# 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:** 96
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1902 "2025-06-27T23:09:49Z")
A flyer for this fireworks vendor appeared in my junk mail a couple days ago, and I did enter the contest. I then wondered what I would do with $1,500 in fireworks, if I won, and decided that I can shoot them off when 47 gets 86’ed. [https://www.kaboomersfireworkscontest.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLL\_Z1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFjVXdDTHRlT0NKMVFEVG05AR53v0aLE9ERMjvGJ7rYmKkYtbYfzjdlMq8uc1o7lffAe7bBxaeQx2lRjf6QQA\_aem\_n-lGwlu8MNuvAWLNTj\_ztQ](https://www.kaboomersfireworkscontest.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLL_Z1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFjVXdDTHRlT0NKMVFEVG05AR53v0aLE9ERMjvGJ7rYmKkYtbYfzjdlMq8uc1o7lffAe7bBxaeQx2lRjf6QQA_aem_n-lGwlu8MNuvAWLNTj_ztQ) ---
**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:** [June 28, 2025, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1903 "2025-06-28T04:18:23Z")
There a form to fill out for the contest but nothing saying what the prize might be. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1904 "2025-06-28T16:53:48Z")
There was a 2010 movie, Daddy’s Home, (not the 2015 one with Will Ferrell) about an abusive father who was imprisoned, then escaped and tracked down his family. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1905 "2025-06-29T01:01:10Z")
This happened a couple weeks ago but I missed it until now. My next PECO (formerly Philadelphia Electric Company) bill will be higher because rates for power usage after June 1 increased. I’m not sure if Trump personally caused that increase, or if the Trump administration is going to be responsible for the another increase due to a nearby plant burning coal for power we do not need. See: [Groups Challenge the Trump Administration’s Illegal Eddystone Plant Extension](https://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/groups-challenge-trump-administrations-illegal-eddystone-plant-extension) > [@](#): > > The DOE used section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to issue its order, which was designed to give the federal government the power to direct power plants to operate in response to one-off emergency events such as hurricanes, but the Eddystone retirement has been planned for nearly two years and the region has more-than-adequate generation resources–there is simply no emergency. . . . > > The owner of Eddystone Generating Station, Constellation Energy, submitted a deactivation notice in December 2023, aiming to close the plant because it was uneconomic. . . . the PJM region has sufficient generation capacity available to make Eddystone’s operation unnecessary. > > DOE’s order does not include any federal funding to keep the expensive Eddystone plant operational, and the additional costs associated with this extension will be passed onto consumers in Pennsylvania and the region. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1906 "2025-06-29T01:20:10Z")
The website proper says that they are giving away IIRC seven $1,500 gift certificates. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1907 "2025-06-30T00:44:54Z")
“Leave only footprints” used to be the rallying cry of tree-hugging granola types, but the so-called trump administration is repurposing that: “Don’t leave a trace-- not even footprints.” > # The first rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down > > A new culture of secrecy in government is taking root – among career staffers and new political appointees alike. > > [https://wapo.st/4kjmqsn](https://wapo.st/4kjmqsn) > > … > “What’s particularly weird for me is that, as a regulatory agency, we tend to operate with the idea that ‘if it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen,’” said the employee, who has since left the government. “But we are very much moving away from things being in writing.” > > Across President Donald Trump’s administration, a creeping culture of secrecy is overtaking personnel and budget decisions, casual social interactions, and everything in between, according to interviews with more than 40 employees across two dozen agencies, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid reprisals. No one wants to put anything in writing anymore, federal workers said: Meetings are conducted in-person behind closed doors, even on anodyne topics. Workers prefer to talk outdoors, as long as the weather cooperates. And communication among colleagues — whether work-related or personal — has increasingly shifted to the encrypted messaging app Signal, with messages set to auto-delete. > … I guess when they’re all gone, no one will ever know they were there. Except for the wreckage. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1908 "2025-06-30T00:52:14Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > [quoting article] The first rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down Criminal enterprise 101. In the words of [Stringer Bell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringer_Bell): “N[\*\*\*\*], is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?” ---
**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:** [June 30, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1909 "2025-06-30T01:03:56Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “Leave only footprints” used to be the rallying cry of tree-hugging granola types, but the so-called trump administration is repurposing that: “Don’t leave a trace-- not even footprints.” The impact on the Presidential Records Act should be interesting. With the new rallying cry of “we don’t need no steenking **records**!!”, another pillar of democracy collapses. How many pillars are left to hold anything up? There’s supposed to be some kinda election next year and a presidential election in 2028, but we’ve seen how that goes. Russia has elections, too. It appears that Putin is very, very popular! 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1910 "2025-07-01T16:15:07Z")
[Trump puts aside his duties at a key moment to promote his new branded fragrance line](https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-fragrances-victory-45-47-grifting-rcna216205). _“‘They’re called ‘Victory 45-47’ because they’re all about Winning, Strength, and Success — For men and women. Get yourself a bottle, and don’t forget to get one for your loved ones too. Enjoy, have fun, and keep winning!’ Trump wrote in the post, which included a link to buy the product. The fragrances are the latest in a series of Trump-branded items he has promoted. Other ventures include the $TRUMP meme coin, branded watches and apparel — some of which included the slogan ‘Trump 2028.’”_ We are on the verge of WW III. Our alliances have been destroyed. Our economy is headed toward the next great recession or depression. So, what is our president doing? Selling perfume. This guy can’t even put aside his own craving for further wealth to do the job he was elected to do. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1911 "2025-07-01T18:29:54Z")
