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  • A European leader's top aide suggested his country wouldn't have resisted if Russia had invaded it
  • When the European "country" is question is Hungary, whose reputation has sunk to the unimaginable depths of being the Russian satellite that it is, referring to one of its leaders as "European leader" is very confusing in my view.

    But the top aide's comment is hardly surprising.

  • Joe Biden is bailing out Papaw's steel plant in JD Vance’s hometown. Vance is trying to stop him.
  • You're too kind - and I enjoy the comments you post. Have a great day!

  • Congressman Andy Ogles amends financial disclosures following questions by NewsChannel 5
  • You rock and I don't think you need to worry about "spamming" people. You're posting helpful news content at a time that is convenient for you - which is perfectly reasonable. Your time matters. Have a great day.

  • My latest Linux-convincing story
  • This is a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing that!

  • West Virginia state senator asked to resign after second arrest in two months
  • "Republican" was missing from the title, it seems.

    And an arrest for indecent exposure previously?

    I can assure everyone, this person is in the appropriate political party of impropriety.

  • Why JPMorgan Chase is prepared to sue the U.S. government over Zelle scams
  • I think the bank would operate better if it was nationalized.

    To say nothing of how gross that man is.

  • Argentina’s poverty rate spikes in first 6 months of President Milei’s shock therapy
  • Is this, perchance, the FO phase of having a libertarian capitalist Trump-like leader at the helm?

    I hope something can be done to quickly change course and improve the lives of the people.

  • Rep. Rashida Tlaib calls on Antony Blinken to resign
  • I really wanted to like that guy. What a huge disappointment and apologist for genocide.

    What a turn for the worst.

  • Sanders Files to Force First-Ever Vote in Congress on Blocking Weapons to Israel
  • Speaking for myself, I too love Bernie.

  • Argentina poverty rate soars to nearly 53% in first half of 2024
  • It's true that things were rough before Argentina's Trump was voted in, but it's now substantially worse - and in such a short amount of time too:

    BUENOS AIRES, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Argentina's poverty rate rocketed to 52.9% in the first half of 2024, the government's INDEC statistics agency said on Thursday, surging from 40.1% a year earlier.

    For the second half of last year, INDEC had reported a rate of 41.7%.

  • At Climate Forward event, an architect of Project 2025 dismisses global warming
  • This man is a reprehensible zealot with the potential to cause widespread harm.

    “It sounds like weather to me, a hot year,” Mr. Roberts said.

    His dismissive views are obvious fallacies, but our scientists - who he'd like to replace en masse - hold the receipts.

    As "architect" is used in describing the author of this so-called plan, let's recall some "architects" really aren't architects.

  • Blinken Faces Calls to Resign Over Lie That Israel Is Not Blocking Gaza Aid
  • This man is such a huge disappointment. How he can live with himself is beyond my understanding.

    I hope the genocide stops soon somehow.

  • Trump says Ukraine is 'demolished' and dismisses its defense against Russia's invasion
  • Concerning whatever this felon awaiting sentencing might say, recall that the opposite is true.

    Slava Ukraini!

  • US thwarts French and British push for Lebanon ceasefire call at UN
  • Washington says Israel has legitimate security problem

    But yes: it's Bibi.

  • U.S troops deployed to Cyprus as fears of wider Middle East war intensify
  • I came here to upvote this comment. I couldn't agree with you more.

  • Oracle urged again to surrender JavaScript trademark
    www.theregister.com Oracle urged again to surrender JavaScript trademark

    If there's one thing we know about Big Red, it's being entirely reasonable

    Oracle urged again to surrender JavaScript trademark

    This article makes for an interesting read. Here follow two early paragraphs for context:

    >Oracle controls the JavaScript trademark because in 2009 it acquired Sun Microsystems, which applied to trademark the name with the US Patent and Trademark Office back in 1995. The trademark was granted in 2000. > >While the database giant does not use the name for any commercial products, its ownership of the trademark has led JavaScript-oriented organizations such as events biz JSConf to adopt branding that avoids the term. As the signatories to the letter observe, the world's most popular programming language therefore can't have a conference that mentions what it's about.

