What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[celedhring]

And I really hope joxer isn't a nazi

Google spits out nothing about Ted Raimi's politics. His brother is a Republican but keeps his politics to himself and has occasionally donated to Democrats.

MAGA have a very hard time keeping quiet about their politics, so I would be surprised if either Ted or Sam was one.

[Syt]

https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-federal-funding-grants-nih-fema-4b4b6c23a25a8ae3fdc7b43c4586c999

Trump executive order gives politicians control over all federal grants, alarming researchers

NEW YORK (AP) — An executive order signed by President Donald Trump late Thursday aims to give political appointees power over the billions of dollars in grants awarded by federal agencies. Scientists say it threatens to undermine the process that has helped make the U.S. the world leader in research and development.

The order requires all federal agencies, including FEMA, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, to appoint officials responsible for reviewing federal funding opportunities and grants, so that they "are consistent with agency priorities and the national interest."

It also requires agencies to make it so that current and future federal grants can be terminated at any time — including during the grant period itself.

Agencies cannot announce new funding opportunities until the new protocols are in place, according to the order.

The Trump administration said these changes are part of an effort to "strengthen oversight" and "streamline agency grantmaking." Scientists say the order will cripple America's scientific engine by placing control over federal research funds in the hands of people who are influenced by politics and lack relevant expertise.

"This is taking political control of a once politically neutral mechanism for funding science in the U.S.," said Joseph Bak-Coleman, a scientist studying group decision-making at the University of Washington.


The changes will delay grant review and approval, slowing "progress for cures and treatments that patients and families across the country urgently need," said the Association of American Medical Colleges in a statement.

The administration has already terminated thousands of research grants at agencies like the NSF and NIH, including on topics like transgender health, vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and diversity, equity and inclusion.

The order could affect emergency relief grants doled out by FEMA, public safety initiatives funded by the Department of Justice and public health efforts supported by the Centers for Disease Control. Experts say the order is likely to be challenged in court.

[crazy canuck]

To the extent the US Supreme Court has not already killed off the expert administrative apparatus of the US by allowing courts to make their judgement about what should be done, this will.

[Zanza]

It's an interesting political experiment to replace a technocracy with a kleptocracy. But I don't think it will be successful objectively.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

It's an interesting political experiment to replace a technocracy with a kleptocracy. But I don't think it will be successful objectively.

It'll be for the kleptocrats and aswe should know by now they're clearly the only people that count

[Zanza]

Something that actually sounds positive:
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace treaty in the White House. Of course with some exclusive economic rights named the Trump corridor.

[DGuller]

Something that actually sounds positive:
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace treaty in the White House. Of course with some exclusive economic rights named the Trump corridor.

Ironically it was a peace made possible by a successful ethnic cleansing.

[Zanza]

I don't get the irony here.

[Zoupa]

Some people seem to think ethnic cleansing is a precursor to peace.

[HVC]

Something that actually sounds positive:
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace treaty in the White House. Of course with some exclusive economic rights named the Trump corridor.

Ironically it was a peace made possible by a successful ethnic cleansing.

The previous bout of ethnic cleansing in the area didn't lead to long lasting peace.

[frunk]

There's always another ethnicity to cleanse.

[Razgovory]

There's always another ethnicity to cleanse.

No, we cleared pretty much all of them in the US and Canada.

[Zoupa]

If only. I'm afraid Qc will have to massacre or drive out all the anglos. It's the only way to ensure peace.

[Zanza]

After calling for the cancellation of the  Biden era CHIPS Act, Trump is now considering 100% import tax on semiconductors. With exceptions for individual private actors based on their investments in the US. The US is importing and exporting semiconductors of similar value, having a comparative advantage for high end semiconductors (except the very top tier which comes from Taiwan), but having little capacity for more mundane semiconductors, importing them from abroad. These are typically used in appliances or vehicles. Together with the 50% taxes on various metals, this will further hit industry in the US with higher materials costs.

[Syt]

https://apnews.com/article/women-hegseth-defense-secretary-religion-d962f472910fb47a0c66cd37b01f550d

Hegseth reposts video on social media featuring pastors saying women shouldn't be allowed to vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who oversees the nation's military reposted a video about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to vote.

The extraordinary repost on X from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, made Thursday night, illustrates his deep and personal connection to a Christian nationalist pastor with extreme views on the role of religion and women.

In the post, Hegseth commented on an almost seven-minute-long report by CNN examining Doug Wilson, cofounder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC. The report featured a pastor from Wilson's church advocating the repeal of women's right to vote from the Constitution, and another pastor saying that in his ideal world, people would vote as households. It also featured a female congregant saying that she submits to her husband.

"All of Christ for All of Life," Hegseth wrote in his post that accompanied the video.

Hegseth's post received more than 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X. Some users agreed with the pastors in the video, while others expressed alarm at the defense secretary promoting Christian nationalist ideas.

Doug Pagitt, pastor and executive director of the progressive evangelical organization Vote Common Good, said the ideas in the video are views that "small fringes of Christians keep" and said it was "very disturbing" that Hegseth would amplify them.

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell told The Associated Press on Friday that Hegseth is "a proud member of a church" that is affiliated with CREC and he "very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson's writings and teachings."

In May, Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead the first of several Christian prayer services that Hegseth has held inside the government building during working hours. Defense Department employees and service members said they received invitations to the event in their government emails.

"I'd like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I'd like to see the world be a Christian world," Wilson said in the CNN report.