Trump Is Trying To Take Away Americans' Access to Popular Apps by Executive Order

Plus: the latest unemployment numbers, Biden apologizes for comment on diversity, Ohio governor gets flip-flopping COVID-19 results, and more…

It's turning into a summer of terrible tech policy, imposed by stunningly clueless members of Congress and a digitally ignorant but executive-order-addicted president. In June, President Donald Trump issued a transparently political Order on Social Media, accusing Twitter of illegally censoring him by countering his dubious comments with more information. Now, Trump is targeting the video platform TikTok and other apps popular in America but owned by Chinese companies.

On Thursday, the White House announced that Trump had signed an executive order—to take effect in 45 days—banning U.S. companies from doing transactions with Bytedance, TikTok's parent company, and with Tencent, the Chinese company behind the popular chat app WeChat.

Tencent is also behind a lot of popular video games, including Fortnite and League of Legends. But the administration is making an exception for Tencent's gaming properties. A White House official told the Los Angeles Times that the Tencent ban only applied as far as WeChat is concerned.

https://twitter.com/jbillinson/status/1291698677376049152

The Trump administration has been hyping its hate for TikTok (and, now, WeChat) as a national security matter. That premise is incredibly thin.

Yes, China's government could compel U.S. user data from Bytedance, but it's hard to imagine for what purpose it would do this or how this would somehow threaten the country's safety. It's not as if TikTok requires users to submit especially sensitive data. And if the kind of data users provide TikTok really is a huge threat in Beijing's hands, then this threat extends to all digital tools made in China. For that matter: The U.S. government can pry user records from American tech companies—and while the Chinese Communist Party poses little threat to individual Americans outside China, the American authorities can use your data to punish you.

In any event, TikTok use is voluntary. The Trump administration has no right to say people can't make that choice, and especially not without a smidgen of real evidence that user data is actually being mishandled. If the administration gets away with banishing TikTok and other apps owned by Chinese companies, it could use this same playbook to take away Americans' access to all sorts of digital tools and services created by non-U.S. tech companies.

You can read Trump's executive order here. Incredibly, one reason Trump offers for cracking down on TikTok is that it allows for misinformation about the new coronavirus to spread. There are obvious First Amendment problems with treating this as a rationale to ban a platform. And as we've all witnessed over the past few months, plenty of American-owned tech platforms are breeding grounds for COVID-19 conspiracy theories—and some of the worst misinformation about the virus has been coming from government officials, including Trump himself.

Trump also slams TikTok because it may suppress content within China "concerning protests in Hong Kong and China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities" at Beijing's behest. Even if that is the case, Trump's move is hardly the opposite of Chinese authoritarianism—more of a continuation. You don't fight censorship with more censorship.

---

QUICK HITS

BREAKING: Unemployment falls to 10.2% even as U.S. job growth slowed to 1.8 million in July under pressure from pandemic. https://t.co/MXYGdEBFTI

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 7, 2020

• Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden apologized yesterday after saying in a video that "unlike the African-American community, with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community."

Earlier today, I made some comments about diversity in the African American and Latino communities that I want to clarify. In no way did I mean to suggest the African American community is a monolith—not by identity, not on issues, not at all.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 7, 2020

Anyway, two things can be true: Biden is dangerously over-confident when talking about black voters, and here he's discussing something nobody actually disagrees with. (You can compare the FL/AZ exit polls of the black/Latino vote if you're bored.)

— David Weigel (@daveweigel) August 6, 2020

• In the past few months, "J. Crew, Neiman Marcus, Brooks Brothers and J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy. Gap Inc. couldn't pay rent on its 2,785 North American stores. By July, Diane von Furstenberg announced she would lay off 300 employees and close 18 of her 19 stores. The impending damage to small businesses was inconceivable." The New York Times looks at how COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the fashion industry and clothing retailers.

• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for COVID-19—and then tested negative a few hours later:

UPDATE: In a second COVID-19 test administered today in Columbus, Governor Mike DeWine has tested negative for COVID-19. First Lady Fran DeWine and staff members have also all tested negative. pic.twitter.com/0Ixap90mJg

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) August 7, 2020

• What's going on with New York's attack on the National Rifle Association?

 

 

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Unemployment falls to 10.2% even as U.S. job growth slowed to 1.8 million in July under pressure from pandemic.

MAGA?

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

Biden is a complete and utter idiot.

And people are idiots if they vote for that idiot.

Useless idiots.

[Don't look at me!]

There is a lot of that going around.

[JesseAz]

he is too far gone to even idiot right.

[Fats of Fury]

Maybe Biden is why potato faced Governor Gretched Witless declared Racism a public health crisis.

[The White Knight]

I heartily agree. Also, ...

Trump is a complete and utter idiot.

And people are idiots if they vote for that idiot.

Useless idiots.

[JesseAz]

Now do Biden voters and Jo voters.

[The White Knight]

"I heartily agree." That covers Biden.

Jo, I might vote for.

[R Mac]

Caw caw!

[The White Knight]

Interesting that you say, "Caw caw!", to this, Mr. Brown. You have specifically chastised me for counting you in among Trump supporters, very adamantly saying that you are a libertarian, not a Trump supporter. So, why should you be bothered by my criticizing Trump?

[De Oppresso Liber]

What's the point? They are not honest with themselves, let alone anyone else.

[soldiermedic76]

Speaking of not being honest with themselves, if the court allows I will introduce DoL as defense exhibit A.

[The White Knight]

Is the accusation that he is a liberal?

[soldiermedic76]

That is an accusation that he claims to be Libertarian but often supports leftist programs, even more so than ChemJeff.

[The White Knight]

Link to an example of either of them supporting a left-wing program, or me, for that matter?

[soldiermedic76]

DoL and ChemJeff botj habe argued numerous times in support of left wing programs. But rather do your own research, you'd rather imply I am being untruthful. I don't know if I've ever accused you of supporting left wing programs, just that you tend to defend the left and appear sympathetic to them, while mainly saving your ire for the right. However, you do criticize the left far more often than DoL or ChemJeff (ChemJeff literally stated just a couple of days ago that the left is far better on personal liberty and then refused to give a single example, yesterday he also stated a similar claim).

[Square = Circle]

So, why should you be bothered by my criticizing Trump?

I think the more obvious question, given the context, is why you're so bothered by people criticizing Biden. I don't believe I've ever seen you jump in on a "Trump is an idiot" comment with "you know, Biden is an idiot, too." But you're pretty reliable in insisting that whenever someone says something unflattering about a Democrat, they'd better say something bad about the Donald, too. One might say you're even a little obsessive about it.

I kinda think that's what R Mac is getting at.

[The White Knight]

There's quite a bit of wiggle room for interpreting what "Caw caw!" means.

I used to explain myself. Not bothering anymore.

[Square = Circle]

There’s quite a bit of wiggle room for interpreting what “Caw caw!” means.

I suppose. I'm just trying to tell you it seems pretty clear to me what he's implying.

I used to explain myself. Not bothering anymore.

What's your point then? I seem to remember at some point you being one of those guys who declared he's going to tone-police the comment section for respectful behavior.

Do you feel you're succeeding?

[The White Knight]

Like I said, not going to bother explaining myself anymore. When I did try, it was a waste of my time.

[The White Knight]

What's the key to this paradox? Innovative folks like Emily_ashly.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden apologized yesterday after saying in a video that "unlike the African-American community, with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community."

You had one job, and that was to not speak off the cuff.

[Jerry B.]

They have to quit letting Joe out of the basement.

[Fats of Fury]

If I had the skills I'd attempt a Hitler video ranting about getting Joe out of the bunker. With cuts to hapless Joe.

[Nardz]

Damn, that could be as good as the Mueller report one

[darkflame]

Das war ein befehl!

But seriously, it does feel like the democrats are reliving Downfall right now complete with both communists and true Americans attacking them from both sides. And they keep trying to Steiner their way unsuccessfully out of it.

[JesseAz]

It would be flagged as manipulated video and be banned.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

The guy can't even read off of a script without fucking it up, why are they letting him talk off the cuff?

[SQRLSY One]

Translation for Bidenish, for those who can not or will not learn the language:

The democrats can take the black vote for granted, so they won't actually DO something for blacks (like scaling back the drug war, which hurts blacks far more than others). They will just SAY stuff and then not walk the walk!

Hispanics will vote more sporadically "D" v/s "R", so the "D" party will (maybe!) actually DO something for Hispanics! Like stop wasting money on walls, which Mexicans are NOT paying for!

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/05/899266045/biden-would-end-border-wall-construction-but-wont-tear-down-trump-s-additions
Biden Would End Border Wall Construction, But Wouldn't Tear Down Trump's Additions

[Nardz]

You don't actually know many Hispanics, do you?

[JesseAz]

The racist Sqrsly thinks the only issue Hispanics care about is illegal immigration. And that they are all Mexicans.

[Earth Skeptic]

Actually, many do care about illegal immigration, but not in the way Democrats proscribe.

[Mother's lament]

My sister-in-law is black Hispanic and immigrated to Canada legally, and the hoops she and my brother had to jump through to get her citizenship were epic.
So it pisses her off to no end that narcos and bums are sneaking in, claiming refugee status and then getting fast-tracked plus welfare benefits.

What pisses her off even more though, is when someone erstwhile prog starts talking to her like she's an illegal.

[SQRLSY One]

I had to see a Government-Almighty-degreed, licensed, credentialed, and highly educated Doctor of Doctorology, before I got permission to blow on a cheap plastic flute!!! AND I had to shell out $55 for said cheap plastic flute!

So it pisses me off to no end, when barbaric (Government-Almighty disrespecting) louts go and flout the SACRED LAWS, and build themselves their own black-market, underground "lung flutes"! My Sacred Outrage at my past historical lack of individual freedom means that NO ONE should have freedoms, that I did NOT have!

In these here days of mortal peril, stay ye SAFE from EVIL unlicensed lung flutes!

To find precise details on what NOT to do, to avoid the flute police, please see http://www.churchofsqrls.com/DONT_DO_THIS/ … This has been a pubic service, courtesy of the Church of SQRLS!

[Mother's lament]

Well that was... irrelevant.

[R Mac]

He’s a raving lunatic.

[SQRLSY One]

Do you recall the awesome enchanter named “Tim”, in “Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail”? The one who could “summon fire without flint or tinder”? Well, you remind me of Tim… You are an enchanter who can summon persuasion without facts or logic!

So I discussed your awesome talents with some dear personal friends on the Reason staff… Accordingly…

Reason staff has asked me to convey the following message to you:

Hi Fantastically Talented Author:

Obviously, you are a silver-tongued orator, and you also know how to translate your spectacular talents to the written word! We at Reason have need for writers like you, who have near-magical persuasive powers, without having to write at great, tedious length, or resorting to boring facts and citations.

At Reason, we pay above-market-band salaries to permanent staff, or above-market-band per-word-based fees to freelancers, at your choice. To both permanent staff, and to free-lancers, we provide excellent health, dental, and vision benefits. We also provide FREE unlimited access to nubile young groupies, although we do firmly stipulate that persuasion, not coercion, MUST be applied when taking advantage of said nubile young groupies.

