22 votes

Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of January 20

This thread is posted weekly - please try to post all relevant US political content in here, such as news, updates, opinion articles, etc. Extremely significant events may warrant a separate topic, but almost all should be posted in here.

This is an inherently political thread; please try to avoid antagonistic arguments and bickering matches. Comment threads that devolve into unproductive arguments may be removed so that the overall topic is able to continue.

30 comments

  1. [8]
    vord
    (edited )
    Link
    America completes its descent into fascism, as of about 1 hour ago at time of writing. I'm starting a full write-up on all the various obvious fascist signals from his inauguration speech, but in...

    America completes its descent into fascism, as of about 1 hour ago at time of writing. I'm starting a full write-up on all the various obvious fascist signals from his inauguration speech, but in short it was a disgusting display of nationalism and call to violence.

    I am ashamed and fear for the future of our country and the world.

    Edit: Here you are Tildes. My first blog post.

    It's definitely not great, but honestly things are moving so fast now I haven't got time to do better. (@DefinitelyNotAFae and @Zorind if edits trigger pings)

    26 votes
    1. DefinitelyNotAFae
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Elon Musk doing what looked pretty much exactly like a nazi salute was like, 5 seconds and all I could bear to see today, so I'm also looking forward to reading your writeup. @Vord - they do

      Elon Musk doing what looked pretty much exactly like a nazi salute was like, 5 seconds and all I could bear to see today, so I'm also looking forward to reading your writeup.

      @Vord - they do

      12 votes
    2. [5]
      Zorind
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I am both looking forward to your write up, and horrified what it will contain (based on the approximate 5 minutes of the speech I listened to). @Vord - edits do ping. Thanks, great write up. I...

      I am both looking forward to your write up, and horrified what it will contain (based on the approximate 5 minutes of the speech I listened to).

      @Vord - edits do ping. Thanks, great write up. I did end up reading the transcript, but I appreciate your blog post & what you explicitly call out in it.

      6 votes
      1. [4]
        Plik
        Link Parent
        The last part is bad.

        The last part is bad.

        5 votes
        1. [3]
          vord
          Link Parent
          Oh I very much agree. I should definitely rewrite the entire last section. Honestly I lost the thread partway through, and at this point it's not even that important anymore. I do want to revisit...

          Oh I very much agree. I should definitely rewrite the entire last section. Honestly I lost the thread partway through, and at this point it's not even that important anymore.

          I do want to revisit his more casual droning that happened afterward though.

          3 votes
          1. Plik
            Link Parent
            No dude, I meant bad as in a horrifying dystopian future, lmao, sorry. This part: Here's the todo list as sold, in no particular order Leverage the Alien Enemies Act. This has only been used 3...

            No dude, I meant bad as in a horrifying dystopian future, lmao, sorry.

            This part:

            Here's the todo list as sold, in no particular order

            Leverage the Alien Enemies Act. This has only been used 3 times: War of 1812, World War 1, World War 2. It is used primarily to deport and detain people of "enemy states". It's also a nice tool for suppressing dissent.
            Declare war on Mexico by declaring that all cartels are terrorists. This lets the president unilaterally declare war for harboring terrorists (see W Bush's presidency)
            Stop border crossings. Violently, using military force.
            Oppress minorities and brown people.
            Ban non-cisgender terminology
            Give free speech to Nazis
            Cure all disease
            End all wars
            Demand loyalty from all government officials
            Annex more territory, starting with the Panama Canal
            Reward military members who were discharged for disobeying orders (COVID vaccines)
            
            11 votes
          2. aphoenix
            Link Parent
            From the point of view as a post, it's actually pretty good. It's the results that are bad. Putting everything together as a list like this is actually a brutal capstone to the whole piece. I...

            From the point of view as a post, it's actually pretty good. It's the results that are bad.

            Putting everything together as a list like this is actually a brutal capstone to the whole piece. I would leave it.

            3 votes
    3. teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      The descent's not complete. It's only just started. Wait for the thugs on the streets and the political enemies in prison.

      The descent's not complete. It's only just started. Wait for the thugs on the streets and the political enemies in prison.

      1 vote
  2. [6]
    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link
    Vivek is out at DOGE, going to run for Ohio Governor Egos collided? Racism? Idk but he lasted 0 Scaramuccis so I don't know how to count it.

