The Political Thread

[Boomhauer]

thats the thing, if we roll the clock back, even adjusting for inflation etc, my wage would buy a lot more. houses were also like 7 times cheaper

it mostly means middle class wont be owning houses, theyll be renting till they die. and thats bad for the generation after because we will have nothing for them

Roll back the clock to the 70s, I would fill a shopping cart full of food, without going over 50 dollars. That is when my mother was a child. Roll the clock back further to the 1930s, the decade my grandparents were born
You could easily afford stuff for over ten children.

 

[Boomhauer]

Inside Trump’s Search for a Health Threat to Justify His Immigration Crackdown

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s advisers have spent months trying to identify a disease that will help them build their case for closing the border.

www.nytimes.com

President-elect Donald J. Trump is likely to justify his plans to seal off the border with Mexico by citing a public health emergency from immigrants bringing disease into the United States.

Now he just has to find one.

Mr. Trump last invoked public health restrictions, known as Title 42, in the early days of the pandemic in 2020, when the coronavirus was tearing across the globe. As he prepares to enter office again, Mr. Trump has no such public health disaster to point to.

Still, his advisers have spent recent months trying to find the right disease to build their case, according to four people familiar with the discussions. They have looked at tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases as options and have asked allies inside the Border Patrol for examples of illnesses that are being detected among migrants.

They also have considered trying to rationalize Title 42 by arguing broadly that migrants at the border come from various countries and may carry unfamiliar disease — an assertion that echoes a racist notion with a long history in the United States that minorities transmit infections. Mr. Trump’s team did not respond to a request for comment.

Now, I regret voting for him. I wish I voted third party last year. Disease is is just his excuse.

 

[CraigPelton]

The Catholic Church has gay people in their clergy. So?

My brother in Christ I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about

 

[Chris]

Pete Hegseth’s tense confirmation hearing ends with no sign of Republican defections against Trump’s Pentagon pick – live

Democrats appeared skeptical of Hegseth’s qualifications to lead the Pentagon and grilled him on sexual assault allegations and women in the military

www.theguardian.com

After more than four hours, the Senate armed services committee has wrapped up its confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee as defense secretary. Hegseth’s nomination was controversial from almost the moment it was announced, after reports emerged that he had been accused of sexual assault, been unfaithful in his marriages and was known for drinking to excess. Democrats have vowed to oppose him, and some Republicans, who hold the majority in the Senate, seemed uneasy as well. But as his first confirmation hearing came to a close, there was no sign from GOP lawmakers on the panel that they were willing to vote against confirming him, particularly after Hegseth walked back previous statements he had made against women serving in military combat roles.

Here’s a look back at the highlights from the hearing:

• Hegseth admitted “I’m not a perfect person” in his opening statement, but decried the reports about his misconduct as part of a “coordinated smear campaign” intended to hurt himself and Trump. He went on to describe himself as a “change agent” who would make the Pentagon more responsive to global threats.
• Protesters interrupted Hegseth’s opening remarks, and were carried out by police.
• Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the committee, said the FBI’s report into Hegseth’s background is “insufficient”, and unsuccessfully requested that it be shared with the full committee. He also told Hegseth he did not think he was qualified for the job.
• Joni Ernst, a Republican senator and combat veteran, was among those who signaled skepticism about Hegseth after his nomination was announced, but at the hearing said she had “many productive conversations” with the nominee in the weeks since.
• Mazie Hirono, a Democratic senator, tried to nail down Hegseth’s views on invading Greenland, staying sober and shooting protesters, but the nominee largely refused to answer. Fellow Democrat Tim Kaine aggressively questioned him over his infidelity and alleged sexual assault, the latter of which Hegseth called a “false claim”.

 

[Chris]

Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners

The Biden administration is notifying Congress of its intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.

apnews.com

The Biden administration on Tuesday is notifying Congress of its intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island.

