The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[Kurth]

Trump advisor seeks “consulting payments” from potential cabinet nominees:

Shocking!

I am shocked “Boris F’ing Epshteyn” would do something so base and unethical.

Shocked.

[Grifman]

Get a free MAGA hat:



But shipping is $14.

[hepcat]

He’s probably charging shipping for his NFTs too.

[waitingtoconnect]

Are the hats made in America?

[hepcat]

I know initially they were not. Then they got called out on it and had to switch to an American producer. I do believe the Trump bibles are still being made in China though. Trump is such a goddamn hypocrite it's ridiculous.

[LawBeefaroni]

Is that even a Trump owned business? I thought it was just one of the many Trump merch grifters. It's a shopify site and I can't find anything about who owns it.

[Holman]

You'd think they could find a better picture of Trump for their ad.

[Unagi]

You'd think they could find a better picture of Trump for their ad.

I had the same thought. Or actually - my brain said more like, "Wow, I wonder if that is considered a 'good shot' of Trump these days."

[Holman]

You'd think they could find a better picture of Trump for their ad.

I had the same thought. Or actually - my brain said more like, "Wow, I wonder if that is considered a 'good shot' of Trump these days."

We'll know that he's truly on the way out when we start seeing only AI renderings of him.

(Musk has start posting AI images of himself because he hates his gut and his jowls.)

[hepcat]

Musk has always looked like a kid’s artistic rendering of what they think a comic book villain should look like.

[Rumpy]

Trump has never been particularly photogenic.

[Kraken]

He's less orange than usual.

[hepcat]

I’d say that orange tint means hepatitis A, but I doubt any Trump has ever gotten an A in anything.

[Grifman]

Oops!



https://newrepublic.com/article/189054/ ... ign=SF_TNR

[Max Peck]

What are the odds that, amidst much ado and pomp, Trumps slaps a new coat of paint on such programs, rebrands them and declares that he's fixed the problems?

[pr0ner]

Oops!



https://newrepublic.com/article/189054/ ... ign=SF_TNR

The picture on that tweet is remarkable.

[Smoove_B]

The picture on that tweet is remarkable.

It's been noted that lately he looks like a gas-station hot dog.

[geezer]

What are the odds that, amidst much ado and pomp, Trumps slaps a new coat of paint on such programs, rebrands them and declares that he's fixed the problems?

Estimating conservatively, somewhere north of 100%

[LordMortis]

What are the odds that, amidst much ado and pomp, Trumps slaps a new coat of paint on such programs, rebrands them and declares that he's fixed the problems?

Estimating conservatively, somewhere north of 100%

Like he did with turning NAFTA in to USMCA and was hailed for doing nothing for something that was doing a great job for 20 years? USMCA sounded like it was going to be harsh and a champion of America First and then, in practice, nothing changed. I still don't know if I'm happy or angry about it. He didn't do damage but he gets all these kudos for not using a bib to eat canned creamed peas from so many, like he's a big boy and he feeds off it. Much like I was happy repeal and replace never happened (the first time) but so angry that it was such a rallying cry and then silence.

[Skinypupy]

As he receives more pressure from the people who do actually stand to lose billions if his stupid plans are actually implemented, my guess is that one of two things happen (or possibly both).

1. He takes some relatively minor action (i.e. deports 50 felons back to Mexico), makes a big public show about it, and declares victory and the problem solved. Since most of his supporters are too stupid to look past whatever he spouts, they'll fully agree that everything is now right with the world because of Dear Leader. We saw this with "The Wall", where they built like a mile of it (which has since pretty much fallen apart) and called it a win.

2. He blames Democrats for stymying his plans and claims that everything would have been solved if only those dastardly Democrats weren't standing in his way.

This is just on the things that would cause people to lose lots of money (i.e. mass deportation, possibly tarriffs, etc.). On other things, I fully expect them to bite the entire apple, such as decimating voting rights and gutting the government.

[Smoove_B]

Sure, we can hope for these things but I can't help but think there are people that he's surrounded himself with that want to truly do all of the awful things he's been campaigning on for (checks watch) 9 years. And now they're finally in a position to do it what is stopping them? As long as he follows through on making sure corporations and the 1% get their tax cuts, I'm not sure anything else matters.

[geezer]

As he receives more pressure from the people who do actually stand to lose billions if his stupid plans are actually implemented, my guess is that one of two things happen (or possibly both).

1. He takes some relatively minor action (i.e. deports 50 felons back to Mexico), makes a big public show about it, and declares victory and the problem solved. Since most of his supporters are too stupid to look past whatever he spouts, they'll fully agree that everything is now right with the world because of Dear Leader. We saw this with "The Wall", where they built like a mile of it (which has since pretty much fallen apart) and called it a win.

2. He blames Democrats for stymying his plans and claims that everything would have been solved if only those dastardly Democrats weren't standing in his way.

This is just on the things that would cause people to lose lots of money (i.e. mass deportation, possibly tarriffs, etc.). On other things, I fully expect them to bite the entire apple, such as decimating voting rights and gutting the government.

