American Politics

[Core D. Roy]

Mamdani is DSA, not really a true Liberal Democrat until he decides it's politically convenient to be. That or decides he's a careerist. This is a pessimistic view on him but I know better at this point.

*dramatic commiserating hug*

The flanderization of AOC and Bernie doing dumb shit like supporting Graham Platner and taking TWO YEARS to say the word "genocide" really soured me last year.

That said, Mamdani got the Ms. Rachel bump today so I'm going to hold onto that W

 

[shionoro]

I am VERY optimistic about Mamdani. So far, he has impressed me. He has the right political instincts (unlike AOC, who I do like but who sometimes blatantly does not understand when she is doing a big mistake).

It is very hard for a leftist to govern, because leftists usually want to be legislators so they can just have one coherent thing they fight for (like Bernie fights for free healthcare). As an executive, you are going to have to do quite lots of things that are hard to reconcile with your ideology (for example you need friendly connections to the police, you need to budget instead of just advocating for things, you need to be friendly with powerful people that are ideologically opposed to you to get things through). So far, Mamdani is doing that very, very well without comrpomising on his core promises.

I am still optimistic that, right now, the Left is more united than ever and is ready to take responsibility. And it has amazing movements and people that know how to transform their countries to something better. The big question is whether there will be free Midterms and the struggle is to ensure that. I am confident that in a somewhat fair elections, Republicans will definitely lose the House and possibly the Senate, which would make it way harder for Trump (or Vance) to stop fair Presidential elections.

 

[xi0]

I am VERY optimistic about Mamdani. So far, he has impressed me. He has the right political instincts (unlike AOC, who I do like but who sometimes blatantly does not understand when she is doing a big mistake).

It's not pessimism towards him specifically, it is more about whether he values maintaining his key positions over maintaining broader support. A "successful" term or two as the Mayor of NYC will provide many opportunities to him. And most of them will definitely not line-up in the best way with his platform. I'm not foolish enough to idealize him too much.

I am still optimistic that, right now, the Left is more united than ever and is ready to take responsibility. And it has amazing movements and people that know how to transform their countries to something better. The big question is whether there will be free Midterms and the struggle is to ensure that. I am confident that in a somewhat fair elections, Republicans will definitely lose the House and possibly the Senate, which would make it way harder for Trump (or Vance) to stop fair Presidential elections.

I no longer value "fairness", only the policies that will ensure that we don't get whatever MAGA views as acceptable. Conservative state and municipal politicians have gerrymandered the living shit out of any voting districts they're able. That is a major factor in why the GOP even maintains control periodically in certain purple states. It has been going on for decades. Yes, Democrats do it as well, but by sheer volume it's nothing compared to what Republicans have done. It's also why Republicans value the Electoral College far more than other voters. I'm not sure what I would be against that would ensure more Republican losses, short of handcuffing 50+ year old voters to their chairs on Election Day.

 

[shionoro]

It's not pessimism towards him specifically, it is more about whether he values maintaining his key positions over maintaining broader support. A "successful" term or two as the Mayor of NYC will provide many opportunities to him. And most of them will definitely not line-up in the best way with his platform. I'm not foolish enough to idealize him too much.



I no longer value "fairness", only the policies that will ensure that we don't get whatever MAGA views as acceptable. Conservative state and municipal politicians have gerrymandered the living shit out of any voting districts they're able. That is a major factor in why the GOP even maintains control periodically in certain purple states. It has been going on for decades. Yes, Democrats do it as well, but by sheer volume it's nothing compared to what Republicans have done. It's also why Republicans value the Electoral College far more than other voters. I'm not sure what I would be against that would ensure more Republican losses, short of handcuffing 50+ year old voters to their chairs on Election Day.

To me, the big question is whether he can prove the concept of a socialist mayor in a big city. Everything else comes secondary. If he can deliver on his most relevant key promises, even if just partially and goes into his second term as a popular mayor who accomplished things, the question whether his term could be coined as socialist or progressive is meaningless to me. He proves that figures like Bernie, like AOC or even farther to the left like Kshama are electable and can deliver for the people.

