Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[nw1]

This video is probably the most upsetting, as you see the lady talking just before she is killed.

The US government should be ashamed of itself, not congratulating itself. The reaction to this murder is simply vile.

I feel very sorry for any sane people in the US.

Indeed. I hope Ross faces proper justice and gets charged with murder, and a whole-life prison sentence as a result. However, this is Trump's America we're talking about, meaning that I suspect in reality, he will be allowed to continue in his job without as much as a fine.

Sounds like an utterly nasty piece of work all round: (https://www.advocate.com/news/who-is-jonathan-ross-ice#rebelltitem2)

Ross's family and friends describe him as a hardcore conservative Christian and MAGA supporter, who sports "Don't Tread on Me" flags and Trump/Vance stickers. Social media posts reveal him arguing with his family over the white supremacist group the Proud Boys.

His sister, Nicole, posted a photo on Facebook in October 2020 of herself wearing a face mask with the caption, "I denounce and condemn white supremacy," the outlet reports. Ross replied in a comment that has since been deleted, prompting Nicole to respond, "we have to respectfully disagree. You are my brother and I love you, but we will not engage in a debate on Facebook."

Christian? The Sixth Commandment is obviously lost on him. I'm an agnostic but was brought up with C of E Christianity - and I can tell you it was very, very different to the beliefs of the US so-called "Christian" Right.

And I hope JD Vance is treated as a social pariah by the rest of the West for supporting the ICE scumbags.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Why do I get the feeling that if this was the other way round and it was someone murdering an ICE agent that person would be up for the death penalty?

 

[nw1]

Why do I get the feeling that if this was the other way round and it was someone murdering an ICE agent that person would be up for the death penalty?

Absolutely, yes (though there has been no charge of murder just yet, and probably won't be, so we have to say he has merely "killed" Renee Good).

Trump's America to a tee.

 

[DarloRich]

with events in the last few days i think this is accurate:

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” - George Orwell, 1984.

We can all see what's going on. The mental gymnastics needed to follow the Trumpian line must be exhausting.

 

[brad465]

It's almost as if Trump and co. haven't thought things through:

Trump seeks $100bn for Venezuela oil, but Exxon boss says country 'uninvestable'

Oil executives expressed caution, with one executive saying Venezuela had seized their assets twice.

www.bbc.co.uk

US President Donald Trump has asked for at least $100bn (£75bn) in oil industry spending for Venezuela, but received a lukewarm response at the White House as one executive warned the South American country was currently "uninvestable".
Bosses of the biggest US oil firms who attended the meeting acknowledged that Venezuela, sitting on vast energy reserves, represented an enticing opportunity.
But they said significant changes would be needed to make the region an attractive investment. No major financial commitments were immediately forthcoming.
Trump has said he will unleash the South American nation's oil after US forces seized its leader Nicolas Maduro in a 3 January raid on its capital.
"One of the things the United States gets out of this will be even lower energy prices," Trump said in Friday's meeting at the White House.
But the oil bosses present expressed caution.
Exxon's chief executive Darren Woods said: "We have had our assets seized there twice and so you can imagine to re-enter a third time would require some pretty significant changes from what we've historically seen and what is currently the state."
"Today it's uninvestable."
Venezuela has had a complicated relationship with international oil firms since oil was discovered in its territory more than 100 years ago.
Chevron is the last remaining major American oil firm still operating in the country.
A handful of companies from other countries, including Spain's Repsol and Italy's Eni, both of which were represented at the White House meeting, are also active.
Trump said his administration would decide which firms would be allowed to operate.
"You're dealing with us directly. You're not dealing with Venezuela at all. We don't want you to deal with Venezuela," he said.

 

[ainsworth74]

Indeed. I hope Ross faces proper justice and gets charged with murder, and a whole-life prison sentence as a result. However, this is Trump's America we're talking about, meaning that I suspect in reality, he will be allowed to continue in his job without as much as a fine.

