Government Coup

[catherine]

That's interesting, Tradd. I wonder what the implications of just that one aspect of the whole tariff thing are.

On another note, what are the implications of Trump taking 10% of private corporations like Intel? What precedent does that set?

[Rogar]

I see where Trump is calling for the FCC to revoke the licenses of ABC and NBC. I can't imagine him actually pulling it off or intimidating them with threats, but it's possible, since he can always fire the heads of the FCC and appoint his sycophants. A nation of fear. I think Stalin just had his staff enemies assassinated but we're way more civilized?

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/25/nx-s1...bc-nbc-reviews

[Tybee]

Here's exactly why many overseas postal services, as well as DHL, have stopped low value parcel shipments (under $800) to the US. Other countries have a low value threshold, maybe as low as $100, on imports before import duties kick in. So these countries are used to collecting duty from the recipients. Not the US!

The US doesn't have a method in place for collecting the duties on low value shipments through the USPS. So they've moved the responsibility for collecting the duties on these small value parcels to the originating countries postal service! The duties would have to be collected before the parcels even shipped out. These postal services have to get a customs bond (basically insurance) to insure they pay the duties timely (all regular importers to the US have to get a customs bond, it's something I have to deal with as part of my job). These foreign postal services don't have any procedures in place to collect these duties, so they've stopped the small value shipments to the US.

I did just get a DHL shipment of a low value parcel shipment yesterday from Europe. I did not pay anything but maybe it was paid by seller, or maybe I got in under the wire.

[Tybee]

Wow. That's a good point. So it might be a front for a military takeover of our natural resources. He showed us in NJ with his antics in Atlantic City what he can do with eminent domain. And he has a lot of private and corporate interests that are probably looking to benefit from a land grab.

Take this for what it is worth, Catherine, but last night it came to me in a dream that some of these states were places (like Wyoming and Utah) where they might be placing camps.

[Tradd]

I did just get a DHL shipment of a low value parcel shipment yesterday from Europe. I did not pay anything but maybe it was paid by seller, or maybe I got in under the wire.

You just squeaked under the wire.

[bae]

You just squeaked under the wire.

My daughter lives in the UK, and we frequently send each other small packages of treats and books.

I guess that will be no more.

[Tradd]

My daughter lives in the UK, and we frequently send each other small packages of treats and books.

I guess that will be no more.

Gifts under $100 are still duty free.

[bae]

Gifts under $100 are still duty free.

The problem there is the books, which are often...spendy.

Academic publishers are cruel.

[Tradd]

The problem there is the books, which are often...spendy.

Academic publishers are cruel.

I thought I read books were still allowed.

[bae]

I thought I read books were still allowed.

That would be superb!