Humor from Both Sides of the Aisle (4)

And the fun continues!

@ArtandSoulPainting: In all fairness to our military, it's their first dictatorship too

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjtD963d/

If you could commit just one crime and not get caught… what would it be?

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjnnUcCv/

Hirohito @Real Hirohito | 12:00 PM 07 Dec 41 {X.com via bsky.app}

We have completed our very successful attack on Hawaii. All planes are now outside of America air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Pearl Harbor. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great Japanese Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.
------------------------------------------

Justin Amash @justinamash | 11:50 AM · Jun 22, 2025
Emperor Hirohito: “We’re not at war with the United States. We’re at war with the United States Pacific Fleet.”

Quote
Meet the Press @MeetThePress · Jun 22
Vice Pres. Vance: ‘We’re not at war with Iran. We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program’ https://nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/vice-pres-vance-we-re-not-at-war-with-i...

>4 margd: I had the same thought about Pearl Harbor. Nice that someone says this out loud.

Mr. Handsome ICE Agent Competition

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTj3AxD4v/

The best prizes!

Congress forgets how to pass a law:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLaXAAtOTrL/?igsh=MTR1bGRsOG5peTh2dg==

The flock introduced a 900 page bill.
No one read it.
Everyone has an opinion.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLhvX9QuUL6/?igsh=bG9lOW5hZnUwNnpu

An ICE agent arrives at the pearly gates

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6d1oa4L/

Average MAGA arrives at the Pearlie Gates

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6LsUMje/

Lady apologizes for calling Trump “Cheeto President”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DML9t3MSu9_/?igsh=YTBid3I0eW01dG0=

Remember when this used to be considered a bad thing?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLqvyn7sYGU/?igsh=MXNvN3F0NHFsbnh2cQ==

CNN piece on South Park takedowns of Trump Administration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ebb3RTJrIQ

Here's intro to Kristi Noem -- warning (cartoon) puppies will be shot...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD4EE6qVIBI

Then there's (cartoon) Trump in bed with (cartoon) Satan -- warning (cartoon) nudity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1xR3Xidq84

Why did Trump flinch at the end of a press conference?

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6awfVh9/

Governor Newsom Press Office @GovPressOffice | 8:42 PM · Aug 22, 2025:

ALL HAIL CHAIRMAN TRUMP! WITH HIS GLORIOUS 10% PURCHASE OF INTEL, THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF AMERICA ENTERS A BOLD NEW ERA OF GOVERNMENT-RUN BUSINESS.

Image ( https://x.com/GovPressOffice/status/1959053477348511785/photo/1 )
____________________________________

Rick Wilson {Lincoln Project} @TheRickWilson | 10:47 AM · Aug 23, 2025:

It is OUTRAGEOUS that Zohran Mamdani is seizing the means of production in a socialist move to force patriotic company Intel to give the government control of 10% of its shares. #MAGA #socialism
____________________________________

Forrest Bennett @ForrestBennett | 1:52 PM · Aug 22, 2025:
Representing the fightin’ 92nd district in the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2016. Candidate for Oklahoma AFL-CIO President.

Yall got so mad at Democrats for suggesting we tax corporations more fairly that you elected a guy who’s literally demanding private business give ownership of their companies to the government
Great job gang

Quote
Aaron Rupar @atrupar · 21h
Trump: "I said, 'You know what? I think the United States should be given 10% of Intel."

Seen on Substack:

Ok but seriously if Canada invaded the United States in order to take over our government and turn us socialist I would hang a bottle of maple syrup from my door to let them know I’m a friendly

>16 2wonderY: :D It's been an interesting summer, spent between Ft Drum and CFB Kingston in a border area with history of smuggling (Prohibition, etc.): so much activity! Chinook helicopter et al the other day. I'm sure by now everybody knows what I have on the barbie...

