A Political Thread pt. 2

[AlRums]

Ex-MP Craig Williams charged with betting offences

The investigation was launched last year following bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Lé Ddanno]

If there was ever a person's hard drive to image and investigate

 

[AlRums]

What Trump really wants from Canada

Donald Trump's return to the White House has created flashpoints between the North American neighbours.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

BBC News - Trump blames Zelensky for starting war after massive Russian attack

Trump blames Zelensky for starting war day after massive Russian attack

The US president said that you "don't start a war against someone 20 times your size" and hope people give you missiles.

www.bbc.com

So minutes after making excuses for a Russian attack on civilians, he is again trying to act like Zelensky holds the blame for the war and that he started it...

 

[Weldit]

BBC News - Trump blames Zelensky for starting war after massive Russian attack

Trump blames Zelensky for starting war day after massive Russian attack

The US president said that you "don't start a war against someone 20 times your size" and hope people give you missiles.

www.bbc.com

So minutes after making excuses for a Russian attack on civilians, he is again trying to act like Zelensky holds the blame for the war and that he started it...

He'll be blaming the saucer people for taking his sandwich next.

 

[dirty harry]

With billions at risk, Harvard rejects Trump administration's request for policy changes

https://us.cnn.com/2025/04/14/us/harvard-rejects-policy-changes/index.html

Harvard refuses Trump admin demands to curtail antisemitism on campus — putting billions in federal aid in jeopardy

Harvard University said it will not comply with demands issued by the Trump administration aimed at curtailing antisemitism on campus, potentially putting billions in federal contracts and grants a…

nypost.com

Left and right reporting of the same things Ng, read the differences of what's left out by the NYPost

Freedom of speech the victim once again

This is fascinating...

On one hand, I agree with some of the task force 'demands', on the other who does the federal government think it is making demands like this to a private organisation...

However, I am of the thought, that given the student fees structure, no university should receive taxpayer money unless they install a much fairer and balanced method ofnrepayment and not abuse students with crippling debt.

 

[dirty harry]

I wasn't advocating any position with respect to what should really be done regarding free speech because I don't think there is a simple answer. I was more advocating, or perhaps a better wording would be pushing against, the idea that speech cannot be harmful and the speech someone makes can be treated almost as completely isolated from actions they or others then take directly as a result of that speech.

Positions I do advocate with respect to limits on free speech are largely as they are now, that threats and attempts to enable or advocate illegal or harmful acts should not be deemed protected speech. The issue is largely the same as it has always been, the grey area that includes things like implicit language, plausible deniability, wolf whistles etc where an intent is meant but not explicitly stated. What people define as harmful acts aren't consistent.

I'm mostly railing against so called free speech absolutists who feel anyone should be free to say anything and it should all be protected. Conspiracy already factors into some criminal acts and is a criminal prosecution based around the use of speech to enable crimes, yet we are seeing even conspiracy being dismissed by the so called free speech absolutists as protected.

And I probably agree with a lot of this, but then within this view you would agree platforming anyone regardless of how bad their ideas were (as long as it didn't spill into threats, incitement etc) is fine?

My concern is the erosion of platforming idiots, leads to someone having the final say on who is allowed to speak publicly, which has to lead to abuses of rights.

And that's my stance, idiots gonna idiot, I want their views out in the open so people can call them an an idiot.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

And I probably agree with a lot of this, but then within this view you would agree platforming anyone regardless of how bad their ideas were (as long as it didn't spill into threats, incitement etc) is fine?

My concern is the erosion of platforming idiots, leads to someone having the final say on who is allowed to speak publicly, which has to lead to abuses of rights.

And that's my stance, idiots gonna idiot, I want their views out in the open so people can call them an an idiot.

I think anyone can platform who they want as long as their speech isn't criminal. I think as well though, particularly in the case of someone like Rogan where the platform is by invitation, the person or entity providing the platform must accept that they cannot hold up their hands and claim innocence for whatever that person says using the platform that's been provided.

I also think that they just accept responsibility for what they choose to show a person to say unchallenged. If it's some open forum eg twitter then it makes a little more sense that they can't claim responsibility for what any individual on their platform says. I don't believe that same protection applies to the likes of Joe Rogan, unless he reasonably had no way of knowing someone would say something.

If he invites on a view and then doesn't push back on it then that is too a degree him associating himself with those views. By comparison with something like Louis Theroux, it is made clear that he is speaking to people with extreme views.

