The Trump Presidency, Season 2

[Noodles]

Is Mikey trying to tell us something?

Yeah, he is a coward because it could also end... Right now.

 

[Free]

Paul Krugman is no longer at the NYT. Good for him.

This Is Not a Drill

American democracy is on the line right now

paulkrugman.substack.com

There are two disastrously wrong ways to read the news from Los Angeles right now, and the rest of America over the next few days. The first is to believe that there is actually anything resembling an insurrection underway. The second is to believe that the Trump administration’s response to the nonexistent insurrection is simply cynical politics, an attempt to gain Donald Trump a few points in the polls.

What we’re actually seeing is much worse: An attempt to end politics as we know it, to deploy force to suppress dissent. Not eventually, but right now.

 

[Free]

Everyone is loving the King's moves.

Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Resignation Statement

Effective immediately, members of the Congressionally mandated Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board voted overwhelmingly to resign from the board, rather than endorse unprecedented actions that we believe are impermissible under the law, compromise U.S.

frmrffsb.substack.com

Effective immediately, members of the Congressionally mandated Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board voted overwhelmingly to resign from the board, rather than endorse unprecedented actions that we believe are impermissible under the law, compromise U.S. national interests and integrity, and undermine the mission and mandates Congress established for the Fulbright program nearly 80 years ago.

At the program’s inception, Congress clearly specified that the Fulbright Board has final approval authority of applicants, which occurs after an exhaustive and deliberate, year-long process led by non-partisan career staff at the State Department and Embassies around the world. The process involves 49 binational, treaty-based commissions and over 150 countries, which contribute a significant amount of the annual funding for the Fulbright program. In fact, 35+ foreign governments match or exceed the U.S. government’s annual contribution.

Under Democratic and Republican administrations alike, the Board has followed the law, operating with independence pursuant to its statutory mandate. Indeed, the Fulbright-Hays Act emphasizes the non-political and non-ideological character of the program.

However, the current administration has usurped the authority of the Board and denied Fulbright awards to a substantial number of individuals who were selected for the 2025-2026 academic year. The administration is also currently subjecting an additional 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients to an unauthorized review process and could reject more. We believe these actions not only contradict the statute but are antithetical to the Fulbright mission and the values, including free speech and academic freedom, that Congress specified in the statute.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

Is Mikey trying to tell us something?

Challenge accepted!

 

[Cindy Claveau]

Yes I agree but posted the reply before finishing the post. Then I couldn't find it because wrong page. Then I did and agreed with you on the point of them not even considering that they needed to dot Is or cross Ts in California. They may believe that they need to permanently establish troops in all of the west coast states to avoid defection to Canada.

I've violated my own oath since Jan. and I've followed the highlights of the Trump regime. I've simply tried not to stress as much as I was.

To be frank, I think they feel invulnerable to norms and to the law (a reflection of their Orange Taco) and justified in ignoring everything.

We've gone from "let's get a warrant" to "they're gay/brown/different, get 'em!" Now if SCOTUS doesn't draw a line, we're well and truly fucked.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Is Mikey trying to tell us something?

"...help me but allow me to avoid the blame or i could be shot dead in my driveway by a constituent..."

 

[Cindy Claveau]

It would probably be declared a National Emergency if severe thunderstorms screwed up Donnie's toy parade.

Oohhh...

Rain, thunderstorms forecast for DC military parade

 

[Noodles]

It would probably be declared a National Emergency if severe thunderstorms screwed up Donnie's toy parade.

Oohhh...

Rain, thunderstorms forecast for DC military parade

 

[Free]

It would probably be declared a National Emergency if severe thunderstorms screwed up Donnie's toy parade.

Oohhh...

Rain, thunderstorms forecast for DC military parade

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

Oops.

Appeals court temporarily blocks judge's ruling to return control of National Guard to California

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked a federal judge’s order that directed President Donald Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California after he deployed them there following protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.

apnews.com

 

[Essence Lumin]

Oops.

Appeals court temporarily blocks judge's ruling to return control of National Guard to California

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked a federal judge’s order that directed President Donald Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California after he deployed them there following protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.

apnews.com

That is good but in a different article he said the Marines were outside the scope of what he can rule on.

 

[Essence Lumin]

Trump appealed the National Guard ruling. The 9th circuit court of appeals will hold a hearing about it on Tuesday.

Appeals court temporarily blocks judge's ruling to return control of National Guard to California

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked a federal judge’s order that directed President Donald Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California after he deployed them there following protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.

apnews.com

 

[detrius]

Trump appealed the National Guard ruling. The 9th circuit court of appeals will hold a hearing about it on Tuesday.

Appeals court temporarily blocks judge's ruling to return control of National Guard to California

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked a federal judge’s order that directed President Donald Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California after he deployed them there following protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.

apnews.com

If any protesters get killed by those soldiers, then their blood is on the hands of those judges, too.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

How to Build a Cult of Personality

Lessons from dictators and despots on the eve of Trump's military birthday parade.

www.forkingpaths.co

I think this insightful essay is free to read.

 

[Free]

How to Build a Cult of Personality

Lessons from dictators and despots on the eve of Trump's military birthday parade.

www.forkingpaths.co

I think this insightful essay is free to read.

Could we get a follow-up titled "How to Dismantle a Cult of Personality"?

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Could we get a follow-up titled "How to Dismantle a Cult of Personality"?

 

[Beebo Brink]

How to Build a Cult of Personality

Lessons from dictators and despots on the eve of Trump's military birthday parade.

www.forkingpaths.co

These commonalities of political strategy all seem to stem from narcissism run amok. To my mind, it's an organic growth rather than a premeditated path, but either way, it's very difficult to fight.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

These commonalities of political strategy all seem to stem from narcissism run amok. To my mind, it's an organic growth rather than a premeditated path, but either way, it's very difficult to fight.

One of Brian Klaas' recurring themes is how politics and business are careers in which psychopathy and narcissism are traits that provide considerable advantages.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

One of Brian Klaas' recurring themes is how politics and business are careers in which psychopathy and narcissism are traits that provide considerable advantages.

Yeah, we know narcissists are more likely to get such positions but less likely to hold them. They are effective at BSing their way into them but not necessary any good at actually leading.... which is a serious problem.

 

[Beebo Brink]

Yeah, we know narcissists are more likely to get such positions but less likely to hold them. They are effective at BSing their way into them but not necessary any good at actually leading.... which is a serious problem.

I suspect that at a few crucial times in history, that particular type of personality fits like a key in a lock. Trump has been around for a very long time, and it wasn't until 2016 that he gained "sudden" traction. Trump didn't change; it was the country that changed. At just the right time (for him), he tapped some deep currents of cultural upheaval.