Members phkrause Posted January 29, 2025 Author Members Posted January 29, 2025 ⚡ Charted: Trump's executive order blitz Data: Federal Register, White House. Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals In his first nine days in office, President Trump unleashed a flurry of executive orders unlike anything in modern presidential history, according to an analysis by Axios' Erin Davis. Why it matters: Trump's reshaping the federal government with a shock-and-awe campaign of unilateral actions that push the limits of presidential power. ? By the numbers: Only President Biden and President Truman have issued more than 40 executive orders in their first 100 days in office. So far, Trump has signed 38 after less than two weeks. He has issued more than any predecessor this early in their presidency (charted above). Go deeper: Trump's death by a thousand cuts to D.C. federal workforce. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 29, 2025 Author Members Posted January 29, 2025 ? Press room's new era White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs yesterday. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP Before turning to questions during her first briefing yesterday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she's opening two chairs down front in the storied James S. Brady Press Briefing Room to "independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers and content creators." Why it matters: It's a callback to President Trump's successful campaign emphasis on unconventional outlets. And it modernizes a format that's been little-changed in 30 years — since Mike McCurry, press secretary to President Bill Clinton, started allowing his briefings to be televised. Two seats along the wall next to the podium — which used to be occupied by White House press and communications staff — have been opened to "new media voices" that don't have assigned seats. The seats' first two occupants were Mike Allen of Axios and Matt Boyle of Breitbart. "Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from blogs, social media and other independent outlets," Leavitt said. "It is essential to our team that we share President Trump's message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape." ? Between the lines: Leavitt, 27, a New Hampshire native, is the youngest person ever to be named White House press secretary. She's the sixth working mother in a row to hold the post, AP notes. Photo: Mike Allen/Axios ? Being there: Leavitt brought down the temperature in the room, compared with the past Trump administration. After calling on the two new-media reporters, she turned to the front row of networks and wire services. So she made the new seats additive, without smashing the room's traditions. She greeted many of the correspondents by name (mentioning their joint memories from rallies), and allowed follow-ups. She didn't bring a big binder — just a few sheets of paper. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 29, 2025 Author Members Posted January 29, 2025 Federal funding President Donald Trump's plan to freeze all federal aid has run into its first challenge, with a US district judge temporarily blocking the order. The White House budget office ordered the freeze on federal grants and loans to target Democratic initiatives that address immigration, foreign aid, climate, DEI and gender identity, according to a memo obtained by CNN. The order could have potentially impacted hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending and halted public programs that affect millions of Americans. It also marked the latest move by the Trump administration to exert control over federal funding, even that which has already been allocated by Congress. Google Maps Google is complying with President Trump's executive action that renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Soon, the name change will appear on Google Maps. Google will also change the name of Denali, the nation's highest peak, back to Mount McKinley. Former President Barack Obama renamed the Alaska landmark to Denali in 2015 as a nod to the region's native population. Both alterations stem from an executive action that Trump signed last week, saying the changes "honor American greatness." On Tuesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum largely shrugged off Google's move and suggested that her country would not abide by it. Immigration raids The Trump administration is aiming for "at least" 75 arrests daily at each of the 25 ICE field offices nationwide, "but hopefully many more," White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told CNN's Jake Tapper on Tuesday. CNN previously reported that ICE field offices across the country have been directed to make 75 arrests a day as part of Trump's pledge to enact the largest deportation operation in the country's history. ICE reported making nearly 1,000 arrests on Tuesday, following nearly 1,200 arrests on Monday. In the interview, Miller also did not rule out Trump invoking the Insurrection Act at the US southern border. The law allows the president to deploy the military to suppress insurrections and domestic acts of violence. New Jersey drones White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said reported drone sightings that sparked panic in New Jersey last month were drones authorized to fly by the Federal Aviation Administration and "not the enemy." Drone sightings were reported in at least six states — New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio — while arrests have been made in connection with drone operations near restricted areas in Massachusetts and California. In response to the public concern, the FAA put in place dozens of drone bans over critical infrastructure, which have since expired. The new explanation from the White House is in line with what Biden administration officials said at the time — that the drone sightings were not nefarious. