'Official' 2025 trump Administration Thread

[Tennesseer]

Trump has picked the best people to carry out his extreme immigration plans
By tapping Stephen Miller, Tom Honan, and Gov. Kristi Noem to carryout his mass deportation plan, Trump has found the right people for a repugnant job.

President-elect Donald Trump has been busy all week rolling out the members of his incoming administration. There are three names that stand out for how effective his choices are likely to be in their mission: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for secretary of homeland security, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement head Tom Homan for “border czar” and top Trump adviser Stephen Miller for White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser.

Even as the rest of the administration may bumble about and clash with one another, that might not be the case when it comes to enforcing Trump’s dark immigration plan. Miller, Homan and Noem have the potential to be distressingly effective at working together. The only limit they will likely face is how much the public will allow to be carried out in its name.

In his new dual role, Miller will set the overall contours of American immigration policy. Homan will likely be charged with figuring out the operational details of Miller’s plans. And Noem will be tasked with implementing those policies and carrying out Trump’s promised deportation of an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.

One of the few holdovers from the early Trump days, Miller was a speechwriter and senior counselor under Trump in his first term. By the end of Trump’s term, he held tremendous sway over immigration policy and had helped purge the ranks of officials he deemed not aggressive enough in deterring border crossings. He helped shape many of the harshest immigration policies Trump implemented, including the so-called Muslim travel ban and the use of Title 42 to shut down the border entirely.

Aside from cracking down on undocumented immigrants, he has his sights on limiting immigration, as well. Miller has supported an end to birthright citizenship and pledged to “turbocharge” his efforts to strip naturalized citizens of their legal status. He has also prepared to end parole programs for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua and let Temporary Protected Status protections expire for more than 800,000 people.

Rest of article here: Trump has picked the best people to carry out his extreme immigration plans

[Tennesseer]

No wonder why Matt Gaetz resigned so quickly after trump nominated him. Now they won't release their report.

House Ethics Panel Was Set to Vote to Release Report Critical of Matt Gaetz
The committee has been investigating allegations that Mr. Gaetz, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for attorney general, engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

The House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, was prepared to vote to release a highly critical report about Mr. Gaetz on Friday, according to a Republican official familiar with the matter. The release would have come two days after President-elect Donald J. Trump selected Mr. Gaetz to be attorney general.

Mr. Gaetz, a Florida Republican, abruptly resigned from his House seat late Wednesday, effectively ending the ethics investigation that has hung over his head for years.

Mr. Gaetz, the official said, had repeatedly offered combative replies to questions posed by the committee, effectively delaying the fact-finding process for months. The publication of the committee’s findings was additionally delayed, the official said, because of a House rule that forbids releasing a negative report close to an election. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive investigation.

Now, with Mr. Gaetz’s departure from Congress, the committee no longer has jurisdiction to investigate him. It was not immediately clear whether it would still release its findings. Tom Rust, the chief counsel and staff director for the panel, declined to comment.

Rest of article here: House Ethics Panel Was Set to Vote to Release Report Critical of Matt Gaetz

[billisonboard]

Why Trump is trying to outrage Washington with his controversial Cabinet picks

Trump’s short-lived former first-term communications director Anthony Scaramucci told CNN’s Jake Tapper that the president-elect’s personnel selections were purposely meant to “own the liberals.” Paraphrasing Trump’s intent, he added: “‘Let’s pick some triggering people.’ And those are the triggering people.”

[grumpyhermit]

I think he will trigger some people for sure. Mostly the left wing media types who make their living on stirring the left wing outrage cycle.

While I am objectively horrified by some of these picks, I really can't drum up much emotion about it. I can't/won't engage with the "Oh no this person is terrible, unnamed republicans are "concerned", will they put a stop to Trump's insanity?" takes again.

No, they won't. They put on a show, but if feels like at the end of the day, they will fall in line.

[billisonboard]

Another good read: Elon Musk is a showman, not an accountant

Donald Trump asking Elon Musk to oversee a made-up government “department” named after a crypto token that’s based on a 14-year-old Shiba Inu meme might be concern No. 874 out of 1,000 on a list of things keeping me up at night.

