U-S-A! The American Politics Thread.

[Davo]

He seems a lot more focused this time. I think we might actually see a lot of deportations and such. And I think we will see a big roll back in LGBTQ rights etc wherever possible. The international focus remains to be seen. I do think Biden was a very poor President and I doubt Harris would have been much better but I think it goes without saying that Trump will be worse. Interesting that there was a Gaza ceasefire so quickly though.

Just curious as to why you think Biden was a poor president?

I think he should never have run for a second term and he clearly shafted the democrats and allowed Trump back in. However he has actually done and achieved a lot domestically in the US. I’m not a fan of his withdrawal from Afghanistan and support for Israel in Gaza but domestically I think he did well

 

[remus]

I think he should never have run for a second term and he clearly shafted the democrats and allowed Trump back in.

A pretty large caveat in my opinion. This business of pre-emptive pardons makes me sad too. I understand it is easier to say this from the comfort of my armchair, but it really makes a mockery of the idea of a justice system when people in power just hand out sweeping exemptions when it suits them. Obviously trump has done it and Im sure will continue to abuse it, but he's not someone to take moral guidance from.

 

[SA Chris]

Well, he's rewriting Geography books to appeal to those who can barley read. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/20/trump-executive-order-gulf-mexico

 

[JamieG]

Just in case you weren’t convinced what the new administration stands for! https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/20/trump-elon-musk-salute

 

[Wellsy]

Pretty intense day 1, his supporters will be pleased

Obviously he is disgusting and his policies are disgusting but I do think this is part of why the Democrats are seen as huge losers, because they never use their power in this way, and Trump (and the GOP) just absolutely will, and it does make them just look very anaemic.

 

[Fultonius]

Wellsy, that makes me think you think the dems *should also* abuse presidential powers to enact this wishlist, but this just undermines democracy and typically only lasts 4 years until the next lot unwrite the orders.

I know it's slower, but there are good reasons for getting bills ratified...

 

[Wellsy]

Is it abusing presidential power to use your power? I don't know. I think that the Dems need to realise this is the game that is played now; get in, sign your orders you promised day one.

 

[galpinos]

Is it abusing presidential power to use your power? I don't know. I think that the Dems need to realise this is the game that is played now; get in, sign your orders you promised day one.

Biden signed more EOs in his term than Trump did in his first term, and Trump is now rescinding them. That doesn't seem like a great way to do politics?

 

[Nails]

Biden actually achieved quite a lot. Primarily after inheriting a post pandemic economy he orchestrated the best recovery in the industrial world. His successor is left with low unemployment and low inflation. He massively improved health insurance for low-income Americans by reinstating the Affordable Care Act. He massively improved the the US production of semi-conductors. His Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill represented a $1.2tn (£0.9tn) investment in US infrastructure. He also hugely increased US energy transition spending.

The difficulty for the Democrats is that very little of this made the average American feel better off in a period where the cost of living remained very high. Immigration policy was considerably more humane but resulted in nearly 6 million migrants crossing the Southern border during Biden's tenure. This gave the public impression of an open-door policy. Foreign policy consistently appeared weak and indecisive. The withdrawal from Afghanistan was calamitous. Support for Ukraine was a drip feed that consistently provided arms and support after they were really needed. This gave the impression of haemorrhaging money whilst achieving little. Unwavering support for Israel throughout the Gaza invasion made a mockery of the concept of the US subscribing to a rules-based international order whilst also making Biden appear weak as Netanyahu persistently ignored any US calls for restraint.

Overall, you end up in a bizarre situation where the majority of working class Americans feel better represented by Trump than they do by the Democrats. This is what I see as being the biggest problem confronting left-leaning politics (of which I consider myself to be firmly on the side of). It used to be taken as read that the left was the side of politics that cared more about the working classes and the less well off. I think this perception has been lost in many countries. The left has also taken for granted the support of minorities.

This time around we have to admit that a majority voted for Trump in full knowledge of who is, what he represents and the nature of his character.

 

[Oldmanmatt]

I just discovered I had been auto “Liked” into following Trump on FB and his drivel was being pumped onto my feed. I have never liked or followed the wanker, I’m assuming it’s a “present” from the Lizard man himself.
As for the N421 party rally pretending to be an inauguration, with bonus Royal proclamations…
Dark days.

 

[remus]

Matt, did you follow biden previously? My understanding is that the Facebook account for the US president gets transferred so it will have switched from Biden to Trump.

 

[Oldmanmatt]

Matt, did you follow biden previously? My understanding is that the Facebook account for the US president gets transferred so it will have switched from Biden to Trump.

Yes, so quite likely.
I was tempted to leave a review before unfollowing…

 

[MarkJ]

I read that it's a new policy from Zuckerberg, you didn't need to be following Biden before.

 

[lukeyboy]

Biden actually achieved quite a lot. Primarily after inheriting a post pandemic economy he orchestrated the best recovery in the industrial world. His successor is left with low unemployment and low inflation. He massively improved health insurance for low-income Americans by reinstating the Affordable Care Act. He massively improved the the US production of semi-conductors. His Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill represented a $1.2tn (£0.9tn) investment in US infrastructure. He also hugely increased US energy transition spending.

