https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/world/americas/trump-greenland-annex.html

The rape jokes write themselves with that phrasing.

https://today.yougov.com/topics/travel/survey-results/daily/2026/01/07/85f9f/3

Surprised at the number on that poll, for what it's worth, was expecting at least 40% to not care or be ok with it.

13 hours ago, Malcador said:

Wouldn't be the US without some propaganda movies about their operations, yes.

Why Cubans, maybe they are better trained than his domestic troops, but he also had 2000 presidential guard troops as well.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article314223925.html

Here is a  link around how the Cubans failed to protect Maduro and why they were involved

@rjshae you will also find this interesting

On 1/9/2026 at 9:05 AM, BruceVC said:

So why would you have foreign fighters as personal bodyguards if you trust your own military? I can just imagine the understandable outrage if our government was using foreign soldiers from any African country because all the questions would be " why dont you trust our own security forces"

The Varangian Guard would like to have a serious conversation with you 😇

 

 

 

It's the same reason Putin has a deranged Chechenian with an LMG strapped to a cybertruck patrolling Moscow.  They aren't a treat to the regime itself.  

Western media sure pushing Pahlavi as the hero of the revolution, WSJ saying he took a risk calling for action.  

thank you President Drump

3 hours ago, Malcador said:

Western media sure pushing Pahlavi as the hero of the revolution, WSJ saying he took a risk calling for action.  

A far more realistic, if now slightly dated take.

Far more that the three letter acronyms want the Shah- and, of course, and quite possibly more importantly, SAVAK- back; and the western media is laundering their opinions. It's basically like me calling for a mass demonstration at Eden Park and the press saying how important I am for getting 50k people out (having picked the day of a NZ/ South Africa rugby match, or an Ed Sheeran concert).

Very, very far from the first time media has laundered such preferences too. 

Indeed, picking someone who is deeply flawed and will divide a country is a tried and true formula for making sure a country stays stuffed up, while exonerating yourself from the blame. Doesn't matter what Iranians may or may not want- and it's pretty clear they don't want the Pahlavis, they got rid of them twice- it's far more important to get someone pro west and pro Israel in there who can be relied upon to crush dissent and sell out natural resources to the US.

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/eu-and-mercosur-are-creating-one-of-the-worlds-largest-free-trade-areas/#:~:text=The agreement removes most Mercosur,percent) will also be removed.

I see the Mercosur\EU  trade deal has finally been implemented 

It has enormous trade potential for both the EU and  the South American countries involved

I understand the concerns  about cheap goods  but reduced tariffs can help both sides

@Lexx @Elerond @majestic @Gorgon @Gorgon  and other EU members

Any opinion, do you support it?

 

 

22 hours ago, Malcador said:

Western media sure pushing Pahlavi as the hero of the revolution, WSJ saying he took a risk calling for action.  

uh...

most western media articles am having read appear stress how divisive is pahlavi even in 2025 iran and there is a recurring tone o' perplexity coming from writers as they try to explain why some people in iran would offer their support for the 65-year old israel supporting son o' the former shah.

real link

Few analysts think Pahlavi has a real path to the throne or leadership in Iran. His improved reputation in recent years says more about the mounting discontent with the Islamic Republic than it does about a genuine desire by Iranians for a return of the monarchy, analysts said. Many Iranians see him as everything the current regime is not: pro-Western, secular and capable of ending Iran’s economic isolation.

“Over the past decade, Pahlavi’s popularity has increased, reflecting not just nostalgia, but a sharp contrast of what the past was and what the future could be in Iran,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank. “This rise in popularity correlates with increasing secularism and nationalism.”

...

“The Islamic Republic is so bad people will accept anything in replacement, and he offers a simple solution,” said Javad Chamanara, an opposition activist and member of Iran’s Kurdish minority who favors a federalist system in Iran. Pahlavi is seen as a divisive figure among ethnic minorities, which make up close to half of Iran’s population, because of the monarchy’s past refusal to grant them some autonomy, he said.

end quotes

"western media" is hardly monolithic, but the stories am reading at nyt, time, washington post, cnn and npr are hardly effusive in praise of pahlavi. 

"Pahlavi's efforts to position himself as a leader for a future Iran have prompted sometimes heated debates inside and outside the country. And while protesters have shouted in support of the shah in some protests, it is not clear whether that is support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"His public support of Israel has prompted significant criticism in the past from ordinary Iranians and other members of opposition groups, particularly after the 12-day war launched by Israel in June 2025."