...

In announcing the commission, Trump said that DOGE would become “potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time.”

And 15 minutes later, Musk weighed in on X with a less dramatic but more believable proposition: “Department of Government Efficiency. The merch will be 🔥🔥🔥”

All about the show.

[teen persuasion]

Nov 14, 2024 9:55:57 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Another good read: Elon Musk is a showman, not an accountant

Donald Trump asking Elon Musk to oversee a made-up government “department” named after a crypto token that’s based on a 14-year-old Shiba Inu meme might be concern No. 874 out of 1,000 on a list of things keeping me up at night.

...

In announcing the commission, Trump said that DOGE would become “potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time.”

And 15 minutes later, Musk weighed in on X with a less dramatic but more believable proposition: “Department of Government Efficiency. The merch will be 🔥🔥🔥”

All about the show.

On the campaign trail last month, Musk was asked how much he thought he could cut from the nation’s $6.5 trillion budget.

And like anyone who’s gone out ahead of their skis, he grasped for an answer that seemed believable: “Well, I think we could do at least $2 trillion,” he said.

Two trillion. At least. Because everyone knows the federal government is bloated and inefficient and it’s long past time to tell those fat-cat civil servants in DC to get a real job … Except, that’s not how the budget works.

Some quick numbers: Last fiscal year, the US government spent a total of $6.1 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Of that total, $1.7 trillion was “discretionary” spending — the kind that Congress has to greenlight each year, covering everything from military outlays to veterans’ health care and federal worker salaries. The rest of the budget covers spending on entitlement programs like Medicaid and Social Security, and interest payments on debt.

To get even close to excising $2 trillion from the budget, the DOGE bros would have to persuade Congress to slash defense spending, lay off federal workers and gut programs that maintain roads and bridges.

The comments were ... interesting. Most of the echo chamber heartily approved of cutting much more than $2 trillion, everything is the dems' fault, who needs all those govt workers?

One brave soul asked where they were when Trump increased the debt by $8 trillion. Whoosh, right over their heads!

[happyhoix]

Nov 14, 2024 8:31:33 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

No wonder why Matt Gaetz resigned so quickly after trump nominated him. Now they won't release their report.

House Ethics Panel Was Set to Vote to Release Report Critical of Matt Gaetz
The committee has been investigating allegations that Mr. Gaetz, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for attorney general, engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

The House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, was prepared to vote to release a highly critical report about Mr. Gaetz on Friday, according to a Republican official familiar with the matter. The release would have come two days after President-elect Donald J. Trump selected Mr. Gaetz to be attorney general.

Mr. Gaetz, a Florida Republican, abruptly resigned from his House seat late Wednesday, effectively ending the ethics investigation that has hung over his head for years.

Mr. Gaetz, the official said, had repeatedly offered combative replies to questions posed by the committee, effectively delaying the fact-finding process for months. The publication of the committee’s findings was additionally delayed, the official said, because of a House rule that forbids releasing a negative report close to an election. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive investigation.

Now, with Mr. Gaetz’s departure from Congress, the committee no longer has jurisdiction to investigate him. It was not immediately clear whether it would still release its findings. Tom Rust, the chief counsel and staff director for the panel, declined to comment.

Rest of article here: House Ethics Panel Was Set to Vote to Release Report Critical of Matt Gaetz

Hopefully the news media will file a Freedom of Information act request to get access to that report.

Before they vote on whether to confirm Gaetz, they need to know his past criminal conduct, especially since he has slithered around any consequences for it so far.

McCarthy hates him, I’m sure he’ll be pulling strings in the background to crush this nomination.

[pulmonarymd]

I have little faith they will grow a backbone. Competence is not a requirement, and "ethically challenged' is a badge of honor. They are so afraid of trump and being primaried that they will kowtow to him, and all these horrific choices will be confirmed. But again, this may become a situation where they need to face the consequences of what they wanted. The one I am most concerned about is Gabbard. Trump doesn't care about details and nuance, nor does he want to hear or believe something that is different than his belief. Intelligence directors need to be the voice of different opinions. Does anyone think she has any qualifications other than fawning over Trump? 

