Shocked, but Not Surprised
Democratic Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez on the attempt to weaponize the FCC under FCC Chair and Project 2025 contributor Brendon Carr: "I never thought I’d see this agency so willingly cede its independence to this administration and allow itself to be turned into an instrument of censorship and political retaliation. We are meant to be an independent, stable, expert-driven regulatory body, not a tool to settle personal grievances."
On extortion as political retribution of media companies such as CBS/Paramount and ABC/Disney: "What this FCC did was revive those baseless complaints as a justification to retaliate against broadcasters whose content or coverage is perceived to be unfavorable by this Administration. Their goal is to instill fear in broadcast stations and to influence a network’s editorial decisions. That is, of course, a blatant violation of the First Amendment and an attack on press freedom." (Status)
In another nod to the Project 2025 goal of abolishing the Department of Education, the Roberts Court gave the Trump regime permission to lay off nearly 1,400 department employees. Once again, the court issued an unsigned, no-opinion, shadow docket decision without considering the merits of the case. Justice Sotomayor called out the bullshit in her dissent: "As Congress mandated, the department plays a vital role in this nation's education system, safeguarding equal access to learning and channeling billions of dollars to schools and students across the country each year. ... Only Congress has the power to abolish the department. ... When the executive publicly announces its intent to break the law and then executes on that promise, it is the judiciary's duty to check that lawlessness, not expedite it." (Common Dreams)
“There were already whispers of messianism among some of Trump’s supporters, such as the QAnon offshoot called Negative 48 whose members frequented his rallies in 2022. Trump has long claimed that God was on his movement’s side, and attendees at Trump rallies have routinely described the events in spiritual terms. ... But after the assassination attempt, many of his followers — and most notably Trump himself — more explicitly cast him as a divine instrument.” (WaPo)
- Many things reported with confidence in the first hours or days will turn out not to be true.
- Whatever they say, most people who start wars are thinking about domestic politics.
- The rationale given for war will change over time making the gaining of any objective less important than one might think
- Wars are unpredictable.
- Wars are easy to start and hard to stop. (Bluesky)
Source: Anchorage Daily News
Democracy or Trumpistan
Until the 2026 Midterm Elections
Welcome to the Oligarchy Friendly Skies
The big ass ugly bill contains a provision that allows private jet owners to write off the full cost of their aircraft in the first year of purchase, rather than spreading the deduction over many years. A corporation buying a $50 million private jet could potentially deduct the entire $50 million from their taxes in the year of the purchase. (Common Dreams)
The National Business Aviation Association lobby shop celebrates the MAGOP tax bill for “incentivizing aircraft purchase.” The 100% bonus depreciation, according to Forbes, “is often associated with big-ticket luxury items, such as private aircraft, and its institution last decade led to a boom in jet sales.” (Forbes) The CBO estimates the permanent establishment of 100% bonus depreciation would cost taxpayers $378 billion over 10 years. (Bipartisan Policy Center)
Dictator Approved
Vladimir Putin: “President Trump is a very bright and talented man.”
Viktor Orban: “The most respected, the most feared person is Donald Trump.”
Jair Bolsonaro: “We do have a great deal of shared values. I admire President Trump.”
Kim Jong Un: “Your Excellency.” A “special” relationship. “The extraordinary courage of President Trump.”
A graphical representation of the Trumpocalypse sortable by agency, subject and status. Timeline and charts help to visualize how 21th Century America is being outfitted with an 18th Century state.
Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years.
Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called farm price supports.
Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
Der FührerundLebensraum
Musk profited handsomely from his $270 gift to Mafia Don.
Since Election Day, Musk’s net worth has increased by over $100 billion. While serving as a “Special Government Employee” in the White House and leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has maintained extensive financial conflicts of interest through his ownership or stake in: Tesla, SpaceX, X and xAI, the Boring Company, and Neuralink