The US has had a problem holding police (or similar) officers to account for a very long time. It long predates Trump and, arguably, goes back almost to the very beginning of there even being things approximating police forces.

Ross is highly unlikely to face Federal charges, let's be real, and whilst state charges are hopefully more likely the state's attempt to investigate has been hamstrung by the Federal government basically refusing to share information or allow them to investigate.

However even if Minnesota does bring charges the odds remain long that Ross will face any justice at all. The US have established a system which is geared to give police (and similar) incredibly high levels of protection from being held to account for what their actions.

A comedian, John Oliver, actually covered the issue of police accountability within the US way back in 2016 (before Trump was even elected) on his show Last Week Tonight (a comedy show but tackles serious topics just in a humours way):

It got more coverage on the show in 2020 following the death of George Floyd (one of the remarkable things of that horrific example of US police brutality was that the police officer actually did get convicted for his killing of Floyd) whilst the focus is more on the racial aspects of US policing it still covered similar ground:

There is also a thread on Bluesky written by US attorney who has experience of these matters which makes the exact point that it is difficult to win cases like this even where the evidence seems stark:

https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social/post/3mbz5lhwv5c2u

The reality is that Ross will, unless we get very lucky, never really face any serious consequences for his crime. And, to be clear, I would absolutely love to be wrong about that.

 

[DarloRich]

The reality is that Ross will, unless we get very lucky, never really face any serious consequences for his crime

especially when his only crime was to shoot dead an evil Marxist leftist out to overthrow democracy/interfere with legitimate federal activities aimed to make America great again.

We all saw what went on. It is outrageous. ( and there are people who want/are begging for that here!)

 

[brad465]

The situation in Iran is now dire, with an internet blackout trying to cover up extreme repression. Trump has threatened to intervene if protestors are killed (which is very clearly happening), so will be one to keep an eye on (although quite how he'd be able to in this one is anyone's guess):

Iran medics describe hospitals overwhelmed with dead and injured protesters

Hundreds of people are believed to have been killed and injured by the security forces, with more than 70 dead in one hospital.

www.bbc.co.uk

Staff at three hospitals in Iran have told the BBC their facilities are overwhelmed with dead or injured patients, as major anti-government protests continue.
A medic at one Tehran hospital said there were "direct shots to the heads of the young people, to their hearts as well", while a doctor said an eye hospital in the capital had gone into crisis mode.
Two of the medical workers who spoke to the BBC said they treated gunshot wounds from both live ammunition and pellets.
On Friday, the US repeated that killing protesters would be met with a military response. Iran blamed the US for turning peaceful protests into what it called "violent subversive acts and widespread vandalism".
Reacting to the latest developments, President Trump posted on social media: "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"
Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of death and injury
The protests began in the capital Tehran a fortnight ago over economic hardship.
They have since spread to more than 100 cities and towns across all of Iran's provinces. Hundreds of protesters are believed to have been killed and injured, and many more detained. BBC Persian has confirmed the identities of 26, including six children.
Members of the security forces have also been killed, with one human rights group putting the number at 14.
BBC Persian has verified that 70 bodies were brought to Poursina Hospital in Rasht city on Friday night. The morgue there was at full capacity, so the bodies were taken away. The authorities asked the relatives of the dead for 7 billion rials (£5,222; $7,000) to release them for burial, a hospital source said.
The BBC and most other international news organisations are barred from reporting inside Iran, and the country has been under a near-total internet blackout since Thursday evening, making obtaining and verifying information difficult.
A hospital worker in Tehran described "very horrible scenes", saying there were so many wounded that staff did not have time to perform CPR.
"Around 38 people died. Many as soon as they reached the emergency beds... direct shots to the heads of the young people, to their hearts as well. Many of them didn't even make it to the hospital.
"The number was so large that there wasn't enough space in the morgue; the bodies were placed on top of one another.
"After the morgue became full, they stacked them on top of one another in the prayer room," she said.
The hospital worker said the dead and wounded were young people.
"Couldn't look at many of them, they were 20-25 years old."

