US Politics, May 2024: They Shoot Puppies, Don't They?

pic.twitter.com/k27DmQX7Pd

— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) May 12, 2024

Caught ya clickin!

I know this isn't quite the right thread for this, but I couldn't think of anywhere better: https://www.wunc.org/education/2024-05-13/dei-unc-chapel-hill-trustees-vote-redirect-funding-police

UNC-Chapel Hill BOT votes to divert DEI funding, redirecting it to campus public safety

I keep hearing that all these university DEI departments are getting stripped of funding. I guess everything got solved.

I keep hearing that all these university DEI departments are getting stripped of funding. I guess everything got solved.

That and/or the institutional motivations & incentives for dumping funds into these departments has ebbed away from mid-2020.

tbh I'm not sure university DEI depts are worth the money (very few campus projects that don't consist of either funding students or hiring full-time faculty are), but the blunt racism and vengeful symbolism of redirecting the funds to the campus cops is still bracing

and they also employ students who know they've entered a space where they're respected. That's a lot.

yeah I imagine there's a wide range of utility depending on the particular school. definitely campuses need student services for racialized students, and if they didn't have them before making a DEI unit, then eliminating that unit is indeed terrible

DEI spending at my school was about 200k. That's before the GOP held us all hostage to kill it. It's not at all about the money.

I know that. I mean, check this out from the link, it couldn't be more nakedly ideological:

Kotis and other board members said it was important to have additional funding for public safety to protect the campus from groups that “disrupt the university’s operations.”

Many members specifically mentioned recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. Last month, police detained more than 30 people at an encampment where protesters removed the U.S. flag and replaced it with a Palestinian one.

“When you destroy property or you take down the U.S flag and you have to put up gates around it — that costs money,” Kotis said. “It’s imperative that we have the proper resources for law enforcement to protect the campus.”

two Indian individuals and two Black individuals, all extremely wealthy, sit on that board, fwiw

I was in a meeting and someone who works in DEI asked if there could accommodations for students and staff of color when there are large numbers of cops on campus breaking up protests, and was a palpable feeling that the higher ups were thinking “Did you just time travel here from 2020?”

Well, while this isn’t surprising, one of the facts that some people are being awakened to for the first time— students in particular— is that institutions of higher learning are unethical administration-heavy labyrinths that no longer exist for the purpose of education, but for the purpose of building administrative infrastructures so evil rich fuckers can whitewash the nefarious deeds that got them their money. Most administrators don’t give a fuck about the students— they care about donations and checks and keeping the money moving into their pockets.

BARTIROMO: How confident are you that we will have a fair election in November?

KARI LAKE: If it were today, I wouldn't be all that confident

(Translation: she's down in the polls) pic.twitter.com/zRPPMcal1f

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 12, 2024

I know this isn't quite the right thread for this, but I couldn't think of anywhere better

for future reference: Thread for the right-wing war on American public education (book bannings, CRT hysteria, vouchers, teacher pogroms and other witch hunts)

Oh hey I started that thread and forgot about it. Too many outrages to keep track of.

https://denvergazette.com/news/business/gasoline-prices-in-denver-metronorth-front-range-to-jump/article_af4e8852-117f-11ef-a157-7397ead2c5a4.html

Colorado will vote trump this yr ya hear? Weird it’s first i heard of this and effective 6/1

sorta jk and they dont know yet what the reformulation cost and avail is

i will boldly predict that gasoline prices will rise this summer

price of the gasoline go up
sometimes it blows my mind
keep getting stuck here all the time

i can't drive 55 (because some asshole is tailgating me)

but this time it’s the EPA! it proves… that epa hates humanity and our god given right to pave the planet

they actually make all the epa employees stand in perfect columns and rows and chant "we hate humanity" every morning; the computers don't let you log in unless you do it

https://heartlandsignal.com/2024/05/14/republican-secretary-of-state-candidate-tells-voters-not-to-be-weak-and-gay/

Good thing I’m strong and gay

“Valentina is a woman of intellect and agility who possesses the highest educational qualifications amongst all candidates having earned an MBA in Finance and Strategy from Tulane University at 22; is responsible for the investment of millions of dollars for business development, and now battling a corrupt political machine with the mission to awaken and unify the people of Missouri against an emergent future filled with darkness and disparity if change is not enacted.”

I have questions.

Truth will set us free. President Trump, @TateTheTalisman & Andrew Tate have my full support. My jail bag is ready🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/nu7re68hsn

— Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForSOS) May 7, 2024

She'll probably win.

Sorry, lady, you can’t be his VP candidate

Hey Candidates—what’s in your jail bag?

Before I saw the video I thought "jail bag" was going to be a euphemism for vagina. Gotta smuggle in vape carts for Boss Tate.

I cannot believe that any woman would stan for Andrew Tate. Just…what??!!!

Clearly speaking to the issues that the people of Missouri care about.

missourians are the stupidest people in the fucking universe, she really does speak to us

The Dems will save us

Fetterman is a piece of shit. https://t.co/jxjxazVuDD

— History's Raven (@HistorysRaven) May 14, 2024

Democrat Infected With Right Wing Brain Worms - What To Do?

really sorry I ever expressed sympathy or kind words for the dude

I wonder what Fetterman is going to do with that footage he shot? Post it on Telegram and claim he was attacked by an antisemite?

Sadly it’s more likely spank material

really sorry I ever expressed sympathy or kind words for the dude

― RICH BRIAN (Neanderthal), Tuesday, May 14, 2024 7:23 PM (thirty-nine minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

As are many of us. I voted for the guy for something or other at least once when I was a Pennsylvanian (not for his current job though, I was gone by then)

Maybe he was running for Senate when I voted for him? The failed attempt

Fetterman/Vance 2028 on the way

is his wife still missing in action?

maybe he ate her

Divorced Dad Fetterman embracing the MRA life would be something.

I hesitate to post more on NYT/Siena poll, but regionals are bizarre:

Trump up 8 in Dem bastion of Clark where Biden beat him by 9 in 2020. 17-pt swing!

In Washoe, where Biden won by 4, Trump is up 14! 18 pts!

There's somethin' happenin' here...

The only poll that counts... https://t.co/om6POrAZqw

— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) May 13, 2024

Biden declines to participate in regularly scheduled Sept./Oct. debates. He wants:

-Two debates, in late June and early September
-Against Trump only (no third-party candidates)
-Hosted by any of the four news organizations (CBS, ABC, CNN, Telemundo) that held both Republican primary debates in 2016 and Democratic primary debates in 2020
-Without a live audience, and with microphones that turn off at the end of the candidate's alloted time

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/us/politics/biden-trump-debates.html

pretty wild to see the Times (esp a Maggie article) go after Trump like this

In the first debate in 2020, Mr. Trump barely allowed Mr. Biden to get a word in. He was aggressive and constantly interrupting, while sweating and appearing unwell. Mr. Biden, exasperated, famously said to Mr. Trump, “Will you shut up, man? This is so unpresidential.” And in the days following that first debate, Mr. Trump’s poll numbers fell.

Good conditions, there (which of course won’t be reasonable to the other side)

be cool if biden just called him Traitor Trump through the whole thing. but he wouldn't be that cool.