Trump 2.0

[Sarkus]

So, a week into his term:
Ukraine and Russia still at war.
Eggs hit new high prices, and possibly will get much higher.
Petrol (gas) prices are hitting new highs, and have risen every day of his term this far.
Grocery prices have moved higher on fear of trade wars (e.g. Colombian coffee).
Chinese AI has overtaken the US.

But... at least he got the US to rename the Gulf of Mexico (not that any other country will follow suit unless it becomes more widely used).

Enjoying it yet, America?

 

[Sarkus]

I see Jim Acosta has resigned from CNN because he didn't like the way CNN is bending the knee to TOF. I don't know much about him other than he was CNN's top anchor and a fervent critic of Trump during TOF's first term.

Naturally Trump, being as Presidential as he can muster, posted about it...
"Wow, really good news! Jim Acosta, one of the worst and most dishonest reporters in journalistic history, a major sleazebag, has been relegated by CNN Fake News to the Midnight hour.
“Word is that he wants to QUIT, and that would be even better.
"Jim is a major loser who will fail no matter where he ends up. Good luck Jim"


Meanwhile Fox is pushing the idea of Trump being added to Mt. Rushmore. Go figure.

 

[Sarkus]

Also, and more alarmingly, Trump has issued an EO to pause all federal grants (other than a few, and those to specific individuals, I think).
This is a clear power-grab by Trump, and must surely violate something in the US laws?? That Trump is seemingly taking it upon himself to determine how the US budget is spent, rather than Congress?
Why is he doing this? Well, presumably to build up enough funds so as to afford a massive tax break for his billionaire friends, but also so he can allocate those funds to his allies, and hold them back from his enemies.

Will the US system allow this blatant power grab? Is there anything stopping him?

 

[(Q)]

Also, and more alarmingly, Trump has issued an EO to pause all federal grants (other than a few, and those to specific individuals, I think).
This is a clear power-grab by Trump, and must surely violate something in the US laws?? That Trump is seemingly taking it upon himself to determine how the US budget is spent, rather than Congress?
Why is he doing this? Well, presumably to build up enough funds so as to afford a massive tax break for his billionaire friends, but also so he can allocate those funds to his allies, and hold them back from his enemies.

Will the US system allow this blatant power grab? Is there anything stopping him?

Nope, nothing stopping him. Yesterday, Jon Stewart explained how Trump is using all of the presidential powers given to him to legally do everything he is currently doing.

 

[Seattle]

So, a week into his term:
Ukraine and Russia still at war.
Eggs hit new high prices, and possibly will get much higher.
Petrol (gas) prices are hitting new highs, and have risen every day of his term this far.
Grocery prices have moved higher on fear of trade wars (e.g. Colombian coffee).
Chinese AI has overtaken the US.

But... at least he got the US to rename the Gulf of Mexico (not that any other country will follow suit unless it becomes more widely used).

Enjoying it yet, America?

I'm kind of enjoying it so far. Are you still enjoying Brexit? Groceries, including eggs went up 6% after Brexit. Enjoying it yet, UK?

 

[(Q)]

Google maps is changing the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Can you fucking believe it?

 

[(Q)]

I'm kind of enjoying it so far. Are you still enjoying Brexit? Groceries, including eggs went up 6% after Brexit. Enjoying it yet, UK?

Wasn't Brexit a Conservative idea and implementation?

 

[Seattle]

Wasn't Brexit a Conservative idea and implementation?

It was something the UK voters went for just like Trump in the US. You get what you want. In the case of Brexit it was a bad idea from the start.

We'll see if the same can be said of Trump. It's too early to say what effect his policies will have at this point. Tariffs, in general, aren't a good idea, in my opinion but if the threat of them work, so be it.

The threat was enough for Colombia and Mexico to accept the deportees when they were rejected at first.

Trump wants to drill for more oil. That's how you bring grocery prices down (in part). Regarding eggs, that's just temporary due to the bird flu. He wants to reduce the new home build regulations, that will bring housing costs down somewhat.

So far the illegal immigrants that are being deported are those with serious violent criminal histories. I have no problem with that.

