situation suits neither Palestinians or Israel
Emnity will continue
Killings will continue
Nearby Islamic (not Egypt which has) states will continue to take almost no displaced of refugees of their faith when they can scrounge benefits in uk / Germany / Sweden etc
USA will continue to ship arms and military to the region anyways

Having USA acting as policeman / buffer in Gaza to sort out the emnity between one lot of pork dodgers and another , and give them yet another airbase in the area , could put a damper on all the killings. USA owning Gaza won’t sit well with his earlier proclamation that all Palestinians should go to Egypt temp basis as Gaza is currently a demolished building site , but joined up thinking & not contradicting himself has never been a trump strong point

Certainly not an unreasonable perspective. The concern I would have is places like Iran and how they may react, as introducing a heavy US military presence in Gaza would not be looked upon fondly. They aren't going to give two fucks about the Gazans, I agree, but does it trigger new issues between them and Israel, or do they funnel more stuff to Hamas/Hezbollah/Houthis (they clearly have a naming pattern for their terrorist groups...)?

Appreciate it's all speculation and "what if..." thinking, but it doesn't feel that far fetched?

[geordie_6]

This must be great news for China (Chynaah!) who can now swoop in and be seen as heroes?

They’re already building the roads, bridges and airports so wouldn’t surprise me.

It would be a surprise if China stepped into the Usaid vacuum.

Much like Trump, China is purely focused on trade and commerce. They aren't going to step into health funding etc.

They may look at easy wins though, like funding demining etc. Pocket change for them, but allows then to crow to the smaller countries and islands in the Pacific etc about how they'd help "look after them".

[dpedin]

I think he’s lumped those together at the start purely as they fall under the drugs pretext. Eu clearly in next wave but that excuse won’t work so he’s just used their don’t buy from us speil.
And as I had hoped and semi predicted with that madman , UK plc is off the hook for now, which could be a side benefit of Brexit but more likely because we have the surplus with them not other way around , and he’s got bigger fish to fry. Only a fool would be complacent, but is Starmer that fool ?

They aren't trying to fix anything that's the point, these are all just jumped up excuses to put in place tariffs to create friction. All they want to do is to create chaos and mayhem and break down what they regard as the deep state and the establishment! The creation and forthcoming 'battles' against their neighbors and allies is just to create a smokescreen for them to create anger and chaos amongst the population - these bad folk over there are putting your prices up! They see this as a necessary step towards creating the new 'Information Age'. They are trying to completely break the US state laws, structures and mechanisms and make the final step to where private companies provide services, but only those that people are prepared to pay for and are profitable, and the country is run by a group of oligarchs who hide their fortunes away using digital currencies and dont pay taxes to anyone. As a Rothschild banker said, 'The best time to buy is when blood is running in the streets.'

Nah, that’s verging on tin foil hat, sorry - there is plenty Trump & the people who voted for him see as broken , and lumping (short term?) tariffs on those he has a surplus of flows with is a direct method of him solving those issues.

His stuff about Greenland, Gulf of Mexico - yes, deffo smoke and mirrors. Direct tariffs ? Nah

Want to borrow my tin foil hat ... you might need it!

[sockwithaticket]

This will go down well with the Palestinians who voted for Trump because Biden/Harris ...whatever.

Trump speaking about Gaza after his meeting with Netanyahu:

Even among the ludicrous statements he comes out with, this has to be amongst the most batshit? Middle East is already a powder keg, what amounts to ethnically cleansing Gaza by resettling Palestinians elsewhere is going to set off all kinds of shit.

Actually, contrarian thinking here, but it could be exactly what Gaza needs:
Present and recent situation suits neither Palestinians or Israel
Emnity will continue
Killings will continue
Nearby Islamic (not Egypt which has) states will continue to take almost no displaced of refugees of their faith when they can scrounge benefits in uk / Germany / Sweden etc
USA will continue to ship arms and military to the region anyways

Having USA acting as policeman / buffer in Gaza to sort out the emnity between one lot of pork dodgers and another , and give them yet another airbase in the area , could put a damper on all the killings. USA owning Gaza won’t sit well with his earlier proclamation that all Palestinians should go to Egypt temp basis as Gaza is currently a demolished building site , but joined up thinking & not contradicting himself has never been a trump strong point

I actually do think that trying to maintain both Gaza and the West Bank is doomed to failure. Palestine needs to exist as one land mass and creating that landmass will involve redrawing existing borders. Enmity and killings aren't going away no matter what anyone does.

