# The current second Trump administration: a compendium of horrors **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 6, 2024, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774 "2024-11-06T09:17:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 103
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2042 "2025-08-05T04:17:56Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > [Trump says he will fire labor statistics chief after weak jobs report](https://www.axios.com/2025/08/01/trump-jobs-labor-statistics) > > > [@](#): > > > > I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY Stalin did the same to messengers of bad news. Andy Borowitz has this covered … 😁 > **[Trump Taps George Santos to Head Dept. Of Labor Statistics](https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/trump-taps-george-santos-to-head)** > > Beltway insiders are calling it one of the most stunning political comebacks in American history. > “The American economy added a million new jobs in May and a billion new jobs in June,” Santos declared. “President Trump is creating jobs like crazy—he even gave one to Pete Hegseth.” > > The unprecedented job growth has boosted Trump’s approval rating, which Santos said currently stands at 140 percent. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2043 "2025-08-05T14:51:20Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Trump’s approval rating, which Santos said currently stands at 140 percent. 140%? Trump’s not going to like that, he saved 1500% on drugs, so his approval rating should be at least 1600%. Rookie mistake, that. I just realized there has to be a 1600 Percentsylvania Avenue joke in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2044 "2025-08-05T15:00:44Z")
I am surprised he hasn’t “promoted” the address to 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2045 "2025-08-05T16:23:29Z")
“45-47 Pennsylvania Avenue” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2046 "2025-08-05T16:28:28Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I am surprised he hasn’t “promoted” the address to 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > “45-47 Pennsylvania Avenue” Think bigger. Why should it be Pennsylvania Avenue? It should be Trump Avenue. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2047 "2025-08-05T16:31:13Z")
Don’t give them any ideas. I can imagine someone proposing exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2048 "2025-08-05T16:34:11Z")
Apologies to Dr. Suess, but someone should write a book about him titled _On Beyond Parody._ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2049 "2025-08-05T16:52:13Z")
…in Trumpington, D.T., in the Trumped-Up States of America. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2050 "2025-08-05T16:59:24Z")
A hyphenated house number would be oddly apt for our first president from Queens… ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2051 "2025-08-05T21:05:08Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > …in Trumpington, D.T., in the Trumped-Up States of America. On that glorious day, when all the trumpicoronation signs and labels get torn down like confederate statues. Bolt ya nugget. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2052 "2025-08-06T01:09:50Z")
> **[RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development](https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-vaccines-mrna-pfizer-moderna-1fb5b9436f2957075064c18a6cbbe3c9)** > > The Department of Health and Human Services plans to cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. > [@](#): > > To replace the troubled mRNA programs, we’re prioritizing the development of safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don’t collapse when viruses mutate,” Kennedy said in the video. . . . > > “I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business,” said Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparations . . . > > “It’s certainly saved millions of lives,” Offit said of the existing mRNA vaccines. Safety advantages of mRNA are discussed here: > **[How does a mRNA vaccine compare to a traditional vaccine? | Vanderbilt...](https://www.vumc.org/viiii/infographics/how-does-mrna-vaccine-compare-traditional-vaccine)** ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2025, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2053 "2025-08-08T13:08:55Z")
I cannot think of no one as unqualified as this suggestion > [@wolfpup](#): > > Andy Borowitz has this covered And yes, I know it is supposedly satire…. … but is it? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2054 "2025-08-09T02:13:22Z")
Trump’s DoJ has [opened an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/08/politics/letitia-james-trump-justice-department-investigation), related to her successful prosecution of him on business fraud. According to the linked article, the grand jury probe into James is said to be looking into deprivation of rights, which means violating someone’s constitutional rights, against Trump. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2055 "2025-08-09T02:57:01Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Trump’s DoJ has [opened an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/08/politics/letitia-james-trump-justice-department-investigation), related to her successful prosecution of him on business fraud. From the link: > [@](#): > > James is among of a long list of Trump’s perceived political enemies who are now facing scrutiny from his administration. The Justice Department has opened investigations into [former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/09/politics/comey-brennan-ratcliffe-fbi-cia-referral), the Obama administration’s [handling of Russia’ 2016 election interference](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/04/politics/justice-department-russia-grand-jury), former DHS official and [“Anonymous” author Miles Taylor](https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/politics/trump-critics-executive-orders-taylor-krebs) and former CISA head Chris Krebs, who was fired for saying the 2020 election was not rigged. I do not see how they could investigate Trump’s perceived enemies and then fail to prosecute most of them. But I also do not see much chance of jury convictions, especially if tried in red states, as seems likely. And I also do not see Trump accepting the humiliation of acquittal after acquittal. How could this realistically play out? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2056 "2025-08-09T03:12:41Z")
Extortion? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2057 "2025-08-09T03:16:43Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > But I also do not see much chance of jury convictions, especially if tried in red states, as seems likely. I assume you meant “blue states” above? > [@bobot](#): > > Extortion? Harassment. It’s essentially the same strategy which private citizen Trump used against his enemies and rivals for decades, in civil courts: keep filing nuisance lawsuits, and force people he hates to lawyer up and burn money on legal fees. Only, now, with the added bonus of possible actual jail time, due to the DOJ being his puppet. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2058 "2025-08-09T03:29:20Z")
His 2024 run for president was always about payback and staying out of prison. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2059 "2025-08-09T05:54:16Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I also do not see much chance of jury convictions The prosecution itself is consequence enough. The individual person may be exonerated, but their life will be tied up for years and the financial impact of funding the defense will be debilitating. This is then paraded as an example for others: don’t cross me or I’ll ruin your life. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2060 "2025-08-09T06:23:49Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Extortion > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Harassment I think it’s more narcissism. He genuinely doesn’t understand that he did anything wrong, and really believes that the prosecutions are a great criminal conspiracy against him. He totally thinks that they are the real criminals and he is the innocent victim. And when senior LEOs tell him there is no crime to investigate, or if an investigation finds no evidence of wrongdoing, or if a Judge dismisses the case, Trump will genuinely think they are part of the conspiracy, and order an investigation into them too. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2061 "2025-08-09T11:40:24Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > > > I also do not see much chance of jury convictions > > The prosecution itself is consequence enough. The individual person may be exonerated, but their life will be tied up for years and the financial impact of funding the defense will be debilitating. This is then paraded as an example for others: don’t cross me or I’ll ruin your life. From the POV of the accused, yes, especially if another GOP administration is elected in 2028. The unsuccessful prosecution of Donald Trump was not life-ruining or debilitating. When a co-defendant like Sidney Powell made a plea agreement, it was debilitating to her. But she was presumably guilty\*. Defendants off of Kash Patel’s enemies list are unlikely to plea guilty on account of being innocent (although maybe some innocent lower level co-defendant, offered zero jail time in return, will at least plead no contest). DJT would see it as unacceptable if major defendants were given a so-called slap on the wrist sentence, much less an acquittal. Think how Trump would feel when he meets peer dictators who are much more successful than he is at killing or jailing their internal enemies. Humiliation! I’m not saying Donald will destroy our system of fair trials. I am saying he will want to, and what then happens is hard to predict.. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \* Presumably? As an opponent of plea bargains, I do not see a plea bargain, agreed upon to avoid the trial penalty, as being the same proof of guilt as a trial conviction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=102) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=104)