Jack Norris
@jackno.bsky.social
Game designer, writer, consultant, attorney, scholar on various topics, and all around professional nerd.
(Apologies if sometimes my phone decides real words needs changing and I don't catch it)
(Apologies if sometimes my phone decides real words needs changing and I don't catch it)
Also, as usual? White fucking people with the occasional outlier who is quickly revealed to be quite financially privileged upon even a casual examination. Sure, other folks can be obnoxious, but that's most of what I'm seeing. So they're already inherently exhausting.
January 20, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Also, as usual? White fucking people with the occasional outlier who is quickly revealed to be quite financially privileged upon even a casual examination. Sure, other folks can be obnoxious, but that's most of what I'm seeing. So they're already inherently exhausting.
Its not the rest of our jobs to decipher what some grad studentsmugfuck or closet tankie or what the fuck ever is trying to make all us poor unenlightened types understand. The shitty hyperbole and trolling bullshit that seems to come with it? No more for me thanks, I'm driving.
January 20, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Its not the rest of our jobs to decipher what some grad studentsmugfuck or closet tankie or what the fuck ever is trying to make all us poor unenlightened types understand. The shitty hyperbole and trolling bullshit that seems to come with it? No more for me thanks, I'm driving.
And no, I don't care what you "really" meant. Learn to effectively communicate if you really don't mean "the same" when you say that. Everyone who does this acts self important enough, you'd think they would want the maximum number of folks to understand their amazing points.
January 20, 2026 at 12:44 PM
And no, I don't care what you "really" meant. Learn to effectively communicate if you really don't mean "the same" when you say that. Everyone who does this acts self important enough, you'd think they would want the maximum number of folks to understand their amazing points.
Grandpa too. He would have to be over a hundred to still be here but he was a WW2 vet who operated behind enemy lines and was a lifelong FDR Democrat. He was one of the smartest people I've ever met, often predicting social, economic, and political events years in advance.
And yet, same conflict.
And yet, same conflict.
January 20, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Grandpa too. He would have to be over a hundred to still be here but he was a WW2 vet who operated behind enemy lines and was a lifelong FDR Democrat. He was one of the smartest people I've ever met, often predicting social, economic, and political events years in advance.
And yet, same conflict.
And yet, same conflict.
Dad would have turned 80 or so (I admit I've kind of lost track) in a few weeks. He went to West Point, was a disabled vet, and spend nearly 30 years in civil service.
I miss him every day, but I also often agree with you here.
I miss him every day, but I also often agree with you here.
January 20, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Dad would have turned 80 or so (I admit I've kind of lost track) in a few weeks. He went to West Point, was a disabled vet, and spend nearly 30 years in civil service.
I miss him every day, but I also often agree with you here.
I miss him every day, but I also often agree with you here.
And to be clear, I REALLY want to be wrong and for your idea to be right. Truly. I'm just too cynical these days to assume it will be.
January 20, 2026 at 6:57 AM
And to be clear, I REALLY want to be wrong and for your idea to be right. Truly. I'm just too cynical these days to assume it will be.
Mostly because he keeps abusing the office. If he just wants a rich leaders club he can make nonbinding deals with? Sure. That's fine.
So based on what he might do? As you say, that may be legal and allowable. Based on what I suspect he will do? That's where I'm at with it being unconstitutional.
So based on what he might do? As you say, that may be legal and allowable. Based on what I suspect he will do? That's where I'm at with it being unconstitutional.
January 20, 2026 at 6:57 AM
Mostly because he keeps abusing the office. If he just wants a rich leaders club he can make nonbinding deals with? Sure. That's fine.
So based on what he might do? As you say, that may be legal and allowable. Based on what I suspect he will do? That's where I'm at with it being unconstitutional.
So based on what he might do? As you say, that may be legal and allowable. Based on what I suspect he will do? That's where I'm at with it being unconstitutional.
Maybe I'm presuming too much, but I imagine anything Trump sets up post office will be, according to him, basically some sort of power position that is official and legal and so on.
January 20, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Maybe I'm presuming too much, but I imagine anything Trump sets up post office will be, according to him, basically some sort of power position that is official and legal and so on.
Fair. I admit I haven't dove into what this entity is supposed to do exactly, in part because it doesn't seem many have said. But I'll be honest, my supposition based on the person involved is that he will try and make various "deals" and then claim the US is beholden in some way.
January 20, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Fair. I admit I haven't dove into what this entity is supposed to do exactly, in part because it doesn't seem many have said. But I'll be honest, my supposition based on the person involved is that he will try and make various "deals" and then claim the US is beholden in some way.
So I'm taking a break from that and if its as nice as I suspect it will be? I might not be going back to the past status quo, where I tolerate it because I like the guy.
