What’s the alternative? I want to protest, but if I miss work then I might lose my job, which would cost me my health insurance and likely my house. I want to get back on social media and show people where I stand, but these MAGA people are rabid and will come after me for it. I’m ready to step up, but not while Trump has half the country behind him. I’m waiting for a numbers advantage. His approval rating is tanking, and once it gets low enough, I think people like me will be more willing to take bigger risks. Until then, we’re doing what we can while keeping our heads down.

Has he considered restoring funding to USAID? That might legit qualify.

"They say, ‘Evil prevails when good men fail to act.’ What they ought to say is, ‘Evil prevails.’

Bleak quote from Lord of War that has stuck with me. Reminds me of Sophie Scholl.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_US_arms_sales_to_Taiwan

The US has been arming Taiwan for decades. Why would that be necessary if the US considered Taiwan to be part of China? You’re confusing diplomacy for policy.

Really curious what this means for Taiwan. Their sovereignty depends on US support, but with Trump at the helm, we’re just as likely to cut a deal with Xi and stay home when the fighting starts.

Trump just wants peace. He wants the killing to stop. And he wants to cut life-saving aid to impoverished countries. And Medicaid.

I wonder if Taiwan is mulling over a peaceful reunification with China as a result of this mess. Their independence depends in large part on US support, but with Trump at the helm they’re likely to face extortion when they need it most.

There’s a simple way for the Republicans in Congress to reassure critics that this is not a dictatorship: define it. Make a list of things that would obviously not be okay. If the rest of us are right about Trump, he’ll cross those lines sooner or later. Then there will be no more denying it.

Wouldn’t this have had value as a bargaining chip in peace talks? The fact that they’re saying this now suggests that they’re about to pressure Ukraine into a truly shitty deal.

I’m more moderate and have always respected AOC, but thought she was too extreme to make a good president. I genuinely believe that the president should be someone who wants to build coalitions and steer the country towards a better future without allowing it to fracture. I still believe that, but I recognize now that my way of thinking can’t win elections in this modern era of politics. Now is the time for a firebrand - someone who would rather lose than compromise. I would still be worried about civil war if AOC became president, but I’m already worried about that now, so no point in holding it against her.

El Salvador has apparently offered to imprison US citizens for a fee. Trump previously explored using Guantanamo Bay as an offshore concentration camp to avoid expenses such as pediatric care and education for undocumented children. This sounds like the same sort of things, but for citizens.

Fair enough. I agree that we all need to do more, but I think that’s going to look different for everyone. For someone like me, it means getting off the Internet and actually showing up - not blowing up a federal building or whatever “much more” implies.

You’ve convinced me. I was planning to start attending my local town meetings and lend my support to the few outnumbered progressives there, but instead I think I’ll just hoard canned goods and hunker down.

I don’t think he’s sending them there to torture them, but to minimize how much money is spent on their care (which in itself is torture I suppose). Migrant children held in US territory are entitled to education and pediatric care - not sure that applies if they’re in Cuba. Extremely fucked up either way.

Polled a few of my friends and 100% relate to this meme, so I sort of doubt it.

Similar experience. A homeless guy ambushed me at the drive thru asking for money to buy a burger. I told him I’d buy him a combo and he said no, only cash. I gave him the money because I honestly don’t care how he spends it, but why ask for a burger at a Burger King of all places if you don’t actually want a burger? Now I’m stuck pretending like I’m some gullible idiot to spare him his dignity when he could have just asked for money.

Wasn’t jury nullification historically used to sanction hate crimes against minorities? I agree that it shouldn’t be a banned topic, but I also understand how it could be a call to violence in certain contexts.

“And what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.”

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.”

Both quotes from Thomas Jefferson, which isn’t to say that that it’s true - only that our founders expected us to defend our liberties with violence if necessary.

I’m genuinely shocked by the public reaction to this murder. I feel naive for saying that, but it’s true. I’m not surprised that people are feeling the way that they feel - I feel it too - but I didn’t expect to see such open support for violence. Feels like it’s only a matter of time before this happens again.

So two wrongs make a right I guess? Why shouldn’t we be holding all these people accountable?