Senior U.S. administration officials, who previewed the announcement on the condition of anonymity, said ”many dozens” of political prisoners and others considered by the U.S. to be unjustly detained would be released by the end of the Biden administration at noon on Jan. 20.

The U.S. would also ease some economic pressure on Cuba, as well as a 2017 memorandum issued by then-President Donald Trump toughening U.S. posture toward Cuba.

 

[Chris]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/15/south-korean-president-yoon-suk-yeol-detained-local-media-reports-.html

South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was reportedly arrested by the country’s Corruption Investigation Office for High Ranking officials, a first for a sitting South Korean leader.

This was the second bid to arrest the impeached president, following a failed attempt on Jan.3 when agents from South Korea’s Presidential Security Service had blocked investigators from entering Yoon’s residence.

About 3,000 police officers were reportedly involved in the second attempt to secure access to the compound, news agency Yonhap said.

 

[OsBlaze]

Fucking ridiculous

Speaker Orders Capitol Hill Flags Raised for Inauguration

President-elect Donald J. Trump had complained that flags were scheduled to fly at half-staff — a symbol of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter — on the day of his inauguration.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Comrade Khan]

the dictator has spoken and his ego must be stroked at all times

 

[OsBlaze]

Like it’s been a thing since 1954 that any President or Former President upon his death will have the flag lowered to half staff for 30 days, and they use some excuse about “oh it’s never happened during an inauguration either, as it has. Jimmy Carter, one of the nicest people to ever hold the office, disrespected by the worst man to ever hold the office. Just ridiculous.

 

[Samoa Looch]

the dictator has spoken and his ego must be stroked at all times

Preferably with Old Glory, because getting spanked with a Magazine with himself on the cover doesn't do it for him anymore.

 

[Chris]

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-consumer-prices-rise-slightly-above-expectations-december-2025-01-15/

U.S. consumer prices increased slightly more than expected in December amid higher costs for energy goods, pointing to still elevated inflation that aligns with the Federal Reserve's projections for fewer interest rate cuts this year.

The consumer price index rose 0.4% last month after climbing 0.3% in November, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Wednesday. In the 12 months through December, the CPI advanced 2.9% after increasing 2.7% in November.

 

[Chris]

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/15/trumps-attorney-general-confirmation-hearing

Democrats are expected to hammer attorney general pick Pam Bondi about her loyalty to President-elect Trump during her confirmation hearing after she bolstered his false claims about a stolen election in 2020.
Why it matters: If confirmed, Bondi's appointment would install a Trump loyalist in the nation's highest law enforcement role — empowering a MAGA overhaul of the DOJ, which could include investigating the president-elect's political enemies.

• Bondi, a veteran prosecutor and former Florida attorney general, was Trump's second pick for attorney general after his embattled first pick, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration.
• Bondi's confirmation chances appear far stronger than Gaetz's did — but that's not to say she won't face tough questioning Wednesday.
• Trump's nominees can only afford to lose a handful of votes given the GOP's narrow Senate majority.

 

[Samoa Looch]

FDA bans red dye No. 3, which has been linked to cancer in rats, from foods - The Boston Globe

The controversial substance gives some candies, snack cakes, and maraschino cherries a bright red hue.

www.bostonglobe.com

U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.

Food and Drug Administration officials granted a 2022 petition filed by two dozen food safety and health advocates, who urged the agency to revoke authorization for the substance that gives some candies, snack cakes and maraschino cherries a bright red hue.

35 years.

 

[Comrade Khan]

Yeah your food looks different than ours cuz we banned that shit so long ago. Your fruit loops for example.

 

[Chris]

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-hostages-01-15-24/index.html

Israel and Hamas agree to a deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and lead to the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, source says

• Implementation is likely to start on Sunday. Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages during the first phase of an emerging deal. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are set to be released from Israeli jails at the same time.

• The release of the hostages would be the first phase of the deal being finalized. Negotiations to reach the second phase – which is intended to end the war – would begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the deal. Here’s what we know about the potential deal.