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6:00 am, February 26th, 2026 - 17 comments
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Open mike is your post.
For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
There are many comments on Trump's State of the Nation Speech on social media, a lot commenting on the lies, lies, misinformation, racism, lies, bragging and lies.
All pretty par for the course with Trump.
But what struck me most appallingly was the Republicans standing in Congress giving him enthusiastic applause!
I mean, if his almost complete detachment from any semblance of reality is obvious to us here in distant NZ, why are those closest to him blinded to his failings?
Self interest? But when the Titanic is sinking, you don't join the captain in the wheelhouse – or do you?
Frankly, it baffles me!
RNZ has an article at the top of it's website, that's a reprint from CNN outlining multiple false claims in Trump's speech.
It's the people closest to Trump that are pushing his agenda and misinformation using Trump's media presence/profile as cover.
From Kiwipolitico Feb 21st.
The guy's named have no interest in liberal democracy.
Pablo's post ends saying the US always was like this but covered by a veneer of strongly promoted liberal democracy:
The prospect of losing power overrides any morality, shame, common sense, and concept of reality.
https://theconversation.com/one-big-beautiful-reason-why-republicans-in-congress-just-cant-quit-donald-trump-260345
Is Steven Bannon back as an advisor? (I haven't kept up)
Not directly. I couldn't find much other than Bannon's podcasts seems to be promoting Trump's MAGA agenda and misinformation, and that maybe he is in phone communication with Trump.
DuckDuckGo research assistant says pretty much that citing Wikipedia, Britannica and Ballotpedia, and Axios (paywalled)
ABC (US) has an article about unofficial communications between Trump and Bannon last year re Ukraine.
Good.
/
Szabolcs Panyi
@panyiszabolcs
Bombshell poll in Hungary: 55–35 lead for Péter Magyar’s TISZA over Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP – enough for a supermajority in parliament. The survey was conducted by Medián, widely seen as the country’s most reliable pollster, for
@hvg_hu
. Fieldwork: Feb 18–23, 1,000 respondents.
https://xcancel.com/panyiszabolcs/status/2026573173865476404
Here's hoping
Panicing.
Szabolcs Panyi @panyiszabolcs
💥BREAKING: Viktor Orbán ordered the military deployed to guard “key energy facilities,” citing a possible Ukrainian “attack” to disrupt Hungary’s energy system. The move fuels fears of a staged national security emergency or false-flag incident ahead of the April 12 elections.
🧵
https://xcancel.com/panyiszabolcs/status/2026645311041466539
What do authoritarian governments do when facing voter disapproval? Manufacture a foreign crisis. Thatcher with Argentina, Trump with Iran, now Hungary with Ukraine.
In NZ we pick on gangs and the homeless.
Just came across this on the rise of fascism and communism. It seems to be okay, and presenting historic fact to refresh or learn about to see if some of the methods are being inserted into our society's culture.
Is Fascism Back? Johnny Harris 1.01.47
Thanks to Storyblocks for sponsoring this video. For a limited time, get 15% off annual plans, only available through this link: https://www.storyblocks.com/johnnyharris
You hear it everywhere these days: Fascism is back. I wanted to know if that was true. But first I had a lot to learn about what fascism actually means. If you want to learn more about fascism, we also created a reading list you can check out here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q…
And now the crisis has become war with missile strikes on Iran resulting in the massacre of young school girls- to distract voters in the US from examining the Epstein files and Trump's involvement with a young girl.
What do authoritarian governments do when facing voter disapproval? Next question.
What do their people do?
We have a Minister for Hunting and Fishing, one James Meager.
It strikes me that this new sort of minister is a cynical attempt by National to grab the outdoor vote. Yet at the same time, the government is pushing legislation such as the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 to allow the environment to be strip-mined.
It all amounts to a war on Nature that will destroy the very environment (particularly clean rivers and lakes) that so many NZers depend on for their recreation and their mental health.
Pay-back time, I think.
The NZ govt is deciding whether to hand over NZ biometric data to the US as part of a border security agreement.
I say no way! Not with the current state of the US governance, and the likely way it will be post Trump.
There is some biometric data handed over already via 5 Eyes on case-by-case basis.
The NZ govt has been very tight-lipped about what is happening with the negotiations, and what data would be handed over.
The Greens and the Council of Civil Liberties chair Thomas Beagle have expressed concerns about the lack of info, and want to know what safeguards would be put in place in the agreement.
Don't hand anything over to the USA that can be held back. And don't sell anything to them either. We must remember that it is now an entity looking for its old values that were never as good as they trumpeted anyway. They in charge are of the same mindset that would send rotten ships to sea so the owners could collect insurance on them when they fell apart and went under. The crew are collateral.
John Clarke and Dawe showed us that sort of thinking in the mock interview with Brian about the tanker that the front fell off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM | We have experienced similar with the CTV building in Christchurch.
We must hold on to our bits, can't afford to divest ourselves of every taonga that we possess because the bully boy demands or sneakily argues for it.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/360943727/air-new-zealand-posts-59-million-first-half-loss-flags-strategic-reset
Perhaps passengers should travel free; then they would only be paying once.
Just a thought.
Beachfront property right on the sand in Cheltenham Beach on Auckland's North shore. An RV of $8m, first tie on the market in 60 years.
https://www.oneroof.co.nz/news/devonport-matriarch-93-selling-her-beloved-beach-villa-after-nearly-60-years-49013?utm_source=nzh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=nzh-home
I hope any buyer pulls the Property Bag, and has a good long chat with their insurer.
They sure won't get it for $8m. But how many storm surge warning do people need?
And, to further the point, as well as insurance – it should be absolutely clear that new purchases will not qualify for any managed retreat support – either from local or central government…..