So let's get this straight: The U.S. and Elon are now extorting Ukraine and threatening to turn off their Starlink Internet access unless they give their critical rare earth minerals to the United States? Staggering levels of corruption.
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I wrote a piece about Elons Nazi Salute insulting American WW2 veterans.
My grandfather was part of the invasion of Italy.
I reference his experience at Anzio as an example of the horrors Americans endured because of Nazism https://mikemaguire1967.substack.com/p/elon-musks-nazi-salute-insulted-all
Isn't that called blackmail, on plain sight, why is no one helping Ukraine here, haven't they been fucked enough, let alone Trump and Elon being allowed yo never be stopped by anyone one in the states. Does anyone work in the states for democracy anymore, get a backbone people
So embarrassed after 77 years to be an American now. I have lived through many administrations and even though Bush’s administration was also embarrassing, this administration is 100 times worse.
Republican congress is as culpable. SHAME
I also am embarrassed to be an American. I’ve travelled in quite a few countries of our allies. I was always warmly welcomed. Now, Americans are despised. I have terminal cancer and do not regret being at the end of my time on this corrupt planet.
Yes I agree with you. I have been to 87 countries. When bush was president we were advised not to have American flags or insignias on clothing or bags. Was in Norway a couple months ago, and yes America is being laughed at and people can’t believe what is happening to the US .
Lots of Americans have been embarrassing America for a while though. A lot of tourists act entitled, like Karens / Donalds and don’t respect people’s cultures while in other countries.
Yes you are correct there are some Americans who feel entitled when they go abroad, as do some people from other cultures . That’s a shame. However, now it is the whole country that is being laughed at, except in Russia. The free world can’t believe an immoral felon was elected again.
I’ve seen it while traveling. The loudest, rudest most disruptive people are always American tourist, not all of them mind you, but the drunk, entitled, loud ones. As an American I just wanted to slap the shit out of these people.
The people on the 🌎 are & can indeed be corrupt but I’m hoping your time on it has brought u joy, happiness, & fulfillment. I also hope that same joy was shared w/everyone u encountered & may that spirit be returned 2u during this time.
The 🟠 azz & the vampiric Afrikaner will have their last days 2
This is the equivalent of only offering help to a rape victim if they promise to have sex with you. Trump is a disgusting piece of shit and the world is increasingly revolted by the US.
Save what reputation you have left. It could take a century to undo the damage.
No hiding the threats & quid pro quo’s.
Right out in the open like a proud dictator of a fascist state with King authority granted by a corrupt SCOTUS would do.
Helping Putin to win is treason. Take a look at most state constitutions about supporting an enemy the US is at war with.
@adamkinzinger.bsky.social @aoc.bsky.social @fetterman.senate.gov
@chrislhayes.bsky.social
I just wanna shoot down all the starlinks. I have no capability to do so, but if anyone out there does, you’d be doing the entire world a massive favor.
the satellites themselves seem to be doing a grand job of destroying themselves, though one has to ask why? Evidence of muskrat's direct links to russia, mayhaps? 🤔
So the 'forward-thinking genius' techbro wasn't able to future-proof his own satellites & just lets them pollute the atmosphere with their metals & fuel. No wonder the FAA were investigating him, and why he shut them down! 😡
I said in the first place. Ukraine’s riches is what led a monster to rape kill and pillage because like Trump he cares about nothing other than what he can hurt and take. Most people realize without me having to point out in every post that there is a long and complicated history between the two.
extortion is his style of life. retribution for the 1st impeachment as well. it's thug's life. scotus turned a blind eye to that criminality and threw a lifeline to him.
China now helping Mexico Mexico let chins build huge military base there trump to blind to see ramifications of having them this close. Any intelligent leadership would stop that but trump playing golf..dumbass maga cult voted for chaotic drama u got it
Well, it's not like he suffered any real consequences the 1st time. Story of his entire life. He should have been jailed decades ago when he waa 1st ripping people off. The US doesn't actually punish their rich criminals though, just elect them.
What a choice the US is offering Ukraine - lose your sovereignty completely if you reject our offer, or only lose your economic sovereignty if you accept it.
The rest of the world is watching very closely as the US declines in a blizzard of lies and threats.
