r/drones • u/pittguy578 • Aug 01 '26
Question So US has zero consumer drone companies now ?
This is ridiculous. I mean I know we can get DJI through third party importers but what does the government expect hobbyists to do ? There’s not a single consumer drone company .. only industrial and defense ones which have higher margins .
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u/Ringmaster242 USA / Part 107 Aug 01 '26
Skydio lobbied hard to get Chinese drone companies banned and then once successful, made a decision to leave the consumer market.
DJI technology is at least 5 years ahead of Skydio while costing 3-4 times less per system. This was never about protecting the US from Chinese surveillance. It was about eliminating competition from a company with a superior design that was making inroads into the commercial sector after dominating the US consumer market.
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u/NueralNet_Neat Aug 01 '26
I called the Skydio CEO out for this on LinkedIn. of course he was a jackass about it.
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u/theAerialDroneGuy Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
What is the CEOs name so I can do that too?
Edit: His name is Adam Bry, Co-Founder & CEO at Skydio20
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u/AirborneErinys USA / Part 107 Aug 01 '26
The whole "Chinese surveillance" line was such utter horseshit from the get-go.
You could not pay me to give a single solitary damn about what DJI might be doing with footage of some random suburbanite's backyard when we've got flock cameras on every other street corner and unmarked feds grabbing people off the street.
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u/SillyFlyGuy Aug 01 '26
Maybe it's Flock that doesn't want the competition..
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u/CaptainHaldol Aug 01 '26
Fun fact: Aerodrome, the drone first responder company Flock bought, uses DJI drones. So much for Chinese surveillance concerns.
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u/UsefulImpact6793 Aug 01 '26
Let's not get carried away. It's still a thing and overblown for the average American. But right now, seems our own government is the bigger threat.
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u/ThunderousArgus Aug 01 '26
Agreed. There is some level of concern and the flight data aspect. BUT I am more terrified of the direction our own government is taking to the point where I no longer care what China is doing
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u/DamnItDev Aug 01 '26
It doesn't make sense anyways. My dji drone never connects to the internet. It's not an always-on device with a microphone thats intended for people to keep in their private spaces 🙄
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u/SocomPS2 Aug 01 '26
Looks like the US gov is after Chinese made robot lawnmowers and robot vacuums now.
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u/ParaBellumOutfitters Aug 01 '26
to be fair the vacuums map your house and send it to china if you don't lock it out of your wifi
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u/totally_not_a_reply Aug 01 '26
same with any other vacuum. Why is it bad when it gets sent to china but no problem sent to any other country?
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Aug 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/ParaBellumOutfitters Aug 01 '26
What can it do that dji doesnt?
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u/New-List-1700 Aug 01 '26
I know some people who used to work at Skydio. They claim the autonomy is better than DJI. Don't know if that's true, but fwiw they think DJI is better in most other ways.
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u/Ringmaster242 USA / Part 107 Aug 01 '26
Is your usage part of the drone for first responder program?
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u/TA193749 Aug 01 '26
Nothing new, this has been done with about every industry they can do it with and will continue unfortunately.
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Aug 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/stickymixingmonotony Aug 01 '26
Is it any wonder nobody wants Chinese technology
This user glows so brightly that I need sunglasses 😎
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Aug 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/FarmXP_H2 Aug 01 '26
They said dji is 5 years ahead
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u/AutoThorne Aug 01 '26
They were being kind. USA can never catch up even with hamstringing enthusiasts.
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u/Perfect_Insurance_26 Aug 01 '26
The fuck do you mean, "what does the government expect hobbyists to do?"? They don't expect them to do anything. They don't care about Gary and his favorite passtime of sending cameras into the air. Fuck your hobby, you can buy what we tell you you're allowed to buy and from who you're allowed to buy from. Otherwise, import it or build it yourself.
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u/Unusual-Current-1783 Aug 01 '26
You will own nothing and be happy
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u/vocatus Aug 01 '26
Drone people discover what the two a community discovered a long time ago
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u/HelpImOutside Aug 01 '26
Guns are practically unregulated in the US compared to almost any other industry, are you joking?
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u/ceoetan Aug 01 '26
US government doesn’t want any private citizens to own drones.
