The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[waitingtoconnect]

Thankfully I've always had dark humor, so I'll certainly be monitoring if it somehow increases.

Speaking of getting worse

Next on Fox News: why this is a good thing…

[Max Peck]

Getting people killed is certainly one way to shrink the work force. I guess.

[Alefroth]

It's a great way to incentivize the CIA employees to take the buyout.

[$iljanus]

How else will our new Sino-Russian overlords know who to approach? And with employees being "encouraged" to resign maybe they'll be happy to get offers from other governments? Or at least it makes the gathering of kompromat more efficient.

This is the new normal.

[Alefroth]

I don't see how any country can trust us with intel now.

[Smoove_B]

I don't see how any country can trust us with intel now.

And we didn't even confirm Tulsi Gabbard yet! Once that happens, yeah, I'd imagine we're absolutely cut off.

[Holman]

I assume allies will start feeding us specious intel with markers to track how quickly it gets to Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, etc.

This could wipe out Jared's whole business model!

[Isgrimnur]

Something something NOC list.

[LawBeefaroni]

It's arguably an example of a specific type of coup: Self coup or Autocoup.

A self-coup, also called an autocoup (from Spanish autogolpe) or coup from the top, is a form of coup d'état in which a political leader, having come to power through legal means, stays in power illegally through the actions of themselves and/or their supporters. The leader may dissolve or render powerless the national legislature and unlawfully assume extraordinary powers. Other measures may include annulling the constitution, suspending civil courts, and having the head of government assume dictatorial powers.

From 1946 to the beginning of 2021, an estimated 148 self-coup attempts took place, 110 in autocracies and 38 in democracies.

That’s closer, and definitely a plausible end game. But we’re missing the critical “stays in power illegally” part. Again, we elected Trump. He is very much in power legally, at least, for now. Thus, not a coup, even of the “self-coup” variety.

What part of "elected to be president, seized power ro be king" isn't clear?

He wasn't elected to execute the duties of the legislative branch.

[waitingtoconnect]

If the cia goes a lot of spies will be out of work and out in the open market. With no money and unemployed they will be easy marks for our enemies to flip for information.

[hepcat]

Musk and Trump won't like that! It means the prices they want for selling top secret information will be driven down!

[Grifman]

Thankfully I've always had dark humor, so I'll certainly be monitoring if it somehow increases.

Speaking of getting worse

Next on Fox News: why this is a good thing…

But Hillary's emails!

[IceBear]

If the cia goes a lot of spies will be out of work and out in the open market. With no money and unemployed they will be easy marks for our enemies to flip for information.

Also, with their skill set if some of them decide to rage quit like some of the office shootings down there it could be interesting...

[Kurth]

It's arguably an example of a specific type of coup: Self coup or Autocoup.

A self-coup, also called an autocoup (from Spanish autogolpe) or coup from the top, is a form of coup d'état in which a political leader, having come to power through legal means, stays in power illegally through the actions of themselves and/or their supporters. The leader may dissolve or render powerless the national legislature and unlawfully assume extraordinary powers. Other measures may include annulling the constitution, suspending civil courts, and having the head of government assume dictatorial powers.

From 1946 to the beginning of 2021, an estimated 148 self-coup attempts took place, 110 in autocracies and 38 in democracies.

That’s closer, and definitely a plausible end game. But we’re missing the critical “stays in power illegally” part. Again, we elected Trump. He is very much in power legally, at least, for now. Thus, not a coup, even of the “self-coup” variety.

What part of "elected to be president, seized power ro be king" isn't clear?

He wasn't elected to execute the duties of the legislative branch.

Says you.

But how can you say that with a straight face? He and his cronies said in no uncertain terms that this was EXACTLY what they were going to do if elected. And guess what? He won the popular vote.

Look, I don’t want to quibble over whether this is a coup or a self-coup or an auto-coup. I don’t really care. The thing I do care about is that we not describe what is happening right now in a way that makes it sound like it was foisted on this country and not chosen.

