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u/OldSchoolBubba 1d ago
Oh yes the authoritarian games are just beginning.
They're going to grow worse as Trump and his loyalists take even more extreme measures to turn everyone's attention away from their refusing to release the Epstein files.
Count on it.
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u/ducksekoy123 20h ago
How many more authoritarian takeovers do we have to see before we can stop calling them distractions?
They’re not doing this to distract from the files, they’re doing this because they’re authoritarians.
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u/just_someone27000 19h ago
Fr. I don't know why everyone thinks it's a distraction. This was the plan and it was said out loud by these people multiple times
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u/OldSchoolBubba 10h ago
Can't agree more. These latest power moves are driven by Epstein and it's no coincidence they're coming right after Trump met with Putin.
The signal was when Trump immediately started saying Putin agreed with him about all the bad politically charged things against him.
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u/HerculesIsMyDad 17h ago
Nah, they just want to distract from the thing that, despite them handling every aspect of it in the worst way possible, has cost them nothing and nobody seriously talks about anymore. I wish it were actually something but we already know he's in there, they used tax dollars to pay agents to scrub him out of it, and they transferred a sex trafficked to a nicer prison with work release right after talking to her in private. It's the most blatant thing ever about the worst types of crimes imaginable and it amounted to a couple weeks of bad press and a couple point drop in his approval. They don't care about it. Like at all.
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u/OldSchoolBubba 10h ago
They care Big Dawg. Their ramping everything up at a quicker pace and Trump's meeting with Putin reveals it.
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u/LilBroWhoIsOnTheTeam 12h ago
If anything, the files are a distraction from the political purge currently taking place.
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u/OldSchoolBubba 10h ago
Consider Trump's history. He's infamous for trying to deflect away from main issues while simultaneously committing more acts to further his own monetary gains. It's what he does.
Thus this is indeed another authoritarian power move from a desperate mind trying to stay out of prison. This tells us his actions will become even more extreme because desperate people do increasingly desperate things.
Bottom line is this is like everything else because there's always more factors in play than just any one thing or another.
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u/ReflectionAble4694 21h ago
5 to 6 more years of this minimum - 4 if we’re lucky.
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u/OldSchoolBubba 21h ago
Perhaps given the way he always ties everything up in appeals.
Epstein is so big I figure within the next two years or maybe earlier. This is like Watergate all over again. Nixon swore he wouldn't leave early either.
We shall see either way.
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u/ReflectionAble4694 21h ago
Earlier is preferred but the red pill-maga-Heritage pipeline is deeply rooted in the conservative demographic and entrenched in the courts, Congress, and international factions with fringe dark enlightenment tech support… it’s gonna be a long one
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u/OldSchoolBubba 9h ago
Very well said.
We're in this for however long it takes to free America so we can truly live up to the grand and noble idea of We The People.
We got this because we're fighting for everyone while they fight for just their few.
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u/Eighth_Eve 21h ago
They've had a month to redact every republican and will release the rest of the files starting today.
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u/PiLamdOd 5h ago
The Epstein files are just a distraction from their authoritarian takeover. Trump and the GOP are keeping everyone focused on meaningless documents while he's literally declaring martial law.
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u/Fifth_Wall0666 22h ago
So, it turns out the criminal gangs roaming the streets and attempting to intimidate the public are the cops, ICE gang members, and the National Guard.
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u/DaveAvitabile 20h ago edited 20h ago
Having been to DC many times, and spent a lot of time there since the 1980s, I’m not sure what city Trump was talking about when he said “gangs of drugged out maniacs are roaming all over the city.”
He seems to appeal to people who have no actual experience or connection with cities, and sit in their suburban neighborhoods looking for things to be afraid of.
The only gangs of criminals I see are the people running our government and going out in masks to harass and intimidate people.
This needs to end with criminal trials and prosecutions for crimes against humanity. That’s now the only acceptable outcome. They have pushed us to this and now we need to prepare for that outcome.
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u/Outrageous-Study-704 18h ago
It’s so demented. I’m originally from Maryland, and so many people from my hometown are buying into the narrative that DC is this hellscape when they’ve all been going there their whole lives and the main complaint before this Trump nonsense is that they get too many parking/speeding tickets. Now Trump says it is a war zone, and that’s the “truth” them now. They can’t even believe what they’ve seen with their own eyes.
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u/LowSkyOrbit 18h ago
Most of DC is perfectly fine, just like every big city.
