[arista]

[arista]

[arista]

[Incredible surprise discovery under sands
of Utah desert that could give US military
huge edge over China]


[Critical minerals used for building weapons and
other essential electronics have been discovered
in the sands of Utah's Silicon Ridge.

Some 16 different types of high quality minerals
were uncovered in a 74,000 square foot mining
site in Provo.

The find could give the US an edge over China
which has long dominated the market.


Andre Zeitoun, chief executive of
Ionic Mineral Technologies (IMT),
which owns the mining site,
told the Wall Street Journal:
'You can’t make a vehicle without these,
you can’t make a fighter jet without
some of these metals.'

He added that the elements are also used
for semiconductors, electronics and chips
that power artificial intelligence.

Those discovered include lithium, alumina,
germanium, rubidium, cesium, vanadium
and niobium, the Journal reported.

Rubidium and cesium are used in atomic clocks,
whereas scandium is essential for the development
of aircraft and missiles.

Germanium is similar to silicon but
is incredibly rare and is critical for developing
semiconductors.]





https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ary-china.html

[Parmy]

Wǒ wén dŕo shǐ wčile

[Maru]

I was laid up beginning of month and I've been binging a lot of chip manufacturing videos. Not surprised about this because we need some kind of local supply if we're going to at least somewhat be able to make things locally without having to send everything back out...

This lady's channel is very good for just following on recent developments:

https://www.youtube.com/@AnastasiInTech

Youtube video

[arista]

[arista]

President Trump now Live All TV News


Having a go at Biden

Claiming the War in Gaza is Over?


Also,
many Companies are now coming to the USA
As No Tarrifs on them.............


He was More Angry
reading off his Script

[arista]

Shown on SkyNews all day

President Trump talking to Children
on his Phone.

He told one kid it is good to have Clean Coal

The kid said No Coal
back to him.

So Trump said OK, kid
No Clean Coal, back to him.

[Alf]

[Alf]

He is easily the best Trump impersonater out there.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Merry Christmas Donald x

[arista]

[emseateng2014]

donnie j trump is like the emperor from star wars and the mad king from game of thrones

[Parmy]

Only sexier.

[Glenn.]

[arista]

[Maru]

Related-ish:

U.S. Supreme Court rules candidates may challenge election laws before Election Day
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/01...-election-day/

Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections allows U.S. Rep. Michael Bost (R-Ill.) and two 2024 presidential electors to move forward with a lawsuit challenging an Illinois law allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted up to 14 days after Election Day. Illinois is one of 15 states that allow absentee/mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within a set period of time after the election.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said that only allowing a candidate to sue after they could demonstrate harm would force election-related lawsuits to be brought in the days immediately before or after voting takes place. Roberts also said that requiring candidates to prove that a particular law damaged their odds of winning would put judges in the position of predicting election results. Roberts also said that candidates had a particular interest in ensuring results were lawfully tabulated and that the public trusted the outcome.

Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan agreed that Bost should be allowed to sue, but only because he suffered a possible financial injury from the law. Barrett wrote in a concurring opinion that the court should not grant candidates broad standing to sue over election laws: "Congressman Bost has standing because he has suffered a traditional pocketbook injury, not because of his status as a candidate."

The ruling did not address whether Illinois' mail-in ballot counting law is constitutional. The justices are slated to hear Watson v. Republican National Committee, a case challenging the legality of a similar Mississippi law that allows absentee ballots to be counted if they are received within four days of the election.

[bots]

Originally Posted by Maru

Related-ish:

U.S. Supreme Court rules candidates may challenge election laws before Election Day
https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/01...-election-day/

Do you think if Trump has deployed ICE/military to a state it gives him an argument to delay/cancel elections there? I feel something like that is coming along

[Maru]

Originally Posted by bots

Do you think if Trump has deployed ICE/military to a state it gives him an argument to delay/cancel elections there? I feel something like that is coming along

The way Federal law defines things is often so broad that he might find some kind of tangible rule for it maybe, yeah. Federal and State/Local laws are meant to work together, but since they're not being cooperative, that gives more justification (historically) for an increase in aggressive enforcement. Federal doesn't like to cede over authority because there are historical examples of States losing control of itself and it needing to intervene. But again, usually the leaders work willingly by that point with the Federal govt to try to clamp it down. Legal clarity, much less accountability, is really difficult to achieve when Fed and State levels are both not cooperating as that's how our laws are currently setup. It's why we can only guess what may or may not happen as that means Federal govt has to continue working in the grey to keep functioning... our system both legally and politically is really not designed to work without Federal and State cooperation, so I think some instinct at the State level to resist trends in aggressive enforcement is understandable. And they should always push back to make that point for keeping balance.

