"...our nation needs the services of organizations who will remain vigilant in the defense of our principles." President John F. Kennedy
The Second Term of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America
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"...our nation needs the services of organizations who will remain vigilant in the defense of our principles." President John F. Kennedy
Shiftless2
Well-known member
US stops sharing flu data with WHO amidst one of its worst flu seasons
The US withdrawal from the World Health Organization formally takes one year, but the country has already stopped sharing influenza surveillance with the international body, which could impact the efficacy of the next flu vaccine
US stops sharing flu data with WHO amidst one of its worst flu seasons
The US withdrawal from the World Health Organization formally takes one year, but the country has already stopped sharing influenza surveillance with the international body, which could impact the efficacy of the next flu vaccinewww.newscientist.com
Multiple possible explanations for this:
- Outright sociopathic malice toward global humanity would explain it.
- Historically unparalleled ignorance would also explain it.
It would seem many a junior high public school student might not understand how influenza vaccines are prepared. They're an educated guess at which of the many possible influenza strains will circulate in the next flu season.
We can forgive this ignorance in those without a high school diploma. Can we excuse that same ignorance from the president of the United States of America?
Either sociopathy or ignorance would explain this.
Neither of them justify it.
You shame the Trump name Donald, and along with it, the Republican party.
Shiftless2
Well-known member
No need for anyone to act surprised. What did they think would happen?
Shiftless2
Well-known member
And it continues
www.theguardian.com
Outcry as Trump withdraws support for research that mentions ‘climate’
US government stripping funds from domestic and overseas research amid warnings for health and public safety
www.theguardian.com
Posted by S2 #204
Previously posted by S2:
How? By solidifying humanity's path to global ecosystem cataclysm?
Previously posted by S2:
If Trump has not already done so it seems he intends to take credit for this somehow.
How? By solidifying humanity's path to global ecosystem cataclysm?
Shiftless2
Well-known member
How did this come to happen - please tell my how I came to agree with him about anything
Perhaps it should provide a shade of perverse comfort that sanity is so glaringly conspicuous, though scarce as hen's teeth in the GOP. At least we still recognize it.
I haven't authenticated it, but if it's really from the former Trump VP, why?
- A finger in the eye to Trump? "Hang Mike Pence"?
- Keeping his toe in the door for another presidential run in 2028?
Trump administration reverses its previous decision and reinstates legal aid for migrant children
GISELA SALOMON and REBECCA SANTANA / Fri, February 21, 2025 at 5:20 PM EST- Children cover their heads as they sit outside of a migrant shelter Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)
MIAMI (AP) — Days after telling legal groups who help migrant children who arrive in America alone — some so young they are in diapers or their feet dangle from their chairs in court — that they must stop their work, the federal government Friday reversed itself.
The Trump administration told the groups that they can resume providing legal services to tens of thousands of unaccompanied children. The Acacia Center for Justice said that they received notice from the government of the reversal.
The Associated Press does not explain the Trump administration decision to reinstate the program. I states that it “cancels” the order to halt legal services to migrant children.
“Acacia Center for Justice may resume all activities,” the short notice says.
Trump administration reverses its previous decision and reinstates legal aid for migrant children
Days after telling legal groups who help migrant children who arrive in America alone — some so young they are in diapers or their feet dangle from their chairs in court — that they must stop their work, the federal government Friday reversed itself. The Trump administration told the groups...
"Trump administration reverses its previous decision and reinstates legal aid for migrant children"
Why?And if the consequences of their ham-handed anti-establishment, anti-conservative, anti-family values has forced them to reverse themselves on this,
what other Trump / Musk initiatives will result in reversal? Musk has reportedly tried to rehire some he fired, in some cases in less than 24 hours.
This ladies & gents is autocracy O.J.T.
Shiftless2
Well-known member
From Robert Reich
Friends,
A brief word today at the end of the fifth horrific week of Trump 2.0, before I post my weekly cartoon.
I know how hard it’s been for you. We are watching what we never dreamed possible — the apparent transformation of our democracy into a dictatorship (or, as Trump enjoyed promoting this week, a monarchy).
You may be feeling helpless, powerless, and alone. But you are not. Most Americans are as disgusted by this as you are. Trump and his regime want us to feel helpless, powerless, and alone — because that’s Trump’s way of taking over.
This week, Trump officially went over to the dark side by aligning himself with Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine war. Trump even said Ukraine started the war, and he called Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.”
By now we all know that when Trump accuses someone of something, he’s projecting himself onto them. Trump is the one who’s becoming a dictator. He’s refusing to follow laws of Congress or obey rulings of the courts — disregarding the two branches that the framers of the Constitution intended to be co-equal checks on a president’s power.
Americans have never particularly liked government. Ronald Reagan told us “the government” was the problem. Bill Clinton said “the era of big government is over.” Trump accuses the “deep state” of being an enemy of the people.
