Trump's Second Term

[TheGlyphstone]

He also openly admitted to reversing course on appointing a new SC justice with an impending election because his side was dominant and would benefit - saying the quiet part out loud, which he should have had better judgment than to do.

[imalux]

The dude literally bragged about not bringing bills up for votes.  That's his actual job is to bring bills up for votes.  If any of us (including his constituents) told our bosses 'I'm not doing my job, and I expect you to pay me anyways and give me a pass on my next review (the election)', we'd be kicked to the curb so fast that it would take another minute for the 'you're fired' to reach our ears.

It doesn't help that so few dems are willing to actually go for the throat against their conservative counterparts. AOC and Jasmine Crockett are some of the standouts - and obviously Bernie  (not mentioning the Governors and former cabinet members that are actively holding the line on the state level) but everyone else still wants to hold hands across the aisle and try and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Fetterman has missed the MOST senate votes of anyone this year - not showing up is an act of compliance. 

I know their hands are relatively tied, and Federal Courts seem to also be the ones standing between us and a feudal oligarchy, but Trump and Muskrat have already shown that they do not respect the system of checks and balances and they intend to upend it insofar as removing any of the appointed and elected judges that stand in their way. 

We need clear dem leadership and have them start capitalizing on the conservatives that are unwilling to meet with their constituents - most notable is the recent farce that was Senator Marshall's attempted last-minute town hall, in a rural part of Kansas that he anticipated to only be met with MAGA loyalists, and found ANGRY conservative veteran voters who saw that DOGE was dismantling veteran jobs and protections. He left only halfway through his scheduled time and INTENTIONALLY picked a venue that was small, incredibly out of the way (like 4 hours from anything) and could not handle the heat from people who were by nature loyal to him and had vote him into office in the first place.

Dems can take advantage of this, the unwillingness of the right to be seen as approachable or accessible is something they can use to their benefit - but they have to kinda do what Walz did, in being less of academic in how they articulate themselves and their policies. Calling republicans 'weird' (rather than oligarchs or sycophants) resonated so well through the left and ruffled the right's feathers unilaterally. 

They need to do some grass-roots, boots on the ground work and LISTEN to small town, life-long conservatives - right now the entire farming belt of the midwest is ANGRY with the policies and people they voted for with the defunding of USAID which benefited them with buyouts of their excess crops that were used to provide international food-aid, and obviously now, are sat rotting instead. 

I just think a solid base of Dem leadership (starting from a city level up) and the mentality of slipping in through the cracks left by bloated conservative oversight is how they set themselves up for victory in all the midterms - and even potential recall elections. 

[Beorning]

Having watched bits from US Congress on YT and the like, I'd definitely say that both AOC and Jasmine Crockett are awesome. Pete Buttigieg also seems talented.

But, instead of them, the Dems appear to be run by people who look tearfully at cameras and say "Ah, well, what can we do???"... Ugh.

[imalux]

Having watched bits from US Congress on YT and the like, I'd definitely say that both AOC and Jasmine Crockett are awesome. Pete Buttigieg also seems talented.

But, instead of them, the Dems appear to be run by people who look tearfully at cameras and say "Ah, well, what can we do???"... Ugh.

Yeah, I honestly really like Buttigieg (as much as I can like any politician tbf). AOC and Crockett are definitely not entertaining the 'why can't we all just get along' mentality with the people who want to dismantle fundamental rights and resources. Which I am grateful for, but we need to see similar responses from the rest of the Dems. They need to grow a collective backbone. 

[Oniya]

Mr Oniya has told me that the Philadelphia Eagles (as well as other sportsball teams, including collegiate) have refused Trump's invitation to the White House.  Whereupon, the cranky toddler in the room 'rescinded' the invitation.  This just reeks of 'You can't quit!  You'rrrrrrrrrre fiiiiirred!'

[Laughing Hyena]

Mr Oniya has told me that the Philadelphia Eagles (as well as other sportsball teams, including collegiate) have refused Trump's invitation to the White House.  Whereupon, the cranky toddler in the room 'rescinded' the invitation.  This just reeks of 'You can't quit!  You'rrrrrrrrrre fiiiiirred!'

Yet another reason why I am a diehard Eagles fan. :)

[imalux]

The fact that both times the Eagles have won while Trump has been in office, they declined a visit - it's why the BIRDS know better around the wannabe dictator. 



(fun fact, he has been attacked by a bald eagle during a phot op twice)

[Shekinah]

Mr Oniya has told me that the Philadelphia Eagles (as well as other sportsball teams, including collegiate) have refused Trump's invitation to the White House.  Whereupon, the cranky toddler in the room 'rescinded' the invitation.  This just reeks of 'You can't quit!  You'rrrrrrrrrre fiiiiirred!'

ooh appearantly it even gets better, after Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles won their respective divisions, only the Chiefs were congratulated and invited by Thrump and not the Eagles, so for the Eagles then to win the superbowl and afterwards refuse the invitation makes it even better if you ask me.

