We at Homeland Security Today have once again reached out to our Editorial Board, columnists, and community of subject-matter experts to ask for their assessment of the threats facing the nation in 2025. As our readers know, our experts come from a unique cadre with practical experience who have devoted their careers to defending and protecting America. In this three-part series, we share their assessments of the risks and vulnerabilities that should be at the forefront of our community.
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@#9
Along those lines ...
Callers swamp Senate offices in Trump's first weeks, leading to busy signals and full voicemail (February 5, 2025)
apnews.com
Lawmakers flooded with calls about Elon Musk: It is a deluge on DOGE'
www.washingtonpost.com
@#14 ... Time to arm up and storm the White House. ...
Is that what MAGA is hoping will happen?
MAGA seems to want to find some excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act.
The Insurrection Act Explained (2022)
www.brennancenter.org
... The law, which lets the president deploy the military domestically and use it for civilian law enforcement, is dangerously vague and in urgent need of reform. ...
@#5 ... Or Yav, the little fella either.
Nor do I see any reference to Yav in this thread.
Were comments deleted?
Or might you just be having a bad night? Wish I knew.
What's up?
4 Non Blondes - What's Up
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
25 years and my life is still
Tryin' to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination
I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means
...
[Chorus]
And I say, hey-ey-ey
Hey-ey-ey
I said "Hey, a-what's going on?"
And I say, hey-ey-ey
Hey-ey-ey
I said "Hey, a-what's going on?"
...
An interesting tune, not only for what it proffers, but also for one of those tunes where the title of the tune is not present in the lyrics.
@#9 .. Skydiving is a sport - or it can be. There are some incredible competitions in it. ...
But was this, I'll say, a stunt, not a sporting event.
More like a dare-devil event designed to attract attention.
Evel Knievel comes to mind.
Evel Knievel
en.wikipedia.org
... Robert Craig Knievel (October 17, 1938 " November 30, 2007), known professionally as Evel Knievel, was an American stunt performer and entertainer. Throughout his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps. Knievel was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.[1] ...
Whoa, "entertainer."
I had not ascribed that appellation to this event.
But yeah, it seems to be more apropos.
November 2024...
Michigan Muslims shun Harris over Gaza war, turn to Stein, Trump
www.newarab.com
Now ...
In Michigan, some Arab American voters revisit their support for Trump after he suggests "take over" of Gaza Strip
www.cbsnews.com
@#12 ... And, as noted by LampLighter here, apparently voters are all in favor of Trump's approach. ...
Not all, but most.
And, even with that, this is concerning for Democracy.
How Hitler Won Over the German People (2008)
www.spiegel.de
... There were still many Germans who were skeptical of Hitler when he became chancellor in 1933. But Fhrer propaganda and military success soon turned him into an idol. The adulation helped make the Third Reich catastrophe possible. ...
@#4 ... Remember, farmers here voted for this. ...
Jesus and Tribalism (2020)
seejesus.net
... Jesus' world was more riven with tribalism than our own, so we can learn from how he responds:
1 " Jesus is aware of tribal differences.
Jesus is aware of the tribal differences that plagued his world. Here's a short list of tribal tensions that we come across in the New Testament: Jews vs. Romans, Samaritans vs. Jews, Jew vs. Greek, Greek Jews vs. Hebrew Jews, Clean Jews vs. Unclean Jews, Sinful Jews vs. Pure Jews, Pharisees vs. Sadducees, Rich vs. Poor, Men vs. Women.
When Jesus asks the Samaritan woman (John 4) for a drink, he knows that Jews abhor drinking from vessels that Samaritans have used. He's aware that Pilate has power over him and he openly respects that power when he tells Pilate in John 16, "My kingdom is from another world." That is, "Pilate, I'm no threat to you." I was telling this to my granddaughter Claire, who's off to college this year, and she said, "Jesus is woke!"
It seems trite to say that Jesus was aware of tribalism, but when you are in a more privileged tribe, you can miss what it feels like to be in a "weaker" tribe. Reflecting back on my ten years working in urban Christian schools, that was true of me. I loved the kids and parents I worked with. I was immersed in their world, caring for them, sacrificing for them, and just enjoying them. We, and especially Jill, endured significant financial hardship during those years. We started a Christian school in West Philly (CitySchool.org) with the express purpose of fostering a multi-racial witness to Jesus. Our first three children went to the school and all developed deep cross-cultural friendships. We were "all in." ...
Adams Urges N.Y.C. Officials to Avoid Criticizing Trump Administration
www.nytimes.com
... In response to concerns about his cooperation with the Trump administration, Mayor Eric Adams on Monday told top aides that being confrontational could hurt New York City. ...
Wow, also this ...
Secret Service Spoke to Trump Campaign About Remark (2016)
web.archive.org
... The Secret Service has spoken to Donald Trump's campaign about the remark he made at a rally about "Second Amendment people" stopping Hillary Clinton -- which has been widely condemned as a possible reference to assassination. "There has been more than one conversation" on the topic, a Secret Service official told CNN. Trump said Tuesday, "If she gets to pick, if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know." ...
Wow, so Pres Trump apparent encouraging of violence against his political opponents is not something new?
OK, I went to the Way-Back Machine to find my post where I wrned about Pres Trump back in the summer of 2016. I'm still looking, but I did find this excerpt from history ...
Why Mainstream Republicans Fear to Dump Trump (August 2016)
web.archive.org
...
" ... This is the Death of the Republican Party. And its downright hilarious. ... "
" ... Mean while Hillary had Sanders taken out and now it's coming out that she had Seth Rich taken out as he was on his way to the FBI, At least Sanders just got paid off and is still alive. ..."
" ... The ignorant right thinks it is ok to make horrible false accusations as long as they are directed at Hillary Clinton. Shameless cowards. ...
@#8 ... Yea, I'm not buying that whole 3D chess thing. ...
It's 4D chess now.
Fox's Kayleigh McEnany Slams Media Over Reaction to Trump's 4D Chess' Move in Gaza: You All Are Playing Checkers'
www.mediaite.com
Do try to keep up ...
;)
@#6 ... A literally insane man would not be able to do what Trump has done. If you think he's insane, you're underestimating him. Again. ...
Underestimating him? Maybe.
Insane? i remain to be convinced otherwise.
Ambrosia - Harvey (1976)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
genius.com
...
One thin line
Draws the border
Between madness And the genius
...
@#6 ... Monkey with a machine gun. He has no goal. He's an old man with dementia. ...
... and MAGA complains about Pres Biden?