To be clear, I was not blaming Canada for this.
Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats
- Thread starter GasBandit
- Start date
Yeah I know, your politics are pretty clear at this point! Just figured it was worth clarifying that it's even worse than if Trump had actually backed off of tariffs entirely for another month, which would itself be basically a non-starter given what happened last time he did that.
We need the good news wherever we can get it.
GasBandit
Staff member
GasBandit
Staff member
1 - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/tr...-usaid-partners-monday-judge-rules-rcna195248
2 - https://www.reuters.com/business/ta...smca-compliant-goods-lutnick-says-2025-03-06/
3 - https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5179829-judge-blocks-trump-omb-freeze/
4 - https://www.frommers.com/trip-ideas...elled-parks-being-dismantled-before-our-eyes/
5 - https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5180939-trump-considers-extending-tiktok-ban/
6 - https://www.hrdive.com/news/federal-judge-reinstates-fired-nlrb-member-gwynne-wilcox/741848/
7 - https://apnews.com/article/house-censure-green-trump-joint-address-61d82026983c99a269209bbeb32b45a5
8 - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...port-database-full-of-income-data/ar-AA1AotGu
9 - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-electricity-surcharge-us-tariffs-ford-1.7476515
10 - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...-coney-barrett-dei-supreme-court/81843688007/
11 - https://www.axios.com/2025/03/06/trump-perkins-coie-security-clearances
12 - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/06/gavin-newsom-trans-people-sports
13 - https://newrepublic.com/post/192442/doge-marocco-sued-us-marshals-takeover-usadf-agency
14 - https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/05/business/musk-usps-amtrak-privatization/index.html
15 - https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/...clear-unsightly-homeless-encampments/3860501/
16 - https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/06/tre...dream-is-not-about-access-to-cheap-goods.html
15 - https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5181461-trump-msnbc-nicolle-wallace-rachel-maddow/
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ Trump is preparing an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps toward closing the Department of Education. The draft order says that McMahon must “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” while staying within legal limits. Fully dissolving the department, however, would require congressional approval, which is unlikely given the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. The department, created in 1979, administers key federal education programs, including student loans and funding for low-income schools. The White House has not confirmed when Trump will sign the order. (Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / New York Times / Associated Press / NPR / CNN / ABC News)
2/ House Republicans can’t meet their own goal of eliminating $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade without cutting Medicaid or Medicare benefits, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported. The House Republican budget requires $880 billion in cuts from the Energy and Commerce Committee, which primarily oversees Medicaid, making it impossible to meet the target without reducing the program. Nevertheless, Speaker Mike Johnson insisted savings could come from reducing fraud and imposing work requirements despite the CBO’s analysis contradicting that claim. Trump has repeatedly promised not to cut social safety net programs, but Republicans can’t fund his tax cuts and immigration agenda without doing so. Democrats warned the plan would lead to “the largest Medicaid cuts in American history.” (Washington Post / CBS News / The Guardian / NBC News / The Hill)
3/ Two days after imposing them, Trump temporarily suspended his tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Despite the pause, many goods - especially from Canada - will still face tariffs, and Trump has signaled more trade measures ahead. Stock markets fell sharply amid uncertainty over U.S. trade policy, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly 2%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, defended Trump’s tariff policy, arguing that “Access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American dream.” (New York Times / Washington Post / Axios / Politico / NPR / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / CNBC / CNN / NBC News / ABC News)
4/ Trump told his Cabinet that agency heads – not Elon Musk – should decide staffing and policy. According to Trump’s new guidance, Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency should play an advisory role. Trump insisted he wants to keep “good people” in government but warned that Musk would step in if agency heads failed to make sufficient cuts. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, urged Musk to work through Congress to formalize his spending reductions and improve communication, citing backlash from constituents. (Politico / Bloomberg / CNN / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / Associated Press)
5/ U.S. layoffs hit a five-year high in February, with 172,017 cuts. More than one-third of the cuts came from the federal government, where Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency eliminated 62,242 jobs across 17 agencies. Retail and tech sectors also saw job losses, with nearly 39,000 and 14,554 cuts, respectively. (CNBC / The Hill / CBS News / CNN)
poll/ 49% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, with the cost of living (60%) and the economy (51%) as top concerns. While 59% support downsizing the federal government, fewer back the mass layoffs (40%) or closing of agencies like USAID (42%). On foreign policy, 57% approve of Ukraine using U.S.-supplied arms against Russia, and 70% blame Russia for starting the war. (Reuters/Ipsos)
poll/ 10% of voters believe Democrats have a solid plan to counter Trump. 40% say the party has no strategy at all. (Politico)
The midterm elections are in 607 days.
