Vicarishame - 6
A feeling of vicarious or second-hand shame a decent person experiences while witnessing a wrong or embarrassing action committed by someone else
On Sept.5, 2o25, Trump hosted a White House dinner for techbros to talk about innovation, AI, bringing the tech jobs to the US, and all the other good things. The Wall Street Journal published this short version of them "toasting" Trump but there's a longer version of the dinner conversation covered by PBS (Trump, give them back their funding, otherwise I wouldn't have known what you were talking about at the dinner!):
I felt so vicarishamed just watching this "toasting", it made me cringe. Bill Gates' lips show he doesn't want to be there. “Incredible," said so many times by many peope at the table, can mean so many things. In my case, it's incredible to me that they are all there, flattering him and trying to get in his graces, because it's just good for business.
Having them all there licking his boots and him basking in it must have been so good for Trump's ego after it had been hurt by not being able to attend his authoritarian pals' summit in China and Xi's "beautiful" military parade. At least he can pal around with his tech billionaires, right?
One person was notably absent from this feast of flattery, business acumen and intellect: Elon Musk. After their falling out, Trump called Musk’s statements “crazy,” his intent to create a third party – “ridiculous,” and just the day before the techbros dinner – “80% super genius, and then 20% he's got some problems.” Here’s my take on what Musk would think of this dinner watching the WSJ wrap up:
So, Zuck is sitting in my place now. Look at that goofy happy MFer, jumping in his seat with joy and excitement like a dorky teen who got invited to a frat party by mistake!
And Bill! Poor Bill has this tight downward smile like he clearly doesn’t want to be there. He is too old for this BS. I wonder how they made him show up, after taking so much abuse for being the Darth Vader of the left. Must be his Microsoft/OpenAI connection. Good thing he sits next to Melania, at least not in Trump’s direct vision line. And Melania is at least pleasant to talk to.
Sam the Backstabber of course is saying all this flattery just because he wants to get an upper hand in AI. My Grok is so much better than his stupid nameless ChatGPT.
Oh, Tim Apple with his endless one-hit wonder of ‘incredible’ job this president is doing, bringing back the tech production to the US. You can do it on your own, Tim! Don’t need all that government fat to bring your chip and iphone production to America!
Brin is grinning, I can see it even with his back to the camera. He always grins, trying to please everyone on the room.
What are you all doing, stupid sycophants, licking the ass of someone who clearly hates you, hangs out with you only because you are billionaires, and will squash you like a bug at the first opportunity! He will use you and throw you away after he’s done with you! He wouldn’t even be there if I didn’t help him get elected! And now you all nod and pretend like he is the best president in the whole world, ever! You all know he is on the fucking list!
Well, at least Musk can go to Mars now with the expected $1 trillion benefit package from Tesla.
Author's note: This has been my sixth installment in the Vicarishame (v-shame) series. The history of the word I made up for a Vocal challenge is here.
About the Creator
Lana V Lynx
Avid reader and occasional writer of satire and short fiction. For my own sanity and security, I write under a pen name. My books: Moscow Calling - 2017 and President & Psychiatrist
@lanalynx.bsky.social
Keep reading
More stories from Lana V Lynx and writers in The Swamp and other communities.
Ditched - Index
This index is just for my subscribers. I finished and published this long story or short novella of 6,000 words recently. I tried to link all previous parts of the story in the next one, so if you went along you shouldn't have been lost. This index is just put everything in one place.
