Well... it's Trump... again. #47, here we go.

[KCFlyer]

Because really only two states can be considered "blue states", Vermont and Massachusetts. We are a stronger nation together. We need to go back to the days of petty political squabbling and away from this alt-right populist nonsense.

The problem is...pretty much every major city, even in red states, is Blue. The state might seced but the political differences will stil be there. IF Blues were to secede in a state like Texas, you'd have the State of Dallas, The State of Houston, The State of San Antonio and the State of Austin

 

[Tigers!]

Because really only two states can be considered "blue states", Vermont and Massachusetts. We are a stronger nation together. We need to go back to the days of petty political squabbling and away from this alt-right populist nonsense.

The problem is...pretty much every major city, even in red states, is Blue. The state might seced but the political differences will stil be there. IF Blues were to secede in a state like Texas, you'd have the State of Dallas, The State of Houston, The State of San Antonio and the State of Austin

Not forgetting the states of anxiety, despair, delirum, confusion and medication

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

One of the odd things was a Biden Presidency spending plan for $400 million on armored Tesla vehicles.

The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase.

A State Department spokesperson said the electric car company owned by Musk, who has become President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser aiming to dismantle agencies and downsize the federal workforce, was the only one that expressed interest back in May 2024, when Joe Biden was president.

It seemed odd as Tesla doesn't have an armored vehicle. Their cybertruck is an industrial strength refrigerator, not an armored vehicle. And its design is effectively in stone based on how shitty of a design the truck is.

Now clear documentation has come out indicating this is a Trump era plan that someone tried to sneak through.

But NPR has obtained a State Department document detailing that Biden's State Department planned to spend just $483,000 in the 2025 fiscal year on buying electric vehicles and $3 million for supporting equipment, like charging stations. It represented less than 1% of the hundreds of millions of dollars likely destined for Tesla vehicles after the Trump administration quietly revised a State Department procurement document.

The vast discrepancy in the numbers raises the question: Was it an error or a deliberate action?

A former Biden White House official familiar with the State Department's plans told NPR the steps taken to advance $400 million worth of government business to Tesla appear to be intentional.

 

[ZiprHead]

.

Has anyone mentioned Alnur Mussayev's claims? This is mostly being dismissed as fake news, but Trump is such a pushover for flattery and honey-traps that I'd think he would be very easy to recruit.

‘Trump Recruited as Moscow Asset,’ Says Ex-KGB Spy Chief
(Another article uses the word "spy" where "asset" is intended.) Trump was an asset codenamed "Krasnov"

I read that. Fake news or not, someone could sneak asset Krasnov's file with 40 years of documentation within out of Russia and I still don't think the GOP would blink.

Malcolm Nance says Trump was recruited as far back as his first wife, a Czech national under the Soviet Union.

 

[ZiprHead]

One of the odd things was a Biden Presidency spending plan for $400 million on armored Tesla vehicles.

The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase.

A State Department spokesperson said the electric car company owned by Musk, who has become President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser aiming to dismantle agencies and downsize the federal workforce, was the only one that expressed interest back in May 2024, when Joe Biden was president.

It seemed odd as Tesla doesn't have an armored vehicle. Their cybertruck is an industrial strength refrigerator, not an armored vehicle. And its design is effectively in stone based on how shitty of a design the truck is.

Now clear documentation has come out indicating this is a Trump era plan that someone tried to sneak through.

But NPR has obtained a State Department document detailing that Biden's State Department planned to spend just $483,000 in the 2025 fiscal year on buying electric vehicles and $3 million for supporting equipment, like charging stations. It represented less than 1% of the hundreds of millions of dollars likely destined for Tesla vehicles after the Trump administration quietly revised a State Department procurement document.

The vast discrepancy in the numbers raises the question: Was it an error or a deliberate action?

A former Biden White House official familiar with the State Department's plans told NPR the steps taken to advance $400 million worth of government business to Tesla appear to be intentional.

When Trump first debuted the Cybertruck, he claimed it was an armored vehicle.

 

[crazyfingers]

When Trump first debuted the Cybertruck, he claimed it was an armored vehicle.

Do you mean Musk?

 

[ZiprHead]

When Trump first debuted the Cybertruck, he claimed it was an armored vehicle.

Do you mean Musk?

Sorry, yes. I meant Musk.

 

[TomC]

When Trump first debuted the Cybertruck, he claimed it was an armored vehicle.

Do you mean Musk?

It's not easy to distinguish when they're in the bathtub together.
Tom

 

[ZiprHead]

When Trump first debuted the Cybertruck, he claimed it was an armored vehicle.

