Understanding the US - Again

[Yagnasri]

@Kedar, you are quite true about those times, sir. But the days have changed. Dems are mostly centralist leftists these days. Today, they are hard leftists. Plus, today, an extensive section of the youth all love communists, jihadis and hate Israel. Even Bloomberg, IIRC, contested as an independent when he won. The entire Democratic establishment is also hard left and pro-jihadi now.

[A_Gupta]

The hard leftists are complaining that the Democratic establishment, who are alarmed by Zohran Mamdani, are planning to break the post-Trump-election agreement "Vote Blue, No Matter Who". It remains to be seen if the complaint is valid.

[A_Gupta]

US dollar's 10% fall in H1FY25 is its worst since 1973: Report
Synopsis
The US dollar has slumped over 10% in H1 2025, marking its worst first-half performance since 1973. Weighed down by Trump-era economic policies, rising US debt, and investor unease, the greenback's safe-haven status is under pressure. The dollar index (DXY) has fallen from a 52-week high of 110 to around 97.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ma ... s?from=mdr

[bala]

For those keeping track of US Tax cuts in DJT era this is another step towards making it happen. Otherwise there would be huge tax increase. One more hurdle left: now it heads back to the House for a final approval, since the Senate tweeked it here and there.

Senate passes Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjqqP4yStMs

// looking at it from an objective viewpoint: this procedure of house and senate is living in bygone days where things were slow. Such things should be easier settled with modern technology and have the two teams one from house and one in senate in single room to hash out things with final vote in both house and senate. Same thing needs to be done in India with Lok and Rajya Sabha.
// one other thing to note: all dems are united they never vote against their party line. However the repubs have turn coats dubbed as RINO republican in name only who go against their party line and leader. Tis a bit unusual and they want to be different but actually they are controlled by someone else who pays them for such votes.

[Amber G.]

Meanwhile:Journalist:

“Are you going to deport Elon Musk?”

Trump:

"We'll have to take a look. We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? The monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies."

Per some news reports - Trump is indeed looking for a way to deport Musk.

[Tanaji]

Did he really imply that he wanted to deport US citizens today when he said there are bad people who were born here that need to be deported?

[Vayutuvan]

[Vayutuvan]

Around 2000, it started to go up steeply. That is during 8 years of Dubya, 8 years of Obama, 4 years of Trump. Biden 4 years also the trend continued. Clinton era also was similar except it started flattening out by the end of his 8 years. The trend started in ~1984 but for the decrease in 1998. I don't remember why. Maybe Internet boom started around 1996.

[Vayutuvan]

A drop in the bucket, but still this is not how capitalism is supposed to work.

[Vayutuvan]

Did he really imply that he wanted to deport US citizens today when he said there are bad people who were born here that need to be deported?

@Tanaji ji, this may be the reason for Trump's ire.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1939806847504105683

Elon Musk
@elonmusk
If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day.
Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE.

[pravula]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/leokamin/2 ... re-donors/

[Jay]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GuyyefvXYAA ... name=small

Not accurate.

https://www.the-independent.com/news/wo ... 40880.html

Perils of quoting some random picture from the internet....

[chetak]

The question is: Is the britshit aircraft being forcibly detained by the GoI after it was coerced to land at Thiruvananthapuram, while deliberately violating Indian airspace during the clandestine probing Indian AD systems

That seems to have got trumpwa's panties in a real twist






F-35 Violates Indian Airspace Again: Deliberate Spy Mission?



https://www.globalgovernancenews.com/us ... -analysis/

Poonam Sharma
Jul 1, 2025



Poonam Sharma
There’s a storm raging within India’s defense and intelligence corridors—of anger and pride alike. Pride, because for the second time, India’s state-of-the-art radar system successfully detected and tracked the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jet—the American F-35—as it violated Indian airspace. Anger, because this isn’t the first time. This is now a repeat offense.

The F-35, often hailed as the most technologically sophisticated and stealthy aircraft ever built, has once again been exposed by Indian surveillance systems. And this changes everything. India, a supposed strategic ally of the United States, has every right to question: Is America testing India’s defenses, or betraying her trust under the mask of friendship?

