[Waragainstsleep]

I don't think he was counting the votes, but apparently the tabulators were hooked up to Starlink. Only in swing states according to some people which does sound a bit convenient. I also heard one claim that he destroyed a bunch of Starling satellites the following day too. But I imagine at least some of this is wrong.

[subego]

This election was a win-win for Elon because either he makes more money or he makes more shitposts.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by subego 

This election was a win-win for Elon because either he makes more money or he makes more shitposts.

… and for anyone else for that matter. Placating Trump is the safe option, because a Harris administration would not retaliate against powerful business people for expressing their opinions. Whereas Trump might (and in the past has).

[sek929]

While obviously disheartening, this was all but expected from me. Harris was given the nomination without having to endure the primary process and Biden presided over a period of time where stuff costs more. Even here in Mass the signs were obvious, this is what the country is now, we have the president we deserve.

When Trump first got the nomination I reckoned he spell the end of the GOP, and i was kinda right. What I didn't not expect is for the Democratic party to also be demolished in the process. Instead of courting never-Trumpers (cough LIZ CHENEY cough) maybe the party of progressives should have focused on getting the largest chunk of voters available, the ones who don't vote.

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by sek929 

...maybe the party of progressives should have focused on getting the largest chunk of voters available, the ones who don't vote.

Progressives? The democratic party is light-years away from being a “party of progressives.” Just ask any actual progressive. At best, it’s a slightly center-right party, that only looks hard-left because of how far rightward the GOP has dragged the overton window over the past 40+ years.

[Waragainstsleep]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

Progressives? The democratic party is light-years away from being a “party of progressives.” Just ask any actual progressive. At best, it’s a slightly center-right party, that only looks hard-left because of how far rightward the GOP has dragged the overton window over the past 40+ years.

It's all relative isn't it? Next to Trump and MAGA, the Dark Ages are progressive.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by sek929 

Instead of courting never-Trumpers (cough LIZ CHENEY cough) maybe the party of progressives should have focused on getting the largest chunk of voters available, the ones who don't vote.

How? Good governance isn't sexy. Adults in charge keeping things running smoothly doesn't activate voters. Instead, invent an entirely fictional narrative about how this country is in utter moral and economic decay and only you have the cure, then have the entire force of the news media and social media propagate the narrative so intensely that nearly half the country actually believes it - this absolutely activates voters.

They do. not. live. in. reality.



How do you combat misinformation when all sources of information are for-profit institutions optimizing for engagement by pushing shaky or outright false narratives invented by conservative think tanks that generate outrage, clicks, and revenue?

Median household income rise has actually outpaced inflation over the past 5 years, GDP growth under Biden was higher than any other president, the stock market is hitting all-time highs, unemployment is at record lows, infrastructure investment is actually starting to fix our shitty roads and bridges, yet half the country believes America is crumbling because...eggs are expensive and trans women in sports?

All of this talk of "focus on what brings people together" or "talk about the economy" or "court the disengaged voters" is stupid and ridiculous - none of that works, it's very very obvious that none of that works anymore, if it ever did. The truth is not sexy when you can talk about immigrants eating cats or whatever other falsehood you can use to keep people disengaged from reality.

[Spheric Harlot]

LAUREN FUCKING BOEBERT!?

[sek929]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

How? Good governance isn't sexy. Adults in charge keeping things running smoothly doesn't activate voters. Instead, invent an entirely fictional narrative about how this country is in utter moral and economic decay and only you have the cure, then have the entire force of the news media and social media propagate the narrative so intensely that nearly half the country actually believes it - this absolutely activates voters.

They do. not. live. in. reality.



How do you combat misinformation when all sources of information are for-profit institutions optimizing for engagement by pushing shaky or outright false narratives invented by conservative think tanks that generate outrage, clicks, and revenue?

Median household income rise has actually outpaced inflation over the past 5 years, GDP growth under Biden was higher than any other president, the stock market is hitting all-time highs, unemployment is at record lows, infrastructure investment is actually starting to fix our shitty roads and bridges, yet half the country believes America is crumbling because...eggs are expensive and trans women in sports?

All of this talk of "focus on what brings people together" or "talk about the economy" or "court the disengaged voters" is stupid and ridiculous - none of that works, it's very very obvious that none of that works anymore, if it ever did. The truth is not sexy when you can talk about immigrants eating cats or whatever other falsehood you can use to keep people disengaged from reality.

The man who owns the largest misinformation machine has nestled into Trump's bosom, while the supposed "liberal" media will eat up a Trump presidency as a way to drive views. The outrage economy drives social media, where negative attention creates more engagement than positive attention. If the public can be so easily bamboozled at-large then what moves do the Democrats have left?