 

[McTallshort]

BBC News - Trump blames Zelensky for starting war after massive Russian attack

Trump blames Zelensky for starting war day after massive Russian attack

The US president said that you "don't start a war against someone 20 times your size" and hope people give you missiles.

www.bbc.com

So minutes after making excuses for a Russian attack on civilians, he is again trying to act like Zelensky holds the blame for the war and that he started it...

Corruption and incompetence. Probably been watching too much Joe Rogan

 

[Which Tyler]

BBC News - Trump blames Zelensky for starting war after massive Russian attack

Trump blames Zelensky for starting war day after massive Russian attack

The US president said that you "don't start a war against someone 20 times your size" and hope people give you missiles.

www.bbc.com

So minutes after making excuses for a Russian attack on civilians, he is again trying to act like Zelensky holds the blame for the war and that he started it...

Either, he had a call from his boss just before speaking to the press, or Zelensky said "no" again, to Trump's latest attempt to rape and pillage Ukraine.

ETA: pretty much, yeah

Trump said he had a "great" phone call with Putin last month, and the Russian president sent him a portrait as a gift a week later.

 

[dirty harry]

I think anyone can platform who they want as long as their speech isn't criminal.

the person or entity providing the platform must accept that they cannot hold up their hands and claim innocence for whatever that person says using the platform that's been provided

I just need to ask, by 'innocence'your not claiming legal responsibility for speech thatbisnt criminal?

These two statements do contradict each other, any can platform anyone, but the performer must be hel legally responsible for bad ideas... that's called persecution isn't it?

You make a very good comparison with Louis Theroux, he investigates, and never pushes back in a way that would compromise the show, he merely asks questions and allows the bad ideas to openly discredit themselves. Why would there not be an argument that someone like Rogan does the same, are we expecting him to be an expert in every subject?

Interestingly and I know we are talking US context, a lot of Republicans used to want to repeal 230, then Dems jumped on, and I whole heartedly believe this will lead to mass litigation, paid for services, and ultimately human rights abuses against American citizens.

Social media was built on legal free speech, and advertised as the 'digital town square' until it became politically convenient to weaponise it, which it was during COVID, and that will only get worse.

I fully expect if 230 proves difficult to repeal, it'll be eroded by first using your podcast argument, calling everyone who doesn't agree with the US government conspiracy theorists, and then will slowly work into acceptable opinions on the Internet only. Now this might sound acceptable to you now, as I'm sure Obama increasing Presidential power did (and did to me also) but with a resurgence in right wing politics, and Gen Z being super conservative what happens if/when an ultra right government decides things should change in the west and the codified opinion allowed isn't yours?

I just don't see this short term thinking of 'if I don't agree with you, there should be limits on what you can say and who you can speak to' ending anything other than very badly.

 

[dirty harry]

Corruption and incompetence. Probably been watching too much Joe Rogan

Is Zelensky the new Greta Thunberg?

 

[AlRums]

This is fascinating...

On one hand, I agree with some of the task force 'demands', on the other who does the federal government think it is making demands like this to a private organisation...

However, I am of the thought, that given the student fees structure, no university should receive taxpayer money unless they install a much fairer and balanced method ofnrepayment and not abuse students with crippling debt.

Trump administration announces freeze in $2.2 billion for Harvard after university rejects request for policy changes

https://us.cnn.com/2025/04/14/us/harvard-rejects-policy-changes/index.html

 

[AlRums]

China halts Boeing deliveries as trade war with US intensifies

Beijing has additionally told Chinese carriers to not purchase any aircraft-related equipment from American companies.

nypost.com

 

[McTallshort]

Never heard of this guy before but sounds quite interesting

 

[AlRums]

As he lionizes a strongman, Trump flexes power over the law, top colleges and the media

https://us.cnn.com/2025/04/15/politics/trump-bukele-immigration-colleges-media/index.html

Good analysis as to where strumpet is going.

 

[AlRums]

The Trump Administration Can't Admit It Made A Mistake

The president and one of his top advisers repeatedly made outrageous claims about the man who has been sent to a prison in El Salvador known for its abuses.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

 

[AlRums]

U.S.-Born Attorney Says She Was Told To 'Immediately' Self-Deport In DHS Email

“It is time for you to leave the United States,” read the email reportedly sent to Nicole Micheroni, who is questioning how many others it was inappropriately sent to.

www.huffpost.com

 

[AlRums]

Librarians in UK increasingly asked to remove books, as influence of US pressure groups spreads

Anecdotal evidence suggests a rise in requests to take books off shelves, particularly LGBTQ+ ***les

www.theguardian.com

 

[McTallshort]

So they ban books in America which apparently has better freedom of speech than anywhere else.