America - The Official Thread

[Tornado]

Oh no, you got poopied!

I'm particularly proud since it came from someone who constantly openly brags about putting people on ignore lists. I wish my actual rent was that cheap.


Edit:

lmao

 

[Joey D]

How is what Musk doing not about the money? It's solely about the money and he's betting big that he can continue to make bank by pushing his skewed idea of what free speech is. I'll be curious to see how good of a business move it really is though and if it happens to gain more people than it loses. Also, the SEC is going to have a field day with Twitter if it's used to manipulate the markets in a way they don't like.

The way I see it, Twitter is going to end up just like Facebook where the younger generation leaves in droves and it ends up being a bunch of angry boomers and gen-xers posting comics and buying into conspiracy theories while being inundated with ads about penis enlargement or whatever Facebook advertises.

 

[Dennisch]

I read something about Twitter and Tesla having the same group of share holders. I'll see if I can find the post.

Edit. Found it. If anyone more economically gifted than me can verify this, that would be swell.

 

[MatskiMonk]

How is what Musk doing not about the money?

I don't think it's about money, I think it's about having greater influence. I don't think he's out to silence anyone, I think he realises he can effectively have them drowned out though. I don't think he needs anymore money, I think he's probably frustrated by naysayers more than he's frustrated by lack of funds, and now he can utilise Twitter to more effectively mobilise the voices that support him, against those who don't.

edit: FWIW I think Musk is a liar and a con-man, but his ownership of Twitter won't affect whether of not I use it... it's the easiest way of getting images from the Playstation to my PC.

 

[McLaren]

The way I see it, Twitter is going to end up just like Facebook where the younger generation leaves in droves and it ends up being a bunch of angry boomers and gen-xers posting comics and buying into conspiracy theories while being inundated with ads about penis enlargement or whatever Facebook advertises.

No wonder Joe Rogan is hyped as hell about it, then.

 

[TexRex]

With attack on Twitter, the right shows it has institutionalized Trump’s corrupt use of government power

www.mediamatters.org

“Nice company you’ve got there; be a shame if something happened to it. Maybe you should save yourself some trouble and sell it to our buddy.”

That’s the message 18 House Republicans, led by Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan (R-OH), sent on Friday with a letter demanding Twitter’s board of directors preserve all records related to the bid by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to purchase the company. The right’s propagandists had celebrated Musk’s bid as a way to garner political gain by ending the company’s purported political censorship. Then its elected GOP champions, responding to hesitation from Twitter’s board, raised the prospect of a costly congressional investigation if his offer wasn’t accepted.

The GOP’s ham-fisted threat reflects the party’s institutionalization of former President Donald Trump’s authoritarian use of government power to impose political retribution on individual companies that defied him -- particularly those that owned news outlets. Now, Republicans are adopting similar strategies in the name of fighting so-called “woke capital,” and right-wing media are cheering them on.

Trump regularly used legitimate regulatory tools to illegitimate ends, punishing corporations over news reporting that displeased him while favoring those whose programming praised him.

Trump’s opposition to AT&T’s proposed purchase of Time Warner, declared in the waning days of the 2016 presidential race, was nakedly corrupt. There are legitimate reasons to worry about such megamergers. But Trump was clearly driven by his desire to impose costs on Time Warner for the critical coverage of him and his administration by its subsidiary, CNN. Once Trump took office, he could use the power of the federal government to enforce his authoritarian whims. The Justice Department filed an unusual and ultimately ineffective lawsuit aimed at stopping it.

Trump’s denunciations of news outlets were often followed by threats or acts of federal regulatory retribution. He repeatedly attacked coverage by the “Amazon Washington Post,” then Amazon lost out on a massive Defense Department contract while Trump himself tried to force the Postal Service to raise shipping costs for the company (Jeff Bezos owns both Amazon and the Post, where my wife works). His attacks on Google were followed by a Justice Department antitrust lawsuit. After lashing out at NBC’s coverage during a 2020 rally, he quickly transitioned to smearing its parent company, Comcast, and warning that he would “do everything possible to destroy their image.”

Meanwhile, Fox News’ pro-Trump propaganda repeatedly paid off for its founder Rupert Murdoch’s business interests. The White House publicly approved of Murdoch selling his entertainment holdings to The Walt Disney Co., and the resulting megamerger -- with a scope quite similar to the AT&T-Time Warner deal -- sailed through DOJ scrutiny.

