It is almost astonishing to realise that Trump has only been in office for 100 days. Such has been the mayhem, devastation, and destruction of rights that he has delivered, it appears almost indecent to think that this has been the consequence of just over three months in office.
It would seem as if I am not the only one thinking this. The FT has marked this event by producing a series of charts, marking his progress. Two stand out for me. For a president who did, during his last term, think that the increase in the value of US shares was a proxy for his success, this is staggering:
Far from delivering the increase in the wealth of the USA that Trump has promised, so far, he is destroying it.
I am, of course, aware that those on the far right who wrote his plans would suggest that this is all in accordance with expectation. They would say that if the zombie economy is to be tackled, there must be some creative destruction first, and that is what we are seeing. There is just one difficulty with their claim, and that is that the people of the USA are not buying it, as this chart shows:
In a world where it is apparent that presidents rarely command popular support now, Trump is going out of his way to destroy his own, and the impact of what he has done to date has yet to be seen within the USA to any significant degree. One hundred days of destruction might prove to be very uncomfortable, as yet.
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Are you a mouthpiece for the FT these days? No copyright issues? Think i wil drop them a line..
We agreed what I can do. You are wasting your time.
Is there money to be made from trolling?
Maybe I should give it a go?
There are “Troll Farms” where people are paid to push a certain narrative. Russia funds a few of them, as does the Koch Foundation, or Heritage Foundation, whatever they are called. Some people do it for their own amusement, though, which I will never understand. They are the internet equivalent of those people who talk loudly at you at parties with no regard for whether you are listening.
I’ve only just picked this up (and I watch US TV and follow US OSINT people every day) but did you know that a few weeks ago Trump signed a ‘memorandum’ that created a military base out of a strip of land 170 miles long, through three states, along the border with Mexico. This gives the military extensive power over anyone who enters/lives in that area. It seems that he and his minions have found a way to evade the act that forbids the use of US troops within the borders of the US. I think we can see where this is going. Rachel Maddow has the full story (it’s the third segment down: ‘Trump exploits loophole…’)
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show
The other two segments are also worth watching. Given his poll numbers are awful, Trump’s now calling for polling companies to be investigated and prosecuted for ‘election interference’. He’s also already threatening Republican senators who it looks like may support the tarriffs bill that’ll be voted on this week in the Senate (even though it’ll never go anywhere as Congress won’t take it up).
Rachel’s conclusion is that in light of the negative polling Trump and his cronies will now double down, and things will get much worse. Anyway, better to listen to her than me explain. Ten minutes of anyone life that won’t be wasted if you have any interest in US politics.
Thanks, Ivan
That’s a trick that Israel uses in the Occupied Territories, to create “security zones” which then “allow” them to clear out Palestinian residents and demolish homes.
It’s been happening for a long time in the W Bank, and its being used even more brutally in Gaza, north and south
Maybe 34x times convicted felon Trump got the idea from his recent chats with war-crime-indicted, & on trial domestically for corruption, Netanyahu?
https://news.sky.com/story/israeli-troops-expand-security-zone-in-northern-gaza-after-announcing-plans-to-seize-areas-of-south-13341587
What is “OSINT:.
Open Source Intelligence
Just watched Maddow. Bloody hell, one or two steps from martial law in general. They of course have this power on British soil, ie US bases.
Indeed the US government maintains these powers on their bases in the UK. I have a distant memory that may well be mistaken that at some point early in her rule Margaret Thatcher signed an agreement with the US that gifted them powers to enforce martial law upon the UK in a state of emergency. Is there anyone here more in the Westminster loop who knows this to be a true special relationship or merely an urban myth. If true it does rather potentially place geographical pressure on all of Ireland’s political sovereignty in every direction and may explain the DUP’s smug arrogant ongoing hard support of MAGA.
I suspect the actions of Reform and its corporate media propaganda will be most revealing in this respect in the coming months and years.
I have never heard of that idea and I am pretty sure that one is untrue
Excellent accompanying piece to your blog, Richard – from the usual source: Lawrence O’Donnell. Dripping anger and disdain – but no surprise – given O’Donnell is one of the people who’ve consistently called Trump out for what he is (a narcissistic, sociopathic, pathological liar and grifting, con man, criminal) since well before his first term as President, so nothing comes as a surprise. https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-donald-trump-is-now-america-s-biggest-loser-in-the-history-of-presidents-first-100-days-238511685935
This evening, for me…
Thank you, Richard.
Have Richard and readers heard the story that Starmer is lobbying to get the Open played at Trump’s course?
This is not the first time that I have heard of British PMs run around to do favours for US presidents.
I decided to ignore it, although I am sure it is true.
4.5 milliuon children in poverty, but let’s talk about the Open.
Sick.
Thank you, Richard.
I understand, but add that Trump can make Starmer rich in a way that poor children can’t, so no contest. Starmer is not uncommon in that regard.
I read the story the other day, Colonel. Sadly, it didn’t surprise me at all, even though it means that Starmer and co are aiding and abetting Trump in his grifting: he is the only President (in both this term and last) ever who continues to profit from his business interests, and, even more corrupt, uses the Presidency to profit from new ones (as do his sons – unsurprisingly). ngly
One bright spot might be emerging, however, and one that you’ll know a lot more about than me. With another technocrat – Mark Carney – now PM of Canada it’s going to be interesting to see the difference in approach. I strongly suspect Carney will be combative, independent and not easily cowed. While Starmer continues to bow and scrape and brown nose, while passing his subservience off as necessary for the interests on the UK. All rather pathetic.
Agreed, Ivan
Trump has a real “Jesus complex” don’t you think? “I was saved by God to make America great again”. My response to that is something along the lines of “God help us all!”. He’s completely lost his mind – plus it makes me angry that he appears to be mocking both God and Jesus. I’m not really religious at all (though I find myself praying every time Trump appears on the TV with yet another cruel statement or foul “law”), but it makes me absolutely furious that Trump would even say that in jest – which obviously it isn’t. Grrrr!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSrcDxdJrZ8
Pass me the sick bucket, please!
Coming your way…
Did you ever see the young Nixon going on TV to deny he was taking bribes? He did admit to one. An admirer sent him a dog and the kids wanted to keep him. Checkers was the dog.
And he ended ‘remember, folks, Eisenhower is a great man.’
But make sure you have the bucket ready if you choose to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c1VL_gudLU&t=433s
Robert Reich today noted that Amazon/Bezos was going to tell US peasants how much the new tariffs were going to add to the trash they buy. Apparently Mango-man got wind and there was a “robust” phone call Mango-Bezos along the lines of “yes-massa” from Bezos (quelle surprise) and the idea was widthrawn after the Mango-ring was kissed a few times..