Please consider participating in a protest on LinkedIn.  LinkedIn hosts an international mixed audience with influence and money.  Corporate, government, and religious bodies are exposed.  A considerable fraction of its users are sympathetic.  Over the past few days I did a test run and had some success.  I did not see much concurrent resistance activity but there is quite a bit of existing political discussion.

I began with my authentic LinkedIn profile.  I have worked as a US engineer for a few companies and had around 500 contacts.  I do not think LinkedIn is particularly useful for career purposes and have not been very active.

I believe my most successful tactic was targeting company posts.  As an example, many companies with millions of followers made posts “celebrating” MLK Jr. day.  On these I commented “Company Name CEO Name, what is your opinion on Musk’s Nazi salute?”  I then liked the company post and reposted it to my account with the same comment as a description.

I also commented on a few corporate disclosures.  As an example, a Germany company posted a video where the CEO talked about political changes improving business prospects.  I wrote something about these policies being similar to those of the AfD and asked whether he supported Elon Musk’s salute.  I happened to be the first commenter and believe many people saw this.  Individuals with inside and industry knowledge could gather considerable attention in this way.

I interacted with both conservative and progressive commenters.  Many of my statements were upvoted or argued.  I am not sure how effective this was but it is somewhat visible.

I posted a few news articles.  I am not sure how effective this is because it was hard to get impressions.

A few people complained that my behavior was not work appropriate but I think most users are in favor of free speech.

Over about three days I accumulated about 300 profile views and 4000 impressions.  Some very influential people with job titles like VP and Chief Communications Officer viewed my profile.  People from all over the world viewed my profile.  A royal liked one of my comments.  Women seemed particularly sympathetic and courageous.  This was a test run and I am not particularly well versed in social media.

It is possible to directly post articles, videos, and Reddit content.  I think it is possible to generate fake accounts with nothing more than an email.  Someone named Elon Musk with a picture of Elon Musk liked a comment.

This morning I woke up to find that my account had been suspended.  It took them 3 days to do this and I suspect they can be overwhelmed.  The email indicates that this is due to potential identity theft.  I was asked to provide images of government identification to restore access.  I do not know if my account will be restored.

I also received one warning for hate speech.  This warning threatened potential account suspension.  I had written “Fuck Trump.”  I do not think this is hate speech.  This comment was up for something like 1.5 days before I received the warning.  Using language like fascist and Nazi may or may not be recommended but I was very aggressive.

I understand many people are hesitant to participate due to exposure at their job.  It was very difficult to get upvotes from my network.  I am not sure how many of my previous contacts were online but only one person had the courage to like an article that I posted.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  If you like this idea please help distribute it across Reddit and anywhere else.  I have been a Reddit lurker for about 3 years but have limited karma and am unable to make my own standalone post.

LinkedIn Protest and Action


Target boycott starting Feb 1st


[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9h0Yy2QdmM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9h0Yy2QdmM)

Some theories that ring true unfortunately at the present time.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9h0Yy2QdmM

Some theories that ring true unfortunately at the present time.


How insane it is that Trump is president again.

The biggest focal point here is January 6th. He was impeached a second time for that and had been convicted of crimes. And conservatives still wanted him and only him out of all the republican candidates. Also, for a party that preaches law and order, where’s the law and order in even letting Trump run again? I’m also looking at you, SCOTUS for giving Trump immunity.

Society somehow doesn’t think it’s messed up that you could be convicted of felonies and be eligible to hold the highest office. There’s no standards for how presidents are as people anymore. It’s to the point that me posting this in any sub not dedicated to liberals would at least lead to some comments about how stupid I am.

Democratic politicians set a good example during the vote counting process by not disputing the election results nor telling people to “fight like hell”, telling them “if you don’t fight, we’re not gonna have a country anymore”, etc.

People would say “well, look at what this former President did and what that President did”. Has any president or presidential candidate ever strongly and so openly disputed election results, then told their supporters to storm the capitol, which led to their own VP almost being killed????

I blindly assumed that Trump was done for after J6 because I thought the law would take care of him. Well, in a way they did, but he somehow was still allowed to run again and he still got just as much support as he did 8 years ago.

The hypocrisy of the Republicans supposedly being the party of law and order. Geez.

Something that isn’t talked about enough


All federal grants and loan disbursement paused by White House


In the US, as we all know, Trump got sworn in and has already done a lot....now freezing all aid. Guys, we need to stay active, we can't be performative. And we need to be wary of smoke and mirrors (Canada as a state)

Local elections, state, representatives, everything MATTERS now even more than before.

We need to read Project 2025 cause that's what Trump is following.

We need to message our state officials - make sure 1 man doesn't have too much power.
We need to make sure our constitution stays strong.

We need to make sure in 1 year - 2026, that Dems win for Congressional seats.
Us on the left have been too passive while the right has only been complaining.

We need to direct our attention the same way the right did.

Talk about every issue/mistake trump did (like biden) and not let them have small victories. This is unprecedented, 1 man with 1 ideology (project 2025) is trying to control and break America.

We can't let that happen.

We need to stay ACTIVE

In the US, as we all know, Trump got sworn in and has already done a lot....now freezing all aid. Guys, we need to stay active, we can&#39;t be performative. And we need to be wary of smoke and mirrors (Canada as a state)

Local elections, state, representatives, everything MATTERS now even more than before.

We need to read Project 2025 cause that&#39;s what Trump is following.

We need to message our state officials - make sure 1 man doesn&#39;t have too much power.
We need to make sure our constitution stays strong.

We need to make sure in 1 year - 2026, that Dems win for Congressional seats.
Us on the left have been too passive while the right has only been complaining.

We need to direct our attention the same way the right did.

Talk about every issue/mistake trump did (like biden) and not let them have small victories. This is unprecedented, 1 man with 1 ideology (project 2025) is trying to control and break America.

We can&#39;t let that happen.


Can’t wait for these executive orders to be reversed with the next Democratic president 😜


OH BOY I CANT WAIT FOR COFFEE TO BE $7!!! (joke)


Well, it happened on trump's watch...so he owns it.

But is this a case of his supporters not knowing the difference because

a) faux "news" won't tell them

and

b) they spent all their money on Skoal and meth already anyway, they have no investments

Today's wall street Nasdaq crash

Well, it happened on trump&#39;s watch...so he owns it.