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 29, 2025 Author Members Posted January 29, 2025 Trump is offering buyouts to all federal employees The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is offering buyouts to all federal employees who opt to leave their jobs by next week — an unprecedented move to shrink the U.S. government at breakneck speed. Read more. Why this matters: A memo from the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s human resources agency, also said it would begin subjecting all federal employees to “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” and warned of future downsizing. The email sent to millions of employees said those who voluntarily leave their posts by Feb. 6 will receive about eight months of salary. Katie Miller, who serves on an advisory board to the Department of Government Efficiency, a special Trump administration department headed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and tasked with shrinking the size of government, posted on X, “This email is being sent to more than TWO MILLION federal employees.” American Federation of Government Employees union President Everett Kelley said it should not be viewed as voluntary buyouts, but pressuring workers not considered loyal to the new administration to vacate their jobs. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans Head Start and Medicaid providers hit glitches as Trump freezes federal money Defense secretary pulls Trump critic Gen. Milley's security clearance and protective detail Trump order aims to end federal support for gender transitions for those under 19 Trump fires two Democratic commissioners of agency that enforces civil rights workplace laws Sean Duffy is confirmed by the Senate to lead the Transportation Department Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing to be health secretary: Five things to look for Tulsi Gabbard's meeting with Assad is at the center of lawmakers' questions Trump’s nominee for Pentagon weapons buyer was a key figure in the president’s first impeachment WATCH: Trump adds briefing room seats for ‘new media voices’ and addresses NJ drones Migrants describe deportation flights aboard US military planes Florida lawmakers pass sweeping immigration bill Trump-endorsed candidates win primary races to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz California water regulators deny Trump’s claim that US military ‘turned on the water’ in the state Elon Musk’s X partners with Visa on payment service in an effort to become an ‘everything app’ Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 White House rescinds memo on federal aid freeze that caused widespread confusion The White House Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday rescinded a memo that froze federal grants and loans and created widespread confusion this week. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/29/politics/white-house-rescind-federal-funding-freeze/index.html? Trump White House rescinds memo freezing federal money after widespread confusion WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s budget office on Wednesday rescinded a memo freezing spending on federal loans and grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country. https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pause-federal-grants-aid-6d41961940585544fa43a3f66550e7be? ps:"Confusion??" Bull Manure!! Next read Project 2025!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spending freeze rescinded The White House today rescinded the memo that had ordered a "temporary pause" on federal funding and unleashed major confusion across the country —an astonishing reversal the day after a judge stopped the spending freeze from taking effect. ⏱️ The latest: "This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X. "Why? To end any confusion created by the court's injunction. The President's EO's on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented," she added. It's unclear what exactly Leavitt meant, as it was the now-rescinded memo — not the executive orders Trump signed previously — that outlined the "temporary pause," Axios' Zachary Basu reports. ? Why it matters: White House officials had said the freeze would not affect Medicare, Social Security or other direct assistance that Americans "rely on." But the lack of detail left state governments, nonprofits, schools and other programs scrambling. Outages affecting Medicaid reimbursement portals across the country only added to the confusion. Democrats seized on the chaos to mount their first significant and sustained attacks on the Trump administration. Go deeper. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 While signing Laken Riley Act, Trump says he’ll send ‘worst criminal aliens’ to Guantanamo WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Laken Riley Act into law, giving federal authorities broader power to deport immigrants in the U.S. illegally who have been accused of crimes. He also announced at the ceremony that his administration planned to send the “worst criminal aliens” to a detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. https://apnews.com/article/trump-signs-laken-riley-act-immigration-crackdown-30a34248fa984d8d46b809c3e6d8731a? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 OpenAI says DeepSeek may have "inappropriately" used its models' output OpenAI said on Wednesday that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek's open-source models may have "inappropriately" based its work on the output of OpenAI's models, an OpenAI spokesperson told Axios. https://www.axios.com/2025/01/29/openai-deepseek-ai-models-data-training? Trump says he'll hold undocumented immigrants at Guantanamo Bay President Trump on Wednesday announced an order to open a detention center at Guantanamo Bay to house up to 30,000 immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally. https://www.axios.com/2025/01/29/trump-guantanamo-bay-undocumented-immigrants? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 ? First loss of Trump 2.0 Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries smell blood over President Trump's federal spending freeze. Why it matters: The base is loving the party's muscular signs of life and wants more. Phone lines lit up in Democratic offices today, sources told us. "This is only the beginning," Jeffries told House Dems on an emergency call this afternoon. House Democrats are planning a "day of action" tomorrow on the funding freeze, even after the White House withdrew the memo and blamed media coverage for the public's confusion. Zoom in: The Trump White House is in retreat. Top Trump advisers said the memo was an unforced error and skipped the proper channels, the N.Y. Times reported tonight. Now Dems will try to turn the public backlash into durable opposition to other (and more popular) parts of his agenda. Senate Dems will flood the floor into the overnight hours tonight with speeches about the dangers of Trump's move. Schumer has demanded the creation of "strike teams" to combat the budget reconciliation plan by Republicans, sources tell us. The bottom line: After weeks of internal frustration over his leadership, Schumer has taken a heavier hand. Schumer obsesses over issue polling and privately acknowledges that some of Trump's priorities play well with voters. But the magnitude and scope of the OMB memo jumped out to Schumer and leadership as a massive overstep by Trump. — Stephen Neukam, Andrew Solender and Hans Nichols Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 ⚖️ Trump vs. the courts President Trump is pushing legal boundaries by design — testing the limits of his own power and the willingness of a conservative high court to enhance it, Axios' Sam Baker writes. Why it matters: Trump's shock-and-awe agenda is setting up multiple future Supreme Court showdowns. Legal challenges threaten to scuttle some of his priorities and delay parts of his swift, decisive show of force. State of play: The White House yesterday rescinded a freeze on trillions of dollars in federal grants — two days after it was issued, and one day after a judge temporarily prevented it from taking effect. The freeze sparked nationwide confusion, and reignited a long-simmering legal debate about whether presidents have the power to refuse to spend money that Congress has appropriated. That's a serious constitutional question only the Supreme Court can ultimately answer. ? Between the lines: The spending freeze was on a fast track to the high court the moment it was signed. The White House backed down this time. But it's prepared — and in many cases, eager — to fight many of these fights all the way to the end. Trump's efforts to end birthright citizenship through an executive order have also been blocked. "This is a blatantly unconstitutional order," said U.S. District Judge John Coughenour of Seattle, who put a temporary stay on Trump's plans. Multiple suits over the citizenship order have been filed in multiple jurisdictions. So there'll be more rulings on the issue as it works its way toward the Supreme Court. ? Legal experts largely think the Justice Department will have a hard time constructing a case against birthright citizenship. The 14th Amendment says, in part, that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States ... are citizens of the United States." That has long been read as establishing birthright citizenship. ? But in other areas, the Trump administration will be on much friendlier terrain. Inspectors general fired by Trump last week have argued their dismissals were illegal, citing federal oversight laws. But taking those claims to court could backfire. The Supreme Court's conservative majority generally takes an expansive view of presidential power, including the power to fire senior executive branch officials. ? Zoom in: Unions representing government workers have filed multiple suits challenging Schedule F — the executive order that strips civil-service protections from scores of federal employees, making it easier for Trump (or any president) to fire them. Trump's efforts to slash the bureaucracy depend heavily on Schedule F — which means they'll depend on the outcome of those cases. ? What to watch: Liberal advocacy organizations have sued over Trump's surprise decision to give DOGE, initially conceived as an outside advisory group, a home inside the government. That can't happen without congressional approval, they argue. There's also a suit pending over Trump's order on transgender inmates. More civil rights cases are sure to arise as the White House and federal agencies further roll back diversity programs and protections for LGBTQ people. Some Trump spending cuts could also end up in court. The bottom line: Almost everything of any significance the Trump administration does, or attempts to do, will end up in court. In less than two weeks, it has already touched off two fights that would likely put enormous constitutional questions before the Supreme Court. There will be many, many more. ⏰ Later today: Mike will be joined by Neil Irwin, Axios chief economic reporter, and Chris Krueger of TD Cowen, one of the sharpest policy minds in D.C., for an Axios AM Executive Briefing webinar taking you deep inside the massive coming fight over taxes. