Americans to receive cell phone alert from Trump in first national test

[Julian Englis]

Source: CBS News

It's the alert that – if it's real – you won't want to get again. For the first time ever on Wednesday, Americans nationwide will receive an alert on their cell phones from President Trump. The test, scheduled for 2:18 p.m. ET, is the first test of a national presidential alert system that will let any president issue a warning about a crisis. That could include a missile launched by another country at the U.S. or a tsunami.

First on "CBS This Morning," we got an inside look at the new system with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials ahead of the test.

"When those messages appear on mobile devices, people should take those extremely seriously," FEMA's Antwane Johnson told CBS News correspondent Anna Werner. "It has some direct impact on either life or safety."

Johnson directs the agency's public alert warning system that will send out the nationwide test of the presidential alert on Wednesday.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/presidential-alert-test-fema-national-crises/?linkId=57630182

---

Counting down to tRump abuse of this system....

[Liberalagogo]

1. I look forward to the hacks that will come

that will allow you to block the Shithole.

[Bengus81]

2. TOTAL BULLSHIT that I want BLOCKED from my phone........

This is SPAM and nothing more..........

[Renew Deal]

11. It's not BS. You can't block it. It's not spam.

It’s an important test of the system.

[hlthe2b]

13. It COULD be abused and if anyone COULD, it is TRUMP. In principle, you are right, but...

Frankly, anyone who does not feel like the poster to whom you replied and at least momentarily wish they could block these from their phone, has not been paying attention the past two years, IMHO

AND. IF HE DOES ABUSE IT for his own self-aggrandizement or political purposes.... I will gladly donate to those groups who work to find a work-around to avoid receiving.

[Renew Deal]

25. Anything can be abused.

This is still pretty tightly controlled. I don't buy the "we can't have nice things" argument.

[hlthe2b]

31. It is NOT a mere "argument".. We haven't had "NICE THINGS" since Trump took office

[Renew Deal]

32. He'll be gone at some point

And the world will go on.

[certainot]

23. important my ass. not from these sacks of shit. any 'real' event will likely be

made up by them to effect the elections and the loudest coordinated free and easy messaging will be coming from 1500 radio stations staffed by a republican propaganda army

[Renew Deal]

26. Do you expect Trump to be the last president?

There will be life after Trump. This system needs to be tested. That was determined during the Obama years. You wouldn't complain if Hillary was president.

The real problem is the name of the system, not the system. They called it "presidential alerts" and the paranoids think Trump is going to personally text them. That's not what it's about.

[NorCen_CT]

30. Exactly - this was thought up AND approved during Obama's second term

"Former President Barack Obama signed a law in 2016 requiring FEMA to create a system that lets US presidents send cellphone alerts regarding public safety issues like natural disasters and "terrorism."
SOURCE: https://www.businessinsider.com/r-trump-administration-to-send-us-cellphones-a-test-alert-on-thursday-2018-9

[Bengus81]

40. Uhh you don't speak for me buddy and YES I would complain if it was from Hillary...

I don't need this Supreme leader kind of BS coming across my phone telling me to go buy duct tape and plastic for a possible Terra attack.

[certainot]

49. i recognize it's usefulness, it's the just one more eg of the incredible stupidity

and dysfunction of this democracy having this asshole in the white house

i will bet he will relish it, and will be the first to misuse it, like the bush/rove admin and their fake 'orange' alerts.

[ck4829]

35. Anything that comes from an executive branch filled with Nazis and Putinists is spam

I have an extra email account that signs up to White House propaganda just to declare it spam, because it is.

[Renew Deal]

36. You have too much free time

There are better ways to fight what's going on that declaring their email spam. It has no effect.

[LanternWaste]

64. One may both declare and "fight."

The one does not preclude the other, hence the premise of "too much free time" is both flawed and careless.

On the other hand, if its child-like petulance is merely the goal, well done.

[Renew Deal]

68. What does marking email as spam accomplish?

And are there better ways to fight back?

[lostnfound]

22. A great way to divide up and make a list of anti-Trump vs pro-Trump people nt

[FailureToCommunicate]

3. Here's a good op-ed that gives some context to this Cold War era program...

Last edited Wed Oct 3, 2018, 07:08 AM - Edit history (1)

From the article:

"In that context, the wireless alert that Americans will receive represents not an issue of new technology and executive overreach, but rather the uncomfortable, decades-old problem of living with — and planning for — the possibility of sudden armageddon.

Similarly, public resistance to the test can be traced to a breakdown in the original logic of the system. The original broadcasting system was built on a bedrock of presidential credibility, which in the 1960s seemed both unassailable and vital to the larger project of federal civil defense. Today, after decades of political polarization and countless recent public scandals, presidential credibility is at best a partisan resource, and at worst a mirage.