Please send your resume, and another sample of your writings, along with your salary or fee demands, to [e-mail] .

Thank You! -Reason Staff

[SQRLSY One]

"My Sacred Outrage at my past historical lack of individual freedom means that NO ONE should have freedoms, that I did NOT have!"

Can you READ? I just said the same shit that your sister-in-law says! You LIKE slavery, Government-Almighty-worshipper? Go enslave yourself and let the rest of us advocate for individual freedoms!

[Mother's lament]

I can read just fine.
Making sense out of your schizoid stream-of-conscious gibbering however, is hard.

[JesseAz]

You can watch heads explode when you tell a liberal Cesar Chavez was against illegal immigration.

[NashTiger]

Yeah, 3rd Gens and over fvckin hate Illegals more than the Klan

[The White Knight]

That was kind of epically blatant truth twisting.

[R Mac]

Caw caw!

[The White Knight]

Mr. Brown can moo!
Can you?!

[SQRLSY One]

I've known many Hispanics, legal humans and illegal sub-humans alike. Most of them were hard-working and decent people... VERY hard-working! And FAR more personable than the right-wing nut-job xenophobes that I have know!

They do NOT like being called rapists and drug dealers, falsely... AND they don't like people who assume that they, Hispanics, are stupid enough to LIKE it when people assume that THEY want to pay to build walls to keep them and their kind OUT!

Right-wing nut jobs have just about ZERO common sense and self-awareness!

[Nardz]

So no, you haven't.
You'd be surprised that a lot of people who immigrated legally are in favor of not tolerating illegal immigration and would like more secure borders.
It might also surprise you that not all Hispanics think that they are being referred to when Mexican illegal immigrants are the subject...

[SQRLSY One]

But your Dear Leader opposes ALL immigration! NOT "just the illegals"!

https://www.afsc.org/blogs/news-and-commentary/trumps-attacks-legal-immigration-system-explained
Trump's attacks on the legal immigration system explained

Last I read, immigrants from the Philippines face a 20-year waiting list, or so. That not long enough for ya? Ya want, what, 70 years?

[JesseAz]

No he doesn't. He merely says 1 million a year is high enough. More than any other country dummy.

[SQRLSY One]

How about PER CAPITA?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_by_immigrant_population
USA population of immigrants = 15%
Qatar 78%
Sweden 20%
Liechtenstein 67%
And MANY more!

Liar, liar, pants on fire! USA is chintzy compared to MANY nations!

[BYODB]

Who cares about per capita in terms of immigration? Serious question.

[The White Knight]

I don’t. It’s ridiculous.

The standard should be something like: you can immigrate here is you don’t have a criminal record, can find a job or join family, pay your bills, and stay out of trouble. If you can do that for, say, five years and answer some questions about the Constitution, you can become a citizen.

Maybe it exactly those rules, but something reasonable.

We are libertarians. We should respect people’s freedom and give people a shot at contributing to our country.

[Overt]

Personally I would be happy to put a limit on franchise, but as you say, no limit on coming to work/pay taxes/live here.

[The White Knight]

Interesting. Did you purposely use the word, franchise, instead of "citizen". Or are you using "franchise" more or less as a synonym for "citizen"?

[soldiermedic76]

Franchise has been used for over a century to describe permissible immigration. Interesting you try and make it sound evil.

[soldiermedic76]

Franchise also has a variety of legal meanings as is commonly used to describe permitted legal activity or authorized activity.

[soldiermedic76]

That is why we call franchised restaurants franchises. They have purchased or contracted to legally be able to use the name McDonald's, Wendy's, etc.

[The White Knight]

Wasn't trying to make it sound evil. Was just asking you a question, because your comment was interesting.

[The White Knight]

Sorry, Overt. That wasn't even your rude reply. It was soldiermedic76 replying to a question that I asked you, Overt.

[soldiermedic76]

Rude? Because the tone of your post I misread?

[The White Knight]

Whether you behave rudely or not does not hinge on your having correctly read my comment. It is a choice you make in how you talk to other people.

[soldiermedic76]

Yes, which you also need to take into account in the way you talk to other people. And again, I am not certain what in my statement was specifically rude? My comment about you implying it was evil is not rude but a rejoinder to the tone I thought you had taken. Here, you accusation of rudeness appears to be a misunderstanding of the tone of my statement. Under your definition, I could claim you were being rude.

[SQRLSY One]

Facts are irrelevant (no one cares to have their confirmation biases challenged), especially when it gets in the way of their preferred ideological narratives. More news at 11:00!!!

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

You didn't answer his question.
Why does per capita become part of the argument? If a country determines that the amount of legal immigration that works best for its purpose is X number of legal immigrants what does that have to do with the needs of Sweden, Qatar or Bolivia and the percentage of their populations that are immigrants or not?

[SQRLSY One]

"If a country determines..." are the words of a collectivist. I am not a collectivist! If the Hive decides who I can do business with, go to church with, marry, or talk to, or whose software app I can use, the Collectivist Hive should go fuck itself!

Collectivism doesn't work! But there is hardly ever, any useful fruit to be borne, in trying to persuade a collectivist of anything other than collectivism!

My basic point is that Jesse lies when he-she-it-they implies that USA borders are wide open to immigrants, more so than any other nation.

[soldiermedic76]

So, your answer is to label everyone who disagrees with you a collectivist. That is persuasive. This is why even when you support a position I support, I am unhappy, because your blather rather than make persuasive arguments.

[SQRLSY One]

National defense makes sense to be collective. So does setting the rules for settling civil disputes in a civil manner. Ditto SOME regulation at the VERY least, for roads, bridges, and shared infrastructure... We don't want 12 competing railroads building the same routes, it doesn't work!

Who I can marry, what church I go to, what I eat for breakfast? Put THAT to the vote?! It makes NO sense! I am for collectivism ONLY where it makes sense! I do NOT call "collectivist", those who don't deserve the label!

Getting the "collective" to criminalize crossing lines in the sand, as badly and as stupidly as we do it... SOME border control makes sense, yes... What we are doing now is both collectivist and idiotic!

[soldiermedic76]

Who can cross the border is arguably national defense.

[The White Knight]

That's such a collectivist, non-libertarian way to look at it. What possible algorithm/formula could be used to determine how many immigrants "work best for its purpose".

The individual who wants to immigrate here has a purpose, family they have here have a purpose, potential employers have a purpose. The idea of a national "purpose" is too often scary and detrimental to liberty. And is never determined rationally, but instead by interest groups jockeying for control of the immigration policy.

The movie about you was pretty good, by the way!

[soldiermedic76]

White Knight was your reply to me or Overt?
If it was to me, monitoring who can cross the border may be collectivist but it also can serve a legitimate national defense purpose, keeping out forces who want to overthrow our government, cause mayhem etc. Hell, stopping a foreign invasion, by a nation state is technically a form of border control. Once you admit that their is some legitimate reasons to monitor who comes into a country, and admit that there are some who should not be allowed in, then it just becomes a matter of debating on how you define what kind of control and who should be permitted in. Yes this is a form of collectivism, technically, but unless you are arguing for completely open, unmonitored borders, and allowing anyone in for any reason, than it is a form of collectivism we all suffer from to a degree.

[The White Knight]

He didn’t label everyone who disagrees with him a collectivist. He said that someone who talks about “a country determines that the amount of legal immigration that works best for its purpose” is being a collectivist.

[The White Knight]

“ White Knight was your reply to me or Overt?”

It was a reply to Outlaw. I quoted from his comment.

[NashTiger]

Deciding that the number of immigrants can be infinity is also a Collectivist decision, one that is imposed on us collectively

[soldiermedic76]

And my statement is that any type of border is to some degree collectivism.

[soldiermedic76]

To clarify, some issues, no matter which side you take, are by the nature always collectivist.

[JesseAz]

Why did you use population numbers and not yearly migration numbers?

At least stay consistent when defending your lies.

[SQRLSY One]

Because MOST other nations have total populations MUCH smaller than ours, you blithering idiot!

[SQRLSY One]

If I got you your precise numbers that you're looking for, per YOUR exact formulation, you would NOT change your set-in-concrete mind, anyway, oh ideologically fossilized one, ye! None are so blind, as those who REFUSE to see!

If USA PER CAPITA immigration numbers are the LARGEST, year after year after year, then WHY are the total PER CAPITA number of immigrants here, so small, Stable Genius Junior? It's all Obama's fault, somehow, isn't it?

[JesseAz]

So you admit you lied.

[SQRLSY One]

JesseSPAz lies like usual! JesseSPAZ lies when he says USA is more pro-immigrant (more liberal with letting immigrants into the nation) than other nations are, as per the stats that I brought in! But... Fish swim, and Jesse lies!

Readers, beware! Do not be deceived by JesseAZ! JesseAZ does NOT believe that LIES are bad in ANY way! Only ACTIONS matter, ethically or morally! See https://reason.com/2020/01/01/trumps-inartful-dodges/#comment-8068480 …
“Words are words dumbfuck. Actions are where morals and ethics lie.”, says JesseAZ. When confronted with offers of hush money, illegal commands (from a commanding military officer), offers of murder for hire, libel, slander, lies in court, yelling “fire” in a crowded theater, inciting riots, fighting words, forged signatures, threatening to kill elected officials, false representations concerning products or services for sale… these are all “merely” cases of “using words”. Just like the Evil One (AKA “Father of Lies”), Jesse says lies are all A-OK and utterly harmless! So do NOT believe ANYTHING that you hear from JesseAZ!

Also according to the same source, JesseAZ is TOTALLY on board with dictatorship (presumably so long as it is an “R” dictator that we are talking of).
With reference to Trump, JesseAZ says…
“He is not constitutionally bound on any actions he performed.”

I say again, this is important…
“He is not constitutionally bound on any actions he performed.”
We need a BRILLIANTLY persuasive new movie from JesseAZ to “Wake Up, America!”, to flesh out the concept that “The Triumph of The Will of The Trump, Trumps All”! Including the USA Constitution. In fact, USA military personnel should start swearing allegiance to Trump, NOT to some stupid, moldering old piece of paper!
Previous Powerful People have blazed a path for us to follow here, slackers!!!

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

Perhaps because many more than most countries are of the undocumented variety?

[SQRLSY One]

"...most countries are of the undocumented variety..."

We must declare NEVER-ENDING WAR on all undocumented countries, until they ALL submit to getting their nations submit to being "properly papered" according to USA-paper standards!

Is that what you are saying? What, really, IS a properly documented country?

[soldiermedic76]

This is a case where both sides have a point. Some countries allow in a greater percentage, because their populations are much closer to those of a lot of our single states, while in terms of gross numbers the US let's in much more. Trying to portray your definition of classification as the only right one is not intellectually honest, nor is JesseAz's demand that his is more defenisible. He has a point, because the small, native population is so small that even a miniscule amount of immigration creates a larger percentage of immigration. You have a point that our population (3rd largest in the World) means even a million a year is only a small percentage compared to other countries. But generally comparing the US to most small European countries is not the best method. I mean Sweden's population is less than Ohio. Lichtenstein is the 4th smallest country in Europe and has a population less than Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Qatar's population is just slightly larger to Idaho's and Nebraska's.