F-35 Violates Indian Airspace Again: An “Accident” or a Deliberate Spy Mission?
Roughly two weeks ago, Indian radar systems picked up an unidentified low-observable aerial object flying along the southern coastal skies—near Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Upon closer analysis, it was confirmed: an F-35 had breached Indian airspace again.

There was no distress signal, no flight plan filed with Indian authorities, no official intimation from the U.S. Embassy. There was no emergency. And yet, the aircraft appeared, tracked silently but decisively by India’s integrated air defense systems.

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This was not a navigational error.

This was a test. And India passed—with flying colors.

India’s Air Defense Tech Just Humiliated the World’s “Invisible” Jet
Let’s be clear: the F-35 is no ordinary aircraft. Designed to evade radars, jam signals, and conduct deep surveillance missions, it is the jewel of the American military-industrial complex. Costing over $100 million per unit, it is said to be “untraceable” to most radar systems.

But not to India’s.

For the second time, India’s surveillance and AI-powered radar grid tracked, intercepted, and challenged this fifth-generation stealth jet. This wasn’t just a fluke—it was a deliberate demonstration that India has reached a level of technological sophistication that global powers must now reckon with.

India’s aerospace command, DRDO-backed radar systems, and real-time satellite-linked air defense network have now proven they can detect and respond even to sixth-gen threats.

From Strategic Partner to Suspect: Has the US Crossed the Line?
The larger question now looms: Why is a so-called ally flying stealth jets over Indian airspace without consent—not once, but twice?

Is the United States still viewing India as a secondary power, to be surveyed, tested, and kept under observation like during the Cold War era? This isn’t the behavior of a friend or strategic partner. This is espionage. Clear and blunt.

If it were Russia, China, or Pakistan—India would have declared this a hostile act. The only reason there is diplomatic restraint is because it’s the U.S. But restraint does not mean weakness.

India has now sent a powerful, unmistakable message: your toys don’t scare us.

Is America Trying to Study India’s Defenses from Within?
There are strong suspicions that the purpose of the F-35 intrusion was to scan and map India’s military infrastructure—including naval ports, satellite networks, missile silos, and radar behavior. Such data, if captured, would be invaluable for Pentagon war-gaming and for giving Washington strategic leverage over New Delhi.

But what America didn’t expect was India’s detection, interception, and exposure—public and unapologetic. By calling out the intrusion, India flipped the script: from silent victim to sovereign power.

No More “Friendly Intrusions”: India’s Sovereignty Is Non-Negotiable
India’s military and security services have now upgraded surveillance in areas previously considered low-risk, especially the southern coasts. High-altitude radar sweeps, AI-powered intercept simulations, and satellite triangulations are now standard, not exception.

This means even if the next F-35—or any stealth drone—tries to repeat the game, India will detect it, jam it, and expose it.

India has also begun an internal review of all U.S. activity near sensitive zones, including naval shipping corridors and satellite-linked facilities.

Strategic Message to Washington: Enough Is Enough
India is not a client state. And any attempt to bypass its sovereignty—covert or overt—will be treated as a violation, regardless of who is responsible.

By tracking the F-35 not once but twice, India has shown the world that:

We are no longer dependent on others’ technology—we lead in our own right.

No amount of stealth or military superiority will go unchecked in Indian skies.

And most importantly: even our friends don’t get a free pass.

India’s skies are not a playground. They are sacred, sovereign, and now, heavily armed—with eyes that never blink.
What Next? India Must Respond Decisively
Demand Diplomatic Clarification: The Ministry of External Affairs must summon the U.S. ambassador and demand a formal explanation. Repeated “technical error” excuses won’t fly anymore.

Issue a Public White Paper: India should release a strategic report on foreign aerial surveillance attempts, with timelines, routes, and responses—naming all responsible nations.

Tech Diplomacy: India must now showcase its own radar and surveillance systems globally—offering alternatives to American tech and expanding defense exports.

