Trump / Musk (other than DOGE)

[StrangePackage]

Or we can just find a guy named Mario willing to do the funniest thing in history.

 

[lawtig02]

Just an unbelievably reckless decision by the Pubs that puts our entire military at extreme risk.

 

[JCTarheel82]

That, and worse. Right wing media, and Trump’s constant lies in particular, have made it so that half of America is convinced it lives in a much, much worse country than actually exists.

Absolutely. Well, until Trump takes power (or is elected even) and then everything magically improves in an instant.

 

[JCTarheel82]

It's wild to think back to when Musk "overpaid" for Twitter just a couple years ago. At the time, no one realized how radicalized and consumed with power and greed Musk had become. Truth be told, you can't put a price on unilateral ownership of humanity's most robust disinformation/propaganda platform if that is one's intended use. Billionaire Goebbels has become one of the most dangerous people on the planet.

 

[dcphx]

I saw a headline today that Musk was about to buy Liverpool soccer club, so maybe he will lose interest in ruining the US.

 

[Bobfripp]

I’d also be fine with deregulating the safety requirements for that particular space launch.

Morton Thiokol probably has some left over O-rings they aren't using.

 

[Calheel]

It's wild to think back to when Musk "overpaid" for Twitter just a couple years ago. At the time, no one realized how radicalized and consumed with power and greed Musk had become. Truth be told, you can't put a price on unilateral ownership of humanity's most robust disinformation/propaganda platform if that is one's intended use. Billionaire Goebbels has become one of the most dangerous people on the planet.

I think you are giving twitter much more credit than it deserves. That it has no guardrails does not mean that it is particularly influential. Tiktok and Meta are far, far more important platforms.

 

[nycfan]

I think you are giving twitter much more credit than it deserves. That it has no guardrails does not mean that it is particularly influential. Tiktok and Meta are far, far more important platforms.

Culturally?

Politically, closer call.

 

[nycfan]

 

[Calheel]

Culturally?

Politically, closer call.

How many low-information swing voters do you think were influenced by tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp vs. how many were influenced by X? I'd be willing to bet that the former outpaced the latter by 100 times or more. Twitter is not a significant platform in this country and it is getting less significant every day.

 

[nycfan]

How many low-information swing voters do you think were influenced by tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp vs. how many were influenced by X? I'd be willing to bet that the former outpaced the latter by 100 times or more. Twitter is not a significant platform in this country and it is getting less significant every day.

Fair points. Still where the political class and political activists communicate globally but in terms of impact on low info voters, I think you are correct.

 

[Calheel]

Fair points. Still where the political class and political activists communicate globally but in terms of impact on low info voters, I think you are correct.

Fair point as well.

Because the politicians still think X is important, that makes it important (at least more so than its reach would suggest).

 

[CRHeel94]

I've been wondering something...since Musk is now saying that Twitter has replaced mainstream media...should it be treated as media by the law? I believe Zuck has fought against tooth and nail when it comes to Facebook, and so far the government regulators have agreed.

 

[StrangePackage]

For the sake of society, computer programs that emulate humans (bots) should be made illegal, and corporations should be liable for their algorithms.

 

[nycfan]

 

[sringwal]

For the sake of society, computer programs that emulate humans (bots) should be made illegal, and corporations should be liable for their algorithms.

How would you regulate what is coming out of other countries?

 

[sringwal]

Rolling Stone has a history of failing to properly vet their sources.

 

[nycfan]

Let The Year of Magical Thinking commence in earnest.

 

[superrific]

Just no grasp of economic history. Back at that time the US was trying to catch up with other world powers. If you are the world's largest economy, you want unbridled access to foreign markets. As soon as you slap tariffs, other countries will respond in kind.

Also, the pre-16th Amendment federal government was much, much, much smaller.

We didn't have much of a standing military, and we invested like nothing in weapons system. There was no social security, or Medicare, or Medicaid. There was no FCC because there was no C to speak of. There was no FTC either. Or EPA. There were no federal roads to maintain.

 

[superrific]

Let The Year of Magical Thinking commence in earnest.

Hmm. At least he mentioned no tax on tips. That's one of the most moronic policies ever and I assume that it will not go anywhere in the end, but at least he remembered the little guys for a minute or two.

I'm curious to see how much the GOP embraces this Magical Thinking. Unlike Trump, they all have to run for office again, and it will be hazardous for them if they cause massive inflation (from out of control government debt in addition to the other shit). Blind partisan allegiance and belief in conspiracy only goes so far.