Want to understand what Trump is doing?

Yes, been catching up - sadly, because of withdrawal of Aid, an HIV clinic is closing in South Africa (free treatment and support)

Of major interest is also

Trump to impose sanctions on International Criminal Court

Last November, the ICC sparked backlash in Washington by issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence minister and several Hamas leaders simultaneously.

but the way Trump is attacking it is his usual "Revenge" style not legally but personally as in

The order will place financial and visa sanctions on individuals and their family members who assist in ICC investigations of US citizens or US allies

Glad to hear about the pushback.

Uncategorized
At USAID, Waste and Abuse Runs Deep
February 3, 2025
For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight.

Here are only a few examples of the WASTE and ABUSE:

$1.5 million to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities”
$70,000 for production of a “DEI musical” in Ireland
$2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam
$47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia
$32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru
$2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala
$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt
Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations — even AFTER an inspector general launched an investigation
Millions to EcoHealth Alliance — which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab
“Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria”
Funding to print “personalized” contraceptives birth control devices in developing countries
Hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used to support the unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan,” benefiting the Taliban

I guess USAID must have had money to spare.

I'm sure we have similar in this country

If Trump wanted to change what Congress has legally appropriated funds for, there is a process to do that.

What he doesn't get to do is illegally seize appropriated funds for his pleasure.

All governments have wasteful spending. Use the law to make changes. Doing otherwise makes you a dictator.

Right now, worldwide, the people who have relied on these programs since the 1960s will be adversely affected. People will could die.

Well why didn't they review them all and just cut dubious projects

No need to pull money across the board away from valuable ones like the funded HIV clinic in South Africa?

Or other Africa projects (like clean water and food).

The real reason USAID was cut first.

They were investigating Musk's Starlink partnership with Ukraine. It has nothing to do with wasteful spending.

oig.usaid.gov/node/6814

My guess is all the foreign aid cuts are to persuade other countries to take a share if Palestinians, including Egypt and Jordan who get massive aid from the US

I agree that is part of the reason. He shut down aid for everyone but Isreal and Egypt.

Positive news today finally!

The courts have shut down Trumps attempt to violate the 14th Amendment and have also ordered Musk out of the Treasury system.

Will it matter? I am doubtful. But we need some good news around here.

Judge also rules on Trumps attempts to change constitutional birthright system

www.democracynow.org/2025/2/6/headlines/federal_court_puts_indefinite_hold_on_trumps_order_ending_birthright_citizenship

imaround

Positive news today finally!

The courts have shut down Trumps attempt to violate the 14th Amendment and have also ordered Musk out of the Treasury system.

Will it matter? I am doubtful. But we need some good news around here.

Has Musk obeyed the court’s orders?

I hope his 25 year old —happy hacker— assistant hasn’t done too much damage and that he hasn’t stolen too much data..

David49

My guess is all the foreign aid cuts are to persuade other countries to take a share if Palestinians, including Egypt and Jordan who get massive aid from the US

Most of the aid from USA to Egypt is military aid rather than economic. Why would they risk stability by taking refugees from Gaza, which would compromise stability, and would require more, rather than less, military aid? It doesn’t make sense to me.

Rula that list is truly shocking regards aid. 😮

Reeves is doing the exact opposite of what the Trump administration is doing. More public sector spending, higher taxes, more regulation, higher cost energy, higher foreign aid. I know which country will be doing better four years hence.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Rula that list is truly shocking regards aid. 😮

Reeves is doing the exact opposite of what the Trump administration is doing. More public sector spending, higher taxes, more regulation, higher cost energy, higher foreign aid. I know which country will be doing better four years hence.

Really? Your hatred of the democratically elected govt of this country is so visceral that you applaud the actions of Trump and Musk? Crikey.

Just pointing out the differences of decision making between us and the USA. We are about to enter recession it’s that bad here.

Yes. In the USA people are losing constitutional rights, every single person has had their personal information taken by hackers, we are putting people into the equivalent of concentration camps, people are losing their livelihood which will lead to losing everything, and 67 people died in a plane crash. Add that to 6 of our allies now on alert and an ethnic cleansing for the purpose of making Trump richer on real estate dealings.

Yes, I can see why you would think that is better.

When someone shows you who they are, believe them.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Just pointing out the differences of decision making between us and the USA. We are about to enter recession it’s that bad here.

So is the US and it’s going to be much worse than the UK…

Our decision making might be slow and I never thought I'd say thank goodness for that.
But thank goodness it's not like a series of pistol shots.

imaround

Yes. In the USA people are losing constitutional rights, every single person has had their personal information taken by hackers, we are putting people into the equivalent of concentration camps, people are losing their livelihood which will lead to losing everything, and 67 people died in a plane crash. Add that to 6 of our allies now on alert and an ethnic cleansing for the purpose of making Trump richer on real estate dealings.

Yes, I can see why you would think that is better.

When someone shows you who they are, believe them.

👏👏👏

Allira

Our decision making might be slow and I never thought I'd say thank goodness for that.
But thank goodness it's not like a series of pistol shots.

I was thinking something close to that. Also thank goodness for an independent judiciary.

I'd add for myself - whats happening in the USA atm isnt "considered decision making" - democracy has got out of the window in favour of a dictatorship - the POTUS.

Musk, who is under investigation by the Department of Labor for violations, is currently dismantling the Department of Labor.

Trump is having a go at the ICJ now I see.

Moron.

He is going to start WWIII.

Chocolatelovinggran

imaround, could you explain the Attorney General's acts for me?
Thank you for keeping us informed about how things look inside the storm!

Sorry, I just ran across this question. I am sorry I missed it earlier.

She disbanded the team who investigates foreign influence on elections.

Employees at NOAA have been instructed not to talk to anyone outside of the US.

These are the types of decisions that will start to affect people around the world, including in the UK.

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/02/06/noaa-fisheries-international-communication-doge/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com&utm_source=reddit.com

Well it seems Drug dealers can now be charged as terrorists in the U.S. making them eligible for a trip to Gitmo. No more woke local prosecutors & judges, just hard time. Surely a great deterrent?