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 ? Federal government's Elon-ification Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images A workforce discombobulated by chaotic recent events receives an email with the subject line "Fork in the Road." Inside, a deadline to quit or commit to the new mission. That's the scenario Twitter employees faced in November 2022 — and the one now confronting some 2.3 million government workers, Axios' Dave Lawler and Scott Rosenberg write. Why it matters: If Musk's takeover of Washington is anything like his takeover of Twitter, federal workers — and Americans more generally — had better buckle up. His "slash first, ask questions later" management style has already been reflected in some of President Trump's biggest moves. ? The big picture: Federal workers received that email Tuesday from the Office of Personnel Management, effectively the executive branch's HR department. The email, scooped by Axios, gave federal workers nine days to quit and be paid through September or embrace a new "performance culture" — and accept the risk their jobs could be cut or downsized later. It had Musk's fingerprints all over it. Flashback: Some Twitter employees who left in the chaotic period after Musk purchased the company, renamed it X and fired or drove out thousands of workers say they were promised severance packages that failed to materialize. Some have sued. There are key differences here: Musk doesn't own the U.S. government and can't just order mass firings. Also, many federal workers belong to unions. Keep reading. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 Trump’s orders take aim at critical race theory and antisemitism on college campuses President Donald Trump is ordering U.S. schools to stop teaching what he views as “critical race theory” and other material dealing with race and sexuality, or risk losing their federal money. Read more. Why this matters: A separate plan announced Wednesday calls for aggressive action to fight antisemitism on college campuses, promising to prosecute offenders and revoke visas for international students found to be “Hamas sympathizers.” The measures seek to fulfill some of the Republican president’s core campaign promises around education, though it’s unclear how much power he has to enact the proposals. The measure taps into a wave of conservative anger aimed at classroom lessons that some see as too liberal. A growing number of Republican states have adopted laws or rules barring the teaching of critical race theory or “divisive concepts” in public schools and universities. Opponents say the rules impose vague restrictions on teachers and create a chilling effect on discussions about history and other subjects. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Fed hold rates steady, sees inflation as ‘elevated,’ as Powell declines comment on Trump Meta agrees to pay $25 million to settle lawsuit from Trump after Jan. 6 suspension Senate confirms Zeldin to lead EPA as Trump vows to cut climate rules WATCH: Heated moments of RFK Jr. confirmation hearing for health secretary What US adults think of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his views on vaccines, fluoride and raw milk Tulsi Gabbard’s views on Russia, Syria, Trump and government surveillance — in her own words Trump administration revokes deportation protections for 600,000 Venezuelans What to know about Guantánamo Bay, the base where Trump will send ‘criminal aliens’ Pentagon agency pauses celebrations for MLK Jr. Day and Black History Month Trump signs order to punish those who vandalize statues Trump looks to repurpose federal money to expand school choice programs Justice Dept. abandons criminal proceedings against 2 Trump co-defendants in classified records case President Donald Trump appeals his New York hush money conviction Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 Trump White House rescinds memo freezing federal money after widespread confusion WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s budget office on Wednesday rescinded a memo freezing spending on federal loans and grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country. https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pause-federal-grants-aid-6d41961940585544fa43a3f66550e7be Roberts Memo Could Complicate Trump’s Spending Freeze In a 1985 memo to the White House’s top lawyer, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that a president may not block congressionally required spending — a declaration on a major legal question that now seems destined to move from the Trump White House to Roberts’ Supreme Court. https://www.levernews.com/roberts-memo-could-complicate-trumps-spending-freeze/ Trump tries to expand offshore drilling off Florida’s Gulf coast His efforts are likely to run into problems with the military, the oil industry, and even one of Trump’s prior executive orders. https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/01/30/trump-tries-to-expand-offshore-drilling-off-floridas-gulf-coast/? Extension of temporary protections for Venezuelan immigrants revoked by Trump administration WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security late Tuesday revoked an extension of temporary protective status for nearly 600,000 Venezuelans, according to an unpublished Federal Register document obtained by States Newsroom. https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/01/29/dc/extension-of-temporary-protections-for-venezuelan-immigrants-revoked-by-trump-administration/? ps:Of course he did!! Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 Trump Leans on WWII Japanese Incarceration Law to Deport Immigrants In his inaugural address last Monday, President Donald Trump dug deep into the archives to unearth a law that would empower his campaign against immigrants. “By invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798,” Trump announced, “I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to U.S. soil, including our cities and inner cities.” https://theintercept.com/2025/01/28/trump-deport-immigrants-alien-enemies-act-japanese/? ps:Of course he would do that!! Trump's Resignation Offer to Federal Workers Mirrors Musk's 'Hardcore' Memo An email sent to federal employees offering a 'deferred resignation' echoes a 2022 memo Musk sent to Twitter employees telling them they 'need to be extremely hardcore.' https://www.pcmag.com/news/trumps-resignation-offer-to-federal-workers-mirrors-musks-hardcore-memo? