Name a better trio than Onion, Garlic & Ginger - Trump Thread #155

[Spandauer]

Blood clot, Announcement, Champagne.

(Shamelessly stolen from @Justsaynonow 's
post on the last thread)

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5482659-whatever-atrocity-is-next-trump-thread-154

Oh, I understand why they're doing it. I just think it's insane that's where we are in the world right now.

So, is this portal going to show Stephen Colbert’s interview with James Talarico?

The one CBS chickened out of showing on the Late Show because, although it was within regs, Brendan Carr at the FCC sucked his teeth and said he was considering changing the regulations. And just like that, CBS pulled it?

Although to be fair the FCC weren't able to control the online broadcast, so you can find the James Talarico interview here:
Rep. James Talarico On Confronting Christian Nationalism, And Strange Days In The Texas Legislature
17 Feb 2026

Sigh. And here we go again.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/18/politics/military-strike-trump-us-iran

"“He is spending a lot of time thinking about this,” one source said."

I knew I smelt something rancid burning.

Time have picked up on new Mexico authorities now looking further into stuff at the ranch Epstein had there. Allegations of bodies buried etc

https://time.com/7379228/epstein-zorro-ranch-investigation/

More here

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5492742-new-epstein-allegation-horrifying?page=1

Reuters is blocked where I am :-)

I assume it means the USA want to do a world VPN, that they set for their values ? Or whatever.

Hmmmm

I am just not smart enough to figure this one out. I could probably write a book length post on the subject, in laypersons language, because that's what I am when it comes to the net and how it works. It's a subject that makes me think of a concept from "Good Omens". Where the woman could not see the edge of Adam's aura because his aura was bigger than the planet.

Their "portal" won't work of course, because VPNs can be and are blocked. Any part of the web can be blocked. We saw that with Iran recently. So unless they are going to give out free satellite dishes, I don't see how they can do it.

Even stuff like this makes me nervous:

Tech firms must take down abusive images in 48 hours - or face being blocked from UK | Politics News | Sky News

It's a good and noble cause of course. But it is the World Wide Web. I think it needs multinational work. This law could be abused itself. Want to bring a site down ? Just bombard it with illegal posts. It's a potential can of worms in my wee opinion.

I think, I honestly think, before people yell agreement for these laws, the populace should be fully informed. Don't get me wrong, the issues in that article are real issues that harms people, and do something yes. But this? Not sure.

I honestly think if governments are going to set up VPN's, then it should be "reverse VPNs". That is, a portal into restricted internet zones, so the electorate can see what the internet is like in such places.

I just done a couple of searches, and have clipped the results below. ( Amy Fisher... no not a perv, I read true crime, sort of... it's restricted.

Can't switch safe search off.

Ohh.. someone at the door, will post more later.

Re the US state dpt "portal", AKA VPN.

In principle, I am not against the concept. The reasons yes. But it would be blocked anyway, so it's pointless.

It's a tangent I suppose, but I am also against these knee jerk internet laws. Not against the aim of them, but the way they are done.

I think countries need clear and well defined laws re web content. A separate bill, and a list of banned sites/ subjects, that are clearly defined, or as well as they can be, and openly published so people are in no doubt. And this law, with the list, should have a click in the browser with the list there. Not a link. An actual up to date list. The finer details and penalties can be linked though.

The list could be updated by Parliament, much the same as the proscription law where orgs can be added/removed with a fairly simple vote.

The list has to be published, and testable,

If we had such a list, then likes of Vance could be put back in his box if and when required. Especially if each nation also had it's own published list. But when one thinks about it all, this might be a UN level thing.

I am in no way an internet freedom absolutist. I am coming at this from the thin end of the wedge angle, that old slippery slope argument.

I asked Chatgpt about this as I wasn't sure it would be via a vpn, as some streaming websites have software that detect and prevent vpn access.

Why should the US think that their own standards of what is covered by free speech be the default for all other countries? This idea is madness.

If every country then retaliated by publishing content banned by the US we would end up in "an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind" scenario.

https://chatgpt.com/share/6996bac5-8d2c-800c-8045-e39d25da0277

Chat GPT blocked here.

My first though re the US exporting it's FREEDUMB this way are countries such as Germany. It has strict anti Nazi laws. France is strict on holocaust denial.

Both of these subjects are well within the National Sovereignty realm. Unless someone is a Holocaust denying Nazi of course.

Internet control is a minefield for sure.

That thread on MN has been derailed

UK police are investigating claims that Epstein trafficked women through Stansted airport

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/18/uk/uk-police-stansted-airport-epstein-intl

You were right to think of Germany and France immediately.

2️⃣ Germany’s Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz (NetzDG)
What it does:

• Requires large platforms to remove “manifestly unlawful” content within 24 hours.
• Covers hate speech, Holocaust denial, extremist symbols, defamation.

Difference from U.S.: Holocaust denial and Nazi symbolism are illegal in Germany but generally protected speech in the U.S.

3️⃣ France’s Avia Law
What it does:

• Required rapid removal of hateful or terrorist content (parts were struck down by France’s constitutional court, but strong hate-speech laws remain).

Difference from U.S.: France criminalizes certain racist or religious insults that would likely be lawful in America.

4️⃣ The EU’s European Union anti-terror and extremism rules

• Criminalize praise or dissemination of terrorist propaganda.
• Platforms must remove extremist content quickly across all member states.

In the U.S., even extremist ideology (absent direct incitement) is often constitutionally protected.

