He has cut off head start - which hurts his supporters. He has cut off all sorts of healthcare subsidies. The GOP is about to proposes massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and social security which hurts his supporters.
To say nothing of the growing amount of unpicked produce and the almost grinding halt to home building he has started.
What you conveniently ignore about USAID is that the fight isn’t about the programs - it’s about who has control. And no president has control of the appropriations process - even you concede that’s Congress. So while eviscerating USAID may make great red meat for his base, it’s unconstitutional. Which means illegal. And getting 31% of voters support doesn’t give anyone the right to break the law.
Can the President Dissolve USAID Without An Act of Congress?
No, not lawfully. In 1961, USAID was created by an E.O. issued by President John F. Kennedy (E.O. 10973), based in part on authority provided in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. But a later act of Congress (The Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, 22 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) established USAID as its own agency. In a section titled “Status of AID” (22 U.S.C. 6563) it states:
I’m not talking about feeling either. Nor would I cross a picket line. I just happen to think that being snarky about stocking up now on stuff in advance of a strike is less important then talking about why the strike is happening.
And there’s the rub. One might hope some of the state attorneys general would step up and pursue concomitant state level action from which he is not immune. And maybe consider a differing approach to custody this time.
Congressional oversight committees have long claimed the right to access federal property as part of their work. Would that they would tell us under what statutes.
It will take years for this to get to SCOTUS and I have zero faith they will rule against him. And even if they do then what? They have no independent arm to enforce.
He is actively usurping the congressional power of the purse (largely because they are too cowardly to actually legislate) and their answer seems to be “thank you sir may I have another.”
Much of the federal government contracts with google to use its Google Suite products. My agency does. Has for years.
The rest use Microsoft Office Suite. Which is hilarious when we try to do cross-agency video conferences and our resident security forces is to default to the meat functional browser version.
No but it and USAID are stupidity authorized. And Congress allegedly reserved the right to themselves to approve and disprove creation of federal agencies.
Apprently he intends to close yet another executive branch agency by executive order. This time Education. That’s gonna hurt a lot of public school districts in red states.
Yes he is. Because like most bullies he’s all bluff and bluster. They bought him off with things they are already doing or had agree with Biden to do. Sure he gets to white knight it but in actuality he’s more Don Quixote then King Arthur.
Yes I do. The same news outlets who had endorsements of Kamala Harris quashed by their owners are not going to go out and call him the biggest loser. This is obvious to most of us.
Ethics in media went out with Reagan killing off the fairness doctrine. It’s nice history to pine for but not likely to return in this day and age. The GOP won’t bring it back because it would expose their lies.
As to the rest of your piece - it would be great if Syria could be granted the space and time to sort itself out. Regional geopolitics won’t allow for that, especially since Israel - and the US - don’t seem the least bit interested in them doing so. That could change tomorrow, but between the current pivot of the state department and the utter dismantling of USAID in a week it’s clear that the soft power avenues needed to achieve that outcome don’t interest our administration.
Being wise with our words will inky exacerbate that decline globally. Because if we are wiser they we aren’t calling things what they are. None of these circumstances is really new. We have words for that. Most of them are not wise.
Considering that 88% of fentanyl seized at the southern border comes in via legal ports of entry this won’t stop much in the way of illegal drug trade. And Mexico already agreed with Biden to ramp up efforts on its southern border so what’s the win here for Trump?
On “Keynesian Beauty Contests, Schelling Points, and the Omnicause”
He has cut off head start - which hurts his supporters. He has cut off all sorts of healthcare subsidies. The GOP is about to proposes massive cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and social security which hurts his supporters.
To say nothing of the growing amount of unpicked produce and the almost grinding halt to home building he has started.
What you conveniently ignore about USAID is that the fight isn’t about the programs - it’s about who has control. And no president has control of the appropriations process - even you concede that’s Congress. So while eviscerating USAID may make great red meat for his base, it’s unconstitutional. Which means illegal. And getting 31% of voters support doesn’t give anyone the right to break the law.
On “Open Mic for the week of 2/3/2025”
Everything is a show this time around.
