Susan's Place Transgender Resources

This will be a long read, but I will include references where appropriate.

Very often a con man will focus your attention on something so that you do not see what he is really doing. To me, it does not make sense to spend millions of dollars and focus the public's attention on 1% of the population who just want to live in peace. And yet, we see attack after attack on transgender people and the LGBTQ+ community at large.

Why? What is he really up to?

The media has reported several times about Trump's claim to "be a dictator on day one". However, what he said was in response to the question of whether he would be a dictator, to which he replied, "Only on day one".

His first actions as President included a flurry of Executive Orders that rescinded civil rights, declared states of emergency, closed the borders, stopped immigration, and declared his version of biology is the only one to be recognized by the government, so many are wondering if he is indeed becoming a dictator.

Trump's vow to only be a dictator on 'day one' follows growing worry over his authoritarian rhetoric - December 7, 2023
https://apnews.com/article/trump-hannity-dictator-authoritarian-presidential-election-f27e7e9d7c13fabbe3ae7dd7f1235c72

[Congressman Jared] Huffman Decries Trump's Dictatorial Power Grabs - January 28, 2025
https://huffman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/huffman-decries-trumps-dictatorial-power-grabs

So is he becoming a dictator? And how would we know?

"Dictatorships are often characterised by some of the following: suspension of elections and civil liberties; proclamation of a state of emergency; rule by decree; repression of political opponents; not abiding by the procedures of the rule of law; and the existence of a cult of personality centered on the leader. Dictatorships are often one-party or dominant-party states."

"Because of its negative and pejorative connotations, modern authoritarian leaders very rarely (if ever) use the term dictator in their formal titles, instead they most often simply have title of president."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictator#:~:text=Dictatorships%20are%20often%20characterised%20by,personality%20centered%20on%20the%20leader.

Interesting, no?

What do dictators want? Throughout history, it seems that the ultimate goal is world domination.

This is not always achieved through military force, although that was common too. To be a dominant world power one could capitalize on resources. If you have all the resources, everyone else must come to you and you can charge (money or favors) at whatever rate you decide. If you have all the money (real money not just printed paper notes), others must come to you for trade. Even if you do not have all of these things, but a large supply of them, the same thing applies: others will come to you to get what they want or need.

Trump says he still wants to buy Greenland, suggests Canada could become a U.S. state - January 26, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/26/nx-s1-5275375/trump-greenland-canada-israel-gaza

Why? What is in Canada?

A very large land mass and a producer of oil. That is a lot of resources, plus it would secure our northern border from invasion. That leaves more military folks to patrol the southern border with Mexico.

But Greenland doesn't produce oil, so why Greenland?

A large land mass that is rich in rare earth minerals and uranium. Uranium for nuclear power and weapons. Rare earth minerals are used in the production of computer chips. Does this tie in with his interest in AI and cryptocurrency, both of which are computer-based?

If you look at this map, notice how much territory is occupied by Greenland, Canada, and the U.S.
https://geology.com/world/north-america-satellite-image.shtml

If America owned all of that, maybe renaming the Gulf would make more sense.

Trump says he will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America.'
January 20, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/trump-gulf-of-mexico-bc438f4feca1234475a1adef99344da7

Interior Department Advances Restoration of Historic Names Honoring American Greatness
01/24/2025
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-advances-restoration-historic-names-honoring-american-greatness

Other than Mexico, this includes all of North America.

Well, almost. There is that pesky little island called "Cuba". We have a military base and prison there called "Guantanamo Bay". Perhaps you have heard of it, or maybe by its nickname "Gitmo". Has Trump shown any interest in Cuba?

Trump quickly puts Cuba back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism - 01/20/2025
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/01/20/donald-trump-inauguration-day-news-updates-analysis/a-quick-reversal-on-cuba-00199531

Marines arrive at Guantanamo Bay as Trump's migrant deportation plan moves ahead at warp speed
Updated: 07:14 EST, 3 February 2025
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14352645/Marines-arrive-Guantanamo-Bay-Trump-migrant-deportation-plan.html

What to know about Guantánamo Bay, the base where Trump will send 'criminal aliens'
Feb 2, 2025
https://ravallirepublic.com/news/nation-world/government-politics/guantanamo-bay-gitmo-trump-immigration-ice/article_d0ac368d-f6e0-5f18-831b-458daee4405d.html

The government of Cuba considers the U.S. military base there "illegal" and "located in illegally occupied Cuba territory."

Then we have Panama in Central America. The Panama Canal is the only east-west passage between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Not only is it a vital shipping lane for passenger and cargo ships, but military traffic also travels through there.

Trump reiterates threat to retake Panama Canal 'or something very powerful' will happen
Updated 11:40 PM EST, Sun February 2, 2025
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/02/americas/panama-china-belt-and-road-initiative-rubio-visits-intl-latam/index.html

Trump refuses to rule out use of military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal
Updated 6:11 PM MST, January 7, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-offshore-drilling-gulf-of-america-fa66f8d072eb39c00a8128a8941ede75

Look at the map again. Panama is located at the bottom of the map, the south end of Central America. There are two blank spaces to the right (east) of the Panama Canal. The furthest one is Venezuela, the largest oil producer in that part of the world.

Why is this important?

The U.S. imports oil from Venezuela. Lots of it. The only country that buys more Venezuelan oil than the U.S. is China. If the U.S. controlled the Panama Canal, they could shut down access by China, or charge a very high fee. It would be very expensive for China to haul oil around South America from Venezuela to China.

Trump said that the U.S. will be energy-dominant. He issued an Executive Order to declare an Energy National Emergency. Presidents use "national emergencies" to invoke special powers as a way to bypass Congress.

In this case, he can roll back environmental protections to allow oil drilling in areas that previously were off-limits, such as National Wildlife Refuges. Trump has big plans and his plans include making America a manufacturing powerhouse. That requires a lot of energy.

History has shown that economies thrive when manufacturing is prominent in a country. It has also shown us that the fastest way to build up a manufacturing base is through war. War provides jobs and factories to support the war effort. After a war, countries invest in manufacturing to rebuild a war-torn country.

Only Congress has the authority to declare war. Right now, the Republican party controls both houses of Congress, so it is unlikely they will oppose such a proposal from "His Orangeness". Another thing history has taught us is that we can have the war machine active without a declared war. Such actions are called "conflicts" instead of war and can be initiated by the President without approval from Congress. The U.S. has been involved in many "conflicts" from Vietnam to Ukraine.

Just some things to think about.

Cause  disruption and civil unrest so he can declare marshal law?

Quote from: davina61 on February 03, 2025, 04:45:33 PMCause  disruption and civil unrest so he can declare marshal law?

It wouldn't be the first time a dictator did that.  ;D

I think that President Trump is playing out the board game of Risk.  Experienced players know that the player who dominates the whole of North America will almost inevitably win.  Of course, in Risk, the owner of North America easily gets a foothold in Asia, preventing anyone else from winning.  That might not be easy in real life.

Deport all immigrants, fine that will leave the US to the native tribes!! The blokes an idiot ,the US was made from immigrants

Are drugs and illegal immigrants really swarming into the USA from Canada?:

 Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China    February 1, 2025 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/)

In one breath President Trump wants the USA and Canada to become one country and in another breath he pauses tariffs in exchange for Canada strengthening the border between the two countries. 

I think that President Trump is really concerned about Americans fleeing from him to Canada for a better life.

Why does he want what he says he wants?  That is a question you would ask of a reasonable person.  Trump is an amoral malignant narcissist.  He doesn't recognize the concepts of right and wrong.  He doesn't want the thing that he wants for any rational purpose.  He wants them because he wants to be in charge.  He wants to be the boss.  That is his bottom line.  He doesn't want to be the boss so that he can accomplish some purpose.  He wants to be the boss in order to be the boss.

It is ironic, therefore, that he follows orders from Elon Musk.  But Musk is not electable, where as Trump (surprisingly) was.  I think they formed a partnership.  Musk, with his stable of hackers, rigged the election, in return for which Trump will do what he is told.  Musk couldn't fire the staff at USAID who tried to defend the data, for example, but a phone call to Trump was enough to get them fired.

I do not think the USA national election was rigged.  I think the majority of voters voted for the winning candidates. 

I am trying to put some trust and faith into our elections and the voting tallying process.

What bothers me is that some places count their votes weeks after the polls close and there are all these different rules and deadlines for early voting, mail in voting, voter identification, and deadlines for registering to vote (same day registrations?  Ridiculous!) across the states.

There should be uniform election rules across the states, with some procedures to follow if there is some very bad weather or an emergency occurring.

Should vote tallying go on for weeks?  Why wait to count the mail in votes until after the polls close?  Just do not announce vote numbers until after all the polls close in that state!

Showing valid ID is reasonable prior to voting!

However, I am not sure of the best process to follow.  We need to work on this though.


Chrissy

Quote from: MaryT on February 04, 2025, 11:40:17 AMIn one breath President Trump wants the USA and Canada to become one country and in another breath he pauses tariffs in exchange for Canada strengthening the border between the two countries. 

The tariffs are a tool. He can't impose sanctions, so he imposes tariffs. If a country has something to offer that Trump wants, he can make a deal. Give me x and I will lower your tariff. Interestingly, China has a lower tariff than Canada or Germany. Perhaps a deal was made.

