# 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:** 59
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1162 "2025-03-22T13:06:33Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > He got Karp to say that Pomerantz was wrong to investigate him . . . I may be wrong here, so do you have a cite? I did read Trump claiming he got that out of Karp, but thought that particular Trump claim wrong. Karp debased himself, but not that far. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1163 "2025-03-22T19:14:56Z")
A childish temper tantrum- [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/22/donald-trump-trans-athletes-maine-00003871](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/22/donald-trump-trans-athletes-maine-00003871) _President Donald Trump is demanding a “full throated apology” from Maine Gov. Janet Mills in his spat with the state over transgender athletes, implying his administration will continue to target the state unless he gets one._ ---
**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:** [March 22, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1164 "2025-03-22T19:35:37Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/M5BdBfhliwM/maxresdefault.jpg ""You Owe Me an Apology"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5BdBfhliwM) ---
**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:** [March 22, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1165 "2025-03-22T19:39:34Z")
I particularly love the part where he called her challenge “unlawful.” ---
**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:** [March 22, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1166 "2025-03-22T20:38:30Z")
As far as he’s concerned there’s only one law: _Trump is God, submit to His Will in all things and praise His Glory._ ---
**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:** [March 22, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1167 "2025-03-22T21:51:11Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I did read Trump claiming he got that out of Karp, but thought that particular Trump claim wrong. Karp debased himself, but not that far. According to the article linked below, Trump is lying about it. That’s not surprising because what he cares about is the _perception_ of his enemies admitting they were wrong. And as long as Karp doesn’t publicly disavow the lies, they will stand. I wouldn’t count on him doing that. > [@](#): > > To make the humiliation complete, Donald Trump has apparently lied about the agreement he reached with Brad Karp, chair of the law firm Paul Weiss, in order to cast the terms of surrender as being even worse than they actually were. > [@](#): > > Five people briefed on the matter said Mr. Karp said he did not criticize Mr. Pomerantz with the president, in spite of Mr. Trump’s assertion to the contrary. [Mark Pomerantz – Media Nation](https://dankennedy.net/tag/mark-pomerantz/) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1168 "2025-03-23T00:52:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > _The White House rescinded the order on Thursday after a meeting between Trump and Brad Karp, the chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton._ > > _In a post on Truth Social, the president said the firm had agreed to a series of concessions, including the promise to provide “the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services over the course of President Trump’s term to support the Administration’s initiatives”._ > > _It added that Paul Weiss would commit to “merit-based” hiring and promotion, and “will not adopt, use, or pursue any DEI policies”._ > > _Trump’s order last week had cancelled contracts with the firms citing Trump’s orders to wipe out any initiatives aimed at Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) within the federal government_ Doesn’t anyone in America have a spine anymore ? DJT asks for a BJ, and even lawfirms knee down and moisten their lips for a more pleasant experience. Offering free work for your opponent… Not bc you did something wrong, but bc you don’t want the Trusk to be angry ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1169 "2025-03-23T00:56:57Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > …or the Perkins Coie strategy (act like the rule of law still applies) will work If interested, LegalEagle as an interesting analysis of this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LfsNe0HdahU/maxresdefault.jpg "One Firm Fights; One Firm Forfeits ft. Liz Dye") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfsNe0HdahU) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1170 "2025-03-23T01:01:12Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If what you’re actually defending against is continuous baseless raids by the IRS, and a continuous barage of press attacks against any and all of your clients, and summary arrest for your senior partners, well, paying $40M in protection might be a bargain. > > Until they come back next month and want another $40M. > > We do not live in the same country we used to. We will probably not live long enough to see a return to something 2020 us would recognize. Problem being - the normalization of government extortion How will they talk to a client about “defending their legal and moral principles “? Thx but I’d shop elsewhere… ---
**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:** [March 23, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1171 "2025-03-23T01:08:11Z")
Tens of millions of seniors were conned by Trump. Who they had for 2017-2020. Why would he not do the same wrecking of cabinets/departments he did in 2017? Now we have the Social Security mess. Which really should have gone to one missed check. Every senior would remember that 2026 November. I can sort of answer that issue about “remembering” myself. Not from my own brain, but seniors I know. They have memory problems. Short term memory (psychology) has started to go. But I will define a term: **shortish memory.