Trump 2.0 is not something that is happening to us. It’s something this country invited. We need to own that.

[Max Peck]

It isn't like a bunch of pissed off dudes with experience in regime change and general ratfuckery are going to go looking for payback or anything like that.

[LawBeefaroni]

He wasn't elected to execute the duties of the legislative branch.

Says you.

But how can you say that with a straight face? He and his cronies said in no uncertain terms that this was EXACTLY what they were going to do if elected. And guess what? He won the popular vote.

Right, but he ran for President which has defined limits on power. Yes, we knew what he and his wanted to do but promising a coup doesn't mean it's not a coup when you actually execute.

Trump 2.0 is not something that is happening to us. It’s something this country invited. We need to own that.

Own it, sure. Accept it? No.

And it's not like loads of us haven't been warning about this. It's still an existential threat to the nation.


A wise man once said, "I'm not the kind of person to say atodaso, but you know what? Atodaso. I fucking atodaso!"

[Kurth]

Agreed. 100%

Don’t let anyone act like they are shocked at what Trump is doing. And atodaso all day long. Rub it in their faces. It’s necessary.

[Blackhawk]

Coup, mandate, whatever - words are our way to categorizing incredibly complex things that rarely actually fit a single category. Any action performed by a human will be a little column A, a little column B.

It's a fun discussion, but not something to plant flags over.

[Zarathud]

But how can you say that with a straight face? He and his cronies said in no uncertain terms that this was EXACTLY what they were going to do if elected. And guess what? He won the popular vote.

Trump denied his plans to groups who didn’t like them, and said ambiguous things so he could deny. He says so many contradictory things to hide this true plan, if any. Many people denied Trump could do the things he promised, and excused it as a stump speech because he didn’t do it in Trump 1.0.

Trump 2.0 is a useful idiot to a sick reactionary racist authoritarian movement in the Republican party. They want to stay operating in the shadows so Trump and Musk’s celebrity can deflect the criticism.

We did it to ourselves, but many people were misled. Because Trump always lies.

[ImLawBoy]

But how can you say that with a straight face? He and his cronies said in no uncertain terms that this was EXACTLY what they were going to do if elected. And guess what? He won the popular vote.

Trump denied his plans to groups who didn’t like them, and said ambiguous things so he could deny. He says so many contradictory things to hide this true plan, if any. Many people denied Trump could do the things he promised, and excused it as a stump speech because he didn’t do it in Trump 1.0.

Trump 2.0 is a useful idiot to a sick reactionary racist authoritarian movement in the Republican party. They want to stay operating in the shadows so Trump and Musk’s celebrity can deflect the criticism.

We did it to ourselves, but many people were misled. Because Trump always lies.

Yeah, it's just a misstatement to say that Trump is doing exactly what he said he would do. He specifically disclaimed Project 2025, and a credulous media gobbled it up and reported it. He specifically said he wasn't going to do a lot of this stuff. Should people have known better? Probably, but that's asking a lot of low information voters who are reading in the supposedly liberal media that Trump wasn't going to do this stuff.

[Holman]

Now Trump is announcing a task force to combat "anti-Christian bias."

“While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares,” he said. “And we will bring our country back together as one nation under God.”

Trump said he would establish a presidential commission on religious liberty that “will work tirelessly to uphold this most fundamental right.”

The president also said he would sign an executive order to make Attorney General Pam Bondi the head of a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias.” The task force will aim to stop “all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government,” Trump said.

He also said he would create a White House Faith Office, led by the Rev. Paula White, who has served as a religious adviser to Trump for several years.

Yeah, I think we can imagine how this is going to go: "anti-Christian bias" will be found wherever explicitly pro-Christian bias is not present.

Paula White, incidentally, is a Christian Nationalist loon, speaker-in-tongues, and prosperity gospel grifter.

[RunningMn9]

At no point in time did anyone say, nor did anyone agree to EM and his team of underaged mynocks taking direct control of the US Treasury payments system. No one voted for this. No one asked for this. No agreed to this.

