SECONDNEXUS
percolately
georgetakei
comicsands
George's ReadsMost Read
Second Nexus © 2019
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 01: U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a meeting with leaders of the steel industry at the White House March 1, 2018 in Washington, DC. Trump announced planned tariffs on imported steel and aluminum during the meeting, with details to be released at a later date. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
More evidence emerged over the weekend that President Donald Trump is governing based on what he watches on Fox News, and he may start another war because of it.
Late Sunday afternoon, Trump - seemingly out of the blue - issued an unambiguous warning to Iran on Twitter:
<blockquote><p style="text-align: left;">"If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!"</p><p><div id="insticator-container" class="embedid-ee1b1245-7f34-4d5c-8a70-c8be74fe7696"><div id="div-insticator-ad-1"></div><div id="insticator-embed"></div><div id="div-insticator-ad-2"></div><script data-cfasync="false" type="text/javascript">Insticator.ad.loadAd("div-insticator-ad-1");Insticator.ad.loadAd("div-insticator-ad-2");Insticator.load("em",{id : "ee1b1245-7f34-4d5c-8a70-c8be74fe7696"})</script></div></p></blockquote><p></p><div id="eda75" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="BIXTEL1574873534"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130207891049332737" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!</div> — Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/statuses/1130207891049332737">1558297534.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>Why would the president threaten a sovereign foreign power with total annihilation?</p><p>Because Fox News told him to, according to Matthew Gertz of Media Matters.</p><p>Trump tweeted nine minutes after Fox aired a segment with the chyron "U.S.-IRAN TENSIONS ESCALATE."</p><p></p><div id="893dc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="LINHQU1574873534"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130216810853339143" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Folks, The president is threatening Iran because of a Fox News segment.
Left, Fox, 4:16 pm
Right, Trump, 4:25 pm https://t.co/h0lSFp2pn0</div> — Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)<a href="https://twitter.com/MattGertz/statuses/1130216810853339143">1558299660.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p></p><div id="d5031" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6HW3H41574873534"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130218114099105793" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">From the Iran segment: https://t.co/h6QXyw9PYm</div> — Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)<a href="https://twitter.com/MattGertz/statuses/1130218114099105793">1558299971.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>Ten minutes prior, Trump wrote a combative tweet on immigration, once again claiming that the United States is at capacity.</p><p>"False reporting yesterday. “There are no plans to send migrants to Northern or Coastal Border facilities, including Florida.” <a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews"><s>@</s><b>FoxNews</b></a> Not by airplanes or any other way. Our Country is FULL, will not, and can not, take you in!"</p><p><div data-conversation-spotlight=""></div></p><p></p><div id="4837f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="KO8Q5T1574873535"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130205328522522627" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">False reporting yesterday. “There are no plans to send migrants to Northern or Coastal Border facilities, including… https://t.co/gJ4mJ2b6NV</div> — Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/statuses/1130205328522522627">1558296923.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>Gertz noticed a pattern.</p><p>"That tracks with the last tweet, which he explicitly tagged to a Fox segment. Left, Fox, 4:06 pm Right, Trump, 4:16 pm."</p><p></p><div id="e0329" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AK8VO01574873535"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130216983402881026" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">That tracks with the last tweet, which he explicitly tagged to a Fox segment.
Left, Fox, 4:06 pm
Right, Trump, 4:1… https://t.co/sgHjosI40X</div> — Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)<a href="https://twitter.com/MattGertz/statuses/1130216983402881026">1558299701.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>"Still going. Left, Fox, 4:28 pm Right, Trump, 5:15 pm."</p><p></p><div id="e0329" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AK8VO01574873535"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130216983402881026" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">That tracks with the last tweet, which he explicitly tagged to a Fox segment.
Left, Fox, 4:06 pm
Right, Trump, 4:1… https://t.co/sgHjosI40X</div> — Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)<a href="https://twitter.com/MattGertz/statuses/1130216983402881026">1558299701.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>It happened again less than an hour later in the leadup to a town hall with South Bend Mayor and 2020 presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg (D).</p><p>Trump whined about Fox News hosting a Democratic candidate and Chris Wallace for saying a nice thing about Mayor Pete.</p><p>"Hard to believe that <a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews"><s>@</s><b>FoxNews</b></a> is wasting airtime on Mayor Pete, as Chris Wallace likes to call him. Fox is moving more and more to the losing (wrong) side in covering the Dems. They got dumped from the Democrats boring debates, and they just want in. They forgot the people who got them there. Chris Wallace said, 'I actually think, whether you like his opinions or not, that Mayor Pete has a lot of substance...fascinating biography.' Gee, he never speaks well of me - I like Mike Wallace better...and Alfred E. Newman will never be President!"</p><p></p><div id="41bf2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DZW6GB1574873535"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130220543427457024" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">....who got them there. Chris Wallace said, “I actually think, whether you like his opinions or not, that Mayor Pet… https://t.co/PttOhpCfhC</div> — Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/statuses/1130220543427457024">1558300550.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>This tweet came after Wallace appeared on air to preview the town hall.</p><p></p><div id="298cb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9W1LXO1574873535"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130222189364547586" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Still going.
