Hegseth had an unsecured internet line set up in his office to connect to Signal, AP sources say

What a bunch of amateurs.

Wife of wrongly deported Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia forced into safe house after government posts address online

Jeez. They really don’t have a bottom.

Let’s face it DOGE was never intended to cut waste. Here is a good example of why…

If you can make government less effective you can con people into privatizing it. Citizens get screwed and the rich get richer.

Just as when Trump fired the Democrats on the FTC board, this removes another barricade to malfeasance. The monitory party members on the board are there to keep an eye on the majority party who runs the show. They can, and do, report on less than kosher deals. Both Republicans and Democrats have been in the minority in the past and both have done this job. This has never happened before that I can recall. We should all be very worried. I like when the government keeps an eye on those who could rip me off. This removes that protection.

Trump administration removes Democratic members of credit union watchdog

Whilst trying to accomplish evil, once again, Trump/Musk and co. screwed up.

Whistleblower says DOGE may have caused ‘significant cyber breach’ at labor watchdog

Marjorie Taylor Greene bought thousands of dollars in stock right before Trump’s tariff pause sent markets soaring

You think maybe there’s a bit of corruption going on?

Don’t weaken Bernie, we need you.

It says a lot about a Trump supporter that this is the kind of cruelty they crave. First, they fired the guy who admitted they made a mistake in deporting the man. (Lesson – Never admit wrongdoing or a mistake.) Now, they refuse to repatriate the victim. A Maryland father of three with protected status and no criminal record. A decision so capricious and cruel as to defy explanation. What kind of sicko wants these people in charge? And before any Trump supporters say “Well we didn’t vote for that.” Yeah, you did. You don’t get a pass on anything he does. You were warned.
Trump administration contends it has no duty to return illegally deported man to US

First, they take away food for starving kids from famine stricken countries that cost our government little, but helped U.S. farmers because the government bought their crop. Not to mention the goodwill it bought our country. Then, they take away Medicaid funding that pays for health care for poor children and old people in nursing homes and SNAP funding that gets poor kids food. Now this.

Incompetence, corruption and cruelty. That’s Trump.

Update: Let’s double down on this. Trump’s Immigration Czar Mocks SCOTUS’ Deported Dad Slapdown and… Man Sent to Guantánamo Bay for Biking on Wrong Side of the Road
Yeah I know those stories are from “The Daily Beast” but The conversation was real, and I won’t link to Newsmax.

The Trump Administration Can’t Stop Lying About Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Bush’s “terrorist prison” at Guantánamo Bay cost’s the U.S. taxpayers $450 million per year. Many of the original detainees have been cleared for release. But they’re still there. All of them could be moved to federal supermax prisons for a huge savings. But some people love that we have a “secret” prison.

Trump’s retribution sends a chilling message to dissenters

Trump is ordering, at taxpayers expense, investigations into anyone who told the truth about his first term, or even publicly disagreed with him. More waste and fraud from Trump/Musk and company. Are we “winning” yet?

Update: Opinion – Trump literally wants these 2 men arrested for criticizing him

Social Security Administration ‘will be using X to communicate’ moving forward

Well that makes sense, so many people in the “Lost Generation” as well as older “Baby Boomers” are so tech savvy. I wonder who thought of that brilliant idea? I’m sure that’s not pandering.

He’s been right more than anyone.

What does Wikipedia say?

Fascism (/ˈfæʃɪzəm/ FASH-iz-əm) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement,[1][2][3] characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation or race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy

Authoritarian – Trump has suppressed the opinions of professionals within the government. He tries to punish his “enemies” through various means. He suspended due process and sent over 250 men to a foreign prison because they were suspected of being in a gang. No evidence of criminal activity or gang membership has been presented though multiple legal channels have requested it. It appears many were deported simply because they had tattoos with a crown. He has defied court orders on numerous occasions. He has repeatedly worked to suppress journalists.

Ultranationalist – Trump uses patriotic imagery frequently, and has called himself an unapologetic nationalist. Hugging and kissing the U.S. flag at public events. He uses the phrase “America First” and has attempted to extort favors and resources from other countries. He has eliminated aid to famine stricken regions simply to provide tax breaks for the wealthy. Gulf of America? Really?

Dictatorial Leader – Trump’s cabinet meetings are interesting to watch, as each department head begins their report by first praising Trump’s leadership (and occasionally his appearance) before giving their speech. I have only previously seen behavior like this in China. Recently many Democratic members of Congress and journalists have asked Republican members of congress a simple question “Did Russia invade Ukraine?” Not one would answer in the affirmative on camera due to fear of reprisals from Trump and Musk. This is especially notable since some Republican’s did go on camera to disagree with Trump’s claims that the won the 2020 election just a year ago. They are all afraid now.

Centralized Autocracy – recently state governments have rushed to implement Trump administration’s policies despite dubious constitutionality. Trump has also indicated that disaster relief for states will contingent of their compliance to his priorities. Update: In an executive order on Tuesday, directed the Justice Department to identify any state and local laws and regulations that hamper energy development and stop their enforcement. Democratic governors have pledged to fight back.

