hyperreal

I'd also feel better if the person saying that was, you know, some kind of authority on medicine and/or infectious disease.

Sadly, there wouldn't be any laws broken if the new legislature simply reversed any bills passed under the Biden administration or ~~if~~ when the Trump cabinet pulls a 180 on executive branch policy positions. Kind of speaks to the need for quasi-independent agencies, staffed by subject matter experts and operating beyond the reach political cycle. A pipe dream at this point.

Sheesh. How would the uniformed learn anything in your version of the world? People aren't born with perfect omniscience. Skepticism and uncertainty exist, plain and simple. Fill in information asymmetries with quality information. That's all that can be done.

Does this mean we're near the end?

Yeah that's crazy to me. Of course it's sad that we are at this point but to suggest that the article shouldn't be written is just silly. What's the alternative? Just isolate ourselves in our little echo chambers? People aren't as intelligent as we'd like to believe. Moreover, confirmation bias and selective reasoning are strong behavioral forces. There has to be some middle ground between grossly unprofessional profit seeking and state run media.

About 0.178% of the U.S. population for reference.

Musk's whole "slash government spending" schtick is such a farce. Tesla wouldn't have domestic manufacturing facilities without a DOE loan. SpaceX survives off of government contracts.

It didn't help. Nor does the electoral college, gerrymandering, first-past-the-post, unmitigated influence of well funded interest groups, etc. But I think we just need to accept that people are stupid.

The impact of Citizens United v. FEC (2010) cannot be overstated.

It does help them if they think retaliation will pressure the initial levier (the U.S.) to scale back their tariff schedule. It hasn't worked out like that but that's the theory. Also, China isn't as subject to popular pressure as western democracies. Yes, I agree with you, trade wars are wasteful, harmful, and just a bad idea overall.

The hair absolutely slays me

Don't know much about this whole story but I just find it funny that these YouTubers have come to peddling lunchables to their fanbases.