[Ollumhammersong]

So everyone up here in Canada is just bracing for tomorrow to see how bad the damage is going to be. It seems like tariffs wont be averted at the last minute this time but maybe they wont be as high as 25%? it's unclear but that seems to be the rumour coming out of Washington right now. 

There' still the risk of escalating as Trump already backed himself into a corner by saying anyone who retaliates with tariffs will lead to him increasing them further, and our government already said 'alright, Bet' so we'll see how this ends. 

[Lexandria]

He was making a speech today and the moment he mentioned tariffs the DOW went into free fall. Can't figure out of he's just incompetent or wants the economy to tank so he and his rich buddies can buy up land and businesses.

[Sofia Grace]

He was making a speech today and the moment he mentioned tariffs the DOW went into free fall. Can't figure out of he's just incompetent or wants the economy to tank so he and his rich buddies can buy up land and businesses.

I actually read an article when all the tariffs were initially going to go into effect that essentially said the threats of tariffs were to manipulate the stock market for his rich buddies to profit off of. Sounds on brand, tbh

[Ollumhammersong]

I am genuinely worried about future investments in industry. There's already an unconfirmed rumour that a planned Honda plant expansion in Mexico is being backtracked in favour of relocating the funds to Indiana. About six months before this whole shit-show started Honda announced in a pretty big show that they were investing 15 billion and building 4 entirely new plants in Ontario in addition to the three they already have.

If that were to be re-allocated or even delayed it would be really shitty for a lot of people. 

[Callie Del Noire]

I’m surprised that no one commented on the State of the union last night. My internal commentator was cussing up a storm at his numerous lies.

[Blythe]

I’m surprised that no one commented on the State of the union last night. My internal commentator was cussing up a storm at his numerous lies.

I watched a lot of pre-interviews prior to the SOTU speech and uh. Wow. Just...wow. What I'm struck by is the sheer open contempt Republican Senators have for their constituents.

Senator Mike Johnson when asked if he had any words for his constituents regarding increased cost of living and their economic fears about job loss...he literally told his Alabama constituents to "Suck it up" on live fucking TV. I'm not exaggerating that. Those were Mike Johnson's exact words.

As soon as I saw that, I knew the SOTU speech from Trump was going to be worse. And it was. 

[Blythe]

I watched a lot of pre-interviews prior to the SOTU speech and uh. Wow. Just...wow. What I'm struck by is the sheer open contempt Republican Senators have for their constituents.

Senator Mike Johnson when asked if he had any words for his constituents regarding increased cost of living and their economic fears about job loss...he literally told his Alabama constituents to "Suck it up" on live fucking TV. I'm not exaggerating that. Those were Mike Johnson's exact words.

As soon as I saw that, I knew the SOTU speech from Trump was going to be worse. And it was. 

Ugh, not Mike, sorry. Was looking at another article about another state when typing this, and got my brain frazzled. Tommy Tuberville is his name.

[Ollumhammersong]

I'm more interested in the rumors around Secretary Lutnick's many angry phone calls he had to field yesterday.

There's a rumour from both Washington and Queen's park that he phoned Premier Doug Ford's office and asked him to tone down his rhetoric. Saying something alone the lines that Ford's response to the tariffs (that threaten to put half a million or so jobs at risk) were 'too aggressive a response', mixed with Trudeau's 'very stupid move' comments supposedly 'weren't helping to de-escalate the situation'

Which is just..... Jesus christ the hypocrisy if that is true.

Honestly, Doug Ford has had the most well recieved response out of nearly any leader in Canada right now. We're fucking pissed up here and ready to start supporting some drastic shit.

Withholding critical mineral sales for the defense sector, withholding potash and fertilizer sales to US farmers, a good chunk of the jetfuel used by the Eastern US, the air force included, is refined in the maritimes. I've heard them talking about withholding fuel sales.

Then there's raising energy prices by 25-50% that feed a few million us homes in the northern states or cutting them off entirely. Honestly the mood up here is largely, 'fuck the states and let's do it.'

This is going to get ugly before the summer most likely.

[Caela]

I'm more interested in the rumors around Secretary Lutnick's many angry phone calls he had to field yesterday.

There's a rumour from both Washington and Queen's park that he phoned Premier Doug Ford's office and asked him to tone down his rhetoric. Saying something alone the lines that Ford's response to the tariffs (that threaten to put half a million or so jobs at risk) were 'too aggressive a response', mixed with Trudeau's 'very stupid move' comments supposedly 'weren't helping to de-escalate the situation'

Which is just..... Jesus christ the hypocrisy if that is true.

Honestly, Doug Ford has had the most well recieved response out of nearly any leader in Canada right now. We're fucking pissed up here and ready to start supporting some drastic shit.

Withholding critical mineral sales for the defense sector, withholding potash and fertilizer sales to US farmers, a good chunk of the jetfuel used by the Eastern US, the air force included, is refined in the maritimes. I've heard them talking about withholding fuel sales.