But is this a case of his supporters not knowing the difference because

a) faux &quot;news&quot; won&#39;t tell them

and

b) they spent all their money on Skoal and meth already anyway, they have no investments


I just got linked to this video in Bluesky earlier. Thoughts?


Remember the right wing 2009 TEA Party protests? TEA=Taxed Enough Already. FOX News constantly pushed the refrain that Obama would raise taxes to finance Obamacare -and that he wouldn't raise taxes on his rich friends. The right went crazy. The midterms were a bloodbath.  TEA partiers ran for office everywhere - and did REALLY well.

The name, TEA Party, was genius because it linked so nicely to the Boston Tea Party.  I'm not smart enough to think up something similar - but certainly someone in the Reddit world is.

The TEA party was all about reining in presidential power and government in general.  Every time Obama signed an executive order, the right went freaking nuts.

'Up' is now officially 'down.'  We should be taking advantage of that!

**Edit to add:**  Lots of "But this..." and "But that..." replies.  However, this post has 90% approval.  This isn't a perfect idea - but we seem to agree that SOMETHING effective needs to happen.

**How about "The King movement"?**  It came to me after monkeyangst pointed out that MAGA folks misspell "rein in" as "reign in."  We could literally use it.

"King" links us to Dr. MLK Jr. - who created great change peacefully.  It also reminds people that if we don't do something quick, we are doomed to be ruled by the rich.

Amconmichael pointed out that the TEA Party was really an anti Black president party.   I agree.  Their stated purpose was to push back against too much government power.  We have the same stated purpose, but technically, we would be an anti orange president party.

brodievonorchard pointed out that the TEA Party was quickly astroturfed by the oil baron Koch bro pricks.  True - and Big Oil is still big shit - but if the TEA Party's true purpose was to thwart a Black president, then didn't that exact scenario just happen?

Fitz\_2112b points out that the TEA Party morphed into MAGA - which is now a face-eating leopard oligarchy.  True.  Are we saying that with the threat of astroturfing and leopard-face-eating, maybe we shouldn't go there?

Fuck it - if we do nothing, if we don't even try, we've already lost.  I don't see how we could make this - the incredible division of Americans - worse.

Remember the right wing 2009 TEA Party?  Liberals need something just like that!

Remember the right wing 2009 TEA Party protests? TEA=Taxed Enough Already. FOX News constantly pushed the refrain that Obama would raise taxes to finance Obamacare -and that he wouldn&#39;t raise taxes on his rich friends. The right went crazy. The midterms were a bloodbath.  TEA partiers ran for office everywhere - and did REALLY well.

The name, TEA Party, was genius because it linked so nicely to the Boston Tea Party.  I&#39;m not smart enough to think up something similar - but certainly someone in the Reddit world is.

The TEA party was all about reining in presidential power and government in general.  Every time Obama signed an executive order, the right went freaking nuts.

&#39;Up&#39; is now officially &#39;down.&#39;  We should be taking advantage of that!

Edit to add:  Lots of &quot;But this...&quot; and &quot;But that...&quot; replies.  However, this post has 90% approval.  This isn&#39;t a perfect idea - but we seem to agree that SOMETHING effective needs to happen.

How about &quot;The King movement&quot;?  It came to me after monkeyangst pointed out that MAGA folks misspell &quot;rein in&quot; as &quot;reign in.&quot;  We could literally use it.

&quot;King&quot; links us to Dr. MLK Jr. - who created great change peacefully.  It also reminds people that if we don&#39;t do something quick, we are doomed to be ruled by the rich.

Amconmichael pointed out that the TEA Party was really an anti Black president party.   I agree.  Their stated purpose was to push back against too much government power.  We have the same stated purpose, but technically, we would be an anti orange president party.

brodievonorchard pointed out that the TEA Party was quickly astroturfed by the oil baron Koch bro pricks.  True - and Big Oil is still big shit - but if the TEA Party&#39;s true purpose was to thwart a Black president, then didn&#39;t that exact scenario just happen?

Fitz_2112b points out that the TEA Party morphed into MAGA - which is now a face-eating leopard oligarchy.  True.  Are we saying that with the threat of astroturfing and leopard-face-eating, maybe we shouldn&#39;t go there?

Fuck it - if we do nothing, if we don&#39;t even try, we&#39;ve already lost.  I don&#39;t see how we could make this - the incredible division of Americans - worse.


Trump says he still wants to buy Greenland, suggests Canada could become a U.S. state


President Biden admitted his biggest disappointment — and Democrats should pay attention


It seems like AOC and Buttigieg are the only Democrats who know how to talk to the media.

I don’t think AOC would be a good candidate in 2028. Maybe someday she’ll be president, but first I’d like to see her win a statewide election.

I don’t love Buttigieg, but he could be an okay option. I like that his experience includes the white house and the military. I don’t like McKinsey, but he has mostly washed off the stink of that by now. I don’t like that the highest elected office he’s held is mayor.

Anybody else who wants to be president needs to get their name out there. They need to be on CNN, The Daily Show, The Late Show, the View, SNL, Youtube shows, and podcasts. They each need to brainstorm a few dozen memorable one-liners that summarize their positions, and then say all of them in public until one of them sticks.

They need to step slightly left of their comfort zone. I’m not suggesting that they should take a far-left stance on all of the issues, but they each need to have one leftist viewpoint that distinguishes them from Nancy Pelosi.

I’ll gladly admit to my own ignorance. I have no idea what the following people are doing or saying right now: Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Whitmer, Mark Kelly, or Cory Booker. I don’t even know who Ruben Gallego, JB Pritzker, or Wes Moore are (I found their names in a Newsweek article). The thing is that most voters are at least as ignorant as I am. If you have to actively seek information on these people, then most voters are not going to have any idea who they are. They need to get better at being seen and heard.

Democrats need to hurry up and work on 2028.


Has your opinion about moving out your state increased within the last few months? If you talk about this subject to other liberals within your state, do they feel the same way?

Liberals living in red states.


Can anyone explain how Executive Orders work?  Maybe this is a rookie question but can Trump literally just write anything -- for instance "I am now dictator for life" -- and its the law?  If he can do that why does he need Congress or SCOTUS?

How do Executive Orders work?

Can anyone explain how Executive Orders work?  Maybe this is a rookie question but can Trump literally just write anything -- for instance &quot;I am now dictator for life&quot; -- and its the law?  If he can do that why does he need Congress or SCOTUS?


