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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

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“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

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If you’re gonna whine, it’s time to resign!

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Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / There Is Actually Video

There Is Actually Video

by WaterGirl|  August 14, 20258:28 pm| 109 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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There is actually *video of Trump TODAY saying that inflation is down to a perfect number, hardly any inflation at all… we’ve ended Biden’s inflation nightmare.

Who are they gonna believe, Trump or their lyin’ eyes?

Surely reality will win out when their money is gone halfway through the month?  Right?

*Pretty sure you will all thank me for not embedding the video – I sure as hell didn’t want to watch it.  But if anyone really wants to see it, I can put a link to it in the comments.

If you watch it, please let us know whether he is wearing a (tiny) codpiece or had a Mission Accomplished banner.

I also read that he called Sweden Norway and asked when he was getting his Nobel prize, and threatened them with tariffs if they don’t give him one.

The man is barking mad.

You cannot make this shit up.  Possibly the only true thing he has said is when he said he could murder someone on Fifth Avenue and no one would do anything about it.

Open thread.

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    109Comments

    1. 1.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 8:29 pm

      Okay, I had to laugh when I opened this thread and saw the silly picture of the horse in sidebar.  Pretty sure that horse is more presidential than he is

      edit:   and has better hair!

      Reply
    2. 2.

      cain

      August 14, 2025 at 8:33 pm

      lol – the man is a toddler who wants every prize. He’s busy making the white house into the gold house. He’s truly in the throes of his dementia. He’s going to run this country into a brick wall while his people with tears in their eyes say “sir, please stop this, my business is going to go away”.

      Love how they call him sir, like suddenly he’s bought dignity to the white house while he destroys their lives

      ETA – #2 ! time to go for happy hour!

      Reply
    3. 3.

      TONYG

      August 14, 2025 at 8:33 pm

      I’m pretty sure that members of Trump’s cult will believe their Leader more than they believe reality.  These people are really, really fucking stupid, and stupid people are not capable of learning.

      Reply
    4. 4.

      cain

      August 14, 2025 at 8:35 pm

      @TONYG: Of course they will. Because they have to be part of the cult. They live in a bubble of message reinforcement.

      It’s only when they don’t have money for food, clothing, and life that and fox news keeps telling them that they are winning is when they might question things. Even then…

      Reply
    5. 5.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 8:36 pm

      @TONYG: But they literally will not be able to go to the store to buy groceries by the 20th of the month.

      Surely no one can be that stupid.

      Reply
    6. 6.

      Sister Golden Bear

      August 14, 2025 at 8:41 pm

      Wholesale fresh/dry vegetable prices went up almost 40% from June to July.

      Trump take grocery.

      Reply
    7. 7.

      Jackie

      August 14, 2025 at 8:43 pm

      Moved from Cole’s thread:

      A second FFOTUS appointed judge rules against him. That’s TWO FFOTUS appointed judges this week!

      A federal judge on Thursday struck down two Trump administration measures that sought to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at U.S. schools and universities.

      U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher is the second judge appointed by President Donald Trump to rule against him in a week.

      On Thursday, Gallagher ruled that the Department of Education (DOE) acted unlawfully when it threatened to withhold federal funding from institutions that continued DEI initiatives.

      Gallagher was appointed to the bench by Trump in 2019. She is also a defendant in a lawsuit the Trump administration filed earlier this year against the entire federal bench in Maryland over an order blocking the immediate deportation of migrants challenging their removals.

      Gallagher’s Thursday ruling came in response to a motion for summary judgment filed by the American Federation of Teachers and the American Sociological Association, which challenged the administration’s anti-DEI measures in February.

      The case focused on two department memos directing schools to end all “race-based decision-making” or risk losing federal funding, part of the administration’s campaign against policies it claimed discriminated against white and Asian American students.

      Gallagher ordered the DOE to scrap its anti-DEI guidance because it runs afoul of procedural requirements, though she added that she was not taking a position on whether the policies were “good or bad, prudent or foolish, fair or unfair.”

      The judge also rejected the government’s argument that the memos’ purpose was to remind schools that discrimination is illegal.

      newsweek.com/trump-judges-legal-setback-dei-education-maryland-2113760

      Reply
    8. 8.

      Betty Cracker

      August 14, 2025 at 8:44 pm

      Trump’s approval ratings across all issues are deeply in the porta-potty. The military takeover of U.S. cities and frantic meddling abroad are signs of weakness, not strength.

      Reply
    9. 9.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 8:47 pm

      @TONYG: Trump is the really stupid one, because one thing stupid people do not lack is confidence. Lacking the competence to understand how little they know, they act with the confidence that what they think and believe is surely correct. Meanwhile, those with true competence are far more reticent to express certitude about what they know and believe. Competence and confidence seem to exist in inverse relationship to each other.

      Reply
    10. 10.

      SiubhanDuinne

      August 14, 2025 at 8:47 pm

      @WaterGirl:

      Incitatus!!

      Reply
    11. 11.

      prostratedragon

      August 14, 2025 at 8:48 pm

      @WaterGirl:  That echoes my response to the picture in every detail, except when I saw it I said, “Well hello, horsey.”

