Mega-Thread: Trump Focused Discussion

[Breccia]

Lordstown, Ohio, as part of Trumbull County, went for for Trump in 2016.

UPDATE: General Motors lays off workers at Ohio site Trump pledged to save

Yeah, we've been talking about this site off and on for years, haven't we?

An Ohio battery plant owned by General Motors and once championed by Trump as symbolizing his American manufacturing revival is laying off hundreds of workers amid a slump in demand for electric vehicles.

GM confirmed the decision to The Associated Press on Wednesday, following a report by The Detroit News that the company would be cutting 550 jobs at the Lordstown plant—a joint venture with Ultium Cells—and placing another 850 on temporary layoff, while also cutting around 1,200 jobs at an assembly plant in Detroit.

“In response to slower near-term EV adoption and an evolving regulatory environment, General Motors is realigning EV capacity,” the company said in a statement quoted by AP, but stressed that it “remains committed to our U.S. manufacturing footprint."

The layoffs highlight the fragility of the electric vehicle transition and its vulnerability to policy changes. As GM and others have noted, the recent elimination of consumer tax credits for battery-powered cars has significantly impacted demand for these vehicles, forcing companies to reassess production plans while considering further reductions in their workforce and facility footprint.

Yep. Trump's direct words and actions killed the plant he personally pushed.

For those of you who missed the discussion of Trump shooting his voters in the foot on 5th Ave. and not losing votes, here's the quick version:

The Lordstown facility previously operated as a major auto assembly plant, with over 1,000 vehicles rolling off the line each day. However, the plant ultimately shut down in 2019, despite pledges from Trump during his first term to save the facility and preserve Ohio’s manufacturing base.

In mid-2017, Trump visited the area, holding a rally near the Lordstown facility at which he promised residents that jobs would soon be returning to the region following years of decline.

“They’re all coming back. They’re coming back,” Trump told the crowd. “Don’t move. Don’t sell your house.”

GM announced the closure of the plant in 2018, part of a wider plan to shutter facilities and cut over 14,000 jobs as it transitioned toward more fuel-efficient vehicles.

“It doesn’t really matter because Ohio is under my leadership from a national standpoint,” Trump said of the move in an interview with Fox News. “Ohio is going to replace those jobs in like two minutes.”

The plant was subsequently sold and later transformed into a cell battery plant in 2022, operated as a joint venture between Ultium Cells and GM for its electric vehicles.

As GM noted, the layoffs reflect recent declines in electric vehicle demand following the elimination of the $7,500 consumer tax credits implemented during Joe Biden’s presidency as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Following Trump's signing of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" in July, the incentives were ended for purchases made after September 30.

According to the latest automotive industry report from data analytics platform Cloud Theory, electric vehicle sales have dropped 74 percent from their 2025 peak following the expiration of the credits.

A separate study from Cox Automotive found that electric vehicle sales soared after the bill’s passage—"as buyers rushed to buy before the $7,500 tax credits expired”—but said that this demand is expected to “collapse” from October onward.

[Flarelaine]

@Breccia

Quoting Skroe damn sure borders on necromancy.

[btlcryct]

Deterrence is still a tool to achieve peace.

Of course, in a competent administration, deterrence is just a tentpole of a comprehensive foreign policy - Teddy Roosevelt's big stick*, as it were. And even then, nuclear is just a part of that deterrence because it is supposed to be the final trump card, not something to lead with. What we see now is pure dick-waving.

And yes, it is horrifying.

*On the note of big sticks, check out today's editorial cartoon in The Times.

That I'll agree with. I was factoring in the nuttiness of this administration.

[Breccia]

Axios reports Trump's Gaza cease fire is falling apart.

After Tuesday's strikes that killed over 100 Palestinians, oh by the way, Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 104, health ministry says, after Hamas accused of killing soldier, Team Trump and others have been trying to push an international peace-keeping force. Because apparently, Trump's M.O. is peace through strength, and the only way he can arrange a cease-fire with a shelf life longer than a McDonalds medium fries is to have many many guns there, just like he's doing with the border, just like he's doing with nuke tests, just like he's...not doing in Ukraine, huh, okay, guess he was just kidding about helping Ukraine.

Fine, whatever, peace through strength is still peace, as some people here say.

The problem is, Turkey was apparently a major player at the cease-fire talks, funny, Turkey didn't demand the Nobel Prize, but whatever at this point. Turkey therefore wants to be involved with troops in this peacekeeping force. Netanyahu flat-out rejected that.

