"I don't see it at all," President Trump says when asked by @karentravers about the possibility of a recession. He says he was not concerned by the stock market sell-off.
Of course he doesn't, people are probably putting money into his bank accounts with steady frequency.
Too many will have shorted the market and made billions.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Trump is a one-off. His self image as a great negotiator requires both P and Z to come to the table. He offered buttered carrots to P but beat Z with a stick while knowing he needs his support. P is the intransigent type who doesn't care about his army's losses but does care what Muscovites think. So Z ups the stakes by striking infrastructure near Moscow. Now the Solomon-like negotiator switches towards Z. Will this bring P to the table?
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Continually baffled how anyone on Pb thought Trump would be better than Harris!
I don't think many thought Trump would necessarily be better than Harris, but plenty lacked the moral and intellectual clarity about who was the right candidate and who was the wrong candidate.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
MTG has told them to hold Measles parties...
And have any happened? I agree that’s a stupid thing to suggest.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
MTG has told them to hold Measles parties...
And do you think that is the cause of the cases?
I think it's more a symptom of how many Republicans are cases.
Continually baffled how anyone on Pb thought Trump would be better than Harris!
I don't think many thought Trump would necessarily be better than Harris, but plenty lacked the moral and intellectual clarity about who was the right candidate and who was the wrong candidate.
It makes me question the judgment of a lot of people when they tell us how bad the government is here.
Trump is a one-off. His self image as a great negotiator requires both P and Z to come to the table. He offered buttered carrots to P but beat Z with a stick while knowing he needs his support. P is the intransigent type who doesn't care about his army's losses but does care what Muscovites think. So Z ups the stakes by striking infrastructure near Moscow. Now the Solomon-like negotiator switches towards Z. Will this bring P to the table?
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
MTG has told them to hold Measles parties...
And have any happened? I agree that’s a stupid thing to suggest.
As an aside I see that MTG is described as a conspiracy theorist. Amusingly for many on PB she believes that Covid is a manufactured bio weapon.
And, bluntly, who the fuck is she to try and pretend that she is economically literate? She has a degree in communications and politics. The stupidity of this administration and her almost comical defence of it leaves her without any credibility.
I'd like to know who was responsible for making American voters so annoyed that they ended up electing someone like Trump as president.
Trump told a lot of lies. Vance and Musk did too. People were told they were lies. They did not care. Trump voters are the only ones responsible for Trump being President. They own the consequences of their decision entirely. No-one else is to blame.
Yes and no, the problem is that on some of the "common sense" stuff that doesn't even rate here like biological men in women's sports and private spaces Trump was the only game in town. Look at the backlash that Gavin Newsom has been facing for stating the bleeding obvious that allowing biological men into women's sports is unfair to the women, this is what fuels people to vote for Trump, there was a repudiation of "common sense" among the left in the US and it completely left them open to simple attacks from the likes of Trump who has parcelled that "common sense" approach with all of the bullshit so people buy it.
The left in the US really need to get real with this stuff and tell the T in LGBT that they aren't women and can't partake in women's sports or use single sex spaces for women. If that upsets some of the far left then that's fine because right now they will win huge numbers in the centre that voted for Trump but are pretty upset about what's been going on.
Do you have any polling evidence that trans issues were a big motivator of now people voted?
Trump is a one-off. His self image as a great negotiator requires both P and Z to come to the table. He offered buttered carrots to P but beat Z with a stick while knowing he needs his support. P is the intransigent type who doesn't care about his army's losses but does care what Muscovites think. So Z ups the stakes by striking infrastructure near Moscow. Now the Solomon-like negotiator switches towards Z. Will this bring P to the table?
"Congratulations! How do you feel?"
"I gotta P!"
You can now drive around with a green P plate, so we all know
I can't stop thinking that she's like a student politician from the federation of conservative students of old. who's in love with the chairman of the tories.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
I feel for Ukraine wrt the ceasefire. But it seems Rubio is on board with some protection for their interests. I just wonder if his job is safe if/when Putin says nyet!
