Summary

Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation and architect of Trump’s Project 2025, employs intense fire-related rhetoric in his upcoming book, Dawn’s Early Light: Taking Back Washington to Save America, advocating for a “controlled burn” of institutions he deems corrupt or antithetical to conservative goals.

Roberts calls for dismantling entities like the FBI, Ivy League schools, and the New York Times, framing it as necessary to “renew” America.

His incendiary language has sparked controversy, with critics alarmed by the violent imagery and its implications for Trump’s second term.

    • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      79
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      The boy scouts one is especially baffling. A lot of boys become more traditionally “manly” through boy scouts. It is physically active and they typically learn skills like camping, fire starting, wood working. We were also expected to do good deeds, be polite, and overall be decent members of society that help where is needed, such as litter clean ups and tree plantings. I guess the latter half of my point is where their issues start?

      • Stovetop@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        109
        ·
        3 months ago

        Maybe because they now allow girls to participate. Integration is “woke” and must be destroyed.

        • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          30
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          3 months ago

          I didn’t know that part. I thought conservatives hate them because they now allow gay leaders after being sued to pieces over it. Also didn’t they crack down on pedophiles in the organization? That is the number one pastime of conservative men.

          • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            11
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            3 months ago

            Lol. They didn’t get sued to pieces because their leaders were gay, it was because some of them were pedophiles.

            • Miles O'Brien@startrek.website
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              14
              ·
              edit-2
              3 months ago

              Nobody sued them over gay leaders.

              They got sued by parents over not doing anything about pedos, AND got sued by prospective leaders because they were being prevented from joining over their sexual orientation.

              Bill wanted to be a scoutmaster since he grew up with scouts, but since he was gay, he was not allowed. He then sued the organization over it. (idk names, that’s just for clarity)

            • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              4
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              3 months ago

              I obviously meant that they were sued for NOT allowing gay leaders and I think even scouts themselves. Google it if you care. Conservatives don’t like that they changed the policy on gays.

        • TimLovesTech (AuDHD)(he/him)@badatbeing.social
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          9
          ·
          edit-2
          3 months ago

          They are changing the name to just “Scouts” to reflect this. And is 100% why these assholes have an issue with them now.

          On May 7, 2024, BSA announced that the organization will change its name to Scouting America. While the name change will officially go into effect on February 8, 2025, on its 115th anniversary, all are encouraged to use the name immediately.

          Wikipedia: BSA

          Edit a word =(

        • morriscox@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          3 months ago

          If they are the Boy Scouts and allow girls to participate then this looks to be the start of a trans joke.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        23
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        3 months ago

        Both of them are pretty baffling. Because you’re right about the Boy Scouts, but also, BlackRock is basically a Republican dream company.

        • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          37
          ·
          edit-2
          3 months ago

          Because he’s attacking all institutions that have some sort of control he wants. The wide net just feeds into the deep state narrative and he needs to capitalize on that right now

          Kids, healthcare, education, private equity etc… that’s how you make a dictatorship.

          See it this way, BlackRock has enough power to do to the republican party what the republican party is doing to the gov. They need all of that gone to become megalomaniac authoritarians.

          If I wanted to become Bill Gates, and make my own Microsoft, i first have to outlaw bill gates and Microsoft.

          • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            14
            ·
            3 months ago

            I think this is right, but I would add there’s a chance this all ends up being for show and BlackRock makes some public show of fealty to the Trumpists that makes them look powerful and gets BlackRock some government contracts down the line. Like, hypocrisy is no barrier for the right wing, they’re fully capable of writing a whole novel about (e.g.) how we must destroy Google and then turning around and buying a bunch of shit from them.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            4
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            3 months ago

            If they already have that much power, it would make more sense to stay on their good side, at least for now, wouldn’t it?

            • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝@sopuli.xyz
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              3 months ago

              They have the upper hand now, if MAGA is firmly in control of the government, they can dismantle Blackrock in a month.

                • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  3
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  3 months ago

                  This kind of ignorance is what is most upsetting to me… People just do not seem to be able to grasp the totality of authoritarian rule. I understand why, there is nothing in recent memory even close to this to compare.

                  But we have really failed our students by not drilling home just how insidious fascism is. Under fascism, corporations become another arm of the government to be used however the singular leader sees fit. Or they get eliminated.

            • RedditWanderer@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              edit-2
              3 months ago

              Now is the time to scare them at least, and if there’s any time to have them on the bad side it’s now. See who kneels and who doesn’t imo.

