Genuine question here, I've never had the chance to talk about this with Americans at all: does that first panel actually resonate? Do any of the people who haven't realized what's going on feel badly about how natives were treated 200 years ago? Does that come up as an example in teaching/learning about why "just following orders" doesn't justify evil actions?
Gas Bandit's Political Thread V: The Vampire Likes Bats
- Thread starter GasBandit
- Start date
The short version is this: there are two Americas. One of them sees that first panel and feels it resonate. They probably went to a school that at least touched on the idea of American atrocities against Native Americans, and they see what's going on as an evil echo of the crimes of the past. They are trying to stop it, from protests to contacting representatives to choices they make in the ballot box.
The "other" America passes right over that panel without thinking or resonating with anything. They either don't care about what's going on or actively cheer for it so long as it happens to people of color. They all think anyone in a uniform for a U.S. agency is a hero, fighting against evil invaders, criminals, and monsters.
One of those Americas is heavily represented on this board, and the other is no where to be found on Halforums. So you can ask those thoughtful questions, but the answers you get aren't a good representation of the people who voted for Trump and his fucked up administration.
I don't think it does for most people, because I expect most Americans think of The People less like...well, like people, and more like the left-over "former" inhabitants of our country who were conquered but are still clinging/hanging on and haven't finished moving out to wherever their new place of refuge is supposed to be yet.
--Patrick
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ Trump said he doesn’t know if he’s required to uphold the Constitution as president, saying, “I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer.” Despite the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment says that “no person” shall be “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” Trump accused the courts of blocking his efforts to remove “some of the worst people on Earth. I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it.” When asked on whether due process applies to everyone in the U.S., Trump replied that “It might say that,” but added: “We’d have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials.” Trump also dismissed the 9-0 Supreme Court ruling ordering the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man wrongly deported to El Salvador, saying Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department “don’t view it that way at all.” (NBC News / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / Politico / Washington Post / Reuters / CBS News)
2/ Trump refused to fully rule military action against Canada to make it the 51st state, saying it was “highly unlikely” but “could happen.” Trump, however, left open the possibility of using force to acquire Greenland, saying: “We need that for international security.” Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, responded bluntly: “These are not idle threats.” (Axios / Politico / The Guardian / CBS News)
3/ Mike Waltz, Trump’s recently fired national security adviser, was photographed using TeleMessage – an encrypted messaging app that stores chat logs – during a Cabinet meeting last week. Days later, the company suspended all services after hackers claimed to have breached its servers and stolen data, including government contact lists and message data. TeleMessage, pitched as a “compliant” alternative to Signal, is used by multiple federal agencies despite security experts warning that archiving encrypted messages “breaks the security model.” Waltz was already under scrutiny for “Signalgate,” when he accidentally added a journalist to a Signal thread discussing airstrikes in Yemen. Trump publicly scolded staff – “Maybe don’t use Signal, okay?” – before tapping Waltz for U.N. ambassador. (NBC News / CNBC / Bloomberg / The Guardian / The Verge)
4/ Trump dismissed signs of an economic slowdown, saying the U.S. is in a “transition period” and would “do fantastically.” The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter – the first decline since 2022 – driven by a surge in imports ahead of Trump’s tariffs and a slowdown in consumer spending. Housing starts fell more than 11% in March, construction costs rose due to tariff-driven supply hikes, and rents increased for the third straight month. The April jobs report showed modest growth, with 177,000 jobs added. Trump nevertheless blamed Biden – “That’s Biden. That’s not Trump” – but took credit for the stock rally, saying “the good parts are the Trump economy.” Markets had partially recovered after Trump delayed some tariffs. Trump also defended his trade policy despite warnings from economists and brushed off inflation concerns, saying, “They don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have five,” and that “maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls.” Trump ended a key tariff exemption for small-value imports from China, raising costs for millions of online shoppers. Trump added: “The tariffs are going to make us rich.” (NBC News / Wall Street Journal / Axios / NBC News / Politico / Washington Post / CNN / New York Times / Bloomberg)
5/ Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on films made outside the U.S., calling foreign movies a “national security threat” and blaming overseas incentives for the decline of U.S. filmmaking. “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” Trump posted on his personal social media network, adding that “Other nations have stolen our movie industry.” The White House, however, admitted that no final policy exists, but said it’s “exploring all options” to carry out Trump’s directive. (New York Times / Axios / Variety / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / Washington Post)
6/ The Trump administration will pay $1,000 and provide free airfare to undocumented immigrants who agree to self-deport using a government-run app. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called it “the best, safest and most cost-effective way” to leave the U.S. without getting arrested. Migrants must confirm their departure through the CBP Home app to get the money. Trump said those who don’t leave voluntarily “will never get a path to come back in.” (NBC News / Washington Post / Reuters / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / Associated Press / CNBC / USA Today / Axios)
7/ Trump ordered federal agencies to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz, the former island prison shut down in 1963 over high costs and failing infrastructure. Alcatraz is currently a federally protected historic site run by the National Park Service, which draws more than 1 million visitors a year as a major San Francisco tourist attraction. “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ,” Trump said, claiming it would detain the “most ruthless and violent Offenders” and stand as a symbol of “Law, Order, and JUSTICE.” The Bureau of Prisons said it would begin an assessment, despite the island’s lack of water, power, and modern utilities. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes the island, said: “The President’s proposal is not a serious one.” (Associated Press / Politico / NPR / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / Wall Street Journal / ABC News / Axios)
8/ Israel approved a plan to seize Gaza, displace most of its population, and take over aid distribution, with no timeline for withdrawal. “We’re not going in and out,” Netanyahu said, confirming that troops will hold the captured ground indefinitely. “We’ll call up reserves to come, hold territory—we’re not going to enter and then exit the area, only to carry out raids afterward. That’s not the plan. The intention is the opposite.” The military will call up tens of thousands of reservists and launch the operation – codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots” – if no hostage deal is reached before Trump’s trip to the region next week. “If there is no hostage deal, the operation will begin with great intensity and will not stop until all its goals are achieved,” a senior Israeli official said. Israel and private U.S. contractors will control all humanitarian aid, bypassing the UN, which called the plan a “pressure tactic” that violates humanitarian principles. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said: “We are finally going to conquer Gaza.” (Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / New York Times / Axios / USA Today / Washington Post / CNN)
The midterm elections are in 547 days.