Lots of good stuff here about people who suddenly realized the leopard is most definitely coming for their faces:
https://newrepublic.com/article/189054/ ... resistance

[Skinypupy]

Sure, we can hope for these things but I can't help but think there are people that he's surrounded himself with that want to truly do all of the awful things he's been campaigning on for (checks watch) 9 years. And now they're finally in a position to do it what is stopping them? As long as he follows through on making sure corporations and the 1% get their tax cuts, I'm not sure anything else matters.

Yeah, I should have prefaced that all with “My hope is that…”

It’s gonna be a firehouse of suck regardless, but I’d like to hold onto a slim hope that there are at least one or two people in the administration who realize that collapsing the economy would, in fact, be a bad thing.

[El Guapo]

Oops!



https://newrepublic.com/article/189054/ ... ign=SF_TNR

The picture on that tweet is remarkable.

It is.

Unfortunately the column itself is thoroughly unconvincing. Key part:

These folks don’t say this too directly, out of fear of offending the MAGA God King. Instead, they suggest gingerly that a slight rethink might be in order. But unpack what they’re saying, and you’ll see that they’re in effect acknowledging that some of Trump’s biggest campaign promises were basically scams.

That's been true throughout the Trump era. Republican officials, at least outside of the true MAGA believers, generally understand that Trump's an idiot and that a lot of his policies are bad. So them believing that while not being willing to say it directly is...exactly what's been happening (and accelerating) over the past seven years, not some promising new trend.

[El Guapo]

Sure, we can hope for these things but I can't help but think there are people that he's surrounded himself with that want to truly do all of the awful things he's been campaigning on for (checks watch) 9 years. And now they're finally in a position to do it what is stopping them? As long as he follows through on making sure corporations and the 1% get their tax cuts, I'm not sure anything else matters.

Yeah, I should have prefaced that all with “My hope is that…”

It’s gonna be a firehouse of suck regardless, but I’d like to hold onto a slim hope that there are at least one or two people in the administration who realize that collapsing the economy would, in fact, be a bad thing.

He won't do everything that he has committed to (no president ever does, I suppose). But there's a lot of evidence that he really believes in tariffs as some sort of magic elixir, and mass deportations are among the core beliefs of MAGA and the key people that Trump has already put into place. So those are among the most likely things to happen.

[hepcat]

I have to wonder if he believes in the effect of tariffs or if he believes in the effect of the threat of tariffs? He sees himself as a shrewd and tough businessman, so it would make sense if so. Problem is, what happens when his bluff is called?

[LordMortis]

Problem is, what happens when his bluff is called?

Historically, other people take the fall and then he shit talks about them for doing things so wrong when he was always so right. How do you bankrupt a Casino? On the boardwalk? When there are only two controlled legal gaming areas in the US? And then get off Scott free?

[Holman]

I have to wonder if he believes in the effect of tariffs or if he believes in the effect of the threat of tariffs? He sees himself as a shrewd and tough businessman, so it would make sense if so. Problem is, what happens when his bluff is called?

There are some minor, targeted tariffs he can levy without tanking any major industries.

He can do a Rose Garden ceremony to announce them, and then claim an economic victory and a promise fulfilled. The rubes won't know the details, and right-wing media won't report them.

[Rumpy]

I have to wonder if he believes in the effect of tariffs or if he believes in the effect of the threat of tariffs? He sees himself as a shrewd and tough businessman, so it would make sense if so. Problem is, what happens when his bluff is called?

Honestly, I don't feel like he might understand the effects enough to really believe in it. That's the feeling I get from him repeating the word so much. It's like a child repeating whatever he hears. Then you get to the fact that it might hurt the U.S just as much as those he's imposing them on, then you start to wonder if this was really thought out.

But as far as a bargaining tactic goes? It just might have worked as far as Canada is concerned. With Canada's dollar roughly at 75 cents to the USD, it really can't afford to wait and find out how the tariffs will hurt it, and as you might have heard, Trudeau agreed to Trump's demands, which means added border security along three very specific points long the borders of New York and Vermont, which I was surprised to hear actually gets a bit of illegal traffic coming through. But at the same time, it's such a small number as compared to Mexico.

[Blackhawk]

Trump has always had a manly helping of 'bigger is better' in his psyche. If a 5% tariff can improve a situation, then a 50% tariff will improve it ten times as much.

[LordMortis]

It's like a child repeating whatever he hears.

And thinking he thought of it and is the smarter than every single one of the adults in the room. He's been challenged on tariffs to his face by economists that I have seen more than once and his response was essentially "n-no puppet. You a puppet!" and that was all he could muster. What he needed was stacks of blank leaf filled folders that he could point to and claim were backing his plan and show how his advanced understanding of tariffs boosts consumers

[Rumpy]

Trump has always had a manly helping of 'bigger is better' in his psyche. If a 5% tariff can improve a situation, then a 50% tariff will improve it ten times as much.

The only thing getting bigger is his ego.

It's like a child repeating whatever he hears.