...

am having seen opinion pieces at wsj and elsewhere that got more skew, but unless you are in an information silo, suggesting that admitted non-existent monolithic western media is "pushing Pahlavi as the hero of the revolution," is at best misleading.

HA! Good Fun!

edit: added a few more links... the time piece is noteworthy as a western media take on pahlavi--

The most damning similarity between Chalabi and Pahlavi is the legitimacy deficit. Chalabi failed not because he lacked American support but because Iraqis didn’t want him. He was seen, correctly, as an American creation—a man who had spent decades outside Iraq, spoke Arabic with an American accent, and embodied foreign interference rather than indigenous resistance.

Pahlavi faces the same problem squared. The Pahlavi dynasty left Iranians with bitter memories: the 1953 CIA-backed coup that overthrew Mohammad Mosaddegh and restored the shah to power; the brutal SAVAK secret police; the Rastakhiz Party that antagonized formerly apolitical Iranians with compulsory membership and heavy-handed interference in daily life; the corruption and inequality that sparked the 1979 revolution.

While most Iranians are too young to remember these horrors firsthand, a substantial proportion—those over 50—lived through them. They remember the torture chambers, the disappeared dissidents, the rampant corruption, the grotesque inequality. They participated in, or supported, the revolution that overthrew the monarchy. Their children have grown up on the stories.

 

Edited January 11Jan 11 by Gromnir

6 minutes ago, Gromnir said:

uh...

most western media articles am having read appear stress how divisive is pahlavi even in 2025 iran and there is a recurring tone o' perplexity coming from writers as they try to explain why some people in iran would offer their support for the 65-year old israel supporting son o' the former shah.

real link

Few analysts think Pahlavi has a real path to the throne or leadership in Iran. His improved reputation in recent years says more about the mounting discontent with the Islamic Republic than it does about a genuine desire by Iranians for a return of the monarchy, analysts said. Many Iranians see him as everything the current regime is not: pro-Western, secular and capable of ending Iran’s economic isolation.

“Over the past decade, Pahlavi’s popularity has increased, reflecting not just nostalgia, but a sharp contrast of what the past was and what the future could be in Iran,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank. “This rise in popularity correlates with increasing secularism and nationalism.”

...

“The Islamic Republic is so bad people will accept anything in replacement, and he offers a simple solution,” said Javad Chamanara, an opposition activist and member of Iran’s Kurdish minority who favors a federalist system in Iran. Pahlavi is seen as a divisive figure among ethnic minorities, which make up close to half of Iran’s population, because of the monarchy’s past refusal to grant them some autonomy, he said.

end quotes

"western media" is hardly monolithic, but the stories am reading at nyt, washington post, cnn and npr are hardly effusive in praise of pahlavi. 

"Pahlavi's efforts to position himself as a leader for a future Iran have prompted sometimes heated debates inside and outside the country. And while protesters have shouted in support of the shah in some protests, it is not clear whether that is support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"His public support of Israel has prompted significant criticism in the past from ordinary Iranians and other members of opposition groups, particularly after the 12-day war launched by Israel in June 2025."

...

am having seen opinion pieces at wsj and elsewhere that got more skew, but unless you are in an information silo, suggesting that admitted non-existent monolithic western media is "pushing Pahlavi as the hero of the revolution," is at best misleading.

HA! Good Fun!

 

kurdish proxy are far less important to nato than turkey and israel

their opinion over install new shah are the only one that matter

20 hours ago, Zoraptor said:

A far more realistic, if now slightly dated take.

Far more that the three letter acronyms want the Shah- and, of course, and quite possibly more importantly, SAVAK- back; and the western media is laundering their opinions. It's basically like me calling for a mass demonstration at Eden Park and the press saying how important I am for getting 50k people out (having picked the day of a NZ/ South Africa rugby match, or an Ed Sheeran concert).

Very, very far from the first time media has laundered such preferences too. 

Indeed, picking someone who is deeply flawed and will divide a country is a tried and true formula for making sure a country stays stuffed up, while exonerating yourself from the blame. Doesn't matter what Iranians may or may not want- and it's pretty clear they don't want the Pahlavis, they got rid of them twice- it's far more important to get someone pro west and pro Israel in there who can be relied upon to crush dissent and sell out natural resources to the US.