Also, no one is stopping this.

[hepcat]

Now Trump is announcing a task force to combat "anti-Christian bias."

Would this be all Christians or only Christians on their 3rd or more wife with multiple baby mommas and a history of infidelity?

[Smoove_B]

I am genuinely wondering if we're going to be able to determine exactly when we crossed the line of no turning back or if all these things are somehow going to assemble into a giant shit-sandwich Voltron at some point in the future and we'll realize it's too late.

[Isgrimnur]

Live updates: Judge halts Trump's federal buyout offers as deadline for employee decisions arrives

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's offer of buyouts to federal workers. Today was the deadline for employees to accept the controversial packages, which Democratic lawmakers have warned are legally dubious and have not received congressional authorization.
...
More than 60,000 federal workers have now accepted Trump's controversial buyout offers ahead of what had been tonight’s midnight deadline, a senior administration officials told NBC News.

That's a one-day jump of nearly 20,000 workers who have taken the so-called buyouts, which Democratic lawmakers have warned were not authorized and might not be funded.

A federal judge this afternoon temporarily blocked the program after labor unions challenged it. The judge said the pause will allow both sides to submit arguments.

[LawBeefaroni]

Now Trump is announcing a task force to combat "anti-Christian bias."

“While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares,” he said. “And we will bring our country back together as one nation under God.”

Trump said he would establish a presidential commission on religious liberty that “will work tirelessly to uphold this most fundamental right.”

The president also said he would sign an executive order to make Attorney General Pam Bondi the head of a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias.” The task force will aim to stop “all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government,” Trump said.

He also said he would create a White House Faith Office, led by the Rev. Paula White, who has served as a religious adviser to Trump for several years.

Yeah, I think we can imagine how this is going to go: "anti-Christian bias" will be found wherever explicitly pro-Christian bias is not present.

Paula White, incidentally, is a Christian Nationalist loon, speaker-in-tongues, and prosperity gospel grifter.

Another move right out of the 1930s Germany playbook. Watching this unfold in real time is such an educational experience.

[Alefroth]

Now Trump is announcing a task force to combat "anti-Christian bias."

“While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares,” he said. “And we will bring our country back together as one nation under God.”

Trump said he would establish a presidential commission on religious liberty that “will work tirelessly to uphold this most fundamental right.”

The president also said he would sign an executive order to make Attorney General Pam Bondi the head of a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias.” The task force will aim to stop “all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government,” Trump said.

He also said he would create a White House Faith Office, led by the Rev. Paula White, who has served as a religious adviser to Trump for several years.

Yeah, I think we can imagine how this is going to go: "anti-Christian bias" will be found wherever explicitly pro-Christian bias is not present.

Paula White, incidentally, is a Christian Nationalist loon, speaker-in-tongues, and prosperity gospel grifter.

I wonder if Musk will consider the White House Faith Office wasteful bureaucracy.

[Max Peck]

EM and his team of underaged mynocks

Hey now, that is no way to talk about Leon's Incel Corps.

[Holman]

Yeah, I think we can imagine how this is going to go: "anti-Christian bias" will be found wherever explicitly pro-Christian bias is not present.

Case in point: at the same event Trump blasted the Biden DOJ for prosecuting anti-abortion protesters who had (illegally) blocked access to a clinic.

[Smoove_B]

Yeah, I think we can imagine how this is going to go: "anti-Christian bias" will be found wherever explicitly pro-Christian bias is not present.

Case in point: at the same event Trump blasted the Biden DOJ for prosecuting anti-abortion protesters who had (illegally) blocked access to a clinic.

I'm guessing this is being done to tee up the push to dismantle the Department of Education and to simultaneously allow federal moneys to go towards funding Christian schools.

[hepcat]

I feel like pushing a Christian agenda will get the most kickback. People don't like being told they can't gamble, drink or practice autoerotic asphyxiation while wearing a Teddy Ruxpin costume and listening to Enya.

....I mean, so I've been told.

[Max Peck]

Classic Trump move.