And thinking he thought of it and is the smarter than every single one of the adults in the room. He's been challenged on tariffs to his face by economists that I have seen more than once and his response was essentially "n-no puppet. You a puppet!" and that was all he could muster. What he needed was stacks of blank leaf filled folders that he could point to and claim were backing his plan and show how his advanced understanding of tariffs boosts consumers

When Trump says his favourite word is 'Tariffs', I keep picturing Trump watching Sesame Street learning a new word and repeating it back. Not saying it because he understands it, rather saying it because he's 'heard' it. And then I picture the Cookie Monster trying explain tariffs via cookies... Yeah, I'm weird like that...

[Blackhawk]

Tar-iffs
Tariffs!

[El Guapo]

I have to wonder if he believes in the effect of tariffs or if he believes in the effect of the threat of tariffs? He sees himself as a shrewd and tough businessman, so it would make sense if so. Problem is, what happens when his bluff is called?

Honestly, I don't feel like he might understand the effects enough to really believe in it. That's the feeling I get from him repeating the word so much. It's like a child repeating whatever he hears. Then you get to the fact that it might hurt the U.S just as much as those he's imposing them on, then you start to wonder if this was really thought out.

But as far as a bargaining tactic goes? It just might have worked as far as Canada is concerned. With Canada's dollar roughly at 75 cents to the USD, it really can't afford to wait and find out how the tariffs will hurt it, and as you might have heard, Trudeau agreed to Trump's demands, which means added border security along three very specific points long the borders of New York and Vermont, which I was surprised to hear actually gets a bit of illegal traffic coming through. But at the same time, it's such a small number as compared to Mexico.

Does Trump understand tariffs? No. Is his tariff approach well thought out? Also no. Does he think he understands it, and does he truly believe that tariffs work the way he thinks they do? Yes and yes. It's not a bluff or a messaging strategy by him.

I think part of why he's drawn to tariffs is that they fit well with his view of business, people, and the world. The strong muscle their way into taking things from the weak, who must effectively pay tribute.

I would say that the best case scenario on Trump's tariff policies is that other countries may find it easy to buy him off for relatively cheap in practice, by saying "O mighty Trump, you have outfoxxed us! We meekly agree to this 500 page tariff agreement under which we will pay you vast sums of money!" which he won't read or understand.

[Rumpy]

Does he think he understands it, and does he truly believe that tariffs work the way he thinks they do? Yes and yes. It's not a bluff or a messaging strategy by him.

That is painfully clear. I don't think there's any doubt in anyone's mind that he thinks he knows how they work, and that's where the most damage will occur.. The reality and the belief are two completely different things in this case. Even now, you start to see some of the red states having a slow realization of what it really means and what's been voted for. It's like watching a train derail at this point. It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of when.

Anyhow, I'm posting from a Canadian perspective.

And speaking of, you might have seen an image making the rounds after Trump made his annex joke to Trudeau, showing Trump with a Canadian flag on what should probably have been the Rockies, but instead is of the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Like wtf, at least get the geography right....

[LordMortis]

The red states the care don't care won't care as much about Tarriffs at first. They'll care more about cheap skilled labor getting tighter at first and if the federal cuts start to happen, presumably the spice flowing to their borders. Only I'm betting Leon and the Shady Thrall will find ways de-emphasize those hits to red states where Leon and the Thrall's master have presence in, at least, oh and Florida and its world citizens because that's all TFG cares about and has any real relation with.

[Rumpy]

Yes, at first. That's the biggie. But if there isn't a slow realization of what's happening, they'll wonder why the economy is getting worse rather than better, and I bet you anything they'll be quick to blame Biden, because of course, nothing can be the fault of the Reds, oh no!

[Holman]

My guess is that he asked someone about when rich Americans had it best, and the answer was the Gilded Age of the 1880s/90s.

His next question was how it happened, and someone explained that income taxes were very low and tariffs were high.

Thus, in Trump's mind low taxes and high tariffs are good for Trump. Economy solved.

[Rumpy]

The Guilded Age! That's quite a long time ago, when things used to be much simpler and when the economy was a very different beast, and countries were generally more isolated. Before both world wars forced cooperation and sharing of resources between nations. We're going to be in a world of pain.

[Kraken]

Sure, we can hope for these things but I can't help but think there are people that he's surrounded himself with that want to truly do all of the awful things he's been campaigning on for (checks watch) 9 years. And now they're finally in a position to do it what is stopping them? As long as he follows through on making sure corporations and the 1% get their tax cuts, I'm not sure anything else matters.

Yeah, I should have prefaced that all with “My hope is that…”

It’s gonna be a firehouse of suck regardless, but I’d like to hold onto a slim hope that there are at least one or two people in the administration who realize that collapsing the economy would, in fact, be a bad thing.

He won't do everything that he has committed to (no president ever does, I suppose). But there's a lot of evidence that he really believes in tariffs as some sort of magic elixir, and mass deportations are among the core beliefs of MAGA and the key people that Trump has already put into place. So those are among the most likely things to happen.

He also regards the stonk market as his personal scorecard; let's see what happens there if he really starts deporting the cheapest laborers.