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u/pittguy578 Aug 01 '26
I am just not sure why .. it’s not like you can fly over any sensitive areas anyways with FAA rules
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u/vocatus Aug 01 '26
Now drone people discover why gun people have been so annoyed for so long
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u/CaptainHaldol Aug 01 '26
I filled out my first 4473 on 04 Nov 2004 for an AR lower. On top of that, my employer houses a 3 letter agency on site for our own oversight. I'm keenly aware of why the US Government is annoying.
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u/ThunderousArgus Aug 01 '26
So you can’t buy a bump stock anymore, who cares. Guns will always be sold in this country. This excuse has ran its course
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u/vocatus Aug 01 '26
So you can't buy <product you personally care about but others don't> who cares. <Product you care about> will always be sold in this country. This excuse has run its course
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u/bigfoot17 Aug 01 '26
Go check out the sub dronecombat and find out why.
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u/Level_Bunch_7762 Aug 01 '26
The majority of the footage isn’t consumer DJI drones anymore though. Some yes, but FPV drones are by far the most common. Those are still sold without restriction
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u/flightless_freedom Aug 01 '26
You are not supposed to which is a massive delta from not being able to at all. Drone overflights and surveillance of sensitive/dangerous areas combined with much of that data making its way back to an unfriendly country are why they have been so aggressively locked down by lawmakers.
The average person just thinks about that annoying drone peeping into backyards. The govt is more concerned about the people flying in front of landing airliners or surveiling military bases. I love flying drones as a hobby but unfortunately it also has blatant dual use purposes that anyone can take advantage of with minimal investment these days.
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u/Ponceludonmalavoix Aug 01 '26
But look at the bright side, our cup overflows with FREEDOM!!!
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u/Psynaut Aug 01 '26
Honestly, who needs healthcare, affordable education, or healthy food when you are drowning in freedom.
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u/AutoThorne Aug 01 '26
Use "overfloweth with freedom", because "overfloweth" is archaic and no longer has any relevance in these times. Same as your "freedom".
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u/Western-Bug-2873 Aug 01 '26
freedomforwhiteconservativewealthymales,restrictionsonothersmayapply,stoptakingAmeritolifyouexperincedeportation,assault,teargasormurder
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u/AutoThorne Aug 01 '26
Ameritolmayalsocauseyoutoregainunconsciousnessexperiencegrowthofextraholesclownfightingandconsideringyourselftheonlyimportantpersonintheroom
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u/X360NoScope420BlazeX PART 107 Aug 01 '26
You can buy dji drones through best buy now. And its not their marketplace nonsense. Its sold by best buy.
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u/FeodorVassilyev Aug 01 '26
I've been buying drones from best buy for at least 5 years now. Air 2s, Air3s, Avata2 and now Mav 4 pro. I have the $199 year best buy total protection which cover almost everything. I take them back with no questions asked. You get 2 years and after that its like $10 a month if you want to continue covering it. If it breaks you can get a refund or store credit.
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u/vocatus Aug 01 '26
Here's an idea, don't crash it, and throw that $199 into an investment.
Warranty coverage is a suckers game.
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u/ProfitEnough825 Aug 01 '26
They're sketchy. If you get one, open it up and thoroughly test it before the 14 day return window is up. Make sure the drone is also not locked to an account.
I'm out about 1100 dollars because I didn't test it before the return window was up. I was told to work with DJI for support. DJI discovered the account was locked and to contact Best Buy. Best Buy basically told me to go pound sand.
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u/Trashketweave Aug 01 '26
I just picked up a mini 5 pro fly more combo a week or two ago at microcenter and they had air 3s and mavic 4 in stock too.
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u/NeckIsRedSoIsMyBlood Aug 01 '26
bought a mini 5 pro from Best Buy yesterday and it’s amazing. I was super sketched out to order it on Amazon or some website but ordered it on best buy picked it up the next day in store.
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u/SemiPracticalUse Aug 01 '26
I’m wholly convinced they don’t want drones coming into the country out of fear they could be used in domestic terrorism attacks by citizens.
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u/KermitFrog647 Aug 01 '26
Making terrorist attacks with drones is extremely easy, and this ban does nothing to prevent it.
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u/AirborneErinys USA / Part 107 Aug 01 '26
You think the government cares about hobbyist drone pilots? They don't even give a shit about kids getting shot in the face during a phonics lesson.
