Current Events > B8 Politics Containment Topic #1: Fuck Fandom

(+) Yeah! (+)

Why did he just have this on him.

https://twitter.com/Megatron_ron/status/1788976528648220804?t=JqsQwgzefqsp80YyWJhWyg&s=19

So he could do that bit of course.

That was clearly pre-planned.

Why are Israelis so embarrassing? Theyre dramatically evil in like the corniest way.

It's literally a bit you'd see in SNL.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/3-big-takeaways-day-15-trumps-hush-money/story?id=110103306

We're (possibly) nearing the end of the prosecution's case - they say they expect to only call two more witnesses - Cohen being the major one who is expected to be called on Monday. They said it's plausible they can rest their case next week (three day week because Wednesday is off as usual and that Friday is Barron's graduation which the judge gave Trump permission to attend.)

Merchan did tell the prosecution to tell Cohen to keep from attacking Trump on TikTok and to consider that as coming from the bench. They admitted they had a hard time controlling him and had been instructing him and all the other witneses to not comment but will try again.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-hush-money-trial-day-15-live-updates-rcna150795/rcrd41420

However, of course there would emerge a hush money scandal inside a hush money case, the prosecution brought to the judge Weisselberg's severance package with the Trump Organization. The reason for this is because they did not intend to call him - which is a seemingly conspicuous absence given his involvement in the alleged crimes here. The prosecution pointed out that the terms of the severance pay Weisselberg $750,000 but require him to not "aid, abet, or cause" any action against Trump and his businesses - and the payment is due in installments later this year - providing an obvious financial incentive to not cooperate or perjure himself (again.) So instead, they were asking for permission to introduce the agreement into evidence so they could explain to the jury that it was the reason why they were not calling Weisselberg. The defense objected claiming to do so would be prejudicial.

At this point Merchan pointed out an exception clause in the agreement if Weisselberg were compelled to testify by subpoena and asked if anyone had made any efforts to compel such testimony and the prosecution said they had not - admitting that strategically they thought it would be a bad decision to call a witness with such an agreement. The prosecution pointed out that doing so might cost Weisselberg but Merchan (who jailed Weisselberg the first time) was pretty firm on the point that he felt an effort should at least be made and suggested a middle-road agreement where Weisselberg would first testify without the jury present to see what he'd say and talk to him about all this and then either side could see if they wanted to call him.

It's a weird situation because I don't think either side wants him on the stand but the prosecution has an understandable reason to want to explain to the jury why they're not hearing from a key figure in the alleged crimes and the defense obviously would prefer that they not be able to do so and make it appear as if his no-show is a sign of weakness or ambiguity in their case... but Merchan might force them to roll the dice here.

Israelis have an understandable persecution complex.

If only the government actually cared about defending the country and not themselves.

Late but:

HeroicCrono posted...

I really don't get what the Tories are doing. No attempt to correct course on the things that voters might want, including conservative ideas like lower taxes that they somehow haven't done after many years in power. Instead they push incredibly dumb ideas like banning smoking and declaring Rwanda safe by fiat.

Well first of all they tried lowering taxes and it trashed the economy which is part of what put them in this situation. They are also in the position now where they cant cut taxes without spending cuts, which are absolutely unconscionable to voters. They also dont even know what they want any more because Sunak has no control of his party and its just a bunch of people trying to push in their preferred direction. And critically Johnson doomed the party by throwing out nearly everybody sensible in 2019 and sending it much more to the right and depriving it of talent.

Most importantly though, at this stage it doesnt actually matter what the Tories do because people have just stopped listening. They had plenty of chances and the country got worse every time they did anything. Frankly Im not sure voters under the age of about 50 will ever forgive them.

TotallyNotMI posted...

