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TheTruth
1 year ago
The stock market has tumbled during President Donald Trump’s first 100 days, but one controversial company is bucking the trend:AI giant and government contractor Palantir,chaired by longtime Trump backer Peter Thiel. The company’s stock has jumped 54% since January 17, the strongest return of any company listed on the S&P 500, though the firm has faced criticism over a $30 million contract with ICE on a program to assist the agency in deportations. He’s donated millions to Dump’s campaigns, a clearly illegal quid-pro-quo.
nobody
1 year ago
Kevin O’Leary called Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “the best marketer in politics” and revealed she earns an 82% profit margin on her “tax the rich” T-shirts—highlighting the irony of a self-described socialist profiting like a capitalist.
It’s not society’s responsibility to make old people immortal. It is the definition of unsustainable, regardless of birth rates etc. Even if there was just a single old person in a society with billions of young people, it would still bankrupt that society if they tried to keep the one old person alive forever. It takes infinite resources to keep someone alive for an infinite amount of time, and the cost of extending life by one more year scales super-exponentially with age. You spend $10m extending someone’s life from 110 to 111. OK now what? You’ve just created the even more expensive problem of extending it to 112. Old people refusing to accept their own mortality is not an argument for the total destruction of society. Thinking otherwise is the most extreme form of over-entitlement any demographic has ever expressed ever in all of human history.
Subsidized.
Immortality.
Is.
Not.
A.
Human.
Right.
Last edited 1 year ago by ( ͝° ͜ʖ͡°)
TheTruth
1 year ago
So much winning! Tariffs will save us!
UPS plans to reduce its workforce by 20,000 positions this year and close 73 facilities by the end of June, the company announced with its first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday.
The job cuts will impact about 4% of UPS’s 490,000-person global workforce. UPS noted in the report that it expects to save $3.5 billion this year from the layoffs and facility closures. It projects spending between $400 million and $600 million in expenses this year.
anon1
1 year ago
Watching trump do an interview with ABC where he continues to lie and exaggerate and denigrate Joe Biden. I think President Biden has a very big room in trump’s small mind and he won’t ever get evicted.
Hey, maybe we can get this guy here now that Dim Kim is headed out the door!
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Republican governor on Wednesday vetoed bills to further restrict sexual content in libraries and to create a private school voucher program, rejecting two measures that have seen widespread support by GOP governors in other states.
The GOP-led Legislature can override Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s veto by a two-thirds vote in each chamber: 32 votes in the Senate, and 63 in the House. Neither bill garnered such support on their paths to Armstrong’s desk. The library bill would have expanded North Dakota’s 2023 prohibition on “explicit sexual material” in public libraries to school districts, and require those entities to have policies for relocating such material “to an area in the library not easily accessible to minors.” The bill also mandated that libraries have technology to stop K-12 students from accessing certain online content, and required local prosecutors to weigh in on alleged violations of the state’s restrictions.
In his veto message, Armstrong said the bill “represents a misguided attempt to legislate morality through overreach and censorship. The bill imposes vague and punitive burdens on professionals and opens the door to a host of unintended and damaging consequences for our communities.”
He also said the bill “is redundant, overly burdensome, and places local librarians, school districts, and state’s attorneys in an untenable situation.”
NIT Publisher
Author
1 year ago
Weather pending, Dustrol will begin road work beginning June 9th on various roads in Winnebago County. The work is expected to last 4-6 weeks. Click here to see a map. The location and scope of each project are listed in expected order of completion:
R20 (Hwy 9 to MN) – Milling & Hot In-Place Recycling (Paving in mid-August)
Rake Area – Milling & Hot In-Place Recycling (Paving in mid-August)
R16 (400th St. to A42) – Hot In-Place Recycling
R50 (A30 to A16)- Hot In-Place Recycling
A30 (R50 to Hwy 69) – Hot In-Place Recycling
The work will be completed one lane at a time with a pilot car.
TheTruth
1 year ago
Let’s say it out loud, like adults: Donald Trump’s trade and foreign policy isn’t policy at all — it’s a long, flatulent brainfart in a hypersonic wind tunnel of stupidity. It is the ideological equivalent of eating a Tide Pod for breakfast and declaring war on your toaster. It is unserious. It is reckless. It is dangerous. And it’s being cheered on by a GOP that swapped its last functioning neuron for a red baseball cap and a 40 oz bottle of Olde English 400 Snake Oil.
Trump’s trade war is not some coherent strategy for economic resurgence. It’s a big, loud tantrum. A temper flare cooking off in the night like a SpaceX rocket dropping flaming debris into the Caribbean darkness. A sulking billionaire slapping tariffs on Canadian steel like he’s punishing an ex-wife. The man thinks trade deficits are personal insults and that global supply chains are just elaborate plots to steal his lunch money. Trump is the human embodiment of those fundraisers where people smash up a car with sledgehammers: briefly satisfying, but utterly pointless.