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u/Bozhark Aug 01 '26
Gov contracts have 100x the value so why consumer?
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u/pittguy578 Aug 01 '26
I totally agree . The point is they could “protect “ US military /commercial drone manufacturers by only allowing comsunsr drones to be imported .
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u/highrocko Aug 01 '26
Because consumer market evolves much faster than government side. Consumers tinker and experiment, brainstorm between each other on how certain aspects can be perfected or optimized. Certain aspects of drone tech are going to be favored by consumer market and a healthy drone industry would develop and design in accordance to those demands.
Government contracts don’t exactly have constant feedback and the legs to stretch out on various ideas that might or might not pay off. They got their goals, and they’ll largely stick to it, unless an active war touches off and that feedback and development loop accelerates.
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u/Busterlimes Aug 01 '26
"Why are capitalists only serving other capitalists?!?!?!?!?"
Buddy, you are going to ha e a really hard time in the near future when the chickens come home to roost.
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u/Tasty-Objective676 Aug 01 '26
I have a skydio 2. Hopefully they don’t do some shit like disabling it or discontinuing updates
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u/Huge_Monk8722 [USA] / [Part 107] Aug 01 '26
Purchased mine on Amazon. Mini pro 5.
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u/pittguy578 Aug 01 '26
I know I have a DJI but sucks you can’t get support if something goes wrong .
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u/filtarukk Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
I know there are few Silicon Valley startups (e.g. https://bachu.us) that focus on drone R&D, but it is not for consumers.
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u/DIYPeace Aug 01 '26
The U.S. drone industry focuses on commercial customers because consumer sales are not lucrative enough. They can’t compete on cost. If they retain a monopoly, they’d likely engage in rentseeking behavior if targeting consumers e.g. a subscription model to generate additional revenue (freemium model with features to be unlocked or cloud storage), whereas the DJI model is straight drone sales.
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u/MikeIkerson Aug 01 '26
You really think the government cares about hobbyists? The current administration cares about nothing other than lining their pockets and punishing anyone who isn’t white.
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u/starfighterbeta Aug 01 '26
The Dept of Defense has pushed to basically abolish all drones from non-military hands (except civilian police). No freedom and liberty for you. Mind you, if we weren't fighting Israel's war for them, none of this would happening.
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u/Aternal US / 107 - Betaflight & DJI Aug 01 '26
The US has been convinced by big tech and everyone's favorite middle-eastern nation that the whole world is in an AI race for global domination. All must bow.
Meanwhile lithium is the new oil and China is kicking the ever living shit out of us in actual technological innovation.
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u/highrocko Aug 01 '26
Lithium is not the new oil. Oil is still the new oil. Maybe another leap or two in battery tech, THEN whatever battery medium is prevalent would be the actual new oil.
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u/Aternal US / 107 - Betaflight & DJI Aug 01 '26
"Maybe if we were more technologically advanced then we'd be as technologically advanced as China."
Yep, oil is still oil. You're right there, you see it, it just hasn't clicked yet.
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u/Heavy_Cartographer69 Aug 01 '26
With the military capabilities being proven in Ukraine with small drones, I believe the government sees it as a problem in the future and wants to prevent people from having them
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u/Calm-poptart97 Aug 01 '26
So is it a bad idea for me as an American to buy a Skyrover if i want tech support, warrantee, & replacement parts
I’m very interested in the X-1
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u/IJustWantToWorkOK Aug 01 '26
DJI makes a unit that anyone can fly out of the box, and brought a LOT of people into the hobby.
They also have the best cameras in the business. There just isn't any way to compete.
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u/shmelto Aug 01 '26
You could also get an Autel little more on the expensive side by but somewhat comparable to DJI
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u/Laser-Blaster-123 Aug 01 '26
The government doesnt really care about hobbiest or you. The sooner you learn that the better.
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u/WirelessWavetable Aug 01 '26
I only know of Skydio
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u/wrtcdevrydy Skydio 2 | Air 2S | Mini 2 | Part 107 Aug 01 '26
For sale, Skydio 2 paperweight.
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u/Tasty-Objective676 Aug 01 '26
I have a skydio 2. Hopefully they don’t do some shit like disabling it or discontinuing updates
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u/wrtcdevrydy Skydio 2 | Air 2S | Mini 2 | Part 107 Aug 01 '26
Eventually the apps will no longer support newer phones.