The biggest things leftists were missing was always trust in their abilities. But now, with the absolute shitshow centrists and conservatives show, with the tyranny of the Maga movement and the cowardice of moderate democrats, socialists have a real chance to prove for good that they are the trustworthy ones. And that is the big mission Zohran has. So I really do not mind whether he is more cozy with the police than the DSA would generally like as long as he can deliver a serious security reform that is generally successful.

We absolutely need the street movements to keep ICE at bay and we need strikes/unions too to somewhat resist the insanity of the current times. But we also need candidates who are actually electable (as in ACTUALLY making people want to elect them, not begrudginly do it for the lesser evil) to get rid of Maga for good. Even if it does not seem that way, elections are still the easiest and biggest lever to get rid of them and socialists will only win elections if they get more comfortable with power and the sticky situations that comes with it.

So far, Zohran has done it really, really well. Almost frighteningly well when it comes to getting Hochul on his side and getting things done quickly. If he keeps that up, the chance that 2028 has Gaving fucking Newsom as candidate becomes lower.

 

[M3J]

Mamdani didn't and he had a looooooot of opposition from both reps and dems as well as dozens of millionaires and billionaires. And hey, got one thing done already with the pre-school thing for parents in New York. Hopefully he can get some of his other promises done as well, working together with the Governor. And that people in the US slowly realize that "socialist" doesn't automatically mean "evil".

Yeah, but he also caused other Dems to shoot themselves in the foot via them doing what they could to make sure Mamdani didn't win, as you pointed out. The campaign might have turned away more people who would have voted Democrats otherwise.

Mamdani also removed a lot of orders and stuff that happened under Eric Adams, basically setting a precedent for what Dems should do if they win office. If a Dem wins in 2028, lot of people will expect them to revoke so many of Trump's horrible executive orders.

 

[xi0]

 

[shionoro]

It isn't the first one, too. They are doing it on purpose for whichever reason. I am sure this is both a demonstration of power and looking to escalate further in order to be able to manipulate the midterms (or rather, nullify them if necessary).

On the other hand, I doubt that is the only reason. The other reason might simply be that lots of people in DHS have been Nazis from the very start and now are thrilled they can finally live out that fantasy.Perhaps it is less of a tactical move and more of a deliberate friendly concession to their KKK base.

 

[M3J]

USA was the blueprint for Nazi Germany, and I think the main reason why fascism didn't succeed here is because of the war where Japan and Germany were allies. If anything, this country is going back to its openly racist, murderous root.

 

[shionoro]

There are important differences between the US and Nazi Germany.

The German resistance after 33 was quickly crushed because the leftists were divided and refused to work together. Institutions fell way faster than in the US. Half a year into Hitler's term, all Unions were under Nazi control or disbanded.

The US has a comparatively strong civil society and you can see how diverse groups of people are standing up to ICE right now. Something like the No Kings rallies similarly would not have been possible in Nazi Germany.

Another striking difference is that Hitler was actually popular in the beginning and the middle class thought he was a way to a more stable nation with less unemployment and division. Trump is really unpopular and nobody aside from fervent Magas actually think he will get the nation ahead. That makes it easier to rally resistance.

Thus I wouldnt phrase things quite as pessimistically. The US right now is showing that most people are not OK with what is happening. In Nazi Germany, they were, for different reasons.

 

[M3J]

Yeah but... how does that contradict the Nazis being inspired by USA's playbook?

Trump was popular though, very popular that even republicans trying to fix the election didn't stop him from winning the primaries. Even now he's still somewhat popular enough, but he lost some popularity because the people that thought they were safe realized they actually weren't. Did Hitler go after the people that he promised he was for?

But Democrats aren't doing enough to curb ICE or stop Trump.

 

[Shobu_Yoruichi]

A victory for common sense.

Writing a sentence like this and being earnest about it just says to me that you're ideologically captured. I've probably learned more about you than I have about Venezuela.

You know somebody has solid political takes when they talk about their favorite Politics Man like he's their favorite Politics Streamer. Incredible brainrot

Gys, this past 12 days have been a whole new experience for the continent, thank you so much for choosing him as your leader.
Aside of VE, now Nicaragua & Cuba are drastically changing their ways of governing, receeding into guilt for all this years of carefree tyranny, where in the former there is also some prisoners getting free. Colombia's Petro is also changing his verbosity towards any topic to the northern hemisphere.