    Toward the end, the article mentions an initiative to legally pursue Oracle for trademark abandonment.

    37
    Rotherham man jailed for nine years in longest sentence yet over summer riots
    www.theguardian.com Rotherham man jailed for nine years in longest sentence yet over summer riots

    Thomas Birley added fuel to bin fire and threw objects at police during unrest outside hotel housing asylum seekers

    Rotherham man jailed for nine years in longest sentence yet over summer riots

    This article is remarkable and I highly recommend reading it. Three notable paragraphs from it are very telling:

    >Sheffield crown court heard that Birley, a painter and decorator from Swinton, was involved in many of the worst incidents on that Sunday afternoon, including adding wood to a fire in a large industrial bin that had been pushed against an exit, and helping to place another bin on top of the one ablaze. > >Birley was also filmed throwing missiles at police, squaring up to officers while brandishing a police baton and throwing a large bin that crashed into a line of police with riot shields. > >He is the first person to be sentenced for arson with intent to endanger life after the 12 hours of violence in Manvers that left 64 police officers, three horses and a dog injured.

    1
    Robert F Kennedy Jr’s brother ‘heartbroken’ over Trump endorsement
    www.theguardian.com Robert F Kennedy Jr’s brother ‘heartbroken’ over Trump endorsement

    Max Kennedy says endorsement is ‘inconceivable’ and implores public to ignore his sibling’s decision

    Robert F Kennedy Jr’s brother ‘heartbroken’ over Trump endorsement

    This article makes a great read. Some notable quotes follow.

    First the recap from the last week:

    >Robert F Kennedy Jr made the announcement to suspend his independent presidential campaign on Thursday. He soon appeared with Trump at a political rally in Arizona where he formally backed the former president, who clinched the Republican nomination despite his conviction on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal hush-money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels, among various other legal problems.

    And this is particularly telling - in case anyone had any doubts. Emphasis in bold is mine:

    >Kennedy said he planned on removing his name from the 2024 presidential election ballot in swing states to boost Trump’s chances of retaking the Oval Office. But Kennedy said he would remain on the ballot in other states that are not expected to decide the presidential race.

    The history:

    >Kennedy’s presidential bid and subsequent endorsement of Trump has drawn sharp criticism from the rest of his family. And, before its suspension, his campaign was replete with controversies, including a sexual assault allegation made against him by a former staffer and the proliferation of numerous conspiracy theories over vaccine safety, Covid 19, wireless internet, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and antidepressants.

    The article closes with junior's brother, Max, quoted as saying:

    >“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be motivated to write something of this nature. With a heavy heart, I am today asking my fellow Americans to do what will honor our father the most: Ignore Bobby and support vice-president Kamala Harris and the Democratic platform. It’s what is best for our country.”

    22
    Cori Bush’s Opponent Is Swimming in Right-Wing AIPAC Cash
    jacobin.com Cori Bush’s Opponent Is Swimming in Right-Wing AIPAC Cash

    Wesley Bell, who’s challenging Cori Bush in Missouri, dropped out of a race against Republican Josh Hawley to take on the Democratic congresswoman. Apparently, punching left with AIPAC’s support is a more appealing career booster than challenging the Right.

    Cori Bush’s Opponent Is Swimming in Right-Wing AIPAC Cash

    This article is noteworthy for the historical track record of Cori Bush's challenger, Wesley Bell. It covers how Bell betrayed the BLM movement despite the widespread support he received from it.

    Also noteworthy are these two paragraphs that explain how Bell has incredible funding from the genocide enabling Israeli-aligned AIPAC lobby.