Notables.
2/ Trump refused to fully rule military action against Canada to make it the 51st state, saying it was “highly unlikely” but “could happen.” Trump, however, left open the possibility of using force to acquire Greenland, saying: “We need that for international security.” Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, responded bluntly: “These are not idle threats.” (Axios / Politico / The Guardian / CBS News)
3/ Mike Waltz, Trump’s recently fired national security adviser, was photographed using TeleMessage – an encrypted messaging app that stores chat logs – during a Cabinet meeting last week. Days later, the company suspended all services after hackers claimed to have breached its servers and stolen data, including government contact lists and message data. TeleMessage, pitched as a “compliant” alternative to Signal, is used by multiple federal agencies despite security experts warning that archiving encrypted messages “breaks the security model.” Waltz was already under scrutiny for “Signalgate,” when he accidentally added a journalist to a Signal thread discussing airstrikes in Yemen. Trump publicly scolded staff – “Maybe don’t use Signal, okay?” – before tapping Waltz for U.N. ambassador. (NBC News / CNBC / Bloomberg / The Guardian / The Verge)
4/ Trump dismissed signs of an economic slowdown, saying the U.S. is in a “transition period” and would “do fantastically.” The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter – the first decline since 2022 – driven by a surge in imports ahead of Trump’s tariffs and a slowdown in consumer spending. Housing starts fell more than 11% in March, construction costs rose due to tariff-driven supply hikes, and rents increased for the third straight month. The April jobs report showed modest growth, with 177,000 jobs added. Trump nevertheless blamed Biden – “That’s Biden. That’s not Trump” – but took credit for the stock rally, saying “the good parts are the Trump economy.” Markets had partially recovered after Trump delayed some tariffs. Trump also defended his trade policy despite warnings from economists and brushed off inflation concerns, saying, “They don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have five,” and that “maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls.” Trump ended a key tariff exemption for small-value imports from China, raising costs for millions of online shoppers. Trump added: “The tariffs are going to make us rich.” (NBC News / Wall Street Journal / Axios / NBC News / Politico / Washington Post / CNN / New York Times / Bloomberg)
5/ Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on films made outside the U.S., calling foreign movies a “national security threat” and blaming overseas incentives for the decline of U.S. filmmaking. “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death,” Trump posted on his personal social media network, adding that “Other nations have stolen our movie industry.” The White House, however, admitted that no final policy exists, but said it’s “exploring all options” to carry out Trump’s directive. (New York Times / Axios / Variety / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / Washington Post)
6/ The Trump administration will pay $1,000 and provide free airfare to undocumented immigrants who agree to self-deport using a government-run app. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called it “the best, safest and most cost-effective way” to leave the U.S. without getting arrested. Migrants must confirm their departure through the CBP Home app to get the money. Trump said those who don’t leave voluntarily “will never get a path to come back in.” (NBC News / Washington Post / Reuters / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / Associated Press / CNBC / USA Today / Axios)
7/ Trump ordered federal agencies to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz, the former island prison shut down in 1963 over high costs and failing infrastructure. Alcatraz is currently a federally protected historic site run by the National Park Service, which draws more than 1 million visitors a year as a major San Francisco tourist attraction. “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ,” Trump said, claiming it would detain the “most ruthless and violent Offenders” and stand as a symbol of “Law, Order, and JUSTICE.” The Bureau of Prisons said it would begin an assessment, despite the island’s lack of water, power, and modern utilities. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes the island, said: “The President’s proposal is not a serious one.” (Associated Press / Politico / NPR / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / Wall Street Journal / ABC News / Axios)
8/ Israel approved a plan to seize Gaza, displace most of its population, and take over aid distribution, with no timeline for withdrawal. “We’re not going in and out,” Netanyahu said, confirming that troops will hold the captured ground indefinitely. “We’ll call up reserves to come, hold territory—we’re not going to enter and then exit the area, only to carry out raids afterward. That’s not the plan. The intention is the opposite.” The military will call up tens of thousands of reservists and launch the operation – codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots” – if no hostage deal is reached before Trump’s trip to the region next week. “If there is no hostage deal, the operation will begin with great intensity and will not stop until all its goals are achieved,” a senior Israeli official said. Israel and private U.S. contractors will control all humanitarian aid, bypassing the UN, which called the plan a “pressure tactic” that violates humanitarian principles. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said: “We are finally going to conquer Gaza.” (Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / New York Times / Axios / USA Today / Washington Post / CNN)
The midterm elections are in 547 days.