A doctor who contacted the BBC via a Starlink satellite connection on Friday night said Tehran's main eye specialist centre, Farabi Hospital, had gone into crisis mode with emergency services overwhelmed.
Non-urgent admissions and surgeries were suspended and staff called in to deal with emergency cases, he said.
Iran's security forces often use shotguns which fire cartridges filled with pellets during confrontations with protesters.

'I saw one person who had been shot in the eye'​

Another doctor from the city of Kashan in central Iran told the BBC many injured protesters had been hit in the eyes, and that his colleagues in hospitals across the city reported receiving many wounded people during Friday night's unrest.
Thursday night produced similar accounts.
A doctor at a medical centre in Tehran told the BBC: "The number of injured people and fatalities was very high. I saw one person who had been shot in the eye, with the bullet exiting from the back of his head.
"Around midnight, the centre's doors were closed. A group of people broke the door and threw a man who had been shot inside, then left. But it was too late - he had died before reaching hospital and could not be saved."
The BBC also obtained a video and audio message from a medic at a hospital in the south-west city of Shiraz on Thursday, who said large numbers of injured were being brought in, and the hospital did not have enough surgeons to cope with the influx.

 

[najaB]

Trump has threatened to intervene if protestors are killed (which is very clearly happening), so will be one to keep an eye on (although quite how he'd be able to in this one is anyone's guess):

In two words: he can't. There is literally nothing the USA can do to directly stop the Iranian authorities from repressing their populace that wouldn't immediately make things worse than they already are. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard have something like 120,000 troops, and the Iranian regular army is somewhere in the region of 350,000 strong.

Any intervention that would make a meaningful impact on their ability to conduction operations inside Iran would almost certainly kill thousands of civilians as well.

 

[Gloster]

In two words: he can't. There is literally nothing the USA can do to directly stop the Iranian authorities from repressing their populace that wouldn't immediately make things worse than they already are. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard have something like 120,000 troops, and the Iranian regular army is somewhere in the region of 350,000 strong.

Any intervention that would make a meaningful impact on their ability to conduction operations inside Iran would almost certainly kill thousands of civilians as well.

That won’t stop Trump. If attacking Iran flatters his ego or plays well with his supporters (the rich and powerful ones, not the MAGA rank and file), he’ll do it. Who cares about a bunch of foreigner as far as he is concerned? When I say ‘he’ll do it’, I mean that his handlers will prime him to do it.

 

[brad465]

In two words: he can't. There is literally nothing the USA can do to directly stop the Iranian authorities from repressing their populace that wouldn't immediately make things worse than they already are. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard have something like 120,000 troops, and the Iranian regular army is somewhere in the region of 350,000 strong.

Any intervention that would make a meaningful impact on their ability to conduction operations inside Iran would almost certainly kill thousands of civilians as well.

That won’t stop Trump. If attacking Iran flatters his ego or plays well with his supporters (the rich and powerful ones, not the MAGA rank and file), he’ll do it. Who cares about a bunch of foreigner as far as he is concerned? When I say ‘he’ll do it’, I mean that his handlers will prime him to do it.

If there was an operation that could be done which would not involve any US troops being killed I can see Trump doing it. He might for example order air strikes on military bases in Iran and claim this will limit the guard's ability to kill protestors. If the Iranian Guard/Army go harder on the protestors after such an operation, Trump could easily deflect any criticism by saying no US citizens died and Iran did that.

One other thing that's worth considering is Israel could get involved, as it did often last year, if it feels it can gain anything, and as the Israelis see Iran as a direct enemy, they are far more likely to support any IDF operations than Americans would support Trump ordering action. The downside here is that Iranians see Israelis as a serious enemy too, so if Israel got involved they might actually rally round a common enemy and stop protesting their own regime.

