#latest in politics

[complementaryhalves]

not mclaren posting carcar on main (on facebook, of all platforms) in november 2023

[beauty-funny-trippy]

Breaking News: Allred has now pulled ahead of Cruz by 1%. Let's keep the momentum going!

By donating to Colin Allred's campaign, you will be: • helping to defeat Ted Cruz • helping to keep a Democrat majority in the Senate • helping to protect Social Security, Medicare, and the Rights and Freedoms Republicans are trying to take away • helping to prevent Mitch McConnell from becoming Senate Majority Leader again How much is it worth to you to see Ted Cruz defeated, or to keep a Democrat majority in the Senate? You can donate any amount you want at ColinAllred.com.

[wanderingtycho]

By far one of my favorite things about the way Disco Elysium handles politics is that Libertarianism is treated as an absolute joke. Like the game is obviously sympathetic towards communists, but there are elements of sympathy towards the moralists and fascists as well. Not sympathy in the sense of “oh can’t we all just get along, we’re all human” BS, but sympathy in the sense that you are able to understand a persons thought process that would lead them to embrace moralism or fascism. Even if that thought process is deeply flawed, and leads to horribly off kilter conclusions, going through the centrist and fash quests gives you meaningful insight into the appeal of those ideologies.

But Ultraliberalism? The game just laughs at you, repeatedly and mercilessly. As it should, you’re a cop so poor a guy you’ve known for one day has to pawn some fancy hubcaps so you can afford rent, yet all you talk about is your grindset. Your hustle, how you’re gonna disrupt the market and groove your way into the lap of luxury. It’s delusion, utter stark raving madness, and characters treat you as such.

Kim is at a loss for words whenever you crank on your libertarian spiel, Evrart calls you a retard, you have to *trick* the mega-rich light bending guy into giving you mercury mining stocks because he’s simply too perplexed by you. Joyce, last of the self identified Ultras, doesn’t take you seriously. Sileng just goes along with it the same way he goes along with any of the other nonsense you can spout, because he’s on his own hustle, and there is no loyalty among charlatans. The only character who is wholeheartedly onboard with the money engineering and the visionary wave making lifestyle is literally named IDIOT DOOM SPIRAL.

But you see, all these things are just incidental, where the game makes it most potent jab at libertarians is when the vision quest stops. Notice I said *stop* not *end*. The communist quest line ends with a Rhetoric check in order to ask The Most Important Question about Communism. The fascist quest has you look yourself in the eye with an Endurance check to see if you can stomach the truth about yourself and your Vöws. The moralist quest ends with a heart wrenching Empathy check as you beg the iron grey and soulless enforcers of the status quo to please god help this district before war breaks out in the streets. There’s real personal stakes for Harry in all these disparate paths he can walk, what does Ultraliberalism get?

You and Kim look at a statue covered in tinsel and disco balls, Kim asks you why you went through with all this, and no matter what response you pick he’s like “Right, yeah, okay. Anyway, let’s finish the case.”

That’s it, no grand moment of pathos, no red Savoir Faire skill check to see if you really are the baddest hustler in the neoliberal hood after all. It’s completely limp, flaccid, lackluster. The game treats all the effort you put into this as exactly what it is: sad, cringe fantasies of a poor old man who’s huffing copium over the embarrassed millionaire mythos.

Disco Elysium doesn’t give libertarianism a poignant, profound conclusion because it’s an ideology undeserving of such treatment. It’s a hyper-capitalist cult mentality of toxic positivity and confirmation bias, a way for desperate people to trick themselves and other chumps into thinking they can bootstrap their way into wealth and prestige. It goes past wishful thinking into pure delirium, the game doesn’t engage with it seriously because it doesn’t have to, the only people who sincerely believe any of its tenants are morons and the clowns who sucker them.

[jinxthejubilee]

I'm officially scared now....

Guys, you know I don't discuss politics much, but I feel the need to talk about important issues at least once. I can't stress this enough:

PLEASE VOTE!!

I don't know how ya'll feel about Kamala Harris or any other nominee, but we can't have Trump in the office again. Especially not now. I beg you all, please!!!!