[soldiermedic76]

It should also be noted Sweden is reducing the amounts of immigrants permitted, as is it's Scandinavian neighbor Denmark, as they have seen difficulties in assimilation, more poverty and more crime.

[soldiermedic76]

And the increased immigration has severely stressed the social welfare programs. Programs that they were already having to cut because they were unsustainable.

[SQRLSY One]

Your points are far more fair and honest than lying Jesse's, thank you! Also, SOME nations (like the USA) have more undeveloped carrying capacity than others. Mainland China has far less developable land (with water and buildable, livable space) than the USA does, for example.

[soldiermedic76]

I would argue the point about undeveloped land. Agricultural land, forest land and range is being utilized just not urbanized.

[SQRLSY One]

A fair point once again! PLEASE teach Jesse how to argue or discuss fairly?

[Nardz]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-data-idUSKCN1LT2HZ

14% foreign born

[Fist of Etiquette]

In no way did I mean to suggest the African American community is a monolith...

That lack of racial essentialism doesn't, of course, extend to voting.

[Earth Skeptic]

So to make life easier for them, the Democrats will vote for all black Americans?

[BYODB]

Of course, Joe Biden was trying to say that the African American community isn't composed of glossy black standing stones that cause monkeys to beat each other to death.

Kubrick hardest hit.

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

Funny...Alas poor Kubrick.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The impending damage to small businesses was inconceivable.

Small price to pay to remove Trump.

[Brian]

Don't they mean ”entirely predictable”?

[Longtobefree]

I don't think that word means what you think it means - - - - -

[Anomalous]

+1

[Fist of Etiquette]

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for COVID-19—and then tested negative a few hours later...

Too late, it's been tallied in the positive column.

[JesseAz]

I wouldn't say small... acceptable maybe.

[JesseAz]

Dammit. Move this up one comment.

[Rat on a train]

If he tests positive in the future, they will tally it again.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

Is he gonna have to wear 2 masks?

[Rat on a train]

and goggles

[Fist of Etiquette]

But the administration is making an exception for Tencent's gaming properties.

At least we now know Barron is a policy advisor.

[Enjoy Every Sandwich]

What's going on with New York's attack on the National Rifle Association?

The mask is coming off, that's what.

[Earth Skeptic]

But, no mask no service! or something.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

I wonder how much of the Democratic leadership is pissed at her for poking that particular hornet's nest right now.

Beto had to drop out after "Hell yes we're coming for your AR-15!". The rest of the party has tried to downplay their gun grabbing tendencies. Gun sales have been at record levels for a few months now, and 40% of those went to first time buyers.

And now is the time she saw fit to go after the leading gun rights organization in the country?

[soldiermedic76]

And, let's face it many of us NRA members have not been really happy with our leadership and it's strong ties to Trump and their support of bumpstock bans and initial (though they withdrew support) of red flag laws. The alleged corruption, and the ousting of Cox didn't make us feel better. But this move is likely to cause us to circle the wagons, because we don't see it as an attack against LaPierre but a direct attack against us. My Dad has been a lifetime member since I was a kid, I remember reading American Hunter and American rifleman magazines from cover to cover. I joined when I was 18, paid my Lifetime membership when I was 28. My sons read my American Hunter magazines cover to cover when they arrive each month. She isn't attacking LaPierre but attacking us. And she probably sunk any chance Bullock had in winning Montana's Senate race. He was already trailing because of accusations of corruption, and his lurch to the left during his Quixotic presidential run. She also just made Biden's job harder in Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Florida (where polling is already showing he is slipping). The Democrats have downplayed gun control, but she just brought it to the forefront for 8 to 10 million NRA members, and millions more members of other gun rights groups. Biden either needs to disavow this lawsuit (which will hurt him with progressives) or remain neutral and allow the GOP to paint him as giving tacit approval of these tactics, or embrace it which will definitely hurt him in swing states.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

Yup, if she had stuck with going after LaPierre it would be a lot less dangerous politically. Going after the entire organization is picking a fight they don't need to have right now.

I'm not a member of the NRA, mostly because they aren't pro gun enough. I'm considering becoming one explicitly because the dipshit AG in NY thinks I shouldn't be able to.

[Nardz]

Same

[perlchpr]

[S]he just brought it to the forefront for 8 to 10 million NRA members, and millions more members of other gun rights groups.

Yeah. For all my commentary about my dislike of the NRA in yesterday's comments, I definitely know who is much closer to being my ally there.

[perlchpr]

Though, there was never any chance I was going to vote for basically any democrat anyway, so hell, maybe she doesn't care.

[soldiermedic76]

No, but as the polls narrow voter enthusiasm is the key and Republicans already are far more motivated than Democrats.

[Nardz]

The left isn't counting on persuasion.
They have other plans.
Again, they really can't make it more obvious

[Enjoy Every Sandwich]

Not only is a fight they don't need; it's being done in a way that damages what little credibility they might have had. Nobody is stupid enough to believe that they care about the members of the NRA getting cheated. The Left hates us.

Then you add in the timing...well, that just emphasizes the point.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Huh. So the American government is forbidding a Chinese company from operating in the US unless that company divest some of its IP (TikTok) to an American company (Microsoft). Is that about it?

[SQRLSY One]

Extortion. Microsoft paid for a few rounds of The-Donald-on-Stormy-Daniels, and the Chinese did NOT!

"Nice app ya got going there. Be a shame if something happened to it! Maybe you could think about a fire sale, before someone (anyone, perhaps, just speculating here) sets fire to your app?"

[Mother's lament]

Is Microsoft feeding user data to the Chinese Communist Party too?

[perlchpr]

Maybe?

[The White Knight]

They, and a lot of other tech companies, do “share your data with our partners” and it would be surprising if China isn’t getting access to it somehow. So, China probably knows you were browsing a buyers guide for a new refrigerator or that you visited Target and bought some disposable diapers and an Adam Sandler video.

[The White Knight]

Trump is best advised not to mess with Fortnite fans.

[NashTiger]

Every US company that does business in China has to do that

[ThomasD]

Anyone else find it strange that, after devoting so much coverage, Reason has now seen fit to totally ignore the ongoing violence in Portland?

[ErictheRed]

Not those of us who live here. We expected it.

[Echo Chamber]

Strange that a story that lost its orange man bad angle is no longer covered? Not this year

[Fats of Fury]

Reason Roundup could be renamed "The Daily Brown Stain".

[Fats of Fury]

Even better, “The Daily Brown Streak”.

[SQRLSY One]

"...orange man bad angle..."?

Orange Man bad?!? He BAD, all right! He SOOO BAD, He be GOOD! He be GREAT! He Make America Great Again!

We KNOW He can Make America Great Again, because, as a bad-ass businessman, He Made Himself and His Family Great Again! He Pussy Grabber in Chief!

See The Atlantic article by using the below search-string in quotes:
“The Many Scandals of Donald Trump: A Cheat Sheet” or this one…

https://reason.com/2019/09/02/republicans-choose-trumpism-over-property-rights-and-the-rule-of-law/

He pussy-grab His creditors in 7 bankruptcies, His illegal sub-human workers ripped off of pay on His building projects, and His “students” in His fake Get-Rich-like-Me realty schools, and so on. So, He has a GREAT record of ripping others off! So SURELY He can rip off other nations, other ethnic groups, etc., in trade wars and border wars, for the benefit of ALL of us!!!

All Hail to THE Pussy Grabber in Chief!!!

Most of all, HAIL the Chief, for having revoked karma! What comes around, will no longer go around!!! The Donald has figured out that all of the un-Americans are SOOO stupid, that we can pussy-grab them all day, every day, and they will NEVER think of pussy-grabbing us right back!

Orange Man Bad-Ass Pussy-Grabber all right!

We CAN grab all the pussy, all the time, and NONE will be smart enough to EVER grab our pussies right back!

These voters simply cannot or will not recognize the central illusion of politics… You can pussy-grab all of the people some of the time, and you can pussy-grab some of the people all of the time, but you cannot pussy-grab all of the people all of the time! Sooner or later, karma catches up, and the others will pussy-grab you right back!

[Official Judge of Performative Outrage]

.00000000001/10

[PumpyMcPumperton]

How much crack do you smoke? You spout retard shit non-stop while making less sense than someone eating crayons and painting their walls with what comes out in their diaper.

No homo.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Not really. They don't have unlimited resources and have to make editorial decisions on how to deploy those resources.

[ThomasD]

Wow, what a stunning insight. Way to go - answering my question by turning it into a statement. That clearly required some deep thinking on your part Captain Obvious.

Precisely what "editorial decision" do you suppose has caused them to so obviously drop all such coverage?

[JesseAz]

Portland is a local story now. Or something.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Nancy Rommelmann, the author of the main set of stories, is an independent journalist. She has connections to Reason but she isn't a staff writer. She may have only wanted to write the few stories she did, maybe she is saving some of it for a book, maybe reason only could afford to pay her for the stories she wrote, maybe she's out in the field collecting more stories. Who the fuck knows and who the fuck cares.

[Compelled Speechless]

She was the guest on The Fifth Column last week. I believe she said that she moved away from Portland last week after she and her husband were run out of town by a cancel culture mob. She decided to take a trip out there impromptu to cover the riots when the feds went out and was staying with a friend for a week while she wrote about it. She never intended to stick with it indefinitely.

[Compelled Speechless]

*moved away from Portland last year

[Nardz]

Yea, it's not like Reason ever covers anything from a distance...

[chemjeff radical individualist]

I'm convinced there are a bunch of anti-Reason gaslighters around here who want to sow as much doubt as they can about Reason's commitment to libertarian ideas. They will hype and exaggerate every perceived instance of apostasy (while remaining strangely quiet when they are right on the mark), so as to convince people that Reason is insufficiently pure, therefore they can't be believed and so get back on the Duopoly Train and vote for Team Red.

[SQRLSY One]

"...a bunch of anti-Reason gaslighters..."

And they are 99.9% Trumptards! They think that if they suck Trump dick enough, they can get sloppy seconds at Stormy Daniels, or some such.

They never read their history about what happens when the dictator no longer finds your loyalty useful any more...

So many of us fantasize that our support of those who we think is (or will be) the “winner” will earn us the support of the “winners” and their spoils.
See “the night of the long knives” at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives… Ernst Röhm (head brownshirt, street brawler, for Hitler) thought his support of Hitler would leave him sitting pretty. So sorry, Ernst Röhm, Hitler had another thing coming for you…
Right here on Reason.com comments, we see the same thing. The “brownshirts” of the commentary (Shitsy, Nards) try to brownshirt their enemies off of the comments board, tell their enemies to commit suicide, and other “street fighting”. They, I suspect, expect payback (war spoils) from “winning” Orange Hitler, just as Ernst Röhm did from “winning” Hitler.
They and their ilk, too, have another thing coming… Orange Hitler will throw them under the bus, the VERY first instant that Orange Hitler finds it to be convenient to Him… Just as Shitler-Hitler threw Ernst Röhm under the bus!

[JesseAz]

So now you prove you don't understand what gaslighting means.

