Of course, that depends on Trump following court orders, which as we know, he’s more than willing to ignore.

I think that’s been one of the biggest surprises to this European spectator - that justice can be ignored if you’re powerful enough in America.

We had glimpses of it with the first end-of-term pardons. Then Biden did the same for his son, and Trump released all those who committed treason in his name on his first day of his second term. All those people were fund guilt after due process, but someone can unilaterally say “let them free” and they’re out. I totally understand the lawyer quitting his career when Trump was “pardoned” for his own crimes after being elected. Biggest case of his career, years invested in training and work and he played a blinder - only for it to be turned to nothing.

So we’ve learned that if you’re rich in the US (because rich == powerful there like nowhere else in the world) then you are untouchable by justice. For a country that was literally born from a civil war, that’s a pretty huge failing of its constitution.

But apart from all that, things are looking good?

“No plan survives first contact” - Helmuth

Elsewhere on Lemmy today;

Germany warns Russia may be preparing attack on NATO

Both of these cannot be true.

Elsewhere on Lemmy today;

Russia has depleted its tank stocks: the industry is not covering combat losses

Both of these cannot be true.

Sadly true. We actively searched for alternatives when we realised other channels were getting too manipulative and full of hate. Those who stayed haven’t even realised it.

Isolationism and tribalism.

Make your people believe the rest of the world are against them and they’ll look to you for leadership. It’s not just the US - Europe and the UK have also had a rise in jingoism, fuelled by inflated reports of immigrants.

You can bet the Five Eyes are already redacting what they share with the USA

And, like every other member, that spending is entirely for self interest. Working together means being strong. Separation means you’re easier to pick off. Global war is a lot like horror films where they go to investigate and split up.

. He theatrically exclaims how the Oval office is being dIsReSPecTed!!!111!

And Trump using the Oval Office to sell another of his silly red hats for personal profit earlier in the week wasn’t disrespecting it?

So what’s Google doing? I assume they’re impacted by the same regulation.

The UK government has you that way too - you are legally compelled to reveal any passcodes if ordered by a court, and you’ll stay in prison until you do. (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000)

But it at least does remove them from third party exposure (phone company, their AI, massive breaches etc), you just have to be sure your own security is good.

I think it’s the right move by Apple.

I don’t think it’s the right move by my Government to be ordering this.

Like most governments, the UK’s has a poor record on understanding technical standards (They’re still trying to implement age-restriction on porn sites, something that’s been ongoing for a decade) Backdoor or lack of encryption - both make data security impossible and make the lives of criminals a whole lot easier. We simply cannot have safe data this way.

*European Unity

Also: schadenfreude

It’s a good start, but it’s too slow to react and even slower to enforce. The effectiveness of playing by the rules is limited when someone blatantly isn’t.

(Not that I can suggest a better answer - this is entirely new ground)

The US cannot “annex” or “invade” Canada.

Both are key members of NATO. That means that all other members must defend any fellow country if it’s invaded. Almost the entire western world - INCLUDING AMERICA - would have to defend Canada.

It’s just Trump spreading lies and misinformation to distract from him stealing American’s money. Same as always.

The NATO Alliance consists of 30 member states from North America and Europe. Article Five of the treaty states that if an armed attack occurs against one of the member states, it should be considered an attack against all members, and other members shall assist the attacked member, with armed forces if necessary.

If, as most economists agree, tariffs hurt the importing country most - why would Canada do that to its own people?

I get the feeling many of these people are also preppers and actively yearn for a crash to justify spending their lives readying for it.

Poor guy.

Imagine qualifying as a lawyer - spending years learning the legal system and full of hope and promise. You’re going to change the world and make it a better place. Your life is spent working your way up in seniority until you land the ultimate case - prosecuting an ex president for fraud and corruption. You expose the lies and illegal manipulation and prove them beyond reasonable doubt. And against all odds, you win! Best day ever. Everyone slapping your back and telling you what a great guy you are, so clever, and this piece of shit is really going to get his comeuppance.

And then, despite knowing that they’re voting for a criminal, half the voting people of your country still elect him into office, knowing full well that he’s going to continue being the same awful human being that you proved him in court to be.

Justice, the system you’ve spent your life believing in and working for is pushed aside. The sentence is reduced to nothing - less than a starving person would get for stealing a loaf of bread to feed their family.

How the fuck do you continue after that?

How can you believe in any system that lets that happen?

Obviously he couldn’t, and I respect that. I’d be heading into the woods to get away from everyone.