"
Musk is one actually. Just take a memo.
On “Keynesian Beauty Contests, Schelling Points, and the Omnicause”
The FY 23 omnibus approves bill is here - https://www.congress.gov/117/cprt/HPRT50348/CPRT-117HPRT50348.pdf
If you go to Division K, Title II (page 2705) you find USAID. The language is fairly proscriptive by dollar and function.
You may not agree with this, but like all federal agencies USAID largely follows congressional direction.
"
Check your sources Jay:
https://www.justsecurity.org/107267/can-president-dissolve-usaid-by-executive-order/
On “Open Mic for the week of 2/3/2025”
I’m not talking about feeling either. Nor would I cross a picket line. I just happen to think that being snarky about stocking up now on stuff in advance of a strike is less important then talking about why the strike is happening.
As always however you do you Jay.
"
And there’s the rub. One might hope some of the state attorneys general would step up and pursue concomitant state level action from which he is not immune. And maybe consider a differing approach to custody this time.
"
The action is happening for a reason. That’s the story here if you actually care about your fellow citizens who work there.
"
Let me go find my tiny out of tune violin.
"
And they are striking why exactly?
"
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/05/doge-noaa-dei-information-search
"
Can confirm.
The pattern seems to be run and fun into agencies with no confirmed political leadership.
"
Congressional oversight committees have long claimed the right to access federal property as part of their work. Would that they would tell us under what statutes.
"
It will take years for this to get to SCOTUS and I have zero faith they will rule against him. And even if they do then what? They have no independent arm to enforce.
He is actively usurping the congressional power of the purse (largely because they are too cowardly to actually legislate) and their answer seems to be “thank you sir may I have another.”
"
Much of the federal government contracts with google to use its Google Suite products. My agency does. Has for years.
The rest use Microsoft Office Suite. Which is hilarious when we try to do cross-agency video conferences and our resident security forces is to default to the meat functional browser version.
On “Welcome to the Quagmire”
This is just another distraction from his consolidation of power over Congress and the courts. It’s performative.
And you fell for it.
On “Open Mic for the week of 2/3/2025”
No but it and USAID are stupidity authorized. And Congress allegedly reserved the right to themselves to approve and disprove creation of federal agencies.
"
He.
Does.
Not.
Care.
About.
“Legal” or law or authority.
Because SCOTUS told him he didn’t need to.
"
Apprently he intends to close yet another executive branch agency by executive order. This time Education. That’s gonna hurt a lot of public school districts in red states.
"
Yes he is. Because like most bullies he’s all bluff and bluster. They bought him off with things they are already doing or had agree with Biden to do. Sure he gets to white knight it but in actuality he’s more Don Quixote then King Arthur.
"
Yes I do. The same news outlets who had endorsements of Kamala Harris quashed by their owners are not going to go out and call him the biggest loser. This is obvious to most of us.
"
About time.
On “More than Empty Suits with A Good-looking Face Selling Hope”
Ethics in media went out with Reagan killing off the fairness doctrine. It’s nice history to pine for but not likely to return in this day and age. The GOP won’t bring it back because it would expose their lies.
As to the rest of your piece - it would be great if Syria could be granted the space and time to sort itself out. Regional geopolitics won’t allow for that, especially since Israel - and the US - don’t seem the least bit interested in them doing so. That could change tomorrow, but between the current pivot of the state department and the utter dismantling of USAID in a week it’s clear that the soft power avenues needed to achieve that outcome don’t interest our administration.
Being wise with our words will inky exacerbate that decline globally. Because if we are wiser they we aren’t calling things what they are. None of these circumstances is really new. We have words for that. Most of them are not wise.
On “Open Mic for the week of 2/3/2025”
Considering that 88% of fentanyl seized at the southern border comes in via legal ports of entry this won’t stop much in the way of illegal drug trade. And Mexico already agreed with Biden to ramp up efforts on its southern border so what’s the win here for Trump?
"
Chuck Schumer is the antithesis of inspiring leaders. I’ve seen potted plants do better.