Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats
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GasBandit
Staff member
1/ Trump blamed “criminal” immigrants for the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that was carried out by a U.S. Army veteran from Texas. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a man drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which left at least 15 dead. The driver behind the attack was Shamsud-Din Jabbar, is a Texas-born U.S. citizen and Army veteran. The FBI said Jabbar acted alone and had posted several videos online before the attack “proclaiming his support for ISIS.” Nevertheless, Trump posted: “When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true.” He added later: “Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership.” Hours later, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside of Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas, which killed the driver and injured seven. The man inside the Tesla Cybertruck was an active-duty soldier in the Army. Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said their investigation indicates that the driver shot himself in the head immediately before the vehicle exploded. A gun was found at the driver’s feet. The FBI said “there is no definitive link between the attack” in New Orleans and Las Vegas. (Bloomberg / New York Times / HuffPost / New Republic / NBC News / Associated Press / CNN / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / NPR / Washington Post)
2/ Mike Johnson doesn’t have the votes to remain speaker of the House with less than 24 hours until the start of the 119th Congress. While Trump has endorsed Johnson for a second term and no other Republican has challenged him, several Republican lawmakers haven’t committed to voting for him yet because of the way he handled the year-end spending bill. Republican Thomas Massie is a firm no and several members of the House Freedom Caucus have said they are undecided. Failure to elect a speaker could delay certification of Trump’s victory, and Congress has never tried to certify a presidential election without a House speaker in place. To be elected speaker, Johnson needs to win a majority of members who vote. The House is divided 219-215, meaning with full attendance Johnson can only lose one Republican vote to retain the speakership if all Democrats vote against him. Trump, meanwhile, plans to host a “victory rally” the day before his inauguration at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Politico / CNN / Axios / New York Times / Associated Press / Bloomberg / Washington Post / CBS News)
3/ Biden will award Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson the Presidential Citizens Medal, honoring two of the leaders of the House Jan. 6 committee that investigated the Capitol riot less than three weeks before Trump is set to take office a second time. Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly threatened to jail Cheney and Thompson for their roles in investigating his actions on and around Jan. 6. (NPR / Axios / Washington Post / Associated Press / New York Times / Bloomberg)
4/ A federal appeals court struck down the FCC’s net neutrality rules, ending a two-decade effort to regulate broadband providers as utilities and shifting responsibility to Congress. The court ruled that the FCC lacked authority to regulate broadband internet providers as utilities, citing a Supreme Court precedent that limits agency power. (New York Times / Washington Post)
5/ Chief Justice John Roberts warned that “violence, intimidation and defiance directed at judges because of their work undermine our Republic, and are wholly unacceptable.” In his annual report, Roberts said that the number of violent threats against judges has more than tripled over the last decade and “highlight the vulnerability of judges who sign their names to the decisions they render each day and return home each night to communities.” Roberts, however, didn’t mention the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump is entitled to “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution” for “official acts,” or its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the constitutional right to abortion, or the numerous ethics controversies that have plagued Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, or its first-ever code of conduct that lacks an enforcement mechanism. (NBC News / Washington Post / Associated Press / New York Times / Axios)