Do you mean Musk?

It's not easy to distinguish when they're in the bathtub together.
Tom

It's pretty easy actually. Trump is orange marmalade. Musk is ceramic white.

 

[crazyfingers]

SUPERCALLOUSFRAGILERACISTSEXISTNAZIPOTUS

 

[Shadowy Man]

One of the odd things was a Biden Presidency spending plan for $400 million on armored Tesla vehicles.

The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase.

A State Department spokesperson said the electric car company owned by Musk, who has become President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser aiming to dismantle agencies and downsize the federal workforce, was the only one that expressed interest back in May 2024, when Joe Biden was president.

It seemed odd as Tesla doesn't have an armored vehicle. Their cybertruck is an industrial strength refrigerator, not an armored vehicle. And its design is effectively in stone based on how shitty of a design the truck is.

Now clear documentation has come out indicating this is a Trump era plan that someone tried to sneak through.

But NPR has obtained a State Department document detailing that Biden's State Department planned to spend just $483,000 in the 2025 fiscal year on buying electric vehicles and $3 million for supporting equipment, like charging stations. It represented less than 1% of the hundreds of millions of dollars likely destined for Tesla vehicles after the Trump administration quietly revised a State Department procurement document.

The vast discrepancy in the numbers raises the question: Was it an error or a deliberate action?

A former Biden White House official familiar with the State Department's plans told NPR the steps taken to advance $400 million worth of government business to Tesla appear to be intentional.

When Trump first debuted the Cybertruck, he claimed it was an armored vehicle.

There’s that great video of them showing how strong it is by throwing a baseball at its window.



I guess that’s not batting a thousand. Musk has a tendency to put things out there without testing or thinking it through first.

 

[ImGod]

TSLA dropped 20+% YTD. Down from last Dec high of $480/share to ~$298/share this afternoon. Doubt the government contract stuff today helps.

How many owners would dump them if they could? But they are stuck.

 

[ZiprHead]

One of the odd things was a Biden Presidency spending plan for $400 million on armored Tesla vehicles.

The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase.

A State Department spokesperson said the electric car company owned by Musk, who has become President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser aiming to dismantle agencies and downsize the federal workforce, was the only one that expressed interest back in May 2024, when Joe Biden was president.

It seemed odd as Tesla doesn't have an armored vehicle. Their cybertruck is an industrial strength refrigerator, not an armored vehicle. And its design is effectively in stone based on how shitty of a design the truck is.

Now clear documentation has come out indicating this is a Trump era plan that someone tried to sneak through.

But NPR has obtained a State Department document detailing that Biden's State Department planned to spend just $483,000 in the 2025 fiscal year on buying electric vehicles and $3 million for supporting equipment, like charging stations. It represented less than 1% of the hundreds of millions of dollars likely destined for Tesla vehicles after the Trump administration quietly revised a State Department procurement document.

The vast discrepancy in the numbers raises the question: Was it an error or a deliberate action?

A former Biden White House official familiar with the State Department's plans told NPR the steps taken to advance $400 million worth of government business to Tesla appear to be intentional.

When Trump first debuted the Cybertruck, he claimed it was an armored vehicle.

There’s that great video of them showing how strong it is by throwing a baseball at its window.



I guess that’s not batting a thousand. Musk has a tendency to put things out there without testing or thinking it through first.

That's exactly the video I was thinking off.

Most cars don't have laminated glass in the side windows. The CB obviouly does. That doesn't make it armored.

 

[TomC]

When Trump first debuted the Cybertruck, he claimed it was an armored vehicle.

Do you mean Musk?

It's not easy to distinguish when they're in the bathtub together.
Tom

It's pretty easy actually. Trump is orange marmalade. Musk is ceramic white.

I've seen Trump without his makeup crew standing on ready.
Pasty white, like a South African immigrant.
Tom

 

[crazyfingers]

SUPERCALLOUSFRAGILERACISTSEXISTNAZIPOTUS

Can't take credit. It's a bumper sticker I got.

 

[Harry Bosch]

You all really need to watch the first half hour of Rachel Maddow's show tonight. She very succinctly runs down all the recent lay offs and firings by the Trump admin, far better than I could put into words here. Some of them outright dangerous, many others just self serving.

I like Maddow (her book "Drift" was excellent) but she's not always "succinct." I'll have to check it out when it becomes available on the intertubes.