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 30, 2025 Author Members Posted January 30, 2025 Sam Bankman-Fried’s Parents Explore Seeking Trump Pardon for Son The parents of FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried are exploring ways to secure a pardon for the onetime crypto billionaire from President Donald Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-30/sam-bankman-fried-s-parents-explore-seeking-trump-pardon-for-son? ps:This is just the kind of person trump will have no problem giving a pardon too. And maybe if Patel doesn't work out and the the FBI job he can have Sam do it!!!!!!!!!! Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 31, 2025 Author Members Posted January 31, 2025 FAA Hiring Policy Lambasted by Trump After DC Plane Crash Existed During His 1st Term Trump implied that a long-standing FAA policy could be to blame for the deadly collision between an Army helicopter and a passenger airplane. https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/01/30/plane-crash-trump-faa/? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 31, 2025 Author Members Posted January 31, 2025 Trump's crisis chaos Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photos: Getty Images In his first national tragedy, President Trump posted like a pundit, speculated needlessly, and blamed Democrats and DEI even though the specifics were unknown, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. Why it matters: The traditional presidential playbook is boring by design — pray for the lost and their families, reassure the public, promise a swift investigation. That has never been Trump's style. ?️ The big picture: It's vintage Trump: His instincts for bare-knuckle brawling were a huge asset during his four years in the wilderness, helping to fuel a historic political comeback. But Trump is president now, not a powerless pundit. His words carry the weight of the U.S. government. Data: Census Bureau, IPUMS. (Includes air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists working in air transportation or services incidental to transportation.) Chart: Axios Visuals Zoom in: As bodies were still being recovered from the Potomac River, Trump began a press conference at the White House with a moment of silence and request for national unity. Moments later, he pivoted to attacking his Democratic predecessors, Presidents Biden and Obama, and accusing the FAA of prioritizing diversity over air safety. Trump acknowledged an investigation was needed to determine the exact causes of the crashes, but cited "common sense" when asked how he knew diversity hiring could have played a role. "They actually came out with a directive — 'too white,'" Trump claimed of the FAA under Obama. "Their policy was horrible and their politics was even worse." Later yesterday, Trump signed a memo ordering a review of all federal aviation hiring and safety decisions — and explicitly blaming his predecessors for the collision. "This shocking event follows problematic and likely illegal decisions during the Obama and Biden Administrations that minimized merit and competence" in the FAA, the memo alleged. ? Reality check: There's no evidence that Obama or Biden's hiring policies at the FAA led to any kind of decline in aviation safety. The "disabilities" language that Trump now opposes was in FAA regulations during his entire first term and first appeared around 2013, according to the fact-checking website Snopes. The FAA administrator under Biden resigned when Trump took office, and the agency had been leaderless until Trump tapped Chris Rochealeau after the crash. Keep reading. ps:Well we're back to all the MISINFORMATION we had for his first 4 years, with all his Bull Manure!!!!! Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 31, 2025 Author Members Posted January 31, 2025 Trump's Middle East envoy White House envoy Steve Witkoff said in an interview at the end of his trip to the Middle East that rebuilding Gaza could take between 10 and 15 years. "What was inescapable is that there is almost nothing left of Gaza," Witkoff told Axios' Barak Ravid. "People are moving north to get back to their homes and see what happened and turn around and leave ... There is no water and no electricity. It is stunning just how much damage occurred there." Why it matters: The Trump administration wants to see the ceasefire continue and Gaza stabilized so it can move forward with its ambitious plans for the Middle East, including a peace agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel and trying to get a deal with Iran on its nuclear program. Keep reading. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted January 31, 2025 Author Members Posted January 31, 2025 U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor says Trump presidency ‘defined by illegality’ so far Democrats nationally and in Florida have been cautious in responding to the barrage of executive orders and actions that Donald Trump has enacted in his first week and-a-half as president. https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/01/30/u-s-rep-kathy-castor-says-trump-presidency-defined-by-illegality-so-far/? Trump will impose new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on Saturday, White House says President Donald Trump will move forward with aggressive new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China on Saturday, the White House said, affirming he will stick to his February 1 deadline for the new duties that could have widespread effects on the economy. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/31/politics/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-china/index.html? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1, 2025 Author Members Posted February 1, 2025 “People Will Die”: The Trump Administration Said It Lifted Its Ban on Lifesaving Humanitarian Aid. That’s Not True. Organizations that provide vital care for desperate and vulnerable people around the world have been forced to halt operations, turn away patients and lay off staff. “I’ve never seen anything that scares me as much as this,” one doctor said. