The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[Unagi]

I went back and edited my comment to be less snarky. You caught me pre coffee on a 0 degree day.

I'm sorry if I seemed to target you or misrepresented you. I'm living in hell.

Shadow boxing, as Fiona Apple would say.

[IceBear]

and I apologize for murking the waters. I have a few transgender friends and I'm terrified that Trump's actions will embolden our PC party to try to do the same here, even if I worry here will become there

[hepcat]

Nah, you're good. I was just trying to help assuage any fear you have that we would actually attack Canada. Remember: Trumpers are, at their core, bullies. And bullies are cowards.

[Holman]

The original framers of the 14th amendment only meant for it to apply to white people. If you are an originalist (and I’m not) then you could argue that I suppose.

This isn't the case. The 14th was one of the Reconstruction amendments. It was definitely intended to grant citizenship to former slaves, all of whom (with maybe 0.1% exception) had been born in the US.

(Import of slaves had been made illegal in 1808, largely in order to protect domestic slave dealers.)

[Skinypupy]

Apparently this guy thinks the birthright citizenship thing can't happen, says the constitution would have to be rewritten. Also says it basically boils down to a strawman to position him into being a victim once it doesn't pass, and knows it won't pass. Yeah, the video title comes on a little strong, but this is a good watch.

I truly don't think Trump cares if it stands or not.

If the EO somehow stands, he gets what he and most of his supporters want: fewer brown people. If it doesn't stand, he will simply tell the MAGAts how hard he tried and that it's really just all the fault of "activist judges" that it didn't pass.

In fact, having the courts strike it might actually be the best outcome for him because MAGA will love him even more ("because he tried") and striking it will continue to build their hate and distrust of any governmental system or process even further.

Win-win for Trump either way.

[El Guapo]

Apparently this guy thinks the birthright citizenship thing can't happen, says the constitution would have to be rewritten. Also says it basically boils down to a strawman to position him into being a victim once it doesn't pass, and knows it won't pass. Yeah, the video title comes on a little strong, but this is a good watch.

I truly don't think Trump cares if it stands or not.

If the EO somehow stands, he gets what he and most of his supporters want: fewer brown people. If it doesn't stand, he will simply tell the MAGAts how hard he tried and that it's really just all the fault of "activist judges" that it didn't pass.

In fact, having the courts strike it might actually be the best outcome for him because MAGA will love him even more ("because he tried") and striking it will continue to build their hate and distrust of any governmental system or process even further.

Win-win for Trump either way.

I think he cares. He cares mostly about himself, but he also I think has a genuine dislike of minorities and would be happy for there to be fewer in the country. More importantly, Stephen Miller and other similar people in the MAGA coalition care a *lot* about this.

So the first step is to try this executive order and see if the SCOTUS majority is willing to bend the Constitution here. I imagine Trump's going to hint in his way that he won't follow a SCOTUS decision striking this down, which will tempt Roberts to find some way to not strike it down so that he doesn't have to worry about a SCOTUS order being defied. If this does get struck down, the next step is probably some re-written order that does the same thing in some slightly different way, then see how that goes.

[hepcat]

I feel like if Trump's father had just told him even once that he loved him instead of presenting him a rental agreement at birth outlining his annual charges for housing and food, and detailing a payment plan for the first 18 years of his life, we might have a more decent human being in the white house.

[Skinypupy]

More importantly, Stephen Miller and other similar people in the MAGA coalition care a *lot* about this.

This, without a doubt. Miller is 100% driving the train on this and doing everything he can to harm anyone not lily white is his singular #1 priority for the next four years.

I'm sure Trump will go along with whatever Miller says, but in the end, I do wonder how important it actually is to Trump. He simply wants whatever gets him the most attention.

[WYBaugh]

I have to admit, as my dread and anger had been very slowly subsiding over the last two months, he did a fantastic job of bringing it right back to the forefront on day 1... 4 years and probably beyond... I may have to not only continue my self imposed ban from the news and shutting down all political discourse from them, I may have to shy away from my daily read in filtered places like this. I just can't do this all of the time. I'm very much passed my limit.

This is entirely me. But -plus one transgender child living at home in fear, who's autistic-.

I took a little 'break' from panic over the last two months, but holy-shit.... here we go.

I had a sleepless night on election night, and damn if I didn't have another one last night. I still wish I'd wake up from this nightmare...

I am right there with you. I had been better up until yesterday.

[Blackhawk]

I slept fine - everything that happened yesterday has been well-telegraphed for months. There were no surprises to throw me off.

