The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[Rumpy]

Yeah, and I'm sure they were having a great tea party.

And yes, that was a sickening display. They didn't even let Zelensky speak. The look of exasperation on his face while Trump is talking down to him and talking over him looked exhausting.

[Alefroth]

This is fine, right?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... r-security

The Trump administration has publicly and privately signaled that it does not believe Russia represents a cyber threat against US national security or critical infrastructure, marking a radical departure from longstanding intelligence assessments.

The shift in policy could make the US vulnerable to hacking attacks by Russia, experts warned, and appeared to reflect the warming of relations between Donald Trump and Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin.

[RunningMn9]

My understanding is that they are pausing “offensive” operations against Russia while we are negotiating. Planning will not be paused, nor will “defensive” operations. At least that’s my understanding from what I saw since the headline broke.

[Isgrimnur]

JD Vance receives ice-cold reception as family arrives for Vermont skiing vacation

Skiers at Sugarbush Resort in Vermont on Saturday morning experienced sub-freezing temperatures and snow flurries.

But receiving the chilliest reception, by far, was Vice President JD Vance, who was met by protesters who shouted names and obscenities as the Vance motorcade rolled past. One sign read, "Vance is a traitor. Go ski in Russia."
...
Video clips showing protestors lining the roads and sharing their feelings have been circulating via social media. Some are shown carrying flags as a show of support for Ukraine.

Fox news reported that the presence of protestors was so great that the Vance family was moved "to an “undisclosed location.”

At nearby Mad River Glen, a sign outside informed, “Sorry VP. Sold out.”

[Enough]

My understanding is that they are pausing “offensive” operations against Russia while we are negotiating. Planning will not be paused, nor will “defensive” operations. At least that’s my understanding from what I saw since the headline broke.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions, according to three people familiar with the matter.

[Zarathud]

Trump is either terrified of Russia or he's a Russian asset. Plain and simple.

Reagan won the Cold War just so Trump could give away our victory in the name of "Making American Great Again."

Someone needs to bring this message to what's left of the Baby Boomers and Generation X.

[Kraken]

Trump is either terrified of Russia or he's a Russian asset. Plain and simple.

Reagan won the Cold War just so Trump could give away our victory in the name of "Making American Great Again."

Someone needs to bring this message to what's left of the Baby Boomers and Generation X.

Change "Russia" to "Putin" and I agree. Russia would be a second-rate power without Putin whipping it on. Trump is Putin's bitch, to the extent that you can separate the country from the man.

As a boomer who's foursquare with the good guys, I resent generational generalizing.

[LordMortis]

As a boomer who's foursquare with the good guys, I resent generational generalizing.

As a US, long single, straight white male Xer, it's become hard to look in the mirror at much of my demographic pieces and what all its bits have becomes

[LawBeefaroni]

JD Vance receives ice-cold reception as family arrives for Vermont skiing vacation

At nearby Mad River Glen, a sign outside informed, “Sorry VP. Sold out.”

FTFT:

"Sorry, VP sold out."

[RunningMn9]

My understanding is that they are pausing “offensive” operations against Russia while we are negotiating. Planning will not be paused, nor will “defensive” operations. At least that’s my understanding from what I saw since the headline broke.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions, according to three people familiar with the matter.

I understand what got reported.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stessier]

He is creating a Bitcoin reserve. Wouldn't those digital wallets become the biggest hacking target on the planet? (Among all the other crazy issues with the idea)

[LawBeefaroni]

He is creating a Bitcoin reserve. Wouldn't those digital wallets become the biggest hacking target on the planet? (Among all the other crazy issues with the idea)

Best practice would be to keep the majority of a Bitcoin reserve in cold storage. Not that this administration would follow best practices.

[Enough]

My understanding is that they are pausing “offensive” operations against Russia while we are negotiating. Planning will not be paused, nor will “defensive” operations. At least that’s my understanding from what I saw since the headline broke.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions, according to three people familiar with the matter.

I understand what got reported.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not sure why you are acting defensive for me sharing this. Multiple posts have been discussing this, so why not share the actual article? Especially since it says some planning is paused.

