President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[LVAllen]

If the permits have been waived, why can't people go back to their homes? Not everyone has burned batteries in their home. People should be able to go to their own property and clean out their own stuff as long as they obey rules on what is disposed and what is not.

"Safety inspections, search operations, damage assessments and utility restorations are being conducted as quickly as possible to expedite residents’ safe return to their properties. EPA officials are already at work with local teams to assess the removal of toxic materials from the sites and clear the way for debris to be removed. Permission to return to neighborhoods will be determined each day by the field incident management teams for each fire (Palisades and Eaton) in coordination with all relevant agencies."

As for why they can't just go in there themselves:

"At the moment, downed power lines, hazardous materials, downed trees, toxic water and other hazards make many areas within the fire zones extremely treacherous and completely unsafe to inhabit."

https://recovery.lacounty.gov/returning-after-fire-faq/

Trump didn't seem to be referring to safety inspections and cleanup, though. He was talking about make-believe 18-month federal permit periods. The waivers are for reconstruction and restoration efforts.

[LVAllen]

Hey guys, 25%-50% increase in prices on cut flowers is no big deal, right? We don't have significant others in our lives who are expecting those anytime soon, right?

[BigFatMeanie]

Hey guys, 25%-50% increase in prices on cut flowers is no big deal, right? We don't have significant others in our lives who are expecting those anytime soon, right?

Well, I was a big cut flower spender - dropping dimes on imported flowers every chance I got. But now I’m going to have to curtail my weekly flower expenses or buy American flowers thanks to that bastard Trump! It’s all a corrupt protectionist ploy by Big Flower!

[Moliere]

"Safety inspections, search operations, damage assessments and utility restorations are being conducted as quickly as possible to expedite residents’ safe return to their properties. EPA officials are already at work with local teams to assess the removal of toxic materials from the sites and clear the way for debris to be removed. Permission to return to neighborhoods will be determined each day by the field incident management teams for each fire (Palisades and Eaton) in coordination with all relevant agencies."

As for why they can't just go in there themselves:

"At the moment, downed power lines, hazardous materials, downed trees, toxic water and other hazards make many areas within the fire zones extremely treacherous and completely unsafe to inhabit."

https://recovery.lacounty.gov/returning-after-fire-faq/

Trump didn't seem to be referring to safety inspections and cleanup, though. He was talking about make-believe 18-month federal permit periods. The waivers are for reconstruction and restoration efforts.

That seems pretty reasonable. However, as a southern resident I’ll also say that when I do hurricane clean up I go into places that are probably dangerous and treacherous. Not saying I should, but I’ve driven over downed power lines and cut up plenty of trees in a dangerous situation

[Moliere]

I’ll out it on the record that the attempted firing of the IGs is very troubling and I’m glad there is a check against it. I hope the check holds.

I’m also strongly against the use of tariffs as a form of negotiation when it’s being used like it is against our allies (Denmark) or in the case of Columbia. Tariffs have a place and time, Trump clearly doesn’t know either.

[Pelado]

I’ll out it on the record that the attempted firing of the IGs is very troubling and I’m glad there is a check against it. I hope the check holds.

I’m also strongly against the use of tariffs as a form of negotiation when it’s being used like it is against our allies (Denmark) or in the case of Columbia. Tariffs have a place and time, Trump clearly doesn’t know either.

Agreed

[PaloAltoCougar]

Colombia has apparently caved, agreeing to accept inbound deportees. No doubt Trump fans are spiking the football over this win for Trump's strong arm tactics. Used with precision, tariffs can occasionally be helpful. But precision and nuance aren't among Trump's core competencies, and I'd be concerned that his tough guy approach may drive Third World states away from the U.S. and toward BRICS.

[myboynoah]

That said, it does emphasize the importance of the chief executive to have hiring and firing discretion over the executive bureaucracy. I don’t see any problem with that.

The irony of this is that the Trump bench is so thin that he will not be able to fill the executive bureaucracy slots that he already needs to under current operations. The experience in our agency under the first Trump term was that those positions went largely unfilled and were done by "acting" undersecretaries/deputy undersecretaries/directors from the bureaucracy. With his MAGA loyalty requirements, there just are not enough qualified candidates to appoint.

[LVAllen]

Colombia has apparently caved, agreeing to accept inbound deportees. No doubt Trump fans are spiking the football over this win for Trump's strong arm tactics. Used with precision, tariffs can occasionally be helpful. But precision and nuance aren't among Trump's core competencies, and I'd be concerned that his tough guy approach may drive Third World states away from the U.S. and toward BRICS.

Trump: Take these flights, like you have for the last 4 years. Oh, and we put them in chains.

Colombia: No. Not unless you treat them with dignity.

Trump: ::Triggered:: Punitive Tariffs. Somehow emergency. Also, no one in my office can spell Colombia.

