The Department of State has asked civil servants up for promotions who they voted for in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections.
Top State Department officials have indicated that the only candidates eligible for mid- to upper-level foreign service roles were people who had supported President Donald Trump, and that political donations to any Democrat would be disqualifying, The Washington Sun reported Thursday.
[ .. }
In a statement to the Sun, a spokesperson for the State Department declined to comment on the outlet’s reporting about voting history questions, but expounded on the importance of employees’ “fidelity.”
People wouldn't lie for personal gain now would they? Especially not in this administration. It's rare, maybe even the first time, but in this case I am a tad disappointed Tildes doesn't want...
People wouldn't lie for personal gain now would they? Especially not in this administration.
It's rare, maybe even the first time, but in this case I am a tad disappointed Tildes doesn't want image reactions as comments because insert "you really think people would do that" meme. Especially when the theme is "fidelity".
I expect Trump will soon proudly declare, without any hint of realization, that 100% of the department are and have always been die-hard Trump supporters.
I expect Trump will soon proudly declare, without any hint of realization, that 100% of the department are and have always been die-hard Trump supporters.
Whelp. We knew it was coming. They told us. Now we get to watch it happen. Who actually has hope that November is a remotely fair election? "You'll never have to vote again" wasn't hyperbole. In a...
Whelp. We knew it was coming. They told us. Now we get to watch it happen.
Who actually has hope that November is a remotely fair election?
"You'll never have to vote again" wasn't hyperbole.
In a sane world, this would be immediately laughed out of court, and the decisionmakers who pushed it through immediately fired with prejudice and ideally imprisoned.
It is, though. This is terrible, but it's unlikely to affect the elections. Please vote. And don't discourage people from voting! That's just making it worse.
"You'll never have to vote again" wasn't hyperbole.
It is, though. This is terrible, but it's unlikely to affect the elections. Please vote. And don't discourage people from voting! That's just making it worse.
I'll be more clear then: I'm not saying not to vote. I'm saying that they're actively working to discredit any election not won by a Republican as fraudulent. If we're lucky, we'll avoid them here...
I'll be more clear then: I'm not saying not to vote. I'm saying that they're actively working to discredit any election not won by a Republican as fraudulent. If we're lucky, we'll avoid them here in 2026. But if there is not a landslide eviction of Republicans at the national stage here in 2 weeks, we'll be able to expect more honest, fair, and competive elections out of Putin's Russia than here.
I can practically taste the invitable "All remotely close elections that were won by Democrats were obviously fraudlulent."
Which will be further backed up by the rest of the federal government which has been purged of all non-Trump supporters. If not yet....certainly before 2028.
Revoking birthright citizenship wasn't about the immigrants directly. It was about trying to get it done under that guise to strip non-Republicans of their citizenship.
Certainly the Trump administration has tried in many ways. But you are not more clear. Did not happen! The Supreme Court ruled against them. They're still trying, but they keep failing. And even...
Certainly the Trump administration has tried in many ways. But you are not more clear.
Revoking birthright citizenship
Did not happen! The Supreme Court ruled against them. They're still trying, but they keep failing.
And even if it did happen, it wouldn't effect the elections for long after Trump is gone, because babies don't vote!
So why bring it up? Why are you muddying the waters? Why are you trying to make Trump seem ten feet tall? Whose side are you really on?
Yes, I'm aware it didn't happen. But the attempt sure as heck did and literally everyone behind trying to do so is still not in jail. This isn't "just Trump." This is the entire apparatus of the...
Yes, I'm aware it didn't happen. But the attempt sure as heck did and literally everyone behind trying to do so is still not in jail.
This isn't "just Trump." This is the entire apparatus of the Republican party. Project 2025 was a starting point. Not the end point.
You're acting like just because semi-metaphorical Lex Luthor lost his first battle that he's just kinda sorta given up on the idea of dismantling fair elections. Instead of there being hundreds of lawyers having meetings to figure out a different way to approach "the problem."
Very middling liberal politicians are being painted as enemies of the state. I'm more concerned that people are not panicing more.
Yes, they will keep trying, but they're still not Lex Luthor. Overturning a Supreme Court ruling isn't a matter of getting more lawyers involved. A prediction with a "magic happens here" step in...
Yes, they will keep trying, but they're still not Lex Luthor. Overturning a Supreme Court ruling isn't a matter of getting more lawyers involved. A prediction with a "magic happens here" step in the middle isn't very credible, and by spreading FUD you're acting as the Trump administration's dupe. They can't stop enough people from voting to matter, so they're going to try to scare them away instead. Why help?
Yes, if only we had a good example of Republicans' ability to play the long game, regarding an issue they and their base consider existential. Like limiting elections to those that would vote...
