Think the difference between the big tech billionaires and the less visible billionaires is just that: visibility. Obviously no one in the US (other than perhaps the Ellisons now with their Trump connections) would qualify as a Russia-style oligarch. But the difference between someone like a Thiel and a Kroenke isn't huge: Thiel's influence is visible, whereas the Waltons fly under the radar: there's a reason Arkansas senators are sometimes referred to as the senators from Walmart.
This is well worth a watch, for several reasons... Motherwell's vintage-looking shirts Arsenal old boys: Tierney & Trustee in the XI, AOC on the bench Limbs & small pitch invasion at the end, after... Crazy 97' call (yes, more VAR/handball controversy!), which... Could change the fate of the title, and... Sets up amazing final day at Parkhead, final game between the top two, winner take all Tomorrow 7:30am ET on Paramount+/CBSSN
In her former job, my wife's primary account was with the Waltons, Walmart, and affiliated entities. And without getting into what her work entailed, she was meeting with top execs, not mid-level management types. And no, she's not their biggest fan even if she thought the people she worked with were pleasant enough. Point is, I'm well aware of their influence in Arkansas and all over rural America. I just don't agree they wield the kind of influence I would associate with oligarchs. But again, I recognize we're having a semantics argument about what that term means.
But for the SCOTUS Citizens United decision we would have much more visibility and might even have avoided the current toxic political environment.
You don't think Stan Kroenke wields political power? https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2...public-lands-taxpayers-pick-up-the-tab/75096/ he also made his money in real estate, which is the most political thing you can be involved. It's just on a local and state level, which doesn't make the NY times.
One of the better protections US politics had against Oligarchs was that it was competitive, so any particular persons money was crowded out - one thing that has happened which is quite bad, is the capture of the billionaire class by the current admin. Not all. But many of the big names seem to have corruptly melded with the admin
I don’t care about the Walton stuff. Look at how Kroenke got the stadium in Inglewood, CA. He is suing Inglewood for money for a stadium that's supposed to be fully financed by him https://2urbangirls.com/2026/01/sta...for-sofi-stadium-public-infrastructure-costs/
That's because you don't know America. Notice I said competitive, which =/= quality/skill or whatever
It wasn't competitive We used to tax those people at a crazy amount. As we've lessened their tax on them and those companies, the more power they've wielded. This has been America for most of its history except from The New Deal to Reagan.
There were found to be more VAR errors in the Premier League in the recent review.In gameweek 35 there were three VAR errors and one on-field error that didn't meet the VAR threshold. pic.twitter.com/FJg6tEaXp5— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 15, 2026
Absolutely. And the fact that I was a bit surprised/shocked by that bending of the knee, is proving to be quite naive on my part. p.s. I like your use of the word "admin" instead of the other/s you could have chosen.
They didn't bend the knee, they were bought off. That's what Jitters means when he says "corruptly melded".
Not that simple in my mind. Cook, Bezos, Musk et al very much needed to be on Trump's good side. Recognizing that with the sweep of his little hands, he could make or break their beloved business prospects. That's most glaring perhaps for Musk & Space-X. So they kissed DJT's ass to a major degree, with Elon at the top of the ass-kissing pile, with his massive campaign contributions.
For me? Okay, if you say so. But I was willing to concede there were still genuine issues of material fact.
LOL: it's a dispute over what the term "oligarch" means. If that's an issue of law (and it can be in some circumstances), there's no dispute over what US plutocrats have done. That's ripe for resolution on MSJ (and we won a case last year making a similar argument).
Liverpool are a mess. This is just embarrassing. And then you recall the board backed Slot for next year. If Bournemouth beat City and Nottingham and Liverpool lose their final game then Bournemouth are in the UCL! Make it happen Football gods!
Yeah, sure, I won a case on summary judgment based on our definition of "inland carriage" versus what the plaintiffs' claimed. This, I'd dispute isn't as cut and dry.
Indeed! In August, not a soul woulda predicted LFC's practical demise this season. And COYC's! Find a room boys?