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

Loved Lincoln’s advice!

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/15/kilmar-abrego-garcia-deported-case-return

The US will deport him again if he manages to return to the US, despite the courts telling them it was illegal to deport him.

Thanks for the new thread @Spandauer. I’ve been checking in and reading the latest madness as we go. We fly home later today so I’ll be back to regular posting (AKA posting podcast links and quoting Katty/The Mooch!) shortly.

I see NY Attorney General, Letitia James, is referred to the DoJ for mortgage fraud. I don't know much about it, but apparently she prosecuted the orange one for fraudulently getting a loan.
Most worryingly, to me, is that all the comments I read talked of karma - not yet found one that suggests it's personal payback.
I mean maybe it is true, which would be saddening, but my first thought was definitely the orange one getting his own back - falsely.

https://bsky.app/profile/altacadia.bsky.social/post/3lmnnq4gzzc24

When someone shows you who they are, believe them. This is Trumps America.

This is horrifying. They are well on their way with 'alternative facts'.

On a slightly positive(ish) note, is it me or is Bullshit Barbie starting to look quite stressed? Perhaps she's ready to crack? Or maybe that's just wishful thinking..

I don’t know if it’s the camera but she’s a terrible colour. I hope she can barely sleep at night for the stress. Horrid woman.

Does she know that repeating that he’s a “gang member” over and over again (whilst sniggering at the concept that he’s a father) doesn’t make it true?

Thank you for the new thread @Spandauer
Sky's Trump 100 days podcast names Bullshit Barbie as being one to watch for her political ambitions, possibly aiming for the Presidency.

Re that notorious press briefing, it's obvious that she is willing to spout lies and illogical reasoning in order to promote the WH line and deflect from the basic fact that the deportation was wrong.

On Bloomberg News now, Temu and Shein are seeing increased sales before the small package tariffs come in.

"Hong Kong's postal service said Wednesday it will stop shipping goods bound for the United States in response to "bullying" tariff hikes by US President Donald Trump.
Hongkong Post said it will "definitely not collect any... tariffs on behalf of the US and will suspend the acceptance of postal items containing goods destined to the US".
It added that it will stop accepting surface mail of US-bound items with immediate effect and air mail items starting from April 27.
Trump signed an order this month to scrap a duty-free exemption for small parcels from China, a rule that critics say aided the rise of Chinese-founded online retailers Shein and Temu." AI summary

The US has rejected EU proposals.
Here's a snapshot of current Bloomberg news.

https://www.bloomberg.com/uk

Checking in, thanks Spandauer

We no longer recognise them due to their interest in human rights.

Probably 😃

CNN mentioned 50 but no further info from the WH on which countries/deals

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/16/chinese-state-media-tells-trump-to-stop-whining-as-trade-war-spirals

I'm liking the Chinese more and more.

I mentioned on another thread that I'm starting to get concerned, as the pressure mounts, that Mr Ábrego García will mysteriously not survive his incarceration. I think the administration is likely desperate to avoid the publicity that will inevitably surround his return, not to mention the questions he can answer.

@MrsTerryPratchett
@Jaichangecentfoisdenom ]

Thos were both very funny. Thank you for the much-needed laughs.

Thanks for the new thread!

I have to say it’s a concern I share.

Although I suspect they might fabricate some “evidence” that he’s a gang member which will placate the MAGA masses enough.

He will either be protected in prison as he's a political hot potato, or he will be thrown to the wolves and attacked by violent gang members as a warning to others in the US. And then bullshit Barbie will spin a story as retribution for being a gang member of a rival gang, or something.

Seeing pics of the prisons and how they live makes me feel quite ill. Back to the nazi years

I think he'll just not survive - I think the MAGA faithful will have no issue with this - they're fine with rough justice, they're fine probably with witch burnings - when they find they too can be thrown to the wolves and no one cares is the only time they won't be fine with it all - too late then though.
I like to think I'm catastrophising but fear actually we're all walking into this making some sort of 'excuse' or 'reason' and avoiding the facts of where it's going - I believe this ignoring is a 'thing' most people do and it was certainly done with Hitler by other rulers/PMs of countries- we all want to think things will be 'normal' I guess 😞

I agree re the prisons, my only thing is these aren’t new. People have been disappearing into them for decades. It’s only because it now involves America that the world’s media care.

Maryland Senator Chris van Hollen

I’m about to board my flight to El Salvador, where I hope to meet with senior government officials to discuss the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

I also hope to see Kilmar and check on his condition — and remind him that we won’t stop fighting until he’s home.

https://bsky.app/profile/vanhollen.senate.gov/post/3lmwe64rexc2p

I will be amazed (and slightly encouraged) if he is allowed to see him.

But I'm glad he's going. Good luck, Senator Van Hollen.

Thanks for the new thread, @Spandauer

Have a brew.
It's what I do.

God bless Senator van Hollen.

I hadn't thought about Kilmar's safety in that horrible place or if when he is released from custody.

If I was him, and I know it would be hard to start over again (again), but I think I'd try to be released to a different country and have his family join him there. Maybe Canada, Mexico, or Spain or another primarily Spanish or English speaking country.

He's simply not going to be safe here. Or at the very least he won't be able to live a peaceful life.