Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[gondrin]

Well, here is something.

Remember how the alarm was pulled by me and quite a few others because they were possibly installing backdoors and causing major security breaches by using unsecured hardware and connecting that to the secured systems?

I bet Pepperidge Farms remembers.

Anyway, the guy who did that, was fired, and probably got rehired worked at a job and got fired for, guess what, leaking company secrets. You know, a thing you most definitely don't want to happen when dealing with secured, classified or otherwise restricted stuff.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/othe...9201f2e0&ei=73

Musk’s DOGE Teen Was Fired By Cybersecurity Firm for Leaking Company Secrets

Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old member of Elon Musk’s squad that’s criss-crossing US government agencies, was fired from an internship after he was accused of sharing information with a competitor.

“Edward has been terminated for leaking internal information to the competitors,” said a June 2022 message from an executive of the firm, Path Network, which was seen by Bloomberg News. “This is unacceptable and there is zero tolerance for this.”

A spokesperson for the Arizona-based hosting and data-security firm said Thursday: “I can confirm that Edward Coristine's brief contract was terminated after the conclusion of an internal investigation into the leaking of proprietary company information that coincided with his tenure.”

Afterward, Coristine wrote that he’d retained access to the cybersecurity company’s computers, though he said he hadn’t taken advantage of it.

“I had access to every single machine,” he wrote on Discord in late 2022, weeks after he was dismissed from Path Network, according to messages seen by Bloomberg. Posting under the name “Rivage,” which six people who know him said was his alias, Coristine said he could have wiped Path’s customer-supporting servers if he’d wished. He added, "I never exploited it because it's just not me."

His comments, made in a Discord server focused on another competitor company, worried executives at Path Network, who believed there was no legitimate reason for a former employee to access their machines, according to a person familiar with the incident. The person asked not to be named, citing the sensitivity of the matter.

In response to his firing, Coristine, who is wearing a blazer and shorts in one undated photo that was posted anonymously online, wrote on Discord that he had done “nothing contractually wrong” while working at Path Network.

Several of Coristine’s online peers and former co-workers said they were surprised that the teenage friend they knew has been brought into one of the most high-profile teams in the Trump administration. His 2022 dismissal and the circumstances surrounding it add to questions about how he arrived in this new job with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and how he’ll handle the sensitive government information that comes with it.

“Giving Elon Musk's goon squad access to systems that control payments to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other key federal programs is a national security nightmare," Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat and a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told Bloomberg News about his general concerns regarding the DOGE team. "Every hour new disturbing details emerge to prove that these guys have no business anywhere close to sensitive information or critical networks.”

Earlier this week, Wyden and other Democrats on the Senate intelligence panel asked White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to explain how DOGE members were vetted and what steps the Trump administration has taken to ensure the classified and unclassified systems and records the DOGE team has accessed are safeguarded from disclosure.

Coristine didn’t respond to requests for comment. Attempts to reach his parents for comment through publicly listed telephone numbers were unsuccessful. The White House wouldn't comment directly on Coristine's employment, but an official who discussed the situation on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters said all DOGE staffers under Musk were working as employees of relevant agencies with security clearances. Their employment is in compliance with federal law and they are not outside advisers, the official said.

The official acknowledged that DOGE’s operations were being viewed by some government employees as disruptive, but said the efforts were necessary to carry out Trump’s vision.

Coristine, who also interned at Musk’s Neuralink according to a cached online biography, is part of a core group of DOGE employees who are gathering datasets on government personnel, contracts and programs, according to people familiar with the matter. They asked not to be named because they don't have permission to discuss the matter publicly.

In meetings at the US Agency for International Development and the General Services Administration, for example, Coristine and other colleagues have discussed how they can use that data to potentially replace government employees with artificial intelligence and train chatbots to do the work.

Coristine regularly posted on both Discord and the messaging service Telegram in 2021 and 2022, when he was under 18. His posts are a mix of discussions about Path Network, coder-talk and lewd insults. Wired also reported earlier on some of Coristine’s history online.

On Telegram, he used language that suggested he was seeking a tool used in hacking, according to three people familiar with his online personas, a copy of the messages and two people familiar with cyber attacks. The people asked not to be named to discuss sensitive matters.

