# The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 11, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068 "2024-11-11T06:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 30
**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:** [December 11, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/581 "2024-12-11T23:10:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The Weimar constitution could be amended merely by a vote of the Reichstag. Between Constitutional and **[diplomatic issues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E2%80%93Ribbentrop_Pact)**, he had some things to work out first. Got it. > [@Smapti](#): > > Changing US law to make Trump all-powerful would be significantly harder. I’m not one that has made _any_ predictions about what will/won’t happen under Trump 2.0. I have, however opined that he has all three branches of government on his side, that his last major official act, in Trump 1.0, was a coup attempt, and have wondered aloud what – other than his basic benevolence, human decency, respect for the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and historic US norms – would dissuade him from acting on his worst impulses. “It’s hard,” to me, doesn’t seem like a compelling argument. The alternate slate of electors scheme was ‘hard,’ too. The mere fact that it failed, _ipso facto_, doesn’t mean he didn’t try. He did. And I’ll repeat: it was effectively his last act of his first term. Did Trump the Candidate for a 2nd term say something between '21 and '24 to convince _you_ that his better angels were governing him now, that he was profoundly repentant for his earlier transgressions, that his past issues of caprice, volatility, hubris, narcissism, overconfidence, impulsivity, and judgment were no longer plaguing him? Did the lion’s share of his appointments and nominations somehow disabuse you of the notion that toadies, stooges, loyalists, and personalities – historically, the stuff of demagogues and dictators – would constitute the machinery of his administration? Have his activities since leaving office (to cite just one: the theft of classified documents, the frank Obstruction of Justice in order to prevent their lawful return, and the repeated conversations with Putin _while_ retaining those documents _in possible/likely violation of the **[Logan Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Act)**_) convinced you that he possesses the temperament, restraint, wisdom, sagacity, honesty, trustworthiness, patriotism, and commitment to the US’s best interest? What causes you to give this man such an enormous benefit of the doubt? From whence comes your apparent sanguinity about what he might or might not try, if not actually do? ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/582 "2024-12-12T03:09:58Z")
The crazier they are, the bigger the MAGAphone they get. I guess: > **[Trump taps ex-Phoenix news anchor Kari Lake to run Voice of America](https://www.azfamily.com/2024/12/12/trump-taps-ex-phoenix-news-anchor-kari-lake-run-voice-america/)** > > President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Wednesday that he has tapped Kari Lake to run state media broadcaster Voice of America. > **[Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113637437665057869)** > > I am pleased to announce that Kari Lake will serve as our next Director of the Voice of America. She will be appointed by, and work closely with, our next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, who I will announce soon, to ensure that the American... ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/583 "2024-12-12T06:22:23Z")
This should be good. [![](https://i.imgur.com/0M6DQ8Y.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/0M6DQ8Y.jpg) For just one billion dollars you, too, can destroy a local environment. Come one, come all. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/584 "2024-12-12T06:26:16Z")
TBH, it’s been my opinion for some time that the environmental impact process is overly onerous and is a direct contributor to the housing shortage and our country’s general inability to build infrastructure or next-gen mass transit on a realistic timeframe. If you tried to start building the Interstate Highway System from scratch today, it would not reach most of the country by the end of this century. Giving the wealthy carte blanche to skip the entire process isn’t the solution, though. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/585 "2024-12-12T10:46:01Z")
To note that former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence and current Senior National Security and Intelligence Analyst for NBC/MSNBC Frank Figliuzzi has been sounding the same alarm about the “vaporization” of the guardrails under Trump once his cult members in positions of power reach critical mass. Can’t find the actual video clip of him discussing this that isn’t embedded in social media posts, but he’s mentioned it in multiple contexts. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/586 "2024-12-12T14:46:46Z")
The Trump/Musk administration motto: “_Après ~~moi~~ nous, le déluge._” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/587 "2024-12-12T19:57:21Z")
All one has to do is look at the shining track record of large corporations to understand what a positive and philanthropic move this is!^. Unfortunately, there are probably a few pesky states that still care about the dignity of their citizens… ^The bigger the concern, the more shiny! ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/588 "2024-12-12T20:13:31Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Giving the wealthy carte blanche to skip the entire process isn’t the solution, though. I find it amusing that the crowd that’s complaining about how government employees don’t do enough to earn their pay are now telling those same employees, “Don’t bother doing your jobs, just rubber stamp anything that comes stapled to a big enough check.” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/589 "2024-12-12T23:37:28Z")