2/ House Republicans can’t meet their own goal of eliminating $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade without cutting Medicaid or Medicare benefits, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported. The House Republican budget requires $880 billion in cuts from the Energy and Commerce Committee, which primarily oversees Medicaid, making it impossible to meet the target without reducing the program. Nevertheless, Speaker Mike Johnson insisted savings could come from reducing fraud and imposing work requirements despite the CBO’s analysis contradicting that claim. Trump has repeatedly promised not to cut social safety net programs, but Republicans can’t fund his tax cuts and immigration agenda without doing so. Democrats warned the plan would lead to “the largest Medicaid cuts in American history.” (Washington Post / CBS News / The Guardian / NBC News / The Hill)
3/ Two days after imposing them, Trump temporarily suspended his tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Despite the pause, many goods - especially from Canada - will still face tariffs, and Trump has signaled more trade measures ahead. Stock markets fell sharply amid uncertainty over U.S. trade policy, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly 2%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meanwhile, defended Trump’s tariff policy, arguing that “Access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American dream.” (New York Times / Washington Post / Axios / Politico / NPR / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / CNBC / CNN / NBC News / ABC News)
4/ Trump told his Cabinet that agency heads – not Elon Musk – should decide staffing and policy. According to Trump’s new guidance, Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency should play an advisory role. Trump insisted he wants to keep “good people” in government but warned that Musk would step in if agency heads failed to make sufficient cuts. Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, urged Musk to work through Congress to formalize his spending reductions and improve communication, citing backlash from constituents. (Politico / Bloomberg / CNN / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / Associated Press)
5/ U.S. layoffs hit a five-year high in February, with 172,017 cuts. More than one-third of the cuts came from the federal government, where Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency eliminated 62,242 jobs across 17 agencies. Retail and tech sectors also saw job losses, with nearly 39,000 and 14,554 cuts, respectively. (CNBC / The Hill / CBS News / CNN)
poll/ 49% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, with the cost of living (60%) and the economy (51%) as top concerns. While 59% support downsizing the federal government, fewer back the mass layoffs (40%) or closing of agencies like USAID (42%). On foreign policy, 57% approve of Ukraine using U.S.-supplied arms against Russia, and 70% blame Russia for starting the war. (Reuters/Ipsos)
poll/ 10% of voters believe Democrats have a solid plan to counter Trump. 40% say the party has no strategy at all. (Politico)
The midterm elections are in 607 days.
Fox Host Predicts Recession Under Trump — But Says ‘It Will Be Joe Biden’s Recession’
Fox Business Network anchor Maria Bartiromo said conditions point to a "recession" this year — but added "It will be Joe Biden's recession."
--Patrick
GasBandit
Staff member
Russia attacks Ukraine's energy supplies as US cuts its access to satellite images
The bombardment took place hours after Zelenskyy said talks with the U.S. on ending the 3-year war will happen next week.
apnews.com
The U.S. is making more seizures of illegal eggs than fentanyl at its Canadian and Mexican borders - The Logic
Since October, U.S. customs officers have made 3,768 seizures of bird and poultry-related products, including eggs, compared to 352 fentanyl seizures.
thelogic.co
--Patrick
Realpolitik = acknowledging bully's rights to take what they want because they're big and strong.
Russia attacks Ukraine's energy supplies as US cuts its access to satellite images
The bombardment took place hours after Zelenskyy said talks with the U.S. on ending the 3-year war will happen next week.
