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"I'm not sure that the system would protect us from rogue announcements by a president who has exhibited the kind of behavior President Trump has over the last two years," Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, told Vox. (Photo: FEMA)
Internet Howls After Learning Trump Will Soon Be Able to Send Text Alerts to Every Single US Resident
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Sep 17, 2018
Next month, nearly every American with a cellphone will receive a text message from President Donald Trump--and there's almost nothing you can do to stop it.
At precisely 2:18 pm ET on Oct. 3, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it will test the nation's first-ever "presidential alert," a system that will allow Trump to address the entire nation directly via text. Users cannot opt out of presidential alerts--which will reportedly make a uniquely loud noise--so the only way Americans can avoid seeing the messages is to turn their phones off.
And no, you won't be able to text back.
Though the 2006 law permitting presidential alerts specifies that the notification can only be sent in the case of genuine emergencies, critics have warned that Trump could attempt to hijack the system and use it much as he uses his Twitter feed--to praise himself, launch deranged attacks on his political enemies and the press, and spread bizarre lies.
"I'm not sure that the system would protect us from rogue announcements by a president who has exhibited the kind of behavior President Trump has over the last two years," Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, told Vox. "I personally would not give this microphone to Donald Trump."
While some expressed alarm at the "Orwellian" nature of the presidential alerts system, others tried to anticipate the kinds of ridiculous and incoherent messages that could soon be flooding the public's inboxes:
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This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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Next month, nearly every American with a cellphone will receive a text message from President Donald Trump--and there's almost nothing you can do to stop it.
At precisely 2:18 pm ET on Oct. 3, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it will test the nation's first-ever "presidential alert," a system that will allow Trump to address the entire nation directly via text. Users cannot opt out of presidential alerts--which will reportedly make a uniquely loud noise--so the only way Americans can avoid seeing the messages is to turn their phones off.
And no, you won't be able to text back.
Though the 2006 law permitting presidential alerts specifies that the notification can only be sent in the case of genuine emergencies, critics have warned that Trump could attempt to hijack the system and use it much as he uses his Twitter feed--to praise himself, launch deranged attacks on his political enemies and the press, and spread bizarre lies.
"I'm not sure that the system would protect us from rogue announcements by a president who has exhibited the kind of behavior President Trump has over the last two years," Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, told Vox. "I personally would not give this microphone to Donald Trump."
While some expressed alarm at the "Orwellian" nature of the presidential alerts system, others tried to anticipate the kinds of ridiculous and incoherent messages that could soon be flooding the public's inboxes:
Next month, nearly every American with a cellphone will receive a text message from President Donald Trump--and there's almost nothing you can do to stop it.
At precisely 2:18 pm ET on Oct. 3, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it will test the nation's first-ever "presidential alert," a system that will allow Trump to address the entire nation directly via text. Users cannot opt out of presidential alerts--which will reportedly make a uniquely loud noise--so the only way Americans can avoid seeing the messages is to turn their phones off.
And no, you won't be able to text back.
Though the 2006 law permitting presidential alerts specifies that the notification can only be sent in the case of genuine emergencies, critics have warned that Trump could attempt to hijack the system and use it much as he uses his Twitter feed--to praise himself, launch deranged attacks on his political enemies and the press, and spread bizarre lies.
"I'm not sure that the system would protect us from rogue announcements by a president who has exhibited the kind of behavior President Trump has over the last two years," Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, told Vox. "I personally would not give this microphone to Donald Trump."
While some expressed alarm at the "Orwellian" nature of the presidential alerts system, others tried to anticipate the kinds of ridiculous and incoherent messages that could soon be flooding the public's inboxes:
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