TheTruth
1 year ago
We’re already seeing this…YEAR 1 Under AuthoritarianismWhat to Expect?1. They will come to power with a campaign based on fear, scaremongering and distorting the truth. Nevertheless, their victory will be achieved through a democratic electoral process. But beware, as this will be their argument every time you question the legitimacy of their actions. They will claim a mandate from the People to change the system. Remember – gaining power through a democratic system does not give them permission to cross legal boundaries and undermine said democracy.
2. They will divide and rule. Their strength lies in unity, in one voice and one ideology, and so should yours. They will call their supporters Patriots, the only “true Americans”. You will be labelled as traitors, enemies of the state, unpatriotic, the corrupt elite, the old regime trying to regain power. Their supporters will be the “People”, the “sovereign” who chose their leaders. Don’t let them divide you – remember you’re one People, one Nation, with one common good.
3. They will subjugate state media, turning them into a propaganda tube. Then, through convoluted laws and threats they will attempt to control all mainstream media and limit press freedom. They will ban critical press from their briefings, calling them “liars”, “fake news”. They will brand those media as “unpatriotic”, acting against the People (see point 2). Fight for every media outlet, every journalist that is being banned, censored, sacked or labelled an “enemy of the state” – there’s no hope for freedom where there is no free press.
4. They will create chaos, maintain a constant sense of conflict and danger. It will be their argument to enact new authoritarian laws, each one further limiting your freedoms and civil liberties. They will disguise them as being for your protection, for the good of the People. See through the chaos, the fake danger, expose it before you wake up in a totalitarian, fascist state.
5. They will distort the truth, deny facts and blatantly lie. They will try to make you forget what facts are, sedate your need to find the truth. They will feed “post-truths” and “alternative facts”, replace knowledge and logic with emotions and fiction. Always think critically, fact-check and point out the truth, expose ignorance with facts.
6. They will incite and then leak fake, superficial “scandals”. They will smear opposition with trivial accusations, blowing them out of proportion and then feeding the flame. This is just smokescreen for the legal steps they will be taking towards totalitarianism. See through superficial topics in mainstream media (see point 3) and focus on what they are actually doing.
7. They will propose shocking laws to provoke your outrage. You will focus your efforts on fighting them, so they will seemingly back off, giving you a false sense of victory. In the meantime they will push through less “flashy” legislation, slowly dismantling democracy (see points 4 and 6) Focus your fight on what really matters.
8. When invading your liberal sensibilities they will focus on what hurts the most – women and minorities. They will act as if democracy was majority rule without respect for the minority. They will paint foreigners and immigrants as potential threats. Racial, religious, sexual and other minorities will become enemies to the order and security they are supposedly providing. They will challenge women’s social status, undermine gender equality and interfere with reproductive rights (see point 7). But it means they are aware of the threat women and minorities pose to their rule, so make it your strength. Women and minorities have to be ready to fight the hardest – reminding the majority what true democracy is about – and you must fight together with them.
9. They will try to take control of the judiciary. They will assault your highest court. They need to remove the checks and balances to be able to push through unconstitutional legislation. Controlling the judiciary they can also threat anyone that defies them with prosecution, including the press (see point 3). Preserve the independence of your courts at all cost, they are your safety valve, the safeguard of the rule of law and the democratic system.
10. They will try to limit freedom of assembly, calling it a necessity for your security. They will enact laws prioritizing state events and rallies, or those of a certain type or ideology. If they can choose who can demonstrate legally, they have a legal basis to forcefully disperse or prosecute the rest. Oppose any legislation attempting to interfere with freedom of assembly, for whatever reason.
11. They will distort the language, coin new terms and labels, repeat shocking phrases until you accept them as normal and subconsciously associate them with whom they like. A “thief”, “liar” or “traitor” will automatically mean the opposition, while a “patriot” or a “true American” will mean their follower (see point 2). Their slogans will have double meaning, giving strength to their supporters and instilling angst in their opponents. Fight changes in language in the public sphere, remind and preserve the true meaning of words.
12. They will take over your national symbols, associate them with their regime, remake them into attributes of their power. They want you to forget that your flag, your anthem and your symbols belong to you, the People, to everyone equally. Don’t let them be hijacked. Use and expose them in your fight as much as they do. Show your national symbols with pride, let them give you strength, not associate you with the tyranny they brought onto your country.
13. They will try to rewrite history to suit their needs and use the education system to support their agenda. They will smear any historical or living figure who wouldn’t approve of their actions, or distort their image to make you think they would. They will place emphasis on historical education in schools, feeding young minds with the “only correct” version of history and philosophy. They will raise a new generation of voters on their ideology, backing it with a distorted interpretation of history and view of the world. Guard the education of your children, teach them critical thinking, ensure their open-mindedness and protect your real history and heritage.