The difficulty for the Democrats is that very little of this made the average American feel better off in a period where the cost of living remained very high. Immigration policy was considerably more humane but resulted in nearly 6 million migrants crossing the Southern border during Biden's tenure. This gave the public impression of an open-door policy. Foreign policy consistently appeared weak and indecisive. The withdrawal from Afghanistan was calamitous. Support for Ukraine was a drip feed that consistently provided arms and support after they were really needed. This gave the impression of haemorrhaging money whilst achieving little. Unwavering support for Israel throughout the Gaza invasion made a mockery of the concept of the US subscribing to a rules-based international order whilst also making Biden appear weak as Netanyahu persistently ignored any US calls for restraint.

Overall, you end up in a bizarre situation where the majority of working class Americans feel better represented by Trump than they do by the Democrats. This is what I see as being the biggest problem confronting left-leaning politics (of which I consider myself to be firmly on the side of). It used to be taken as read that the left was the side of politics that cared more about the working classes and the less well off. I think this perception has been lost in many countries. The left has also taken for granted the support of minorities.

This time around we have to admit that a majority voted for Trump in full knowledge of who is, what he represents and the nature of his character.

I agree with your analysis.

I'd add to it that Biden doesn't get credit for the things that he did achieve, because a) the media is largely on the political right, and more importantly b) they are (legitimately) scared of being harassed and targeted by a Trump administration, but not by a Biden administration.

So Trump, who despite everything else is a very effective communicator, gets away with his narrative of taking over a train wreck and then being the hero who saves the day - even though, as a couple of examples, the economy is strong and Mexico border crossings are well down.

Even the (by US standards) lefty papers like the Washington Post declined to say which candidate they were supporting in the run up to the election, for fear of retribution (notably Jeff Bezos is the owner), which obviously isn't the case with right wing media.

Overall I think this makes a huge difference with the majority of voters who only engage with politics at a superficial level and whose views are shaped by headlines and soundbites. The deck is stacked against the liberals.

 

[Oldmanmatt]

Matt, did you follow biden previously? My understanding is that the Facebook account for the US president gets transferred so it will have switched from Biden to Trump.

Actually, when I checked, I’m still following Biden; so it was an unsolicited “follow”.

 

[remus]

Actually, when I checked, I’m still following Biden; so it was an unsolicited “follow”.

Sounds like they also make a new account for the previous administration and move their posts there before then transferring the POTUS account to the new administration.

https://apnews.com/article/facebook...potus-flotus-60e61a65b7d37a9b8b30c3b3b58768a7

 

[Oldmanmatt]

So… Are we all just in shock? I thought it would be bad, but, shit!
Even Senators (Roy Wyden) now reporting that DOGE have seized access/taken control of Treasury systems and data bases.
I’d seen various Threads, supposedly from people employed in that office, but had no way to verify. DOGE installing their own hardware to bypass security systems etc etc.
To me, it looks like those patently awful nominees sent to the houses for confirmation, were just to tie up the house Reps while they were cut out of Government.
I’m a bit hazy here, but I remember thinking at the time, that that Supreme Court ruling that said the sitting president was not obligated to obey the law, pretty much gave license for said president to write the law, or gave EOs precedent over acts of congress and that seems to be happening.
Does anyone believe the SC will rule against the president, even if current actions are challenged? You know, in four years when the challenges actually make their way to an SC docket?
Edit:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mu...ter-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/

 

[edshakey]

Mainly yes, shocked by how ruthlessly efficient and blatantly nasty they are this time round. I mean, I knew they'd be more prepared than first term, but this is a leagues ahead of that.
The SC ruling on presidential immunity has, I think, yet to be tested in another case. The first time Trump uses that ruling in defence will be a hugely important day. As will the SC ruling on birthright citizenship, that being the first unconstitutional order that looks to be making it's way through the courts. He's being far more brazen about everything than ever seemed possible, and it should stand to reason that even his SC justices will struggle to defend some of these things, but I'm sure we're in for at least another surprise or two

 

[Wellsy]

They seem way more focused this time around

Truly a bunch of bastards who would not be missed

 

[jwi]

A quick glance at French newspapers shows that the French seem largely unbothered by political upheaval in the US. Only Les Echos, the business daily, is leading with US politics/economics (tariffs). Le Monde (centrist) finds Greenland of much higher importance as it directly involves EU and has a leading article on this, but Le Figaro (conservative) doesn't care about US politics at all today. In my estimation the French has slightly warmer feelings for the US than the UK (but not particularly warm feelings for either, or any other country for that matter), however the US has long been regarded as a mostly unreliable ally and the risk of USA no longer being an ally at all has been priced in since many years.

Spanish newspapers write more about the current situation in the US. My local newspaper in Barcelona leads with Mexico's reaction to tarrifs, and the "national" (Madrileño) newspapers also have leading articles about tariffs. Spain has a few million people born in the Americas and generally a bigger interest for what happens there. However, I get the feeling that people mostly care how US politics affects other countries in the Americas, notably Colombia and Mexico.

When I am talking to my students about their upcoming exchange year all of them plan to go to the Far East, or other countries in Europe. Only a handful of students highly motivated by working in finance are planning to study in the US (NY). None of them seems to believe that US is the future, they mostly view China and Korea as the exiting places where cool things are happening.

The world has irrevocably changed.