[dondubble]

I can’t tell if Gaetz models himself after Beavis or Butthead.

[Tennesseer]

Nov 14, 2024 11:48:14 GMT -5 dondubble said:

I can’t tell if Gaetz models himself after Beavis or Butthead.

Did you ever see the Beavis or Butthead skit on SNL with Ryan Reynolds maybe this past spring? Funny as heck.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Nov 14, 2024 10:59:18 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Nov 14, 2024 8:31:33 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

No wonder why Matt Gaetz resigned so quickly after trump nominated him. Now they won't release their report.

House Ethics Panel Was Set to Vote to Release Report Critical of Matt Gaetz
The committee has been investigating allegations that Mr. Gaetz, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for attorney general, engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

The House Ethics Committee, which has been investigating allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, was prepared to vote to release a highly critical report about Mr. Gaetz on Friday, according to a Republican official familiar with the matter. The release would have come two days after President-elect Donald J. Trump selected Mr. Gaetz to be attorney general.

Mr. Gaetz, a Florida Republican, abruptly resigned from his House seat late Wednesday, effectively ending the ethics investigation that has hung over his head for years.

Mr. Gaetz, the official said, had repeatedly offered combative replies to questions posed by the committee, effectively delaying the fact-finding process for months. The publication of the committee’s findings was additionally delayed, the official said, because of a House rule that forbids releasing a negative report close to an election. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive investigation.

Now, with Mr. Gaetz’s departure from Congress, the committee no longer has jurisdiction to investigate him. It was not immediately clear whether it would still release its findings. Tom Rust, the chief counsel and staff director for the panel, declined to comment.

Rest of article here: House Ethics Panel Was Set to Vote to Release Report Critical of Matt Gaetz

Hopefully the news media will file a Freedom of Information act request to get access to that report.

Before they vote on whether to confirm Gaetz, they need to know his past criminal conduct, especially since he has slithered around any consequences for it so far.

McCarthy hates him, I’m sure he’ll be pulling strings in the background to crush this nomination.

They better act fast. I have a feeling FOIA will be abolished.

[seriousthistime]

Does anyone think ANY of his nominees announced so far have any qualifications other than fawning over Trump?  And I'm talking about more than bare minimum qualifications of the sort that someone would be considered qualified to do the job he or she will take on.  

Because some of these jobs require more than just being able to breathe.

And as we hoped with past administrations, having experienced people at the cabinet level to counter a know-nothing president seems to be out the window right now.

[grumpyhermit]

Nov 14, 2024 12:27:48 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Does anyone think ANY of his nominees announced so far have any qualifications other than fawning over Trump?  And I'm talking about more than bare minimum qualifications of the sort that someone would be considered qualified to do the job he or she will take on.  

Because some of these jobs require more than just being able to breathe.

And as we hoped with past administrations, having experienced people at the cabinet level to counter a know-nothing president seems to be out the window right now.

No, and I don't think that will improve. I fear we are going  to get the dumbest, most incompetent, cabinet ever assembled.

The bolded bit only matters if you are  concerned with a functioning government, which he is not. If they put morons in charge, and fire all the lifers doing the ACTUAL work like they have said, it is going to hurt a lot of people. They do not care, and in fact, I would wager it is the point.

[pulmonarymd]

Competence is irrelevant. It will be interesting to see what happens next hurricane season if they do this though. Wonder how well FEMA will respond. I'll buy the popcorn

[happyhoix]

Nov 14, 2024 11:08:45 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I have little faith they will grow a backbone. Competence is not a requirement, and "ethically challenged' is a badge of honor. They are so afraid of trump and being primaried that they will kowtow to him, and all these horrific choices will be confirmed. But again, this may become a situation where they need to face the consequences of what they wanted. The one I am most concerned about is Gabbard. Trump doesn't care about details and nuance, nor does he want to hear or believe something that is different than his belief. Intelligence directors need to be the voice of different opinions. Does anyone think she has any qualifications other than fawning over Trump? 

