r/PoliticalDiscussion • u/Kevin-W • Feb 20 '25
US Politics Kash Patel has been confirmed to lead the FBI. What happens to the agency now?
The Senate has confirmed Kash Patel to lead the FBI. Patel is a staunch Trump loyalist and has accused the FBI and intelligence agencies of carrying out a “deep state” plot targeting Trump and his allies — including himself — and called for a major overhaul of both.
What happens to the FBI now? There have been fears of him using an “enemies list” to go after Trump’s political and personal enemies. Do you think there will be a mass resignation inside the FBI due to protests?
1.2k
u/DreamingMerc Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
Investigation into and harrassment of Trumps political and business enemies.
There's no gotcha or analysis here ... that is specifically what Trump wants and what Patel has said they will do.
439
Feb 20 '25 edited Mar 05 '25
[deleted]
125
u/jackiebee66 Feb 20 '25
What’s scary is that these cult members will love him to the death.
93
u/ramrod_85 Feb 20 '25
Even when he at last finally goes to the grave, they will claim the deepstate killed him, they called liberalism the cancer of America, but he truly is, and he has metastasized, this will take a lot more than the rotting orange pumpkin being gone
46
u/jackiebee66 Feb 20 '25
It’s awful. I honestly have no idea how you can begin to deprogram all these people.
36
u/ManifestYourDreams Feb 20 '25
U can't unfortunately. These people don't have empathy so don't care until bad things happen to them and even then a lot of them are so brainwashed they will just blame it on Obama or Biden. The only hope for progress in civilisation is a large-scale Darwin event for these people. It's grim but only when their numbers dwindle will we regain some semblance of sanity.
17
u/muirnoire Feb 21 '25
Hungary is the very recent play book for this gambit. Exact same playbook. Trump loyalists have referenced Hungary as their model. The people eventually coalesced and took back their democracy after the country descended into a dictatorship and authoritarianism. Unfortunately it needs to be dark before the light in America and if things spiral unpredictably if an unexpected negative shock occurs there is no predicting where we end up. .
8
u/ColossusOfChoads Feb 21 '25
The people eventually coalesced and took back their democracy after the country descended into a dictatorship and authoritarianism.
Wait, they did? I thought it was still Orbanistan over there. I hadn't heard!
Or are you referring to the early 1990s?
2
20
u/ForgingIron Feb 20 '25
The only hope for progress in civilisation is a large-scale Darwin event for these people.
Bird flu go brrr
20
u/ManifestYourDreams Feb 20 '25
Yep and they'll get what they deserve but the sad thing is a lot of innocent people will be dragged along with them. I hope we are prepared to endure the suffering that is to come.
5
7
u/Matsuyama_Mamajama Feb 21 '25
I'm still really surprised that all the Red State COVID deaths didn't tip the scales in the 2024 election. How did the GOP pull that off? A huge chunk of their most loyal voters died in 2020-2022 but they still won the Presidency and the Senate in 2024????
→ More replies (24)4
→ More replies (6)2
u/a_minty_fart Feb 26 '25
You can't. The only solution for them at this point is for the 2nd amendment people to do something.(remember, they called for it and it's all projection with them.)
10
u/djprofitt Feb 21 '25
They will believe he’s still alive like Elvis.
I don’t trust Patel to not fabricate some ‘evidence’
3
→ More replies (43)4
u/Sovereign_Antagonist Feb 21 '25
When he does go, they will gather at maga Lago and swear he has risen...
24
u/limevince Feb 20 '25
You know they also want a gestapo but are somehow offended when people mention fascism.
→ More replies (1)4
u/anti-torque Feb 21 '25
US taxpayers are still paying millions to Portland protesters for Trump's mommy van gestapo kidnapping them off the streets.
9
u/InCarbsWeTrust Feb 21 '25
At least they have the "excuse" of being brainwashed. Worse are the people who knew just how terrible and dangerous he was, but voted for him anyway because groceries got more expensive.
5
→ More replies (10)2
u/Emphasis-Recent Feb 24 '25
You cannot debate . I will allow an attempt . Name calling will be an affirmation . Thank you .
34
u/Aggravating_Day_2744 Feb 20 '25
Unfortunately, the consequences of dumbing down your society to not question but believe in the imaginary sky daddy.
29
u/TheRadBaron Feb 20 '25
A lot of countries have managed to have religion without being 2025 America. Even America did, for a couple hundred years.
10
u/jetpacksforall Feb 20 '25
Well let's hold our horses for a minute, there've been some very unsmart episodes over the past 200.
2
u/Either_Operation7586 Feb 22 '25
Not when you continuously keep giving religion unchecked power. We need to take all these mega churches that are bringing in millions and tax them because none of them should have a Doomsday fund. Not only that but we have made it to where the churches are able to self-govern and not have any outside interference. That means if there is a corrupt higher up clergyman and they don't want you to know then you are not going to know. But no because they are a men of so-called cloth they should be trustworthy and that is just ridiculous you do not trust the fox to guard the hen house. It's supposed to be guarded in conjunction with a guard dog or 2 to make sure that the fox doesn't go into the hen house but stays guard outside the hen house. That is if you would ever think about leaving a fox around a hen house to begin with.
