Fascism Is here

[supesalemgr2]

It's not necessary to be a prosecutor or defence attorney to know the fundamentals about murders. Once you get past bad guys shooting each other (which drives up the numbers), most murder victims are killed by someone they know, most often family members, and in many cases in a fit of drunken rage. Past that, you get "accidents" where some fool waves around a gun that "goes off." Eventually you get to "break-in gone bad" or similar shootings in the act of something else. There is some argument that increased police presence can cut out some gang violence - at least move it, but that takes time - much over 9 days.

OK, I get it. The good citizens of DC have decided to be more compassionate to their fellow beings.

[Vrede too]

It's adorable how MAGAts think that cherry-picked extremely short term data is a substitute for actual credible statistical analysis. Then, they have no concept of cost-benefit analysis. What has been the price for this fascist takeover of DC and what would be the results if that same amount was invested in long term policing or in community crime prevention and harm reduction? MAGAts have no concept of fiscal rationality as long as Dear Leader makes them feel good.

[Vrede too]

Trump threatens Baltimore bridge funds over fight with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore

... "I gave Wes Moore a lot of money to fix his demolished bridge. I will now have to rethink that decision???" Trump wrote at the end of a post on Truth Social calling Baltimore "out of control" and "crime ridden." He also threatened to send the military into the city to "clean up" crime – like his ongoing deployment of National Guard troops to Washington.

, as usual.

... The pair have fought in recent days over Trump's characterizations of Baltimore as overrun by crime and Moore's criticism of the police and military crackdown on Washington. In an Aug. 21 letter, Moore invited Trump to attend a Baltimore "public safety walk" in September to "discuss strategies for effective public safety policy."

Come to my hood, I dare you.

"Donald Trump, if you are not willing to walk our communities, keep our name out of your mouth," he said at an event that day.

I'll slap you upside the head like Will Smith done.

... While Baltimore has been plagued historically by high violent crime rates, the city's homicide rates have dropped significantly in recent years – by 40% from 2019 to 2024, according to a Council on Criminal Justice report. Homicides this year are down 23% and auto theft is down by 34%, per police data released in July.
Crews are in the process of demolishing remaining parts of the collapsed Baltimore bridge.

Bravo, Marylanders.

Trump during his second term has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal funds from Democratic-run cities and states. On Aug. 22, a federal judge blocked him from withholding federal funding from dozens of sanctuary cities, including Baltimore and Los Angeles, over refusing to cooperate with some immigration pushes....

[O Really]

O Really (et al): It's not generally lawful to use the military for civilian crime control.

Supes: it's not crime control it's protection of federal assets

Trump: thank you troops for doing such a good job with crime in this DC rathole

Supes: yay for the military crime control

O Really (et al)

[Vrede too]

Will you join the protests? I think it'll be awhile until he gets around to Hooterville, or even Charlotte.

Have to wait and see who's sponsoring it etc.

There will be a variety of groups, probably at various locales around the city. You can join the 'flower in the rifle' crowd, the Black Bloc and everything in between.

The Pentagon has worked up an action plan for sending "thousands of troops" in Sept. Get ready.
Swim goggles, or swim mask if you wear glasses. No contacts at demos.
N95s or even a gas mask
Impervious rain gear

Good idea even if only joining nonviolent demos. You never know.

[GoCubsGo]

I'm still hoping it won't be necessary.

I'm probably naive.

[Vrede too]

I'm still hoping it won't be necessary.

I'm probably naive.

Just found an article:

Pentagon Working On Plans For Military Deployment In Chicago, Washington Post Reports
The Defense Department planning, in the works for weeks, involves several options, including mobilizing at least a few thousand members of the National Guard as soon as September, the Post reported.

... JB Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, which includes Chicago, said in a statement the state had received no outreach from the federal government on whether it needed assistance. He said there was no emergency warranting a National Guard or other military deployment.

“Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families,” Pritzker said.

A spokesperson for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Friday Johnson said the city had grave concerns about the impact of any unlawful deployment of National Guard troops.

“The problem with the President’s approach is that it is uncoordinated, uncalled for and unsound,” the mayor said, adding that over the past year, homicides in Chicago have fallen by more than 30%, robberies by 35% and shootings by almost 40%....