14. They will alienate foreign allies and partners, convincing you don’t need them. They won’t care for the rest of the world, with their focus on “making your country great again”. While ruining your economy to fulfil their populist promises, they will omit the fact that you’re part of a bigger world whose development depends on cooperation, on sharing and on trade. Don’t let them build walls promising you security instead of bridges giving you prosperity.
15. They will eventually manipulate the electoral system. They might say it’s to correct flaws, to make it more fair, more similar to the rest of the world, or just to make it better. Don’t believe it. They wouldn’t be messing with it at all if it wasn’t to benefit them in some way. Oppose any changes to electoral law that an authoritarian regime wants to enact – rest assured it’s only to help them remain in power longer. And above all, be strong, fight, endure, and remember you’re on the good side of history. EVERY authoritarian, totalitarian and fascist regime in history eventually failed, thanks to the PEOPLE. Authoritarian Checklist□ Win elections on fear & populist promises
□ Reclaim power for the People from the “elites”
□ Purge highest positions in key government institutions
□ Place cronies in positions of highest power regardless of their competence
□ Brush off any critical press as “fake”, “corrupt”, “acting against the People”
□ Bluntly lie to the People
□ Ban press from parliament/congress/White House or selectively limit their access
□ Limit press freedom & quietly take control of mainstream media
□ Label opposition & protesters as “traitors”, “elites trying to reclaim power”
□ Limit freedom of assembly
□ Fix highest court to be able to bypass Constitution “for the good of the people”
□ Limit minority & women’s rights
□ Ruin the economy to fulfil your populist promises in the short term
□ Alienate international partners and allies, “making your country great again”
□ Quietly fix electoral law under the disguise of making it better
□ Start over, until there’s nothing left … 6 RULES for Survival under an Authoritarian RegimeRule 1
Don’t stay indifferent. It WILL concern you eventually. It will concern your family, your friends. Voice your objection IMMEDIATELY. Show them you care. RESIST. Rule 2
They thrive on FEAR & IGNORANCE. Expose their scaremongering, show flaws in their arguments. Raise awareness, EDUCATE people around you. They will try to distort FACTS, rewrite history. DON’T LET THEM. Rule 3
Organize protest movements, mobilize civil society. They’re well organized, so should you be. FLOOD THE STREETS. They WILL back off when they see your numbers. They depend on you – the PEOPLE. Rule 4
Don’t let them DIVIDE you into different classes of citizens, “true Americans”, “patriots” vs “traitors”, “enemies of the state”. You’re ALL citizens, ONE nation, despite different beliefs and ideology. Make your diversity your STRENGTH. Stay TOGETHER for a common goal – survival of your country, of freedom and democracy. Rule 5
Don’t give up, don’t get tired, and don’t try to wait it out. Don’t hope it will pass. It WON’T. They will manipulate the people, control the media to sway public opinion, fix the electoral system and STAY FOR GOOD. Rule 6
If you don’t get them to back off or to step down, you better make goddamn SURE that when the next elections come, assuming there’s still any democracy left, NO ONE will vote for the same bastard(s) again!
7 RULES on Approaching Authoritarian Supporters What if your neighbor, friend or family member supports the authoritarian regime?Rule 1
Don’t look down on them, don’t patronize them, even if you know what they’re saying has no factual basis or you find it offensive. Don’t preach, ask questions. Try to understand them, where they are coming from, what their problems are and why they see solutions to them in the regime. Treat them as people, as equals. They believe what they’re saying is true and they might have valid reasons for their support. Rule 2
Don’t get emotional, don’t get provoked into heated arguments. Fight the other side’s emotions with your calm, logical approach. The angrier they get, the calmer you should be. They’ll calm down eventually. Rule 3
Focus on what you have in common. Do you live in the same neighborhood? Do you work in the same company or sector? The smaller the community, the easier it is. Give examples, like “we all need to get this done for all of us, if we don’t cooperate neither of us will have it”. Rule 4
Use their language, don’t treat it as inferior or below you – don’t seem patronizing (see rule 1). If they curse, curse with them. If they approach you with humor, don’t get angry or uptight about it, reply with humor. Show them you’re actually not that different (see rule 3). As long as you communicate on two different planes, you will never meet. Rule 5
Don’t block their news sources, don’t turn away from their leaders and authority figures. Treat them as an insight to their worldview and tactics. Use them to your advantage, to better prepare for their arguments. Whenever you don’t agree with something or detect a lie, voice it calmly, expose it with factual arguments. Rule 6
Pinpoint the practical, negative effects of their side’s actions, ones that affect them directly. Find examples of how they, their families, children or friends will be personally impacted by their policies, or how it will affect your shared community. Rule 7
If all else fails, don’t turn away, don’t abandon your friends and family, don’t shun your neighbors. Remember, an authoritarian wants to divide you to control you. So invite them over to your BBQ, crack open a beer, and who knows, maybe they’ll realize you’re not so different after all.