In a kleptocracy, corrupt politicians [or unelected CEOs like fElon Musk] enrich themselves secretly outside the rule of law, through kickbacks, bribes, and special favors from lobbyists and corporations, or they simply direct state funds to themselves and their associates. (Wikipedia)
No matter what, trump always ends up on top….. Is the money going to trump or to the US? If it goes to the US then if trump ever leaves office the next Dem President should dissolve this “deal”. It will take more than 4 years to be able to get any money out of this deal.
Bullys are going to bully. It’s damn low down to further hurt people who have witnessed the atrocities of war. It’s all about the money. No one means anything to them.
How do we know that data transmitted through Starlink is not being manipulated? If electronic voting machines are transmitting data through Starlink, how do we know that it isn't being tampered with?
Yes. But ultimately, if Ukraine can get something they need from the USA in the short term, they can renege on in the medium term once the investment has been made in the mining infrastructure.
It’s a global world, tied together by computers & satellites. What can the average American do to help Europe including Ukraine and/or Ukraine? We’re not all dummies & I’d help in whatever way I could if I knew what to do. More than half of US citizens are mad. Don’t believe what the US MEDIA says
This can't possibly be a surprise. These are two of the most transactional, mercenary, greed-driven sociopaths on earth. This is EXACTLY what I expected out of this administration, which is why I warned people not to let it happen.
Um, yeah. Pretty much the only recourse to stop their complete disregard for the law. It has been working so far and even the dirty SCOTUS has ruled against the emperor.
I hear you. But at some point someone needs to make these criminals pay. Locked up and fortunes gone is when I’ll be happy. Or worse case, eventually they’ll all be gone…
It's not only in Ukraine, but there is quite some of it. Not just Uranium, but things like Lithium, Titanium, metals for semiconductors. All very valuable stuff. Oil too.
Trump/Musk r solidifying their international crime organization. Musk's consolidating contracts & resources for his companies while getting rid of anyone investigating them & now has armed guards that can carry guns on Fed grounds. Trump's focusing on real estate, drugs, crypto, human trafficking.
Will they? You have more faith than I do. What threats will come from trump & musk if they try? Businesses are now being forced to advertize on X. The Autocratic kleptocracy is already here. I fear it's already too late to turn it around.
Is this against any International laws? Samctions should be put against the US and the UN should condemn the US. I am in the US. This will hurt me, but it needs doing. If Musk is anywhere in Europe he should be arrested. He should be turned over to another government’s authority.
That’s why he got rid of the law. To allow himself, his fam & I guess the Rare monkey to do just that- Extort w/o fear. Crazy times we are living. I guess the King is looking for a Zero Day. What the hell does he care. I wonder if the Secret Service are now protecting Musk too?
Isn't this Hague-level stuff? Haul musky/trump to an international tribunal over this type of threat. We lack the gumption here in the US to hold the monsters accountable perhaps the world stage can handle them.
I'm still waiting for someone to sue over Canada's (and Greenland's) treatment. It's not just a crime under international law to seize a sovereign nation. It's a crime to say you're going to do it.
Just heard trump say on Fox that Ukraine invaded Russia several times. Has anyone thought of Articles of Impeachment until a full medical assessment is provided to public to rule out dementia
And Republicans in office proving they side with corruption
MAGA. All that talk of the left being corrupt by Trump and Republicans - guess what? They were gaslighting you. You plan to speak up on this? Or does your cowardice and weakness require obedience?
word on the streets is Ukraine just might be “exaggerating” the amount of rare minerals. If they had $$$$ of rare minerals Putin or the oligarchs pre Zelensky would have tapped into them.
Or perhaps not because they are in protected areas & they have some respect for the land they live on & dont rape & pillage the Earth for the means of a quick buck?
or they dint have the infrastructure to extract them due to decades of poverty after the collapse of the soviet union and the war making it impossible to export by sea doesnt help either.
whichever the reason, the US is a criminal state trying to steal ukranian sovereignty for a quick buck.
Boom! Yeah. It’s none of the US’ / Russia’s ( I can’t believe this where we are~ pairing those ☝️together 💔) business about any other country’s resources. Greedy mofos just want to take take take
From what I know, they are already using Swedish satellites, but sunce they are higher in the orbit, they are slower. The EU is in the process of developing its own satellite system, Iris2, but it is still in the making.