2/ Mike Johnson doesn’t have the votes to remain speaker of the House with less than 24 hours until the start of the 119th Congress. While Trump has endorsed Johnson for a second term and no other Republican has challenged him, several Republican lawmakers haven’t committed to voting for him yet because of the way he handled the year-end spending bill. Republican Thomas Massie is a firm no and several members of the House Freedom Caucus have said they are undecided. Failure to elect a speaker could delay certification of Trump’s victory, and Congress has never tried to certify a presidential election without a House speaker in place. To be elected speaker, Johnson needs to win a majority of members who vote. The House is divided 219-215, meaning with full attendance Johnson can only lose one Republican vote to retain the speakership if all Democrats vote against him. Trump, meanwhile, plans to host a “victory rally” the day before his inauguration at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Politico / CNN / Axios / New York Times / Associated Press / Bloomberg / Washington Post / CBS News)
3/ Biden will award Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson the Presidential Citizens Medal, honoring two of the leaders of the House Jan. 6 committee that investigated the Capitol riot less than three weeks before Trump is set to take office a second time. Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly threatened to jail Cheney and Thompson for their roles in investigating his actions on and around Jan. 6. (NPR / Axios / Washington Post / Associated Press / New York Times / Bloomberg)
4/ A federal appeals court struck down the FCC’s net neutrality rules, ending a two-decade effort to regulate broadband providers as utilities and shifting responsibility to Congress. The court ruled that the FCC lacked authority to regulate broadband internet providers as utilities, citing a Supreme Court precedent that limits agency power. (New York Times / Washington Post)
5/ Chief Justice John Roberts warned that “violence, intimidation and defiance directed at judges because of their work undermine our Republic, and are wholly unacceptable.” In his annual report, Roberts said that the number of violent threats against judges has more than tripled over the last decade and “highlight the vulnerability of judges who sign their names to the decisions they render each day and return home each night to communities.” Roberts, however, didn’t mention the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump is entitled to “absolute immunity from criminal prosecution” for “official acts,” or its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the constitutional right to abortion, or the numerous ethics controversies that have plagued Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, or its first-ever code of conduct that lacks an enforcement mechanism. (NBC News / Washington Post / Associated Press / New York Times / Axios)
We call that "Let the neighbour's goat die too!" over here.
Though, at least back in my day, those 20 people would have end up being beaten up by someone's high school friends / acquaintances, if not outright by the other students (depending on the university).
If you want an insight into why this mentality continues even when pointed out, just read the comments and see how many people are bending over backwards to explain themselves.
Look at this moron.
Yes. America, the country that hated Britain so much that they left it to form a more perfect union...where they could wait 400 years to have a vote sponsored by a South African immigrant on whether or not to turn around and invade the place their ancestors came from. Seems legit.
--Patrick
--Patrick
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ A joint session of Congress certified Trump’s 2024 victory without incident four years after he tried to overturn his 2020 election loss by encouraging his followers to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell” to stop Congress from certifying Biden as president. Kamala Harris oversaw the proceedings as president of the Senate, certifying Trump’s win, including her own defeat, and announced the final tally: 312 to 226. Unlike the 2021 certification that spanned two days with objections, evacuations, and an angry, violent mob that injured about 140 Capitol and D.C. police officers, this year’s proceedings concluded calmly in under an hour with no disturbances or objections. Four years ago, 147 Republicans voted against certifying some states’ results. Later that month, the House impeached Trump for a second time. He was acquitted by the Senate. Following certification of the election, Harris, who hasn’t given an interview since her loss in November, told reporters that the process “was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power […] And today, America’s democracy stood.” Trump, meanwhile, posted on his social media platform: “A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY.” (Associated Press / NPR / New York Times / NBC News / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / Washington Post / Politico / Axios)
Notables.