Strengthen South Defense Grid: The south may not have active conflicts, but it’s clearly under silent threat. DRDO and IAF must further fortify it with next-gen installations

The Message Is Loud and Clear
This isn’t about just a plane.

This is about respect, sovereignty, and India’s emergence as a global power that bows to none. The second F-35 interception was no coincidence. It was a slap in the face to those who thought India was blind or dependent.

But now, America and the world know:
You fly through Indian skies without permission, and you will be caught.
You spy on India, and you will be exposed.
You underestimate India, and you will regret it.

This is the new Bharat.
Not just proud.
But prepared.
And absolutely unapologetic.

[Cyrano]

That the plane was probing our radar detection and AD systems makes some sense. That it occurred on the southern coastline is interesting. They know that we are highly mobilised in the northern borders, this could be probing to see how satark ie alert we are on other areas.

How did we coerce the plane to land in TVM? From the news, we didn't scramble our fighters to intercept. Perhaps the pilot was told by our forces that our AD systems will activate and fire SAMs if he doesn't comply and land in TVM

[Mort Walker]

Meanwhile:Journalist:

“Are you going to deport Elon Musk?”

Trump:

"We'll have to take a look. We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? The monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies."

Per some news reports - Trump is indeed looking for a way to deport Musk.

Vivek Ramaswamy’s foresight was so spot-on to get out of this clown show before January 20th. Hopefully he makes it to governor next year, but it appears Sherrod Brown may be running against him.

[chetak]

Meanwhile:Journalist:

Trump:

Per some news reports - Trump is indeed looking for a way to deport Musk.

Vivek Ramaswamy’s foresight was so spot-on to get out of this clown show before January 20th. Hopefully he makes it to governor next year, but it appears Sherrod Brown may be running against him.

Mort Walker ji,

trump and musk are cut from the same cloth, and that is the root cause of the friction

except that musk looks for results and regularly produces them, whereas trump is bound by the legacy of his party that needs political power to survive, especially after trump's departure in a few years.

Trump is going to be hanging around for some time post his POTUS phase, and so he cannot shaft his own party by messing up big time and sinking the ship

ergo, trump needs a fall guy which just happens to be musk, because trump's bull in a china shop tactic has not worked the way it was gamed. He should have just tackled zelensky and booted him out first. After gaining that beach head, he should have tackled the next one, and so on.......... ......

Instead he spread himself too thin and pissed off too many high GDP countries with his needless intimidatory tactics, and roused the deep state to take a front row seat

honey always attracts more flies

[A_Gupta]

https://www.unpopularfront.news/p/death-to-america

The essence of Trump’s movement is an attack on the very concept of American citizenship. It’s the bright, red thread that runs through the entirety of its existence: from its origin in birtherism, the racist idea that there was something questionable or tainted about Barack Obama’s citizenship, to the stolen election myth, which sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans, to the attempt to end birthright citizenship by fiat through executive order, and the newly announced prioritization of denaturalization cases by the Department of Justice. A Republican congressman called for New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s denaturalization and deportation. The White House said it should be “investigated.” This is not to be taken lightly.

I say it is an attack on the concept of citizenship, not a redefinition or even a return to the pre-Reconstruction racial state, because, in the Trumpian universe, there is no agreed-upon, apolitical definition of who is granted citizenship, of who bears inalienable rights under the law. The sovereign decides who is a citizen, as it decides who is an enemy and where and when the law applies. It becomes entirely arbitrary, a prerogative grant. Citizenship is no longer a right, it is, as the Orwellian executive order PROTECTING THE MEANING AND VALUE OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP puts it, “a privilege,” a “priceless and profound gift.” No one can seriously argue that, if possible, Trump would not revoke and grant citizenship at will. That’s what he is already trying to do. Look at the idea of the Trump Card, where someone can buy their way into citizenship. This a further degradation of the notion of citizenship from a set of rights and duties to a transferable and revocable commodity.