Notables.- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered the CDC to search for measles treatments using drugs and vitamins as the U.S. faces its worst outbreak in decades. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, is promoting unproven remedies like cod liver oil, budesonide, and clarithromycin – despite no evidence they cure the virus – instead of endorsing the safe and effective measles vaccine. (New York Times / Axios / The Hill / CBS News)
- The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to let Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency access millions of Americans’ Social Security data. Lower courts have blocked the move, calling it a “fishing expedition” and said the intrusion “is not in the public interest.” The Fourth Circuit also backed that view, writing: “There is no evidence DOGE’s work requires full access,” and noting that Musk’s team sought privileges reserved for only a few top officials. The Trump administration claims the data is needed to root out fraud but hasn’t shown why anonymized information isn’t enough. (Associated Press / NBC News / Politico / New York Times / Bloomberg)
- Trump told the former Proud Boys leader convicted of seditious conspiracy “I love you guys” during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago. Enrique Tarrio, who served less than two years of a 22-year sentence for helping organize the Jan. 6 Capitol attack before receiving Trump’s pardon, said Trump recognized him and “called me and my mother over […] said he was sorry for what Joe Biden did to all J6ers.” (New York Times / HuffPost / New Republic)
- The Trump administration reached a tentative settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt, a Capitol rioter fatally shot while trying to breach a barricaded door near the House chamber on Jan. 6. The terms remain secret, but the family had demanded $30 million in a wrongful death suit that accused Capitol Police of “ambushing” her. The Justice Department had previously cleared Lt. Michael Byrd, saying his actions “potentially saved members and staff from serious injury and possible death,” but reversed course after Trump took office. Trump has repeatedly praised Babbitt, called the officer a murderer, and publicly considered payouts to Jan. 6 rioters. (Washington Post / Politico / The Hill)
- Trump signed an executive order to cut off federal funding for NPR and PBS, accusing them of spreading “radical, woke propaganda” and calling public support for media “corrosive” to journalistic independence. The order directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to halt funding “to the maximum extent allowed by law.” PBS and NPR leaders condemned the move as unlawful and politically motivated. “CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the president’s authority,” CPB President Patricia Harrison said. (Politico / NBC News / Associated Press)
- Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself as pope on Truth Social and the White House’s official accounts, then denied involvement. “I had nothing to do with it,” he said, though he later claimed “the Catholics loved it” and that his wife thought it was “cute.” The image appeared days after he joked, “I’d like to be pope,” adding that he would be his “number one choice” for the job. JD Vance, meanwhile, defended the image, saying, “I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars.” Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, met privately with Pope Francis one day before the pope died. “Do not mock us,” the New York Catholic Conference said. Cardinal Dolan, who Trump had floated as a candidate for pope, called the image “not good.” (New York Times / Politico / NPR / Politico / New York Times / The Hill)
GasBandit
Staff member
- Appeals court blocks Trump’s attempt to end legal status for 400,000 migrants.
- Federal judge orders Trump administration to admit 12,000 refugees blocked under recent executive order.
- Intel memo contradicts Trump claim that Venezuelan gang posed a national threat used to justify 1798 deportation law.
- Trump administration offers $1,000 and paid transportation to undocumented immigrants who self-deport using a DHS app.
- Newark airport delays mount after radar and radio failure, controller trauma, and staffing crisis force United to cut 35 daily flights.
- Army halts D.C. helicopter flights after nearly hitting two jets, echoes January’s deadly Black Hawk crash.
- FEMA ends door-to-door disaster outreach as Trump administration shifts aid responsibilities to states.
- Hegseth moves to axe 8–9 four-star generals and admirals in ongoing Pentagon purge.
- Hegseth ran military and diplomatic operations on Signal from personal phone across at least a dozen unsecured chats.
- Hacked Signal clone used by Waltz to archive U.S. military messages shuts down amid security breach.
- Trump admin blocks future federal grants to Harvard unless it meets the president’s demands.
- Trump administration demands court-enforced decree to control Columbia’s admissions and hiring.
- Commerce Secretary Lutnick calls Canada a “socialist regime,” casting doubt on trade deal ahead of Trump-Carney meeting.
- Ford profit plunges 63% as tariffs hammer earnings, company pulls future forecasts.
- 20 attorneys general sue to block 25% workforce cuts at HHS under Trump admin.
- Trump administration tells judge states have no standing to sue over mifepristone access.
- Trump administration halts air-quality monitoring at all national parks, citing contract disputes.
- Democratic senators press Trump administration over plan to gut endangered species habitat protections.
- Democratic states sue Trump administration over freeze on wind energy development.
- Trump administration halts funding for ‘gain-of-function’ research that alters viruses.
- Trump officials and Pelosi press Jordan’s king to honor pledge to treat sick Gazan children.
