Difficult Opinions

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ⓘ We have a history of net losses and may not achieve profitability in the future. Politics, news, and life from a progressive. he/him Ask a 🏳️‍⚧️ person about courage. Support 🇺🇦 Signal: difficultopinions.25

Aerial architectural rendering of a futuristic, metallic stadium situated within a dense urban environment. The stadium features a sleek, curved silver exterior and an open-air roof design. It is surrounded by a mix of red-roofed residential blocks, green parks, and modern high-rise skyscrapers under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Map of Austria showing hail risk areas by TORRO intensity classes. Visible text reads: TORRO. Legend: purple T6 and T7, red T5, orange T4, yellow T0-3. Scale bar: height barriere 1500 m, 0 to 120 Kilometer. ZAMG logo. FIG. 2: Hail Risk Areas in Austria for TORRO hail intensity classes T0 to T7.
Text screenshot. It's human nature to assess difficult questions, not on the merits, but on our feelings about the different "teams" that form around different answers. To cite a painful personal experience: During the decision-making about the Iraq war, I was powerfully swayed by the fact that the proposed invasion of Iraq was supported by those who had been most right about the Cold War – and was most bitterly opposed by those who had been wrongest about the Cold War. Yet in the end, it is not teams that matter. It is results. As Queen Victoria's first prime minister bitterly quipped after a policy fiasco: "What wise men had promised has not happened. What the damned fools predicted has actually come to pass.
Waiting room with beige couch, patterned chairs, and wood coffee table. Visible text reads: None. A reception desk and seating area are visible in the background.
Aerial view of a large crowd in Hungary gathered on a city street at night. Visible text reads: None. A sea of people fill the street, many holding red flags and signs, with lit phones raised. Trees line the street, and buildings are visible on the left.
Tweet by Donald J. Trump. Visible text reads: "The way the Corrupt and Failing New York Times is covering stories on a very battered and beat up Iran, through FAKE & MADE UP 'FACTS' is, in my opinion, 'TREASONOUS.' I will be adding all of their false and ridiculous reporting to my multi Billion Dollar lawsuit against them. They are Criminals! President DJT". 2.13k replies, 4.53k reposts, 17.5k likes.
Screenshot of a social media post. Trey Yingst says President Trump suggested the US could control the Strait of Hormuz. Visible text reads: "President Trump told me the United States could become the 'Guardian Angel' of the Strait of Hormuz and take 20% of the oil. 'We may take over the Strait, if we have to,' President Trump told Fox News. 'I'll blow the sh*t out of them.' 'If they don't make a deal, we'll collect tolls.' The President said. President Trump spoke with the Iranians overnight warning them not to close the Strait. 'You close it and you won't have a country,' Trump said he told Iranian officials. 'You won't even make it back to your fu*king country.
People outside a bar watching World Cup 2026.
Spacious conference room with a wooden table, overlooking greenery through large windows. Photo by Jeff Vinluan: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-table-with-chairs-8574469/
A worker removes a letter from President Donald Trump's name from the wall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Saturday, June 13, 2026. Cliff Owen/AP
A screenshot from a news report. A white truck is parked in front of a large white building wrapped in plastic sheeting with blue stripes. Visible text reads: WASHINGTON, D.C. 3:18 AM. Three workers in yellow safety vests and white hardhats stand beside the truck. The building has metal letters reading E JOHN and MING ARTS.
A large body of water with many small boats on its calm surface at sunrise or sunset.
NBA game final score: New York Knicks 111, San Antonio Spurs 115.
Screenshot of a news article discussing oil production and gas prices.
Highlighted text reading "Congress took steps to limit the court's jurisdiction, to directly repudiate court rulings with its own laws, and to reshape the Supreme Court itself".
Shotwell outlines BFR’s dual role as a high‑capacity launch vehicle and a point‑to‑point transport system capable of flying passengers across the globe in roughly 30–40 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dar8P3r7GYA
The text reads: "What causes akathisia? Scientists don’t know the exact cause of akathisia, but they think it’s due to certain medications blocking dopamine receptors in your brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in many important body functions, including movement. The blocking ultimately results in unwanted involuntary movements. Several medications are associated with akathisia, including: Antipsychotic (neuroleptic) medications. Antidepressants. Other medications." Superimposed over the text is a large, bold, black graphic that says "Cocaine!" with a hand-drawn arrow pointing toward the list of medications.