    >But rather than build his campaign against Hawley, Bell dramatically shifted his priorities, pivoting to mount a challenge against a left-wing Missouri politician instead. Last June, Bell called Cori Bush to promise he wouldn’t run against her. Then, after the Hamas attack in Israel on October 7 and the outbreak of Israel’s assault on Gaza, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) “let it be publicly known that a challenger to Bush would have effectively bottomless fundraising support,” writes Ryan Grim. Bell subsequently dropped out of his race against Hawley and turned around to challenge Bush. This opened the floodgates for the Israel lobby, which has spent a staggering $7 million on Bell’s run to capture Bush’s seat. > >As of July 2024, AIPAC’s massive donations only account for 62 percent of Bell’s contributions — in part because Missouri Republicans have lavished Bell’s coffers. The Huffington Post reported that Bell’s campaign filings included donations “from notable sources such as Steven Tilley, a GOP former Missouri House speaker who’s now a lobbyist,” and “Daniel Loeb, the billionaire founder of the hedge fund Third Point, who has donated millions to Republican causes.”

    14
    Atlanta police surveil people opposing ‘Cop City’: ‘There’s this constant stalking feeling’
    www.theguardian.com Atlanta police surveil people opposing ‘Cop City’: ‘There’s this constant stalking feeling’

    Residents wonder what legal protections are available as police monitor them at all hours, blaring sirens and shining lights

    Atlanta police surveil people opposing ‘Cop City’: ‘There’s this constant stalking feeling’

    >Atlanta police have been carrying out around-the-clock surveillance in several neighborhoods for months, on people and houses linked to opposition against the police training center colloquially known as “Cop City”. > >The surveillance in Georgia has included following people in cars, blasting sirens outside bedroom windows and shining headlights into houses at night, the Guardian has learned. > >While no arrests have been made, residents said they’re at a loss as to what legal protections of privacy and freedom from harassment are available to them. Chata Spikes, the Atlanta police spokesperson, did not respond to requests for comment.

    12
    Summer Lee of the ‘Squad’ beats back primary challenge

    >Although it was not the only factor in the race, the Israel-Hamas war undoubtedly hovered over the contest. > >Democratic Rep. Summer Lee, the first member of the progressive “Squad” to face a primary challenger this cycle, successfully fended off her opponent in her Pittsburgh-based district on Tuesday. > >Although it was not the only factor in the race, the Israel-Hamas war undoubtedly hovered over the contest. Lee has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in its war with Hamas and was among the first lawmakers to call for a cease-fire. She was seen as potentially vulnerable to a primary challenge when pro-Israel groups began to threaten heavy outside spending.

    1
    Trio found guilty of mischief for roles in 2022 Coutts border blockade

    >Three men accused by the Crown of helping lead and coordinate the COVID-19 protest blockade at Coutts, Alta., in 2022 have been found guilty of mischief. > >Jurors deliberated for three hours Tuesday night before finding Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos, and Gerhard (George) Janzen guilty of one count each of mischief over $5,000. > >Gasps of surprise were heard in a courtroom packed with supporters of the trio when the verdict was announced.

    2
    Canadian students hunger-strike for college to divest from Israel-linked firms
    www.theguardian.com Canadian students hunger-strike for college to divest from Israel-linked firms

    Several McGill University students have spent more than three weeks demanding it divest $20m from various companies

    Canadian students hunger-strike for college to divest from Israel-linked firms

    This is a noteworthy article. Here follow a few select paragraphs:

    >A group of students at McGill University have spent more than three weeks on hunger strike in an effort to force the Canadian college to divest from “companies supporting the Israeli military”. > >The move follows months of protests and sit-ins at McGill and at universities around the world, as students and faculty members have protested against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

    Then there's this paragraph that might beg the question why an academic institution would invest in the military industrial-complex:

    >Documents on McGill’s website show that it held investments in companies including Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor which has sold fighter jets to Israel, and Safran, a French air and defense company.