A rash of abandoned spines found across the country

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIl1nZgy-Gw/?igsh=MThic2xrdWVpYjZndA==

How will the world end?
Do you want the answer in Celsius or Fahrenheit?

https://x.com/climatemessages/status/1959002343791284285/photo/1

Ben Jennings on the Minneapolis school shooting – cartoon (Guardian)

US socioeconomics lesson courtesy of Hungry Hippo

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6sVJbdp/?_ia=1lbfnsx60kkjxE

Canada’s plans to annex the United States have been leaked:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNglmgwSJL9/?igsh=M205YWNnc3VuYmV0

“My favorite thing about the rise of fascism…”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOJW8Rjjmsf/?igsh=N2I3NmF6YXpyYnpl

NY Times Pitchbot ‪@nytpitchbot.bsky.social‬ | September 7, 2025 at 10:34 PM:

Whether it's Obama wearing a tan suit or Trump declaring "Chipocalypse Now" and pledging to unleash "the Department of WAR" on America's third largest city, leaders of both parties have shown disregard for presidential norms.

NY Times Pitchbot ‪@nytpitchbot.bsky.social‬ | September 7, 2025 at 10:33 PM:

My Cowardice Above Replacement Senator model estimates that Republicans in Washington will stop criticizing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. within 5 days. And I tell you the best place to score smack in Hyannis Port. All that and more in the next Silver Bulletin.
-------------------------------------

margd: NATE Silver, I assume.

This Canadian, at least, is welcoming and answers lots of questions

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOkPkwak_z7/?igsh=ZGluZDZhYjVpN3V6

Antifa shutting down

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMeACAh2/

A sad day

Ben Jennings on Keir Starmer’s negotiations with Donald Trump – cartoon (Guardian)

NY Times Pitchbot ‪@nytpitchbot.bsky.social‬ | September 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM:

"News. Trump “Gold Card” visas issued to North Korean comedians who will fill vacant late-night slots and plot future Disney feature films."

Sarah Akinterinwa on the privilege of being able to ignore the British far right – cartoon (Guardian)

Reading the ingredients in Tylenol…

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMLr1epM/

If Christopher Columbus Discovered America Today (Foil Arms and Hog on YouTube)

Trae Crowder does Pete Hegseth

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTM6NNETW/

>31 2wonderY: - it's locked but I did read an interesting one line post on the subject the other day - "I had autism and I took Tylenol now my son is pregnant."

This is my first civil war… are we still doing hardtack?

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMDLe59b/

RepJackKimble {CA} ‪@repjackkimble.bsky.social‬ | October 7, 2025 at 10:19 PM:

"President Trump doesn’t get enough credit for ending the war between Azerbaijan and Acetaminophen"
---------------------------------------------------

As in --

Trump claims he ended a war - between countries that are 4,000 miles apart
Graig Graziosi | 22 September 2025
"... Cambodia and Armenia ..."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-ended-war-ar...

Trump claims he ended war between ‘Aber-baijan’ and Albania
Nate Ostiller | 20 August 2025
https://oc-media.org/trump-claims-he-ended-war-between-aber-baijan-and-albania/

Rep. Jack Kimble {CA} @RepJackKimble | 12:24 AM · Oct 13, 2025

The BIDEN DEFENSE DEPARTMENT let the JAPANESE destroy our PACIFIC fleet at Pearl HARBOR less than THREE weeks before CHRISTMAS 1941.
----------------------------------------------------

Trump appears to forget that Jan 6 happened on his watch as he blames Biden in late-night screed: ‘What a SCAM!’
John Bowden | October 12, 2025

"... In a Truth Social post {Trump} claimed in all-caps that “the Biden FBI” supposedly “placed 274 agents into the crowd on January 6 ... What a SCAM - DO SOMETHING!!! President DJT”, the post concluded.

Obviously, the “Biden FBI” did not exist on January 6, nor did it exist in any of the weeks or months leading up to the attack on the Capitol ... The “Biden FBI” began to take shape later that month, after President Joe Biden was sworn in on January 20, 2021.

Donald Trump was president on January 6, and the FBI reported to him that day — as did the D.C. National Guard ..."

