I think MY sincerely dislikes Republicans and Trump but this whole column feels like a whole lot of retconning and taking what might be reasonable points and going off the deep end with them.
Harris was an untrusted and untested VP? She whipped up her party when it was at its lowest morale and got them back in fighting mode. She did not win but she was far from a distant second and the "throw the bums" out election trend is not unique to the U.S., it is hitting governments around the world.
Blocking US Steel from being purchased by Nippon Steel? Trump also opposes it and there is no indication that US voters are up in arms on this one. Unions are a core Democratic constituency and politicians do things for their constituencies, what a shocker!!
I can concede that there were probably times Biden did let the cart get before the horse on some social issues but MY's rage does not reflect that the polling for everyone is very close. 46 R - 45 D is statistically a tie.
I don't think throwing Biden under the bus would accomplish anything and I think his shots against Harris are cheap. Harris ran as good a campaign as anyone under the circumstances and final result was not a 1984 blowout victory for Trump. Also polling on what Trump is doing is not good for them: https://digbysblog.net/2025/01/29/trump-isnt-popular/
Musk's lackeys, are storming into government positions: https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-lackeys-office-personnel-management-opm-neuralink-x-boring-stalin/
It borrow from a classic movie, "it's a trap" and a very stupid one: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-administration-offer-federal-workers-buyouts-resign-rcna189661
This would appear to affect Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans. It is also probably against Federal Law because Congress already apportioned the money but Vought has decided the President can do what he pleases with the Treasury and they are still in Blitzkreig mode to try and get people to bend the knee.
For years and years if you traveled down the highways of the Central Valley or San Joaquin Valley, you would see cranky right-wing ranch owners put up signs expressing their ire at CA Democrats for not giving them enough water. Trump is apparently trying to use the LA Wildfires to circumvent CA water laws and give water to the Central Valley ranchers on the pretense that it is for the wildfires: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-seeks-circumvent-laws-californias-water-wildfire-response-rcna189386
Of course the ranchers won't have anyone to pick their ample crops because all the fieldworkers are hiding from ICE.
As Jonathan V. Last pointed out on the Bulwark, this is basically gangster government. Trump feels the need to swing his member and there is seemingly nothing stopping him.
The last week was a total blitzkreig of executive orders and it is going unabated this week. So far we have only seen one court rule on one EO (birthright citizenship) being blatantly unconstitutional. Everyone else seems caught like a deer in headlights and/or find as going Garland slow because it is important because of norms and reasons and being sent in a train to Dachau couldn't convince them otherwise.
I agree with all your points here but something has to boomerang hard and hit Trump back and nothing seems to be doing it yet and there is a part of me that thinks they have to know everything they are doing has a good chance of creating a recession or possibly a depression.
More in the world of FAFO, Trump is threatening tariffs on Taiwanese chips: https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-to-tariff-chips-made-in-taiwan-targeting-tsmc
resident Donald Trump’s budget office on Monday ordered all federal agencies to temporarily block disbursement of grants and loans — other than for Social Security, Medicare and other programs providing direct aid to individuals.
The memo says the temporary pause, effective starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, is intended to ensure agencies are complying with Trump’s executive orders to root out “Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies” from programs within their purview.
It’s not immediately clear how wide-ranging the pause will be in practice, due to the Office of Management and Budget’s ability to grant exceptions on a “case-by-case basis,” language exempting direct aid to individuals and a clause that states the pause is subject to what’s “permissible under applicable law.....
Still, as written the pause could affect a big swath of programs that aid lower-income households, including: Medicaid; school breakfast and lunch programs; Section 8 rental assistance; Title I education grants; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; state grants for child care; Head Start; and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program and EPA grants to states and localities for clean water infrastructure — both of which fund a large chunk of congressional earmarks each year — could also be impacted.
Foreign aid grants are likely to be put on hold as well as clean energy projects, as those are specifically named in earlier executive orders."
Trump fires career DOJ lawyers who had civil service protections: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-administration-fires-doj-officials-worked-criminal-investigation-rcna189512
At around 8 o’clock Sunday morning, in Mountain View, California, four ICE agents in full battlefield regalia followed a resident into a 19-unit apartment building. They carried M15 assault weapons, and had no warrants.
They were looking for two Venezuelans, who had lived there temporarily in the apartment of a lawyer, who was helping asylum seekers pro bono. The Venezuelans were legal residents with temporary protected status until last week, when Trump changed the rules and they suddenly became illegal.
The Venezuelans were not present at the time. There was another asylum seeker in the building with similar status, whom the agents ignored, apparently because she was not on their hit list. Residents called the Mountain View police, who said they could do nothing.