I wasn't a fan of him pushing his meme coin while pushing for more even treatment of Bitcoin as it just became a distraction but Trump is Trump and you can't do much about that.

My point regarding Brexit is that a bad idea is a bad idea. It's not about being a "conservative" or a "progressive" and then supporting bad ideas. I'm not big on labels. Do what works and what makes sense. IMO, many progressive ideas just don't make sense regardless of how well intentioned they may be. The ones what are good ideas, I have no problem with.

 

[(Q)]

It was something the UK voters went for just like Trump in the US. You get what you want. In the case of Brexit it was a bad idea from the start.

Exactly, and progressives and liberals knew it was a bad idea, but the Conservatives pushed it through with lies.

We'll see if the same can be said of Trump. It's too early to say what effect his policies will have at this point. Tariffs, in general, aren't a good idea, in my opinion but if the threat of them work, so be it.

So, threats are better than negotiations, another conservative idea.

The threat was enough for Colombia and Mexico to accept the deportees when they were rejected at first.

You then you agree America should threaten other countries instead of using diplomacy?

Trump wants to drill for more oil. That's how you bring grocery prices down (in part).

LOL! I have no idea how you came to that ridiculous conclusion.

Regarding eggs, that's just temporary due to the bird flu.

Nope. Prices will continue to rise despite Trump lies about bringing them down. You do know Trump was lying, right? You do know Trump always lies, right?

He wants to reduce the new home build regulations, that will bring housing costs down somewhat.

Nope, because Trump is deporting all the workers that build houses.

So far the illegal immigrants that are being deported are those with serious violent criminal histories. I have no problem with that.

Is that what the far right media is telling you?

I wasn't a fan of him pushing his meme coin while pushing for more even treatment of Bitcoin as it just became a distraction but Trump is Trump and you can't do much about that.

We could have not voted him into power because he lied about everything.

My point regarding Brexit is that a bad idea is a bad idea. It's not about being a "conservative" or a "progressive" and then supporting bad ideas.

But, it was about being a conservative, because conservatives are full of bad ideas and they continue to support bad ideas.

I'm not big on labels. Do what works and what makes sense. IMO, many progressive ideas just don't make sense regardless of how well intentioned they may be. The ones what are good ideas, I have no problem with.

I have yet see you talk about any bad progressive ideas, especially when compared to the massive flood of bad ideas coming from conservatives.

 

[billvon]

It was something the UK voters went for just like Trump in the US. You get what you want. In the case of Brexit it was a bad idea from the start.

Yep. Similar.

Trump wants to drill for more oil. That's how you bring grocery prices down (in part).

We were already (under Biden) drilling more oil than any country, ever. We are drilling so much now that we are exporting a huge amount of it. So it's a great slogan, but all it means in reality is China gets more oil from us.

Regarding eggs, that's just temporary due to the bird flu.

So was inflation due to supply chain atrophy.

So far the illegal immigrants that are being deported are those with serious violent criminal histories. I have no problem with that.

The latest raid rounded up 1579 immigrants for arrest/deportation. 373 had criminal records. Of those, 91 had serious violent crime histories, and 165 had no crimes at all other than immigration violations (i.e. they worked.) So 5.7% had "serious criminal histories."

Trump's ICE is now arresting middle school children. Not for cause, just so their parents have to come and pick them up. And when their parents come - then they check and nab them if they are illegal aliens.

Do you have a problem with using children as bait to get their parents?

 

[Seattle]

Exactly, and progressives and liberals knew it was a bad idea, but the Conservatives pushed it through with lies.

They, apparently, voted for what they wanted.

So, threats are better than negotiations, another conservative idea.

That's not a "conservative idea". It was part of the negotiation. You negotiate from strength when you have it. I'm sensing that you don't know a lot about negotiating in general?

You then you agree America should threaten other countries instead of using diplomacy?

As usual, that's a ridiculous conclusion to come to.

Nope, because Trump is deporting all the workers that build houses.

Ridiculous conclusion.

LOL, that's a ridiculous conclusion.

Energy (gas) is a major cost in our food production and transportation. Again, you don't really know what you are talking about here (and in general).

I have yet see you talk about any bad progressive ideas, especially when compared to the massive flood of bad ideas coming from conservatives.

