[Politics] Donald Trump, US President

[Green Cross Code Man]

For now. However, despite everything, the populist grift continues and they are currently leading in the national opinion polls.

4 years is a long time to the GE, but I guarantee you that it’ll be 4 years of misinformation spread by shady sources and lapped up by the 50+ demographic who will believe anything they read on Facebook.

Over 50s are more likely to vote reform, but the constant comments I see regarding this disregard that almost 40 percent of Reform supporters are younger. Indeed 19 percent are under 25.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Your post read to me like you felt that this country was still some kind of intolerant backwater, which it clearly isn't. That annoys me, we live in a lovely, tolerant and welcoming country, and people from all over the world want to come and live and work here because it.

I am ambivalent about diversity policies in all honesty, and it rather depends on what those policies are for. I have no problem them being used as a tool for guiding how you conduct business, but I think that when they are applied to recruitment there is a danger that they can easily become discriminatory, in that company X employs person A because they are Y over person B, who is a better fit, because they aren't Y - being Y shouldn't ever be a deciding factor.

Then we're on the same page - I agree with you that we're tolerant ( although I hate that word as it implies we need to tolerate some difference rather than embrace it ) and welcoming country generally.

On recruitment, as a person in their mid 50s and having recently being looking for a new job, I'd suggest many employers take age into consideration ( despite it being illegal to do so ) over race, colour, gender and sexuality.

 

[Curious Orange]

I know that numbers of seats does not map to number of votes in FPTP.
This is why supporters of small parties are always banging on about how unfair it all is.
With PR in the last election Farage would have won dozens of seats.

With FPTP every constituency gets exactly the MP they voted for. I think this is lost on the PR fans, who I have never had a decent explanation from of how you'd get anybody into Parliament who isn't a member of a political party.

 

[Curious Orange]

Then we're on the same page - I agree with you that we're tolerant ( although I hate that word as it implies we need to tolerate some difference rather than embrace it ) and welcoming country generally.

We are tolerant up to a point - there is a reason all the religious zealots left for the New World!

 

[fly high]

We are tolerant up to a point - there is a reason all the religious zealots left for the New World!

Ye always amazes me that Yanks talk about Pilgrim Fathers having to leave England so they could have freedom of worship when their gripe was we refused to bow to their demands that everyone should follow their ways.

 

[SouthSaxon]

Your post read to me like you felt that this country was still some kind of intolerant backwater, which it clearly isn't. That annoys me, we live in a lovely, tolerant and welcoming country, and people from all over the world want to come and live and work here because it.

I am ambivalent about diversity policies in all honesty, and it rather depends on what those policies are for. I have no problem them being used as a tool for guiding how you conduct business, but I think that when they are applied to recruitment there is a danger that they can easily become discriminatory, in that company X employs person A because they are Y over person B, who is a better fit, because they aren't Y - being Y shouldn't ever be a deciding factor.

Both things can be true. The UK is a welcoming country in the main, but there is a vocal element that resents immigration in any form.

Yes, people who come here to work may be “welcome” but they don’t always get the same opportunities and have to fight much harder for the ones they are given.

I have seen first hand an employer refuse to hire people and dismiss them during probationary period because”their English isn’t good enough”. What they meant was “their accent is too thick for my untrained ears” even when their skills and knowledge were better suited to the job.

And the figures about representation at board level are indisputable - without a coordinated effort, Britain and British businesses would still be run almost exclusively according to the views of elderly white men. That’s not a criticism of elderly white men (that’s also my destiny) but a broader set of perspectives is always better in my opinion.

 

[SouthSaxon]

I understand what you are saying. But to get into power he'd need to have his vote concentrated in winnable seats.
Presently his vote is spread evenly across the country,
which is why he has only 5 (or 4) seats).

His voter phenotype remains that of the protester, people who hate labour and the tories,
and people who never normally vote,
which is why it is spread evenly across the country.

Can you honestly see him getting majority support in more than half of constituencies to get a working majority?
I can't.

If living standards and public services continue to diminish, yes, that could happen.

The more people experience daily life as a struggle to survive, the more people will turn to protest. That’s precisely how we ended up with Brexit.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

If living standards and public services continue to diminish, yes, that could happen.

The more people experience daily life as a struggle to survive, the more people will turn to protest. That’s precisely how we ended up with Brexit.

If that happens then it is the will of the people, and so be it.
If it happens it means we have become a very silly nation of short-attention-span X users.
The people always get the governments they deserve, and if this is what the majority of voters have become, so be it.

I see Brexit as slightly different.
This was more like buying a lottery ticket.
Lots of people gave it no thought other than there may be something in it for them,
and if not, so what? "Nothing will change."

