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

[Loren Pechtel]

More woo from Trump administration. This time threatening to use a polygraph tests to find leakers.

From AP

At the Homeland Security Department, Secretary Kristi Noem pledged this month to step up lie detector tests on employees in an effort to identify those who may be leaking information about operations to the media.

While polygraph exams are typically not admissible in court proceedings, they are frequently used by federal law enforcement agencies and for national security clearances. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled they were also inadmissible in military justice proceedings.

They are inadmissible because they are unreliable and often result in false positives, said George Maschke, a former Army interrogator and reserve intelligence officer who went on to found AntiPolygraph.org. Mashke failed a polygraph himself when applying to the FBI.

But they have been intermittently used since the 1990s to intimidate and scare sources from talking to reporters, Maschke said. A 1999 Pentagon report said it was expanding the program to use polygraphs on defense personnel “if classified information they had access to has been leaked.”

As everyone should know, the polygraph is pseudoscience and unreliable. But not everyone knows that so this is just meant to create fear.

Polygraph - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Pentagon is the latest agency to announce a leak investigation that could include polygraphs

The Pentagon’s intelligence and law enforcement arms are investigating what it says are leaks of national security information.

apnews.com

Depends on how you use it. Asking someone "did you do it?" is unreliable. Asking someone to repeat a bunch of innocent (but some are incriminating) statements, highly reliable. But that requires that the questioner (or someone who sets it up, the person asking doesn't need to know) knows details about what happened that aren't general knowledge.

 

[TV and credit cards]

I’m sitting on a moderate pile of cash and playing market timing games is a strong temptation. But my conviction is that despite a predictable “bounce” coming, the long term bottom is not near.
When/if the major indices dive to 20% below their peaks, I’ll jump in. But 3% or even 5% doesn’t move me (enough).

I got out and back in twice since Trump got elected. Then out at the beginning of February after hearing enough about Warren Buffet and institutional investors moving into cash. Bucking the trend of course were individual investors who never know when the party’s over.
Barring the GOP standing up to Trump or quick tariff resolution all around, I’m out out.
I have to apply for SS and my Fed retirement next month, into the teeth of DOGE. I want to move one last time this year. And I’ve got at least four inches of actual rain coming in the next couple days to test my sump pump.
When it rains it pours.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Sigh. Defense Secretary is drunk texting.

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

www.theatlantic.com

From article:
'A message to the group, from “Michael Waltz,” read as follows: “Team – establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours. '

They don't even know how to spell principals... sigh. I know that this is the least wrong thing in all of this, but still...

These days I would not fault someone over something like this in casual conversation. Especially on a phone. Voice dictation, autocarrot. Things happen.

 

[dannyk]

Based on an earlier post by Crazyfingers I don’t think there is a veto option by the president.

The senate vetoed the president effectively. It’s an existing law so no presidential veto applies.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Ignoring that Trump can't actually end FEMA, what would be the solution around getting rid of FEMA? I understand that Trump is really pushing the pre-Great Depression economic Government Model (should we get rid of the FDA as well?). This seems to be like just letting bad stuff happen and people are on their own. A glorious time in America really. Lost your home? Fuck off, now you are homeless. Why? We are saving tens of billions a year.

These assholes are the same 15 to 20% that vote against park and zoo levies.

If you had enough faith and prayed hard enough it wouldn't have happened to you. Why should they interfere with God's will?

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Trump has put tariffs on Penguins and they told him they don't need America's shit as they will find their own fish. Seriously. He put tariffs on an island that is inhabited with penguins. What a moron.

Have you seen any caravans of penguins at our Antarctic border trying to get in since the tariffs? See, it's working!

[/conservatives]

 

[Shadowy Man]

Sigh. Defense Secretary is drunk texting.

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

www.theatlantic.com

From article:
'A message to the group, from “Michael Waltz,” read as follows: “Team – establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours. '

They don't even know how to spell principals... sigh. I know that this is the least wrong thing in all of this, but still...

These days I would not fault someone over something like this in casual conversation. Especially on a phone. Voice dictation, autocarrot. Things happen.

“Casual conversation”???

That’s the main point in this scandal!

 

[southernhybrid]

Trump has put tariffs on Penguins and they told him they don't need America's shit as they will find their own fish. Seriously. He put tariffs on an island that is inhabited with penguins. What a moron.

Have you seen any caravans of penguins at our Antarctic border trying to get in since the tariffs? See, it's working!