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/trump-appears-forget-jan-6-144119251.html

Portland apologizes.
Free haircuts for ICE agents.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMPFtYes/

ICE detains leaves as they turn brown

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP0fz-7ASZz/?igsh=YXAxaXJ6MXUxc3Uz

"KATONAH, NEW YORK—George Soros has been forced to declare bankruptcy after paying over seven million people to attend the No Kings protests, the billionaire confirmed on Monday.

“When I agreed to pay everyone who showed up at these things, I had no idea so many people were going to accept my offer,” Soros admitted. “But a deal’s a deal.”

The legendary investor said that paying No Kings participants had required him to liquidate his most prized holdings, including his share in the orbital lasers operated by the Rothschild banking family.

Soros revealed that paying the five million Antifa members at the rallies cost him “a pretty penny,” adding, “They may be anarchists, but they don’t work for free.”"

- Andy Borowitz (Facebook, 20 Oct 2025)
_________________________________________

"Andy Borowitz is an American writer, comedian, satirist, and actor. Borowitz is a New York Times-bestselling author who won the first National Press Club award for humor. He is known for creating the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the satirical column The Borowitz Report." (Wikipedia)

WASHINGTON—Calling it “the nuclear option,” House Speaker Mike Johnson opted on Tuesday to enter a medically induced coma to avoid swearing in newly elected congresswoman Adelita Grijalva.

Johnson spoke to reporters at Walter Reed Army Medical Center moments before before doctors administered pentobarbital through an intravenous tube connected to his left hand.

"I'm doing this as a last resort," he said. “I was really hoping that people would forget about the Epstein files or that the Rapture would happen, but no such luck."

A Republican colleague who visited Johnson's bedside hours after he fell into the coma said that the Speaker “seemed like his usual self.”"

- Andy Borowitz (Facebook, 21 Oct 2025)

{"Andy Borowitz is an American writer, comedian, satirist, and actor. Borowitz is a New York Times-bestselling author who won the first National Press Club award for humor. He is known for creating the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the satirical column The Borowitz Report." (Wikipedia)}

Since Mamdani’s election, New York City schools have been using Arabic numerals and teaching algebra.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMGA1gcJ/

>42 2wonderY: That is a clever clip. What is sad is it appears a number of the commenters don't get the joke.

We’re a little late to this, but we just saw MAGA melting down over a post claiming {NYC Mayor Zohran} Mamdani is teaching “Arabic numerals” in public schools. We had to laugh do they not realize those are the numbers we use every single day? You really can’t make this stuff up.

- Alt National Park Service, 21 Nov 2025 on Facebook
------------------------------------------------

ETA: Snopes has written more than once since 2018 about arabic-numerals.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/teaching-arabic-numerals/
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mamdani-arabic-numerals-nyc-schools/
https://www.snohttps://www.snopes.com/fact-check/is-california-requiring-student...
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sarah-palin-arabic-numerals/

Has Trump got a new look?

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrLSaYWX/

Luigi’s case may be dismissed. Can you figure out why from this random post on TikTok?

“ @lukeandleiagoldens: Miranda was prob home in bed sick because she was denied treatment”

> 46 I don't agree with violence... But I do wonder how many jurors today DON'T know what jury nullification is, and how many of them have suffered because of insurance denials?

A critique of Pete Hegseth’s use of Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTr5LUX9j/

Racism, sexism and greed are all as American as apple pie. Last year, a majority of Americans elected a dude who exemplifies all three on a daily basis!

Donald Trump following Putin’s lead this Christmas – cartoon (Guardian)

The Vanity Fair photos come to life thanks to AI

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTrtrqQea/

She managed to get the Epstein files T-shirt!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTr7ckqdH/

Trump’s intervention in Venezuela – cartoon (Guardian)

Donald Trump’s attitude to international law – cartoon (Guardian)

