Understanding the US - Again

[A_Gupta]

The cost of making apparel in the USA:
https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/ ... made-in-us

[Jay]

Did Epstein commit suicide? If so, who was in charge of NY at that time and who was the president?

President donald trump, with his justice department lead by will barr was running the MCC jail. I understand you are forgetting this, grey hair moment I suppose...it's ok.

I am not condoning. I am simply pointing out what is. But most Dumbocrats are not like you in this respect. But given your elitist attitude, you would be with the Dimwitocrats on almost all issues.

phew...for a moment I was worried you would accuse me of being with Retardlicans ...By the way, just my observation, I don't think elitist means what you think it means. Nevertheless, thanks for the compliment, I finally made my community college instructor proud.

In conclusion, Retardlicans are like Bhasmasura. Courting Bhasmasura Hastham is a guaranteed death knell for everything.

[uddu]

Church leaders arrested in multi-million dollar conspiracy after FBI raids

Two church leaders with ties to Tampa are facing federal charges and are at the center of what investigators are calling a multi-million-dollar conspiracy involving money laundering, forced labor and abuse.

[uddu]

Amtrak Unveils New High-Speed Acela Trains: Get an Inside Look!

Amtrak's NextGen Acela, the fastest train the United States has ever seen, is making its debut. The new high-speed train offers 5G WiFi, contoured seating, bigger windows, USB ports and more. Reporting for TODAY, NBC’s Tom Costello shares an inside look at the new service.

[Vayutuvan]

Did Epstein commit suicide? If so, who was in charge of NY at that time and who was the president?

President donald trump, with his justice department lead by will barr was running the MCC jail. I understand you are forgetting this, grey hair moment I suppose...it's ok.

My last on this as we were asked not to continue with this Epstein stuff.

Biden admin had four years to investigate further and make public any lists that were there. They didn't.

There are only two possibilities.

1. There is no official list other than some informal thing from somebody or the other.
2. There is one which contains names from both Dems and GOP politicos/supporters including some elite internationals.

In either case, nobody is going to jail.

So stop humble bragging that you are no elitist. Your trolling is too transparent.

[VinodTK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJlULR9BEDI&t=750s

17 minute Video, very sad to see a man being sot dead in the middle of LA street

Sikh man shot dead in LA: What prompted cops to take deadly action; was 'screaming and swinging at cars'

Police later identified the man as Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Arcadia. Singh, wearing a blue headscarf, abandoned his black Dodge Challenger in the middle of the road, and, according to LAPD, appeared to be performing Gatka, a traditional Sikh martial art, while brandishing the large blade.
At one point, officers said, he even appeared to slice his own tongue with the weapon.

[A_Gupta]

Per the US Constitution the Congress has the power of the purse.
Trump is attempting to nullify that.
From talkingpointsmemo.com

Congressional Democrats point to skyrocketing odds of a government shutdown Friday after President Trump announced that he’ll unilaterally take back money Congress had already appropriated for foreign aid, according to multiple outlets.

“As the country stares down next month’s government funding deadline on September 30th, it is clear neither President Trump nor Congressional Republicans have any plan to avoid a painful and entirely unnecessary shutdown,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement.

The move forces members of Congress to confront a question that has lingered over the legislative branch all year: What is the point of the two parties negotiating a federal budget if the executive branch insists it has the power to unilaterally determine what funds get spent? In this case, the administration seeks to make use of a loophole it claims it has discovered to refuse to spend funds appropriated by Congress.

The unprecedented gambit goes even further than what unfolded in July, when the White House sought to cancel money Congress had already approved. Then, at least, lawmakers voted on the rescission, which required only 50 votes and passed with only Republican support. This time, Trump isn’t bothering to get congressional Republicans’ sign-off. This new so-called pocket rescission totals $4.9 billion, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

“Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the Senate’s head appropriator, said in a Friday statement. She pointed to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finding that pocket rescissions are illegal under the Impoundment Control Act, as well as Congress’ power of the purse. The GAO, an independent watchdog agency within the legislative branch, has repeatedly stated that pocket rescissions are illegal.

“Republicans should not accept Russ Vought’s brazen attempt to usurp their own power. No president has a line item veto — and certainly not a retroactive line item veto,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the head Democratic appropriator, said in a statement, calling it an “absurd, illegal ploy” to “steal” lawmakers’ congressional power.

Vought, the director of the OMB, has led the charge on pocket rescissions, telegraphing for months his intention to request the rescission once the clock wound down on the fiscal year. Under the administration’s untested theory of the case, the timing loophole lets the President zero out any already allocated funds he chooses.

