Trump 2.0

[reeshau]

Just heard something interesting. Someone at CJAD (a Montreal radio station) interviewed someone who was on The Apprentice with Trump.  Trump was regularly using cocaine and Adderall while they were filming.  And getting them from Mafia guys.

Imagine if that had blown up, back then.  But, Trump has always had friends in the tabloid business.  Maybe that's when he learned how to pay to bury a story, like he did with his mistresses.

[neo von retorch]

Is it worth hoping that when the tariff stuff hits people in their pocketbook that they'll wake up, or are we too far gone?

Do try to remember that "they" are not a monolith. While there definitely appear to be "MAGA Faithful" who all but worship (and some do seem to worship) Trump the demagogue, there's lots of less enthusiastic, less "informed" voters. Those sorts of voters tend to vote against the current administration in the next election because they're unhappy about something. Major economic hurdles for large portions of the American voting block would certainly sway voters. And in PA, WI, and MI, the swing vote only needs to be ~130k, 80k, 30k. Something like that. And then "bam" a whole different electoral college. There are other swing votes that... if they would shift as much as the WI supreme court election this week, would all easily turn blue.

[Kris]

Is it worth hoping that when the tariff stuff hits people in their pocketbook that they'll wake up, or are we too far gone?

Too far gone. Conservative media will blame Biden for it or something.

[neo von retorch]

Is it worth hoping that when the tariff stuff hits people in their pocketbook that they'll wake up, or are we too far gone?

Too far gone. Conservative media will blame Biden for it or something.

Wait, was it this thread or another one where you shared that study that said, basically, voters care about the economy more than any other issue? Wouldn't the economy be something that would push a few hundred thousand swing voters back across the aisle?

[Kris]

Is it worth hoping that when the tariff stuff hits people in their pocketbook that they'll wake up, or are we too far gone?

Too far gone. Conservative media will blame Biden for it or something.

Wait, was it this thread or another one where you shared that study that said, basically, voters care about the economy more than any other issue? Wouldn't the economy be something that would push a few hundred thousand swing voters back across the aisle?

If people thought logically, sure.

[Omy]

It's extremely optimistic to imagine that we'll have free and fair elections after the current regime is finished with us.

[GuitarStv]

Is it worth hoping that when the tariff stuff hits people in their pocketbook that they'll wake up, or are we too far gone?

Too far gone. Conservative media will blame Biden for it or something.

Wait, was it this thread or another one where you shared that study that said, basically, voters care about the economy more than any other issue? Wouldn't the economy be something that would push a few hundred thousand swing voters back across the aisle?

If people thought logically, sure.

If people thought logically we wouldn't be in this position, so . . .

[anotherAlias]

As we're watching so much of Project 2025 unfold right now, has anyone seen/heard if there is a plan for after the initial 180 days of this admin?   

[sixwings]

As we're watching so much of Project 2025 unfold right now, has anyone seen/heard if there is a plan for after the initial 180 days of this admin?

The collapse of the country. The US cannot function with this many morons running the show, this much corruption and the government agencies responsible for running the country gutted.

I, for one, welcome the new Canadian Federation of the west coast, Canada, north east and mid west as a new global superpower.

I'm partially joking about the canadian federation, not about the collapse of the country. With Trump using the DOJ to pursue political vengeance, the gutting of the FDA, the FCC targeting companies based on their politics, the collapse of the FBI, the DOJ being a personal prosecution arm of the president, the blatent corruption and bribes, an IRS that is crippled on collecting revenue, a congress that's refusing to do their job, a cabinet that is completely unqualified (except for maybe Rubio but I expect he'll quit soon) and now tariffs that aren't based in reality, I don't see how the country can continue for 4 years. The blatent corruption and bribery under this administration is quickly making the US uninvestable. I've been trying to pretend that it's not possible, but the  entire economic engine of the US is built on the principles of a fair government that doesn't prosecute companies based on their political alignment and that anyone can get ahead, not just those that can afford bribes. Like look what's happening to law firms, the pardons that he's issuing, what the agencies and the DOJ are doing. That principle is gone and congress doesn't give a shit. 