Overturning a Supreme Court ruling isn't a matter of getting more lawyers involved
Yes, if only we had a good example of Republicans' ability to play the long game, regarding an issue they and their base consider existential. Like limiting elections to those that would vote their way, or abortion. Because like the little engine that could, they kept at it, and eventually got much closer than they were before - even working around a supreme court decision! [0].
Telling people that Republicans didn't get their way this time, and the supreme court, having made their call, will stop them forever, is farcical.
That change required appointing new judges to the Supreme Court, though. Time is running out for Trump to do more of that. And overturning Roe vs. Wade took 49 years, so that's more of an example...
That change required appointing new judges to the Supreme Court, though. Time is running out for Trump to do more of that. And overturning Roe vs. Wade took 49 years, so that's more of an example of how difficult it is.
I make no claim that this is impossible, given enough time, but the Republicans will need to win more presidential elections, which makes it not an immediate threat.
It was difficult. But now that the amenable court is in place, and that it explicitly called out revisiting other long-decided Supreme Court decisions for revokation, it'll take much less time....
It was difficult. But now that the amenable court is in place, and that it explicitly called out revisiting other long-decided Supreme Court decisions for revokation, it'll take much less time.
"It took 40+ years to build the first smartphone." is not a valid discussion point when discussing the release of the next year's smartphone.
If we're lucky, all those GW appointees will drop dead the day after a non-Republican is sworn in in 2029. If we're not, they'll all retire just before Trump leaves office.
Yeah, who knows. Depending on what happens in the elections for the Senate, Trump might not get any more Supreme Court appointments even if there's a vacancy.
Yeah, who knows. Depending on what happens in the elections for the Senate, Trump might not get any more Supreme Court appointments even if there's a vacancy.
I'm not trying to scare people from voting. On the contrary. I'm trying to make others notice that we're in the midst of the dismantling of democracy. That they should take a good look around and...
I'm not trying to scare people from voting. On the contrary. I'm trying to make others notice that we're in the midst of the dismantling of democracy. That they should take a good look around and see the police state for what it is.
Because nobody should be too surprised when Republicans win an in absolutely unprecedented landslide not seen since Reagan, despite unbelievably low approval ratings, because they "eliminated all the fraud."
And then figure out what you're going to do then. Because it wasn't hyperbole. It was a mission statement. One that has been making more progress than it should be.
The problem is the way you are saying it comes off as fatalistic dooming, and dooming isn’t actually a motivator, but drives down participation and increases cynicism instead.
The problem is the way you are saying it comes off as fatalistic dooming, and dooming isn’t actually a motivator, but drives down participation and increases cynicism instead.
No, the idea that it would happen that way, where we would wake up surprised by the election results that are obviously a fraud, is still magical thinking. Voting is very decentralized. Their...
No, the idea that it would happen that way, where we would wake up surprised by the election results that are obviously a fraud, is still magical thinking. Voting is very decentralized. Their attempts would take time, and would be reported on. They have been reported on.
It is not a given that revoking birthright citizenship would only impact new births, that would be, at absolute best, the limits the court puts on their behavior. In the same way they're trying to...
And even if it did happen, it wouldn't effect the elections for long after Trump is gone, because babies don't vote!
It is not a given that revoking birthright citizenship would only impact new births, that would be, at absolute best, the limits the court puts on their behavior. In the same way they're trying to denaturalize immigrants, they're absolutely trying to actively put barriers to not just voting but continuing to live in the US.
I just find this a flippant way for you to make your point about something that is a very serious genuine concern for people about the future of our country.
Yes, of course it's a serious concern, as an immigration issue and a civil rights issue, but it's not going to affect the elections. (Other than as a campaign issue.)
Yes, of course it's a serious concern, as an immigration issue and a civil rights issue, but it's not going to affect the elections. (Other than as a campaign issue.)
People wouldn't lie for personal gain now would they? Especially not in this administration.
It's rare, maybe even the first time, but in this case I am a tad disappointed Tildes doesn't want image reactions as comments because insert "you really think people would do that" meme. Especially when the theme is "fidelity".
I'd laugh if the consequences weren't so serious.
I expect Trump will soon proudly declare, without any hint of realization, that 100% of the department are and have always been die-hard Trump supporters.
Whelp. We knew it was coming. They told us. Now we get to watch it happen.
Who actually has hope that November is a remotely fair election?
"You'll never have to vote again" wasn't hyperbole.
In a sane world, this would be immediately laughed out of court, and the decisionmakers who pushed it through immediately fired with prejudice and ideally imprisoned.
It is, though. This is terrible, but it's unlikely to affect the elections. Please vote. And don't discourage people from voting! That's just making it worse.