But we cherish our system of government. We believe in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the separation of powers, and checks and balances, and we believe no person should be above the law. We prefer democracy to dictatorship. Our system was founded in opposition to monarchy.
The genius of our system is that it doesn’t require us to agree on every issue, but only to agree to be bound by decisions that emerge from it. We’re free to take any position on abortion, climate change, immigration, or any other issue, and to vote accordingly — but as participants in a democracy, we accept decisions that emerge from the system even if we dislike them.
We can, of course, work to change the politics that prevail in Washington and state capitals. We’re also free to protest, to engage in civil disobedience. We can even work to change the system through constitutional amendment.
If Trump were just attacking the government, many Americans would be cheering him on. But he’s now attacking our system of government. He’s moving America from democracy to dictatorship (or monarchy).
Although many Americans agree with his policies, most are coming to disagree with his attack on the system. The share of Americans who disapprove of Trump’s presidency has risen to 51% in the latest Reuters poll, compared with 41% right after he took office.
As more and more Americans come to understand his attack on our system of government — rather than the government (or his so-called “deep state”) — his support will continue to melt.
robertreich.substack.com
We will not accept a dictatorship or monarchy
Why Trump’s support is melting
Robert Reich
Friends,
A brief word today at the end of the fifth horrific week of Trump 2.0, before I post my weekly cartoon.
I know how hard it’s been for you. We are watching what we never dreamed possible — the apparent transformation of our democracy into a dictatorship (or, as Trump enjoyed promoting this week, a monarchy).
You may be feeling helpless, powerless, and alone. But you are not. Most Americans are as disgusted by this as you are. Trump and his regime want us to feel helpless, powerless, and alone — because that’s Trump’s way of taking over.
This week, Trump officially went over to the dark side by aligning himself with Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine war. Trump even said Ukraine started the war, and he called Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.”
By now we all know that when Trump accuses someone of something, he’s projecting himself onto them. Trump is the one who’s becoming a dictator. He’s refusing to follow laws of Congress or obey rulings of the courts — disregarding the two branches that the framers of the Constitution intended to be co-equal checks on a president’s power.
Americans have never particularly liked government. Ronald Reagan told us “the government” was the problem. Bill Clinton said “the era of big government is over.” Trump accuses the “deep state” of being an enemy of the people.
But we cherish our system of government. We believe in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the separation of powers, and checks and balances, and we believe no person should be above the law. We prefer democracy to dictatorship. Our system was founded in opposition to monarchy.
The genius of our system is that it doesn’t require us to agree on every issue, but only to agree to be bound by decisions that emerge from it. We’re free to take any position on abortion, climate change, immigration, or any other issue, and to vote accordingly — but as participants in a democracy, we accept decisions that emerge from the system even if we dislike them.
We can, of course, work to change the politics that prevail in Washington and state capitals. We’re also free to protest, to engage in civil disobedience. We can even work to change the system through constitutional amendment.
If Trump were just attacking the government, many Americans would be cheering him on. But he’s now attacking our system of government. He’s moving America from democracy to dictatorship (or monarchy).
Although many Americans agree with his policies, most are coming to disagree with his attack on the system. The share of Americans who disapprove of Trump’s presidency has risen to 51% in the latest Reuters poll, compared with 41% right after he took office.
As more and more Americans come to understand his attack on our system of government — rather than the government (or his so-called “deep state”) — his support will continue to melt.
We will not accept a dictatorship or monarchy
Why Trump’s support is melting
robertreich.substack.com
That popular delusion may have been less inaccurate before the Trump era Bob.
But if you think it through, in the second Trump presidential term, Trump voters (the determinative plurality) can't have it both ways.
Can they both "cherish our system of government" while systematically dismantling it?
'Failure to respond will be taken as resignation': Elon Musk's new rule for US federal staff
TOI World Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Feb 23, 2025, 07:31 IST
'Failure to respond will be taken as resignation': Elon Musk's new rule for US federal staff - The Times of India
US News: Elon Musk has issued a directive for federal employees to report their weekly productivity via email, following President Donald Trump's orders. Non-c
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
You'll need a fairly acrobatic definition of "we" to justify that assertion sir.
Shiftless2
Well-known member
Speaking of DOGE - at least she answered
Lauren Boebert
American politician (born 1986)Lauren Opal Boebert (BOH-bərt;née Roberts; born December 19, 1986) is an American politician, businesswoman, and gun rights activist serving as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 4th congressional district beginning in 2025, having so served the Colorado's 3rd congressional district from 2021 to 2025. From 2013 to 2022, she owned Shooters Grill, a restaurant in Rifle, Colorado, where staff members were encouraged to carry firearms openly. More from Wikipedia
Reportedly some federal employees are being instructed to comply w/ Musk. Others reportedly not.