Trump created incentives for major corporations to either squelch negative reporting from its subsidiaries or ditch them altogether. His actions were typically haphazard and often ineffective -- but at times, they came unnervingly close to success.

In 2017, while the AT&T-Time Warner merger was bogged down by the DOJ lawsuit, AT&T’s CEO reportedly received an unsolicited pitch from Murdoch to buy CNN “to get the deal done.” At the time, Murdoch was reportedly in regular contact with Trump, and CNN’s Brian Stelter has suggested the impetus for the offer was that Murdoch “wanted to scoop up CNN and neuter it to curry favor with the president.”

GOP leaders have picked up where Trump left off, browbeating large corporations to get them to fall in line with the right’s political interests. Congressional Republicans have already threatened retribution against companies that opposed Georgia’s voter suppression law and cooperated with the congressional investigation into the January 6 insurrection. And on the same day House Republicans sent their letter to Twitter’s board, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law retaliating against Disney for its criticism of the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” education law.

Just as they did under Trump, these efforts by Republicans use legitimate tools for illegitimate ends. Disney had enjoyed the benefits of Disney World residing in the Reedy Creek Improvement District, an area in which the company effectively functioned as the local government, which would be dissolved under the bill DeSantis signed. Florida’s government established that district, and DeSantis and the Republican-controlled legislature had the power to eliminate it. But they did so because, as DeSantis explicitly stated, the company articulated “woke” opinions and “tried to attack me to advance their woke agenda.” And they held open the possibility that if Disney reversed itself, it could retain its status.

Right-wing media figures are praising the move by DeSantis and calling for similar retribution against other “woke” companies, specifically citing the prospect of chilling speech for political ends.




Republicans are already adopting Trump’s strong-arm tactics against “woke capital,” effectively incorporating his brand of corrupt authoritarianism across the party. And they are laying the groundwork to go further in prosecuting their culture war grievances if the GOP regains control of the federal government, using the fig leaf of regulatory legitimacy to cudgel any institution that steps out of line.

 

[Famine]

Apropos of... apparently nothing now... envy is when you want something that someone else has. Jealousy is when you have something that you think is threatened by someone else.


Anyway, I wonder if Musk just bought Twitter so he can shut down the ElonJet account.

Or, as The Onion puts it...

Spoiler: Language warning - it's The Onlion

Please Like Me

It can be strange, sometimes, to be me. I’m the wealthiest man on the planet, for starters. Leaders across America, and indeed the world, look to me as a visionary driving technological progress in areas from transportation, to communication, to becoming a multi-planetary species. The kinds of...

www.theonion.com

 

[TexRex]

 

[Populuxe]

Let me translate that last bit: "If you leave in place [those who are alert to injustice, especially racism] who control implementation, leadership matters little."

 

[NotThePrez]

I think this is usually the part where you (rightfully) say "Why do Republicans Hate Freedom of Speech?"

The last point reminded me of this bit from The Newsroom:



Worth noting that this particular bit came out late in 2013. I really need to get back into watching the show.

 

[TexRex]

I think this is usually the part where you (rightfully) say "Why do Republicans Hate Freedom of Speech?"

I decided to save myself some energy and made it my signature.

 

[Tornado]

The bits where Jeff Daniels Action News was the only bastion of journalistic integrity left was a bit cringe (I'm sure Tucker Carlson thinks the same thing) even if you ignore that they were having the cast do victory laps about what they correctly reported by show writers who had the benefit of hindsight; but it was a smart snappy show that I mostly really enjoyed at the time.

 

[TexRex]

 

[Pupik]

What did I just read?

What did I just read?

 

[McLaren]

"It's not about the money".

In conversations with bankers before he took Twitter private, Elon Musk suggested cutting workers, inviting influencers to create content, and introducing subscription services to improve Twitter's bottom line, according to multiple news reports on Friday.

Musk also suggested monetizing tweets and cutting executive and board pay, per reports from Bloomberg, the Washington Post, and Reuters, all quoting unnamed sources who knew about his fundraising efforts.

Musk approached the bankers after announcing his buyout offer on April 14 and before Twitter's board accepted his $44 billion proposal on April 26, Reuters reported.