I know, friends - 2025 is scary AF and it's already going off the rails. It is such a terrifying thought that we are outnumbered by these MAGA assholes. Like most of you ... I'm scared.

 But ... We aren't out numbered at all.

By the numbers ...
US Population - 335 million

Roughly: 73 million people under the age of 18
Roughly: 160 million registered voters in the country

Total votes cast in 2024: 152.3 million (8 million didn't show up)

Trump won by 2.2 million

So!
335 million people minus those under 18 ...
Minus the people who did vote is ...

That's about 100 million people who are eligible to but not registered to vote.

That means, there are approx 108 million people right there who arent registered, active or paying attention. And you KNOW of those 108 million ... They're certainly not ALL Trump supporters.

And - 77ish million people voted from Trump. That number is a scant 23% of our total population. It's still too high of course, but let me say that again ... TWENTY-THREE PER CENT.

So take heart! All is not lost and we are NOT out umbered. The media wants us to think we are doomed. We absolutely are not. BUT ... Somehow the folks who have tuned it all out need to be activated somehow.

Frankly ... I'm daring to have a modicum of hope for mid-terms ... But it is gonna be a long fucking two years!

 I just peeked at Arizona and Trump won the vote by a measly 200k. I imagine there's a quarter million out of 7mill people in AZ that think he sucks, doncha think?

Any other noteworthy close results?

(And if you note any statistical/mathematical discrepancies, please point them out! These are close, rounded numbers.)

Some heartening stats

I know, friends - 2025 is scary AF and it&#39;s already going off the rails. It is such a terrifying thought that we are outnumbered by these MAGA assholes. Like most of you ... I&#39;m scared.

But ... We aren&#39;t out numbered at all.

By the numbers ...
US Population - 335 million

Roughly: 73 million people under the age of 18
Roughly: 160 million registered voters in the country

Total votes cast in 2024: 152.3 million (8 million didn&#39;t show up)

Trump won by 2.2 million

So!
335 million people minus those under 18 ...
Minus the people who did vote is ...

That&#39;s about 100 million people who are eligible to but not registered to vote.

That means, there are approx 108 million people right there who arent registered, active or paying attention. And you KNOW of those 108 million ... They&#39;re certainly not ALL Trump supporters.

And - 77ish million people voted from Trump. That number is a scant 23% of our total population. It&#39;s still too high of course, but let me say that again ... TWENTY-THREE PER CENT.

So take heart! All is not lost and we are NOT out umbered. The media wants us to think we are doomed. We absolutely are not. BUT ... Somehow the folks who have tuned it all out need to be activated somehow.

Frankly ... I&#39;m daring to have a modicum of hope for mid-terms ... But it is gonna be a long fucking two years!

I just peeked at Arizona and Trump won the vote by a measly 200k. I imagine there&#39;s a quarter million out of 7mill people in AZ that think he sucks, doncha think?

Any other noteworthy close results?

(And if you note any statistical/mathematical discrepancies, please point them out! These are close, rounded numbers.)


Mark Zuckerberg, now in with Trump, is no longer pretending to care about diversity


Politics Subscribe Trump administration launches immigration enforcement blitz in Chicago


This is not a perfect solution, but it is available. 60% of violent offenders eventually re-offend. We should use an LEGAL means available to keep an eye those folks. There is a good chance that these folks will run afoul of laws in jurisdictions that are beyond the reach of Trump's pardon pen.

Watch the Pardoned J6's

This is not a perfect solution, but it is available. 60% of violent offenders eventually re-offend. We should use an LEGAL means available to keep an eye those folks. There is a good chance that these folks will run afoul of laws in jurisdictions that are beyond the reach of Trump&#39;s pardon pen.


with target, walmart, and amazon all being on the no list- i’m looking for bigger retailers that are still safe. i know costco and aldi are seemingly in the clear, but who else?

(currently i need some cat supplies and don’t want to continue to pour my money into target and amazon for them)

edit to add-

honestly at this point i’m kinda just hoping to find the lesser of two evils. i do live in a city so my options aren’t super limited, but i’m not rolling in money and i’m also kinda lazy if i’m
being totally honest. i know there’s no large (or even medium) retailers that don’t suck, but finding ones that suck less than others would make me feel a little better. with there being so much going on in the world day to day lately that we have NO control over, sometimes it’s nice to pretend that i have a little control over my own life.

where am i supposed to shop 😭


His actions are all about Putin. Get the US out of NATO so Russia can win Ukraine and move on to other countries like Poland

This has little to nothing to to do Greenland. It’s just a distraction to make it less obvious that Trump is a Russian asset

Mark My Words: Trump’s behavior towards Denmark and other allies is part of a strategy to leave NATO


Ever since Tiktok came back, for starters the fact that they had that message thanking trump it just gave me an uneasy feeling. Then my fyp turned very political and a lot of rage baiting content specially from right wing, kind of how it feels getting on X. Then I tried to fix it and now my fyp went to the other extreme. And although I was worried and uneasy, I wasn't to the level of anxiety I started feeling about seeing repeated videos of handmaids tale, yahtzee Germany, etc. I do see where they're all coming from but then I also have my feelings checked and remember that he did all those things last time and in the end although in my view it wasn't a good presidency, none of the biggest fears materialized and I'm here deep inside really wishing that's the case this time, but my fyp is causing me anxiety. They're talking about how they want slaves out of migrants, etc, etc. But I also see where they're coming from with those thoughts. But I feel I can't survive 4 years with this level of anxiety, I also feel I'm probably on the side of tiktok that kind of became the left wing Q where they were looking for queues in Kamala's speeches and looking for hidden messages from Kamala and Biden, when I knew right along nothing was going to happen or the ones relying on all these psychic people when I know all of that is BS. So I don't know if this level of anxiety my fyp is causing me is legit and I should be worried or if the new fyp is causing me to go to rabbit holes. I'm scared.