[soldiermedic76]

Reason ran daily stories on how the violence was all the result of the DHS. The DHS has left and the "mostly peaceful protestors" attempted to murder 20 people last night. The blockaded the exits and attempted to set the building in fire using an accelerant. Expecting Reason to do a follow up is not gaslighting, it is expecting honest reporting. Hell they don't even need to do a full story, ENB could easily have added it to the rounndup this morning. The only one gaslighting this is you and Squirrelly.v

[R Mac]

Yeah, if your story is that the reason for the violence are the feds, and the feds leave, and the violence continues, responsible journalism requires that you continue to cover the violence.

She seems to know how to reference Tweets. I’m sure there are some journalists still tweeting about it. It wouldn’t be hard.

[soldiermedic76]

Especially when the celebrated when there was less violence the night following the announcement and gave themselves a pat on the back (and actually downplayed the violence that did occur). They actually ran self congratulatory articles for two days afterwards despite evidence that the violence really wasn't letting up.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Well to be honest, I get the feeling that Reason is composed of a bunch of freelancers, two or three interns, and a crack-addled squirrel who makes the coffee. I don't expect full-on CNN-level coverage of any story, really.

[SQRLSY One]

How about all these people bitching about Reason's lack of coverage, but they post no links?

HERE is some coverage, lazy people! Ya expect Reason to spoon-feed you ALL of the news!?!?

https://www.foxnews.com/us/portland-mayor-condemns-rioters-for-attempting-to-commit-murder
Portland mayor condemns rioters for 'attempting to commit murder'
The mayor said violent protesters will be used as "props" for President Trump's reelection campaign

What, Reason not covering a murder here or a murder there, means Reason blesses murder? WTF!?!?

[soldiermedic76]

No, it means that reason only covers a story when it favors their narrative but stops covering it (even when the situation doesn't change) once it stops assisting their narrative. Reason used to be more balanced in their reporting and did follow-ups and mea culpas.

[soldiermedic76]

Since all of us knew the story, it is illogical to conclude we hadn't already read or seen it somewhere else. And many of us posted links below to the story from different sources. So, your sorry attempt at snark is really just juvenile crying.

[soldiermedic76]

No, their devolving to only cover stories when it serves the narrative is exactly CNN level of coverage. Reason used to be much more intellectually honest and would even offer mea culpa stories in situations like this.

[The White Knight]

Somehow people who come here to criticize Reason's journalism don't seem to realize that this blog we all congregate around every day is just a casual side product of the Reason Foundation.

They put out a magazine, and position papers, and videos. This blog is just a place where they can promote those things, and the writers post their casual observations here. It is not meant to be a newspaper.

[The White Knight]

Meant to add that the blog has never had an editor, nor much moderation of the comments for that matter.

[soldiermedic76]

It was a much better and more balanced blog, even during the Bush years. I admit to supporting Bush during the earlier parts of the War on Terror, however, I respected the insight of Reason on-line and felt they did a much better job of being balanced. As I stated they even issued mea culpas stories. The value of their writing has declined, as has the quality. They also offer much less balance and nuance then they used to. I've been reading it since 2002.

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

The Nancy Rommelman story I remember was the one about the poor woman in the basement of the government building being looted. It was very damning of the "mostly peaceful" protests. There was another about how the feds were leaving and how she was skeptical that violence would end. I thought her series of dispatches were quite balanced, though some of the maybe from the Fifth Column dispatch recently.

Now JD was more worried about the Feds but that is JD being JD.

[soldiermedic76]

Yeah, Nancy's story were good and fairly balanced. Stories like hers is what first attracted me to Reason back in the early 2000's.

[Azathoth!!]

I’m convinced there are a bunch of anti-Reason gaslighters around here who want to sow as much doubt as they can about Reason’s commitment to libertarian ideas

There sure are! We call them the 'staff'.

[ThomasD]

Most of them seem to be "editors" now.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

How do they do that job with no edit button?

[The White Knight]

There are a cadre of commenters here who watch carefully each day for stories that are being covered on right-wing sites but not on Reason. They hold that they can interpret the true meaning of the Reason blog’s not covering any such story on a particular day.

Never mind that Reason isn’t a newspaper, or that the Reason Foundation’s main output isn’t this blog.

[soldiermedic76]

Yes we hold nightly meetings. And decide how we are going to hijack reason for the John Birch society. You found us out. Quick call the Illuminati.
In honesty the covered this story daily for weeks, but have not done any follow-ups despite the fact that the federal leaving has not resulted in less violence (last night the violence was worse, they actually attempted to murder 20 people). I do not think it is much to ask that they provide some coverage of a news story that they covered extensively for weeks. And considering Reason Roundup often links to left leaning news sources and tweets, the right wing news jab appears slightly hypocritical. You talk about tone above. Is the tone of your statement and allegations really civil?

[Don't look at me!]

Local story.

[JesseAz]

This guy gets it.

[NashTiger]

Well, when OrangeHitler hastily a called a retreat of his jackbooted stormtrooper secret police who were instigating and enflaming the peaceful protestors, why, everything naturally died down to near-utopian levels.

They aren't now enflamed by the presence of a police precinct, or running thru residential neighborhoods attacking civilians in their homes, stopping traffic, slashing tires, and doxxing the drivers who dared use Their streets. And the medics and Wall of Moms who have nothing to do with any mythical violence aren't being arrested, either.

[Nardz]

http://twitter.com/selfdeclaredref/status/1291623775734247424?s=19

[Nardz]

http://twitter.com/Texantana/status/1291638329067347969?s=19

[Mother's lament]

Wow, are those "Peaceful Protesters" ever evil, garbage humans. I felt sick watching that.

Maybe it's time for normal people to go in with baseball bats or something, seeing as the cops and politicians are too cowed.

[Gray_Jay]

No. Not baseball bats.

Ideally, arrests. And RICO against the organizers.

Brave woman who tried to stop it. I hope she stays away from the next set of riots. I probably would vehemently disagree with her worldview and politics, but her heart seems like it's in the right place. I might be able to agree to disagree with someone like that.

Not the rioters.

[Juice]

https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/i59vfu/antifa_militants_harass_elderly_blm_protestor_in/

[Longtobefree]

The feds left, the violence stopped. Right?
So no story here.

[R Mac]

Portland, Russian investigation, hydroxychloroquine...

[Rev. Arthur L. Kuckland]

So reason is okay with CCP keeping an unknowable amount of Data on us citizens, and doest know why that would be a big deal? Haven't we been hearing 20 years of arguments saying the mass data collection by the US Gov was damaging to freedom and privacy? Did Reason completely change their views on Gov collection of data over night, or is it okay since the Chinese are doing it?

[Rev. Arthur L. Kuckland]

Scenerio 1: us person puts something on tic toc about venesuala (but herd that spelling) mistreating family members there. China, who is friends with the Gov there, give all of the information about the person who posted the video, the the venesualins disappear the persons family. (this isn't a long stretch. Each as it is

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

Trump's executive order is useless against your example. This order only cover America so Venezuelans tic tockers would still be subject to this abu5. I am more worried about our government not because they worse then China but because I fall under their jurisdiction. I also will always be against these naked power grabs by the executive branch and nowhere in the Constitution does the president have this authority.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kuckland]

I was thinking a refugee in the US with family back in venesuala

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

10-4 that is a good point. Still not something, I am willing to allow in the hands of the executive branch. That power is vested in the legislature for good reason.

[JohannesDinkle]

In 2017 the Chinese passed a law requiring all internet platforms to share all data with state security. While it has been explained that this only applies to Chinese within China - not specified in the law - there are already plenty of examples of it being applied outside China.
Also, for what it is worth, a law passed this year makes it a felony to say bad things about the CCP, Xi, any official of the Chinese government, or China in general. This law specifically applies to everyone in the world, wherever they may be. So, if you have used TikTok to say something bad about Chinese communism and plan to visit Hong Kong, then good luck to you.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kuckland]

There's alot wrong with governments colling peoples data. My fascination is reasons sudden 180 degree flip on the issue. They were pretty consistent of its always bad, to well its not bad and what could go wrong. I assume ENB started a lead paint chip based diet, along with huffing carbon monoxide to just before unconsciousness.

[NashTiger]

Totally fvcking worthless TDS riddled ENB, begone and See You Next Tuesday

[Sometimes a Great Notion]

I'd say Reason is just more concerned with the over-reach of the president who has jurisdiction over us; not that they suddenly for China's data collection program (no 180 on the issue). You can be against China's hostility to an open and free world and also not agree with the president's action.

[Gray_Jay]

Chinese trade and goodwill with Xi is important to Reason's primary benefactor, while the goodwill of the US police and intelligence agencies is not. China punishes dissent towards its policies, whether the dissent comes from it's own citizens, or from foreigners.

Accordingly, Reason is putting their principal ahead of their principles. The rest of it by the writers---the parroting of talking points expressed by larger media outlets--- is merely trying to suck up to the cool kids at those outlets, and keep the writers' names familiar in case there's a job opening.

[Longtobefree]

Also, don't forget TikTok sweeps all the data on your phone; so if you said something bad about the Chinese Communist Virus on Twitter, they are still coming after you.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

You ought to have a choice.

Choose to use TikTok, or not.
Choose to use Facebook, or not.
Choose to use Twitter, or not.

All of these companies, if you choose to use them, will hoover up personal data about you and use them in ways that you may not have intended. If you are okay with that, then make the choice. If you are not, then don't.

But that should be your choice to make, not the state's.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kuckland]

Once again I am wondering why reason is defending government collecting data on people

[JesseAz]

Jeff only cares he can get cheap shit. Who cares if they rob his Neighbors of their IP. Who cares if that cheap labor was due to enslavement. Jeff sure doesn't.

[Nardz]

Cheap shit isn't even it for Jeff.
His real motives?
Well, I'll let others figure that out themselves

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Maybe you ought to make spending decisions based on your own sense of moral duty, and I will make spending decisions based on my own sense of moral duty, and the state shouldn't try to impose one on either one of us. Sound good to you?

[JesseAz]

Your spending decisions impact mine since you support corporate theft increasing the cost on my decision fucktard.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

"Your spending decisions affect my spending decisions therefore I'm entitled to use state power to coerce you to change your spending decisions" isn't exactly a road you want to go down, Jesse.

[JesseAz]

You're the one who denies negative externalities China commits. Right now estimated tariff costs are way less than the estimated corporate IP theft even Obamas administration pushed out.

So yes, let's go there dummy.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Okay then.

Alice: "Bob, your spending on gasoline-burning engines affect my life by the 0.0000001% CO2 you put into the atmosphere, therefore I demand that your spending on gasoline and gasoline-burning engines be curtailed by the state."

Bob: "Alice, your spending on guns affects my life by the 0.000001% chance that your gun will be stolen and used in a crime or mass murder, therefore I demand that your spending on guns and ammunition be curtailed by the state."

Alice: "Bob, your spending on pornography and gambling affects my life by me having to devote resources to protect my children from such sinful behavior, therefore I demand that your spending on porn and gambling be curtailed by the state."

Bob: "Alice, your spending on alcohol affects my life by your increased chances of driving drunk and potentially injuring me in a wreck, therefore I demand that your spending on alcohol be curtailed by the state."

Alice: "Bob, your spending on fast food and an unhealthy lifestyle affects me through overall higher health insurance rates and your potential use of the public health system by your conditions, which I have to pay for, therefore I demand that your spending on junk food be curtailed by the state."

