# 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:** 34
**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:** [February 5, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/662 "2025-02-05T18:11:48Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > The fact that this is incongruent with MAGA’s anti-electric and pro-fossil fuel dedication will just be hand-waved away. Remember how they used to whine that the batteries are actually worse for the environment than oil? They’ll embrace that, posting pictures of them replacing the battery every six months, with “Screw you, _Environment!_” as a caption. ---
**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 5, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/663 "2025-02-05T18:27:51Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > > [@betonbill](#): > > > > and the employer now has to hire all new people > > That’s the part you don’t get -they won’t be replacing those people. > > They really believe that most government employees don’t do anything of any real importance, and this is a good way to get rid of them. They figure, if someone is so unconcerned about their work that they’re willing to just walk away from it in exchange for 8 months’ salary, that job probably isn’t important. That’s what’s so stupid about all of this. Is whether or not a government worker takes a buyout when they are worried about getting laid off in the upcoming RIF (Reduction in Force) the best indicator of how important their job is? I think my job is pretty important, but if I were worried about being laid off in a draconian cost-cutting measure, I might be tempted to go for a buyout lifeline too. At which point all of my water and sewer main replacement and rehabilitation projects grind to a halt, leading to interruptions in municipal water and sewer service. Because somebody needs to do the job, or the water and sewer system just collapses. This also applies to the people who process tax returns, issue passports, keep planes from running into each other, etc. Federal government employees do essential work, whether they realize it or not. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/664 "2025-02-05T18:32:20Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Federal government employees do essential work, whether they realize it or not. They don’t realize it. In fact, they actively campaign to convince other people to also believe the way they do. This is why they didn’t stop and think for even a second about what you pointed out, that this buy-out was unlikely to have the effect they’re hoping for. They never thought the “good” employees would take the offer out of an abundance of caution, because _they don’t believe there are any “good” employees in the government_. When trying to comprehend Musk et al.'s actions these past weeks, you must come at it from that perspective: They really don’t think government does anything useful. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/665 "2025-02-05T18:47:10Z")
Some people are cheering the decision to dismantle USAID. It appears to be a list of Trump’s dictator buddies: Putin, Orban, etc. (gift link) > **[As Elon Musk Dismantles USAID, Foreign Leaders Rejoice](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/world/europe/usaid-russia-putin.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uk4.No2P.yjawBIFughg_&smid=url-share)** > > Leaders in Russia, Hungary and El Salvador welcomed the Trump administration’s assault on U.S.A.I.D., which many authoritarians have seen as a threat. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/666 "2025-02-05T18:52:37Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Some people are cheering the decision to dismantle USAID. It appears to be a list of Trump’s dictator buddies: Putin, Orban, etc. (gift link) Well, I just learned today by overhearing on Fox from Jesse Waters and Stephen Miller that USAID is actually a criminal, Deep State, dark-money agency that acted like a Super-PAC for Democrats and was dedicated to the dustruction of Donald Trump, or some shit like that. The cherry on top was when Miller declared that the American people elected Donald Trump to bring back oversight and accountability to the federal government. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/667 "2025-02-05T18:54:55Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > The cherry on top was when Miller declared that the American people elected Donald Trump to bring back oversight and accountability to the federal government. Picture a person doing a spit take. That’s what nearly everyone that reads that will be doing. Also, I didn’t know preventing starvation, AIDS, and malaria were considered deep state. Real people are going to die over this evil administration’s doings. Trump and Musk are extremely evil assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/668 "2025-02-05T20:33:03Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > They don’t realize it. … They never thought the “good” employees would take the offer out of an abundance of caution, because _they don’t believe there are any “good” employees in the government_. That is why I perversely almost want some horrible results. Maybe terrible FEMA response to the next natural disaster. Diseases spread from poor food/product inspection and reduced treatment/research. Skyrocketing prices from lack of labor. And/or just general inconvenience for everyone having to wait longer for worse service. Of course, the stupid MAGAs will still blame the Dems - and th efired fed empoyees. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/669 "2025-02-05T20:40:02Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Of course, the stupid MAGAs will still blame the Dems - and th efired fed empoyees “If they knew they were so important, why did they all quit?!??!!?” ---