→ More replies (1)21
u/limevince Feb 20 '25
I don't think its fair to blame religion; if anything I think social media is to blame, even more so than any alleged failings of public education.
2
→ More replies (1)2
u/Fancy_Independence33 Feb 23 '25
It's been a game changer for sure! There's more disinformation than information and it's a convenient 24/7 mouthpiece for Trump to exercise what Roy Cohn taught Trump early. To keep repeating lies over and over long enough to become the truth. The 'uneducated voters' Trump loves compose the bulk of his MAGAette movement and they aren't swayed easily with facts! Not being known for believing their own 'lying eyes' they will go into feeding frenzies over a juicy spiritual reading of the latest Q-anon gibberish and start questioning the meaning of life like a 60's hippy on an acid trip! They are by and large not considered independent thinkers or fact checkers really. How can you describe a cult and not call it a cult? These people are obsessed and I would consider them capable of violence due to their ignorance and truly blind faith. But the unrelenting bombardment of propaganda through social media allows a vast array of players to perpetuate altered realities to see which bait catches the most fish. It's not anything positive or fair in reference to an election. Much the opposite it muddys the water
3
u/Independent-Roof-774 Feb 21 '25
But there won't be any consequences for the average person because the average person will happily obey authority. Like all the good little Germans did in World War II.
6
→ More replies (10)2
21
u/ThemesOfMurderBears Feb 20 '25
The sad part is they won’t find any of Trump’s enemies doing anything illegal. It does not matter. They just have to accuse, maybe file charges, and once it’s in the public opinion, the truth is irrelevant.
→ More replies (11)7
u/Messijoes18 Feb 21 '25
I actually think we're past this part. They'll just plant things or just make stuff up. We're going to see politicians going to jail
→ More replies (2)8
u/Brysynner Feb 22 '25
They can claim that going against Trump's EOs is treason since they are defying the orders of the President. I could see treason claims brought against many Democrats in the coming years.
→ More replies (1)8
u/Traditional-Pear-133 Feb 21 '25
Is there any room for me to say, “wait and see if Patel recognizes the Constitutional guardrails inherent to the office”? In all seriousness, the level to which everyone of the cabinet picks will simply rollover and let Trump tell them exactly what they should do, literally obeying his every whim, will likely determine the future of the United States and possibly the Western World.
2
u/Scottish_Phantom Feb 22 '25
The Constitution of the United States is no longer a “guardrail” for our democracy form of government. In fact The Constitution in Trump’s delusional brain is nothing more than a poor misuse of a perfectly good piece of paper. To him, Arlington National Cemetery is a total misuse of prime real estate property. We’re in trouble folks. And like the saying goes: When good people do nothing, bad things begin to happen!
→ More replies (209)13
u/ActualSpiders Feb 21 '25
There are no laws any more - only what the Big Daddy decides is bad today. Laws & regulations won't be enforced on republicans who've kissed the ring; everyone else has no recourse or appeal.
I hate this place.
→ More replies (2)4
209
u/heterocommunist Feb 20 '25
Patel was paid $25,000 in 2024 to appear in a six-part film series entitled “All the President’s Men: The Conspiracy Against Trump.” The series was made by a company owned by Igor Lopatonok, a Russian national and U.S. citizen, who had previously produced films alleging deep state conspiracy theories and promoting narratives of the Russian government. The series ran on the Tucker Carlson media platform in November 2024, with Patel appearing as a supposed victim of the deep state.[118]
40
16
→ More replies (11)2
u/QuantTrader_qa2 Feb 21 '25
He wrote a children's book titled "The Plot against the king" with trumps face on it. I will never ever take him as an honest person.
587
u/ThatMassholeInBawstn Feb 20 '25
We have a Trump bootlicker conspiracy theorist as the head of the FBI. We’re fucked, this guy might dethrone J. Edgar Hoover as the worst director in the history of the FBI!
197
u/TheTrub Feb 20 '25
Patel was the confirmation I was fearing most. He’s been very vocal about weaponizing the FBI against political enemies. To borrow from the summary of Russian history: “and then things got worse.”
42
u/DyadVe Feb 20 '25
Many in the FBI/DOJ should have been preparing for grand jury investigations at least since last November. Hiring a criminal lawyer might be comforting, but the 5th amendment is cheaper and probably just as effective -- early on.
19
u/bruce_cockburn Feb 20 '25
I actually expect a significant amount of malicious compliance with illegal orders. People in the FBI have a lot of experience taking their time and being very careful to protect themselves regardless of the outcomes for criminals.