I could go on and on and on. Demanding that the state curtail the spending choices of some because of their infinitessimal effects on others is a recipe for disaster.

[SQRLSY One]

JesseSPAZ doesn't mind one tiny iota about giving more power to Government Almighty, as long as Government Almighty == the Trumptatorshit!

Stable Genius Junior keeps right on advocating more and more and MORE POWER to the Trumptatorshit, NEVER EVER being smart enough to realize that sooner or later, said new POTUS-powers will end up in the hands of the BidenFuhrer or other political enemy of the oh-so-smart JesseBahnFuhrer!

So JesseBahnFuhrer… 1 or 2 days before the likely upcoming inauguration of the BidenFuhrer, next January, will you STILL be advocating more power for the Trumptatorshit? Just HOW arrogantly stupid and short-sighted ARE you, anyway?

[Don't look at me!]

Now do seatbelts and clothing Jeff.

[Dillinger]

I hate both.

[SQRLSY One]

I hate laws against me making love to my Dearly Beloved in the front, un-fenced lawn, in view of the public, on MY property, dammit!!! WHY must we be ASHAMED of our love?!?!?

Face it... SOME laws are merely enforcing the public conventions (often in congruence with the actual nature of human behavior, probably "genetically programmed"), and have NO strictly "rational" basis! Railing against these kinds of laws is unproductive!

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

Fortunately for you, shit-munching is still legal.

[SQRLSY One]

Fortunately for you, empty-headed gutter-sniping is still legal! Obsess about fictional shit-eating much, shit-fer-brains?

[NashTiger]

Yeah, what was the big deal about the NSA, Metadata and the data collection complex in Utah. Reason ignored all those Local stories because they are totally consistent.

NSA having our data bad, totalitarian communist regimes having our data okay

[Mickey Rat]

How many people using Tik Tok had bee aware 4th tst they were opening up their data to thg he Chinese government before this?

Was there really informed consent?

[JesseAz]

Nothing done by other countries is bad, only us actions. - Reason staff.

[Echo Chamber]

"it's hard to imagine for what purpose it would do this or how this would somehow threaten the country's safety"
The author has little imagination.

[A Thinking Mind]

It's like she doesn't know just how much data the app is apparently pulling from phones.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

That and she vastly underestimates how resourceful the intel guys are.

It's not just about TikTok, it's that they can aggregate TikTok data with other data they have. Individually those bits of information might not be useful, but together they could be very useful.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Masks are useless. But we knew this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYWlb-rITBI

Notice how, when you manage to get through to someone they response is 'But it's part of an overall strategy that includes social distancing and washing hands!'

Did I mention up top useless idiots walk among us?

Know what's far more effective than those stupid cloth and medical masks? Sneezing INTO YOUR SLEEVE like they fricken taught us Kindergarten.

I find it AMAZING how we've built up thousands of years of knowledge on how to deal with infectious diseases from the Athenians through to the Venetians to the 20th century. Virology 101: Let the healthy get infected.

We eschewed 100 years of modern virology and went for locking down healthy people for the first time in human history.

And now we wonder - here anyway - why herd immunity is so low. DUH. Had you not been hoodwinked into the scary models maybe this whole thing would have blown over by now. Instead, we tried to 'manage' it and still continue to manage it because apparently they're still afraid of overwhelming the hospitals. It's bananas how idiotic we are.

We tried to reinvent the wheel.

And made it a square.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kuckland]

Canada has some weird lessons in kindergarten. At that age I learned to blow snot bubbles and flick my boogers at people.... I can flick one farther than 6 ft though, so suck it social distancing

[Nardz]

Masks aren't useless, Rufus - they send a very strong psychological message to panic (or feel unsettled), that all the people around you are a threat, and to conform according to the dictates of your rulers.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Seat belts and clothes are tools of social conformity, Nardz. I suggest you drive to the grocery store naked, without your seat belt, to prove to the world that you will not "conform to the dictates of your rulers". Let's see what happens! (Well, other than the laughing and pointing, of course.)

[Don't look at me!]

Seatbelts and clothing actually have a useful function.

[Tom Bombadil]

You cite one of the dumbest laws in history (mandatory seatbelts) as a supporting reason for the logic of mask laws?

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Not supporting mask mandates.
I am mocking Nardz's extreme paranoia on the issue of masks, in case it wasn't obvious.

[Rufus The Monocled]

It is to remind people.

[ThomasD]

"Seat belts and clothes are tools of social conformity"

And you wonder why with think you both an idiot and an ass?

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Oh you're right, I should take extremely paranoid views about masks as "tools of social conformity" at face value and not mock them. My bad.

[JesseAz]

You could educate yourself on the literature and mask effectiveness and viruses. The narrative of changed in March and if you go to the CDC you will see how weak the story on mask usage is.

But no, government told you whats best and like a true "libertarian" you complied.

Driving 25 mph would lower your risk of death way more than a mask. Doubt you do that though, so risk isn't really your concern. Virtue signaling is.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

It is the cost/benefit ratio in order to ameliorate a particular risk. The cost to wearing a mask is low, and the benefit is high, to those who are particularly at risk.

By consequence, living in a cave with no modern conveniences would lower my risks, but at a high cost. See the difference there?

It is about being respectful to others. I don't understand a jackass like yourself to understand that, but to normal human beings, being polite to others is considered good manners.

[JesseAz]

Driving 25 mph actually saves you money due to less gas usage. So again that is not your concern. Virtue signaling.

Likewise driving 25 mph would actually lower the risk of accidents towards other drivers. You know to be respectful.

Meanwhile masks cause acne, can lower 02 (studies of nurses), causes halitosis, etc while not decreasing any risk to others based on 40 years of studies that the CDC published as recently as March.

Again. You are doing it to virtue signal.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Well, then why not drive 20 mph? Or 10 mph? Or zero? Or walk everywhere? Or go live in a cave? Your argument is reductio ad absurdum. That because not everyone reduces all risk down to some arbitrary level, therefore, any risk amelioration that doesn't reach some extreme amount is illegitimate. As I said, there is a cost/benefit analysis to the equation. Not every action that reduces risk is mere "virtue signaling" and not every action that reduces risk is somehow invalid if it doesn't reduce risk all the way to zero.

while not decreasing any risk to others based on 40 years of studies that the CDC published as recently as March.

This is baloney. Masks do not stop virus particles but they do stop droplets which contain virus particles. Again your argument is that since they don't stop 100% of the viruses that they are 100% useless. That is a false dichotomy.

[JesseAz]

Hey you almost understood the absurdity of your mask argument.

Then you lost it. Poor Jeff.

Masks do not stop virus particles but they do stop droplets which contain virus particles.

So you're saying people who are asymptomatic with no cough or sneezing fits shouldn't wear masks.

Glad you came to this realization.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

So you’re saying people who are asymptomatic with no cough or sneezing fits shouldn’t wear masks.

Because coughing and sneezing aren't autonomic in nature?

Because external stimuli never trigger an unexpected coughing or sneezing fit?

[JesseAz]

Some of us are considerate and cover our mouths when we cough and sneeze. Good to know you require a mask to be considerate.

Nice strawman you invented after your entire ethos about mask wearing was destroying by your own arguments.

Socratic methods are fun.

[Earth Skeptic]

So what happens when "polite" and "respectful" become legal mandates?

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Then you object to the mandates, but you still do what is polite.
If the state were to mandate brushing your teeth tomorrow, would you stop brushing your teeth?
If the state were to mandate holding open doors for strangers, would you stop doing so?
No and no.

[JesseAz]

and he lost it. He went full Jeff.

[Rufus The Monocled]

"The cost to wearing a mask is low, and the benefit is high"

It's actually the opposite.

And enough with that stupid 'to respect others' bull shit.

That's emotional manipulation. They presume everyone is asymptomatic ergo wear one. It's superstition.

[ThomasD]

Take them as you will. Just don't respond with asinine idiocy and think it effective mockery.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

where "asinine idiocy" is code for "how dare he mock the same paranoid beliefs that both Nardz and I share!"

[Rufus The Monocled]

Leave it to chemjeff to equate the two.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

I know, right? One is a tool that forces people into submission to a dangerous agenda based on overblown fears. The other is a mask.

[JesseAz]

Whats hilarious is that Jeff doesn't understand that the hysteria of a low death IFR is the tool that forced people like himself into submission.

[Rufus The Monocled]

No Jeff. The only people over blowing the fears is your side.

[Nardz]

So, jeff: your contention is that what I've noted is inaccurate/erroneous?

[chemjeff radical individualist]

I think your "concerns" are paranoid hyperbole, which is par for the course coming from a guy who thinks PizzaGate is real.

[JesseAz]

But 2+2 definitely equals 5.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

No, sillly. 2 + 2 = 10.

[JesseAz]

no it doesn't.

Not even in base 3 dumbass.

I do like how you keep retreating into an argument against base number systems when that was never the argument. You just realized how fucking dumb you were and retreated to it. But 2+2 never equals 5 in any base system.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

2 + 2 = 10 in base 4.
The argument was always that there are assumptions in mathematics that go beyond the pure logic in mathematics itself and tend to be historical or traditional in nature. Such as the base 10 system as normative for most mathematical calculations. There is no mathematical rule that says base 10 is the "best" system for that. That was my point all along and that is the point of those whom you criticize as "postmodernist" for recognizing that same thing. Even Godel understood that back in the 1920's.

[JesseAz]

no it doesn't.

[JesseAz]

Well actually you are right. Was repeating your argument from yesterday. So kudos you got me.

Now which base system does it equal 5?

[Nardz]

So you're gonna go full buttplug now?

Chemjeff, you are not intelligent

[chemjeff radical individualist]

I think you are a paranoid nutjob who lets his paranoid fantasies justify his fascistic impulses.

[JesseAz]

Says the guy who was threatening others to wear masks or the government would make them all because he is a fat ass that can't put a cookie down.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

I wasn't threatening anyone, and you are a lying jackass as usual.
This is just so predictable. You really are becoming more and more of a John clone. You can tell when John is on the losing side of an argument when his last paragraph is just full of insults and invective. That is where you are at finally. At least John will admit from time to time when Team Red is wrong. You just suck up to them continually.

[JesseAz]

I literally posted a half dozen comments from that thread last time you lied about this.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

And you were literally wrong every time construing those as "threats" from me of any type whatsoever.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

"Let's ignore decades of study, science, reason, logic, and common sense, and let's instead go with the guy on a Youtube video who agrees with my preconceptions!"

[Don't look at me!]

In the near future, you will look even dumber than you now do.

[NashTiger]

Unpossible

[JesseAz]

Are you talking about the decades of studies showing masks don't help against viruses?

Or are you appealing to authority that changed their narrative twice this year against the decades of studies?

[chemjeff radical individualist]

What "decades of study"? That the commonly used masks don't stop particles the size of viruses? Yes, that's right, they aren't intended to. Masks stop particles the size of droplets, within which viruses are contained. Your argument that since masks don't stop ALL routes of transmission, therefore they are useless against ANY route of transmission, is fallacious and dangerous.