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has spent $221,000 on air travel as he travels the country on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, according to campaign finance records.
The senator has been visiting red districts throughout the country along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to rally supporters against President Donald Trump. That tour also comes amid rumors AOC may launch a bid for the 2028 presidency, though she has yet to make an official announcement.
Campaign finance records released by Sen. Sanders’s office show Friends of Bernie Sanders spent $221,723 chartering private jets in the first quarter of 2025. That group is designated as his principal finance committee, meaning it is charged with overseeing the senator’s financial affairs.
On Friday, April 25 from 5-7 pm the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum will be hosting another session of MacNider: Off the Clock. Visitors can mingle with friends and coworkers as they explore the galleries and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the MacNider.
The event is free and open to the public. Complimentary wine and appetizers will be available throughout the event, in addition to live music by Paul Weitzel. Paul has played with The Hats since 2010 around North Iowa, and they still get together to perform. In the 90’s and 00’s he was part of several musical incarnations in San Francisco, ranging from traditional bluegrass to alternative country/americana. “I have been singing and playing my own songs and other people’s songs for almost 30 years. I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere.”
The MacNider Art Museum is located at 303 Second Street SE in Mason City.
NIT Publisher
Author
1 year ago
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and the North Iowa Area SBDC will host a free virtual Business Transition Planning Workshop on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom. Registration is required.
Small business owners are invited to learn how to protect their legacy and plan for the future in this expert-led session. Whether you’re planning to sell, step away, or secure your business for the next generation, this workshop delivers critical insights for a successful transition.
Featured speakers include Christopher Proskey and William Daniel of BrownWinick Law Firm, and Al Lorenzen of The Business Brokers. Together, they’ll guide attendees through proven strategies and actionable steps to navigate the transition process with confidence.
Topics will include:
Transition strategies to protect your family and key employees
Business liquidity and tax planning
Structuring sales, operations, and transition agreements
Managing transfer of interests in closely held businesses
Exploring transition options without disrupting your team
Business valuation and marketing your business for sale
Who should attend: Small business owners, attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, economic developers, trust agents, bankers, brokers, and community leaders. Cost: Free When: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Where: Online via Zoom Registration:https://pappajohncenter.zohobackstage.com/Business-Transition-Spring2025
NIT Publisher
Author
1 year ago
North Iowa Concert Band to Present Free Spring Concert
North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) invites the community to experience an evening of music at the North Iowa Concert Band’s annual spring concert, A Night At The Movies. This free event will take place on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 7:30 PM at the NIACC Auditorium. Under the direction of Derrick Snead, NIACC’s Director of Bands, join us for an unforgettable evening of cinematic magic as we bring the silver screen to life through music. Featuring selections from some of Hollywood’s most beloved films, let the North Iowa Concert Band transport you through action-packed adventures, heartwarming tales, and fantastical worlds. Whether you’re a film fanatic or a music lover, this is a night you won’t want to miss! Members of the North Iowa Concert Band represent communities from Iowa and southern Minnesota, including the towns of Charles City, Clear Lake, Dougherty, Forest City, Garner, Greene, Hampton, Manly, Marble Rock, Mason City, Nora Springs, Osage, Rockford, Ventura, Waverly, and Austin, MN.
NIT Publisher
Author
1 year ago
VIA ROCK FALLS CITY HALL:
HAVE QUESTIONS / CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED CO2 PIPELINES?
WANT TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS?
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION:
Thursday April 24 6:30 PM (doors open by 6)
Floyd Community Center, 706 Fairfield St, Floyd Iowa
For anyone wondering about CO2 pipelines. Presentation / discussion of the projects, the Summit laterals, surveys, easements, water demands, and more.
Hosted by experienced LANDOWNERS, NOT by Summit!
Learn from the folks who already have 4 years of experience!
In late 2021, hundreds of Iowa landowners were caught by surprise by the announcement of “we’re gonna put a carbon pipeline through your property”. Most of us had no idea what this meant. Now we do. We want to share. We want YOU to know what we know now. And, this isn’t just for affected landowners. It’s for the neighbors, the renters, the folks working & living & driving nearby, the public…. because Summit wasn’t required to inform any of them.
Can’t attend this meeting? There’s another: Manly Town Hall, 106 S Broadway Monday May 5 6:30 PM (doors open by 6 PM)
TheTruth
1 year ago
Ray Dalio thinks it’s time to buckle up — and batten down. The hedge fund billionaire says the president’s trade war could bring about “something worse than a recession.”
anon1
1 year ago
For a Christian, she must have forgotten the part about lying.