Shiftless2
Well-known member
Federal chaos intensifies House GOP rams through $4.5T in tax cuts and $2T in cuts.
Agencies defy Musk’s time-tracking order as Trump hints at firings. White House seizes press access. USAID must resume payments. #GovBriefToday #Resist
LINKS1 - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/25/house-republicans-trump-agenda/80127282007/
2 - https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-federal-workers-doge-donald-trump-live-updates-2035810
3 - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-undocumented-immigrants-registry-jail-time-fines/
4 - https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/02/25/g-s1-50701/usaid-freeze-judge
5 - https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/usa...r-belongings-washington-dc/story?id=119187160
6 - https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-m...ting-administrator-elon-musks-doge-rcna193613
7 - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce30n52e6p1o
8 - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/25/trump-zelenskyy-ukraine-minerals-deal
9 - https://apnews.com/article/investor...5-gold-cards-cdb943dd1633bc234bb715fa20914e05
10 - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...ce-and-placing-employees-on-leave/ar-AA1zMGdg
Fighting Back: https://fedscoop.com/usds-workers-quit-doge-tech-elon-musk/
Archive Website: https://govbrief.today/
Shiftless2
Well-known member
November 2024, then-President-elect Trump named Hegseth as his nominee for secretary of defense. A Senate Committee on Armed Services committee hearing for Hegseth was held days before Trump's second inauguration. He faced allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and alcohol issues leading up to his committee confirmation.
Apparently plundering the nation that elected him is a higher priority than U.S. national security.
Trump budget bill with $4.5T in tax cuts survives key hurdle despite House GOP infighting
Speaker Mike Johnson wants the House to advance a Trump budget bill by the end of the month....
It also directs $4 trillion toward raising the debt limit, and it includes $4.5 trillion to extend Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and other tax provisions pushed by the president for the next 10 years.
Trump budget bill with $4.5T in tax cuts survives key hurdle despite House GOP infighting
House Republicans advanced a bill that extends Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
www.foxnews.com
Shiftless2
Well-known member
Trump’s radical overhaul rages on as his administration freezes USAID funds, cuts 90% of foreign aid contracts, orders sweeping federal downsizing from EPA to HHS, dismisses hiring bias cases, tests Starlink on a $2 billion Verizon contract, and retools the Washington Post’s opinion section—fueling protests nationwide. #govbrieftoday #resist
LINKS1 - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-supreme-court-foreign-aid-freeze/
2 - https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-foreign-aid-cuts-6292f48f8d4025bed0bf5c3e9d623c16
3 - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/26/trump-epa-spending-cut-00206228
4 - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politi...on-sets-stage-for-large-scale-federal-layoffs
5 - https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-la...rs-agencies-to-prepare-large-scale-staff-cuts
6 - https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/02/26/federal-agencies-relocate-dc-trump/
7 - https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-administration-news-02-26-25#cm7mdkgje00053b6o9gkm4d9q
8 - https://www.aol.com/rfk-jr-led-cdc-kills-221714667.html
?9 - https://www.usatoday.com/story/life...rst-measles-death-texas-outbreak/80482935007/
10 - https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/0...artments-over-hiring-practices?smid=url-share
11 - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...laims-verizon-tech-is-not-working/ar-AA1zLuz9
12 - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y44gw5gpro
Fighting Back: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/26/usaid-hiv-protest-trump-musk
Disclosing the detail is fine. Let's not lose sight of the broader picture.
What Trump appears to be in process of doing is slashing U.S. federal expenditures he [Trump] doesn't personally value, and then pass these expenditure savings on to his wealthy cronies in the form of "tax cuts".
They're plundering the treasury under the guise of addressing U.S. federal waste, fraud, & abuse. Which is more abusive? Bipartisan legislated expenditure priorities? Or unilateral executive obstruction?
Trump supporters lose $12bn as president’s cryptocurrency collapses
James Titcomb / Thu, February 27, 2025 at 8:03 AM EST·$Trump, Donald Trump’s meme coin unveiled the weekend before his inauguration - Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto
Donald Trump’s supporters have lost more than $12bn (£9.5bn) in a month after the value of the president’s cryptocurrency collapsed.
$Trump, a so-called “meme coin” unveiled on Jan 17, three days before Mr Trump’s inauguration, has lost more than 80pc of its value since its peak on Jan 19.
This has led to its overall worth falling from a peak of $15bn to $2.7bn on Thursday, as it suffered amid a wider crypto rout.
The paper value of the coins owned by Mr Trump himself has also fallen by $50bn.
Trump supporters lose $12bn as president’s cryptocurrency collapses
Donald Trump’s supporters have lost more than $12bn (£9.5bn) in a month after the value of the president’s cryptocurrency collapsed.
Hmmm,
Might this have been a Trump scam?