** Depending on the individual, it is somewher in the 1-3 year range. For politics, they remember this unimportant stuff that came to their phone about Biden. And they vagueley remember Covid. Those memories will fluctuate wildly, covid. But they do not remember 2020 well when they come to the 2024 election. They remember most vividly the last two years of Biden. So they have completely forgotten the conman Trump. What were their brains working on in 2024? Trump’s masses of foreigners coming over the border, a good 50% of them rapists and Venezuelan gang members and tattoos! And that covid that Biden got them vaccines for? (and paid) Forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1172 "2025-03-23T15:35:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Trump just revoked security clearances for many major people: [Trump Revokes Security Clearances For Biden, Former VP Harris, And Hillary Clinton In Sweeping Memo](https://www.tampafp.com/trump-revokes-security-clearances-for-biden-former-vp-harris-and-hillary-clinton-in-sweeping-memo/) > [snip] > > - **Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger** According to Kinzinger, he doesn’t have a security clearance to revoke: [Trump’s Latest Stunt: Revoking a Clearance I Don’t Even Have](https://adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/trumps-latest-stunt-revoking-a-clearance) > Well, it looks like Donald Trump has done it again—another petty, performative move designed to punish his perceived enemies, regardless of reality. Reports are circulating that he’s decided to revoke my security clearance. The only problem? I don’t have one. > > I retired from the military a year ago. When I stepped away from Congress, I left behind the clearances that came with those roles. Yet, in Trump’s world—where bluster replaces policy, and revenge trumps reason—facts don’t matter. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1173 "2025-03-23T16:15:05Z")
Living on the corner of Evil Street and Stupid Avenue. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1174 "2025-03-23T16:19:30Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > According to Kinzinger, he doesn’t have a security clearance to revoke: He says that, but he probably had a security clearance _in his dreams_. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1175 "2025-03-23T16:28:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > He says that, but he probably had a security clearance _in his dreams_. Hey, the president could have granted him a security clearance, and then instantly revoked it. For some reason I can almost see that happening. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1176 "2025-03-23T17:07:52Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > Doesn’t anyone in America have a spine anymore ? > > DJT asks for a BJ, and even lawfirms knee down and moisten their lips for a more pleasant experience. Unfortunately, in that situation, I suspect it was solely a cost/benefit analysis OBO the law firm. (And, if you are looking for someone to sacrifice money for the sake of values and the common good, you might do well to look elsewhere than law firms!) The article I read said that firm did some billions of dollars of government-related business. $40 mill might be a small investment to maintain/expand that pipeline of profit. Hell, likely just a minor reductin of client entertainment - and prolly written off somewhere… The ones that bothered me more were Disney and media companies caving to his extortion. Of course, it has long been a valid option to threaten litigation to extort a settlement. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1177 "2025-03-23T17:18:55Z")
What does: > [@Dinsdale](#): > > The article I read said that firm did some billions of dollars of government-related business. mean? Do they represent the government, or do they represent private citizens/corporations in business involving the government? If the latter, I would seriously question their willingness and ability to zealously represent my interests were I to be in the market for legal services. How many potential clients would conclude the same? And how does that affect the cost benefit analysis? ---
**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:** [March 23, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1178 "2025-03-23T17:33:42Z")
Law firms and their lawyers are not supposed to compromise their ethics for money. They have a whole professional association and everything. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1179 "2025-03-23T17:40:09Z")
That is likely to be the funniest thing I will read in some time! Thanks! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1180 "2025-03-23T17:43:10Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Unfortunately, in that situation, I suspect it was solely a cost/benefit analysis OBO the law firm. (And, if you are looking for someone to sacrifice money for the sake of values and the common good, you might do well to look elsewhere than law firms!) The article I read said that firm did some billions of dollars of government-related business. $40 mill might be a small investment to maintain/expand that pipeline of profit. Hell, likely just a minor reductin of client entertainment - and prolly written off somewhere… There is a relevant section in the legal eagle video 5or so posts up - starting minute 25… I agree with his assessment ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1181 "2025-03-23T19:04:05Z")
> [@TeroSunbear](#): > > Those memories will fluctuate wildly, covid. But they do not remember 2020 well when they come to the 2024 election. They remember most vividly the last two years of Biden. So they have completely forgotten the conman Trump. > > What were their brains working on in 2024? Trump’s masses of foreigners coming over the border, a good 50% of them rapists and Venezuelan gang members and tattoos! Inflation, also. trump promised to fix it, and altho Biden was slowly fixing it, the hoi polloi believed trump could fix it with a Executive Order somehow. The Dems should have pushed more on the fact that Inflation can’t be fixed like that. So, trump lied. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=58) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=60)