- Trump rebranded Jan. 6 as a political asset, using conspiracy theories and martyrdom narratives to fuel his return to power while undermining democratic norms and accountability. By downplaying the violence and recasting rioters as patriots, Trump reframed the Capitol attack to bolster his political resurgence and re-election campaign. As he prepares to retake office, his promises to pardon rioters and pursue political retribution aim to cement this alternate history. These actions erode accountability, destabilize democratic institutions, and set dangerous precedents for political discourse and governance. (New York Times)
- Trump, who instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, will return to the presidency in two weeks, marking an unprecedented comeback amid unresolved questions about accountability for the violence and its implications for democracy. Despite facing criminal charges, public inquiries, and widespread condemnation, Trump evaded accountability, with his 2024 election win ending efforts to hold him responsible. His reelection represents a normalization of political violence and a broader failure to reckon with the assault on democratic norms. As the Capitol prepares to host his inauguration, it stands as a stark reminder of the events four years prior and their lasting impact on American governance. (Rolling Stone)
- In four years, Trump transformed the perception of Jan. 6 from a violent insurrection into a narrative of patriotism and persecution, effectively mobilizing his base and neutralizing political opposition. Despite evidence and widespread condemnation at the time, Trump and his allies rewrote the event as a defense of democracy and used this revisionist framing to regain political power. His propaganda echoes historical patterns like the “Lost Cause” myth of the Confederacy, but its swift adoption demonstrates the potency of modern media and political polarization. This victory complicates efforts to uphold accountability and preserve historical truth. (HuffPost)
- Trump’s return to the presidency coincides with efforts to downplay the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, a moment of violence and democratic vulnerability that resulted in over 1,250 convictions. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to extend immunity for Trump’s actions as president and the Justice Department’s dismissal of charges against him, the historical significance of January 6 persists. Trump’s pardoning of convicted rioters and revisionist narratives risk eroding public accountability and the lessons drawn from the insurrection. Preserving the truth about January 6 is essential to understanding its impact and safeguarding democratic institutions. (Bloomberg)
- Matthew Yglesias argues that the normalization of Trump’s actions surrounding Jan. 6 by the conservative movement poses a long-term threat to democratic accountability and governance. Once widely criticized for inciting the Capitol riot, Trump now faces little intra-party pushback, and his intent to pardon the rioters reflects the risks of unchecked executive power. Yglesias warns that broad support from influential elites and an emboldened Trump administration could enable further abuses of power, emphasizing the need for accountability and vigilance to safeguard democracy. (Slow Boring)
- William Kristol and Andrew Egger argue that Jan. 6, 2021, represents a national day of shame, now compounded by the normalization and celebration of its instigator, Donald Trump, as he prepares to re-enter the presidency. They critique Trump’s supporters for enabling the rewriting of history, the GOP’s leadership for blocking accountability, and the Senate for its upcoming role in confirming nominees who may perpetuate Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. Kristol and Egger emphasize the need for resistance to this erasure of truth and highlight the risk of further democratic backsliding under Trump’s leadership. (Bulwark)
- Eric Lutz argues that Trump’s return to the presidency represents not only a political victory but also a successful effort to rewrite the narrative of Jan. 6, 2021. While initially condemned for inciting the Capitol riot, Trump has reframed the day as one of victimhood and loyalty, securing political support and minimizing accountability. With plans to pardon January 6 rioters and the backing of a polarized electorate, Trump’s administration signals heightened risks to democratic norms, as he now has both the power and public mandate to further erode institutional safeguards. (Vanity Fair)
- READ: What Americans should remember about Jan. 6. Four years ago, our democracy was put to the test — and prevailed. (Joe Biden – Washington Post)
- Trump’s promise to pardon Jan. 6 convicts could embolden violent extremists, undermine law enforcement, and distort the public’s understanding of the Capitol attack. Critics warn that absolving these offenders risks legitimizing political violence, aiding recruitment by extremist groups, and weakening the rule of law. Trump’s narrative of martyrdom and political persecution is paired with plans to replace FBI leadership, target critics, and rewrite the events of Jan. 6, raising concerns about the long-term implications for democracy and public safety. ()Mother Jones)
- Victims of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack expressed feelings of betrayal as Trump continues to downplay the violence and pledges to pardon convicted rioters. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, injured during the attack, said Trump’s return to power feels like a dismissal of the sacrifices made to defend the Capitol. Families of victims, such as Officer Brian Sicknick’s relatives, have condemned Trump’s rhetoric, describing it as a dangerous rewriting of history that minimizes the attack’s significance and the lives lost or affected. (NPR)
- Nearly 1,600 people have been prosecuted for their involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, with outcomes ranging from prison sentences to acquittals. Defendants charged with minor crimes have largely returned to their lives, though many face lasting consequences, including financial hardship, damaged reputations, and strained relationships. While some regret their actions, others remain unrepentant, perceiving their prosecution as unjust and further fueling political grievances. Despite the legal repercussions, Trump has vowed to pardon many of those convicted, intensifying the polarization surrounding the event. (New York Times)
- Trump’s second presidential term is expected to launch with a rapid series of executive orders and legislative actions, dubbed a “shock and awe” approach, focusing on immigration, energy, and culture-war issues while sparking potential controversies like pardoning Jan. 6 rioters. His agenda, driven by a Republican-controlled Congress, may include sweeping changes but also norm-defying moves aimed at agitating opponents and dominating media cycles. The challenge for journalists and the public will be to discern substantive actions from provocations designed to distract or overwhelm. (Vanity Fair)
- What’s at stake? At stake is the principle that no one is above the law, even a president-elect. This case tests the boundaries of presidential immunity and the ability of the legal system to hold powerful political figures accountable. Trump’s arguments raise critical questions about how far immunity protections extend and whether they apply to personal conduct unrelated to official duties. Allowing immunity claims to stall accountability risks undermining public confidence in the justice system.