I'll be more clear then: I'm not saying not to vote. I'm saying that they're actively working to discredit any election not won by a Republican as fraudulent. If we're lucky, we'll avoid them here in 2026. But if there is not a landslide eviction of Republicans at the national stage here in 2 weeks, we'll be able to expect more honest, fair, and competive elections out of Putin's Russia than here.
I'm just saying that there will be nice gentlemen with rifles barricading everyone with a darker skin shade from entering polls.
I can practically taste the invitable "All remotely close elections that were won by Democrats were obviously fraudlulent."
Which will be further backed up by the rest of the federal government which has been purged of all non-Trump supporters. If not yet....certainly before 2028.
Revoking birthright citizenship wasn't about the immigrants directly. It was about trying to get it done under that guise to strip non-Republicans of their citizenship.
Certainly the Trump administration has tried in many ways. But you are not more clear.
Did not happen! The Supreme Court ruled against them. They're still trying, but they keep failing.
And even if it did happen, it wouldn't effect the elections for long after Trump is gone, because babies don't vote!
So why bring it up? Why are you muddying the waters? Why are you trying to make Trump seem ten feet tall? Whose side are you really on?
Yes, I'm aware it didn't happen. But the attempt sure as heck did and literally everyone behind trying to do so is still not in jail.
This isn't "just Trump." This is the entire apparatus of the Republican party. Project 2025 was a starting point. Not the end point.
You're acting like just because semi-metaphorical Lex Luthor lost his first battle that he's just kinda sorta given up on the idea of dismantling fair elections. Instead of there being hundreds of lawyers having meetings to figure out a different way to approach "the problem."
Very middling liberal politicians are being painted as enemies of the state. I'm more concerned that people are not panicing more.
Yes, they will keep trying, but they're still not Lex Luthor. Overturning a Supreme Court ruling isn't a matter of getting more lawyers involved. A prediction with a "magic happens here" step in the middle isn't very credible, and by spreading FUD you're acting as the Trump administration's dupe. They can't stop enough people from voting to matter, so they're going to try to scare them away instead. Why help?
Yes, if only we had a good example of Republicans' ability to play the long game, regarding an issue they and their base consider existential. Like limiting elections to those that would vote their way, or abortion. Because like the little engine that could, they kept at it, and eventually got much closer than they were before - even working around a supreme court decision! [0].
Telling people that Republicans didn't get their way this time, and the supreme court, having made their call, will stop them forever, is farcical.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade#Dobbs_v._Jackson_Women's_Health_Organization
That change required appointing new judges to the Supreme Court, though. Time is running out for Trump to do more of that. And overturning Roe vs. Wade took 49 years, so that's more of an example of how difficult it is.
I make no claim that this is impossible, given enough time, but the Republicans will need to win more presidential elections, which makes it not an immediate threat.
It was difficult. But now that the amenable court is in place, and that it explicitly called out revisiting other long-decided Supreme Court decisions for revokation, it'll take much less time.
"It took 40+ years to build the first smartphone." is not a valid discussion point when discussing the release of the next year's smartphone.
If we're lucky, all those GW appointees will drop dead the day after a non-Republican is sworn in in 2029. If we're not, they'll all retire just before Trump leaves office.
Yeah, who knows. Depending on what happens in the elections for the Senate, Trump might not get any more Supreme Court appointments even if there's a vacancy.
I'm not trying to scare people from voting. On the contrary. I'm trying to make others notice that we're in the midst of the dismantling of democracy. That they should take a good look around and see the police state for what it is.
Because nobody should be too surprised when Republicans win an in absolutely unprecedented landslide not seen since Reagan, despite unbelievably low approval ratings, because they "eliminated all the fraud."
And then figure out what you're going to do then. Because it wasn't hyperbole. It was a mission statement. One that has been making more progress than it should be.
The problem is the way you are saying it comes off as fatalistic dooming, and dooming isn’t actually a motivator, but drives down participation and increases cynicism instead.
No, the idea that it would happen that way, where we would wake up surprised by the election results that are obviously a fraud, is still magical thinking. Voting is very decentralized. Their attempts would take time, and would be reported on. They have been reported on.
It is not a given that revoking birthright citizenship would only impact new births, that would be, at absolute best, the limits the court puts on their behavior. In the same way they're trying to denaturalize immigrants, they're absolutely trying to actively put barriers to not just voting but continuing to live in the US.
I just find this a flippant way for you to make your point about something that is a very serious genuine concern for people about the future of our country.
Yes, of course it's a serious concern, as an immigration issue and a civil rights issue, but it's not going to affect the elections. (Other than as a campaign issue.)
As I said, the flippancy was a poor way to make the point and a worse way to demonstrate that you think it's a serious issue.