THE DOWNSIDE TO NOT WATCHING THE NEWS

After Trump’s victory in the 2024 election I tuned out. It was too much, way too much. But this morning I realized that you miss a lot by tuning out. First, who knew of Trump’s plan to make Canada the United States’ 51st state. Obviously not Justin Trudeau who said it will be “a snowball’s chance in hell” before Canada becomes part of the US. I certainly hope the Prime Minister is correct, but if you have been paying attention you have seen many elite institutions and rich powerful men bow down to this grifter. This is out of fear of economic reprisal for their company or just being on the wrong side of Trump. Disney paid Trump $16 million for a statement made by George Stephanopoulos on his news program. It was not Stephanopoulos’ idea; he was repeating a quote from the judge in E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case. The federal judge on the defamation case went to great lengths to explain why Trump was convicted of the rape of E. Jean Carroll. Disney would not have lost the case in court, but bowed down to the grifter and paid a very large sum.

Trump finally realized that being President of the US makes you the most powerful person in the world. [That should scare the bejesus out of you.] He didn’t understand that when he was 45 but as 47 he definitely understands. He believes he can do anything if he sees a benefit to him, and secondary to the United States. No matter the cost to others. I am sure the largest oil resources on the planet in Canada are attractive to him; probably as well as screwing all the people that moved to Canada because he won.

I still have a hard time believing that 77+ million people voted for this man. Most of those people will not be helped by his presidency. His campaign promises, even if met, do not help his voters.

Then to my surprise, Trump was talking about taking back the Panama Canal. It was gifted to the Panamanians by President Carter and they took over possession and operations in 1999. Trump believes that the US is owed the Panama Canal. He has stated unequivocally his territorial and expansionist aspirations. Greenland is the other country Trump thinks should be part of the US. The problem with these aspirations is Trump’s belief that he can use military force to make these expansions happen. This is why Trump has no problem with Russia invading Ukraine: his belief is if you are bigger and more powerful, you can do these things. It is the same way he feels about touching women’s genitalia evident in his statement: “And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything, grab ’em by the pussy.”

All these actions and acquisitions might have an upside to our defense or economy but those countries are self-governing and independent and it is their existential right to stay that way.

So in a day or so I caught up on the news. It is still too much but is probably necessary to understand what might go on in the next 4 years. These particular statements by Trump struck me as his new agenda. He has mentioned all of the above before, but now he means it.

Maybe I’ll watch again next week. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get into Greenland without a passport.