I had forgotten about that cheerleading.  Israel seems to want him, not sure about the US, but their foreign policy is probably based of what Trump sees on Twitter (Nioh Berg maybe).  

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-10/trump-s-venezuela-greenland-threats-make-canada-fear-it-s-next

Albertan separatists are getting excited, heh

 

https://archive.is/Yzkof

“We didn’t have this meme-ification of various serious operations, these things that are life or death. … It’s not a joking matter. But that’s the way they’re treating it now.”

What a time.

7 hours ago, uuuhhii said:

their opinion over install new shah are the only one that matter

Funny thing is, the US had the chance to bring back a genuinely popular royal to a country they'd 'liberated' and wanted to 'stabilise' in Afghanistan's Zahir Shah. The US vetoed him and they got Hamid Karzai foisted on them instead. And we all know how that turned out. Not great for Afghanistan, not great for the US. Same with Chalabi and his INC in Iraq. Indeed, far from rightly being seen as a US stooge, many in US intelligence consider him to have not been a US stooge but to have been working for... Iran. Though whether that's revisionism, who knows.

And on Pahlavi, taking the first ten search engine results for reza pahlavi (exc wikipedia/ brittanica and revapahlavi.org) over the past four days

"Protests across Iran escalated dramatically this week, largely fuelled by a call issued by Reza Pahlavi, which was rebroadcast by Farsi-language satellite news channels and websites abroad, urging protestors nationwide to take to the streets."

"Many demonstrators in Iran have been calling for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah (king)."

"Pahlavi successfully spurred protesters onto the streets Thursday night in a massive escalation of the protests sweeping Iran."

"Pahlavi’s name is being chanted through the streets of major Iranian cities including Tehran and Mashhad, with phrases “Pahlavi will return” and “Seyyed Ali will be toppled”."

"Amid these events, Reza Pahlavi, the 65-year-old exiled Crown Prince and son of the late Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has re-emerged as a leading figure in the various Iranian opposition movements. In messages shared on social media, Pahlavi spurred protesters onto the streets Thursday night and Friday."

"Reza Pahlavi has galvanised protests in Iran, helping to transform what started as grievances over the Islamic Republic's weakened economy into a serious threat to the country's theocracy."

"Pahlavi successfully spurred protesters onto the streets Thursday night in a massive escalation of the protests sweeping Iran.*"

[3x non western sources not included; one emirati, two indian; none of which contained similar lines]

That certainly does a pretty good impression of looking like an organised campaign to embiggen his standing via western media.

The protesters were going to turn out if he told them to, if he kept quiet, or if he didn't. 

*same line appears twice, as the Globe and Mail rewrote an AP article. With original byline retained, so no shenanigans.

@Zoraptor and his amusing selective quotes?

*eye-roll*

try linking the actual articles so we are able to see the entirety. 

heck, we picked one at random from your sans context, sharp-oneesque list o' quotes :

"Many demonstrators in Iran have been calling for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah (king)."

first line from

link

maybe scroll down to the "divisive legacy," portion? we wouldn't call the bbc article singularly critical, but suggesting it paints him as "heroic" would be hyperbolic.

the independent article from which you lifted, "Pahlavi’s name is being chanted through the streets of major Iranian cities including Tehran and Mashhad, with phrases “Pahlavi will return” and “Seyyed Ali will be toppled,” is also hardly painting pahlavi as particularly heroic. in fact, the independent article is extreme brief and not particular informative, but it does mention pahlavi's efforts to garner favour with trump and netanyahu, which is not gonna be seen as positives amongst the independent's typical readership as a progressive/lefty uk media source, eh?

etc.

the most recent nyt article am having read is kinda like all the rest in that it observes that pahlavi is mentioned by iranian protesters and that he has been making the rounds to gain support in the west, but...

"Mr. Pahlavi, 65, has long been a divisive figure among Iran’s opposition, many of whom disdained the idea of restoring a monarchy that Iranians ousted because of its repressive rule. But he appears to have gained a base of support inside Iran in recent years, according to some analysts.

...