Quote from: KathyLauren on February 04, 2025, 12:11:02 PMIt is ironic, therefore, that he follows orders from Elon Musk.  But Musk is not electable, where as Trump (surprisingly) was.  I think they formed a partnership.  Musk, with his stable of hackers, rigged the election, in return for which Trump will do what he is told.  Musk couldn't fire the staff at USAID who tried to defend the data, for example, but a phone call to Trump was enough to get them fired.

THIS.

That is why I asked, "Is Anyone Paying Attention?". Tiny details fill in the gaps and let us see the big picture.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on February 04, 2025, 12:32:11 PMI do not think the USA national election was rigged.  I think the majority of voters voted for the winning candidates. 

I am trying to put some trust and faith into our elections and the voting tallying process.

What bothers me is that some places count their votes weeks after the polls close and there are all these different rules and deadlines for early voting, mail in voting, voter identification, and deadlines for registering to vote (same day registrations?  Ridiculous!) across the states.

There should be uniform election rules across the states, with some procedures to follow if there is some very bad weather or an emergency occurring.

Should vote tallying go on for weeks?  Why wait to count the mail in votes until after the polls close?  Just do not announce vote numbers until after all the polls close in that state!

Showing valid ID is reasonable prior to voting!

However, I am not sure of the best process to follow.  We need to work on this though.


Chrissy

I have seen enough evidence (not on YouTube) of voting fraud that I do not doubt that EVERY election is rigged.

All of the issues that you listed are accurate and they are the loopholes in the system that allow rigging to happen.

Every ballot should be a paper ballot. You cannot hack a paper ballot.

Each ballot must be printed using the same anti-fraud techniques that banks use for checks and bonds to prevent forgery.

Each ballot must have a trackable serial number tied to a single voter. Any duplicates of that ballot will be invalidated immediately. The voter ID record can show that the person is a valid, legal citizen permitted to vote. In some states, felons are not allowed to vote, so the record would invalidate their Voter ID. The serial number record that is tied to the voter must be encrypted using a blockchain or a similar system. That prevents theft of voter ID records and provides a bulletproof record of where that ballot came from in case of an audit. That way we know that John Doe is a citizen, is eligible to vote, and cast that vote for candidate X.

Every ballot must be counted by hand, not by a machine. Yes, it will take time. The news outlets will just have to wait until the count is official and certified. This isn't a horse race where you get to see who is ahead, and then the long shot rides up from the rear and takes the win. Make the certification of the votes in the Senate a real thing and not just a ceremonial gesture.

Make every vote count. Do away with the Electoral College. I voted for a specific person, not for someone to cast my vote for me. Remove the middleman and reduce some of the fraud. Faithless electors can throw an election and suffer no repercussions because it is not a criminal act. Either make it a criminal act or do away with them altogether.

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 03, 2025, 02:52:58 PMWhy? What is he really up to?

To quote The Oracle in the second Matrix Movie: "What do all men with power want? More power."

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on February 04, 2025, 12:32:11 PMHowever, I am not sure of the best process to follow.  We need to work on this though.

Not to worry.  There probably won't be any more elections, so it's a moot point.

Quote from: KathyLauren on February 04, 2025, 03:13:02 PMNot to worry.  There probably won't be any more elections, so it's a moot point.

That kind of scares me honestly. But I think it scares me more that the majority of US folks are okay with this. Or maybe they didn't know what they were getting themselves into. I know they want to give him a third term. The next step is making the Democrats illegal. It's all happened before.

It would really kind of suck if actual World War 3 was America against everyone else. Because you have this maniac in charge. Literally goes against everything your country is supposed to stand for.

Quote from: Sephirah on February 04, 2025, 03:15:52 PMif actual World War 3 was America against everyone else. Because you have this maniac in charge.

Kind of like... uh... Germany?

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 04, 2025, 03:18:37 PMKind of like... uh... Germany?

Yeah. You don't have to read very far into it to see the similarities, Lori. I know we're on the same page with this. And can see likely outcomes. Only this time it isn't the Jews, it's the Mexicans.

What scares me is that Trump is going to end up alienating the world to the point that everyone is going to suffer... again. Because he literally doesn't care. You're all just cannon fodder to him. And he's going to push things too far. People who used to be side by side end up being enemies because of this narcissistic warmonger. And as the title of your thread alludes to... no one seems to care.

Quote from: Sephirah on February 04, 2025, 03:20:55 PMAnd as the title of your thread alludes to... no one seems to care.

Sometimes I wonder if I should include a lobotomy as part of my transition so I can become an airhead bimbo. Ignorance is bliss.

Until the jackboots kick in your door because they found an old copy of your birth certificate.

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 04, 2025, 03:32:58 PMSometimes I wonder if I should include a lobotomy as part of my transition so I can become an airhead bimbo. Ignorance is bliss.

Until the jackboots kick in your door because they found an old copy of your birth certificate.

I think the problem is more widespread than that, honestly. It's not just the US going through this. Far right wing stuff is happening all over the world. In Europe you have right wing parties vying for governments in many countries. Even in the UK.

I think... and I am loathe to say this. I think it's partly the left's fault. It's like a balancing act. No one wants to be in the middle anymore. It's either one extreme or the other. And.. as much as I want to disagree with this guy, I can't. As the old quote goes: Evil wins when good does nothing. The left did nothing other than to warn people how dangerous the right was. We have the same issue in the UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0eq7VNCcYY

LMAO! :laugh:

Thought you'd get a kick out of that, Lori ;D

I had read a headline talking about Trump trying to get rid of the constitution, or make it basically just a historical document that no longer applies to how our country is to ran.

A while ago there was a video of a guy who claimed he was running as the first totally honest politician. I will look for that and share it.

Here it is:

Tonight, I will be rewatching an old favorite documentary.

TRIGGER WARNING!   TRIGGER WARNING!   TRIGGER WARNING!
"Everything is a Rich Man's Trick"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oVpt_I9iQQ
TRIGGER WARNING!   TRIGGER WARNING!   TRIGGER WARNING!

This video contains disturbing images. If you are squeamish or do not want to see news film footage of bodies at concentration camps, DO NOT click the link.

This documentary was made by a British historian who explains how the world has been operating and why. He shows actual photos, news films, and other documents to support his claims. If you think that anything he says is questionable, do an internet search and fact-check it yourself. I have.

After watching this video, you might just become a "Conspiracy Theorist". Are you paying attention?

I suppose it is up to interpretation but I believe that a person can be elected to be the USA President only twice; but can serve longer.


Before being elected, a person can fill the remaining term for the president who dies or resigns.  Then she or he may be elected once or twice as President.

After being elected twice, the person cannot be elected as a president again.  However if such a person gets elected as Vice President, she or he may be able to serve as President if the elected president resigns or dies after inauguration.

So in theory, a person may serve about three to three and a half terms if she or he was involved in replacing a president twice.

Or so it seems. . .

I am not a constitutional scholar. 

I think you are right, so I looked it up real quickly:

Section 1 of the 22nd Amendment indicates that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once." It was ratified in 1951.

I wonder how close we are to that exact thing occurring right now. Hugs
Mariah

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 03, 2025, 04:52:08 PMIt wouldn't be the first time a dictator did that.  ;D

President Trump said that the USA would not defend NATO countries that did not spend enough on their own defence.  Ironically, NATO members such as Denmark are spending considerably more on defence in "coincidental" response to implied threats of invasion by the USA.

I wonder whether at some stage, President Trump will say that that was his plan all along.

President Trump also said that he believed that the USA would get Greenland because "the inhabitants want to be with us."  Perhaps that was his genuine belief after members of his family visited Greenland.

The Kalaallit, the Inuit of Greenland, are an extension of the indigenous cultures of North America and I believe that their land is the largest territory north of Mexico in which indigenous peoples, as the majority, call the shots.  No offence intended to Americans but I'm sure that the Kalaallit have watched too many Westerns to possibly want to join the USA.

Orange man speak with forked tongue.

Donald Trump Jr.'s visit was 'staged,' says Greenland lawmaker
"We know how they treat the Inuit in Alaska. Make that great before trying to invade us," Pipaluk Lynge tells POLITICO.
Source Link (https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-junior-visit-was-staged-says-greenland-lawmaker/)
POLITICO - Seb Starcevic, Eric Bazail-Eimil and Jack Detsch
January 9, 2025 5:56 pm CET

A senior Greenlandic politician slammed Donald Trump Jr.'s visit to the island as "staged," and warned the United States not to "invade us" given its historical treatment of Alaska's indigenous people.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's eldest son landed on the self-ruling Danish territory Tuesday and spent the day meeting with local residents, who he claimed were supportive of a U.S. takeover. But Lynge said it was a stunt.

"No journalists were allowed to interview him. It was all staged to make it seem like we — the Greenlandic people — were MAGA and love to be a part of the USA," Lynge said.

Local media said that the Trump Jr. camp passed out MAGA hats to residents on the day of the visit, while video footage from the trip showed the president-elect talking to cap-wearing Greenlanders on speakerphone during a lunch event.

His welcome was not entirely warm, Lynge added. "People were curious, but some took pictures giving him [the] finger at the airport ... Some wrote on Facebook: yankee go home," she said.

---------------------------------------

In a different article, it was reported that they gathered up homeless people, and gave them MAGA hats and a free lunch for the photo op.