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-state-department-usaid-humanitarian-aid-freeze-ukraine-gaza-sudan? To Pay for Trump Tax Cuts, House GOP Floats Plan to Slash Benefits for the Poor and Working Class A menu of options being circulated by congressional Republicans also includes new tax cuts for corporations and the ultrawealthy. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-tax-cuts-congress-republicans-plan-slash-benefits? ps:As per usual, tax the poor and keep the wealthy from paying there share!!!!! ICE Enforcement Official Tapped to Lead Unaccompanied Migrant Children Office, Triggering Alarms A longtime immigration enforcement official has been tapped to run the agency responsible for managing unaccompanied migrant children, in a move that has alarmed experts and advocates who are concerned that information about children and their families will be shared for arrests and deportations. https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-children-ice-office-refugee-resettlement-mellissa-harper? ProPublica’s Coverage of Donald Trump’s Appointments — and How They Could Reshape Federal Agencies President Trump’s nominees for key positions have a history of pushing back against the work of the departments and agencies they’ve been chosen to lead. https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-appointments-cabinet-propublica-reporting? Boxed Up: A Portrait of an Immigrant Community Living Under Threat of Deportation The Nicaraguans who keep Wisconsin’s dairy farms, restaurants and factories working are sending home their most prized possessions, bracing for potential mass deportations. “We don’t have much, but what we do have is important.” https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-wisconsin-trump-mass-deportations-nicaragua? The Rewriting of a Pioneering Female Astronomer’s Legacy Shows How Far Trump’s DEI Purge Will Go The federal webpage for an observatory named for the late astronomer Vera Rubin was edited to omit any recognition of the fact that science remains a male-dominated field or that the observatory was working to be more inclusive. https://www.propublica.org/article/vera-rubin-astronomer-dei-trump? Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 1, 2025 Author Members Posted February 1, 2025 ⚡️Next week's Cabinet action Chart: Axios Visuals A pair of dramatic storylines will collide next week in the Senate's rush to confirm Trump nominees. Potential committee votes: RFK Jr. for secretary of HHS, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Kash Patel for FBI. On the Senate floor: Russ Vought for director OMB, Chris Wright for secretary of Energy and Pam Bondi for attorney general. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 2, 2025 Author Members Posted February 2, 2025 Purges, punishments, payback America has never witnessed so many people purged or punished by an incoming president so quickly. White House sources tell us this is just the beginning, Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a "Behind the Curtain" column. Last night, a Defense Department memo said four major news organizations — The New York Times, NBC News, NPR and Politico — will have to move out of their longtime workspace on Correspondents' Corridor in the Pentagon, an unprecedented move, under a new Annual Media Rotation Program for Pentagon Press Corps. "Hope those hit pieces on Pete were worth it," a source close to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but not involved in the decision-making, told us. Why it matters: President Trump long promised to oust and punish people his administration deemed political enemies or unfair critics. His administration is doing this faster, deeper and wider than many in Washington expected. Democrats on the Hill are warning that Trump is sometimes acting outside the law — and without regard for government services Americans rely on, and for the American tradition that a president must be subject to checks, balances, scrutiny and criticism. ?️ The big picture: The danger in moving so fast, so wide is losing vital, seasoned talent in hard-to-fill, essential governmental roles. It sets a precedent for future presidents to quickly remake the government in their image or ideological mold — and extend the power of the presidency. Trump advisers see this much differently, of course. They argue the government is filled with anti-Trump activists and bureaucratic lifers who can be eliminated with little cost. The depth and breadth of actions in the first two weeks show the results. ? Zoom out: In the first 12 days of Trump II, the president also revoked clearances and government security protection for several former officials. In a move with city-by-city repercussions across America, Trump temporarily froze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans. A second federal judge, in Rhode Island, on Friday ordered a temporary pause. Trump also offered about 2 million federal employees the chance to resign and get paid through Sept. 30 under a "deferred resignation deal." ? Zoom in: This is unprecedented territory for Washington governance. Take the early strikes against the FBI and its role in investigating and prosecuting those involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Not only did Trump take the unprecedented step of pardoning virtually all involved, including violent criminals. His team is hunting down those involved in the probe, ousting many. Some of these prosecutors and officials didn't choose the case but were assigned to do it, did their job, and moved on. ⚖️ Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove identified more than a half-dozen FBI senior executives who were ordered to retire or be fired by Monday, AP reports. Bove asked for the names and titles of FBI employees who worked on investigations into the Capitol riot — a list the bureau's acting director said could number in the thousands. "Forcing out both agents and prosecutors who worked on Jan. 6 cases would amount to a wide-scale assault on the Justice Department," the N.Y. Times notes (gift