Even though Musk floated these ideas to bankers to improve Twitter's bottom line, he did not include them in the formal plans that were presented to Twitter's board, Bloomberg and the Post reported. Instead, he said he would make sure the deal is profitable, sources told Bloomberg.

Musk's behind-the-scenes conversations about the bottom line contradict his public statements about the Twitter purchase. Twitter is "not a way to make money," Musk said at an April 14 live event, adding, "I don't care about the economics at all."

Musk's suggestion to lay off employees is likely to add to the disquiet that Twitter employees have been feeling since news of Musk's offer became public. Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said this week no layoffs are planned, but some employees are already looking for a way out, Insider's Kali Hays reported.

Elon Musk suggested firing workers and working with influencers to boost Twitter's bottom line: reports

Elon Musk pitched some ideas to lift Twitter's bottom line when he spoke to bankers, but ultimately didn't go into details in his pitch, reports say.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

You'd have to been a fool to think that the Twitter purchase was anything other than, largely, a solid business opportunity for the Musk brand.

Honestly, taking twitter to a subscription model (facebook too) and relying less on engagement/advertising for revenue (which is what drives algorithms to boost outrage/divisive content) and not having appease shareholders with unrealistic user growth is probably the best thing for both Twitter and society. I'm not sure that's exactly Musk's plan, but I think the world would be a lot better off if Facebook and Twitter had never been "free" because the cost of that free has been society ripping itself apart.

On the other hand, monetizing tweets will make everything much, much worse.

 

[Blitz24]

You'd have to been a fool to think that the Twitter purchase was anything other than, largely, a solid business opportunity for the Musk brand.

Honestly, taking twitter to a subscription model (facebook too) and relying less on engagement/advertising for revenue (which is what drives algorithms to boost outrage/divisive content) and not having appease shareholders with unrealistic user growth is probably the best thing for both Twitter and society. I'm not sure that's exactly Musk's plan, but I think the world would be a lot better off if Facebook and Twitter had never been "free" because the cost of that free has been society ripping itself apart.

On the other hand, monetizing tweets will make everything much, much worse.

There is some upside to it when it comes to news and potential community building. The problem is there is a ton more negatives that outweigh the good.

 

[Famine]

You'd have to been a fool to think that the Twitter purchase was anything other than, largely, a solid business opportunity for the Musk brand.

Twitter purchase? Surely he invented it and founded the company? What is this calumny?

 

[Tornado]

MSN

Ah yes. The famous "No, U" legal defense. Apparently DeSantis doesn't think that anyone else is going to have to pay for the services that Reedy Creek provided either; so they'll just... exist. For free.



A bold strategy. Let's see how it pays off for him Cotton.

Twitter purchase? Surely he invented it and founded the company? What is this calumny?

Watch out for falling poop emojis.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

MSN

Ah yes. The famous "No, U" legal defense. Apparently DeSantis doesn't think that anyone else is going to have to pay for the services that Reedy Creek provided either; so they'll just... exist. For free.



A bold strategy. Let's see how it pays off for him Cotton.


Watch out for falling poop emojis.

The consensus on the fox news comment section (I'm a masochist) seems to be two things:

A: Disney and other corporations should keep out of politics (lol Citizens United lol)
B: DeSantis and the Florida legislature should retroactively change the Reed Creek Improvement Act to eliminate the bond repayment provision.

These people really don't seem to keen on English law or like you know, ideological consistency. The arguments that the Reedy Creek Improvement Act was badly conceived/non-competitive are hilarious because it's JUST the kind of incentive law states like Texas or Florida would pass now, to attract big businesses away from places like California or New York. Disney World exists because of the sweetheart deal Disney received from the state in the 1960s. To reneg on that agreement now is to basically undo the reason Disney World exists. What's more, what kind of corporation would ever sign an agreement with the state of Florida if it's not assured to be legally binding?

It's quite shocking that the Florida governor and the legislature rammed this bill through the house, in a special session no less, in a total of 3 days. It's the largest single-site employer in the state - 80,000 direct jobs and probably thousands more indirect. Does 3 days leave enough time for the representatives to adequately get feedback from their constituents? Does 3 days leave enough time to even understand the legal consequences? In both cases no. This is purely to fellate the Governor.

 

[TexRex]

A bold strategy. Let's see how it pays off for him Cotton.

