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    marye
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    Since the existing threads along this line are more archival than current, here's a new one for discussing events in the outside world. In a civil and respectful manner please. There's a lot going on out there. Stay safe, look out for each other

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  • proudfoot
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    yes, the "I didn't vote" crowd

    phu kem

  • Vguy72
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    Asshole in chief....

    ....fired the FAA director his FIRST DAY. Then placed a hiring freeze on air traffic controllers the next day. Then disbanded the Aviation Safety Advisory Committee the next day, then offered a buyout demand to existing employees the 28th. The next day, the US has its first mid-air collision in 16 years. But, as is expected, the orange finger points the blame to anyone else.
    I miss the days where all we bitched about was hey nows and shipping notices.
    PF. A third of the population didn't vote at all. Shame on them as well.

  • estimated-eyes
    Joined:
    dei

    Looking at Washington Post coverage of Trump's comments blaming DEI (and Obama, Biden and Buttigieg) and they use the standard "Trumps says so and so without evidence." How about this instead: "Trump grotesquely blames DEI and previous administrations for accident that happened on his watch."

    Trump and his lackies are awful, but the media has truly failed the nation for the past decade by normalizing Trump and his un-American views. It actually goes back to the Tea Party crazies of the early Obama years who claimed it was all about economic issues, when in reality it was people losing their minds because a Black man was president. The media has kowtowed to the right with wishy-washy descriptions of their awful behavior and opinions, all so they don't get accused of having a left wing bias.

    Sixtus, true stuff re: science and what these people are doing to it. Response to California wildfires is an apt comparison.

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    I saw a photo a couple days ago

    someone spray painted "NAZI SCUM FUCK OFF" on a Tesla dealership in town

    the only graffiti I have ever been happy to see

  • proudfoot
    Joined:
    how the phuq can DEI be related to the crash?

    Seriously...how can anyone have been so stupid as to have voted for this schmuck?

    People die...offer condolences? No. Blame DEI.

    W
    T
    F

  • estimated-eyes
    Joined:
    of course he is. Always…

    of course he is. Always someone else to blame.

  • Cousins Of The…
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    Re: media

    Trump is on TV live, already blaming DEI. Talk about deplorable.

  • Sixtus_
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    re: Est/Eyes

    Your post rings a thousand percent true.
    It's tragic all around.
    One can only imagine the reverse and how it would be represented.
    Look no further than the CA wildfires, I mean, blame California government, right?
    Clearly, all their fault for being....attuned to the earth's limitations and simply trying to hold those awful realities at bay or perhaps even mitigate.

    The very fabric of our society as we know it is being peeled away, layer by layer.
    I work in Clinical Research and this entire business of shunning science and the NIH and WHO is just absolutely Ludacris. How the hell do people think innovation and cures for diseases are actually derived?
    Trial and error, it's called Science.
    We don't always know the truth and facts of what we're doing at the outset, but the very definition of science is along the lines of "the pursuit of knowledge". It is an iterative process until something sticks, then you work at that to make it work even better. Fully aware that there will be wrong turns and unknowns, but the key is that those things should never be harbingers for "look, they have no idea what they are talking about." Those sort of stances put on full-display the lack of understanding of what science is, and the true intent. The fact that this administration is for some reason against that pursuit is one of the most baffling and, quite frankly, destructive positions of All.
    But on some sinister level it all makes sense: debunk science to keep people in fear and keep them stupid, so they have nothing else to fall back on other than whatever their dear leader spews in their direction for them to lap right up.

    Despite all of this BS, I still do feel that rational thought and science will win the day, its just gonna be bumpy as all hell.

    Be Well People!
    Sixtus

  • estimated-eyes
    Joined:
    media, etc...

    Until the American left wing gets a media company that can rival FOX Entertainment, Newsmax and all the right wing media (including podcasts, radio, etc...), this country is in trouble. The left simply doesn't have a propaganda arm to counter the right wing narratives. Part of it is the idea that the left wants the truth, not propaganda and negative opinions 24/7. Some on the right will disagree, but, frankly, they are wrong. Does mainstream media make mistakes-- yes and they usually own up to it. FOX lies, spouts propaganda, shows only the negative of a Democratic administration and the positives of Trump.

