this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2025
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[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 16 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

For weeks media reported what Maxwell said even though she is a liar. They reported dutifully that Trump did nothing wrong and was a swell guy. Weeks of this was reported everyday on every new source.

Now that his victims want to speak out suddenly it is a non-story and the media doesn't care. This is beyond sus.

[–] resipsaloquitur@lemmy.world 24 points 13 hours ago
[–] Leather@lemmy.world 6 points 11 hours ago

I love the one down vote. Pedo.

[–] unconsequential@slrpnk.net 63 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (2 children)

I still can’t believe they did a military fly over to intimidate these women. I mean I believe it but I don’t believe it.

[–] Kimjongtooill@sh.itjust.works 8 points 16 hours ago (2 children)
[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 10 points 13 hours ago

They did a military fly over to intimidate these women during their press conference.

[–] Machinist@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

I'm waiting to pass judgment on the flyover. He's totally that petty, but, I don't think he'd plan that far ahead. He's way more reactive than proactive, especially when it comes to stupid stunts.

While it's possible the flyover's purpose was to intimidate the victims, it feels like disinfo or convenient rumor.

[–] unconsequential@slrpnk.net 8 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

It is a restricted airspace so someone ordered it. That being said, there’s a chance it was a flyover for the Polish pilot who crashed and died while practicing for an airshow.

But, keep in mind, it doesn’t have to be Trump personally. He’s not the only person in a position of power with a vested interest to make those women disappear. Plenty of influential scum bags to go around. And once the names are released, regardless of who releases them, blackmail is a lot harder to leverage. And the people leveraging it are not the idiots Trump and his quasi reality tv goons are. They’re more than capable of pulling strings, making “suggestions” and planning ahead. Trump isn’t hard to fool nor drive. The biggest difficulty with him is anyone can steer him; keeping him under singular influence is the challenge.

[–] Machinist@lemmy.world 4 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Your logic is sound and I'm not heavily disagreeing with you. My gut says the claim is hinky. (Obviously, my gut and hinkiness are the gold standard for truth and reason.)

I'm skeptical but you might be right. It's real fucked up that we have to even consider bullshit like this.

[–] unconsequential@slrpnk.net 3 points 12 hours ago

Right. Like how many times do we read something off the wall and we can’t even tell if it’s satire or legitimate reporting anymore because absolutely any level of madness is possible.

Recent examples are this whole “President Trump to rebrand Defense Department to Department of War” sounds like a SNL skit setup or “Trump moves Space Command HQ to AL, citing CO mail-in voting” sounds like the onion. There are better examples, but it’s just like every day some new crazy thing. It’s good to stay skeptical because it really is hard to be sure of anything one way or another.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 13 hours ago

You don’t need to plan military flights ahead of time. That’s like the whole point of a standing army.

[–] sturmblast@lemmy.world 20 points 16 hours ago (3 children)

Every single citizen should be pissed at the administration for this bullshit

[–] chetradley@lemmy.world 4 points 12 hours ago

The logical conclusion is that the president of the United States is a pedophile. The charitable conclusion is that he protects pedophiles.

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 3 points 14 hours ago

And at every institution and business that hasn’t resisted.

[–] sturmblast@lemmy.world 3 points 16 hours ago
[–] aislopmukbang@sh.itjust.works 29 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

Why is the spot in front of the mics empty? That sign may as well say "Donald Trump and friends"

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 29 points 20 hours ago

Because they're all cowards refusing to talk about it.

[–] SassyRamen@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Fuck pedo trump and everyone else that took part. I fully support this comics message, buuuut the eyes are killing me, they don't match the movement of the eyebrows at all and are giving me crapy AI vibes. Again fuck all those pedos. Lock them up and let them rot.

[–] 4am@lemmy.zip 6 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

That is absolutely a “confused apprehension” pose I’ve seen done before by plenty of human artists. Maybe fuck off wit this dumbass discourse if you don’t even know the signs of AI, instead of accusing artists of being fake. That’s fucked.

[–] SassyRamen@lemmy.world -3 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

You've seen a human eyelid fall as the attached eyebrow raises? This guy doesn't human.

[–] SalaciousBCrumb@lemy.lol 4 points 14 hours ago (1 children)
[–] SassyRamen@lemmy.world 0 points 8 hours ago

The opposite of your example happens in this comic. The left eyebrow is raised causing the left eye to partially close..

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 14 hours ago

Maybe take that up with Pedro X Molina?

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -4 points 14 hours ago (4 children)

Someone translate: the victims are gagged from exercising their freedom of speech? How so?

[–] Five@slrpnk.net 2 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (1 children)

You can say whatever you like, but someone can also sue you for any reason at all. Even a completely baseless lawsuit can ruin someone who doesn't already have millions of dollars to fight it in court.

Usually a news organization will guarantee that their lawyers will defend the people they interview in court to encourage them to speak. The large news organizations made millions from increased viewership because they gave Trump hundreds of hours of free screen time beginning from before his first election. Now they aren't interested in putting any of that money to work to get out the truth.

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 7 hours ago

someone can also sue you for any reason at all

That's always been the case. That doesn't mean the suer will prevail. I'm pretty sure there are motions (especially with anti-SLAPP laws) defendants can file to recover all fees of baseless lawsuits.

