{"id":35113,"date":"2026-01-18T11:32:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T16:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/?p=35113"},"modified":"2026-01-18T11:32:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T16:32:30","slug":"this-is-the-week-that-was","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/?p=35113","title":{"rendered":"This Is the Week That Was"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I don&#8217;t even know how to describe the last week. H.P. Lovecraft could not have written a more sanity shattering work of prose if he tried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only place to begin is with this.  The President of the United States, upset that Denmark will not sell him Greenland and incensed that the public threats of military action from himself and others in his administration (notably, Stephen Miller) have steeled the resolve of NATO to resist any aggression has chosen to punish the American people by imposing tariffs on imports from Europe, thus increasing the price of imports to the consumer.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"711\" height=\"1680\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117_172128.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of a Donald Trump 'Truth.' I'd transcribe it, but it's basically Eric Cartman shouting, 'You will respect my authoritah!'\" class=\"wp-image-35109\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Harlan Ellison describes something as &#8220;bugfuck,&#8221; this is exactly what he means.  This is not leadership.  This is Eric Cartman shouting, &#8220;You will respect my authoritah!&#8221;  This is not diplomacy.  This is an understanding of geopolitics based on a game of <em>Risk<\/em> played when Trump and Miller were 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reaction from our European allies was exactly what you&#8217;d want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: Pound sand.  <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"745\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-212851.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of a tweet from Ursula von der Leyen\" class=\"wp-image-35099\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">European Parliament President Roberta Metsola: Pound sand.  Europe stands united against American aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"379\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117_181958.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of a tweet by Roberta Metsola.\" class=\"wp-image-35110\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">French President Emmanuel Macron: Pound sand.  France stands with our European allies.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"824\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-212829.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of a tweet by Emmanuel Macron.\" class=\"wp-image-35098\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer: Pound sand.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"450\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-212950.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of a tweet by Kier Starmer.\" class=\"wp-image-35100\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.280009722559811;width:576px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Larry the Cat, resident of 10 Downing Street: Donald Trump is a Russian asset.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"184\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260118-081140.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot by Larry the Cat, calling Trump a Russian asset.\" class=\"wp-image-35111\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">British politician and writer <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alastair_Campbell\">Alastair Campbell<\/a>: Pound sand. Europe can hit you where it hurts, Donald.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1006\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-213218.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35102\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Economist <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Peter_Schiff\">Peter Schiff<\/a>: Antagonizing Europe proves Trump is a moron, because nothing good will flow from this for the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"263\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-213716.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35104\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Norwegian commentator Glenn Tunes: The United States is a shithole country.  (As an aside, I don&#8217;t disagree.)<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"211\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-213426.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of a tweet that reads: 'My Norwegian opinion is that if your country opens a department of war and closes the department of education, then your live in a shithold country.'\" class=\"wp-image-35103\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senator Mark Kelly: The soft power the United States built over 80 years is being destroyed in months by Donald Trump, and Republicans need to find the political will to join Democrats to check his abuses.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"373\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-213057.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35101\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senator Bernie Sanders: Trump destroying the NATO alliance proves he&#8217;s bugfuck.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"263\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-225630.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35107\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pundit Bill Kristol: Either Congress reins in Trump or they are complicit in the destruction of America&#8217;s reputation and alliances.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"238\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-223422.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35105\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pundit <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/allenanalysis?lang=en\">Brian Allen<\/a>: An attack by the United States on Greenland may end Trump&#8217;s presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"586\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-212805.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35097\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Nobel Committee: Donald Trump may be in possession of a Peace Prize, but that doesn&#8217;t make him a winner.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"831\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260118-081205.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35112\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Writer Charlotte Clymer: The atrocities ICE are committing in Minneapolis today will pale compared to the atrocities they will commit out of desperation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"289\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117-072456.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35096\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.993133279264666;width:576px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, let&#8217;s close with this.  An email, one of a dozen identical-ish emails, I received yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"750\" src=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_20260117_171831.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot of an email attempting to extort me for Bitcoin because the scammer infected my computer with malware and found me doing perverted things\" class=\"wp-image-35108\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first time I received one of these emails would have been over a decade ago.  My reaction then was, essentially, &#8220;How did you get video?  I don&#8217;t even have a camera on my computer!&#8221;  My reaction today: &#8220;I feel <em>so<\/em> threatened by my old LiveJournal password.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I don&#8217;t even know how to describe the last week. H.P. Lovecraft could not have written a more sanity shattering work of prose if he tried. The only place to begin is with this. The President of the United States, upset that Denmark will not sell him Greenland and incensed that the public threats of<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/?p=35113\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">&#8220;This Is the Week That Was&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[119],"tags":[5382,4258,4220,5393,5213,3953,5379,5395,5394,5105],"class_list":["post-35113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-denmark","tag-donald-trump","tag-france","tag-germany","tag-greenland","tag-harlan-ellison","tag-nato","tag-normay","tag-tariffs","tag-united-kingdom","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35113"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35113\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.allyngibson.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}