Trump's Second Term

[Blythe]

Unfortunately, that short of a 'block' doesn't much help, in my opinion, but...it does leave me hopeful that most of that overarching illegal over-reach will get shut down fully--preferably sooner rather than later.

[Sofia Grace]

At this point, the Constitution still isn't on the White House website eight days in. That tells me everything I need to know. 

[CopperLily]

Trump administration orders sweeping freeze of federal aid

Either this is the world's most poorly written memo that's ill defined, or this is very dire. This would affect a lot of people. I mean a lot.

For academic research, this is an apocalypse-scale event.

[LostInTheMist]

For academic research, this is an apocalypse-scale event.

It's also unconstitutional. Congress appropriates the money. Trump has no authority to freeze it. Not that this matters, since Republicans control all three branches of government.

[Oniya]

'X' designation on passports has been suspended

If you are trans, this will affect being able to update any federal documents, and could result in significant delays in getting your supporting documents back.

[Lilias]

This was a particularly satisfying read (as Jim Wallace consistently is).

https://medium.com/@kidether/a-declaration-of-our-defiance-0d7e3e925a42

[Callie Del Noire]

Amazing article

[Samael]

'X' designation on passports has been suspended

If you are trans, this will affect being able to update any federal documents, and could result in significant delays in getting your supporting documents back.

This is seriously just cruel at this point.
I am not sure why they focus so much on trans people, as if they don't have to deal with enough shit already.
I guess it makes for easy targets. This is just not right

[Sofia Grace]

Trump orders preparation of Guantánamo Bay facility to house migrants

[Callie Del Noire]

Trump orders preparation of Guantánamo Bay facility to house migrants

Wut the Hell?

[Oniya]

I frequently read Alison Green's column 'Ask a Manager'.  (Hey, it may be mostly office stuff, but a lot can apply to retail.)

Today, she did an entry about the wave of emails she's been getting from federal workers.

There's useful information for us non-feddies as well.

[Samael]

Wut the Hell?

Just a camp...

[Samael]

As a German I just want to say that I am seriously disturbed by that Guantánamo Bay facility news...

[Alastoryevich]

As a German I just want to say that I am seriously disturbed by that Guantánamo Bay facility news...

Yeah... not enough people are concerned about this right now in the US.

[Formless]

Yeah... not enough people are concerned about this right now in the US.

Seems about right. No one was concerned about it 15 years ago.

What changed?

[Alastoryevich]

Seems about right. No one was concerned about it 15 years ago.

What changed?

A lot changed.

https://theharvardpoliticalreview.com/trump-rhetoric-hitler/

And I believe the internment of 'illegal aliens' may be the beginning of something truly disturbing. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-the-death-penalty-and-protecting-public-safety/ 

[Oniya]

I think Formless is referring to the fact that nobody was disturbed when Guantanamo was used to detain a different ethnic group, starting under GWB's tenure.

What's 'changed' is that Trump has dropped even the pretense of a mask that previous presidents have kept up.  The quiet part isn't just being said 'out loud', it's being broadcast on loud-speakers.  It's like when an abusive parent/partner has been convincing the outside world that their victim is 'mistaken' or 'delusional', but eventually cuts loose in public.  The outside world reacts with astonishment, while the victim can only say 'I tried telling you!'

[Alastoryevich]

I think Formless is referring to the fact that nobody was disturbed when Guantanamo was used to detain a different ethnic group, starting under GWB's tenure.

What's 'changed' is that Trump has dropped even the pretense of a mask that previous presidents have kept up.  The quiet part isn't just being said 'out loud', it's being broadcast on loud-speakers.  It's like when an abusive parent/partner has been convincing the outside world that their victim is 'mistaken' or 'delusional', but eventually cuts loose in public.  The outside world reacts with astonishment, while the victim can only say 'I tried telling you!'

Oh! I totally misread, that is my bad, Formless! 

You're totally right, the difference is it's a different ethnicity being targeted AND it's being rubbed in our faces. It's being screamed at us and all we can do is... exist in it.

[Oniya]

It's surreal seeing this being discussed in the disparate communities I'm in.  I linked to the 'Ask a Manager' site in part because this woman who usually answers questions about toxic bosses and bizarre office behaviors was actually passing on info about what 'we' (the general working-class) can do - and included a link to an anti-Nazi leaflet dropped by the CIA into German-held territory in WWII!  (Speaking of toxic bosses...)

The support group I'm in for my issues with my parents has had people feeling both triggered and weirdly empowered by this - not in a 'Go MAGA' sort of way, but in an 'I feel like I've been in training for this all my life - this is exactly what happened when I was a kid' sort of way.

Yes, there are people whose responses are 'duck and cover', but those that have escaped that situation on the small scale are like 'Fuck no!'

[Formless]

I think Formless is referring to the fact that nobody was disturbed when Guantanamo was used to detain a different ethnic group, starting under GWB's tenure.

Exactly.

What's 'changed' is that Trump has dropped even the pretense of a mask that previous presidents have kept up.  The quiet part isn't just being said 'out loud', it's being broadcast on loud-speakers.  It's like when an abusive parent/partner has been convincing the outside world that their victim is 'mistaken' or 'delusional', but eventually cuts loose in public.  The outside world reacts with astonishment, while the victim can only say 'I tried telling you!'

This however, wouldn't really make a difference to a big part of the world.

While I know the intention behind your explanation is pure, a lot of people can easily understands it as so:

"Its ok to be sly and underhanded in your vile deeds, just don't be so blatant about them."

Besides, what is the big deal anyway? Its just an off-shore detention center. That's what every major news outlet used to say back then. I think the world is just being a little overly dramatic these days.

[Oniya]

Just to be clear - for 'those people' - it was never 'okay' to treat people like that.  Just like it wasn't okay for Japanese-Americans to be put in camps during WWII.  If someone is sneaky and underhanded about a thing, they might get away with it longer, but the thing itself is still vile.

[Callie Del Noire]

Fun note the buildings are likely from the 50s o federal contracted prebuilt. So either they belong on a superfund list or are built sketchy and are as cold resistant as a sheet of wax paper.

[Al Terego]

I am not a follower of conspiracy theories, but I cannot help but wonder.

It seems like Trump's actions (Tariffs, leaving accords, stopping foreign aid, threatening to leave NATO) drive a wedge between the US and its allies, and weaken "the West" -- economically, militarily, politically, etc.

Could it be the influence of his buddy and role model Vladimir Vladimirovich?  After all, the Russian regime stands to gain a lot from the resulting instability.

[TheGlyphstone]

Frankly he doesn't need to exert any influence - this is how Trump behaves completely on his own in the first place. You'll note he did pretty much all of these things in his first term, just less effectively. 

[Al Terego]

And the trade wars begin...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c627nx42xelo