      Reply
    12. 12.

      dr. luba

      August 14, 2025 at 8:51 pm

      He called Norway….

      The Norwegian outlet Dagens Næringsliv, citing unnamed sources, reported: “Out of the blue, while finance minister Jens Stoltenberg was walking down the street in Oslo, Donald Trump called … He wanted the Nobel prize – and to discuss tariffs.”

      Reply
    13. 13.

      currawong

      August 14, 2025 at 8:52 pm

      I’m pretty sure it’s the Nobel Peace Prize he covets which is, of course, awarded by the Norwegian Committee.

      Unsuprisingly, he’s threatening the wrong country.

      Reply
    14. 14.

      JaySinWa

      August 14, 2025 at 8:53 pm

      @Betty Cracker: I assume you are referencing the Pew poll, or are others out yet?

      bsky.app/profile/jaysinwa.bsky.social/post/3lwf7sspydc2w

      Feb vs Aug approval breakdown by Pew

      Overall: -4 —> -22
      some of the larger shifts
      Hispanic: -26 —> -43
      Asian: -4 —> -35
      18-29: -16 —> -33
      30-49: -10 —> -31
      No College: +8 —> -15

      Reply
    15. 15.

      Michael Bersin

      August 14, 2025 at 8:53 pm

      I attended the Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia this morning. It’s usually the largest assemblage of Missouri politicians in one place outside of the when General Assembly is in session.

      I did a superficial check – I’ve been receiving press credentials for this event since at least 2008. The kicker is, they don’t allow trackers to photograph. So if you have anything more than a smart phone, you’re supposed to have a press credential.

      This event lets me assemble “b-roll” stills of Missouri’s famous and infamous politicians for Show Me Progress posts through the year.  These days the vast majority of politicians attending are republicans.

      I took close to 1000 frames. Just a few:

      Governor’s Ham Breakfast – Missouri State Fair – Sedalia – August 14, 2025

      Reply
    16. 16.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 8:54 pm

      @SiubhanDuinne: sshhh.  Next thing you know, he will demand a white presidential horse, adorned all in gold, with a gold carriage to take him from the WH to the WH lawn.  Or to greet his “subjects” from the second story balcony at the WH.

      Reply
    17. 17.

      Librettist

      August 14, 2025 at 8:54 pm

      @Betty Cracker:

      His Idiocy’s job approval with 2024 non-voters is 32%.

      Reply
    18. 18.

      Bill Arnold

      August 14, 2025 at 8:54 pm

      For reference, the inflation rate is a bit higher now (July report) than it was in October 2024 – 2.7% vs 2.6% (2.5% in 8/24, 2.4% in 9/24)
      tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi
      Mr. Trump’s mouth noises are bullshit, as always. When they make sense at all.

      Reply
    19. 19.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 8:56 pm

      @JaySinWa: Do we have stats for white women who voted for Trump? White men who voted for Trump?

      Reply
    20. 20.

      Librettist

      August 14, 2025 at 8:56 pm

      @currawong:

      Would somebody just give him a gold spray painted peace symbol already.

      Reply
    21. 21.

      MattF

      August 14, 2025 at 8:58 pm

      @dr. luba: Yeah, the Norwegian finance minister is the guy to call in the middle of the day about Nobel prizes. Also, this timeline has veered off to lalalalaland.

      Reply
    22. 22.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 9:00 pm

      @currawong: No, I googled to make sure it was Norway and not Sweden, but google told me the peace prize was Sweden.

      Fucking A.I.

      Reply
    23. 23.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 9:01 pm

      @Jackie: That is most excellent news.

      Reply
    24. 24.

      JaySinWa

      August 14, 2025 at 9:02 pm

      @WaterGirl:

      You can follow links to the Pew Poll, but I couldn’t find any cross tabs to break it down by gender and race.

      Reply
    25. 25.

      David Collier-Brown

      August 14, 2025 at 9:02 pm

      @RevRick:

      Trump is the really stupid one, because one thing stupid people do not lack is confidence. Lacking the competence to understand how little they know, they act with the confidence that what they think and believe is surely correct. 

      Stupidity can be chemically induced, as I discovered to my sorrow in 2020 (:-))

      I wonder if Mr Trump is naturally or artificially dunning-krugered?

      leaflessca.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/living-through-dunning-kruger/

      Reply
    26. 26.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 9:03 pm

      @RevRick: In my experience, people who are not very smart are not aware that they are not very smart.

      Reply
    27. 27.

      David T Rickard

      August 14, 2025 at 9:04 pm

      At least we’ll have some fun watching wingnut heads explode in grocery stores and at gas stations, as they try to reconcile reality with Dear Leader’s proclamations.

      Reply
    28. 28.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 9:04 pm

      @JaySinWa: I would like to see it broken down in each of those same categories, but broken out by “voted for him”, “voted for someone else”, and “did not vote”.

      And with the question, if another election for president were held today with the same candidates as 2024, would you vote, and for whom?

      Reply
    29. 29.

