The problem is that as we're seeing with the Strait of Hormuz, "the USA forfeits its global ambitions" does not lead to a new age of peace and sunshine, but to global recession and instability. The Strait of Hormuz is not the only load-bearing instance of US power backstopping modern economies.

@tupolev22m.bsky.social · 4h ago

I think the traditional answer is actually "forfeit your global ambitions because you can't afford them and voters won't make the sacrifices necessary to restore them," unfortunately

honestly, we have no reason to believe that an actually isolationist, openly fascist white supremacist party wouldn't win Congressional seats or challenge the Presidency

Stan Oklobdzija@stano.bsky.social · 4h ago

For federal elections, splitting the GOP into two competing crank Nazi movements would be great for Democrats. At the state/local level, however, we'd be condemning large portions of the South and Midwest to governance by Crossfit George Wallace's.

I guess this is the campaign I want to see anyway, but I think the sale is “we could’ve had nice things but Trump and his cronies stole them from us. So what we’re going to do is not rest until we’ve seized back everything that Trump stole and his entire administration is rotting in prison.”

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux@bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 4h ago

I fundamentally do not know how to square the politics whereby Democrats will essentially have to tell the American people that because they (the voters) made an extremely stupid decision, they need to lower their expectations substantially for the foreseeable future, but here we are.

"The merciless nationwide persecution and prosecution of Trumpworld top to bottom" is my only half joking answer

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux@bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 4h ago

I fundamentally do not know how to square the politics whereby Democrats will essentially have to tell the American people that because they (the voters) made an extremely stupid decision, they need to lower their expectations substantially for the foreseeable future, but here we are.

I fundamentally do not know how to square the politics whereby Democrats will essentially have to tell the American people that because they (the voters) made an extremely stupid decision, they need to lower their expectations substantially for the foreseeable future, but here we are.

"They wrecked our country, this is their fault, they are criminals and because of them we all ate shit and will have to eat some more shit to fix it but *we, the people* will make sure they eat the most shit the longest because that's all we're feeding them in jail" but from the left

At this point theatrical prosecutions of trump admin officials will be load-bearing for a dem admin forced to make a lot of unpopular fiscal choices

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux@bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 4h ago

It seems really clear that by 2028, we're going to have an empty SPR, substantial munitions shortages, greater strategic challenges, a larger national debt and substantially higher bond rates which will massively constrain future administrations.

i worry less about big lofty questions like “what happens to american influence globally” than “what are we going to do about the crater republicans put in federal revenues”

part of the answer is that everyone’s taxes are going up and the people whose taxes are going to go up the most are the people most likely to get quoted in the newspaper about it

this is legitimately a huge problem that i don’t know how they will resolve, either from an executive or legislative standpoint, and it’s going to be the case across a lot more than just defense

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux@bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 4h ago

I fundamentally do not know how to square the politics whereby Democrats will essentially have to tell the American people that because they (the voters) made an extremely stupid decision, they need to lower their expectations substantially for the foreseeable future, but here we are.

I know it sucks, but Dems have got to be prepared to inherit a munitions-and-readiness hole that is going to be expensive to fill, but which will need to be filled. Hardly the only such hole, but it will be a big one.

Secretary of Defense Rock@sodrock.bsky.social · 4h ago

Who knew ridiculously long deployments and demanding op tempos run a ship and crew into the ground!

Hear me out

The Independent@the-independent.com · 10h ago

James Bond producer shares update on 007 casting: ‘It’s got to be really different’

Yeah, anybody who thinks their Chump-voting neighbor has seen the light because of their data center politics is in for a very bad shock.

Jeremy Diamond ☕️@dmnd.me · 17h ago

Fourth: I think we've all discussed on this website recently how it's bad to get in bed with the MAHA types. But this is happening. Glonzo is being used as an opportunity to mend fences. The well-meaning folks don't realize the fences are electrified.

Rape is the central pillar of the right-wing agenda, the right to terrorize other people in the most intimate way possible.

