The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[Kurth]

I think it's that Americans hate Americans.

This is the truth. We're too large of a nation - we have such diverse cultures from one place to another that we're often not compatible with ourselves. It's not easy to address, though, as the past 75 years has seen those regions overlapping and mixing such that it isn't so much 'regions' (with the exception of a few) as it is urban vs rural. You can't divide all of the large cities into one nation, and all of the rest into another.

As to awareness, it's not about awareness of what he's doing, it's an understanding of what it actually means. For example: Tariffs. They see them as making America stronger and bringing back jobs. What they mean is increased prices for us and a weaker economy. "They" are aware of the tariffs. They're about to understand what the mean.

Yeah. I’ll take YK’s buffalo analogy and posit that the American people are now two herds of buffalo who behave the way YK suggests, except the obstacle each herd perceives now is the other herd. And it’s driven the buffalo herds insane to the point they’re now just stampeding over a cliff.

[stessier]

No one cares.

No one with power cares. There are definitely those of us without that care.

[RunningMn9]

Well yeah, but you can’t help me.

[Smoove_B]

In the end, it all comes down to personal finances. That's it. Literally nothing else matters. They can take all the polls in the world, the pundits can forecast everything, we can trot out 13 keys to the presidency, we can write entire books on it. And I think in the end it comes down to "personal finance = good continue else change path."

The so-called "economic anxiety" that motivates voters sure is filled with lots of people that also hate LGBTQ+ folks, minorities and immigrants.

[Alefroth]

That might have once been the case, but I think now finances covers for bigotry and fear.

[Blackhawk]

Well yeah, but you can’t help me.

No, but we can offer the best damned virtual hugs on the internet!

[YellowKing]

The so-called "economic anxiety" that motivates voters sure is filled with lots of people that also hate LGBTQ+ folks, minorities and immigrants.

For sure. But in the end, that's not why Trump is in office. He's in office because voters were dissatisfied with the economy.

[Holman]

The so-called "economic anxiety" that motivates voters sure is filled with lots of people that also hate LGBTQ+ folks, minorities and immigrants.

For sure. But in the end, that's not why Trump is in office. He's in office because voters were dissatisfied with the economy.

And because our national media failed to explain why he was completely unfit for office in the first place, and then for the second.

[Blackhawk]

And because people are too stupid to realize that the President can influence the economy, but doesn't command it.

[RunningMn9]

And because people are too stupid to realize that the President can influence the economy, but doesn't command it.

The president can definitely ruin the economy.

[Rumpy]

And if they thought the economy was bad before he took Office, they're in for one heck of a rude awakening when the economy starts tanking and there's nobody to blame but himself. He can't pin this on Biden.

[Punisher]

And if they thought the economy was bad before he took Office, they're in for one heck of a rude awakening when the economy starts tanking and there's nobody to blame but himself. He can't pin this on Biden.

Of course he can..

[Blackhawk]

And if they thought the economy was bad before he took Office, they're in for one heck of a rude awakening when the economy starts tanking and there's nobody to blame but himself. He can't pin this on Biden.

That's what I was talking about when I said that people will have to learn what his actions mean before they start to wake up. All they have to go on now is what he claims. Soon they will understand what the actual impacts are of what he's doing.

In other words, they got their wish. Now they get to regret how the genie interpreted it.

[Skinypupy]

He can't pin this on Biden.

Lol, why not? Americans are profoundly stupid and tribal.

He wouldn’t really even have to try very hard, just say “it’s Biden’s fault” and half the voting populace will believe him without question.

[Kurth]

He can't pin this on Biden.

Lol, why not? Americans are profoundly stupid and tribal.

He wouldn’t really even have to try very hard, just say “it’s Biden’s fault” and half the voting populace will believe him without question.

100% this.

[Victoria Raverna]

He can even use "It's Biden Fault" to get a third term.

Even now some of his supporters spread the idea that Biden trashed the economy that it'll take longer than 4 years for Trump to fix it.

Only one month in and they have already find excuse for his failure and going to give him more time.

[Rumpy]

And if they thought the economy was bad before he took Office, they're in for one heck of a rude awakening when the economy starts tanking and there's nobody to blame but himself. He can't pin this on Biden.

That's what I was talking about when I said that people will have to learn what his actions mean before they start to wake up. All they have to go on now is what he claims. Soon they will understand what the actual impacts are of what he's doing.

In other words, they got their wish. Now they get to regret how the genie interpreted it.

Yep, the bed is made...

I was watching a video earlier this week, dunno if he voted for Trump. but he's a farmer and he had to recently buy new equipment and bought it all from China because buying American like John Deere was too expensive and he feels the quality has gone up from what it was only just a few years ago.

[Kraken]

He can even use "It's Biden Fault" to get a third term.

Even now some of his supporters spread the idea that Biden trashed the economy that it'll take longer than 4 years for Trump to fix it.

Only one month in and they have already find excuse for his failure and going to give him more time.

Trump's base will believe anything Mump says, but Americans at large will always vote their pocketbooks. If the economy's booming four years from now and trump can still do a credible impression of being in command of his senses, then we'll say LOL OK when he refuses to leave at the end of his term. If the economy craters for the bottom 90%, he'll be toast. Assuming we're still staging elections.

[Blackhawk]

The economy for the poor and for minorities is going to crash regardless.