A home office setup features a large wooden desk with five vertical computer monitors displaying various stock market charts, data tables, and trading software. The monitors are arranged in a slight arc, showing numerous ticker symbols such as SUNE, UVXY, NUGT, USO, XOP, WLL, UPL, ODP, and XGTI, along with time-based graphs. A keyboard and mouse sit on the desk, which also has a red mousepad with the text "TRADE ON." In the background, a white built-in shelving unit displays a baseball in a case, a golf trophy, and books. A framed picture of a "WALL ST" street sign hangs on the wall above the desk.
A vintage advertisement from a Sears, Roebuck & Co. "Book of Modern Homes" featuring "Modern Home No. 115." The top text reads: "$725.00 and Our FREE BUILDING PLANS WILL BUILD, PAINT AND COMPLETE, READY FOR OCCUPANCY, THIS INVITING $1,100.00 SIX-ROOM COTTAGE." Below is a detailed illustration of a two-story house with a front porch. Beneath the illustration are floor plans for the first and second floors, along with a list of room dimensions. The first floor includes a parlor, bedroom, kitchen, and pantry. The second floor includes a front bedroom, rear bedroom, and large attic. The text concludes with the slogan "GOOD MATERIALS MAKE GOOD HOUSES" and a guarantee regarding the quality of materials provided by Sears, Roebuck & Co.
Awful Dem candidates with Newsome as the worst.
Jonas Vingegaard, wearing a pink cycling jersey and helmet, smiles broadly, with a child in a sun hat and pink shirt partially visible in the foreground, and cameras and people in the background. The jersey reads "La Gazzetta dello Sport" and "Venezia Giulia." The helmet reads "BYGMA" and "GIRO." The child holds sunglasses. The gloves read "VW VISMA lease a bike."
A social media post by Donald J. Trump, dated 31 May 2026, includes the text: "The DronePort at the White House Ballroom will be, perhaps, the most sophisticated anywhere in the World! It will safeguard our Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C., long into the future. Judge Richard Leon should stop playing games with America's Security! If anything happens, he will be held responsible for the Death and Destruction caused to our Country. He has already created enough problems by allowing 'Top Secret' information to be released and exposed based on a ridiculous lawsuit started by a highly litigious woman (serial plaintiff!) whose 'strolling,' in her opinion, will be disturbed by the new, desperately needed structure - In any event, a woman who has absolutely no STANDING! With the advent of highly sophisticated, and powerful, modern day weaponry, we can no longer defend Washington, D.C., with rifles and pistols, alone. This ridiculous lawsuit must be dismissed, IMMEDIATELY! President DONALD J. TRUMP." Below the text are two images labeled "DronePort" that show the White House roof covered in military aircraft and personnel. The first image shows fireworks and the Washington Monument in the background. The second image shows a sunset.
A tweet by Donald J. Trump, @realDonaldTrump, reads, "The results of my Physical Examination, taken at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, and just released, were extremely good. Unlike other U.S. Presidents, none of whom have ever taken an approved, high difficulty, Cognitive Test, I scored a perfect 30 out of 30, considered 'extreme intelligence.' Are the Dumocrats really surprised? In fact, this is my fourth such test, all PERFECT or, 120 correct answers out of 120 questions asked! It is very rare that anyone gets a Perfect Score, especially when achieved four times in a row. All people running for President and Vice President should be forced to take high difficulty Cognitive Tests. Congress, and the Dumocrats, should demand it! President DONALD J. TRUMP" The tweet has 419 ReTruths and 1.53k Likes, and is dated 31 May 2026, 6:35 am.
The tweet by Donald J. Trump says, "The Obama Presidential Library." The image shows a very large metal trash can with a black trash bag on top, with cars and utility poles in the foreground.
A line graph shows U.S. Manufacturing Jobs in millions of employees from Q1 2015 to Q1 2026. The title states, "Manufacturing Employment Has Declined by 82,000 Jobs Since Trump Returned to the White House." The graph has a vertical dotted line labeled "Trump I" at Q1 2017, a vertical dotted line labeled "Biden" at Q1 2021, and a vertical dotted line labeled "Trump II" at Q1 2025. The source is Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Industries at a Glance: Manufacturing: NAICS 31-33 – Employment, All Employees (Seasonally Adjusted),” accessed May 6, 2026, https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CES3000000001
Katie Porter uses the whiteboard in Congress for the first time and is immediately challenged by Republican toadie Patrick McHenry, who did not run for re-election in 2024.
A structure in the water has two tall towers and a T-shaped tower, with a sphere made of rings between the two towers.
Text titled CeaseFire defines the term and explains its use. The text states, "An armistice or a cease-fire does not represent an end to hostilities, only a truce (a temporary suspension of hostilities). Furthermore, they do not reflect a juridical end to the state of war. In this respect, they must not be confused with peace agreements, which do reflect an end to a conflict." The text also includes the terms "Peace" and "War" and a citation for additional information.