The fact that we need a dedicated thread for "humor from both sides" says everything about where we are, right?Like, political humor used to just be... humor. Now it's a diplomatic negotiation.What I appreciate about good political humor:It punches at ideas and hypocrisy, not at people. The best comedians can make fun of both sides because they're making fun of the human condition - our tendency to be hypocrites, our blind spots, our cognitive dissonance.Left and Right both have comedy gold:The Left: "We're so inclusive and tolerant... except for people who disagree with us, who we will absolutely destroy."The Right: "We believe in freedom and small government... but also we want to control what you read, who you marry, and what you do with your body."Both sides: "The other side is brainwashed by their media!" proceeds to only consume media that confirms their worldviewThe real comedy:We're all sitting here thinking we're the reasonable ones and the other side is the crazy ones. Meanwhile, aliens are watching Earth like it's a reality TV show going, "Are they... are they seriously still arguing about this?"Hot take: The best political humor makes you laugh and makes you uncomfortable, because it forces you to see your own blind spots. If you can only laugh at jokes about the other side, you're not laughing at comedy - you're just cheering for your team.Anyway, I write children's books about courage and kindness, and somehow the hardest thing to teach kids is: "You can think someone is completely wrong AND still treat them with respect." Adults struggle with this too, apparently.What's your favorite example of political humor that actually lands with both sides?WHY

>57 lynchliteracy:

Thanks for this comment on your very first day as an LT Member. I notice you haven't entered any of your books or any other details on your profile page, and I look forward to getting to know you better.

Hopefully, this joke won't trigger any sensitive souls from either side of the aisle:

In these times of economic problems and cutbacks, even the very wealthy must make saviings where they can.
Thus, a wealthy couple are having dinner in their home. He has just finished going over the family accounts, and
growls at his wife, "We've got to make some cuts. If you'd just learn to cook properly, we could fire the chef!"

And she snaps back,
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"Well, if you'd just learn to make love properly, we could fire the chauffeur!"

"Americans Now Living In Fear They Could Be Killed Just For Hitting ICE Agents With Cars"

Jan 10, 2026 · BabylonBee.com

U.S. — Following the events in Minneapolis this past week, liberals across America are now living under the constant terror of being senselessly shot by the ICE agents they're hitting with cars.

Many liberals will not even go outside, fearful that America is no longer safe for people who aim their SUVs at law enforcement officers and accelerate.

"I'm petrified. This is an awful new reality we are living in, where the federal officers you're trying to mow down could shoot you at any moment," said local liberal Jennifer Small. "Every time I wave good-bye to my husband, I wonder if this is our last farewell. Is today the day when I will be needlessly killed for blocking law enforcement, refusing to comply with police orders, turning my wheels toward an officer, and pressing the gas?"

Democratic politicians have warned their electorate that they are in imminent danger from the police they are trying to maim and and murder. "Make no mistake. The people you are running over with your cars could literally kill you," said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. "I am disgusted that Minnesotans are at risk of violence when committing vehicular homicide, and I'm going to do everything in my power to change that."

At publishing time, Democrats had also warned that citizens could also be groundlessly arrested by the riot police they're setting on fire.

>60 Doug1943: I’m glad you’ve chimed in. I think it’s quite interesting what you find humorous.

>60 Doug1943: Not at all funny, from any side of the aisle. Obviously, this is a reference to Renee Good - and Renee Good was quite clearly attempting to turn AWAY from the ICE officer (from his cellphone footage, you can see her turning hard right, and from the video from behind, you can see the wheel turning), who jumped in front of her car. Two shots were fired through the driver's side window, not the front. And, Officer Ross KEPT HOLD OF HIS CELLPHONE to film while shooting Mrs. Good.

After murdering Renee Good, Jonathan Ross (possibly another agent, but the voice was clear and loud, which is more indicative of someone holding the recording phone) is heard saying "Fucking bitch", and Ross immediately walked away (did not limp) to jump into another ICE vehicle.

These are not the actions of an agent who was a) In fear for his life, b) Struck by an SUV, or c) Confident that what he did was legal. ICE agents effectively fled the scene of the crime, tainted evidence by eliminating any possibility of clean ballistic analysis for bullet trajectories, and federal agents are now blocking investigations by Minnesota police.

In addition, Jonathan Ross was previously part of Border Patrol, from 2007 - 2015. Coincidentally, a scathing report issued in 2013, commissioned BY DHS then promptly buried because they didn't like the results, found that Border Patrol frequently used excessive force, and that there were multiple incidents where agents deliberately stepped in front of vehicles in order to provide themselves with cover for using deadly force. This is the training that Ross relies on - create a pretext for force, then use it.