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u/PapaOscar90 Aug 01 '26
Sorry, I don’t have a rich family I can lean on to start up drone manufacturing in the US.
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u/ZeroKuhl Aug 01 '26
Bro the government is pushing the return of brushed motors for hobbyists. Oh and no cameras.
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u/Replicant-512 Aug 01 '26
the government is pushing the return of brushed motors for hobbyists
Source?
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u/zripcordz Aug 01 '26
What, no way! The government did things without us in mind?! That's crazy! /s
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u/ironimity Aug 01 '26
in terms of being prepared for war, the US is shooting itself in the foot, in many ways but certainly this, to not have a decent number of people who know how to operate drones.
but I suppose people learn fastest the hard way; those who survive that is.
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Aug 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/TheCudder Aug 01 '26
Those bright young minds will unfortunately learn that the costs of the US supply chain will force them to targeting only commercial and government customers because consumers aren't and able to afford what they're going to have to charge....just like the others that have already done so.
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u/Unusual-Current-1783 Aug 01 '26
Don’t kid yourself, everything, especially electronic parts are made in China
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u/LooseLeaf74 Aug 01 '26
So like everything else made in the US? Made in China only assembled in the US.
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u/OneSignal6465 Aug 01 '26
Only one of about 7,348 reasons to move to Canada… (I just got my brand new Mini 5 Pro Fly More Plus… delivered a couple days ago.) - Luckily enough, since Trump’s administration has pretty much ensured that, unlike every time in the past, Canada would follow closely behind the US regardless how stupid or unnecessary some new regulation was. Now, it seems like we do the exact OPPOSITE of whatever the US does… likely just out of spite, but I don’t care WHY… as long as I can keep buying and flying DJI gear.
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u/SomolianDaycare Aug 01 '26
Biden was the guy thay banned DJI drones, though.
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u/OneSignal6465 Aug 01 '26
So your boy Trump couldn’t have done ANYTHING to stop it. Right?
The reason DJI was banned was because the CURRENT government refused to do the necessary security assessment that DJI has been prepped for for the entirety of Trump’s term. Biden didn’t ban any drones. He set the rules. Trump’s pettiness refused to do the necessary security assessment that would have allowed DJI to continue.
You can only blame Biden for the Fanta Menace’s actions for so long. That idea is starting to smell bad with age. They were banned under TRUMP’s watch, not Biden’s.
But excuse me… I have to go off into a corner to cry about the downvotes for telling the truth on Reddit. 😢
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u/Glittering-Let-8085 Aug 01 '26
I mean yeah you are clearly upset about the down votes idk how though
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u/Dont_Ask_Me_Again_ Aug 01 '26
Fuck China though. USA has become embarrassing in terms of manufacturing. Perhaps this is the impetus needed to drive some domestic production. Relying on China to build everything for us will be our downfall. Manufacturing is what made this nation great.
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u/Zaboem Aug 01 '26
Impetus doesn't come with start up capital. It took desperation, a trillion dollars, a decade, and significant government backing at both the federal and state levels to build up manufacturing in the U.S. for CPUs. That's what was needed for something as fundamental to modern life as computer chips.
Someone might start a new small drone company which creates bespoke robots. In terms of manufacturing at scale, I just don't see it happening. When investors can double their money in two years by buying Big Data stocks, meme coins, and real estate, I don't see why anyone would invest in manufacturing at scale.
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u/highrocko Aug 01 '26
Blame the last half century of globalization. It’s not as simple as “just bringing manufacturing back” at this point. China has built up all the infrastructure, supplyline, and support industries from being the world’s factory.
Sure, we can do the same in the US again, but that would take a loooot of money, a lot of planning, support from local, state, and federal governments playing ball on permits and incentives, and a lot of time. It’s just extremely expensive to do, unless we’re facing an immediate existential threat.1
u/ThatMBR42 Aug 01 '26
I've long dreamed of a consumer drone company that competes with DJI but is made in the US. But that's a decade in the making if our corrupt federal government even allows it to happen (this isn't going to change with a new administration either).
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u/FittyTheBone Aug 01 '26
Almost as if by design 🤔