    Take the tragedy that happened in DC last night with the helicoptor/plane crash. An awful tragedy. If this happened under the Obama or Biden administrations, FOX and all right wing media would pick up the talking point that this happened because the military is too 'woke,' hiring DEI leaders and letting trans and too many women, black and brown people into the military, sacrificing quality. The mainstream media would then report on these disgusting reports, which then gets these noxious ideas into the mainstream media and more and more people believe this garbage.

    How many American soldiers died in the Afghanistan withdrawal that people cannot forgive Joe Biden for? Was it 13? More Americans died last night in that plane crash on Trump's watch. You won't hear the media saying that it happened because the new SecDef is a drunk who spent his first days on the job working on dismantling diversity efforts and retaliating against General Milley. FOX would be casting blame toward a Democratic administration though.

    All that said, this is sadly what Americans voted for in November. Chaos and lies, despite knowing what we know about that monster.

    Edit: I will add that I do not believe the accident happened because of the new SecDef, but pointing out how right wing media would be discussing such an accident under a Democratic administration. Tragedy all around...

  • simonrob
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    What were you expecting?

    All the world leaders that are admired by he who shall not be named are dictators and strong men. If they tolerate elections then they manipulate them to ensure they remain in power. Democracy is considered to be a threat.

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Since the existing threads along this line are more archival than current, here's a new one for discussing events in the outside world. In a civil and respectful manner please. There's a lot going on out there. Stay safe, look out for each other
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thank you to all those extending a helping hand to those devastated by the fires in LA. A lot of our fellow Heads, both the victims and the helpers.
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I have a feeling we're going to see ever more climate-induced disasters like in LA, Valencia and many others.

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In reply to by simonrob

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I would agree with that. A lot of people feel that they have no power to change things, or that it is somebody else's responsibility. And regarding climate change, those in a position of power don't care enough to do anything significant about it. This, combined with a personal sense of entitlement decrees that people feel they have the right to do what they like irrespective of the harm it causes the environment. Add the two together and things don't look so bright. Look at the world leaders and they look worse.
Maybe it will take the suffering of those in power to make them instigate change. A terrible suggestion, but they don't seem to care enough about anything outside their own, or supposed national interests to do anything different unless they are under threat themselves.

Incidentally - I can only find this page when someone else puts an entry in. Same goes for the Daves Picks 52 section.

On the front of Mick Jagger’s shirt at the Montreal show in December 1989.
There’s a video of that show and he’s wearing the shirt, but I don’t know if he wore it for every show on that tour.

So yeah, 1989, we were well aware of the dangers then……

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Here in the Netherlands, polls suggest that climate change is sinking down the list of things that people feel the government should be dealing with. In 2020 it was in the top three. By last year it had dropped to sixth place and this year it had sunk to tenth place. There could be any number of reasons for this. As the government consistently fails to get a grip of economic and social problems, the difficulties faced by people on a day-to-day basis naturally are top of their priorities. This is hardly surprising but the effects of climate change in the Netherlands are already clear and will only become more extreme in the future. Fortunately we haven't yet experienced any really major climate-induced disasters up to now but it is surely only a matter of time before something really catastrophic happens.

About the climate/planet/Arctic Sea
The loss of free democracies
Genocide
Potential World and/or civil war…

“my groceries are too expensive”

Edit: 89?…stoner Bobby was trying to wake everyone the fuck up years before that. Hell they did that whole 88 MSG run for the rainforest and spoke at the UN. No offense to the boys but it’s kinda sad that they had to be one of the early voices telling the world to wake up….unfortunately, people were more interested in getting cheap fast food burgers and drive huge gas guzzling behemoths just to get one person to work etc

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...ACT LOCALLY

that was the poster we
had hung on the wall
of the staircase landing wall
at our apartment
and that was 1991!

Wo-oh, what I want to know, where does the time go?

go back and read your OLD RELIX magazines,
EVERY issue in the late '80's and early '90's had articles
about what we can do about OUR WORLD!

PEACE for ALL!
uncle_tripel

Wo-oh, what I want to know is, are you kind?