[GoCubsGo]

Despite a very high popularity and, according to many, among the greatest 8 months in Presidential History, ABC & NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the worst and most biased networks in history, give me 97% BAD STORIES. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEY ARE SIMPLY AN ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND SHOULD, ACCORDING TO MANY, HAVE THEIR LICENSES REVOKED BY THE FCC. I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our Democracy!!! MAGA

[Whack9]

Despite a very high popularity and, according to many, among the greatest 8 months in Presidential History, ABC & NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the worst and most biased networks in history, give me 97% BAD STORIES. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEY ARE SIMPLY AN ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND SHOULD, ACCORDING TO MANY, HAVE THEIR LICENSES REVOKED BY THE FCC. I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our Democracy!!! MAGA

"Freedom of press is actually bad" - modern conservatives.

What do they even stand for?

[Whack9]

Trump vows challenge to California's redistricting:

https://thehill.com/homenews/administra ... ip-senate/

The president told reporters a lawsuit will be filed “soon” after California’s Democratic-controlled Legislature formally approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-Calif.) plan Thursday to redraw the state’s congressional lines, setting it up to appear on the ballot in November.

I think I’m going to be filing a lawsuit pretty soon, and I think we’re going to be very successful in it. We’re going to [be] filing it through the Department of Justice, that’s going to happen,” Trump said in the Oval Office.

It's ok for Texas, but not California? They're not even trying to hide under the guise of equality under the law. These redistricting fights feel like the opening salvo of the dissolution of the United States.

[O Really]

Not to defend Trump's unchecked dictating, but there is a difference in California and Texas. Texas has no restriction on mid-term gerrymandering nor any requirement that the districting be done objectively. California's constitution requires statistical districting so there will have to be a referendum to allow a change this time. I'm pretty sure Newsom's lawyers are being very careful to dot all the i's, but past that, I think the first ruling in Trump's lawsuit will be that the feds have no standing to contest a power specifically designated to the states.

[Vrede too]

... I'm pretty sure Newsom's lawyers are being very careful to dot all the i's, but past that, I think the first ruling in Trump's lawsuit will be that the feds have no standing to contest a power specifically designated to the states.

Didn't the VRA demolish that hurdle, or has SCOTUS completely rebuilt it?

[O Really]

... I'm pretty sure Newsom's lawyers are being very careful to dot all the i's, but past that, I think the first ruling in Trump's lawsuit will be that the feds have no standing to contest a power specifically designated to the states.

Didn't the VRA demolish that hurdle, or has SCOTUS completely rebuilt it?

Good question. I dunno.

[neoplacebo]

... I'm pretty sure Newsom's lawyers are being very careful to dot all the i's, but past that, I think the first ruling in Trump's lawsuit will be that the feds have no standing to contest a power specifically designated to the states.

Didn't the VRA demolish that hurdle, or has SCOTUS completely rebuilt it?

Not sure, but I think CA was never on the DOJ watch list for voter suppression. Most of it was for the southern states. The Constitution says states control the administration of elections in their state. trump is likely full of shit as usual.

[GoCubsGo]

Probably not legal. She doesn't serve at the pleasure of the president.

Are we in a constitutional crisis yet?

[Whack9]

Probably not legal. She doesn't serve at the pleasure of the president.

Are we in a constitutional crisis yet?

The supreme court recently ruled on something similar:

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the relationship between the president and the Federal Reserve is different from that of other independent agencies, signaling that Chair Jerome Powell is legally protected from being removed by President Donald Trump.

The justices, in a ruling that blessed Trump’s decision to fire members of two independent U.S. labor boards, said they did not think the case had implications for whether the president was allowed to fire Fed board members or other officials on the central bank’s rate-setting committee.

...

“The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States,” they added.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/2 ... p-00366526

It's also important to note this is the first time this has ever happened. Add that to the list of unprecedentedness.

Political meddling in the federal reserve seems like something everyone should agree is very bad

[Vrede too]

Probably not legal. She doesn't serve at the pleasure of the president.

Are we in a constitutional crisis yet?

The supreme court recently ruled on something similar:

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the relationship between the president and the Federal Reserve is different from that of other independent agencies, signaling that Chair Jerome Powell is legally protected from being removed by President Donald Trump.