I would agree with you if it was getting confirmed in the House. There’s a lot more far right and far left House members, because the have to win a district, and the districts are gerrymandered to death. Senators have to win votes from the whole state, so they can’t be too radical in either direction. The senators can win just by pleasing the MAGA voters. They can get away with disagreeing with Trump.

I think this is Trump’s way to flex his muscles to prove he had some mandate from the voters, but he doesn’t. As usual he has envisioned himself as someone far greater than he is.

[billisonboard]

Nov 14, 2024 14:47:32 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Nov 14, 2024 11:08:45 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I have little faith they will grow a backbone. Competence is not a requirement, and "ethically challenged' is a badge of honor. They are so afraid of trump and being primaried that they will kowtow to him, and all these horrific choices will be confirmed. But again, this may become a situation where they need to face the consequences of what they wanted. The one I am most concerned about is Gabbard. Trump doesn't care about details and nuance, nor does he want to hear or believe something that is different than his belief. Intelligence directors need to be the voice of different opinions. Does anyone think she has any qualifications other than fawning over Trump? 

I would agree with you if it was getting confirmed in the House. There’s a lot more far right and far left House members, because the have to win a district, and the districts are gerrymandered to death. Senators have to win votes from the whole state, so they can’t be too radical in either direction. The senators can win just by pleasing the MAGA voters. They can get away with disagreeing with Trump.

I think this is Trump’s way to flex his muscles to prove he had some mandate from the voters, but he doesn’t. As usual he has envisioned himself as someone far greater than he is.

I think it is him doing this:

Nov 14, 2024 9:29:35 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I don't know if this will work so I may have to edit.... but it's perfect.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCAp5uyiGSG

[seriousthistime]

Nov 14, 2024 13:37:03 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Competence is irrelevant. It will be interesting to see what happens next hurricane season if they do this though. Wonder how well FEMA will respond. I'll buy the popcorn

Do not worry about hurricane season.  

Trump has a Sharpie. 

[NastyWoman]

Nov 14, 2024 13:37:03 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Competence is irrelevant. It will be interesting to see what happens next hurricane season if they do this though. Wonder how well FEMA will respond. I'll buy the popcorn

Well, considering that the entire current FL contingent voted against additional funding for FEMA just before Helene and Milton struck I would not hold my breath on expecting them to have anything good to say about that "failing department" when next it is needed.

[NastyWoman]

Nov 14, 2024 15:04:14 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Nov 14, 2024 13:37:03 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Competence is irrelevant. It will be interesting to see what happens next hurricane season if they do this though. Wonder how well FEMA will respond. I'll buy the popcorn

Do not worry about hurricane season.  

Trump has a Sharpie. 

Forgot about that. I need to go buy Sharpie shares 

[NastyWoman]

I am not a religious person but I was raised Catholic.  So when I looked at the FOPA cabinet nominee's something biblical popped into my mind: "They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up."
In other words, this country is scr*wed and who knows how long it will take to recover from this-or it ever can

[pulmonarymd]

Nov 14, 2024 15:11:06 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Nov 14, 2024 13:37:03 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Competence is irrelevant. It will be interesting to see what happens next hurricane season if they do this though. Wonder how well FEMA will respond. I'll buy the popcorn

Well, considering that the entire current FL contingent voted against additional funding for FEMA just before Helene and Milton struck I would not hold my breath on expecting them to have anything good to say about that "failing department" when next it is needed.

Typical republicans. Complain about people getting things, but when they need something, it is their God given right. If they cut FEMA funding, great. They can screw themselves when they held up disaster funding for NY/NJ after Sandy, but fall all over themselves when a "red" state is hit with a hurricane. If they are OK with the states ahndling clean up and relief after a hurricane, have at it and I will enjoy the tax cut. Won't donate a penny otherwise either.

[seriousthistime]

Well, we're forgetting that according to the GOPers, the Dems are controlling the weather and creating the hurricanes.  So there will be no need for NOAA or FEMA or anything else.

Did they ever explain why, if Trump could control the weather, he allowed a hurricane to happen on his watch? 

[busymom]

Nov 14, 2024 15:04:14 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Nov 14, 2024 13:37:03 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Competence is irrelevant. It will be interesting to see what happens next hurricane season if they do this though. Wonder how well FEMA will respond. I'll buy the popcorn

Do not worry about hurricane season.  