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In reply to by uncle_tripel

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That's a good point, Uncle Tripel. I think, to be fair, a lot of people feel overawed by the sheer scale of what is going wrong in the world. It can make us feel utterly helpless, so that we can be tempted to turn our back on it all and turn on into our own private world.
Personally, I think we all have a responsibility, and we can all effect change by making small moves in a more altruistic direction, in a way that is manageable for us and our circumstances. For example - I drive my car as little as possible. It is fuelled on petrol, so every time I take it out I am damaging the environment. I drive about a mile a week. For me this is an easy thing to achieve. I live in England, am retired and am comparatively fit. This would not be so easy if you lived in the States or were still working, for example. But that doesn't mean that there is nothing else that could be done. We are all responsible - and we can all make a difference.

And then turn on into out own little world . You don't have to turn into a saint !

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In reply to by daverock

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Unless tptb change things.
Due to contract nonsense, UPS will no longer deliver to Post Offices so anything addressed with a PO or PO Box will be sent back!!!
Rhino has to either get physical addresses from all those effected (up to 31 million Americans) and ship directly to that address via UPS, or use USPS exclusively.
Don’t believe me, look it up!

What do you think the odds are this has been considered before 53 goes out in two weeks?

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For me, and you too I think, our DaP parcels go UPS to the Denver UPS sorting facility then UPS drives it over to USPS there in Denver at the USPS sorting facility before going out USPS to smaller USPS offices. That should not affect us I don't believe. At least that's what the tracking indicates. I was puzzled by your other post regarding this subject so I did some research and that is what I found.
Cheers
Edit - Not sure about box sets though. Can't remember the tracking on those.

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In reply to by 1stshow70878

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But do you get home delivery or PO Box only?
We can only get Mail delivered to a PO Box so it will be sent back.
If UPS sees a PO address or PO Box it will be sent back, if you get your mail normally, delivered at home, you’ll supposedly be ok as UPS will skip the handoff to USPS and just deliver to your house, instead of the mail person.

The problem is how items need to be addressed.
For those who can only get mail at PO Box etc because we cannot put any additional information on the item or it will get sent back.
So in order to get DaP, we HAVE to use only the PO Box number,
inversely to get UPS the item can only have the physical address…it’s a real hassle purchasing/dealing with vendors since when you try to order the service people don’t understand this and often cannot answer how their item will ultimately be shipped. And since most people get home mail delivery, unfortunately most of these folks don’t care, which means we have a lot of stuff addressed the wrong way that gets sent back, UGH…
In the past, most of the boxes have been sent normal UPS ground or we were given the option to use normal UPS, last year I think was different?

If we could just pick our own method, even at a premium, (like in the past) life would be easier and so much less stressful…

So for rhino to deliver our DaP via UPS only, they would have to get our physical address, which hasn’t happened. If they just go completely USPS, using our PO Box number on file, then we’ll be ok. Fingers crossed…

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OK, I get it now. Well explained. This IS going to be an issue it seems. Wonder what would happen if the sender would put both P.O. box and street address? Mail Innovations needs to get this shi+ together! I get street delivery here but what a pain for our friends in the rural areas. You got a trusted nearby friend with a street address? Hmm.. maybe not the best alternative as it adds too many extra steps. Or wait, doesn't the "UPS Store" in town advertise that you can get a box with them that has their street address on it? Aha, that's their evil plan! More business for them. Good luck.
Cheers

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In reply to by 1stshow70878

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If you put both addresses on it our PO will send it back…crazy, I know.
For a while they we’re allowing us to use a hybrid variation…but that’s been done away with, now, it’ll get sent back. It’s like the soup nazi I tell ya: one wrong dot and No Soup For You!
If vendors could just tell us upfront how they will be shipping beforehand like
“DaP 107 will be shipped via carrier pigeon, to a blue space shuttle, then parachuted to depot where trains will transport to regional facility where it will be taken to your local PO via hover craft, but hand delivered by low security work release inmates to your door” at least you’d know lol
But seriously if we knew, for sure, how something was coming it’s as simple as then providing the proper address…sigh.
OR..if there was regulation where both addresses COULD be used…
Of course the Real issue is money. USPS wants more money to process the increases of UPS items their handling and UPS doesn’t want to pay, or so is my understanding…money, money, money, money….. money!