I don't think there's a way out for the US if there's still almost 4 more years of this shit. Voters didn't take their responsibility seriously and this is the result. The entire world is not prepared for the collapse of the US. I expect the larger wealthier blue states will be able to figure it out, but the poor red states are in for a real, real bad  time.

[RetiredAt63]

People joke about their state becoming a province, but it's not a good idea.  Blocks of states seceeding sounds a lot more viable.   Fixing this mess long term seems the best option. Also in some ways the most difficult.

[neo von retorch]

I don't see how the country can continue for 4 years

I guess what I wonder is... exactly what the "real" incentive structure of the rest of the politicians looks like (in particular Republican Senators and Representatives).

In theory... they mostly care about keeping their jobs through re-election, right? And they all figure Trump controls (or massively influences) whether or not they get re-elected?

Will they just ride out their meaningless, empty jobs for a paycheck regardless of what it means for the country around them? Is there a point at which the collapse of the United States means their jobs go away, and their paycheck (and by paycheck, I really mean whatever bribes are essentially legal in our country)?

The few Republicans voting against Canadian tariffs... already they are on to something right? Where a collapse of the American economy is overall generally very bad for just about every person in the country, even at higher wealth levels, so maybe it's worth going AGAINST Trump no matter what?

[rocketpj]

The only ray of hope for the US is that the Trumpers are so thoroughly, brutally discrediting all forms of right wing populism.  Having broken everything they touched, whoever follows will have free reign to build anew.

That is somewhat optimistic in that it assumes that there will be an 'after Trumpism' and that whoever that is (likely Democrats) won't just go right back to corporate cronyism and selling to the highest bidder.

[dividendman]

Unlike Xi, Putin and others, Trump and his pals in cabinet are too stupid to pull off a dictatorship. Their stupidity will save us all hopefully... but cost us a lot in the meantime.

[Scandium]

OK, speech/protests are useless.  What should the democratic party be doing?

Well as you note they have no actual power. But as spineless Schumer showed they could have had power to negotiate and pass a budget. Personally I say the majority of people voted for pain and chaos, so the democrats should help them get that good and hard, so they really see what they asked for. This is a war, so there will be suffering on both sides, we just need to make sure red states suffer more than blue states/liberals do. Democrats should help, or at least not stand in the way of, GOP cutting social security, medicaid, foods stamp and government in general (at least they're doing this part now..), and use what little leverage they have to carve out help to solid blues states, preferably at the expense of red states. Blue areas should work to become more independent from the federal government. After all they pay more in than they receive, so lets try to instead direct that money back to blue states to increase social programs there. Negotiate a budget that eliminate transfers from blue to red states. Let red states become 3rd world hellholes (more so than they area already) with hunger and disease. We don't get highway money or research grants, but we also get to keep taxes from our profitable industries to help our own. Maybe blue states can band together and cooperate, between themselves. But federally elected democrats need to drop the whole "helping americans everwhere" bullshit. It's clear that nobody cares about that anymore, in fact this is seen as weakness. Trump don't want to give disaster relief based on voting patters, democrats need to do the same, for everything. This is war, so about causing pain for your enemies. Sure there will be many innocent losses, but that's necessary to win.   

[MrGreen]

OK, speech/protests are useless.  What should the democratic party be doing?