"Whether Iranians will be further emboldened by Mr. Pahlavi’s calls for U.S. intervention remains to be seen. When Israel launched a 12-day war on Iran over the summer, briefly joined by U.S. warplanes, many Iranians expressed disdain for foreign intervention and did not turn against the government."

most western articles include the observations repeated by zor's less then helpful out-of-context lifted quoting, recognizing that more than outlier numbers o' iranians are invoking pahlavi's name. beyond that, there is a consensus recognition that son o' the former shah is 65, has lived in exile for decades, and that he is making efforts to topple the current iranian regime. not really the stuff o' heroic tales.... and given the half-dozen links am having now offered that don't fit the narrative zor reflexive pushes, one would expect a normal person to question the accuracy o' the initial broad stroke generalization that western media sources is trying to push pahlavi as a hero o' the revolution.... but am suspecting reasonable won't be zor's response. 

'course this is a zor mo ain't it? whether is selecta-quote from cnn regarding iran's projected time to reach nuclear weapon breakout, a senate report on iraqi wmds or even in his efforts to label us a liar, zor habitual and fraudulent selective quotes, typical w/o offering links... or clear hopeful nobody will actual bother to read the linked material when he does link. this ain't a one-off and it don't look accidental so much as calculated. poor calculated, but intentional in any event.

that said, zor's triggered efforts to not argue with us like this is convoluted but kinda amusing. 

HA! Good Fun!

I read the whole BBC article, it's certainly the best out of the 7 western ones. Not as good as the Emirati one and about the same as the two Indian, to be fair. My main beef with the BBC is them having a video clip labelled as being of people chanting for Pahlavi where it's actually a generic anti regime chant.

I don't really care in the slightest for you trying to pick holes in a pattern- selected by a search engine using the most generic search I could think of- by hand picking articles. Indeed, I didn't even bother to mention that your idea of western journalism amounted to, well, all US sources. Because that is, sadly, very very typical. I based my view on what most people will see. 

Every single quote I picked was in the first few lines of the articles. Most (all but one?) of them were in the lead or second paragraph. ie the part people actually read, and which gets summarised by search engines.

Are there sources with a better grasp of Pahlavi's influence? Sure, I cited one myself, and I got my personal views of him from somewhere, rather than it appearing to me via a vision of the archangel Gabriel. Nevertheless, when every single article from western sources on the first page of a non biased search on a ongoing current affairs issue has the same slant- and it is a slant, because the vast majority obviously aren't protesting for Pahlavi's return, and anyone who thinks they are is mad; probably something we actually agree on- well, it certainly ain't coincidence.

11 hours ago, Malcador said:

I had forgotten about that cheerleading.  Israel seems to want him, not sure about the US, but their foreign policy is probably based of what Trump sees on Twitter (Nioh Berg maybe).  

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-10/trump-s-venezuela-greenland-threats-make-canada-fear-it-s-next

Albertan separatists are getting excited, heh

 

It doesn't matter, the Iranian hardliners will do the same thing they do in every protest where Iranian citizens want a better life and  expect there government to respect human rights 

They shutdown the Internet so state atrocities are less visible, they will arrest thousands of people and execute many of  them and they will kill dozens of people. The protests will be crushed as usual using maximum force

Then after several weeks it will go back to the normal  BRICS and Iranian state media propaganda " Iran is a country that respects human rights and believes in peace " 

The normal story sadly  repeated every few years in the repressive reality of Iran under its current  leadership 

 

 

 

if only iran are liberated by usa like their neighbor

wouldn't that be nice to oil oligarch

usa are now prosecute fed chair that was suppose to go this year anyway

never ending circus it is

wait, usa media doesn't count as western media? curious. we provided numerous western exceptions to the posited generalization that pahlavi is being portrayed as heroic by western media. is kinda axiomatic that evidence o' additional exceptions undercuts a generalization... and if the generalization is only legit for the "first few lines of the articles," it shouldn't take much to zor or anybody else that the generalization was a failure.

13 minutes ago, Zoraptor said:

it's certainly the best out of the 7 western ones.

well, that further diminishes the heroic portrayal in western media generalization and given even zor recognizes it weren't just american western media which were portraying pahlavi as less than heroic, there isn't much of a point in your protest. 

deja vu again? as is typical, we are getting to a silly/stoopid place much faster than we expected. 