I can't help it if you haven't seen it. There is no shortage of progressive policies with obvious but unintended bad outcomes from "defund the police" to not prosecuting "minor" crimes (shoplifting) to making things more expensive by getting the government involved.

 

[Sarkus]

So Medicaid portal is down in 50 states. 72 million people on Medicaid apparently. Medicaid payments seem to be frozen, although the White House (if you can believe them) say that payments are still being processed.

Food stamp programme is frozen (41 million families rely on this apparently)

Meals on Wheels for the elderly - frozen (and I don't mean their dinners

Nutrition assistance programmes - frozen

Disaster relief programmes - frozen

Head Start programme - frozen
Federal funding for schools, police, firefighters, all frozen.

And many more that people clearly rely on.

I'm not sure which states will suffer most as a result, but it'd be ironic if it is the red states.


There have been legal challenges made, so let's see where they go. But, basically, if Trump doesn't want you to have funding, if you're the wrong sort of school, not taking the knee and kissing his ass, he won't fund you. He, and he alone, gets to decide who gets funding.
Democracy? Ha ha. Good one.

 

[(Q)]

They, apparently, voted for what they wanted.

They voted based on lies from Conservatives, just like people voted in Republicans based on their lies.

That's not a "conservative idea". It was part of the negotiation. You negotiate from strength when you have it. I'm sensing that you don't know a lot about negotiating in general?

I usually don't threaten people during negotiations. I'm assuming you do?

As usual, that's a ridiculous conclusion to come to.

So, you don't agree to making threats in negotiations? Contradict much?

Ridiculous conclusion.

Immigrants make up one third of construction trade workers and a quarter of the industry in total. Tell us again how housing will go down when these people get deported?

Energy (gas) is a major cost in our food production and transportation. Again, you don't really know what you are talking about here (and in general).

The oil industry would prefer to keep it in the ground and keep demand and prices high. Trump, again, is lying about drilling more.

I can't help it if you haven't seen it. There is no shortage of progressive policies with obvious but unintended bad outcomes from "defund the police" to not prosecuting "minor" crimes (shoplifting) to making things more expensive by getting the government involved.

"The police defunding movement has faced criticism from sociologists, criminologists, and journalists. In the United States, despite its association with left-wing and Democratic Party policies, politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties have opposed the concept. "

Please let me know why Governor Newsom in California just signed into law changing shoplifting from a misdemeanor to a felony?

 

[exchemist]

It was something the UK voters went for just like Trump in the US. You get what you want. In the case of Brexit it was a bad idea from the start.

We'll see if the same can be said of Trump. It's too early to say what effect his policies will have at this point. Tariffs, in general, aren't a good idea, in my opinion but if the threat of them work, so be it.

The threat was enough for Colombia and Mexico to accept the deportees when they were rejected at first.

Trump wants to drill for more oil. That's how you bring grocery prices down (in part). Regarding eggs, that's just temporary due to the bird flu. He wants to reduce the new home build regulations, that will bring housing costs down somewhat.

So far the illegal immigrants that are being deported are those with serious violent criminal histories. I have no problem with that.

I wasn't a fan of him pushing his meme coin while pushing for more even treatment of Bitcoin as it just became a distraction but Trump is Trump and you can't do much about that.

My point regarding Brexit is that a bad idea is a bad idea. It's not about being a "conservative" or a "progressive" and then supporting bad ideas. I'm not big on labels. Do what works and what makes sense. IMO, many progressive ideas just don't make sense regardless of how well intentioned they may be. The ones what are good ideas, I have no problem with.

Drilling for more oil won’t make any difference for years, even if oil companies want to drill more wells, which they don’t. And Trump is simultaneously trying to get the Saudis to increase production. Utterly incoherent.

 

[Seattle]

Please let me know why Governor Newsom in California just signed into law changing shoplifting from a misdemeanor to a felony?

He had to. Why do you think? The law wasn't working (of course).

 

[Sarkus]

For those that care: a federal judge has apparently put an administrative stay on TOF's freezing of federal grants and loans, but only until Monday.
I think the stay is to give time to provide more clarity, and to see which areas are allowed and not allowed to be frozen under the order, but I'm not entirely clear.
Anyhoo... as you were. Until Monday.