Lawmakers should view the test, and the backlash against it, as a measure of our preparedness for nuclear disaster. When something as basic as a national alert system is ignored — or resisted — by a large portion of the public, steps must be taken to restore its credibility.

Modernizing civil defense systems is a worthy goal, and one our government must pursue until it is ready to do the much harder, but extremely necessary work of ridding the world of nuclear weapons."

Entire op-ed here:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2018/09/29/all-americans-should-welcome-alerts-from-president-trump/fpKXQKnJZ7iz8LqYn6KGEI/story.html

[flibbitygiblets]

4. He'll politicize it, guaranteed.

Which will outrage half the country.

[lagomorph777]

7. Not half. Two thirds.

[SWBTATTReg]

5. Worthless. Declaring a national emergency will do just this...cause panic, and ...

all sorts of idiotic reactions on the part of some people that would create even more chaos. Since when has the federal government been ahead of the curve in doing anything? Never.

Also, I agree w/ others that this is going to lead to abuse.

Besides, if something is a national emergency, by the time they (feds) realize it, it's going to be way too late.

[Rebl2]

6. How do I block it?

[lagomorph777]

8. I plan to turn off my phone, but I expect it'll be there when I turn it on again.

And, as with the "Sign in to iTunes" and "Sign in to the Cloud" messages that are always there, I'll delete it as quickly as possible.

[Renew Deal]

10. You can't

[PJMcK]

38. Sure you can

Turn off your phone.

Delete it when you power up.

Fuck Trump.

And I disagree with you that this is an "important system." The government is always the last entity to inform the public. And too often, when they do, they lie to us.

[Renew Deal]

42. They could be the first entity for some people

Everyone doesn't own or use TV, Radio, etc. It's about getting maximum exposure during an emergency.

[EX500rider]

69. "Sure you can" -deleting a text without reading it isn't "blocking it", it just not reading it. n/t

[PJMcK]

72. Yeah, I know

And I was wrong: Trump didn't abuse the system.

[Renew Deal]

9. That headline is clickbait BS

It’s not “from Trump.” He’s not sending it from his iPhone. This was planned years ago and really has nothing to do with the president other than the name.

[hlthe2b]

16. Yes.. but if you don't think his poltical appointee cronies won't listen if he wants to use it

for purposes for which it was not designed, there are some real estate brokers in North and South Carolina that surely want to talk with you.

He may not do it immediately. In fact he WILL get pushback, but eventually, if he is there long enough, I don't doubt he will try.

[xor]

17. It's annoying how they are framing this...

While I doubt this is something Trump will be allowed to abuse, I bet he totally tries to. "Come on guys... just let me send out this one message."

All that aside, I still don't really understand the gap this is filling. Don't we already have an emergency broadcast system? If things are so bad that we don't have radio or TV, then would we still have the cellular networks running? Maybe i'm not fully understanding the use case for this.

[Renew Deal]

24. Many people don't own or use a TV

Most people don't use the radio. This is loud enough to wake people up at night. Cell networks only need electricity. Text messaging works when cell networks are congested with phone calls like 9/11 or the blackout a couple years later. There are plenty of gaps that this fills.

[Bengus81]

41. ROFLOL....Glad your so on-board with this BS along with Republicans..........

Bet Bush wishes he had this BS when he was upping the Terra alert color chart WHEN it suited Republicans and elections and telling people to go out and buy stuff after him and Wall St. trashed the economy.

[Renew Deal]

43. This is an Obama era program

[onenote]

47. You seem pretty upset about tis

Do you plan to vote against any member of Congress that voted to create this system and to mandat that it be tested before the end of the year? Or is this just faux outrage?

[Oneironaut]

52. You are misinformed. This has nothing to do with Republicans.

This is an emergency alert system, much like the one on TV. Remember the last time Trump abused the TV EAS to send a tweet out? It never happened, and it won’t.

Furthermore, this system was authorized by that raging Conservative Fascist, Obama! /s

Bush did have the ability to send emergency alerts out. He didn’t. You should read the CNN article in the OP (beyond the clickbait garbage title).

[xor]

54. Yeah, you're right... This would give immediate warnings to people right away

since the vast majority of people have their cells attached or near by most of the time. No need to find a radio and then tune into something broadcasting.

[LoveMyCali]

57. Not everyone

has a cell phone either. So how is this such a great means of communication during an emergency?

[Renew Deal]

58. This is true, but it's the best they can do

until brain transmitters can be implanted.

[woody44]

59. Raises hand, NO cell phone!

at least I won't have to try to block it

[bucolic_frolic]

12. PAYG and Burner phones too?

I'll just delete it, I'm not even curious. I only turn it on once a week anyway.