The correlate in practice of the destruction of citizenship in theory is deportation to a place beyond the law: the concentration camp or worse. That is the meaning of the experiments with deporting people to El Salvador or dangerous “third countries” where they may be killed or tortured….

[A_Gupta]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GuyyefvXYAA ... name=small

Not accurate.

https://www.the-independent.com/news/wo ... 40880.html

Perils of quoting some random picture from the internet....

That random picture is total BS. It has only two billionaires are Republican.

From December 2024:
Trump has tapped an unprecedented 13 billionaires for his administration. Here's who they are
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/trump-tap ... =116872968

[A_Gupta]

Trump from an Indian point of view:
Retired Major Gaurav Arya: “Trump is a gasbag”
Hindi YouTube:
https://youtu.be/Q6AVtQtIJjk?si=4q4CUR8WYOxStLbQ

[Vayutuvan]

Not accurate.
https://www.the-independent.com/news/wo ... 40880.html

Perils of quoting some random picture from the internet....

That random picture is total BS. It has only two billionaires are Republican.

From December 2024:
Trump has tapped an unprecedented 13 billionaires for his administration. Here's who they are
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/trump-tap ... =116872968

Now that both of you Democrat partisans have agreed that both the parties have billionaires among their supporters, please do money raised by KD raised vs. DJ. Also what is the total wealth of the Democrat billionaires vs that of GOP billionaires. Please keep in mind that DJ inflates his wealth by factor of 10 as per your partisans. That makes him not even a billionaire.

[Jay]

please do money raised by KD raised vs. DJ. Also what is the total wealth of the Democrat billionaires vs that of GOP billionaires.

Yeah, NO. Knock yourself out with this exercise...

[A_Gupta]

The DJT cult members on BRF are exposed.

[Vayutuvan]

Yeah, NO. Knock yourself out with this exercise...

> The DJT cult members on BRF are exposed.

DNC operatives jump in where independents fear to tread.

[A_Gupta]

Bing Copilot:
How much have billionaires given to the Republicans and to the Democrats in the 2024 election cycle?

Here’s how the biggest billionaire donors broke down in the 2024 cycle, according to Visual Capitalist’s analysis of the top 10 individual contributors:
Republicans: about $1.10 billion
Democrats: about $115 million

[Vayutuvan]

Does that include SuperPAC money?

[Vayutuvan]

https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1940521412567224815

NEW: Poll finds that 40% of voters say they are likely to support Elon Musk's "America Party" if he decides to launch it, according to Quantus Insights.

The poll comes as Musk has threatened to launch his own political party over recent disagreements with the Republican Party.

"Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people," he recently said in a post on X.

Good development. Now independents will have more choices. Libertarians are wek so are the Greens. I wrote in those names in the past elections not that it matters in my state. Democrats win with overwhelming majority in this state which has a billionaire governor.

[A_Gupta]

Bing CoPilot:

Who are the top Indian political or geopolitical commentators and what do they think of Trump as US president?

Top Indian Political and Geopolitical Commentators on Donald Trump

Below are three of India’s most-cited voices on international affairs and their views on Donald J. Trump as U.S. president:

1. New Delhi–Based Political Analysts

Many analysts in New Delhi—speaking through outlets like The Diplomat—warned that Trump’s self-declared “mediation” of the April 2025 India–Pakistan ceasefire risked reviving the long-criticized U.S. habit of “hyphenating” India with Pakistan. They viewed Trump’s public claims of brokering a truce (and his threats of sanctions) as a blunt, transactional style that set off “alarm bells” in New Delhi about Washington’s reliability as a strategic partner.

2. Kanwal Sibal (Former Foreign Secretary)

In an op-ed for NDTV, Sibal described Trump’s hallmark unpredictability as “a source of concern” for all partners—even allies. Yet he argued that decades of bipartisan groundwork mean the India–U.S. partnership should “generally see continuing progress” during Trump’s second term. Sibal counsels India to remain wary of overly transactional demands—especially on trade and technology—while leveraging personal rapport at the highest level to safeguard New Delhi’s strategic autonomy.

