I reckon the whole modern shit-storm is due to social media. And I'm really not one for simplistic explanations
It's modern media in general, the turning point was probably rolling cable news, and more particularly the kind of late night filler that relied on outrage, with divisive and controversial viewpoints to generate viewership - so you had the likes of Crossfire on CNN (eventually with Tucker Carlson) and Hannity and Colmes on Fox. Politicians quickly realised that moderate bipartisanship didn't get them booked on these channels.
Social media just amplified and concentrated tenfold the effect of having a 24-hour opinion pipe into people's brains.
Yep.. Who thought a Real Madrid football tattoo would have such consequences
A price worth paying for keeping the notorious Galacticos gang out of the US.
At this point I just think everyone should be doing everything possible to split away form US economically, militarily, diplomatically and morally.
At some stage historians will write books on the Russian capture of an entire US political party, president and legislature - the ultimate example of the perfectly executed intelligence op. With their earlier success with Brexit as the foreward.
Thanks, yes, that's the thing. Funniest part of that upload is the summary text, wherein the uploader states that Obama is the end product of the Russian subversion campaign. So either the uploader is showing their own ideologically subverted state, or the whole clip is actually part of the effort, Russian doll style.
Watch this clip in AMAZEMENT as you realize he is describing EXACTLY what's happening in America today, where by Obama and his gang of Marxist usurpers who now have control of your government are just the culmination of a very long term plan, but are the ones who are about to bring it into fruition.
Q.E.D.
Will Farage deport me for this?
It's fair to ask why you've got a tattoo of a panda and a tiger together. Deportation is a bit strong though
It's based on my favourite photo of the kids when they were little, using their favourite childhood toys.
From Bluesky -
The Trump administration is whining about the EU’s Rearm Europe defence plan.
Rubio: “Any exclusion of US companies from European tenders would be seen negatively by Washington.”
“Transatlantic defence industrial cooperation makes the Alliance stronger,” an official added.
https://bsky.app/profile/chadbourn.bsky.social/post/3llt2m4bl622j
Because yes, that kind of threat really improves the strength of a relationship.
Maybe it's time for Europe to change to a strategy of evaluating defence equipment from all providers, but then just choosing the European manufacturer all the time.
Also, I would put money on the US companies spending a fortune on lobbying in the coming months. This will be great for business (if you are a lobbyist).
Because yes, that kind of threat really improves the strength of a relationship.
It's as if they don't understand...
There was an economist on Radio 4 this morning who raised a very pertinent question about the Trump strategy of returning manufacturing to the US.
Given that he also wants to get shut of all the immigrants, who exactly is going to work in these factories? Has anyone asked the kids presently at college in California if they fancy working on a production line?
Has anyone asked the kids presently at college in California if they fancy working on a production line?
It's coming... #project2025
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/16/child-labor-regulations-project-2025
Oh, and:
Because yes, that kind of threat really improves the strength of a relationship.
To be fair they tried the carrot approach of “We’re going to sell our allies simplified military aircraft because someday they may not be our allies anymore,” .
Once that failed as a pitch there was no option left but threats.
There was an economist on Radio 4 this morning who raised a very pertinent question about the Trump strategy of returning manufacturing to the US.
Given that he also wants to get shut of all the immigrants, who exactly is going to work in these factories? Has anyone asked the kids presently at college in California if they fancy working on a production line?
My guess is that the kids at college in California and their parents are less represented in the Trump voter base than some other demographics.
Of course many of the MAGA types are not the most educated. The elderly ones who are retired and safe from being forced into crappy jobs. And the ones who say "there ain't no jobs round here for us cos the immigrants get them all". So the immigrants are gotten rid of, the jobs become available, pay rates go up slightly - but the jobs remain crappy. So they say "I ain't doing that job for that pay".
Sigh.
Given that he also wants to get shut of all the immigrants, who exactly is going to work in these factories
I'm sure they'll find some inspiration in the Middle East
Have we done the Congresswoman who said (whilst talking about immigrants) that people who break the law "aren't entitled to due process"?
Apparently unaware that you need due process to establish whether or not they did actually break the law, that's the point.
Have we done the Congresswoman who said (whilst talking about immigrants) that people who break the law "aren't entitled to due process"?
Nor apparently the father from Maryland who already had right to reside but was deported any way.
I do keep wondering about a former friend, English, who emmigrated to the US, who then went down a Pro Trump, but also anti capitalist internet rabbit hole. I'd be getting uncomfortable for sure.
@piemonster I'm the same , ex postie mate of mine met and married a Yank , went from being a union rep standing up against the bully to a full blown Trump fanboy 🤔 I just don't get it , he reckons I need to wake up and not listen to the mainstream media over here 🤔
Have we done the Congresswoman who said (whilst talking about immigrants) that people who break the law "aren't entitled to due process"?
She's basically saying that the State is always right. The State decides that you are an immigrant and have broken the law, the State finds you guilty and the State punishes you
I wonder what she'd say if US authorities decided that she should be deported?
Apparently unaware that you need due process to establish whether or not they did actually break the law, that's the point.
It feels like freedom from the Courts to her, unaware that it's eroding her freedom if the State so decides
Is this delivering his announcements after the NY stock exchange has closed a deliberate attempt to crash everyone else's stock markets first ?
Is Starmer ready for reciprocal tariffs against Trump and then for say all European countries to reduce their applicable tariffs for each other a little?
Since our election, I no longer describe myself as an American. I am a Californian, where nobody voted for him.
Reports coming out of the us that trump is done with musk,I wonder what the reason will be?