This is just crazy. Why do with tanks what you can do with baseball caps.

I'm paying as much attention as my stomach can handle. Both my great grand parents immigrated here from Norway and Denmark at the end of the 1800's. I wonder if they saw the writing on the wall back then and decided to leave. They were both city boys and business owners and they sold their businesses and came to North Dakota and started farming.
This is really a ->-bleeped-<- show.

President Trump had huge success in business.  After concentrating on politics, he has survived efforts to incriminate him even when found guilty and even survived at least one assassination attempt.  I think that he really does believe that he is favoured, protected and given a mandate by God as well as the people.

If so, can we be certain that he is wrong?

Years ago, I watched a TV movie called God on Trial, based on Elie Wiesel's play The Trial of God.  The play was set in 1649 but the movie was set in WWII.  Although he did not write the screenplay, Wiesel said that the events in the movie were true and that he had witnessed them himself.

In WWII, Jewish internees, most of whom would soon be killed, debated whether God had broken his covenant with the Jews and changed his allegiance to their enemies.  They discussed, e.g. how the Israelites slaughtered the Midianites at God's command, eventually sparing only the virgin girls.  The internees concluded that God was strong and had been on the side of the Israelites but that He was not good.

While being marched to the gas chamber, one of the internees asked his friend
"Well, we found God guilty.  Now what shall we do?"
"Now", his friend replied, "we pray."

If God is on President Trump's side, at least we can still pray.

Lord Peter Mandelson is now Britain's ambassador to the USA.  Of President Trump, he said
"We have to respect and understand what drives him, what his mandate is to do, and how his allies need to adjust sometimes."
He also described his own past criticisms of President Trump as "ill-judged and wrong".

As Mercutio said with much less justification,
"O calm, dishonourable, vile submission".

And now we have "Trump pardons former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich - Trump commuted Blagojevich's 14-year sentence in 2020. The former governor had served about 8 years on charges stemming from his effort to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat."

If you are not familiar with this dirtbag, read the article here:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-expected-pardon-former-illinois-governor-rod-blagojevich-rcna191566

Now there is talk about appointing this corrupt felon as Ambassador to Serbia.

Birds of a feather.

Quote from: MaryT on February 11, 2025, 06:49:23 PMLord Peter Mandelson is now Britain's ambassador to the USA.  Of President Trump, he said
"We have to respect and understand what drives him, what his mandate is to do, and how his allies need to adjust sometimes."
He also described his own past criticisms of President Trump as "ill-judged and wrong".

As Mercutio said with much less justification,
"O calm, dishonourable, vile submission".

If you're not from the UK... Peter Mandelson is the same kind of snake oil salesman that trump is. He was a Tory (conservative) MP back in the day. He's extremely slippery. Probably the kind of person that is right for that position right now.

Sometimes I think we elected a child. At least that is how his tantrums seem to play out.

His Executive Order resulted in pages from the CDC and FDA websites being removed. A judge ordered them to be restored. The Orange Baby then ordered that statements harshly condemning "gender ideology" will be added to all of the restored pages.

https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,250152.msg2293455.html#msg2293455

After Trump ordered that the "Gulf of Mexico" be renamed the "Gulf of America" the Associated Press said that they will use the original name "Gulf of Mexico" while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen.

Trump disinvited the AP from attending the signing of other Executive Orders. ... the wire service called it "alarming that the Trump administration would punish AP for its independent journalism."

"The White House Correspondents' Association condemned the administration for a second time after AP reporters were barred from a press conference involving President Trump and India's prime minister on Friday."

And now...

"The White House says it will limit Associated Press journalists' access to the Oval Office and Air Force One, an escalation of a brooding conflict between the Trump administration and the wire service this week.

"The Associated Press continues to ignore the lawful geographic name change of the Gulf of America," White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich said in a post on social media platform X on Friday.

"This decision is not just divisive, but it also exposes the Associated Press' commitment to misinformation. While their right to irresponsible and dishonest reporting is protected by the First Amendment, it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One," the spokesman added.

Source:
White House limits AP access to Oval Office, Air Force One indefinitely
by Dominick Mastrangelo - 02/14/25 1:28 PM ET
Link to Full Article (https://thehill.com/homenews/5145928-white-house-ap-oval-office-air-force-one/)

The other day, when I commented on the Thread That Cannot be Derailed that I hoped that the record number of visitors to Susan's Place was not the result of FBI or CIA interest, I was mostly joking.

The website of an organization that works to protect LGBTQ+ students has a quick exit path and encourages visitors to clear their browsing history regularly:

Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (https://www.glsen.org/)

That is so sad.  I wonder whether Susan's Place will come to that.  As Lilis commented,

Quote from: Lilis on February 12, 2025, 08:40:10 AMHahaha! 😂🤣 Sorry, glowies, you're not welcome here!
...

If they are just reading, or contributing to the site, no problem. Everyone is welcome here. Even closet homophobic glowies.  ;D

But if they comment or post anything against the TOS, I will ban them faster than they can spell CIA. 

One thing that I know for certain from extensive training in Military Intelligence is that the media, specifically news outlets in any form, are used as weapons of propaganda and misinformation.

I am not saying that they are lying. I am saying that the stories that are the most upfront and in-your-face are not the biggest issues. You must learn to read between the lines. Look past the headlines and see what lies just beyond in the background.

For example, ABC News reported on Feb 14th, 2025:
Here are all the agencies that Elon Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle so far
Democrats and unions are fighting DOGE's actions in court.
Source Link (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/elon-musks-government-dismantling-fight-stop/story?id=118576033)

You can read the article, which is somewhat interesting. But what I found very interesting is the descriptions of what Musk's team was after. We know that Trump, Musk, and the rest of his oligarchy pals all have a keen interest in Artificial Intelligence. Why?

AI uses huge databases of information to draw upon to answer queries. We know that these same members of the oligarchy allies have been collecting data on consumers for decades. Between the NSA spying on communications, Facebook/Meta tracking relationships and social preferences, Google Ads tracking consumer metrics, Amazon tracking purchases, and on and on, there is a wealth of data already out there being used for "marketing" (i.e. advertising propaganda).

What if all of these databases were combined? What data is still missing?

Let's look at some of what Musk's team was looking for besides fraud and wasted money:

DOGE employees ... have been going through data systems...

As of Feb. 10, ABC has tracked Musk and his DOGE team gaining access to at least 15 federal agencies. ...

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The CMS -- a subagency of the Department of Health and Human Services -- has also been collaborating with DOGE since Feb. 5 ...

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
... a federal regulatory agency that enforces financial consumer protection laws. ...

Department of Defense
... begin the process of reviewing the Pentagon's operations. ...

Department of Education
... reports that DOGE gained access to federal student loan data. ...

Federal Aviation Administration
The Department of Transportation and Musk announced that he had access to FAA technologies ...

Internal Revenue Service
The DOGE aide initiated multiple meetings with IRS employees, asking, in part, about the agency's technology, including how audits and compliance are done ...

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
... That person was granted access to NOAA's IT systems ...

Treasury Department
The Treasury Department gave Musk and DOGE access to the vast federal payment system responsible for handling trillions of dollars in government expenditures. ...

... a temporary restraining order blocked DOGE from accessing taxpayer records, including the Social Security numbers and bank account information of millions of Americans. ...

In a related story, also reported by ABC News on February 17, 2025:

Top Social Security official steps down after clash with DOGE, sources say
Commissioner Michelle King had served over 30 years with the agency.
Source Link (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-social-security-official-steps-after-clash-doge/story?id=118913567)

The top official at the Social Security Administration stepped down after a clash with DOGE employees over access to sensitive personal records, two sources told ABC News.

Sources said that DOGE employees were seeking access to an internal data system which includes sensitive, personal information of Americans.

Nancy Altman, the president of Social Security Works, which works to expand social security, told ABC News the data the Social Security Administration has is expansive.

"It's your entire earnings record. If you're a beneficiary, it's your benefits, it's the name of your spouse and when you got married and if you got divorced, and all kinds of information. And most sensitive, if you've applied for disability benefits, all of your medical records," said Altman.

-------------------------------

Imagine a government-run Artificial Intelligence system with complete access to all of this information. The system is already built. The data already exists. The question is, "What will they use it for?"

I can guarantee that it will not be anything that benefits the people.

Now watch the movie, "2073". We were warned.

It's Skynet, but under another name. The irony is, Arnold Schwarzenegger is very anti-Trump and all this BS.

And this dude was a republican governor. Who, by all acounts, did a decent job. As an immigrant. So... go figure.

Try not to understand things too well.

"One of these days, thought Winston with sudden deep conviction, Syme will
be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too
plainly. The Party does not like such people. One day he will disappear.
It is written in his face."

From 1984.

Trump saying that he's only going to be a dictator for one day is like Jeffry Dahmer saying he is only going to eat one person. I hate to sound so crude, but the man is who he is! He loves power. That is all he cares about. And, yes, if you want to understand Trump's rise to power, read about Hitler's rise. They are so similar it is frightening! Remember, in 2016, we hoped that he would grow into the job when he got elected? Many Germans felt the same way about Hitler. But he can't. That would go against everything he has done his entire life. I wish I knew what is going to come of this, but I don't. Maybe someone from the grownup side of the Republican Party will stand up to him. Wait, didn't we say that 8 years ago also? Oh well, like I always say, denial is a happy place!