[Paingod]

I spent 2016-2020 in disbelief that a single person could so completely upend morality and dignity and still have the full support of their backers. I spent every week getting increasingly angry at the utter ineffectiveness of the government to stop someone from destroying it from within. I concluded that time with a new appreciation if just how broken a substantial portion of the human population can be, to the point the they work against their own self interests in order to try and lash out at imagined enemies.

We literally have a convicted felon as president. And people are lining up to bask in the radiance of his Depends.

The only political voice I have is my single vote during an election. I can't change the news. I can't fix the hate. I can't redirect the policies. I can't stop the lies. I can't appoint judges.

So I'll vote when I can. I don't think I can psychologically tolerate another 4 years of increasingly insane human dysfunction in the news, though. I've already stopped reading most of what's out there and only visit global events now. I'm hoping I can keep my head down and move forward in peace as much as possible.

Me and my family are almost entirely unaffected by any policy changes or systemic overhauls. I terms of day to day life, it hardly matters to me who's in office.

I care for the future of my children and the rest of the people in the US and others across the world who are going to be hurt by this administration. Too you all, I'm sorry. I'll keep voting with my conscience.

[WYBaugh]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/gove ... r-AA1xBbKG

On President Donald Trump's Inauguration Day, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made his state the first to reference the "Gulf of America" in an executive order when he issued a state of emergency due to cold weather.

We're #1!!

[WYBaugh]

I spent 2016-2020 in disbelief that a single person could so completely upend morality and dignity and still have the full support of their backers. I spent every week getting increasingly angry at the utter ineffectiveness of the government to stop someone from destroying it from within. I concluded that time with a new appreciation if just how broken a substantial portion of the human population can be, to the point the they work against their own self interests in order to try and lash out at imagined enemies.

We literally have a convicted felon as president. And people are lining up to bask in the radiance of his Depends.

The only political voice I have is my single vote during an election. I can't change the news. I can't fix the hate. I can't redirect the policies. I can't stop the lies. I can't appoint judges.

So I'll vote when I can. I don't think I can psychologically tolerate another 4 years of increasingly insane human dysfunction in the news, though. I've already stopped reading most of what's out there and only visit global events now. I'm hoping I can keep my head down and move forward in peace as much as possible.

Me and my family are almost entirely unaffected by any policy changes or systemic overhauls. I terms of day to day life, it hardly matters to me who's in office.

I care for the future of my children and the rest of the people in the US and others across the world who are going to be hurt by this administration. Too you all, I'm sorry. I'll keep voting with my conscience.

I'm with you. Not looking at any national or local news sources. I'll see stuff on imgur and my wife continues to read the news so I'll get her yelling to me about some new absurdity that is just a new gut punch.

Not a great feeling that evil has won and this is what almost half the country wants. But as you said, I can only vote and look for opportunities to help as an individual.

I have no desire to hold out an olive branch to MAGA idiots. I'm old and I'm petty.

[naednek]

He took down the constitution page on the Whitehouse website.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-wh ... stitution/

he also got rid of the page that talked about the previous presidents

I'm hearing reports that META has blocked tags like #democrats #DNC from Instagram and FB. As well as making everyone follow Donald Trump on FB. I'm not seeing that on my end

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g32yxpdz0o

[Paingod]

I have no desire to hold out an olive branch to MAGA idiots. I'm old and I'm petty.

I'm not that old and didn't consider myself petty.

I also don't go near animals that appear to be rabid, lend money to people who'll never pay me back, or hand firearms to someone threatening my family.

[Smoove_B]

The Spanish language page has also been removed, as well as the Spanish language social media account(s).

At least the new administration is consistent.

[Unagi]

lol - well, espero que el votante hispanohablante disfrute lo que votó.

[gilraen]

I stopped watching the news again after the election. Now I can't decide whether I want to start watching again just to avoid being blindsided, or to complete the switch to Hallmark movies since they are supposed to be good for your mental health (okay, maybe that was just holiday Hallmark movies...)

[Blackhawk]

I have no desire to hold out an olive branch to MAGA idiots. I'm old and I'm petty.

I argued for olive branches and trying to achieve understanding the first time around. I still think it was the right argument, as many people were essentially conned.

This time, it's a knowing choice that people made. My olive branches are being sharpened to a point.

[Smoove_B]

I have an extended member of my family that routinely "brags" about not watching the news or staying informed about what's going on. This person has voiced support of GOP initiatives over the last ~9 years and engaged in a lot of "well, both sides are bad" toned discussions when things come up.