Well as you note they have no actual power. But as spineless Schumer showed they could have had power to negotiate and pass a budget. Personally I say the majority of people voted for pain and chaos, so the democrats should help them get that good and hard, so they really see what they asked for. This is a war, so there will be suffering on both sides, we just need to make sure red states suffer more than blue states/liberals do. Democrats should help, or at least not stand in the way of, GOP cutting social security, medicaid, foods stamp and government in general (at least they're doing this part now..), and use what little leverage they have to carve out help to solid blues states, preferably at the expense of red states. Blue areas should work to become more independent from the federal government. After all they pay more in than they receive, so lets try to instead direct that money back to blue states to increase social programs there. Negotiate a budget that eliminate transfers from blue to red states. Let red states become 3rd world hellholes (more so than they area already) with hunger and disease. We don't get highway money or research grants, but we also get to keep taxes from our profitable industries to help our own. Maybe blue states can band together and cooperate, between themselves. But federally elected democrats need to drop the whole "helping americans everwhere" bullshit. It's clear that nobody cares about that anymore, in fact this is seen as weakness. Trump don't want to give disaster relief based on voting patters, democrats need to do the same, for everything. This is war, so about causing pain for your enemies. Sure there will be many innocent losses, but that's necessary to win.

Anti-intellectualists have to see the proof with their own eyes. It's COVID all over again. Scientists and people with knowledge in the areas of concern tried to tell people what would happen and what we should do but the anti-intellectualists couldn't bear the inconvenience so now we have a population that is even more resistant to being educated. The same thing is playing out now in government. The positions that were occupied by people with knowledge specific to their role aren't trusted and are being eliminated by the anti-intellectual leaders who have taken over. They would rather have ignorant, loyal subordinates. What will follow are lots of dumb decisions that the population will have to personally experience in order for them to realize they were wrong and perhaps listening to people who actually have knowledge in the requisite areas of the decisions being made isn't a bad idea after all. The current decisions are dumber than I imagined they would be but the trend is exactly what I expected.

[Glenstache]

The only ray of hope for the US is that the Trumpers are so thoroughly, brutally discrediting all forms of right wing populism.  Having broken everything they touched, whoever follows will have free reign to build anew.

That is somewhat optimistic in that it assumes that there will be an 'after Trumpism' and that whoever that is (likely Democrats) won't just go right back to corporate cronyism and selling to the highest bidder.

Which is why Citizen's United reversal by Congress has to be a top line item for reform, should we get to a reubilding phase.

[BC_Goldman]

OK, speech/protests are useless.  What should the democratic party be doing?

Well as you note they have no actual power. But as spineless Schumer showed they could have had power to negotiate and pass a budget. Personally I say the majority of people voted for pain and chaos, so the democrats should help them get that good and hard, so they really see what they asked for. This is a war, so there will be suffering on both sides, we just need to make sure red states suffer more than blue states/liberals do. Democrats should help, or at least not stand in the way of, GOP cutting social security, medicaid, foods stamp and government in general (at least they're doing this part now..), and use what little leverage they have to carve out help to solid blues states, preferably at the expense of red states. Blue areas should work to become more independent from the federal government. After all they pay more in than they receive, so lets try to instead direct that money back to blue states to increase social programs there. Negotiate a budget that eliminate transfers from blue to red states. Let red states become 3rd world hellholes (more so than they area already) with hunger and disease. We don't get highway money or research grants, but we also get to keep taxes from our profitable industries to help our own. Maybe blue states can band together and cooperate, between themselves. But federally elected democrats need to drop the whole "helping americans everwhere" bullshit. It's clear that nobody cares about that anymore, in fact this is seen as weakness. Trump don't want to give disaster relief based on voting patters, democrats need to do the same, for everything. This is war, so about causing pain for your enemies. Sure there will be many innocent losses, but that's necessary to win.

Anti-intellectualists have to see the proof with their own eyes. It's COVID all over again. Scientists and people with knowledge in the areas of concern tried to tell people what would happen and what we should do but the anti-intellectualists couldn't bear the inconvenience so now we have a population that is even more resistant to being educated. The same thing is playing out now in government. The positions that were occupied by people with knowledge specific to their role aren't trusted and are being eliminated by the anti-intellectual leaders who have taken over. They would rather have ignorant, loyal subordinates. What will follow are lots of dumb decisions that the population will have to personally experience in order for them to realize they were wrong and perhaps listening to people who actually have knowledge in the requisite areas of the decisions being made isn't a bad idea after all. The current decisions are dumber than I imagined they would be but the trend is exactly what I expected.