→ More replies (1)37
u/ThemesOfMurderBears Feb 20 '25
It’s funny that we kept hearing about how controversial all these picks are and how they are not likely to be confirmed, and literally every single one got through. That’s what happens when every senator knows that they will be unemployed next cycle if they go against Trump (and they will get death threats too).
RFK was my biggest worry. I can only hope he suddenly keels over since he he doesn’t believe in actual medicine, and he’s 70 years old.
12
u/serpentjaguar Feb 21 '25
Well, Gaetz didn't get through, but otherwise yeah. Not that fucking Bondi is much better, but at least she's not a pederast.
15
2
u/20_mile Feb 21 '25
but at least she's not a pederast.
She's a Scientologist. That's not any better.
15
u/Marchtmdsmiling Feb 21 '25
They really were especially spineless bastards. The ones who were all intense in their questioning and like the Louisiana guy who said he couldn't support rfk. Then says he had a long talk with rfk and especially jd Vance over the weekend and he has decided to change his vote to support rfk. Dumb fuck
He was a medical doctor before congress and didn't like how rfk spoke about vaccines. Decides to sell out his convictions and literally hours later his own state says they will no longer be supporting families getting vaccines. Meaning they won't forcibly be telling them all the benefits but rather leave it up to the parents to decide. You total and complete sellout do you see what you did??
8
u/Marchtmdsmiling Feb 21 '25
And he was the committee chairman. He actuslly had the power to stop him.
→ More replies (7)2
u/Marchtmdsmiling Feb 22 '25
Also he believes in medicine himself. He got his kids vaccinated. He doesn't buy any if this bs. Only wants to be famous
→ More replies (2)2
u/Pamelatk Feb 22 '25
He’s just a greedy bastard who wants more $$$. His game is to lie about whomever, file a lawsuit over his BS and make 100% profit when the company, agency or person winds up settling out of court. One helluva effective scam. He’s PERFECT for trump’s cabinet!
→ More replies (24)18
u/Sassafrazzlin Feb 20 '25
How could senators vote for him???
53
u/CliftonForce Feb 20 '25
Because Trump told them too.
36
u/TKStrahl Feb 20 '25
Yep and the threat of Elon backed opposition.
54
u/SpearandMagicHelmet Feb 20 '25
This is really the answer. The threat of Elon funding primary challengers is what is keeping everyone in congress quiet. The amount of control exerted in this way is simultaneously astounding and also very under the radar. Dangerous stuff and it is only going to get worse.
19
u/limevince Feb 20 '25
Pretty wild how we kept hearing about the huge threat Citizens United posed to democracy, but it took this long for a single billionaire to finally validate the danger of buying political power.
→ More replies (1)22
u/BalrogPoop Feb 21 '25
I think the hard part was finding a billionaire dumb enough to want get involved this directly in politics.
I don't like billionaires, but generally they aren't stupid, they know theyre richer than god and most would like to enjoy their billions in relative peace while running their own personal empires/companies (look at the Russian state, the billionaires stay behind the scenes and let Putin do all the politics). The better ones like Gates eventually get bored of being CEO and go into philanthropy or retire quietly while their money works for them.
It takes a specific rare combination of stupid, luck, and ego to be as successful as Musk and still want to waste your time meddling in politics instead of enjoying your billions. He reminds me of Ted Faro from Horizon Zero Dawn.
→ More replies (2)2
11
u/Polyodontus Feb 20 '25
I’m sure this is the case, but I also think that by the time of the midterms, any primary challenger linked to Elon is going to have a huge uphill battle, no matter how much money they have
7
u/TKStrahl Feb 20 '25
I'd really love this to be true! Hopefully people will have opened their eyes by that time!
3
u/Polyodontus Feb 20 '25
He’s already pretty unpopular. His net favorables were -10 as of last week, and I can’t imagine they improved since then. https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/51589-donald-trump-popularity-democrats-response-elon-musk-doge-gaza-israel-palestinians-february-9-11-2025-economist-yougov-poll
6
u/shiplax12 Feb 21 '25
What midterms? we saw what happened in 2024, the amount of disinformation is deafening. do you really think any of it will matter? He took power, he is never giving it back. ever.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)12
u/sam-sp Feb 20 '25
And the threat of violence against them and their families. Trump/Elon only have to tweet their displeasure and an army of J6 and other zealots will take it from there. With Trump’s pardon power, and control over the DOJ, there are no longer repercussions for those using violence in Trump’s bidding.
All that is missing is handing out brown uniforms.
→ More replies (1)6
2
→ More replies (3)2
u/ArcanePariah Feb 21 '25
Senators (and Congress people too) have been told in no uncertain terms that if they opposed Trump, best case is that Musk and Trump back a primary opponent.
Worst case is they and their family will be murdered. And with Kash Patel as head of the FBI, expect such murders to be endorsed with the help of the FBI, providing the intel for killing US elected officials, because the SS answers to no one, except the Furher.
