>linked content (disable security features to improve performance) is very clearly a relevant topic for hacker

True, but not relevant to issues of partisanship and ideological battle.

>domain and Trump's infamous catch-phrase seems like an intentional choice that is worth discussing.

Theoretically, maybe. In practice, well take a look at the actual quality of the comments being made.

There is a restriction actually. This is pulled from the guidelines-

> Please don't use Hacker News for political or ideological battle. That destroys the curiosity this site exists for.

It is possible to discuss a political topic without the discussion becoming a "political or ideological battle".

It's definitely challenging, but it is possible.

I think it is a real problem that someone should try to solve. I visit a good number of expert communities and they all tend to be highly on topic. This is a good thing without question but I've often noticed the community is completely oblivious to what happens outside their bubble. I suspect most of the accidental battles are from being years behind on the discussion with the people they've talked with every day for the last decade or so.

I don't claim to have a solution. Programming philosophy or Programming politics do not seem very attractive but I do suspect there to be a big adventure behind those curtains. It's not like code is not political, lacks a philosophy or ideology. But the best we could do was "stop spying on me!"? hah

It is certainly very possible to do that, and it almost always requires sharing new information that relates to the context of the discussion.