Colombia: I stand for freedom, dumbass. Retaliative tariffs. We will pick them up from Honduras if you treat them with dignity.

Trump: No. Mass deportation isn't any fun if we can't put them in chains. We are stopping all visa processing, including for government officials. Guess you aren't an ally after all.

Trump Release: They agreed to all our demands! MAGA victory!

Colombia Press Release: They agreed to treat them with dignity, which is what we asked for in the beginning, so status quo. Also, no military planes.

[frank ryan]

Colombia has apparently caved, agreeing to accept inbound deportees. No doubt Trump fans are spiking the football over this win for Trump's strong arm tactics. Used with precision, tariffs can occasionally be helpful. But precision and nuance aren't among Trump's core competencies, and I'd be concerned that his tough guy approach may drive Third World states away from the U.S. and toward BRICS.

They already are. The second Trump term is Putin's wet dream. People's normalcy bias is mind-boggling. Americans don't know much about the world, You can't get your news from social media and podcasts and have a strong grasp of what is going on.

UAE is out of our orbit as an ally. Thailand is increasingly distancing itself from and up for BRICS partner membership as is Malaysia. Egypt is no longer reliable.

We are tearing up alliances and relationships and pissing on goodwill, while Russia and China are cozying up to any member of the global south that will listen.

[frank ryan]

The irony of this is that the Trump bench is so thin that he will not be able to fill the executive bureaucracy slots that he already needs to under current operations. The experience in our agency under the first Trump term was that those positions went largely unfilled and were done by "acting" undersecretaries/deputy undersecretaries/directors from the bureaucracy. With his MAGA loyalty requirements, there just are not enough qualified candidates to appoint.

You have his embarrassing appointments to lead government (if you think RFK Jr is a great choice expand your media diet) and I think there is an element of not caring or wanting agencies to fail or cease to function.

[myboynoah]

You have his embarrassing appointments to lead government (if you think RFK Jr is a great choice expand your media diet) and I think there is an element of not caring or wanting agencies to fail or cease to function.

Yes, a very very thin bench. Loyalty to Trump is a priority. That's why we have fools like Hegseth at DOD. But civil servants take pride in their jobs and the purposes of their agencies, so even with weak leadership they can motor forward. And dolts like Hegseth will come to depend largely on that bureaucracy for counsel and to get things done.

[myboynoah]

Trump: Take these flights, like you have for the last 4 years. Oh, and we put them in chains.

Colombia: No. Not unless you treat them with dignity.

Trump: ::Triggered:: Punitive Tariffs. Somehow emergency. Also, no one in my office can spell Colombia.

Colombia: I stand for freedom, dumbass. Retaliative tariffs. We will pick them up from Honduras if you treat them with dignity.

Trump: No. Mass deportation isn't any fun if we can't put them in chains. We are stopping all visa processing, including for government officials. Guess you aren't an ally after all.

Trump Release: They agreed to all our demands! MAGA victory!

Colombia Press Release: They agreed to treat them with dignity, which is what we asked for in the beginning, so status quo. Also, no military planes.

It seems like it really is about experiencing the cruelty of it all. I will see occasional tweets from folks showing pictures of "illegal immigrants" gathered at bus stops and the assumption is that they are on their way out of town to avoid ICE raids. "America is back!!" Why so much joy in watching the lives of people (the vast majority of whom are just trying to make a decent living) get turned upside down?

GiRtZpwXMAAs4jp.jpg

[Maximus]

Trump: Take these flights, like you have for the last 4 years. Oh, and we put them in chains.

Colombia: No. Not unless you treat them with dignity.

Trump: ::Triggered:: Punitive Tariffs. Somehow emergency. Also, no one in my office can spell Colombia.

Colombia: I stand for freedom, dumbass. Retaliative tariffs. We will pick them up from Honduras if you treat them with dignity.

Trump: No. Mass deportation isn't any fun if we can't put them in chains. We are stopping all visa processing, including for government officials. Guess you aren't an ally after all.

Trump Release: They agreed to all our demands! MAGA victory!

Colombia Press Release: They agreed to treat them with dignity, which is what we asked for in the beginning, so status quo. Also, no military planes.

i so look forward to tariffs anytime a country says no

Panama
denmark...lol. he really actually wants greenland

[Northwestcoug]

It seems like it really is about experiencing the cruelty of it all. I will see occasional tweets from folks showing pictures of "illegal immigrants" gathered at bus stops and the assumption is that they are on their way out of town to avoid ICE raids. "America is back!!" Why so much joy in watching the lives of people (the vast majority of whom are just trying to make a decent living) get turned upside down?

GiRtZpwXMAAs4jp.jpg

Was it only 4 short years ago that Mace was touted as a serious politician that just might stand up to Trump? What a joke.