The justices, in a ruling that blessed Trump’s decision to fire members of two independent U.S. labor boards, said they did not think the case had implications for whether the president was allowed to fire Fed board members or other officials on the central bank’s rate-setting committee.

...

“The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States,” they added.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/2 ... p-00366526

It's also important to note this is the first time this has ever happened. Add that to the list of unprecedentedness.

Political meddling in the federal reserve seems like something everyone should agree is very bad

It's nice to read that the Fed MAY be protected, but I don't get why this doesn't apply to all so-called "independent agencies". Isn't creating a barrier to "Political meddling" the point for each?

[Whack9]

Probably not legal. She doesn't serve at the pleasure of the president.

Are we in a constitutional crisis yet?

The supreme court recently ruled on something similar:

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the relationship between the president and the Federal Reserve is different from that of other independent agencies, signaling that Chair Jerome Powell is legally protected from being removed by President Donald Trump.

The justices, in a ruling that blessed Trump’s decision to fire members of two independent U.S. labor boards, said they did not think the case had implications for whether the president was allowed to fire Fed board members or other officials on the central bank’s rate-setting committee.

...

“The Federal Reserve is a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity that follows in the distinct historical tradition of the First and Second Banks of the United States,” they added.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/2 ... p-00366526

It's also important to note this is the first time this has ever happened. Add that to the list of unprecedentedness.

Political meddling in the federal reserve seems like something everyone should agree is very bad

It's nice to read that the Fed MAY be protected, but I don't get why this doesn't apply to all so-called "independent agencies". Isn't creating a barrier to "Political meddling" the point for each?

Yeah that's something that I found strange. Is it really an independent agency if it's ... not independent? What's the point?

[Vrede too]

It's nice to read that the Fed MAY be protected, but I don't get why this doesn't apply to all so-called "independent agencies". Isn't creating a barrier to "Political meddling" the point for each?

Yeah that's something that I found strange. Is it really an independent agency if it's ... not independent? What's the point?

Fuckin' Trumpian SCOTUS.

... In response, Cook said that “no cause exists under the law” for Trump to fire her.“

“I will not resign,” Cook added. “I will continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022.

Will Dementia Don send the National Guard to remove her?

Who is Fed Gov. Lisa Cook — and why did Trump just fire her?
Cook, the first woman of color to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, has said she “will not resign.”

... Who is Lisa Cook?

Cook is an American economist who has been a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors since May 23, 2022. She is the first woman of color to sit on the board. She was appointed by former President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate by a 51-50 vote (with then-Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie). No Republicans voted to confirm Cook.

Must have been a proud moment for Kamala.

Cook was educated at Spelman College, Oxford University and the University of California at Berkeley before serving as a professor at Harvard University and Michigan State University. She is considered an expert on international economics, especially the Russian economy and the economic history of African-Americans.

Cook had been scheduled to serve until January 2038.

Sounds super qualified.

What is Cook being accused of?

... Cook has not been charged with wrongdoing or convicted of a crime.

Will Cook stay or go?

Last Wednesday, Trump called for Cook’s resignation on social media — but Cook never responded.

Yes, she did.

In a commentary issued at the time, Jaret Seiberg, an analyst at TD Cowen Washington Research Group, speculated that “resigning will not end [any] legal probe,” so there’s really “no incentive for [Cook] to react… by departing.”

... The only way for Trump to fire a Fed governor is “for cause,” according to a 1935 law. That standard has usually been interpreted to mean dereliction of duty or malfeasance.

“I think prior private misconduct would be a stretch,” Columbia University law professor Lev Menand told the Journal.

On Monday, Cook’s lawyer vowed to fight Trump’s move, saying in a statement that “we will take whatever actions are needed to prevent his attempted illegal action.” ...

What would happen if Cook goes?

... If Cook leaves, that would create two vacancies — and it would leave only two governors appointed solely by a Democratic president out of a total of seven. (Powell was appointed to Fed roles by presidents of both parties, including Trump himself.)

... Meanwhile, experts warned Monday that firing Cook could spell “the end of central bank independence as we know it,” as Peter Conti-Brown, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, put it in an interview with the New York Times.

[Whack9]

Imagine world renowned economic genius Donald "what the fuck is a tarrif" Trump pulling the strings at the federal reserve. What a nightmare.