      JaySinWa

      August 14, 2025 at 9:05 pm

      @WaterGirl: Next thing you know, he will demand a white presidential horse, adorned all in gold, with a gold carriage to take him from the WH to the WH lawn.

      Nah, he couldn’t take the competition in horseshit.

      Reply
    30. 30.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 9:08 pm

      PSA: Reminder that a meetup in NYC has been proposed.  The link to the post is in the sidebar, and I have included the link below.

      NYC Meetup in August

      Reply
    31. 31.

      JaySinWa

      August 14, 2025 at 9:11 pm

      @WaterGirl: It doesn’t look like they polled “voted for” just “party id” but this is a summary article. I don’t know if there is a detailed breakout available.

      Reply
    32. 32.

      JaySinWa

      August 14, 2025 at 9:13 pm

      @JaySinWa:Nah, he couldn’t take the competition in horseshit.

      OTOH maybe Elon can gift him a robotic self driving EV 0 emissions horse and carriage.

      ETA Just stick some wheels on a carousel horse and strap it to a convertible Tesla. Wham bam and Bob’s your uncle.

      ETA 2 It would be easy to gilt and you wouldn’t have to geld.

      Reply
    33. 33.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 9:16 pm

      @JaySinWa: Oh, I figured there wasn’t, but a girl can hope.

      Reply
    34. 34.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 9:19 pm

      @WaterGirl: Those captive to the cult will cope with the news by blaming other reasons, just as the folks in that Nebraska community blamed the hospital executives for its closure.

      But the ones who really matter are bond market traders. They will render the verdict on Trump’s economic policies. The dollar is down 10% in value for the year and our trade deficit has swelled, because other nations, in response to Trump’s trade war, are sourcing their goods from other countries.

      Reply
    35. 35.

      WaterGirl

      August 14, 2025 at 9:23 pm

      @RevRick:  How do you see that as making a difference in who is elected and what party gets / stays in power?

      Reply
    36. 36.

      JaySinWa

      August 14, 2025 at 9:23 pm

      @RevRick: Yep. The grocery stores in town are price gouging us, unlike the rest of the country. /blindfaith

      Reply
    37. 37.

      TS

      August 14, 2025 at 9:26 pm

      The only reason trump is doing anything about Russia/Ukraine is the Nobel prize.  The envy for President Obama oozes out of the pores of his skin.

      I was reading about the Post Office scandal in the UK and came across this sentence, related to what was happening within the Post Office hierarchy. Seems to fit the current situation in the US administration.

      The world is full of thick-as-mince, malevolent incompetents like xxxx. The problems start when they are promoted into positions of power, as the Post Office appears to have done with multiple idiots on multiple occasions.

      Reply
    38. 38.

      Gin & Tonic

      August 14, 2025 at 9:26 pm

      @WaterGirl: All of the Nobel Prizes except Economics are awarded by the Nobel Foundation, not any government.

      Reply
    39. 39.

      Shana

      August 14, 2025 at 9:28 pm

      @RevRick: I read several weeks ago that Trump voters were loving everything he was doing (despite not being specific about anything) and anything bad that was happening was “the government” as if Trump’s fingerprints weren’t all over all of it

      Also, is your cruise Viking Budapest to Bucharest (or reverse)? We’re doing that one next year so I’d love your review if it’s the same one.

      Reply
    40. 40.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 9:33 pm

      @David Collier-Brown: @WaterGirl: By all accounts, Trump is an exceedingly dull person, incapable of curiosity. Just look at the things he imagines represent taste. Just listen to his speeches, those rambling, repetitive word salads with a fifth grade level of vocabulary.

      I’m more than willing to believe that his father paid someone to take Donald’s tests for him and bribed school officials to look the other way.

      But because he exudes confidence, his poorly educated followers assume that must mean he is competent. And those who know better shut up in service of other agendas.

      Reply
    41. 41.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 9:35 pm

      @Shana: Our Viking cruise begins in Budapest and travels upstream, ending in Passau, Germany. We leave September 1st.

      Reply
    42. 42.

      Marc

      August 14, 2025 at 9:45 pm

      @Gin & Tonic:

      Wikipedia:

      In accordance with Nobel’s will, the recipient is selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member committee appointed by the Parliament of Norway.

      Another source of confusion is that Nobel himself was Swedish, but wanted the Norwegian government to administer the prize.

      Reply
    43. 43.

      RaflW

      August 14, 2025 at 9:46 pm

      “The average price of food in the United States rose by 2.9% in the 12 months ending July, after posting an annual increase of 3% in June.”

      Yep, Trum has nailed it! A 0.1% drop in the rate of inflation is exactly like having it be totally gone! Like his brain — very , very gone.

      Reply
    44. 44.

      Librettist

      August 14, 2025 at 9:48 pm

      Hunter Biden gonna serve it up ice cold.

      Reply
    45. 45.

      Timill

      August 14, 2025 at 9:55 pm

      @Marc: At the time of his death and when the Prizes were first awarded, Norway and Sweden were in a union, which was dissolved in 1905.