January 20, 2026 at 3:50 AM
So I'm taking a break from that and if its as nice as I suspect it will be? I might not be going back to the past status quo, where I tolerate it because I like the guy.
It's like he needs to wait until racist uncle Chet finally reports one of their online friends to some thuggish authorities and ruins their lives and then he'll be so sad and outraged... maybe. Until the next circus of vile idiocy.
January 20, 2026 at 3:49 AM
It's like he needs to wait until racist uncle Chet finally reports one of their online friends to some thuggish authorities and ruins their lives and then he'll be so sad and outraged... maybe. Until the next circus of vile idiocy.
And to hammer my frustration home? Neither will he post without giving this guy awareness and access, which feels very "necessary conversation". As in to say it feels performative and like this guy doesn't really take this vile dipshit's behavior seriously.
January 20, 2026 at 3:47 AM
And to hammer my frustration home? Neither will he post without giving this guy awareness and access, which feels very "necessary conversation". As in to say it feels performative and like this guy doesn't really take this vile dipshit's behavior seriously.
But you're right. If he avoids that type of authority it might be allowed. But then it probably is a completely impotent entity after he's gone.
January 20, 2026 at 3:06 AM
But you're right. If he avoids that type of authority it might be allowed. But then it probably is a completely impotent entity after he's gone.
Oh I think he CAN define it in a way that gets around this and just be some honorary advisor type.
I don't think his ego will let him do that. I think he'll want the inappropriate power.
I don't think his ego will let him do that. I think he'll want the inappropriate power.
January 20, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Oh I think he CAN define it in a way that gets around this and just be some honorary advisor type.
I don't think his ego will let him do that. I think he'll want the inappropriate power.
I don't think his ego will let him do that. I think he'll want the inappropriate power.
Which means any agreement he makes right now might be official. But when he's gone and trying to make agreements for the US as just Dirtbag Don or trying to say Roger Stone or Barron takes over his seat? That's likely no good.
January 19, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Which means any agreement he makes right now might be official. But when he's gone and trying to make agreements for the US as just Dirtbag Don or trying to say Roger Stone or Barron takes over his seat? That's likely no good.
So the agreement might stick as daft as it is. But the part where he's chairman in charge for life and picks his sucessors is, as the kids say these days, wannabe "King shit."
But you're right about currently as POTUS its not much of an obstacle.
But you're right about currently as POTUS its not much of an obstacle.
January 19, 2026 at 11:03 PM
So the agreement might stick as daft as it is. But the part where he's chairman in charge for life and picks his sucessors is, as the kids say these days, wannabe "King shit."
But you're right about currently as POTUS its not much of an obstacle.
But you're right about currently as POTUS its not much of an obstacle.
I think it comes up after he's gone. Now? He would get away with it. But when he's no longer an active officer and still wants that authority? As a private citizen (admittedly one who used to be POTUS) he lacks that authority.
January 19, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I think it comes up after he's gone. Now? He would get away with it. But when he's no longer an active officer and still wants that authority? As a private citizen (admittedly one who used to be POTUS) he lacks that authority.
And as always, this is just my armchair analysis based on what I'm remembering. I haven't jumped into researching it.
January 19, 2026 at 10:43 PM
And as always, this is just my armchair analysis based on what I'm remembering. I haven't jumped into researching it.
Okay that was a novel. Sorry. But hope that was useful.
January 19, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Okay that was a novel. Sorry. But hope that was useful.
But all that said? We're dealing with a SCOTUS I legit believe might try and invoke Korematsu (Japanese internment) as good law so on some practical level? Ugh, who knows?
January 19, 2026 at 10:41 PM
But all that said? We're dealing with a SCOTUS I legit believe might try and invoke Korematsu (Japanese internment) as good law so on some practical level? Ugh, who knows?
And the US government knows this. That's why later treaties with indigenous nations were done more officially.
They weren't done any better, that's a different problem. But they were done by the Fed without farming them out to private citizens with no active authority.
They weren't done any better, that's a different problem. But they were done by the Fed without farming them out to private citizens with no active authority.
January 19, 2026 at 10:39 PM
And the US government knows this. That's why later treaties with indigenous nations were done more officially.
They weren't done any better, that's a different problem. But they were done by the Fed without farming them out to private citizens with no active authority.
They weren't done any better, that's a different problem. But they were done by the Fed without farming them out to private citizens with no active authority.
And yeah it's less on the nose than I'd prefer, but the concept clearly touches this: you can't give some private business guy the right to make binding agreements on behalf of the US with other nations. For that we have actual agents such as diplomats, the Sec. of State, etc.
January 19, 2026 at 10:37 PM
And yeah it's less on the nose than I'd prefer, but the concept clearly touches this: you can't give some private business guy the right to make binding agreements on behalf of the US with other nations. For that we have actual agents such as diplomats, the Sec. of State, etc.