this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
562 points (99.5% liked)

politics

24208 readers
2797 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/31570120

Four years after Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas would be the first state to build its own border wall, lawmakers have quietly stopped funding the project, leaving only scattered segments covering a small fraction of the border.

That decision, made in the waning hours of this year’s legislative session, leaves the future of the state wall unclear. Just 8% of the 805 miles the state identified for construction is complete, which has cost taxpayers more than $3 billion to date. The Texas Tribune reported last year that the wall is full of gaps that migrants and smugglers can easily walk around and mostly concentrated on sprawling ranches in rural areas, where illegal border crossings are less likely to occur.

State leaders suggested the federal government could pick up the effort. However, during President Donald Trump’s first term, when wall building was his top priority, his administration completed just 21 miles in Texas — about a third of what the state was able to build over the past four years.

The Tribune reported last year that the state’s wall program would take around 30 years and more than $20 billion to complete.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Bonus@slrpnk.net 4 points 4 hours ago

4 years for $3 Billion but 30 years for only $20 Billion. Sure, guys.

[–] nthavoc 13 points 6 hours ago

So what happened to the $77 billion left to build the wall? Oh, they griffed it. Just like everything the Donvict makes, it goes to shit and he runs off with the money. Suddenly there's no more immigrant crisis on the Texas border. Clearly it wasn't the fucking wall that stopped it. Also, all that imminent domain claimed on farmers and habitat owners also just had their land completely stolen not for "imminent domain" purposes.

His next term is in 2026. That's right, he's going for a 20 year tenure. There is not a limit on how many times you can be a Texas governor.

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 19 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

No need for it now. America is so shit nobody wants to go there.

Be Mexico building the wall soon to keep Texans out.

[–] dzsimbo@lemm.ee 11 points 8 hours ago

Mexico building the wall soon

So Trump is keeping promises?

[–] CobblerScholar@lemmy.world 19 points 9 hours ago

Utter failure, that is the legacy of the Republican party

[–] Daft_ish@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 7 hours ago

That was so 2016. We are all about full on fascism now.

[–] GraniteM@lemmy.world 6 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

How many college educations could have been fully funded for $3 billion? How many elementary schools built? How many other worthwhile problems could have been solved, rather than building a bunch of worthless crumbling garbage out in the desert?

[–] CPMSP@midwest.social 4 points 5 hours ago

Yeah, but that would be, like, helping people man.

Bootstraps motherfuckers!

[–] aesthelete@lemmy.world 34 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

It shouldn't need funding, Mexico was supposed to pay for it.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 11 hours ago

The cognitive disonnence is staggering.

[–] Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 hours ago

Maybe they meant like Mexico NY? Or New Mexico? Maybe he said Texaco?

[–] SabinStargem 3 points 7 hours ago

Unfortunate. The metal materials of that wall was an excellent donation program to local businesses.

/s...? 🤔

[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 38 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

For context, the texas-Mexico border is 1254 miles long. Even the projected 805 miles never made sense (not that any of it makes sense).

It's the most heavily crossed border in the world with dozens of controlled ports of entry and hundreds of millions of documented crossings a year.

The scattered 60ish miles they completed isn't even laughable, it's entirely a non starter, and this debacle would easily sink a governor in almost any other state.

[–] RacerX@lemmy.zip 3 points 7 hours ago

Good news for Mexico. I heard they were going to get quite a bill for that wall.

[–] Wilco@lemm.ee 16 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

So stupid. They will just tunnel under a wall. Also walls do not block planes, which is where 90% of illegals come in. They buy a plane ticket, get here, and then just stay.

[–] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 6 hours ago

I mean, ladders exist too. What a bunch of idiots. Americans are drooling stupid.

[–] newthrowaway20@lemmy.world 161 points 16 hours ago (6 children)

So some company got 3 billion richer by scamming the Texas government for a contract they knew would never be completed.

[–] BossDj@lemm.ee 87 points 16 hours ago (3 children)

Nah, government wasn't scammed. They got to rant, rave, and photo op. They made it a big deal, hyped their base, and got reelected. Their base already thinks the border wall is built. Or that it's Bidens fault that it isn't.