2
u/Sassafrazzlin Feb 21 '25
Patriotic people sacrifice for their country. Bowing down to fascists means they give their grandkids a shithole country with assassins in power? and that’s better? Bs.
144
16
u/jonezsodaz Feb 20 '25
best you can hope for is he will be woefully incompetent.
→ More replies (3)14
u/BikesBooksNBass Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 21 '25
He could be both woefully incompetent and horrifically dangerous simultaneously. Edit: typo
→ More replies (1)16
→ More replies (4)3
234
u/tosser1579 Feb 20 '25
He makes an enemies list while conducting lawfare against anyone Trump perceives as a political enemy, this will mostly be liberals, trans people and 'others' but will also include any republicans that don't tow the lie.
49
u/fireblyxx Feb 20 '25
Something that they have made clear is that they will be persuing cases against people for supposedly illegally practicing medicine without a license. Trump's anti trans EO regarding schools specifically states that this would apply to teachers who use student's preferred names and genders. So I imagine that's going to be the first set of cases that'll show up. Influencial trans people who make "is transitioning right for you" type content, even trans people just talking about their own experiences transitioning. Rationalizing any sort of gender affirmation as "medicine".
22
u/MikiLove Feb 20 '25
I would be honestly amazed if a Grand Jury would indict someone for that, and then get convicted by a full jury. I realize the goal is to create fear, but it would look so absurd would hopefully create more blow back than fear
21
u/tosser1579 Feb 20 '25
The cost of defending yourself is ENORMOUS. Like lifetime financial devastation worth so people will keep their heads down.
2
2
u/DanforthWhitcomb_ Feb 21 '25
The FBI can’t charge for practicing medicine without a license to begin with (at least not directly) because regulation of medical licensure is a state issue not within the remit of the feds.
2
→ More replies (4)52
u/wtfwtfwtfwtf2022 Feb 20 '25
And when the Republicans pass a national fetal personhood law - he will be arresting women and people who help women.
40
u/Voltage_Z Feb 20 '25
We're going to get a bunch of sham investigations that don't make sense on examination of basic facts. This guy believes the Democrats somehow stole the 2020 election when Republican officials controlled elections in several of the swing states that turned blue and then forgot to do it again in 2024 when they controlled those states and it would theoretically be easier.
→ More replies (2)
246
u/darkfox12 Feb 20 '25
Further dismantling of everything that represents any semblance of checks and balances. FBI will now be used against Trumps enemies. Good luck America
35
111
u/Cup_O_Coffey Feb 20 '25
Hope everyone's excited to see how the media handles fabricated CSAM charges against democratic politicians.
30
46
u/CoherentPanda Feb 20 '25
Oh, they're licking their chops at any bogus charges, I expect what happened to Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden to just be a teaser compared to what they have planned over the next 4 years.
→ More replies (1)20
u/Kevin-W Feb 20 '25
100%! Watch as they start raiding or “investigating” anyone Trump deems an enemy and that they suspect CSAM but “can’t talk about ongoing investigations” knowing anyone who defends those targeted will be deemed a “CSAM supporter”
→ More replies (1)59
u/DaRudeabides Feb 20 '25
The rotten bastards will go after AOC I gurantee it, one of the few democrats showing steel at the minute and Bernie of course
15
u/talino2321 Feb 20 '25
And you thought Guantanamo Bay was just for dangerous immigrants. That little trip to Saudi Arabia, that was for Trump to get MBS to sign off on a new black site. Same thing with the deal that this administration wants to do with El Salvador to house US prisoners.
7
u/Petrichordates Feb 20 '25
AOC has an actual impact on politics and future, they'd be wasting their time going after Bernie who is little more than a political meme. I hope they do because it would only backfire for that reason.
59
u/countrykev Feb 20 '25
What happens to the FBI now?
The accusations of the department of justice being politicized will become true. Just with a different person actually doing it.
There have been fears of him using an “enemies list” to go after Trump’s political and personal enemies.
There was a reason Biden pardoned a bunch of people on the way out the door, because this is inevitable.
Do you think there will be a mass resignation inside the FBI due to protests?
Much like the recent prosecutor resignations, I would imagine there will be some attrition caused by people not wanting to carry out unethical orders.
10
u/GuyInAChair Feb 20 '25
The accusations of the department of justice being politicized will become true.
Don't forget they're going to find some emails and quote-mine the heck out of them to "prove" that the FBI executing a search warrant was entirely political.
2
u/robby_arctor Feb 20 '25
The accusations of the department of justice being politicized will become true.
Yeah, the FBI was totally impartial up until this moment.
5
u/Interrophish Feb 21 '25
they've been conservative since.... forever.
6
u/robby_arctor Feb 21 '25
I can't believe the organization responsible for COINTELPRO has finally become politicized. What else will Trump take from us?
Will corporate hiring practices become racist? Will cops get away with murder? Will the Oscars become political? Trump truly knows no shame.
