So...
How much compensation will the USG have to pay to Anthropic and others affected, or can the USG repeatedly break the law without consequences?
Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic over Claude powers it didn't have
The Pentagon illegally blacklisted Anthropic as a national security threat based partly on things Claude couldn't actually do, a US federal judge has ruled. US District Judge Rita Lin found that the government illegally retaliated against Anthropic for speaking out, denied the company due process, and unlawfully branded it a …
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Friday 28th August 2026 13:25 GMT alain williams
Part of a criminal enterprise that is seeking to grab as much power & money as possible. Use of illegal means is just a tool. Al Capone could not hold a candle to the current mafiosi who inhabit the White House. The sooner that they are gone, or neutered, the better.
Trump's meddling with election rules to try to steal the mid-terms is one of the most worrying concerns.
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Friday 28th August 2026 17:10 GMT Gary Stewart
Yeah, that is a real serious threat to free and fair elections in the US. So far other than massive mid-census gerrymandering most of the other attempts at using royal decrees, oops I mean executive orders have been thwarted or delayed by federal judges and appeals courts because they are blatantly unconstitutional. At least until the inevitable "urgent emergency" appeal to the Supine Court so it can decide to ignore what the constitution clearly states and make up their own version which they have already done on several occasions. The Executive branch has ZERO say in anything about elections, that power is reserved almost entirely to the states subject only to laws passed by congress and I assume declared to be constitutional by the inevitable appeal to SCOTUS (Uh-Oh). At least that is what the constitution says, period.
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Friday 28th August 2026 16:46 GMT Gary Stewart
That's probably why they slashed the school food program's budget. Not to mention the USAID program being totally eliminated to make sure it's not just US children. By the way, does anybody know why there have not been any fraud trials from all those DOGE "investigations". I mean with an elected leader CONVICTED of 34 counts of felony fraud they surely know what to look for.
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Sunday 30th August 2026 12:53 GMT Sproggit
That's pretty simple.
The "DOGE investigations" had absolutely nothing to do with cutting fraud or abuse from federal agencies - it sure looked like it had everything to do with eviscerating all federal agencies that were in conflict with Elon Musk's commercial interests, with enough other entities - e.g. "USAID" - thrown under the bus to avoid suspicion.
Remember, the DOGE Bro's would have had the names of every single federal employee they had been in conflict with... at the NTSB, the FAA, CFPB and others. So when it came to massive headcount reductions at e.g. the NTSB, who do you think they would have let go?
Although the biggest scandal there may in fact be that President Trump was so gullible he let Musk do it. All Musk had to do was claim that he'd cut a massive amount of overhead out of Twitter when he took it over, pony up a reported $250MM in campaign contributions and then lay on the flattery a bit thick. The world literally heard President Trump say, "Take it away, Elon!" ... and a year later, all those federal investigations are dead.
Musk danced out from under a massive amount of federal scrutiny - and although $250MM sounds like a lot to us mortals, it was far less than it would have cost his businesses if those agencies had been allowed to finish their investigations.
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Friday 28th August 2026 13:19 GMT retiredFool
In a weird way
The US has become more of a dictatorship than China although competitive with Russia. In the case of China, the CCP really does constrain what Xi does. In the US & Russia, no one is stopping trump & putin. I'm just waiting for people to start falling out of windows in the US. The old ICE director is concerned about someone in the trump admin whacking him. There was a story about him losing his security detail and the guy is scared. And he was appointed by trump. Somehow I guess he did not suck hard enough I guess or beat up enough immigrants.
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Friday 28th August 2026 19:04 GMT Brewster's Angle Grinder
Re: In a weird way
I'd upvote you except for the claim that the CCP constrains Xi. Becasue, AIUI, any constraints that Xi hasn't removed are symbolic and don't actually constrain him. So the term limit has been abolished, the previous chairman has been sidelined, and Xi's placemen have been promoted to all the key positions. He is the smartest of the three. But I don't think he is constrained. He doesn't even need to throw people out of windows because his opponents can be "retired" due to "ill health" or just disappeared and nobody will dare ask where they are.
