The Orange Man and the State of his Union - Trump thread #139

[Spandauer]

Thanks to @JoshLymanSwagger for the thread title.

Trump, Vance and Musk are building a bigly bridge across the Bering Strait...
...and creating a gaping chasm in the Atlantic.

Kind hearts are more than coronets, and simple faith than Norman blood.
Alfred Lord Tennyson

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/chat/5275361-an-unholy-trinity-or-just-a-seedy-threesome-trump-musk-and-putin-trump-thread-138

Russian intelligence will be poring over it for years. It will provide enough material for targeted activity for a generation - maybe even beyond that.

Boo fucking hoo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c201z4lv5xxo

This is my fear.

And it's not just the Russians. The tech oligarchs with their dreams of a state built around them will use in a targetted way to herd citizens hither and yon, undermining the superficial remnants of democracy.

This data is so much richer than Cambridge Analytica had from Facebook.

Yes, and Kara Swisher thinks the real reason they want the data is to train their AI programs. Apparently the federal databases are the largest single source of new data.

Update on Nathan Gill, the former Reform leader & UKIP MEP accused of taking bribes to make statements in the European Parliament benefitting Russia.

The bribes were allegedly from Oleg / Oleh Voloshyn, a former Ukrainian politician who is himself accused of state treason for allegedly promoting the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation in subversive activities against Ukraine, and who fled Ukraine a few days before the invasion.

Ex-Reform UK Wales leader to stand trial over Russia-linked bribes
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgw83w1vj1o

Well best make your peace with it, because it's happened.

Musk bought Tesla but continued to employ its expert engineers.
Musk does not design or build the cars.
The company could exist without him.

Musk bought the SpaceX team and lets them get on with it.
The company could exist without him.

Musk did code part of Paypal.
But is no longer part of it.

Musk does not code or manage Twitter

Musk is a grifter

Musk bought Tesla but continued to employ its expert engineers.
Musk does not design or build the cars.
The company could exist without him.

Isn't that the cause of his beef with Wikipedia, it refuses to list him as the founder of Tesla, because he wasn't?

To the best of my recollection, raids on university rooms wasn't done during the Viet Name era student protests, not even at the height of the 'activities' of the SDS, the Black Panthers, and the Weather Underground . It does make me wonder who will be next.

That 'First They Came' has been running in my head constantly for at least a month now.

The attacks on science, medicine and higher education (well, all education, I guess) are mind-boggling. They really do want an unwell, uneducated population it seems.

As far as Musk 'looking near to tears' when saying that it's 'difficult' to manage both his businesses and DOGE, I highly doubt he was anywhere near tears.

Musk, like all grifters and narcissists, is a consummate actor. He will portray glee or grief according to whichever of the two emotions serves his needs.

Will he quit DOGE voluntarily? I don't think so. I think he is deeply enjoying, and probably addicted to, the feelings of power and control that being able to order mass firings and the shutting down of departments wholesale gives him. In the past he's done similar to just about every company he's acquired. Why would he give up the biggest doses of his personal heroin that breaking a democracy is giving him? If he goes, it'll be because he's forced out.

And would Scrotus, who craves the attention and approval of those richer and more powerful than him, force out 'the world's richest man'? Nope. Hopefully, DOGE can be voted out of existence after a Blue Wave at the midterms. But until then, I'm afraid we're stuck.

Agree. I think one of Trump and Musk's aims is to create a permanent underclass. Uneducated, dependent, and malleable.

"O let us love our occupations,
Bless the squire and his relations,
Live upon our daily rations,
And always know our proper stations"
-Chas Dickens, The Chimes

Another plane crash today, private plane in North Carolina, no survivors.
www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/no-survivors-found-after-plane-crashes-near-north-carolina-airport/ar-AA1AVSOh
What is this?

Bloody hell. It’s getting quite ridiculous at this point. Even if it’s entirely coincidental it points to getting rid of aviation safety staff as being really quite a stupid idea.

I think we'll have to wait for the statistics to come in, to know whether plane crashes have increased or just the reporting of plane crashes has increased or changed tone.

I'll be brutally honest and say that I ain't going on no plane if there are valid questions over it's safety.

And whose statistics are you going to trust now ? Knowing how many experts and scientists have been sacked.

https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/14/france_us_science_offer/

Carney has now been sworn in a Prime Minister of Canada. He's quite clear where he stands on Trump.

Carney says he has no plans yet to meet President Trumppublished at 17:20
17:20
Canada’s new prime minister is now taking questions from reporters. He is asked first if he has plans to go meet with President Donald Trump in the US.
Carney replies saying he has plans to go to France and the UK to meet with leaders there, and adds that reinforcing security and diversifying trade partners is important.
Right now, he says, he has no plans to meet with Trump, but will do so "at the appropriate moment".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cr42kvnw5zzt

Is she really this dumb?

When asked if the Administration will comply with court orders on fired federal workers, WH Press Secretary Leavitt says the orders are unconstitutional: You cannot have a low level district court judge filing an injunction to usurp the executive authority of the President…

https://bsky.app/profile/acyn.bsky.social/post/3lkdyvu4lac2w

I can’t quite articulate how much I can’t stand that woman.

There's a few sites offering statistics with regard to aviation incident and accidents such as Plane crash info, B3A and Global Aviation safety network. But its hard to know which site will give the most accurate information. At a glance all 3 sites suggest that's there's a lot of accidents we don't hear about, but they generally appear to be military craft, private planes or accidents occurring in lesser known regions and countries.

As far as im aware most accidents that occur in places like the US or on major airlines are reported in the media. Plus it would be all over social media..

Also came across a BBC article regarding concerns over Boeing safety standards.
So it may not all be the big orange baby's fault but firing a load of air traffic controllers won't have helped.

Ditto

She is worse than that Kayleigh McEnany from his first term and that is really really saying something.
Someone needs to tell her that Trumpy isn't a King or a God

So it may not all be the big orange baby's fault but firing a load of air traffic controllers won't have helped

I agree. And I think it's getting reported more. And the thing is... people lose confidence. I bet air travel is down

@CaveMum Just catching up, but saw your post re: Rahm first.

Have you seen this?

If that keeps up, then less need for planes ....