[Holman]

Best practice would be to keep the majority of a Bitcoin reserve in cold storage. Not that this administration would follow best practices.

I'd give anything for a reporter to innocently ask Trump to explain what Bitcoin is and how it works.

[RunningMn9]

Not sure why you are acting defensive for me sharing this. Multiple posts have been discussing this, so why not share the actual article? Especially since it says some planning is paused.

Sorry, not being defensive. My only point is that the reporting is designed to elicit a response. I was just saying that I know how it got reported at first (designed to create terror), and had then seen later reported that further clarified the directive in a way that provoked less terror.

“I don’t think it’s as bad as that reporting is trying to make it sound” is not me being defensive. Just trying to make sure that when I lose my shit over something, it’s not because of a headline or the initial conclusion of anonymous sources.

[LordMortis]

Just trying to make sure that when I lose my shit over something, it’s not because of a headline or the initial conclusion of anonymous sources.

That feels like me as many days as not now. I've mitigated by getting most of my news from here. The problem with that is OO news, while less propaganda and lies and clickbait and half information than pretty much every where I look, it is also very much a bubble and that bubble seems like the group think is also pushing me toward losing my shit. When I check my FB feed I often "clarify" other users' sourcing. Sometimes out of the need set the record straight and sometimes because I'm like "that can't be true. Off to duckduckgo it for them (Boy that just does have the same ring as googling it for someone)

[Holman]

Off to duckduckgo it for them (Boy that just does have the same ring as googling it for someone)

Seems like the verb for searching on duckduckgo should be "Let me go Duck that for you."

I mean, it's a little better.

[Unagi]

Just duck it'

[Hyena]

As a boomer who's foursquare with the good guys, I resent generational generalizing.

As a US, long single, straight white male Xer, it's become hard to look in the mirror at much of my demographic pieces and what all its bits have becomes

Humble brag...now I have to go wash my mind's eye out with bleach.

[Enough]

Not sure why you are acting defensive for me sharing this. Multiple posts have been discussing this, so why not share the actual article? Especially since it says some planning is paused.

Sorry, not being defensive. My only point is that the reporting is designed to elicit a response. I was just saying that I know how it got reported at first (designed to create terror), and had then seen later reported that further clarified the directive in a way that provoked less terror.

“I don’t think it’s as bad as that reporting is trying to make it sound” is not me being defensive. Just trying to make sure that when I lose my shit over something, it’s not because of a headline or the initial conclusion of anonymous sources.

No worries and thanks for letting me know where you were coming from. Plenty to freak out about in this world with the crazy turned up to 11.

[Blackhawk]

I doubt one person on this forum (save for a couple who are just here to gloat) isn't in some state of near-panic, heightened stress, and anxiety.

Be patient with each other. The guy you're going to be arguing with tomorrow is as freaked out and afraid as you are. We're part of each other's support system - take that into account.

(This wasn't directed at any particular exchange.)

[RunningMn9]

I am definitely freaked out and afraid. Every day brings new terrors and traumas, many of which are directly targeted at me. I don’t care for it.

[waitingtoconnect]

Good commentary on how trumps policies of funding tax cuts via debt while applying tariffs and alienating allies may push the world to use other currencies for trade this diminishing demand to buy US dollars and the government bonds and debt.

[Victoria Raverna]

If things get very bad, hopefully that'll mean that GOP isn't going to win election for very long time after this. But I guess that depend on if Trump can blame democrats successfully or not. A lot of his supporters are very stupid.

[waitingtoconnect]

JD Vance insults the UK by refusing to acknowledge the wars fought alongside Us troops for the last thirty years.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/fu ... r-AA1AdrJa

Didn’t he know daddy wants that second state visit?

People in the Uk are outraged.

[LordMortis]

It's not like Thrall Master Thiel doesn't work in the background with RT or anything.

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2 ... ropaganda/

-May 24, 2022

Broadly, while the financial details are private, there’s some accuracy to Ryan’s statement, based on what’s known about Vance’s investment in Rumble.

When former President Donald Trump and conservative pundits such as Dan Bongino and Steve Bannon began posting their videos on Rumble, its user numbers soared. The company reported an average of 41 million monthly active users (people who visit the site) in the first quarter of 2022. In 2020, the level was closer to 1 million users a month.

