The way things are going, by December he’ll have to usher in the Messiah!
Peaceful protesters at the Florida capitol today rally against Trump‘s overreach.This is happening in cities throughout the country.
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I’m not automatically opposed to kings as a concept, I just don’t believe that Trump is worthy of being a king.
My statement about Kings was made in the context of the present state of the United States of America, a government fundamentally opposed to the concept of a king due to its historical roots in rebellion against monarchy and its founding principles based on self governance and the rule of law. The US was founded on the idea that power derives from the people not from bloodlines or divine right. The founders were inspired by enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, who advocated for popular sovereignty and the rule of law. Further, they believed that concentrating ultimate authority in one person like a king could easily lead to tyranny.
A core principle of the United States is that everyone, including those in power is subject to the law as opposed to a king who might be seen as above the law. Presidential power is limited by the power of the other branches of government creating a system of checks and balances. Furthermore, the president is elected to a limited term unlike a king who reigns for life. I support this constitutional form of government. I oppose Donald Trump‘s efforts to undermine it. But it isn’t just that he’s unworthy to be a king. It’s that under this form of government, no one is.
From the New York Times: "The Trump administration has abruptly shifted the focus of its mass deportation campaign, telling Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to largely pause raids and arrests in the agricultural industry, hotels and restaurants, according to an internal email and three U.S. officials with knowledge of the guidance.
This shows that while Trump lacks empathy, he isn’t totally impervious to the negative economic impact that his policies may have. The resistance should keep this in mind in its messaging to the President going forward.
"The decision suggested that the scale of President Trump’s mass deportation campaign — an issue that is at the heart of his presidency — is hurting industries and constituencies that he does not want to lose.
"The new guidance comes after protests in Los Angeles against the Trump administration’s immigration raids, including at farms and businesses. It also came as Mr. Trump made a rare concession this week that his crackdown was hurting American farmers and hospitality businesses.
"The guidance was sent on Thursday in an email by a senior ICE official, Tatum King, to regional leaders of the ICE department that generally carries out criminal investigations, including work site operations, known as Homeland Security Investigations.
Yes but the Founders made a flaw in our government. It seems like kind of a trap, for instance if Congress is rigged then a president cannot be impeached.
The King thing was about some hypothetical benevolent ruler that we’d all benefit as ruler, unfortunately it doesn’t seem like Trump is worthy of that.
I can imagine improvements that could be made by amending the constitution, but an autocrat isn’t one of them due to its potential for abuse of power, lack of accountability, and suppression of dissent. Autocratic leaders are not subject to the same checks and balances as democratically elected officials, leading to potential corruption, human rights violations, and instability.
Felix since you’re gathering people and riling people up, I’m wondering if, while you’re at it, if its also possible to somehow defeat the big beautiful bill?
I’ve heard no real logical or coherent arguments from Republicans on why we ought to have this bill, only vacuities about it being big and beautiful. I’ve heard several non-partisan, unbiased and independent analysis of the bill saying that it is terrible and will create a 3 trillion deficit. Johnson downplayed the impact of Musk’s opposition by noting that GOP offices have received “almost no calls” from constituents against the bill, suggesting most people are either supportive or reserving judgment.
Therefore, I am wondering if perhaps many people were suddenly to call Republican politicians on the phone, they might reconsider the bill.
My personal opinion, even though I don’t consider myself an expert in these kind of economic matters, is that the independent and unbiased non-partisans are correct in their estimate. And here’s why. The no-taxes-on-tips thing sounds like a red flag to me. Nobody pays taxes on their tips anyway, so how is that going to help the economy? It would only help rich or upper class people that don’t get cash tips, like the ones who get paid tips on their credit card or something.
Right. The bills tax cuts when coupled with extension of Trump‘s 2017 tax provisions will significantly increase the national debt and deficit. It will lead to cuts in SNAP and MEDICAID benefits, reduce access to health insurance and negatively affect Red states that voted for Trump in 2024. The tax breaks primarily benefit the wealthy. Provisions within the Bill like exemptions for overtime pay and tips violate basic tax principles and the bill as a whole could make the tax code more complex and costly to navigate and as you said not really help the people they are supposed to.
Scott Bessant argues the bill could boost the economy through tax cuts and have a trickle down effect as the Republicans always argue. But it’s full of political gimmicks and carve outs for special interests and cronies.The bill will also lead to higher energy costs and harm public health by prioritizing polluters and potentially weakening environmental regulations. It’s designed to shield the Trump administration from accountability for legal violations. the Bill’s broad language will allow government actors to evade accountability for violating court ruling.
I’m trying to raise awareness about potential negative consequences of the bill. And yes, engaging elected officials, particularly Republican senators and urging them to oppose the bill or seek changes is important. Senators have already proposed changes. Buried in section 70302 of the legislation is a measure that would severely restrict federal courts authority to hold government officials in contempt if they violate judicial orders. I have read that the Senate proposes to excise that provision from the bill.
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I don’t know if everyone believes in God but I believe I received a message from God that he does not approve of Trump’s actions in LA. I have received 2 omens and messages and signs about it from God.
I will reveal one of the omens which is that, I was reading about one of the ICE commanders just now and a song on autoplay said “crossed the line” and now normally I’m letting you all know I don’t listen to songs with lyrics I try to only listen to instrumentals in songs lyrics are very rare but yeah that happened. I get these omens from God all the time really all the time and often I am just sharing with you. I know some of you are atheists and you don’t have to believe I’m just sharing you don’t have to believe if you don’t believe in that sort of thing.
