# 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:** 106
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2102 "2025-08-20T17:27:33Z")
> # Education Department quietly removes rules for teaching English learners > > _The move is an acceleration of President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring English the country’s “official language.”_ > > [https://wapo.st/4mRzAyn](https://wapo.st/4mRzAyn) > … > The rescission, confirmed by the Education Department on Tuesday, is one of several moves by the administration to scale back support for approximately 5 million schoolchildren not fluent in English, many of them born in the United States. … > … > On Tuesday, Education Department spokeswoman Madi Biedermann said that the guidance for teaching English learners, which was originally set forth in 2015, was rescinded because it “is not in line with Administration policy.” A Justice Department spokesman responded to questions by sending a link to the July memorandum and said he had no comment when asked whether the guidance would be replaced. > > For decades, the federal government has held that failing to provide resources for people not proficient in English constitutes discrimination based on national origin under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. > … The _what_ act? Never heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2103 "2025-08-20T22:56:43Z")
I was reading the post Trump made about making changes in the Smithsonian Museums when this line jumped out at me: “I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums”. Not historians, not even politicians. **My lawyers**. And I realized that this is the one weird trick that no other dictator has ever used - compliance by threats of lawsuits. Of course, using lawsuits is how Trump has always operated but now he is using that devious method in his makeover of the country to align with his “vision”. We’ve seen it play out with law firms, corporations, universities. Do it the easy way or the hard way. Comply, “admit” wrongdoing and pay millions to Trump (“the government”) or spend untold time fighting lawsuits that will eat up all the money anyway. And we’ve seen how that goes. It’s clear now that he is going to use that against every institution, agency, company and also his political enemies. He will investigate and indict them with whatever bullshit excuse he can come up with but he won’t imprison anyone. There’s no money in that for him. He will just demand they settle the issue and pay the exorbitant fines (and then claim they “apologized”) or spend the rest of their lives and money fighting an endless battle in court. Against a DOJ that he now owns. A new authoritarian playbook. He doesn’t need violence for this makeover, though I’m sure there will be a place for that in other areas. “Legal” extortion is the way he will force his sick, twisted vision on the country. ---
**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 21, 2025, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2104 "2025-08-21T13:07:28Z")
Nothing will better characterize and memorialize the Trump administration than … a dramatic reduction in intelligence: > **[Tulsi Gabbard announces plans to cut intelligence staff by half](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78mj2m85pno)** > > The director of national intelligence will also revoke the security clearances for 37 US intelligence officials who served under Biden and Obama. I have no idea whatsoever how much redundancy there really is/was in the US intel community, and how benign and wise these specific cuts might be, but … I’m skeptical. > In its most concise version, Chesterton’s Fence states the following: > “Do not remove a fence until you know why it was put up in the first place.” > The lesson of Chesterton’s Fence is what already exists likely serves purposes that are not immediately obvious. Fences don’t appear by accident. They are built by people who planned them and had a reason to believe they would benefit someone. Before we take an ax to a fence, we must first understand the reason behind its existence. The original reason might not have been a good one, and even if it was, things might have changed, but we need to be aware of it. Otherwise, we risk unleashing unintended consequences that spread like ripples on a pond, causing damage for years. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2105 "2025-08-21T13:39:18Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > …causing damage for years. I’m pretty sure that’s the plan. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2106 "2025-08-23T00:54:09Z")
“It is impossible to conclude that this is justice” That’s a quote from this federal appeals court decision issued Wednesday (and also from the lower level decision): Here’s the latest decision: [Moncada v. Rudio](https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2025/08/20/23-55803.pdf) The case involves a man, Roberto Moncada, born in the U.S. in 1950, who has lived as if he was a citizen. By all indications, he did this in good faith. In 2018, the Trump 45 state department revoked his U.S. passport on grounds that the lower level Nicaraguan diplomatic position, held by Mr. Moncada’s father, meant that Roberto Moncada was born outside the jurisdiction of the United States. Mr. Moncada then sued on grounds that his father did not really have diplomatic immunity. As far as I can tell, the action to make Moncada undocumented was classic Trumpian cruelty, started in Trump 45 and continued to this day. What I do not understand is why the Biden administration failed to follow the advice the lower court gave it in 2023: [Moncada v. Blinken](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-dis-crt-cd-cal/114579678.html) > [@](#): > > The job of the district court is straightforward: Apply the law to the facts. This is what the Court has done. It is seldom appropriate to say anything more—but this case is extraordinary. > > A child was born in America and told by the United States government—his government—that he was an American citizen. And, as the Court began this Order by noting, it told him this again and again and again and again. No surprise then, that he lived his entire life that way. > > When the government finally realized it had been wrong all along, it told Plaintiff that he was not an American citizen and that this was not his home. So where is his home? Not Nicaragua because he has never lived there and because—as a direct result of the government’s errors—he is not (so far as the Court is aware) a citizen. Not America. Anywhere? Can he leave the United States? Could he return? Will he be deported? To where? What is he supposed to do? As he nears seventy the government has made his life a nightmare.[4](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-dis-crt-cd-cal/114579678.html#footnote_4) > > It is impossible to conclude that this is justice. Defendant has no legal obligation to make right what is wrong. But anyone who causes this gravity of harm possesses an urgent moral obligation to remedy what they have done—and in this Court’s humble opinion, the United States government has such an obligation. Soinds like a compendium of horrors item applying to both the Trump and Biden administrations. Or am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2107 "2025-08-23T01:50:20Z")