It’s like someone dared them, how low can you go. They’re ruining our nations reputation, relationships, economy, global influence, national security, for what? Personal gain 🤬 When do we finally start holding them truly accountable? Instead we watch more tax breaks&subsidies being prepared 🫠
Are we powerless now? Are we just hoing to foldvlike a chair? Treason out in the open- where are powers of the people to arrest them ? Boycotting marching, striking, will not deter these people. The Media needs to grow some damn balls and stop sugarcoating all this Trump and Elon and his Doge bros
Sitting here in Canada, what I wonder about is whether a united front with all living former presidents might have some sway. Let Bush take the lead for the R/D issue.
I'm betting they are working furiously in the background with others to take Trump&Co down. I just hope it's enough, soon enough.
75 million of us #shuttingTrumpdown for as long as it takes to get him out will work‼️We have to stick together have faith and sacrifice Yes sacrifice our time our and effort for this country 💯‼️🔥💯‼️👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽🔥💯‼️‼️👇🏽LETS GO‼️
Well, if you read Mary Trump's accounts (DJT's niece), Trump used to bully other kids, and weaker ones, in particular, from very early on. He basically was mean enough to drive his younger brother towards alcoholism. He was so unruly that his parents sent him to a military academy.
A reminder, that Putin was reported to have asked Musk to turn off Starkink over Taiwan for China.
Musk also cut off Starlink in Ukraine during a critical military action. https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5960168
This is so despicable. The greed. The corruption. The complete lack of morality. I am ashamed of our country for what we have allowed ourselves to become due to our complacency and in action in the face of overwhelming evil.
I feel sorry for Ukraine 😢 I’m from Sweden and we thought USA was our friend. And now I turned out that Putin is more of a friend to the US than Europe.
We are your friend so many of us hate the president and his cronies.. it’s the shitty lies the president is telling people and the propaganda machines that need to be shot. I love Sweden 🇸🇪
I wish we learned more from you guys. 🥺
“Losing Starlink would be a game changer,” Haring said, noting that Ukraine was now at 1:1 parity with Russia in terms of drone usage and artillery shells. Ukraine has a wide range of different drone capabilities, ranging from sea drones and surveillance drones to long-range unmanned aerial vehicles
As has been noted in another post, there are alternatives to muskrat's service. At least 4 of which are European based. If I were Zelensky i would have been looking into alternatives after muskrat turned there service off during a critical counteroffensive...
Are there options other than Starlink for Ukraine? And are those uncompromisable? I regret our loudest complaint about low Earth orbit satellites seems to have been that they ruin the night sky. Why DO we keep making it so simple for the kleptos to control everything?
From what I know, they are already using Swedish satellites, but sunce they are higher in the orbit, they are slower. The EU is in the process of developing its own satellite system, Iris2, but it is still in the making.
It appears we have an administration that is hell bent on blackmail and extortion. Trump has stated that if states don’t do as he says they will loose federal funding, now he is telling Ukraine to give up their rare earth minerals or they will loose starlink. How corrupt our government has become.
Anyone surprised? Was expecting this from the first time Smuk had a call with 💩tin and turned off Starlink for Ukraine at a crucial time.
WHY IS AMERICA STILL WAITING?
Lawsuits?? YOU ARE A #LawlessNation!
Protests? Speaking up?
THEY DON’T CARE!
Well, the lawless nation is sadly true at the moment (but also, see my last). Voter suppression erased a huge number of legal votes this time, too. Until our political system is fixed, this will happen on repeat, I fear
That’s simply not true. There are frequent protests in all 50 states, even the red ones. Our media isn’t covering them. Less than a third of people voted for him. He didn’t win the majority of votes cast, though slightly more than the VP. Our system has been badly gamed by our far right
I hope and wish it makes them feel more unsafe every day. It’s true there is way too little coverage but I am happy to hear there’s more than we know. I🤞 there will be proof of all the election fraud soon!
They didn’t flip votes, so far as I know, and I don’t believe they did. Instead, they challenged legal votes and had them not counted. And the people challenged didn’t know, so they could not “cure” their ballots. So it was done legally, as I understand it. But in deep deception and unfairness.
The problem with protests is a lot of Americans can not afford to miss even a single day of work. Unfortunately, those are the Americans who are hurt the most.
Well fuck it then. Let them be indentured slaves with their $7.50 jobs. The problem is that Americans want everything to be easy and convenient. Real change is hard and most of the time, painful.
Yeah, it kind of makes sense why the fascist gop has blocked any kind of wage increases and paid leave for the working class. This has always been the way authoritarians cripple the working class and it's specifically for this reason. So that we can't afford to resist.