The Turks were very helpful in getting the Gaza deal and Netanyahu's bashing Turkey has been very counterproductive

- anonymous Trump official

If we don't have reliable security and governance in Gaza that the Israelis agree to, we will get stuck in a situation where Israel is attacking all the time

- possibly the same official, possibly a different one, because that's how "anonymous" works

It is better to move slow and get it right because we are not gonna have a second chance

- possibly a third guy, possibly one of the other two, see above

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir is also on record of saying, to paraphrase, "I said this was a deal with the devil, and I was right". I don't know who's the devil in this metaphor, but let's be honest, there's no good answer here. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have said similar things as well.

Basically, Israel has proven they don't want peace, unless it's peace where they've destroyed all their enemies.

Hmm. Who does that sound like? Someone horrifying, or someone (coughs) practical?

[Flarelaine]

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir is also on record of saying, to paraphrase, "I said this was a deal with the devil, and I was right". I don't know who's the devil in this metaphor, but let's be honest, there's no good answer here. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have said similar things as well.

Since this is a gaming site, I'll use a gaming metaphor: I don't need to be a paladin to guess the alignment of those guys.

[alach]

@Breccia

Quoting Skroe damn sure borders on necromancy.

Lol!

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir is also on record of saying, to paraphrase, "I said this was a deal with the devil, and I was right". I don't know who's the devil in this metaphor, but let's be honest, there's no good answer here. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have said similar things as well.

Basically, Israel has proven they don't want peace, unless it's peace where they've destroyed all their enemies.

Hmm. Who does that sound like? Someone horrifying, or someone (coughs) practical?

As long and Ben-Genocid-Gvir is still a member of the government, this won't be over.

[Belize]

Trump Officials are increasingly moving into military bases

I wonder what they're afraid of. Or what they're planning.
It's a rhetorical question.

[Edge-]

Amidst Trump's unceasing idiocy, this move actually makes sense. If you want peace, prepare for war. Not nice, but practical.

There's no need for nuke testing to prepare for war, though. We know our nukes work very well and so does the rest of the world.

There is a need to have some competent leadership in the military if we're going to war, though. And I remain deeply unconvinced Secretary Alcoholic is up to the task.

- - - Updated - - -

Trump Officials are increasingly moving into military bases

I wonder what they're afraid of. Or what they're planning.
It's a rhetorical question.

They really are planning on civil war that they started, huh.

[fwc577]

Trump Officials are increasingly moving into military bases

I wonder what they're afraid of. Or what they're planning.
It's a rhetorical question.

All that gives them is a false sense of security. If there was an actual Civil War in America (there won't be, these chuckle fucks may try, but they will fail) they forget one very important thing.

[Azadina]

"You Democrats and your No Kings protests! Trump isn't a king!"



"What is that?"

That's the gold crown South Korea gave Trump.

"You mean, gave the USA."

No.

That crown looks like shit, to say it straight. Perfect fit for Drumpf.

[Edge-]

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/29/g-s1-...rump-criticism

Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said on Tuesday that his non-resident visa to enter the United States had been rejected, adding that he believes it may be because he recently criticized President Donald Trump.

The Nigerian author, 91, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, becoming the first African to do so.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Soyinka said he believed it had little to do with him and was instead a product of the United States' immigration policies. He said he was told to reapply if he wished to enter again.

"It's not about me, I'm not really interested in going back to the United States," he said. "But a principle is involved. Human beings deserve to be treated decently wherever they are."

Soyinka, who has taught in the U.S. and previously held a green card, joked on Tuesday that his green card "had an accident" eight years ago and "fell between a pair of scissors." In 2017, he destroyed his green card in protest over Trump's first inauguration.

The letter he received informing him of his visa revocation cites "additional information became available after the visa was issued," as the reason for its revocation, but does not describe what that information was.

Soyinka believes it may be because he recently referred to Trump as a "white version of Idi Amin," a reference to the dictator who ruled Uganda from 1971 until 1979.

He jokingly referred to his rejection as a "love letter" and said that while he did not blame the officials, he would not be applying for another visa.

"I have no visa. I am banned, obviously, from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me."

Dumb Fuhrer can't tolerate criticism and hates the First Amendment, and 'lil Marco Rubio is happy to comply with Daddy Fuhrer's requests, so more people are being banned from entering the country for the crime of criticizing Dumb Fuhrer.

Anyways, did anyone see him at the table with the Chinese?



His right side is looking a bit droopier than usual.

[btlcryct]

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/29/g-s1-...rump-criticism
Dumb Fuhrer can't tolerate criticism and hates the First Amendment, and 'lil Marco Rubio is happy to comply with Daddy Fuhrer's requests, so more people are being banned from entering the country for the crime of criticizing Dumb Fuhrer.

It's probably also because Soyinka is a Nobel winner and they snubbed Trump. Yea, it's for literature and not peace, but it's still a Nobel. Now I'm laughing at the thought of Trump ranting about wanting the Nobel Prize for Literature. We all know he writes better than anyone ever to walk the Earth. The bestest!