[JesseAz]

Again, are you applying to authority here? Because the decades of studies say differently. Only models created this year state masks help in any way. I even noted the 3 studies the CDC linked to to change their mask policy in March and they are 1 maybe, 1 model says, and 1 anecdote.

You can admit you are appealing to authority. It is okay. There is a reason masks have never been recommended.

Feel free to look at any literature prior to march of this year. Hope I don't have to educate you on the errors of non validated models.

[JesseAz]

Here is a respiratory expert stating the change in narrative this year.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data

This is all well known to those who didn't panic and take government narratives at face value. There is a reason Denmark and various schools are not requiring masks.

[JesseAz]

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/07/joseph-mercola/masks-the-most-controversial-covid-19-debate/

Another. Alex Berenson has multiple deep threads linking to peer reviewed studies on masks and respiratory viruses prior to civil as well.

But you be a good "libertarian" and obey.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Lew Rockwell? Really?

Anyway, even in your own source, it says what I've been saying - masks don't stop really tiny particles, but they stop larger droplets. They are better than nothing. Again just because masks don't stop 100% of the virus it doesn't mean that they are 100% useless.

[JesseAz]

He has citations in his article. You asked for links. Or are you already retreating?

[JesseAz]

masks don’t stop really tiny particles, but they stop larger droplets.

And of this is what you believe asymptomatic people shouldn't wear masks dumbfuck.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent

Masks are effective in stopping larger droplet particles:

One category of evidence comes from laboratory studies of respiratory droplets and the ability of various masks to block them. An experiment using high-speed video found that hundreds of droplets ranging from 20 to 500 micrometers were generated when saying a simple phrase, but that nearly all these droplets were blocked when the mouth was covered by a damp washcloth. Another study of people who had influenza or the common cold found that wearing a surgical mask significantly reduced the amount of these respiratory viruses emitted in droplets and aerosols.

In addition, epidemiological evidence suggests masks are effective:

But the strongest evidence in favor of masks come from studies of real-world scenarios. “The most important thing are the epidemiologic data,” said Rutherford. Because it would be unethical to assign people to not wear a mask during a pandemic, the epidemiological evidence has come from so-called “experiments of nature.”

A recent study published in Health Affairs, for example, compared the COVID-19 growth rate before and after mask mandates in 15 states and the District of Columbia. It found that mask mandates led to a slowdown in daily COVID-19 growth rate, which became more apparent over time. The first five days after a mandate, the daily growth rate slowed by 0.9 percentage-points compared to the five days prior to the mandate; at three weeks, the daily growth rate had slowed by 2 percentage-points.

Another study looked at coronavirus deaths across 198 countries and found that those with cultural norms or government policies favoring mask-wearing had lower death rates.

[JesseAz]

so you ignored the whole 40 years and how the narrative changed in march... and posted non controlled studies based off of models created this year.

You really are fucking dumb.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

These supposed "40 years of studies" only showed that the commonly used masks like surgical masks don't stop really tiny virus particles. WELL DUH. That is not controversial in the slightest. That is also not the point. The point is that masks stop the larger droplets which contain virus particles. This has been pointed out to you time and again but as usual you retreat to the fallacious argument that since masks aren't 100% effective therefore they are 100% useless. That is false and dangerous.

[JesseAz]

again if this is what you believe then asymptomatic people shouldn't be required to wear masks.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

NOBODY ought to be REQUIRED BY THE STATE to wear masks.
EVERYONE who is medically capable of wearing masks ought to do so as an act of courtesy and respect to others.

[Nardz]

The state shouldn't execute chemjeff, he ought to commit suicide himself as an act of courtesy and respect to others

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

An act of courtesy is rather irrelevant when the decision to wear one or not is supposedly life and death. You're arguing that people should wear a mask out of politeness due to the current fashionable consensus, irrespective of whether it actually works.

[Procyon Rotor]

The state shouldn’t execute chemjeff, he ought to commit suicide himself as an act of courtesy and respect to others

And you know very well people are going to be calling for the state to execute him if he doesn't. He really should die voluntarily to prevent the state from making it mandatory.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

These two studies gave mixed results. One showed that it worked, the other didn't. Which just backs up what I've been saying: they are not a cure-all, but they are - likely - better than doing nothing.

https://www.livescience.com/are-face-masks-effective-reducing-coronavirus-spread.html

Researchers, writing in two new papers, attempt to tackle the efficacy of masks, one more rigorously than the other, and come to differing conclusions. One study examined the effect of masks on seasonal coronaviruses (which cause many cases of the common cold) and found that surgical masks are helpful at reducing how much virus a sick person spreads. The other looked particularly at SARS-CoV-2 and found no effect of either surgical or fabric masks on reducing virus spread, but only had four participants and used a crude measure of viral spread.

The bottom line, experts say, is that masks might help keep people with COVID-19 from unknowingly passing along the virus. But the evidence for the efficacy of surgical or homemade masks is limited, and masks aren't the most important protection against the coronavirus.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Your thinking consents to this:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/invisible-ink-could-reveal-whether-kids-have-been-vaccinated/

[MT-Man]

So Jeff the CDC's guidance is based on a Missouri Hair Salon and a Hospital that used masks for a week.

[Earth Skeptic]

Yeah, but what did the Athenians and Venetian elite know about ruling over the rabble? I will bet they would be impressed with how we were able to inflate fears of a disease to induce half the population into cowardly compliance.

[Rat on a train]

‘But it’s part of an overall strategy that includes social distancing and washing hands!’
"It's part of a complete breakfast."

[EISTAU Gree-Vance]

Haha. You wacky canucks with your flappy heads and square wheels, eh?

[Ken Shultz]

"Trump Is Trying To Take Away Americans' Access to Popular Apps by Executive Order"

Why do you have to go out of your way to screw the pooch--even when you're right?!

As Ken Shultz reported--long before this executive order was issued--the September 15 deadline for TikTok to sell itself to an American company has been in place for weeks, maybe months. The threat was made behind closed doors weeks and weeks ago--presumably that's when Facebook, Google, and Microsoft all started the bidding for TikTok, all of which began weeks ago. TikTok and Microsoft have been in discussions for weeks. President Trump gave them the September 15 deadline weeks ago, and both ByteDance and Microsoft have said that they expect to have completed the transaction before Trump's September 15 deadline.

Here's my quote--from three days ago--showing:

1) President Trump imposed a September 15 deadline on the transaction between Microsoft and TikTok (or TikTok would be banned) a long time ago.

2) Microsoft said that they would complete the transaction for TikTok before the September 15 deadline.

3) ByteDance (the owner of TikTok) said that they would complete the transaction with Microsoft before September 15 deadline.

https://reason.com/2020/08/03/microsoft-may-save-tiktok-from-trumps-clutches-after-president-proposes-ban-on-chinese-video-app/#comment-8384288

In summary, the headline is needlessly incorrect in regards to TikTok. The purpose of this executive order is not to "take away Americans' access" to TikTok. The purpose is to ensure that TikTok sells its American assets to an American company before September 15th.

[Don't look at me!]

You version isn’t as click bait fun.

[MollyGodiva]

This is almost as bad. What right does the US government have to force the sale of one company to another? If this was any other actor then the government, it would be extortion.

[ThomasD]

Maybe "almost as bad" but not nearly quite so fucking inaccurate as what Reason says it is.

[NashTiger]

I take it you aren't familiar with AntiTrust law

[MollyGodiva]

In AntiTrust cases, the companies get due process in court.

[JesseAz]

Whats stopping Tik Tok from suing? My guess is discovery.

[Ken Shultz]

"This is almost as bad. What right does the US government have to force the sale of one company to another? If this was any other actor then the government, it would be extortion."

Please note that am not defending President Trump's actions here. In various places, I've called President Trump's actions on this indefensible from a libertarian capitalist perspective.

That just means ENB and other are right to oppose this--so why screw the pooch?! Why pretend that the purpose of Trump's actions is to ban TikTok, when his true intentions are to ensure the sale to Microsoft?

As libertarians, our credibility is our most important asset. The purpose of libertarianism is not to seize the levers of government and use them to inflict our libertarian will on an unwilling populace. The purpose of libertarianism is to persuade so many of our fellow Americans to want a libertarian society that they start to demand it of their leaders--and credibility is an essential ingredient of persuasion.

When we sell our credibility short, we are destroying our own influence. People who can't criticize this without bullshitting about the president's intentions are hurting the cause. They aren't doing us any favors. In a world where the rest of the press has lost its credibility with all but a few, we could have the most credible voices in the conversation.

Instead, we invite the neighbors over, do some shots, put on a condom, grab the pooch by the collar, and screw it.

Why?!

[perlchpr]

The purpose of libertarianism is not to seize the levers of government and use them to inflict our libertarian will on an unwilling populace.

Oh, I dunno. I do occasionally daydream of a Libertarian sweep of offices, and then forcibly leaving everyone alone.

"Ha ha! I'm not going to tell you what to do, and you can't make me!"

[buybuydandavis]

Reason shills for #CCP spying on Americans.

Shocked, I am, that Reason could put #AmericaLast.

[BlueStarDragon]

Bytedance is owned by by the Chinese military with over 300 members of the C.C.P working in it. Plus the CEO of Bytedance publish a letter that apologize for his misbehavior for saying no to the C.C.P , and in that letter he said he would do all that in his power not to just help Chinese intelligence agency but also it's military as well. And for one the mostly harmless TikTok and any APP that comes from mainland China can be used as a trojan horse to put in more dangerous programs on your platform, is just one use I can think of. Please Reason Magazine please stop trying to defend TikTok as a free market issue when it is not.

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

It's pretty hilarious that it's been an open secret for a while now that TikTok was being used by the CCP as a data-hoovering operation. There's even YouTube videos by tech geeks discussing it, and why using it is probably not a good idea.

The Bad Orange Man takes a shit on TikTok, and all of a sudden preserving its Chinese nationalist integrity is of the utmost concern.

[JesseAz]

Nice to see the Portland Mayor finally realize the protests aren't peaceful. Of course this took the protesters trying to set another building with people inside for him to realize it.

Baby steps.

He learned faster than some of the posters here.

[JesseAz]

Speaking of peaceful protesters...

https://www.redstate.com/nick-arama/2020/08/06/blm-protester-allegedly-tried-to-cut-brake-line-on-nypd-van-wanted-to-blow-up-nyc-landmark/

[darkflame]

Yep. and since an NYC judge just let the guy walk, the feds had to construe a reason they could keep him locked up with some very questionable reasoning (just to be clear, this guy should NOT be on the streets). Basically the feds are saying since NYPD vans are regularly used to cross state lines and are partially paid for by the feds, it justifies the feds getting involved. I would have thought they would have focused more on the terrorist angle since he didn't just say he had plans to blow up a bridge, but that he had the informant drive him around so he could "conduct reconnaissance" on it. I'd say he's at least serious enough that everyone else should take him seriously.

[perlchpr]

The informant was there when Trapp attempted to cut the brake line, crawling under an NYPD van and snipping a line. Turns out he was also stupid and managed to snip the wheel speed sensor rather than the brake line.

"Being a mechanic is hard. Let's go looting!" -Barbietifa

[perlchpr]

What is this in reference to?

[Don't look at me!]