Despite brave words about sanctuary cities, state and local officials have not cooperated but have not resisted. Citizens who try to shelter targets of these raids are themselves inviting arrest.
This was only one of several ICE raids over the weekend. Others took place in Chicago, Boston, Austin, and L.A. Fox News reporters were invited to embed with the agents in Boston and Chicago, capturing the raids on video.
The agents wore tactical gear and vests with large letters displaying “Police ICE” and “Homeland Security.” According to CNN, at least two agencies told personnel to wear made-for-TV outfits, in case there were video opportunities.
This stunt suggests the performative aspect of these Gestapo-style raids, as red meat for Trump’s base. Trump has directed that ICE increase its raids and summary deportations, from a few hundred per day to at least 1,200 to 1,500.
The return of gangster government. Denmark and other nations seek to higher Trump connected lobbyists: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/us/politics/trump-denmark-panama-greenland-lobbyists.html
Yeah, they will accept deportees on civilian flights but Trump decided to use military flights because he needs to show his toughness and things are going down. He did this with Mexico and Brazil too.
Trade Wars have begun. Colombia refused to let a military plane of deportees land and Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on goods from Colombia. Colombia responded with a similar tariff.
Colombia supplies 27 percent of our coffee beans. 80 percent of the flowers sold on Valentine's Day also come from Colombia. The U.S. also buys 19 percent of Colombia's cacao.
Canada is a “country that should be a (US) state,” reiterates President Trump. “They’ll get much better treatment, much better care and much lower taxes, and they’ll be much more secure.”
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “Open Mic for the week of 1/27/2025”
We won in 2020
"
I wouldn't quite call it massive brand damage yet and MY himself conceded that things can change quickly and 46 R - 45 D is still a statistical tie.
No politician has been able to do what Trump does successfully. Every one who tries to be a mini-Trump fails.
On “Group Activity: The RFK Jr Confirmation Hearing”
Things seem to be going very poorly for him even compared to Hegseth: https://bsky.app/profile/anjalikdayal.bsky.social/post/3lgvjsa2iik2g
On “Open Mic for the week of 1/27/2025”
Yeah, no doubt on the first part. This was a battle and the pushback needs to be quick and strong.
I'm not certain on their competency levels.
"
I think MY sincerely dislikes Republicans and Trump but this whole column feels like a whole lot of retconning and taking what might be reasonable points and going off the deep end with them.
Harris was an untrusted and untested VP? She whipped up her party when it was at its lowest morale and got them back in fighting mode. She did not win but she was far from a distant second and the "throw the bums" out election trend is not unique to the U.S., it is hitting governments around the world.
Blocking US Steel from being purchased by Nippon Steel? Trump also opposes it and there is no indication that US voters are up in arms on this one. Unions are a core Democratic constituency and politicians do things for their constituencies, what a shocker!!
I can concede that there were probably times Biden did let the cart get before the horse on some social issues but MY's rage does not reflect that the polling for everyone is very close. 46 R - 45 D is statistically a tie.
"
OMB orders rescinded
"
I don't think throwing Biden under the bus would accomplish anything and I think his shots against Harris are cheap. Harris ran as good a campaign as anyone under the circumstances and final result was not a 1984 blowout victory for Trump. Also polling on what Trump is doing is not good for them: https://digbysblog.net/2025/01/29/trump-isnt-popular/
"
Musk's lackeys, are storming into government positions: https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-lackeys-office-personnel-management-opm-neuralink-x-boring-stalin/
"
It borrow from a classic movie, "it's a trap" and a very stupid one: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-administration-offer-federal-workers-buyouts-resign-rcna189661
On “Memo: All Federal Grant, Loan, and Financial Assistance “Temporarily Paused””
This would appear to affect Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans. It is also probably against Federal Law because Congress already apportioned the money but Vought has decided the President can do what he pleases with the Treasury and they are still in Blitzkreig mode to try and get people to bend the knee.
On “Open Mic for the week of 1/27/2025”
For years and years if you traveled down the highways of the Central Valley or San Joaquin Valley, you would see cranky right-wing ranch owners put up signs expressing their ire at CA Democrats for not giving them enough water. Trump is apparently trying to use the LA Wildfires to circumvent CA water laws and give water to the Central Valley ranchers on the pretense that it is for the wildfires: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-seeks-circumvent-laws-californias-water-wildfire-response-rcna189386
Of course the ranchers won't have anyone to pick their ample crops because all the fieldworkers are hiding from ICE.
On “The Colombia Gambit”
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9c06640bc19250e3d1832c4cf5b1f5c55448ca11205383502a05d5e774e1d7d3.png
"
As Jonathan V. Last pointed out on the Bulwark, this is basically gangster government. Trump feels the need to swing his member and there is seemingly nothing stopping him.
