Trump's Policies Part 4

[Huckleberry]

Israeli officials furious that Signal group chat exposed intelligence, sources say

Sources tell CBS News the Signal chat involving senior Trump administration officials included sensitive intelligence Israel provided to the U.S.

www.cbsnews.com

Israeli officials furious that Signal group chat exposed intelligence, sources say

Israeli officials are furious over the Signal chat leak involving senior Trump administration officials because it included sensitive intelligence Israel provided to the U.S. from a human intelligence source in Yemen, CBS News has learned.

While the Signal chat messages published by Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic this week may not have compromised the effectiveness of the airstrike, given the publication's restraint on releasing the information, it did compromise a human source who provided the intelligence to the Israelis, who then provided it to the U.S. for targeting, a senior American intelligence official and a source with knowledge of the Israelis' ire told CBS News. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Are we willing to endure the pain over the next 40 years to convert back? Because that is how long it will take...

Where did you get that figure from?

'Purpose' and 'path of ease' generally move at different speeds.

 

[Huckleberry]

TCE Is Linked to Heart Defects in Babies, Cancer and Parkinson’s. Republicans in Congress Want to Reverse a Ban on It.

The toxic substance, used in dry cleaning and manufacturing, has been linked to a host of serious health problems. A Biden-era ban on the chemical has faced multiple challenges since Trump took office.

www.propublica.org

TCE Is Linked to Heart Defects in Babies, Cancer and Parkinson’s. Republicans in Congress Want to Reverse a Ban on It.
The toxic substance, used in dry cleaning and manufacturing, has been linked to a host of serious health problems. A Biden-era ban on the chemical has faced multiple challenges since Trump took office.

It's curious that while we've heard talk about improving the safety of the food supply, there's also word that dangerous chemicals used in other industries might not receive the same scrutiny.

 

[JDCrimson]

Well it aint happening within 1 presidential administration. Where are the workers going to come from? Our age demographics currently cannot support a rapid return to manufacturing. It took 20 years for Alabama became an auto manufacturing force and that was in an era with little to no tariffs.

And how are you going to convince the exploding employment in technology to leave those jobs for manufacturing?

I actually majored in international economics in college. I know what's involved here and it does not happen fast and segments of society are harmed by shifts like this just like they were when we started the NAFTA path. Workforce and supply chain development take many years to develop.

I actually studied how the US supporting and investing in regenerative farming practices in Africa resulted in cheaper homeowner insurance premiums in the US by reducing the warm desert winds coming of the coast of Africa which come across the Atlantic and propagate hurricanes in the Gulf. We don't live in a me first world.

Where did you get that figure from?

'Purpose' and 'path of ease' generally move at different speeds.

 

[Jon]

Gulf Coast is going to feel this.

Trump has made America hated around the world. Here’s a sign of how bad it’s getting

Canadians are not booking as many flights to the U.S. amid an escalating trade war.

www.nj.com

 

[selmaborntidefan]

 

[Bamaro]

It's Saturday morning and I would have bet that Waltz and maybe Hegseth would have 'resigned' Friday night.
Oh, well. I'm new here.

 

[Bamaro]

Convicted of bilking investors, Nikola founder and Trump donor gets a presidential pardon

Trevor Milton, the founder of electric vehicle start-up Nikola who was sentenced to prison last year for fraud, was pardoned by President Donald Trump, the White House confirmed Friday.

The pardon of Milton, who was sentenced to four years in prison for exaggerating the potential of his technology, could wipe out hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution that prosecutors were seeking for defrauded investors.

Milton, 42, and his wife donated more than $1.8 million to a Trump re-election campaign fund less than a month before the November election, according to the Federal Election Commission.

At Milton's trial, prosecutors say a company video of a prototype truck appearing to be driven down a desert highway was actually a video of a nonfunctioning Nikola that had been rolled down a hill.