6 minutes ago, Zoraptor said:

Every single quote I picked was in the first few lines of the articles.

so you half-assed it or you were deliberate misleading? is a tough choice with no good option for you. considering your past shenanigans with selective quotes, am gonna default to deception, but if you are settling on lazy, am s'posing that is a kinda explanation. to blame your failure to provide meaningful context on your belief that people don't actual read articles beyond paragraph two is hardly an excuse for your personal mistake... and such an observation does little to reinforce the notion that pahlavi is genuine being portrayed heroic... though it does explain a couple o' your recent posting errors. 

a significant number of western media articles (USA and other nations) do mention the fact that there is iranians chanting pahlavi's name. is newsworthy in part 'cause it is not what many western readers would expect. we don't need the angel gabriel to explain to you why the curiosity o' pahlavi being invoked by 2026 iranians is newsworthy, yes? no doubt zor has read at least a few pre 2026 sources which would make a Pahlavi, Hero for the Iranian People, seem unlikely. 

converse, the suggestion that all of a sudden, in 2026, the monolithic western media (again, not genuine a thing and undercut further by zor inexplicable distinguishing USA sources) would try and promote pahlavi as a hero o' the revolution is something Gromnir would find almost as curious as iranians chanting pahlavi's name... would be newsworthy if it weren't just some bs cobbled together from half-arsed search engine silliness untethered from the substance of articles. 

however, am gonna observe how the fixation o' media on pahlavi, western and non western media, is likely 'cause reporters has not yet adjusted to the 21st century dynamic o' large protest movements. who were the leader of blm? who were the leader of the hong kong protests? converse, who were the face o' protests in russia a couple years past? 'cause o' 21st century communications, there is no need for a charismatic leader to be the face o' a movement. a leader is also a target. why give putin a target? is doubtful the iranian protesters is mentioning a specific leader they got in mind for after tomorrow, but the media has a need to report, and if the only guy getting mention is pahlavi, media outlets is gonna fixate on him. 

regardless, am thanking you for providing us with, "Every single quote I picked was in the first few lines of the articles," 'cause am suspecting that bit o' zor-specific pith is gonna get future use.

HA! Good Fun!

It seems that Venezuela has new president, as Trump declared that he is acting president of Venezuela. 

5 hours ago, Elerond said:

It seems that Venezuela has new president, as Trump declared that he is acting president of Venezuela. 

He pulled a coup on Rubio?

7 hours ago, Elerond said:

It seems that Venezuela has new president, as Trump declared that he is acting president of Venezuela. 

invocation of, it's just a meme is not as reassuring when applied to trump. more than a few US policy changes were birthed via trump disgorging the illegal or insane via social media. 

unrelated:

and yes, the federal officer's behavior is illegal... which is not the same as prosecutable. am wondering if the extra from fargo in bdu is gonna be fired or even disciplined.

and HA! Good Fun! 

Edited January 12Jan 12 by Gromnir

A GoFundMe for the fallen warrior is up

 

11 hours ago, Gromnir said:

regardless, am thanking you for providing us with, "Every single quote I picked was in the first few lines of the articles," 'cause am suspecting that bit o' zor-specific pith is gonna get future use.

well yes, you certainly do very much love an out of context quote. Indeed, most of the time you spend your effort arguing against them since it's all you've got. As per original, it certainly isn't just Trumpists who use word vomit as a tactic.

You got the explanation of why that was- which was not really for you in any case, since I knew you'd ignore it; because that's the part used in search engine summaries, which is what most people will see. Announcing you're planning to use that as a- rather pathetic- gotcha in the future is also... pretty damn sad. 

That is essentially, a large part of why engaging with you is so worthless. It's pretty clear you don't actually disagree with my assessment of Pahlavi nor of his actual influence. As usual, you just want to nitpick and try to pick a fight.

Fact is: All 7 western media used similar lines, all towards the start of their articles, that is a pattern when none of the 3 non western ones used similar lines. The narrative driver that Pahlavi was getting significant numbers out to protest is pretty obvious and localised to western sources; and, again, it's pretty clear neither of us think that's what is actually happening.

the hypocrisy is tough to endure. again, zor is specific using out of context quotes to promote a narrative even you conceded weren't accurate. not past. not future. current. those westen media sources you quoted sans links weren't actual promoting pahlavi as a hero o' the revolution. you implied the quotes did so, but even a cursory reading o' the articles rebut that argument, and yet here we are arguing inanities 'cause you can't defend the initial premise.

we will indeed use the search engine line again. zor selective quotes disingenuously as a near reflexive habit, so you will no doubt provide us many future opportunities to use legitimately. this admission o' a lazy reading comprehension fail on your part is useful as it does explain curious past behaviours and will no doubt help us in the future to make sense o' how/why you could so inexplicable misrepresent or misunderstand your own supplied sources.