      Reply
    46. 46.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 9:56 pm

      @WaterGirl: What was the nonracial difference between FDR and Obama? FDR succeeded Hoover after three years of GOP economic failure, while Obama succeeded Bush after just six months of collapse. Both entered the White House with huge Congressional majorities, but because the worst of Great Recession in terms of unemployment didn’t hit until just before the 2010 midterms, Obama lost his House majority, while FDR’s majority actually grew bigger.
      Trump is on track to duplicate Hoover’s economic track record. But whereas Hoover was a victim of bad timing, Trump is hellbent on screwing up the economy with his tariffs and the consequences of his “Big Beautiful Bill.” And because Trump is stupid, he will wooden-headedly stick to his chosen path.
      AOC will have a banging start to her Presidency courtesy of her stupid predecessor.

      Reply
    47. 47.

      twbrandt

      August 14, 2025 at 9:58 pm

      The endlessly vacationing JD Vance is getting kicked out of pubs in the UK. I’m tempted to catch the next flight to the UK just to see this.

      Reply
    48. 48.

      ruckus

      August 14, 2025 at 9:59 pm

      The man is barking mad.

      djt doesn’t know how to bark and besides saying he’s barking anything is rather rude to dogs. Which are all far better creatures than he is. Most of them far smarter as well…..

      Reply
    49. 49.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 10:00 pm

      @JaySinWa: Oh, I forgot to mention the economic consequences of Trump’s stupid deportation policy. Already, food is rotting, unpicked in the fields. And this policy will also impact meatpacking, home building, and hospitality industries.

      Reply
    50. 50.

      Ramona

      August 14, 2025 at 10:02 pm

      @RevRick: August 7 was a Treasury Bond auction. 30 year bonds did not sell until the yield was bid up to 4.38%.

      Chinese 10 year bonds trading 1.7%.

      Also, get a load of this news from July 30:

      • Morgan Stanley has become the first American company to tap China’s panda bond market, with a 2 billion yuan deal.
      • Proceeds from the sale will be remitted out of China to be used offshore for general corporate purposes by subsidiaries to support activities potentially including the group’s offshore yuan business, people familiar with the matter said.
      • A Morgan Stanley spokesperson confirmed the panda bond issuance.
      Reply
    51. 51.

      JaySinWa

      August 14, 2025 at 10:02 pm

      @twbrandt: why, the poor boy is gonna starve! /s

      ETA Vance, that is.

      Reply
    52. 52.

      Shana

      August 14, 2025 at 10:04 pm

      @RevRick: Still interested in your review when you’re done. We’ve never done Viking or a river cruise before.

      Reply
    53. 53.

      NotMax

      August 14, 2025 at 10:07 pm

      Under the radar (all caps in original).

      !) Trump REFUSES To Tariff His Favorite Product Of All Time.

      2) Trump themed restaurant owner might get DEPORTED.

      Reply
    54. 54.

      catclub

      August 14, 2025 at 10:07 pm

      @currawong:

      Unsuprisingly, he’s threatening the wrong country.

      It was Saudis who flew the planes on 9/11 and Bush attacked Iraq. The USA has habits.​

      Reply
    55. 55.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 10:12 pm

      @Shana: It’ll be a first for us too! For me, there will be a huge emotional start, because my paternal grandmother came with her family from Budapest.

      Reply
    56. 56.

      PJ

      August 14, 2025 at 10:12 pm

      @currawong: ​
       He wants a Nobel Peace Prize because Obama got one, and it rankles him that a black man got something that he can’t get.

      Reply
    57. 57.

      NotMax

      August 14, 2025 at 10:13 pm

      Bad linky above. Fix.

      Under the radar (all caps in original).

      1) Trump REFUSES To Tariff His Favorite Product Of All Time.

      2) Trump themed restaurant owner might get DEPORTED.

      Reply
    58. 58.

      artem1s

      August 14, 2025 at 10:14 pm

      Possibly the only true thing he has said is when he said he could murder someone on Fifth Avenue and no one would do anything about it.

      with all of his hysteria about the Epstein shit, I’m beginning to wonder if he said it because it was already true when he said, because he’d already murdered someone.

      Reply
    59. 59.

      Ramona

      August 14, 2025 at 10:14 pm

      @WaterGirl: Why do I not see a picture of a horse or any link to click on?

      Reply
    60. 60.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 10:16 pm

      @Ramona: Bond markets are the ultimate arbiter.

      Reply
    61. 61.

      ruckus

      August 14, 2025 at 10:20 pm

      @RevRick:

      This nation basically came about because of people coming here in sailing ships. Sure there were Indians – natives living here then, but in smaller groups that often had deadly fights. I’ve crossed the Atlantic Ocean 6 times and as stated here before, sailed (as it’s called even when that is not actually the process when using combustable liquids, or nuclear energy to power the ship) and both well south and well north of the US, as well as far east of it.

      Reply
    62. 62.

      ruckus

      August 14, 2025 at 10:25 pm

      @WaterGirl:

      People that are not very smart are often hard to convince that they are not very smart. Take our current president. PLEASE!!!