[BeatStanford]

14. California pulled this crap about 5 years ago

Mexican custody dispute gone wrong and EVERYBODY got an ear piercing text at 3am. The next day, the Highway Patrol and legislature were touching themselves. We can opt out now.

[zentrum]

15. How opt out?

They are preparing us for maximum panic---which makes us docile.
Or preparing us for worse.....
Some trumped up crisis, attack.

Please see Moore's Farenheit 11/9---he talks extensively about the Reichstag Fire, which it sure feels this "alert" is getting ready for. At least to me.

[SayItLoud]

18. Before long it will be "sponsored" by tRUMP to GET OUT THE RACIST VOTE!

If' he's mentioned or tied to it it's an *impression* that will be beneficial to him and his KKKons.

[BlueIdaho]

19. Don't like it? Let them know...

mailto:[e-mail]

Actually this email address is for questions, but I fail to see why you can’t let them know how you feel. I did.

[turbinetree]

20. So this asshole wants to say to me that Your Fired, or fried ...............were going to war

Fuck Him and his horse.....................so the wireless telephone industry just handed over all the numbers, just fucking great...............so that his fucking EGO, can get bigger..................and say look what I have done...................Eat ME..............I hate TRAITORS.......................orange hair ones and his enabling cronies....................

[Javaman]

21. already got my alarm to go off 5 minutes before, to remind me to turn off my phone. nt

[Turbineguy]

27. Next we get

3 Minutes of Hate. Because 2 isn't enough and trump is a generous guy.

[democratisphere]

28. One more step in becoming a dictator.

I will block, uninstall or surgically remove any app or component necessary to eliminate these messages from "fear leader".

[katmondoo]

29. I intend to scream traitor, dirtbag, disgusting lying piece of shit into the phone while he

gives the alert. Won't mean anything but I will feel good

[brooklynite]

39. HE'S NOT GIVING THE ALERT!!!

He's not ORDERING THE ALERT!!!

People are really going over the top about this.

This is a mandated test, based on a law signed by PRESIDENT OBAMA. It has nothing to do with the President being allowed to send messages on his own initiative.

[katmondoo]

33. I have a cordless phone but not a cell phone

[Coventina]

34. Ha Ha! I don't get texts!

Blow it out your ear, Trump!!

[JudyM]

37. Expect to get a red-tainted reminder to vote on Election Day.

[GeorgeGist]

44. It leaked ...

Brett's for skis

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

46. Oh, man, will PJ be there? What about ...

... Squee, or Donkey Dong Doug?

Boofin' Budweisers!

[idcdu]

61. Gotta have Hung Harry and Gang Bang Gary in too!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

45. Note to self: don't be on the road at 2:18pm tomorrow.

EVERYBODY will take their eyes off the road and play with the phone, ALL AT ONCE. What could go wrong?

[hunter]

48. I remember the disruptive "bend over and kiss your ass goodbye" drills in school.

This will be the equivalent for 2018 students.

Expect much merriment.

[Oneironaut]

50. Why do headlines keep saying "This is from Trump?"

It’s a FEMA EAS. He’s not going to be sending crap like “NO COLLUSION!” with it. It’s probably never even going to be used.

Using it as his personal Twitter feed would probably be against the law. This system is for national disasters and crises.

[ebbie15644]

51. I'm turning my phone off at 2:00 and leaving it off till 3

[efhmc]

53. I turned off all governmental notifications and will continue to do so.

nt

[Renew Deal]

56. Don't you want to help find missing children?

[ck4829]

65. Most of the time, missing children are taken by parents or other relatives

But yet we have a government that wants to blame the 'others' for things as well as a government that is supported by QAnon/Pizzagate conspiracy theories that wants to blame massive conspiracies in trafficking non-existent children.

A real disservice to missing children, our government endangers them.

So by questioning the legitimacy of our white supremacist, conspiracy theorist, Neo-Nazi, Putinist government, one actually is helping to find missing children.

[ck4829]

66. Excellent.

[QC]

55. DEAR GOD NO!!!

[Cold War Spook]

60. I don't know if it is country wide,

Jacksonville NC area, you will receive a text for Amber alert or Silver alert.

[Yavin4]

62. Trump is a national emergency.

Which we are alerted about every damn day.

[EricMaundry]

63. What's he going to say? He paid his taxes?

[FSogol]

67. "This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System....No Collusion, No Collusion...."

[Progressive Jones]

70. I didn't get the alert. Co-workers did. n/t

[djg21]

71. I didn't need an alert

To let me know that the County is in crisis. I’ve know that since Twittler supposedly won the election.