From what I the linked mineral deal is closer to the second "Outline of the process" deal, rather than the first "Everything is the USA's including the underpants of your entire population" one.
And, bluntly, who the fuck is she to try and pretend that she is economically literate? She has a degree in communications and politics. The stupidity of this administration and her almost comical defence of it leaves her without any credibility.
Intimidation of the media, individuals and in general, tends to work. And being a bullshitter is pretty well an administration requirement.
Number one, it's a great product—as good as it gets—and number two, because Elon has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly...
Number one, it's a great product—as good as it gets—and number two, because Elon has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly...
"Having said all that, now take him out to Guantanamo and confiscate his assets."
Number one, it's a great product—as good as it gets—and number two, because Elon has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly...
Certainly made me feel something move.
Unforrtuantely, I think it was my dinner in my stomach.
Number one, it's a great product—as good as it gets—and number two, because Elon has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly...
Certainly made me feel something move.
Unforrtuantely, I think it was my dinner in my stomach.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
Some progress made by Rubio with the 30 day ceasefire commitment from Rubio. Ball now in Russia's court
If we assume with some confidence that Russia won't respect any ceasefire, what do we think happens next?
I think it depends heavily on what Europe is able to do.
Trump hates Ukraine, and virulently hates Zelensky, and all his nodding donkeys and MAGA mushrooms follow his line. Some believe it and for others it is performative conformity.
One phrase I heard today was "Ukraine does not want to receive Trump's diktat via Vladimir Putin", ie Trump could want to use Putin's "Nyet" to give him an excuse further to walk away from Ukraine.
So - back to what I was arguing some time ago - the risk-minimisation approach for Europe is to take the agenda away from Trump and Putin with the support policy and package agenda for Ukraine in some way. That is, to marginalise both of them as far as possible.
That will then come back potentially to how far can Europe make up for the gap the Americans are leaving.
Another, more positive, view is that Trump would turn some support back on eg intelligence and weapon supplies that he has currently frozen on the Polish border. But that may be optimistic if reports of US forces dismantling the bae in Poland itself, down to removing paving slabs, are accurate.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
I absolutely agree with that bit. I’ve nothing but contempt for the anti-vax grifters like RFK. Their dupes deserve more sympathy - if only because it’s in everyone’s interest to win them over.
For those who are not aware, Anne Applebaum is the wife of Radosław Tomasz Sikorski (also known as Radek Sikorski), a Polish politician, journalist and statesman who has served as Foreign Minister in Donald Tusk's cabinet since 2023, previously holding this office between 2007 and 2014. Her views are unsurprising.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
Someone ( @HYUFD ?) may know about Papal Encyclicals on previous vaccines, maybe even measles.
RC objections tend to be on technical scientific grounds and links to abortion, such as whether a particular vaccine has been developed at any point in its history using cell lines from aborted foetuses. Analysis:
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
I absolutely agree with that bit. I’ve nothing but contempt for the anti-vax grifters like RFK. Their dupes deserve more sympathy - if only because it’s in everyone’s interest to win them over.
Quite right about riskiness. Someone I knew as a child went completely deaf overnight as a result of viral meningitis (I think, looking back - could have been measles or rubella [edit]). She was in hospital, aged about 4, and in those days parents only came in for set visiting hours. It took her a horrendously long time just to recover her relationship with her parents, who'd seemingly abandoned her, never mind cope with speaking while deaf (even with the head start of having been able to hear) ... and, now I am thinking back, I do wonder all the more.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
When it comes to anti-vax -
The two commonest things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. We will eventually run out of hydrogen.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
When it comes to anti-vax -
The two commonest things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. We will eventually run out of hydrogen.
Anti-vaxxers are stupid. And scum.
No wonder the Darwin Award just gave up and shut down in 2020-1.