      Reply
    63. 63.

      Jackie

      August 14, 2025 at 10:26 pm

      @ruckus:

      The man is barking mad.

      djt doesn’t know how to bark and besides saying he’s barking anything is rather rude to dogs. Which are all far better creatures than he is. Most of them far smarter as well…..

      FFOTUS’s biggest insult is calling someone a dog…

      He hates dogs – probably because he knows even the simplest dog is smarter than he is.

      Reply
    64. 64.

      comrade scotts agenda of rage

      August 14, 2025 at 10:27 pm

      @WaterGirl:

      You’ve just described every glibertarian ever.

      Reply
    65. 65.

      Martin

      August 14, 2025 at 10:30 pm

      @Bill Arnold: The problem isn’t necessarily inflation, but the fact that cumulative inflation hasn’t been met by a similar cumulative wage gain. I see this mistake being made time and time again around here as though a 2% inflation rate after a 10% rate somehow makes things affordable again.

      The Trump advisors are making the same claims about inflation around tariffs as though a 10% hike in one month due to tariffs will be temporary. No, everything will still be 10% more expensive the following month when inflation goes down to 2%. Actually, it’ll be 12% more expensive.

      Overall the buying power of the dollar is pretty shit and it continues to deteriorate. Only asset holders are doing well. Wage earners continue to be completely fucked. I expect the GOP will simply repeat over the next 2 years what the Democrats did over the last two by saying the economy is great, all the while housing and food take up increasing shares of people’s paychecks. Trump will additionally cook the books so that he doesn’t need to correct his own mistakes.

      Reply
    66. 66.

      Martin

      August 14, 2025 at 10:33 pm

      @PJ: If the Nobel Committee loved us they’d award it to Mark Carney for his resistance to the defiance of international norms.

      Reply
    67. 67.

      RevRick

      August 14, 2025 at 10:36 pm

      @ruckus: My family tree of dirty, inferior Eastern European types was why the GOP slammed the immigration door shut in 1924.

      Reply
    68. 68.

      TS

      August 14, 2025 at 10:38 pm

      Your country is under martial law

      Bondi orders D.C. mayor to recognize DEA head as ‘emergency police commissioner’
      In a signed order, Bondi said Cole will assume all powers and duties of the chief of police, and that the department’s top brass “must receive approval” from him before issuing any directives.

      wapo.st/3HANYvM

      Reply
    69. 69.

      Ramona

      August 14, 2025 at 10:38 pm

      @RevRick: And arbitrating they are!

      Reply
    70. 70.

      Captain C

      August 14, 2025 at 10:40 pm

      @RevRick:

      But because he exudes confidence, his poorly educated followers assume that must mean he is competent. And those who know better shut up in service of other agendas.

      It’s a shame that in 2015-16 there wasn’t a bigger push to show that his so called business record was actually one of incompetence, cheating, swindling, failure, and bankruptcy.  He lost money on three casinos and ran an entire football league into the ground.

      Reply
    71. 71.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 14, 2025 at 10:41 pm

      @TS:

      I wish other nations would officially recognize this and publicly condemn it for what it is.

      ETA: Like, I feel like there has been complete radio silence from the EU, UK, Canada, Australia/NZ, etc regarding the Trump’s admin domestic actions. If it was North Korea or Iran doing this crap, they’d be all over it

      Reply
    72. 72.

      Ramona

      August 14, 2025 at 10:46 pm

      Awww, I saw the horse…

      Reply
    73. 73.

      Captain C

      August 14, 2025 at 10:47 pm

      @ruckus: I like ‘bugfuck’ or ‘bugfuck insane’ myself.  Meaning of course, insane enough to try and fuck a bug.  It doubles as an insult to the size of his, ah, manhood.

      Reply
    74. 74.

      Melancholy Jaques

      August 14, 2025 at 10:55 pm

      @Martin:

      Wage earners continue to be completely fucked.

      What metrics are you using to support this claim?

      Reply
    75. 75.

      Thor Heyerdahl

      August 14, 2025 at 10:59 pm

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

      I wish other nations would officially recognize this and publicly condemn it for what it is.

      ETA: Like, I feel like there has been complete radio silence from the EU, UK, Canada, Australia/NZ, etc regarding the Trump’s admin domestic actions. If it was North Korea or Iran doing this crap, they’d be all over it

      We’re already fighting our own battles against batshit tariffs and figuring out how to handle our own domestic policies affected by the tangerine turd.

      You gotta figure out the stuff inside your borders. Non-Americans are not going to stick our necks out more than Americans are for your domestic situation.

      Reply
    76. 76.

      Gvg

      August 14, 2025 at 11:00 pm

      @JaySinWa: people don’t follow cause and effect beyond their own eyesight.
      I noticed that my farmer grandfather was always convinced that grocery chains were just gouging because they charged so much more than they paid him for products, ignoring that it cost money in equipment, other products and wages to clean, package, refrigerate and transport to a store with losses to damage ant theft at every stage of the way. Grocery stores have operated with around 3% or less margins for decades, maybe a century. It’s an old industry and there really aren’t any new innovative tricks. Grandpa couldn’t visualize all those other laborers in the supply chain as real and just as in need of food and families as him. He could only picture some rich executive as taking all the money. I heard both sides because on the other side of the family my uncle was a grocery store manager. It’s a hard labor job a lot like farming except with more crooks. The expensive ones were the employees.

