So nowhere did I say I don’t care about facts. Good to know even you know that you made that up.
And unless I’m mistaken arguing on the internet isn’t trolling.
Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats
- Thread starter GasBandit
- Start date
And unless I’m mistaken arguing on the internet isn’t trolling.
GasBandit
Staff member
It is when it's the end, and not the means.
I'm not really in the business of being a bee that tries teaching flies that honey is sweeter than shit anymore, so all my interactions with you are minimal effort. If you're looking for someone to indulge your demands for shit, you can look on another forum. Everybody here has your number pretty much nailed down.
My brother in Christ. I am truly sorry for whatever I have done to make you think I give a single fuck about what you do.
Must be that reality distortion field generator that Musk pried out of Jobs’ hands.
GasBandit
Staff member
You keep posting at me, so you obviously give several fucks.
Looking forward to your next self-contradictory statement that convinces literally nobody,
Gas
In what deranged world view does an online argument indicate that somebody cares about whoever they’re arguing with?You keep posting at me, so you obviously give several fucks.
Looking forward to your next self-contradictory statement that convinces literally nobody,
Gas
Bad faith arguing for the sake of arguing while you blatantly don't care about either informing or changing the mind of the other person is pretty much just trolling, though. You can't have it both ways - say you're arguing just to be argumentative and not care, and say you're not trolling.
10% tariff for that post good buddy
GasBandit
Staff member
You keep posting at me, so you obviously give several fucks.
Looking forward to your next self-contradictory statement that convinces literally nobody,
Gas
Me, reading the latest posts in this thread:
No. No we are not.
I do care about informing though. And I never argue anything but my honest position. I just have argued enough online to realize that people aren’t going to change their point of view just because they’ve been informed of something they were unaware of before. People will just dig in and harden their position.
It isn’t trolling to argue Star Wars even though I know going in that I’m not going to convince the other side that The Last Jedi is the best of the new series and they’re not going to be able to convince me that it’s trash. Politics is no different. I’m not going to be able to convince some bigot that his quest to force all trans people back into the closet is wrong and they’re not going to convince me that Trans people aren’t worthy of respect. That’s not trolling that’s just the fact of arguing online.
GasBandit
Staff member
- Trump declares economic emergency and hits 60 countries with 10% tariffs, raises auto rate to 25%, and slaps China with a 54% penalty.
- Four Republicans vote for Kaine-led Senate resolution to repeal Trump’s Canada tariffs, but GOP House likely to block it.
- State Department bans US government personnel in China from romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens.
- Danish prime minister rebukes U.S. claims over Greenland at start of three-day visit to island.
- Acting Social Security chief faces resignation calls over rescinded order that made Maine the only state requiring in-person newborn registration at one of just eight federal offices.
- North Dakota Republicans revive failed resolution to gut 2022 term limits, extend their time in office, and reset the clock for themselves.
- Scientists and labor unions sue NIH over Trump-era purge of DEI, vaccine, and COVID research, citing $2.4 billion in canceled grants.
- Judge slams EPA and Citibank over $20 billion green grant freeze, questions legality of Trump-aligned shutdown targeting nonprofits.
- Judge finally dismisses NYC Mayor corruption case with prejudice, after DOJ resignations and backlash over Trump-aligned immigration deal.
- Milbank pledges $100 million in pro bono work after EEOC call with no order issued, joining string of law firms cutting Trump deals now totaling $340 million.
- The day after firing 2,400 workers, Trump administration orders CDC to cut $2.9 billion in contracts, slashing 35 percent of outside spending.
- Zuckerberg visits White House for third time to lobby Trump ahead of antitrust trial that could force Meta to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.
- Trump reviews TikTok bids after Amazon makes last-minute pitch in scramble to meet Saturday divestment deadline.
- Trump slaps tariffs on uninhabited Antarctic islands managed by Australia that have no trade with the U.S.
- GOP Senator Jim Banks, a close Trump ally, called a fired HHS worker “a clown” who “probably deserved it” when his constituent asked him about mass firings.
- Top Trump FDA official pauses Novavax Covid-19 vaccine approval in rare intervention overriding staff scientists.
- DOJ advisor Christopher Stanley once ran hacking forums and pirated software sites, now works for Musk’s DOGE.