This is about as funny as jokes about Nazis murdering Jews that didn't comply.

>62 ljbryant: To quote someone we all know,after Charle Kirk’s death
:
“I hope that if a Leftist suffers a similar fate, that people on the Right are not so stupid as to celebrate it. On the contrary, they should deplore it.

https://www.librarything.com/topic/374415#8968313

I think the officer over-reacted. I also think he probably believed the car was aimed at him. Even if he believed that, he should not have fired at the driver, given that at worst he would have been knocked over -- it was not like she was twenty feet away and driving toward him at 30 miles an hour. And, she was an unlikely type of person to deliberately use a car as a lethal weapon.

But ... suppose she had been driving at him, at speed. Would progressives support the officer firing at the car in those circumstances?

Generally, cases of police use of deadly force are justified, but not always Or don't you believe that?

>64 Doug1943: Nice theory - except that he deliberately placed himself in a location where he could both block the forward movement of the vehicle (while another officer was yelling MOVE at her, by the way), and where he could ALSO easily move out of the way. This wasn't an overreaction, it was a murder.

Just suppose this joke was about someone other than the woman just murdered... Yeah, okay, no.

If there are no other alternatives - like, you know, MOVING - and the officer didn't deliberately create a dangerous situation just as pretext for deadly force, yes, of course. An officer has the right to defend themselves, even with deadly force, when there is a genuine (or reasonably perceived) threat to their life or the life of another. This is no different than any human, though - government officials have no more rights to use deadly force than civilians. I would argue less, in fact, because they should have the training required to more easily determine when deadly force is genuinely the only option, and training on how to prevent situations that require deadly force.

No, most uses of deadly force are not, in fact, warranted. We've seen this repeatedly. Officers create situations where their lives are at risk when deescalating was the easy option, or they pretend like there was some huge risk when the only danger was the officer with the gun. Police are trained to be afraid of everyone, with an "us versus them" mentality, and then it truly is us versus them.

Add to that the fact that we're talking about ICE, Border Patrol, and DHS in general -- who have NO FUCKING RIGHT to be where they are, doing what they're doing, snatching up citizens and hundreds of DOCUMENTED immigrants and a large number of undocumented immigrants whose only crime is the misdemeanor involved in being here without documentation, holding them without due process, abusing them (if you want proof, there's plenty of it) physically, sexually, and emotionally, with MAGA faithfuls screaming their support while the price of groceries continue to rise because those same immigrants are in a large part responsible for our food chain, and what we have is a situation where the only possibly justified use of deadly force is going the other direction (I am not supporting that, but some Republicans need to remember the castle doctrine and stand your ground when you can't tell the difference between a government thug and someone suiting up as a government thug to rob you).

As I said, your shared joke was not at all funny. You didn't feel that it was funny when there were jokes about Charlie Kirk's murder, but this is somehow different?

So, you're arguing that this man decided, in cold blood, to murder this woman, and just used being brushed by her car as an excuse? He was planning it all along?

I doubt this. It was a tragedy, he did not -- as I see it from my position of safety -- act in the professional way that armed officers should act. But I doubt very much that it was cold-blooded murder.

As for the other behavior of ICE carrying out their raids. Yes, from what I've read, some of them are behaving unprofessionally. The local Leftists don't help, of course.

This is another consequence of the tragedy of the emergence of Donald Trump, and not the biggest one. (The really big tragedies are the loss of opportunities to aid the re-emergence of democracy in Iran and Venezuela.)

But ... let's see where we agree or disagree on principle: I am in favor of the United States controlling its borders. In particular, I am against mass Third World immigration into the US. There should be some immigration, including of unskilled Third World people, but it must be under the control of the national government.

This means that some people must be prevented from getting into the United States, and that those who succeed in doing so illegally, should be found and deported. Having said that, the national government should be flexible in exercising its power -- the analogy is with the power of pardoning or commuting the sentences of people who have been convicted in the criminal justice system.