However, there is exactly zero trust in a Trump admin to get anything useful done on this issue. Notwithstanding that even the MAGA base are likely to baulk at US troops being sent anywhere given a not insignificant part of Trump's rhetoric over the years has been about bringing troops home and not being involved overseas, he and his family have openly spoken about Gaza being good beach front property. They're not interested in preservation of life or helping to establish statehood, they're on the make (as usual).

[JM2K6]

This will go down well with the Palestinians who voted for Trump because Biden/Harris ...whatever.

Trump speaking about Gaza after his meeting with Netanyahu:

Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent.”

Anyone who didn't vote, or voted against Harris because of Gaza is an absolute dribbling moron, but here we are. I guess they're acting all outraged now

Nah. Your vote has to be earned. People who felt strongly about Gaza rightly refused to vote for "their" party for that reason. The alternative might be worse, but that doesn't mean you throw your weight behind the shitty option placed in front of you.

As someone pointed out, the Democrats were far more prepared to shut down campus protests with extreme prejudice than they are to deal with Trump's assault on their own government.

[Sinkers]

This must be great news for China (Chynaah!) who can now swoop in and be seen as heroes?

They’re already building the roads, bridges and airports so wouldn’t surprise me.

It would be a surprise if China stepped into the Usaid vacuum.

Much like Trump, China is purely focused on trade and commerce. They aren't going to step into health funding etc.

I agree, it’s not China’s style.
But the US is still reducing the influence the exerted via soft power while China are increasing there’s via trade, building infrastructure.

It’s a very young country with a very young population so who know how their perceptions might change.

[Uncle fester]

Even among the ludicrous statements he comes out with, this has to be amongst the most batshit? Middle East is already a powder keg, what amounts to ethnically cleansing Gaza by resettling Palestinians elsewhere is going to set off all kinds of shit.

Actually, contrarian thinking here, but it could be exactly what Gaza needs:
Present and recent situation suits neither Palestinians or Israel
Emnity will continue
Killings will continue
Nearby Islamic (not Egypt which has) states will continue to take almost no displaced of refugees of their faith when they can scrounge benefits in uk / Germany / Sweden etc
USA will continue to ship arms and military to the region anyways

Having USA acting as policeman / buffer in Gaza to sort out the emnity between one lot of pork dodgers and another , and give them yet another airbase in the area , could put a damper on all the killings. USA owning Gaza won’t sit well with his earlier proclamation that all Palestinians should go to Egypt temp basis as Gaza is currently a demolished building site , but joined up thinking & not contradicting himself has never been a trump strong point

I actually do think that trying to maintain both Gaza and the West Bank is doomed to failure. Palestine needs to exist as one land mass and creating that landmass will involve redrawing existing borders. Enmity and killings aren't going away no matter what anyone does.

However, there is exactly zero trust in a Trump admin to get anything useful done on this issue. Notwithstanding that even the MAGA base are likely to baulk at US troops being sent anywhere given a not insignificant part of Trump's rhetoric over the years has been about bringing troops home and not being involved overseas, he and his family have openly spoken about Gaza being good beach front property. They're not interested in preservation of life or helping to establish statehood, they're on the make (as usual).

I don't believe for a second that trump is serious about putting US troops there. They'll "subcontract" that to the IDF.

[Biffer]

This must be great news for China (Chynaah!) who can now swoop in and be seen as heroes?

They’re already building the roads, bridges and airports so wouldn’t surprise me.

It would be a surprise if China stepped into the Usaid vacuum.

Much like Trump, China is purely focused on trade and commerce. They aren't going to step into health funding etc.

To me, this is the major mistake people make in the USA in their view on China. China is a competitor. Russia is an enemy. These are not the same thing.

[Biffer]

Jeff Bezos getting his return for backing Trump and neutering WaPo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w83x38zvwo

[I like neeps]

They’re already building the roads, bridges and airports so wouldn’t surprise me.

It would be a surprise if China stepped into the Usaid vacuum.

Much like Trump, China is purely focused on trade and commerce. They aren't going to step into health funding etc.

They may look at easy wins though, like funding demining etc. Pocket change for them, but allows then to crow to the smaller countries and islands in the Pacific etc about how they'd help "look after them".

It's just not their MO.

China's interest in emerging markets is ultimately building large projects that supply them with raw materials/get young men out of China and building massive projects for years somewhere/massive contracts for Chinese manufacturers.

If Chinese companies and Chinese citizens aren't involved in their soft power projects they just aren't interested in them.

[Slick]

They’re already building the roads, bridges and airports so wouldn’t surprise me.

It would be a surprise if China stepped into the Usaid vacuum.

Much like Trump, China is purely focused on trade and commerce. They aren't going to step into health funding etc.