New Tiktok fyp is making me paranoid and I don't know if that should be a legit reaction

Ever since Tiktok came back, for starters the fact that they had that message thanking trump it just gave me an uneasy feeling. Then my fyp turned very political and a lot of rage baiting content specially from right wing, kind of how it feels getting on X. Then I tried to fix it and now my fyp went to the other extreme. And although I was worried and uneasy, I wasn&#39;t to the level of anxiety I started feeling about seeing repeated videos of handmaids tale, yahtzee Germany, etc. I do see where they&#39;re all coming from but then I also have my feelings checked and remember that he did all those things last time and in the end although in my view it wasn&#39;t a good presidency, none of the biggest fears materialized and I&#39;m here deep inside really wishing that&#39;s the case this time, but my fyp is causing me anxiety. They&#39;re talking about how they want slaves out of migrants, etc, etc. But I also see where they&#39;re coming from with those thoughts. But I feel I can&#39;t survive 4 years with this level of anxiety, I also feel I&#39;m probably on the side of tiktok that kind of became the left wing Q where they were looking for queues in Kamala&#39;s speeches and looking for hidden messages from Kamala and Biden, when I knew right along nothing was going to happen or the ones relying on all these psychic people when I know all of that is BS. So I don&#39;t know if this level of anxiety my fyp is causing me is legit and I should be worried or if the new fyp is causing me to go to rabbit holes. I&#39;m scared.


Kinda a taboo topic but here I am… a gay DACA recipient scared for his life that Trump is gonna fuck everything up that I’ve built in my life.
I was kinda working through a bunch of stuff in therapy for a while so I didn’t really have a chance to date, and I’m busy with med school now so dating is kinda hard.  It’s also kinda bleak out there for gay men interested in having a relationship (rather than a hookup).  I’ve been mulling over all my friends (many of whom are also med students with equally busy schedules) and thinking about who to ask (if at all) and how to ask (offering money or something).

So I wanted to throw this question out to you all.  If a dreamer/daca/undocumented friend were to ask if you were willing to get married to them for two years just for a green card, how would you respond?

Disclaimer: I know it’s illegal and fraud.  Not saying I’m going to do it.  However, the government is currently throwing out a lot of laws that I consider unjust so I feel like following the law isn’t always necessary.

Theoretically, would you consider marrying a DACA recipient/Dreamer so they could get a green card?


TLDR: what are some of the most impactful books you've read that debunked the myths you were told in school?

with Trump changing course syllabi,  I have never felt more strongly about the power of self-education.

more than ever, I feel it is my duty to read books, books from those of us who are outliers in society, those of us who tell history, not as *his story* but as a true and full story of the events that unfolded.

the things we learn in schools, they are not a be-all end-all of knowledge. the breadth and depth of the things we learn in school is widely censored, carefully scripted to fit the narratives of the board of directors and institution administrators, many of whom are conservative in their own right.

there were many myths i learned in school that took time to debunk. and the debunking did not come from textbook history books. they came from independent historians with a vision to share the truth, the whole truth, the good, the bad, the ugly.

PS.

The Angel who arrived to share the joyous news of Jesus Christ's birth chose to appear in front of a group of shepherds, who at the time were outcasts, cursed to the outskirts of the city where they tended their flocks and slept under the night sky.

even though Jesus had arrived to save the world, he was born in a lowly manger, birthed in a bed of hay.  he spent his life healing the weak and uplifting the poor, the disenfranchised, the ones marginalized from society.

so many of our leaders, leaders who threaten to take away rights, freeze or fire jobs, and allow the destruction of corporate greed to degrade the planet, use Christianity as the flame for their fire.

and perhaps many of us voted in thinking they stood for the ideologies they preached. but its only after I read the Bible, as someone not born into Christianity, having never gone to church, or communion, that I understood Jesus' mission. thats the power of self-education.

BTW. im only using Jesus here because many of us are Christian and may relate better to his story. But I've also enjoyed reading texts from the Bhagavad Gita, Qu'ran, Pali Cannon, and Torah.

the new era of self-education

TLDR: what are some of the most impactful books you&#39;ve read that debunked the myths you were told in school?

with Trump changing course syllabi,  I have never felt more strongly about the power of self-education.

more than ever, I feel it is my duty to read books, books from those of us who are outliers in society, those of us who tell history, not as his story but as a true and full story of the events that unfolded.

the things we learn in schools, they are not a be-all end-all of knowledge. the breadth and depth of the things we learn in school is widely censored, carefully scripted to fit the narratives of the board of directors and institution administrators, many of whom are conservative in their own right.

there were many myths i learned in school that took time to debunk. and the debunking did not come from textbook history books. they came from independent historians with a vision to share the truth, the whole truth, the good, the bad, the ugly.

PS.

The Angel who arrived to share the joyous news of Jesus Christ&#39;s birth chose to appear in front of a group of shepherds, who at the time were outcasts, cursed to the outskirts of the city where they tended their flocks and slept under the night sky.

even though Jesus had arrived to save the world, he was born in a lowly manger, birthed in a bed of hay.  he spent his life healing the weak and uplifting the poor, the disenfranchised, the ones marginalized from society.

so many of our leaders, leaders who threaten to take away rights, freeze or fire jobs, and allow the destruction of corporate greed to degrade the planet, use Christianity as the flame for their fire.

and perhaps many of us voted in thinking they stood for the ideologies they preached. but its only after I read the Bible, as someone not born into Christianity, having never gone to church, or communion, that I understood Jesus&#39; mission. thats the power of self-education.

BTW. im only using Jesus here because many of us are Christian and may relate better to his story. But I&#39;ve also enjoyed reading texts from the Bhagavad Gita, Qu&#39;ran, Pali Cannon, and Torah.


Like many, I have cut off my news consumption since the election. Now that the dark age has started, I feel it's important to know what has happened so that: 1. I can take necessary actions; 2. I can recall relevant events once fully engaged again. But I really don't think I can deal with anything sentimental, e.g., a story whose only point is how could they do this ridiculous thing. We have seen this time and again Republicans would do whatever shameless things needed to get what they wanted.

I am mostly interested in newsletter because I can't physically stand seeing or hearing the orange felon. But I would love podcast recommendations too if they don't use clips of him (Rachel Maddow made a point not using any in her show last time around. Not sure if she's doing it now, but either way I can't handle her deep dive style of storytelling yet.)

Thanks!

Recommendation needed: a newsletter that covers what's happened without being sentimental

Like many, I have cut off my news consumption since the election. Now that the dark age has started, I feel it&#39;s important to know what has happened so that: 1. I can take necessary actions; 2. I can recall relevant events once fully engaged again. But I really don&#39;t think I can deal with anything sentimental, e.g., a story whose only point is how could they do this ridiculous thing. We have seen this time and again Republicans would do whatever shameless things needed to get what they wanted.

