Has the US crossed the Rubicon? - Trump thread #142

[Spandauer]

Here be dragons.

Previous thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5307874-are-we-feeling-liberated-yet-trump-thread-141

Yes. I read this a while back, and it expands on the link between 9/11 and a change in American policing. I will say, even taking that into account, it's a bit shocking how many brown-shirts-in-waiting seem to populate these organisations. And while it didn't apply to leadership, pre-Trump, I don't think we should fool ourselves that a lot of rank and file FBI agents aren't of similar dispositions.

https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/11/how-the-war-on-terror-has-militarized-the-police/248047/

I listened to the press conference and was horrified that 90% of it seemed to be law-enforcement back-patting themselves for their fast and coordinated response. Basically, we bravely and selflessly got there in time to pick up the bodies while they were still warm, so we've done our jobs. It was sickening. I haven't read the article, but I would imagine it mentioned that Florida is currently trying to change their gun laws to allow unlicensed open carry and to move the age for buying a gun from 21 to 18?

I went last time too and will definitely be there again. I hope that giant baby trump balloon has had lots of babies by now...

Yes. They did some of this in his first term, but it was quite amateurish with spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. It does feel like they've imported a Russian media team this time around.

This is particularly chilling, on an official White House page

https://www.whitehouse.gov/lab-leak-true-origins-of-covid-19/

You want tariffs dropped ? You need to sign up to this truth.

You want tariffs dropped ? You need to state that the 2020 election was stolen.

You want tariffs dropped ? You need to release Stephen Yaxley-Lennon*.

*Given the scope, breadth and depth of the AI revolution, I'd look to make money of of John Lennon suddenly re-entering the charts.

Here's the WSJ's article on Musk that @Lalgarh posted about up thread.

https://archive.ph/EVkGv

And there's your medieval view of life.

Thanks @logicisall !

From that..

"In Musk’s dark view of the world, civilization is <a class="break-all" href="https://archive.ph/o/EVkGv/www.wsj.com/us-news/elon-musk-baby-fever-public-persona-03a4f4a2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">under threat because of a declining population. He is driven to correct the historic moment by helping seed the earth with more human beings of high intelligence, according to people familiar with the matter.
His businesses are set up to serve the idea: The main objective of SpaceX is to build a rocket ship capable of getting to Mars, and his other companies, including electric-car maker Tesla, help finance the plan.
Musk refers to his offspring as a “legion,” a reference to the ancient military units that could contain thousands of soldiers and were key to extending the reach of the Roman Empire.
During St. Clair’s pregnancy, Musk suggested that they bring in other women to have even more of their children faster. “To reach legion-level before the apocalypse,” he said to St. Clair in a text message viewed by The Wall Street Journal, “we will need to use surrogates.” "

I presume he is not familiar with the paradox of fecundity, where the more offspring someone has the more likely their descendants end up in breeding. It's what did for the Hapsburgs and has left some Mormon sects with horrendous hereditary illnesses

Trump's peace deal so far.

Russia’s Conditions: Sanctions Relief and End to Arms Support
Moscow has made it clear that any agreement must include the removal of Western sanctions and a complete stop to military aid to Ukraine. Kremlin officials continue to insist that recognition of Russian sovereignty over seized territories is non-negotiable.

Ukraine: Ceasefire First, Then Dialogue
Insists that Russia must be the first to formally commit. During the Paris meeting, the Ukrainian delegation emphasized the need for international mechanisms to monitor any truce, including talks on deploying a peacekeeping force.

No wonder Trump is swivelling away from a "peace deal in one day" and now talking about walking away. I suppose he could spin it as that he didn't specify exactly which day he meant.

https://www.heraldgoa.in/globe/us-proposes-ceasefire-deal-to-end-ukraine-war-offers-russia-sanctions-relief/421735

This is from NYT. (Gift token)

Focus group of 13 Independent voters who voted for Trump were interviewed before the tariffs announcement on April 8th... so who knows what they think now... but I doubt their views have changed much.

Interesting that they think the media and Democrats are somehow still responsible!

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/18/opinion/trump-approval-focus-group.html?unlocked_article_code=1.A08.pAQ1.Fca5UzmSUet7&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShareIt's

Thanks for posting - I'd read snippets and heard it discussed but not been able to read the whole article.

So, I hope it's ok to say this, but for someone intent on creating some kind of super intelligent master race legion, putting aside his inflated beliefs about his own intellect, he doesn't seem to be all that choosy about his, um, co-creators.

Interesting that they think the media and Democrats are somehow still responsible!

Remember that in 2024, a key plank of the Tory-Reform narrative was that everything was because of 2008 when Labour were in power, ignoring the 14 fucking years afterwards when they were in power.

And despite my negative view of people (you're all scum 😀) I don't buy that there is a sizeable contingent of people who really believe that. However it's a PG rated excuse for "having to" vote for right wing ideologues.

Ultimately that is the result of the way the media frame the debate. By giving bigots, racists and misogynists a respectable cloak for their views.

I think musk will end up dropping the female partner in favour of multiple clones of himself, like that episode of red dwarf where Rimmer ends up on a planet and it's just populated by copies of him🤣

The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump admin from deporting a group of Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act.

"The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court."

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/18/politics/boasberg-deportation-flights-alien-enemies-act/index.html

Is Leon a fantastic swimmer?

Oh please, did you have to say that😬
now I have an image of leon in his swimming costume🙈

Putin has announced a unilateral 30hr Easter 'cease fire'. 🤔

Ukraine, 'Putin cannot be trusted'. #drones

POWs exchange takes place.

Happy Easter all! 🐥🐇⛪(covering all bases)

More lies from the Dictator in Chief https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-kilmar-abrego-garcia-hand-b2735920.html this time using doctored images as ‘evidence’ that Garcia is a gang member.

Lots of pictures of massive nationwide protest on my bsky timeline💪

The Pope snubs Vance and sends his deputy

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pope-snubs-vance-and-gets-deputy-to-lecture-vp-on-compassion/

Japan joins the Trump world by looking at lowering their car safety standards in order to strike a trade deal. US carmakers have long complained that Japanese safety standards (around crash protection) are a trade barrier. What a sh*t show.

Oh ffs. I’m done with this world!

Japanese cars are right hand drive.
American cars are left hand drive.
just saying

Sorry, Im probably being dense this morning (house full of guests), but I'm not sure I understand?

US factories are not geared up to producing right hand drive cars.

Japanese lowering regs will not make people want to buy them.