So ... how about you? Do you join with us evil heartless conservatives in wanting to prevent some people from coming to the US, or are you for Open Borders, as some Leftists are?

>66 Doug1943: I wrote my representative and senators -- Republicans all -- requesting justice for Renee Good. Not holding my breath, but you never know. At least they can't say they didn't hear from the people they represent.

>66 Doug1943: Yes, although I wouldn't convict him of first degree murder as a juror in court, based on the information I currently have, because there is definitely reasonable as to his thought process. Manslaughter would be a slam dunk, potentially murder 2.

Didn't act professionally? That's like saying a nudist in a business meeting is slightly underdressed. This wasn't a case of professionalism. The officer deliberately escalated the situation, as they have been doing repeatedly. This isn't accidental. There is a concerted effort here to escalate to the point of requiring martial law (through the Insurrection Act). This is a stated goal of Project 2025, and DHS is clearly following it.

It's not some. It's almost all. DHS and Border Patrol are, on a daily basis, assaulting people, ignoring their rights, ignoring their proof of citizenship, shoving them in front of busses, and shooting them directly in the face with "less lethal" deterrents. This is, again, not an accident.

Your use of "Third World" betrays you. This is a dog-whistle. Developing nations, maybe -- third world implies "less than". That being said, no, I do not completely disagree with you. I think borders do need to be maintained, specifically to keep out violent offenders. We would almost certainly disagree on where to draw the line, and we would likely disagree on the number of immigrants allowed across the border legally, and we would DEFINITELY disagree about what should be done with immigrants that have been here without proper permission for decades with no criminal record aside from immigration violations. We might also disagree on how border protection should be handled, since I think that Border Patrol's use of force is outrageous, detention camps are actively evil, and the lack of oversight is horrifying (ICE / Border Patrol is preventing members of the House from entering camps and facilities without prior notice -- which means they have time to hide what they're doing).

In addition, these "Third World" nations you're discussing - mostly South American, when you're discussing border control - are filled with guns because we export them, run by crime syndicates because of our war on drugs (stupid, stupid, stupid), and have the governments that they have because of the actions of the CIA during the 1980s with overthrowing anything that even slightly resembled communism, even if what replaced it was a dictatorial kleptocracy. WE CREATED THIS SITUATION, and now we tell refugees trying to make a better life for themselves that they have no options? Bonus points, we continue to accelerate climate change, then refuse to help those fleeing the effects of said climate change. These are the actions of a people that lacks empathy of any sort, while also being stupid.

Immigrants built, and continue to build, this country, and immigrants add tremendous value to the economy. Crime rates by immigrants are generally lower than those born as citizens. This is true even for undocumented immigrants. Non-naturalized immigrants pay taxes, often including SSI / Medicare, with no real chance that they'll ever be able to collect - including undocumented immigrants.

There are many conservatives that I can get along with famously (fiscal conservatives - social conservatives want to tell people who they can love, and that they're all sinful, while fiscal conservatives just want smaller government and less taxes - I disagree, but can disagree in a friendly fashion). MAGA isn't a conservative movement. It's fascist, authoritarian, and EXPENSIVE. There is no aspect of the current Republican party that is at all conservative.

Edited to add: One point I missed. "Leftists" are not doing anything wrong here. They are asserting their constitutional rights to free speech and assembly, and to be secure in their person and property, and informing others of those rights. Anyone saying that the left is inflaming the situation with their rhetoric or their actions has no respect for the 1st Amendment at all.

>68 ljbryant: Your use of "Third World" betrays you

Thanks for calling this out. "Third World" is an archaic term which now often has a derogatory, pejorative and even white supremacist implication. It is also meaningless in a post-Cold War world where there is no longer a "First World" (western Europe, north America, NATO and a few others such as Australia and New Zealand), a "Second World" (the USSR and eastern Europe) and a "Third World" (the rest of the world, including the likes of China and India which are now major global or regional powers).