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ Trump imposed a 10% blanket tariff on all U.S. imports and steeper country-specific “reciprocal tariffs” on about 60 countries, bypassing Congress and invoking emergency powers to justify what he called “economic independence.” China will now face a 54% total tariff, while Vietnam, India, Japan, and the EU face rates between 20% and 46%. Trump claimed the tariffs were a response to “economic warfare” and a $1.2 trillion trade deficit. His use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, typically reserved for sanctions, to enact his policies makes him the first president to use that law to raise tariffs unilaterally. “These tariffs are going to give us growth,” Trump said. Economists across the political spectrum, however, say the tariffs will drive up costs for American consumers and businesses, risk a global trade war, and offer little near-term benefit. “Rather than fixing the rules […] Trump has chosen to blow up the system,” Cornell economist Eswar Prasad said. The White House admitted the rates were “calculated” but then arbitrarily cut them in half, raising questions about the logic behind Trump’s tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged foreign governments, “Don’t retaliate,” while Trump insisted, “This is kind reciprocal.” Mexico and Canada are exempt from the new tariffs for now, but remain under separate 25% duties tied to unrelated fentanyl enforcement. Markets dropped immediately: S&P 500 futures fell over 3%, Nasdaq dropped 4%, and Dow futures slid nearly 1,000 points. Goldman Sachs warned foreign-made cars could cost $15,000 more, with U.S.-assembled vehicles seeing up to $8,000 in added costs due to imported parts. Consumer confidence, meanwhile, fell to a 12-year low, with two-thirds of Americans expecting job losses. (New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / Politico / Axios / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / CNN / NBC News)
3/ Liberal Judge Susan Crawford won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating conservative Brad Schimel despite $25 million in backing from Elon Musk and support from Trump. Crawford’s win maintains the court’s 4–3 liberal majority, which will decide on abortion access, labor rights, and redistricting in the coming months. She won by about 10 points, a swing toward Democrats in a state Trump won by one point in November. The race became the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history, with spending exceeding $100 million. “I never could have imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world – for justice in Wisconsin – and we won,” Crawford said. Musk had framed the election as one of the most important elections and offered money to voters and canvassers to boost turnout, but Republicans now question whether his presence hurt more than helped. “He made the election about him and they paid the price,” Crawford’s senior adviser said. Meanwhile in Florida, Republicans won two special House elections, but underperformed in both. In the 6th District, Republican Randy Fine defeated Democrat Josh Weil by 14 points – less than half Trump’s 30-point margin there in 2024. In the 1st District, Republican Jimmy Patronis won by 15 points in a district Matt Gaetz carried by 32. (New York Times / The 19th / Wall Street Journal / NPR / NBC News / CNN / Axios / Associated Press / Politico)
4/ Trump told aides and members of his Cabinet that Elon Musk will soon leave his White House role – likely when his 130-day appointment ends in late May. Publicly, Trump said, “At some point he’s going to be going back. He wants to,” but inside the West Wing officials said his chaotic presence is wearing thin. “People were so pissed about it, because it’s fucking insane,” said one insider, citing Musk’s rogue decisions, poor coordination, and increasing political damage. Musk’s $21 million gamble on a failed Wisconsin judicial race deepened Republican concerns that he’s become a liability. Despite the denial from Trump’s press team – who called the story “garbage” – they didn’t dispute Musk is leaving. (Politico / ABC News / CNBC / New York Times / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)
5/ Trump is considering a deal to avoid a TikTok ban that would let China’s ByteDance keep control of the app’s algorithm by leasing it to a U.S. spinoff. The proposal would likely violate a federal law requiring a full break from foreign ownership, but Trump may certify it anyway. “Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs,” he said, hinting at using the deal as leverage in trade talks with China. Despite national security concerns, Trump has pushed to “save TikTok,” a platform popular with his base. Amazon also made a last-minute bid, but officials dismissed it, focusing instead on a complex plan backed by U.S. investors that may still leave ByteDance with influence. (Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)
The midterm elections are in 580 days.
Notables.