Quote from: Camille58S on February 21, 2025, 11:17:51 AMTrump saying that he's only going to be a dictator for one day is like Jeffry Dahmer saying he is only going to eat one person. I hate to sound so crude, but the man is who he is! He loves power. That is all he cares about. And, yes, if you want to understand Trump's rise to power, read about Hitler's rise. They are so similar it is frightening! Remember, in 2016, we hoped that he would grow into the job when he got elected? Many Germans felt the same way about Hitler. But he can't. That would go against everything he has done his entire life. I wish I knew what is going to come of this, but I don't. Maybe someone from the grownup side of the Republican Party will stand up to him. Wait, didn't we say that 8 years ago also? Oh well, like I always say, denial is a happy place!

Now that Presidents Trump and Putin are negotiating the future of Ukraine over the heads of the Ukrainians, President Trump has decided that in whatever remains of the Ukraine after Russia has taken its share, the USA should take a large share of Ukraine's mineral resources, especially rare earths, as payment for past military aid.  When the aid was given by the USA and other countries, there was the impression that it was a free donation to help a bullied nation fight an invader and common enemy.  This is still the impression in Western Europe. 

In the circumstances, it is inevitable that the Secret Protocol of the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, in which Poland and other parts of Europe were divided between Germany and the USSR, should be brought to mind.  (To be fair, the Soviet fear of Poland at that time was not entirely unjustified.  One of the less publicised 20th C wars was the Polish invasion of Ukraine after WWI, taking advantage of continued fighting between the Red and White armies in what became the USSR.  The battle-hardened Russians managed to drive back the Poles, who called to France and Britain for help, relying on their promise to protect Poland.  Britain refused but France sent a force to deter the Russians from entering Poland.) 

I wonder how it will play out this time. 

Timing and secrecy can make all the difference.  Shortly after Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany.  Not long afterwards, the Soviets invaded Poland.  To Britain and France, it might have looked like a spontaneous counter to the German invasion.  The Secret Protocol was only revealed during the Nuremberg Trials.  If Britain and France had known about it beforehand, would they still have declared war on Germany?  If they had, they would also have had to declare war on The USSR.  For better or worse, WWII might not have happened at all.

What could trigger a world war this time?  I don't think that Russia would be any happier than Ukraine about the USA getting a share of Ukraine's minerals.  Or, perhaps, it will start over Trumpland, aka Gaza.  Or will it start because Denmark is determined that the USA will not invade Greenland without shedding Danish blood?  If it does start, it will probably be over something that I have not even thought of.

Quote from: MaryT on February 21, 2025, 04:09:36 PMI don't think that Russia would be any happier than Ukraine about the USA getting a share of Ukraine's minerals.  Or, perhaps, it will start over Trumpland, aka Gaza.  Or will it start because Denmark is determined that the USA will not invade Greenland without shedding Danish blood?  If it does start, it will probably be over something that I have not even thought of.

It is the mineral resources that make Greenland so irresistible. If he can get Ukrainian resources in a deal where he looks like a hero for stopping the war, he will do it. Ukraine's resources might be easier to get, but Greenland is much closer and much bigger.

That's why I think his eye on the Panama Canal is not focused there. Just a short distance away are the vast oil fields of Venezuela.

We will see what happens.

I am still trying to work out why there has been little mention of Trump's other plans.

He cut the Department of Defense budget but wants to build an Iron Dome Missile Defense System. And he created the Space Force. Well, I think his buddy Elon may be running NASA soon. And if NASA becomes militarized under the direction of Space Force in the Pentagon.

Then consider the extreme interest in AI. As @Sephirah pointed out, it is SkyNet just under a different name.

Where is Sara Connor now that we need her?  ;D

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 22, 2025, 05:38:31 PMI am still trying to work out why there has been little mention of Trump's other plans.

He cut the Department of Defense budget but wants to build an Iron Dome Missile Defense System. And he created the Space Force. Well, I think his buddy Elon may be running NASA soon. And if NASA becomes militarized under the direction of Space Force in the Pentagon.

Then consider the extreme interest in AI. As @Sephirah pointed out, it is SkyNet just under a different name.

Where is Sara Connor now that we need her?  ;D

This is just... I know the Tangomeister has always been anti-establishment... mostly because they tried to put him in jail for being a complete shyster and probably the worst dregs of humanity. He controls the narrative these days. Which is probably the only reason he wants to reclaim his fingernails in the doors of the White House, after y'all tried to drag him out last time.

This sociopath won't be happy until he goes down in history next to names such as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. He is that kind of broken. The only difference this time is that he didn't have to justify winning an election based on whatever metrics he could come up with. No... this time.. most of the people supposedly allied to the principles of democracy and freedom... you voted for this dumbass. You gave him the power.

When he breaks the world... remember the allies you threw under the bus.

I have been trying to find my old T-shirt that says:

"Don't Blame Me. I didn't vote for him."

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 22, 2025, 08:39:31 PMI have been trying to find my old T-shirt that says:

"Don't Blame Me. I didn't vote for him."

That's the thing. I feel sorry for everyone who has to just deal with all the juiced up fratbros who put him into office. More than half your country needs a wakeup call. Probably more than half of all countries need a wakeup call.

Populism is trying to get a foothold everywhere. Because it's alwauys easier to blame.

Could someone have enough megalomania to find unbearable the thought that the world might continue to exist after he or she relinquishes power, even through his or her own death?

Some of President Trump's actions make me think that he actually wants a war of nuclear annihilation.  It wouldn't require a world war.  It would only require a country with many nuclear weapons engaging in a war that it cannot win without using them.

From the Batman movie, The Dark Knight:

That's President Trump.  Orange face instead of white but still The Joker.  Where is Batman when you need him?  (And Sarah Connor, of course.)

Quote from: MaryT on February 23, 2025, 12:40:37 PMCould someone have enough megalomania to find unbearable the thought that the world might continue to exist after he or she relinquishes power, even through his or her own death?

In Trump's case it isn't just megalomania. It's the worst one-two punch of megalomania combined with extreme narcissism. Everything has to be about him. And I can very much see him pushing a figurative big red button if he thinks there's no other option other than to become irrelevant.

He is the Agent Smith of the modern age.

To go back to this quote, though:

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 22, 2025, 05:38:31 PMI am still trying to work out why there has been little mention of Trump's other plans.

I think most people are too focused on the havoc he's trying to wreak in the rest of the world to focus on the stuff he's doing in your own country. People can only stomach so much insane.

And this just in from NBC News:

Democratic lawmakers investigate DOGE 'security failures' that they warn 'pose a grave threat' to U.S.
Source Article (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/live-updates-trump-musk-doge-russia-tariffs-rcna193938)
NBC News - Rebecca Shabad
27 Feb 2025

Democratic lawmakers are investigating DOGE for what they call "alarming security failures" involving personal and national security information.

They wrote in a letter to Elon Musk today that his DOGE employees "fed sensitive data into artificial intelligence software, ordered an unauthorized email server to be connected to the government network, and have accidentally been given 'write' access to the U.S. Treasury payment system."

"DOGE employees do not appear to fully understand much of the information to which they have been given unfettered access, and given the cavalier and incompetent ways that they have handled this data, these individuals represent a clear threat to national security and the nation's economy," said the letter, spearheaded by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

The other signatories include Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., ranking member on the House DOGE subcommittee, as well as Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.

The letter asks that Musk respond to their requests by March 6, including disclosing who is responsible for enforcing security protocols related to DOGE's website as well as details surrounding the security clearance process for DOGE employees.

-----------------------------------

BOLD emphasis added by me.

And apparently after calling Zelinskiyy a dictator, he's made a deal with him for minerals or whatever. This dude doesn't care about the stability of the world. Made a bigger U-turn than a driver's ed cheerleader just wanting to get back to her sorority party.

Once a shyster, always a shyster.

Like I said before, he only cares about anarchy and making himself a legacy, so that history will never forget him.

Yeah history will never forget you... but probably not for the reasons you think.

Quote from: Sephirah on February 27, 2025, 04:31:06 PMAnd apparently after calling Zelinskiyy a dictator, he's made a deal with him for minerals or whatever. This dude doesn't care about the stability of the world. Made a bigger U-turn than a driver's ed cheerleader just wanting to get back to her sorority party.

Once a shyster, always a shyster.

Like I said before, he only cares about anarchy and making himself a legacy, so that history will never forget him.

Yeah history will never forget you... but probably not for the reasons you think.

President Zelensky is signing over mineral rights but he only seems to have been given "maybes" in return. 

Why would he do that?  He is a very desperate man who, especially since President Trump assumed office, has a life expectancy in which no insurer would invest.  Yet he may be trying to do one last thing to save at least part of Ukraine from Russia.  By creating a map of the USA's mineral interests in Ukraine, he has created an area that the USA, he hopes, might help to defend against Russian invasion.

As hopes go, I think that it is not only desperate but vain.  President Trump has made it clear that it will be Europe's job to protect whatever is left of Ukraine (and by extension America's mineral concessions) after Russia has taken its share of the country.

Russia will be even less happy about the USA having these minerals than they were about Ukraine having them.  I think that President Trump might be forgotten by history.  I think that there is a real risk that there might be no more history. 