3. Geopolitics Cartographer (Anonymous)**

Some commentators specializing in mapping global power shifts have cautioned that Trump’s overtures—whether tariff threats on China, hard-line Iran posture or championing Israel—inject fresh uncertainty into India’s balancing act in West Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific. They underscore that, unlike previous administrations, Trump’s “America First” lens could compel New Delhi to hedge more vigorously through forums like BRICS, SCO and the Quad.

Note: The third entry reflects a composite of expert concerns frequently voiced in Indian strategic-studies circles; while no single byline was cited, these themes have been pervasive in commentary on Trump’s impact across India’s external-affairs community.

[Vayutuvan]

[A_Gupta]

Bing CoPilot:

In the 2024 election cycle how much did billionaires give to Political Action Committees aligned with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party?

Billionaire Contributions to Party-Aligned PACs in 2024

Below are the total known contributions from billionaires to federal political action committees (PACs, super PACs, hybrid PACs, party committees, and outside groups) aligned with each major party in the 2024 election cycle. These figures are compiled from filings tracked by the campaign‐finance nonprofit OpenSecrets and reported in news analyses.

Republican-Aligned PACs

Total from billionaires: $1.06 billion

Includes donations to Trump‐ and GOP-aligned super PACs (e.g., Make America Great Again Inc., MAGA Inc., Club for Growth Action), party committees, and outside groups classified as conservative.

Top contributors: Timothy Mellon ($172 million), Richard & Elizabeth Uihlein ($138 million), Sheldon & Miriam Adelson ($137 million), Elon Musk ($133 million), Kenneth Griffin ($101 million).

Democratic-Aligned PACs

Total from billionaires: $593 million

Covers contributions to Biden- and Democratic-aligned super PACs (e.g., Future Forward, House Majority PAC), party committees, and outside groups considered liberal.

Top contributors: Michael Bloomberg ($43 million), Dustin Moskovitz ($39 million), Fred Eychaner ($31 million), James & Marilyn Simons ($31 million), Reid Hoffman ($27 million).

[bala]

Strictly a US thing, the Big Beautiful Bill of DJT/Repubs passed the house today and DJT is expected to Sign before July 4th, Independence day for the US.

It's a massive victory for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who was able to flip dozens of members who had initially threatened to vote "no" — as well as for Trump and Senate Republicans.

The bill passed 218-214. Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) were the only Republicans to join all Democrats in voting against the measure.

https://www.axios.com/2025/07/03/trump- ... ress-house

The bill provides tax benefits for many. The bill makes permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts and adds additional tax benefits, including eliminating taxes on tips and overtime. Those in Blue states with high home prices and real estate taxes can deduct upto $40K instead of $10K as SALT.

[A_Gupta]

Bing CoPilot:

What counts as a small donor contribution in American elections?

In the 2024 elections what were the small donor contributions to the Democratic and Republican parties and candidates and their associated political action committees?


Definition of a Small‐Donor Contribution

In U.S. federal elections, a contribution of $200 or less from an individual is considered a “small‐donor” (or “small‐dollar”) contribution. These gifts can be made to:

Federal candidates’ campaign committees

National party committees (e.g., DNC, RNC)

Primary‐ or general‐election PACs (including super PACs and hybrid PACs)

Ballot‐measure campaigns and other outside groups

All of these contributions must be itemized and reported to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

2024 Small‐Donor Fundraising: Democrats vs. Republicans

Below are the best‐available figures for money raised in the 2024 federal cycle by small donors ($200 and under) to each party’s candidates, party committees, and affiliated PACs.