[LawBeefaroni]

Guess which one is the new deputy director of the FBI:







https://www.axios.com/2025/02/24/dan-bo ... ctor-trump

President Trump named bombastic MAGA podcast star Dan Bongino as deputy FBI director — a role that doesn't require Senate confirmation, and typically goes to a senior agent.

Why it matters: With loyalist Kash Patel confirmed as FBI director, the bureau can function effectively as Trump's private security force.

....
The FBI Agents Association wanted an active-duty agent as deputy. So the pick could intensify "mistrust among the rank-and-file," the N.Y. Times reports.

Flashback: Talking in 2018 about the confirmation battle for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Bongino said: "My entire life right now is about owning the libs."

[Unagi]

I swear, if the "libs" didn't care about "things", these people wouldn't even know what they wanted to tear down.

[YellowKing]

And they benefit every day from things the "dirty libs" fought for them to have.

[Rumpy]

Sad day when someone has to resort to calling someone names. Really shows off their maturity level. Really sad that it's a guy at a top level government agency.

[$iljanus]

Glad the Trump admin has abolished DEI hiring so they can fill positions with only the best and the whitest!

[Blackhawk]

Sad day when someone has to resort to calling someone names. Really shows off their maturity level.

And this is why I'm against the casual 'funny' name calling here, even if I despise the target.

[GreenGoo]

The incoherent rage in Bongino's response is amazing. Mom's basement? Pr0n? Get a job? That's what he told you to do. "No you" is not the comeback he thinks it is. Does he know who he's talking to?

And, quite frankly, King's success and cultural impact would allow him to watch pr0n 24/7 for several lifetimes. Hell, watch as much pr0n as you want, King. You earned it.

These people are the fragilest of the fragile. Your government is now run by 4chan.

Hopefully the nuke button isn't within reach of any of them.

[Holman]

For anyone who has been blessedly ignorant of Dan Bongino until now, his whole brand is incoherent rage. He's part of the Two Minute Hate programming of right-wing media.

But he is absolutely and completely unfit for the FBI role. It's very clear that he and Kash Patel were picked not just to own the libs but to actually put Trump's political enemies in prison. He has been talking about the necessity of it for years.

[The Meal]

This piece by The Atlantic helps me put intelligence around what has seemed so very random.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archi ... on/681794/

[Isgrimnur]

Hopefully the nuke button isn't within reach of any of them.

Trump reveals 'surprise' and warns Blue states will disappear off map

[Rumpy]

Sad day when someone has to resort to calling someone names. Really shows off their maturity level.

And this is why I'm against the casual 'funny' name calling here, even if I despise the target.

Yeah, that's a good policy. Because on the other end, you never know what the person may be going through and it really makes the person saying it sound small.

Something a bit different, but I've loved the songs this family have put out. Takes some good skill to be able to write such effective lyrics. FWIW, this song is about what's currently happening in Ukraine, to the tune of Dylan's 'Blowing in the Wind'.

[Max Peck]

Strategy aside, making it harder to vote isn't how you democracy. It's how you break democracy.

Here in Canuckistan all I have to do is tick one box on the first page of my income tax return and I'm magically registered to vote for any elections (municipal, provincial or federal) that occur in the next year. If registering to vote in any mature democracy isn't that easy, then I'm pretty sure that there's a reason and that reason is shenanigans.

[Blackhawk]

Sad day when someone has to resort to calling someone names. Really shows off their maturity level.

And this is why I'm against the casual 'funny' name calling here, even if I despise the target.

Yeah, that's a good policy. Because on the other end, you never know what the person may be going through and it really makes the person saying it sound small.

Even when the person deserves mockery (Trump, for instance), it sounds so juvenile and petty that I think it weakens anything else said along with it.

[Holman]

On social media, it's sometimes necessary to use nicknames or misspellings to avoid swarms of assholes and bots who search for people criticizing their heroes.

[Smoove_B]

Even when the person deserves mockery (Trump, for instance), it sounds so juvenile and petty that I think it weakens anything else said along with it.

Spoken like a character that's wearing a ring that makes him immune to Vicious Mockery.

[Rumpy]

On social media, it's sometimes necessary to use nicknames or misspellings to avoid swarms of assholes and bots who search for people criticizing their heroes.

That's a bit different. Over here, I'd like to assume we're all mature enough not to devolve into name calling.

[IceBear]

So Trump has said the tariffs are coming next week on Canada and Mexico while again criticizing the people that signed those deals.....uhm...wasn't that you?

[Rumpy]

Yep, he sure did, in his first term. Kind of convenient that he's forgotten.

[IceBear]

I was kind of hoping the market meltdown on Friday would have given him pause. Guess not and will just accept the tariffs will happen. Hopefully he'll be willing to negotiate after a few months.

[Smoove_B]

I was kind of hoping the market meltdown on Friday would have given him pause. Guess not and will just accept the tariffs will happen. Hopefully he'll be willing to negotiate after a few months.

Wasn't really a meltdown - more of a blip. It would need to be catastrophic - like what happened in 2008/9, but even then I'm guessing he'd figure out way to blame immigrants stealing our jobs or something absurd.

[LordMortis]

The US market is interesting. After two years very rapid rising in a forward looking environment, it has essentially been stagnant since the election.

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SPY/


OtOH, I don't doubt they're making it rain in private equity that you and I could never be a part of.

What the market did on Friday, however, was tick down going in to the weekend, when had been ticking up. Rightfully so, I don't think it trusts the after closing bell moves by the GOP Administration.