Task & Purpose@taskandpurpose.com · yesterday

Army ends anonymous reporting for harassment complaints trib.al/oQU93m2

A few months ago I wrote about America's need for a new approach to 'protection,' especially for trans people. We're now seeing literal mass migration of trans people inside the U.S. and the world to safer places—and its imperative to build out this approach: www.liberalcurrents.com/rose-knife-p...

Rose, Knife, Policy

The doublespeak language of American victimization and violence has never been more clear than in Trump's second term.

liberalcurrents.com

Liberal Currents@liberalcurrents.com · 5h ago

Today the UK is putting into practice aggressive restrictions on trans people using toilets and changing rooms. This follows a complex legal/political mess over two years. The UK was among the best countries in Europe on LGBTQ rights; now it's among the worst. www.liberalcurrents.com/the-end-of-t...

This, by the way, is an admission by Vance that he knows Trump can't just cancel elections.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 6h ago

JD Vance: "We don't want the next administration, whoever -- god forbid you're gonna have President El-Sayed in three years ... "

the right wants to bait you into an argument that you don't need to have and that you will probably lose. it's important to recall what your principles are rather than just negatively polarize against whatever they're spewing

i think a lot of well-meaning people fall into a rhetorical trap where they take the bait and argue about male vs. female performance in sports rather than arguing for the value and dignity of women’s athletics generally. don’t let yourself be dragged into a bad faith framing.

Peter@notalawyer.bsky.social · 2d ago

the best HS teams in the country have multiple guys who will be in the NBA in a couple of years. they aren't normal high schools, they're basketball factories. but this literally doesn't matter. the value of women's sports isn't contingent on their performance vis a vis men.

I'm calling it: "Start smoking" is going to be mainstream MAHA / Republican health advice by 2028. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

this name shit would be the perfect time for obama and/or mamdani to do a hit for el-sayed. "we've heard a lot of people attacking dr el-sayed over his name. well, for eight years they called me PRESIDENT hussein obama. and i'm MAYOR mamdani. so maybe its time for SENATOR el-sayed."

Honest question: What's the Democratic solution to this problem? I think they need one because this is likely going to be a problem until Trump's not in office, and nobody's going to be able to put the toothpaste back into the tube.

Sky Marchini@sky.skymarchini.net · 5h ago

lol. lmao, even.

fwiw I think if the strait stays closed until 2029 we probably have a lot of latitude on this specific issue because things will be *bad* economically

as with a lot of things the actual question is "what is the Democratic solution to a hostile media environment" and I don't know but boy do we need one

Yeah see this is my big worry. This is a landmine.

David Kissling@xtdave.bsky.social · 4h ago

They’re going to have to give Iran what they want, then deal with a press that views it as 10 times worse than the Afghanistan withdrawal

He makes for good television and that's a big asset

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5h ago

El-Sayed: "They think they want to use my whole name against me. Mike, listen man, If you can't say the name -- it's Abdulrahman -- keep the name out your damn mouth."

This guy looks to have the juice, Godspeed Senator

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5h ago

El-Sayed: "My commitment to Jewish safety is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters. Because if there is one question of political philosophy that ought to animate us all, it's what would we do if we treated all our kids like they were all of our kids?"

being in a situation where you need Literally Every Single Dem on Literally Every Single Vote is a recipe for getting mad at the Dem party all the time because you give maximal leverage to its worst members elect enough Dems and you’ll be less mad! it’s basic math!

some specific democrats suck and they suck in ways that are detrimental to issues that you personally care about you know how you solve that once we are past the primaries? you elect even more democrats so that their votes are less important joe manchin couldn’t have done as much damage as vote 52

correct are you serious about beating fascism or not? get in, we’re beating them in november you can be mad, you can be disappointed, but at the end of the day having someone with D in any and all seats is better than having someone with an R in them

post malone ergo propter malone@proptermalone.bsky.social · 9h ago

I meant to post this last night but if you’re mad about any of the primary results you got 24 hours to bleed, try not to say anything you’ll regret in 48, and then it’s Blue No Matter Who.

Uh let’s put a pin in that

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 7h ago

Rep. Max Miller on Newsmax: "If any of these things were true, I would be in prison"