    It would appear McGill University initially agreed to a public forum - and the reneged on that agreement:

    >Amine said the McGill administration had acknowledged the strike, and agreed to a public forum on the issue, before cancelling the meeting. The school proposed a private meeting in early March, the students said, which was turned down.

    2
    ‘Man-made famine’ charge against Israel is backed by mounting body of evidence
    www.theguardian.com ‘Man-made famine’ charge against Israel is backed by mounting body of evidence

    Prospect of Israel facing war crimes charges has moved closer after UN condemnation of Gaza aid restrictions

    ‘Man-made famine’ charge against Israel is backed by mounting body of evidence

    A few initial paragraphs follow:

    >The accusation by the UN and other humanitarians that Israel may be committing a war crime by deliberately starving Gaza’s population is likely to significantly increase the prospect of legal culpability for the country, including at the international court of justice. > >Amid reports that the Israel Defense Forces are hiring dozens of lawyers to defend against anticipated cases and legal challenges, the charge that Israel has triggered a “man-made famine” by deliberately obstructing the entry of aid into Gaza is backed by an increasing body of evidence. > >Already facing a complaint of genocide from South Africa at the ICJ, the UN’s top court – including an allegation that senior Israeli political officials have incited genocide in public statements – Israel is also the subject of a provisional emergency ruling by the court ordering it to admit life-saving aid to Gaza. > >On Wednesday, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, underlined the growing sense of crisis as he warned that all of Gaza’s 2 million people were experiencing “severe levels of acute food insecurity” – the first time an entire population of Gaza has been so classified. > >Unlike other issues related to Israel’s conduct in its war against Hamas in Gaza, which has claimed more than 30,000 lives and displaced more than 85% of the population amid widespread destruction, the human-made famine occurring in the Palestinian territory appears more straightforward.

    14
    MyPillow CEO Loses It After Realizing the Courts Won’t Save Him | The New Republic

    From the top of the article, we come to discover that the MyPillow person is asking us all to foot his legal bill:

    >MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell doesn’t seem to be so confident in his election conspiracies these days. > >The floundering businessman took to Steve Bannon’s podcast on Monday to push his latest theory that the U.S. needs to outlaw electronic voting machines. The current suit, led by failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, is being underwritten by the pillow salesman. After admitting the effort is a total longshot and his evidence did not “shock the world,” as he had promised, Lindell decided to ask supporters if they could foot his legal bill.

    The article closes with these further challenges that this MyPillow individual has had to face:

    >The former millionaire spent months using every platform at his disposal to seed conspiracy theories following the 2020 presidential election, including against Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, claiming the electronic voting companies were complicit in a scheme to keep Donald Trump from retaking the White House. That, however, cost Lindell $5 million, and put him on the line in a $1.3 billion defamation suit brought by Dominion, in which he’s being sued not just for spreading the lies but also attempting to profit off of it. Lindell, of course, has a plan for that—he’s going to use the Supreme Court to defend himself with his new crowdfunded legal fund. > >“But Steve, all this evidence, this new evidence is gonna be used far and wide,” he told the far-right host. “There’s cases out there, as you know, Mike Lindell and MyPillow getting sued for billions of dollars.”

    23
    Missouri man fatally shoots his mother at home after mistaking her for intruder
    www.theguardian.com Missouri man fatally shoots his mother at home after mistaking her for intruder

    Jaylen Johnson charged with manslaughter after shooting death of his mother at their home’s back door in St Louis suburb

    Missouri man fatally shoots his mother at home after mistaking her for intruder

    > > > A 25-year-old Missouri man says he mistook his mother for an intruder before shooting her to death at their home’s back door. > > > > Prosecutors have charged Jaylen Johnson with manslaughter and armed criminal action in connection with the shooting death on Thursday of his mother, Monica McNichols-Johnson. > > > > McNichols-Johnson’s shooting death came less than a year after another shooting in Missouri saw Ralph Yarl, then 16, get shot on 13 April by 84-year-old Andrew Lester after ringing the wrong doorbell while picking up his siblings. > >