Code: Select all

Party/Group	Small-Donor Total	Notes	Source
Democrats	≈ $1.5 billion	ActBlue platform (all Democratic campaigns/PACs combined)	ActBlue Q3 2024 report
— Presidential ticket (Biden/Harris)	$285 million	Raised from small donors since Apr 2023	AP/OpenSecrets
— DNC (individuals $1–$200)	$40 million	First four months under Chair Ken Martin	DNC press release
Republicans	≈ $500 million	WinRed platform estimates (all GOP campaigns/PACs combined)	WinRed aggregate, see note*
— Presidential ticket (Trump)	$98 million	Raised from small donors through June 2024	AP/OpenSecrets
— RNC (individuals $1–$200)	Data not publicly broken out by donor level	RNC reports $72 million total cash on hand (all donor sizes)	CNBC/MSN summary

*WinRed does not publish a single “Q3 report” like ActBlue. Independent analyses of small‐donor activity on WinRed in 2024 suggest total small‐dollar fundraising on WinRed is roughly one-third that of ActBlue’s $1.5 billion, or around $500 million.

How These Dollars Were Raised

ActBlue (Democrats): Over 6.9 million contributors gave 31 million gifts averaging $49 each in Q3 2024, for a combined total of $1.55 billion for Democratic candidates, party committees, and allied PACs.

WinRed (Republicans): While WinRed does not publicly detail small‐donor totals by quarter, independent trackers estimate GOP small‐dollar totals in 2024 at roughly $500 million, based on donation‐volume ratios versus ActBlue and FEC filings.

Major Tickets: Democratic nominees Biden and Harris pulled $285 million from small donors since April 2023; Republican nominee Trump took in $98 million from small donors through mid-2024.

Party Committees: The DNC drew $40 million in small gifts in its first four months under Chair Ken Martin — the strongest start ever for grassroots fundraising by a new chair. The RNC reported $72 million cash on hand by May 2025 but does not break out how much came from sub-$200 donors.

[Vayutuvan]

Bing CoPilot:

In the 2024 election cycle how much did billionaires give to Political Action Committees aligned with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party?

Billionaire Contributions to Party-Aligned PACs in 2024

Below are the total known contributions from billionaires to federal political action committees (PACs, super PACs, hybrid PACs, party committees, and outside groups) aligned with each major party in the 2024 election cycle. These figures are compiled from filings tracked by the campaign‐finance nonprofit OpenSecrets and reported in news analyses.

Republican-Aligned PACs
Total from billionaires: $1.06 billion
...
Democratic-Aligned PACs
Total from billionaires: $593 million
...

$0.6Billion vs $1.06 Billion. Not too different in terms of the amount of money gotten. As for the small donors, 10x money was given out as handouts by Obama and Biden which was kicked by the poor into their campaigns. Afterall, KD did spend 1+ billion USD. Trump spent at most 0.5 billion on his campaign.

Elections in the US are not won unless the candidates do carve outs for SIGs and lobbies.

Both need the help of billionaires. Only thing is that Dems become multimillionaires so do billionaire Republicans.

[Vayutuvan]

Those in Blue states with high home prices and real estate taxes can deduct upto $40K instead of $10K as SALT.

I don't like that part. It should have been capped at $20K. These blue states are dolts in managing their state finances what with sanctuary cities and all that flim flam.

[Jay]

I don't like that part. It should have been capped at $20K. These blue states are dolts in managing their state finances what with sanctuary cities and all that flim flam.

I guess you would not object to bikhari red states mooching all the tax dollars from these blue states.

https://time.com/7222411/blue-states-ar ... ed-states/

[saip]

The bill provides tax benefits for many. The bill makes permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts and adds additional tax benefits, including eliminating taxes on tips and overtime. Those in Blue states with high home prices and real estate taxes can deduct upto $40K instead of $10K as SALT.

Yea that SALTy thing has an income cutoff. So only poor people in CA can benefit. And still can't donate much just like Trumpy boy (after real estate and state taxes there is no margin for donations). About tips I WILL definitely cut my habit of 20 to 10. No sense giving away my taxed dollars to benefit untaxed people.

[bala]

^^
The SALT deductions for Blue states and others is upto 500K income - that rules out people like politico money bags Nancy Pelosi and Diane Feinstein. Effectively 10 K to 40 K means tax relief of around 10K in pockets of upper muddle class of US.
On tips: yes people will give less since they are not taxed. Also the establishments employing the hired hands may dip into the kitty.