[yoonstudios]

asking everyone to take good care of themselves, especially for the next 48 hours or so. go to sleep early, make sure you take time-outs between the news/internet and get some sun, and indulge in hobbies or activities you enjoy. i'm not saying to not keep up with what will be going on for the next little while, because there's at LOT at stake with this election. but dear god please please please make sure you're not functioning purely on adrenaline and cortisol <3

[dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram]

do you have any advice about boycotting? I have been trying to follow bds but people online are always calling for boycotts and saying people are supporting genocide for bot boycotting xyz and Im having a lot of anxiety about it. Obviously feelings arent more important than not supporting a genocide etc

There's a bit of discussion of boycotts at the moment, so it seemed like a good time to finally respond. I do have advice - very simple and strong advice. The point of a boycott isn't individual moral purity, it's using collective power.

The starting point for building collective power has to be people resisting oppression. Just like a strike can only be called by the workers, a legitimate boycott can only be called by those who are resisting oppression.

For the last 20 years, a coalition that crosses Palestinian society has called for Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions. I follow what they say - I don't give a shit about what people online are saying. They are very clear about their strategy - and the important of strategic boycotts. There are some global targets, and then other targets are organised locally - the link above includes information about how to find out what the local calls are.

I believe there is a strong moral and political imperative to observe BDS. I hope that the clear direction and the short list will help with your anxiety.

I think it's really important to understand that there's a principle here - it's not just about BDS. When offering solidarity, you start with what organised groups resisting oppression have asked for. Don't listen, or get stressed out about what random strangers have said.

******

There is, I think, another point, which is just as important. People who are going around making up targets are actively harming the Palestinian Liberation struggle. There are two messages I hope people get from this post - the first is that the starting point of meaningful solidarity is what people collectively resisting oppression are asking for. The second is that the sort of mouthing off online that is stressing you out is actively doing harm - and anyone who wants to do meaningful political work - has to stop pretending that indulging in self-righteous and reactionary social media posting has anything to do with meaningful political work.

There are two reasons that people who make up things they think other people should do actively does harm. One is that it undermines the ability to build power by substituting an individual's voice, for the collective voice of people resisting oppression. Substituting individualism for collectivism is guaranteed to weaken movements

The second is the behaviour you describe is coming from the more reactive parts of our psyche. Politics is about building power through coalitions. When people try and prove they're right and other people are wrong they are letting the anxiety processes of our brains take control - and substituting our most reactionary selves for meaningful political organising - then they're actively getting in the way of building power.

The fact that you're feeling anxious isn't an accident - it's a direct result of other people's choices to act from the reactionary and anxiety part of their pscyhe. If one person is acting from their own anxiety - it absolutely does promote anxiety in others. Good political work comes from building power and coalitions - which involves strengthening relationships - none of which are done best from a position of anxiety (you'll probably be anxious at times, when doing political work - that's really normal. But that's different from anxiety being at the centre of the political work).

I think one of the biggest problems of social media's impact on our ability to organise - is that it's very easy for people who are reacting entirely individualistically, from the reactionary parts of their psyche, guided by their anxiety, to persuade themselves that they're doing collective organising - when they're actually doing the opposite.

I'm sorry you're feeling really anxious. I think it would really help to turn around what you think you're doing. You frame this as not supporting genocide - but that's probably not an option. The political and economic system you are living in supports genocide, and if you imagine you can opt out of that you're setting yourself up to fail. If instead of trying to do the impossible - you focus on acting in solidarity with people collectively resisting their oppression - then it should both be less stressful and more effective. The requests are clear and simple - and you can and should do them.

[age-of-moonknight]

“A Little Chaos,” Moon Knight Annual (Vol. 5/2024), #1.

Writer: Dan Watters; Penciler and Inker: Marco Renna; Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg; Letterer: Cory Petit

[badbirdnews]

USA Today’s claim that President Biden has “clamped down on unauthorized border crossings”

is nothing short of a joke. The reality on the ground tells a completely different story. The border crisis under this administration has reached unprecedented levels, with a record number of migrants crossing into the United States illegally. It’s hard to believe that anyone could seriously argue that Biden has taken decisive action to control the situation.

The images and reports coming out of the border paint a grim picture of chaos and desperation. Thousands of migrants, including many unaccompanied minors, are making the dangerous journey, often at the hands of ruthless human smugglers. The overwhelmed Border Patrol agents are doing their best to manage the influx, but they are simply outnumbered and ill-equipped to handle the sheer volume of individuals crossing the border.

Despite the overwhelming evidence that the border crisis is worsening by the day, USA Today seems determined to spin a different narrative. Perhaps they are trying to protect the image of President Biden or downplay the seriousness of the situation. But it’s insulting to the American people who can see through the smoke and mirrors. We need honest reporting and a government that takes real action to secure our borders and protect our sovereignty.