Left, Fox, 4:28 pm
Right, Trump, 5:15 pm https://t.co/QOYqAlpyvv</div> — Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)<a href="https://twitter.com/MattGertz/statuses/1130222189364547586">1558300943.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>Yeah, disturbing. George Conway, husband to White House advisor Kellyanne Conway, summed it up perfectly.</p><p>"It cannot be stressed enough: Trump is an unwell man," he replied to Gertz.</p><p></p><div id="6a3bb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="QZE3CT1574873535"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130235517264703488" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">It cannot be stressed enough: Trump is an unwell man. https://t.co/86fxiGg2EI</div> — George Conway (@George Conway)<a href="https://twitter.com/gtconway3d/statuses/1130235517264703488">1558304120.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>This is scary stuff.</p><p></p><div id="b0177" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2L3T0G1574873535"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130300632949248002" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@gtconway3d @TheDemCoalition Yes, Trump has a serious case of POS.</div> — Turn Ky Blue (@Turn Ky Blue)<a href="https://twitter.com/TurnKyBlue/statuses/1130300632949248002">1558319645.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p></p><div id="9a596" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3VV1KC1574873535"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130235840737796096" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@gtconway3d Who's controlling who? If Fox News is dictating US foreign policy, does that mean Rupert Murdoch is de facto president?</div> — Luke (@Luke)<a href="https://twitter.com/mrmartinbath/statuses/1130235840737796096">1558304197.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p></p><div id="b5d44" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="NGXKZQ1574873536"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130237762026790914" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@gtconway3d This has all become normal. It’s going to take a war for people to wake up. These are scary times.</div> — Patti F (@Patti F)<a href="https://twitter.com/skorpio1968/statuses/1130237762026790914">1558304655.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p></p><div id="599d4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AZC7R11574873536"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130248260679917568" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@gtconway3d Isn't it something that the president of the United States "says" something along the lines of starting… https://t.co/67I3AyIArV</div> — JustMe2012 (@JustMe2012)<a href="https://twitter.com/me2012_just/statuses/1130248260679917568">1558307159.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>How did we get here again?</p><p></p><div id="c8912" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0R9TCD1574873536"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130242730544832512" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@MattGertz He’s just so presidential.</div> — WorldofWardcraft (@WorldofWardcraft)<a href="https://twitter.com/WWardcraft/statuses/1130242730544832512">1558305840.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p></p><div id="5374e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8WK78M1574873536"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130236540876201985" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@MattGertz ahh, the glorious feedback loop.
ffs.</div> — terence🇮🇪 (@terence🇮🇪)<a href="https://twitter.com/terence123451/statuses/1130236540876201985">1558304364.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p></p><div id="c5d21" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="J2JFAR1574873536"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130427518299848704" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@MattGertz FYI people: @realDonaldTrump gets his Intel briefing from @FoxNews</div> — Stacy (@Stacy)<a href="https://twitter.com/TM16297/statuses/1130427518299848704">1558349897.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>Does the president understand what he is up against in a war with Iran?</p><p></p><div id="60c60" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="XJWU371574873536"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130351232017739777" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@gtconway3d Iran/Persia is an ancient nation with a reputation for cleverness & guile. Under Trump, the US is a 200 yr old brat with nukes.</div> — Kevin McCaffrey (@Kevin McCaffrey)<a href="https://twitter.com/KevinMcCaffrey3/statuses/1130351232017739777">1558331709.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p></p><div id="bec26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8W58041574873536"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130246437571321857" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@MattGertz Oh. My. God. WORD FOR WORD. WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO THIS F’ING WHITE HOUSE? I’m going to really ha… https://t.co/fbfzn38BPB</div> — Sara (@Sara)<a href="https://twitter.com/SaraBrooks55_99/statuses/1130246437571321857">1558306724.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>On Sunday, some wondered if or how Iran would respond.</p><p></p><div id="73fbe" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="LMS6Y61574873536"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130257782861512705" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@MattGertz Does @realDonaldTrump think Iran is following him on @Twitter #WTF I don’t even follow #Trump on #Twitter</div> — Beverly was here ⬇️ (@Beverly was here ⬇️)<a href="https://twitter.com/Crazy4SHERMAN/statuses/1130257782861512705">1558309429.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>We got our answer Monday morning. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif responded to Trump, almost as if with a dare.</p><p>"Goaded by <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/B_Team?src=hash"><s>#</s><b>B_Team</b></a>, <a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump"><s>@</s><b>realdonaldTrump</b></a> hopes to achieve what Alexander, Genghis & other aggressors failed to do. Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EconomicTerrorism?src=hash"><s>#</s><b>EconomicTerrorism</b></a> & genocidal taunts won't "end Iran". <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NeverThreatenAnIranian?src=hash"><s>#</s><b>NeverThreatenAnIranian</b></a>. Try respect—it works!"</p><p></p><div id="8f0af" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="G4BJVW1574873537"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130419673756049410" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Goaded by #B_Team, @realdonaldTrump hopes to achieve what Alexander, Genghis & other aggressors failed to do. Irani… https://t.co/v4WqIJrlQO</div> — Javad Zarif (@Javad Zarif)<a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/statuses/1130419673756049410">1558348027.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p></p><div id="11a9a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="CVGINS1574873537"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130462097131880450" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">.@realDonaldTrump rightly deplores "military-industrial complex" pushing U.S. to #ForeverWars
But allowing #B_Team… https://t.co/8ur3LgdExh</div> — Javad Zarif (@Javad Zarif)<a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif/statuses/1130462097131880450">1558358141.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>For now, it looks like we are in a war of wits.</p><p></p><div id="0ae45" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="NTYUYM1574873537"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1130467296718327810" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@JZarif @tparsi @realDonaldTrump Trump only wants Rhetoric & Pressure, but Bolton wants to carry it one step furthe… https://t.co/ejk7dV2eDm</div> — Connecting the Dots (@Connecting the Dots)<a href="https://twitter.com/connectingd3/statuses/1130467296718327810">1558359381.0</a></blockquote></div><p></p><p>Hopefully neither side blinks.</p>
Keep reading...
Show less