Two men stand outside in front of a stone building and trees. The man on the left wears a blue suit with a green tie and smiles. The man on the right, Tim Cook, wears a blue suit, glasses, and a black tie, and he gives a thumbs up. In China with Trump.
A man in underwear and a t-shirt holds a black folder while standing next to a person in a white robe whose face is obscured by a gray rectangle. The background shows a hotel room with a lamp, chair, and curtains. Text at the bottom reads, "Starmer was warned in 2024 of Mandelson's Epstein ties."
The image on a blue background contains the words "Single Payer Healthcare" in large white text, followed by a horizontal white line. Below the line, the word "NOT!" appears in red, followed by a list of phrases in white text: "Access to Healthcare," "Insurance Reform," "Public Option," "Medicare for All," and "Strengthened Affordable Care Act."
A social media post by Donald J. Trump with the word "LOSER" superimposed in red over his username, @realdonaldTrump. The post begins, "When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100% correct." The post continues with a lengthy defense of his administration's record and concludes, "Two years ago, we were, in fact, a Nation in decline. On that, I fully agree with President Xi! But now, the United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world, and hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before!" The post has 5.02k ReTruths and 19.4k Likes and is dated 14 May 2026, 11:42 pm.
A tweet from Lara Trump (@LaraLeaTrump) shows a selfie of her with five other people, including Eric Trump and Marco Rubio, outside on a sunny day with trees in the background. The tweet says, "Team CHYYYYYNA" and includes the China and United States flags.
"Live Updates: Britain's Starmer Defies Calls to Resign, For Now" is the headline, followed by text stating that Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to continue in office as he met with cabinet members, and that dozens of Labour Party lawmakers had urged him to step down after heavy losses in local elections. A photo shows Keir Starmer wearing glasses and a suit, with his hand at his collar.
A map of France shows the train lines in red, purple, and green, connecting various cities and towns. The major cities labeled are Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Nice, and Strasbourg. Other cities include Lille, Rouen, Caen, Rennes, Tours, Dijon, Grenoble, Montpellier, and Perpignan. The map also shows the locations of Luxembourg, Brussels, and Geneva.
A map of the United States shows average gas prices by state, with a pop-up box indicating that the average gas price for Los Angeles is $6.196. The map uses a color gradient to represent gas prices, with yellow indicating the highest prices (over $5.60/gallon) and blue indicating the lowest (under $3.40/gallon). The West Coast and Northeast regions have the highest gas prices, while the South and Midwest have the lowest.
The New York Times headline from May 4, 2026 reads, "Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Settle Their Legal Dispute." The image is split in half, with a portrait of Blake Lively on the left and Justin Baldoni on the right. Lively has long blonde hair and is wearing a strapless dress with floral embellishments. Baldoni has dark curly hair and is wearing a pink suit jacket.
Assuming May 3, 2026 and a U.S. gallon: Using 1 EUR = 1.172 USD today: €2.144/L × 1.172 = $2.51/L; €2.144/L x 3.785411784 L/US gal x 1.172 = $9.51/US gal; So gasoline at €2.144 per liter is about $2.51 per liter, or $9.51 per U.S. gallon.
A collage of news headlines and images related to redistricting and voting rights. Headlines include "Jeffries lays out more targets for gerrymanders in response to GOP's renewed push," "Louisiana sued for suspending active election, nullifying votes to draft GOP gerrymander," "Speaker Johnson calls for redistricting Southern states before November," "Republicans Rush to Redraw Maps After Supreme Court Race Ruling," "How the Voting Rights Act Bolstered Black Representation in the House," "'We are ON IT!': Trump DOJ vows to weaponize Supreme Court ruling against minority voters," and "Trump's next redistricting targets." Each headline is followed by a list of news outlets where the topic is discussed. Some headlines are accompanied by images of the people mentioned in the articles.
Donald Trump sits at a desk with his hands up, palms forward. He wears a dark suit and a red tie. He sits in a red leather chair. The desk is brown with a black leather blotter. A piece of white paper sits on the blotter. The background is wood paneling.
Loser in stones on the beach.
First Lady Melania Trump's tweet, @FLOTUS, reads: "Kimmel's hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn't comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America. People like Kimmel shouldn't have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him. Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC's leadership enable Kimmel's atrocious behavior at the expense of our community." The tweet is dated 4:19 PM, Apr 27, 2026, and has 2.3M Views.
