# 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:** 31
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/602 "2025-02-02T03:32:36Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Treasury Secretary Bessent has granted DOGE _full_ access to the federal payments system. Social Security and Medicare benefits, grants, payments to government contractors, including those that compete directly with Musk’s own companies. All of it. So, who watches the watchmen, Mr. Bessent? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/603 "2025-02-02T04:25:51Z")
Just found out today that the cut of Federal grants to nonprofits means that my 19-year-old nephew, who was supposed to start a pre-apprenticeship program on Monday that would have introduced him to various skilled trades, is SOL. The program depended in part on Federal funds and has been canceled. He quit his job for this. Fuckers. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/604 "2025-02-02T13:51:55Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > All these so-called repibs (on purpose) who are suddenly concerned are as full of as much crap as Trump. You’re concerned now, really? Had no clue this was coming after four years of rallies promising these tariffs? I think they are happy to campaign on cutting spending, putting in tariffs etc, figuring that it will only hurt _America_, not their own state (which they only care about because that affects their own ass). So a similar self-delusion as for the typical Trump voter. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/605 "2025-02-02T13:53:49Z")
Gift link: [https://wapo.st/4hGOXa6](https://wapo.st/4hGOXa6) > [@Washington Post](#): > > …But a little-noticed memo issued on Trump’s first day in office by the Office of Personnel Management lifted the cap to allow Trump to bring on an unlimited number of temporary appointees. The senior administration official acknowledged that the White House wants more political appointees to make sure career staff members carry out the new administration’s agenda. But the official said the number still will be small compared with the massive number of career employees. Like other autocratic regimes have done throughout history, it looks like the Trump administration is planning to embed Soviet-style [political officers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_commissar) everywhere to keep career federal employees in check. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/606 "2025-02-02T14:31:26Z")
Now that Musk has access to Treasury data, how long before Social Security, Medicare and federal pensions begin being delayed, reduced or unaccountably messed up? Illegal, sure, but that doesn’t matter. I am betting within weeks. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/607 "2025-02-02T15:20:57Z")
I just sent her an email telling her (in response to that) that she’s partially responsible for this, and as a fellow New Englander I will make sure that everyone I know in Maine knows it. Maine is very poor. Maine will suffer more than the rest of NE, which is very rich. > [@Smapti](#): > > Trump has lost Rand Paul. I have a special disdain for Rand Paul’s “I’m a libertarian but I vote with the religious nutters” schtick. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/608 "2025-02-02T19:42:41Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Pretty sure it was Spy Magazine, and I remember it being a little more than that. Maybe ten cents. Thirteen, but the point is Spy sent them out to a bunch of rich guys. An arms dealer and Trump were the only ones who cashed theirs. > **[In 1990, Spy magazine pulled the best prank ever on Donald Trump](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/08/trump-files-spy-magazine-prank/)** > > The real estate mogul even managed to profit from it. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/609 "2025-02-03T01:44:02Z")
Trump really cares about protecting “certain classes of people” in South Africa from land seizure. [https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-02-02/trump-to-cut-off-all-future-funding-to-south-africa](https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-02-02/trump-to-cut-off-all-future-funding-to-south-africa) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/610 "2025-02-03T01:48:08Z")
Not giving up my email. What’s it say? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/611 "2025-02-03T01:50:41Z")
“South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. Also, I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/612 "2025-02-03T02:02:15Z")
“South Africa is … treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” maybe South Africa should try DEI? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/613 "2025-02-03T02:06:20Z")
I always have a sneaking suspicion that Musk (And Peter Thiel) has a huge chip on his shoulder, his big grievance from the past? That [the US helped broke down Apartheid in South Africa.](https://geneva.usmission.gov/2013/12/17/pressure-to-end-apartheid-began-at-grass-roots-in-u-s/) It is payback time. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/614 "2025-02-03T07:01:08Z")
I want to make a confession here and then never speak of it again. I, a liberal woman with a strong wish to support my sisters, watched two minutes Karoline Leavitt’s debut press interview and involuntarily, irreversibly dubbed her a vacuous twat ( in my mind, not out loud). Normally I cringe at using defamatory terms directed at women, however ,I get a strong feeling of betrayal from the “ladies” of the cult. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/615 "2025-02-03T09:25:05Z")
That press interview… At first, I thought she might be a rap artist, with the huge, gold cross and lavender jacket. 😆 ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/616 "2025-02-03T10:36:38Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > “South Africa is … treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” maybe South Africa should try DEI? We are giving it a good shot. While I am white and male, not disabled, and so stand to lose out I totally support what we call BEE (I prefer the acronym with an additional word, BBEE, “Broadbased Black Economic Empowerment”) While there are inveitable news-making examples of fraud, there are thousands of non-news making examples of success. I am proud my taxes, in part, go there. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/617 "2025-02-03T12:29:25Z")
Agency avoided first clash but will be shut down. yearly budget 50 billion. No trillions for Musk there. > **[United States Agency for International Development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Agency_for_International_Development)** > > The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the United States government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $50 billion, USAID is one of the largest official aid agencies in the world and accounts for more than half of all U.S. foreign assistance – the highest in the world in absolute dollar terms. > Congress passed the Foreign Assistance Act on September 4, 1961, ... ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/618 "2025-02-03T14:48:23Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. Um… the United States of America is treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/619 "2025-02-03T15:00:21Z")
It’s hard for me to garner sympathy for an agency that covertly funded the forced sterilization of thousands of women in Peru. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/620 "2025-02-03T17:53:25Z")
There’s a great screen capture from that press conference, where her body is blocking some of the letters. The remaining letters spell “WHITE WASHING”. Here’s a site that has a picture that almost shows it. > **[NHDem Chair Buckley Accused of Sexism After 'Classless' Attack on NH's Leavitt...](https://nhjournal.com/nhdem-chair-buckley-accused-of-sexism-after-classless-attack-on-nhs-leavitt/)** > > New Hampshire - NHDem Chair Buckley Accused of Sexism After 'Classless' Attack on NH's Leavitt - NH Journal - Politics ---
**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:** [February 3, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/621 "2025-02-03T18:15:49Z")
It may be worth a quick read of the “USAID” chapter heading here: > **[Forced sterilization in Peru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_sterilization_in_Peru)** > > Under the administration of President Alberto Fujimori, Peru implemented a forced sterilization campaign as part of the National Population Program, primarily targeting impoverished and indigenous women in rural Andean regions. This effort, regarded as the largest state-sponsored sterilization initiative in the Americas, was publicly presented as a progressive strategy for promoting reproductive health and economic development. However, it has been broadly denounced for its coercive methods an TL;DR: > According to Peru’s congressional subcommittee investigations, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Nippon Foundation supported the sterilization efforts of the Fujimori government. However, a US congressional investigation led by members of the religious right, who were deeply opposed to sterilization, found no evidence USAID was funding forced sterilizations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=32)