Notables.
- Biden announced a permanent ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. waters, citing environmental risks and the need to protect coastal economies and ecosystems. The ban applies to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s Bering Sea, invoking the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to limit future reversals. While environmentalists praised the move as critical for climate action, industry groups and President-elect Trump, who vowed to repeal the ban, criticized it as harmful to energy production. (Bloomberg / CNN / NBC News / New York Times / Axios)
- Trump vowed to reverse Biden’s ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, calling the policy “ridiculous” and pledging to undo it immediately after taking office, though doing so may require congressional action. (Politico)
- Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, eliminating provisions that reduced benefits for public service retirees, such as teachers and firefighters, increasing payments for nearly 3 million people. The changes address long-standing inequities but add strain to the Social Security Trust Fund, potentially accelerating its insolvency date. While advocates hail the law as a victory for fairness, critics warn of its financial implications for Social Security’s future. (ABC News)
- Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to 19 recipients, including Hillary Clinton, Denzel Washington, Bono, and posthumously, activist Fannie Lou Hamer, in recognition of their contributions to society. Other honorees included Magic Johnson, Jane Goodall, and José Andrés, highlighting achievements in areas such as civil rights, conservation, and humanitarian work. (Axios)
- Ann Telnaes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist for The Washington Post, resigned after the paper’s editorial section rejected her cartoon criticizing billionaires, including Jeff Bezos, for supporting Trump. Telnaes called the decision a threat to press freedom, while the editorial page editor, David Shipley, defended the move as an editorial judgment to avoid repetition. The incident sparked criticism from other cartoonists, who called the rejection a failure to uphold editorial independence. (New York Times)
- A federal judge found Rudy Giuliani in contempt of court for failing to comply with orders to disclose his assets in a $146 million defamation judgment awarded to Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. The judgment stemmed from Giuliani’s false claims about election fraud that led to harassment and threats against the plaintiffs. Judge Lewis Liman criticized Giuliani for stalling and said sanctions would be determined later. Giuliani cited legal burdens and missing documents as reasons for noncompliance, while Freeman and Moss’s attorneys accused him of willful defiance. (NBC News)
- Trump will inherit an economy and nation in strong condition by many metrics, including low unemployment, declining crime rates, and a growing economy, despite his characterization of the U.S. as being in crisis. While economic fundamentals are robust, challenges remain, such as rising costs of living, political divisions, and public dissatisfaction. Trump’s ability to sustain or improve these conditions depends on navigating potential risks like inflation or trade conflicts while addressing issues that resonate with voters. (New York Times)
- Trump has invited various groups of House Republicans, including members of the Freedom Caucus and key committee chairs, to Mar-a-Lago next weekend to unify support for his legislative agenda before his inauguration. The meetings come after a tense speaker vote and aim to ensure cohesion within the GOP’s narrow House majority as Republicans prepare to advance significant policies, including extending Trump’s 2017 tax law. Trump’s team coordinated closely with Speaker Mike Johnson to organize the gatherings. (NBC News)
- Mike Johnson was reelected as House Speaker after overcoming a brief revolt from three Republican members, solidifying his position with Trump’s backing and new rules limiting motions to vacate. The new rules package raises the threshold for ousting the Speaker, eliminates the House Diversity and Inclusion office, and emphasizes conservative priorities, such as border security and voting laws. Johnson’s narrow victory and the concessions he made highlight ongoing GOP divisions, foreshadowing potential challenges in advancing Trump’s legislative agenda. (Axios)
Plenty of people learned lots of lessons. How easy it is to manipulate public opinion, how to use propaganda, how to rewrite history, how to translate wealth into political power, how to effectively use bread and circusses, how to frame politeness as weakness,...