I am mostly interested in newsletter because I can&#39;t physically stand seeing or hearing the orange felon. But I would love podcast recommendations too if they don&#39;t use clips of him (Rachel Maddow made a point not using any in her show last time around. Not sure if she&#39;s doing it now, but either way I can&#39;t handle her deep dive style of storytelling yet.)

Thanks!


Hey, I wonder if the price of eggs has gone down y-... oooh. Oh dear.


…Do you think this will undermine him? Or not?

Susie Wiles has denied Musk West Wing access


>Noem, a Republican, won confirmation in a 59-34 vote. She becomes the fourth person confirmed in Trump's cabinet, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Pete Hegseth, who was narrowly appointed Secretary of Defense on Friday night after Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote.

>Noem also supports Trump's plans to end birthright citizenship and slash a program that was used by the Biden administration to temporarily allow more than a half-million migrants fleeing Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, to live and work in the U.S. **if they have a financial sponsor and pass background checks.**

[src](https://www.npr.org/2025/01/25/g-s1-44753/immigration-senate-kristi-noem-confirmation-vote)

Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Gary Peters of Michigan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire joined all Republicans in voting to break a filibuster on Noem’s nomination.

some of these are really surprising, Fetterman is not surprising at all...

Senate confirms puppy killer new Secretary of Homeland Security

Noem, a Republican, won confirmation in a 59-34 vote. She becomes the fourth person confirmed in Trump&#39;s cabinet, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Pete Hegseth, who was narrowly appointed Secretary of Defense on Friday night after Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote.

Noem also supports Trump&#39;s plans to end birthright citizenship and slash a program that was used by the Biden administration to temporarily allow more than a half-million migrants fleeing Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, to live and work in the U.S. if they have a financial sponsor and pass background checks.

src

Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Gary Peters of Michigan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire joined all Republicans in voting to break a filibuster on Noem’s nomination.

some of these are really surprising, Fetterman is not surprising at all...


Ex twitter (x) employee who was on an H1B visa comes forward about how Elon Musk used X to interfere with the election.

“I was part of a team that was directly ordered to manipulate Twitter's systems to influence the 2024 US presidential election. It wasn't subtle, and it wasn't ethical.
We completely changed how the algorithm worked, pushing pro-Trump and right-wing posts to the top of people's feeds. To make it look balanced, we also boosted some left-wing critics of Democrats, but it was all carefully calculated. These changes didn't just affect Americans - they impacted users worldwide.”

https://open.substack.com/pub/theconcernedbird/p/elon-musks-and-xs-role-in-2024-election?r=7b3o0&utm_medium=ios

Elon Musk and Twitters Role in 2024 election interference.

Ex twitter (x) employee who was on an H1B visa comes forward about how Elon Musk used X to interfere with the election.

“I was part of a team that was directly ordered to manipulate Twitter&#39;s systems to influence the 2024 US presidential election. It wasn&#39;t subtle, and it wasn&#39;t ethical.
We completely changed how the algorithm worked, pushing pro-Trump and right-wing posts to the top of people&#39;s feeds. To make it look balanced, we also boosted some left-wing critics of Democrats, but it was all carefully calculated. These changes didn&#39;t just affect Americans - they impacted users worldwide.”

https://open.substack.com/pub/theconcernedbird/p/elon-musks-and-xs-role-in-2024-election?r=7b3o0&amp;utm_medium=ios


I have this image of this country suddenly becoming impossible to live in. People losing their jobs, unable to afford their bills or groceries, unable to get medical care. Worse than its already been. I just have an image of the oligarchs sitting in their castles while the people slave away in factories for them.

It makes me scared for my kids. Is this really the end of this experiment?

Are we really at the end here?


Why some people turn to authoritarianism in the name of freedom


Two J6ers so far, Pamela Hemphill and Navy veteran Jason Riddle, have rejected Trump's blanket pardon for the January 6 insurrection, admitting that what the did was wrong and holding them accountable was right.


Trump fires 17 independent inspectors general at federal agencies, source says


Trump clashes with Denmark’s PM over Greenland and threatens tariffs in Arctic land row


Just feeling very anxious, exhausted, scared, and defeated about everything regarding politics right now

How does one keep hope/positivity during this time?


When there are legal steps and due process done for people that have come and still waiting to come to America legally, how is allowing illegal ailens to come and stay and given monetary benefits at the same time not a slap in the faces of people doing it the right way?

Would you let a group of people just skip the line and cut in front of everyone at a grocery store?

Why is it bad to deport all undocumented immigrants from our country as a concept?


You don’t have to be an engineer to grasp how a gargantuan construction can disintegrate in a flash.

[Adam Gabbatt reports](https://www.alternet.org/katherine-stewart-oligarchs/) on Katherine Stewart’s forthcoming book, [***Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy***](https://search.worldcat.org/title/1429656500). One section of his report is terrifyingly profound.

Stewart describes “‘**reactionary nihilism**’...  reactionary in the sense that it expresses itself as mortal opposition to a perceived catastrophic change in the political order; it is nihilistic because its deepest **premise is that the actual world is devoid of value, impervious to reason**, and governable only through brutal acts of will…. It stands for a kind of unraveling of the American political mind — a madness that now afflicts one side of nearly every political debate.”

Widespread embrace of that nihilistic premise should terrify anyone capable of looking at our global society through the eyes of an engineer. Watch the TV show “Engineering Catastrophes.” A bad glue job on a train engine camshaft can lead to half of a town being burned to the ground. One loose bolt or dropped wrench can inexorably result in the collapse of bridge formwork or in a missile silo explosion. Engineers learn that with big builds, even the tiniest incorrect detail can lead to catastrophe.

Our current fossil fuel civilization is more intricate and interconnected than any bridge, plane, or high rise. Surely handing over US government power to people whose worldview is impervious to reason is extraordinarily more dangerous than a loose bolt. Faith might work well enough in the narrow confines of religious observance or an online conspiracy group. Faith alone is not compatible with the science and engineering upon which our quality of life, and our lives themselves, depend.

Reactionary nihilism of right-wing politics risks catastrophe

You don’t have to be an engineer to grasp how a gargantuan construction can disintegrate in a flash.

Adam Gabbatt reports on Katherine Stewart’s forthcoming book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. One section of his report is terrifyingly profound.

Stewart describes “‘reactionary nihilism’...  reactionary in the sense that it expresses itself as mortal opposition to a perceived catastrophic change in the political order; it is nihilistic because its deepest premise is that the actual world is devoid of value, impervious to reason, and governable only through brutal acts of will…. It stands for a kind of unraveling of the American political mind — a madness that now afflicts one side of nearly every political debate.”