I agree, it’s not China’s style.
But the US is still reducing the influence the exerted via soft power while China are increasing there’s via trade, building infrastructure.

It’s a very young country with a very young population so who know how their perceptions might change.

Actually, I can definitely see China stepping into any hole left by USAID, it's a relatively cheap and easy win in countries that are already having a little look that way.

[Hal Jordan]

Jeff Bezos getting his return for backing Trump and neutering WaPo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w83x38zvwo

Given that 90% of the stuff that comes up on an Amazon search seems to be weird branded Chinese shit these days, I suspect it might be an issue.

[Biffer]

Jeff Bezos getting his return for backing Trump and neutering WaPo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w83x38zvwo

Given that 90% of the stuff that comes up on an Amazon search seems to be weird branded Chinese shit these days, I suspect it might be an issue.

Far bigger effect on Amazon competitors like Temu.

[Hal Jordan]

If you're buying the tat that Temu ships, cutting you off from the supply is probably in the nature of an intervention.

[tabascoboy]

Good luck with that...

[inactionman]

Good luck with that...

What's another one, eh.

[sturginho]

If you're buying the tat that Temu ships, cutting you off from the supply is probably in the nature of an intervention.

BUT DID YOU KNOW THIS TOOL SET IS £0!!!!!!!

EDIT: sorry I've just seen that bloody ad so many times

[Gumboot]

What's another one, eh.

Yep, the American voters decided that he's above the law. They're tired of that "all men are created equal" bollocks in the Declaration of Independence and want a criminal dictator to dry-fuck them silly till the price of eggs comes down. It's a lifestyle choice.

[Yeeb]

They aren't trying to fix anything that's the point, these are all just jumped up excuses to put in place tariffs to create friction. All they want to do is to create chaos and mayhem and break down what they regard as the deep state and the establishment! The creation and forthcoming 'battles' against their neighbors and allies is just to create a smokescreen for them to create anger and chaos amongst the population - these bad folk over there are putting your prices up! They see this as a necessary step towards creating the new 'Information Age'. They are trying to completely break the US state laws, structures and mechanisms and make the final step to where private companies provide services, but only those that people are prepared to pay for and are profitable, and the country is run by a group of oligarchs who hide their fortunes away using digital currencies and dont pay taxes to anyone. As a Rothschild banker said, 'The best time to buy is when blood is running in the streets.'

Nah, that’s verging on tin foil hat, sorry - there is plenty Trump & the people who voted for him see as broken , and lumping (short term?) tariffs on those he has a surplus of flows with is a direct method of him solving those issues.

His stuff about Greenland, Gulf of Mexico - yes, deffo smoke and mirrors. Direct tariffs ? Nah

Want to borrow my tin foil hat ... you might need it!

We are all several steps nearer to needing lead overcoats not tin foil hats.

Not implausible:
Next atrocity elicits knee jerk over reaction
US invades Gaza
Rest of world does fuck all / nukes within 30 mins 80% 20% chance
Lefties still blame thatcher

[Guy Smiley]

What's another one, eh.

Yep, the American voters decided that he's above the law. They're tired of that "all men are created equal" bollocks in the Declaration of Independence and want a criminal dictator to dry-fuck them silly till the price of eggs comes down. It's a lifestyle choice.

I watched a clip yesterday of Jon Stewart and AOC chatting online and talking about where the Dems fall short. AOC made the point that people aren't stupid and see the blatant hypocrisy that rules the House, specifically the insider trading that goes on. Stewart paraphrased it as regulating the market you trade in. Their take is that unless there's a massive reset within the Dems there's little chance of winning votes back.

[Uncle fester]

What's another one, eh.

Yep, the American voters decided that he's above the law. They're tired of that "all men are created equal" bollocks in the Declaration of Independence and want a criminal dictator to dry-fuck them silly till the price of eggs comes down. It's a lifestyle choice.

I watched a clip yesterday of Jon Stewart and AOC chatting online and talking about where the Dems fall short. AOC made the point that people aren't stupid and see the blatant hypocrisy that rules the House, specifically the insider trading that goes on. Stewart paraphrased it as regulating the market you trade in. Their take is that unless there's a massive reset within the Dems there's little chance of winning votes back.

Two party system is essentially a one party system at the moment as the Democrats have been browbeaten into being a pale imitation of the Republicans.

[Hugo]

Yep, the American voters decided that he's above the law. They're tired of that "all men are created equal" bollocks in the Declaration of Independence and want a criminal dictator to dry-fuck them silly till the price of eggs comes down. It's a lifestyle choice.