Oh, you mean good lessons. Yeah, no, none of that.
I’m a historian and I suspect that history will not be kind to Trump. His voters might not be able to see past their weekly grocery bill but historians can focus on things beyond that. Trump is already ranked as the worst president in US history. His voters will be remembered as American brownshirts.
Sure. But history is written by the victors. In 50 years' time, we ("society", not "you and me") may consider the brownshirts the good guys.
See also: Meta has announced completely ending all fact checking because fact checkers were too biased and prejudiced, relying on community notes from now on.
Really, Goebbels would love all this.
See also: Meta has announced completely ending all fact checking because fact checkers were too biased and prejudiced, relying on community notes from now on.
Really, Goebbels would love all this.
I just read that story. That is definitely bad news. Still, our professional historians and political scientists will keep up the fight. Remember that the Republican party has increasingly become the poorly educated party. They won't be able to compete with serious historians unless they install political officers in every university like they're trying to do in Florida.
With Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Shorts), Alphabet (Google, YouTube, Threads) and X (Twitter) all bowing down to Trump and right-wing pressure, along with most mainstream media being owned by a very small (and often the same) group of billionaires, there's practically no safe spaces for actually somewhat neutral reporting, information gathering or organizing left. The advent of AI to further steer the algorithms will only increase this. And of course, the right will continue to claim all these sources are left(ist) and prejudiced against the right and conservative voices all the while.
Media in the US are quickly following in the footsteps of those in Hungary, Berluisconi-era Italy, etc with regards to freedom of the press.
Media in the US are quickly following in the footsteps of those in Hungary, Berluisconi-era Italy, etc with regards to freedom of the press.
I remember that Poland's experiment with far-right leadership resulted in some historians being forced to recant and publicly apologize. Their great offense was stating that Poles had a hand in the Holocaust, which is true. There was a great deal of antisemitism in Poland at the time and many Poles participated in the violence. The Polish government's official narrative of the Holocaust was one of Polish victimhood and martyrdom. I cannot imagine Belgians being forced to ignore what the Rexist party did during hte war. The Poles recently voted out their extremist government and now they can learn a more complete history of the war. Fortunately, humanities programs in the US are still hanging on. Battered but not broken.
By the way, what is it with techbros and mixed martial arts? It seems that they all gravitate towards UFC figures. Zuckerberg and UFC's president have become buddies. I wonder if it's because the techbros always got beaten up at school.
By the way, what is it with techbros and mixed martial arts? It seems that they all gravitate towards UFC figures. Zuckerberg and UFC's president have become buddies. I wonder if it's because the techbros always got beaten up at school.
The biggest problem with this "True historians will always know the Truth" mentality is that when Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Fox News, and the effin' President all say the same things, and Google, reddit, and A.I. aggregator-of-the-week all slurp those up and appear to repeat/corroborate those messages, the "real historian" is going to be in the minority, solely determined by the source/quantity of material consumed by John Q. Public. MAGA does not need to prove their ideas are correct or true or even plausible, they just have to make sure their ideas are vastly more numerous and/or louder than any of the dissenting opinions, and the un(der)educated Public will accept those ideas as the natural order, solely based on the weight of exposure.
If Historians become the only ones who know the "real" Truth, who else will believe them?