Fuck fandom

with cactus?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/3/2/AAde6oAAAH2E.jpg

Cohen has been on the stand yesterday and today. Yesterday and up until the lunch break today it was direct examination. Cross-examination started about an hour ago but LMAO how it started.

https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1790446719584309615

interesting tactic

"and here you are crying about it, you little shit"

https://twitter.com/potus/status/1790385220983677016?s=46&t=v9nzYLLBIiNYrqldFs9NWQ

ok I know for DAMN SURE that when Trump said he was going to put 100% tariffs on China that Joe called it stupid, so why is he doing it now, and particularly on EVs/solar panels?

because people eat up populist policy even when all it does is hurt them because it's seen as hurting other people

Though yes it is dumb and I wish he would not have done this

https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1790739191866753069

The Prime Minister of Slovakia has been shot and rushed to the hospital. Head and chest apparently so not a good sign. He is a bad person but hope he recovers, first of all nobody deserves that and secondly it sets a terrible precedent. Very, very worrying.

I don't follow that country. What made him a target?

Nobody knows for sure yet but he is a very controversial figure. Very pro-Russian, nationalistic, and socially conservative but also economically left wing. In a coalition with the far-right, but also social democrats. Stopped support to Ukraine. Got deposed for being massively corrupt, then last year got back in and started trying to dismantle the countrys anti-corruption laws. It could have been for any number of reasons.

LightningStrikes posted...

at and secondly it sets a terrible precedent

Does it?

biden has finally cracked.

by selling israel another billion in weapons. the man is truly in touch with the party right now.

https://www.wral.com/story/nc-senate-votes-to-ban-people-from-wearing-masks-in-public-for-health-reasons/21433199/

Waiting for the day to wrap-up to post trial updates (the defense may have for pretty much the first time come up with a decent attack on Cohen) but relatedly - I believe enough House Republicans have gone to attend the trial with him today that the Democrats may actually have control of the floor in the House today and could potentially engage in shenanigans. Not 100% sure but I'm pretty sure there's at least 5 over in Manhattan and it's a 217-213 House so... (idk if Dems have full attendance today of course)

Seanchan posted...

https://www.wral.com/story/nc-senate-votes-to-ban-people-from-wearing-masks-in-public-for-health-reasons/21433199/

This is so fucking unhinged.

ChaosTonyV4 posted...

This is so fucking unhinged.

It apparently does still need to pass the state's House and get signed by the governor, so there's a chance someone comes to their fucking senses.

Trump NY Criminal Trial:

Cohen on cross-examination all-day and still not done.

The day started off with the defense repeating the same, "Cohen is a liar. Mr. Cohen, will you please admit to the jury that you are lying to hurt President Trump now?" tactic. However by the afternoon they finally seemed to come up with the closest thing I've seen to an actual argument beyond just attacking Cohen directly.

So, as I understand it, right around the time Cohen was setting up the shell company to pay Daniels, he (testified that he) called Trump (through Trump's bodyguard Schiller) to check in with him on it again. (This is separate from other known audio of Trump and Cohen discussing the matter personally but the prosecution noted this was a phone call made like immediately before Cohen went ahead and did it.) The defense showed text messages between Cohen and Schiller in the leadup to this call showing Cohen discussing a prank call he got from a 14-year old and advanced the theory that instead of Cohen talking to Trump about Daniels as he alleges that he was instead talking about this prank caller. Cohen replied that both matters were discussed and refused to back down when Trump's lawyer tried to get Cohen to say he lied.

https://twitter.com/TylerMcBrien/status/1791148662980215189

Now, personally, I'm willing to believe Cohen could bring up both matters and find the defense claim that it would somehow be impossible for Cohen to bring up both in a 1m 37s call as if that's somehow not enough time to talk briefly about two topics, particularly when the Daniels one wouldn't really take that long given we know they had discussed the matter previously and this would just be a check-in like "k, i'm at the bank" rather weak but it's something I suppose.

Once more though, I think some of the most interesting stuff came after the jurors were excused and the lawyers and judge talked about some procedural and scheduling matters. First, Trump's lawyers wanted to have their expert witness testify that Trump did not break election law (essentially having their expert witness be an attorney who is an expert in the law) - to which Merchan basically went "lol no."

https://twitter.com/AnnaBower/status/1791199799791768038

Then they moved onto scheduling and it looks like we may be a lot closer to the end here than I anticipated. Cohen was known to be the prosecution's final witness (that weirdness with Weisselberg I described a bit earlier aside) so we were clearly approaching the prosecution resting but the defense seems like it's going to be super quick... though admittedly they basically have zero witnesses lined up - mainly just the potential of Trump testifying which I highly doubt they'd dare try. Blanche said he expected to wrap up Cohen's cross-examination before the morning break on Monday and the prosecution said they expect redirect will be under an hour so that should be it for the prosecution's case.

https://twitter.com/KlasfeldReports/status/1791200431986627005

Furthermore, with Trump's lawyers saying they still don't know whether Trump will testify, Merchan asked both sides to be ready to deliver closing arguments Tuesday. We might see this go to the jury next week based on that.