Convicted of bilking investors, Nikola founder and Trump donor gets a presidential pardon

 

[Tidewater]

This is my personal view, so take it for what it is worth.
I think people in large crowds get carried away with the crowd and say and do things they normally would not do. This was probably true with the George Floyd riots in 2020, January 6th, and the anti-war protests in 2024.
Protesting against police excessive use of force is fine and legal. Throwing molotov cocktails is not.
Rallying for election integrity is fine. Storming the Capitol building is not.
Protesting against Palestinian casualties in Gaza is fine. Supporting Hamas and handing out flyers saying, "Death to America" is not.
International student offices on campuses would do well to advise international students to avoid large protests that could evolve in directions that could get their green cards revoked. When an American citizens expresses support for Hamas (which will probably get that American on a watch list), an international student might be encouraged to join in. The American citizen has no green card hold to revoke. He is a citizen. The international student joining him in supporting Hamas is putting himself at risk of losing his green card.
And the American media will reliably downplay the pro-Hamas aspect to emphasize the anti-war, opposition to civilian casualties aspect, which is not the problem. Endorsing and supporting Hamas is the problem.


Somewhere along the line, Americans seem to have come to the extraordinary opinion that, if you think your cause is just, any actions, no matter how violent, are justified. This is probably a leftover Marxoid mindset from the 1960s, but it is incorrect. Peaceably assembling to petition the government for redress of grievances is fine. Commit an act of violence and the protest is over. You have now graduated to riot stage and should be dispersed.

 

[JDCrimson]

I agree. The herd mentality is a real thing and people get swept up in things all the time they would not do acting alone.

The problem is you stoke and legitimatize such activity for your constituents and revile it your opposers. We have generally discarded decency toward others in our society.

However, I dont think this is holdover behavior from the 60s. I think a multifaceted propaganda machine for both parties was unleashed when Trump decided to enter the race. And most of this was spurred by the Republicans in retaliation for the nation electing Obama as President. In their mind the cardinal sin was committed in electing a black minority as President.

This is my personal view, so take it for what it is worth.
I think people in large crowds get carried away with the crowd and say and do things they normally would not do. This was probably true with the George Floyd riots in 2020, January 6th, and the anti-war protests in 2024.
Protesting against police excessive use of force is fine and legal. Throwing molotov cocktails is not.
Rallying for election integrity is fine. Storming the Capitol building is not.
Protesting against Palestinian casualties in Gaza is fine. Supporting Hamas and handing out flyers saying, "Death to America" is not.
International student offices on campuses would do well to advise international students to avoid large protests that could evolve in directions that could get their green cards revoked. When an American citizens expresses support for Hamas (which will probably get that American on a watch list), an international student might be encouraged to join in. The American citizen has no green card hold to revoke. He is a citizen. The international student joining him in supporting Hamas is putting himself at risk of losing his green card.
And the American media will reliably downplay the pro-Hamas aspect to emphasize the anti-war, opposition to civilian casualties aspect, which is not the problem. Endorsing and supporting Hamas is the problem.


Somewhere along the line, Americans seem to have come to the extraordinary opinion that, if you think your cause is just, any actions, no matter how violent, are justified. This is probably a leftover Marxoid mindset from the 1960s, but it is incorrect. Peaceably assembling to petition the government for redress of grievances is fine. Commit an act of violence and the protest is over. You have now graduated to riot stage and should be dispersed.

 

[Tidewater]

I agree. The herd mentality is a real thing and people get swept up in things all the time they would not do acting alone.

The problem is you stoke and legitimatize such activity for your constituents and revile it your opposers. We have generally discarded decency toward others in our society.

However, I dont think this is holdover behavior from the 60s. I think a multifaceted propaganda machine for both parties was unleashed when Trump decided to enter the race. And most of this was spurred by the Republicans in retaliation for the nation electing Obama as President. In their mind the cardinal sin was committed in electing a black minority as President.

There have been spikes in politically-motivated violence in the US over the centuries and usually, the side that resorts to violence loses. You could characterize the Confederates that way. Secession was peaceful until Fort Sumter and firing on Fort Sumter and turned public opinion from "oh, well, they were troublesome anyway" to bloodthirsty flag wavers.
In the late 1800s, anarchists bombed and murdered quite a few of their opponents until the state and local governments put their foot down.
I think the 1960s was another spike, and that was Marxist-inspired: "The system is illegitimate. Violence is the only way to really change things."
"Occupy Wall Street," Antifa, and BLM are more recent manifestations of the same phenomenon. Maybe J6 as well, but I do not see any kind of coherent ideology or program behind those guys. They broke into the capitol, milled around, stole some stuff and left.

The bottom line is that when folks resort to politically-motivated mob violence, they usually lose in the US.