      A lot of people are like that. They see their life, but don’t picture someone else over the horizon. They also don’t think where things go or understand where things come from.

      Reply
    77. 77.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 14, 2025 at 11:12 pm

      @Thor Heyerdahl:

      We’re already fighting our own battles against batshit tariffs and figuring out how to handle our own domestic policies affected by the tangerine turd.

      You gotta figure out the stuff inside your borders. Non-Americans are not going to stick our necks out more than Americans are for your domestic situation.

      I despise this line of reasoning. It’s a self-serving and cowardly excuse. We all know if this was happening in any non-developed country, particularly one that was an adversary, they would’ve wasted no time calling them out for it. No, it’s just not politically convenient to do so. So much for actually caring about democracy and human rights, I guess

      If the roles were reversed, if one of our allies were experiencing democratic backsliding or the kinds of human rights violations that have been going on here in the US I’d expect my government to do everything in it’s power to condemn what is happening and help those who were being persecuted by offering asylum. It’s a moral duty as far as I’m concerned.

      ETA: Also, we’re all in the same boat in reality. Trump/MAGA is just the American expression of what’s been happening globally the last few years, with fascist political parties gaining ground

      Reply
    78. 78.

      Gvg

      August 14, 2025 at 11:12 pm

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): I think they ARE saying plenty and our media is free to repeat it where we could hear it, but they won’t for the same reasons they don’t give air time to sane logical democrats, not do I think the racist isolationist voters would listen.

      we are free to read their news if we need a few more facts, but I think we have to be the voices speaking to the other Americans mostly. Which is a problem for me because I don’t understand them at all and they don’t understand me or my logical reasoning, or historical examples. I would make a terrible politician.

      Reply
    79. 79.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 14, 2025 at 11:20 pm

      @Gvg:

      That’s not good enough for me. I want to hear their leaders speak truth to power; I want them to live up to their ideals when we’ve clearly failed to do so and call these abuses out.

      To only do so when it’s some country like Iran or North Korea makes them look like hypocrites, like us frankly

      Reply
    80. 80.

      schrodingers_cat

      August 14, 2025 at 11:29 pm

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): I am in India right  now and the 50% tariffs have soured the mood of even the biggest cheerleaders of the US.

      Reply
    81. 81.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 14, 2025 at 11:31 pm

      @schrodingers_cat:

      I am in India right now and the 50% tariffs have soured the mood of even the biggest cheerleaders of the US.

      What does that have to do with caring about democracy and human rights?

      Reply
    82. 82.

      Matt McIrvin

      August 14, 2025 at 11:35 pm

      @WaterGirl: They’ll revise their memories of the Biden years to be worse.

      Reply
    83. 83.

      Thor Heyerdahl

      August 14, 2025 at 11:35 pm

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

      That’s not good enough for me. I want to hear their leaders speak truth to power; I want them to live up to their ideals when we’ve clearly failed to do so

      These days, not a chance. Realpolitik is on the menu around the world to survive the Fanta Menace over the next few years.

      A foreign country speaking out loudly against current US domestic policy would cause a diplomatic incident at best, and widening conflict (armed or monetary) at worst.

      You’ll probably have to wait for the UN General Assembly speeches next month to hear any speaking out – cryptically or otherwise.

      Reply
    84. 84.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 14, 2025 at 11:40 pm

      @Thor Heyerdahl:

      These days, not a chance. Realpolitik is on the menu around the world to survive the Fanta Menace over the next few years.

      A foreign country speaking out loudly against current US domestic policy would cause a diplomatic incident at best, and widening conflict (armed or monetary) at worst.

      So looking like hypocrites it is, I guess.

      So say I want to get the hell out of the US and immigrate to somewhere else to live a better life because I think we can see where this is all headed (civil war/dictatorship). I work customer service in a grocery store for a living, would I be able to immigrate to your country?

      Reply
    85. 85.

      schrodingers_cat

      August 14, 2025 at 11:43 pm

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Trump is the duly elected President. People outside the US assume that he is doing what the electorate wants. Voters had a choice and they chose this.

      Reply
    86. 86.

      prostratedragon

      August 14, 2025 at 11:46 pm

      @artem1s:  Me too.

      Reply
    87. 87.

      Thor Heyerdahl

      August 14, 2025 at 11:47 pm

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): So looking like hypocrites it is, I guess

      Nope. Self-preservation.

      Canadians are pretty pissed off with the US right now and are trying to figure out new trading partners and supply chains, political alignments,  and dealing with a belligerent southern neighbour.

      Hypocrisy? No. It’s pragmatism.

      Reply
    88. 88.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 14, 2025 at 11:53 pm

      @schrodingers_cat:

      Trump is the duly elected President. People outside the US assume that he is doing what the electorate wants. Voters had a choice and they chose this.