The stock market has tumbled during President Donald Trump’s first 100 days, but one controversial company is bucking the trend: AI giant and government contractor Palantir, chaired by longtime Trump backer Peter Thiel. The company’s stock has jumped 54% since January 17, the strongest return of any company listed on the S&P 500, though the firm has faced criticism over a $30 million contract with ICE on a program to assist the agency in deportations. He’s donated millions to Dump’s campaigns, a clearly illegal quid-pro-quo.
Kevin O’Leary called Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez “the best marketer in politics” and revealed she earns an 82% profit margin on her “tax the rich” T-shirts—highlighting the irony of a self-described socialist profiting like a capitalist.
This is taken directly from Truth Social’s Donald J Trump’s account. He is an ultimate narcissist.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump
It’s not society’s responsibility to make old people immortal. It is the definition of unsustainable, regardless of birth rates etc. Even if there was just a single old person in a society with billions of young people, it would still bankrupt that society if they tried to keep the one old person alive forever. It takes infinite resources to keep someone alive for an infinite amount of time, and the cost of extending life by one more year scales super-exponentially with age. You spend $10m extending someone’s life from 110 to 111. OK now what? You’ve just created the even more expensive problem of extending it to 112. Old people refusing to accept their own mortality is not an argument for the total destruction of society. Thinking otherwise is the most extreme form of over-entitlement any demographic has ever expressed ever in all of human history.
Subsidized.
Immortality.
Is.
Not.
A.
Human.
Right.
So much winning! Tariffs will save us!
UPS plans to reduce its workforce by 20,000 positions this year and close 73 facilities by the end of June, the company announced with its first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday.
The job cuts will impact about 4% of UPS’s 490,000-person global workforce. UPS noted in the report that it expects to save $3.5 billion this year from the layoffs and facility closures. It projects spending between $400 million and $600 million in expenses this year.
Watching trump do an interview with ABC where he continues to lie and exaggerate and denigrate Joe Biden. I think President Biden has a very big room in trump’s small mind and he won’t ever get evicted.
For all the LEOs who read this page, you might want to re-think your allegiance to trump….https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/trump-fiore-pardon?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ4uHJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF4ZVdQQ09jWWZnNkdxaGVJAR4YifjBy1G-SjJ6lMu6t6ATVzGQmZee9y9i4Aq5LW3lButSl5e6JSJ4NwdEYw_aem_OsI76OKiGNX3whw5CmHkOw
Hey, maybe we can get this guy here now that Dim Kim is headed out the door!
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Republican governor on Wednesday vetoed bills to further restrict sexual content in libraries and to create a private school voucher program, rejecting two measures that have seen widespread support by GOP governors in other states.
The GOP-led Legislature can override Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s veto by a two-thirds vote in each chamber: 32 votes in the Senate, and 63 in the House. Neither bill garnered such support on their paths to Armstrong’s desk.
The library bill would have expanded North Dakota’s 2023 prohibition on “explicit sexual material” in public libraries to school districts, and require those entities to have policies for relocating such material “to an area in the library not easily accessible to minors.” The bill also mandated that libraries have technology to stop K-12 students from accessing certain online content, and required local prosecutors to weigh in on alleged violations of the state’s restrictions.
In his veto message, Armstrong said the bill “represents a misguided attempt to legislate morality through overreach and censorship. The bill imposes vague and punitive burdens on professionals and opens the door to a host of unintended and damaging consequences for our communities.”
He also said the bill “is redundant, overly burdensome, and places local librarians, school districts, and state’s attorneys in an untenable situation.”
Weather pending, Dustrol will begin road work beginning June 9th on various roads in Winnebago County. The work is expected to last 4-6 weeks. Click here to see a map. The location and scope of each project are listed in expected order of completion:
The work will be completed one lane at a time with a pilot car.
Let’s say it out loud, like adults: Donald Trump’s trade and foreign policy isn’t policy at all — it’s a long, flatulent brainfart in a hypersonic wind tunnel of stupidity. It is the ideological equivalent of eating a Tide Pod for breakfast and declaring war on your toaster. It is unserious. It is reckless. It is dangerous. And it’s being cheered on by a GOP that swapped its last functioning neuron for a red baseball cap and a 40 oz bottle of Olde English 400 Snake Oil.
Trump’s trade war is not some coherent strategy for economic resurgence. It’s a big, loud tantrum. A temper flare cooking off in the night like a SpaceX rocket dropping flaming debris into the Caribbean darkness. A sulking billionaire slapping tariffs on Canadian steel like he’s punishing an ex-wife. The man thinks trade deficits are personal insults and that global supply chains are just elaborate plots to steal his lunch money. Trump is the human embodiment of those fundraisers where people smash up a car with sledgehammers: briefly satisfying, but utterly pointless.