I also appreciate that a couple of million people are finding life very tough now.
A couple of million people have always found life tough in the UK.
I am not talking 'official' poverty here, which creates a fixed % of the nation as poor by definition.
And I am not talking about the drinkers and smokers and TV bingers who are angry because they can't afford a new iPhone.
I am talking those who are renting and servicing debts with no chance of a way out.

Unless this couple of million are prepared to do what people were not prepared to do when the NF, BNP and Ukip were there for them....
And a few million more....
then I am not yet ready to catastrophize about a Farage government.

 

[Titanic]

The price of entry into the USA..... $5m dollars... for a Gold Card.

#MAGA

 

[Zeberdi]

There is actually a small amount of pushback starting on the Republican side.

MSN

(Click on MSN)

GOP senators line up with Democrats to oppose Canada tariffs​

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Monday that she plans to back the resolution led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that would terminate the national emergency Trump declared last month, citing fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration. Trump has used that declaration to justify 25 percent across-the-board tariffs on America's northern neighbor and leading trade partner — duties that Trump has threatened to start levying later this week.

Collins is poised to join GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who is a co-sponsor of Kaine’s resolution and a strong opponent of tariffs, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who has also expressed concerns about Trump’s tariff plans for North American neighbors. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa — one of many farm-state Republicans who has raised particular concerns about the Canadian tariffs — also said he was undecided on the Kaine resolution.

Good on topic post but it’s no surprise that Collins has positioned against Trump at least verbally if not in action - she is probably the most independent Republican in the Senate. She also is the only GOP Sen who represents a State (Maine) where the Dems won the popular vote in 2024 and is up for reelection in 2026. Rand Paul also has a long record of ‘moaning’ about Trump but both Senators eventually fall into line.

Trump’s grip on the GOP is a tight as ever so if people are hoping the Republicans will turn against Trump and limit the impact of his ‘America First’ agenda, it’s pie in the sky imo.

 

[Zeberdi]

Telegraph have an article today on Yanks moving or applying to move to the UK, the numbers are way up. For several reasons including the Fentanyl crisis and gun attacks on schools, but also:

“Buying an escape route​

Many American buyers are purchasing in the UK as a way of keeping their options open. “They are effectively putting a flag in the sand here so they have an escape route if things get really weird in the States,” says Roarie Scarisbrick, of the buying agency Property Vision”.

Even before the election, some of my American relatives were applying for British dual nationality with the intention of purchasing property over here. They knew what a second Trump term would bring.

(Ironically, yet another one of my relatives (niece and her husband) moved the other way last November for business and now have purchased an apartment in NYC.)

 

[Brian Munich]

Over 50s are more likely to vote reform, but the constant comments I see regarding this disregard that almost 40 percent of Reform supporters are younger. Indeed 19 percent are under 25.

Not correct. 19 percent of 18-24 year-olds who turned out in 2025 voted for Reform. That's not the same as 19% of their support - in fact it's nowhere near. Doing the maths: Only about 65% of an approx 3.5m 18-24 yo are even registered to vote, and the turnout in this group was 37% in 2024. For 19% that equates to 160,000 votes out of Reform's total of 4.1m = 4%

For the 25-55 group (20% pro Reform) there are approx 15m adults and they're 83% registered but only turned out at 48% in 2024 giving 1.2m reform votes - 29%. And I'm guessing that most of these will be in the 40-55 range as opposed the 25-40 range.

Like I said, the vast majority of their targetted support will be the 50+ group, over 90% of whom are registered and who reliably turnout at close to 70%.

 

[Brian Munich]

I understand what you are saying. But to get into power he'd need to have his vote concentrated in winnable seats.
Presently his vote is spread evenly across the country,
which is why he has only 5 (or 4) seats).

His voter phenotype remains that of the protester, people who hate labour and the tories,
and people who never normally vote,
which is why it is spread evenly across the country.

Can you honestly see him getting majority support in more than half of constituencies to get a working majority?
I can't.

Did you click through to the link I put on the previous post (the format on NSC doesn't make it an obvious link)? This link is to electoral calculus, who are fairly well respected and independent stats that take a number of factors into account. They're estimating that Reform need only 31% for a 12 seat majority and 32% for a 74 seat majority - sobering stuff.

 

[Mackenzie]

I understand what you are saying. But to get into power he'd need to have his vote concentrated in winnable seats.
Presently his vote is spread evenly across the country,
which is why he has only 5 (or 4) seats).

His voter phenotype remains that of the protester, people who hate labour and the tories,
and people who never normally vote,
which is why it is spread evenly across the country.

Can you honestly see him getting majority support in more than half of constituencies to get a working majority?
I can't.

The nutters are just spread too thinly, unlike America.

 

[Brian Munich]

The nutters are just spread too thinly, unlike America.

No they aren't. 31% is the estimated tipping point for a Reform majority.

At least Trump got close to 50% of the vote so you can genuinely say that the US have the leader they deserve.