Widespread embrace of that nihilistic premise should terrify anyone capable of looking at our global society through the eyes of an engineer. Watch the TV show “Engineering Catastrophes.” A bad glue job on a train engine camshaft can lead to half of a town being burned to the ground. One loose bolt or dropped wrench can inexorably result in the collapse of bridge formwork or in a missile silo explosion. Engineers learn that with big builds, even the tiniest incorrect detail can lead to catastrophe.

Our current fossil fuel civilization is more intricate and interconnected than any bridge, plane, or high rise. Surely handing over US government power to people whose worldview is impervious to reason is extraordinarily more dangerous than a loose bolt. Faith might work well enough in the narrow confines of religious observance or an online conspiracy group. Faith alone is not compatible with the science and engineering upon which our quality of life, and our lives themselves, depend.


Trump has pulled Dr. Fauci's security detail after President Biden pardoned him


I have been thinking for a while that the reason that trump was elected was because people voted for him and faced no consequences. They will now, but they were allowed to vote their fears and prejudices because they faced no consequences. We (liberal) talked a good game on social media, but did we do anything. Meaning, we all have friends/family members who overtly supported trump. We might have told them on social media or even in person to not do that, but how many are willing to take it further and say, if you support this person, I do not want you in my life. Often, we try to convert or talk someone into doing something different, and this is one time when converting is not possible, and trying to, may be wasting time, and people continued what they did, knowing they would not lose friends or family.

Too often we are nice and avoid things that might upset people. But this is one time I do not care. For
me, are the suffering and death of people worth me dealing with upset people? Hell yes. I do not care of people say they are tired of Hitler comparisons. It is so clear that the comparison is valid, and people are repeating history. And for me, I am removing people from my life that can't be deprogrammed.

Are we to blame for trump being elected

I have been thinking for a while that the reason that trump was elected was because people voted for him and faced no consequences. They will now, but they were allowed to vote their fears and prejudices because they faced no consequences. We (liberal) talked a good game on social media, but did we do anything. Meaning, we all have friends/family members who overtly supported trump. We might have told them on social media or even in person to not do that, but how many are willing to take it further and say, if you support this person, I do not want you in my life. Often, we try to convert or talk someone into doing something different, and this is one time when converting is not possible, and trying to, may be wasting time, and people continued what they did, knowing they would not lose friends or family.

Too often we are nice and avoid things that might upset people. But this is one time I do not care. For

me, are the suffering and death of people worth me dealing with upset people? Hell yes. I do not care of people say they are tired of Hitler comparisons. It is so clear that the comparison is valid, and people are repeating history. And for me, I am removing people from my life that can&#39;t be deprogrammed.


GOP leaders in debt limit quandary between Trump, fiscal hawks


Trump’s plans to militarize southern border take shape


I'm considering starting a side project that allows you to sign up trump supporters in your life/extended orbit for a weekly digest email of the awful things done by trump or facilitated by his policies. Who's interested in helping out?


i have been trying to expose myself to viewpoints from the other side of the aisle recently to help me challenge my beliefs and understand where some people may be coming from (i watched fox news' coverage of the election results) but i have had a hard time finding a conservative leaning podcast that isn't just a bunch of grifters fear mongering.

best right leaning podcasts?

i have been trying to expose myself to viewpoints from the other side of the aisle recently to help me challenge my beliefs and understand where some people may be coming from (i watched fox news&#39; coverage of the election results) but i have had a hard time finding a conservative leaning podcast that isn&#39;t just a bunch of grifters fear mongering.


We all know whats going in US now, with someone literally making the Nazi salute on a public stage. (fucking hell)

Of course theres already school shootings and all kinds of shit, but im talking about something near apocalyptic.

How many days, months, or years are left until something deadly starts going on in the US? Trans people being hunted? An entire holocaust..? Could a civil war start in the U.S? (jesus fucking christ thats a terrifying thought)

This is the stuff ive heard of people say that will happen.

How long until terrible stuff starts happening in the U.S?


January 23, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Andy Ogles introduced a House Joint Resolution to amend the Constitution of the United States to allow a President to be elected for up to but no more than three terms.

\----------------------------------------------------------------

Obama would be 67 as opposed to trump at 82 or more.

If they amend the 22nd...Obama can run!!

January 23, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Andy Ogles introduced a House Joint Resolution to amend the Constitution of the United States to allow a President to be elected for up to but no more than three terms.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Obama would be 67 as opposed to trump at 82 or more.


Google restores President Joe Biden to ‘U.S. presidents’ search results, blames ‘data error’ for omission


Fox News has released this video showing ICE raids: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1YhpsuxODY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1YhpsuxODY)

ICE is arresting gang members who had convictions and Interpol red notes.

My questions are:

1. Do you support the actions taken by ICE in the video?
2. Why hadn't the Biden administration deported these convicted criminals?
3. Do you think the video is being biased by Fox and/or inaccurately portraying the nature of the ICE raids?

What is your opinion of the televised ICE raids?

Fox News has released this video showing ICE raids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1YhpsuxODY

ICE is arresting gang members who had convictions and Interpol red notes.

My questions are:

Do you support the actions taken by ICE in the video?

Why hadn&#39;t the Biden administration deported these convicted criminals?

Do you think the video is being biased by Fox and/or inaccurately portraying the nature of the ICE raids?


My family is going to see him at the Houston Rodeo this year. They got me a ticket too but I’m thinking of letting them take a friend instead of me. I was kinda looking forward to it (though I only like 3 or 4 of his songs) but now that he’s performed at Trump’s Inauguration I’m disgusted. Should I just suck it up and go? I feel like it’s going to be hard to enjoy it knowing he supports all the BS Trump has done but simultaneously I feel bad about not going with my family since they were nice enough to buy me a ticket. We got tickets before I knew about him performing. If he was like, my favorite artist on the planet, I’d probably say fuck it. He’s definitely not though. I don’t have a car at the moment otherwise I’d go to enjoy everything at the rodeo before the concert and then leave (I’m 20 but my parents don’t feel safe with me taking an Uber since I’ve never taken one which is valid, I could take one without their permission but I’m nervous about it too). Am I being dramatic? Idek at this point. Ya’ll would understand my political stance obviously so that’s why I’m posting here.