I haven't been following the trial, anyone have any idea how it's looking for him?

IfGodCouldDie posted...

I haven't been following the trial, anyone have any idea how it's looking for him?

I mean it really comes down to what the jury thinks and I've seen reporters say they can't get a good read on them.

I mean, I feel like the prosecution's case should be really strong and my only true worry is that a diehard MAGA snuck onto the jury and will intentionally fuck this up by holding out but idk.

Fair enough.

IfGodCouldDie posted...

I haven't been following the trial, anyone have any idea how it's looking for him?

Heads he wins, tails we lose.

Thorn posted...

I mean it really comes down to what the jury thinks and I've seen reporters say they can't get a good read on them.

I mean, I feel like the prosecution's case should be really strong and my only true worry is that a diehard MAGA snuck onto the jury and will intentionally fuck this up by holding out but idk.

This trial was decided in jury selection. It's a mistrial if at least one committed Trumpist got on the jury, otherwise the verdict will be guilty.

The trial itself is remarkably meaningless, it's only objective value being that Trump's forced attendance there leaves him less time for evil-doing.

In non-trial news: 2 stories breaking late tonight.

Over at SCOTUS... back in January 2021 - shortly after January 6, and while SCOTUS was considering cases related to the 2020 election (with Alito on the losing end when SCOTUS dismissed it) - Alito's house was flying an upside-down US flag - which was being used by the "Stop the Steal" groups at the time.

https://www.threads.net/@nytimes/post/C7C8XQPunrb
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/us/justice-alito-upside-down-flag.html

Alito is saying it was put up by his wife as part of some neighbor feud with a house putting up "objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs."

Two excerpts that also kind of say it all at how unaccountable SCOTUS has made itself:

The New York Times reports...

The court has also repeatedly warned its own employees against public displays of partisan views, according to guidelines circulated to the staff and reviewed by The Times. Displaying signs or bumper stickers is not permitted, according to the court's internal rule book and a 2022 memo reiterating the ban on political activity.

Asked if these rules also apply to justices, the court declined to respond.

[...]

If Justice Alito were on another court, Mr. Fogel said, the flag could also trigger some sort of review to determine if there was any misconduct. But because the Supreme Court serves as the arbiter of its own behavior, "you don't really have anywhere to take it," he said.

---

Back in NYC... per the Washington Post (I'm linking Daily Beast too because WaPo is currently winning its war against me with its paywall so it's there as a much shorter synopsis/alternative)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/16/business-leaders-chat-group-eric-adams-columbia-protesters/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/nyc-tycoons-pushed-mayor-eric-adams-to-sic-nypd-on-columbia-student-protesters

There turns out there was a WhatsApp chat filled with billionaires and other business executives (some of the ones named included the ex Starbucks CEO, Dell's CEO, and Kushner's brother) were basically working out ways to get Adams to send in the NYPD. Some of them also offered to fund private investigators to work with NYPD in this and say Adams accepted (but City Hall is denying it.)

Unfortunately said paywall is preventing me from quoting excerpts from the full article so I can't be as detailed as I like here.

because the Supreme Court serves as the arbiter of its own behavior, "you don't really have anywhere to take it," he said.

You don't say.
It's almost funny that it's Alito and Thomas causing the problems and not the newer ones, but it lands closer to pathetic than funny by a slight margin for me.

What is B8?

ChaosTonyV4 posted...

This topic is for people from B8 and other approved posters only.

That ChaosTony from the B8T and EWA Tuesday Torment, and Team Chaos?

we've got a runner

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/14/politics/arizona-officials-giuliani-indictment-2020/index.html

Arizona prosecutors have been trying for weeks to find and serve Giuliani with his indictment for trying to overturn the election. They've managed to serve every other person involved but Giuliani has thus far managed to evade them.