DOGE’s moves across US agencies have put a spotlight on how Musk, the world’s richest person with a $412 billion fortune, tends to operate without regard for norms or traditional boundaries. Coristine’s online postings and his termination from Path Network raise questions about how members of the DOGE team were vetted. Trump's administration has not provided detailed information on that process. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that a different member of the DOGE team had resigned after racist posts were discovered on his social media account.

People familiar with Coristine’s DOGE work said he would need a security clearance at least at the secret level to access the secure spaces that hold some of the information he and his coworkers are seeking. It’s unclear what clearance he has, if any, though Trump on his first day in office issued an executive order to grant top secret and sensitive compartmented information security clearances for six months to at least some individuals so they could “immediately access the facilities and technology” to perform their work.

Two US law enforcement officials who investigate cybercrimes told Bloomberg they’ve been tracking online chat rooms that Coristine and others participated in for at least a year. The officials, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly discuss their work, said they first became aware of him, under the usernames “Rivage” and “JoeyCrafter,” while investigating an alleged hacker who Coristine was communicating with in an online forum. The officials wouldn’t identify the hacker or the case they were investigating.

In one message from November 2022 seen by Bloomberg News, the “JoeyCrafter” persona wrote: "Looking for capable, powerful & reliable L7." That message, posted in a Telegram group, refers to a type of cyber attack that knocks out websites with overwhelming internet traffic, according to three people familiar with that type of attack and its terminology, who asked not to be identified citing the sensitivity of the matter. It’s unclear whether he acquired or used the application.

Coristine’s presence in the forums and his chat history wouldn’t necessarily disqualify him from obtaining a secret-level clearance, said Brad Moss, a Washington-based lawyer who specializes in security clearances. That’s because that information likely wouldn’t show up during a preliminary vetting process, which includes speaking with an investigator and a background check, interviews with friends and neighbors and a scrubbing of public-facing social media platforms such as Facebook, X and Instagram.

Yet for a higher-level clearance, “it’s much more likely they would have had to submit to a polygraph and that kind of behavior would absolutely have come up, and it would have raised concerns,” Moss said. “There are mitigating factors though. How long ago was it? Was the person a minor? Is the person still engaged in it?”

According to other people who have been online with him, Coristine has spent much of his teenage years on the Internet.

By the time he was 17, Coristine had started at least three limited liability corporations, all registered to the family’s five-bedroom house in Connecticut. Those include Mistdeck LLC, DiamondCDN LLC and — in a nod to Musk’s publicly traded electric carmaker — Tesla.Sexy LLC, an image hosting service. (Of the three LLCs, only Tesla.Sexy is still active.)

Edward Coristine also worked more typical teenage jobs. He was a camp counselor at a day camp and worked as a warehouse team member at his dad’s popcorn company, according to a since-deleted LinkedIn account under the younger Coristine’s name.

JoeyCrafter was a member of Telegram groups called “Kiwi Farms Christmas Chat” and “Kiwi Farms 100% Real No Fake No Virus,” both referencing an online forum known for harassment campaigns. Typically, the site has been used to share the personal information of a target, encouraging others to harass them online, in-person, over the phone or by falsely alerting police to a violent crime or active shooter incident at their home.

In online messages, the aliases that investigators said Coristine uses have regularly discussed free speech and internet providers’ role in keeping websites online, including one that hosted the neo-Nazi site the Daily Stormer.

So, a person who has been known to leak company secrets to competitors, actively had backdoors into that company, a known person who has, at a minimum, racial supremacist tendencies, is given access to highly secured systems.

Only the best for Trump. Only the best.

[Edge-]

Hey, V Sauce, Michael here.....

Oops, wrong thing.

What I mean is, did you see that Trump is now just appointing himself as heads of government centers? I mean, who knew such a thing could happen. He just appointed himself to the head of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in D.C. and dismissing several of its board members.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/g...d=BingNewsVerp

Ah yes, the Republican eye for fine art and style.

[Breccia]

I see another plane crashed on Trump's watch.

"Trump isn't crashing the fucking planes!"

Correct. But he made it political by blaming DEI hires. Therefore, by Trump's own declaration, it is a federal issue that he personally oversees. He made it about himself, so naturally, I will oblige. At least it was only ten Americans he killed this time.

[Edge-]

I see another plane crashed on Trump's watch.

