We wouldn't want to inhibit widespread misinformation or anything like that. Good thing there is no chance of foreign actors influencing our social media and elections ‘I wonder why they did that?’: Pam Bondi orders the dissolution of the foreign election interference task force In one of her first major moves as Donald Trump’s Attorney General, Pam Bondi issued a directive ordering the disbandment of the foreign election interference task force. The Foreign Influence Task Force was part of the FBI’s response to foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election, which worked in Trump’s favor. The Senate Intelligence Committee launched an extensive investigation into allegations that Russia tried to sway the 2016 presidential election by spreading disinformation about presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and promoting Trump, even going as far as hiring trolls to set up fake social media accounts to target conservatives. The committee, which received bipartisan support, also found that Russia allegedly orchestrated the hacking and leaking of Democratic emails and that Trump’s 2016 campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, shared sensitive campaign information with Russian intelligence. However, there was not enough evidence found to charge Trump or his campaign with collusion, conspiracy, or obstruction of justice.
Maybe it's a good idea to discover foreign interference in elections before it actually occurs. Kind of like terrorism, it's prudent to anticipate and be prepared for election interference before it actually occurs. It's rather obvious why Bondi shutdown the unit given that the primary beneficiary of foreign election interference is the Dear Leader that appointed her and future beneficiaries are likely to be supporters of the same policies that have been beneficial to the same foreign adversaries.
This. Can anyone even imagine the illegality from Trump and his *political party* that we should now expect to see regarding federal elections? The guy already was told that he can literally attempt to overturn a presidential election - it's hard to wonder what he thinks that he can't do. Guess we'll find out soon enough. It may even be so bad that a couple MAGA supporters type out "I don't support this."
Avalon Project - Washington's Farewell Address 1796 This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another. -George Washington, 1796
I would think you would want to remain vigilant seeing as how stuff like this has been going on forever and has ramped up massively in the last decade. That is, if you're not an idiot. I'm reticent say that Trump is compromised, but I'm starting to get a strong compromised vibe. Again, doing basically nothing on China, while driving wedges between us and our allies, which completely benefits China. And now this. What if some country wants to use these methods against MAGA? Oh yeah, it's MAGA. . . too stupid and myopic to see past 1mm off the tip of their nose. Or compromised. . . Take your pick.
That time. . . . Which assumes that all foreign interference is pro MAGA and will remain that way for eternity. Yep, MAGA "thinking" to a tee.
While one cannot always project into the future based on the past the difference between the Democratic party and MAGA Republicans is that the Democrats specifically declined help from the Russians while MAGA Republicans welcome it while at the same time referring to it as hoax. How Adlai Stevenson Stopped Russian Interference in the 1960 Election Hubert Humphrey refused money from the USSR in 1968 Mueller investigator says Russia interfered in 2016 — and in the 2024 election too
Point being that all of these international actors - even if they seem to be working for you - are, in the end, working AGAINST all of us. The arguments, the infighting. . . THAT is their goal. And thanks to lazy dumb Americans, they are kicking ass! And will continue to in the future. So if MAGA is dumb enough to think they will always be immune to this and that every foreign actor will be acting in their favor. . . . well, they're just typically MAGA.
We have evidence of this right here. Vegasfox. Like, WTF is this guy and why did he just "show up" on Too Hot in the middle of an election?
There are a number of agencies that continue to look for election interference. Not all as public as this unit. Shutting it down doesnt mean nobody is still watching.
I don’t have a problem with this. Right now I can’t think of a single country on the planet besides China, Russia, and North Korea who wants to see republicans elected, so now maybe pro-democracy countries will put their hackers to work getting democrats in power again.
I would also add @duggers_dad the guy consistently defends Russia in the thread on the war in Ukraine.
