# 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:** 26
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/502 "2025-01-29T21:43:29Z")
Does Trump want to be popular? No, just to be THE NEWS. He does not think he will be fuhrer. It does not leave time for golf. Maybe Vance is going to take it up, once Trump has paved the way. No, his entire goal is revenge. The entire year. He might be afraid of dying. Better get things done now, including revenge measures. And breaking deep state. (All cabinets if possible) Then bask in the glory and play golf the last 3 years. He will be doing rallies those years. Because he can. It does not say in the constitution he can’t rally for the future of MAGA. He can just pretend it’s a third term. But in 2027 he will announce his retirement to a custom nursing home in Mar a Lago. He will call it a club. For senior statesmen. Small charge for Elon to stay a while. Elon has no family for Thanksgiving. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/503 "2025-01-29T21:58:01Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Note that there is nothing new about this sort of thing; there have been Separation Incentive Payments (SIP) for decades to get people to quit “early,” especially for jobs that might be removed in the near future. It’s just that, I doubt that the payment was anywhere near eight months of current salary. Also the people given those incentives were given more than a week to decide if it was the right move for them. That is the thing that tells me its a bad deal. The only reason to make the window this short is because they want people to take it without understanding what it means. They also make it sooo easy for you to do, just reply to the email with the word “Resign” and its all done. No fine print to worry yourself about. I’d feel more secure buying a time share. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2025, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/504 "2025-01-30T00:43:38Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > email your Republicans and beg them to remember their role in the checks and balances. Unfortunately, it’s pretty obvious that most if not the majority of our Reps don’t know what their role _is_, any more than most Americans do. And I would include a good number of Senators, too. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/505 "2025-01-30T00:55:31Z")
[Justice Department in talks about dropping corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams](https://www.aol.com/justice-department-talks-dropping-corruption-000327065.html) > [@](#): > > President Trump and Adams have become friendly in recent months, according to the New York Times, and Trump felt like the Justice Department under former-President Biden treated Adams unfairly. To that end, Trump has even said publicly [that he would consider a pardon](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/nyregion/trump-pardon-eric-adams.html)for Adams in the event of a conviction. I’m wondering what the talks could be about. Could it be that Adams wants something a smidgen less than a full pardon so he can deny, in his reelection campaign, being a bought and paid for Trump ally? If anyone says my last sentence makes no sense, I agree! I do predict that Trump will make sure Adams gets away with his alleged crimes. You do not need to show party loyalty to fit into the MAGA big tent. ---
**Author:** ![TeroSunbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terosunbear/32/14748_2.png) [@TeroSunbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeroSunbear)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/506 "2025-01-30T03:29:45Z")
Trump talks about millions of condoms. He sure misses his rallies. > **[David Heath (@david.heath.writer) on Threads](https://www.threads.net/@david.heath.writer/post/DFbxVdMRI9q?xmt=AQGz6QG1oktdkU3nsSAwtbhXTEDGkWesM4UOVtEVD6-thg)** > > President Donald Trump seemingly made up a story about how he stopped $50 million being spent on condoms for Hamas. But several news sources said the White House can’t prove this. That would be enough money to buy 1.5 billion condoms, more than twice... ---
**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:** [January 30, 2025, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/507 "2025-01-30T09:12:39Z")
I know this sounds like Trumpian election denial, but it’s worth a look. Voter suppression is definitely a thing that has been going on for years, and this article suggests that it was enough to swing the election. As if the whole fiasco wasn’t frustrating enough, it appears that most Americans – uninformed as they might be – still didn’t want this asshole. > **[TRUMP LOST. Vote Suppression Won.](https://hartmannreport.com/p/trump-lost-vote-suppression-won-c6f)** > > Here are the numbers from investigative reporter Greg Palast... ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/508 "2025-01-30T10:11:50Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Also the people given those incentives were given more than a week to decide if it was the right move for them. That is the thing that tells me its a bad deal. The only reason to make the window this short is because they want people to take it without understanding what it means. They also make it sooo easy for you to do, just reply to the email with the word “Resign” and its all done. No fine print to worry yourself about. I’d feel more secure buying a time share. FWIW, the acting head of my federal employer sent out an email yesterday declaring they would honor the OPM’s offer of deferred resignations. Meanwhile, the American Federation of Government employees sent out this email: > If you are an AFGE employee who received a message from \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* regarding Notice for Probationary/Trial Period Employees. Please do what you need to protect all of your information regarding your Federal employment. As I mentioned during our town halls, you need to download/print out all pertinent employment information such as your entire eOPF. Do this ASAP! We continue to evaluate this situation. Federal employees in their first year of employment are on probation and can be dismissed far more easily than people who’ve been around for longer. “eOPF” stands for “electronic Official Personnel Folder”, which contains the details of your employment status/history: when you were hired, your grade/step, your job description, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/509 "2025-01-30T10:15:50Z")