This makes me wonder if pointing out how putting lackeys in charge of stuff in countries like China and Russia have caused them problems (building collapses, bad war performance) would be beneficial since it's talking about the enemy and not our own problems. Plant the seeds for later.

[Travis]

DoD IG investigating Hegseth's use of Signal. Worth mentioning this is the Acting IG because one of the first things Trump did in office was fire most of the IGs in the government. I imagine this guy's going to be shown the door in a few minutes.

https://x.com/JM_Szuba/status/1907862469676052602

[Fru-Gal]

New nightmare unlocked (post is from r/Wall Street Bets):

TL;DR Trump aims to gain the power of the purse via tariffs vs income taxes (as laid out in the 16th amendment)


The harm of the tariffs is not the market performance; it's the brazen conspiracy to overthrow America being realized.

Discussion
I don't know if this breaks the rules, but I'm willing to risk it. People are utterly clueless about what just happened.

I'll give Donnie credit, he really knows how to jingle the shiny pair of keys in front of everyone. While impenetrable losers like Jim Cramer and well-meaning policy wonks of the world debate the efficacy of tariffs, they're missing the entire plot. This is the heart of the coup.

This is why they were willing to risk stealing the election. Willing to send people to jail and gamble on pardons. Willing to use violence. Willing to lie at every turn, with no lie being too outlandish. Willing to risk assassinations. Willing to collaborate with enemy nations. Willing to risk literal treason. This is for all the marbles.

Trump is repealing the 16th amendment without congressional authority. He has vocalized his desire to end the income tax and abolish the IRS. Abolition requires congress, defunding does not. He has crippled the IRS and will start delivering the final blows soon to make revenue collection a big issue. You think the stock market won't start to realize the gravity of what is happening?

Congress controls the IRS. Trump is using executive power to defang them and make their votes worthless. Voting for programs that can't be funded is a worthless vote. He is using the Customs & Border Patrol to act as a quasi IRS which he can direct the purse of, establishing full control of United States tax collection directly under the president. Congress does not have authority over duties collected, they are cut out. Whether he establishes the hilariously misleading "external revenue service" or not doesn't matter. DHS secretary Kristi Noem is his financial henchwoman overseeing Customs & Border Patrol. Feeling confident in America's future yet? Think you're in good hands?

Ending the federal income tax is the packaging, the product is replacing it with the tariff itself. This is how he is going to try and rebalance power to himself by presenting himself as the hero who is bailing you out of excessive taxation. It is 100% a scam, you're not being bailed out, you're just paying a different piper, and one who has no intention of giving it back.

Elon-gate (lol) is just Trump pouring acid into the gears of democracy. Why is Elon willing to destroy his companies over this? Because he will have direct access to the entire federal tax system through Trump, with no pesky congress to get in the way. He's already gotten access to the federal payment systems. Is the smoke starting to clear? Do you see what this is about now? Do you see why Russell Vought's Project 2025 is a tome on absolutely obliterating separation of power? Project 2025 will be remembered in history books next to the Communist Manifesto and Machiavelli's "The Prince".

Can't congress stop this? That's if they even recognize what is happening. They can vote to overturn executive orders, but they need two-thirds vote. How many conservative cowards can you name who will betray the dictator and his mob at his most powerful? Not happening. Sorry.

Now go watch CNBC explain that the market is "pricing all of this in." Go watch CNN say "tariff bad, will hurt consumer". Go watch Fox state-run media deepthroat the executive and claim that America was liberated on "liberation day". Even calling it "liberation day" should make the hair on the back of your neck stand up if you realize they have this all figured out. It doesn't even matter if Putin had a hand in this, he is just one of many moving pieces that happened to find a way to mutually benefit from assisting in the operation. I don't care 1 shit how bad you think Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris was, they're incapable of this level of malice. I truly believe that.