“I refuse to label Vought’s gambit a ‘pocket rescission’ because it gives his unlawful attempt to steal the promises Congress enacted an air of legitimacy it does not deserve,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the head Democratic appropriator in the House, said in a Friday statement.

Experts are dubious that even this ultra-conservative Supreme Court will sign off on such a brazen defiance of the separation of powers, with one telling TPM he doubts the gambit will get “a single vote” from the justices.

The move also strips the minority of what little power it usually has to demand concessions in exchange for votes during the appropriations process.

“Trump is rooting for a shutdown,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) tweeted Friday morning. “He knows he has created a huge problem because now any budget deal with Republicans isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. He’s not even pretending to follow the law.”

Even some congressional Republicans, beyond Collins, have criticized the gambit — though they’ve had a tendency this term to fall in line notwithstanding initial reservations.

“I have personally told Mr. Vought that I think that would be a mistake,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) told reporters last month.

[ricky_v]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... chitecture

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to establish classical architecture as the preferred style for US civic buildings, doubling down on a memo Trump issued just after resuming office in January.

With the new order, the White House has revised a longstanding ban against establishing an official style for government — and substantially boosted the profile of architecture firms that practice in a traditional style.

The order aims to return the national aesthetic to buildings that are “visually identifiable as civic buildings,” eschewing a federal program for selecting designers in a wide range of styles that dates back to the 1990s.

Going forward, when the US General Services Administration launches a design competition, the agency must “actively recruit” architects and firms “with experience in classical and traditional architecture,” the order reads. Federal design competitions must further guarantee that “multiple designs in such modes are advanced to the final evaluation round.” That preference could steer hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts toward a relatively small number of boutique firms that practice neoclassical or traditional design.

going back to the neo classical style of architecture that characterises america is a good move and something that should motivates other countries to follow provided that they have additional monies laying around, revival of movements in beaux-arts, baroque styles would be great

civic art imo should serve to inspire, create awe and motivate the public towards more aesthetically pleasing designs; past ww2, we have had brutalist and the ugliness of steel and glass monstrosities, utilitarian and soul-sucking at the same time, personally, would like to see more art-deco usage

in a bit of self-flagellation, i do not believe that there is a definitive style of indian architecture for secular purposes, the grand buildings that we have are the fusion of anglic-indic styles created by the british chiefly and copied by the wealthy afterwards; with the central vista works, this was something that could have been remedied, but alas, the offices, new parliament does not inspire such at least from the outside

[chetak]

US court rules many of Trump's global tariffs are illegal


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgj7jxkq58o

A US appeals court has ruled that most tariffs issued by US President Donald Trump are illegal, setting up a potential legal showdown that could upend his foreign policy agenda.

The ruling affects Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, imposed on most countries around the world, as well as other tariffs slapped on China, Mexico and Canada.

In a 7-4 decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected Trump's argument that the tariffs were permitted under an emergency economic powers act, calling them "invalid as contrary to law".

The ruling will not take effect until 14 October to give the administration time to ask the Supreme Court to take up the case.

Trump criticised the appeals court and its ruling on Truth Social, saying: "If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America."

"Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end," he wrote.

"If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong."

Trump had justified the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which gives the president the power to act against "unusual and extraordinary" threats.

Trump has declared a national emergency on trade, arguing that a trade imbalance is harmful to US national security. But the court ruled that imposing tariffs is not within the president's mandate, and that setting levies is "a core Congressional power".

[Mort Walker]

The 1974 Trade Act allows the president to assign tariffs based on national security and financial injury to US labor. At worst this will force the Trump admin to re-issue the tariffs based on Sections 301 and others to get what they want. It may not make sense, but none of this makes sense to begin with. Had the president consulted congress to get even token legislation passed; he could have forced a blanket tariffs of 10-15% across all imports, which would have stuck.

The US congress is equally responsible for giving the president too much imperial powers. This applies to both US political parties.

[chetak]

[drnayar]

US court rules many of Trump's global tariffs are illegal


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgj7jxkq58o

A US appeals court has ruled that most tariffs issued by US President Donald Trump are illegal, setting up a potential legal showdown that could upend his foreign policy agenda.

The ruling affects Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, imposed on most countries around the world, as well as other tariffs slapped on China, Mexico and Canada.

In a 7-4 decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected Trump's argument that the tariffs were permitted under an emergency economic powers act, calling them "invalid as contrary to law".

