"FEMA also been accused by former presidentĀ Donald Trump, theĀ RepublicanĀ nominee, and otherĀ RepublicansĀ of not being able to respond well enough to Helene because it had diverted disaster relief funds to help migrants.

That is not true, because while FEMA administers the Shelter and Services Program, funding for it comes from a separate pot of money funded byĀ CongressĀ for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Other false claims that have circulated include that people taking federal relief money could see their land seized or that that $750 is the most they will ever get to rebuild. FEMA has pushed back against the false claims and conspiracy theories, setting up a page on its website to combat misinformation and rumors."

    • TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
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      1 month ago

      Mainly because after the pr disasters of ruby ridge and then Waco, right winged militiaā€™s grew in numbers, basically using the events as marketing materials.

      Right winged grifters love it when they are confronted, it fulfills all their fantasies about the underdog standing up to authority, and proves in their minds that they were correct the whole time.

      Since the American fascist movements have legitimized news organizations that will echo their claims, itā€™s extremely hard to actually crack down on them without turning them into Martyrs.

      The end result has been the federal government putting right winged extremists on the back burner for the last 30 years, allowing them to fester into the infection we know and hate today.

      • jpreston2005@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        I think now that weā€™ve successfully prosecuted the Jan. 6th domestic terrorists, we can put this notion to rest. We absolutely can and should go after these nutjobs threatening federal workers.

        • TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
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          1 month ago

          I think now that weā€™ve successfully prosecuted the Jan. 6th domestic terrorists, we can put this notion to rest.

          Except that the feds had their kiddy gloves on for sentencingā€¦ Out of the thousands of people there only a small percentage have caught charges that drastically change their lives, and even then not to the point of treason nor terrorism charges.

          We absolutely can and should go after these nutjobs threatening federal workers.

          I agree, but I donā€™t see it happening any time soon. Not when the person who led them is still considered appropriate for the highest position in the land to half of the electorate.

        • GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          While there have been successful prosecutions of the J6 terrorist, there is still an ongoing campaign to try to whitewash J6 as peaceful tourists that have been unfairly singled out due to their political affiliation. So while I agree, we do need to go after these people we there also needs to be a push to stop the gaslighting that happens

        • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          It was successful? Many of them are still on the loose. And they are getting the lightest of sentences, when they should all be getting charged with terrorism.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Not even. They arenā€™t called up in a law and order capacity. They simply donā€™t have their guns or authority to arrest anyone.

      • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        You are right. Maybe a much better thing would be to video them, make sure itā€™s good enough to identify all of them, then issue a warrant to kick open their doors at pre-dawn times, individually and when they arenā€™t wearing their dopey Meal Team 6 gear.

        Make sure to give the media the heads-up, too, so there is lots of humiliating footage of them being frog-marched out of their houseā€¦

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Because thereā€™s three modes of call up for the NG. Law and order, for riots and such. Which is what your thinking of, and where they get their rifles and can arrest people. Federalization, where they generally get all of their gear and they generally go into combat overseas. And disaster response, where they only get rescue gear and no authority to arrest or shoot at anyone.

      In short they didnā€™t do anything because they werenā€™t armed and werenā€™t authorized to use force.