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In reply to by Oroborous

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I will be POed if 53 does not get delivered to my PO Box. The Whole Earth Catalog first came out in 1968, that cover shot of earth from space credited with increasing mass awareness of our fragile planet. And for some climate based concerns in lyric, check out Eskimo Blue Day on Volunteers, 1969, JA, right around the time Tuna got Hot.

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In reply to by dmcvt

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There has been an increasing awareness of our relationship with the planet, at least since the 1960's, when I was growing up - then and in the 1970's. Such concerns were often ridiculed by mainstream culture. Prince Charles, as he then was, was often mocked for his expressed concerns.
Several other things that have become more mainstream now, were mocked or side lined when I was growing up. Meditation, Eastern religion and vegetarianism come to mind. None of those things existed within my parents circle of relationships, and comedians of the day had a field day with them.

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In reply to by daverock

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Don’t forget Rachel Carson!
Perhaps the progenitor of it all?
Back in the fifties and the impact her famous book Silent Spring had.
Many have tried, but when the self absorbed public won’t change simple behaviors nothing improves….actually, it gets worse : (

You mentioned "small changes".

I think it was Obama's science guy who said something to the effect that if we painted every roof white this would reflect light back into space and reduce greenhouse gases. He said but you can't even get people to do this!

I know in Plano, most have dark color roofs. I think the shingle people know dark color shingles dry out faster than the silverish ones I grew up with in Jersey. House I grew up in had same silver roof over 30 years.

Not only do they generate electricity but they also cast a shadow on your roof which helps keep the attic and house cooler. Good for hot locations.

Though in a cold, snowy location the dark shingles absorb heat and warm up the attic.

A house down the street from me has roof panels, but they’ve been covered in snow and not generating electricity.

My neighbor looked into getting panels but the batteries to store the electricity were too expensive. You can also ‘rent’ your roof to a company that installs panels and you get electricity from them during the day but there are no batteries to store the electricity for at night.

One of the more recent things I saw, was instead of "batteries", they used the electric from the day to run a compressor, at night the compressor blew a small wind generator.

I thought, great idea.

Like dropping cable solar panels are always on the list of things to do. Right after I replace the chimney cap on my highest roof! The cap is made, just need to drag it up 30ft and drop on chimney!

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In reply to by Dennis

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The compressor is a good idea, but does it run continuously or only when there is demand?

It’s unfortunate for the fire situation in L.A., but it’s also an opportunity to put solar panels on every new house built.
There may already be a CA law that solar panels have to be included in any new construction.

There should also be solar, wind, and geothermal powered desalination plants on the CA coast. The coast shouldn’t be reliant on the Sierras for water.
The desalinated seawater could also be piped to Vegas to waste on worthless fountains.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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I would think that would depend on use and size of storage tank for the air.

One can only imagine the size of the storage tank needed to run a generator for 12 hours!

I still like the concept,,,,, batteries aren't really earth friendly.

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In reply to by Dennis

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The reported ceasefire and hostage - prisoner exchange sounds promising. We can but hope, pray or whatever we do.

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I'll be watching with interest as America transitions from democracy to oligarchy. Unfortunately I suspect no part of the world will remain unaffected by what's to come.

A deeply shameful day in American history. It's a shame no one can explain to this man that America has never been great. Simply a work in progress, like everywhere else. I can't help thinking that this tragedy could have been averted by sentencing to a spell in prison. An opportunity to put things right that wasn't taken.

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It's unfortunate that the orange one is a businessman, not a politician. As a result he is only concerned with the accumulation of wealth and has no idea how the world works, not that he cares. As a result, his isolationist masterplan to make America great again is almost certainly doomed to cause worldwide mayhem.

America, love it or leave it.

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In reply to by simonrob

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Big man, pig man
Ha ha, charade you are

It's time to play my new national anthem by the Exploited:

Look up ___ ___ USA

A very unfortunate day in this nation

Instigate an attack on the US Capitol? You, too, can be President!