Then there's raising energy prices by 25-50% that feed a few million us homes in the northern states or cutting them off entirely. Honestly the mood up here is largely, 'fuck the states and let's do it.'

This is going to get ugly before the summer most likely.

Just an FYI...there are a lot of us in the northern states (am in Michigan) who are buckling down and waiting for you to go for it. Hell...some of us would be entirely behind you just saying, "Look, we supply their power, we're claiming them as ours!" Many of us want out of this nightmare and are more than willing to become Canadian to do it! 

In all seriousness, my teenager pays attention to politics and is pushing me to look into which (English speaking) country I might be able to get a job in and how hard it would be to drag my husband and teenager with me. She's watching friends rights being shredded (trans-teens) and is worried hers, as a young woman, are next on the chopping block at the federal level. 

[Ollumhammersong]

It would be funny as shit if there was a even a moderate 'Succeed from the union, Join the Federation!' campaign from a few states. People should really start a protest with that, if it managed to get into the news he'd be forced to respond to it. 

One thing I personally like about Doug Ford, he doesn't fuck around. I wasn't thrilled to have him as my premier years ago, I'm normally a staunch liberal when voting, but when we had the provincial election just a week back a lot of us felt he was the best guy to deal with Trump's bullshit, and the one most likely to actually flip the necessary switches. His 'Captain Canada' routine started as a joke by his detractors but.... ya.... He's captain-fucking-Canada right now and a good number of people are all for it. And I think his hyper aggressive response was the first and loudest and is helping the other premiers build the confidence when making their own threats. 

Surprisingly the premier of Alberta has had the most limp and dissapointing response of any premier so far. Which is funny because they're always some of the loudest and most opinionated/complaint prone Canadians outside of Quebec city. She's just hoping Ottawa doesn't mandate a surcharge in oil prices and her other scandals don't force her out of office.  

[BlueOrange]

An acquaintance runs a business that helps French companies sell their products in the USA. Apparently, business has dried up all of a sudden.

While I’m a little sad for my acquaintance, I’m glad that economic impacts are on the way. 

[Oniya]

Hell, I'm in Pennsylvania, and I'm kind of matching Caela's mood here.  Moving to Canada (or anywhere else) is unlikely for a number of reasons, unfortunately.

I wonder if George Takei would be upset if we used the Trek logo for such a protest?  (Secede from the Union!  Succeed with the Federation! [insert ST:TNG theme music here])

[Beorning]

In all seriousness, my teenager pays attention to politics and is pushing me to look into which (English speaking) country I might be able to get a job in and how hard it would be to drag my husband and teenager with me. She's watching friends rights being shredded (trans-teens) and is worried hers, as a young woman, are next on the chopping block at the federal level.

Pssssst! Please consider the enlightened example of Jesse Eisenberg* and choose Poland :) We need smart, sensible people. With your help, we can certainly become the most influential EU country and turn the Union into a new global superpower.

And, when the whole world is brought into the loving embrace of Pax Polonica, the humanity will bow down to us in humble gratitude...

... all right, I might've started channeling General Bison there, but still :)

*

Jesse Eisenberg was granted Polish citizenship 2 days ago

[Caela]

Pssssst! Please consider the enlightened example of Jesse Eisenberg* and choose Poland :) We need smart, sensible people. With your help, we can certainly become the most influential EU country and turn the Union into a new global superpower.

And, when the whole world is brought into the loving embrace of Pax Polonica, the humanity will bow down to us in humble gratitude...

... all right, I might've started channeling General Bison there, but still :)

*

Jesse Eisenberg was granted Polish citizenship 2 days ago

If I spoke Polish, it would be on the list for consideration. Sadly, like most Americans I really only speak English. 😞

Hell, I'm in Pennsylvania, and I'm kind of matching Caela's mood here.  Moving to Canada (or anywhere else) is unlikely for a number of reasons, unfortunately.

I wonder if George Takei would be upset if we used the Trek logo for such a protest?  (Secede from the Union!  Succeed with the Federation! [insert ST:TNG theme music here])

Moving for us might be doable depending on what the requirements were in a given country. I've got a profession that can be pretty mobile (am a nurse) and transferable but it would also mean a lot of upheaval as well. 

I'd totally plant a white flag in our yard if Canada just decided to make the Great Lakes (and the state they surround) theirs.

[IR Halcyone]

This is completely twisted - not only they want Russia to gain an advantage against Ukraine, they want Ukrainians to be endangered and it's at the same time that Trump is ready to sell American citizenship to people willing to pay.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-plans-revoke-legal-status-ukrainians-who-fled-us-sources-say-2025-03-06/

Trump to revoke legal status for 240,000 Ukrainians as US steps up deportations

[Sofia Grace]

Hell, I'm in Pennsylvania, and I'm kind of matching Caela's mood here.

In Connecticut and would be more than happy for Canada to take us, too. (We're blinking twice and asking nicely!)

[Ollumhammersong]

What are the odds that this government shutdown actually happens? As I understand it doesn't have enough votes in the senate to pass right now