"Trump isn't crashing the fucking planes!"

Correct. But he made it political by blaming DEI hires. Therefore, by Trump's own declaration, it is a federal issue that he personally oversees. He made it about himself, so naturally, I will oblige. At least it was only ten Americans he killed this time.

https://apnews.com/article/missing-a...527f658d4ff70a

Link for anyone interested. I'm curious if there's actually an increase in accidents or if this is just the bath salts situation where media cover something that already happens more frequently, giving it the appearance of increased frequency. Either way, since everything always gets laid at the feet of the POTUS because nobody in the media or this nation really seems to actually understand what that job does, I guess we have to blame this on Donald. Republicans did this every time they stubbed their toe or got a flat tire during Joe's administration, so it's only fair.

[gondrin]

Oh man, I bet Musk is really happy now. I know he has his hand right up Trumps massively huge ass. This proves it.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...07ba3680&ei=34

So yes, white South African refugees are allowed to come here. Because the land that they stole is being taken away from them.

Oh the irony. The pure irony.

Oh, and this is the best part.

Elon Musk, who is one of Trump’s closest advisers, is himself a White South African and immigrated to the U.S. by way of Canada to avoid military service in his native country.

Sounds almost exactly like Trumps father.

[postman1782]

So you can argue whether it was 100 gang members or "only 30," but it falls flat just like arguing that it was "only 1 apartment complex taken over by gangs" and not "several."

It's becoming very clear these last two weeks that our agencies under Biden obviously knew where all these bad guys were, yet didn't lift a finger to apprehend them. Unconscionable, unforgivable. Voters will not forget this.

https://x.com/chrisvanderveen/status...12506348769727

Stop linking Shitter, it isn't a reliable source. Especially someone who doesn't even have the useless checkmark.

- - - Updated - - -

The irony of this type of non-response.

Says the one posting bullshit unverified information.

[Breccia]

I'm curious if there's actually an increase in accidents

Yes, but it's coincidental. The four accidents I posted about have nothing to do with each other. It wouldn't be a topic here if Trump didn't specifically and directly make it one in public on purpose. Now, it's his issue.

[gondrin]

Well, here it is. The biggest issue of the day. The one that everyone will get behind. Because it required the explicit attention of the President of the United States and have him sign an executive order.

Want to know what that is?

Paper straws. Banning paper straws.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-en...s-biden-order/

May the misdirection continue to happen. I will still keep my eye on the ball and only keep a small look at these distractions.

[Edge-]

Well, here it is. The biggest issue of the day. The one that everyone will get behind. Because it required the explicit attention of the President of the United States and have him sign an executive order.

Want to know what that is?

Paper straws. Banning paper straws.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-en...s-biden-order/

May the misdirection continue to happen. I will still keep my eye on the ball and only keep a small look at these distractions.

All he can do is the reverse of what Biden did -

Switch back from paper to plastic straws at federal facilities

Put out a memo saying, "pleas, american companies and americans, buy plastic straws"

it's pointless and big "DO SOMETHING" energy. i'm betting he barely even listens to what half the shit he signs is at this point, because he often struggles to talk about it with any specificity

[gondrin]

Well, once again, the best and brightest. Only for Musk.

DOGE Emails Went Out to Federal Judges by Mistake. One of the judges is the one overseeing the lawsuit that deals with these emails.

https://www.newsweek.com/doge-emails...istake-2027514

And here Musk and Trump assured us that these are top notch techbros.

[Xath]

What the cheetoh is doing is theater keep your eyes on what's happening outside of him and how many checkmarks they are making on both Yarvin's proposed plans and the project 2025 checklist.

[Edge-]

Well, once again, the best and brightest. Only for Musk.

DOGE Emails Went Out to Federal Judges by Mistake. One of the judges is the one overseeing the lawsuit that deals with these emails.

https://www.newsweek.com/doge-emails...istake-2027514

And here Musk and Trump assured us that these are top notch techbros.

they're not sending their best

they're not sending their brightest

they're most all just stupid and incompetent people, actually

that's the only saving grace, so far. that most of these people suck at what they do.