Fest zum Reinen Bier Ingolstadt
A tweet from Aaron Rupar shows a video still of Trump at a desk signing a document, surrounded by several men in suits. The tweet text reads, "RFK Jr: 'A Democratic senator claimed it's mathematically impossible to have a drug drop by 600%. I said, 'Well, if the drug was $100 and it raises to $600, that would be a 600% rise. If it drops from $600 to $100, that's a 600% savings.'" Trump: "Right." The tweet is dated 9:28 PM, Apr 23, 2026.
Tim Cook stands at a podium holding a clear award, with Donald Trump and another man standing behind him, and a portrait on the wall. A sign to the right reads "$600 Billion."
Donald Trump, wearing a dark suit and red tie, sits in a chair with an American flag behind him. The headline reads, "Trump kept out of the room during operation to find downed pilots in Iran after 'screaming' at aides for hours, report says." A caption reads, "Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran's civilian infrastructure again on Sunday (19 April)."
A social media post by Donald J. Trump, @realDonaldTrump, dated 19 Apr 2026, 9:23 pm, reads: "Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them. The U.S. Navy Guided Missile Destroyer USS SPRUANCE intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and gave them fair warning to stop. The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom. Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel. The TOUSKA is under U.S. Treasury Sanctions because of their prior history of illegal activity. We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what's on board! President DONALD J. TRUMP" The post has 6 ReTruths and 23 Likes.
IRGC says Strait of Hormuz returned to 'previous state'. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims that control of the Strait of Hormuz has "returned to its previous state" because of the continuing blockade of Iranian ports by the US. The IRGC's joint military command said the US has “continued acts of piracy and maritime theft under the guise of a so-called blockade". "For this reason, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is now under strict management and control by the armed forces," said the statement cited by Iranian broadcaster IRIB. "Until the United States restores full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran to their destinations and back, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain tightly controlled and in its previous condition,” it added.
Donald Trump in a suit and red baseball cap is holding a baby in front of a crowd of people, many of whom are holding up cell phones to take pictures; a sign reads, "Thank You, Lord JESUS, for PRESIDENT TRUMP."
A close-up of Donald Trump shows him wearing a navy suit with a yellow tie and an American flag pin on his lapel. He has white hair and a serious expression. Behind him is a colorful, striped curtain.
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A post by Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) reads, "A Trump Hating Judge, for the first time in History, wants Congress to pay Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for a Glorious Ballroom, instead of accepting Donations from Great American Companies and Citizens. This is a first — In other words, he wants Tax Payers to pay for the Ballroom, instead of Donors and Patriots! The Ballroom is FREE to our Country, A GIFT, and vital for our National Security. This Judge, who works for another Judge who was just MANDAMUSED for the unfair and biased way he treats me, should be ashamed of himself! President DONALD J. TRUMP" The post has 4.45k ReTruths and 16.2k Likes. It was posted on 17 Apr 2026, 12:41 am.
The definition of the word "milquetoast" is shown, with the word itself in large, bold letters. The definition is "adjective," and it is definition 2 of 2. Definition 1 is "of a person: timid, meek, or unassertive." An example sentence follows: "Do we really want a someone who is a milquetoast halfhearted candidate or someone who will defend the Constitution with every fiber of her being?" The sentence is attributed to Dana B. Orr. Definition 2 is ": lacking in character or vigor: WISHY-WASHY." An example sentence follows: "...after declining multiple opportunities to comment during the reporting of the story, he finally produced a most milquetoast statement Friday." The sentence is attributed to Jerry Brewer.
These are images of a corner store.
U.S. Central Command tweet from @CENTCOM: Statement from Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander: "A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as U.S. forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East. An estimated 90% of Iran's economy is fueled by international trade by sea. In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea." Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander. The tweet is dated 4:12 AM · Apr 15, 2026 and has 1.1M Views.
Justice Sotomayor wearing a beer can hat.
A large sailing yacht with three tall masts is on the left, and a motor yacht with a helicopter pad is on the right, both on the water under a pale sky.
$11,000 in tips from DoorDash is not a normal or typical amount for a part-time, casual driver, but it is possible for a high-volume, full-time driver working in a high-income, high-demand area, especially if they "cherry-pick" large, high-tip orders. Here is a breakdown based on the context of the recent viral news story and general Doordash earnings data: Average Earnings: Tips are the largest part of a Dasher's pay, but $11k annually in tips specifically is quite high, as many drivers only make an average of $3-5 in tips per delivery. High-Volume/Strategic Approach: The amount is realistic only if the driver operates "full-time," focusing exclusively on high-tip times (dinner rush) and catering or large orders, which can lead to larger tips. The "No Tax" Context: Recent news stories featuring a "DoorDash Grandma" with $11,000 in tips likely stem from a high-efficiency driver ($11k in tips can represent only a portion of their total earnings) or, in some cases, high-earners in specific tax situations.