The Trump Presidency 2.0

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

$8 million to Politico alone is a bit more than "a few hundred bucks"

I doubt it was going to their news service. They run some service that lets you track every bill, order, etc in a huge searchable database. Has directory of all employees and contact information. Kind of like Bloomberg Terminal for government.

Going to guess it was for that. USAID is a joke and should be disbanded but that's one of the few things it spent on that was probably legit. Would cost way more than $8 million a year to build out and maintain that kind of system in-house.

The money spent at Bloomberg is almost assuredly for the terminal.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

And we're doing what with those products domestically? I don't mean theoretically, I mean realistically.

There's people big mad cause of talk about removing soda & such from SNAP eligibility (a move I oppose personally fwiw). You think handing out rice, wheat, and soy crackers is gonna fly here?

It's been sold overseas because there's not a demand for it here. I'm not sure you'd get a high percentage of takers for 3rd world emergency food from even the worst conditioned homeless population.

Oh, I don’t anticipate anything would come of it, it’s more a play on the meme where the “bully” says we should cut spending abroad to help people here, then when asked for help says “fuck off!” Even if you could do something else with the food there wouldn’t be the will to. That and just pointing out that yeah, the farmers are probably screwed.

Personally, I could go for some free rice. Maybe even soy crackers. Not sure how I’d process wheat though.

(I’d be all over beans, too. And government cheese if they have any.)

[Edward64]

Pretty.

I wonder Bibi gave this to Trump before or after the beachfront comments.

The image showed a shiny gold-colored pager mounted against wood with a golden plaque underneath reading “To President Donald J. Trump, Our greatest friend and greatest ally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I doubt it was going to their news service. They run some service that lets you track every bill, order, etc in a huge searchable database. Has directory of all employees and contact information. Kind of like Bloomberg Terminal for government.

Politico statement says it was for their "Pro" service ... whatever the hell that tier includes.

The problem with that is that the publicly visible numbers don't add up.

Either the visible subscriber count (i.e. of govt employees being paid for) is way low OR the amount per govt sub was many times higher than what the pro rate should have added up to.

I don't have a problem with necessary subscriptions -- I come from an industry, both my own and several clients over the years, where subs are a cost of doing business -- but I also have zero problem cancelling everything until controls can be put in place, proper accounting can be done, negotiation of group rates, etc etc and so forth.

[JPhillips]

Keep in mind that 8 mil number was spread out over several years.

[Atocep]

The GOP running people out to the media to tell Americans they need to sacrifice because we have billionaires running the country is pretty amazing.

[Atocep]

Politico Pro is a policy management and tracking tool. Agencies that rely on up to the minute policy and need to know of any and all changes coming from DC and other agencies use it because there isn't anything else out there that does it.

[dubb93]

I assume that Biden also signed an executive order punishing the International Criminal Court for its actions in investigating Israel or maybe even it was all Biden’s idea or whatever horseshit we come up with here nowadays.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by dubb93

I assume that Biden also signed an executive order punishing the International Criminal Court for its actions in investigating Israel or maybe even it was all Biden’s idea or whatever horseshit we come up with here nowadays.

Technical Difficulties

There was also a bipartisan bill passed by the House to sanction the ICC under Biden right before Trump took office.. Biden and Blinken also called to sanction the ICC when they were just investigating Bibi but said they would just refuse to recognize any warrants against him.

I know you're trying to find differences in the two but it's not going to be in regards to Israel. Both have a stance that the ICC is only for black African leaders and Putin.

[GrantDawg]

Looks like Casey DeSantis is going to run for her husband's seat.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[RainMaker]

Is nepotism DEI?

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Politico statement says it was for their "Pro" service ... whatever the hell that tier includes.

The problem with that is that the publicly visible numbers don't add up.

Either the visible subscriber count (i.e. of govt employees being paid for) is way low OR the amount per govt sub was many times higher than what the pro rate should have added up to.