When I think about disengaging or ignoring what's happening I'm reminded of them and that it's an attitude of privilege. For some, being able to ignore America's slide into fascism means nothing is impacting you directly so I don't need to care about it. I get that for many people they're also trying to protect their sanity, but imho ignoring what is happening allows the perpetrators to continue to push us further into the abyss.

NOTE: My comments here aren't directed at anyone. I'm just venting my spleen having just endured "both sides are bad" during the holidays.

[Isgrimnur]

I have no desire to hold out an olive branch to MAGA idiots. I'm old and I'm petty.

I argued for olive branches and trying to achieve understanding the first time around. I still think it was the right argument, as many people were essentially conned.

This time, it's a knowing choice that people made. My olive branches are being sharpened to a point.

I hear mistletoe is more effective.

[WYBaugh]

I have an extended member of my family that routinely "brags" about not watching the news or staying informed about what's going on. This person has voiced support of GOP initiatives over the last ~9 years and engaged in a lot of "well, both sides are bad" toned discussions when things come up.

When I think about disengaging or ignoring what's happening I'm reminded of them and that it's an attitude of privilege. For some, being able to ignore America's slide into fascism means nothing is impacting you directly so I don't need to care about it. I get that for many people they're also trying to protect their sanity, but imho ignoring what is happening allows the perpetrators to continue to push us further into the abyss.

NOTE: My comments here aren't directed at anyone. I'm just venting my spleen having just endured "both sides are bad" during the holidays.

Agree with this but I have to find a balance of not being in a constant state of anxiety over where everything is heading. It's not that I don't care, I care too much but am helpless to do anything about it. Especially living in Florida.

I don't want to become an uniformed individual nor ever be that type of person you describe above.

[Smoove_B]

Agree with this but I have to find a balance of not being in a constant state of anxiety over where everything is heading. It's not that I don't care, I care too much but am helpless to do anything about it. Especially living in Florida.

I don't want to become an uniformed individual nor ever be that type of person you describe above.

I always believe that shutting out all news/info is the issue. Instead (if possible) pick one thing to follow/support and join a non-profit or some other state/regional/national organization that promotes the issue or fights on behalf of the people or groups directly affected. In this way you (collectively) can stay informed and know that you're actually doing something (likely by donating money, truth be told) in support of whatever is happening. It might not always be money, but I know for many that's a realistic way of contributing.

I know it can feel so helpless right now (trust me, I get it), but fingers-in-ears ignoring it and pretending like nothing is happening isn't how we're all going to make it through this.

Again, I get that not everyone can do it and of course there are so many things/causes/groups that need support making it difficult to focus. But I think that's part of the tactics here - overwhelm everyone into paralysis and/or complacency.

I cannot abide. YMMV.

[WYBaugh]

Agree with this but I have to find a balance of not being in a constant state of anxiety over where everything is heading. It's not that I don't care, I care too much but am helpless to do anything about it. Especially living in Florida.

I don't want to become an uniformed individual nor ever be that type of person you describe above.

I always believe that shutting out all news/info is the issue. Instead (if possible) pick one thing to follow/support and join a non-profit or some other state/regional/national organization that promotes the issue or fights on behalf of the people or groups directly affected. In this way you (collectively) can stay informed and know that you're actually doing something (likely by donating money, truth be told) in support of whatever is happening. It might not always be money, but I know for many that's a realistic way of contributing.

I know it can feel so helpless right now (trust me, I get it), but fingers-in-ears ignoring it and pretending like nothing is happening isn't how we're all going to make it through this.

Again, I get that not everyone can do it and of course there are so many things/causes/groups that need support making it difficult to focus. But I think that's part of the tactics here - overwhelm everyone into paralysis and/or complacency.

I cannot abide. YMMV.

Very sound advice. I'm hopefully retiring this December so I'll definitely be looking for this.

[Rumpy]

Apparently this guy thinks the birthright citizenship thing can't happen, says the constitution would have to be rewritten. Also says it basically boils down to a strawman to position him into being a victim once it doesn't pass, and knows it won't pass. Yeah, the video title comes on a little strong, but this is a good watch.

I truly don't think Trump cares if it stands or not.

If the EO somehow stands, he gets what he and most of his supporters want: fewer brown people. If it doesn't stand, he will simply tell the MAGAts how hard he tried and that it's really just all the fault of "activist judges" that it didn't pass.

