🦄 Current Events Monday March 31, 2025 through Sunday April 6, 2025

[SunRaven01]

This is the place for all the new miscellaneous little political stories that crop up this week. This thread will be locked at some point on next Monday, and a new one started. If I forget to start a new one (I have been diagnosed with excessive oldness) someone slip me a reminder on Tuesday along with my newspaper and slippers.

 

[SunRaven01]

Waiting for the new thread but: 1 in 5 Americans wants their state to join Canada. We're now in the potential balkanization phase of the collapse.

Kicking things off with @thrillgore in the previous thread.

 

[stdaro]

one thing that seems to be slipping through the cracks in all the signal leak noise: I haven't seen any reporting on civilian casualties as a result of the Yemen strikes. It sounds like the US collapsed an entire apartment building because one specific person happened to be there. Obama at least paid lip service to reducing civilian deaths as part of the GWoT, but it doesn't sound like US military tactics bother at this point.

 

[Dzov]

Kicking things off with @thrillgore in the previous thread.

Same with the Republicans:

View: https://x.com/Noahpinion/status/1026150926271143936?

 

[SportivoA]

Someone mentioned this (via Bluesky screenshot indirection) on the front page comments about tariffs, but damn does it take some effort for this to be an open economic and international standing priority: https://www.reuters.com/world/china...-tariffs-chinese-state-media-says-2025-03-31/

But hey, we're in the land of inventing new economic situations just to see how they work, right? Here's what the situation gets us!

 

[Dzov]

But hey, we're in the land of inventing new economic situations just to see how they work, right? Here's what the situation gets us!

Look at us bringing China, Korea, and Japan together! Trump deserves a Nobel peace prize.

 

[Technarch]

Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzlement, barred from running for office for five years

It's really frustrating seeing how easily civilized countries deal with far right extremists, while my own just... gave up.

 

[breubreubreu]

To add an important point: she can appeal the decision, and doesn't have to serve right away the 4 years in prison that comes with that verdict. But the 5 years of being barred from elections starts right away.

She saw that coming, and it's part of the reason why she started grooming Jordan Bardela to take the baton. He was already the party's face during the legislative snap election, and they got the largest single party group.

So yeah, it's great that she got a guilty verdict, but France is not out of the woods yet.

 

[Macam]

Tech companies are telling immigrant employees on visas not to leave the US:

SAN FRANCISCO — The tech industry has long prided itself on its many immigrant founders, executives and software programmers. Now, fears are growing among foreign tech workers that their lives and careers may be upended by the Trump administration’s more stringent immigration policies.

Tech companies are telling employees on visas not to leave the U.S. out of concern they might not be allowed back in. Law firms are warning that denial rates for high-skilled visas could rise, as they did during President Donald Trump’s first term. And the administration’s efforts to end automatic citizenship for those born in the U.S. is making immigrant tech workers fear that their future children could be stateless.

In recent weeks, the government has also revoked visas and green cards from people it accuses of sympathizing with Hamas and Hezbollah, adding to the uncertainty for people who until now thought following immigration rules and being employed in high-tech industries meant they could confidently build lives in America.

A great way to absolutely wreck the industry. People have families overseas, and they may to be completely unable to see their parents, cousins, etc etc and may get wrapped up in the jackbooted anti-immigration dragnet anyway.

 

[Psychophant]

Still a semblence of rule of law out there. Wisconsin AG slapped down unanimously by their Supreme Court. Three losses in a row, hopefully he learned his lesson?

The Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision to not hear Kaul's case was unanimous after two lower courts had already rejected the challenge.

Kaul's request was first shut down by Columbia County Circuit Judge Andrew Voigt and then by an appellate court on Saturday, effectively giving Musk the go-ahead.

https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-scores-big-legal-win-wisconsin-supreme-court-2052837

 

[arcite]

Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzlement, barred from running for office for five years

It's really frustrating seeing how easily civilized countries deal with far right extremists, while my own just... gave up.

Deep State for the win.

 

[Lt_Storm]

Still a semblence of rule of law out there. Wisconsin AG slapped down unanimously by their Supreme Court. Three losses in a row, hopefully he learned his lesson?

https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-scores-big-legal-win-wisconsin-supreme-court-2052837

Ahh, yes, the rule of law, wherein directly purchasing petition signatures is, apparently, somehow, entirely legal...