I don't have a problem with necessary subscriptions -- I come from an industry, both my own and several clients over the years, where subs are a cost of doing business -- but I also have zero problem cancelling everything until controls can be put in place, proper accounting can be done, negotiation of group rates, etc etc and so forth.

It sounds like the $8 million is for the government as a whole since 2016. USAID had spent $44,000.

It also seems like the subscription costs $10,000 a year per login. Not sure what that entails but pretty similar to stuff like LexisNexis.

I don't like USAID at all and think it's a giant waste of money but this seems so far down the list of bad expenditures. They have like a $40 billion budget and this seems to be around $5000 a year for access to something they likely needed.

[cuervo72]

AI’ll tell em all everything they need to know.

[flere-imsaho]

$8M is what DoD spends on hammers.

[flere-imsaho]

dola - I'm all for rooting out waste in government, but if you're even going to look at the DoD's budget or disability fraud, then what are you even doing?

[Lathum]

If anyone thinks they are actually reviewing waste and fraud and not just looking for ways to make themselves and their buddies richer I have some great oceanfront property for sale in Nebraska.

[JPhillips]

There's plenty to cut in USAID, but the food, medicine, and medical research isn't getting reassigned, it's just being cut. We did a lot of good that we're now just stepping back from.

[kingfc22]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/07/elon...y-x-staff.html

Totally not a party of racists.

[JPhillips]

Stock up on beans, coffee futures are through the fucking roof.

[Mota]

If they re-hire the DOGE idiot, there is no going back. Racism is not just allowed, it is now encouraged.

JD Vance blames the journalist who found the racist comments, maybe blame the guy who made them.

[Lathum]

The most telling part for me is in his tweet Vance says "if he is a bad dude then get rid of him"

Umm....

[Ghost Econ]

Not Trump related per se, but a former reality star who has problems with drug addiction and rape and is from a prominent family is running for governor of SC. I guess if that profile works on the national stage, might as well shoot your shot.

Thomas Ravenel announces run for South Carolina Governor

[Thomkal]

I mean what's a little rape and cocaine addiction have anything to do with running for Governor or any election these days anyway am I right?

[cuervo72]

I'm honestly trying to decide whether that is better or worse than Mace.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

There's plenty to cut in USAID, but the food, medicine, and medical research isn't getting reassigned, it's just being cut. We did a lot of good that we're now just stepping back from.

It's always been a CIA asset that laundered money through the guise of goodwill and relied on government subsidies. Which is ironic because Musk is the exact same.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

Not Trump related per se, but a former reality star who has problems with drug addiction and rape and is from a prominent family is running for governor of SC. I guess if that profile works on the national stage, might as well shoot your shot.

Thomas Ravenel announces run for South Carolina Governor

LEAVE MY WIFE'S COUSIN ALONE!!!

[Ghost Econ]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

LEAVE MY WIFE'S COUSIN ALONE!!!

Insert Chris Rock slapped meme

[PilotMan]

A little rape and a little cocaine could get you in the white house one day. It's the new standard for republican leadership.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

A little rape and a little cocaine could get you in the white house one day. It's the new standard for republican leadership.

His resume is a little light on racism. Maybe he can improve there as he works his way up through the farm system.

[Atocep]

Kanye feels is his racist title is under threat and is trying to reestablish himself as the nations biggest celebrity racist on Twitter.

[JPhillips]

Elon says DOGE racist is coming back.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Atocep

His resume is a little light on racism. Maybe he can improve there as he works his way up through the farm system.

All his opponents in the primary need to do is keep posting the pictures of Thomas with his drug dealer. Given his wealth and standing, you might think he was buying his coke from a Victor Maitland...but actually his dealer of choice was, uh, more of a Reggie Hammond.

Clarification: Thomas did not SELL drugs, and from everything I've seen/heard, there's zero evidence that he was a cocaine addict. (Yes, he went to a rich-guy rehab, but my strong suspicion is that the "addiction" he claimed was just a play for sympathy when he got busted.) No, he didn't sell, and he likely wasn't an addict. He was arrested and convicted of *distributing* cocaine. As in "come to my insane rich-people parties in my downtown Charleston mansion! The coke is FREE!!!!"