Trump has a Sharpie. 

       He can move states around too.  He's "speshul".  

[Tennesseer]

he did it.

Trump taps RFK Jr. to lead HHS

President Trump is expected to tap anti-vaccine activist and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a source familiar with the decision told NewsNation.

HHS has a budget of nearly $2 billion and administers federal health programs including Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. HHS and its subagencies are responsible for responding to diseases and public health threats like COVID-19 and bird flu, as well as approving new drugs, including vaccines.

The position requires Senate confirmation. While it could be difficult, the nomination is a sign Trump feels empowered by the comfortable Republican majority in the upper chamber.

The move will roil Democrats and public health leaders, who worry Kennedy could meddle with key government agencies, amplify vaccine hesitancy and direct agency funding to favor his preferred views.

Rest of the deadly nomination here:  Trump taps RFK Jr. to lead HHS

[grumpyhermit]

[Tennesseer]

The Borowitz Report

Trump Nominates Head of CIA



WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In his latest major appointment, on Thursday Donald J. Trump nominated a new chief of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Speaking to reporters, Trump praised his nominee’s “extensive experience with Russia.”

“I have phone conversations with him every day, and he knows everything I know,” Trump told reporters. “Plus, the CIA won’t be the first spy agency he’s worked for.”

Citing another qualification of his nominee, Trump said, “He already has a great working relationship with Tulsi.”

Trump Nominates Head of CIA

[pulmonarymd]

There goes any semblance of rationality for science and medicine. Can't wait for the resurgence of measles, pertussis, rubella, and polio. Maybe we can bring back smallpox too. If you think I am joking, having an anti-vaxxer at the helm of a health organization will likely lead to loosening(if not an end) of vaccine mandates. It will make us all less safe, and lead to an increase in mortality and morbidity in children. Re-allocating research fund to batshit crazy ideas he supports will allow other countries who believe in rationality to exploit the advances in science causing economic harm. And these harms will negate hard won medical victories and set back medicine for decades if he does this.

[happyhoix]

Nov 14, 2024 16:20:59 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

There goes any semblance of rationality for science and medicine. Can't wait for the resurgence of measles, pertussis, rubella, and polio. Maybe we can bring back smallpox too. If you think I am joking, having an anti-vaxxer at the helm of a health organization will likely lead to loosening(if not an end) of vaccine mandates. It will make us all less safe, and lead to an increase in mortality and morbidity in children. Re-allocating research fund to batshit crazy ideas he supports will allow other countries who believe in rationality to exploit the advances in science causing economic harm. And these harms will negate hard won medical victories and set back medicine for decades if he does this.

Speaking of batshit crazy ideas, he believes Covid 19 was genetically engineered to be less harmful to Jews and Asians.

and that’s just one of his small shitty ideas.

[happyhoix]

Nov 14, 2024 16:12:48 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

he did it.

Trump taps RFK Jr. to lead HHS

President Trump is expected to tap anti-vaccine activist and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a source familiar with the decision told NewsNation.

HHS has a budget of nearly $2 billion and administers federal health programs including Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. HHS and its subagencies are responsible for responding to diseases and public health threats like COVID-19 and bird flu, as well as approving new drugs, including vaccines.

The position requires Senate confirmation. While it could be difficult, the nomination is a sign Trump feels empowered by the comfortable Republican majority in the upper chamber.

The move will roil Democrats and public health leaders, who worry Kennedy could meddle with key government agencies, amplify vaccine hesitancy and direct agency funding to favor his preferred views.

Rest of the deadly nomination here:  Trump taps RFK Jr. to lead HHS

Trump said RFK would rescue us from the industrial food complex and the lying big pharma.

I bet once big pharma steps up with a fat donation to Trump Inc. Trump will do one of his 180 turns on that last part.

[NastyWoman]

If anyone is wondering (though I sincerely doubt anyone is) how you can manage to rack up six bankruptcies: this is it! Hire the least qualified yes-men and put them in charge of critical positions. It shows your "innovative approach" to problem solving.