    Vivek is out at DOGE, going to run for Ohio Governor

    Egos collided? Racism? Idk but he lasted 0 Scaramuccis so I don't know how to count it.

    20 votes
    1. [3]
      Minori
      Link Parent
      I'm convinced it's racism and ego based on the publicly cited reasons of disagreements with other staff. I've been repeatedly disappointed by many of my Indian colleagues falling for Trump and...

      I'm convinced it's racism and ego based on the publicly cited reasons of disagreements with other staff. I've been repeatedly disappointed by many of my Indian colleagues falling for Trump and Republicans because of illegal immigration. I really wish the green card country caps were revised...

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        DefinitelyNotAFae
        Link Parent
        Philosophical differences, allegedly (WaPo gift article) Well, this is actually worse then. Looks like Elon has more leverage with Trump and won out. But their mandate has been narrowed

        Philosophical differences, allegedly (WaPo gift article)

        By contrast, the executive order announced Monday embodied Musk’s vision, focused heavily on technology and an effort to change the government from within that was at the heart of the philosophical rift between them. Trump’s Day 1 actions Monday did not include executive orders that had been drafted by Ramaswamy’s team within DOGE.

        Ramaswamy approached DOGE from a constitutional perspective, exploring which agencies could be shut down without requiring congressional action, taking aim at the budgeting process within different agencies and examining legal pathways to strip regulations. He had conceived of DOGE as a nongovernmental body, almost akin to a think tank, that would push for major changes that could be codified by law.
        Musk wasn’t interested in those processes, preferring to do things from a “technology-first perspective,” using the power of technology and data-mining to achieve DOGE’s aims, one of the people familiar with the group said.

        Well, this is actually worse then.

        Looks like Elon has more leverage with Trump and won out. But their mandate has been narrowed

        8 votes
        1. Minori
          Link Parent
          This tracks with Musk's obsession with questionable approaches. He's very very stubborn and has overruled his own experts on simple things like adding a rain sensor to Teslas ("humans only need...

          This tracks with Musk's obsession with questionable approaches. He's very very stubborn and has overruled his own experts on simple things like adding a rain sensor to Teslas ("humans only need eyes" etc).

          6 votes
  3. [3]
    KapteinB
    Link
    Trump Withdraws U.S. from World Health Organization (New York Times)

    Trump Withdraws U.S. from World Health Organization (New York Times)

    Public health experts say U.S. withdrawal from the W.H.O. would undermine the nation’s standing as a global health leader and make it harder to fight the next pandemic.

    9 votes
    1. [2]
      Minori
      Link Parent
      I'll be honest. This might be the worst thing Trump has done today. The US is voluntarily giving up huge amounts of soft power and international influence. The WHO's missions really do benefit...

      I'll be honest. This might be the worst thing Trump has done today. The US is voluntarily giving up huge amounts of soft power and international influence. The WHO's missions really do benefit humanity, and I'm sad to see the Republicans have radically changed since the days of George W. Bush funding foreign AIDS treatment...

      8 votes
      1. Raspcoffee
        Link Parent
        It's about the one positive thing I remember here in the Netherlands so... yeah. Don't forget the bird flu going around too. I'm really afraid of the global effects this Trump administration will...

        It's about the one positive thing I remember here in the Netherlands so... yeah. Don't forget the bird flu going around too. I'm really afraid of the global effects this Trump administration will have.

        6 votes
  4. [5]
    DefinitelyNotAFae
    Link
    Paul Krugman in leaving the NYT He felt the editing was increasingly heavy handed and biased towards a more "both sides" narrative, which ruined his experience as he had to rewrite the rewrites....

    Paul Krugman in leaving the NYT

    He felt the editing was increasingly heavy handed and biased towards a more "both sides" narrative, which ruined his experience as he had to rewrite the rewrites. They also wanted to cut his newsletter or give it back "occasionally" but cut his columns to once a week.

    I don't think the response from the NYT really contradicts that but you can read for yourself!

    6 votes
    1. [4]
      FrankGrimes
      Link Parent
      I'm subscribed to his substack, and it's really been great - he's actually free to write what he wants, and I think his columns are better than before.

