16 votes

Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of February 9

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Tags: politics.usa, usa, recurring.weekly

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.

23 comments

  1. [2]
    KapteinB
    Link
    Gallup to stop tracking presidential approval ratings after 88 years (The Guardian)

    Gallup to stop tracking presidential approval ratings after 88 years (The Guardian)

    Gallup, the public opinion polling agency, will stop tracking presidential approval ratings after almost nine decades, a spokesperson confirmed.

    As Donald Trump continues to closely scrutinize polling of his popularity, and publicly lambast media companies that report on unfavorable numbers, Gallup insisted its decision was “solely based on Gallup’s research goals and priorities”.

    8 votes
  2. [2]
    moocow1452
    Link
    CBC reporting that Donald Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan....

    CBC reporting that Donald Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/trump-gordie-howe-bridge-9.7081924

    7 votes
    1. Omnicrola
      Link Parent
      Ugh, hopefully someone distracts him with some jangly keys or something so we can open that bridge and Mattie Moroun can go kick rocks.

      Ugh, hopefully someone distracts him with some jangly keys or something so we can open that bridge and Mattie Moroun can go kick rocks.

      9 votes
  3. nic
    Link
    The US is flirting with its first-ever population decline Another interesting real world experiment. Will lower immigration and less population growth both boost wages and reduces costs? Trump...

    The US is flirting with its first-ever population decline

    Another interesting real world experiment. Will lower immigration and less population growth both boost wages and reduces costs? Trump says yes. Economists say no.

    6 votes
  4. [11]
    Halfloaf
    Link
    FAA grounds all air traffic around El Paso until February 20th

    FAA grounds all air traffic around El Paso until February 20th

    3 votes
    1. [8]
      smiles134
      Link Parent
      This one is concerning. Shit like this just doesn't happen and no one seems to know what this is about. New Orleans airspace has also been shut down for 5 days.

      This one is concerning. Shit like this just doesn't happen and no one seems to know what this is about. New Orleans airspace has also been shut down for 5 days.

      7 votes
      1. [7]
        DefinitelyNotAFae
        Link Parent
        I saw without any corroboration someone saying there was a military buildup along the coast with a fear that the US was going to try to coup Cuba. El Paso may not make much sense there (and New...

        I saw without any corroboration someone saying there was a military buildup along the coast with a fear that the US was going to try to coup Cuba. El Paso may not make much sense there (and New Orleans might make more but not as much as others).

        It's a reasonable fear given the posturing post Venezuela but idk that this contributes. It's just the only thing I could think of that was also odd. Flights out of their TX and LA immigration concentration camps? Invading Mexico?

        I've also seen speculation about tuberculosis today but that also seems like you wouldn't need to close the airspace...

        It's weirdest that no one knows. El Paso City Council, state and federal elected officials, no one.

        5 votes
        1. [6]
          smiles134
          Link Parent
          Stephen Miller has been talking about using the military to strike cartel operations in Mexico and that's what I'm afraid this is leading to.

          Stephen Miller has been talking about using the military to strike cartel operations in Mexico and that's what I'm afraid this is leading to.

          3 votes
          1. [5]
            DefinitelyNotAFae
            Link Parent
            It certainly could be, but from what I can tell this is absolutely unprecedented. Not clear that even the army's regular flights have clearance at the moment and that also makes it being a...

            It certainly could be, but from what I can tell this is absolutely unprecedented. Not clear that even the army's regular flights have clearance at the moment and that also makes it being a military operation seem odd. One would think that at least the rest of the military would not expect to be able to fly...

            2 votes
            1. [4]
              smiles134
              Link Parent
              The FAA has now reopened the airspace and said there's no danger. Wtf happened

              The FAA has now reopened the airspace and said there's no danger. Wtf happened

              3 votes
              1. [3]
                DefinitelyNotAFae
                Link Parent
                Someone leaned on a button?

                Someone leaned on a button?

                1. [2]
                  smiles134
                  Link Parent
                  Speculation I've seen is that the military lost control of a counter drone and when the DOD couldn't guarantee to the FAA that commercial flights were not at risk, the FAA acted proactively. But I...