So incredibly glad to have Trump in this era. Best of the best.

 

[shionoro]

A victory for common sense.







Gys, this past 12 days have been a whole new experience for the continent, thank you so much for choosing him as your leader.
Aside of VE, now Nicaragua & Cuba are drastically changing their ways of governing, receeding into guilt for all this years of carefree tyranny, where in the former there is also some prisoners getting free. Colombia's Petro is also changing his verbosity towards any topic to the northern hemisphere.

So incredibly glad to have Trump in this era. Best of the best.

And Trump is changing the northern american hemisphere into a violent military autocracy. He is also threatening democratic Southern American states. Why do you champion that?

--- Double Post Merged, Jan 16, 2026, Original Post Date: Jan 15, 2026 ---

Gavin Newsom agrees with a conservative about Trans people in sports, the same as practically every American, and is pilloried by the Left for it.

Leftists ain't learned shit

Gavin Newsom, yesterday, also agreed with Ben Shapiro that ICE should not be abolished. Do you still think Gavin Newsom catering to Nazis is a great idea?

 

[JBC008]

Things are getting worse with AI in government.

 

[M3J]

Gavin Newsom, yesterday, also agreed with Ben Shapiro that ICE should not be abolished. Do you still think Gavin Newsom catering to Nazis is a great idea?

Now why did you go back 10 months just to reply to that when ninjabot probably isn't active anymore? Focus on kick's horrible takes, he's still active here!

 

[shionoro]

Now why did you go back 10 months just to reply to that when ninjabot probably isn't active anymore? Focus on kick's horrible takes, he's still active here!

Because if he ever gets back, I want him to see the error in his ways . . .

 

[kkck]

I haven't gone anywhere. And my views on immigration in general have been roughly the same since... I've had an opinion on the issue. The only where I've changed my opinion is that policy can get the number of illegal crossings to basically zero whereas before i thought the situation as it was was just a fact of life.

 

[M3J]

Because if he ever gets back, I want him to see the error in his ways . . .

You have too much hope in someone who doesn't understand how "illegal" immigration works.

 

[James Rye]

Trump will probably really invade Greenland in 2026. Only question is if the generals will follow that order, which is clearly illegal, or not. And if not, if it will be simple resigns like it happened twice with Venezuela before they found an Admiral ready to order illegal orders at his soldiers or if they do a coup to prevent greater harm from their nation.
Because invading Greenland means the end of Nato and the end of Nato means the end of the US as a world dominating power. Heck, it might even mean the end of the US dollar as a world currency if the EU then dumps all their treasury bonds which is likely followed by others like Canada and Mexico who have to fear to be invaded next after Greenland.
Sigh.
Why didn't Biden just stay true to his "one term president" promise and let Dems find a new, younger candidate vs Trump? Our world would look so different right now if Trump had lost to a fresh candidate back then.

 

[kkck]

TBH I don't think the EU has the spine to tank the USD. And even if countries were willing to dump the USD as a reserve currency it would take at least years if not longer. As you need some asset to fill that gap and right now there are trillions of dollars circulating and there probably aren't other currencies that have trillions worth circulating that people would buy. I suppose the euro but given the state of the EU I am not entirely confident that this is what folk would turn to. On top of that the USD is simply what private companies use to do business... I think threatening to dump US treasuries is something like aiming a gun at someone except the bullet first passes through your head.

TBH I don't see the military not obeying trump on greenland. The EU should take this seriously.

 

[shionoro]

The easiest lever to me is shutting down all European US bases. They are pretty important for international US operations, especially in the middle east, and it does not harm any US civillians. This is something that has to upset a lot of Republican politicians and the military, too, making it much harder for Trump to try to manipulate the midterm result.

Aside from that, they should probably have danish and greenlandish spokespersons prominent in TV and on democrat events while simultanously put up at least some small military resistance in Greenland so the US has to commit actually firing shots on formerly friendly military.

The tradewar should be measure to very influential companies, for example via targeted actions against US tech companies and the end of some treasury bonds, but with the clear understanding that it could escalate further than that, so meant as a threat.

It still has to be understood here, both for Europeans and Americans alike, that the Midterms are still the easiest and most reliable lever to end this madness.