 

[Zeberdi]

Today‘s Special Election in marginal State of Wisconsin.

Musk donates million$$ to the race for the election today to fill a seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court. The special election today for the Supreme Court of Wisconsin is being seen as a litmus test of where Trump is currently with voters for the first time since last November (which is maybe why Musk is investing so much time and money)

Wisconsin race seen as referendum on Trump and a test for powerbroker Musk

The priciest judicial contest in US history will indicate voter sentiment towards President Trump's billionaire ally.

www.bbc.co.uk

Tuesday's elections by the numbers: Elon Musk's influence, early voting and more

The state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin and a pair of special House elections in Florida have grabbed national attention.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[SouthSaxon]

If that happens then it is the will of the people, and so be it.
If it happens it means we have become a very silly nation of short-attention-span X users.
The people always get the governments they deserve, and if this is what the majority of voters have become, so be it.

Equally, one could argue it’s a failure of the state to prioritise the needs of its citizens. We are where we are because politicians and media have made choices.

I see Brexit as slightly different.
This was more like buying a lottery ticket.
Lots of people gave it no thought other than there may be something in it for them,
and if not, so what? "Nothing will change."

There was also a substantial element of “sticking it to the government” because of austerity. I agree a lot of people didn’t give it much thought. They saw it as an opportunity for a free protest vote.

I also appreciate that a couple of million people are finding life very tough now.
A couple of million people have always found life tough in the UK.
I am not talking 'official' poverty here, which creates a fixed % of the nation as poor by definition.
And I am not talking about the drinkers and smokers and TV bingers who are angry because they can't afford a new iPhone.
I am talking those who are renting and servicing debts with no chance of a way out.

Unless this couple of million are prepared to do what people were not prepared to do when the NF, BNP and Ukip were there for them....
And a few million more....
then I am not yet ready to catastrophize about a Farage government.

I’d say that everyone has their limit. It’s not about catastrophising, it’s whether we’re willing to FAFO.

 

[Bakero]

With FPTP every constituency gets exactly the MP they voted for. I think this is lost on the PR fans, who I have never had a decent explanation from of how you'd get anybody into Parliament who isn't a member of a political party.

You say under FPTP that every constituency gets the MP they voted for but is that really true? In the last election, multiple MPs got their seat with about a third of the vote. In 2010, Conservative Party candidate Sarah Wollaston won in Totnes with 24.3%. Doesn't really sound like she had the backing of her constituency, does it?

Under PR, you could have a Open-list (like Sweden and the Netherlands) or Mixed-member (like NZ and Germany) system. Both would allow independents to win seats. The only system that would block independents would be Closed-list.

It would of course entail some major changes. Rather than single member constituencies, we'd need larger, multi-member ones.

How would it work? Let's say, a constituency has 10 MPs; Tory candidates get 40% of the vote (so 4 seats), Labour 20% (2 seats) Lib Dem 20% (seats), Green 10%, Independent 10% (1 seat each).

A mentality shift would be needed but it clearly better reflects voters choices and there's no reason why independent candidates couldn't win seats

 

[The Clamp]

This is dangerous. Really sinister and really dangerous. I hope our current government is strong enough to resist the U.S. trying to blackmail us into diminishing women’s rights over their own bodies.

I f***ing hate the U.S. government and what they are trying to do to the world.

They are no better than the Nazis. And twice as powerful.

UK business secretary denies free speech issue featured in US tariff talks

Source reportedly says ‘no free trade without free speech’ after US bureau holds meeting with anti-abortion campaigner

www.theguardian.com

 

[Albion my Albion]

MSN

(Click on MSN)

New poll shows where Trump stands 10 weeks into his second tour of duty in the White House​

the latest public opinion polling suggests Americans may not be so pleased with the job he's doing as president.

Trump stands at 42% approval and 56% disapproval in an AP/NORC released on Monday that questioned adults nationwide March 20-24.

That's slightly lower than a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted March 21-23, which indicated the president at 45%-51% approval/disapproval.

Trump's numbers were slightly higher in the most recent Fox News national poll, which was in the field March 14-17. Americans appeared divided on the job the president was doing, with 49% approval and 51% disapproval.

Contributing to the slide, the economy and jitters that Trump’s tariffs on America's top trading partners will spark further inflation, which was a pressing issue that kept former President Joe Biden’s approval ratings well below water for most of his presidency.

"If prices remain high, he’s going to have trouble," warned Daron Shaw, a politics professor and chair at the University of Texas who serves as a member of the Fox News Decision Team and is the Republican partner on the Fox News poll.

But Trump's favorable ratings are superior to Elon Musk

According to the poll, Musk's favorable rating stands at 36%, with 55% seeing him in an unfavorable light. (Musk is not the king or a prince)