US US politics 2025

[Lou]

RFK is a real danger to the health of humans and animals. He is an ill-informed menace to society.

I wonder if we need to bring more attention to this.
Recently, I've started getting emails promoting misinformation about nutrition and health.
Of course, this is nothing new except that now they quote RFK in their promotional materials.

 

[Emma JC]

I wonder if we need to bring more attention to this.
Recently, I've started getting emails promoting misinformation about nutrition and health.
Of course, this is nothing new except that now they quote RFK in their promotional materials.

he is maybe not in favour anymore as the orangeman keeps calling him, 3 or 4 times at week, to ask why aren't Americans healthy yet?

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Ahimsa24/7]

he is maybe not in favour anymore as the orangeman keeps calling him, 3 or 4 times at week, to ask why aren't Americans healthy yet?

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

You mean the obese guy who worships fast food?

 

[Andy_T]

He certainly doesn't want Americans to be healthy!
Especially not as far as mental health is concerned.

 

[Jamie in Chile]

There has been quite a change in the reaction to Trump over time from the left.

At first, (2015-2016) it was just to laugh at him and dismiss him as a silly candidate that had no chance and I was guilty there as well. Even after he became the Republican candidate there wasn't enough resistance because I don't think people really believed he would win.

Then in 2017 and 2018 and maybe most of his first term it was total outrage machine and criticism at everything he did, even minor things.

Then in 2024 the democrats seem to have decided that it wasn't electorally strategic to point out that he was an awful person who did awful things, so he rather got a free pass. And now in 2025 I see far less outrage and push back that there used to be in the media and online (although we have discussed the recent protests). I think the left may have been worn down by the constant flooding of the zone with bad and crazy stuff that nowadays things like terrible corruption go by and people don't seem to have the time and energy to respond to it. Trump has really degraded and changed American politics. Sad to say it, but he has perhaps been the person that has affected the world the most this century so far, along with Xi Jinping, Putin and Zuckerberg.

We could actually do with more pushback and outrage at this point (not that I'm doing much myself I must admit, although I am outside of the US). We could also do with a positive figure. I'm struggling to think of a positive figure so far this century that has had the level of impact that the other four have had negatively. Obama is the only one I can think of but he didn't really change norms the way Trump has, so I'd say his effect is less.

We're crying out for a new figure to give us some more positivity in the world. In US politics, it would have to be a democrat that can inspire people from far left woke progressives through to the centre and apolitical and working class and unite them all with some sort of positive message and positive personality.

 

[Jamie in Chile]

Over the years, I've read about China, Russia, and many other places, as well as dictators in the past like in Europe in the 30s or around then and other wannabe dictators like Bukele in El Salvador. And Trump is a classic (wannabe) dictator. He is doing everything that dictators do.

--Crack down hard on crime by trading off crime against human rights
--Appeal to patriotism and many foreigners the enemy
--Appoint judges to the highest court
--Intimidate congress by meddling in the races
--Subtly threatening your enemies
--Make the press the enemy, try to weaken them, turn the country against them
--Personal corruption
--Tries to rig election
--Claims he won an election he actually lost
--Lying/propaganda
--Focus on your positives, ignore your negatives

It's very strange how the US people don't seem to particularly concerned about this. Perhaps the lack of a dictator in US history is one of the reasons. I am not sure if the US has ever had a full dictator, certainly not in the 20th century.

 

[Tom L.]

The odd thing is.... back when Trump ran for president in 2016, I had the impression that he didn't take his own candidacy seriously. I watched the debates with the different Republican candidates: Trump, Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, etc.- and I definitely got the impression that he was just... gratifying his ego, maybe? (I just googled about his political races, and found that he had run for resident with the Reform Party in 2000, but I'd either forgotten about that or wasn't aware of it when it happened.) I remember the morning after the election, I felt like I'd been in something like that one season of "Dallas" which turned out to be a dream of one of the main characters. I was like: "...Huh? Seriously??!!... What's next- Klaatu and Gort landing in their flying saucer to tell humans they'd better start behaving?"

 

[Jamie in Chile]

yeah, he tinkered with politics and making a run for President for ages, I don't think he really thought he would win, when he was first President I wasn't sure if he was really into it. He seemed like he'd rather be playing golf some of the time. I might be on the record somewhere wrongly saying he might not run for a second term.

Now he seems to really like it.