From the Donald Trump tweet: > [@](#): > > I am pleased to announce that Kari Lake will serve as our next Director of the Voice of America. She will be appointed by, and work closely with, our next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, who I will announce soon, to ensure that the American… With the Department of Government Efficiency ruthlessly cutting all the unneeded functions of the government, I’m sure the Voice of America, heck, even the whole Agency for Global Media, will be gone in just a few months. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/590 "2024-12-13T00:27:35Z")
With Kari Lake running it, it might as well be. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/591 "2024-12-13T01:37:43Z")
I’d be surprised if NPR doesn’t take a significant hit in listeners with her stinking out the joint. Time will tell, but am predicting the amount of new MAGA listeners will vastly dwarf those how would rather listen to duelling lynxes. Which are gross-sounding. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/592 "2024-12-13T02:00:28Z")
Now he’s blathering about abolishing the FDIC. Guess I better move my savings under my mattress. [https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/trump-advisers-seek-shrink-or-eliminate-bank-regulators-wsj-reports-2024-12-13/](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/trump-advisers-seek-shrink-or-eliminate-bank-regulators-wsj-reports-2024-12-13/) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/593 "2024-12-13T12:25:52Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Now he’s blathering about abolishing the FDIC. Guess I better move my savings under my mattress. My god. I knew they where going to rape and pillage. They’ve been doing it for years. But come on. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/594 "2024-12-13T12:42:49Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > I’d be surprised if NPR doesn’t take a significant hit in listeners with her stinking out the joint. Time will tell, but am predicting the amount of new MAGA listeners will vastly dwarf those how would rather listen to duelling lynxes. > Which are gross-sounding. VOA is not NPR. Kari Lake won’t have anything to do with NPR. That’s not to say Trump won’t try to influence NPR in other ways. By pulling funding say. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2024, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/595 "2024-12-13T12:53:06Z")
NPR receives only 1-2% of its funding from the federal government. PBS receives about 15% of its funding from the feds. > The **Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)** receives federal funding as part of the annual appropriations process. In recent years, the CPB has been allocated approximately **$465 million per year** from the federal government. > > This funding is distributed to support local public television and radio stations, PBS, NPR, and other public media initiatives. Most of the funding goes directly to local stations to help provide community-based services. According to ChatGPT. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/596 "2024-12-13T14:03:00Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > According to ChatGPT. I’d rather trust trump. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/597 "2024-12-13T14:18:54Z")
Much like people _slam_ Wikipedia as an untrustworthy source, its sources are quite often highly credible. In this case, fact-checking AI is pretty trivial… > **[CPB Operating Budget](https://cpb.org/aboutcpb/financials/budget)** > > 2025 2024 2023 Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget in Detail 227KB Revenues Federal Appropriation $535,000,000 Estimated Interest $10,000,000 Total $545,000,000 Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget Fiscal... > **[Public Radio Finances](https://www.npr.org/about-npr/178660742/public-radio-finances)** > > An overview of the funding story at NPR and at our Member stations. While NPR shares a mission with our stations, we are funded in significantly different ways. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/598 "2024-12-13T15:50:37Z")
Wikipedia is written by humans, who may be biased or careless but _understand_ what they are doing. ChatGPT does not have the slightest idea of what it’s doing, it can be right, it can be egregiously wrong, _a machine doesn’t **care** _ ---
**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:** [December 13, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/599 "2024-12-13T16:02:26Z")
I understand its current limitations. I also understand that’s why it’s frowned upon as a primary source on the SDMB. But if the idiot on the street corner is constantly screaming that 2+2=4, he may _be_ an idiot, but he’s got the math right. We shouldn’t lose sight of that – particularly not on this message board, where having the right answer is essentially The Ultimate Good. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068/600 "2024-12-13T16:04:22Z")
And ChatGPT is never the path to truth, even if it may occasionally land on it by stochastic accident. We have discussed this extensively. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-1/1010068.md?page=31)