To quote one of your great poets « You ain’t losing nothing when you have nothing to lose. » Labor movements were the most active and effective when workers were being exploited. You guys need a general strike
I wholeheartedly agree with you. I just hope enough people feel the same way. Without a unifiying leader who can direct and coordinate the effort, I fear it's too much talk and not enough action. Even worse, legacy media is trembling in fear of retaliation from the Feds.
Batteries. Ukraine has half a million tons of lithium ore in its borders, as well as deposits of several other rare earth minerals useful for advanced batteries. They have been largely unexploited due to the region's historical status as a major breadbasket and the muddy season being bad for miners.
2/2 But mainly, Trump just wants to submit demands that take a little education to recognize as completely batshit unreasonable, so he can call Ukraine warmongers. He's a right-wing tankie.
Ukraine has received telecom equipment and support from European allies to restore communications and
NATO, the EU have provided cybersecurity and telecommunications aid to ensure communication resilience. EU has options for satellite internet to switch from Starlink. Safer option given affiliation
Excellent - this fact should be broadcast far and wide. I would love to see and hear Zelensky say publicly "We don't need Starlink and Eblob can f''k all the way off, forever."
In December, the European Commission signed contracts to build up a multibillion-euro constellation of cyber-secure satellites, dubbed IRIS², to beam encrypted high-speed broadband internet back to governments, spies, militaries and remote regions. You don’t want all your tech to be from abroad.
And with every Start of a Starship he destroy more and more our atmosphere,for him not Important he will go to Mars with friends and family... The rest of us will die
Yes, and they are just getting going… rocket emissions are released higher in the atmosphere, where they linger longer and cause more damage per ton of CO₂ than airplanes.
Europe are now pumping 700 billion euros into defence spending to take care of member states and Ukraine who is about to be treated as a member. Actual talks of EU defence force is on the table to compensate for USA retreat from Nato. Europe will now take over which is the only right response.
Sure Mark, let's make them an offer they can't refuse...and if they do? Well business is business. Why would ANYONE make a deal with us when we don't even honor our own treaties! Ask Mexico and Canada.
Pardon my Italian, "Marco, ma sei un vero cazzone!"
So a nation once respected, now running foreign policy like a back-alley shakedown. Treaties? Optional. Alliances? Extorted. Trust? An overrated relic. Step right up, folks, and witness the art of the deal—where principles are sold to the highest bidder like some protection rackett.Shame on you Mark
It IS happening.
There are protests. There are singular heroes acting daily.
Lawyers suing. Kids walking out of class. Anyone who drops Facebook, Google, and X, who refuses to buy on the 28th…
PLEASE contact your congressperson/senator & INSIST they DO NOT help repugs pass the spending bill, an extension OR anything else.
LET the gov't shut down by 🍊 hands. Yes, we'll all suffer, but non maga R voters need 2 feel pain. Maybe then they'll listen
Unfortunately, they’ve successfully normalized it. It is known. Not that that fact doesn’t make it even more necessary to continue to call it out. It’s just wild to me how far the standard of “normal” has fallen.
Just postulating here, but I wonder what would happen if tens of thousands of furious Americans showed up in Washington to exercise their First and Second Amendment rights, peacefully. MAGA spent a lot of time walking around armed to the teeth intimidating us, so… equal treatment under the law.
We need to camp out at the supremeless court and let those crooked MFr know we aren't letting them write off our democracy where ever they go we be around to remind them we are loyal too the constitution not a Diaper King
There is nothing more powerful than people power particularly big large protests, and right now I’m not sure why Americans are not showing their absolute fury in these times you should all be furious your country is about to be radically changed and not for the better.
They will set their proud boys etc on you then set the militia on you all, arresting any who survive and send them to Gitmo - they are almost counting on it
One can be sure the Trump Team is postulating like crazy about the same scenario. it's safe to assume that when it comes to demonstrations, mass or otherwise, they will not play nice. Considering the present, a Kent State on steroids is not out of the question.
Comments
I wrote a piece about Elons Nazi Salute insulting American WW2 veterans.
My grandfather was part of the invasion of Italy.