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Saturday 29th August 2026 09:09 GMT MiguelC
Re: In a weird way
And whenever they might cast any shadow, there will be a "corruption investigation" to put them away, as has happened many times with those whose power rose a little bit too much
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Monday 31st August 2026 04:59 GMT martinusher
Re: In a weird way
We don't bother with windows in the US. Most of our tall buildings are relatively modern and are air conditioned they don't have opening windows. But then we don't need to bother. We can just shoot them "in self defense" or 'detain' them incommunicado. (Note that we can't actually arrest them because then they'd have rights.)(However, we can always keep them in pre-trial detention for an extended period.)
I don't know a lot about Russia but I don't think that Putin is anything like an absolute dictator. In Russia a lot of power is devolved to regional, county and local government. That doesn't mean that Russia doesn't have their version of Republicans, just that the mechanisms they use to achieve their goals are somewhat different. What I do see is cellphone video of people doing stuff in both Russia and Ukraine that would likely get you killed by law enforcement in many parts of the US (and even if you didn't get killed you'd end up in a whole heap of trouble).
(...and also, if you want to find out what being arrested in a country where you really lack any sort of rights then try getting arrested in Japan. Don't take my word for it -- look up the videos explaining the system.)
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Friday 28th August 2026 16:56 GMT Sproggit
Foot-Gun Moments...
Well, I suppose if you're going to shoot yourself in the foot, being the Secretary of War at least means you'll have someone nearby with a gun to lend you.
Did anything ever come of the incident at the beginning of the Iran conflict where the US sent a missile in to what we later learned to be a girls' school? I recall the Pentagon denied it had ever happened, then denied it was one of their missiles, then an image was published to show both statements were false.
I'm asking only because at the time all that happened, there were unfounded rumors swirling that the targeting *might* have either been performed by AI, or by humans with the help of AI. If you recall, shortly before the start of hostilities, Hegseth had terminated the intelligence team that would have been responsible for target selection, so there was a certain amount of make-it-up-as-you-go-along happening.
There was never anything acknowledged publicly - and I certainly don't have any evidence either way, but I was wondering if the Pentagon had tried to use Grok but found it "unreliable" and backed off that idea...
More "Ready! Fire! Aim!"...
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Friday 28th August 2026 20:17 GMT retiredFool
Re: Foot-Gun Moments...
It is pretty amazing just how gruesome these guys are. Like the sinking of the boat that had been dismantled. I think they should fear when trump sails. Because if a competent administration replaces this one, war crimes could be on the table for many at the top. Now maybe the supreme's let donnie off the hook since well, presidential immunity, those disciples will not enjoy the same protection. I'd happily convict them and send them off to gitmo for the rest of their lives. Or maybe Colombia, That might be a sweet justice.
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Friday 28th August 2026 22:55 GMT Gary Stewart
Re: Foot-Gun Moments...
These are blatantly illegal acts in both US and international law. What's worse is the US military has been complicit in carrying out those illegal orders from the highest ranking officer who ordered it to the guy who pulled the trigger. The US military code of justice explicitly prohibits engaging in illegal acts when ordered to do so and allows soldiers to say no. However making that judgement is filled with legal peril for the person making it but I would like to reiterate just blowing unarmed boats out of the water is blatantly illegal and then going back to "finish the job" is exactly as you describe it, gruesome.
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Sunday 30th August 2026 19:00 GMT Sproggit
Re: Foot-Gun Moments...
Well, US law gets decided by the Attorney General and then courts all the way up to the Supine Court... so while President Trump is in power, he and anyone working for him are untouchable. Then he has "Pardon Power" if/when he leaves office.
As to "International Law"... the problem is that it isn't exactly written down anywhere in a form that all nations agree to: there are various treaties and understandings, but getting a successful prosecution under International Law - especially for the sorts of crimes being committed today - is extremely difficult:-
President Trump and the US executed dozens of fishermen in boats in the Caribbean...