[reeshau]

Mic drop.

[ixtap]

Is it worth hoping that when the tariff stuff hits people in their pocketbook that they'll wake up, or are we too far gone?

I have family members exclaiming how the men deported to CECOT don't deserve any human rights or due process, and questioning where I get my need from from. Not knowing that all...wait maybe not that one...are violent criminals.

[Zamboni]

Fru-Gal, you hit the nail right on the head. Much of the shenanigans (snatching people off the streets, Musk with the chainsaw, etc.) are smoke and mirrors for their end game: taking over control of all of the money in America. And I say "their" because Trump, of course, has his cronies and enablers who will profit and continue the system of corruption long after he dies if this is all successful.

[Travis]

One of my projections has been that between RFK and DOGE we're going to be in a position where Europe will refuse our agricultural products because there's nobody left to do quality control. Looks like we're getting there.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/fda-suspends-program-improve-bird-flu-testing-due-staff-cuts-2025-04-03/

[mtnrider]

It looks like conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer asked Trump to fire people in the security council.  And he did.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/trump-fires-national-security-council-officials-a-day-after-far-right-activist-raises-concerns-to/article_0a167f4e-f6ca-5fbf-aee1-a758dc226c29.html

[sixwings]

JFC Dr. Oz was just confirmed.

Conservatives should be deeply ashamed of themselves right now. This is not a serious administration.

[blue_green_sparks]

Fru-Gal, you hit the nail right on the head. Much of the shenanigans (snatching people off the streets, Musk with the chainsaw, etc.) are smoke and mirrors for their end game: taking over control of all of the money in America. And I say "their" because Trump, of course, has his cronies and enablers who will profit and continue the system of corruption long after he dies if this is all successful.

Agreed this is a possibility. Maybe a Bannon plan. Implement additional taxation in the form of tariffs. As usual, when the recession hits the top 5% buy up stocks when people are forced to sell. Trump announces sweeping income tax reductions (muting congressional control of taxation via the IRS). The market rallies, LOL.

[LaineyAZ]

Scandium,
you touched on something I've been wondering about - what if states like California simply refused to send their federal tax dollars to Washington, D.C.?    Just keep it and park it in an escrow account until the crazy stops?

I know it's not quite as simple as that but is there some way to do something like this?

[BC_Goldman]

I dont think the states have control of the money for the most part if you mean income taxes. Those are withheld by the companies paying wages who in turn remit to the Federal Tax Payment System.

[mtnrider]

Scandium,
you touched on something I've been wondering about - what if states like California simply refused to send their federal tax dollars to Washington, D.C.?    Just keep it and park it in an escrow account until the crazy stops?

I know it's not quite as simple as that but is there some way to do something like this?

Not saying that scenario is impossible, but most people pay taxes via w-2 withholdings which go directly to the federal government.  Most (all?) large companies are interstate, so the federal government would be able to regulate (penalize) them.  The smaller companies use large interstate payroll processors.

[Travis]

The four soldiers who drowned in a swamp in Lithuania last week are coming home today. Trump will not be there. He has a golf date. Curious who the most senior member will be.

https://x.com/samstein/status/1908164062808064009

[rantk81]

While I watch the value of my FIRE investments melt away.... I'm going to take solace in the fact that Trump will not be running for a 3rd term.

How do I know that he won't run for a third term?

Do you think he would really risk LOSING MASSIVELY to Obama?  (since hey, if 3rd terms are fair game, then... why wouldn't Obama run again?)

[GuitarStv]

While I watch the value of my FIRE investments melt away.... I'm going to take solace in the fact that Trump will not be running for a 3rd term.

How do I know that he won't run for a third term?