- Live blogs: Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / CNBC / CNN / NBC News / New York Times / Politico / Washington Post / Associated Press
3/ Liberal Judge Susan Crawford won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating conservative Brad Schimel despite $25 million in backing from Elon Musk and support from Trump. Crawford’s win maintains the court’s 4–3 liberal majority, which will decide on abortion access, labor rights, and redistricting in the coming months. She won by about 10 points, a swing toward Democrats in a state Trump won by one point in November. The race became the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history, with spending exceeding $100 million. “I never could have imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world – for justice in Wisconsin – and we won,” Crawford said. Musk had framed the election as one of the most important elections and offered money to voters and canvassers to boost turnout, but Republicans now question whether his presence hurt more than helped. “He made the election about him and they paid the price,” Crawford’s senior adviser said. Meanwhile in Florida, Republicans won two special House elections, but underperformed in both. In the 6th District, Republican Randy Fine defeated Democrat Josh Weil by 14 points – less than half Trump’s 30-point margin there in 2024. In the 1st District, Republican Jimmy Patronis won by 15 points in a district Matt Gaetz carried by 32. (New York Times / The 19th / Wall Street Journal / NPR / NBC News / CNN / Axios / Associated Press / Politico)
4/ Trump told aides and members of his Cabinet that Elon Musk will soon leave his White House role – likely when his 130-day appointment ends in late May. Publicly, Trump said, “At some point he’s going to be going back. He wants to,” but inside the West Wing officials said his chaotic presence is wearing thin. “People were so pissed about it, because it’s fucking insane,” said one insider, citing Musk’s rogue decisions, poor coordination, and increasing political damage. Musk’s $21 million gamble on a failed Wisconsin judicial race deepened Republican concerns that he’s become a liability. Despite the denial from Trump’s press team – who called the story “garbage” – they didn’t dispute Musk is leaving. (Politico / ABC News / CNBC / New York Times / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)
5/ Trump is considering a deal to avoid a TikTok ban that would let China’s ByteDance keep control of the app’s algorithm by leasing it to a U.S. spinoff. The proposal would likely violate a federal law requiring a full break from foreign ownership, but Trump may certify it anyway. “Maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs,” he said, hinting at using the deal as leverage in trade talks with China. Despite national security concerns, Trump has pushed to “save TikTok,” a platform popular with his base. Amazon also made a last-minute bid, but officials dismissed it, focusing instead on a complex plan backed by U.S. investors that may still leave ByteDance with influence. (Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal)
The midterm elections are in 580 days.
Notables.- Mike Waltz’s national security team created at least 20 Signal group chats to coordinate U.S. policy on crises in Ukraine, China, Gaza, and other regions. House Democrats opened a probe, citing “deeply alarming concerns” over the potential misuse of unsecured platforms. (Politico)
- The Social Security Administration canceled key contracts with Maine in retaliation against Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek called Mills a “petulant child” and ordered the cancellations of contracts, which allowed hospitals to enroll newborns in the Social Security system at birth and let parents verify deaths through an electronic system, days she publicly pushed back against Trump’s efforts to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. Dudek reinstated them less than 24 hours later. (HuffPost)
- The Trump administration fired at least 10 top scientists at the National Institutes of Health, including Parkinson’s expert Dr. Richard Youle, a leading Parkinson’s researcher and Breakthrough Prize winner. (Wired)
- The FDA missed its April 1 deadline to grant full approval for Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine, leaving the application in limbo days after vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks resigned. The delay also comes as HHS, now led by vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., reviews all vaccine-related messaging. (Wall Street Journal)
- The Trump administration fired the entire federal staff that manages a $4.1 billion energy assistance program for low-income households. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps around 6.2 million Americans cover heating and cooling bills. (New York Times)
- The White House is studying what it would cost to acquire Greenland and what the U.S. could gain from the island’s mineral resources. Trump officials have reportedly said they aim to “pay more than Denmark” to acquire the island. (Washington Post)
- Trump’s social media company filed paperwork Wednesday that could allow his trust to sell up to $2.3 billion in Truth Social stock. Trump, however, said last year he didn’t plan to sell, saying “I don’t need the money.” (Axios)
- A federal judge permanently dismissed the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, rejecting the Trump Justice Department’s request to leave the door open to future prosecution. Judge Dale Ho criticized DOJ’s claim that dropping the charges would help Adams support Trump’s immigration policies, calling it “unprecedented” and “disturbing.” Adams was indicted last year for bribery and campaign finance violations. (CNBC / Associated Press / CNN / NPR / Politico)
I’ve said this before (probably here at some point) but every single republican president in my lifetime has crashed the US Economy and every single democratic one has presided over a generally good economy and yet the Republican party is still the party to vote for “for the economy.” Pretty depressing.
GasBandit
Staff member
It's been covered by the point that when republicans say "the economy" you can just immediately translate that to "yacht money." Then it all is consistent.
I read that Fred Trump made is fortune that way back in the 1930s.
And that's why there's a very very small number of accounts who post in the politics channels that I've blocked.
Well, shit, that means Li'l Z's a bot, because he uses those for his ID on almost everything.
*storms into Li'l z's room* "Why didn't you tell me you're a bot?!?"
LZ: "Oh no, I've been caught!... also, what?"
Dave
Staff member
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