Trump administration evicts former Coast Guard leader from her house with 3 hours notice

President Donald Trump's administration evicted former Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan from her home with three hours of notice on Tuesday — not even enough time to gather her personal effects — according to two people familiar with the incident.

Fagan, a four-star admiral and the first woman to lead a branch of the military, was removed from her post as the Coast Guard’s top officer on Trump’s second day in office. Officials at the Homeland Security Department — which oversees the Coast Guard — cited border security issues and an “excessive focus” on diversity, equity and inclusion among the reasons for her dismissal.

Fagan, who was named commandant in 2022, made a convenient target for a new president who wanted to flex his muscle. The process for firing her was less complex than for dismissing chiefs of the four main branches of the military. More than that, the move allowed him to send signals about his anti-DEI agenda and desire to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and goods into the United States.

Throwing her out of her house on short notice went a step further.

"It's petty and it's personal," one Fagan ally said.

But a DHS official countered that it made sense for her to be moved out of the home at Joint Base Anacostia Bolling.

"She was terminated with cause two weeks ago today and she was still living in those admiral quarters," the official said, confirming that Fagan had been told to leave. The official said they could not confirm or deny the three-hour timeline.

NBC News reached out to the White House and the Coast Guard for comment.

Coast Guard leaders had given Fagan a 60-day waiver to find new housing, according to one of the sources. But on Tuesday, Homeland Security officials told the acting commandant, Kevin Lunday, that he had to kick her out because "the president wants her out of quarters," according to one of the people familiar with the incident.

The DHS official was not able to immediately ascertain whether the directive had in fact come from Trump or whether his name had been invoked without his knowledge.

It totally came from Trump. It has his petty vindictive stench all over it.

[Holman]

I feel like pushing a Christian agenda will get the most kickback. People don't like being told they can't gamble, drink or practice autoerotic asphyxiation while wearing a Teddy Ruxpin costume and listening to Enya.

....I mean, so I've been told.

But certain Christians loooove to to tell other people that they can't do, well, things.

And the real dream is to be able to punish them for it.

[LawBeefaroni]

It totally came from Trump. It has his petty vindictive stench all over it.

He's loaded the ranks with people who are just as petty and vindictive as he is. Could be any one of them.

[Max Peck]

Yeah, it could be that. Or it could be a little of both -- the mob boss doesn't give orders, he just let the underlings know what he wants and lets them work out the details.

But an eviction that reneges on a 60-day agreement after 2 weeks? That just feels like Trump digging deep and going back to his slumlord roots.

[Kraken]

Also, no one is stopping this.

Who can? How?

[Blackhawk]

The ones who can are all on his team.

[Skinypupy]

Whelp, just got word that one of my two remaining large contracts just got DOGE’d. I’m now up to 72% of my contracted training programs for FY2025 being cancelled.

Gonna be interesting to see the unemployment numbers as private sector government contractors fall like flies with all these cuts.

[Zaxxon]

Condolences, Skiny.

[LawBeefaroni]

Whelp, just got word that one of my two remaining large contracts just got DOGE’d. I’m now up to 72% of my contracted training programs for FY2025 being cancelled.

Sorry, man. You're on the right side of this but I'm sure that's small consolation.

Gonna be interesting to see the unemployment numbers as private sector government contractors fall like flies with all these cuts.

Trust in the AI.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is pushing to rapidly develop “GSAi,” a custom generative AI chatbot for the US General Services Administration, according to two people familiar with the project. The plan is part of President Donald Trump’s AI-first agenda to modernize the federal government with advanced technology.

One goal of the initiative, which hasn’t been previously reported, is to boost the day-to-day productivity of the GSA’s roughly 12,000 employees, who are tasked with managing office buildings, contracts, and IT infrastructure across the federal government, according to the two people. Musk’s team also seemingly hopes to use the chatbot and other AI tools to analyze huge swaths of contract and procurement data, one of them says. Both people were granted anonymity because they aren’t authorized to speak publicly about the agency’s operations.