What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Sheilbh]

I am saddened, even if not especially shocked, that the centrist media has already started promoting a message of safety above all else, contributing to a demobilizing mindset.

I think it is tied to "normalisation".

That's often used to basically say "this is not normal" and call for increased media coverage, often around what Trump or people around him say or his wild appointments to high office. I think it's, broadly speaking, a groundless critique as I think the traditional media do report this and do report how outrageous, untrue or mad those statements or appointments are (I'm not sure they've quite worked out how - but they are trying).

But I think that in itself speaks to a deeper and more worrying normalisation. I think the general message to everyone is to carry on as normal - that there are all of the problems with Trump and the administration that the media reports but it is at the level of politics in DC. I think that understates the risk and there is a deeper, more serious problem (and project on the right). In a way almost by reporting those stories about the administration, even while calling them out, the media is projecting a politics as normal message: Congressional Dems and GOP White House in fight, Dems divided; White House and judges clash over x; Executive over-reach? The framing in and of itself is the problem - I think because it lacks the connective tissue from that to ICE's lawlessness or to government contracting etc. Which I think requires a different and less normal, perhaps less beltway type of reporting. I'm not sure the extent the traditional media have worked out a way to do that beyond MAGA safari in the diners of middle America.

[grumbler]

If they want to act as the coercive wing of this political project (which is what I think the lawlessness) is doing then make them use that coercive power for every single inch.

I am saddened, even if not especially shocked, that the centrist media has already started promoting a message of safety above all else, contributing to a demobilizing mindset.

I am saddened when people use terms like "centrist media" instead of talking about actual media outlets. If an actual news outlet that I could check was contributing to a "demobilizing mindset," I might be able to decide if I agree with your "saddened, even if not especially shocked" stance.

[Oexmelin]

I am using centrist media because that's the alleged positioning of CNN, or some podcasters like Scott Galloway, where I heard that sort of rhetoric. I also heard it on MSNBC, which maybe some people would position on the hard left. And on these media, I heard it from a bunch of contributors from the NYT, the Atlantic, etc.

Feel free to replace "centrist" by "mainstream" or "legacy". But some people still seem to want to include FoxNews in these expressions.

[grumbler]

I am using centrist media because that's the alleged positioning of CNN, or some podcasters like Scott Galloway, where I heard that sort of rhetoric. I also heard it on MSNBC, which maybe some people would position on the hard left. And on these media, I heard it from a bunch of contributors from the NYT, the Atlantic, etc.

Feel free to replace "centrist" by "mainstream" or "legacy". But some people still seem to want to include FoxNews in these expressions.

I subscribe to the NYT and have never seen what you claim is written there.  Haven't seen it on CNN, either. I don't know anything about Scott Galloway so don't know if he is promoting a promoting a message of safety above all else but also don't know if that is significant either way.  In any case, it doesn't seem from today's demonstration news that these centrist media have had much impact in encouraging demobilization.

[Solmyr]

I don't like the upside down US flags on the protests either. It's the Trumpists who should be showing those, they are the ones fucking the country up.

it's appropriate for these protests to fly the flag upside down. Trumpists shouldn't fly the american flag at all given what they're doing. For them we've got something else: a red background, a white circle and a black symbol of choice but generally a bit crosslike with additional corners.

Well, they are flying Russian flags now.



https://x.com/DeptofDefense/status/1933947548965781863
(yes, a DoD tweet)

[garbon]

I don't like the upside down US flags on the protests either. It's the Trumpists who should be showing those, they are the ones fucking the country up.

it's appropriate for these protests to fly the flag upside down. Trumpists shouldn't fly the american flag at all given what they're doing. For them we've got something else: a red background, a white circle and a black symbol of choice but generally a bit crosslike with additional corners.

Well, they are flying Russian flags now.



https://x.com/DeptofDefense/status/1933947548965781863
(yes, a DoD tweet)

That is a wild misrepresentation.

[Solmyr]

I don't like the upside down US flags on the protests either. It's the Trumpists who should be showing those, they are the ones fucking the country up.

it's appropriate for these protests to fly the flag upside down. Trumpists shouldn't fly the american flag at all given what they're doing. For them we've got something else: a red background, a white circle and a black symbol of choice but generally a bit crosslike with additional corners.

Well, they are flying Russian flags now.



https://x.com/DeptofDefense/status/1933947548965781863
(yes, a DoD tweet)

That is a wild misrepresentation.

Seems like a lot of people are seeing it. Nobody at DoD thought "hey, this particular color combination might look bad at this time"?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

it's how the orcs will see it too

[celedhring]

Watched a bit of the parade on YouTube - it shows that the US doesn't do these things often (and no need to do them quite frankly), it felt quite flaccid. The shouting of the sponsors via megaphony was endearing and slightly Idiocracy-esque.

Also, I wasn't aware this was just a land army thing, somehow I thought this was commemorating the first establishment of US armed forces and the other services would be part of it, too.

[Sophie Scholl]

Also, I wasn't aware this was just a land army thing, somehow I thought this was commemorating the first establishment of US armed forces and the other services would be part of it, too.

Nope. Each branch was created individually and has their own annual "birthday" celebration. This was the big 250th for solely the (Continental) Army.

[Sheilbh]

Watched a bit of the parade on YouTube - it shows that the US doesn't do these things often (and no need to do them quite frankly), it felt quite flaccid. The shouting of the sponsors via megaphony was endearing and slightly Idiocracy-esque.

Yeah - he was apparently inspired by the Bastille Day parade Macron invited him to in his first term. From the images I've seen there's not really much comparison

[HVC]

If you want a good military parade it has to be a commie parade.


From the few clips I saw the soldiers looked down right depressed. Embarrassing showing, some generals are getting fired over this to soothe trumps ego.

[celedhring]

If you want a good military parade it has to be a commie parade.


From the few clips I saw the soldiers looked down right depressed. Embarrassing showing, some generals are getting fired over this to soothe trumps ego.

Ours is decent, particularly when it's held in a coastal city and they throw in a ship parade. Ship parades are awesome. And then there's another army parade for Spain's national day. Why do we need two army parades?

And these things nearly always have authoritarian roots. The Spanish Armed Forces Day is a replacement for Franco's celebration of Victory Day (his victory, of course) in the Civil War. Once democracy came in, to avoid annoying the army they renamed it to "Armed Forces Day" and moved it to... two weeks later 

[Tonitrus]

Watched a bit of the parade on YouTube - it shows that the US doesn't do these things often (and no need to do them quite frankly), it felt quite flaccid. The shouting of the sponsors via megaphony was endearing and slightly Idiocracy-esque.

Yeah...we don't do parade well, and is a good reason we don't usually do them (and shouldn't).

Also, past basic training, we don't practice drill much...just the very basics.  Which is fine, because we're not in the 18th century anymore.

[Sheilbh]

If you want a good military parade it has to be a commie parade.


From the few clips I saw the soldiers looked down right depressed. Embarrassing showing, some generals are getting fired over this to soothe trumps ego.

I think we're pretty good at them - though a million times better if they get the massed pipes and drums out.

Also Bastille Day always looks fantastic.

I've seen some pictures of India's Republic Day which also looks terribly impressive and is possibly the only military parade that also commemorates Gandhi