Every time I log on Trumpski has either put on or taken off a tariff.
I wonder if any of them are actually going on in reality.
It takes time for IT systems to be updated with new regulations.
The solution to Trump is to just have talking heads on Fox News say his orders have been implemented, but then actually delay for a couple of weeks to see if he changes his mind, then have the talking heads declare his genius in returning things to normal if he does.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
That sounds like more of a reason to judge types of celeb and people on PB.
The UK was heavily involved behind the scenes ahead of the US-Ukraine talks in Saudi, British sources say.
Jonathan Powell worked with Mike Waltz and French and German counterparts on a plan for a truce to begin a peace process.
At the weekend Powell met Zelenskiy and Yermak in Kyiv. They produced a written proposal for a ‘staged process’ to bridge the gap with the US.
It’s based on: - a ceasefire - confidence building measures including for an exchange of POWs - the release of detained civilians - the return of children - then negotiations to bring about a just and lasting peace.
A detailed text was agreed with both US and Ukrainian sides.
Rubio will debrief G7 foreign ministers in Canada. Powell will be in DC on Friday with European colleagues to meet Waltz. Starmer will convene European and Nato leaders on Saturday.
The ball is now in Russia’s court, a UK source says. “Now Ukraine has made a concrete offer of a ceasefire the ball is firmly in the Russian court. Will they reciprocate and stop the fighting to allow serious negotiations on a lasting peace or will they continue to slaughter innocent civilians?”
@Reuters US President Donald Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro said that an increased tariff of 50% on Canadian steel and aluminum will not take effect on Wednesday, after Trump had earlier ordered the 25% tariff be doubled
For those who are not aware, Anne Applebaum is the wife of Radosław Tomasz Sikorski (also known as Radek Sikorski), a Polish politician, journalist and statesman who has served as Foreign Minister in Donald Tusk's cabinet since 2023, previously holding this office between 2007 and 2014. Her views are unsurprising.
That's not a fair summary imo.
She is a prominent and highly respected historian of authoritarianism going back for more than 3 decades.
@Reuters US President Donald Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro said that an increased tariff of 50% on Canadian steel and aluminum will not take effect on Wednesday, after Trump had earlier ordered the 25% tariff be doubled
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
When it comes to anti-vax -
The two commonest things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. We will eventually run out of hydrogen.
For those who are not aware, Anne Applebaum is the wife of Radosław Tomasz Sikorski (also known as Radek Sikorski), a Polish politician, journalist and statesman who has served as Foreign Minister in Donald Tusk's cabinet since 2023, previously holding this office between 2007 and 2014. Her views are unsurprising.
That's not a fair summary imo.
She is a prominent and highly respected historian of authoritarianism going back for more than 3 decades.
@Reuters US President Donald Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro said that an increased tariff of 50% on Canadian steel and aluminum will not take effect on Wednesday, after Trump had earlier ordered the 25% tariff be doubled
The UK was heavily involved behind the scenes ahead of the US-Ukraine talks in Saudi, British sources say.
Jonathan Powell worked with Mike Waltz and French and German counterparts on a plan for a truce to begin a peace process.
At the weekend Powell met Zelenskiy and Yermak in Kyiv. They produced a written proposal for a ‘staged process’ to bridge the gap with the US.
It’s based on: - a ceasefire - confidence building measures including for an exchange of POWs - the release of detained civilians - the return of children - then negotiations to bring about a just and lasting peace.
A detailed text was agreed with both US and Ukrainian sides.
Rubio will debrief G7 foreign ministers in Canada. Powell will be in DC on Friday with European colleagues to meet Waltz. Starmer will convene European and Nato leaders on Saturday.
The ball is now in Russia’s court, a UK source says. “Now Ukraine has made a concrete offer of a ceasefire the ball is firmly in the Russian court. Will they reciprocate and stop the fighting to allow serious negotiations on a lasting peace or will they continue to slaughter innocent civilians?”