President Putin and the Russian Armed Forces invaded Ukraine and have murdered in excess of 68,000 people in 2026 alone.
President Netanyahu sent the IDF in to the Gaza strip and are so far estimated to exceed 76,000 people...
See any of those individuals being held to account?
Me neither.
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Monday 31st August 2026 13:59 GMT retiredFool
Re: Foot-Gun Moments...
I agree difficult, however, Putin's travel list is shortened dramatically. He would be arrested if he lands anywhere with ICC jurisdiction. He has warrants for his arrest. Of course in retaliation, putin put out warrants for ICC judges. I imagine the likelihood of a ICC judge wanting to go to Russia for a nice dinner is way lower than say putin wanting to have dinner in Paris. Or cruise the Spanish, French or Italian coast. I'd also suggest that given trumpie's current behavior, it is in the realm of possibilities the ICC issues a warrant for him. He just started a tussle with SK. So he has pissed off all of Europe and has started working on Asia. He already isn't all the popular with LatAm. Heck if I were Ireland, I'd confiscate his golf course. You know just because they feel like it. They should wait for the warrant first. Then when he pops over to throw a hissie fit, they could arrest him.
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Sunday 30th August 2026 18:54 GMT Sproggit
Re: Foot-Gun Moments...
President Trump has already persuaded the Supine Court [sic] to grant him "Presidential Immunity" for pretty much anything he does... and he also has sole right to exercise the Pardon Power.
This is how he keeps his cabinet in line: he first persuades them to commit some kind of crime ["I just need you to do me a favor, though..."] and from that moment on, they're owned - because they know that if they ever fall out of favor, all he has to do is simply decline to pardon them at the end of his term in office.
I know that the Framers have been held in high regard for the last couple hundred years... but they could not have possibly imagined the US in the 21st century - or the corruption that is rife throughout the halls of power.
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Thursday 3rd September 2026 18:22 GMT retiredFool
Re: Oh look
MAGA musk is dropping more benjamins. Just announced he is supporting that ultra maggot Paxton, the guy even many repub's can't stomach in Texas. You'd think that in red red Texas an R for senate would be slam dunk. But no, they opted to run a guy who cheated on his wife, used state funds to pay for the cover up, and committed securities fraud. What a candidate. Trump will have an orgy with him. Unless the Dem wins. That would be some egg on trump/musk's faces.
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Saturday 29th August 2026 07:58 GMT Anonymous Coward
For the Americans a question: Do you think after this fiasco of an administration a desire exists to change in anyway your methods and powers of government?
From the outside I have seen no talk about change so it appears like this is very likely to happen again. Your reputation before was dealt with mainly with apathy before but it has turned some what darker even from your 'friends'
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Saturday 29th August 2026 16:19 GMT Gary Stewart
There have been many people talking about just that but there are three huge obstacles to fixing America. The complete abdication of their sworn duty to the constitution by both houses of congress currently under the control of the republicans. The Supine Court's ignoring what the constitution plainly states (election laws, birthright citizenship) or just making up what they want the constitution to say (presidential immunity from criminal prosecution). Unlimited money in politics (Citizens United)/outright corruption (Snyder v.US, AKA just call it a tip and the bribe magically disappears). With the Supine Court being the final arbitrator to all remedies we might be SOL. One possible saving grace may be adding justices to restore it to the Supreme Court which there is precedence for and something they do not(?) have the final say on. The very dark alternative to that would almost certainly mean the end of the US as a democratic republic and it's beginning as a dictatorship, fascist?, communist?, six of one...
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Saturday 29th August 2026 19:33 GMT Excused Boots
There is an old saying; ‘you get the government you deserve’; your* Houses of Congress are composed of people elected by US citizens, if enough people decide that they aren’t doing their duty, then the solution is obvious, come November.
Now I wonder if enough traditional Republican supporters, say those who would have happily voted for Reagan, or Bush, will either not vote, or hold their noses and (reluctantly) vote Dem. just to put a brake on what is happening?