          • Miles O'Brien@startrek.website
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            3 months ago

            The keys to GAINING power are not the same keys needed to KEEP power.

            They gained the power (or will in a few months)

            Now they need to keep it.

            If one of the keys needed to get it could potentially turn on you, it’s better for your regime to eliminate them as soon as possible after taking power.

            For a better explanation, CGP GREY has a video about rules for rulers, which clears things up quite well: https://youtu.be/rStL7niR7gs

        • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          3 months ago

          I could see the blackrock angle as trying to appease the working class. Like “see we hate big wealth too” but then never actually do anything to hurt blackrock.

      • MightBeAlpharius@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        3 months ago

        I think the issue started a little over a decade ago, when the Boy Scouts got in some hot water for discriminating against gay kids and they actually tried to be better.

      • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        do good deeds, be polite, and overall be decent members of society that help where is needed

        They call that “woke”.

        Edit - oh whoops, didn’t mean to just steal that right out of @stovetop@lemmy.world 's mouth.

      • sylver_dragon@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        3 months ago

        Not to mention many troops still have an emphasis on Christianity. Though it’s slightly less mandatory than it used to be.

    • dgmib@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      3 months ago

      A scout’s job is to gather facts and information, and report back so that an army can make informed decisions.

      Can’t imagine why a right-wing extremist would be afraid of an organization that teaches those skills to kids.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        3 months ago

        Yes, but only because they would have gone bankrupt if they didn’t. It was out of sheer desperation.

        Somehow people were less willing to send enough boys to an organization that had become super religious and was already trying to live down the sexual abuse scandal that had been going on for decades.

  • SasquatchCosmonaut@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    85
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    3 months ago

    Why the fuck would you get rid of boy scouts it’s literally a patriotic paramilitary (kinda) organization with a checkered past on sexual abuse that should be a Republican wet dream lol

    • callouscomic@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      40
      ·
      3 months ago

      They renamed themselves the Scouts and let in girls. Maybe that’s why? These people are insane and evil, so honestly it doesn’t matter why.

      • Custodian1623@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        21
        ·
        3 months ago

        which was done to keep the organization afloat revenue wise and weirdos on the internet tried to call it woke in a bizarre case of friendly fire

        • Lennny@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          15
          ·
          3 months ago

          Also because scouting exists in many other cultures and most of them are mixed. Intercamp fucking slaps

    • Cethin@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      28
      ·
      3 months ago

      Whole it does teach survival skills and can teach about shooting, most of the skills are just to prepare you for life. Importantly though, it builds a community focused on helping people and doing good. It’s a children’s version of a mutual aid group almost. This is a bad thing for children to learn in their opinion probably.

    • Wahots@pawb.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      26
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      3 months ago

      Paramilitary is stretching it a bit, stuff like shooting guns is optional and with guidelines from the sane past. It plays an anemic role in the BSA, tbh.

      The vast majority of boy scouts is learning constructive things like how to cook, how to perform first aid on someone who got injured in a car accident or hike, how to use a map and compass if you get lost, and basic financial planning so you aren’t an idiot with money.

      In short, it prepares you for life and situations where someone might freeze up if they don’t know what to do in an emergency. It also makes people fluent with the outdoors and feel comfortable spending time outside of the big city.

      Tldr; it’s a group that prevents incel or gang behavior and helps people make friends.

      • fossilesque@mander.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        edit-2
        3 months ago

        My Girl Scout group was basically selling cookies and building dumbass popsicle birdhouses and wifecraft. I noped out in a few months even at that age lmao. No camping SMH.

      • doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        3 months ago

        Some parts of the military try to use the scouts as a vector for reaching potential recruits. definitely had a few army recruiters come by my troop. Also the rank structure, uniforms, focus on leadership, etc certainly looks a bit military-ish.

        And fwiw, I don’t think the scouts does much to address incel behavior. Maybe it helps with gangs, idk.

    • CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      3 months ago

      I’m pretty sure they recently changed to allow LGBT members along with toying around with integrating both boys and girls into troops since the girl scouts really only exists to sell cookies. I’ve seen lots of garbage on social media about how “woke” the Boy Scouts are now so they’re gunning for the organization.

        • JigglySackles@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          3
          ·
          3 months ago

          That’s still stupid. Just because an organization has ranks or leaders doesn’t mean it’s paramilitary. Oh no they have organization and structure that reflects how much work they’ve done! It’s not the same at all. Paramilitary is possibly the dumbest take on scouts I’ve ever heard. There are plenty of things to criticize without making up stupid fear mongering bullshit.