I reference his experience at Anzio as an example of the horrors Americans endured because of Nazism
https://mikemaguire1967.substack.com/p/elon-musks-nazi-salute-insulted-all
1. Elon Musk is a POS 💩
2. Your grandfather is a hero
🇺🇸🥇👊🏻
Republican congress is as culpable. SHAME
The 🟠 azz & the vampiric Afrikaner will have their last days 2
Save what reputation you have left. It could take a century to undo the damage.
Right out in the open like a proud dictator of a fascist state with King authority granted by a corrupt SCOTUS would do.
@adamkinzinger.bsky.social @aoc.bsky.social @fetterman.senate.gov
@chrislhayes.bsky.social
Even Ukraine.
They’re the internet equivalent of asbestos.
https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/failing-starlink-satellites-worry-scientists-120-fell-from-space-in-jan-nc-125020701419_1.html
Conflict of interest MUCH!?
Still, I have this to look at... 😏
To me that is unfathomable! 🤷♂️
The rest of the world is watching very closely as the US declines in a blizzard of lies and threats.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/elon-musk-tesla-cell-phone/
Well played
They have links, but imo there should be an easier way for world citizens to help.
PURE AND SIMPLE EXTORTION.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk0nUUqG_Ag
But taking Ukraine off starlink takes a few minutes and the damage is done. A lawsuit afterwards wouldn’t solve anything.
https://thenetworkinstallers.com/blog/starlink-competitors/
The entire GOP works for Putin.
America, we are being KIDNAPPED. JFC, wake the fuck UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#HisMaster'sVoice
MAGA. All that talk of the left being corrupt by Trump and Republicans - guess what? They were gaslighting you. You plan to speak up on this? Or does your cowardice and weakness require obedience?
Such a great deal! 🤔🤨
whichever the reason, the US is a criminal state trying to steal ukranian sovereignty for a quick buck.
💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
I'm betting they are working furiously in the background with others to take Trump&Co down. I just hope it's enough, soon enough.
But I'll bet anything they're madly working in the background. They won't speak publicly until a course of action is set and underway.
Musk also cut off Starlink in Ukraine during a critical military action.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5960168
Particularly for an ally at war
Felonious D Fascist is disgraceful, doomed to live infamy 🤮
They are the enemies of America, American democracy and the entire free world.
Musk's political actions in Europe have demonstrated this. The free world must unite against them.
We sane Americans stand with you.
I wish we learned more from you guys. 🥺
Surely this cannot be true.... Or its a miscommunication, or an exaggeration or something...
Surely? Right?
Major escalation
Starlink is no philanthropic deed, it's more likely a key to world domination...
Unbelievable 😡
WHY IS AMERICA STILL WAITING?
Lawsuits?? YOU ARE A #LawlessNation!
Protests? Speaking up?
THEY DON’T CARE!
#BoycottTesla 🤬
https://fortune.com/2025/02/19/rivian-federal-loan-biden-trump-administration-georgia-factory-brian-kemp/
https://glassalmanac.com/from-sam-altman-to-mark-zuckerberg-these-elon-musk-rivals-fear-becoming-targets/
Lawyers want to weigh in on international extortion?
Please.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14423219/volodymyr-zelensky-surrenders-donald-trump-sign-mineral-deal-hours.html
Tech cos need rare minerals. The military needs minerals. They're in every kind of circuitry.
The thing is, ask nicely and we'd be happy to sell.
Trump is not interested in buying. He doesn't want to pay. He want to steal and "own."
NATO, the EU have provided cybersecurity and telecommunications aid to ensure communication resilience. EU has options for satellite internet to switch from Starlink. Safer option given affiliation
Along with a surge in defence spending, Europe will ignore space investment at its peril.
Pardon my Italian, "Marco, ma sei un vero cazzone!"
You need to give your head a shake.
If they really follow through with it, Europe should ban any Starlink and X business within its borders.
@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
We are fools. Instead of posting here like little kids, why are we not marching, blocking streets, boycotting daily, etc
We are acting like MAGAs. We need to get off our phones and in their faces!
There are protests. There are singular heroes acting daily.
Lawyers suing. Kids walking out of class. Anyone who drops Facebook, Google, and X, who refuses to buy on the 28th…
We need more of that, less of this.
No one person should have this much power—especially not one as morally bankrupt as him.
LET the gov't shut down by 🍊 hands. Yes, we'll all suffer, but non maga R voters need 2 feel pain. Maybe then they'll listen
But be aware that at
Some point, the Proud Boys et al will be all tooled up and waiting.