The New York Times looks at how COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the fashion industry and clothing retailers
We will all be wearing grey Mao suits soon.

[Rat on a train]

Damn. I was hoping for some Hugo Boss.

[soldiermedic76]

Riots continue in Portland (even Mayor Wheeler is calling them riots now). Last night the barricaded 20 individuals, police and civilian workers, inside a building and than attempted to light it on fire, while trying to prevent the people inside from leaving.

[soldiermedic76]

Oh by the way, Wheeler is sounding an awful lot like JesseAz and Nardz because he is now saying if your are peacefully protesting but allowing this violence to go on, you are aiding and abetting.

[JesseAz]

Shhh. Common sense is frowned upon here.

[ThomasD]

Principles matter once certain principals are no longer the scapegoat.

[Echo Chamber]

Wheeler, who is also the city’s police commissioner, said he is authorizing Portland officers and as well as county and state law enforcement agencies helping police demonstrations to “do whatever is necessary to safely hold these individuals accountable who are engaged in criminal activity and bring these nightly activities to a close.”

It only took him 70 nights to get to this point.
"A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag"

[soldiermedic76]

Wheeler, like the mayor of Seattle is learning that when you feed the beast, it comes after you. It is like the idiots who feed grizzlies in Yellowstone and then are surprised when the bears get aggressive.

[SQRLSY One]

Some may call me ideologically biased... But!!! I second the above remark by soldiermedic76! DOWN with the disciples of violence, even if our back-talk has to (sadly) be violence for violence!

I'm still waiting for that fabled "better solution"... It actually MIGHT come our way some day! I, for one, pray for it! But till then, sadly, there are beastly ones among us, who understand VERY little, other than violence!

(But let us PLEASE not confuse them with peaceful protesters! It's a tough job that no one asked for it, but let's try it!)

[Tom Bombadil]

Why aren't there piles of rioter corpses? Who would stand by while a mob tries to murder you?

[darkflame]

Doesn't make sense to me either. If the cops have straight out said they can't protect you, then seems to me they can't hold you accountable for you protecting you and yours any way you want.

[Gray_Jay]

"...then seems to me they can’t hold you accountable for you protecting you and yours any way you want."

And yet... Which would be why it's called 'anarchotyranny.'

A stack of bodies is the goal. Preferably black kids and cute little white girls. Anything to give Trump's opponents their own little Kent State to cry over and give credence to their claim that he's a fascist.

I'm a touch surprised they haven't gotten one yet.

[Nardz]

More and more, that stack of bodies would be entirely acceptable to, if not outright desired by, a majority of the country

[Echospinner]

I can hardly stand the news anymore. I skim the headlines and that is about it. Just hunkering down. We both work from home now and pretty much just go out for groceries. Kinda getting into cooking at home. Chicken fajitas tonight.

The country and much of the rest of the world is on fire. When that happens people look for authoritarian control and that is what they are getting.

The virus and all that entails in our lives is devastating in many ways. Government just printing money as fast as it can. Many people out of work, on and on. The masks are nothing, inconvenient but that is the least of what this is doing to people.

The riots have taken on a life of their own. The only purpose now is pure destruction. Now we have federal troops in our cities. Police and courts are out of control. We live in a police state and should stop pretending otherwise.

The administration is taking more control of the economy and business on multiple fronts. Economic Nationalism is the hallmark of a fascist state.

Everything. There is not even a thought given to liberty. We lost. Well I am a loser so be it. I am not switching sides.

[Nardz]

The virus is not devastating.
People like you are

[soldiermedic76]

No, you don't have federal troops in our city. You have some federal law enforcement in specific cities. We do have "mostly peaceful protestors" blockading people in a building while attempting to set it on fire using an accelerant.

[perlchpr]

And honestly, unless one actually is an anarchist, at the point where people are trying to burn down buildings with people inside (and keep them there while it burns), I'm not sure that even actual federal troops would be uncalled for.

[soldiermedic76]

True.

[Procyon Rotor]

I am an anarchist, and my only objection at that point would be that I prefer the jackbooted stormtroopers to be privatized.

[EISTAU Gree-Vance]

Everything is so terrible and unfair.

Haha.

[SQRLSY One]

Haha indeed!

When they sentence you (in your next lifetime, since you’re probably a geezer right now?), for 10,000 years in the slammer, for “rape”, for consensual sex, with you as an 18.0001-year-old, and her as a 17.9999 year-old… Or he on he, or she on she, or human on goat, as the case may be… PLUS infinity-time on the “sexual predator” list… I hope and pray that your slogan will be of IMMENSE solace to you!

[ElvisIsReal]

Weird how the tune changed once the city was in charge of actually keeping the peace.

Trump was right to leave; it was obvious the violence wasn't going to stop.

[JesseAz]

Democrats on capitol Hill are still attacking the DHS about unidentified agents. Despite bright yellow police badges, agency badge, and officers id number.

Dhs head responds:

"It's outrageous at this point. In the beginning, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt," Morgan said to Townhall during the press conference. "We've bent over backward. DHS, the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, both of them have now testified. We've gone on the Hill, all of us."

"We've given an exorbitant amount of evidence that absolutely puts that false narrative to bed. The individuals that are still saying that, they simply are lying. They simply don't want to hear the truth. I've been a career law enforcement guy for 30 years, I've never seen it this bad," he added.

[SQRLSY One]

KKK hoods worked pretty well for this purpose, too!!!

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2020/06/who-are-they-unmarked-security-forces-dc-spark-fear/165892/
Who Are They? Unmarked Security Forces in DC Spark Fear
Mistaken for mercenaries, armed personnel from federal agencies refuse to identify themselves to street protestors and media.

If'n ye are NOT ashamed of what ye are doing, reveal yerself!!!

Ye are afraid that yer tribe will NOT defend you? Why, pray tell, is THAT?!?! Mayhap ye be in the WRONG?!??! In the eyes of many-many, perhaps even the majority? Might ye scale BACK on your bloodlust, and become more reasonable?

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

If’n ye are NOT ashamed of what ye are doing, reveal yerself!!!

Pretty spicy stance to take, considering you're posting on an anonymous board.

Why, it's almost like there's a reason not to break OPSEC with commie slimeballs that deserve the bullet.

[SQRLSY One]

Tell me your real name and address, wussie pussy hypocrite!

I am not shooting people up or strangling them while staying anonymous!

[Sevo]

Newsom, take note:

"Economy tanking, Cuba launches some long-delayed reforms"
[...]
"... the government last month announced that it would allow private restaurants to buy wholesale for the first time..."
https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Economy-tanking-Cuba-launches-some-long-delayed-15463796.php

[Art Kumquat]

I’m guessing enb’s tiktok career in cat videos for lonely women was cut short. Thanks Trump!

[JesseAz]

you mean making sandwiches.

[perlchpr]

OK, it would be pretty hilarious if ENB started an artisanal sandwich vblog.

[SQRLSY One]

ONLY if ENB will make me an artisanal sandwich!!! With a kiss on the side! (Not French for me, though, I am a hopelessly retro square!)

[Sevo]

"...Incredibly, one reason Trump offers for cracking down on TikTok is that it allows for misinformation about the new coronavirus to spread..."

This *is* incredible! Why is he protecting CNN's turf?

[JesseAz]

Someone tell Joe there won't be push up contests at the debate.

https://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2020/08/06/this-is-hard-to-watch-joe-biden-says-hes-looking-forward-to-demonstrating-his-physical-and-mental-fitness-at-the-debates

[MollyGodiva]

Look on the bright side, it could be far worse, Trump could be USING TikTok and posting his own dancing videos.

[Nardz]

Hush now, let's not give him ideas

[JesseAz]

The Associated Press
@AP
BREAKING: Unemployment falls to 10.2% even as U.S. job growth slowed to 1.8 million in July under pressure from pandemic.

Cue third wave covid death projections.

[Dillinger]

>>even as U.S. job growth slowed to 1.8 million in July

tv said "holy fuck we added 1.8 million jobs! sweet"

[JesseAz]

• Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden apologized yesterday after saying in a video that "unlike the African-American community, with notable exceptions, the Latino community is an incredibly diverse community."

There is no apology in the tweet he sent, he said he was clarifying, not apologizing. Stop letting the mask slip ENB.

[H. Farnham]

Other pols are learning from Trump... never apologize. ENB would be doing Biden a favor to omit the "apologized" bit.

[JesseAz]

Because we have a huge history of politicians apologizing outside of criminal arraignment or drug usage.

[soldiermedic76]

Did Obama ever apologize? Not that I can really recall. He clarified. So blaming this all on Trump is ignoring long standing precedence.

[H. Farnham]

Blaming what on Trump? Not apologizing? Who gives a shit.

[soldiermedic76]

You stated other politicians are learning from Trump. This implies you are blaming this type of behavior on Trump. But now you are retreating and appear to be gaslighting your first statement.

[H. Farnham]

A common refrain, especially on these boards, is that Trump doesn't give in to the social media mobs and apologize. I'd say that's a pretty accurate assessment, and it seems to be effective from a politics standpoint because all apologizing does is empower opponents by implicitly conceding that the one apologizing was in the wrong (whether true or not). Any politician worth their salt has taken notice.

As far as "blaming", that implies that I think there is something wrong with not apologizing in general. I'm not sure what it is in my first statement that makes you think I give a shit about Trump, Biden, or apologizing in the first place.

[Nardz]

Trump's innovation is being a conservative who doesn't apologize.
The left has practiced the tactic for a long, long time

[soldiermedic76]

After McCain and Romney, many conservatives were happy to have someone who didn't roll over and show their belly, who fought back against the racism, sexism, etc charges, or just ignores them all together. Biden complains about Trump's tone, but he should realize his put you back in chains comment and Romney's no response and his and Obama's ridiculing of the folder full of women remark, is why many Republicans welcomed Trump.

[Sevo]

How to turn a $1 consumer good into a $50 taxpayer boondoggle:

"A mask in every mailbox? California Democrats up pressure campaign in Congress "
[...]
"WASHINGTON — California Democrats in Congress are increasing pressure on their leaders to get all Americans to wear masks to fight the coronavirus pandemic — including by mailing them to every household..."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/a-mask-in-every-mailbox-california-democrats-up-pressure-campaign-in-congress/ar-BB17EjOq

Do we send one to each address and let folks rotate using it? Assume every household is Mormon and send 10?
Oh, and you folks on that ranch in Montana? Here's your mask and you better wear it!

[Don't look at me!]

Totally ignoring the homeless.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

It's California, they're really good at that.

[Longtobefree]

GREAT IDEA!!
EVERYONE gets a mask embroidered with MAGA! has has to wear it night and day or get arrested.
Damn, what a wonderful thing democracy is.

[soldiermedic76]

Bullock initiated a rather ambiguous mask mandate (it is based on 4 or more active cases in a county, however, the state website that tracks cases has often been wrong, and application has been very sporadic). The only place in my town that is enforcing it is the US Post office and the library. Some stores in larger towns are but not all. Oh and his reasoning for implementing it was because "I tried to get my fellow Montanans to comply voluntarily but they didn't so I had to take these steps, to which most Montanans gave him the bird.