      I'm subscribed to his substack, and it's really been great - he's actually free to write what he wants, and I think his columns are better than before.

      2 votes
      1. [3]
        DefinitelyNotAFae
        Link Parent
        Yeah I don't quite have a handle on how to use the substack app, and I'm not sure I want to, but I added him to my list

        Yeah I don't quite have a handle on how to use the substack app, and I'm not sure I want to, but I added him to my list

        1. [2]
          FrankGrimes
          Link Parent
          I don't actually use the app - just the website - I signed up for his newsletter, and I get an email when he posts something new to it.

          I don't actually use the app - just the website - I signed up for his newsletter, and I get an email when he posts something new to it.

          1 vote
          1. DefinitelyNotAFae
            Link Parent
            Unfortunately my email is such that it's usually hard for me to keep up with. My personal email is broadly non-functional and I'm planning to switch but also... it's momentum. we'll get there, maybe.

            Unfortunately my email is such that it's usually hard for me to keep up with. My personal email is broadly non-functional and I'm planning to switch but also... it's momentum. we'll get there, maybe.

  5. [3]
    Halfloaf
    Link
    Apparently Meta is now having some accounts auto-follow Trump’s pages: https://timfullerton.substack.com/p/something-weird-is-going-on-with

    Apparently Meta is now having some accounts auto-follow Trump’s pages:

    https://timfullerton.substack.com/p/something-weird-is-going-on-with

    5 votes
    1. [2]
      Minori
      Link Parent
      It seems to be that if someone was following POTUS before the election, they're still following them despite the change in administration.

      It seems to be that if someone was following POTUS before the election, they're still following them despite the change in administration.

      4 votes
      1. Halfloaf
        Link Parent
        Possibly! There also appear to be some issues with tags on instagram. I can also see a world where this mixup is the result of some aggressive reporting abuses by trolls, but the effect of...

        Possibly!

        There also appear to be some issues with tags on instagram. I can also see a world where this mixup is the result of some aggressive reporting abuses by trolls, but the effect of chilling the left wing’s ability to communicate is the same either way.

        https://www.latintimes.com/instagram-hides-democrats-search-results-hours-after-zuckerberg-attends-trump-inauguration-572884

        3 votes
  6. [2]
    TheRtRevKaiser
    Link
    Washington National Cathedral Bishop Calls Out Trump to His Face
    2 votes
    1. DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      And Trump called her nasty and said that she should apologize because the service is boring. And another Republican said she should be deported. So we've already gotten to the threatening our...

      And Trump called her nasty and said that she should apologize because the service is boring. And another Republican said she should be deported. So we've already gotten to the threatening our enemies with deportation stage.

      But I heard it and it was very well done. Standing in a church asking somebody to show mercy is pretty much classic Christian leadership.

      9 votes
  7. [2]
    KapteinB
    Link
    How Donald Trump's Executive Orders Compare to Project 2025 (Newsweek)

    How Donald Trump's Executive Orders Compare to Project 2025 (Newsweek)

    President Donald Trump's sweeping executive orders have drawn comparisons to Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint aimed at reshaping the federal government under a Republican administration. Newsweek examines the similarities.

    2 votes
    1. KapteinB
      Link Parent
      The TL;DR seems to be that Trump is not actually following the Heritage Foundation playbook, their evil just happens to overlap a lot. Well obviously the buffoon didn't read 900 pages! He probably...

      The TL;DR seems to be that Trump is not actually following the Heritage Foundation playbook, their evil just happens to overlap a lot.

      I specifically didn't want to read it because it wasn't under my auspices, and I wanted to be able to say that, you know, the only way I can say I have nothing to do with it is if you don't read it. I don't want—I didn't want to read it. I read enough about it.

      Well obviously the buffoon didn't read 900 pages! He probably flipped through the first 20 pages and looked at the pictures. Then he gave it to his sons to read, and this is how it went.

      Among other things, the president withdrew from the landmark Paris Agreement, rescinded 78 Biden-era executive actions and implemented a federal hiring freeze.

      Since it's impossible to get 60 senators to agree on anything, this is apparently how US politics works now. Whenever there's a new administration, the first thing they do is rescind all the previous president's executive orders, before signing dozens of their own, turning policy 180 degrees around on a wide array of topics.

      3 votes