The UN - like other initiatives before it - were attempts to give power and voice to the weak(er) and smaller nations.
This is the big boys reasserting dominance.
Not likely to go well for the one ignoring his hanger-ons and sidekicks (euros and Canadia). China has already launched a MASSIVE pr initiative across Europe.
Dave
Staff member
I don't believe this AT ALL. Were that true there would be - and SHOULD BE - no veto powers by five fucking countries.
Don't worry. The well-armed populace will reject this tyranny and overthrow the government.
GasBandit
Staff member
GasBandit
Staff member
GasBandit
Staff member
1. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/mar/08/trumps-justice-department-ousts-national-security-/
2. https://www.rawstory.com/elon-musk-access-income-data/
3. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-gop-releases-stopgap-bill-avert-shutdown/story?id=119591187
4. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/climate/noaa-layoffs-trump.html
5. https://apnews.com/article/national...mp-cuts-doge-9cec46a638d66f19c5b8fe695e721bd6
6. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/all-hhs-workers-given-25000-dollar-voluntary-buyout-offer/
7. https://www.meidasplus.com/p/trump-tells-americans-shut-up-about?hide_intro_popup=true
8. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/s...rpayment-withholdings-to-100-from-10-3ebf012d
9. https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/...-still-in-the-job/ar-AA1AvmA2?ocid=TobArticle
10. https://apnews.com/article/social-s...a-protection-ab30a5f446914b93aff84188558c1416
11. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/en...-epa-citibank-over-funding-freeze-2025-03-09/
12. https://ktla.com/news/politics/ap-p...-will-reward-us-for-the-trump-musk-doge-cuts/
It's only been a few years, but I'd be curious to see if your political compass shifted at all from the last time you did it.
(Mind you, it's a political compass according to a Canadian survey, but a lot of the same rules could apply to the US.)
GasBandit
Staff member
A lot of the questions were canada specific or about specific canadian personalities with which I was not familiar, but I did my best.
Looks like I moved one block left and a block and a half up. And the funny part is when I took the test in 2021, this process had already begun. COVID was a real fuckin pivotal moment for me.
One of these days I'll pull you over to the far left and you can be an anarcho-communist like me. It won't make anything better, but it -will- make you sadder, so there's that.
figmentPez
Staff member
As Canadians cancel trips due to Trump, the U.S. tourism industry could lose billions
" According to the U.S. Travel Association, Canadians are the largest group of foreign visitors to the U.S. annually and accounted for $20.5 billion in spending last year alone. "
....
"Bookings at U.S. hotels just over the Canadian border are also down. The data analytics firm CoStar Group found that the demand for hotel rooms in a four-week period covering part of January and most of February had decreased 8% year over year in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and 12% in the Bellingham area of northwest Washington, about 50 miles south of Vancouver. "
....
" Still, according to a poll released last month by the market research firm Leger, nearly half of Canadians surveyed said they were less likely to travel to the U.S. this year. Most of them said they planned to travel within Canada instead. "
....
" The U.S. Travel Association estimated that even a 10% reduction in Canadian tourism to the U.S. would spell a $2.1 billion drop in spending and a loss of 14,000 American jobs. "
" According to the U.S. Travel Association, Canadians are the largest group of foreign visitors to the U.S. annually and accounted for $20.5 billion in spending last year alone. "
....
"Bookings at U.S. hotels just over the Canadian border are also down. The data analytics firm CoStar Group found that the demand for hotel rooms in a four-week period covering part of January and most of February had decreased 8% year over year in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and 12% in the Bellingham area of northwest Washington, about 50 miles south of Vancouver. "
....
" Still, according to a poll released last month by the market research firm Leger, nearly half of Canadians surveyed said they were less likely to travel to the U.S. this year. Most of them said they planned to travel within Canada instead. "
....
" The U.S. Travel Association estimated that even a 10% reduction in Canadian tourism to the U.S. would spell a $2.1 billion drop in spending and a loss of 14,000 American jobs. "