We’re already seeing this…YEAR 1 Under AuthoritarianismWhat to Expect?1. They will come to power with a campaign based on fear, scaremongering and distorting the truth. Nevertheless, their victory will be achieved through a democratic electoral process. But beware, as this will be their argument every time you question the legitimacy of their actions. They will claim a mandate from the People to change the system.
Remember – gaining power through a democratic system does not give them permission to cross legal boundaries and undermine said democracy.
2. They will divide and rule. Their strength lies in unity, in one voice and one ideology, and so should yours. They will call their supporters Patriots, the only “true Americans”. You will be labelled as traitors, enemies of the state, unpatriotic, the corrupt elite, the old regime trying to regain power. Their supporters will be the “People”, the “sovereign” who chose their leaders.
Don’t let them divide you – remember you’re one People, one Nation, with one common good.
3. They will subjugate state media, turning them into a propaganda tube. Then, through convoluted laws and threats they will attempt to control all mainstream media and limit press freedom. They will ban critical press from their briefings, calling them “liars”, “fake news”. They will brand those media as “unpatriotic”, acting against the People (see point 2).
Fight for every media outlet, every journalist that is being banned, censored, sacked or labelled an “enemy of the state” – there’s no hope for freedom where there is no free press.
4. They will create chaos, maintain a constant sense of conflict and danger. It will be their argument to enact new authoritarian laws, each one further limiting your freedoms and civil liberties. They will disguise them as being for your protection, for the good of the People.
See through the chaos, the fake danger, expose it before you wake up in a totalitarian, fascist state.
5. They will distort the truth, deny facts and blatantly lie. They will try to make you forget what facts are, sedate your need to find the truth. They will feed “post-truths” and “alternative facts”, replace knowledge and logic with emotions and fiction.
Always think critically, fact-check and point out the truth, expose ignorance with facts.
6. They will incite and then leak fake, superficial “scandals”. They will smear opposition with trivial accusations, blowing them out of proportion and then feeding the flame. This is just smokescreen for the legal steps they will be taking towards totalitarianism.
See through superficial topics in mainstream media (see point 3) and focus on what they are actually doing.
7. They will propose shocking laws to provoke your outrage. You will focus your efforts on fighting them, so they will seemingly back off, giving you a false sense of victory. In the meantime they will push through less “flashy” legislation, slowly dismantling democracy (see points 4 and 6)
Focus your fight on what really matters.
8. When invading your liberal sensibilities they will focus on what hurts the most – women and minorities. They will act as if democracy was majority rule without respect for the minority. They will paint foreigners and immigrants as potential threats. Racial, religious, sexual and other minorities will become enemies to the order and security they are supposedly providing. They will challenge women’s social status, undermine gender equality and interfere with reproductive rights (see point 7). But it means they are aware of the threat women and minorities pose to their rule, so make it your strength.
Women and minorities have to be ready to fight the hardest – reminding the majority what true democracy is about – and you must fight together with them.
9. They will try to take control of the judiciary. They will assault your highest court. They need to remove the checks and balances to be able to push through unconstitutional legislation. Controlling the judiciary they can also threat anyone that defies them with prosecution, including the press (see point 3).
Preserve the independence of your courts at all cost, they are your safety valve, the safeguard of the rule of law and the democratic system.
10. They will try to limit freedom of assembly, calling it a necessity for your security. They will enact laws prioritizing state events and rallies, or those of a certain type or ideology. If they can choose who can demonstrate legally, they have a legal basis to forcefully disperse or prosecute the rest.
Oppose any legislation attempting to interfere with freedom of assembly, for whatever reason.
11. They will distort the language, coin new terms and labels, repeat shocking phrases until you accept them as normal and subconsciously associate them with whom they like. A “thief”, “liar” or “traitor” will automatically mean the opposition, while a “patriot” or a “true American” will mean their follower (see point 2). Their slogans will have double meaning, giving strength to their supporters and instilling angst in their opponents.
Fight changes in language in the public sphere, remind and preserve the true meaning of words.
12. They will take over your national symbols, associate them with their regime, remake them into attributes of their power. They want you to forget that your flag, your anthem and your symbols belong to you, the People, to everyone equally. Don’t let them be hijacked. Use and expose them in your fight as much as they do.
Show your national symbols with pride, let them give you strength, not associate you with the tyranny they brought onto your country.
13. They will try to rewrite history to suit their needs and use the education system to support their agenda. They will smear any historical or living figure who wouldn’t approve of their actions, or distort their image to make you think they would. They will place emphasis on historical education in schools, feeding young minds with the “only correct” version of history and philosophy. They will raise a new generation of voters on their ideology, backing it with a distorted interpretation of history and view of the world.
Guard the education of your children, teach them critical thinking, ensure their open-mindedness and protect your real history and heritage.
