Possibly the first real test of Marxist theory as it heads to a singularity.

A really key question is where are the limits of toleration in an open society? A tentative answer could be that actions designed to undermine the open society itself must not be tolerated. The alt-right’s disingenuous use of ‘free speech’ rhetoric is a clear example.

As someone who has sadly concluded since 2016 that we need to extricate ourselves from US domination and stand on our own two feet in Europe, I find myself cynically almost hoping Trump goes all the way. It’ll be hard and risky but we have to do it or become National Conservative colonies.

If enough people stopped purchasing from one or two US owned companies, randomly as practical for individuals, the net impact could be non-trivial. Most folks just aren’t annoyed enough /aware of what’s happening, which is rather depressing, though . It’ll take a big shock, which may well occur.

There’s also questions of lack of effective competition between the large platforms and the extent to which these are overtly political actors…definitively so in the case of X. They should be broken up and regulated but that would take significant shifts in US politics or decisive break with the US.

Something ironic about a climate change denier wanting to seize Greenland for it’s minerals, which are mostly inaccessible until the ice melts substantially. Leaving that aside clear they will take anything from anyone if they scent weakness. Defence will need to be collaborative and asymmetric.

Is it just me or is the irony of a climate change denier wanting to seize Greenland for its raw materials rather striking? Possibly even a bit of a ‘tell’?

Does this need an alternative RS? Institutions are too afraid of hard power but surely the situation requires a grass roots reaction.

Perverts and misogynists are clearly business opportunities…As so many leaders of the larger tech companies have signed up to a vision of society (fusion of libertarianism, neo-reactionary social views and undermining the open society and democracy) this actually fits in logically to that world view

UK and Europe need to move faster to try to build some strategic autonomy tricky when you are tied into a financial system that is dominated by the US and have military capabilities designed around the assumption of working with the US. We have to expect hybrid war to get the far right into power.

And the emperor becomes a god…Constantine was the first to use Sol Invictus imagery in Christianity if I’ve got that right …it has been done before and could be done again with some people.

Clear aim to destroy the EU by supporting the far right. Logical if you want weak easily dominated vassal states in Europe. Also alliance with Russia and India against China and dominate WH. At same time ‘Orbanise’ to maintain power in a dark age dominated by corporate ubermenschen. Red alert time

This, perhaps with Project 2025 and how that is driving a proportion of domestic US policy, really needs to be thoughtfully and widely discussed. We are under attack from east and west and very dependent on the US. Quislings look set to gain power. A real risk of the end of the open society.

At least clear. Dominate western hemisphere, destroy the EU to leave vassal states run by far right quislings, alliance with Russia (implied and fits actions) and India against China. Supported by new dark age of bigotry and weakening democracy to distract from exploitation by corporate elite.

In a transactional world today’s allies can become tomorrow’s enemies but Interesting that US doubling down on relationship with autocrats with cash who can buy security for their regimes. Sharing very high end tech a counter-intelligence headache though.

Unfortunately, and with a heavy heart, I now think the regiments need disbanding and fundamentally reforming. As one former SF soldier commented, “unprofessional murdering b***ds”.

This is a bit counter-intuitive, and only applies from a perspective from outside the US but Trump is effectively destroying the foundations of US power. This may allow advantages for others in a strategically relative sense (bigger share of a smaller pie). Rocky road ahead though.

Not just economic harm. The soft power impact of thousands of students returning home and building careers in their own countries with fond memories and friendships here in the uk must be considerable but hard to quantify. That can translate to hard power and influence. Short sighted

That’s so ‘shock doctrine’ (Naomi Klein) it’s sadly textbook. Quite disgraceful.

Reminds me a bit of the novel and film The Running Man. Hopefully without the chainsaw.

A bit like if the US had ended lend-lease in 1941…a selfish a non-strategic act.

The rest of the world can head hunt scientists and disenchanted professionals from the US and they can take in the world’s racists…sounds like a fair trade!

A classic example of how logic is outweighed by emotion in impact on some voters and therefore politicians. The tragedy of our time is the lack of strong left of centre leadership. In their despair at impact of neoliberalism so many are tragically turning to far right as they play on base emotion.

Is there any logical geopolitical reason why Trump could honestly think bring so cravenly subservient to Putin is in US interests? Been resisting accepting the Krasnov idea as implausible…but I mean really…? If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck.

At the end of the day, National Conservative and Christian Conservative ideology is so destructive to the interest of 99% of people, and totally so to the planet, that it requires the removal of genuine freedom and a replacement of objective reality with ideology. Predictable, but hard to do legally

As others have noted an inverse correlation does mean a higher value of X correlates with a low value of Y. You might want to amend this post, and it is indeed the policy content and extent to which the studies are credible that is the question.

I wonder if the Russians were planning an operational pause around then anyway? Those more expert that I may have a view (e.g tempo of operations etc.).

Israel has been let loose by the USA to depopulate Gaza for Mar-e-Med (and no doubt a large military base). Tragic that people who suffered so much over the centuries are now the war criminals…with equally great condemnation of the murderous Islamic fundamentalists on the other side.

As a UK citizen I am rather nervous as to exactly what Starmer might agree to in his apparent desperation to pretend it’s still 2024…and I’m a Labour voter usually. Agree the information war is going to be a key and very dirty battlefield, amongst several.

If this doesn’t lead to a constitutional crisis what would?