 

[EYFanatic]

The reality is that Ross will, unless we get very lucky, never really face any serious consequences for his crime. And, to be clear, I would absolutely love to be wrong about that.

Given that the US doesn't have a statute limit on murders, its entirely possible that they could wait until there is a new President (assuming Trump's term ends) and then file the charges

Its actually a somewhat common thing to wait years before filing charges or taking out a case against a police officer - for example - as can be seen on numerous youtube videos of court cases

 

[dgl]

Here's something interesting recommended to me on YouTube, police in America trying to get a mentally ill man out of a truck in a yard who won't comply and keeps on moving. Yet despite the more dangerous vehicle and a driver who is not all there (and would turn out to be a murderer) no shots were fired.
That would seem to me that the ICE officer was not in a situation where lethal force was needed if a much more dangerous situation didn't. Then again you can't always compare incidents like for like, and I bet the police were properly trained, decent people. Not someone on a power trip.

 

[AlterEgo]

I am most surprised and extremely disappointed not to see more sign of the ICE killing of Renee Good on today's front pages

It happened in the United States, it shouldn't be front page news in the UK. We have our own news agenda.

 

[nw1]

It happened in the United States, it shouldn't be front page news in the UK. We have our own news agenda.

Really?

Given that it's symptomatic of the Trump presidency, and the actions of the Trump presidency and its agents have impact through much of the world, either directly (e.g tariffs) or indirectly (local politicians wishing to copy Trump), I consider it of the utmost importance. It shows that Trump's agents are executing violent and lethal actions, and shows up the current US regime for what it is.

I think it's plain we live in an era where international affairs are a very important concern, whether that be the USA, Ukraine and Russia, Palestine and Israel, or a whole host of other places. Thus, to my mind, international affairs must not play second-fiddle to relatively unimportant things like the government rowing-back on pub duties, or whatever it was they were rabbiting on about on that day.

The UK is not the only country in the world. Due to its influence, we need extensive news coverage of exactly what is going on in Trump's America.

 

[Falcon1200]

we need extensive news coverage of exactly what is going on in Trump's America.

Yes, but that does not necessarily have to be on the front page in preference to our own issues!

The shooting in Minnesota cannot under any circumstances be justified. However with regard to US law enforcement generally, it occurs to me that whenever Officers respond to an incident they have no idea whether they will encounter someone armed with deadly weapons, thanks to the preponderance of guns in the country.

 

[nw1]

Yes, but that does not necessarily have to be on the front page in preference to our own issues!

If our own issues are less important and of less consequence than international issues, then I would argue otherwise. Trump's US has huge consequence, both directly and indirectly - as I have said. And most of the UK's biggest issues are international, shared by much of the western world, and have international root causes (Covid and the war in Ukraine, for example).

With my cynical hat on, I believe far too many people in the media have an axe to grind against the Starmer government, and will focus on the smallest and most insignificant story which will make our government look bad - and being more cynical still, those same people perhaps want to cover up anything that might make Trump and Vance look bad, because they wish the UK to be ruled by our own local Trump and Vance and for UK society to ape US society under Trump.

The shooting in Minnesota cannot under any circumstances be justified. However with regard to US law enforcement generally, it occurs to me that whenever Officers respond to an incident they have no idea whether they will encounter someone armed with deadly weapons, thanks to the preponderance of guns in the country.

That does not justify using lethal force themselves, and I am afraid it is simply a risk of the job. You choose to be an ICE agent - you take the risks of the job when you sign up. I think of it as like joining the army - you might be called up to go to war at any time.
Jonathan Ross needs to face severe penalties, and be made an example of, to discourage any other ICE agent who might want to try the same thing. Won't happen under Trump, sadly - but this is what should happen in an ideal world.

 

[Falcon1200]

Trump's US has huge consequence,

I agree! Generally at least, but not regarding this particular tragic and unnecessary killing, which certainly has been well reported in UK media, just not on the front page.