14. They will alienate foreign allies and partners, convincing you don’t need them. They won’t care for the rest of the world, with their focus on “making your country great again”. While ruining your economy to fulfil their populist promises, they will omit the fact that you’re part of a bigger world whose development depends on cooperation, on sharing and on trade.
Don’t let them build walls promising you security instead of bridges giving you prosperity.
15. They will eventually manipulate the electoral system. They might say it’s to correct flaws, to make it more fair, more similar to the rest of the world, or just to make it better. Don’t believe it. They wouldn’t be messing with it at all if it wasn’t to benefit them in some way.
Oppose any changes to electoral law that an authoritarian regime wants to enact – rest assured it’s only to help them remain in power longer.
And above all, be strong, fight, endure, and remember you’re on the good side of history.
EVERY authoritarian, totalitarian and fascist regime in history eventually failed, thanks to the PEOPLE.
Authoritarian Checklist□ Win elections on fear & populist promises
□ Reclaim power for the People from the “elites”
□ Purge highest positions in key government institutions
□ Place cronies in positions of highest power regardless of their competence
□ Brush off any critical press as “fake”, “corrupt”, “acting against the People”
□ Bluntly lie to the People
□ Ban press from parliament/congress/White House or selectively limit their access
□ Limit press freedom & quietly take control of mainstream media
□ Label opposition & protesters as “traitors”, “elites trying to reclaim power”
□ Limit freedom of assembly
□ Fix highest court to be able to bypass Constitution “for the good of the people”
□ Limit minority & women’s rights
□ Ruin the economy to fulfil your populist promises in the short term
□ Alienate international partners and allies, “making your country great again”
□ Quietly fix electoral law under the disguise of making it better
□ Start over, until there’s nothing left …
6 RULES for Survival under an Authoritarian RegimeRule 1
Don’t stay indifferent. It WILL concern you eventually. It will concern your family, your friends. Voice your objection IMMEDIATELY. Show them you care. RESIST.
Rule 2
They thrive on FEAR & IGNORANCE. Expose their scaremongering, show flaws in their arguments. Raise awareness, EDUCATE people around you. They will try to distort FACTS, rewrite history. DON’T LET THEM.
Rule 3
Organize protest movements, mobilize civil society. They’re well organized, so should you be. FLOOD THE STREETS. They WILL back off when they see your numbers. They depend on you – the PEOPLE.
Rule 4
Don’t let them DIVIDE you into different classes of citizens, “true Americans”, “patriots” vs “traitors”, “enemies of the state”. You’re ALL citizens, ONE nation, despite different beliefs and ideology. Make your diversity your STRENGTH. Stay TOGETHER for a common goal – survival of your country, of freedom and democracy.
Rule 5
Don’t give up, don’t get tired, and don’t try to wait it out. Don’t hope it will pass. It WON’T. They will manipulate the people, control the media to sway public opinion, fix the electoral system and STAY FOR GOOD.
Rule 6
If you don’t get them to back off or to step down, you better make goddamn SURE that when the next elections come, assuming there’s still any democracy left, NO ONE will vote for the same bastard(s) again!
7 RULES on Approaching Authoritarian Supporters
What if your neighbor, friend or family member supports the authoritarian regime?Rule 1
Don’t look down on them, don’t patronize them, even if you know what they’re saying has no factual basis or you find it offensive. Don’t preach, ask questions. Try to understand them, where they are coming from, what their problems are and why they see solutions to them in the regime. Treat them as people, as equals. They believe what they’re saying is true and they might have valid reasons for their support.
Rule 2
Don’t get emotional, don’t get provoked into heated arguments. Fight the other side’s emotions with your calm, logical approach. The angrier they get, the calmer you should be. They’ll calm down eventually.
Rule 3
Focus on what you have in common. Do you live in the same neighborhood? Do you work in the same company or sector? The smaller the community, the easier it is. Give examples, like “we all need to get this done for all of us, if we don’t cooperate neither of us will have it”.
Rule 4
Use their language, don’t treat it as inferior or below you – don’t seem patronizing (see rule 1). If they curse, curse with them. If they approach you with humor, don’t get angry or uptight about it, reply with humor. Show them you’re actually not that different (see rule 3). As long as you communicate on two different planes, you will never meet.
Rule 5
Don’t block their news sources, don’t turn away from their leaders and authority figures. Treat them as an insight to their worldview and tactics. Use them to your advantage, to better prepare for their arguments. Whenever you don’t agree with something or detect a lie, voice it calmly, expose it with factual arguments.
Rule 6
Pinpoint the practical, negative effects of their side’s actions, ones that affect them directly. Find examples of how they, their families, children or friends will be personally impacted by their policies, or how it will affect your shared community.