Powell knows more about negotiation than almost anyone at the international level.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
When it comes to anti-vax -
The two commonest things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. We will eventually run out of hydrogen.
Trumpski is now promoting electric cars. Specifically the Tesla.
His base hate electric cars.
They elected him partly because he said climate change was a giant hoax and we need to drill baby. His base love oil. They love gas. They think electric cars are woke shit for the coastal states.
Now his co-president is losing his entire business Trump comes out as a car salesman.
For those who are not aware, Anne Applebaum is the wife of Radosław Tomasz Sikorski (also known as Radek Sikorski), a Polish politician, journalist and statesman who has served as Foreign Minister in Donald Tusk's cabinet since 2023, previously holding this office between 2007 and 2014. Her views are unsurprising.
That's not a fair summary imo.
She is a prominent and highly respected historian of authoritarianism going back for more than 3 decades.
Not half. She is incredibly well respected international author and historian.
And she knows more about what Trumpski is up to than almost anyone, having study the genre.
I kept up my subscription to the Atlantic for a year to read her articles. Her knowledge of eastern Europe, before and after the wall came down, is unparalleled. She gives a lot of information in her pieces but much more important is the context of that information which gives it meaning. One of the most distinguished journalists working today.
There’s a few scenarios: 1) the Trump team are Fucking Morons. They genuinely believe the stupid things they are saying 2) the Trump team know this is stupid but believe their supporters are Fucking Morons 3) combinations thereof
Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico now number over 250, with two deaths being linked to the outbreak. (For comparison, the US had 285 cases of measles in all of 2024).
I’m in no way on Trumps side but how is this down to Trump? Yes rolling forward an administration that doesn’t believe in vaccines is a terrible prospect, but these cases are surely not because of that.
Attacking public confidence in vaccines has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign for years. Employing RFK Jnr was just a continuation of that.
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
Reading around there is no evidence of any measles parties having taken place, but a lot of social media chatter. It’s also clear that almost all those who have contracted measles have not been vaccinated. Blame lies with the parents and Andrew Wakefield who tried to bring down the MMR vaccine with lies and fake science.
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
When it comes to anti-vax -
The two commonest things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. We will eventually run out of hydrogen.
Comments
Donald Trump doing a Tesla infomercial for Elon Musk—his biggest political donor—in front of the White House is peak corruption.
"I gotta P!"
PS what a day of sport.
PPS Yes I’m drunk.
Rodrigo Duterte's downfall marks dramatic end to Philippines power struggle
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6253ly20p4o
Cutting CDC funding doesn’t help, either.
It’s not entirely down to them, but they certainly bear a significant degree of responsibility.
https://bsky.app/profile/dansinker.com/post/3lk4vg3yess23
And being a bullshitter is pretty well an administration requirement.
doing the hokey-cokey
that's what it's all about
https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1899552850868584942
Number one, it's a great product—as good as it gets—and number two, because Elon has devoted his energy and his life to doing this and I think he has been treated very unfairly...
https://x.com/dccc/status/1899476336613163226
Trump supporters think EVs are Woke as Shit
Non-Trump supporters are now "Oh Fuck No"
https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1899545819717451817
Unforrtuantely, I think it was my dinner in my stomach.
https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/1899237812366647516
Thanks William
https://bsky.app/profile/anneapplebaum.bsky.social/post/3ljz23cbfjs2a
If you don’t have vaccines and the disease is mild in children you can see a logic in getting the child to experience the disease in their early years. I would note that I don’t expect my two year old to ever need or get a covid jab. The plan is for the kids to get covid and develop natural immunity. But measles is too risky for that option.
We should be careful not to judge too much though. Plenty on PB we’re resistant to the covid vaccines and being antivax is a mainstream thing among the type of celeb who revels in ‘wellness’. But that’s celebs not people in power.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2025/03/texas-measles-outbreak-death-family/681985/
It takes time for IT systems to be updated with new regulations.