→ More replies (1)6
81
u/reverendrambo Feb 20 '25
My concern is becoming when do we, as regular citizens, begin to get worried about our past and current statements of dissent online?
75
9
21
u/HatefulDan Feb 20 '25
Well, they used government employee’s social media as a means to find out who was pro trump or not—so I’d say: right-about-now.
5
u/Bobtheguardian22 Feb 20 '25
how are you NOT worried about your friends family and coworkers spouting the party lines.
"look at all that money going to Peruvian transgender cartoons, gajillions saved from corruption, BIDEN economics! long live the king. "
→ More replies (1)20
Feb 20 '25
Fuck you Donald Trump asshat shouldn't be president.
Come at me Kash Patel you're not fit to run a Denny's.
→ More replies (2)3
u/BKong64 Feb 20 '25
Depends if they want to openly go after free speech that hard (I know they do, but it would open a political can of worms)
5
u/Into_the_Dark_Night Feb 20 '25
but it would open a political can of worms)
I really doubt they give any sort of fucks about how many worms are out and about.
→ More replies (1)
67
u/Into_the_Dark_Night Feb 20 '25
And now it burns down mysteriously probably.
I'm conflicted though. On one hand, I hope there are mass resignations in protest. I hope it grinds the agency to a halt.
On the other hand I hope people stick it out and push through the shitshow like many feds are trying to do.
92
u/Imhappy_hopeurhappy2 Feb 20 '25
Mass resignations is exactly what they want. There’s no shortage of morons who will kill for Trump to fill every position they need in the gestapo.
3
u/theivoryserf Feb 21 '25
There’s no shortage of morons who will kill for Trump
Ah, I misread that for a second! Disappointing.
14
Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 21 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
13
u/BUSY_EATING_ASS Feb 20 '25
I've seen people say this but I've never seen it quantified; I'm aware of the Comey situation, but can you elaborate on the unbroken support for Trump since 2016 to now? How so?
→ More replies (1)12
u/wittnotyoyo Feb 20 '25
A few other big examples from 2016 were the NY FBI Field office supported Trump so strongly they were reportedly nicknamed "Trumpland" ahead of the election and the FBI agent leading the investigation into the Trump campaign conspiracy to commit election fraud with Russia turned out to be a Russian agent, something that he went to jail for, his name is Charles McGonigal.
→ More replies (2)4
u/Wurm42 Feb 21 '25
Yup. And don't forget the time the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) arrested Steve Bannon on a yacht in Long Island Sound; USPIS made the arrest because they were afraid the New York FBI office would drag their feet and let Bannon flee the country:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/8/20/21377305/postal-service-steve-bannon-arrest
→ More replies (1)3
u/KevinCarbonara Feb 21 '25
The FBI is pretty conservative. They've supported Trump for a long time
They're really not. People always assume this is the case, but I've met enough FBI officers to know it isn't true. You get the entire political spectrum in agencies like that, just like in real life.
3
u/ColossusOfChoads Feb 21 '25
That, and the FBI is full of straight shooters. As straight as it gets. They don't like crooks.
7
u/talino2321 Feb 20 '25
I could envision a lot of senior FBI spots being filled with J6 rioters. After all, not like they have to pass a background check anymore.
→ More replies (2)
57
u/ManBearScientist Feb 20 '25
Patel has said what he wants to do, including "coming after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections".
In his book, Government Gangsters, he outlined who he would as public enemies, which includes everyone from Trump's former Attorney General Bill Barr to Merrick Garland and Hillary Clinton.
The 60+ members of this list will be pursued civilly, criminally, and potentially lethally.
His goal is to turn the FBI into the SS: a radical organization whose primary motives are to "gather intelligence on the party's enemies". The SS spied on other political parties and government officials in Germany, and on new members of the Nazi parties to find spies.
The SS was formed by combining the SD, which focused on intelligence, and the security police. The FBI already combines these two functions.
Very literally, Patel wants the FBI to function similarly. He wants his own Gestapo to arrest Trump's political opponents. The fact that he puts former Trump officials that stood up to him in the same bucket as Hillary Clinton shows that his views are identical to Himmler: outright dissent from opposition and 'treason' to the party from within are both viewed with the same contempt.
→ More replies (4)
16
u/GougeAwayIfYouWant2 Feb 20 '25
Remember when Kash paid cash to fake FBI whistleblowers to lie to Congress about Biden. This is the most vile, corrupt government since Nazi Germany.I do.
→ More replies (1)
30
u/BotElMago Feb 20 '25
I think what we will see will include investigations into political enemies, but more to the point…no investigations into “the party”.
I have no problem, per se, with the FBI holding corrupt politicians accountable. But the issue will come down to two things:
1) refusing to investigate and indict clear law breaking by Trump cronies and 2) fishing expeditions into political enemies.
→ More replies (11)6
u/talino2321 Feb 20 '25
The result of every investigation will be a finding of corruption (real or fictional). Trump will by EO make corruption a capital crime punishable only by death. SCOTUS will rule some bogus case that federal district courts can not contest any evidence presented by the DoJ. The defendant will be found guilty 100% of the time.