Vance personally invested in Rumble. In his April 2022 candidate financial disclosure, he reported holdings in the company that fall in the range of $115,000 to $300,000. His investment was part of a larger package assembled by Narya that included billionaire Peter Thiel, now a leading backer of Vance’s Senate campaign. The details were undisclosed, but as part of the deal, a top Narya partner joined Rumble’s board.
How Russian sponsored media came to Rumble

After Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February, YouTube banned the Russia state-affiliated media outlet RT — formerly Russia Today — from its platform. In response, Rumble became RT’s primary video platform. Ryan’s campaign noted RT’s move as evidence for its claim that Vance is profiting from Russian propaganda.

"No Puppet"

Also Market is now pulled back over 5% from its high and almost given back all of the election day bump from November as well as all of the productivity in the four months between then and now. I wonder if all that post election investor glee at how great the economy magically would become on November 6th remains.

[Max Peck]

If things get very bad, hopefully that'll mean that GOP isn't going to win election for very long time after this.

As always, assuming fair and transparent elections.

Spoiler: The elections, if they even happen, will be neither fair nor transparent.

[YellowKing]

Yeah I think it's almost a certainty that Trump is going to meddle in the midterms bigly. For starters, he's certainly not going to do anything to stop Russian misinformation and social media manipulation. His ability to suppress voting is going to be unparalleled now that he has been given free rein to do just about anything he wants. Expect every dirty trick in the book. Democrats are going to have to have absolutely overwhelming turnout to blunt the scale of his operations.

[Holman]

"Illegal protests."

(By all accounts, this Trump post is real.)

[Blackhawk]

Yeah I think it's almost a certainty that Trump is going to meddle in the midterms bigly. For starters, he's certainly not going to do anything to stop Russian misinformation and social media manipulation.

He already has. One of his early EOs directed at 'censorship' was effectively opening the door to misinformation, and not accidentally.

[Kraken]

"Illegal protests."

(By all accounts, this Trump post is real.)

I'm going to a rally next Sunday, and you can bet I'll be wearing a mask and sunglasses. Ed Markey is leading this one so FBI presence is likely.

[Zarathud]

The gall of Trump declaring he's restored free speech, after having a Democratic representative removed and then declaring that America will be "woke no longer."

The image of only half the chamber standing up to applaud Trump is important.

[Kraken]

The image of only half the chamber standing up to applaud Trump is important.

I'd rather that half the chamber had been empty. Even just showing up adds a veneer of normalcy that isn't warranted.

[Blackhawk]

I don't know. Empty seats are easy to ignore. Half of the room sitting while the other half cheers stands out more.

[Kraken]

[El Guapo]

The image of only half the chamber standing up to applaud Trump is important.

I'd rather that half the chamber had been empty. Even just showing up adds a veneer of normalcy that isn't warranted.

Yeah and not standing up is pretty normal SOTU behavior, so doesn't really communicate much.

[Unagi]

I don't know. Empty seats are easy to ignore. Half of the room sitting while the other half cheers stands out more.

How does that stand out, when it's what has been going on for every single one of these for the last 20 years?

edit: yeah, what El Guapo said.

[Kurth]

Trump loves veterans so much, he’s slashing 80K jobs from the VA. Now, that’s love!

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/05/us/p ... ticleShare

[Smoove_B]

And they love him:

About six-in-ten registered voters who say they have served in the U.S. military or military reserves (61%) support former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, while 37% back Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in early September.

[Blackhawk]

I don't know. Empty seats are easy to ignore. Half of the room sitting while the other half cheers stands out more.

How does that stand out, when it's what has been going on for every single one of these for the last 20 years?

edit: yeah, what El Guapo said.

Because I wasn't aware that it was. I rarely get my understanding of what's going on directly from the mouths of politicians - my instinct on listening leans into the gullible, thanks to an overly-literal brain. I prefer to read the fact-checked analysis the next day.

In other words, I haven't watched any of these previously. Had I known that this was the protest for 'normal' times, I wouldn't have accepted it.