I'm not sure how you plausibly get that interpretation from the comic: nothing about lawsuits or disparity in economic power is indicated. This other reading of the comic seems more plausible.

[–] sudo@lemmy.today 8 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

billionaire media owners will, mostly

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 0 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

Weren't they just aired quite publicly on the media?

[–] rainwall@piefed.social 5 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Not for decades. Only very, very recently have they gotten any appreciable press because Trumps admin fucked this up so badly.

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

What stopped them from posting claims publicly on social media or online?

[–] DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Why do you think you're hearing about it?

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Because it was frequently in the press? There's no shortage of links to news reports & stories in the wikipedia articles on the victims, cases, topics.

[–] DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

And how did it get to the press?

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Because the reporters did their job? You know these reports started before social media was mainstream, right?

[–] DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

So what is the point of questioning whether these women made their claims on social media or not?

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 0 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

You can read up, can't you? I didn't claim

billionaire media owners will [gag victims from exercising their freedom of speech], mostly

So, I'm asking how that (apparent counterfactual) works. Does it withstand scrutiny?

[–] DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

I'm not saying you claimed anything. I'm asking what relevance there is as to whether the women made their claims on social media or not. I'm genuinely confused by the first comment of yours I replied to.

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

If anyone can pretty much publicize whatever they want online, then are billionaire media owners gagging their freedom of speech? I'm genuinely confused at your confusion.

The view that major, billionaire-owned journalism companies can gag anyone from exercising their freedom of speech like they're the only game in town seems outmoded when independent online media & journalism (where practically anyone can call themselves journalist) has disrupted that order since a while ago, and anyone can publish their words online in social media. That claim that may have made sense decades ago doesn't fit online media today.

[–] philipsdirk@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

All the media outlets want to hear a statement from the accomplices, for instance Trump, but they aren't talking. The victims would want to talk but aren't getting the platform they should be getting

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Thanks, that's a reasonable interpretation. Then not really about the suppression of freedom of speech?

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 4 points 11 hours ago

On the face no, but it is more complicated than that. It is known that the government exerts a ton of influence over media and wealthy people exert a ton of control over the government and also own all the major media outlets. It is definitely a conspiracy at this point to control the narrative.

If all of these entities were actually independent like they are supposed to be, this wouldn't be a free speech issue. Unfortunately that is not the world we are living in.

[–] militaryintelligence@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Maybe not explicitly, but pretty much every Trump supporter has told them to stfu, in so many words

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -4 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Telling them to STFU obligates them not to exercise their free speech? I don't see where that gags anyone.

[–] militaryintelligence@lemmy.world 5 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

Again, maybe not explicitly. They're covering for pedophiles. I'm sure you're ok with that

I guarantee you missed any nuance in this comic. It's ok, adults are talking

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -4 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (1 children)

They’re covering for pedophiles. I’m sure you’re ok with that

Consequentialist fallacy: outcomes have no bearing on whether a conclusion logically follows from premises.
fallacy referee meme: appeal to consequences

Circular reasoning: the outcome assumes your conclusion (that STFU can suppress freedom of speech, which is unsupported) is true.
fallacy referee meme: begging the question

Freedom of speech means you can tell anyone to STFU, and they're free to speak regardless.

Moreover, as widely reported in the press, the communities who promoted rightwing conspiracy theories about Jeffery Epstein (extracted from more general conspiracy theories that a shadowy cabal of deep state elites runs pedophile rings to harvest adrenochrome) are the Trump voters. They're the Trump supporters with a longer record than anyone of pushing for the release of those files. Top officials like Kash Patel & Dan Bondingo sprang right out of that community.

It’s ok, adults are talking

Condescension, and we should expect adults to respect logic. Are you an adult? If so, that's unfortunate.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

You need a foundation in what freedom of speech is and then pair that with the complicated reality we are facing. Your definition of freedom of speech is nonsensical at best.

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com -1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Define freedom of speech. This is not a hard question.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

Freedom of speech refers to government action in public space to suppress speech it does not agree with.

For instance, in our colleges there was some pro-palestine demonstrations. In Florida the government issued a decree to disband SJC. This is classic suppression of free speech because it involves a government action in a public space.

Because we live in a fascist oligarchy though it becomes complicated because corporations simultaneously are controlled and control the government. This merger of the state and corporations complicates the simple definition of freedom of speech.

[–] lmmarsano@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 5 hours ago

It's freedom from legal (or government) sanction, censorship, or retaliation for expressing opinions or ideas.

Because we live in a fascist oligarchy

corporations simultaneously are controlled and control the government

That's a stretch. Where was that government control of private companies during the Biden administration or previous administrations dating back to the beginning of the Epstein crimes? Is the government controlling MSNBC, New York Times, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS? Private companies aren't legal authorities, and they aren't legally obligated to repeat or broadcast anyone's speech: that's how social media nowadays defends deplatforming. Would your claim mean that deplatforming suppresses free speech?

Trump supporters saying STFU doesn't amount to legal sanctions. I've only seen the Trump administration evade, deny, or deflect. Where are the legal sanctions suppressing the speech of Epstein victims?