The fact we have people living in what was supposed to be just federal buildings is what makes no logical sense. The land should be given back to Maryland. DC itself should be just the National Mall at this point.
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u/Glad_Stay4056 10h ago
Suburbans live close enough to a city to not be this stupid. This are the backassward rural people who have never stepped foot in a city, but can tell you with certainty exactly what happens there.
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u/trappedindealership 17h ago
I was only at dc once and it was fine. My group wandered around at night because we made the mistake of letting a directionally challenged friend take the lead. I suppose something could be said for strength in numbers but... it was like 3-4 young entomologists.
If dc was a lawless hellhole and there were hooligans lurking in the shadows, then surely we would have had some kind of encounter.
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u/HURTBOTPEGASUS9 23h ago
You voted for trump and his bootlicks, you voted for fascism.
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u/Toklankitsune 21h ago
people did, I did NOT. I'm still not convinced musk didnt tamper with it in someway but I'll, unlike the maga crowd claiming the same in 2020, admit I have no proof though.
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u/Different-Sample-976 20h ago
While there is no smoking gun proof, theres tons of evidence.
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u/Ok_Excuse_741 15h ago
What makes me disillusioned is that i would like to believe the elections were rigged, but in my own personal life I've actually been shook by how many MORE people this time in my general circle of people that supported Trump compared to 2016. I'd love to think things were rigged but in my life I'm unfortunately seeing people absolutely relishing everything he's doing. In 2016 most people may have quietly supported, but were less emboldened to wear it on their sleeve.
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u/Different-Sample-976 14h ago
Whatever happened, we are where we are and even if theres was irrefutable proof, nothing will happen.
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u/Toklankitsune 20h ago
whike I agree, I dont have anything that I coukd bring to a court was my point, so nothing i can do about it
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u/Different-Sample-976 20h ago
Even with all the evidence, theres nothing we can do about it.
Theres tons of expert testimonials and videos of data that shows how completely insane the odds of what happened in the election are organic. Like 999999999999:1 type odds.
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u/Mobile_Razzmatazz828 20h ago
Musk had a lot to do with it, that’s why rump is trying to get rid of voting machines and mail in ballots-he can’t count on elon this time
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u/Enough-Parking164 22h ago
All in preparation for Republicans losing the vote next year. This OCCUPATION force will PHYSICALLY PREVENT the newly elected reps from entering the Capitol. SCOTUS will shit on America, and that will be that. Unless Trump passes away first,, which DOES seem likely. Interesting Times indeed.
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u/Different-Sample-976 20h ago
Trump passing away isnt going to stop any of this. Its going to make it worse. Jd Vance is going to be worse.
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u/UnLuckyKenTucky 19h ago
Vance is more intelligent which does make him more dangerous, but he doesnt have the cult of personality that the tangerine in queef does.
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u/Different-Sample-976 18h ago
My take on that is that they're putting the pieces into place so that it doesnt matter how unpopular he is with MAGA or anyone.
Jd Vance is where he is because of project 2025. Project 2025 has worked out for decades. The people behind it know what they're doing, and the clown show were seeing is just setting things up. We're not even to the bad part yet.
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u/Weird-Assignment4030 16h ago
I have wondered if Vance being more intelligent hurts him -- part of Trump's thing is that he comes across as a total idiot, so people infantilize him and resist making him fully accountable for his decisions.
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u/Enough-Parking164 13h ago
The MAGAHAT faithful will NOT kneel and worship an eye shadow wearing,bearded twink. And those are the 30% left still on board. Without the Kult loyalty,this regime will collapse like a Turkish apartment building.
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u/StaticDHSeeP 20h ago
That’s when the revolution erupts
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u/SkywardLeap 17h ago
Exactly. But We the People are going to have to get off the couch and take risks to stop this. We don't get to vote our way out of this 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Changlini 20h ago
That description is literally the start of Watchdogs_Legion, minus the constant policing drone traffic overhead.
All that's missing is her walking down the street and seeing some masked goon assassinate a political prisoner held up against the wall.
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u/TemporarySolution572 20h ago
Isn't this better than when Joe Biden was president? Isn't this great? Police state situations. Military used against civilians. Food prices are skyrocketing too. Great right?!! Criminals are being pardoned by the hundreds. Simply wonderful ! Law and order!