Should I give away my Parker McCollum ticket?


I feel like I'm trying to keep up and wrap my head around the new horrors every day. I am trying to find good sources of what exactly cutting the funding for NIH means.

What are the implications of trump cutting NIH funding?

I feel like I&#39;m trying to keep up and wrap my head around the new horrors every day. I am trying to find good sources of what exactly cutting the funding for NIH means.


I’ve accepted that there’s a good chance that this new presidency will bring me and my loved ones immediate danger and despair. I’ve already lost my bodily autonomy, but now my rights to marriage are up for debate too, all under the guise of a fucking religion I DON’T EVEN PRACTICE. I was born into a minor religion and culture and some people who are born Christian or catholic don’t understand the ways in which Christianity have shaped our nation, and now it’s happening in full throttle. Speaking up is absolutely exhausting, being a minority in several ways I feel unsafe for not even expressing not my opinion but the REAL state of the government we are living in. And obviously this is nothing against Christianity, but I’m so fucking tired of being forced to live in a world of people who target me because I’m not one of them.

Anyway, to my fellow non Christians and many others who are marginalized by the United States, we have the power to keep pushing and changing, but we also need to relax. We need to recoup. We need time to gather and breathe and take time for our mental and physical wellbeing. It feels so hard to prioritize change and self care, but it’s vital.

Vent: this is all so f**king exhausting


Why are you still on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter)?   When these are owned by Trump supporters Zukenberg & Musk.

Facebook & Twitter

Why are you still on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter)?   When these are owned by Trump supporters Zukenberg &amp; Musk.


As a white guy I am not really at all surprised how many people that look like me are either complete morons or hypocritical pieces of garbage. This birthright citizenship thing is another bright example. Most white folks don't seem to realize that when a majority of our ancestors came here there were no immigration laws.

If you came of the boat in reasonable health they let you in.
Many white folks ancestors never actually became citizens and yet their children born here became citizens. Yet these bigoted dumbfucks don't even know their own families migration story.

The SCOTUS decision US v. Wong Kim Ark from 1898 that decided on a 6-2 vote that birthright citizenship is exactly what it says wasn't exactly a "woke" set of jurists.

Todays right wingers are so bigoted and xenophobic they make an all white male court from the gilded age look progressive by comparison.

Seriously can you imagine being more bigoted then white right wing judges from 1898??

Millions of white people don’t realize the reason they’re citizens is because one of their ancestor obtained birthright citizenship.

As a white guy I am not really at all surprised how many people that look like me are either complete morons or hypocritical pieces of garbage. This birthright citizenship thing is another bright example. Most white folks don&#39;t seem to realize that when a majority of our ancestors came here there were no immigration laws.

If you came of the boat in reasonable health they let you in.
Many white folks ancestors never actually became citizens and yet their children born here became citizens. Yet these bigoted dumbfucks don&#39;t even know their own families migration story.

The SCOTUS decision US v. Wong Kim Ark from 1898 that decided on a 6-2 vote that birthright citizenship is exactly what it says wasn&#39;t exactly a &quot;woke&quot; set of jurists.

Todays right wingers are so bigoted and xenophobic they make an all white male court from the gilded age look progressive by comparison.

Seriously can you imagine being more bigoted then white right wing judges from 1898??


Hey I get the fear. But you cannot run we still have the duty to liberty to fullfill. A fight to finish. Organise. Move to a blue state or the rust belt and join there state militia/national gaurd.This is not the end. It's 4 years and buerucracy alone will give us two. Long enough for a blue congress of go progressive and take the south back. . Please do not leave or run. I know it may be long and hard and you might feel alone but try.
I would suggest reading nemiks manifesto (star wars. It applies to this situation too unfortunately). We are peaceful as long as they are. Let's hold the fort because many can't flee so for them we must fight. Many have died for liberty. For them we must fight.

Look I know many want to run but don't. The battle is lost. The war isn't.

Hey I get the fear. But you cannot run we still have the duty to liberty to fullfill. A fight to finish. Organise. Move to a blue state or the rust belt and join there state militia/national gaurd.This is not the end. It&#39;s 4 years and buerucracy alone will give us two. Long enough for a blue congress of go progressive and take the south back. . Please do not leave or run. I know it may be long and hard and you might feel alone but try.
I would suggest reading nemiks manifesto (star wars. It applies to this situation too unfortunately). We are peaceful as long as they are. Let&#39;s hold the fort because many can&#39;t flee so for them we must fight. Many have died for liberty. For them we must fight.


They are there to do one thing and one thing only, make money. They will do whatever they have to in order to improve the bottom line. If that means falling in line to make DEI hires, they will. If that means axing DEI all together in a matter of days, they will.

They do not give a crap about anything but money and to believe otherwise is just stupidity. Boycotting companies because they refuse to follow the DEI strategy is silly just as much as being mad at a company for removing DEI is silly. They never cared. They never will.

Just to clarify: I'm not saying we SHOULDNT have DEI, I'm saying that we should stop pretending corporations give a crap about any of us at all.

An opportunity to accept that the DEI initiatives in corporations were all big joke on the rest of us. The companies didn't care, they don't care now, and they never will.

They are there to do one thing and one thing only, make money. They will do whatever they have to in order to improve the bottom line. If that means falling in line to make DEI hires, they will. If that means axing DEI all together in a matter of days, they will.

They do not give a crap about anything but money and to believe otherwise is just stupidity. Boycotting companies because they refuse to follow the DEI strategy is silly just as much as being mad at a company for removing DEI is silly. They never cared. They never will.

Just to clarify: I&#39;m not saying we SHOULDNT have DEI, I&#39;m saying that we should stop pretending corporations give a crap about any of us at all.


If you you say there is a tyrannical government that is oppressing your freedoms why go against the right to bare arms against a tyrannical government? only for anti 2A guys. thanks.

Question for anti 2a folks who say they are being oppressed by their government


OPM creates email account to report suspected diversity and inclusion initiatives


I hope this gives you all a bit of hope in these insane times. Stay strong. Do not get sucked into the gloom. Trump is a malignant narcissist. People like that enjoy making others feel afraid. do not let that corrupt obese man and his dysfunctional family have that control over you. that’s what he wants, and if that’s too difficult, just remember that trump shits his pants because of years of substance abuse.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Stay strong. Do night give in to despair.