Rule 7
If all else fails, don’t turn away, don’t abandon your friends and family, don’t shun your neighbors. Remember, an authoritarian wants to divide you to control you. So invite them over to your BBQ, crack open a beer, and who knows, maybe they’ll realize you’re not so different after all.
The grifter and the bartender are at it again, almost $25,000 per flight (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_Oligarchy_Tour)
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has spent $221,000 on air travel as he travels the country on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, according to campaign finance records.
The senator has been visiting red districts throughout the country along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to rally supporters against President Donald Trump. That tour also comes amid rumors AOC may launch a bid for the 2028 presidency, though she has yet to make an official announcement.
Campaign finance records released by Sen. Sanders’s office show Friends of Bernie Sanders spent $221,723 chartering private jets in the first quarter of 2025. That group is designated as his principal finance committee, meaning it is charged with overseeing the senator’s financial affairs.
https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/bernie-sanders-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-spent-221k-on-air-travel-for-fighting-oligarchy-tour-billionaires
Andy Borowitz ·
Trump Names Himself Pope
Not surprising.
More stuff to give you nightmares
https://www.newsweek.com/rfk-jr-autism-study-david-geier-lupron-2061072
MacNider: Off the Clock on April 25
On Friday, April 25 from 5-7 pm the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum will be hosting another session of MacNider: Off the Clock. Visitors can mingle with friends and coworkers as they explore the galleries and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the MacNider.
The event is free and open to the public. Complimentary wine and appetizers will be available throughout the event, in addition to live music by Paul Weitzel. Paul has played with The Hats since 2010 around North Iowa, and they still get together to perform. In the 90’s and 00’s he was part of several musical incarnations in San Francisco, ranging from traditional bluegrass to alternative country/americana. “I have been singing and playing my own songs and other people’s songs for almost 30 years. I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere.”
The MacNider Art Museum is located at 303 Second Street SE in Mason City.
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and the North Iowa Area SBDC will host a free virtual Business Transition Planning Workshop on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm via Zoom. Registration is required.
Small business owners are invited to learn how to protect their legacy and plan for the future in this expert-led session. Whether you’re planning to sell, step away, or secure your business for the next generation, this workshop delivers critical insights for a successful transition.
Featured speakers include Christopher Proskey and William Daniel of BrownWinick Law Firm, and Al Lorenzen of The Business Brokers. Together, they’ll guide attendees through proven strategies and actionable steps to navigate the transition process with confidence.
Topics will include:
Who should attend: Small business owners, attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, economic developers, trust agents, bankers, brokers, and community leaders.
Cost: Free
When: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Where: Online via Zoom
Registration: https://pappajohncenter.zohobackstage.com/Business-Transition-Spring2025
North Iowa Concert Band to Present Free Spring Concert
North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) invites the community to experience an evening of music at the North Iowa Concert Band’s annual spring concert, A Night At The Movies. This free event will take place on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 7:30 PM at the NIACC Auditorium.
Under the direction of Derrick Snead, NIACC’s Director of Bands, join us for an unforgettable evening of cinematic magic as we bring the silver screen to life through music. Featuring selections from some of Hollywood’s most beloved films, let the North Iowa Concert Band transport you through action-packed adventures, heartwarming tales, and fantastical worlds. Whether you’re a film fanatic or a music lover, this is a night you won’t want to miss!
Members of the North Iowa Concert Band represent communities from Iowa and southern Minnesota, including the towns of Charles City, Clear Lake, Dougherty, Forest City, Garner, Greene, Hampton, Manly, Marble Rock, Mason City, Nora Springs, Osage, Rockford, Ventura, Waverly, and Austin, MN.
VIA ROCK FALLS CITY HALL:
HAVE QUESTIONS / CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED CO2 PIPELINES?
WANT TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS?
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION:
Thursday April 24 6:30 PM (doors open by 6)
Floyd Community Center, 706 Fairfield St, Floyd Iowa
For anyone wondering about CO2 pipelines. Presentation / discussion of the projects, the Summit laterals, surveys, easements, water demands, and more.
Hosted by experienced LANDOWNERS, NOT by Summit!
Learn from the folks who already have 4 years of experience!
In late 2021, hundreds of Iowa landowners were caught by surprise by the announcement of “we’re gonna put a carbon pipeline through your property”. Most of us had no idea what this meant. Now we do. We want to share. We want YOU to know what we know now. And, this isn’t just for affected landowners. It’s for the neighbors, the renters, the folks working & living & driving nearby, the public…. because Summit wasn’t required to inform any of them.
Can’t attend this meeting? There’s another: Manly Town Hall, 106 S Broadway Monday May 5 6:30 PM (doors open by 6 PM)
Ray Dalio thinks it’s time to buckle up — and batten down. The hedge fund billionaire says the president’s trade war could bring about “something worse than a recession.”
For a Christian, she must have forgotten the part about lying.