Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 18/03/25

FF are currently the biggest party in the Dail.

Telling folk lies about housing numbers and lying about other things like scoliosis operations goes a long way

They're not all in a cult. A lot will vote for a mouldy dog turd as long as it has an R beside the name. A lot are not too bright (we're talking two planks territory) and they actually believe what Trump says. Some are in it for the hatred, be that against the LGBTQ community, brown people, wimmin, intelligent and educated people, liberals or anyone who is in any way progressive. Some have a hatred of democracy, government and society itself and some are just deranged conspiracy nuts who believe that Trump was sent by Jesus to do away with all them evil pedophiles.

So, no. Not all are in a cult. But voting Trump is just like buying crack. No matter what your reasons for doing so, it's never a decision borne from sound reasoning and the outcome is never positive in any way, shape or form.

You know things aren't great when someone with the nickname of 'mad dog' can be quoted as a sober voice of reason.

We keep seeing comments about not wanting US food in Europe. A Netflix documentary 'Poisoned, the dirty truth about your food' will absolutely confirm this concern.

There is still a huge problem with pathogens in the food chain there, there are people trying to improve the situation but the main problem is politics - particularly lobbyists, lack of central control over food safety and both too many and not enough agencies controlling food quality.

Then on top of this Trump has removed or reduced many of the agencies. He keeps saying he will reduce regulation. Its regulation that has made European food safe, but Trump is going to reduce it in the US. There is no wonder Europe will not accept US food. And through it all, the politicians keep repeating the mantra, the USA has the safest food in the world.

Its worth a watch, both as an insight into politics, and general food safety.

Trumps experts have him thinking otherwise on the illegal border crossings, or why else would he be sending US military to that border?

Hegseth could be done.

The sh*tshow continues!

I keep on saying this, and I would be happy to be wrong, but I fear there won't be a next time. Not a meaningful one, anyway.

Trump and his minions have not gone into this term half-cocked. There is a very specific plan on how to consolidate and maintain power and it centres around moulding the federal government into a MAGA one. The last time around, there were enough people in key positions who placed loyalty to the US constitution above loyalty to Trump. Will that be true by the time the US midterms roll around, never mind the next presidential election?

Trump already has the federal justice system headed by two proper sycophants in the form of Pamela Bondi for the US justice department and Kash Patel for the FBI. The latter wrote a children's book called 'The Plot to Kill the King' using this illustration as its cover. Mental.

And that's not to mention that Trump wants to bring the Federal Elections Commission under his direct control and if he's successful, that would be a critical blow to the concept of free and fair elections at a countrywide level in the USA.

When you think about how close Trump got to reversing the result of 2020 when it was an ad-hoc and chaotic attempt, what does anyone think that he and his backers would be capable of, with a proper plan, in 2026 and 2028. It can't be a leap of imagination to think that it's going to be significantly more fraught, especially with how ineffective his political opponents have so-far proven themselves.

I honestly think this White House is on a collision course with the Supreme Court.

It's bad enough that Trump lost Barrett's vote, but the decision over the weekend to halt the Venuzuelans getting deported dragged Kavanaugh and Gorsuch to the majority side as well.

Kavanaugh isn't too much of a surprise, but Gorsuch had definitely looked like he was leaning more towards Alito and Thomas.

I get that feeling as well…from such subtle clues as Trump openly criticising judges and the USSC issuing a ruling that directly hampers a central MAGA policy in the last couple of days.

In other words, of course a collision is going to happen if Trump things the USSC stands in the way of the MAGA agenda. The only thing that might delay this is if Trump tries to grab total power too quickly, it may kick off a popular revolt. They could look to chip away at other aspects of US democracy first and further pump out propaganda that demonises the USSC before going in with the knife. Let the frog boil a little longer.

Not sure how typical this is but these two German female tourists were treated like hardcore criminals or terrorists before being deported (!) by the US. These type of stories are going to annihilate the tourism industry, certainly as far as Europeans go.

With respect to the brewing conflict between the Supreme Court and the White House, some right wing outlets and commentators, The Federalist, being one are suggesting Trump should ignore or even disband the Court.

Where are those 2A advocates with their muskets? Isn't this why they wanted to keep them?

Genuine question. Say Trump ignores a USSC order, what can they actually do? I'm talking specifically about the SC now, obviously there could be civil disorder etc, but what can they actually do?

Yep, it’s looking harder and harder escape that conclusion. Democracy in America is currently on life support, at best. Can’t help but wonder are we looking at potential civil war, or some States seceding from the Union ?

Tyrannical against their interests, maybe, but I suspect that those Americans who masturbate to gun catalogues largely feel that their views are shared by Trump's government so they're probably more likely to take up arms in order to shoot 'the libs' who would stand against Trump's agenda.

Shag all. They could hold Trump's government in contempt, but without muscle to back this up, it is completely meaningless.