As someone who has grown up in a republican community and is now a liberal, I often hear republicans comment on Liberals not being able to "take a joke" for example, if a joke is made about a certain topic according to liberals its not funny and its considered racist or maybe sexist or homophobic based on what the joke was about. To be honest I myself have somewhat dark humor, and would laugh at a joke that may be considered "insensitive" to others. Of course their is a time and a place for such a joke to be made, and if I find myself laughing at one made, it would be one made by a person WITH NO ACTUAL HARMFUL INTNET. I don't fuck with people who use "dark humor" as an excuse for blatant racism, homophobia, sexism, etc. But if someone jokes around in the right setting I can find comedic value in it. Sorry is what I'm trying to say is worded weird or confusing, just would like to know everyones opinion on the topic.

Opinions on "Dark Humor"

As someone who has grown up in a republican community and is now a liberal, I often hear republicans comment on Liberals not being able to &quot;take a joke&quot; for example, if a joke is made about a certain topic according to liberals its not funny and its considered racist or maybe sexist or homophobic based on what the joke was about. To be honest I myself have somewhat dark humor, and would laugh at a joke that may be considered &quot;insensitive&quot; to others. Of course their is a time and a place for such a joke to be made, and if I find myself laughing at one made, it would be one made by a person WITH NO ACTUAL HARMFUL INTNET. I don&#39;t fuck with people who use &quot;dark humor&quot; as an excuse for blatant racism, homophobia, sexism, etc. But if someone jokes around in the right setting I can find comedic value in it. Sorry is what I&#39;m trying to say is worded weird or confusing, just would like to know everyones opinion on the topic.


Hello. I am absolutely enraged and devastated about the state of our country since Monday. I thought I had prepared myself for this dystopian $hitshow, but I could never have predicted this level of destruction and carnage. I keep thinking the bad news is slowing down, but then there's more breaking terrible news. Does anyone have any hopeful words to help things make sense?

Feeling overwhelmed with absolute despair, and it has only been two days …

Hello. I am absolutely enraged and devastated about the state of our country since Monday. I thought I had prepared myself for this dystopian $hitshow, but I could never have predicted this level of destruction and carnage. I keep thinking the bad news is slowing down, but then there&#39;s more breaking terrible news. Does anyone have any hopeful words to help things make sense?


It Should Have Ended Here


I’m not deeply entrenched in politics, nor do I hate conservatives or MAGA supporters as a group. I prefer to judge individuals based on their character and actions. That said, I’ve observed what feels like a significant transformation within the conservative movement over the past 16 years.

In the 2000s, the Republican Party seemed to stand on foundational principles—issues like abortion, gun control, government overreach, and border security. These principles, while debatable, were often presented with a degree of respect and thoughtfulness. The rise of Trump, however, ushered in a new era of conservatism. It feels more aggressive, less tethered to intellectual consistency, and more pervasive in our daily lives, thanks in part to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

This increased exposure has prompted me to examine conservative ideologies more critically, alongside their liberal counterparts. Through logical reasoning and exploring potential contradictions, I’ve identified some striking paradoxes within the modern conservative movement. While these aren’t novel insights, I hope to open a dialogue for further exploration and understanding.

The Pro-Life Paradox

Conservatives frequently champion a zero-tolerance approach to abortion. They argue that life begins at conception and that a fetus, regardless of development stage, has an inalienable right to life. For many, this belief is rooted in a sincere desire to protect innocent life. On its surface, this seems noble, even compelling. Most people, regardless of political affiliation, would agree that late-term abortions—except in extreme cases—should be restricted.

Yet, conservatives apply this logic inconsistently. If the moral imperative to protect life is so absolute, why is there no parallel outcry to address the leading cause of death among children and teenagers in the U.S.—guns? Conservatives cling to the Second Amendment as if it’s untouchable, yet their unwillingness to consider even modest reforms stands in stark contrast to their self-professed commitment to protecting life.

This inconsistency deepens when we examine their position on the future of the very fetuses they fight to save. Imagine a fetus they protect today grows up into a woman facing an unwanted pregnancy—perhaps due to assault, health risks, or financial instability. The same conservatives who fought for her right to be born would now deny her autonomy, forcing her to carry a pregnancy to term, regardless of the consequences.

If the pro-life movement truly values life, why isn’t there a push for universal pre-K, affordable childcare, or free school lunch programs? Where is the investment in the well-being of American youth? Instead, we see an intense focus on banning drag show readings while programs that directly benefit children languish.

This raises the question: do conservatives truly value life, or is their interest in protecting the unborn merely a means to exert control over personal freedoms?

The Trump Contradiction

Trump’s presidency and influence have brought contradictions within the conservative movement into sharp focus. For instance, conservatives cheered Trump’s recent executive order to repeal electric vehicle mandates, celebrating his commitment to oil and gas. Yet, the advisor he tapped for this initiative is the CEO of the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer. How does this align with their narrative?

Consider Trump’s actions on TikTok. In 2020, he signed an executive order to ban the app, citing national security concerns over Chinese ownership. Conservatives rallied behind him, lauding his toughness on China. Fast forward to today, and TikTok’s reinstatement is celebrated as a victory for free speech. Conveniently forgotten is Trump’s role in the original ban, as is the fact that a major American investor in TikTok is one of his donors.

The contradictions extend to immigration, one of Trump’s hallmark issues. In February 2024, a bipartisan border bill was proposed. The legislation would have tightened asylum standards and automatically secured the border if illegal crossings exceeded certain thresholds. Trump, however, opposed the bill, calling it a “gift to the Democrats.” Following his condemnation, Senate Republicans abandoned it, and the bill failed. Conservatives who revere Trump as the ultimate defender of the border have remained silent about his role in blocking legislation that could have reduced illegal immigration.

The Larger Question

These are just a few examples of what I see as glaring contradictions within the conservative movement. How can conservatives reconcile being pro-life while disregarding the lives of pregnant women, children, and teens killed by gun violence? How do they explain supporting a president whose actions often undermine the very principles they claim to hold dear?

I don’t ask these questions to inflame or mock but to encourage meaningful dialogue. I want to hear from you. Share your thoughts, provide your perspectives, and help deepen this conversation. Perhaps together, we can untangle the inconsistencies and better understand the ideological shifts at play.

TL;DR: Conservatives claim to value life but demonstrate contradictory priorities on abortion, gun control, and support for Trump. Let’s discuss these contradictions and their implications.

Contradictory Conservatives: A Call for Reflection