In fact, having the courts strike it might actually be the best outcome for him because MAGA will love him even more ("because he tried") and striking it will continue to build their hate and distrust of any governmental system or process even further.

Win-win for Trump either way.

You might think that way, but there is a subset of us that remain hopeful of safeguards. I prefer to be hopeful instead of seeing the negative all the time. Otherwise, it's just going to drag us down further into despair.

[Skinypupy]

Apparently this guy thinks the birthright citizenship thing can't happen, says the constitution would have to be rewritten. Also says it basically boils down to a strawman to position him into being a victim once it doesn't pass, and knows it won't pass. Yeah, the video title comes on a little strong, but this is a good watch.

I truly don't think Trump cares if it stands or not.

If the EO somehow stands, he gets what he and most of his supporters want: fewer brown people. If it doesn't stand, he will simply tell the MAGAts how hard he tried and that it's really just all the fault of "activist judges" that it didn't pass.

In fact, having the courts strike it might actually be the best outcome for him because MAGA will love him even more ("because he tried") and striking it will continue to build their hate and distrust of any governmental system or process even further.

Win-win for Trump either way.

You might think that way, but there is a subset of us that remain hopeful of safeguards. I prefer to be hopeful instead of seeing the negative all the time. Otherwise, it's just going to drag us down further into despair.

Frankly, I'm not sure what hope I'm supposed to carry here.

IF the safeguard does happen to hold (which is a big "if", given this SCOTUS), it's still a win for Trump. He'll just cry incessantly that they're being "unfair" and blame it all on Democrats because reasons. And over half the voting populace will be OUTRAGED! and/or lose even more faith in our governing institutions because their Orange God told them to.

There's no outcome to this scenario where he doesn't come out ahead. Either they shred the 14th amendment like they want to, or he galvanizes his support from the morons even further.

[LordMortis]

NOTE: My comments here aren't directed at anyone. I'm just venting my spleen having just endured "both sides are bad" during the holidays.

I drove myself everywhere. If one political word had been uttered, I would have walked out of the house. My (conservative and vocal part of the) family are on eggshells around me since I stopped answering my phone "to just talk" and I'm fine with that. They assume it will blow over, I suspect. They're wrong. I'm passed the point of no return with my regard to tolerating hearing bullshit. That world of politics spans pretty far too. I don't want to hear their concerns about cost of anything. About access to services. You name it. Nothing. 9+ years of this and I'm done. I tried for a very long time. A very long time.

[Alefroth]

The left needs to decide if it’s worth fighting trump on one of the few areas of trumps policy that most Americans could well support giving him airspace to do his meme coins and other highly questionable stuff.

You think most Americans would support revoking birthright citizenship?

[Unagi]

1 day down.
1,460 days to go.

[Rumpy]

Frankly, I'm not sure what hope I'm supposed to carry here.

It'll help our sanity for one thing. If we constantly dread, then that won't be good for the health. Now mind you, I'm watching this unfolding from afar, and as a Canadian, I can't change things, but as a Country that has become a subject of his attention, it's impossible not to feel it. But I can't possibly dread every single thing he'll possibly do. I have to reasonably believe that there's a chink in the armor somewhere, a glimmer of hope.

[ImLawBoy]

The left needs to decide if it’s worth fighting trump on one of the few areas of trumps policy that most Americans could well support giving him airspace to do his meme coins and other highly questionable stuff.

You think most Americans would support revoking birthright citizenship?

Regardless, it should be a no-brainer to oppose Trump disregarding the Constitution when it fits his aim. Even if you support changing the citizenship rules, it should be done via proper process (i.e., Constitutional amendment) and not because a wanna-be dictator acts as an actual dictator.

[Unagi]

Frankly, I'm not sure what hope I'm supposed to carry here.

It'll help our sanity for one thing. If we constantly dread, then that won't be good for the health.

Not everyone works like that.
With regard to my intellectual sanity, I find no help if I just manufacture hope out of thin air. If the "reason for hope" is simply "because that makes me feel less hopeless" - that, IMO, is a little conspicuous and I cannot actually 'fall for it'.

I'm not saying you shouldn't find something to be hopeful about - but you just replied to Skinypupy asking what hope they should carry. I suppose your answer boils down to: "hold on to the hope that the future will end up in a better place than it looks to be going" - but yeah.

[Alefroth]

1 day down.
1,460 days to go.

I was just thinking in those terms last night. It's crushing.

I'll try to put some hope in the mid-terms.