 

[Huckleberry]

Taxpayers' Tab For Trump's Second-Term Golf Excursions Crosses $26 Million Mark

He has now traveled to one of his golf resorts on nine of the ten weekends since taking office in January. It is his seventh trip to his Palm Beach, Florida, country club.

www.huffpost.com

Taxpayers' Tab For Trump's Second-Term Golf Excursions Crosses $26 Million Mark
He has now traveled to one of his golf resorts on nine of the ten weekends since taking office in January. It is his seventh trip to his Palm Beach, Florida, country club.


Austerity and some pain for thee, not for me. I don't begrudge Trump playing golf or relaxing, but in an era where saving government money (no matter how small the amount) is hailed as eliminating waste, what makes this a worthwhile expenditure?

 

[Huckleberry]

https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2025-03-29/us-warns-french-companies-they-must-comply-with-trumps-diversity-ban

US Warns French Companies They Must Comply With Trump's Diversity Ban

The Trump administration has ordered some French companies with U.S. government contracts to comply with his executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes, highlighting the extraterritorial reach of U.S. policies and their potential impact on European corporate practices.

The companies have been told to confirm their compliance in a questionnaire entitled "Certification Regarding Compliance With Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Law." Reuters has seen a copy of the questionnaire.

The move comes amid rising economic and political tensions between the United States and Europe following Donald Trump's election on an "America First" platform.

It also raises questions about the practical changes targeted companies may need to implement, given differing approaches between the U.S. and France.

 

[Huckleberry]

 

[75thru79]

https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2025-03-29/us-warns-french-companies-they-must-comply-with-trumps-diversity-ban

US Warns French Companies They Must Comply With Trump's Diversity Ban

The Trump administration has ordered some French companies with U.S. government contracts to comply with his executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes, highlighting the extraterritorial reach of U.S. policies and their potential impact on European corporate practices.

Standard operating procedure. We (the US Government) have been pushing our values on the rest of the world for over a century. Some countries are not easy to persuade so we use things like government contacts. i.e., money, to cajole those countries into our ways of thinking.

 

[Maudiemae]

"in the high 70s in many polls, the real polls."

Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term as president

Trump suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have “the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.”

www.sun-sentinel.com

 

[selmaborntidefan]

"in the high 70s in many polls, the real polls."

Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term as president

Trump suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have “the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.”

www.sun-sentinel.com

If I'm JD Vance, this is the time to topple the king with the 25th Amendment and then have him arrested for the other stuff he hasn't been tried for yet. I don't care how suck up anyone is, the promise of more temporary power than anyone but a dictator and a lasting place in history is not something people who have it in their grasp are willing to let go. Find a bunch of retiring Republican senators or those in safe seats and jettison Dear Leader.

Easy for Democrats - "Look, would you rather deal with Vance or Trump in the White House." If that's difficult then spare me the "Trump is the worst ever" rhetoric.

 

[Maudiemae]

If I'm JD Vance, this is the time to topple the king with the 25th Amendment and then have him arrested for the other stuff he hasn't been tried for yet. I don't care how suck up anyone is, the promise of more temporary power than anyone but a dictator and a lasting place in history is not something people who have it in their grasp are willing to let go. Find a bunch of retiring Republican senators or those in safe seats and jettison Dear Leader.

Easy for Democrats - "Look, would you rather deal with Vance or Trump in the White House." If that's difficult then spare me the "Trump is the worst ever" rhetoric.

I see your point but I think the "Trump is the worst ever" rhetoric is due to the fact that so many of us have never seen the Presidency being used in this fashion before. To me, this guy is blatant with his disregard for anyone but himself, his childish bullying in the open, his complete ignorance pertaining to what he should or should not do, not to mention how our government actually works. Yes, nobody is surprised by corruption but, do you remember when he and his family had to be told they weren't allowed to advertise their merchandise via the Presidency? They did pull back on it after that but---who didn't already know that?! It actually was like the Clampetts done come ta the big city. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/0...term-as-president/?share=wstuhsishtsenwaeicd2 What this really means is, HE didn't know. He doesn't know jack other than how to cheat systems and he seems to think anyone not engaged in such is a chump. I have no idea what JD would be like. Possibly worse but I'm not looking forward to whatever's coming.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

"in the high 70s in many polls, the real polls."

Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term as president

Trump suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have “the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.”

www.sun-sentinel.com

Since Jan 6, 2021 some of us have been saying this but, have been shrugged off by people who refuse to see what’s is right in front of their face.

