The Trump Presidency, Season 2

[Casey Pelous]

Speaking of The Onion ...

Man Who Bumped Tesla While Parallel Parking Sentenced To Death

WASHINGTON—Warning that even the slightest dent, knick, or scratch would henceforth be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday that Raymond Pratt, a 54-year-old resident of Chula Vista, CA who bumped a Tesla while parallel parking, had been...

theonion.com

Bondi also announced that she would also seek the death penalty for Tesla owners who exchanged their cars, blacked out the Tesla logo, or purchased a bumper sticker that said “I bought this before Elon went crazy.”

 

[Free]

Our next Luigi...

 

[Isabeau]

We need a too close to truth emoticon

 

[Casey Pelous]

We need a too close to truth emoticon

Maybe Diogenes' lamp ...

 

[Khamon]

The problem is that if Trump doesn't want to go, it would require a two-thirds majority of both the US Senate and House of Representatives to agree with the doctor.

When it comes to it, those people who are determined to remove him to protect their own wealth, also own um pay well, will influence the Reps and Senators to vote accordingly.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

When it comes to it, those people who are determined to remove him to protect their own wealth, also own um pay well, will influence the Reps and Senators to vote accordingly.

Trump, though, would still be able to deploy his army of red cap wearing flying monkeys against them, bringing with them both the threat of physical violence to them and their families and the threat of opposing them in primary elections, a very real threat in gerrymandered republican districts.

Everything I've read, as well as their record of craven capitulation to Trump, suggests Republican legislators would be unwilling to take the risk.

 

[Khamon]

Oh yes it will result in civil war, between three-hundred factions, across a thousand fronts. The Republic may split into multiple pieces. It will shock the ultra rich who truly believe they can rule the world.

edit to add: the only comfort is that our states each have an existing Constitution, Governor, Legislature, Court system, tax office, armed forces, et al and can function as independent countries, or in smaller federations, after the US federal system collapses.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

Oh yes it will result in civil war, between three-hundred factions, across a thousand fronts. The Republic may split into multiple pieces. It will shock the ultra rich who truly believe they can rule the world.

edit to add: the only comfort is that our states each have an existing Constitution, Governor, Legislature, Court system, tax office, armed forces, et al and can function as independent countries, or in smaller federations, after the US federal system collapses.

California, in particular, would be able to stand on its own.

 

[detrius]

California, in particular, would be able to stand on its own.

America's megaregions are a good starting point if you're looking for nuclei of potential successor states.

 

[Free]

It would be laughable if it wasn't so fascist.

Trump Is Now Mandating His Cabinet/Loyalist Wear "Trump Golden Bust" Pins

The Golden Trump Ego Age Marches On

deanblundell.substack.com

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

Do you wonder why Donald Trump suddenly made his tariff turn-around, and paused them on all countries except China? Well blame Canada!

According to Dean Blundell this happened thanks to an effort initiated by Canada's new prime minister Mark Carney, who in cooperation with Japan and the EU started to slowly offload American treasury bonds. A slow, steady bleed, which is not generating big pain in the beginning but still quite a noticeable sting.

Foreign countries hold $8.5tn of US debt, with Japan $1tn, Canada $350bn and EU natioens $1.5tn combined.

The U.S. Treasury market is the backbone of the global economy. Foreign holders like Canada, Japan, and the EU keep it humming, financing everything from America’s military to its tax cuts. Start selling those bonds in unison, even gradually, and the yields spike. The dollar wobbles. Borrowing costs climb. Suddenly, Trump’s “beautiful” bond market—he bragged about it just yesterday—looks like a house of cards in a stiff breeze.

That’s the message Carney delivered in his call with Trump last week. No leaks on the exact words, but the outcome speaks volumes. Trump didn’t just pause the tariffs; he backpedaled hard. China’s still in the crosshairs—125% duties are no joke—but Canada? The EU? Japan? They’re off the hit list. For now, at least. Why? Because Carney’s play wasn’t noise. It was power.

Let’s be real: Trump’s spent years calling Canada a freeloader—remember his 2019 NATO jabs?—while ignoring the inconvenient truth. Canada’s $350 billion in U.S. debt isn’t charity. It’s a lifeline. Japan’s trillion-plus? Same deal. The EU’s pile? Ditto. These countries aren’t just buying bonds to be nice; they’re bankrolling the U.S. government. And when they threaten to pull the plug, even slowly, Washington listens.