Sounds like they found him?

Yes, and so did my crazy on and off ex. She was apparently at his birthday celebration.

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/tracing-police-guns-sold-newark-new-jersey-pittsburgh/

Fuck the police

PeaceFrog posted...

Sounds like they found him?

Yeah, he was found and served.

Hilariously enough, it was basically right after he tweeted out a taunt to them that if they couldn't find him by the morning they had to "dismiss the indictment" and "admit they can't count votes" - a tweet he of course would then delete after he got got.

Unlikely that that tweet somehow was the key but the timing lol.

Thorn posted...

Yeah, he was found and served.

Hilariously enough, it was basically right after he tweeted out a taunt to them that if they couldn't find him by the morning they had to "dismiss the indictment" and "admit they can't count votes" - a tweet he of course would then delete after he got got.

Unlikely that that tweet somehow was the key but the timing lol.

He was served at his 80th b-day party, LMAO.

ooger posted...

He was served at his 80th b-day party, LMAO.

Happy Birthday, Giulianiiiii... By the way, here's a summons!

Something is wrong with the G-Diffuser.

Iran's president is dead.

Currently on lunch break. Cross of Cohen over, on redirect. Normally I'd wait to post summaries but the DA just activated a trap card that made me LOL.

Okay, so remember how last time I said that the Defense finally landed a not entirely dumb attack on Cohen with that phone call to Trump's bodyguard? So the defense theory was to wave those text messages from before the call and say "Actually Cohen was calling Schiller to complain about the prank caller. Who even knows if Trump was there? You can't trust Cohen's word on it!"

well, i'll tell you who knows if trump was there. The DA. cuz they got him in 4k

https://twitter.com/Jose_Pagliery/status/1792599828154786158

What makes it even better is that I think this was a self-own on an entirely different level too. See, Trump and his legal team were too petty to just agree that a CSPAN recording of one of Trump's rallies was "authentic" - which required the DA to call as a witness CSPAN's custodian of records to say it was legit. The DA also had him explain how CSPAN verifies all this stuff - seemingly for little reason at the time. But it included how CSPAN verifies that they have the correct time which ties back into this.

Edit: Defense is arguing against this being shown to the jury. Merchan seems to think it should be let in but said he'll rule after lunch.

C-SPAN coming in clutch

Update: Merchan sustains the defense objections.

Either they don't get to bring the CSPAN stuff in or they have to get the CSPAN guy back to introduce it - sounds like the latter. Not missing a beat to be absolute hypocrites, Trump's lawyers now whining that this might delay matters a little bit to fly him back to NY.

Up2: Sounds like Merchan is shutting that line of objection down - pointing out that things are already delayed because he chose to move closing arguments from tomorrow to next week to keep the holiday weekend from getting in the way. Apparently throwing them a bone, he's letting Blanche decide when C-SPAN guy will testify (I think basically "do you want him to come back before or after the defense presents their case)

Up3: Sounds like the answer they reached was "actually we withdraw our objection and will allow the DA to show the images without all this fuss"

Up4: Yep. Jury is back in and the DA immediately introduced the CSPAN footage into evidence.

https://apnews.com/article/icc-khan-netanyahu-070941d21ccd1f2b9611032b88527575

The International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant for the leaders of Israel and Hamas.

According to the article (I havent found what he said), Biden responded to this by speaking out in defense of Netanyahu, which is just lovely /s.

edit: apparently it was an ad, not the end of the article, Joe said basically Hamas is way worse than Netanyahu, which like, not to defend Hamas, but the scoreboard of innocent lives obliterated would strongly disagree!!

Was just about to post the ICC news.

Biden's response was basically that it was "outrageous" and claimed it falsely equated Israel and Hamas and the US will always stand with Israel, etc.

Bad statement by Biden but an expected one.

https://twitter.com/lmnotcatholic/status/1792950860902731866?s=46&t=v9nzYLLBIiNYrqldFs9NWQ

This is light-hearted funny haha tweet, but I actually want to know why.

Yikes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwyyttqvE04

That guy's Twitter handle is really trying to get ahead of questions that nobody is asking