The State decides that you are an immigrant and have broken the law, the State finds you guilty and the State punishes you
The thing is that in American schools they teach that there are three branches of government and they operate "checks and balances". Everyone should know this, not just politicians.
went from being a union rep standing up against the bully to a full blown Trump fanboy 🤔 I just don't get it
Some people support unions because they support progressive egalitarian principles, and some people join unions simply because it'll make them better off or more powerful.
Since our election, I no longer describe myself as an American. I am a Californian, where nobody voted for him.
Tarred with the same brush until mid November 2028. Unless Cali decides to seperate from the idiotic 31 states that voted him in.
Is this delivering his announcements after the NY stock exchange has closed a deliberate attempt to crash everyone else's stock markets first ?
Without a doubt.
Listening to the Trumpet it's a marvel the USA has done as well as it has over the past 30 years considering what cucks they apparently are.
Fact check on the 200% Canadian milk tariffs (which Trump negotiated):
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/10/politics/trump-canada-dairy-tariffs-fact-check/index.html
Maybe Canada should just ditch that and implement a flat tariff..?
Reports coming out of the us that trump is done with musk,I wonder what the reason will be?
Can't be in the position for more than 130 days without it being formally agreed by the Senate (think it's the Senate and not Congress). So thst takes him to late May. Maybe Dump dumps him a bit early as he's now seen as a liability / loser (put $20m in to try rig the supreme court by- election in Wisconsin but still failed - Liberal candidate won by a good margin)
Can't be in the position for more than 130 days without it being formally agreed by the Senate
This isnt an administration which allows those sort of tedious details to get in the way.
Be interesting to see if its true or not and if so what are the reprecussions. I will admit to being surprised that the two havent had a serious falling out yet.
Had a listen, his tone reminds me of Macho Man Randy Savage. Oh yeh.
Just stuck BBC news on and it looks like someone’s taken their dementia-addled grandad out of his care home and stuck him behind a podium with a microphone.
I should think the board at Tesla want Musk away from politics and the limelight. Whatever their politics, he's costing them money and that's what they're there for.
Interesting so Nike have their manufacturing base in Vietnam. Does that mean now people in the states will have to pay 46% more for their sneakers ?
Looks like we got off lightly with 10%. Europe not so good at 20%
Just how is he going to start manufacturing all these things from tomorrow?
I should think the board at Tesla want Musk away from politics and the limelight. Whatever their politics
The board are completely under his control so not sure they really come into play.
Even if it wasnt the case I am not really sure the damage can be undone now. Him getting more involved in Tesla etc would just draw peoples attention to the ****.
Looks like Starmer's begging got a result after all. I'm worried Brexiteers might see it as a win of some type though.
Looks like Starmer's begging got a result after all. I'm worried Brexiteers might see it as a win of some type though.
I'm no Brexiteer but 10% vs 20% is certainly a less worse result even if it was completely unforeseen in 2016 and with little other benefits to shout about Brexiteers will be cock-a-hoop I'm sure.
Really feel for extended family in Tennessee, need a new phone, computer etc? Gonna be expensive, unless I misunderstand it, even parts for their Ford will be more expensive. Added to higher medication costs and cuts in services.
It’s worth watching Newsnight just to see the interview with Trumps deputy Sebastian Gorka. What an utterly obnoxious ****! Absolutely vile! He makes JD Vance look likeable. It’s Terrifying to think these are the people now running the US
He seemed to be suggesting that the UK government stop charging VAT on American goods as they consider that a tariff. An interesting take on things
Sebastian Gorka was on a few night ago - can't watch again as TV's are expensive. Hard to believe he's British born with that level of MAGA cultism.
I'm worried Brexiteers might see it as a win of some type though.
well heres how the torygraph are running it
Just how is he going to start manufacturing all these things from tomorrow?
Well stuff like cars they already make of course, and can probably ramp up fairly easily as long as they can get the components in. But low cost clothes and sneakers - that ship sailed decades ago. And semiconducters? Aren't most made in South Korea?
As for the UK's 10% being a win - perhaps, but it's not a Brexit related win as if/when the EU ramps up domestic production we probably won't be taking advantage of that tariff free, will we? Since we are trading with the US at an advantage.
He seemed to be suggesting that the UK government stop charging VAT on American goods as they consider that a tariff. An interesting take on things
Its a pet peeve of quite a few of the republicans paymasters. It works along the lines of.
If country A charges VAT then it can lower other taxes including manufacturing ones.
So if we have country A charging vat and country B not we end up with.
When selling in country A its companies have to pay vat but since they dont pay the manufacturing ones which country b companies have to pay they are still more competitive.
Whereas when selling country B the foreign companies are both more competitive in terms of pricing but also dont pay taxes to country A
This doesnt really follow the complexities of VAT law though and also ignores all the US sales taxes which whilst I think max out at 10% or so still exist. They are also horrendously complex going down to the city level in some cases.
Looks like Starmer's begging got a result after all.
Is there much proof of that though? The tariff on most countries is 10%, including on imports from Australia, Brazil, Turkey, and New Zealand.
Sure, Trump has specifically targeted the EU, as he has many Asian countries and with even much higher tariffs, such as China, Cambodia, India, and Bangladesh. Where is the proof that Trump ever considered a higher tariff on the UK than he was considering on Australia and New Zealand, or is their 10% tariff also the result of begging?
Here is a full list of the tariffs and in brackets what the Trump administration claims the United States is charged.
Edited for correct link!
And semiconducters? Aren't most made in South Korea?
Taiwan which is why Biden was going heavily for the carrot approach to try and get more manufacturing outside somewhere China wants to invade.
TSMC and co are somewhat reluctant with one reason probably being they know that the dependancy on Taiwan for chips does a)discourage China from invading given the chances of TSMC and co trashing the plants as they come in and b)encourages the USA to defend them.
