The Official "Damned Trump" Thread: Phase II

[Belacqua]

Neither side can be trusted.

I don't trust Politico to tell us where they get their money. And no one should trust the NYTimes on partisan issues like this.

Your position here is inconsistent with trusting that what Musk says is veridical.  You're talking the talk but not walking the walk.

The claims of both sides should be scrutinized. 

The fact that we lack trustworthy sources to do this is a problem.

[Angrboda]

Your position here is inconsistent with trusting that what Musk says is veridical.  You're talking the talk but not walking the walk.

The claims of both sides should be scrutinized. 

The fact that we lack trustworthy sources to do this is a problem.

[Angrboda]

[Angrboda]

Judge finds Trump administration violated court order halting funding freeze

Justice Department lawyers argued in a court filing that they didn't believe the order covered some of the frozen funding and that some of the funding at issue is under review to make sure it's "appropriate.

"The Defendants now plea that they are just trying to root out fraud. But the freezes in effect now were a result of the broad categorical order, not a specific finding of possible fraud," McConnell wrote. "The broad categorical and sweeping freeze of federal funds is, as the Court found, likely unconstitutional and has caused and continues to cause irreparable harm to a vast portion of this country."

He said the "pauses in funding violate the plain text" of the temporary restraining order he issued on Jan. 31, and ordered that funding be immediately restored for the duration of the time his TRO is in effect. The order is expected to remain in place until at least a hearing on a preliminary injunction later this month.

[Alan V]

It has only been three weeks.  These kinds of embarrassments are going to continue for the next four years.

[Angrboda]

“I’m reminded of Marbury v. Madison, when the government did not even bother to show up before the Supreme Court to defend its position — strongly suggesting it would flout any court order against it,” said Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia.

Even as the court ruled that the administration of Thomas Jefferson had acted unlawfully, she said, “the court carefully crafted its opinion in that case to avoid a ruling requiring executive branch compliance.”

Much has changed since that 1803 decision, and the Supreme Court’s stature and authority have grown. “Nonetheless,” Professor Frost said, “the Supreme Court may find it hard to defend the laws Congress enacted against executive usurpation when the Republican-controlled Congress refuses to do the same.”

Professor Karlan said she worried that the justices would rule for Mr. Trump for fear that he would ignore decisions rejecting his positions. “The idea that courts should preserve the illusion of power by abdicating their responsibilities would just make the constitutional crisis even worse,” she said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/us/po...risis.html

[Mr Greene]

Terrifying, absurd but mostly terrifying...

[Jackalope]

He is showing us where the money goes.

It's good because we should know what the government is doing.

If that's the goal, we should be using auditors, not programmers.

This. I am a "programmer" with over 30 years of experience working on systems that move and track multiple billions of dollars in payments every year
I'm slightly more qualified to do a financial audit than a golden retriever.

[The Grand Nudger]

Hey, I've always wanted to run the usda. The only thing standing between me and that dream is education, experience, charm, wisdom, natural talent, and an official appointment. Can I have a go monkeying around in the data too! Maybe we can all do whatever we want now.

[Ravenshire]

The salute is a mark of respect for the recipient. Given Trump's consistent disrespect of GIs, his salute is worse than worthless -- it's dishonest.

While I agree with all the opinions on his salute of the flag, if this is the worst thing the tangerine toddler manages this week, I'll be fucking thrilled!