Question, do you absolutely have to be an immigrant? Because I might self deport.
Donald Trump: famous for holding up his end of the deal after you’ve already done your part of it.
Estimates put the number of Gazan children actively suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, or are otherwise at high risk of death in the coming weeks, at around 600.000.
Saving 2000 cancer kids while letting 598000 die of enforced famine and drought is despicable. Push Israel to allow humanitarian aid, you absolute pieces of shit.
"families can gather to collect survival gear once weekly on one location" is not a valid way of doing things, unless you can explain how a starving and thirsting individual is supposed to haul water for their whole family for a week on their back.
Friedrich Merz is now the new german chancellor after a second round of voting.
Even though I'm not a "fan" I'm thankful it's done and we don't have do wait any longer or worst.
Suprisingly he didn't get enough votes after the first round this morning.
Of course the AFD demanded new elections right away.
Even though I'm not a "fan" I'm thankful it's done and we don't have do wait any longer or worst.
Suprisingly he didn't get enough votes after the first round this morning.
Of course the AFD demanded new elections right away.
figmentPez
Staff member
Salt Lake City adopts new flags to circumvent Utah's flag law
Short version: Utah passed a law banning "non-sanctioned" flags in schools and government buildings. SLC's city council adopted new variants of the city's flag based on the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, the Juneteenth flag, and the transgender flag. The law allows flags that represent a city or municipality, so these new flag variants meet the letter of the law.
Short version: Utah passed a law banning "non-sanctioned" flags in schools and government buildings. SLC's city council adopted new variants of the city's flag based on the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, the Juneteenth flag, and the transgender flag. The law allows flags that represent a city or municipality, so these new flag variants meet the letter of the law.
GasBandit
Staff member
- Carney rejects Trump’s 51st state idea in first White House meeting and wins promise to start new Canada‑U.S. trade talks.
- Gabbard orders US spy agencies to intensify surveillance of Greenland and Denmark as Trump keeps force option open to seize island.
- Trump says Hamas has 21 living hostages left in Gaza after three die.
- Trump will rebrand the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf during Saudi trip next week.
- Rubio merges US Office of Palestinian Affairs into Jerusalem embassy, narrowing Palestinian access to Washington.
- US treasury secretary and trade representative to open first China trade talks since Trump’s tariff war began.
- USPS to name FedEx board member David Steiner postmaster general at Trump’s urging.
- Trump administration ends CDC infection control panel, halting updates to national hospital guidelines.
- FDA names COVID policy critic Vinay Prasad to lead vaccines division after former chief quit amid RFK Jr. clashes.
- EPA plans to shut down Energy Star efficiency label program in Trump‑driven agency reorganization.
- Trump administration ends Ready to Learn grant, halting funding for PBS Kids educational content.
- Columbia will lay off nearly 180 researchers after Trump administration cuts $400 million in federal grants.
- Trump administration opens antisemitism probe into UWash after protests.
- Supreme Court allows Trump to enforce transgender military ban while appeals proceed.
- Trump halts U.S. bombing of Yemen’s Houthis after rebels agree to stop attacking American ships.
- Second Navy F/A‑18 crashes into Red Sea after failed carrier landing, pilots eject safely.
- Signal clone used by Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz sends plaintext chat logs to vendor.
- NSA plans to cut up to 2,000 civilian jobs this year under Trump workforce reduction push.
- Trump declares new World War I and II holidays on Nov. 11 and May 8 but says Americans will still work.
- Trump administration may soon deport migrants to Libya as part of mass removal campaign.
- Trump administration asked Ukraine to accept third‑country deportees despite its war with Russia.
- Two more judges block Trump’s Alien Enemies Act deportations, saying wartime law is misused.
- Judge Stephanie Gallagher rejects Trump bid, orders return of second Venezuelan migrant deported to El Salvador.
- Customs and Border Protection solicits real time facial recognition tech to photograph every passenger in cars at land border crossings.
- NYPD investigates how sealed arrest records of Palestinian protester were shared with ICE for deportation.
- Judge bars Trump administration from withholding over $1 billion in pandemic relief for struggling students.
- Federal judge blocks Trump plan to slash funding for library, minority business, and labor mediation agencies.
- Former JPMorgan Chase COO Frank Bisignano confirmed to lead Social Security.
- At a House hearing, Kristi Noem says FEMA should be scrapped and disaster aid converted to state grants.
- GOP Senator Tillis opposition likely to sink Trump’s pick Ed Martin for D.C. U.S. attorney.
- Trump chooses Rudy Giuliani’s son Andrew to lead presidential task force for the 2026 World Cup.
- White House unexpectedly ousts NTSB vice chair Alvin Brown in rare mid‑term removal.
- Trump says federal government will not fund California’s high‑speed rail project.
George W. Bush rebuffs Trump, will skip White House event honoring his mother.