I watched a clip yesterday of Jon Stewart and AOC chatting online and talking about where the Dems fall short. AOC made the point that people aren't stupid and see the blatant hypocrisy that rules the House, specifically the insider trading that goes on. Stewart paraphrased it as regulating the market you trade in. Their take is that unless there's a massive reset within the Dems there's little chance of winning votes back.

Two party system is essentially a one party system at the moment as the Democrats have been browbeaten into being a pale imitation of the Republicans.

That's true but it does let the Democrats off the hook imo.

They give Republicans and Trumpists so many open goals. When people like Pelosi have been around forever, are worth a fortune and are totally out of touch with working class voters and young voters it is much easier to sway those people.

[Uncle fester]

I watched a clip yesterday of Jon Stewart and AOC chatting online and talking about where the Dems fall short. AOC made the point that people aren't stupid and see the blatant hypocrisy that rules the House, specifically the insider trading that goes on. Stewart paraphrased it as regulating the market you trade in. Their take is that unless there's a massive reset within the Dems there's little chance of winning votes back.

Two party system is essentially a one party system at the moment as the Democrats have been browbeaten into being a pale imitation of the Republicans.

That's true but it does let the Democrats off the hook imo.

They give Republicans and Trumpists so many open goals. When people like Pelosi have been around forever, are worth a fortune and are totally out of touch with working class voters and young voters it is much easier to sway those people.

The closest they've had to a "real ordinary American" in recent times was Clinton and they resolved to never let that happen again.

Dems missed the boat by not picking Sanders or Warren.

[Uncle fester]

https://www.threads.net/@annewheaton/post/DFsl2SlvNXG

[sockwithaticket]

So it transpires that USAid, the department Musk made a beeline to shut down with his little techbro gremlins, was investigating Starlink in relation to its Ukraine activity.

But don't worry, according to some, an appointee in a previously non-existent position swooping in to stop a department from investigating one of their companies is totally not a threat to democracy.

[Guy Smiley]

Robert Reich is always good value

[Yeeb]

https://www.threads.net/@annewheaton/post/DFsl2SlvNXG

It doesn’t even mention how relatively small the US spending is as a proportion of its gdp (it’s about 35%, far less than other g7 countries).

The US is far from alone from creating tax loopholes that are designed by the elites (or close relatives of elites ruling class) - something I was pretty close to was the German cum ex scandal which is worth a google as it’s not dissimilar (fairly sure most on here already have ‘German cum’ in their search history)

[Slick]

What's another one, eh.

Yep, the American voters decided that he's above the law. They're tired of that "all men are created equal" bollocks in the Declaration of Independence and want a criminal dictator to dry-fuck them silly till the price of eggs comes down. It's a lifestyle choice.

You joke, but many of them did exactly that. Apart from the dry-fuck bit, I think

[Biffer]

So it transpires that USAid, the department Musk made a beeline to shut down with his little techbro gremlins, was investigating Starlink in relation to its Ukraine activity.

But don't worry, according to some, an appointee in a previously non-existent position swooping in to stop a department from investigating one of their companies is totally not a threat to democracy.

PB says it is so it must be. You’re just being a sulky lefty.

[Biffer]

I watched a clip yesterday of Jon Stewart and AOC chatting online and talking about where the Dems fall short. AOC made the point that people aren't stupid and see the blatant hypocrisy that rules the House, specifically the insider trading that goes on. Stewart paraphrased it as regulating the market you trade in. Their take is that unless there's a massive reset within the Dems there's little chance of winning votes back.

Two party system is essentially a one party system at the moment as the Democrats have been browbeaten into being a pale imitation of the Republicans.

That's true but it does let the Democrats off the hook imo.

They give Republicans and Trumpists so many open goals. When people like Pelosi have been around forever, are worth a fortune and are totally out of touch with working class voters and young voters it is much easier to sway those people.

Goes back to my Gen x point.

[Niegs]

I'm no 'law talkin' guy' but Mark Cuban shared this on bsky as all the lawsuits related to Executive Orders, the host promising to have it better sorted in the next few days.


https://www.courtwatch.news/p/lawsuits- ... ive-orders

[Uncle fester]

https://www.threads.net/@annewheaton/post/DFsl2SlvNXG

It doesn’t even mention how relatively small the US spending is as a proportion of its gdp (it’s about 35%, far less than other g7 countries).

The US is far from alone from creating tax loopholes that are designed by the elites (or close relatives of elites ruling class) - something I was pretty close to was the German cum ex scandal which is worth a google as it’s not dissimilar (fairly sure most on here already have ‘German cum’ in their search history)

Indicative of what a bunch of punching down cünts they are.