--Patrick
All of this, plus we still currently have trouble getting the truth of the past to the people. There are still a shitton of people out there who think Reagan was a great guy. People still think Christopher Columbus was a hero! People lost their freaking minds over CRT et al because they don't want to hear the truth that might not line up with their current way of thinking, even though it happened a long time ago. I wish it wasn't this way, but here we are.
And let's not forget Holocaust denial.
People, this is a settled court case. Its existence is a matter of public record.
--Patrick
People, this is a settled court case. Its existence is a matter of public record.
--Patrick
Not "true historians," but professional historians with credentialed expertise in the subject. I know this will be an uphill battle.
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ A federal judge in Florida temporarily blocked the Justice Department from releasing special counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s classified documents investigation. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon justified her order “to preserve the status quo” and to prevent “irreparable harm” while the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals considers a motion from Trump’s co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, who argued that the report’s release would prejudice their cases. That filing came after Smith confirmed he’s “working to finalize” reports for Attorney General Merrick Garland outlining the results of his investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents after he left office and his attempt to subvert the 2020 election. Garland previously said he’d release the report publicly in some form. Cannon’s injunction, however, follows a series of legal rulings that have limited Smith’s authority and dismissed charges against Trump in the case. Cannon, a Trump appointee, previously ruled Smith’s appointment unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court’s decision on presidential immunity further weakened the special counsel’s cases. (Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / Associated Press / Politico / New York Times / ABC News / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg)
2/ A New York appeals court judge denied Trump’s request to delay his Friday sentencing in the election interference case involving falsified business records, rejecting arguments that presidential immunity applies. Trump’s lawyers argued that immunity protections for a sitting president should extend to the transition period as president-elect, but the trial judge and appellate court rejected this claim. While the trial judge suggested that Trump would likely face no jail time, he emphasized the importance of finalizing the case before Trump’s inauguration. Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made during the 2016 election. (Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / ABC News / Bloomberg / Axios / CNBC / CNN / NBC News)
3/ Trump didn’t rule out using the U.S. military to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland, saying “we need them for economic security.” When a reporter asked if he could assure the public that he wouldn’t use military or economic coercion to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, Trump replied: “No, I can’t assure you of either of those two. The Panama Canal was built for our military. I’m not going to commit to that, no […] It might be that you’ll have to do something.” Elsewhere during his hourlong news conference, Trump – again – asserted that Canada should be the 51st U.S. state, this time threatening to use “economic force” – not military power – to pressure the country to join the U.S. Trump then floated renaming the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America,” which he said had “a beautiful ring.” Trump also pledged to make “major pardons” for those charged in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, and said “all hell will break out in the Middle East” if Israeli hostages held by Hamas are not released by his inauguration. (New York Times / ABC News / Associated Press / Axios / Politico / Washington Post / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / CNBC / CNN / NBC News)
4/ Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will end the third-party fact-checking program that will impact billions of users across Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads. In a video and an accompanying blog post, called “More speech, fewer mistakes,” Zuckerberg said Meta will shift to a user-driven “Community Notes” system because the company’s “fact checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created.” Zuckerberg, however, acknowledged a “tradeoff” and noted that more “bad stuff” will appear – again – on the platform as a result. “We’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship,” Zuckerberg said. “The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point toward once again prioritizing speech. So we are going to get back to our roots, focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms.” Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November, and Meta later donated $1 million to support Trump’s inauguration. After the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Facebook banned Trump from Facebook, but eventually allowed him to return. (TechCrunch / New York Times / Washington Post / Axios / CNN / NBC News / NPR / ABC News / Wall Street Journal / The Verge)