I agree with your conclusions, even if I find your thought process tangential to this thread’s topic. Do you discuss the omen phenomenon elsewhere on ILP?
I may have mentioned it once or twice, I’m not sure.
The belief in omens is usually considered a form of superstition. Superstition involves beliefs in supernatural influences or causal connections where none actually exist, often based on irrational or unscientific reasoning. People who believe in omens attribute specific events or occurrences as signs of future good or bad luck, despite a lack of logical or empirical evidence to support these connections. Of course, we do have the hypothesis of synchronicity based on the observation that such coincidences seem meaningful. And this can have a powerful subjective effect on the experiencer. While these experiences are widespread, the degree to which one integrates them into their belief system varies. We could discuss it further in the psychology or spirituality forum if you’re interested.
Kristi Noem said during a June 12, 2025, press conference in Los Angeles that the federal government was there to “liberate” the city from its local leadership, specifically naming the mayor and governor. She criticised the policies of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, describing their leadership as burdensome and implying that federal intervention was necessary to restore safety and order. This reportedly caused Senator Padilla to ask her what she meant. I just can’t find the video, but I’ve seen it.
Starts at 4:45…
https://youtu.be/3Bg9i_LyxGE?feature=shared
He got nowhere near her. He did sort of talk out of turn, and not the way the rest of the people were asking questions when it was appropriate. Sounds like he got triggered by her saying they were not going away and that they were combatting socialist policies. Frankly, I am disgusted by the ugliness of politicians on both the left and the right. Would his question have been given air time if he had gone about it the appropriate way like everyone else did? We’ll never know now. Of course, he’s probably had plenty of time to have his voice heard after he didn’t go about it the appropriate way and was escorted out. Not that I’ve looked up what he’s had to say about it since then. I’m already pissed off about the ICE raids. I don’t need to know what anybody else has to say about it.
Don’t forget, Senator Padilla, who was forced to the floor and handcuffed for asking a question out of turn, was elected by the people of California. Kristi Noem was not. It was symbolic of the inflection point the US is experiencing at the moment
This is what a police state looks like. Trump’s attacks on cities will concentrate on Blue states because he perceives liberal democracy as the enemy who are using illegal immigrants as pawns to suppress “real Americans” i.e. his MAGA supporters who are actually pawns of Trump and his oligarchical cronies.
I don’t have to side on either party’s narrative to know the ICE raids are wrong.
Like I said in my previous post:
A New York mayoral candidate was attacked by masked thugs seeking violent confrontation
Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller who is running for mayor, was arrested, handcuffed and pushed against a wall by federal agents at an immigration courthouse in Lower Manhattan. Lander, a Democrat, was trying to escort a migrant whom agents were trying to arrest. See video of the incident
These are the (in many cases) underpaid workers who still can’t pay the bills without help from the government or living with multiple people.
Imagine accepting a bunch of people from another country and treating them like human capital (like you do your own citizens), then pretending that you’re liberating them, but only relax your standards on them if they are useful to you economically or politically. Otherwise, you treat them as a problem in total violation (alienation) of unalienable rights. And you claim to be holding them accountable when you yourselves do not follow your own standards that you put on them.
History repeats because those in “power” refuse to learn true power, instead practicing willful ignorance. God immediately holds us as accountable as we hold others, and immediately extends as much compassion to us as we extend to others. We are as alive or dead as we want to be.
German National Fabian Schmidts describes detention pending deportation in the USA
By Julia Lehmann
“You can’t see the sun. You’re treated like a murderer or rapist.” Fabian Schmidt sits in a grey sweatshirt, speaking from the USA, his voice calm, his words precise. The German electrical engineer spent two months in American detention pending deportation, even though he has been living in the country legally for 18 years.
On the German talk show “Maischberger”, Schmidt describes his case in detail - an exceptional case that could be systemic. “Because what he experienced is not an isolated case,” says lawyer and USA expert Sandra Navidi. “There is a diffuse fear in the USA,” says Navidi. Even people with legal residence status are increasingly being arrested. “It already started in January. Procedural rights are being disregarded. People are disappearing. There is not even an obligation to inform relatives.”
Presenter Sandra Maischberger is noticeably shocked: “I’ve never heard you sound so gloomy.” In fact, Navidi warns urgently: Trump wants to replace the Western democratic image of humanity with an order characterised by ethnicity, with drastic consequences. There is already talk in the US media that even European citizens - including Germans - could be interned in Guantánamo under Trump.
Schmidt’s accounts emphasise the accusations. After entering the country, his green card was revoked without explanation, and his passport was confiscated. “I sat in a chair for 18 hours,” he says. He then fell ill, had a fall, was hospitalised with a fever, and ended up in a high-security prison with no contact with the outside world. Only after several days was he allowed to speak to his mother, then to his partner.
The reason for his arrest? An old, long-discontinued case for alleged drug possession. The fact that Schmidt can report on his case at all is a rarity, emphasises Navidi. “For every Fabian, there are hundreds whose cases don’t even become public.” Her concern: a second Trump term could finally undermine the rule of law. “My concern is that Trump is making his great role model Putin look even more moderate.”