We have a two-party system, and no world government, or galactic referees to appeal to. The repercussions can only come from the other political party, which had many opportunities and strong desire by its constituents, and just... didn't. Not even things that the President can do without Congress.

Ostensibly because they were afraid of losing elections, but, well, here we are.

He wanted a photo op of himself looking impotent and awkward? Maybe he's as weird as they say.

Why aren't these guys in jail? Seriously. I mean, I know the theory of the rule of law and all, but even our widely-acclaimed greatest president suspended habeas corpus when insurgent seditionists tried to overthrow the Union.

I saw this article first this morning: Counter-protesters attack pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA It's local coverage, with a timestamp several hours before articles by national organizations.

Interesting the contrast, isn't it? Also interesting how the police withdraw before the attack, in addition to standing by and letting it happen after they returned.

"Why do you ask? You thinking about banging her?"

I feel like this would be the opportunity for just about the most epic, passive-aggressive forward of one's previously-sent email in history.

Plant: joke's on you, getting you to propagate my species has been a wildly successful reproductive strategy

Human: sure, but it means you'll go down with us as we destroy ourselves

Plant: …

Plant: shit

So when do the school administrators get fired for looking at porn online?

On the good side, we're much less affected by trauma, because we're not haunted by replays of it in our minds. So there's that. Also, we can torment visualizers with words like "moist", and describing disgusting things that they "see" in their heads, while we're unaffected.

Use this power only for good, or at least for a good laugh. 😉

Hmmm, a center-right candidate who seems to believe in the political process to achieve what he thinks is best for the country, even if I don't agree with much of it, versus a demagogue cult leader grifter whose followers want full-on authoritarianism? Tough choice, tough choice.

Yes, I have warned for years that the Democrats' triangulation and lesser-evilism would get us here, but here we are, and democracy is awful hard to regain once it's gone, so there it is.

I like how you assume that society will choose to have a future over self-immolation.

Based on my own training in environmental science, I can say that virtually all phenomena in nature have multiple, interacting causes. To synthesize what I've read about the wildfires on Maui, the direct factors were: invasive grass species which have taken over much of the land area after the sugar cane and pineapple plantations shut down decades ago; a flash drought on the island; and high winds from Hurricane Dora. A flash drought means it's hot and dry enough to pull moisture out of the plants and the ground, so the conditions on the island were very, very dry. The dry grasses burn quickly and intensely, and the fire was fanned by 70-80MPH winds from the hurricane passing by in the Pacific Ocean.

Climate change has a role in making flash droughts much more likely, and more intense. It also helps fuel bigger, stronger hurricanes. Thus, a flash drought coinciding with a hurricane is much more likely due to it.