    156
    Palestinian town of Jericho names street after US soldier who set himself on fire
    www.theguardian.com Palestinian town of Jericho names street after US soldier who set himself on fire

    Aaron Bushnell, who died last month, ‘sacrificed everything’ for Palestinians, says mayor of Jericho

    Palestinian town of Jericho names street after US soldier who set himself on fire

    Aaron Bushnell, who died last month, ‘sacrificed everything’ for Palestinians, says mayor of Jericho

    A few of the initial paragraphs for context follow - but the article is worth reading fully:

    >The Palestinian town of Jericho has named a street after Aaron Bushnell, the US air force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington to protest against the war in Gaza. > >The 25-year-old, who died on 25 February, “sacrificed everything” for Palestinians, said the mayor of Jericho, Abdul Karim Sidr, as the street sign was unveiled on Sunday. > >“We didn’t know him, and he didn’t know us. There were no social, economic or political ties between us. What we share is a love for freedom and a desire to stand against these attacks [on Gaza],” the mayor told a small crowd gathered on the new Aaron Bushnell Road. > >Bushnell livestreamed his self-immolation on the social media platform Twitch, declaring he would “no longer be complicit in genocide” and shouting “free Palestine” as he started the fire. Law enforcement officials put out the flames, but he died in hospital several hours later. > >Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 31,000 people, the majority of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The war was triggered by the cross border attack on 7 October when Hamas killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 250 people. > >Even as governments in Europe and the US have largely continued to back Israel’s campaign in Gaza as part of the country’s right to self-defence, Palestinians have taken heart from popular protests held from Michigan to Madrid.

    88
    Liberty University fined $14m over ‘culture of silence’ around sexual assault
    www.theguardian.com Liberty University fined $14m over ‘culture of silence’ around sexual assault

    Christian evangelical institution punished victims ‘for violating the student code of conduct’ as ‘assailants were left unpunished’

    Liberty University fined $14m over ‘culture of silence’ around sexual assault

    Christian evangelical institution punished victims ‘for violating the student code of conduct’ as ‘assailants were left unpunished’

    Some of the initial content - the article is well written:

    > > > Liberty University fined $14m over ‘culture of silence’ around sexual assault > > > > Liberty University has been hit with a $14m Department of Education federal fine for creating “a culture of silence” around sexual assault, failing to support victims of violence and then failing to properly report them correctly under the law. > > > > Announcing the fine on Tuesday, the department said in a statement that the Christian evangelical institution had punished sexual assault victims “for violating the student code of conduct”, while “their assailants were left unpunished” – a violation of federal law. > > > > Liberty was founded in 1971 by the television preacher Jerry Falwell Sr, the Baptist minister who, eight years later, created the Moral Majority movement that mobilized the Christian right to the cause of the Republican party. The university was notified two years ago by the department that it would be conducting a review of the institution under the Clery Act, which requires the disclosure of campus security information. > > > > Students of the university, which is located near Lynchburg, Virginia, are required to follow The Liberty Way, a student honor code that prohibits sexual relations outside of “a biblically-ordained marriage between a natural-born man and a natural-born woman”. > > > > But signs that aspects of the code – and law – were failing came in 2021 when Liberty spokesperson Scott Lamb was fired for standing up for 22 female students represented in a lawsuit that claimed the university “enabled on-campus rapes” and suppressed complaints of sexual assault and rape, a violation of federal Title IX statutes, in what it said was “the weaponization of the ‘Liberty Way’”. > >

    3
    Linux 6.8-rc7 Released With The Stable Kernel Potentially Coming Next Week

    >Linus Torvalds just issued Linux 6.8-rc7 as we close in on the Linux 6.8 stable release in the next week or two. > >With prior weekly release candidates there were concerns raised by Torvalds that this might be a cycle needing to go with an extra "-rc8" candidate before declaring the stable kernel. But this week Linux 6.8-rc7 did tick on the smaller side and in turn Linus expressed the possibility of not needing 6.8-rc8, in which case the Linux 6.8 stable release would happen next Sunday on 10 March. But if things don't go smoothly, Linux 6.8-rc8 would come then and then v6.8 the following Sunday.