As far as the firings, a friend of mine's daughter was one of the Park Service employees who were let go over the weekend. The thing that gets me is that they didn't just let her (and many of her co-workers) go, but stuck the metaphorical knife in her back on the way out. The email wasn't "our priorities have changed" or "budget cuts have forced us to eliminate your position," or even "we wish you well in your future endeavors," but rather (quoting for accuracy) "The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest." They're victim blaming. It's not that we're cutting your job, it's that you're being fired because you suck.

Once again, the cruelty appears to be the point.

It's cruelty and a lie. There is no way that anyone is looking at performance evaluations. They are doing blind hatchets.

Correct. No frigging way a million evaluations were accessed over a 2 day period by Doge.

 

[ImGod]

You all really need to watch the first half hour of Rachel Maddow's show tonight. She very succinctly runs down all the recent lay offs and firings by the Trump admin, far better than I could put into words here. Some of them outright dangerous, many others just self serving.

I like Maddow (her book "Drift" was excellent) but she's not always "succinct." I'll have to check it out when it becomes available on the intertubes.

As far as the firings, a friend of mine's daughter was one of the Park Service employees who were let go over the weekend. The thing that gets me is that they didn't just let her (and many of her co-workers) go, but stuck the metaphorical knife in her back on the way out. The email wasn't "our priorities have changed" or "budget cuts have forced us to eliminate your position," or even "we wish you well in your future endeavors," but rather (quoting for accuracy) "The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest." They're victim blaming. It's not that we're cutting your job, it's that you're being fired because you suck.

Once again, the cruelty appears to be the point.

It's cruelty and a lie. There is no way that anyone is looking at performance evaluations. They are doing blind hatchets.

Correct. No frigging way a million evaluations were accessed over a 2 day period by Doge.

In the decades of my wife's career, she was considered an essential employee and her group worked through every government shutdown.

This week they decided to cut her essential employee group from 180 to 20 people. Those are the type of cuts that are likely coming down the pipe. Maybe more for non-essential employees.

The person in charge retired instead of being a part of that mess.

 

[ZiprHead]

You all really need to watch the first half hour of Rachel Maddow's show tonight. She very succinctly runs down all the recent lay offs and firings by the Trump admin, far better than I could put into words here. Some of them outright dangerous, many others just self serving.

I like Maddow (her book "Drift" was excellent) but she's not always "succinct." I'll have to check it out when it becomes available on the intertubes.

As far as the firings, a friend of mine's daughter was one of the Park Service employees who were let go over the weekend. The thing that gets me is that they didn't just let her (and many of her co-workers) go, but stuck the metaphorical knife in her back on the way out. The email wasn't "our priorities have changed" or "budget cuts have forced us to eliminate your position," or even "we wish you well in your future endeavors," but rather (quoting for accuracy) "The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest." They're victim blaming. It's not that we're cutting your job, it's that you're being fired because you suck.

Once again, the cruelty appears to be the point.

It's cruelty and a lie. There is no way that anyone is looking at performance evaluations. They are doing blind hatchets.

Correct. No frigging way a million evaluations were accessed over a 2 day period by Doge.

That's just the way they do things. DOGE style.

 

[Shadowy Man]

It's cruelty and a lie. There is no way that anyone is looking at performance evaluations. They are doing blind hatchets.

Correct. No frigging way a million evaluations were accessed over a 2 day period by Doge.

AI. Or so they claim. As if an LLM is a good way to analyze this.

 

[Harry Bosch]

You all really need to watch the first half hour of Rachel Maddow's show tonight. She very succinctly runs down all the recent lay offs and firings by the Trump admin, far better than I could put into words here. Some of them outright dangerous, many others just self serving.

I like Maddow (her book "Drift" was excellent) but she's not always "succinct." I'll have to check it out when it becomes available on the intertubes.

As far as the firings, a friend of mine's daughter was one of the Park Service employees who were let go over the weekend. The thing that gets me is that they didn't just let her (and many of her co-workers) go, but stuck the metaphorical knife in her back on the way out. The email wasn't "our priorities have changed" or "budget cuts have forced us to eliminate your position," or even "we wish you well in your future endeavors," but rather (quoting for accuracy) "The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest." They're victim blaming. It's not that we're cutting your job, it's that you're being fired because you suck.

Once again, the cruelty appears to be the point.

It's cruelty and a lie. There is no way that anyone is looking at performance evaluations. They are doing blind hatchets.

Correct. No frigging way a million evaluations were accessed over a 2 day period by Doge.

In the decades of my wife's career, she was considered an essential employee and her group worked through every government shutdown.

This week they decided to cut her essential employee group from 180 to 20 people. Those are the type of cuts that are likely coming down the pipe. Maybe more for non-essential employees.

The person in charge retired instead of being a part of that mess.

Very sorry for your wife.