This outrageous interference with state criminal justice is, by itself, enough to justify presidential impeachment and removal (although I am against impeachment without thr votes for removal): > **[Trump warns of ‘harsh measures’ if Colorado clerk convicted of election...](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-warns-of-harsh-measures-if-colorado-clerk-convicted-of-election-data-breach-scheme-isnt-freed)** > > Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2108 "2025-08-23T02:03:23Z")
Sorry for so many compendium of horrors posts today, but it’s because there are so many new Trump horrors. Progressives who cannot forgive Liz Cheney may find it hard to say something nice about John Bolton. But the FBI raids this morning, on his house and workplace, arguably were first-they-came-for-the-neocons moments: [About Courage](https://www.thebulwark.com/p/about-courage-john-bolton-trump) > [@](#): > > . . . five years ago the Trump administration attempted to prevent him from publishing his book. It failed. > > It then attempted to seize the proceeds of his book. It failed. > > It then opened a criminal investigation against him. It, again, failed. > > Is it possible that the FBI now has new information that credibly suggests criminal acts by Bolton? Anything is possible, I suppose. > > But . . . If this were a normal criminal investigation concerning years-old classified documents, the government would have had a conversation with Bolton’s lawyer and arranged for a routine, consensual search. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2109 "2025-08-23T11:37:48Z")
I deeply dislike Bolton, but he’s certainly not stupid enough to keep classified stuff at home. ---
**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 23, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2110 "2025-08-23T13:53:28Z")
With 45/47’s penchant for issuing EOs on the classification/declassification of documents as best suits his circumstances & narrative, Bolton might not be on as solid a ground as you might think. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2111 "2025-08-23T14:38:14Z")
Yeah, what kind of dumbass would keep stuff like that at home… say, in his bathroom, for instance. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2112 "2025-08-23T15:36:16Z")
Exactly. And of course everybody has a large copier in their bathroom (and a chandelier, but no need to address how classy he is /s) The hypocrisy is so over the top **every day** that there is no way to address it. We are stuck with - But, but, but we are talking about yesterday. Today is different. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2113 "2025-08-23T15:48:59Z")
Apparently the investigation began during the Biden years but they dropped it. How handy for Pumpkinhead! ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2114 "2025-08-23T21:15:06Z")
Another day, another one for this thread: [European postal services suspend shipment of packages to US over tariffs](https://apnews.com/article/us-tariffs-goods-services-suspension-85c7b36b9e92c0e640dfe2ac418cd907) > [@](#): > > In the Netherlands, PostNL spokesperson Wout Witteveen said the Trump administration is pressing ahead with the new duties despite U.S. authorities lacking a system to collect them. ---
**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 23, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2115 "2025-08-23T21:18:39Z")
That article doesn’t mention my country of residence, Luxembourg, which is also suspending parcel shipments as of today. What a clusterfuck. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2116 "2025-08-24T01:16:00Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Progressives who cannot forgive Liz Cheney may find it hard to say something nice about John Bolton. But the FBI raids this morning, on his house and workplace, arguably were first-they-came-for-the-neocons moments: IMHO it’s a sort of warning to anyone who might even consider crossing Trump. Basically a “if we can come for John Bolton we can come for anybody” message. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2117 "2025-08-24T01:24:08Z")
> # Pentagon plans military deployment in Chicago as Trump eyes crackdown > > [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/23/trump-chicago-military-national-guard/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/23/trump-chicago-military-national-guard/) > > The Pentagon has for weeks been planning a military deployment to Chicago as President Donald Trump seeks to crack down on crime, homelessness and undocumented immigration, in a model that could later be used in other major cities, officials familiar with the matter said. > … > The mission, if approved, would have parallels to the polarizing operation that Trump ordered in Los Angeles in June, when he deployed 4,000 members of the California National Guard and 700 active-duty Marines despite the protests of state and local leaders. **The use of thousands of active-duty troops in Chicago also has been discussed** but is considered less likely at this time, said two officials who, like others interviewed, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. > … > **A president also can invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops to perform law enforcement duties in the U.S., but such an act would be politically polarizing and trigger alarm in the Pentagon.** > … My bold. “Politically polarizing…trigger alarm…”?? So what? Just fire anyone who objects. * * * ETA. I’m not 100% sure that’s a gift link. Sorry. ---
**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 24, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2118 "2025-08-24T01:28:35Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “Politically polarizing…trigger alarm…”?? > > So what? Just fire anyone who objects. Fire, imprison, deport… ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2119 "2025-08-24T02:33:19Z")
NZ postal services also suspending services to the US over tariffs ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2120 "2025-08-24T03:07:11Z")
How long will it be that people realize that cities who voted against Orangeboy are first on the list for only being dis-loyal? Not sure about Memphis, though… ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/2121 "2025-08-24T04:36:06Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Not sure about Memphis, though… Trump 37% Harris 60% #1 in violent crime The MAGAs have been screaming for a police state for some time now. Elon’s environment-damaging AI facility was foist upon us. The city is kind of a mess. I have no idea what’s going to happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=105) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=107)