As for controlling one's borders and immigration, the USA already had some of the strictest immigration policies in the world - ask any African who tried to get a legal visa, even for a short visit. It's difficult to see why that system needed to be escalated, and also why it is deemed necessary to use such violence against people who, by not having completed a bureuacratic documentation process, have committed what is basically a minor nonviolent misdemeanour.

>69 John5918: That, along with the use of "illegal immigrants", are two of my pet peeves. There aren't separate worlds, and no humans are illegal. There's just people, mostly doing the best that they can, trying to make the best of their lives, and frequently helping their neighbors.

I truly believe their are considerably more good people in the world than bad, regardless of politics. Sometimes people get stuck in a particular view, and are blinded to the fact that what they're doing is harming other humans, but these same people will quite likely give the shirt off of their back to their neighbor when their house burns down, a family member loses their job, or they have a sick kid. People aren't simple, and can't be pigeonholed.

I would even extend that to Jonathan Ross. He likely is a good husband, good father, good member of his community as long as that community is narrowly defined - but he's now also a murderer. People are complicated.

The immigration policy in the United States, extending back decades, is ridiculously restrictive. And, that's deliberate. We WANT undocumented immigrants, at least wealthy corporations do. Undocumented immigrants can be paid less, and forced to work longer hours under harsher conditions than citizens and documented immigrants. They have no protection, and that's the way corporate farmers and processing plants want it. One reason Trump is losing support among wealthy Republicans is because he forgot the rule -- LOOK like you're cracking down on undocumented immigrants while turning a blind eye to your corporate sponsors.

ETA: And now, back to our regularly scheduled humor. I think this side tangent has gone on long enough. I'd like to see more funny (not joking about murder - either Mrs. Good or Charlie Kirk) shares from both sides of politics, and anything else in this conversation could be moved to a different thread :-)

Trump tariffs Heard Island, populated only by penguins, and claims Greenland for the US, inspiring demonflyingfox's series of videos, culminating in Heard Island penguins coming to aid of Greenland. "The globally oriented creator from Berlin says, “I want to show what’s possible with AI”. Prepare to be moved." https://thekingstoncrow.substack.com/p/coos-and-caws-862

Democratic Penguins Republic - Trade War (Official Music Video) {1:42}
demonflyingfox | 9 months ago (March 2025?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ8qGOe2K0o

Greenland Defense Front - The Hungry Giant (Official Music Video) {1:51}
demonflyingfox | Jan 11, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS0wFiWpU4U

Democratic Penguins Republic - Greenland (Official Music Video) {2:07}
demonflyingfox | Jan 15, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWMnNoHshRA

Greenland Is Not Fer Sale 🎵 – A Ridiculous Irish Pub Jig About a Toddler Tantrum from the Drunken Irish Bard (AI).

{Baby labeled Donald Trump sitting on a world map}

(0:14) https://x.com/EastEndJoe/status/2013264879923138944

“I’m suing the guhment!”

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThDBctJ6/

Great rant. She has a point!

About the only good thing that has come out of this Orange Greenlandic saga. I present the songs of the Greenland Defense Front

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS0wFiWpU4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1ln5Pqbh5c

And the Democratic Penguins Republic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWMnNoHshRA&pp=0gcJCYcKAYcqIYzv

Some actual bangers here.

Ireland's Response to the Trump Tariffs (Foil, Arms and Hog)

A couple of points:

In the long run, I hope to see the whole human race meld together, culturally and politically. A "Star Trek future". The nation-state is not something eternal -- we evolved into it from being organized in tribes. And, hopefully, we'll evolve beyond it, on our way to the stars. But this will be a matter of many decades, even a century or two.

This means that the whole human race will accept the norms of liberal democracy, and live in the material/social conditions that sustain liberal democracy. At the moment, this is not the case.

We're getting there ... slowly. Even the most backward nations, mainly those in Africa, are getting wealthier, and their populations getting more educated.

Some numbers here: https://humanprogress.org/ylin/

One way to slow this progress down is by having effectively open borders, which will spark a strong negative reaction from ordinary people, who do not have the laughable illusions about the Third World that many progressives seem to have.

Rather, we need to continue with the sort of economic growth and social progress that we have had since WWII.