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Trump that Canada “won’t be for sale, ever” during their first White House meeting, rejecting Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. Trump responded, “Never say never,” but backed off further annexation talk during the tense but civil meeting. Trump, however, refused to lift tariffs on Canadian goods, saying it’s “just the way it is,” while also dismissing expectations for formal trade talks: “We don’t have to sign deals. They have to sign deals with us.” Trump compared the U.S. to a “super luxury store” where countries must pay to access the market. Carney, meanwhile, called the conversation was “constructive,” but warned that negotiations would take time and involve broader issues. Despite efforts to reset relations, Trump nevertheless made clear he would dictate terms, not negotiate, while he continuing to threaten more tariffs on Canadian goods and industries. (NPR / NBC News / New York Times / CNBC / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Axios / Bloomberg / CNBC / Associated Press / Washington Post)
2/ The Supreme Court ruled that Trump can enforce his ban on transgender military service while legal challenges continue. The unsigned order lifted a nationwide injunction issued by a federal judge in Washington state, who had called the policy “a blanket prohibition” unsupported by evidence. The policy, based on Trump’s January executive order, requires the military to discharge transgender service members and bars new enlistments. Three liberal justices – Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson – dissented. Lawyers for the plaintiffs, including Navy Commander Emily Shilling – a combat pilot with 19 years of service – said the policy ignores four years of open transgender military service under Biden’s administration, during which the Pentagon reported no decline in readiness, cohesion, or performance. (New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / ABC News / Politico / NBC News / CNN / Bloomberg / Associated Press / Axios / Wall Street Journal)
3/ The Trump administration defended a Biden-era rule that expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone, asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from three Republican-led states. The Justice Department said Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas lacked standing and chose the wrong venue, echoing arguments first made by the Biden administration – a technical argument aimed at preserving the executive branch’s authority over regulatory decisions. The states want to reverse FDA rules that allow mifepristone to be prescribed through telehealth and mailed to patients, calling it a threat to their abortion bans. Trump’s DOJ didn’t defend the drug itself, but supported Biden’s legal position that “states cannot proceed in this court.” (Axios / NPR / HuffPost / New York Times / Politico / Reuters / The Hill / CBS News)
4/ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a 20% cut in the number of four-star generals and admirals across the U.S. military, along with a 20% cut to National Guard generals, and a 10% reduction in general and flag officers overall. The memo described the move as a way to eliminate “redundant force structure” and shift resources to frontline troops. The cuts also follow firings of the top Navy officer, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and several women and minority leaders. Hegseth claimed senior ranks were bloated and accused many top officers of pushing “social justice, gender, [and] climate” agendas. Senator Jack Reed called the move potentially crippling and warned against “arbitrary percentages” not backed by analysis. Representative Seth Moulton warned that Hegseth is “creating a formal framework to fire all the generals who disagree with him.” (CNN / New York Times / Axios / Bloomberg / Reuters / Associated Press / NBC News / Washington Post)
6/ An Israeli minister said Gaza “will be entirely destroyed” and its residents “will start to leave in great numbers to third countries,” after the government approved a plan to seize and indefinitely hold territory. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s statement marked Israel’s most explicit endorsement yet of mass displacement, military occupation, and full control over humanitarian aid. The plan moves civilians into so-called humanitarian zones while targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure. Aid organizations warned that famine risks in Gaza are rising again after the collapse of the temporary ceasefire in March. At the same time, Israel escalated its regional campaign by bombing and “fully” disabling the main airport in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, in response to a missile strike near Tel Aviv. (The Guardian / CBS News / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / CNN / New York Times / Wall Street Journal)
poll/ Trump’s job approval rating dropped 33 points among Americans who consume little to no news. Trump’s net approval among these low-engagement voters fell from +12 in January to -21 in April. A separate survey found a 13-point decline in approval among 2024 non-voters during the same period, from 44% to 31%. By contrast, Trump’s approval fell 14 points among high-engagement voters and 7 points among all adults. (Strength In Numbers)
The midterm elections are in 546 days.
Notables.
2/ The Supreme Court ruled that Trump can enforce his ban on transgender military service while legal challenges continue. The unsigned order lifted a nationwide injunction issued by a federal judge in Washington state, who had called the policy “a blanket prohibition” unsupported by evidence. The policy, based on Trump’s January executive order, requires the military to discharge transgender service members and bars new enlistments. Three liberal justices – Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson – dissented. Lawyers for the plaintiffs, including Navy Commander Emily Shilling – a combat pilot with 19 years of service – said the policy ignores four years of open transgender military service under Biden’s administration, during which the Pentagon reported no decline in readiness, cohesion, or performance. (New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / ABC News / Politico / NBC News / CNN / Bloomberg / Associated Press / Axios / Wall Street Journal)
3/ The Trump administration defended a Biden-era rule that expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone, asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit from three Republican-led states. The Justice Department said Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas lacked standing and chose the wrong venue, echoing arguments first made by the Biden administration – a technical argument aimed at preserving the executive branch’s authority over regulatory decisions. The states want to reverse FDA rules that allow mifepristone to be prescribed through telehealth and mailed to patients, calling it a threat to their abortion bans. Trump’s DOJ didn’t defend the drug itself, but supported Biden’s legal position that “states cannot proceed in this court.” (Axios / NPR / HuffPost / New York Times / Politico / Reuters / The Hill / CBS News)