He also used to be agnostic about democrats vs republicans but I think he is genuinely a Republican at this point, even if he is mostly driven by personality vanity or narcissim or graft or something like that

 

[Second Summer]

While I understand Newsom is more of a centrist Democrat, I quite enjoy his sense of humour! (As well as the very real threat he's making - I'm not sure it will end the Trump presidency exactly, but we can hope!)

 

[g0rph]

While I understand Newsom is more of a centrist Democrat, I quite enjoy his sense of humour! (As well as the very real threat he's making - I'm not sure it will end the Trump presidency exactly, but we can hope!)

View attachment 33029

That's actually quite hilarious.

 

[KLS52]

While I understand Newsom is more of a centrist Democrat, I quite enjoy his sense of humour! (As well as the very real threat he's making - I'm not sure it will end the Trump presidency exactly, but we can hope!)

View attachment 33029

I just saw this on fb and had to send it to some friends.

 

[Lou]

I had to check if it was true.

 

[Lou]

yeah, he tinkered with politics and making a run for President for ages, I don't think he really thought he would win

yes. I think he just thought he could make money from contributions.

Now he seems to really like it.

Now it's mostly to keep him out of jail.

 

[Jamie in Chile]

The US is more and more clearly on a path to being an authoritarian dictatorship and it's amazing how little commentary there is on this.

Step back and take it in: the US is entering full authoritarian mode | Jonathan Freedland accurately sums up my views.

I am a bit disappointed in all the progressives who were losing their mind about Trump on a daily basis in 2017 and now that things are 10x worse have gone quiet. I think the zone has been flooded so much, and people just keep adjusting to the new reality.

One thing that stands out to me lately is the going after political opponents with criminal charges. This is what dictators do - selectively prosecute - and it's particularly egregious when combined with the pardoning of those that, say, assaulted police officers at the US capitol.

 

[KLS52]

^^^ I agree but I'm trying to stay in denial because I can't handle it. I'm struggling with, what are "we" supposed to do, when it doesn’t seem like those who are in power representing us aren't making a dent in any of what's going on.

Part of me gets it...because honestly, I'm not a fighter. I don't like things that are hard. I'd rather give up. And I fear there are (too) many like me. And I get that that frustrates those of you who do fight. I donate what I can afford and I'm willing to attend (peaceful) protests if they are local. I write my representatives. Admittedly, I don't call because I'm not a phone person. I talk to people on the "other side" when it can be done in a civil manner. But I will not go up against a maniac who loves everything this administration is doing, especially when they're not willing to listen/hear.

I just don't know what to "do" about it when people who are in a more influential position than I am don't seem to have any power to stop it.

I'm definitely going to be the one who gets eaten by the walker when the apocalypse hits.

 

[Chryssie]

@KLS52 I feel like you do too. I sign petition after petition to my Congress people and joined HRC and the ACLU. I am not a confrontational person and avoid conflict so I don't call people out that spout BS. I just don't understand how this crap is happening. How can people be so stupid? The apathy is amazing. People just go on about their lives with no clue. So discouraging.!

 

[Kathy Lauren]

The US is more and more clearly on a path to being an authoritarian dictatorship

Sadly, I think it is no longer "on the path"; it has reached the destination.

I hesitate to respond to the "what can we do about it" questions, because (a) I am a foreigner, and (b) the quick solution is not legal. Historically, when a nation reaches this stage, exiting from the dictatorship takes about 30-50 years.

 

[Jamie in Chile]

Thanks for those of you who are making the effort and thanks again for mentioning what you do as it may inspire others.

I'm not doing much either as someone who lives outside the US, but I am very concerned, I think Trump is having a lot of negative effects globally.

As dictatorships get worse, it gets harder and harder to fight them as they increasingly take over the media, reduce freedom of speech, make it harder for political opponents and so on. It may be easier to take actions now than later.

 

[Second Summer]

Historically, when a nation reaches this stage, exiting from the dictatorship takes about 30-50 years.

That may be so, but who is realistically going to take over as the new glorious leader once Trump's age and health status inevitably make it impossible for him to continue? And that's not going to take 30 years. Maybe not even 3. Do you think JD Vance has the necessary charisma?

 

[Lou]

That may be so, but who is realistically going to take over as the new glorious leader once Trump's age and health status inevitably make it impossible for him to continue? And that's not going to take 30 years. Maybe not even 3. Do you think JD Vance has the necessary charisma?

probably one of his sons.