That does not justify using lethal force themselves

I agree too, but is it not understandable that responding to an unknown and therefore potentially lethal situation, Officers are likely to have weapons drawn and are more likely then to use them?

 

[edwin_m]

The shooting in Minneapolis did go to the top of the BBC news and website when it was first reported, but dropped back fairly quickly. Right now the top story is about Mandelson and Epstein, so still sort of US-related.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

Trump has so much power, until the midterm elections begin, who in his circle/party have the guts to challenge him as they seem too afraid to?

He bought new shoes for Vance & Rubio who are actually wearing them, even in sizes too big, to please/appease their boss.

 

[martin butler]

Trump clearly has surrounded himself with weak men, and Women, Who, whilst Trump is strong, they are not going to be under any pressure , but the moment he falls, so does their shield, "But I was only following orders, did not work in 1946, and it won't work in 2030 when they face accountability for their actions.

 

[Gloster]

Trump clearly has surrounded himself with weak men, and Women, Who, whilst Trump is strong, they are not going to be under any pressure , but the moment he falls, so does their shield, "But I was only following orders, did not work in 1946, and it won't work in 2030 when they face accountability for their actions.

Some of them are just grifters hanging on to his coattails for the financial advantage that it gives them; some may also be various sorts of egotist than get a kick out of what power they have. The dangerous ones are those who are generally in the background and are manipulating Trump to their own ends.

 

[Cowley]

Some of them are just grifters hanging on to his coattails for the financial advantage that it gives them; some may also be various sorts of egotist than get a kick out of what power they have. The dangerous ones are those who are generally in the background and are manipulating Trump to their own ends.

Yes, people like Stephen Miller are the ones that are pulling the strings on a lot of the policy side of things at the moment.

I have a feeling though that Trump may issue a lot of preemptive pardons towards the end of his term. However, if he becomes incapacitated for any reason then he may not get around to doing them and if that ends up being the case then Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi et al might find themselves in rather a lot of trouble.

 

[alex397]

While a New Year’s resolution of mine is to avoid arguments on social media, I couldn’t help but write a few replies on my local resident’s group on Facebook. Quite a few people seem to think the action taken in Minneapolis was justified. Even if the lady was being daft, she certainly didnt deserve to be shot in the face 3 times. Shooting to kill should be the very very last resort. Bearing in mind she only had a 7 second warning from being asked to get out the car (if she even heard that in the panic) to being killed. And also bearing in mind that it seems law enforcement officers are not even permitted to take such action in the circumstances.
Hopefully the people commenting in favour of the ICE agent are just village idiots who now get a platform on social media, but anyone who thinks the action was justified are honestly so deluded, and it raises big red flags about their personality.
These arn’t just bots or trolls either, these are people I recognise from the local pub, cafe, supermarket etc.

 

[brad465]

Laying the groundwork for regime change in Cuba?

Trump tells Cuba to 'make a deal, before it is too late'

Trump has been turning his attention to Cuba since US forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

www.bbc.co.uk

Donald Trump has urged Cuba to "make a deal" or face consequences, warning that the flow of Venezuelan oil and money would now stop.
The US president has been turning his attention to Cuba since US forces seized Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro in a 3 January raid on its capital.
Venezuela, a long-standing ally of Cuba, is believed to send around 35,000 barrels of oil a day to the island, but Trump has said this will end.
"Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided 'Security Services' for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!" he posted on Truth Social on Sunday.
"THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE."
Trump did not specify the terms of a deal or the consequences Cuba could face.
He also referenced the raid to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are facing drug trafficking and other charges in a US court.
Cuba has for years supplied Maduro with his personal security detail. The Cuban government said 32 of its nationals were killed during the US operation in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.
Trump said: "Most of those Cubans are DEAD from last week's USA attack, and Venezuela doesn't need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years."
"Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them, and protect them we will."
The Cuban government is yet to respond to Trump's latest threats, but President Miguel Díaz-Canel previously said the 32 "brave Cuban combatants" who died in Venezuela would be honoured for "taking on the terrorists in imperial uniforms".
While the Trump administration has not stated clear plans for Cuba, the US president has previously said that a military intervention was unnecessary because the country was "ready to fall".
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated last week that Cuba's leaders should be worried, saying that he would be "concerned" if he was in the Cuban government and that "they're in a lot of trouble".
On Sunday, Trump also re-posted on social media a message suggesting that Rubio - a Cuban-American former Florida senator and the son of Cuban exiles - could become president of Cuba.
Trump shared that post with the comment: "Sounds good to me!"
The Trump administration's tactic of confiscating sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers has already begun to worsen a fuel and electricity crisis in Cuba.