2/ A New York appeals court judge denied Trump’s request to delay his Friday sentencing in the election interference case involving falsified business records, rejecting arguments that presidential immunity applies. Trump’s lawyers argued that immunity protections for a sitting president should extend to the transition period as president-elect, but the trial judge and appellate court rejected this claim. While the trial judge suggested that Trump would likely face no jail time, he emphasized the importance of finalizing the case before Trump’s inauguration. Trump was convicted in May of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made during the 2016 election. (Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / ABC News / Bloomberg / Axios / CNBC / CNN / NBC News)
3/ Trump didn’t rule out using the U.S. military to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland, saying “we need them for economic security.” When a reporter asked if he could assure the public that he wouldn’t use military or economic coercion to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, Trump replied: “No, I can’t assure you of either of those two. The Panama Canal was built for our military. I’m not going to commit to that, no […] It might be that you’ll have to do something.” Elsewhere during his hourlong news conference, Trump – again – asserted that Canada should be the 51st U.S. state, this time threatening to use “economic force” – not military power – to pressure the country to join the U.S. Trump then floated renaming the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America,” which he said had “a beautiful ring.” Trump also pledged to make “major pardons” for those charged in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, and said “all hell will break out in the Middle East” if Israeli hostages held by Hamas are not released by his inauguration. (New York Times / ABC News / Associated Press / Axios / Politico / Washington Post / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / CNBC / CNN / NBC News)
4/ Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will end the third-party fact-checking program that will impact billions of users across Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Threads. In a video and an accompanying blog post, called “More speech, fewer mistakes,” Zuckerberg said Meta will shift to a user-driven “Community Notes” system because the company’s “fact checkers have been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created.” Zuckerberg, however, acknowledged a “tradeoff” and noted that more “bad stuff” will appear – again – on the platform as a result. “We’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship,” Zuckerberg said. “The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point toward once again prioritizing speech. So we are going to get back to our roots, focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms.” Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November, and Meta later donated $1 million to support Trump’s inauguration. After the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Facebook banned Trump from Facebook, but eventually allowed him to return. (TechCrunch / New York Times / Washington Post / Axios / CNN / NBC News / NPR / ABC News / Wall Street Journal / The Verge)
So Muskieboy had an interview with Alice Weidel on X today.
If you're wondering if there's anyone else who can try to distort history and reality as much as Trump, no need to wonder anymore.
If you wonder if the Muskrat knows anything at all about European history, Germany, German politics, or, well, anything related to any of it, wonder no more.
Such gems as "we shouldn't be compared to Hitler, he was a communist and we are real conservatives and libertarian" or "we are the only party in Germany protecting the Jews, the left is antisemitic, that is why we need to deport at least 7 million Muslims who entered the country in the last five years" (according to official numbers there are about 5 million Muslims in Germany, including both recent immigrants and all second/third/whatever generations) are really... Something.
If you're wondering if there's anyone else who can try to distort history and reality as much as Trump, no need to wonder anymore.
If you wonder if the Muskrat knows anything at all about European history, Germany, German politics, or, well, anything related to any of it, wonder no more.
Such gems as "we shouldn't be compared to Hitler, he was a communist and we are real conservatives and libertarian" or "we are the only party in Germany protecting the Jews, the left is antisemitic, that is why we need to deport at least 7 million Muslims who entered the country in the last five years" (according to official numbers there are about 5 million Muslims in Germany, including both recent immigrants and all second/third/whatever generations) are really... Something.
That's funny, because The Atlantic added an article just yesterday, How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days, and one of his key actions was banning the Communist Party (a major political opponent). Among other actions-
And to continue its "We're Fucked" theme this week, The Atlantic has an article today about the nutjob Christians who want to turn the US into a theocracy: The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows.
.
Sure, Muskie, tell me again how you all shouldn't be compared to Hitler...
And to continue its "We're Fucked" theme this week, The Atlantic has an article today about the nutjob Christians who want to turn the US into a theocracy: The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows.
As an unhuman, I'd just like to say
.
No. I'm afraid it's safe to say they do not know that.
Unfortunately, Catholics are signing up for this insanity, too.
I can definitely see it attracting the Catholics who don't like Francis because he's ruining Catholicism with his hippie "compassion" and "inclusion".