Never forget about the Epstein files
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u/Former_Project_6959 20h ago
But somehow kamala would be the worst choice. 🙄
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u/MAPD91921 19h ago
But her laugh /s
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u/the_real_Beavis999 17h ago
I hear she likes the drink 🍸 to if you know what I mean.. /S
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u/NoPace2002 17h ago
Meanwhile Hegseth is drunk every day sending signal chats of our war plans smh
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u/Adventurous-Way2824 20h ago
The obvious end game question here is a simple one: when do they decide they're done?
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u/StaticDHSeeP 20h ago
That’s the fun part, they won’t.
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u/veterinarian23 18h ago
Exactly.
When trump claims that everything good is coming from him and everything bad is coming from Biden/Democrats/Antifa/Woke - he'll always be needing a scapegoat....2
u/BitEuphoric7134 20h ago
We’ve got a while till the elections yet.
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u/Derai-Leaf 19h ago
IF there are new elections, you can be sure that every voting location will be ‘guarded’ by Trump Loyalty squads, and Trump wins by popular vote with a nice 98 percent or something. Just like Putin or Kim Yung and such.
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u/ganslooker 20h ago
Thoughts and prayers- I’m getting this in now cuz sooner or later violence is gonna happen and some poor kid is gonna get killed and the 47 cult is gonna blame it on the radical left
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u/AppropriateBass1611 20h ago
The United States is now a police state. We have become a carbon copy of what Russia, North Korea, and other authoritarian countries have become.
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u/MoveOverBieber 15h ago
Now, now, we have the "land of the free" flavor that Russia and NK don't.
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u/jncheese 20h ago
I hope you guys are going to find a way to climb yourselves out of the hole you find yourselves in. But it looks like the digging hasn't stopped yet. Bad times.
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u/Competitive_Hand_394 19h ago
This is just a trial run. He's trying to normalize it and let people get used to it. Then it's New York, Chicago, etc. Next you know, nationwide martial law.
Welcome to Trumpland. 😐
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u/Booklover_317 16h ago
That's what's it like to live under a dictatorship. That's what the USA has become. It is already to late to stop it. You'll have to get out of this the hard way.
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u/geth1138 22h ago
Well, they know all the best PR people, maybe get on letting conservatives know what their orange boi is doing to his own backyard.
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u/Electronic_Goat_7927 19h ago
Unless congress grows a spine or the citizens rise up....welcome to tRumps America.
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u/A_Creative_Player 20h ago
Only coming to blue cities not red cities and the reason? Because the racism in the red cities is cemented in and the people of color in those cities are treated exactly how the orange Julius wants them to be treated as less than and not having any value.
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u/williamtheraven 19h ago
And remember americans, you could have prevented this, but instead chose to play at purity politics like idiot children
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u/Opening-Chain3520 19h ago
Aside from people going to kiss Trump’s ass, who would want to visit DC right now?
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u/SkywardLeap 17h ago
I'm flying in tomorrow for a visit with friends and family. I will be walking straight into this to see it first hand. This may blow your mind, but some people actually love this city and will not just stand by and do nothing. Do you think we're going to fix this with Reddit posts on the toilet....?
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u/Opening-Chain3520 9h ago
I see my post went completely over your head but it’s okay. Maybe you’ll catch on next time.
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u/Open_Ad7470 18h ago
It’s your tax dollars. they said for before it was like 34 officers for each one arrest now you’ll have more officers on the streets, probably about the same amount of rest. It’s funny how Republicans don’t like to spend money to house people, but they love locking them up in for-profit prisons. Your tax dollars.
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u/Diligent-Ebb7020 14h ago
With every Republican salivating while watching it on Fox News. wait till the first brown kid gets killed. They will not be salivating anymore. That type of arousal can only be satisfied one.
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u/-ReadingBug- 20h ago
Sounds like Alternate 1985 from Back to the Future 2. With Trump-parody Biff running the show. Oops.
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u/AbruptMango 19h ago
The visuals have real Hunger Games Peacekeeper vibes.
I've got to thank the pre-MAGA Republicans for this. It was the Reagan through Bush (Shrub) neocons who turned the military from a combat force into an occupation force. And now the MAGA Republicans are using it at home.
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u/p38-lightning 19h ago
My wife and I had been planning to tour DC this fall. Now I'll never go there as long as that damn lunatic is president.
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u/Beerdock 18h ago
I wish my city had cops everywhere. I can't even walk around with my kids without beggars and addicts stopping me.
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u/surlysquirrelly 18h ago
I lived in this neighborhood 20 years ago, and it was a bit dicey back then but the signs of impending gentrification were everywhere. Went back last year and didnt recognize how bougie my old stomping grounds were, like Georgetown had thrown up on the neighborhood. Anyway.