Quote from: Lori Dee on February 27, 2025, 04:20:28 PM...
"DOGE employees do not appear to fully understand much of the information to which they have been given unfettered access, and given the cavalier and incompetent ways that they have handled this data, these individuals represent a clear threat to national security and the nation's economy," said the letter, spearheaded by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
...

Surely the majority who voted for President Trump did not give him a mandate for all this.  They probably expected something like his first term in office.  The chaos he and Musk have caused in the fist seven weeks of his new administration make it clear that what is taking place is a revolution with effects potentially as extreme as those that took place in France and Russia in previous centuries.

Quote from: MaryT on February 27, 2025, 05:37:25 PMPresident Zelensky is signing over mineral rights but he only seems to have been given "maybes" in return. 

Why would he do that?  He is a very desperate man who, especially since President Trump assumed office, has a life expectancy in which no insurer would invest.

Of course he's a desperate man. He's presiding over a relatively small country that has been invaded by one of the world's superpowers. He's doing it for the people of his country. Because he doesn't want to lose what they have. As any other leader would do. This is why Europe is standing beside them, with no caveats. Because most of us have been through the whole Nazi thing already. And Russia is trying to pull the same thing. Some people in the world still see the value of freedom, and that isn't in dollar signs.

The fact that the Great Orange Hope would even target this shows what kind of a ruthless, mercenary gringo he is. Especially after the mental outburst he had not so long ago.

I absolutely think the election was rigged. trump even stood on a stage and bragged about how he had elon musk go to Pennsylvania and "figure" out the election machines so he'd have enough votes to win. That's why he wasn't campaigning all that hard and was telling people he didn't need their votes. Because he knew the fix was in process. And miraculously he ended up winning in every swing state.

Quote from: Lexxi on February 27, 2025, 08:06:55 PMI absolutely think the election was rigged. trump even stood on a stage and bragged about how he had elon musk go to Pennsylvania and "figure" out the election machines so he'd have enough votes to win. That's why he wasn't campaigning all that hard and was telling people he didn't need their votes. Because he knew the fix was in process. And miraculously he ended up winning in every swing state.

It's only rigged if he loses, Lexxi. That's the takeaway from all this.

Trigger warning, the is a lot of swearing in this video. Don't watch it if you're sensitive to that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk0nUUqG_Ag

Tell us how you really feel. Don't hold back. LMAO

The site is being obnoxiously slow for me tonight, but Lori, you need to check this dude out, lol. He is not scared of saying what most people are thinking...

case in point...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3XO_ee9VeY

Fireworks in the White House, I've heard. 

How can the President of the USA possibly think that the President of Ukraine has a mandate to sign over a huge chunk of his country to Russia and also sign over to the US half of the mineral rights in the remainder of the country - all in return for a vague suggestion that the USA might have more reason to help defend what is left of Ukraine if it owned half the mineral rights - especially as President Trump has already emphasised that the defence of Ukraine is going to be Europe's responsibility anyway?

Does President Trump think that he has a mandate to to with the US what he demands that President Zelensky does with Ukraine?  He doesn't, no matter how many blank executive orders he has in his stationery cupboard.

Vice President Vance is right about Ukraine owing the USA - as well as other countries that invested large parts of their budgets in helping Ukraine - gratitude.  Gratitude is also owed by Ukraine to the Biden administration. 

However, Ukraine was fighting to the death against an enemy common to the West and providing an extremely valuable laboratory in which the efficacy of the donated weopons could be tested.  The only conditions imposed on the aid were the rules of engagement under which the weapons could be used.  No suggestion was made that Ukraine would have to pay anything back, least of all half of its mineral rights to one of the countries that helped.

President Zelensky owes no gratitude to the Trump administration and he certainly owes President Trump and Vice President Vance no more respect than they have shown him.

Trump and Putin, two of the world's biggest bullies, decided to work together to beat up the little kid on the playground and take all that he owns.

It smells a lot like the Mafia's "protection" rackets. If you want protection, you will have to pay for it. If you don't pay, we let the other bully take everything from you.

I wish this war was over.

Many people have died.

More will die as the war continues.

Who wants that? 

Why should the war continue?  It should end. 

Stop it. 

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on March 01, 2025, 06:46:54 PMI wish this war was over.

Many people have died.

More will die as the war continues.

Who wants that? 

Why should the war continue?  It should end. 

Stop it. 

The rich do not care about such things.

War is a tool to them. It stimulates the economy, provides manufacturing jobs, generates tax revenues, and the rich get richer. If you can handle seeing disturbing images, watch the documentary JFK to 9/11: Everything is a Rich Man's Trick that I linked above.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on March 01, 2025, 06:46:54 PMI wish this war was over.

Many people have died.

More will die as the war continues.

Who wants that? 

Why should the war continue?  It should end. 

Stop it. 

It should end immediately but it should end with no strings attached.

Why should the invaded country have to sign over a big chunk of its land AND PEOPLE to the invader while also signing half its remaining minerals over to the USA in return for a mere suggestion that America might have some reason to help defend what's left of the country if it owns massive mineral concessions there?

Its a sad truth, a lesson so many people and nations over the course of history have had to learn and swallow.

Woe to the vanquished, for the spoil go to the victor....

Unfortunately the victor also gets to proclaim what does and doesn't go into the history books as well.

Not that Ukraine is losing by any means, just that they're a small nation, and like many small nations they have to make deals with the big nations or they will be wiped off the map by the larger ones sadly. And all for what, land, power, world domination?

It's definitely a sad time we live in.

I just posted an article on the Department of Homeland Security's change in policy that now allows individuals and groups to be targeted for surveillance based on sexual orientation and gender identity. That article is here: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,250352.msg2295060.html#msg2295060

I remember that many years ago, there was talk about how wonderful the new 5G wireless networks would be. They are fast, have low latency, and can handle huge loads of data in real time. The big push was aimed at consumers who would be monitored via facial recognition software, tied to a database of their ad preferences, and smart screens would offer custom ads to them as they walked down the street or went shopping.

That became a reality in China. In 2019, Forbes wrote an article describing the Chinese government's efforts to create a complete surveillance system of all of its citizens.
That article is here: Facial Recognition: A Force For Good ... Or Government? by Jon Markham, Forbes, Sep 27, 2019, 05:32 pm EDT (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmarkman/2019/09/27/facial-recognition-a-force-for-good-or-government/)

From the article (2019):

In China, 5G is already being utilized for a facial recognition program that is rewriting social norms. In Beijing, you can now withdraw money from a bank, pay for food in restaurants, and even check in at the airport with only facial recognition software.

But there is a dark side to these amazing advances. Along with the consumer applications to facial recognition, China is building out an unprecedented surveillance state.

Fast 5G networks will allow millions of surveillance cameras, many equipped with state-of-the-art facial recognition software, to monitor millions of Chinese continuously in real time.

The state began in 2005, an ambitious program called Skynet. The goal was to blanket every urban center with cameras. A decade later, China Daily reported the program completed 100% coverage of Beijing, a sprawling city with 21 million residents.

... The version of the state-surveillance program is already active. Using facial recognition, CCTV cameras will capture "unacceptable" behavior. The individual's face and a description of what they did is displayed on public monitors, inviting public scrutiny and shaming them.

The government is collecting all this information and adding it to a massive database.

Coming soon to a community near you!

Last night, I watched as Donald Trump addressed the joint session of Congress. He spent a lot of time (two hours) talking about how great he is and all of the great things he has done. He also told lies, some of which he had been telling for almost ten years. On the Republican side of the House, every comment was met with a standing ovation from his cult followers. Not one Democrat stood or applauded ever. One Democrat, Rep. Green, was removed from the Chamber by the House Sergeant at Arms for being disruptive.

It was quite a spectacle. Our country is clearly divided. And the way things are going, we will either end up in civil war, or the Democrats will give in to the Red Wave that is sweeping the nation state by state.

After the address, Senator Elissa Slotnik delivered the Democratic response to Trump's address. That was the weakest, most spineless response they could have mustered. It did not address the issues that Trump mentioned in his address, nor did it really offer any substance at all. It was pathetic and not worth watching, so I won't link it here.

Next, Senator Bernie Sanders offered his response to Trump's address. I am no fan of Bernie Sanders. I think he is a kook, and I disagree with much of what he stands for. He is a Socialist and wants the government to provide everything. We are a capitalist society, not a socialist one.

But, Senator Sanders's address hit the nail on the head. His address should have been the official Democratic response. He calls out Trump on specifics of what was and what was not said during the address.

I am no fan of Bernie Sanders, but last night, he earned my respect. Watch his response here:

Trump, Vance and Musk are extraordinarily brazen.

Oderint dum metuant (Let them hate as long as they fear)

was a Roman phrase said to have been used a lot by Caligula.

Caligula got a nasty surprise.

I have stated before (a few times) that what Trump is doing now resembles what Hitler did in Germany in the past. Some think that is a bit of a stretch, yet the signs continue to pop up.