I would note the religious aspect here though. Unvaccinated because of a belief in a certain kind of god.
Trump hates Ukraine, and virulently hates Zelensky, and all his nodding donkeys and MAGA mushrooms follow his line. Some believe it and for others it is performative conformity.
One phrase I heard today was "Ukraine does not want to receive Trump's diktat via Vladimir Putin", ie Trump could want to use Putin's "Nyet" to give him an excuse further to walk away from Ukraine.
So - back to what I was arguing some time ago - the risk-minimisation approach for Europe is to take the agenda away from Trump and Putin with the support policy and package agenda for Ukraine in some way. That is, to marginalise both of them as far as possible.
That will then come back potentially to how far can Europe make up for the gap the Americans are leaving.
Another, more positive, view is that Trump would turn some support back on eg intelligence and weapon supplies that he has currently frozen on the Polish border. But that may be optimistic if reports of US forces dismantling the bae in Poland itself, down to removing paving slabs, are accurate.
I’ve nothing but contempt for the anti-vax grifters like RFK. Their dupes deserve more sympathy - if only because it’s in everyone’s interest to win them over.
The lunacy is in the head of the deluded believers.
In 2022, the Pope stated that COVID Vaccinations were a moral obligation:
ROME — Pope Francis suggested Monday that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus was a "moral obligation" and denounced how people had been swayed by "baseless information" to refuse one of the most effective measures to save lives.
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/10/1071785531/on-covid-vaccinations-pope-says-health-care-is-a-moral-obligation
Someone ( @HYUFD ?) may know about Papal Encyclicals on previous vaccines, maybe even measles.
RC objections tend to be on technical scientific grounds and links to abortion, such as whether a particular vaccine has been developed at any point in its history using cell lines from aborted foetuses. Analysis:
https://mycatholicdoctor.com/our-services/vaccines/
That's a different calibre of objection than the conspiracy theories from the Trumpvangelical type constituency in the USA.
The two commonest things in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. We will eventually run out of hydrogen.
Anti-vaxxers are stupid. And scum.
Yes, I know the economic situation was a factor for many Americans.
The UK was heavily involved behind the scenes ahead of the US-Ukraine talks in Saudi, British sources say.
Jonathan Powell worked with Mike Waltz and French and German counterparts on a plan for a truce to begin a peace process.
At the weekend Powell met Zelenskiy and Yermak in Kyiv. They produced a written proposal for a ‘staged process’ to bridge the gap with the US.
It’s based on:
- a ceasefire
- confidence building measures including for an exchange of POWs
- the release of detained civilians
- the return of children
- then negotiations to bring about a just and lasting peace.
A detailed text was agreed with both US and Ukrainian sides.
Rubio will debrief G7 foreign ministers in Canada. Powell will be in DC on Friday with European colleagues to meet Waltz. Starmer will convene European and Nato leaders on Saturday.
The ball is now in Russia’s court, a UK source says. “Now Ukraine has made a concrete offer of a ceasefire the ball is firmly in the Russian court. Will they reciprocate and stop the fighting to allow serious negotiations on a lasting peace or will they continue to slaughter innocent civilians?”
US President Donald Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro said that an increased tariff of 50% on Canadian steel and aluminum will not take effect on Wednesday, after Trump had earlier ordered the 25% tariff be doubled
https://x.com/Reuters/status/1899569579388764639
She is a prominent and highly respected historian of authoritarianism going back for more than 3 decades.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Applebaum
The argument for vaccines really can't be made any clearer than this.
And she knows more about what Trumpski is up to than almost anyone, having study the genre.
A real asset to Starmer's government.
Trumpski is now promoting electric cars. Specifically the Tesla.
His base hate electric cars.
They elected him partly because he said climate change was a giant hoax and we need to drill baby. His base love oil. They love gas. They think electric cars are woke shit for the coastal states.
Now his co-president is losing his entire business Trump comes out as a car salesman.
All over the place.