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Small-Scale Question Sunday for October 19, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Do you think that Trump's strategy in Ukraine is just him messing with EU leaders, because he knows how much hate and contempt they and their societies feel towards him (and showed it during 2016-2024) and he just enjoys their squeals? Dangling some help and resolution that will never materialize, especially since Europe is no longer of interest for USA.

No.

Trump doesn’t actually play 5D chess. I don’t see any reason he’d set up a gambit like that. No, trickling aid to Ukraine lets him score some points without actually committing much materiel.

Humiliation of the people that looked down on you for 10+ years is hardly 5d chess.

I’m saying if he really cared about humiliating them he wouldn’t bother “dangling” aid.

I think we've seen what Trump does when he wants to humiliate someone. He's going to be direct and crude, not act coy.