After Mr Trump has gone, Americans need to have a national conversation about what kind of foreign aid to resume. One area to look at closely is education, and here, Cuba provides a model:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Cuba The US should drop the embargo on Cuban trade, flood the place with tourists ... and watch Cuban socialism evaporate overnight. (The one-party state will take longer to replace, but start with the economy.) We should also offer to partner with Cuba in training medical personnel for Latin America: American money, Cuban educators -- a powerful combination.

Redo's of Trump "Home Alone 3" meme of Trump wandering off with a penguin in post and comments:
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10165393436564610&set=a.1015009222142961...

ICE has managed to round up more criminals than any other agency…

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8PQoKd8/

Humor. An economist told me this joke, which, she said, economists like.

An economist and a physicist were having lunch, and the physicist complained about not being able to go anywhere that weekend, because he had to write a set of exams.

The economist said, "Oh, that's a shame. You know that we economists don't have that problem."

"How so?", said the physicist.

The economist answered, "We just use the same questions every year."

"What?!!!, exclaimed the physicist. "How can you do that? Don't the students know that you do that?"

"Sure they do," said the economist. "But we change the answers."

Policing protest in the US and Iran – cartoon (Guardian)

What it’s like to be pregnant right now

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThyVm57b/

CNN spouts the party line

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThyWAGyV/

An odd tribute to Kristi Noem

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTh7wqhj7/

Bring Your Daughter to War Day

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThvaM1BP/

Donald Trump’s predictions for the war on Iran – cartoon (Guardian)

Britain Wanted Their Country “back"...From Who? (YouTube)

Trevor Noah reflects on colonisation and immigration.

Are we in….

The Twilight Zone?!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTkRQaGvr/

Listen up liberal!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTkRCuw4E/

Fox, scaring sheep, 1820.
Fox, scaring sheep, 2023.

https://x.com/ennui365/status/2036789072002163001/photo/1

Paul Blinkhorn ‪@paulblinkhorn.bsky.social‬ | 7:35 AM · Apr 3, 2026:

"Meanwhile, on the moon...
https://bsky.app/profile/paulblinkhorn.bsky.social/post/3milmw5paf226 "

"Our friends in Canada absolutely nailed this Karoline Leavitt impersonation you have to see this 😂🔥👇
(2:03) https://x.com/realtrumpstein/status/2040959460751941938 "

- Donald J. Trumpstein fake @realtrumpstein | 9:07 PM · Apr 5, 2026

"How is a person supposed to tell if they are having a psychotic break or not these days?
Everyone else can see the big rabbit listening to Trump talk about bombing Iran, right?"

From OSINTtechnical (0:21)
https://x.com/peterrhague/status/2041208510831047057

- Peter Hague @peterrhague | 1:36 PM · Apr 6, 2026
Solutionist. Astrophysics PhD and scientific software engineer.

Prof. Eliot Jacobson @EliotJacobson | 10:32 AM · Apr 13, 2026:
Retired professor of mathematics and computer science

Here, I fixed it.

{Trump Truth Social, "healer" vampired} https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/2043698866265178307/photo/1

Desi Lydic Foxsplains Trump's Holy War Against the Pope | The Daily Show (The Daily Show on YouTube)

The Dunning–Kruger Era is outta control

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10163351746008214&set=gm.25662537230087...

- Theresa M Shand | {April 18, 2026} at 1:21 AM
https://www.facebook.com/groups/346571522110561/user/542008213/

King Charles TOP 12 JOKES as he pokes fun at Trump (The Mirror - YouTube)

>97 John5918: Charles and Camilla presented themselves well. Light and warm touch, with messages on behalf of NATO, Ukraine, and even Canada and the Commonwealth, as well as UK. Amazing that a man of his age and health has so much endurance!

An opinion about the UFC structure at the White House

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTBH4SJNs/

Federal employees who were DOGEd are coming back for revenge

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTBcTpu8d/

A cocktail for these times

Quoting Mikey Johnson and his predictions if the Social Democrats win seats

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSNhkK9S/