      I didn’t. Neither did tens millions of other people. It was a narrow election result. And I’m pretty sure a majority of the American electorate did not explicitly vote to undermine democracy.

      And honestly, that’s not an excuse to not call out what the majority is doing to vulnerable minorities

      Reply
    89. 89.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 14, 2025 at 11:58 pm

      @Thor Heyerdahl:

      Nope. Self-preservation.

      Canadians are pretty pissed off with the US right now and are trying to figure out new trading partners and supply chains, political alignments, and dealing with a belligerent southern neighbour.

      Hypocrisy? No. It’s pragmatism.

      You can try and justify it however you want. You say you care about human rights and democracy, well here’s a perfect opportunity to prove you do that isn’t easy and politically convenient to do with say, Iran or NK. Again, I would expect my government to do so if the roles were reversed because it would be the moral thing to do

      Also, I like how you completely ignored my second paragraph

      Reply
    90. 90.

      Thor Heyerdahl

      August 15, 2025 at 12:19 am

       

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):  Also, I like how you completely ignored my second paragraph

      Your second paragraph wasn’t there when I started my reply.

      An American president threatens a nation’s sovereignty – is it small wonder that that country isn’t interested in goading said president further by criticizing US domestic policy?

      If the US descends into civil war, the is a strong chance that there will be benevolent actions taken. It is interesting how Americans view things when the pragmatism shoe is on the other foot.

      Until that point, Canada has various immigration programs that those interested can see what could fit best.

      ircc.canada.ca/explore-programs/index.asp

      Reply
    91. 91.

      Glidwrith

      August 15, 2025 at 12:27 am

      @ruckus: I’m quite sure he can imitate a barking spider……

      Reply
    92. 92.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 15, 2025 at 12:28 am

      @Thor Heyerdahl:

      If the US descends into civil war, the is a strong chance that there will be benevolent actions taken. It is interesting how Americans view things when the pragmatism shoe is on the other foot.

      Right, because I’m sure the Canadian government and Canandians in general have never done that before 🙄

      Give me a break, you’ve largely benefited from American Empire as much as we have up until now.

      And I like how you generalize too. I have strongly objected to a lot of American foreign policy over the years. I don’t always agree with it.

      And I’ve looked into immigrating to Canada. None of those programs apply to me because I don’t have the “right” skills and going to college or trade school costs, whether here or in Canada, an arm and a leg. And your government has purposely made it more difficult to immigrate anyway

      ETA: When are you guys going to start offering asylum to Trans Americans who are under attack right now?

      Reply
    93. 93.

      Martin

      August 15, 2025 at 12:41 am

      @Melancholy Jaques: Wage growth is much lower than per capita GDP and wildly below asset growth and below real inflation. The US has been transforming into an asset economy since the 80s, and wage earners each year on average fall further behind any opportunity to reach the middle class. There is no meaningful upward mobility in the US.

      The problem is that the middle class economy is quite different from the lower class one. CPI distorts this pretty badly particularly for homeowners as their inflationary experience is vastly better than for renters, and middle class that have discretionary income are usually benefitting from deflationary discretionary goods while lower class Americans don’t get those benefits. That’s been true forever.

      Reply
    94. 94.

      Canadian Shield

      August 15, 2025 at 1:23 am

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

      Sorry, Canada is playing defence right now so this is ultimately your fight. Besides, what do international condemnations of another country’s apparent slide into authoritarianism accomplish? (Nothing)

      China has just now essentially shutout Canada from their Canola market (one of the big exports of our prairies) via a ~70% tariff. This is likely because we supported the USA by enacting a 100% import tariff on Chinese EV’s (back when we were partners) to protect the US Auto industry which we are heavily integrated with. Trump wants all US auto back in the USA 100% which will hurt Canadian labor massively. China is cleverly hammering on a fault line, *sigh* it’s ‘Realpolitik’ all the way down.

      Reply
    95. 95.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 15, 2025 at 1:29 am

      @Canadian Shield:

      Besides, what do international condemnations of another country’s apparent slide into authoritarianism accomplish? (Nothing)

      Thanks for admitting you’re full of shit on how much you care for democracy and human rights and have no principles you’ll speak out for when it’s politically inconvenient to do so (And don’t worry I’m well aware of the US’ track record, so you can’t use that as a retort).

      it’s ‘Realpolitik’ all the way down.

      You misspelled “craven cowardice”

      Reply
    96. 96.

      TS

      August 15, 2025 at 2:46 am

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

      So looking like hypocrites it is, I guess

      You elected him. The rest of the ex allies that you are attacking cannot believe this is for real, their economies are going to crash because trump, their defense has gone & they are looking for alternatives in this brave new world.

      Those who are supporting Palestine are being attacked by trump & co – and this will no doubt result in more economic stress.

      When there is no uprising in the States – what are the other countries supposed to be supporting?  trump was elected by a so called democratic election & despite the gerrymandering it is difficult to say the election was illegal (as trump tried in 2020)

      Reply
    97. 97.