And then there’s this: > **[Trump’s “Buyout” Offer for Federal Workers Is Already Backfiring](https://newrepublic.com/post/190844/trump-buyout-offer-federal-workers-backfiring)** > > Donald Trump’s ultimatum to federal workers seems to be having the opposite effect. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/510 "2025-01-30T11:55:36Z")
I mean, it’s an article where something happened, and then they are just itemizing a Reddit response thread of anonymous contributors. Hard to know if any of it is meaningful. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/511 "2025-01-30T12:43:41Z")
Yeah - pretty silly article. Just my anecdote - I haven’t heard anyone in my small shop express anything close to those sentiments. Instead, it has all been, “WTF is going on? We’re just trying to do our effing jobs!” The stress on our managers is pretty impressive, as they have no more info than you and I, yet are being bombarded by questions they cannot answer. Meanwhile, they are trying to run an office - which is NOT IMO overstaffed and underworked. A lot of sleepless nights, I’m sure. While the orange turd undoubtedly sleeps like a baby. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/512 "2025-01-30T12:48:04Z")
Krugman’s take on the buyout this morning. > **[It’s a Scam! It’s a Purge! It’s a Scam \*and\* a Purge](https://open.substack.com/pub/paulkrugman/p/its-a-scam-its-a-purge-its-a-scam?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4y8eu)** > > How to think about Trump’s plans for the federal workforce ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/513 "2025-01-30T13:02:58Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > The stress on our managers is pretty impressive, as they have no more info than you and I, yet are being bombarded by questions they cannot answer. Meanwhile, they are trying to run an office - which is NOT IMO overstaffed and underworked. A lot of sleepless nights, I’m sure. While the orange turd undoubtedly sleeps like a baby. My wife is a university professor, and she and her colleagues and department leadership were thrown into similar chaos with the funding freeze earlier this week. Suddenly they were being told that they couldn’t invoice to existing grants, reviews of submitted proposals were being put on pause, and so forth. Nuts. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/514 "2025-01-30T14:44:40Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > And then there’s this: > > [Trump’s “Buyout” Offer for Federal Workers Is Already Backfiring | The New Republic](https://newrepublic.com/post/190844/trump-buyout-offer-federal-workers-backfiring) I predict it will backfire because the only employees who trust Trump/Musk to keep their side of the deal are Trump supporters. Remaining employees will be heavily Democratic. But I’m writing this as someone who resists the Trumpers-are-idiots narrative. If you believe that narrative, the resignation incentives will have successfully purged the least productive employees. Trump does not care about productivity, but Musk does. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/515 "2025-01-30T14:52:11Z")
Trumpers are idiots in one huge area, but that does not comprise their entire being or doing, not even close. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/516 "2025-01-30T15:11:03Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Trump does not care about productivity, but Musk does. Does he though? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/517 "2025-01-30T15:11:25Z")
Another way the resignation incentives will backfire only applies if the promised illegal payment actually is made. Suppose the employee was already planning to retire this year. Then the incentive payment was a complete waste of taxpayer money. I’m thinking that Musk should have had a fine print clause saying that September 30, 2025 cannot be your retirement date if you take this offer. Subject to multiple interpretations? Yes. Illegal? Probably. But that’s no different from the rest of it. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/518 "2025-01-30T17:00:08Z")
Trump turned an official report on the airplane crash into a meandering attack on Obama, the control tower, hiring standards and Democratic regulations, while preemptively clearing the crews and claiming that under his rules accidents like this will _never_ happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/519 "2025-01-30T17:06:05Z")
I’m sure that there is some ethic, or gender minority who is in some tangential way associated with either the plane, helicopter, or control tower so they can blame it on DEI. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/520 "2025-01-30T17:39:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Trump turned an official report on the airplane crash into a meandering attack on Obama, the control tower, hiring standards and Democratic regulations, while preemptively clearing the crews and claiming that under his rules accidents like this will _never_ happen again. Almost all true. But Trump could not resist also going after the deceased soldiers: [”The people in the helicopter should have seen where they were going. I can’t imagine people with 20/20 vision not seeing what’s happening up there.”](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/30/deadly-us-plane-crash-with-dozens-on-board-what-we-know-so-far) Can you imagine the families of the servicemembers who may have been watching? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/521 "2025-01-30T18:14:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > while preemptively clearing the crews and claiming that under his rules accidents like this will _never_ happen again. uh huh. His rules will be ‘Don’t crash’. If they do crash, well, they weren’t following his rules. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=27)