He could simply say that domestic terrorism is too big of a threat and will cause problems for voters in that state and close things this way. I'm not too sure how much leverage he might have with that though as elections are generally speaking locally managed. He did trigger a map redraw in Texas and the Texas Secessionist movement was not amused and they said that it was yet another reason to live the Union.

I forget which leader in MN said it, but they openly called to other cities/states with strong political energy to 'act' and now in places like NYC/Portland, they're training people. If he steps up enforcement in areas where it is very likely to meet heavy resistance, he could theoretically disrupt elections that way...

NYC socialists mobilize 4,000 activists for rapid response to potential ICE operations
https://local12.com/news/nation-worl...-new-york-city

(TNND) — A network of New York City socialists, led by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is organizing a “rapid response” force of more than 4,000 anti-ICE activists aimed at opposing anticipated Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the city, The New York Post reported.

At a recent meeting of the DSA’s Immigrant Justice Working Group, leaders outlined plans to train 2,000 DSA members and 2,000 non-members to confront and obstruct ICE detentions, using tactics developed from protests in Minnesota.

Katie Wilson, Portland:

I know many people in our community are frightened and outraged about the way ICE and other federal enforcement agencies are being deliberately deployed across the country to intimidate and harm our communities. I am heartbroken and outraged too. This moment demands action.

Here’s what we’re doing. Seattle is a welcoming city. We already have laws in place that forbid our local police from aiding ICE in most instances.

The police will adhere to these laws. That’s an important step. But it’s also true that we have limited authority with regard to the actions of federal agencies.

And I know that our existing laws are not enough to keep people safe. So I’m working with Police Chief Barnes, City Attorney Evans, immigrant rights groups, and local leaders to identify every possible legal argument, public resource, and creative tool we can use to keep the people of Seattle safe. This will take all of us.

I urge you to sign up for the Washington for All ICE Mobilization Alerts. And don’t stop there. I encourage you to raise your voices and demand that every elected official does what they can to actually protect the people who make our neighborhoods home.

It's hard to know how much of this translates to anything real because all this "revolutionary" talk is the wet dream of so many Americans. I imagine other people feel really similar. A duty to rebel is embedded into the heart of our culture and I'm amused when I watch right and left wing people scream at each other like they come from two totally different planes of existence when their exact behavior is cut from the same cloth.

Tim Walz is having the time of his life, imo, and this is like a retirement party for him...

Ignore the X mindrot post. Sharing for video:

[Maru]

These Democrats voted for the DHS funding bill despite ICE furor
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5...urity-funding/

Several House Democrats joined with nearly all Republicans to approve a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, as anger grows over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

The $64.4 billion bill, which includes roughly $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), passed the House by a vote of 220-207. All but one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), voted for the measure.

The seven Democrats who sided with Republicans were Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Jared Golden (Maine), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.), Laura Gillen (N.Y.), Don Davis (N.C.), Tom Suozzi (N.Y.) and Vicente Gonzalez (Texas).

The bill also provides billions of dollars in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Secret Service, the Disaster Relief Fund and other programs and agencies.

Suozzi explained his vote earlier Thursday, writing that the measure was the product of “bipartisan negotiations and responsible governing,” framing the vote as necessary to avert a potential government shutdown.

“I am voting for the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, not to expand ICE enforcement or add more agents, but to fund the core operations Americans rely on every day, FEMA disaster response, TSA security, Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, passport processing, and other essential services,” Suozzi wrote on the social platform X.

“I strongly oppose allowing another shutdown to disrupt the lives of working families. We saw the damage of a shutdown last year: millions of Americans lost pay and access to essential services,” he added. “Congress has a responsibility to govern, not to lurch from one manufactured crisis to the next.”