Do you think he would really risk LOSING MASSIVELY to Obama?  (since hey, if 3rd terms are fair game, then... why wouldn't Obama run again?)

I don't think that he will run for a third term because I don't think that there will be another presidential election.  At least, not as we once knew them.

[sixwings]

I think there will be an election but it's very likely, maybe even probable that Vance will not certify it with some sort of emergency declaration about fraud if his preferred outcome doesn't win. Vance is not Pence.

[Travis]

Judge finds that FEMA has been intentionally withholding disaster funds from Blue states.

https://www.courthousenews.com/trump-slammed-for-covertly-withholding-fema-funds-from-blue-states/

[GuitarStv]

Judge finds that FEMA has been intentionally withholding disaster funds from Blue states.

https://www.courthousenews.com/trump-slammed-for-covertly-withholding-fema-funds-from-blue-states/

Oh good.  Another instance where Trump can prove the impotence of the judiciary by simply ignoring what they tell him to do.  What's the judge gonna do?  Arrest him?

[reeshau]

While I watch the value of my FIRE investments melt away.... I'm going to take solace in the fact that Trump will not be running for a 3rd term.

How do I know that he won't run for a third term?

Do you think he would really risk LOSING MASSIVELY to Obama?  (since hey, if 3rd terms are fair game, then... why wouldn't Obama run again?)

I held that fantasy for a bit.  The House bill that was introduced said a President is done after 2 consecutive terms, or 3 total terms--conveniently disqualifying Obama, while keeping Trump.

No way that passes all the steps for a constitutional amendment, though.  And certainly not within the next 3 years.

[Travis]

Trump fires several National Security Agency leaders to include the Director, and other employees of the government, at the request of Laura Loomer

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/us/politics/trump-meeting-laura-loomer.html

https://archive.li/GRVKo

[mtnrider]

TikTok deal may be a casualty of the tariffs.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-china-bytedance-social-media-tariffs-665e46fd5bb555e97c4d7301e07230df

[Travis]

Gregg Abbott not holding a special election to replace Sylvester Turner - because they'll probably elect another Democrat.

https://x.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1908255272247677414

[Travis]

RFK forced out official who wouldn't help him find nonexistent data to satisfy his conspiracy theories.  He's also employing people who have been sanctioned for unethical medical practices.

https://www.rawstory.com/rfk-vaccines/

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

RFK forced out official who wouldn't help him find nonexistent data to satisfy his conspiracy theories.  He's also employing people who have been sanctioned for unethical medical practices.

https://www.rawstory.com/rfk-vaccines/

I saw a shared post by a person with the "name" of Dr something or other that said "They say I'm not a doctor. Let me guess, real doctors prescribe you pills for life and tell you to take shots, but I've seen people healed by this or that home remedy blah blah blah." I wanted to respond "They say I'm not an aerospace engineer. Let me guess, real aerospace engineers tell you have to inspect the airplanes for stress fractures as long as they're in operation. Let me tell you, I've seen planes fly... Hundreds of them. I've seen them fly and I've even seen them crash. I know what I'm talking about just as much as these "aerospace engineers." I just want planes to fly without all of these unnatural, forced inspections and safety rules."

[reeshau]

Looks like the President gets his news where he gets his groceries...

I can't find exactly what paper this is, but it looks to be a tabloid.

It accompanied a BBC article.

[wenchsenior]

Trump fires several National Security Agency leaders to include the Director, and other employees of the government, at the request of Laura Loomer

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/us/politics/trump-meeting-laura-loomer.html

https://archive.li/GRVKo

Yup, national security advice given by someone EVEN CRAZIER than Marjorie Taylor Greene, designed to place conspiracy theory nutters in charge of part of national security ops.

[rab-bit]

Looks like the President gets his news where he gets his groceries...

I can't find exactly what paper this is, but it looks to be a tabloid.

It accompanied a BBC article.