A money quote in one of the many articles from 2008 when he was sentenced:

One witness told investigators she saw the 45-year-old scion of one of Charleston's most prominent families use or pass out cocaine at 27 parties. Authorities say he routinely provided cocaine at parties at his Charleston mansion.

A proper genteel Southern host would NEVER have their party guests pay for their coke, y'all.

[Ben E Lou]

Dola:
Yes, I too am fascinated that the witness could enumerate that there were precisely 27 parties that he or she attended. Was there a party diary??? Was "party at Thomas's" on the ol' Outlook calendar 27 times??? I have SO many questions.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

Dola:
Yes, I too am fascinated that the witness could enumerate that there were precisely 27 parties that he or she attended. Was there a party diary??? Was "party at Thomas's" on the ol' Outlook calendar 27 times??? I have SO many questions.

The calendar probably isn't that farfetched. Plus, if those were part of the TV show tapings, they probably got even more calendar attention.

Hell, it's SC society. Maybe that witness just checked their receipts and found they bought 27 new dresses.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

The calendar probably isn't that farfetched. Plus, if those were part of the TV show tapings, they probably got even more calendar attention.

The cocaine parties were in the aughts. The show didn't start until 2014, so not that, but this...

Hell, it's SC society. Maybe that witness just checked their receipts and found they bought 27 new dresses.

...is gold.

[RainMaker]

Mace would be the funniest choice. She's got such a weird career. Went into Congress as a moderate Republican. Had an affair with McCarthy and the ensuing breakup made her go crazy. Now she acts like one of those 19 year old influencers who will say and do anything for views. Tweets 100 times a day about kids genitals which I guess has an audience.

[Atocep]

Another one of the Musk incel team was fired from his previous job at a cybersecurity firm for leaking company secrets.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

The cocaine parties were in the aughts. The show didn't start until 2014, so not that, but this......is gold.

Damn, time sure flies.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

The cocaine parties were in the aughts.

Tangent ... cocaine isn't that bad

Cocaine "no worse than whiskey," would be "sold like wine" if legalized worldwide, Colombia's president says

[JPhillips]

JFC

Trump issued an EO to allow resettlement into the US for Afrikaners.

[JPhillips]

dola

Trump has named himself chair of the Kennedy Center board. He really just does like playing President on TV.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

JFC

Trump issued an EO to allow resettlement into the US for Afrikaners.

*inserts all of the "Afrikaners/Africans jokes here*

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Another one of the Musk incel team was fired from his previous job at a cybersecurity firm for leaking company secrets.

I know weakness is sort of their thing but imagine how JD Vance's wife and kids feel. He cares more about defending some groyper than he does you.

[JPhillips]

Trump is going to wreck R1 institutions. The indirect rate for NIH grants is going to be capped at 15%, well under the rate most schools use. R1s face millions in shortfalls now.

[miked]

Yeah, our institution has a decent endowment, but that covers a lot of things (for instance, for my PhD students we only pay $10k in tuition costs). Not to mention scholarships for students and plenty of other things. This 15% is a nut punch and will kill innovation. Not to mention many small startups get these IDCs to help their research along, and this will kill them. At my university, 2 professors invented an HIV and HepB drug that like 95% of patients take. It was their startup and grants to their startup that led to being acquired by a big pharma company that could actually pay the $100M it takes to bring a drug to market.

Oh well, this will pay for nice tax breaks for Tesla I'm sure.

[flere-imsaho]

Make America a Third World Country Again, apparently.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

Make America a Third World Country Again, apparently.

MATWCA?

That's a terrible acronym.

[flere-imsaho]

Well, that's why I'm not President.

[miked]

Around $150M reduction for some of the research-heavy privates down here.

[RainMaker]

Not to get too conspiratorial but all these cuts seem to benefit China in some way and the guy doing them has huge vested interest in making China happy so his business can flourish.