As I understand it, there is no special or Constitutional reason for your Supreme Court to have nine justices - presumably as long as it is an odd number to avoid ties. So hypothetically an incoming Democratic administration, with a Dem majority in both Houses could simply change the law to make it 11 or 13 Justices, and immediately appoint like-minded people. Of course a future Republican administration could do exactly the same thing - give it a few decades and you’ll have a SC composed of 51 judges!
I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong with the US system of government - I just think that it has been abused, and I don’t think there can be any absolute protection against that, other than don’t elect such people into office in the first place. And if you do, then remove them or reduce their ability to act as soon as possible - cough.... midterms....cough. I think it is a given that the Democrats will take the House, the Senate is a coin-toss right now.
Personally, I think that the US Constitution does try, does really try to provide all sorts of checks and balances to excessive power - and mainly it works. But ultimately, it’s a just piece of paper, it relies on the individuals in positions to honour it. Congress is the most powerful, it literally makes Laws. But Congress isn’t a thing it’s 100 Senators and 500+ or so Congressmen - individual people, probably with their own agendas. All are freely elected by the people.
Like I said, ‘you get the government you deserve’.
* I said ‘your’, because I’m British and am commenting from the outside, what I see. And possibly there will be some commentators on here who will be outraged, ‘how dare a non-USasian have an opinion on what is happening in our country’. Well, right now the US is the dominant power on the planet (give it 20-30 years and that may well be China) and what is happening in the US, to some extent effects everyone else.
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Tuesday 1st September 2026 20:54 GMT retiredFool
I think what should have happened was trump would have been convicted at his impeachment last time. Perhaps a flaw in the two party system, which is not mandated by the constitution. Electing more judges as you say becomes problematic. Soon you have hundreds of supremes. One thing that might help some is make it a general vote instead of a electoral college one. But requires a constitution change, fat chance. As it is, there are only a few tossup states that elect the prez. The rest are in the bag. So I do pity those in purple states, the advertising must be incessant. All those dollars concentrated in maybe 8 states.
As to dominant power, frankly I'm not sure about that. The US dominates in let's see, social media, finance, entertainment. China dominates in manufacturing, mining, ore processing. I'm not sure which is really what counts. Militarily, I'm not sure I'd want to see who'd win US v China. Iran is showing the US isn't all that much like Ukraine showed Russia isn't all that.
And really it may not matter. Because the US has become such a dick in the world, and restructured what is considered acceptable behavior, India has just given the finger to Pakistan on water rights violating a 80 year old document. Both are nuclear equipped. I could see lack of water a reason to pull the trigger. They don't like each other much anyway.
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Sunday 30th August 2026 19:00 GMT Anonymous Coward
There are many people advocating for exactly that. The problem they have run into is that there's not an obvious change to make. Opponents of Trump, inside and outside the country, have often argued that he is a uniquely US trend, that someone holding the same views couldn't win, or couldn't do what he is doing having won, in the UK, Canada, or [insert country here]. I understand why they make that claim, it's comforting and it throws the blame on US people. The problem is that they're not putting enough blame on US people and the comforting part is wrong. If some politician was willing to do the same things Trump is and was able to get the public and party support he got, it would work similarly in parliamentary systems.
Trump has a strong cult of personality among some people and has used that, not only for his own political success, but to get near total support from one political party. Those are powerful things. No change to the structure of government will fix the fact that, in the 2024 election, he managed to get a majority of the popular vote. Previously, some hoped that if they could abolish the electoral college, that would prevent him from winning, but it wouldn't have in the most recent election. There are a few things related to ethics of individual legislators and judges which would be worth a try, but in reality there are many of those already, those that require politicians to act are left unused, and those that allow external groups to defend them have functioned properly to limit the damage. There are a lot of small things that should be tried and likely some of them will be, but there's no big change that would clearly fix this except politicians doing their jobs and voters understanding and caring about what they're supporting. I don't think there's a paper change that can guarantee either of those.
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