Trump has declared a national emergency on trade, arguing that a trade imbalance is harmful to US national security. But the court ruled that imposing tariffs is not within the president's mandate, and that setting levies is "a core Congressional power".

US tariffs on India are " sanctions" not tariffs , so i guess that will stay irrespective of what the supreme court does !

[durairaaj]

Yes, We should stop applying lipstick on pig. Let's call it by its true essence, which is "Sanctions".

[chetak]

America’s Hypocrisy Exposed: How US Blocked Israel From Arming India – And Now Criticises Russian Defense Deals



https://zeenews.india.com/world/america ... 53823.html

America’s Hypocrisy Exposed: How US Blocked Israel From Arming India – And Now Criticises Russian Defense Deals

Washington’s selective outrage laid bare as India faces criticism for choices shaped by past U.S. denials.

[chetak]

for a guy with a hammer, every problem soon begins to look like a nail

Is this the first and faint glimmerings of the realization of a massive fcukup of gargantuan proportions that they have brought down upon the world, or is it a last ditch attempt to salvage the multiple crises that they have so wilfully and malevolently created (on one who was once been acknowledged as a steadfast friend) in the megalomaniac's quest for lasting historical relevance which, BTW, will world will ensure eludes him

The sharp and quick realignment of global players against the amriki "empire" has exposed this emperor's feet of clay


Hame To Apno Ne Luta, Gairo Me Kaha Dum Tha.

Meri Kishti Wahan Doobi, Jahan Pani Kam

New Delhi:

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged hugs and handshakes with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese premier Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China's Tianjin, a key member of US President Donald Trump's team has termed New Delhi-Washington DC ties a "defining relationship of the 21st century".

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, has said the relationship between US and India continues to reach new heights.

"This month, we're spotlighting the people, progress, and possibilities driving us forward.

From innovation and entrepreneurship to defense and bilateral ties, it's the enduring friendship between our two peoples that fuels this journey," the US Embassy quoted Rubio as saying.

The post on X came minutes before Prime Minister Modi's meeting with President Putin on sidelines of SCO.

U.S. Embassy India@USAndIndia

The partnership between the United States and India continues to reach new heights — a defining relationship of the 21st century.

This month, we’re spotlighting the people, progress, and possibilities driving us forward.

From innovation and entrepreneurship to defense and bilateral ties, it’s the enduring friendship between our two peoples that fuels this journey.

Follow the hashtag and be a part of #USIndiaFWDforOurPeople. 11:30 AM · Sep 1, 2025

[A_Gupta]

Maybe Rex Tillerson Was Right. Maybe Donald Trump Really Is Just A Moron.
His lying and temper tantrums aside, evidence abounds that the president's most important, and dangerous, feature is his ignorance.

http://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-ign ... 35adb3ace1

[Vayutuvan]

Latest polls:

Dem Support for potential 2028 picks
Gavin Newsom: 25%
Pete Buttigieg: 16%
Kamala Harris: 11%
Undecided: 16%
Aug-26-26, 387 Dem primary voters MOE +- 4.9%

Hypothetical Presidential Matchup
Vance: 44%
Newsom: 44%
Undecided: 12%
Aug 25-26, 1000 US Adults, MOE +-3%

Americans' satisfaction with US, by party
(in 2025)
Dem: 0%
Republicans: 75%
Indep: 25%
Gallup poll

The last poll means GOP can say goodbye to both House and Senate majorities.

[gakakkad]

^ agreed . It was independents like me that brought this buffoon to wh .

Dems should think of centrist folks like Josh Shapiro rather than far left like the others . Id not show up to vote for AOC or any jihadi supporters .

[Vayutuvan]

^ agreed . It was independents like me that brought this buffoon to wh .

Dems should think of centrist folks like Josh Shapiro rather than far left like the others . Id not show up to vote for AOC or any jihadi supporters .

Those three who are in the lead do not inspire confidence in the Dem leadership.

A white rich nepokid snake oil salesman with slick hair and even slicker demeanor, an intersectional failed DOT secy who spent money on chartered air travel, and a failed candidate who blew off 1 Billion crisp greenbacks and nothing to show for it.

Firstly, Biden should have gone with some other AA woman as his VP. Secondly, they should have had a better replacement for Biden in the 11th hour.

It is wonder that Orangeutan beat HiC due to latter's arrogance. Dems learned nothing and nominated yet another dud against a known idiot and philanderer.