 

[(Q)]

... to not prosecuting "minor" crimes (shoplifting) to making things more expensive by getting the government involved.

Governor Newsom in California just signed into law changing shoplifting from a misdemeanor to a felony?

He had to. Why do you think? The law wasn't working (of course).

Then, it would appear they are getting the government involved in order to prosecute those crimes.

Of course, when it comes to NOT prosecuting crimes are Conservatives who commit the crimes and cover up for each other.

I watched a video of George Carlin back in 1988 when he was talking about the 255 Republican politicians from the Reagan administration who were either being investigated or prosecuted for crimes they committed. He called them Crypto-Fascists.

 

[(Q)]

The question is being asked, after egg prices went up 10% in the past 8 days that Trump has been president, when do we start blaming Trump for the price of eggs considering Conservatives were hammering Biden for the same thing?

 

[billvon]

Of course, when it comes to NOT prosecuting crimes are Conservatives who commit the crimes and cover up for each other.

Yep. Sort of funny to hear republicans fervently support a rapist and a felon, but get upset over those evil, violent shoplifters who are destroying society.

 

[Tiassa]

#WhatTheyVotedFor: Military Emergency Powers, and the Lying Liars Who Lie About Them

So, Jennifer Griffin↱, a FOX News national security correspondent, explains to her audience:

US defense officials tell me they did not send troops to "turn on the water" in California, despite President Trump’s claims overnight.​

Or, as Ron Filipkowski↱ observed, "From Fox".

He also made the point↱ that "Trump posted his lie about 'turning on the water'", and California responded "less than two hours later".

Wait, what?

Well, the California Department of Water Resources↱ took to social media to explain, "The military did not enter California."

Yes, really.

The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.​

Anyway, as it is, Trump did, in fact, claim to have exercised "Emergency Powers" such that, "The United States Military just entered the State of California" (qtd. in Filipkowski↱).

At this point, it's hard to tell what will become of this story, but they lie is not the only important thing, here: Trump claimed to exercise emergency powers to dispatch the U.S. military against the States.

Conservatives should be unsettled right now. Same with those libertarian-ish notaconservatives.

Unless, of course, this is what they voted for, or close enough, or whatever.

Watch House Republicans, especially.

• Note for internationals: U.S. Senators win statewide elections, but the House of Representatives is elected on the basis of local populations. Wisconsin Six (411,349 votes) was decided by a twenty-two point margin, with 251,889 votes for the winner, incumbent Rep. Glenn Grothman (R). By comparison, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) wins statewide elections in South Carolina, but represented the Third Congressional district has remained in Republican hands ever since he won an open-seat election in 1994. Most recently, SC Three went to Rep Sheri Biggs (R), who won over 248,000 of the 346,713 votes. In these smaller House races, we should be able to watch how Republican voters respond to the Trump administration and Congressional response. That is, conservative voters in the U.S. should be unsettled right now; at least, if their rhetoric over the last sixty years has any meaning. But recent history suggests if House Republicans face any electoral pushback, it will be from their right, for being insufficiently supportive.​

____________________

Notes:

@CA_DWR. "The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful." X. 27 January 2025. X.com. 28 January 2025. status/1884122000232444407

@JenGriffinFNC. "US defense officials tell me they did not send troops to "turn on the water" in California, despite President Trump’s claims overnight." X. 28 January 2025. X.com. 28 January 2025. status/1884269678673158441

@RonFilipkowski. "From Fox". X. 28 January 2025. X.com. 28 January 2025. status/1884278979936625021

—————. "Trump posted his lie about "turning on the water" at 11:12 PM last night and CA responded with the facts less than two hours later. Can most other Democrats PLEASE learn from this? At SOME POINT? It isn’t 1996. Calling a press conference days later is USELESS. Rapid react!" X. 28 January 2025. X.com. 28 January 2025. status/1884285544986993155

—————. "Trump says he ordered the military to go into CA last night to 'turn on the water.' CA responds." X. 28 January 2025. X.com. 28 January 2025. status/1884223903054393731