[Bwgmon]

While this might be veering a little off the topic of Trump, an attempt by a Republican judge to throw out 60,000 ballots to secure his seat on North Carolina's Supreme Court has been rejected.

https://www.democracydocket.com/case...challenges-ii/

Griffin filed his three complaints in the Wake County Superior Court on Dec. 20, 2024. On Dec. 23, the board removed all three cases to federal court, where they have been consolidated into one case.

On Jan. 6, 2025, the district court remanded Griffin’s motion for preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order back to the Wake County Superior Court. The board appealed this decision to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals the same day.

On Feb. 4, 2025, the 4th Circuit consolidated this case with a similar appeal. The same day, the 4th Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision to remand the case back to state court for the time being. However, the court specified that the district court will hold jurisdiction over any federal claims while the case plays out at the state court level.

In Wake County Superior Court, a hearing took place on Feb. 7, 2025.

RESULT: On Feb. 7, 2025, the Wake County Superior Court rejected Griffin’s petitions and affirmed the board’s decision to count the challenged ballots in the 2024 general election results.

[Moralgy]

While this might be veering a little off the topic of Trump, an attempt by a Republican judge to throw out 60,000 ballots to secure his seat on North Carolina's Supreme Court has been rejected.

https://www.democracydocket.com/case...challenges-ii/

oh good, i was worried it was gonna work considering how bad NC has gotten

[gondrin]

they're not sending their best

they're not sending their brightest

they're most all just stupid and incompetent people, actually

that's the only saving grace, so far. that most of these people suck at what they do.

Honestly, a competent criminal is the one who start off small and builds from there. That way you do not draw attention to yourself.

They could have easily just gone in, requested to access stuff, made a few changes and been on their way. Changes would be to install a backdoor or 2 and the like.

Small stuff, well, in the realm of what they want to do. However, because Musk has the ego the size of the Milky Way, they are going in like a bull in a china shop and basically wrecking everything in their path. And then this makes Trump have to get even more outlandish to be the distraction.

I swear, Trump is Baghdad Bob telling everyone "The Americans aren't invading. They haven't entered the capital." while tanks are rolling in right behind him.

[Xyonai]

Honestly, a competent criminal is the one who start off small and builds from there. That way you do not draw attention to yourself.

They could have easily just gone in, requested to access stuff, made a few changes and been on their way. Changes would be to install a backdoor or 2 and the like.

Small stuff, well, in the realm of what they want to do. However, because Musk has the ego the size of the Milky Way, they are going in like a bull in a china shop and basically wrecking everything in their path. And then this makes Trump have to get even more outlandish to be the distraction.

I swear, Trump is Baghdad Bob telling everyone "The Americans aren't invading. They haven't entered the capital." while tanks are rolling in right behind him.

Elon likes to make a scene; part to show off to his adoring fans he's being totally cool and so he can bask in their praise, other part because he thinks everyone else is fucking stupid and can't stop him.

[Endus]

It is really frustrating that both the Liberals and NDP have been unable to gain much traction in Ontario.

To be fair, before Ford, it was McGuinty from 2003-2013, and then Wynne from 2013-2018. And now Ford from 2018 till now. He's only in his second term, and it tends to bounce around quite a bit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ers_of_Ontario

It's been a shitshow compared to Wynne's term, but I guess she was too female and gay for Ontarians or something.

[Rasulis]

70 year-olds? You and your "friend" are creepy as fuck. For fucks sake report them for elder abuse, dont use it for fodder on your lifestyle blog.

Some of the workers have been with the farm since my friend was a little girl. It is all they know. It is also their social support system. Letting them go would not be an act of kindness.

[gondrin]

So, the revenge tour continues. The National Archives chief is now out of a job.

Why? Because Trump is a vengeful asshole and he didn't like the fact they wanted their stuff back and he went "Nope" and they came and took it anyway.

The best(worst) part of it all is, the current chief wasn't even there when he got raided.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...d6fc44c7&ei=96

[Breccia]

The best(worst) part of it all is, the current chief wasn't even there when he got raided.

I do quite like the juxtaposition of this, and the DEI situation, and of course Trump cultists trying to work with both at once.

"Someone should only get the job if they're qualified for the job! Other factors, like race and gender, should not be part of it at all!"
"Okay, here are some people who are qualified for the job."
"Are they Trump cultists?"
"No, they're just dedicated and experienced civil servants."
"Then ditch them."