Per his campaign’s transcript of his prepared remarks in this very speech (obviously which differs from what he actually ended up saying, due to ad-libs and additional helpings of word salad), he still thinks China paid those tariffs directly to the U.S. Treasury.

whom the policy would benefit*

“Even the early inclusion of Sophon has my spidey-sense tingling; they’re worried about scaring people off so they’re front-loading badass samurai sword lady.”

Okay, the second book in this series seems to have given that theory a name, or at least a popular one, but it didn’t invent the idea. I think it’s a fair and certainly interesting suggestion under the umbrella of the Fermi Paradox.

I, too, hope with every fiber of my being that he doesn’t win.  But to act like it’s not a possibility, or a coin flip, is way too optimistic.

I suppose the “runaway” part can be discussed, but since the tariffs he put into place last time were disasters for Americans in a number of economic ways, there’s no reason to think that this time they’d be any less disastrous.

Fuck off, Trumpet.

And while Independence Day involved the then-current President, in the sequel he definitely fit the bill of a former President called in to help.  Or rather, called himself in, I suppose.

Which isn’t even getting to the biggest part yet: the actual star of the show she appeared in has become a superstar over the course of it, famously has a trans sister whom he truly loves and supports in every way, and presumably told their bosses: “shut her up or get her the fuck off my show.”  And, not being idiots,…

It’s because the author didn’t bother to put any thought into the work.

Not seeing a problem.

Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles: the only people allowed to paint a Death Star on the kill list on their starfighters.

“instead one blew up on the launch pad”

I don’t think that’s accurate.

They’d get over it and find something else.  Leaving aside entirely the merits of the argument, there was a time before TikTok and there would be a time after it, and they’d be fine.

“I mean Hitler was a monster, full stop, but”

(record scratch)

“What’s more, they attempted to pass the blame off onto Smith”

Timothy Dalton would never be this much of an asshole.

“Something bad happened” is a perfectly reasonable inference to draw from the little that is known so far.

I agree that it’s counterproductive to wish rape upon anyone.  But I think it’s fair to hope that Tate is lawfully sentenced to years in a Romanian prison where he will have to do his best to avoid the kind of assault that he views as perfectly OK to inflict upon women.  And I hope he does successfully avoid it, and…

I hope that take still exists somewhere - what a classic piece of Chevy Chase physical comedy it would be!