Mastodawn

Ben Thompson is wild one. He refuses to comment on the illegal Iran invasion (while clearly hinting that he supports it) and then goes on to explain why during the Biden administration he opposes the gov't telling companies what to do, he adores it in the Trump admin. Every…time…

Matt Birchler Mar 2

In our community, we talk quite a bit about how Tim Cook seemingly likes Donald Trump, but Ben Thompson is out here doing the hard work every single time Trump does anything controversial to defend it.

When the FCC was threatening to take away CBS's broadcast license because of Jimmy Kimmel's speech, Ben Thompson chose to say nothing about that and instead wrote an article about some very minor request a Biden staffer made to Twitter years ago.

Matt Birchler Mar 2

Similarly, when Trump's incoherent tariffs policy came out last year, Thompson was out there steelmanning them.

Bro loves this admin, and if he doesn't, he keeps that to himself 🤷🏻‍♂️

Jonathan Joelson Mar 12

@matt_birchler Many years ago, the incident that made me realize Ben Thompson was not worth taking seriously was when he wrote a series of posts arguing against net neutrality, all while claiming to be a supporter of net neutrality.

He writes what he thinks will be the most effective propaganda for the policies he supports rather than clearly and honestly advocating for his actual views.

@matt_birchler So you don’t support the attacks on the regime that killed thousands of people? Would you rather they stayed and continue killing non believers or women who choose not to cover themselves?

I’m just saying we shouldn’t attack anyone who shows a bit of support. Ben can fuck right off with other takes but support Iran shouldn’t be punished

@josh9 @matt_birchler you can oppose the Iranian administration while also opposing this action.

First and most importantly what legal authorization did our government have to do this? The administration has shown multiple times it will do what it wants without any legal authority b/c they don’t want to follow the constitution and wait on the legislative branch.

Second why do we need to send Americans lives to deal with an oppressive regime.

@bbech Let me start off my saying that I’m from Canada, so we don’t share the same government.

No other country has dared help the Iranian people for decades, the fact that the Americans finally did something no other country cared to do is great. Does the current president have ulterior/bad motives to go through all this? Most likely, but overall it’s the help they’ve been waiting for a long time.

Only time will tell how everything plays out in the end, but I’m keeping an open mind

Matt Birchler Mar 2

@josh9 @bbech I said it is illegal for the US President to declare war. This is an incontrovertible fact. I would not extrapolate out that my saying this means I'm happy with the Iranian government doing whatever it wants to its people.

It seems you don't think US law matters and the POTUS can do whatever they want if they think if we keep an open mind about…I don't love that 😬

@matt_birchler @bbech Matt, I’m not trying to cancel you or whatever.
What I’m saying is that we should keep an open mind about the outcome of the strikes, instead of saying this is Iraq part 2 and Iran should stay the way it was. I didn’t say that the illegal war was legal, I’m obviously a Liberal like you guys and I’m against Trump, but the fact is that for the regime to fall, other countries needed to get involved, since civilians are unarmed.

@josh9 @matt_birchler the ends don’t justify the means. It’s pretty simple.

And as a guy who has deployed to the Middle East fully aware of Iran’s reputation etc.

@josh9 This is the kind of response that makes people hate social media. Matt never said he supports the Iranian government. Not at all.

@nwd Maybe I could have phrased it better, but I’m just trying to find out why people are so quick to think that the strikes are a terrible thing given the horrors of the regime

@josh9 He never said the strikes are terrible or denied the horrors of the regime.

@nwd Alright Nathan, take care

@josh9 @nwd Do you really think the horrors of the regime have anything to do with this action?

Russian has literally invaded Ukraine and killed millions, whilst Trump and Vance are busy humiliating Zelensky in the Oval Office on TV and supporting Putin.

Trump does occasionally do the “right” thing but it’s hard to give him the benefit of the doubt that it’s for the “right” reason and it’s even rarer that it’s done in “right” way.