The fact is that President Biden’s policies, such as rolling back Trump-era immigration reforms and signaling a more lenient approach to illegal immigration, have only encouraged more people to make the dangerous journey to our southern border. It’s time for our leaders and media outlets like USA Today to stop playing political games and start addressing the very real crisis at hand. Our country’s security and the safety of those making the treacherous journey depend on it.

[godisasimp]

Guys.

She wouldn't have missed.

[piningpercussionist]

transfem scott getting lots of support from ramona and kim in the early 2000's when shit's very taboo but they all 3 have a fire forged bond and lord if they aren't going to make sure they're all as happy as they can be because they've come this far and I dunno it just makes me happy all three of them

YES YES YES

It makes me very happy as well,,

Like I've said before. General Trans Scott enthusiast here- I love the idea of their little support network *violent coughing* I (we?) mean polycule *violent coughing* so fucking much.

Ramona I think has a bit of a more gentle hand with reassuring Scott with gender issues, but sometimes she just can't help herself from some pointed banter or teasing- how could you with someone so dense? (Said w affection)

And then Kim I think is more blunt. But like, in a good way mostly, you know? The kinda blunt that makes you snap to attention and go "Oh. Yeah that was silly of me." And if Ramona's started some sort of banter? Kim is SO piling on. Maybe sometimes she's a bit TOO blunt with it- but it's only because she's so firm in her support. She wants Scott to Get It Together- and be happier for it. So if some ribbing now and again is in order, then goddamnit she will do so! Anything to crack that shell.

And ohhh can you imagine how they would react to some transphobic bullshit?? Unholy terror would be driven into the offender before they walk off with an absurd amount of coins between them. I can feel it in my bones. Scott doesn't even have to lift a finger (if the transphobe is even noticed/processed at all, bc I honestly can see Scott just. Not realizing someone's being transphobic.) Kim giving someone a lashing with her tongue as distraction and then Ramona coming in with the hammer- BAM! Free Money! Paying literally with your life for your transphobia. A Better And Just World.

And of course (transfem Scott more specifically, here,) the way Scott would start to flourish under their support... cagey and maybe a little (perhaps a lot-) resistant to start- but Kim's blunt affirmations and no nonsense attitude for bullshit (which is what Scott insisting on "being cis" would be, c'mon now,) and Ramona's also low bullshit tolerance but less Stabby (bc I won't lie, that's probably how Kim's comments would feel,) assurances? Ough... My Heart... Be Still-

I would Kill for them, Your Honor-

(Ran out of tags so putting this in the body of the post- I am SO tired someone pls sound off if this isn't as coherent as I am hoping this is. I WAS trying to nap and get the extra sleep I desperately needed but the writing bug... it Bit Me.... only a little but enough to stop that process-)

[aci25]

An aid aircraft dropped spoiled food in northern Gaza

There is clear evidence of many things. Conclusion: The lives of Palestinians seem to matter neither to the one who provides the food nor to the one who distributes it. What a harsh reality!

[beauty-funny-trippy]

"...it is absolutely well known that these dictators and autocrats are rooting for you to be president again because they're so clear, they can manipulate you with flattery and favors. And that is why, so many military leaders, who you have worked with, have told me, you are a disgrace.

"That is why, we understand that we have to have a president who is not consistently weak and wrong about national security, including the importance of upholding and respecting in highest regard, our military."

[freshthoughts2020]

[sweaterkittensahoy]

Hey, what about instead of trying to police the vocabulary of queers by saying "OMG don't say gay panic lightly, don't you know the history of it as a legal defense for homophobes who killed queers???"

You instead kill the respectability politician in your head and say, "Hey, use 'gay panic' for wanting to fuck people MORE and LOUDLY so even the most annoying straights use it so the next time someone tries to use it as a defense (it's still legal in several US states), someone in the jury pool hears that shit and starts laughing uncontrollably because all they know 'gay panic' as is their straight brother-in-law worrying he wants to fuck Clark Gable because he's so fucking dashing as Rhett Butler."

So much of the goddamn vocabulary we have as queers has been snatched from the jaws of hateful fucks. They don't deserve to keep a single fucking one of them. If you don't like using it as a descriptor of getting horny, don't. But unpack the idea that we queers owe the hateful fucks some sort of proof that we're respectable enough not to murder.

[salmonella-destroyer-of-worlds]

[troythecatfish]

Source: https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/04/27/erdan-to-israel-hayom-leaving-un-should-be-on-the-table-if-it-does-not-reform/