 

[blindbear]

Ahh, yes, the rule of law, wherein directly purchasing petition signatures is, apparently, somehow, entirely legal...

I am still trying to understand the legal logic on why this is legal. I have yet to see an article that provides legal argument...

 

[DarthSlack]

I am still trying to understand the legal logic on why this is legal. I have yet to see an article that provides legal argument...

Because fuck you, that's why.

 

[Lt_Storm]

I am still trying to understand the legal logic on why this is legal. I have yet to see an article that provides legal argument...

I'm guessing that it's because the 'petition' is mostly a marketing effort that has no real petition behind it, but I haven't confirmed that. Still, letting people run 'petitions' just for the marketing and buy signatures is pretty scummy.

 

[papadage]

Still a semblence of rule of law out there. Wisconsin AG slapped down unanimously by their Supreme Court. Three losses in a row, hopefully he learned his lesson?

https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-scores-big-legal-win-wisconsin-supreme-court-2052837

Not at all a substantive ruling. The WI SC refused to hear the case since most of them endorsed one candidate or another. Try not to be deceptive in your framing.

 

[scarletjinx]

Well, I've expressed my anxieties about the current bird flu worry. IDGAF about the price of eggs (well, not happy about them but understand the need for culling) - my biggest concern is the high fatality rate among our little domestic predators. It's hit national news now.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/bird-flu/bird-flu-in-cats-rcna198374

For indoor cats - shocker! - the biggest vector/risk factor is their owners feeding them raw pet food or raw milk.

People, just open nice sterile cans. Also with the added "benefit" of everytime a cat sees you opening a can, them demanding their fair share!

(The second biggest regret of my life was introducing my cat to the concept of tuna. Now I will never again have a sandwich in peace.) (First regret is giving my 5 year old a watch-from then on was kept on a strict timeline with no leeway of "a couple minutes".) (Both regrets somehow are similar.)

/Edit - removed repetitive phrase

 

[Yagisama]

Someone mentioned this (via Bluesky screenshot indirection) on the front page comments about tariffs, but damn does it take some effort for this to be an open economic and international standing priority: https://www.reuters.com/world/china...-tariffs-chinese-state-media-says-2025-03-31/

But hey, we're in the land of inventing new economic situations just to see how they work, right? Here's what the situation gets us!

This is absolutely something Trump can't deal with. His whole shtick is to divide and conquer and beat up on one little guy at a time. It's why he hates the EU also.

 

[Macam]

Look at us bringing China, Korea, and Japan together! Trump deserves a Nobel peace prize.

Yeah, that's quite the achievement. About the only thing that would make it more impressive would be adding on Vietnam, but there's still time.

 

[blindbear]

Yeah, that's quite the achievement. About the only thing that would make it more impressive would be adding on Vietnam, but there's still time.

At the current rate, Trump may bring forth the unification of China (People's Republic of China + Republic of China)

 

[Yagisama]

What a crazy timeline if Trump ends up joining the rest of the world together and brings about the promise of world cooperation.

 

[SportivoA]

This is absolutely something Trump can't deal with. His whole shtick is to divide and conquer and beat up on one little guy at a time. It's why he hates the EU also.

Learning the hard way how soft power works! It's almost like aid and trade agreements might help with things like keeping economies happy or something... Also keeping a reputation together.

 

[Psychophant]

Ahh, yes, the rule of law, wherein directly purchasing petition signatures is, apparently, somehow, entirely legal...

That's not what the decision said, not why I celebrated it. I'll give you a hint. Cases are generally not decided on the merits in 3 days over a weekend.

 

[papadage]

There was no decision. It was a denial of an emergency motion without any indication of why. The legal speculation was to prevent a conflict of interest, given that almost all the justices had endorsed a candidate.

 

[SportivoA]

So, the magic is that if you're committing crimes to benefit a judge, no other judges can get involved over slowing the progression of your crimes? That the WI AG is limited in standing up for actual election integrity (as opposed to the other BS around things like absentee voting boxes)? A couple million plus venue, insurance, and transportation costs looks cheaper than another, recent election with Musk's pocketbook on the scales.

 

[Technarch]

There was no decision. It was a denial of an emergency motion without any indication of why. The legal speculation was to prevent a conflict of interest, given that almost all the justices had endorsed a candidate.

