What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Sheilbh]

Trump announced a deal with Paul Wiess, one the nation's most pre-eminent law firms.

In return for rescinding an executive order directing a "review" into Paul Weiss' security clearances (necessary to do national security related legal work) and government contracts, Paul Weiss agreed to cancel all DEI policies in hiring and pay $40 million in protection money in the form of free legal services for favored administration initiatives.

The country's top litigation firm folded without filing a single court pleading.

It's even worse than it sounds because most firms have associates do a certain amount of pro bono work.  Much of this involved defending indigent litigants in housing or benefits work, people accused of crimes, and asylum applicants. Under the Paul Weiss agreement much of this work will be shifted towards Muslim bashing ("combatting antisemitism) and further undermining the rule of law ("fairness in the justice system").

I saw that - again, shameful.

I've said before but I think the "vibe shift" culturally - especially corporate culture with a second Trump win is extraordinary. I also think it might be premature because I'm not sure how durable the underlying politics actually are.

Also I'm always reluctant on 1930s comparisons, but I can't help but think of Richard Evans' books on the Third Reich and the extent to which well-credentialed lawyers, professionals, academics were absolutely essential and enthusiastic builders of the Nazi order. It's one of the reasons I'm always a bit dubious about credentialism, institutionalism etc.

And I wonder if this is the next stage for the conservative legal movement (arguably the most successful political project in decades). The way a lot of the left - especially on the more liberal side - have advanced in the US has been through legal challenge and organisation. The conservative legal movement have now succeeded in significantly shifting the composition of the bench (probably for the next few decades looking at the age of Supreme Court justices). If they can now turn big, prestigious law firms' pro bono efforts to a studious political "neutrality" of taking cases on both sides that'll be a helpful (and more affordable) way of advancing their objectives through legal challenge and organisation.

I imagine there is right now a pro bono manager in Paul Weiss reaching out to the Federalist Society to identify good conservative pro bono opportunities.

[The Minsky Moment]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/musk-pentagon-briefing-china-war-plan.html

The article references the $2.7 billion loan Tesla received last year from unspecified "Chinese lenders" - but the more troubling fact is that the interest rate charged is WAY below market.

[mongers]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/musk-pentagon-briefing-china-war-plan.html

The article references the $2.7 billion loan Tesla received last year from unspecified "Chinese lenders" - but the more troubling fact is that the interest rate charged is WAY below market.

Or a bribe in common parlance.

[HVC]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/musk-pentagon-briefing-china-war-plan.html

The article references the $2.7 billion loan Tesla received last year from unspecified "Chinese lenders" - but the more troubling fact is that the interest rate charged is WAY below market.

Military intelligence ain't cheap.

[Tamas]

So Trump is a Russian plant, Musk is a Chinese one.

Well, US of A, you had a good run, it was bound to end at some point.

[DGuller]

Let's not get too despondent.  Ukraine for a long period was infiltrated through and through by Russia, and yet that wasn't enough to be conquered.  If we're lucky, we can still wind up like Ukraine.

[Grey Fox]

They won't go after the USA. You're destroying yourself all on your own.

They will have free reign to go after Europe & South East Asia. Taiwan's fucked. We can say good bye to the TSMC plant.

[HisMajestyBOB]

I should stock up on the electronics I've been meaning to buy.

[The Brain]

We just have to hope that the South Koreans and Japanese can get their nukes quickly enough.

[mongers]

I should stock up on the electronics I've been meaning to buy.

With the included CCP approved firmware. 

[Grey Fox]

We just have to hope that the South Koreans and Japanese can get their nukes quickly enough.

I'm sure you can play Pakistan against India to sell you knowledge.

[Norgy]

Well, that is a lot of treachery form this administration even when 100 days aren't done. Though it feels like 100 years. I am losing my hair.

[Zoupa]

NYT sanewashing again. It's so disappointing to see all the institutions you thought highly of constantly turn out to be shit.

But there is a possible reason Mr. Musk might have needed to know aspects of the war plan. If Mr. Musk and his team of cost cutters from the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, want to trim the Pentagon budget in a responsible way, they may need to know what weapons systems the Pentagon plans to use in a fight with China.

[The Brain]

The truth wasn't fit to print.

[Solmyr]

Let's not get too despondent.  Ukraine for a long period was infiltrated through and through by Russia, and yet that wasn't enough to be conquered.  If we're lucky, we can still wind up like Ukraine.

It kinda required Ukrainian civilians risking being shot, which Americans don't seem willing to do.