@ravi @nwd I thinks it’s obvious his actions aren’t out of the goodness of his heart (if he even has a heart).
I like the way you put it though, and it’s a phrase that other Liberals like us struggle to overcome. I think he accidentally did the “right” thing this time. Wrong reasons? Absolutely. Will the result be perfect?Did he go through the right channels? Absolutely not. At the very least Khomenei is dead and the regime is wounded, which is what Iranians have been waiting for for a long time

@josh9 @nwd Where I struggle is that America just no longer represents my values. I grew up seeing the USA as a force for good, we were implicitly on the same side.

But the current administration is only on its own side. It doesn’t have or want allies. And they certainly don’t have any moral high ground to justify attacking other countries they deem to be “evil”.

Rowan Johnson Mar 2

@ravi @josh9 @nwd a stuck clock is right twice a day…

@josh9 @matt_birchler okay Josh, and what should we do about the country breaking international law for decades and committing war crimes and genocide today? Who have killed thousands of children and women. Who are an apartheid state. Please advise.

(Do NOT conflate this as support for the Iranian regime.)

@bardi @matt_birchler You tell me. Either choose a strong, democratic leader that people can rally behind (AOC for example) and flip over the various branches of government won over my the Republicans last elections by a landslide. Or, the other less fun option, make use of the 2nd amendment of the Constitution to topple over the Fascist regime in place if he doesn’t leave after his second term.
Your country has guns, and it doesn’t need the help of other stronger, richer countries

@josh9 @matt_birchler firstly, I am not American.

Secondly, you stated facts about the Iranian regime, in order to justify supporting the action taken. And, similarly, I am sharing facts about Israel, and asking you, what action should be supported in regards to dealing with them?

@bardi @matt_birchler Oh, sorry I just woke up I must’ve skipped over the apartheid part, makes sense.
I think something’s going to happen to Israel’s leadership after everything is settled. First Palestine and now they’re encouraging the US to bomb their other enemy, Iran.
Palestine and Israel have been in front of people’s minds for a while, I think one Iran settles down the conversation will move back to that so we’ll see what the politicians of the world do about it

@josh9 @matt_birchler you mean after there’s no Palestine.

Andrew Wickliffe Mar 6

@josh9 @matt_birchler Condemn the U.S. next you tool

Alex Pardoe Mar 2

@matt_birchler He always seemed like a bit of an arsehole, much like his Dithering co-host, so I’ve always avoided anything he produces.

I’m glad you’ve shown me that my assessment is accurate.

@matt_birchler https://mas.to/@carnage4life/116155191648957257

Dare Obasanjo (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image The defining characteristic of domestic policy in the United States is racism. It’s literally why we can’t have nice things. Every time some practice doesn’t make sense from the war on drugs to how education is funded, Trump getting elected twice or the lack of universal healthcare, you can trace the roots back to racism. People would rather be kings in hell than risk being servants in heaven.

mas.to

Nate Barham Mar 2

@matt_birchler That’s a real bad look.

@matt_birchler Illegal invasion? Is that a new thing for presidents? Last I heard nearly every operation Obama carried out was also in a vacuum and without a congress vote? That was ok though right? Look, Trump can be an asshole and egomaniac but also get some shit done. It's about time that those who hate him compartmentalize a little bit, and be less hypocritical. I'm not a "supporter" if you will, So I need for the Dems to rebrand and create a strategy that isn't just hate on Trump.

Matt Birchler Mar 2

@dominocollege You put a lot of words in my mouth to make your point.

@matt_birchler The one thing the tech community champions is diversity ... except diversity of *thought*. Constantly colonizing new platforms to distance themselves from anyone who thinks differently. As a centrist I find it exhausting. I'm amazed how tech coverage overwhelming leans one way politically. This self-righteous attitude is equally toxic in my opinion. Dissonance is good sometimes. Also common ground is the best ground.

@matt_birchler He’s been becoming more detached and insufferable lately.

Craig Reynolds Mar 3

@matt_birchler I gave up on Dithering a couple years back when it became clear from some of the things he said that Thompson was leaning to the right (and Gruber sometimes sounded like he was looking at the same path). I doubt he's turned around since then.