Today, an article appeared on MTN entitled:

Trump Amplifies "No LGBTQ" Symbol Using Nazi-Era Imagery in Military Ad Post
Trump's Truth Social post has a pink triangle overlayed with a prohibition symbol
Link to Full Article (https://meidasnews.com/news/trump-amplifies-no-lgbtq-symbol-using-nazi-era-imagery-in-military-ad-post)
MTN - J.D. Wolf
10 Mar 2025

Trump posted an article to his Truth Social account this weekend featuring a deeply troubling image: a pink triangle—the Nazi-era symbol used to identify and persecute gay men in concentration camps—covered with a red prohibited sign. Historically, the LGBTQ+ rights movement reclaimed the pink triangle as a symbol of resistance, pride, and remembrance.

The article itself titled, "Army recruitment ads look quite different under Trump," published by the Washington Times praises Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for refocusing the military on "lethality" and reversing Biden-era policies that embraced diversity, including ads featuring LGBTQ+ soldiers.

Trump's choice to amplify such an image is particularly alarming given Hegseth's past statements.

He has long opposed LGBTQ+ inclusion in the military, previously criticizing the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Now, under his leadership, Trump appears to be reinforcing the idea that LGBTQ+ individuals are unwelcome in the armed forces—not just through policy but through amplifying symbolic messaging with disturbing historical roots.

Trump's amplification of a Nazi-era symbol to promote this shift sends a message signaling a return to exclusionary policies that many believed were left in the past.

----------------------------

Let's keep paying attention.

And now we have "Gestapo" tactics...

On March 11. 2025, The Hill published a news article with headlines:
USDA pauses funding to University of Maine after Trump clash with governor
by Lexi Lonas Cochran
Link to Source Article (https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5189042-usda-university-of-maine-trump-mills-columbia-transgender-athletes-antisemitism/)

Although the story is about an argument between Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills. Trunp threatened to cut off federal funding (which he has no authority to do) if Maine does not comply with his policy concerning transgender athletes in women's sports.

"I'm complying with state and federal law," Mills told Trump after he asked if the governor would comply with his executive order. 

"We are the federal law. You better do it because you're not going to get federal funding," Trump said. 

"See you in court," Mills responded.

And so, this battle will continue to play out. But what caught my attention is the last paragraph of this story:

On Saturday, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of Columbia's pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The detention of Khalil, an immigrant in the country legally who has not been officially charged with any crime, is the first known instance of the Trump administration seeking to deport a student activist over the protests.

-----------------------------

This administration does not care about Constitutional rights, the law, or even common decency.

We went from a democracy to an oligarchy to a dictatorship in less than 90 days.

Quote from: Lori Dee on March 10, 2025, 12:57:10 PMI have stated before (a few times) that what Trump is doing now resembles what Hitler did in Germany in the past. Some think that is a bit of a stretch, yet the signs continue to pop up.

Here is another sign that Trump is executing Hitler's playbook step by step: The tariffs on Canada. In 1933 Hitler imposed a 1,000 Reichsmark fee on any German who wished to travel to Austria. That was a lot of money back then, equivalent to $8,000 in today's money. That crippled the Austrian tourism industry which was highly dependent on German tourists and prepared the path toward Austia's annexation four years later in 1937.

He's heading in that direction fast, everyday - ignoring  / overruling Judges rulings, calling Vietnam hero awards 'DEI medals', discussing with Putin how they will share out land and power plants, revoking secret service protections as revenge - in the last couple of days.  How will it look in 6 months? 2 years?

Conservative former federal judge says Trump has 'declared war' on US rule of law
J Michael Luttig said a constitutional crisis is brewing due to Trump's defiance of a court order over deportations
Link to Full Article (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-court-order-immigration-constitutional-crisis)
The Guardian - Martin Pengelly in Washington
Wed 19 Mar 2025 10.20 EDT

Donald Trump has "declared war on the rule of law in America" and is pitching the country into a constitutional crisis, a prominent former conservative federal judge said.

"The president of the United States has essentially declared war on the rule of law in America," J Michael Luttig told MSNBC. "In the past few weeks ... the president himself has led a full-frontal assault on the constitution, the rule of law, the federal judiciary, the American justice system and the nation's legal profession.

"When the president of the United States wages a war on the rule of law and the federal judiciary alley, America is in a constitutional crisis. The constitutional role of the president is to faithfully execute the laws. Needless to say, the president is doing anything but that at the moment. Most constitutional scholars have long agreed that a constitutional crisis exists at least when the president defies a court order. That's essentially what the president is doing today and what it appears he intends to do in the future."

"Never before has an American president even thought to utter one single one of the words against the federal judiciary that this president has uttered every day."

-----------------------------

And this is not just the American Justice system. On February 6,2025, Trump signed an Executive Order,  IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/imposing-sanctions-on-the-international-criminal-court/).

Pay attention and be safe out there.

All NATO European countries seem to be boosting their defence spending, even though they are having to borrow many billions to do it.  Britain is dismantling its beloved NHS and benefit system to get some money.  Perhaps President Trump had a point that we weren't paying our way. 

Ironically, the real fear that is prompting us is that we might be fighting on at least two fronts.  After all, Canada is also a NATO member.

The whole world is falling into madness.

I think that only Elon Musk has method in it.   

Good point MaryT - I'm reading 'Character limit' about the Twitter takeover of 2022 and much of this is Musk's playbook.   

So I am no longer a woman?

No way!


Chrissy

Quote from: MaryT on March 19, 2025, 04:01:50 PMAll NATO European countries seem to be boosting their defence spending, even though they are having to borrow many billions to do it.  Britain is dismantling its beloved NHS and benefit system to get some money.  Perhaps President Trump had a point that we weren't paying our way. 

Ironically, the real fear that is prompting us is that we might be fighting on at least two fronts.  After all, Canada is also a NATO member.

The whole world is falling into madness.

I think that only Elon Musk has method in it.   

To be fair, that's not why Starmer is getting rid of NHS England. It's a bloated subsidiary of what the NHS was originally founded on. They're taking it back to government control, which is what it was at the start. A lot of the government is massively bloated with people who do nothing but get thousands per year to sit scratching their keister. The Tories outsourced most of the NHS to these satellite bodies, who couldn't even work out how to get an IT system working properly. It's paying lots of middle managers taxpayer money to do nothing productive.

And as an ex-military lass... yeah, the UK has been basically stripping military spending for years. My brother, when he was in the army, was literally told to beg, borrow or steal gear in order to be combat ready. It was, and is shameful.

UK's Civil Service to reduce spending by 15%.  The NHS to be dismantled and replaced with a more, ahem, efficient centralised entity.  £5 billion to be saved by benefit cuts by 2030.  Tens of thousands of potential job losses.  Government will be just as efficient as before, says Starmer, because of AI and other technology.  He's probably right.  It couldn't be much less efficient, anyway.  At least we'll have more money to spend on a massively increased defence budget.

We'll need it if the street prophets (we don't have any wilderness for prophets to cry in) are right. 

Russia and Western Europe keep each other occupied while the USA annexes Canada and Greenland to PROTECT them.  Then the USA keeps President Trump's promise of vengeance against China that he made during his previous term.  The US has its work cut out, having lost the war in all of the previous scenarios. 

China weaponises the Yellowstone supervolcano.  That's OK because the survivors can now move to Canada.  The USA's campaign is to make China unsurvivable, as so much of their defence capability is safely underground.

All very risky but it has to be done because Mr Musk MUST have sole control of the new quantum computing technology.  It can be presumed that Chinese agents have already obtained the technology and China must be stopped from developing it.

My money's on China to win.  To have the most influence, Mr Musk needed a thuggish administration to take his "advice".  However, a lowbrow administration cannot have the necessary intelligence and finesse that will be needed.

Of course, street prophets can be wrong.

President signs order against law firm for challenging his trans healthcare ban
It's just his latest attempt to hassle law firms that oppose his illegal and unconstitutional actions.
LGBTQ Nation - By Daniel Villarreal, Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Link to Full Article (https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/03/president-targets-law-firm-for-challenging-his-unconstitutional-trans-healthcare-ban/)

The president has signed an executive order targeting the law firm Jenner and Block because it is involved in a court case challenging his executive order banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The law firm denounced the order, but it's just the latest example of the president persecuting legal firms that oppose his illegal actions.

Jenner and Block are working on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to block the president's ban on gender-affirming care.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the gender-affirming care ban. The lawsuit accused the president of trying to "unconstitutionally usurp congressional authority by withholding lawfully appropriated federal funds." The lawsuit also said that the president sought to violate the rights of trans youth by "depriving them of necessary medical care" solely on the basis of their gender assigned at birth and their transgender status, PBS reported.

Gender-affirming care is endorsed by almost all major U.S. medical associations as safe, effective and essential to trans kids' well-being.

-----------------------------------

This is not how a leader behaves. This is how a dictator behaves.
Somebody needs a Fitness For Duty Mental Health Evaluation.

We are in a dictatorship.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/26/university-of-sussex-fined-freedom-of-speech-investigation-kathleen-stock (https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/26/university-of-sussex-fined-freedom-of-speech-investigation-kathleen-stock) 

The University of Sussex has been fined £585,000 for having a policy syatement that transphobic propaganda will not ne tolerated.  So

Banning racist propaganda is good;

Banning homophobic propaganda is good;

Banning transphobic propaganda violates freedom of speech.

The UK isn't as trans-hostile as the USA yet but it's getting there.

Quote from: Lori Dee on March 25, 2025, 09:07:18 PM....
This is not how a leader behaves. This is how a dictator behaves.
Somebody needs a Fitness For Duty Mental Health Evaluation.