This was the determining factor in Trump’s surrender. Not the public spats, not the retaliatory tariffs Canada slapped on U.S. autos (though those stung). It was the quiet, coordinated threat of a Treasury bond unwind that bent Trump’s knee. Carney didn’t need to shout. He didn’t need to posture. He lined up the free world—Japan, the EU, Canada in lockstep—and showed Trump the cliff’s edge. Strategic brilliance doesn’t get louder than that.

Carney also issued Canadian Treasury bonds in USD which was another brilliant way to strengthen Canada’s position and financial reputation. Little triggers and strategies you get when the world’s most respected economist is your PM…

When Trump announced his tariff “pause,” it wasn’t a victory lap. It was a concession. Carney moved markets without firing a shot. He gave Canada a seat at the power table and proved that global respect isn’t won with bluster—it’s earned with moves that hit where it hurts. Trump talks tough. Carney plays chess. And right now, the board’s his.

OH, and will Canada’s tariffs and countermeasures remain in place until after the election on April 28th? Yup.

Carney made sure to tell the world that despite Trump kissing our northern ring, we’re not negotiating shit until after the election. He also said we’re still moving away from our relationship with the US for greener, saner pastures.

Carney’s Checkmate: How Canada's Quiet Bond Play Forced Trump to Drop Tariffs

Carney, Japan And The EU proved America's Idiot Emperor Has No Clothes

deanblundell.substack.com

 

[Sid]

California, in particular, would be able to stand on its own.

How about the water supply from outer state for instance?
There are very few countries who need totally nothing (essential) from their neighbors.

 

[Jopsy Pendragon]

The U.S. Treasury market is the backbone of the global economy. Foreign holders like Canada, Japan, and the EU keep it humming, financing everything from America’s military to its tax cuts. Start selling those bonds in unison, even gradually, and the yields spike. The dollar wobbles. Borrowing costs climb. Suddenly, Trump’s “beautiful” bond market—he bragged about it just yesterday—looks like a house of cards in a stiff breeze.

I kinda figured something along these lines would happen. People, companies, nations around the world have used the u.s. dollar like gold, it held its value reasonably well while smaller economies were more of a gamble. A lot of dollars mostly stagnate, exiting circulation, as stockpiled foreign wealt. The more that leaves circulation, the more it helps strengthen the value of the dollar.

With that moronic felon banging away about tariffs and trade wars, stabbing our economy in the heart, confidence in the long term value of US dollars has got to be at an all time low, and I expect those dormant reserves will become solvent again as foreign oligarchs seek other more reliable ways to preserve their obscene wealth.

It will devastated US buying power. Instead of tariffs, imports will cost more because our dollar will get a whole lot weaker.

And unlike tariffs, the federal government won't profit from it.

Just one more way that gibbering shiitstain has fuucked our country.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

How about the water supply from outer state for instance?
There are very few countries who need totally nothing (essential) from their neighbors.

Not just their neighbours. When I lived in California (admittedly a long time ago) the received wisdom was that if California ever became an independent country, there would very quickly be a civil war between Northern and Southern CA over water rights.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Link to Guardian article

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Investors realise Trump’s pause was not the salvation it appeared

As China strikes back, reality sets in

www.economist.com

Evernote Link

 

[Veritable Quandry]

His pause is another squirrel to chase. The next thing that captures his attention will change it.

 

[Isabeau]

Greenland base commander Col. Susan Meyers was fired after sending out mass email before JD Vance visit.

Space Force Commander in Greenland Sent Out Email Breaking with Vance After His Visit

The emailed remarks, confirmed as accurate to Military.com by the Space Force, mark a rare pushback within the ranks of the Trump administration's repeated criticism and critiques of NATO members and longtime allies.

www.military.com

 

[Innula Zenovka]

An article I seem to need more than most people:

Evernote Link

 

[Casey Pelous]

Not just their neighbours. When I lived in California (admittedly a long time ago) the received wisdom was that if California ever became an independent country, there would very quickly be a civil war between Northern and Southern CA over water rights.

See also, "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."