New York Post

https://www.thedailybeast.com/caught-on-camera-trump-reads-murdoch-papers-story-mocking-his-tariff-war/

[sixwings]

Trump fires several National Security Agency leaders to include the Director, and other employees of the government, at the request of Laura Loomer

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/us/politics/trump-meeting-laura-loomer.html

https://archive.li/GRVKo

Yup, national security advice given by someone EVEN CRAZIER than Marjorie Taylor Greene, designed to place conspiracy theory nutters in charge of part of national security ops.

Just another sign that there’s no big brain planning a government overthrow, just a huge gaggle of morons inacting revenge on each other. Like how do we know that this director wasn’t a MAGA who banged Loomer in the past and didn’t call her and now she’s pissed about it? Something like that seems far more likely than it’s part of a big brain plot. It’s all seems like just pure chaos for no reason.

[bacchi]

Trump fires several National Security Agency leaders to include the Director, and other employees of the government, at the request of Laura Loomer

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/us/politics/trump-meeting-laura-loomer.html

https://archive.li/GRVKo

Yup, national security advice given by someone EVEN CRAZIER than Marjorie Taylor Greene, designed to place conspiracy theory nutters in charge of part of national security ops.

Just another sign that there’s no big brain planning a government overthrow, just a huge gaggle of morons inacting revenge on each other. Like how do we know that this director wasn’t a MAGA who banged Loomer in the past and didn’t call her and now she’s pissed about it? Something like that seems far more likely than it’s part of a big brain plot. It’s all seems like just pure chaos for no reason.

There are some big brains behind the scenes but most of the people at this party are similar to this guy covering his answers:

https://youtu.be/jbmq9P-8FiM?t=38

[wenchsenior]

Trump fires several National Security Agency leaders to include the Director, and other employees of the government, at the request of Laura Loomer

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/us/politics/trump-meeting-laura-loomer.html

https://archive.li/GRVKo

Yup, national security advice given by someone EVEN CRAZIER than Marjorie Taylor Greene, designed to place conspiracy theory nutters in charge of part of national security ops.

Just another sign that there’s no big brain planning a government overthrow, just a huge gaggle of morons inacting revenge on each other. Like how do we know that this director wasn’t a MAGA who banged Loomer in the past and didn’t call her and now she’s pissed about it? Something like that seems far more likely than it’s part of a big brain plot. It’s all seems like just pure chaos for no reason.

I listened to a news podcast and read the WSJ article, and it appears that it is simply b/c he's trying to do a nonpartisan job as a nonpartisan actor and is 'insufficiently loyal'; Loomer has apparently handed Trump a short list (no doubt comprising a gaggle of completely nutters) to pick a replacement. Even the other nutters in Trump's inner circle are concerned and trying to keep her away from Trump b/c they don't want someone with her insane beliefs helping interpret intelligence data.

[EscapeVelocity2020]

The tariffs that led to the biggest stock-market drop since COVID may have been the result of an error

The problem is the White House used 0.25 as the elasticity of import prices. Per the research paper the USTR cited in the tariff determination, the elasticity is actually closer to 1, or 0.945 to be precise. The AEI authors say the White House may have used the elasticity of retail prices instead of import prices.

The AEI team went and recalculated tariffs based on using correct numbers — and found no tariff rate would exceed 14%, and most would be at the 10% floor the Trump administration set.

It stands to reason that if the revised calculations were used, the stock-market reaction would have been much different. In fact, when the Wall Street Journal issued a report saying the universal tariff would be 10% — but not the details of the reciprocal tariffs — stock-market futures actually rose on Wednesday afternoon.

oopsie!

[reeshau]

I find it hard to believe the administration will admit the mistake.  Maybe it will soften their negotiating stance?

If the ridicule builds, maybe the first firing won't be from Signalgate.

[swashbucklinstache]

Sounds exactly like the kind of error AI would make. The most efficient kind.