IMO they'll abandon more of their progressive views and inch right to try and win back people disenfranchised by Trump, but to what end? If a positive message doesn't work, and truth doesn't matter, and everything is owned by like 5 people we're already boned I'm afraid. The Democrats need their own Trump, what that means I haven't a goddamned clue.

[subego]

Originally Posted by sek929 

IMO they'll abandon more of their progressive views and inch right

With Trump back in office? Won’t it be tough to inch right and push back against Trump?

[Thorzdad]

Trump has announced his selection of Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Jesus christ, this is just insane.

[OreoCookie]

Even National Review noped on Gaetz hard. I still expect he will be confirmed.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by sek929 

If a positive message doesn't work, and truth doesn't matter, and everything is owned by like 5 people we're already boned I'm afraid.

[Brien]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

Even National Review noped on Gaetz hard. I still expect he will be confirmed.

Apparently the Senate vote is not required to confirm, or so it seems.

[Thorzdad]

Now the orange pustule has picked Dr. Oz to head Medicaid and Medicare services.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

Now the orange pustule has picked Dr. Oz to head Medicaid and Medicare services.

You can tell what positions Trump does care about (in the sense that he actually cared to weigh in/decide) and those he doesn't (propose the person who authored the appropriate section in the Master Plan 2025).

I'm honestly not shocked or surprised, those are exactly the kind of people Trump would hire.

[subego]

This seems less like hiring and more like casting.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

Trump has announced his selection of Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Jesus christ, this is just insane.

He was only nominated because Epstein isn’t available.

[Spheric Harlot]

Any bets on which position Hulk Hogan gets? We’ve got a bit of work ahead before hitting peak Idiocracy in, probably, late 2026.

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

I'm honestly not shocked or surprised, those are exactly the kind of people Trump would hire.

I suppose when the entirety of your mission is to eliminate the federal government, I guess it doesn’t matter.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

I suppose when the entirety of your mission is to eliminate the federal government, I guess it doesn’t matter.

Another fun fact: the new government body that is in charge of getting rid of inefficiencies in the government is headed by two people

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by subego 

This seems less like hiring and more like casting.

Affirming loyalty rewards, making it very clear that everyone better toe the line.

[subego]

Some colossal egos though.

[subego]

Down. Goes. Gaetz.

[andi*pandi]

well that's *something* at least.

[OreoCookie]

I wouldn't celebrate that as a win. Trump has nominated quite a few blatantly unqualified people to positions, and the Republicans won't block all of them. I expect that Trump will have to change 1 or 2 of them, but that's it.

[Thorzdad]

GOP senator introduces bill to legally erase transgender people

...entitled the “Defining Male and Female Act of 2024.” He claimed that the bill will stop what he called the Biden administration’s attempt to “replace biological sex with dangerous radical gender ideology.”

[Spheric Harlot]

It's always amusing to watch people justify their opinions with sources that DIRECTLY contradict what they're saying.

Of course, hearing actual experts on biological sex is not going to be part of this process, at any point — but it'd be funny if they were.

As it is, there's nothing funny here, at all.

[Thorzdad]

So, the fat orange pustule has declared he intends to rescind all of Biden’s student loan forgiveness, and fully reinstate the loans. Obviously this is easier said than done, but still.

[shmerek]

Nice!

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by shmerek 

Nice!

Woah.

[sek929]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

So, the fat orange pustule has declared he intends to rescind all of Biden’s student loan forgiveness, and fully reinstate the loans. Obviously this is easier said than done, but still.

If he eliminates the Department of Education surely the loans they authored would be void?

[Thorzdad]

Are the loans handled directly by DoE? Isn’t that done by Sallie Mae?

Honestly, it’s not like he or his people are thinking about knock-on effects. I read an article the other day saying that his 25% tariff on Mexican imports is going to devastate the regional economy of southern Texas.

[Spheric Harlot]

It takes a special kind of ignorant to vote for someone campaigning on too high cost of living who’s also promising to implement tariffs.

But then, making Mexico pay for the border wall (while embezzling funds actually collected to do so) made sense to these people, as well.

As does destroying their own health insurance to stick it to the Obama people.

They say democracy gives you the government you deserve…

[Thorzdad]

Hate is a helluva drug.

[OAW]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

Are the loans handled directly by DoE? Isn’t that done by Sallie Mae?

Contrary to popular belief Sallie Mae are actually private loans. Only federal student loans would be covered by any student loan forgiveness the Biden Administration is able to get through.

OAW