Core Philosophical Divide
EuropeUnited States
Emphasizes dignity, social harmony, and preventing extremism
Emphasizes maximal protection of speech, even offensive speech
Allows broader bans on hate speech
Protects most hate speech
Government can fine platforms for failing to remove illegal content
Government generally cannot require removal of lawful speech

🌍 Why This Creates Tension
If the State Department portal uses a built-in VPN to serve content from U.S. servers:
Europeans could access material removed under EU law.
It may be viewed as undermining European sovereignty.
It could complicate U.S.–EU tech regulation relations.

If you’d like, I can also explain:
How this compares to censorship in authoritarian countries
Whether such a portal would actually be legal under international law
Or what kinds of content would most likely appear on it

Not that this USA cares anything about international law.

If the State Department portal uses a built-in VPN to serve content from U.S. servers:

VPNs aren't a magic bullet. The Chinese have been able to degrade them for years. (You have some "not unoffcial" versions). Some blocking is done at the packet level.

TikTok is blocked at what I call "sim card level" in China. No idea if that's a thing or not, but no VPN will get around that.

Apparently it can be had with an ESIM on a foreign phone.

This whole TikTok thing has interested me. What with the Party yelling FREE SPEECH when other nations ban it, when it is banned in China. There was a state media article a few years back that said TikTok was banned in the PRC because it did not meet the moral, cultural and ethical standards required for China, but I think that article was deleted.

Of course, another issue with VPNs is that the sites where they are downloaded from are .... blocked. So you need a VPN to get a VPN. Also, the money and payment systems are different.

But none of that matters in all this, because it is western allied nations the US are targeting.

Any ideology the US did have re freedom etc has totally gone.

Although, Rubio does appear to be using his position to make Cuba suffer.

I copied this from the Sky news feed, re the arrest.

"US Democrats say 'our work is just beginning' after Andrew arrest
More reaction to bring you from the other side of the Atlantic now in response to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest.
The Democrats on the House of Representatives' oversight committee, which campaigned for the release of the Epstein files, have said "no one connected to Jeffrey Epstein will escape accountability for their crimes".
"Our work is just beginning, and we will pursue justice for every individual who participated in the abuse of women and girls," they added."

Can I say... I doubt it.

South Korea just jailed their former President for life, for leading an insurrection.

The USA re-elected theirs, and the Dems have just watched their democracy destroyed.

When I worked with a China office I had to earn my keep setting up a reliable conduit to access our systems. (Something to bear in mind when I can't get a job ....)

However eventually even though it worked fine, the China Office did not use it. Eventually it had to be explained to me by our Chinese-born product manager.

The TL;DR is that whilst the Great Firewall of China is not completely impenetrable, it's not just a technical block.

I posted in another thread the revolution in China over green energy. This aligns with what they were saying back in 2003 when they gently asked "the west" to be patient and a rather sharp comment that they would not be hurried.

They also said the same about moving towards a more open society. "It will happen. But it will not be rushed".

So having kept their word on the first, why not the second.

Meanwhile, talking of countries keeping their word, back to the US of Fail ...

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/02/06/florida-travel-alert-fifa-world-cup-civil-rights-groups/88541940007

@SerendipityJane

Re the PRC being green.... erm..

I hate to say this, but Trump in his own dumb way is partially correct on this. But as always, it's by accident. The old spraying bullets at a target thing, one has to hit :-)

This state media last year. Peak Carbon by 2030. And we know how Trump is trying to emulate how the PRC does data.

China will steadfastly strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060: Chinese FM - Global Times

Anyway, too far off tangent.

Beware soft power. Yes of course carbon offshoring etc, and they have done great things, but they also spend billions in propaganda to make people outside China think it is super green.

Trumps peace board is live now on Sky, and it's working :-)

My money is on them initiating a peace prize.

I must have missed the bit where they elected a leader. Everyone singing Dear Leaders praises. Whoever he is.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-charter-of-trumps-board-of-peace/

was created by

s/Farage/Trump

Trump not spewed yet.

All the speakers are talking about Gaza so far. Everyone offering IT tech it seems.

Ohhh... award for Trump suggested.

BINGO.

I think that was Kazakhstan who suggested that.

Welcome update on the President's House site slavery exhibits in Philly.

The slavery exhibits at the President’s House are beginning to be restored by the National Park Service.
The restoration is the latest development in the city and community stakeholders’ fight to preserve the President’s House after President Donald Trump’s administration ordered the removal of exhibits.
www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/presidents-house-exhibits-slavery-restored-judge-order-20260219.html

Trump a.k.a. Friend of Epstein
(As reported in The Guardian)

Donald Trump has given his reaction to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest in the past hour telling reporters on Air Force One:
I’m the expert in a way because I’ve been totally exonerated so I can speak about it …
I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad. I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad. To me, it’s a very sad thing. When I see that, it’s a very sad thing …
To see that and to see everything that’s going on with his brother, who is coming to our country very soon, the king … so I think it’s a very sad thing.
King Charles is due to visit the US in April.
Speaking about himself, Trump repeated that he is the one that “can talk about it” because he is “totally exonerated”. He added:
I did nothing.

Maxwell recruited the girls at Mar-a-lago

Part of what I struggle with is that I know lots of those mentioned in these files will be innocent but if someone I knew was found to be a predator fuck me i’d do everything in my power to help justice be served. Everyone of these weasels is doing nothing but watching their own backs.

In other news how have I missed that Noem lost her blankie and threw a fit 😂 edition.cnn.com/2026/02/13/politics/video/ac360michelle-hackman

The Economist has been analysing the files with a large language model.

https://youtube.com/shorts/KwJ4VYkKNp8?si=UjVNlR80nwHrklRu