This is the dumbest thing ever. If endorsing a candidate makes it impossible for a justice to rule on an election related motion, why are judges allowed to endorse anyone? It's like the refs decided to walk off the field at the Super Bowl.

 

[Lt_Storm]

That's not what the decision said, not why I celebrated it. I'll give you a hint. Cases are generally not decided on the merits in 3 days over a weekend.

And, yet, given that the case was about a centibillionare offering a reward to people who signed a petition means that the effect is that said centibillionare is permitted to purchase petition signatures.

Oh, and, by refusing to hear the case, they effectively did make a decision in three days. Had they decided to hear it, they could have taken as long as necessary to rule on the merits.

 

[Shavano]

This is the dumbest thing ever. If endorsing a candidate makes it impossible for a justice to rule on an election related motion, why are judges allowed to endorse anyone? It's like the refs decided to walk off the field at the Super Bowl.

After showing up to officiate in team regalia.

 

[Chuckles]

And, yet, given that the case was about a centibillionare offering a reward to people who signed a petition means that the effect is that said centibillionare is permitted to purchase petition signatures.

Oh, and, by refusing to hear the case, they effectively did make a decision in three days. Had they decided to hear it, they could have taken as long as necessary to rule on the merits.

A centibillionaire has 10 million dollars. I believe the term you are looking for is hectobillionaire.

Edit: speeling.

 

[iPilot05]

This is the dumbest thing ever. If endorsing a candidate makes it impossible for a justice to rule on an election related motion, why are judges allowed to endorse anyone? It's like the refs decided to walk off the field at the Super Bowl.

Yeah I call BS. They didn't have to say boo about this or that candidate. The case was about bribing voters and that's it. Doesn't matter one bit which candidate is getting the boost.

 

[VividVerism]

I'm guessing that it's because the 'petition' is mostly a marketing effort that has no real petition behind it, but I haven't confirmed that. Still, letting people run 'petitions' just for the marketing and buy signatures is pretty scummy.

That is such transparent Putin-style plausible deniability (or implausible deniability) rules lawyering and I'm sick and tired of Musk (and Trump, but Musk has a special gift for it) getting away with it. Of course Musk is endorsing a specific candidate. He lies to judges' faces and they just let him with zero consequences.

To the judges:

The payments are “intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate,” Musk’s attorneys argued in court filings.

To his adoring crowds at the very rally in question (unless I misinterpreted the article I read):

"And if the (Wisconsin) Supreme Court is able to redraw the districts, they will gerrymander the district and deprive Wisconsin of two seats on the Republican side,” Musk said. “Then they will try to stop all the government reforms we are getting done for you, the American people.”

The shameless duplicity he gets away with is disgusting. Lying to the court is supposed to be illegal.

https://apnews.com/article/wisconsi...lar-giveaway-cdea66e0dcbaa53dd183e1d10bee2b35

 

[VividVerism]

So, the magic is that if you're committing crimes to benefit a judge, no other judges can get involved over slowing the progression of your crimes? That the WI AG is limited in standing up for actual election integrity (as opposed to the other BS around things like absentee voting boxes)? A couple million plus venue, insurance, and transportation costs looks cheaper than another, recent election with Musk's pocketbook on the scales.

This is one of many reasons I dislike the idea of judges running for election at all. I think the states using a judicial nomination committee made up of legal experts from both parties (and ostensibly non partisan) have the right idea, really: https://www.brennancenter.org/judicial-selection-map

 

[karolus]

This is one of many reasons I dislike the idea of judges running for election at all. I think the states using a judicial nomination committee made up of legal experts from both parties (and ostensibly non partisan) have the right idea, really: https://www.brennancenter.org/judicial-selection-map

Ideally, nonpartisan would be the route to go. All judicial appointments should be politically neutral. We only need to look at the current state of America to see what politicizing the judiciary brings.

 

[Psychophant]

And, yet, given that the case was about a centibillionare offering a reward to people who signed a petition means that the effect is that said centibillionare is permitted to purchase petition signatures.

Oh, and, by refusing to hear the case, they effectively did make a decision in three days. Had they decided to hear it, they could have taken as long as necessary to rule on the merits.

Do you even know what was before the court? It was an emergency petition asking them to do something they had no power to do, and do so by Sunday evening, not "as long as necessary".