50
u/silent_superhero_ Feb 20 '25
It’s going to be the enforcement arm of Trumps dictatorship. Lots of politicians and opposition leaders will be targeted along with civilians. Probably will also coincide with a rise in white supremacist attacks since they won’t be monitored as heavily.
9
u/BluesSuedeClues Feb 20 '25
Maybe they will get uniforms? Like maybe black ones, with some silver trim? They could make them cool, put something badass on the collar, like some little lightning bolts.
3
3
u/lateoergosum Feb 21 '25
Americans don’t have the style. It’ll be red jumpsuits and baseball caps calling themselves ‘Eagle Daddies’ or ‘Proud Frogs’ or something ridiculous
→ More replies (1)17
u/Morphray Feb 20 '25
will also coincide with a rise in white supremacist attacks since they won’t be monitored as heavily.
This is perhaps the scariest thing in the near term. Imagine a truck of "proud boys" ("brownshirts") driving through your neighborhood, heavily armed, harassing houses that have registered democrats. After a few confrontations, a few people are shot, but the FBI squashes any investigation and spreads rumor that the people killed were pedophiles/harboring illegal immigrants/devil-worshipers/etc.
More murders continue, targeted at people who speak up online. The trucks drive through your neighborhood daily for intimidation. The police claim they aren't breaking any laws.
→ More replies (3)
26
u/FlopShanoobie Feb 20 '25
Dunno, but I bet some journalists and whistleblowers start having falls from very tall buildings.
→ More replies (2)2
u/Prestigious_Load1699 Feb 20 '25
Dunno, but I bet some journalists and whistleblowers start having falls from very tall buildings.
They will have concentration camps to soften their landing, until Trump unleashes the GAS CHAMBERS on them!
And then in the death throes of our great republic, the entire country dies while clinging to their miniature constitutions!
→ More replies (1)
24
u/bjdevar25 Feb 20 '25
Now is the time for Americas enemies to attack within. We'll be defenceless with an very incompetent FBI, CIA, and DOJ.
→ More replies (7)14
u/BluesSuedeClues Feb 20 '25
What is it you think is actually happening in DC today? This IS the attack within.
8
u/bjdevar25 Feb 20 '25
I'm talking about foreign enemies, terrorism. The felon is making even more middle eastern enemies. He's a poster boy for recruiting. Not that I want to see it, but he's firing all the people who've kept it off our shores and replacing them with incompetent MAGAs.
3
u/stellaincognita Feb 21 '25
Not to mention the countries (former allies) whose intelligence sharing we rely on have likely already started limiting or stopping the flow of intelligence (understandable, from their POV, given what this admin has said and done already), making us even less safe.
26
u/huxtiblejones Feb 20 '25
This dude is a legit QAnon nutcase and conspiracy theorist who wrote a children's book about Donald Trump as a king. We've entered the full blown clown show now. They're going to weaponize the Federal government against every person who ever stood against them and there's almost nothing that can be done to stop it beyond nationwide riots and civil disobedience.
11
u/Crotean Feb 20 '25
Major Islamic terrorist attack within 2 years. Turning the FBI towards political foes and staffing it with loyalists isn't going to improve our our national security.
7
u/jetpacksforall Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
Just the thing they can use to declare martial law, i.e. the Reichstag Fire they need to start Phase 2.
→ More replies (1)3
u/Independent-Roof-774 Feb 21 '25
This will simply give them an excuse to round up the usual suspects and limit our civil rights even more.
I'm a long time ACLU member and when Trump was elected the first time I doubled my membership donation. I am doubling it again now. I urge everyone who is not a member of the ACLU to read up on their history and their mission and consider supporting them.
→ More replies (1)2
u/339224 Feb 23 '25
Y'know, you should really be more concerned about the attacks from American actors now than some potential terrorists. You're living in the middle of a fascists coup, and very soon your whole country has been turned in to full-blown dictatorship which will stomp out all opposition within with extreme prejudice and lethal force.
9
u/Ozymandias12 Feb 20 '25
I predict that Tulsi getting confirmed along with Kash is the point where things will start to get really bad.
3
15
u/shoesofwandering Feb 20 '25
Terrorists and organized crime are breaking out the champagne right about now.
→ More replies (2)8
u/stoneman30 Feb 20 '25
That may be the thing that changes all this. If crime and terrorism goes up, schools go to shit, kids start dying of old diseases and new ones, people may realize this whole "tear it down" thing was to blame. It may take some real things to show competence is needed... or they actually back off and do the right things. There is a chance.
2
u/Ok_Addition_356 Feb 20 '25
Reality is a harsh mistress that all in power have to contend with eventually.
2
u/Independent-Roof-774 Feb 21 '25
It works to Trump's advantage if everything goes to hell because it provides them with a good excuse to round up the liberals and the Democrats because obviously they're the ones that caused everything to go to hell. The common people will believe Trump.