> They’re called ‘Victory 45-47’ Will it be Victory Gin next? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1912 "2025-07-01T20:05:37Z")
Probably Victory bonds. But somehow since they’re an obligation of the trumporg, not the government, they’ll never be paid back; just rolled over forever. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1913 "2025-07-01T20:15:31Z")
I’ll be in my Victory Garden. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1914 "2025-07-01T22:31:55Z")
[Republican Bill Puts Nation on New, More Perilous Fiscal Path](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/us/politics/republican-policy-bill-perilous-fiscal-path.html?smid=url-share) > [@](#): > > Historically, lawmakers have been unable to make such a large change in the country’s finances without bipartisan support . . . . > > That is because reconciliation . . . has long included the requirement that bills cannot add to the debt for more than a decade. But Republicans decided to disregard that rule . . . > > “. . . we’re staring at Social Security insolvency in 2032 or 2033 . . . ” said Zach Moller, director of the economic program at Third Way, a center-left group. “The next president is going to be stuck dealing with Social Security.” If I understand correctly, there will have to be some kind of [financial repression](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_repression) to pay down the debt MAGA is taking on, without admitting default, as explained [in more detail here](https://www.imf.org/external/np/seminars/eng/2011/res2/pdf/crbs.pdf). Unfortunately, I do not really understand my last two links. In there something to read, about the coming financial repression, that’s a little less technical without being totally dumbed down? Whatever it is, it will fit the thread title. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2025, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1915 "2025-07-01T23:48:38Z")
So… Is the bit about Trump being immune to everything and can do whatever he wants still in the bill? Losing Medicare, etc. is bad enough. Officially making the President a dictator is much worse. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1916 "2025-07-01T23:51:58Z")
Most people in Amerika want a dictator. Or at least, they don’t care if he’s a dictator. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1917 "2025-07-02T00:33:41Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > So… Is the bit about Trump being immune to everything and can do whatever he wants still in the bill? It looks like the parliamentarian ruled against including it: > **[Senate’s Byrd Rule Upends Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’](https://time.com/7296762/big-beautiful-bill-byrd-rule/)** > > What is the Byrd Rule and why is it cutting out major parts of Senate Republicans' ‘big, beautiful bill’? But I read somewhere that Trump is pushing them to ignore her. If the House votes down what the Senate passed, it could all change: [“My advice is to send the House bill back, pack our bags and go home and tell them to get serious,” [Rep. Ralph] Norman said of Senate Republicans.](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/01/congress/mike-johnson-ralph-norman-senate-house-megabill-00436050) ---
**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:** [July 2, 2025, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1918 "2025-07-02T01:37:25Z")
Anyone else especially annoyed by Alaska Senator Murkowski? I know this is her shtick, but “I didn’t like to vote for it, but I just had to! Oh those poor people who will suffer! I hope the House can fix it!” Does anyone buy the crap she sells? I guess the good people of Alaska, but trying to appear to be on both sides while generally supporting evil is pretty transparently just a stupid form of evil. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1919 "2025-07-02T02:12:39Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Anyone else especially annoyed by Alaska Senator Murkowski? First thought: The first rule for Republicans is to always skip over an opportunity to stop Donald Trump. There’s no more or less reason to be annoyed by her than any of the six GOP justices who didn’t enforce 14th amendment section 3, or the fifty GOP senators who voted for the big beautiful bill. Second thought: She just possibly has plotted this out more steps than I have. It’s not like the bill has the votes to pass in the House. Or does it? And Trump is a dictator regardless. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2025, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1920 "2025-07-02T02:33:31Z")
Well, well, well… Twenty GOP House members vow to not vote for the bill passed by the Senate. > “Our bill has been completely changed. … It’s a non-starter,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) bemoaned to reporters on Tuesday. > > Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) said in a post on social media that he will introduce an amendment to the Senate bill that would delete all its text and replace it with the version passed by the House in May. > One House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios there are “well over 20” GOP lawmakers threatening to vote against the bill. > > “They’re backing away from the spending cuts, the spending restraint. They’re backing away from the reforms that we think makes the math work,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said in a post on X. > Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) noted that Johnson previously committed not to hold a vote on a bill that increases the deficit over a certain threshold, adding that “members will have a decision to make.” [https://www.axios.com/2025/07/01/mike-johnson-trump-big-beautiful-bill](https://www.axios.com/2025/07/01/mike-johnson-trump-big-beautiful-bill) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774/1921 "2025-07-02T03:08:40Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Twenty GOP House members vow to not vote for the bill passed by the Senate. Your Axios link says they are threatening, not vowing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=95) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-current-second-trump-administration-a-compendium-of-horrors/1009774.md?page=97)