    2
    Linux for desktop market share surpasses 4% for the first time, says Statcounter
    www.neowin.net Linux for desktop market share surpasses 4% for the first time, says Statcounter

    Statcounter is reporting that Linux on the desktop has surpassed 4% of market share compared to just 1.53% in October 2020. The reasons for the increase aren't known but we speculate about the cause.

    Linux for desktop market share surpasses 4% for the first time, says Statcounter

    >Statcounter, a website that tracks the market share of web browsers, operating systems, and search engines, is reporting that Linux on the desktop has over 4% market share for the very first time (Statcounter records ChromeOS as a separate operating system despite being based on Linux). Statcounter doesn’t provide any explanation about why the market share has increased but we can speculate what’s going on. > >Linux’s march to its 4.03% market share has been a steady process ever since the final months of 2020 when Linux held just 1.53% of desktop market share. One of the biggest contributors to the growth of Linux is likely the stringent hardware requirements of Windows 11.

    74
    RTO doesn’t improve company value, but does make employees miserable: Study
    arstechnica.com RTO doesn’t improve company value, but does make employees miserable: Study

    Data is consistent with bosses using RTO to reassert control and scapegoat workers.

    RTO doesn’t improve company value, but does make employees miserable: Study

    > Overall, the analysis, released as a pre-print, found that RTO mandates did not improve a firm's financial metrics, but they did decrease employee satisfaction. > > Drilling down, the data indicated that RTO mandates were linked to firms with male CEOs who had greater power in the company. Here, power is measured as the CEO’s total compensation divided by the average total compensation paid to the four highest-paid executives in the firm.

    This is an interesting metric. And the research outcome makes a lot of sense.

    Also, RTO policies are garbage - but I'm stating the obvious.

    27
    Indigenous reporter's charge must be dropped: Amnesty International, press freedom organizations
    edmontonjournal.com Indigenous reporter's charge must be dropped: Amnesty International, press freedom organizations

    Journalism and human rights organizations are calling for criminal charges against an Indigenous reporter arrested in Edmonton to be dropped

    Indigenous reporter's charge must be dropped: Amnesty International, press freedom organizations

    Some context from the top of the article:

    > Journalism and human rights organizations are calling for police to drop criminal charges against a reporter arrested in Edmonton this month. > > On Jan. 10, award-winning Indigenous journalist and author Brandi Morin was arrested and charged with obstructing a peace officer during the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) clearing of an Indigenous encampment at Rowland Road and 95 Street. The criminal charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison upon conviction.

    0
    'No one looks at me': 12-year-old amputee in Gaza on what the war cost him

    Desperate state of health system means unnecessary amputations being done on kids as young as 1, surgeon says

    Before the war started in Gaza, Moustafa Ahmed Shehda would run around and play with his friends. Now, the 12-year-old is one of a growing number of Palestinians in the territory who've lost a limb in a bombing.

    Moustafa is from Jabalia in northern Gaza, which has been hit particularly hard in the fighting. Early on in the war between Israel and Hamas, he was visiting his uncle when the apartment building was bombed.

    "I was under the rubble. I couldn't feel anything. I couldn't breathe," Moustafa told Mohamed El Saife, a freelance journalist in Gaza working for CBC News.

    His uncle was killed, and Moustafa was pulled from the rubble. Because of the extent of his injuries, his right leg had to later be amputated below the knee.

    "Before the war, I used to play with my friends," he said. "I can't play because of my injury. I can't play, and I don't have friends, and I don't have anything."