link). ? Then consider the Friday night announcement about Pentagon workspace for top news organizations. Every administration has the option of who gets seats and who doesn't. But the message to mainstream media was unmistakable and not masked. The Pentagon said invitations will go out to the New York Post, One America News Network and Breitbart (Trump-friendly outlets), plus Huffington Post (which doesn't have a Pentagon correspondent and didn't request a space). ? NBC News said in a statement: "We're disappointed by the decision to deny us access to a broadcasting booth at the Pentagon that we've used for many decades." "Despite the significant obstacles this presents to our ability to gather and report news in the national public interest, we will continue to report with the same integrity and rigor NBC News always has." The bottom line: Moves like this are designed to send signals and make plain the consequences of tough coverage. A data.gov tracker showing the number of datasets available was removed overnight after an unknown number of datasets were purged throughout the day on Friday. Screengrabs via Axios Visuals In the span of just a couple hours yesterday afternoon, the Trump administration unleashed a barrage of actions targeting DEI, Axios' Erin Doherty, April Rubin and Dave Lawler write. Several federal health websites — home to climate science and issues, including HIV prevention and transgender care — went dark yesterday afternoon. Chart: Axios Visuals Trump told reporters: "I think DEI is dead, so [if] they want to scrub the websites, that's OK with me." Keep reading. ? The White House dropped a video that features mothers whose children's deaths were linked to undocumented immigrants rebuking actress Selena Gomez for an Instagram post in which she cried over Trump's deportation plan, Axios' Alex Isenstadt and Marc Caputo report. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 2, 2025 Author Members Posted February 2, 2025 Trump builds tariff wall Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios A wrecking ball is coming for the norms of global trade, Axios' Courtenay Brown writes. Why it matters: Trade policy moved more slowly in Trump 1.0. The measures send a warning that this time, tariffs will be broader, implemented faster and wielded to notch economic wins. Trump today is expected to disrupt the largely friendly economic relationship between our North American neighbors with high tariffs that would blow up his own trade deal. He plans to up the ante on U.S.-China trade relations, and pledged more tariffs ahead. Keep reading. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 2, 2025 Author Members Posted February 2, 2025 The payback precedent There's an unspoken, ugly rule of American politics: Do unto the other what they have done unto you. Simply put: Copy the payback, punishments and precedent-shattering techniques practiced by the other party — if they prove effective, Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen report in a "Behind the Curtain" column. Why it matters: In 30 years of covering this city, it's hard to recall any controversial new power grabs or moves not growing commonplace in American politics. That's why impeachment threats ... governing by executive order ... and ever-expanding presidential power are as predictable as winter follows fall. They did it to us. So we'll do it, too — on steroids. ?️ The big picture: President Trump didn't start this trend, by any stretch of the imagination. But he stretches the trend beyond imagination. We're in uncharted territory, a new frontier. Republicans should fully expect future Democratic presidents to use and build on all these norm-busting moves. ? Trump's new techniques and tactics, likely to be adopted by future presidents, include: Fire critics and perceived enemies. Trump is ousting people across the bureaucracy and not hiding his motivation — payback. In the past, presidents griped about hostile forces inside government, but rarely acted beyond one-offs. They assumed they lacked the power. But courts are validating a broader presidential authority than had been presumed. Incoming presidents usually fixate on the cabinet. Trump is paving the way for them to instantly resurface huge chunks of government with loyalists. Punish media companies for critical coverage. Trump has sued several news organizations for stories or even interview edits he disliked. Some of these organizations are settling the cases, enticing Trump and others to make this a permanent weapon. The Pentagon said it'll "rotate" four major news organizations — The New York Times, NBC News, NPR and Politico — from their workspace on Correspondents' Corridor beginning Feb. 14, and cycle in several friendly outlets. That's a new level of carrot-and-stick. Reward political allies with pardons. This has always been done, for sure — but in smaller doses. Trump's sweeping clemency for Jan. 6 rioters, including people convicted of attacking police, set a new precedent for protecting people who defend your politics. Combine this with former President Biden's preemptive pardon of family members and political allies, and it's hard to see any real limits on setting friends or allies free. Impunity with immunity. Trump helped shape a Supreme Court that granted all presidents presumed immunity for official acts in office. That codified a level of freedom and presidential power some assumed — but was never solidified. Now, it is. Fully expect more cases codifying presidential power to land on the Supreme Court docket. Trump wields power with few perceived restraints. Others will follow, especially when they control Congress. Presidential profits. Presidents and their families can start businesses — or even currencies — and profit without restriction or outcry going forward. They always could — but most steered clear of the appearance of a conflict or profiting off their power while in office. It was seen as beneath the presidency. But Trump started promoting