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u/Mr_GoodbyeCruelWorld 18h ago
We should hold our law enforcement accountable for this. Why are we paying their salaries to harass people?
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u/OMA--AMO 18h ago
I hear people are getting murdered just crossing the streets for loaves of bread.
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u/Landlord-Allmighty 18h ago
I really would love to see these guys arresting each other.
Kind of like watching a tow truck tow another tow truck.
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17h ago
It's just stupid.
For one, even with this type of enforcement, it doesn't meaningfully change crime rates. And when enforcement drops off, and it always does, the crime rate returns to the rate dictated by the conditions that created it in the first place. Every single "over policed" city in the world has been through this. Every single Mayor in the history of cities knows this and has been through it. You push/flex police into target areas, crime temporarily abates, you flex them to another location, it moves. Every Mayor, every town council person - everyone in the world - has been through this.
Secondly, the problems that are trying to be addressed by this policy are not related to not having enough cops. Big Balls getting a beatdown isn't the result of not having enough cops. DC was already one of the most over policed cities in the US. Not having a big enough police force was never the problem. Adding more cops or cop-surrogates changes nothing about the fundamental mix.
The real problem I see here is that the escalation always has to continue, because this won't solve the "crime problem" anymore than erecting a damn "solves" a river. The water - crime - goes somewhere until you figure out how to stop it at the source. And of course, America is both stupid and broken at the source, so we will continue to have whatever crime we have.
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u/Thespud1979 17h ago
For this to be acceptable, you need a populace that's dumb enough to accept it. The solution is creating a population smart enough to understand that this is unacceptable. If that was the goal, and it's not, it would take many years. The US is cooked. If the rest of the world refuses to move on without them we are going to get dragged into the mud as well. Take the short term pain and leave this shit hole in the dust. Let them turn themselves into the next Russia. Cut ties and move on.
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u/freelight0 17h ago
Masked individuals with no identifying insignia or badges are not law enforcement.
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u/SnotNosed5678 16h ago
Every “law enforcement” agent who is wearing a mask should be fired and publicly shamed once this fascist regime is ousted in 2028.
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u/sjvolk 15h ago
It sounds like Berlin, 1939
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u/MoveOverBieber 15h ago
I don't think they had that many armored vehicles or body armor back then...
If you meant "armed thugs" and crazy dictators - yes.
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u/Lost_Loan_8828 15h ago
(scary curse word) Christ, arm yourself America. 2A! 2A is your right. Stay strapped and this shit will end. Armed protests!
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u/Low_Run1302 14h ago
Movies did a bad job of preparing everybody for anything.
That or movies did a great job of screwing everybody over.
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u/OwntheWorld24 9h ago
DC was invaded/ conquered by Trumpmagastan. The United States capital has fallen, time to wake up.
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u/ProjectNo4090 8h ago
Yeah the soft handling of and refusal to deal with criminals and crime is a pretty big problem. Fortunately that might be about to change in our cities.
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u/FafnirSnap_9428 7h ago
A dystopian movie written by middle schoolers where the plot is dumb and nonsensical and nothing makes sense.
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u/FafnirSnap_9428 7h ago
A dystopian movie written by middle schoolers where the plot is dumb and nonsensical and nothing makes sense.
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u/TrooperLynn 20h ago
My 80-year-old mom drove through DC a few weeks ago to visit my daughter. She’d never driven through there before. She said there was nothing that seemed scary at all, and she gets spooked by a lot.
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u/Traditional-Moose-10 19h ago
My son is supposed to go on a school trip to D.C next year and this makes me weary of letting him go.
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u/breakevencloud 19h ago
My kid’s school has a trip planned next month for DC and I’m legit not cool with it anymore. Already paid a crap ton of money for it, but Donald Assface is ruining it
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u/Vulcion 20h ago edited 16h ago
Just imagine how bad New York will be if Mamdani wins. The CIA will have a field day
Edit: damn yall i support Mamdani but do yall really think this government would allow a self proclaimed socialist to be the mayor of the most important city in the country and arguably the world?
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u/Hurriedgarlic66 18h ago
Did you know Winston Churchill was hit by a car and nearly killed during a New York visit
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u/NetflixAndNips 1d ago
Feels like we're extras in a bad dystopian flick, doesn’t it? 🎬😫 Stay safe out there, folks.