He already tried to illegally hold onto power once, of course he will try again. I’m not surprised at all, it was expected. He doesn’t care about this country or its laws. He just wants to rule. He is the very definition of a dictator.

He won’t stop at a third term either. If he gets it, he will never relinquish power until his death. The American experiment will be over. The Trumps will be the first American monarch.

You don’t think it will happen? Go talk to typical Trump voters. My parents want Don Jr., not Vance, to be the next president. His supporters have already been groomed to accept the Trumps as the rulers of this country.

He’s been talking about a third term since his first term but, now he is armed with immunity from the SCOTUS.

This is from January about how he could do it. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/01/31/trump-defy-constitution-third-term-00200239

 

[selmaborntidefan]

However, I dont think this is holdover behavior from the 60s.

I concur on this point. Let's be honest: the Republicans have spent the last 50 years tracing everything wrong in the world to "the 60s." Of course, the Democrats have countered by telling us all that everything wrong in the world is due to "the 80s and Ronald Reagan," too.

And most of this was spurred by the Republicans in retaliation for the nation electing Obama as President. In their mind the cardinal sin was committed in electing a black minority as President.

Respectfully towards you, I think this narrative (that I've seen for years out there) is complete nonsense. It's just another back door way of saying "Republicans have always been racist and looky here!" This narrative began on Election Night 2016 when Van Jones referred to Trump's win as a whitelash.

Except here's the problem: those same "racist" voters DO support conservative blacks like Tim Scott. Sure, he was appointed - he's also been reelected a few times by the voters of the state where the Civil War began. The Republicans nominated a black (kook) candidate for Senate in Georgia and voted for him as well. This whole "Obama broke them" nonsense - in my view - is the same kind of propaganda that (and I agree with you up to a point on this) you're talking about.

WHITE VOTE
Carter 1980 - 36%
Mondale - 34%
Dukakis - 40%
Clinton 92 - 39%
Clinton 96 - 44%
Gore - 42%
Kerry - 41%
Obama 08 - 43%
Obama 12 - 39%
Hillary - 37%
Biden - 41%
Harris - 42%

So.....wait a minute.......Obama got MORE OF THE WHITE VOTE than Gore or Kerry did? And anyone who wishes to say "but it dropped in four years because racists" needs to note Obama's share of the black vote also declined by 2% in 2012 (presumably racist blacks who hate blacks). He got more of the white vote than Hillary or Biden, too. The two highest shares of the white vote for Democratic President in the last 20 years have been attained by the two black candidates.

I'm sorry, but that just doesn't sound overly racist to me. Furthermore, Trump got the highest percentage of the black vote in 2024 (13%) than any Republican since Reagan in 1980.

It's a narrative, like the "Southern strategy". It may have elements of truth to it, but it's still another in the long list of Democratic "we lost because the voters are racist", which feels better than "we got rejected at the polls." And lest anyone think I'm picking on them, the Republican version is "but if Perot had not run, Bush would have won."

That's not to say you cannot point me to individual cases where there ARE people like you're saying above. THERE ARE. But the idea that they constitute enough of the voters to swing an election - much less that enough of them live in swing states - is absurd.

Let me be blunt because I haven't seen this particular aspect covered in detail: Hillary's loss in the key swing states was due LARGELY to what happened in October 2016, and I don't mean the Access Hollywood tape.

detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/10/18/affordable-care-act-rate-increase/92382578/

Michigan consumers will pay an average of 16.7 percent more for individual insurance plans starting in January, according to new premium rates announced this week by the Michigan Department of Financial and Insurance Services.

Regulators: Pennsylvania health insurance premiums to rise – Daily Local

(This was updated but the original date is October 18, 2016)

State regulators say the cost of health insurance premiums will be going up sharply next year for residents who buy individual plans.

The state Department of Insurance said Monday that insurance company rates, based on requests for 2017, include an average increase of 32.5 percent for individual plans and 7.1 percent for small group plans.


Nobody wants to say it, but people got angry over rising health care premiums that only happened because of Obamacare. I made a comment to my Oregon bud at the time that if Trump was even a minimally respectable candidate, this sudden "October surprise" would be enough to get him elected. As it turned out, it was enough to get him elected anyway.

But "Republicans are racist" is a whole lot easier than admitting "we lied about healthcare."