4/ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a 20% cut in the number of four-star generals and admirals across the U.S. military, along with a 20% cut to National Guard generals, and a 10% reduction in general and flag officers overall. The memo described the move as a way to eliminate “redundant force structure” and shift resources to frontline troops. The cuts also follow firings of the top Navy officer, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and several women and minority leaders. Hegseth claimed senior ranks were bloated and accused many top officers of pushing “social justice, gender, [and] climate” agendas. Senator Jack Reed called the move potentially crippling and warned against “arbitrary percentages” not backed by analysis. Representative Seth Moulton warned that Hegseth is “creating a formal framework to fire all the generals who disagree with him.” (CNN / New York Times / Axios / Bloomberg / Reuters / Associated Press / NBC News / Washington Post)
- Pete Hegseth cancelled 11 military aid flights to Ukraine without Trump’s approval or coordination with key national security officials. The verbal order, issued days after Trump’s inauguration, triggered confusion across the White House, Pentagon, and State Department, and forced a temporary pause in aid shipments. Trump never directed Hegseth to stop the aid, though the White House later claimed Hegseth was just following administration policy. (Reuters)
6/ An Israeli minister said Gaza “will be entirely destroyed” and its residents “will start to leave in great numbers to third countries,” after the government approved a plan to seize and indefinitely hold territory. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s statement marked Israel’s most explicit endorsement yet of mass displacement, military occupation, and full control over humanitarian aid. The plan moves civilians into so-called humanitarian zones while targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure. Aid organizations warned that famine risks in Gaza are rising again after the collapse of the temporary ceasefire in March. At the same time, Israel escalated its regional campaign by bombing and “fully” disabling the main airport in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, in response to a missile strike near Tel Aviv. (The Guardian / CBS News / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / CNN / New York Times / Wall Street Journal)
poll/ Trump’s job approval rating dropped 33 points among Americans who consume little to no news. Trump’s net approval among these low-engagement voters fell from +12 in January to -21 in April. A separate survey found a 13-point decline in approval among 2024 non-voters during the same period, from 44% to 31%. By contrast, Trump’s approval fell 14 points among high-engagement voters and 7 points among all adults. (Strength In Numbers)
The midterm elections are in 546 days.
Notables.- The Trump administration restarted student loan collections and will begin garnishing wages from 5.3 million defaulted borrowers later this summer. It also notified 195,000 people that their federal benefits, including Social Security, could be seized in 30 days. The move ends a five-year pause and reverses Biden-era relief policies. (CNBC / Axios)
- The Trump administration plans to shut down the EPA’s Energy Star program, ending the federal label for energy-efficient appliances after more than 30 years. The program is credited with saving over $500 billion in energy costs and may eliminate related tax credits for consumers. (Washington Post / CNN)
- House Republicans will likely eliminate the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit as part of their plan to fund Trump’s proposed tax cuts, Speaker Mike Johnson said. “I think there is a better chance we kill it than save it.” (Bloomberg)
- The Trump administration suspended air-quality monitoring at all 63 national parks, stopping data collection on pollutants like ozone and particulate matter. The program helps determine whether nearby industrial projects can proceed and is critical for tracking pollution that affects public health and visibility in parks. (Washington Post)
- A federal judge ordered North Carolina’s elections board to certify Democrat Allison Riggs as the winner of a contested state Supreme Court race, rejecting Republican Jefferson Griffin’s attempt to throw out thousands of ballots. Judge Richard Myers, a Trump appointee, ruled that retroactively invalidating votes would violate due process and equal protection, writing: “You establish the rules before the game. You don’t change them after the game is done.” Riggs won by 734 votes, confirmed by two recounts. Griffin has seven days to appeal. (New York Times / The Guardian / The Hill / Washington Post / WRAL)
- The Trump administration blocked Harvard University from receiving new federal research grants, escalating its dispute with the school over issues including antisemitism, race-based policies, and alleged ideological bias. Education Secretary Linda McMahon accused the university of “disastrous mismanagement” and said funding would resume only if Harvard meets the Trump administration’s demands. The move follows a freeze on $2.2 billion in grants and a pending lawsuit by Harvard challenging the legality of the funding cutoff. (New York Times / Wall Street Journal / ABC News / Politico / NBC News)
- Columbia University laid off 180 staffers after the Trump administration revoked $400 million in federal research funding. The administration pulled funding over Columbia’s handling of antisemitism and demanded changes, including a protest mask ban and expanded campus policing. Columbia accepted most terms and froze salaries while trying to restore the grants. (Axios / NBC News)
- A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s request to revoke the temporary legal status of roughly 400,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that Homeland Security’s effort to end their parole without individual review violated due process. (Reuters / USA Today)
- A declassified intelligence memo contradicts Trump’s claim that Venezuela’s government directs the Tren de Aragua gang, undermining his use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans without due process. The April memo, released under a Freedom of Information Act request, found no evidence the Maduro regime controlled or coordinated with the gang, saying the group operates independently in a lawless environment. Courts have already blocked further deportations, and the Supreme Court ruled that affected migrants must be allowed to challenge their removals. (New York Times / Politico)
- The Trump administration plans to cut more than 1,200 CIA positions and thousands more across other U.S. intelligence agencies over the next few years. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard claimed the downsizing was part of a strategy to align the workforce with national security priorities. Critics, however warn the cuts risk weakening intelligence capabilities amid rising global threats and increasing foreign efforts to recruit laid-off U.S. personnel. (NBC News / New York Times / Washington Post)
figmentPez
Staff member
Official Nickelodeon Dora the Explorer Instagram Account Teaches About ‘Sigma,’
“Hola, grown-ups! Today I have a super cool word for you! Sigma,” a 3D rendered version of Dora says in a video uploaded to the official Dora the Explorer Instagram account yesterday. “‘Sigma’ is a word for someone who’s confident, independent, and does things their own way! Think of it as someone who’s a leader and a trendsetter. Let’s say your friend is doing their own thing, focusing on their goals, and not worrying about what others think. You can say, ‘you’re such a SIGMA!’”