[PfeffermintShake]

MOar potential Leaopards Eating FACEs?

Stephen Miller's wife threatens to get US citizen deported as TV debate gets heated!
MAGA influencer Katie Miller, the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, suggested that President Donald Trump's government could deport progressive pundit Cenk Uygur after she became frustrated with him during a television debate.

• LOL "porgressive pundit"
• It's important to say that stripping anyone of citizenship is bad.
• But CENK spent all of 2024 working very hard to get Trump elected while ratfucking democratic opposition.
• Lil ole me will instead focus on mutual aid for my food insecure neighbors.

TIL Peirs Morgan is now on RUMBLE, lol. I wonder if it is the network where people have the most secret nazi tattoos?

[Rasulis]

Strictly anecdotal example of the diverging US economy.

A friend manages apartment buildings all over the US. The Class A and Class B buildings are doing fine. However, Class C and Class D buildings are bleeding red ink. Twenty to 25% vacancy rate (compared to the typical 5 to 10% in 2024), large increase of non-paying tenants and subsequent evictions, and 30% increase in renovation cost between tenants.

[alach]

Prince Andrew is losing his royal title and home for being "friends" with Epstein, Trump gets a crown from Korea and returns home to oversee the construction of his 300 million dollar ballroom, while Nvidia hits 5 trillion, and food stamps run out on Saturday, causing 50 million to starve. Did I miss anything? Is everything working as intended?

[Kaleredar]

Prince Andrew is losing his royal title and home for being "friends" with Epstein, Trump gets a crown from Korea and returns home to oversee the construction of his 300 million dollar ballroom, while Nvidia hits 5 trillion, and food stamps run out on Saturday, causing 50 million to starve. Did I miss anything? Is everything working as intended?

I’d ask the resident trump supporters, but they’ve all ran and hid at this point.

Not that I’d expect much out of them anyway. If this were professional sports it’d be like saying to them “your team’s coach was found to be abusing children, two of your players are up on charges for dealing crack and a third for leading a dog fighting ring, and your manager is under investigation for bribing the league and also he hit someone with his car the other day in a DUI incident” and their response would be “yeah but we still won the game, loser! Stay jealous.”

[D Luniz]

Axios reports Trump's Gaza cease fire is falling apart.

After Tuesday's strikes that killed over 100 Palestinians, oh by the way, Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 104, health ministry says, after Hamas accused of killing soldier, Team Trump and others have been trying to push an international peace-keeping force. Because apparently, Trump's M.O. is peace through strength, and the only way he can arrange a cease-fire with a shelf life longer than a McDonalds medium fries is to have many many guns there, just like he's doing with the border, just like he's doing with nuke tests, just like he's...not doing in Ukraine, huh, okay, guess he was just kidding about helping Ukraine.

Fine, whatever, peace through strength is still peace, as some people here say.

The problem is, Turkey was apparently a major player at the cease-fire talks, funny, Turkey didn't demand the Nobel Prize, but whatever at this point. Turkey therefore wants to be involved with troops in this peacekeeping force. Netanyahu flat-out rejected that.


- anonymous Trump official


- possibly the same official, possibly a different one, because that's how "anonymous" works


- possibly a third guy, possibly one of the other two, see above

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir is also on record of saying, to paraphrase, "I said this was a deal with the devil, and I was right". I don't know who's the devil in this metaphor, but let's be honest, there's no good answer here. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have said similar things as well.

Basically, Israel has proven they don't want peace, unless it's peace where they've destroyed all their enemies.

Hmm. Who does that sound like? Someone horrifying, or someone (coughs) practical?

Bibi Netanyahu funneled hundreds of millions, possibly billions to HAMAS, you dont throw that sort of cash out to a violent group if you want peace.

[Xyonai]

I’d ask the resident trump supporters, but they’ve all ran and hid at this point.

Not that I’d expect much out of them anyway. If this were professional sports it’d be like saying to them “your team’s coach was found to be abusing children, two of your players are up on charges for dealing crack and a third for leading a dog fighting ring, and your manager is under investigation for bribing the league and also he hit someone with his car the other day in a DUI incident” and their response would be “yeah but we still won the game, loser! Stay jealous.”

"it's the dems' fault for shutting down the government" seems to just be the answer they have for everything right now.

[Edge-]

Any fans of the far right "green line theory"?

Many such pictures, recently.

For those not in the know, yes it's stupid - https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/green...t-dont-lean-in

[PenguinChan]

Any fans of the far right "green line theory"?

Many such pictures, recently.

For those not in the know, yes it's stupid - https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/green...t-dont-lean-in

oh god that's some fucking bro science shit I didn't even know existed. TIL