I did not mean to imply any moral equivalence between Iran and the USA.

Iran is a genocidal apocalyptic religious autocracy. It is dangerous to modern civilization. The USA is (at present though less so recently) a liberal pluralistic Democracy, where the excesses of one person or group tend to get moderated.

They are not the same.

Yes, that is exactly what this is.

It is simultaneously true that:

• The USA has been the global hegemon for almost a century. During this time it has committed serious crimes and needlessly caused many civilian deaths in pursuit of its political goals. To make matters worse, the current US President is overtly antidemocratic and credibly threatening allies and enemies alike.

AND

• The regime in Iran is overtly theocratic -- and therefore fundamentally disconnected from reality. Its leaders, their media, and as such some of society at large has a Blame-Everyone-Else mentality that MAGA would find extreme. They honestly, truly, deeply believe that God will relieve their suffering only if they can kill all the evil Jews in the Holy Land, and restore the Just rule of Islam (which they happen to speak for). And nukes is the only realistic way they can do that.

Trump says that the UK is "very well protected". You know why? Because I like them," Trump said, and Starmer laughed.

Ah.. the Whoever The King Likes doctrine of international relations

The murder-to-save-babies community is entirely faith-based

The USA is splitting. It is not about Republicans and Democrats anymore, nor is it really about Conservatives vs Liberals.

It is about the Faith-based community, versus the Reality-based one.

Personally I want to be on the side that has science and vaccines and no Invisible Friend in the Sky.

Isreal: "This is the start of a weekslong campaign"

Isreal, day 1: decapitates military, destroys air defenses

Day 2: Now able to fly with impunity, strikes military and energy targets in broad daylight

News media, day 3: "Isreal has failed to totally end all Iranian nuclear efforts!"

Guess what Trump's Tarriffs and trade war against literally every other country are only just getting started.

The stagflation is quite possibly upon us in a matter of weeks

Fun fact: the Freedom From Religion Foundation is also party to the suit

matrix

IMO getting Matrix's UI to work like apps people are familiar with is an order of magnitude less effort than any other option, and possibly an order of magnitude better than other options in terms of meeting the design goal of private messaging.

OTOH I don't make UI's 🤪

I've been in Signal chats with Tulsi Gabbard's staff.

And no ofc it's not that impressive. They used the app during the Dem Primary campaign trail so all the campaign volunteers used it to coordinate.

Back then I thought she would be a charismatic Dem that could win against Trump -- when none of the Dems (esp. not Biden IMO) seemed to have a chance.

Back then she was inclusive with her political rhetoric. She was the only candidate on either side whose primary message was:

Respect the other side as people, and try to understand their point of view

OMFG I wish I'd hear that from politicians more often. Or ever.

Please forgive me. I was like 9 years younger back then and Tulsi hadn't gone MAGA.