[Andy McDandy]

A line made famous by Eddie Murphy playing a guy intimidating a bar full of racists and rednecks.

[Tubby Isaacs]

JD Vance dropped truth bombs apparently. Unlike the actual bombs Russia dropped on a nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

[Bones McCoy]

A message for the weirdo neckbeard, from the greatest living Briton.

JD Vance dropped truth bombs apparently. Unlike the actual bombs Russia dropped on a nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

[kreuzberger]

With this MEGA sign-off, Goodwin has finally outed himself as a third-rate dick, generally while the rest of us were drumming our fingers, rolling our eye, and waiting for this momentous moment of monumental muskery.

Truth is, it is so not very earth-shattering that the residents of Santorini will sleep though it.

[Abernathy]

I am wondering whether it was a condition of JD Vance getting to be Trump’s running mate and VP that he had to promise to be at least as much of a pig-ignorant cunt as Trump himself.

Every so often I muse on what a boon to planet Earth it would be if Donald Trump were to be murdered or die in office. Then I look at JD Vance and remember that it might well be better if Trump keeps breathing, at least for the next four years or so.

[Crabcakes]

Vance’s speech was great - in the sense that it has infuriated most of Europe and galvanised them into both standing together and standing up to Putin.

[Bones McCoy]

The only Truth bombs from MAGA.
Are the ones Trump dropped in his big nappy at the Notre Dame opening.

[Abernathy]

From someone (whom I don’t know) on a debate thread on Facebook :

If I were a conspiracy theorist, I might even wonder whether the Mercers and Musks and the rest of the American far right have deliberately supported an overweight 78 year old with not a lot of miles left on the clock, who nonetheless has the charisma to appeal to millions of voters and present at least a soupçon of skewed democracy. Would he but know it, but the old boy is little more than a stalking horse and patsy for a younger, more vigorous and infinitely more dangerous coming autocracy, even dystopia. So get yer operating systems upgraded, people, cos in five years it’ll be an algorithm in the White House

[satnav]

Many of the things that Trump has done so far seem to benefit the oligarchs who helped him get elected. Presumably all the cuts that Musk is making will lead to some tax cuts in the very near future but the tax cuts for ordinary American's will be very small compared to the gains made by the oligarchs who will gain lots of lucrative government contracts.

[davidjay]

Many of the things that Trump has done so far seem to benefit the oligarchs who helped him get elected. Presumably all the cuts that Musk is making will lead to some tax cuts in the very near future but the tax cuts for ordinary American's will be very small compared to the gains made by the oligarchs who will gain lots of lucrative government contracts.

As long as they're a bit better off today they don't care that someone else is going to be a lot better off, and they'll be even better off tomorrow.

[kreuzberger]

So, the Trump minions have made it clear to Zelenskyy that the quid pro quo is to allow access to the raw materials which are ripe for the picking in Ukraine. Specifically, lithium - the stuff which underpins the production of batteries for EVs such as, erm, Teslas.

Zelenskyy has not ruled this out. Rather, he is keeping his council until he has had the time to consult with his lads back at the shop. Fair enough, I suppose.

Of course, that would directly commit the Yanks to having serious skin in the game. Boots-on-the-ground would be needed to prevent Putin seizing the lot and flogging it off to China and whatever Modi is up to next week.

[satnav]

I saw clip of Trump signing yet another Executive order today and it just reminded me how we often give disruptive kids at school some colouring in to do to keep them busy so tat the rest of the class can get on with their work without being disturbed.

[Youngian]

So, the Trump minions have made it clear to Zelenskyy that the quid pro quo is to allow access to the raw materials which are ripe for the picking in Ukraine. Specifically, lithium - the stuff which underpins the production of batteries for EVs such as, erm, Teslas.

Or Ukraine could use their raw materials to help bankroll European military spending increases. They're very likely to stay in Europe.

[Oboogie]

So, the Trump minions have made it clear to Zelenskyy that the quid pro quo is to allow access to the raw materials which are ripe for the picking in Ukraine. Specifically, lithium - the stuff which underpins the production of batteries for EVs such as, erm, Teslas.

Zelenskyy has not ruled this out. Rather, he is keeping his council until he has had the time to consult with his lads back at the shop. Fair enough, I suppose.

Of course, that would directly commit the Yanks to having serious skin in the game. Boots-on-the-ground would be needed to prevent Putin seizing the lot and flogging it off to China and whatever Modi is up to next week.

My understanding is that these Ukrainian rare earth deposits are mostly in the areas already occupied by Russia. If the USA wants access to them, somebody is going to have to shift the Russian army out the way because not even Musk can outbid the Chinese.

[satnav]

The latest target for the MAGA cult is Fort Knox, Alex Jones and other fruitcakes want Elon Musk to carry out an audit at Fort Knox to ensure all the gold that should be there is actually there. I wonder what the impact on the markets would be if Musk discovered that substantial quantities of gold are missing.

[Youngian]

That's an oldie conspiracy theory that gained a lot of traction in the 60s and 70s. So much so that Fort Knox invited in journalists on a guided tour in the mid 70s.
Would love to hear how the US government secretly placed tons of gold on the market without anyone knowing.

[Bones McCoy]

That's an oldie conspiracy theory that gained a lot of traction in the 60s and 70s. So much so that Fort Knox invited in journalists on a guided tour in the mid 70s.
Would love to hear how the US government secretly placed tons of gold on the market without anyone knowing.

I saw a documentary about it.
Hawaiian guy in a bowler hat.
Shirley Bassey sings the theme tune.

[davidjay]

That's an oldie conspiracy theory that gained a lot of traction in the 60s and 70s. So much so that Fort Knox invited in journalists on a guided tour in the mid 70s.
Would love to hear how the US government secretly placed tons of gold on the market without anyone knowing.

Probably with the help of Gordon Brown.

[Bones McCoy]

[Killer Whale]

Many of the things that Trump has done so far seem to benefit the oligarchs who helped him get elected. Presumably all the cuts that Musk is making will lead to some tax cuts in the very near future but the tax cuts for ordinary American's will be very small compared to the gains made by the oligarchs who will gain lots of lucrative government contracts.

It goes even further, I think. The US used to bankroll Europe's defence to a great extent, not through altruism, but to ensure access to (western) European markets. Although flawed, the US belief that trade between states could and would be a win-win process made the defence spending an investment rather than a cost.
Move forward to the Trump era and you have a President that strongly believes in two things: Firstly that oligarchy capitalism is fine and modern and natural, and secondly that international trade is, or maybe should be, a zero sum game.
Neither of these require the US to ensure European markets are available, and indeed, there will be a certain sympathy with the oligarchal model of the Russian economy.
Thus, Trump sees no issue with abandoning Europe, and if it saves a few pennies that can be redirected to Musk's Mars mission, then all the better.