By Lana V LynxExclusive • 3 months ago
Egypt Rejects What It Calls a “Fantastic” Emirati Offer: Power, Pride, and Politics in the Arab World
In a region where financial power often translates into political leverage, Egypt’s recent rejection of what officials described as a “fantastic” offer from the United Arab Emirates has drawn widespread attention. At a time when Egypt’s economy faces inflationary pressure, currency challenges, and rising public debt, turning down a lucrative proposal from one of the Gulf’s wealthiest states appears, on the surface, counterintuitive. Yet Cairo’s decision reflects deeper strategic calculations about sovereignty, long-term stability, and the limits of economic dependency. What Was Behind the “Fantastic” Offer? While official details remain limited, the Emirati proposal was widely understood to involve major investment, development rights, or long-term control over strategic assets. Such offers are not new in the Middle East. Wealthy Gulf states, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have increasingly used capital investment as a tool of regional influence, financing infrastructure, ports, real estate megaprojects, and energy ventures across the Arab world. From Egypt’s perspective, the offer was financially attractive—hence the term “fantastic.” In an era where foreign currency inflows are vital, Gulf investment has often been a lifeline for Cairo. Over the past decade, Egypt has relied heavily on deposits, loans, and investments from its Gulf allies to stabilize its economy and fund large-scale development projects. So why say no? Sovereignty Over Short-Term Relief At the heart of Egypt’s refusal lies a familiar concern: sovereignty. Egyptian officials signaled that while financial support is welcome, it cannot come at the expense of national control over strategic land, infrastructure, or decision-making authority. In other words, not all money is worth taking—especially if it risks long-term dependence or public backlash. Egypt’s leadership is acutely aware of domestic sensitivities. Public opinion has grown increasingly wary of foreign ownership of national assets, particularly land and ports. Accepting a deal perceived as selling off sovereignty could fuel social unrest, political criticism, and accusations of mortgaging the country’s future for short-term cash. By rejecting the offer, Cairo sent a clear message: economic cooperation must respect national red lines. A Shift in Egypt’s Negotiating Posture This decision also suggests a subtle shift in Egypt’s regional posture. Rather than passively accepting Gulf capital under unequal terms, Egypt appears to be asserting itself as a partner, not a client. This recalibration does not mean Cairo is distancing itself from the UAE—relations remain strong—but it does indicate a desire for more balanced agreements. Egypt has been working to diversify its economic partnerships, strengthening ties with Europe, Asia, and multilateral institutions. By widening its options, Cairo gains leverage, reducing the pressure to accept any single deal that may compromise long-term interests. Regional Implications The rejection carries implications beyond Egypt and the UAE. Across the Middle East and North Africa, countries facing economic strain are increasingly confronting a difficult question: how to attract foreign investment without surrendering strategic autonomy. Egypt’s stance may embolden other states to renegotiate terms with powerful investors, insisting on transparency, local ownership, and shared governance. At the same time, it may prompt Gulf investors to reassess how their offers are structured, recognizing that influence through capital has limits. For the UAE, the refusal is unlikely to trigger a rupture. Abu Dhabi is known for its pragmatic diplomacy and may return with revised terms more aligned with Egypt’s priorities. In regional politics, today’s rejection can become tomorrow’s renegotiation. Economic Reality Still Looms Despite the symbolism of saying no, Egypt’s economic challenges remain pressing. Inflation, currency devaluation, and debt servicing continue to strain public finances. Turning down major investment does not eliminate the need for foreign capital—it simply raises the stakes for finding deals that align with national strategy. The challenge for Egypt now is to translate this principled stance into sustainable alternatives: boosting exports, supporting local industry, attracting diversified investment, and implementing reforms that reduce reliance on external lifelines. More Than a Financial Decision Ultimately, Egypt’s rejection of the “fantastic” Emirati offer is about more than money. It reflects a broader debate playing out across the Global South: how nations balance urgent economic needs with long-term independence in an era of capital-driven geopolitics. For Vocal Media readers, this story resonates because it highlights a universal tension—between opportunity and caution, growth and control, partnership and power. Egypt’s decision reminds us that sometimes the most consequential choices are not about what a country accepts, but what it chooses to refuse. As negotiations continue behind closed doors, one thing is clear: Cairo has drawn its line, and the region is watching closely to see what comes next.
By Fiazahmedbrohi 7 days ago in The Swamp
Comments (3)
Hahahahahahahahahaha your rendition of Musk's thoughts was hilarious and brilliant! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Ha! I saw a clip of this dinner yesterday and your word fits perfectly! I wonder who was invited that could not suck in their pride to show up. Good for them. I doubt they accomplished anything.
Oh, I've felt this feeling many times before.