[soldiermedic76]

I would also point out compliance was better before his mandate. Yes, let's try and force people who have an ethos of Independence, who largely live by the motto cowboy up, by trying to force them to do something they already don't agree with. I'm Steve Bullock and I approve this message.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

It's true, I confess. Even Buzzfeed is reporting that Facebook is biased against conservatives.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/facebook-zuckerberg-what-if-trump-disputes-election-results

[Mother's lament]

Lol. You accuse people of reading Brietbart and then post Buzzfeed like it's real.

[JesseAz]

Even worse. He attacks breitbart even when you're merely posting a verbatim transcript they hosted.

[soldiermedic76]

He accuses me of getting all my information from FNC and Breitbart. I don't read Breitbart and haven't watched cable news (other than election night results, which I flip to) in over five years. I don't even have cable and refuse to pay for any of them on Roku.

[Echo Chamber]

Utah protesters who splashed red paint and broke windows could face up to life in prison because of "gang enhancement"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/utah-protesters-who-splashed-red-paint-and-broke-windows-could-face-life-in-prison-because-of-gang-law/

[Tom Bombadil]

Utah only has room for one gang.

[Juice]

The Utes?

[Dillinger]

did you say ... utes?

[Echo Chamber]

yeah, 2 utes

[perlchpr]

Vinny? Izzat you?

[darkflame]

They also tried to kill a guy in Provo a few weeks back. So, a bit more than broken windows and paint.

[Mother's lament]

"Mostly Peaceful Protesting".

[darkflame]

I'm waiting for someone in NY to cave in the head of one of these fucks with a crowbar and then demand to be let go because he was "peacefully counter-protesting".

Seriously, if NYC hasn't Detroit'd itself yet by driving out all the rich folks and killing all the businesses, then the lawsuits from all the unconstitutional shit Cuomo and Deblasio are doing should finish the job.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

I have no clue why anyone still lives in a city.

I thought the whole point was that you got to experience fine dining and art and culture and whatnot, but all of that is illegal now. If you're going to be forced to quarantine and only experience life over the internet you might as well do that from somewhere with low rent.

[darkflame]

It's gonna be interesting watching NYC turn into Detroit. Especially since I think long term it'll spread to nearby cities.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

COVID and the response to it is going to change a lot of cities, and I think more people are realizing that suburbs and rural areas are more appealing than they previously thought.

No one wants to be crammed on a filthy bus or train car with 100 other people anymore. All the stuff that was conveniently walkable is closed, so it doesn't matter that you can walk to it. Violent crime is on the rise, and the willingness to do anything about it is on the decline. Most city mayors fancy themselves a king, so you're subject to whatever schemes they come up with.

All the positives of city living have been wiped out by COVID, and all the negatives have been amplified.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

Interesting angle their DA is going for, although a lot of what these "protesters" are doing could really be classified as organized crime. A street gang that engages in widespread vandalism and arson is no different than one that engages in drug trafficking from the state's perspective.

I wonder how far we are from RICO charges for leadership.

[soldiermedic76]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/two-protesters-arrested-for-chalking-black-pre-born-lives-matter-on-sidewalk/2020/08/01/6d966d90-d41f-11ea-9038-af089b63ac21_story.html

[soldiermedic76]

Funny it okay for BLM to paint political murals but not for someone to paint or chalk a conservative/anti abortion statement (and an accurate one at that).

[H. Farnham]

Funniest part of the article:

"Ever since Bowser commissioned the painting of “Black Lives Matter” on 16th Street NW near the White House in June, activists across the country have demanded the right to paint their own messages. City officials have conceded in some cases, allowing protesters in the District, for example, to paint “Defund the police” next to Bowser’s original declaration."

See, Medic, officials are totally being fair and letting other groups paint their messages...

[soldiermedic76]

My advice is take Motrin, drink water and change your socks frequently, and this hypocrisy will all disappear.

[perlchpr]

take Motrin, drink water and change your socks frequently

*laughing*

Fuck, you really are a soldier medic... 😀

[Gray_Jay]

Be glad he's not reaching for the silver bullet...

[soldiermedic76]

Be careful or I will ask for your shot records, which your personal copy is not up to date (if you didn't lose it during your last PCS) and your official medical records don't have it because your last unit never forwarded it after your last PCS. And now we have to give you 9 different shots, including smallpox and anthrax.

[soldiermedic76]

91B class 04-96, Echo Company, 232nd Medical Battalion (training) graduated 14 February, 1996, Ft. Sam Houston, TX.

[soldiermedic76]

Basic, was class 02-96, Bravo Co. 6/10th infantry, 11 November 1995, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.

[Tom Bombadil]

Stunning proof exists that the entire Obama administration engaged in grievously illegal election interference and later an attempted coup. Seems newsworthy.

[darkflame]

Yep. Apparently Trump also made a statement the other day to the effect of "I have some very rich and powerful enemies, you might not be seeing a lot of me for a while". Between Epstein and Russiagate, makes me think he's gonna bite the bullet and try to prosecute these people... and he's expecting them to throw everything and the kitchen sink at him.

[Don't look at me!]

Local story.

[JesseAz]

Local news story.

And Russia gate never happened. The last 3 years of media coverage didn't happen. Russia doesn't even exist.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

We've always been at war with Eastasia.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Sounds like a Breitbart headline.

[Mother's lament]

Everything you don't want said becomes a "Breitbart headline", huh.

[Tom Bombadil]

I've never read Breitbart in my life, but he sounds like a smart guy.

[darkflame]

Still coming to terms with being the party of pedos and socialists, huh?

[soldiermedic76]

Have you not been following the congressional hearings? Or are you too busy worrying about jackbooted thugs under your bed who are going to detain and then release you?

[Dillinger]

no time! T is taking away apps

[darkflame]

I guess we're just gonna ignore the rioters in Portland going into residential areas and attacking people? I bet you if the political roles were reversed there'd be no end to ENB's screeching

[Mother's lament]

"That's different because shut up bot"

[darkflame]

It is amazing how on sites they consider anyone who doesn't Sieg Heil the party line either a bot or a paid russian troll. These people have no brains

[Longtobefree]

"These people have no brains"
Oh, yeah, how come they are winning?

[a libertarian]

"Yes, China's government could compel U.S. user data from Bytedance, but it's hard to imagine for what purpose it would do this"

The CCP must have really upped their donations to the Reason Foundation lately

[Mother's lament]

"hard to imagine for what purpose it would do this”
Yeah, that's a real brainbuster isn't it.

Anyway, from reading the Reasonista's articles I think like everyone else in their profession they are more interested in peer acceptance and fitting in, than even brown envelope journalism.
The Chi-coms really only have to payoff the big writers at the WaPo, NYT, Atlantic and the producers at the networks and a few cable news players, and all the wannabes fall into line behind them for free.
Clique access is more important for journos than in any other profession.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

I work in an industry where counter intelligence is a concern.

"Don't post anything on social media because the Chinese will use it for something" is hammered into us regularly. They absolutely comb social media for any and every bit of info they might be able to use.

That one TikTok video might not be much value, but when they can correlate it with everything else you've ever posted on the internet it might be useful.

Whether banning it is a good idea or not is a different discussion, but "Why would the Chinese monitor TikTok?" is such a naive fucking question I don't know where to begin.

[soldiermedic76]

Corporate and or national espionage (including using blackmail to force someone to spy for you, a long tactic used by intelligence agencies since at least the Revolution, read about Washington's secret six, aka the Culper ring, who did use blackmail at times to recruit agents). Yeah it is so hard to figure out how a social media site could be used for espionage purposes.

[ErictheRed]

Kate Brown is a fucking joke. And not a funny one.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wolf-defends-feds-portland-protests-rebuffs-homeland-security/story?id=72213759

[NashTiger]

"Unfounded claims that far-left, often militant activists known as antifa are responsible for the unrest seen throughout the summer have underpinned both conspiracy theories and baseless allegations from top Trump administration officials."

Jeebus

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Ted Wheeler finally acknowledged that setting fires to occupied buildings is problematic.

“When you commit arson with an accelerant in an attempt to burn down a building that is occupied by people who you have intentionally trapped inside, you are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder," Wheeler said in a news conference with Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

The important thing is, there was a woman somewhere in the crowd who was part of the Wall of Moms, so we can't do anything about it lest we create a human rights tragedy.

[soldiermedic76]

Wheeler declared it was a riot and ordered tear gas to be used to disperse the crowd. Reason remains silent on how this is different than when DHS did the same thing (and Reason condemned them) when the "mostly peaceful protestors" attempted to start fires at the federal courthouse (which was also occupied). These protests have already killed several people and wounded numerous others across the country. It is time to admit that this has gotten way out of hand.

[soldiermedic76]

In completely unrelated news (sarcasm) the NRA reports that they have been averaging over 1000 new member sign ups per day since the start of June.

[soldiermedic76]

And gun sales are up dramatically, record setting levels, with record setting levels of first time buyers, women buyers and black buyers. Polling shows voters trust Trump more than Biden to handle this violence and even leftist are starting to say Biden can't continue to remain quiet about the violence.

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

I'm anxiously awaiting Biden's response to all of it. He's going to find a way to both piss of his base and make himself look like a moron, I'm just not sure exactly how he's going to pull it off yet.

[Nardz]

Wasn't his main point that arson and attempted murder would be used by Rs in campaign ads?

[soldiermedic76]

At least part of his point, yes.

[NashTiger]

That's what is bad about arson and murder - it helps Trump

[Earth Skeptic]

So how about this:

People are free to load and use whatever apps, sourced from whatever companies and countries, they please.

But other people and institutions are also free to ban connections with devices that have some apps. E.g. Google or the federal government can deny use of a smart phone with TikTok on their networks.

[Mother's lament]

"Tencent is also behind a lot of popular video games, including Fortnite and League of Legends. But the administration is making an exception for Tencent's gaming properties."

Maybe because it's harder to spy and steal user data on a Playstation and an Xbox, than a cell phone.
FFS ENB, stop being purposefully retarded.

[Dillinger]

>>It would be incredibly unpopular but exempting them really just shows how arbitrary this all is

willing to bet @JoshBillinson is in a mask right now

[AlbertP]

Biden supporters can at least be pleased by the fact that, despite his age and failing mental dexterity, that he is still limber enough to place his foot solidly in his mouth.

[darkflame]

while also somehow managing to put his head up his ass. Experts say that this flexibility comes from decades of experience in dodging questions stretching morals.

[Longtobefree]

Lack of a backbone is also a huge help - - - - - - - -

[Fat Mike's Drug Habit]

Careful, thems fightin' words. Uncle Joe will see you in the parking lot... if he can remember where it is.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Get ready, transgender demagoguery is going to be making a comeback:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/08/07/wedge-issue-dividing-trumpworld-392323

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

I think the transgender activists are doing fine on their own.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

You know what other country bans popular social networking apps?

[perlchpr]

China?

[Vesicant]

Your Chinese overlords are pleased. Have a cookie, and don't forget the koolaid with which to wash it down.

This comment not approved by Chinese overlords or Silicon Valley brain slugs.

[nancy]

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[Mobile App Developers]

The Ban on certain mobile apps is not a wise idea. China has a market ten times larger than the U.S. If this becomes widespread, means U.S. based apps can never enter the Chinese market.