Nickelodeon has since removed the video, but has not commented on it.
“Hola, grown-ups! Today I have a super cool word for you! Sigma,” a 3D rendered version of Dora says in a video uploaded to the official Dora the Explorer Instagram account yesterday. “‘Sigma’ is a word for someone who’s confident, independent, and does things their own way! Think of it as someone who’s a leader and a trendsetter. Let’s say your friend is doing their own thing, focusing on their goals, and not worrying about what others think. You can say, ‘you’re such a SIGMA!’”
Nickelodeon has since removed the video, but has not commented on it.
GasBandit
Staff member
1/ The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25% to 4.5%, warning that Trump’s tariffs risk both higher unemployment and higher inflation. “It’s really not at all clear what it is we should do,” Chair Jerome Powell said, calling the economic outlook “extremely elevated” in uncertainty. Trump’s 145% tariff on Chinese imports and a universal 10% duty have disrupted trade flows, rattled markets, and complicated the Fed’s efforts to balance price stability with job growth. The U.S. economy contracted last quarter, prompting fears of stagflation. Despite pressure from Trump to cut rates, the Fed signaled no immediate move. Powell said the cost of waiting was “fairly low,” adding that political pressure “doesn’t affect doing our job at all.” (Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / CNBC / Bloomberg / NBC News / Politico / Axios)
3/ House Speaker Mike Johnson dropped two Republican proposals to cut Medicaid after a government report showed they would push up to 10 million people off health insurance. Between the Congressional Budget Office report and swing-district Republicans warning that the cuts would hurt them politically, Johnson said the ideas were likely dead. Rep. Don Bacon, who threatened to oppose the bill, called Republican leaders’ reassurances “a tactic” and accused them of pushing moderates “to the edge of the cliff.” Some Republicans accused Johnson of backing down and warned that without big spending cuts, Trump’s tax plan could fall apart. (New York Times / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / Washington Post / The Hill / New York Times)
4/ Thirty-two House Republicans warned Republican leaders they will block Trump’s legislative package unless it includes at least $2 trillion in concrete spending cuts. In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the group insisted that “the reconciliation bill must not add to the deficit,” and that any tax cuts beyond projected economic gains “must be offset.” Trump’s allies want $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, but the group said those cuts must shrink unless lawmakers find matching savings. The dispute threatens efforts to renew Trump’s 2017 tax law and finalize a bill before July. (Politico / The Hill / Politico)
5/ The Trump administration plans to deport undocumented migrants to Libya, a country the State Department describes as plagued by “crime, terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict.” U.S. officials said a military aircraft could carry the first group as soon as this week, but Libya’s two rival governments both denied authorizing the move. The Tripoli-based government called it a violation of sovereignty, and Haftar’s eastern forces said it “violates the sovereignty of the homeland.” The Trump administration has not explained how it would carry out deportations to a country with no functioning agreement in place, while rights groups called the plan dangerous and unlawful. Amnesty International previously described Libyan detention centers as a “hellscape,” citing “widespread practices of arbitrary detention, torture, rape and slavery.” (NPR / New York Times / Reuters / NBC News / The Guardian / CNN)
The midterm elections are in 545 days.
Notables.
- Trump rejected the idea of lowering tariffs on Chinese imports to jump-start trade talks. “No,” Trump said when asked about pulling back the 145% levies – just before U.S. trade officials traveled to Switzerland for the first in-person talks with China since the tariff hikes. China’s Commerce Ministry previously said the U.S. initiated the outreach, which Trump denied, claiming those saying so should “go back and study their files.” Despite saying he might lower tariffs “at some point,” Trump insisted the U.S. is no longer “losing anything” to China. (Bloomberg / CNN)
3/ House Speaker Mike Johnson dropped two Republican proposals to cut Medicaid after a government report showed they would push up to 10 million people off health insurance. Between the Congressional Budget Office report and swing-district Republicans warning that the cuts would hurt them politically, Johnson said the ideas were likely dead. Rep. Don Bacon, who threatened to oppose the bill, called Republican leaders’ reassurances “a tactic” and accused them of pushing moderates “to the edge of the cliff.” Some Republicans accused Johnson of backing down and warned that without big spending cuts, Trump’s tax plan could fall apart. (New York Times / Politico / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / Washington Post / The Hill / New York Times)
4/ Thirty-two House Republicans warned Republican leaders they will block Trump’s legislative package unless it includes at least $2 trillion in concrete spending cuts. In a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the group insisted that “the reconciliation bill must not add to the deficit,” and that any tax cuts beyond projected economic gains “must be offset.” Trump’s allies want $4.5 trillion in tax breaks, but the group said those cuts must shrink unless lawmakers find matching savings. The dispute threatens efforts to renew Trump’s 2017 tax law and finalize a bill before July. (Politico / The Hill / Politico)
5/ The Trump administration plans to deport undocumented migrants to Libya, a country the State Department describes as plagued by “crime, terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict.” U.S. officials said a military aircraft could carry the first group as soon as this week, but Libya’s two rival governments both denied authorizing the move. The Tripoli-based government called it a violation of sovereignty, and Haftar’s eastern forces said it “violates the sovereignty of the homeland.” The Trump administration has not explained how it would carry out deportations to a country with no functioning agreement in place, while rights groups called the plan dangerous and unlawful. Amnesty International previously described Libyan detention centers as a “hellscape,” citing “widespread practices of arbitrary detention, torture, rape and slavery.” (NPR / New York Times / Reuters / NBC News / The Guardian / CNN)
- The Trump administration asked Ukraine in January to accept deportees from the U.S. who are not Ukrainian citizens, despite Ukraine being under active attack by Russia and lacking a functioning airport. Kyiv didn’t accept the proposal and there is no sign its government ever seriously considered it. The U.S. also made similar deportation requests to other countries, including Rwanda, Panama, and Uzbekistan, often using incentives or pressure. (Washington Post)
The midterm elections are in 545 days.