 

[Tornado]

Even if they could somehow retroactively change a law and not be laughed out of court when the government is immediately sued over it (and even if Disney doesn't go after them for First Amendment violations), the fact that DeSantis is insisting that Disney (or... someone?) will continue to provide fire and police and whatever public services for the district for free so Florida taxpayers in the area don't have to when their self-governance is stripped is amusing.



Like, he's definitely trying to do an "or else" at Disney over the public services thing, but or else what? Step one was hurling nukes at your state's largest employer at the smallest slight imaginable. You've got no more moves unless you think Disney won't leave the state if you're going to try to force them to pay billions of dollars in debt owed and public services (the latter in perpetuity) when they have no obligation to either. I think Disney actually could probably relocate Disney World for less money than that, if it really came down to it.

 

[McLaren]

A state that relies heavily on tourism messing with its biggest contributor to tourism.

 

[McLaren]

Boebert & Greene reportedly got into it earlier this year over Greene's attendance of (white nationalist) Nick Fuentes' event; Boebert detests always being lumped in with Greene.

GOP lawmakers anonymously told the news outlet that Boebert detests being associated with Greene. The Colorado congresswoman is also viewed more as a team player than her Georgia colleague, Republicans told Politico.

The pair recently engaged in a tense exchange over Greene's attendance at a February conference organized by white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Greene had faced criticism from within her party for her attendance at the gathering, but her confrontation with Boebert blew up to the point where another unnamed lawmaker had to step in to de-escalate the situation, according to Politico. Three people close to the House Freedom Caucus confirmed the back-and-forth to Politico, which took place during a board of directors meeting last month.

Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene got into such a heated confrontation that another lawmaker had to step in to intervene: report

Despite their similarities, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert detests being associated with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Politico reported.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Populuxe]

Boebert & Greene reportedly got into it earlier this year over Greene's attendance of (white nationalist) Nick Fuentes' event; Boebert detests always being lumped in with Greene.

Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene got into such a heated confrontation that another lawmaker had to step in to intervene: report

Despite their similarities, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert detests being associated with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Politico reported.

www.businessinsider.com

"I detest being compared to the person who is exactly like me!"

 

[Imari]

Boebert & Greene reportedly got into it earlier this year over Greene's attendance of (white nationalist) Nick Fuentes' event; Boebert detests always being lumped in with Greene.

Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene got into such a heated confrontation that another lawmaker had to step in to intervene: report

Despite their similarities, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert detests being associated with Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Politico reported.

www.businessinsider.com

Kettle asks people to stop telling her she looks so much like a kettle when she clearly identifies as a pot.

 

[Famine]

Madison Cawthorn having a normal one this month.

The chap who was somehow blissfully unaware that the woman he met in an illegal casino in St. Petersburg, married him, and divorced him in under a year was a Russian asset has:

• been photographed wearing lingerie
• been photographed with a guy's hand on his (clothed) gentleman parts while driving
• had his (public) Venmo transactions with distinctly gay notes exposed
• been arrested for carrying a loaded firearm in his carry-on for a flight for a second time
• been caught driving while disqualified
• been implicated in insider trading involving the hilarious "Let's Go Brandon" cryptocurrency

His response is that it's "pathetic" that people are "digging stuff up from my early 20s to smear me". Bitch, you're 26. Your early 20s were in July.

 

[Keef]

• been arrested for carrying a loaded firearm in his carry-on for a flight for a second time
• been caught driving while disqualified

Typically repeat offenders of such things do jailtime, especially the first one. Plus being banned from airlines permanently, etc. Judges don't like repeat offenders. Maybe the judge is his uncle or something.

Edit:

cited the congressman with possession of a dangerous weapon on city property.

You might be surprised to find out that I have no idea who governs what property on airport grounds. My world is all federal, that's all I care about. If an airport is governed by the city and the biggest punishment a city doles out for attempting to commit a felony is a $100 ticket then I'm seeing a pretty severe lack of oversight on who governs what and how. This guy might merely be an asshole, but if an unknown terrorist did the same thing apparently all they would get is a ticket? That ain't good enough. This Cawthorn fellow should have been treated like a federal menace to society for this. Outrageous. If I wanted to carry a gun through security and onto a plane I'd have to complete Federal Flight Deck Officer training and certification, not merely show up with three dozen donuts to the local police station and ask nicely.

 

[TexRex]

 

[TexRex]

Josh Vance is gonna be so mad.