Want to understand what Trump is doing?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

5pm out time tonight:

Vance mocks critics of tariffs after concessions from Mexico
JD Vance, the US vice president, has criticised sceptics of Donald Trump’s trade policies.

He wrote on X: “For three days a lot of the far left has actively rooted against America and argued we’d get nothing out of President Trunp’s demands that Mexico secure its country.”

Referring to the concessions won from Mexico this afternoon, he added: “Well, how do you like them apples?

They're manipulating the public into thinking they've got the upper hand with all these other countries.

He's trying to make himself look like a Big Man but instead Trump just looks like a bully. Had he consulted the Mexican PM and had a civilised conversation he would probably have got the same result without threats.

Sorry, FGT2 but that's how it comes across to me.

Trump has retreated because of stock market fears of freefall and has lost respect from many Canadians for ever for the threats.

Yes, current concerns about Musk's access to the Treasury Payment System

The DOJ has threatened anyone who tries to stop Musk.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/02/03/doj-threatens-legal-action-musks-doge/78183472007/

Well said, Allira.

Hear, hear Allira!

He looks ridiculous and weak right now. He accomplished very little and now countries around the world know how best to deal with him, as a bully.

This was all a distraction anyhow. The real story is what Musk is doing.

Trump should take more advice from financial experts before giving Musk what he wants?

Musk has breached the Dept of Education. They now have access to data on every single student in the US, on top of all personal information on every citizen through Social Security.

China now has 10 percent tariffs and Panama is removing Chinese influence from the Panama Canal so protecting a very important shipping route for America. (Was a threat real?)
Didn’t Putin adopt similar tactics in Ukraine but his threats were ignored and war followed?
Interesting to see how woke ideology fares in the next few months.

imaround

Musk has breached the Dept of Education. They now have access to data on every single student in the US, on top of all personal information on every citizen through Social Security.

That really is Big Brother territory.

Musk also has access to all government contracts and details of his rivals.

Trump busy spinning this as a “win”

imaround

Musk has breached the Dept of Education. They now have access to data on every single student in the US, on top of all personal information on every citizen through Social Security.

Does Trump not realise he has just been set up as a patsy?

🤣🤣🤣

I have thought that the focus on the tariffs is taking away from interest in the intrusive and dangerous things that Musk is doing.

As for the UK, it is clear that any serious Deal with the USA will mean the end of the NHS, and privatisation. It has been the aim of Farage, Tice and co from the start. Massive profits with privitasation for the few and *d the rest, the vast majority, and treble ** for the poor, the chronically sick or infirm.

imaround

Musk already has control of the federal Treasury. He is the one who has shut down payments nationwide.

But no one knows yet how it will be ran because it is illegal and unconstitutional for Trump to do what he is doing. I am fairly sure they won't be telling anyone how it is ran.

I don't know if you are aware of this person, imaround. Nathan Tankus. His details are here:

www.crisesnotes.com/aboutnathantankus/

He has published this long and detailed analysis on Musk's 'takeover' of the federal Treasury on his blog. It is free to read.

Basically he says that Musk and his hackers have the potential to completely destroy the federal payments system because it, like all longstanding IT based systems, is highly complex and incorporates systems built on coding which dates to the late 1940s and the 1960s written in a coding language which very few IT people now have any expertise at all in. One person who did understand/know it was the guy in charge who has been deposed by Musk. Any attempts to alter the system in any way by people who have no knowledge of this ancient coding could crash the entire system.

This is his article:

www.crisesnotes.com/elon-musk-wants-to-get-operational-control-of-the-treasurys-payment-system-this-could-not-possibly-be-more-dangerous/

It is a long read, but worth it for understanding the problem and also how the payments system works.

He also did a question and answer session which throws a bit more light on the situation.

prospect.org/economy/2025-02-03-filled-with-unmitigated-terror-musk-treasury-tankus-qa/

What I am not clear about is what will happen when the current legally based spending/budget cycle comes to an end. As it will quite soon, I understand.

I've just listened to the TRIP Leading podcast with Tommy Vietor. His big concern is corruption, if anyone wants to learn more just listen to the last part, particularly the 2 billion dollars that Jared Kushner received from Saudi Arabia. Trump and his family are filling their coffers whilst the world worries about Tariffs!

Apparently we are going to deport American criminals to El Salvador.

This is not at all legal or constitutional.

www.npr.org/2025/02/04/g-s1-46352/rubio-el-salvador-deportees-americans

GrannyGravy13

imaround

Musk has breached the Dept of Education. They now have access to data on every single student in the US, on top of all personal information on every citizen through Social Security.

That really is Big Brother territory.

When a state begins to monitor its citizens to that extent, yes. for who will do the monitoring? A Musk algorithm or watch dogs?

There have been a whole number of successful court cases to say the freezing of federal funds is unlawful, and there have been some temporary pauses, but the position is unclear as to what will happen over the next 2 weeks.

This freezing of funds, btw, is not just the sacking of federal employees, it reaches deep into many areas of everyday life that we haven't considered

For example, scientists in the US are in a state of confusion and panic after the Trump administration issued an order freezing billions in federal research funding last week.

This includes the NIH, the world's largest biomedical institution, providing more than $40 billion annually to health research. It funds more than 300,000 researchers at more than 2,500 universities and other research institutions, primarily in the US. Including of course areas like cancer research. It means uncertainty for all long term projects".

Its hitting all kinds of areas.

"As of Friday, three days after AliKhan initially blocked the funding freeze, rural health centers, scientific research labs, child care facilities and other organizations still had not received their expected funds, according to the declarations.

The board president of a West Virginia nonprofit group that helps people with disabilities remain in their homes said in a declaration filed Sunday that it has been waiting for federal funds to be deposited into its account since Wednesday but had not yet received the funds as of Sunday night"

(all info NBC news)

CBS news adds - meals on wheels programmes, housing development schemes, federal work study grants.

although Medicaid and social security payments have not been cut, the ability to pay them out if workers are cut is a problem.

AGAA4

I have thought that the focus on the tariffs is taking away from interest in the intrusive and dangerous things that Musk is doing.

Perhaps, after tariff concessions, there need not be supply problems with respect to Maple Syrup, tomatoes, and Avocados. Time to focus on Musk chaos in their payment system?

Yes - amidst it all, the most dangerous move is probably what already was alluded to above, Elon Musks' DOGE task force gaining access to data and payment systems.

He has had 2 restraining orders against him and he is not stopping his illegal access.

They have barred employees and democrats from entering the building and the DOJ has threatened anyone who gets in the way with arrest.

Big brother indeed.

And Brexiters who proudly shouted 'Sovereignty' re Brexit- now seem totally happy to bow to Trump and Musk, with joy. Unbelievable.

Reports of Musk at Veterans Affairs today.

Federal payments are still being held despite 2 restraining orders against them.

Musk lackey at at teasury now have read/write access to the system code for Federal payments.

My elected officials are probably sick of hearing from me, but today's email is going to ask why no one has arrested Musk yet.