The Japan TimesMay 18, 2025
A newly published recording of former U.S. president Joe Biden speaking hesitantly and struggling to remember key events and dates has fueled renewed debate over his mental capabilities while still in office. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/18/world/politics/2023-biden-recording-debate-capabilities/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #joebiden #2024uspresidentialelection #donaldtrump #us #democrats
Release of 2023 Biden recording renews debate on his capabilities

The four-minute audio clip comes as a book is being released alleging the White House staff covered up Biden's decline even as he was seeking reelection.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesFeb 27, 2025
Donald Trump’s populism and polarization will challenge American democracy, but constitutional limits, congressional dynamics and enduring pluralism will sustain it. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/02/27/japan/american-democracy-will-weather-the-trumpist-storm/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #us #donaldtrump #usjapanrelations #2024uspresidentialelection
American democracy will weather the Trumpist storm

Despite Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, his populist nature makes constitutional collapse unlikely so long as pluralism in society endures.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 27, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump has been in office for nearly a week, and yet he has already imposed his will on Washington, showing that even his most radical campaign promises were far from just bluster. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/27/world/politics/trump-power-take-over-washington/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #2024uspresidentialelection #donaldtrump #republicans #congress
Trump, at zenith of power, moves quickly to 'take over' Washington

Trump's agenda faces roadblocks going forward, and the opening weeks of his administration may represent the height of his power, some supporters acknowledge.

The Japan Times
Jonathan EmmesediJan 24, 2025

The next time somebody tells you that Trump won a "decisive" victory, has a "mandate", or is supported by "the American people", refer them to this:

https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/01/what-the-2024-presidential-election-looked-like-in-terms-of-all-eligible-voters

#USPolitics #USPresidentialElection2024 #2024USPresidentialElection #2024ElectionResult

What the 2024 presidential election looked like in terms of all eligible voters - Lawyers, Guns & Money

Somebody wrote a SubStack that I can’t find at the moment pointing out that the 2024 election results look significantly different if you’re looking at all eligible voters, as opposed to merely looking at everyone who actually voted. It’s a good point, and I broke down the numbers myself, using the Florida Election Lab’s estimates […]

Lawyers, Guns & Money
The Japan TimesJan 22, 2025
The modern use of presidential pardons reflects the American framers' fears of the power being wielded for personal or political gain, undermining the rule of law. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/01/22/world/trump-biden-abused-pardon-powers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #donaldtrump #joebiden #us #2024uspresidentialelection #republicans #democrats #crime
Trump seriously abused his pardon power. Biden also indulged.

A torrent of U.S. reprieves signals democratic decline and the rise of a monarchical presidency.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 22, 2025
Trump had vowed to immediately impose steep tariffs of 10% to 20% on global imports into the U.S. and 60% on goods from China, but after taking office only directed agencies to investigate U.S. trade deficits. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/01/22/markets/financial-markets-details-trump/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #mexico #canada #dollar #peso #yuan #us #2024uspresidentialelection #donaldtrump #republicans #forex #markets #cryptocurrencies
Markets braced for uncertainty as Trump holds back from pledged tariffs

Chinese markets were relieved after Beijing avoided an instant blizzard of executive orders, but Mexico's peso and Canada's dollar weren't so lucky.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 22, 2025
The extraordinary pardons for rioters who committed both violent and nonviolent crimes on Jan. 6 will likely embolden the Proud Boys and other extremist groups such as white supremacists. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/22/world/politics/trump-pardons-proud-boys-far-right/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #2024uspresidentialelection #donaldtrump #republicans #proudboys
Trump's pardons will embolden far-right groups, experts say

In a few pen strokes, Donald Trump reversed the largest U.S. Justice Department investigation and prosecution in history.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 21, 2025
Trump's actions so far include pardoning nearly all those charged in relation to storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, rescinding 78 orders made by the previous administration, and again exiting the Paris Agreement. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/21/world/politics/trump-executive-actions-tariffs-immigration/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #2024uspresidentialelection #donaldtrump #republicans #trade #panama #panamacanal #immigration #china
Trump seizes control: his executive actions, from tariffs to immigration

Actions so far include pardoning nearly all charged over the 2021 Capitol riot, rescinding 78 orders by the previous administration, and again exiting the Paris Agreement.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 21, 2025
Biden's abandonment of pledges to govern as a unifying, pragmatic moderate dismantled the public’s trust to the point where a shameless political grifter of no fixed ideology seemed the better bet. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/01/21/world/joe-bidens-legacy-is-donald-trump/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #donaldtrump #joebiden #us #2024uspresidentialelection #republicans #democrats
Joe Biden’s abiding legacy will be Donald Trump

The question is how Democrats got to the point where more voters trust Trump — not just any Republican but Trump — to do a better job of running the country than Harris.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 21, 2025
President Donald Trump launched a sweeping overhaul of U.S. energy policy hours after taking office, including pulling back from the fight against climate change. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/21/world/politics/trump-energy-oil-gas/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #us #2024uspresidentialelection #donaldtrump #republicans #renewables #environment #wind #oil #gas #lng #energy
Trump starts reshaping U.S. energy with deep focus on oil and gas

Trump initiated the shift in a series of orders and memoranda directing action by the federal government, with implications that reach across the entire energy landscape.

The Japan Times