      Canadian Shield

      August 15, 2025 at 2:57 am

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

      Okay, so I’m “full of shit on how much you care for democracy and human rights and have no principles you’ll speak out for when it’s politically inconvenient to do so?” I care about all of that, I believe my elected government even cares about all of that. What are you expecting us to do? You want the Canadian PM Carney to officialy state that the US President is a dangerouse lying clown trying to drag the USA into the gutter? I understand you are frustrated and probably terrified but we are not your enemy. There’s nothing we can do right now but try to minimize the damage to our own Country. I have no retort for you other than we are all in deep shit right now and there’s no magic International posturing about democracy that will change anything. The World has tried that with Ukraine and Gaza and it didn’t work there and it sure won’t make a difference in the USA. You’ve gotta vote the bums out, best of luck! (and I mean that!)

      Reply
    98. 98.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 15, 2025 at 2:58 am

      @TS:

      You elected him. The rest of the ex allies that you are attacking cannot believe this is for real, their economies are going to crash because trump, their defense has gone & they are looking for alternatives in this brave new world.

      I absolutely love collective guilt and collective blame. Everybody in the US elected Donald Trump apparently so we’re persona non grata who deserve to fucking suffer

      When there is no uprising in the States – what are the other countries supposed to be supporting? trump was elected by a so called democratic election & despite the gerrymandering it is difficult to say the election was illegal (as trump tried in 2020)

      You could support, if even in spirit, the people who don’t support this awful regime. You could be offering asylum to the Trans Americans who this government is actively trying to fucking erase in a genocide.

      I’m sure this absolutely can’t happen where you live, just in dumb fuck America. Fascism absolutely isn’t having a global resurgence.

      And I’d love to get the hell out of here but apparently I don’t have the “right” skills that a lot of countries I’d like to immigrate to want so I’m completely fucked

      Reply
    99. 99.

      ruckus

      August 15, 2025 at 3:11 am

      @RevRick:

      My family came over a bit before then but still most of us have immigrants not all that far back in generations. And I’ve known others that have even shorter times since immigration. Had a partner for a number of years who was first generation born here, I am second generation. We really don’t have to look all that far back to see that much of the generations prior to mine (and yes I am an old fart, over 3/4 of a century) were not born here. And a fair number after as well.

      Reply
    100. 100.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      August 15, 2025 at 3:24 am

      @Canadian Shield:

      You’ve gotta vote the bums out, best of luck! (and I mean that!)

      I genuinely appreciate that. Part of me does understand what you’re saying. I am terrified and frustrated. I’m watching everything completely fall apart and I feel absolutely powerless to do anything to stop it. I feel totally alone. I worry deeply that we won’t have the chance to vote them out because they’ll completely rig it so they win no matter what or they’ll just refuse to leave. If you try civil disobedience they’ll, at the very least, arrest you and turn your life upside down. I remember a few years ago the uprising in Iran and how hundreds were killed in the protests by the authorities with nothing meaningfully changing there.

      I sincerely apologize for lashing out at you and the others in this thread.

      Reply
    101. 101.

      Canadian Shield

      August 15, 2025 at 3:45 am

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

      We good, I can’t even fathom what you are feeling right now and I think it’s all heartbreaking. Do what you can to make it to the day when that Motherfucker is in his grave. Feel free to take a piss on it for me and Canada when that day comes!

      Reply
    102. 102.

      Thor Heyerdahl

      August 15, 2025 at 8:03 am

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): we’re good and apologies if I came across as a smug asshole.

      Hopefully again some day,  countries will be able to lean on multilateral goals of the betterment of humankind rather than the bad actors striving to split us apart into a world of individual transactions with self-preservation as the focus.

      Wishing Americans who are fighting the good fight strength and good fortune, as each hour of every day brings new stresses and frustrations with this corrupt regime.

      Reply
    103. 103.

      hueyplong

      August 15, 2025 at 11:50 am

      @Canadian Shield: As the grandson of a Canadian I’ll volunteer to baptize his grave for you and other true northerners if you like.

      Reply
    104. 104.

      Paul in KY

      August 15, 2025 at 2:56 pm

      @currawong: It would have been cool if the Norwegian person he spoke to made it seem like they did em and just string his stupid ass along.

      Reply
    105. 105.

      Paul in KY

      August 15, 2025 at 2:57 pm

      @WaterGirl: Those chariots they used in Hunger Games. Very classy…

      Reply
    106. 106.

      Paul in KY

      August 15, 2025 at 3:02 pm

      @RevRick: It was that stupid fucking show!!!

      Reply
    107. 107.

      Paul in KY

      August 15, 2025 at 3:02 pm

      @RevRick: Sounds lovely! Hope y’all have a wonderful trip!

      Reply
    108. 108.

      Paul in KY

      August 15, 2025 at 3:03 pm

      @Marc: Well I’ll be damned. He did call the right country. Stopped clock is right twice a day…

      Reply
    109. 109.

      Paul in KY

      August 15, 2025 at 3:09 pm

      @Canadian Shield: Take care of Canada. That’s all you can do right now.

      Reply

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