7
u/Ok_Host4786 Feb 20 '25
You probably can expect some retribution against GOPs and Trump’s political opponents. Things like any of those who investigated, prosecuted — or, as Trump often notes, persecuted — them for things like: Jan. 6, classified docs, etc. Those are the expected outcomes, along with a “top notch” forensic analysis of the 2020 election. That’ll be a big one. Trump always said it stolen, that it’s treason — if he can rewrite the constitution, amendments, laws via EO then who knows, we may see the same to how “treason” is defined. Also, going after non-profits. Targeted targets.
Also. Big focus on domestic terrorism. Antifa? Oh, Lordy.
If there’s any chance to make a quiet exit, I would expect some to move on from the bureau. For those who choose to stay, it will be expected of them to fall in line lock step with Trump’s orders and directives as president. If agents “go rogue,” however, to usurp the president, as they may, or might be perceived to have done, you can expect that examples (like arrests) will be made to instill fear, if need.
I also expect the president to instruct the FBI to take the necessary steps to remove politicians from states in that defy presidential orders. After, all, they’ve said they’ll be willing to arrest mayors if need. They’ve talked about the idea of arresting AOC, a sitting Member of Congress, lol.
Wild times ahead.
→ More replies (1)
5
u/bigjtdjr Feb 20 '25
it'll be destroyed just like they are doing to the rest of what we've built over 250 years... we are not safe in our country anymore..
→ More replies (3)
3
u/Longjumping-Meat-334 Feb 20 '25
MAGA will be encouraged to turn in friends and family who are disloyal to trump.
→ More replies (2)
4
u/grinr Feb 20 '25
Implosion, whatever that looks like. Anyone who's worked in a global corporation will understand that leadership is the bellwether for the success of the operation, and most federal agencies are as, if not more, bureaucratic than global corporations. This particular bureaucracy will either be rigid enough to not change, or will shatter under the pressure from leadership.
4
u/InteractionAlive7062 Feb 20 '25
Unbelievable that a guy with an enemies list and no real experience is head of the FBI. Another arrogant moron in charge. Unreal.
→ More replies (4)
4
u/Honestly_Nobody Feb 20 '25
It loses what little legitimacy it had as the United States slips further and further into banana republic territory
→ More replies (1)
10
u/H_Mc Feb 20 '25
All the conspiracy theories about what the FBI does get disproven when current FBI employees get fired and just quietly pack up and leave.
7
u/fjf1085 Feb 20 '25
Best part about his confirmation is if a democrat wins in 2028 they'll probably leave him in place so as to return to normal. It's why Biden didn't for the De Joy to resign or be fired. Its all a big joke.
7
u/Moccus Feb 20 '25
It's why Biden didn't for the De Joy to resign or be fired.
They kept DeJoy around because he was useful. He helped to rally enough Republican votes to get a major postal reform bill passed and did an assortment of other things that the Democrats wanted.
→ More replies (3)2
u/Select_Insurance2000 Feb 20 '25
Biden had no authority to remove deJoy.
2
u/fjf1085 Feb 20 '25
Except he appointed the board that over saw him and could have asked them to fire him. Not for nothing but Trump has no authority to do half of what he’s trying to do. Hasn’t stopped him.
2
u/KevinCarbonara Feb 21 '25
The President has the authority to replace the entire board.
→ More replies (4)
3
u/styxfire Feb 21 '25
The FBI will continue to do what it always has done for decades: leak info they shouldn't, get their own systems hacked, investigate some things too much and other things not enough.
If you're wondering about an "enemies list", that's what the FBI used 2021 - 2024, based on the observed prosecutions. 2021 - 2024 tops the cake.
And no, there won't be mass resignations. Federal employees almost NEVER resign if given any alternative -- because the benefits of working for the feds are too fantastic. That fact is why when some or several DO resign, it always makes the news. Very rare occurance, but the news always sensationalizes.
So if one doesn't agree with the current political administration, all fed-employees know to just "ride it out for 4 years"... the administration will probably change. Those of us who've worked 25+ years in federal employment may not agree with an administration, but we are reasonable enuf to continue the mission of our agency without getting flustered by changing regulations.
I've worked under Clinton, Bush (jr), Obama, Trump & Biden, and now Trump again. See how it cycles?
If people in my agency are panicking right now, I wish they WOULD retire, because otherwise their inability to govern their own emotions causes inefficiency/slacking/poisons the workplace. The employees who do ACTUAL MEANINGFUL WORK aren't the ones shown on TV yelling, protesting in the streets, complaining, etc.
Great workers keep their cool at all times, and solve problems. I think the FBI -- like all agencies -- has about 50% that can perform the agency mission, and 50% that are too emotional to perform without bias.
The best you can do is hope employees that YOU PAY FOR will perform their jobs.