[/conservatives]

And that's kind of sad because I really like penguins, although I don't blame them for not wanting to come to the USA. The felon is keeping out all the best people. Next he will be deporting dogs like German Shepards, Japanese Chins or Brussel Griffins, and Austrian Shorthair Pinchers, for barking in their native tongues.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

If you're thinking "there's no way this would get by the courts," well...think again! Mike Johnson says:

"Nice Court you've got here...be a shame if something happened to it...."

WASHINGTON — Facing pressure from his right flank to take on judges who have ruled against President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Tuesday floated the possibility of Congress eliminating some federal courts.

It’s the latest attack from Republicans on the federal judiciary, as courts have blocked a series of actions taken by the Trump administration. In addition to funding threats, Trump and his conservative allies have called for the impeachment of certain federal judges who have ruled against him, most notably U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who attempted to halt Trump from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants.

“We do have the authority over the federal courts, as you know. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things,” Johnson told reporters on Tuesday. “But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act.”

I guess the Speaker has (rightly) figured that since "ruling against Trump" doesn't rise to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors" for impeachment, they'll simply shut down whatever district courts rule against him.

Johnson, a former constitutional attorney, later clarified that he was making a point about Congress’ “broad authority” over the “creation, maintenance and the governance” of the courts.

No, motherfucker, you were floating a trial balloon. This didn't kick up too much dust (in the middle of all the other scandals) so I'd bet dollars to donuts that push comes to shove they'll start eliminating courts that don't bend the knee. They're already kneecapping entire law firms.

Duh! Surprise factor zero.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Has anyone mentioned that Trump said on NBC this morning that he's not joking about running for a third term.

I don't think it would be possible for Trump to run for a third term. This is pretty cut and dry.

Reality check time. The Constitution is dead. You threw away your country for liberal tears.

 

[blastula]

Being back DEI.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/02/waltzs-team-set-up-at-least-20-signal-group-chats-for-crises-across-the-world-00266845

National security adviser Mike Waltz’s team regularly set up chats on Signal to coordinate official work on issues including Ukraine, China, Gaza, Middle East policy, Africa and Europe, according to four people who have been personally added to Signal chats.

Two of the people said they were in or have direct knowledge of at least 20 such chats. All four said they saw instances of sensitive information being discussed.

 

[blastula]

Keeps getting dumber.

Trump fires six national security staffers after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer

Trump ally presented him with opposition research against a number of officials that she said showed their disloyalty

www.theguardian.com

Mike Waltz not included.

 

[crazyfingers]

Well the press has figured out the dipshit methodology that Trump used to impose tariffs. It makes zero sense.

Value of Trade deficit/Value of Total Imports /2

All the reputable media is all over this and the ramifications of this idiotic trade war.

What does Fox News say? Only one "Story". A video of Trump saying how wonderfully this will work. Seems to Fox this is no big deal.

 

[ZiprHead]

View attachment 49858

Eat the rich is the leftist equivalent to MAGA. Probably even worse for society.

No eating at all involved. They'll still be billionaires.

 

[ZiprHead]

Also the 12th amendment says "“no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” So he could not run as Vice President and then an elected President resign to make him president.

The 14th section three says "an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." but there's his fat ass sitting behind the resolute desk.

 

[lostone]

Also the 12th amendment says "“no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” So he could not run as Vice President and then an elected President resign to make him president.

The 14th section three says "an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." but there's his fat ass sitting behind the resolute desk.

Partisanship Trumps laws and the Constitution.

 

[Shadowy Man]

Also the 12th amendment says "“no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” So he could not run as Vice President and then an elected President resign to make him president.

The 14th section three says "an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." but there's his fat ass sitting behind the resolute desk.

maybe the SCOTUS will argue that Trump isn’t a “person”.

 

[lostone]

Also the 12th amendment says "“no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” So he could not run as Vice President and then an elected President resign to make him president.

The 14th section three says "an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." but there's his fat ass sitting behind the resolute desk.

maybe the SCOTUS will argue that Trump isn’t a “person”.

That seems like an argument that no one can deny. OTOH, could or would will it encourage one more argument on how to define personhood?

 

[ideologyhunter]

Keeps getting dumber.

Trump fires six national security staffers after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer

Trump ally presented him with opposition research against a number of officials that she said showed their disloyalty

www.theguardian.com

Mike Waltz not included.

Ya beat me to it. Not a good day for the country when a nutcase like Loomer struts into the WH (she was described as carrying a thick sheaf of papers) for an audience with our nutcase C in C.

 

[ZiprHead]

Also the 12th amendment says "“no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” So he could not run as Vice President and then an elected President resign to make him president.

The 14th section three says "an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." but there's his fat ass sitting behind the resolute desk.

maybe the SCOTUS will argue that Trump isn’t a “person”.

So he can then be aborted? Makes me even more pro-choice.