[Alefroth]

The left needs to decide if it’s worth fighting trump on one of the few areas of trumps policy that most Americans could well support giving him airspace to do his meme coins and other highly questionable stuff.

You think most Americans would support revoking birthright citizenship?

Regardless, it should be a no-brainer to oppose Trump disregarding the Constitution when it fits his aim. Even if you support changing the citizenship rules, it should be done via proper process (i.e., Constitutional amendment) and not because a wanna-be dictator acts as an actual dictator.

Of course. I'm saying the left should definitely choose to fight Trump over it because I think most of the country doesn't support it.

[Paingod]

I know it can feel so helpless right now (trust me, I get it), but fingers-in-ears ignoring it and pretending like nothing is happening isn't how we're all going to make it through this.

My motivator for stepping back is anger. I'm not an angry person. When I read about what's happening, I literally have an adverse reaction that I wouldn't call healthy. As in "you're not sleeping and your blood pressure is going up"

I spent 4 years experiencing anger I didn't know I had in me and had nowhere to direct it. Before 2020 was concluded I was on antidepressants.

I refuse to give them that kind of hold on me again.

I'm sure I'll angry again and again and again before 2028. It just won't be because I was spending all day neck-deep in news feeds and I'm going to have to work at not letting it consume me.

[Rumpy]

Frankly, I'm not sure what hope I'm supposed to carry here.

It'll help our sanity for one thing. If we constantly dread, then that won't be good for the health.

Not everyone works like that.
With regard to my intellectual sanity, I find no help if I just manufacture hope out of thin air. If the "reason for hope" is simply "because that makes me feel less hopeless" - that, IMO, is a little conspicuous and I cannot actually 'fall for it'.

I'm not saying you shouldn't find something to be hopeful about - but you just replied to Skinypupy asking what hope they should carry. I suppose your answer boils down to: "hold on to the hope that the future will end up in a better place than it looks to be going" - but yeah.

Yeah, everyone is going to be different, also depending on how much of it affects them. But I think we can also be aware of everything and still choose to remain hopeful. It's a different way of seeing things.

[Smoove_B]

I'm sure I'll angry again and again and again before 2028. It just won't be because I was spending all day neck-deep in news feeds and I'm going to have to work at not letting it consume me.

I get it. I'm just saying a natural response to these things would be anger - because you're feeling powerless, hopeless or as part of a response for anyone you're feeling empathy with that will be impacted.

By doing what I suggested above (taking some type of "action") you will help alleviate anger because you've now been productive; you've enacted change.

Hate (and anger) isn't the opposite of love - apathy is. \

Trump and all his MAGA goblins have refocused their hate against women, immigrants, minorities, trans people, etc... into legislative action. The response to that has to be refocusing your (collective) hate into resistance.

Again, mainlining a firehouse of news right now is not healthy. But they're trying to overwhelm everyone into just giving up. It would be a mistake to allow that to happen. Pick one thing - just a single issue. Focus on that if you can. Make a difference with that one single issue in any way you can.

[Blackhawk]

Frankly, I'm not sure what hope I'm supposed to carry here.

It'll help our sanity for one thing. If we constantly dread, then that won't be good for the health.

Not everyone works like that.
With regard to my intellectual sanity, I find no help if I just manufacture hope out of thin air. If the "reason for hope" is simply "because that makes me feel less hopeless" - that, IMO, is a little conspicuous and I cannot actually 'fall for it'.

I'm the same way. Hope for the sake of hope is transparently false, and I'm too aware of that fact for it to be helpful. What 'hope' I have is for things to change long after I'm bones in a box. Within my lifetime and/or ability to impact? I think we crossed that bridge in November.

[IceBear]

I have gotten myself sick with the stress. There's just no way I'm going to last until Feb 1st, let alone 4 years

[gilraen]

Frankly, I'm not sure what hope I'm supposed to carry here.

It'll help our sanity for one thing. If we constantly dread, then that won't be good for the health.

Not everyone works like that.
With regard to my intellectual sanity, I find no help if I just manufacture hope out of thin air. If the "reason for hope" is simply "because that makes me feel less hopeless" - that, IMO, is a little conspicuous and I cannot actually 'fall for it'.

I'm the same way. Hope for the sake of hope is transparently false, and I'm too aware of that fact for it to be helpful. What 'hope' I have is for things to change long after I'm bones in a box. Within my lifetime and/or ability to impact? I think we crossed that bridge in November.

I 'hope' that Drumpf finally drops of a stroke or heart attack, and Leon OD's or gets shot by a crazed ex. Does that count?