True but he has surrounded himself with equally unfit henchmen so it will not be easy.

Quote from: MaryT on March 24, 2025, 07:44:25 AMUK's Civil Service to reduce spending by 15%.  The NHS to be dismantled and replaced with a more, ahem, efficient centralised entity.  £5 billion to be saved by benefit cuts by 2030.  Tens of thousands of potential job losses.  Government will be just as efficient as before, says Starmer, because of AI and other technology.  He's probably right.  It couldn't be much less efficient, anyway.  At least we'll have more money to spend on a massively increased defence budget.

We'll need it if the street prophets (we don't have any wilderness for prophets to cry in) are right. 
....

A £2.2 billion increase in UK defence spending has been announced.

Even so,

We're doomed! (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=private+dad%27s+army+we%27re+doomed#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:bd5c4671,vid:sxqvwkmTNy8,st:0)

Now why do I hear corporal Frazier??

Quote from: MaryT on March 26, 2025, 11:03:14 AMA £2.2 billion increase in UK defence spending has been announced.

Even so,

We're doomed! (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=private+dad%27s+army+we%27re+doomed#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:bd5c4671,vid:sxqvwkmTNy8,st:0)

Yeah, to be fair, that's kind of a halfway measure of what's actually needed. They're apparently going to save that much by making terminally ill people look for work. Which is absurd. But even so... ever since the Falklands war back in the 80s, we've been stripping military spending for other things... and committing to more actions (sometimes on the coat-tails of the US, who've kind of turned round and stabbed people in the back under the Mango Mussolini). Putting more and more lives at risk because of woefully underfunded services. This has, if anything, been a massive wake up call.

There's a quote from the TV mini-series "Chernobyl" that I really like. It's Mikhail Gorbachev explaining to a room of people, after they were forced to explain that it had actually happened. He said "Our power is based on the perception of our power." And that's how it's been with the UK for years. Our armed services are absurdly underfunded for the tasks they're being asked to undertake. If there's one good thing Trump has done it's to make other countries look at their own house. And step it up.

I am biased because I am an ex-military lass, as was my brother. So I know firsthand how this affects people in that situation. And more spending on our armed forces is long overdue. Because the men and women being asked to potentially lay down their lives deserve it.

Welp history is going to repeat itself... Sadly.

Do you think it will be forced de-transition, internment/concentration camps, or extermination?

Quote from: Robbyv213 on March 31, 2025, 04:31:35 PMDo you think it will be forced de-transition, internment/concentration camps, or extermination?

None of the above. The people won't stand for it. Even members of the GOP are beginning to question some of the BS. You can only bend something so far before it breaks.

My biggest concern is rioting in the streets like we had with the COVID lockdowns across the country. We had police stations overrun, courthouses burned, and parts of cities destroyed. That would only provide an excuse for Martial Law.

Hopefully, the Democrats will get active and recruit some of the less-far-right GOP to help them thwart this madness.

I hope Lori is right. I hope there is a survivable worst case. But I don't think Robby was joking. And I don't think it was hyperbole. The Yellowstone Supervolcano Sabotage might be our last best hope.

I was joking in a dark sense knowing my luck one of those would be in my future. At least it would take my choice away from me having to struggle and go through all this shadow work and self reflection to discover that I have been gaslighting myself and that I am truly trans and then I get to under go the most difficult of paths anyone can take and transition.

It's kind of like suicide by cop. You don't want to kill yourself for what ever reason or you can't go through with it on your own, so you commit a crime where no one gets hurt and then you point a toy gun, something that looks like a gun or an unloaded gun at a cop so they shoot you and hopefully you do survive...

Anyways. Realistically I feel most of these executive orders that are being passed are things he said he would do to please his voters. He may not want to or even care about these issues, he may be doing it knowing that they won't stand up in the supreme Court. That way he looks like he tried to his voters but In reality he did it in a way that they would never become laws federally, and if one or two slips through the cracks then that's the lesser evil in his eyes. All so he can maintain his stance and image that got him elected.

But then I wake up from my day dream and get depressed even more since either way it's not doing anything positive for all of us.

Let's be honest. I really doubt Trump is going to do what he wants. People are turning agaisnt him and he caused the economy to crash, and I feel like people are waking up. I just hope Trump and The whole MAGA movement will be a cautionary tale for the future. The thing is we should have seen this coming but we didn't and that makes me sad.

Quote from: Princess Rachel Ann on April 04, 2025, 07:38:33 PMLet's be honest. I really doubt Trump is going to do what he wants. People are turning agaisnt him and he caused the economy to crash, and I feel like people are waking up. I just hope Trump and The whole MAGA movement will be a cautionary tale for the future. The thing is we should have seen this coming but we didn't and that makes me sad.

Part of me agrees with you, Rachel and the non-American in me is like "well duh!". But the thing is... like Jonathan Pie explains... people get sick of stuff. They want change, even if that change means the most unhinged lunatic this side of a padded cell. And when one side in a two sided system basically leaves people so disenfranchised and lost that they are willing to vote for a Hitler wannabe... the republicans and trump didn't win anything. The democrats lost it. It wasn't Trumps election to win. He got in because literally less people cared about the Democrats and Kamala Harris.

The only way to beat these kind of people is to give the right-minded, switched on people in your country an alternative. Instead of the lesser of two evils, you need the greater of two goods. That's the only way it's going to work. Or have more than a two party system. And run ads that aren't basically hit pieces trying to snipe at the other people.

Quote from: Sephirah on April 04, 2025, 07:55:51 PMPart of me agrees with you, Rachel and the non-American in me is like "well duh!". But the thing is... like Jonathan Pie explains... people get sick of stuff. They want change, even if that change means the most unhinged lunatic this side of a padded cell. And when one side in a two sided system basically leaves people so disenfranchised and lost that they are willing to vote for a Hitler wannabe... the republicans and trump didn't win anything. The democrats lost it. It wasn't Trumps election to win. He got in because literally less people cared about the Democrats and Kamala Harris.

The only way to beat these kind of people is to give the right-minded, switched on people in your country an alternative. Instead of the lesser of two evils, you need the greater of two goods. That's the only way it's going to work. Or have more than a two party system. And run ads that aren't basically hit pieces trying to snipe at the other people.

Very true. We have 3rd parties but they don't mean much, there are basically 2 main ones. I do hope that we do get someone like that in the future, but who knows who that will be. It does make me sad and I feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but I guess that's me trying to be positive, and I hope we don't end up Like Titan in Megamind, Under New Management. Also, yes we need to stop the attack ads.

Quote from: Princess Rachel Ann on April 04, 2025, 08:06:11 PMVery true. We have 3rd parties but they don't mean much, there are basically 2 main ones. I do hope that we do get someone like that in the future, but who knows who that will be. It does make me sad and I feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but I guess that's me trying to be positive, and I hope we don't end up Like Titan in Megamind, Under New Management.

I think there are too many decent, kind, forward-thinking, globally minded folks in the US to let that happen, Rachel. Y'all just got kind of swept up in a monumental tidal wave of utter lunacy. And it's the orangutan at the top who's basically being enough of a wrecking ball that even Miley Cyrus would be envious. I think Trump will eventually do enough cretinous stuff that, rather like the first time he got elected, people will try to put him in jail... again. If you give someone enough rope, they will eventually hang themselves.

He's likely to want to take as many people down with him as he can before that happens but... yeah. Maybe this is the chance for someone to step up and offer an alternative. So that next time they can literally say "Well, it won't be as bad as what we've had!"

Quote from: Sephirah on April 04, 2025, 08:13:22 PMI think there are too many decent, kind, forward-thinking, globally minded folks in the US to let that happen, Rachel. Y'all just got kind of swept up in a monumental tidal wave of utter lunacy. And it's the orangutan at the top who's basically being enough of a wrecking ball that even Miley Cyrus would be envious. I think Trump will eventually do enough cretinous stuff that, rather like the first time he got elected, people will try to put him in jail... again. If you give someone enough rope, they will eventually hang themselves.

He's likely to want to take as many people down with him as he can before that happens but... yeah. Maybe this is the chance for someone to step up and offer an alternative. So that next time they can literally say "Well, it won't be as bad as what we've had!"

Most certainly. I hope we do get a  decent president this coming time, and I hope we get a decent alternative. I think people are slowly getting sick of orange man's BS. Of course I am trying to be positive here but I admit that it's hard.

Quote from: Princess Rachel Ann on April 04, 2025, 08:34:20 PMMost certainly. I hope we do get a  decent president this coming time, and I hope we get a decent alternative. I think people are slowly getting sick of orange man's BS. Of course I am trying to be positive here but I admit that it's hard.

Hang in there. I will say this, from someone not in the US... the rest of the world doesn't blame the people of the US for the magnificently stupid stuff Trump is doing. It's firmly at his door. You folks are probably going to get hurt by this tariff stuff more than any other country. Because like 99% of the things you buy will end up being more expensive. He ate too much cheese one night, went to sleep, and dreamed this crap up. And you all are going to suffer for it. Stay positive, Rachel. Things don't last forever. Whoever replaces this madman, though, they'll have a ferociously hard job trying to repair the damage he's already done... and he's not even a hundred days in yet. That's the scary part.