**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:** [February 6, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/670 "2025-02-06T01:59:05Z")
Elon has posted a list of “targets” in the Health and Human Serivces department on a website called “DEI Watch List”. Well, the article doesn’t mention him but you know he is behind it. > [@](#): > > Federal health workers are expressing fear and alarm after a website called “DEI Watch List” published the photos, names and public information of a number of workers across health agencies, describing them at one point as “targets.” > > The site lists workers’ salaries along with what it describes as “DEI offenses,” including political donations, screenshots of social media posts, snippets from websites describing their work, or being a part of a [DEI initiative](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trumps-anti-dei-initiatives-hamper-pulse-oximeter-research-doctors-wor-rcna189573) that has been scrubbed from a federal website. Instilling fear in your citizens is the new American way. Now that we have the internet, I think we are going to see abuses the Nazis could only dream about. [Federal health workers terrified after ‘DEI’ website publishes list of ‘targets’](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/federal-health-workers-terrified-dei-website-publishes-list-targets-rcna190711) ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/671 "2025-02-06T02:07:28Z")
I read somewhere today (sorry, I can’t provide the cite) the USAID was investigating or looking into Musk, Starlink and Ukraine. I didn’t know the USAID has or had that sort of function but, if so, what are the chances that Musk was involved in something less than noble with his satellites? ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/672 "2025-02-06T02:23:38Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > what are the chances that Musk was involved in something less than noble Pretty sure the answer is yes no matter what the question is. ---
**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 6, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/673 "2025-02-06T03:46:56Z")
What’s the worst Trump can do? Lots of people will suffer due to income and healthcare changes. But the worst that could happen is another pandemic. Trump would not do what he did before. Because he knows he cannot have health care officials stand up in gov’t events or with just Trump somewhere in a room in broadcast. He knows he did badly, because he knows TV. So nothing will happen. He will ban any interaction between the feds and the masses. Nothing at all. The entire fight of the pandemic will by governors. There will be natural disasters. Those will also be bad. No funds at all. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/674 "2025-02-06T03:52:55Z")
Disaster funds will flow to states that voted for him. ---
**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 6, 2025, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/675 "2025-02-06T04:09:09Z")
> [@TeroSunbear](#): > > But the worst that could happen is another pandemic. I’m hoping for a nice hemorrhagic fever or the, classic, pneumonic plague myself. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/676 "2025-02-06T04:13:26Z")
I am hoping for a rain of biblical plaques. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/677 "2025-02-06T05:00:14Z")
A Plague of Frog. Not frogs; just one Godzilla sized frog. At least that would be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/678 "2025-02-06T05:37:41Z")
I read recently about how the US airdrops millions of sterilized screwworm larvae over Panama every year to stop the bastards from returning to America after they were eradicated here decades ago. If he keeps tearing down Chesterton’s Fences left and right, we actually could end up with a plague of worms in a few years. > **[America’s Never-Ending Battle Against Flesh-Eating Worms](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/05/flesh-eating-worms-disease-containment-america-panama/611026/)** > > Inside the U.S. and Panama’s long-running collaboration to rid an entire continent of a deadly disease > **[Authorities fear worsening screwworm situation due to Trump policies |...](https://amandala.com.bz/news/authorities-fear-worsening-screwworm-situation-due-to-trump-policies/)** ---
**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:** [February 6, 2025, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/679 "2025-02-06T05:56:18Z")
That’s if we don’t get hit by another global pandemic soon, due to USAid no longer supplying essential medications and vaccines to impoverished nations. I started this thread with a hypothetical list of the horrors that the Orange Tyrant was likely to perpetrate. I had no idea it would be ten times worse than anyone had ever imagined. It’s just a maelstrom of seething hatred against everything and everyone by a bigoted psychopath who’s never had a friend in his life and doesn’t even understand the concept. ---
**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 6, 2025, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/680 "2025-02-06T06:34:20Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > At least regular American citizens will get “value” out of this deal. Whatever that is. - [1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000685/?ref_=ttqu_qu): Nately died a wealthy man, Yossarian. He had over sixty shares in the syndicate. - [Yossarian](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000273/?ref_=ttqu_qu): What difference does that make? He’s dead. - [1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000685/?ref_=ttqu_qu): Then his family will get it. - [Yossarian](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000273/?ref_=ttqu_qu): He didn’t have time to have a family. - [1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000685/?ref_=ttqu_qu): Then his parents will get it. - [Yossarian](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000273/?ref_=ttqu_qu): They don’t need it, they’re rich. - [1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000685/?ref_=ttqu_qu): Then they’ll understand. ---
**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 6, 2025, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/681 "2025-02-06T07:06:40Z")
I don’t think this has been posted yet: > **[Trump signs order that seeks to ban transgender athletes from women's sports](https://www.npr.org/2025/02/05/nx-s1-5282137/trump-transgender-sports-executive-order)** > > President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday aimed at preventing transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. It's the latest in a series of actions focused on "gender ideology." [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=35)