Gillen offered a similar justification, saying she supported “funding our immigration enforcement and the commonsense guardrails” included in the package.

The measure contained a few targeted reforms, including a reduction in funding for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, a decrease in ICE detention beds and a cut in Border Patrol funding, which were seen as attempts to placate Democrats.

“Let us be clear: this bill is about funding FEMA disaster relief, about stopping child trafficking and the spread of fentanyl in our communities and strengthening our cybersecurity and law enforcement,” Gillen said. She also pointed to money included for the Office for Civil Rights and security grants for houses of worship.

“I’m shocked my colleagues would vote to cut off national and community security funding while leaving ICE to operate under the status quo,” she added.

Davis framed his vote as being about protecting his constituents in North Carolina from the threat of natural disasters.

“Strong, reliable support for disaster relief is non-negotiable,” he said in a statement.

Responsible governing? What kind of country do they think this is?

[Maru]

But remember, they're all very concerned about the Federal govt's ability to violate civil liberties... yet they all keep expanding those same capabilities...

Kill Switch Law: Who’s profiting from trapping you in your own car?
https://www.cbtnews.com/kill-switch-...-your-own-car/

What is the kill switch, and why should you care?

Section 24220 of the 2021 infrastructure bill requires all new vehicles sold in the U.S. starting in 2026 to include “advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is still finalizing the details, but this could involve cameras monitoring eye movements, sensors analyzing driving patterns, or touch-based blood-alcohol detectors. If the system flags you as “impaired,” your car could refuse to start or even stop while you’re driving.

The stated goal is to curb drunk driving, which NHTSA reports caused 32% of traffic fatalities in 2022—about 13,500 deaths. But these systems are prone to errors, potentially misjudging sober drivers as impaired and leaving them stranded with no clear way to override the system. Drivers have dubbed this “kill switch jail,” a loss of mobility and control that feels like punishment without due process. The law provides no reset protocols, leaving you at the mercy of a machine’s decision.

https://perry.house.gov/news/documen...umentID=403173

Congressman Scott Perry Introduces the No Kill Switches in Cars Act
https://perry.house.gov/news/documen...umentID=403173

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Scott Perry (PA-10) introduced the No Kill Switches in Cars Act to repeal the vehicle “kill switch” mandate under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) set for model year 2026. The mandate raises concerns about government surveillance and potential infringement of individual privacy and constitutional rights.

“Kill Switches can be used to restrict your travel o or to track you without a warrant,” said Rep. Perry. “The No Kill Switches in Cars Act removes this threat to our constitutional rights and ensures our ability to travel freely.”

The only way to preclude the abuse/misuse of this technology and protect individual privacy is to reject the government’s efforts to install “kill switches” in every vehicle.

H.R. 7148 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
https://democrats-rules.house.gov/PI...Appropriations

14 Version 1
Massie (KY), Perry (PA)
Republican
Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to implement section 24220 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including any requirements enabling or supporting vehicle “kill switch” technology. Blocks federal spending for the execution or enforcement of such authorities.

[Livia]

Trump has stated that Nato forces "avoided the front line" in Afghanistan. As someone whose first husband died of wounds he received in Afghan, I'd like to say it is a dangerous thing to insult those who've stood by you. He should be asked to apologise. Immediately.

[bots]

Originally Posted by Livia

Trump has stated that Nato forces "avoided the front line" in Afghanistan. As someone whose first husband died of wounds he received in Afghan, I'd like to say it is a dangerous thing to insult those who've stood by you. He should be asked to apologise. Immediately.

I heard this last night and was going to write something here, but i didn't want to give his disgusting words air.

What is clear to me is that europe's relationship with Trump has completely broken down. It won't be repaired because the man is insane. The greenland backdown was forced on Trump but he can't accept it

[Livia]

Originally Posted by bots

I heard this last night and was going to write something here, but i didn't want to give his disgusting words air.

What is clear to me is that europe's relationship with Trump has completely broken down. It won't be repaired because the man is insane. The greenland backdown was forced on Trump but he can't accept it

Completely agree with all of that. Also, as far as Afghanistan, it was the US that pulled out at a moment's notice making our position untenable and ensuring the losses of all allied countries was for nothing.

[arista]