Notables.- Voice of America air content from One America News, a far-right network known for promoting false claims about the 2020 election. Kari Lake, a senior Trump adviser overseeing VOA’s parent agency, called the move a “win” for taxpayers and praised OAN as “reliable and credible.” VOA journalists and former officials, meanwhile, condemned the decision, saying it violates the network’s legal mandate for independent, nonpartisan reporting, and “makes a mockery of the agency’s history.” (NPR / Washington Post / The Guardian / The Hill)
- The Trump administration shut down a key CDC advisory panel that developed national standards for infection prevention in hospitals. The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee ended on March 31, though CDC members only received notice Friday. The CDC hasn’t said how it will update infection control policies going forward. (NBC News)
- The Trump administration ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to increase spying on Greenland. A classified directive issued last week instructed agencies to collect information on Greenland’s independence movement and identify locals who might support U.S. interests. (Wall Street Journal)
It would be easier to believe they don't think they're evil if they hadn't named their company after the technology the evil dark lord used to help subjugate the world.
GasBandit
Staff member
- US and UK poised to unveil tariff‑cutting deal as soon as Thursday
- US pressed tariffed countries to fast‑track Starlink approvals in pay‑to‑play push.
- Israeli hostage coordinator says 24 hostages alive in Gaza, disputes Trump’s 21 count.
- Houthi leader says ceasefire deal with U.S. excludes Israel, signaling continued tensions.
- Pakistan’s defense minister welcomes U.S. efforts to ease tensions with India.
- Trump taps wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means for surgeon general after first nominee withdraws over credential scrutiny.
- Trump administration accused of defying court order by cutting NIH research grants.
- HHS to launch autism data platform after backlash over registry plan.
- FDA holds talks with OpenAI about using AI in drug evaluations, using cderGPT project.
- 16 states sue Trump administration for withholding billions in EV infrastructure funding.
- Defense Secretary Hegseth’s exposed passwords raise new security concerns after Signal leaks.
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard reused the same weak password on multiple accounts for years, leaked records show.
- Trump’s cabinet defends effort to save Signal chat records after leak to journalist.
- Trump administration considers releasing Biden classified document interview blocked by executive privilege.
- Judge warns Trump administration that deporting migrants to Libya would violate court order.
- Libya denies agreement to receive U.S. deportees as Trump administration faces legal challenge.
- Trump administration invokes state secrets privilege in Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case.
- Judge grills DOJ on Trump’s claim he can secure return of wrongly deported Migrant.
- Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk to be transferred to Vermont after six weeks in ICE detention in Louisiana.
- Georgetown scholar’s wrongful arrest case in Virginia, rejecting Trump administration’s attempt to move it to Texas.
- Musk’s DOGE team quietly rolls out digital infrastructure for Trump’s $5 million ‘Trump Card Visa’ program.
- Every arts director at the National Endowment for the Arts exits as Trump administration pushes to shutter the agency.
- Trump-backed tax cut package includes controversial plan to sell public lands in Nevada and Utah, drawing sharp backlash.
- North Dakota reports first measles cases since 2011, becoming 11th state in current U.S. outbreak.
- Customs and Border Protection confirms use of hacked chat app TeleMessage, suspends service after security breach.
- Federal data centralization project by DOGE sparks privacy concerns over combining Social Security, tax, and medical data.
- Voice of America to air OAN programming under Kari Lake, raising concerns over journalistic independence.
- Feds vow to overhaul air traffic control system after Newark radar failure and DC deadly midair collision.
- Columbia University protest leads to more than 70 arrests after students occupy library.
- Trump appoints 5 allies to Holocaust museum board, including ‘Real Housewives’ star and political consultant.
Haverford College president grilled by GOP reps over refusal to share student discipline details, with some threatening her job and federal funding.
And it's an American (Prevost becomes Leo XIV)! Time until Trump claims it's because of him....3...2....