the fact pahlavi is indeed being invoked by iranians is relevant and newsworthy, so is hardly shocking western news sources would report it. if iranians were shouting barbara streisand's name and carrying photos o' her, western media would report and attempt to explain. particular to westerners, the notion pahlavi would be invoked by iranians is curious and newsworthy  'cause pre 2026, those dastardly western sources were your angel gabriel who had informed you o' pahlavi's cia and israeli links, supplying fact such as how he has an american-iranian wife (born in iran, but attended high school and college in the states) and has lived much o' the past decades in texas. given the horrors o' his father's regime, and pahlavi's pre 2026 links to israel and trump, hearing that pahlavi has supporters in iran is... curious.

you ignorant focused on search engine result o' articles which typical took bits from the first few lines o' articles, while ignoring the concluding lines o' such stories.

example:

The self-described alternative leader for a democratic Iran is also close with Israel, which has sparked criticism.

Notably, in 2023 Pahlavi controversially met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His visit came with mixed reactions as some touted him as a bridge builder for appearing with a kippah and denouncing antisemitism.

Others argued it was hypocritical to meet with Israeli officials as the army clashed with Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank.

Whether the exiled crown prince will ever see that day - or a free Iran - remains one of the many unanswered questions about a nation still wrestling with its past.

we can do same for the ap article

He has also faced criticism for his support of and from Israel, particularly after the June war. Pahlavi traveled to Israel in 2023 and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a longtime hawk on Iran whose criticism of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal fueled Trump’s decision to withdraw America from the accord. Netanyahu also oversaw the 12-day war with Iran.

“My focus right now is on liberating Iran, and I will find any means that I can, without compromising the national interests and independence, with anyone who is willing to give us a hand, whether it is the U.S. or the Saudis or the Israelis or whomever it is,” he said in 2017.

oh, and the first relevant al jazeera article we found from today:

While chants by protesters initially focused on the ailing economy, they have switched to opposition to the clerical establishment in Iran. Some protesters have also begun chanting in support of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of deposed Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the heir to the former Pahlavi monarchy.

Many supporters of Pahlavi are calling for a return to the monarchy, although Pahlavi himself says he favours holding a referendum to determine what type of government structure Iranians want.

...

regardless, you knowing or ignorant created a false impression o' how western media is covering pahlavi. am genuine not certain if the failure is 'cause o' laziness or deceit. in either case, your newest rake tripping exploits is useful for today and future.

HA! Good Fun!

 

 

 

Edited January 13Jan 13 by Gromnir

to be fair, is a whole lotta rake stepping happening

Federal Prosecutor Is Fired Amid Further Turmoil in Comey Case

The administration has tried to restart the Comey prosecution and wanted Mr. McBride to lead that effort, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions. Mr. McBride said he could not do that while also running the prosecutor’s office as the first assistant U.S. attorney — he could do one or the other, these people said.

One person familiar with the events disputed that explanation, stating that Mr. McBride had been dismissed because he had secretly met with judges in the district to try to persuade them to appoint him as U.S. attorney. Mr. McBride, that person added, had resisted pursuing immigration-related investigations related to local jurisdictions’ sanctuary policies and drug enforcement. The person also said Justice Department leaders supported the decision to fire Mr. McBride.

regardless of the article offerings, am having no idea why mcbride were fired, but am gonna observe how this entire mess is utter unprecedented, so any explanation is gonna be unique. we highlighted the portion which am thinking sounds most plausible as a reason for the firing, but am admitted just going with our gut and have no support for the conclusion other than that the other excuses sound... lame. 

project 2025 were kinda insidious and it is impressive just how much o' that infernal blueprint has been realized less than a year into the trump 2.0 administration. nevertheless, am shocked by how poorly a few o' the more public efforts at undermining american norms and law has progressed. oh sure, we get why tariffs has gone so bad. trump wants to be in charge o' tariffs and he changes deals, grants delays and provides exceptions based on his whims, which is kneecapping a whole lotta US business efforts. predictable chaos.

an important ancillary part o' project 2025 were the effort to identify competent political loyalists necessary to reimagine the federal government. 

...

the doj appointees has been a clown car cavalcade o' nincompoops and incompetents. perhaps the 2025 folks didn't care 'cause they figure they win even if they lose-- the damage these folks accomplish by breaking things will take years to fix? dunno.

HA! Good Fun!

 

Edited January 12Jan 12 by Gromnir