A rational look at what Trump will/won't/can/can't do in his next term

Well, they didn’t rule that he could remain in office because his arguments on Texas were too stupid for even a five year old to attempt to justify. But this is a court that has now overturned Roe v. Wade (despite justices appointed by Trump saying in confirmation hearings that it was “settled law”), has several justices exposed as having numerous ethical compromises, and that Trump is likely to be able to appoint two or maybe three new justices under a Republican-controlled Senate overseeing confirmation. So you’ll pardon my skepticism about how the Supreme Court is going to be the unassailable bulwark that will protect us from executive overreach in 2025 and beyond.

No, Trump isn’t going to be more savvy or competent, and yes, he’s going to surround himself with toadies and supplicants. But the problem is that some of those people will be actually competent because he’s getting a lot of support and guidance from people who have been contemplating this ‘opportunity’ for decades, and it has become even easier to distract Trump with shiny things while “the adults” go about their business of trying to implement their plans. And the Republican-dominated Congress has essentially purged all of the moderates, and even the hard-right non-MAGAs in favor of people who will fall into lockstep with what has become the GOP, and these people will almost certainly vote to increase executive authority where it advances their goals. This is exactly what happened in Germany in 1933, and this scenario has too many strong parallels to ignore in the way you so desperately want to.

Not only he won’t but can’t. There isn’t even that much in discretionary spending, and it would take a major literal act of Congress to make major cuts to mandatory spending, which isn’t going to happing in a year. I guarantee that US$2T was just a random number Elon pulled directly out of his ass with no clue as to what it actually represents because he is a dumbshit that says stuff and then goes back to his staff and says, “I promised this so don’t make me look like an idiots, guys.” (True story.)

You’re right that Trump will blame Musk and fire him (if he actually appoints him to anything to begin with) but I’m desperately hoping for a bigger blowout, maybe even trying to have Musk arrested and deported for staying in the country illegally and working on a student visa. Please, God, I know we don’t talk much and I say a lot of snarky things about your peoples, but give me this one, please!

Stranger