If we're placing bets, you'd bet on political motive but we're not placing bets. I'll throw out one option that's been very popular on the right wing conspiracy circuit and maybe it was a false flag to set the stage for Martial Law. I have no proof it's true and no proof it isn't.

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cryptonector 5 days ago | parent [-]

Martial law has never been applied nation-wide, and it would likely not work at all but rather it would set the stage for some states to refuse federal authority, possibly leading to civil war. I know many fantasize that Trump wants all of that, but any sober observer realizes those are just that: fantasies.

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anigbrowl 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

Ironically enough Kirk was advocating for it just weeks ago: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/charlie-kirk-calls-full-...

I think it's unwise to be reflexively dismissive when norms that were previously taken for granted turn out to be ephemeral. I find a useful heuristic/gut check is to imagine explaining news from the previous week/month/year to someone who had just woken up from an extended coma.

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cryptonector 4 days ago | parent [-]

Hyperbole. That's not advocating for violence.

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anigbrowl 4 days ago | parent [-]

You specifically talked about martial law and I gave you a relevant and recent remark Kirk made about that topic, and explained why I thought your analysis was flawed.

	▲	zahlman a day ago \| parent [-]
		"other large American cities" does not mean the same thing as "nationwide".

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tootie 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I think it's not likely at all but we've been knocking down precedents one by one. Due process is buckling. He just murdered 11 Venezuelan civilians to see if anyone would stop him. He has deployed troops to US cities. He has endowed ICE with an unprecedented amount of money. Project 2025 has been implemented bit by bit and it endorses abusing the Insurrection Act. And he already attempted a violent coup before. It may not happen but it's not fantasy.

	▲	cryptonector 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		> He just murdered 11 Venezuelan civilians Please do Obama now. All U.S. Presidents from both parties have been doing these sorts of interventions for decades.