Militarism – Trump insisted on the first military parade in U.S. history during his first term and a new one to celebrate his 79th birthday. Praise the great leader. He has also praised authoritarian leaders around the world. Especially those who use military force on domestic “enemies”. He has also used and threatened to use military force for domestic issues here in America.

Forcible suppression of opposition – Mass deportations, removal of journalists he deems unkind to him from the press pool, intimidation of both universities and legal firms. Firings and threatened legal proceedings against political opponents are common. Weaponization of the Department of Justice to pursue political rivals.

Belief in a natural social hierarchy – Recently the Naval library removed both the autobiography of Jackie Robinson and writings from Martin Luther King. Add to that his desire to remove all elements of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as support for reducing programs to address poverty and I think we have this one wrapped up.

Subordination of individual interests for the perceived good of the nation or race – Elimination of any acceptance for transsexuals, the elimination of legal abortion and the attempts to restrict birth control seems like it fits well. Especially Musk’s strange focus on compelling women to have more children, seems like it fits even more. Trump’s lack of concern for Americans having to bare the brunt of his tariffs.

Strong regimentation of society – Elimination of dissenting beliefs, support for Christian Nationalistic ideology. Eliminate basic rights of women. Tough “Law and order” stance. Check

And the economy – How’s your 401K doing? Cryptocurrency is now money?

Yep. It all seems to check out. The issue people take, is much like the issue they take with perhaps being called racist. Most of the people offended by the words don’t want admit the words do apply to them, because they know the words indicate something wrong. Rather than look at themselves and ask if they themselves are racist, or look at Trump and ask, “Is he a fascist?” they simply take offense. Perhaps they should ask those questions and hold off on the offense.

I certainly wouldn’t compare Trump to somebody like Hitler. Hitler was smarter, and hid his narcissism by emphasizing national identity and pretending to be Socialist, because back then Socialism was considered non-threatening. Germany of course, stayed Capitalist, enriching its lords of industry and Hitler got and held power. Trump simply wants the respect of his peer group (the ultra wealthy) and by enriching them he will get, and has gotten, a kind of false fealty. But I don’t think he’s smart enough to seal the deal, so to speak. In the end they, and his fawning masses. Will begin to turn. Not all of them, but hopefully enough.

Here is a very logical piece. A simple argument backed with simple to understand explanations. Rare in a piece about economics. My Republican friends won’t read it, because it is from the “left-wing” Atlantic magazine. “Bias!” They will cry. Too bad. Trump voters are immune to logic because they believe. They have faith in their orange hero.

There Is Only One Way to Make Sense of the Tariffs

Nobody Knows Anything! This is an expression I have heard before from a former UK elected official who said of economic plans, “The truth is, politicians are usually making it up as they go. They don’t really know what will happen, no matter how much they say they do.”

Also…
Trump’s tariff numbers appear to have been calculated through a simple math formula, which works with every single country on the list

What a moron.

Nothing to see here folks.

Guess who bought JD Vance’s house outside DC for over asking price? A former Trump official.

Must have been a real generous guy to have offered $172,000 over asking price! Such nice people. Of course he does make money from government contracts. But this couldn’t be a conflict of interest. Could it?

It always amazed me that Republicans I talked to would regularly complain about the influence of George Soros on the Democratic party while ignoring the influence of the Koch brothers or Sheldon Adelson on the Republican party. Truth is there are a LOT more billionaires funding the Republicans that those funding the Democrats. Here is the story of one…

This little-known company is a major funder of right-wing politics. You’ve probably eaten their chicken.

‘Cause we know which party can get behind animal cruelty and an unsafe food supply.

No. The revolution began a while ago. You won. Now comes the executions of your “enemies”.

Mass layoffs are underway at the nation’s public health agencies

This is a disaster. American health care research is some of the best in the world, even if our actual health care system is a mess. For most of the twentieth century, the FDA, the NIH and the CDC where the gold standard for the world. I do not oppose efficiency. I welcome it. But the way to cut fat is with a scalpel not a chainsaw. Unless you aren’t actually operating on a patient, you’re butchering a hog.

Remember, all this cutting isn’t so we can pay off the debt. Nope, it’s all to pay for more tax cuts for the wealthy. Enjoy the revolution, peasants. Don’t believe me? Check out the Republican budget. BTW, the one place in the government where fraud and waste are very well documented has not really been discussed. That’s at the Pentagon. Wonder why they didn’t start there?

Another day…

Trump administration concedes Maryland father from El Salvador was mistakenly deported and sent to mega prison

Trump commutes sentence of convicted fraudster who aided GOP effort to impeach Biden

Only three years and nine months of this left to go.

Trump is a liar. Everyone knows it. Why some people chose him as their leader says a lot about them. Who would want a liar to be in charge? What kind of people are they?

Here is the truth, from our old friend Juan Williams…

Opinion – Trump and Musk are targeting Social Security, and you should worry

I mean, I know why. Do You?

Trump administration reportedly moves to ban Jackie Robinson biography from Naval Academy library

The Robinson biography is reportedly one of 900 books identified as conflicting with the order, with other examples including “The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.” and “Einstein on Race and Racism.”

Never forget who these people really are. And what they represent. #beentheredonethat