Be a convicted felon? You, too, can be President!

Using a nation's military to round up specific groups of people? Sound familiar?

Ugh. Just despicable.

GOP = Gang Of Pigs

Swine.

Wendy O. Williams: a pig is a pig, and that's that

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We'll be avoiding any of the hoopla today on TV. I'll wait for the political pundits to lambaste him on the late night shows. Besides, I spent all day yesterday watching two great football (American) games. Time to play some Dead. Loud.
Cheers

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He is alleged to have said "You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time". Jus' sayin'.

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There is a line in the movie, I think Richard Widmark says it. Every witness before the court claims they weren't a Nazi. Widmark leans into his co-council and says, "to hear them tell it there wasn't a Nazi in Germany"

That's what you'll hear in four years when things go to shit,,,,, "I didn't vote for him".

No one did!

I not saying everyone that voted for his orange-ness was stupid, but all stupid voted for him,,,, along with white supremacist.

We'll see, but I doubt things will be better in 4 years.

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In reply to by simonrob

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Simon Rob
‘I’ll let you be in my dream if I can be in yours’. I think Bob Dylan said that.

On a positive note, having a convicted felon as president shows the country is committed to rehabilitation. It would be better if they had showed some contrition but you can’t have everything.

I hope you enjoy your ‘national emergency’ on your southern border.

As BD also said. ‘Don’t follow leaders, watch your parking meters’.

MAGA is not about what some think, it’s about a return to a gilded age of robber barons and oligarchs. (Look up Robber Barons, great u tube: Robber Barons to Bezos) Canada and Greenland will make more sense…
So not looking to return to 1940s and 50s but to the late 1800/early 1900s when Crooks were kings! Toss in a little 1930s fascism and yeah, good times! I can hardly wait, this is gonna be greaattt!
Cue up Morning Dew, just in case…
Onward! Through the nuclear fog!

But hey, my groceries are too expensive…

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Once the Gulf of Mexico has been renamed the Gulf of America, presumably the state of New Mexico will also have to be renamed. Also, after Greenland has been invaded and annexed, it will most likely be renamed Orangeland.

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In reply to by simonrob

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Oh wait, that’s only because I just took a giant dump.

The official election results are that Trump got 49.9% of the popular vote.
Didn’t even get 50% of the vote.

I don’t belong to either party and am wishing for a legitimate 3rd party. You’re often told that it’s red or blue, but in fact this country is majority purple. The problem is that the parties that make up the duopoly constantly file lawsuits to block third party candidates from getting on ballots.

Born and raised in Los Angeles 1950...my parents were born here, my maternal grandparents lived close to Tombstone AZ in the early 1900's...my grandfather (who had Yaqui blood) would say "We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us"...my paternal grand parents were from Chihuahua Mexico and came to the States around 1895...I survived Viet Nam, the Civil Rights Movement and ensuing civil unrest and Nixon & Kissinger...BUT...this is the first time I will feel compelled to have to carry a copy of my birth certificate along with my original Social Security card I was issued in 1967...May you live in interesting times indeed....

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...and Putin, saw fit to invade Georgia in August 2008 when George W. Bush was president, then Russia invaded and annexed Crimea in February 2014 when Barrack Obama was president (after Obama had promised then Russian president Medvedev that he would have more flexibility after the 2012 elections), and then Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 when Joe Biden was president (after Biden stated he might not respond to a "minor incursion"). Russia did not invade any of its neighbors when Trump was president. But yeah, somehow Trump is who Putin wants in office.

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In reply to by Charlie3

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....breaking news. By executive order, the US is withdrawing from the World Health Organization.
Awesome 👌. Also out of the Paris Accords.
And to everyone who thought Project2025 "was just a joke bro", yeah. About that.
We're screwed. And I'm white.

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In reply to by simonrob

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I noticed this morning that he's also given a pardon to those people he encouraged to riot 4 years ago after having falsely claimed to have won that election. Worrying where this approach could go - if you can break the law, encourage others to do the same, and then change the law to legitimise what you and they have done.
He has also said that there will now only be two genders. I know which part of which gender Trump could be described as.