Quote from: Sephirah on April 04, 2025, 08:41:22 PMHang in there. I will say this, from someone not in the US... the rest of the world doesn't blame the people of the US for the magnificently stupid stuff Trump is doing. It's firmly at his door. You folks are probably going to get hurt by this tariff stuff more than any other country. Because like 99% of the things you buy will end up being more expensive. He ate too much cheese one night, went to sleep, and dreamed this crap up. And you all are going to suffer for it. Stay positive, Rachel. Things don't last forever. Whoever replaces this madman, though, they'll have a ferociously hard job trying to repair the damage he's already done... and he's not even a hundred days in yet. That's the scary part.

I'm glad noone blames us. And your right whoever will replace trump will have a hard time getting stuff fixed.

This just in...
Trump directs agencies to quietly repeal regulations — without public notice
The memo appears to rely on a misinterpretation of a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Link to Full Article (https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/10/federal-agencies-public-notice-comment-trump-administration-00284499)
Politico - Hassan Ali Kanu
04/10/2025 03:13 PM EDT

President Donald Trump has instructed federal agencies and their assigned DOGE teams to repeal any existing regulations that are inconsistent with his priorities without providing advance notice or going through the traditional public input process.

The move accelerates the White House's sprawling efforts to dismantle the federal regulatory machine, although Trump's directive to skip the notice-and-comment process will likely face legal challenges. It also may squeeze out contrarian voices — such as civil rights advocates, labor unions and environmentalist groups — from weighing in on the administration's deregulatory campaign.

------------------------

This guy just wants chaos. I'm convinced of it. I am sick of seeing his face plastered on YouTube thumbnails. He probably gets off on it.

And, the VA no longer guarantees confidentiality when talking to a therapist. Darn, I really liked Sarah.

Quote from: Mrs. Oliphant on April 12, 2025, 06:44:17 PMAnd, the VA no longer guarantees confidentiality when talking to a therapist. Darn, I really liked Sarah.

Therapists can be incredibly courageous, Annika. Don't give up on her yet. The state might be moronic but the people on the front lines can surprise you. I thought of becoming a therapist at one point. A lot of stuff stopped that happening, but I know if I had, I'd rather lose my job than lose the confidence of the people who went out of their way to put their trust in me. That's what makes good therapists quite special.

Quote from: Sephirah on April 12, 2025, 06:50:47 PMThat's what makes good therapists quite special.

Thanks, Sephirah. Sarah is special. So I will keep sharing my journey with her (if Donald is listening in he won't understand a single word I'm saying, anyway). You would have been a great therapist. In fact, you already are.

Quote from: Mrs. Oliphant on April 12, 2025, 07:06:51 PMThanks, Sephirah. Sarah is special. So I will keep sharing my journey with her (if Donald is listening in he won't understand a single word I'm saying, anyway). You would have been a great therapist. In fact, you already are.

You're a sweetheart, Annika. I don't have the energy to do it professionally but... I can give support for free here, when I can. And that's enough for me. :)

Also, yeah, he won't be around forever. He comes in, screws everything up, gets all the attention, then goes golfing. People like Sarah are in it for the long haul. It takes a special kind of someone to want to share in the pleasure and pain of someone else. And to offer guidance.

I see my VA psychologist on Monday. She is a rebel. She has no problem with bucking the system.

She explained that the VA cannot force her to violate confidentiality without a court order. What people forget is that all VA Healthcare professionals belong to professional medical associations. They have their own rules and regulations, and if they violate those rules, they can lose their license or their certification. Not to mention a violation of HIPPA. That is grounds for a major lawsuit.

When the VA took down all of the Pride posters, she had a rainbow flag sticker on her laptop. She would often quote a VA policy and wink and point to the sticker.  :laugh:

Quote from: Lori Dee on April 12, 2025, 08:53:14 PMI see my VA psychologist on Monday. She is a rebel. She has no problem with bucking the system.

She explained that the VA cannot force her to violate confidentiality without a court order. What people forget is that all VA Healthcare professionals belong to professional medical associations. They have their own rules and regulations, and if they violate those rules, they can lose their license or their certification. Not to mention a violation of HIPPA. That is grounds for a major lawsuit.

When the VA took down all of the Pride posters, she had a rainbow flag sticker on her laptop. She would often quote a VA policy and wink and point to the sticker.  :laugh:

She sounds rather awesome, Lori. You don't go into the field of helping people being concerned with helping the system. If you do, you're in the wrong job.

Quote from: Sephirah on April 12, 2025, 09:02:43 PMShe sounds rather awesome, Lori. You don't go into the field of helping people being concerned with helping the system. If you do, you're in the wrong job.

She truly is. It was freaky how much we have in common. I mean more than just freaky, it was scary. She said something to me at the same time that I was thinking it. I said, "Get out of my head, woman!".

Over the years, I have learned that we are both geeky nerds, so we have a matching kind of crazy. Then I found out that she was born 3 days after me. So we are both Virgos too. But having an ally like that is awesome. She doesn't just read my mind, she reads my emotions very well. When I explain something, she gets it. She knows exactly what I mean. That is the best kind of therapist.

Quote from: Lori Dee on April 12, 2025, 09:10:38 PMShe truly is. It was freaky how much we have in common. I mean more than just freaky, it was scary. She said something to me at the same time that I was thinking it. I said, "Get out of my head, woman!".

Over the years, I have learned that we are both geeky nerds, so we have a matching kind of crazy. Then I found out that she was born 3 days after me. So we are both Virgos too. But having an ally like that is awesome. She doesn't just read my mind, she reads my emotions very well. When I explain something, she gets it. She knows exactly what I mean. That is the best kind of therapist.

1000%. You are extremely lucky, Lori. A therapist is someone who should be a friend, who just happens to know more about some stuff than you might do but never uses that against you. If you ever feel intimidated by them, there's something wrong. And I'd venture most of these people probably view the Great Orange Hope with the same contempt as most everyone else.

User with Russian IP address tried to log into NLRB systems following DOGE access, whistleblower says
Link to Full Article (https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2025/04/user-russian-ip-address-tried-log-nlrb-systems-following-doge-access-whistleblower-says/404574/)
NextGov/FCW - David DiMolfetta, Cybersecurity Reporter
April 15, 2025 12:45 PM ET

A user with a Russian IP address tried to log into National Labor Relations Board systems just minutes after the Department of Government Efficiency moved to access and extract troves of sensitive data from inside the agency, according to an extensive whistleblower disclosure released Tuesday.

The whistleblower provided forensic evidence and internal documentation to Congress and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, accusing DOGE of exfiltrating large volumes of confidential data and disabling various security monitoring systems used to scan for malicious behavior in NLRB's networks...

The user attempting to log in relied on a newly created DOGE email account and the attempts were "near real-time," according to the disclosure.

The login attempts were blocked, but the person used a correct username and password, suggesting that adversaries may already be testing entry points potentially exposed by DOGE's activities across the government.

The whistleblower claims DOGE engineers used secretive and suspicious methods to pull sensitive information from the NLRB's systems. They shut off security tools that track activity, deleted evidence of what they accessed and used software that made their work nearly invisible...

Security experts told NPR those tactics resemble the playbook of foreign hackers and not federal workers.

---------------------------------

The whistleblower said that " after he raised concerns internally about DOGE's inroads into the agency, he received a physically taped threat on his door containing personal information and overhead photos of him walking his dog."

This is what happens when you elect a dictator.

Sometimes I read the news and think, "Wait. What?"

For example, we have this story:
Russia introduces 'ideological' visa for homophobic Westerners
https://76crimes.com/2025/04/23/russia-ideological-visa-homophobic/

I'll let you read the story for yourself, but:
Russia has long made homophobia and opposition to LGBT+ rights a soft-power tool, and its latest step in this direction is presidential Decree No. 702, signed on August 19, 2024, instituting an "ideological" visa for foreign citizens who share supposed "traditional Russian spiritual and moral values" but live in LGBTQ-friendly countries. The new policy aims to promote the country as a refuge for homophobes and transphobes in Western countries with more liberal attitudes toward LGBT people. ... The move comes after the Russian government has placed the so-called 'international LGBT movement' on its list of terrorists and extremist organizations.

Between September and December 2024, about 200 people, mainly from the United States, France, Canada, Italy and Germany, have reportedly moved to Russia under this program.

My concern is, what if all homophobes/transphobes were to leave and go to Russia? That would leave countries mostly inhabited by LGBTQ people and their allies. Would that make those countries "terrorists and extremist organizations" subject to attack? Not likely to happen. The most conservative people I know don't trust the Russian government.

Then we have:

Trump administration looking at $5,000 'baby bonus' to incentivize public to have more children
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-5000-baby-bonus-incentivize-public-children/story?id=121094707
The White House has been fielding proposals aimed at persuading people to marry and have children, an effort being pushed by outside groups focused on increasing the nation's birth rate after years of decline.

We know that his intention is for more women to stay home and stay pregnant. But if this is such an important issue, would he then be open to polygamy?

I think the reason for the decline in birth rate has nothing to do with LGBTQ and is more about women needing to go to work so they can afford things like eggs and daycare for the 1.5 children they have now. Will the White House then increase WIC benefits to help pay to raise more children? Elon Musk can afford it, but many single moms cannot. What about the proposals to cut Medicaid funding? Who is going to pay to raise these kids? Has any thought gone into this at all?

I am just over here shaking my head.  :icon_no: