this post was submitted on 21 Jan 2026
420 points (99.5% liked)

politics

28509 readers
2751 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 194 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Trump: we must free Venezuela from this dictator

Also trump: sometimes you need a dictator

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 72 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Americans have a long history of backing friendly dictatorships. The entire history of the Saudi Monarchy is predicated on support from the US and the UK. Same with the military dictatorships in Egypt and Turkiye, as well as the newly installed dictatorship in Syria.

We have beef with Venezuela because it's socialist not because it's dictatorial.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 22 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yes, and the exact reasons Venezuela is in a bad state is because it's dictatorial, not because it's socialist.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 21 points 1 month ago

It's in a bad state because it's under heavy sanction and periodic military attack.

Honduras, by contrast, is a dictatorship with very friendly US trade relations and little to no risk of being bombed by American jets. So their economy is outperforming.

[–] tempest@lemmy.ca 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Socialist is a weird way to spell oil

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 25 points 1 month ago

If you look at Chavez’s regime toward the end of his life, you’re honestly going to find a lot of shit that is analogous, or identical, to what Trump is doing. Authoritarian populist demagoguery, but wrapped in North american conservatism instead of South American socialism.

[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

Trump using force to try and quell protests while condemning Iran for doing the same

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world 100 points 1 month ago (3 children)

But Harris campaigned with the Cheneys so she would have been as bad or even worse.

[–] SippyCup@lemmy.ml 92 points 1 month ago (3 children)

What an absolutely insane campaign strategy that was.

[–] lps2@lemmy.ml 51 points 1 month ago (18 children)

Trying to get the middle in the most boring way possible. Dems will never learn that being the 'safe option' doesn't get people out to the polls

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

Trying to get the middle in the most boring way possible.

I mean, it was a lot of things. I don't know about boring.

Harris found one of the most universally reviled (ex-)House Reps and did Girl Power brunch interviews with her so that everyone would know the number one issue for a Harris Presidency was sucking up to neocon ghouls. If you have to ask how Donald J. Trump became the "Peace President" candidate in the year of our lord 2024, this was how. Jeff Flake, Bill Kristol, Cindy McCain, and the Cheney Cartel did spirit fingers at her on public TV on multiple occasions, while her own VP was confined to the cuck chair to just watch the trainwreck of a campaign flare out.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] LillyPip@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I know I’ll get hate for this, but politics is often about playing a safe numbers game, and courting leftists is like herding cats.

If you want to start winning elections, maybe be less like a herd of cats. Stop sniping at compatriots and form coalitions.

[–] lps2@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 month ago (10 children)

How's that been working out for Dems? That's the exact approach they've taken and have gotten humiliated at the ballot box. This isn't about how far left they court, it's about bold policy that actually helps the middle if they want their vote. Instead it's vague platitudes and "we're not as bad as the Republicans" without anything to back it up. So while it gets them points in opinion polls, it doesn't translate to votes

load more comments (10 replies)
[–] Tempus_Fugit@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

It's the last time I fall for that.

load more comments (15 replies)
[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It was weird, but pivoting to poll tested messages, and refusing to shit on Biden, is probably what really sunk her. She was doing well early on when she was being fast and disruptive. Then she reverted to the boring old playbook.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] SatansMaggotyCumFart@piefed.world 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I know she should have ran as a McCartneyist-Lennonist.

[–] cattywampas@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago (2 children)
[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 month ago

Pretty sure she's NOT the Walrus, though 🤔

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator

~ George W. Bush

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] danekrae@lemmy.world 54 points 1 month ago

Trump again vows to be a day-one 'dictator' in Iowa town hall - Jan 11, 2024

But he wouldn't just lie like that, surely people would rise up...

[–] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 35 points 1 month ago

Sometimes, pieces of shit need to be guillotined. Just a fact of life I guess. 🤷‍♂️

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 26 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Well, he has the first half of "Dictator" down....

[–] Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de 23 points 1 month ago

He'll never get our potatoes though

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] PistolPete@lemmy.ml 23 points 1 month ago

Guys, let's not overreact. We all know he meant this.

[–] Corngood@lemmy.ml 21 points 1 month ago

We had a good speech, we got great reviews. I can’t believe it, we got good reviews on that speech,

You have to admit this is fucking hilarious, in addition to being terrifying.

[–] FenderStratocaster@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There is one thing dictators are good for and it's dying.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] muxika@lemmy.world 10 points 1 month ago

He's emboldened to do this shit because he thinks he's unstoppable, seeing as he's gotten away with so much already. He has his judges, his soldiers, his rigged elections, and his admin lackeys. Opinions from world leaders and the American public don't matter anymore.

[–] Redditsux@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

lol oh god.

[–] jim@lemmy.org 8 points 1 month ago

Me: Trump is going to try to be a dictator

Trump: I wanna be a dictator

Lemmy Libs: you’re banned for inciting violence.

[–] z3rOR0ne@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Oh Donald...it's so obvious you know nothing of history and how dictatorships end. But hey, you're well in the fuck around phase right now...

[–] MuskyMelon@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

It's like listening to a crazy homeless guy wandering the streets near Port Authority, screaming at the sky.

[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago

I wish the Swiss would have arrested him on the spot

load more comments
view more: next ›