    Palestinian health officials said on Saturday that 26,257 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel began bombing the small enclave of 2.3 million people in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas-led militants while nearly 65,000 have been wounded.

    5
    Boeing Lays Off Only Guy Who Knows How To Keep Wings On Plane
    www.theonion.com Boeing Lays Off Only Guy Who Knows How To Keep Wings On Plane

    CHICAGO—With the airline industry continuing to suffer under the ongoing recession, the Boeing Company was forced Monday to lay off Al Freedman, the only guy left at the corporation who knows how to keep wings from falling off planes. "We used to have a whole team of engineers who knew how to make t...

    Boeing Lays Off Only Guy Who Knows How To Keep Wings On Plane

    An oldie, but a goodie - in honor of the news with that Max model losing its Window at high altitudes.

    It turns out engineering is important. Who could have known? /s

    12
    Signs touting ‘auto workers for Trump’ at Michigan rally found to be fake – report
    www.theguardian.com Signs touting ‘auto workers for Trump’ at Michigan rally found to be fake – report

    At least two crowd members holding signs saying ‘union members for Trump’ and ‘auto workers for Trump’ turned out to be neither

    Signs touting ‘auto workers for Trump’ at Michigan rally found to be fake – report

    Signs touting ‘auto workers for Trump’ at Michigan rally found to be fake – report At least two people holding signs saying ‘union members for Trump’ and ‘auto workers for Trump’ turned out to be neither

    Martin Pengelly in Washington @MartinPengelly Thu 28 Sep 2023 10.48 EDT When Donald Trump gave a speech in Michigan on Wednesday, seeking to capitalise on the United Auto Workers strike, at least two crowd members holding signs saying “union members for Trump” and “auto workers for Trump” turned out to be neither.

    The Detroit News reported: “One individual in the crowd who held a sign that said ‘union members for Trump’ acknowledged that she wasn’t a union member when approached by a reporter after the event.

    “Another person with a sign that read ‘auto workers for Trump’ said he wasn’t an auto worker when asked for an interview. Both people didn’t provide their names.”

    The paper said between 400 and 500 people attended the event, at a non-unionised automotive parts supplier in Clinton Township.

    Trump skipped a Republican debate in California to visit Macomb county. Politico pointed out why, saying Macomb “occupies a unique role on the political map.

    “Of the more than 3,000 counties in the US, it’s hard to find one that’s a better barometer of the atmospheric conditions affecting the 2024 election [than] Macomb county, with its high percentage of UAW workers.

    “… The blue-collar suburb is often referred to as a bellwether, though … it’s more like an indicator species in biology, offering important clues on the environmental health of an ecosystem.”

    One attendee at Trump’s speech who was an auto worker, Doug King, 55, told the Detroit News: “The four years under Trump were the best years that we had in the auto industry.”

    Trump told workers negotiations between the UAW and Ford, General Motors and Stellantis “don’t mean as much as you think”.

    Railing against the shift to electric vehicles, he added: “You can be loyal to American labour or you can be loyal to the environmental lunatics. But you can’t really be loyal to both. It’s one or the other.”

    A spokesperson for Joe Biden, Kevin Munoz, called Trump’s speech “incoherent”, “pathetic” and “recycled”.

    Trump went to Michigan a day after Biden. On Tuesday, in a historic moment in neighbouring Wayne county, Biden joined a UAW picket line and expressed support for striking workers.

    The president did so at the invitation of the union president, Shawn Fain. Fain did not meet Trump, telling CNN the former president, the Republican presidential frontrunner, “serves the billionaire class”.

    “I see no point in meeting with him because I don’t think the man has any bit of care about what our workers stand for, what the working class stands for,” Fain said. “He serves the billionaire class and that’s what’s wrong with this country.”

    18
    nkat2112 nkat2112 @sh.itjust.works
    Posts 83
    Comments 577