Like Venezuela, Cuba is run by a dodgy regime that has impoverished the nation, however again forced change from outside doesn't make things better, especially as in this case it would be more motivated by Rubio and co. getting revenge on past property seizure than anything to help the majority of Cubans.

 

[martin butler]

Trump it seems is motivated by personal greed, and vendetta, These traits, will Over time, be the thing that brings him down, and those behind him, Yes, he will Pardon those who are guilty, but accepting a pardon is tantamount of a guilty pleading, for that crime, but not of others, I'm sure that the next administration, if its Democrat, would still find plenty to charge Trump's enablers with, plus they would be ruined anyway, and justice always seems to find away to get them in the end, imagine spending the rest of your life in hiding, or unable to travel openly, because your the most vilified person ever and there will always be someone wanting revenge for what was done.

 

[Annetts key]

I think that what has become very clear is that Trump is a bully. Simple as that.

 

[brad465]

Banana Republic in full swing:

US Fed chair Jerome Powell under criminal investigation

Jerome Powell said he believed the investigation was due to Donald Trump's anger over the Fed's refusal to cut interest rates.

www.bbc.co.uk

Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, he said on Sunday.
In a video announcing the probe, Powell said the US justice department served the agency with subpoenas and threatened a criminal indictment over testimony he gave to a Senate committee about renovations to Federal Reserve buildings.
He called the probe "unprecedented" and said he believed it was opened due to him drawing Donald Trump's ire over refusing to lower interest rates despite repeated public pressure from the president.
The Fed chair is the latest to come at odds with Trump and then face criminal investigation by the US justice department.
The BBC has contacted the justice department and the White House for comment.
"This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions, or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation," Powell said.
"I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve is above the law, but this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure," he went on to say.
Trump said in an interview with NBC News, external on Sunday that he did not have any knowledge of the Justice Department's investigation into the Fed.
"I don't know anything about it, but he's certainly not very good at the Fed, and he's not very good at building buildings," he said of Powell.
The Fed is undertaking the first renovation of two buildings, the Eccles and 1951 Constitution Avenue buildings, since their construction in the 1930s.
The "overhaul and modernisation" of the buildings includes health and safety work such as the removal of asbestos and lead contamination.
The Fed has said that the renovations will reduce its costs over time. But Trump has criticised the ballooning costs of the project, arguing it will cost $3.1bn (£2.3bn), much higher than the Fed's $2.5bn (£1.9bn) forecast.
The probe, which prosecutors have not confirmed, would signal a fresh escalation in Trump's ongoing dispute with Powell, who the president nominated for the role as Fed chair in 2017.
It comes as the president is expected to name Powell's successor as chair by the end of the month.

 

[najaB]

Banana Republic in full swing:

US Fed chair Jerome Powell under criminal investigation

Jerome Powell said he believed the investigation was due to Donald Trump's anger over the Fed's refusal to cut interest rates.

www.bbc.co.uk

This from the "anti lawfare" president...

 

[nlogax]

Interesting to note that a large amount of MAGA faithfuls on the /r/Conservative subreddit seem to oppose an invasion of Greenland and a potential removal of Powell from the Fed. I like to take a regular look there to see how Trump's policies are going down with his cult members - and increasingly there is negativity towards his agenda items.