The attorney general's lawsuit, originally filed in circuit court, said it was trying to stop Musk and America PAC from violating an election bribery law.

Kaul petitioned to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals after he said the circuit court would not hear his motion for a temporary restraining order to stop Musk's election-related million dollar prize giveaway before it is scheduled to be distributed at the billionaire's Green Bay town hall on Sunday.

In a decision issued on Saturday, the Madison-based state appeals court judges said they did not have jurisdiction to to require or stop any of Musk's or America PAC's actions.

"The petition fails to show that the Attorney General is entitled to any form of relief that this court is permitted to provide," the decision said.

The judges also said the petition did not adequately show that the circuit court had a responsibility to move forward with Kaul's motion for a restraining order to stop the giveaway before the Sunday event. They said the petition did not detail the circuit court's refusal or reasoning.

The decision stated "the petitioner has not shown that the circuit court had a plain duty to proceed on the Attorney General’s motion for a restraining order before Sunday, March 30, 2025."

https://www.wkow.com/news/state/cou...cle_c1ff1cb1-20c7-491d-a784-d447e1b426e9.html

The AG is perfectly free to prosecute Musk for breaking the law, in a normal fashion, where it will be decided on the merits, with all due process rights. He was asking the court to take actions it did not have the power to do. He was alleging the circuit court had a duty to hear the petition immediately, but didn't even seek from the appeals court the relief of forcing the judge to do that, but instead for them to impose an injunction themselves. That's not how the process works though.

The much talked about fascists, who care only about power and the ends achieved, do not care about legal process, and would welcome a judge throwing the law out to give them an outcome they like. The courts here have roundly slapped down that attempt to sidestep the law though, and that is good. Nothing about the legality of Musks actions has been decided.

 

[Lt_Storm]

The much talked about fascists, who care only about power and the ends achieved, do not care about legal process, and would welcome a judge throwing the law out to give them an outcome they like. The courts here have roundly slapped down that attempt to sidestep the law though, and that is good. Nothing about the legality of Musks actions has been decided.

Tell me you don't know what fascists are without telling me you don't know what fascists are.

 

[Yagisama]

The effects on US tourism are already significant with Tourism Economics recently updating its inbound US travel forecast from a predicted 8.8% growth to a 5.1% decline. That's a 13.9% decline!

'A hostile state': Why some travellers are avoiding the US

 

[Macam]

The effects on US tourism are already significant with Tourism Economics recently updating its inbound US travel forecast from a predicted 8.8% growth to a 5.1% decline. That's a 13.9% decline!

'A hostile state': Why some travellers are avoiding the US

I’ve seen this firsthand, as a number of our international guests have cancelled their travel plans. Our bookings are down, and that does seem to be a consistent trend so far.

It also doesn’t help that we’re barreling towards a self inflicted recession, so I’m expecting domestic guests to cut back as well.

Good thing the market is steadily tanking and inflation is ticking up. Get handed a thriving economy and just flush it straight down the toilet. Again.

 

[Soriak]

After Romanian courts decided that the winner of the cancelled first round of presidential elections was ineligible to run again, support shifted to another far-right candidate: https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...eads-opinion-poll-before-election-2025-03-31/

Simion, 38, has supported restoring Romania's pre-World War Two borders, which include areas now in Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine, and has been declared persona non grata in the latter two countries.

He's now at 32% support vs. 21% for the ruling party, so a clear favorite for winning the first round of elections. Will they cancel the outcome again, or find a way to ban him before the election on May 4th?

These far-right candidates are a symptom of a problem, and getting rid of one just means another, perhaps even crazier, candidate will enter from the sidelines.

 

[thrillgore]

Colorado has its first measles case due to the ongoing outbreaks

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Shavano]

Colorado has its first measles case due to the ongoing outbreaks

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Oh good. Just what we need. I expected a more direct transmission route from one of our neighboring states. In this case, it's an adult who recently traveled to an area of Mexico that has had a recent outbreak. That outbreak may have spread there from Texas - they've been reporting cases in Chihuahua (State, I think, not the city) that they think spread there from Texas.

The Mexican government is warning citizens not to travel to Texas because they don't want them to pick up measles and bring it home. (Among other dangers Mexican citizens might face in the USA).