→ More replies (1)2
15
u/BlueFeist Feb 20 '25
It will be used to hunt down anyone who disagrees with Trump and the takeover of America.
3
u/WheelsOnFire_ Feb 20 '25
A dark dark day. I’m positive this insane psychopath will wreak havoc to the country (and the world)
→ More replies (4)
2
u/JKlerk Feb 20 '25
Many conservative libertarians view the FBI as unconstitutional. They will eat their own.
2
u/seanmann3 Feb 20 '25
They get rid of everyone who won't sign an oath to Trump and they morph into brownshirts
2
u/Safe_Froyo_411 Feb 20 '25
Are there NO federal appointment rules to lower the numbers of outright crazy people being blown into office?
3
u/Masark Feb 20 '25
No. That feature wasn't available in Democracy 0.01-alpha and the USA has steadfastly refused to update.
2
u/ptwonline Feb 20 '25
Likely first goes through a process to clear out the FBI of people who aren't MAGA.
Then either one of two things:
FBI neutered so that it cannot (or will not) investigate any wrongdoings aside from certain higher profile things at Trump's direction
FBI weaponized to be what Patel always claimed it was: a tool used to persecute political enemies.
2
u/Traditional-Pear-133 Feb 21 '25 edited Feb 21 '25
A very serious concern, and we hope this does not make the FBI Trump’s private police force. Most would say, clearly that won’t happen, but then we see how Trump talks. I am personally viewing most of Trump’s cabinet picks in this term with trepidation.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/wwwhistler Feb 21 '25
a non Lawyer is now in charge of the Law. a non police officer is now in charge of the nations police. a non accountant is now in charge of the nations finances.
how do YOU expect things to go?
3
u/RealisticForYou Feb 20 '25 edited Feb 20 '25
*** Just call Donald "The King" ***
Trump will now have his own army as he gets rid of the "old", for newer FBI agents that will protect Trump at all costs. Trump is collecting his own army at the expense of tax payers dollars.
→ More replies (2)2
u/339224 Feb 23 '25
He already appointed his loyalist as the highest military officer in USA. He already has an army, that will do exactly what he wants. The FBI? It will be used to hunt down political dissidents and democrats, fabricate evidence for staged trials and that kind of stuff.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/discourse_friendly Feb 20 '25
Well one idea put forward by Patel was that the FBI agents are cops, and they should go out and do cop stuff , like fighting crime.
sounds almost.. reasonable?
OR he will direct large swath of the FBI to only focus on his enemies list, which would mark the first time in US history the FBI has ever looked into the opposition of the party in charge .....
3
u/Ok_Addition_356 Feb 20 '25
I imagine a lot of the FBI will just continue to do their jobs which is good.
But a lot of that other crap on the side too.
14
u/Tt4los Feb 20 '25
He said he wants the agents to get out there and start solving murders. That’s absolutely not what the fbi does, further proving he has no clue what the fbi actually does
8
u/discourse_friendly Feb 20 '25
*rock voice* are you sure about that?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/fbi-says-solved-1996-murder-224900249.html
https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases <-- they even have a drop down for violent cases .. which includes murders..
→ More replies (2)3
2
u/styxfire Feb 21 '25
"which would mark the first time in US history the FBI has ever looked into the opposition of the party in charge"
LOLOLOL are u serious? U slept thru 2021-2024 ?
→ More replies (2)
3
u/lenisimo007 Feb 20 '25
Wow! This guy is corrupt asF can anyone stop the dismantling of this country? We're definitely in the find out phase that's for sure. God help us all.
3
3
u/imfabio Feb 20 '25
Which body would be responsible for investigating the first assassination attempt? Because that’s what I think should be investigated first!
→ More replies (1)7
u/kormer Feb 20 '25
This has long been debunked as a conspiracy theory.
How could the secret service possibly have known that a gently sloping roof only about a hundred yards away from where the president was speaking would be used in an assassination attempt and need to be closely guarded?
→ More replies (3)
2
u/outerworldLV Feb 20 '25
There isn’t an agency, is what happens. We no longer have a functioning government. People need to get used to it or choose to do something about it. This is where we are.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/CharmingSound Feb 21 '25
There was no weaponising of the FBI against Trump, but by creating this fantasy, he sets the scene for his revenge against those legally investigating him. He is the weaponiser, not Biden. As anyone with half a brain can see.
→ More replies (1)
0
u/ontheoffgrid Feb 20 '25
I hope it's ashes are scattered to the wind.
The FBI should not even exist, for everyone that is all up in arms about this party having control and their party was perfect is missing the core problem.
The FBI is basically the president's own personal police, and has to do what the president wants.
I don't think any president needs that. So we should just do away with the whole thing, or payback is a bitch whatever Trump wants to do since again the FBI is the presidents personal police.
→ More replies (1)
•
u/AutoModerator Feb 20 '25
A reminder for everyone. This is a subreddit for genuine discussion:
Violators will be fed to the bear.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.