                  Speculation I've seen is that the military lost control of a counter drone and when the DOD couldn't guarantee to the FAA that commercial flights were not at risk, the FAA acted proactively. But I don't know if we'll ever really know.

                  edit: Trump admin is now claiming cartel drones breached the US air space. I don't know if either explanation is more likely: https://apnews.com/article/faa-el-paso-texas-air-space-closed-1f774bdfd46f5986ff0e7003df709caa

                  2 votes
                  1. DefinitelyNotAFae
                    Link Parent
                    I've seen so many theories it's all very weird

                    I've seen so many theories it's all very weird

                    1 vote
    2. psi
      Link Parent
      The Trump admin blamed Cartel drones, but per the New York Times, it appears that CBP fired off anti-drone lasers without coordinating with the FAA. "What We Know About the El Paso Airspace...

      The Trump admin blamed Cartel drones, but per the New York Times, it appears that CBP fired off anti-drone lasers without coordinating with the FAA.

      Multiple people briefed on the situation said the abrupt airspace closure was prompted by Customs and Border Protection officials deploying an anti-drone laser in the area without giving aviation officials enough time to assess the risks to commercial planes.

      Further, according to multiple people familiar with the situation, the F.A.A.’s move came after immigration officials earlier this week used an anti-drone laser shared with them by the Defense Department without coordination with the aviation agency. The C.B.P. officials thought they were firing on a cartel drone, the people said, but it was a party balloon.

      The Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The F.A.A. declined to comment.

      According to the people briefed on the matter, at the time the F.A.A. closed the airspace, it had not yet completed an assessment of possible risks posed by the new anti-drone technology to other aircraft. Two of the people added that F.A.A. officials had warned the Pentagon that if they were not given enough time and information for their review, they would have no choice but to shut down the airspace near the anti-drone system.

      7 votes
  6. [2]
    patience_limited
    (edited )
    Link
    Michigan Senate minority leader requests federal review of Michigan agencies, nonprofits Here we go again - another Republican attempt to stir up an ethnicity/religion-based scandal as...

    Michigan Senate minority leader requests federal review of Michigan agencies, nonprofits

    Here we go again - another Republican attempt to stir up an ethnicity/religion-based scandal as justification for Federal intervention and increased ICE enforcement in a Democratic Party-governed state. Michigan has the largest number of people of Arab ethnicities in the U.S. (211,000, about 2% of the state's population) - Palestinians, Lebanese, and other Middle Eastern national origins. For comparison, Minnesota has about 80,000 people of Somali descent.

    3 votes
    1. Omnicrola
      Link Parent
      I swear, if they start some shit in Dearborn, ICE is going to find out how much Michiganders of all backgrounds love chicken shwarma.

      I swear, if they start some shit in Dearborn, ICE is going to find out how much Michiganders of all backgrounds love chicken shwarma.

      4 votes
  7. [4]
    nic
    Link
    Who wrangled the best trade deal from Donald Trump? Economists have always said that free trade is best. Interesting real world experiment.

    Who wrangled the best trade deal from Donald Trump?

    For those who view trade as a zero-sum game, with deficits signifying failure and surpluses success, Mr Trump has been the clear winner.

    In the end, the countries that made the largest concessions may be the ones which gain the most.

    Economists have always said that free trade is best. Interesting real world experiment.

    1 vote
    1. DefinitelyNotAFae
      Link Parent
      I did not receive informed consent and the IRB didn't sign off. I object.

      Interesting real world experiment.

      I did not receive informed consent and the IRB didn't sign off. I object.

      12 votes
    2. [2]
      Hobofarmer
      Link Parent
      I can't read the article, however I feel it's a short term look at the problem. There's innumerable other factors which will impact future trade deals, and the belligerent actions of the...

      I can't read the article, however I feel it's a short term look at the problem. There's innumerable other factors which will impact future trade deals, and the belligerent actions of the administration have pushed many to begin looking for alternatives.

      Trump is winning right now because he took advantage of the existing system, which he broke.

      7 votes
      1. nic
        Link Parent
        You summarized the article beautifully.

        You summarized the article beautifully.