Some of those politicians may have made solid connections for their cozy retirement on some executive board

[–] My_IFAKs___gone@lemmy.world 20 points 15 hours ago

Sounds like an excellent ROI for everyone except the voters who wanted this product in the first place and the voters who didn't want it at all. But hey, it's quite a sight to see corrupt capitalism working...for itself.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] redsand@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 9 hours ago

Probably a close personal friend or family of Paxton or Abbott

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] BingoBongoBang@lemmy.world 11 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

You need a parade with “job well done” posters

[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 6 points 9 hours ago (1 children)
[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

"Promises made, promises kept" is an actual thing they like to say to each other, LOL.

I'm sure the dim bulbs will tell each other this kind of thing even as donvict tHe pEaCe pReSiDeNt leads us into a war with Iran just because Israel tells him to...

Make sure the parade weaves back and forth through some of the gaps in the Texas/Mexico border wall.

[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 75 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

i'll never forget all the inbred bumpkin morons who were 100% convinced that "mexico's gonna pay for it"

[–] Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 46 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

And now those same bumpkins are saying originating countries "are gonna pay for the tariffs".

[–] CalipherJones@lemmy.world 27 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Haitians eating cats and dogs really lowered the bar for conservatives. Like it was low, and then that dropped and there were no more excuses for them in my mind.

[–] thehowlingnorth@lemmy.ca 10 points 14 hours ago

I remember thinking Bowling Green was pretty low, but they just kept digging.

[–] WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 4 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

So now the Oklahomans are free to invade?

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 5 points 8 hours ago

I'd say that this is the good ending but not even the Texans deserve to be subject to Oklahomans.

[–] Bosht@lemmy.world 23 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

That picture is fuckin hilarious if that's literally as far as it got. It's a perfect monument to the failure. Slap a plaque on it.

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 24 points 13 hours ago (4 children)

It's a failure, yes, but they did complete 65 miles of fence. Just not all in one spot.

They basically built some free fences for a few ranchers who took advantage of the opportunity.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] PunkRockSportsFan@fanaticus.social 51 points 16 hours ago (6 children)

American Nazis are destined for failure.

The faster they fail and we hold them accountable for their crimes the fewer crimes they are able to commit.

Don’t lose hope. We’ll see most of these assholes swinging in the breeze.

[–] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 hours ago

Destruction is the point. It's a success.

[–] BassTurd@lemmy.world 12 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I just hope that midterms cause a huge shift in Congress, and the next "leader" has the balls to have a Nuremberg trials like situation to hold the current admin accountable. I want heads to literally and figuratively roll.

[–] PancakesCantKillMe@lemmy.world 9 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

I am a bit concerned about more election manipulation. The recent story on the 2024 elections and that there might've been some fuckery that is a bit more deeply advanced and nuanced than we've seen before has me worried. I have mad respect for the Russian apparatus' technical abilities even though they are awful people. Despite hating what they are doing, they push the envelope of what (bad) hacking can do. Traitors in the admin are doing what they can to assist so they have help.

For reference: https://apnews.com/press-release/access-newswire/diane-sare-kamala-harris-kamala-harris-es-kirsten-gillibrand-new-hampshire-225173eaaf66b420844508516b365caf

[–] BassTurd@lemmy.world 3 points 9 hours ago

I'm not not concerned. I just hope that something good does happen.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 16 points 16 hours ago (1 children)
[–] PunkRockSportsFan@fanaticus.social 15 points 16 hours ago

I like yours too man, you got the whole cowboy thing going on

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] eli_shitney@hilariouschaos.com 14 points 13 hours ago

they should put a "Mission Accomplished" sign on it.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 20 points 16 hours ago

Well at least they destroyed another big swath of the environment.

[–] Drewmeister@lemmy.world 14 points 15 hours ago

Is the "Mission Accomplished" banner from Bush's tenure still available?

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago
[–] Damage@feddit.it 7 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

In Italy we call these things "Cattedrali nel deserto", Cathedrals in the desert

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 3 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

The Tribune reported last year that the state’s wall program would take around 30 years and more than $20 billion to complete.

Typical Cheeto. Just claim something is super easy to do and won't cost a dime. When reality sinks in (usually years later after spending billions) that it's going to be over 100 times more expensive than he thought and will take decades longer than he thought, just quietly stop working on it...

Next up: the golden dome 🤮

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Toga65@lemmy.world 8 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

Unreal how gullible republican voters can be despite having information readily available

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›