a memecoin three days before taking office — with a paper value that reached tens of billions — with little outcry. Most Americans didn't realize there are basically no limitations on presidents profiting off their reins of power through new businesses or business deals. Now, they do. ? What to watch: Republicans currently rule Washington and the courts — so they're full, content beneficiaries of all of this. But what happens when Republicans are inevitably out of power? Power in Washington has swung wildly for 20+ years — Biden had two years of all-Democratic rule ... after first-term Trump had two years of all-GOP rule ... after President Obama had two years of all-Dem rule ... after former President George W. Bush had full GOP control ... after former President Clinton had two years of full Dem control. ? Reality check: Democrats have a religious devotion to norms and institutions that Republicans simply don't share. It's a unique feature of Trumpism to despise the "Deep State," mainstream media, and checks on executive power. Biden campaigned in 2020 on restoring normalcy. The 2028 Democratic nominee might well take a similar tack — though four years of Trump could push the party in a more brass-knuckle populist direction. The bottom line: History shows the next Democratic president, with a Democratic Congress, will likely use — and expand — many of these powers. Biden did it! Trump did it! So I shall do it, too! Axios' Zachary Basu contributed reporting. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 2, 2025 Author Members Posted February 2, 2025 ? Trump tariffs ignite trade war Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios ? Breaking: "Worth the price" ... President Trump posted this morning from Mar-a-Lago: "THIS WILL BE THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA! WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN? YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!). BUT WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID." Trump imposed across-the-board "Tariffs to Protect Americans" on China + his North American allies, Mexico and Canada — sparking immediate retaliation against U.S. manufacturers, Axios' Courtenay Brown reports. Mexican and Canadian imports are now subject to 25% tariffs — except for energy from Canada, which will face 10% tariffs. The White House announced additional 10% tariffs on Chinese goods — many of which already face import taxes held over from Trump's first term. The White House said the tariffs, which take effect Tuesday, were a response to an emergency threat posed by undocumented immigrants and drugs. The Trump administration said the tariffs will remain "until the crisis is alleviated." Hours after the White House orders, retaliation started: ?? Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory measures that would put 25% tariffs on more than $100 billion worth of U.S. exports, including beer, food products and appliances. Trudeau encouraged Canadians to buy locally made products — skip Florida orange juice or Kentucky bourbon, and forego U.S. vacations. ?? Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also is readying counter-tariffs. ? Between the lines: The impact of the tariffs could be passed on to a wide range of everyday consumer products. Trump insists tariffs aren't inflationary, though he conceded Friday they could cause "temporary, short-term disruption." The Tax Foundation estimated Friday that tariffs could effectively be a tax of $830 a year on the average U.S. household. Business interest and lobbying groups, which have cheered Trump's expected deregulatory and tax policies, released a flurry of statements condemning the orders. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned the tariffs "will only raise prices for American families and upend supply chains." ? Case in point: Most U.S. supplies of tomatoes, avocados and beer come from Mexico. Auto parts, oil and gas are among the key Canadian exports to the U.S. ? The intrigue: Trump is leaning on unprecedented authority. The White House invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a Carter-era law giving the president wide-ranging powers in an emergency. The law has never been tapped to impose tariffs and is likely to draw legal scrutiny. The bottom line: Trump has blown up the free-trade deal with Mexico and Canada, the USMCA, that he negotiated in his first term. These new tariffs set the scene for a new global trade war. ? What's next: World markets brace for tariff impact. (Bloomberg) Executive Order ... White House fact sheet ... Wrapup: Trump's Week 2. Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
Members phkrause Posted February 2, 2025 Author Members Posted February 2, 2025 ? Penny vs. Musk Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios The penny is seemingly immortal: Thousands of people have tried to kill it, but every time it has survived, Axios' Felix Salmon writes. Why it matters: It now meets what might be its most formidable adversary yet — Elon Musk. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) account posted on X the day after the inauguration: "The penny costs over 3 cents to make ... Penny (or 3 cents!) for your thoughts." ? By the numbers: Each penny, indeed, cost 2.72 cents to produce in the last fiscal year, the U.S. Mint reports. The 240 billion pennies lying around the U.S. collectively weigh about 600,000 tons — the weight of three Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. The overwhelming majority of them made their way after being minted to some retailer, where they were given out in change. After that, they just stopped being used, because almost no one spends pennies. A DOGE spokesperson, asked whether the office intends to abolish the penny, responded: "Shouldn't you ask Treasury?" Treasury didn't respond. Go deeper: N.Y. Times Magazine in September, "Stop Making Cents" (gift link). Quote phkrause Read Isaiah 10:1-13
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