The last week was a total blitzkreig of executive orders and it is going unabated this week. So far we have only seen one court rule on one EO (birthright citizenship) being blatantly unconstitutional. Everyone else seems caught like a deer in headlights and/or find as going Garland slow because it is important because of norms and reasons and being sent in a train to Dachau couldn't convince them otherwise.
I agree with all your points here but something has to boomerang hard and hit Trump back and nothing seems to be doing it yet and there is a part of me that thinks they have to know everything they are doing has a good chance of creating a recession or possibly a depression.
"
Jaybird is stuck in terminal contradiction mode where he just can't concede a point to anyone critiquing Trump
On “Open Mic for the week of 1/27/2025”
More in the world of FAFO, Trump is threatening tariffs on Taiwanese chips: https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-to-tariff-chips-made-in-taiwan-targeting-tsmc
https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-to-tariff-chips-made-in-taiwan-targeting-tsmc
"
The massacre continues:
resident Donald Trump’s budget office on Monday ordered all federal agencies to temporarily block disbursement of grants and loans — other than for Social Security, Medicare and other programs providing direct aid to individuals.
The memo says the temporary pause, effective starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, is intended to ensure agencies are complying with Trump’s executive orders to root out “Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies” from programs within their purview.
It’s not immediately clear how wide-ranging the pause will be in practice, due to the Office of Management and Budget’s ability to grant exceptions on a “case-by-case basis,” language exempting direct aid to individuals and a clause that states the pause is subject to what’s “permissible under applicable law.....
Still, as written the pause could affect a big swath of programs that aid lower-income households, including: Medicaid; school breakfast and lunch programs; Section 8 rental assistance; Title I education grants; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; state grants for child care; Head Start; and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program and EPA grants to states and localities for clean water infrastructure — both of which fund a large chunk of congressional earmarks each year — could also be impacted.
Foreign aid grants are likely to be put on hold as well as clean energy projects, as those are specifically named in earlier executive orders."
"
Trump fires career DOJ lawyers who had civil service protections: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-administration-fires-doj-officials-worked-criminal-investigation-rcna189512
"
Trump's Tactics:
https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2025-01-27-trumps-gestapo-raids/
At around 8 o’clock Sunday morning, in Mountain View, California, four ICE agents in full battlefield regalia followed a resident into a 19-unit apartment building. They carried M15 assault weapons, and had no warrants.
They were looking for two Venezuelans, who had lived there temporarily in the apartment of a lawyer, who was helping asylum seekers pro bono. The Venezuelans were legal residents with temporary protected status until last week, when Trump changed the rules and they suddenly became illegal.
The Venezuelans were not present at the time. There was another asylum seeker in the building with similar status, whom the agents ignored, apparently because she was not on their hit list. Residents called the Mountain View police, who said they could do nothing.
Despite brave words about sanctuary cities, state and local officials have not cooperated but have not resisted. Citizens who try to shelter targets of these raids are themselves inviting arrest.
This was only one of several ICE raids over the weekend. Others took place in Chicago, Boston, Austin, and L.A. Fox News reporters were invited to embed with the agents in Boston and Chicago, capturing the raids on video.
The agents wore tactical gear and vests with large letters displaying “Police ICE” and “Homeland Security.” According to CNN, at least two agencies told personnel to wear made-for-TV outfits, in case there were video opportunities.
This stunt suggests the performative aspect of these Gestapo-style raids, as red meat for Trump’s base. Trump has directed that ICE increase its raids and summary deportations, from a few hundred per day to at least 1,200 to 1,500.
"
The return of gangster government. Denmark and other nations seek to higher Trump connected lobbyists: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/us/politics/trump-denmark-panama-greenland-lobbyists.html
On “Open Mic for the week of 1/20/2025”
Columbis-U.S. trade war called off. Trump appears to have backed down but is treating it as a victory
"
Yeah, they will accept deportees on civilian flights but Trump decided to use military flights because he needs to show his toughness and things are going down. He did this with Mexico and Brazil too.
"
We become what we pretend to be-Kurt Vonnegut Mother Night.
There is a whole effect/intent angle
"
Trade Wars have begun. Colombia refused to let a military plane of deportees land and Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on goods from Colombia. Colombia responded with a similar tariff.
Colombia supplies 27 percent of our coffee beans. 80 percent of the flowers sold on Valentine's Day also come from Colombia. The U.S. also buys 19 percent of Colombia's cacao.
Colombia purchases a lot of corn from the U.S.
"
That's a personality deficiency
"
Canada is a “country that should be a (US) state,” reiterates President Trump. “They’ll get much better treatment, much better care and much lower taxes, and they’ll be much more secure.”
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.