# The Trump Administration: The Clusterfuck Continues (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [December 1, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298 "2025-12-01T20:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 169
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3361 "2026-03-18T15:41:40Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > It’s getting harder and harder to tell the difference, isn’t it? I’m _still_ boggled by the shoes story. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3362 "2026-03-18T15:46:39Z")
Yet more Crackerjack legal work by the current DOJ. He really hires only the best people. > **[Judge throws prosecutor out, orders NJ’s US Attorney’s office heads to testify](https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/judge-throws-prosecutor-out-orders-njs-us-attorneys-office-heads-to-testify/4370146/?amp=1)** > > A judge threw a government attorney out of a hearing and ordered officials in charge of NJ's U.S. Attorney’s office to answer questions under oath. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3363 "2026-03-18T15:54:14Z")
And they managed to screw up a CSAM case, no less. > [@](#): > > The judge also questioned the judgment of prosecutors to reach a plea agreement with the defendant in the child sexual abuse material case before the FBI had finished searching his electronic devices. The plea agreement calls for a “significantly lower” sentence than prescribed by federal sentencing guidelines, Quraishi said. > > “It was a sloppy investigation where, while you executed a plea agreement, the FBI uncovered significantly more child pornography that you couldn’t charge and now you’re stuck with a plea agreement because you’re bound by it,” Quraishi said. Which demonstrates that, as usual, Trump’s DoJ is full of shit: > [@](#): > > Chad Gilmartin, a spokesman for the Justice Department, told the Times: “Unfortunately some judges are more interested in courtroom theatrics and constitutional overreach than promoting public safety. It is an especially troubling moment when a court chooses to sideline a case involving child exploitation.” Every accusation etc. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3364 "2026-03-18T16:01:19Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Hey, I did my best, okay? Don’t ever try Tolkien… or Monty Python. Look 'em up every time. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3365 "2026-03-18T16:22:28Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Don’t ever try Tolkien… or Monty Python. Look 'em up every time. Sometimes if I quote a whole paragraph, I feel consoled if I miss a synonym or two because it shows that I typed it from memory rather than looked it up. At least that’s what I told myself when I posted the intro monologue to the Haunted Mansion on reddit a month or so ago, when I wasn’t sure if the room “haunted” preceded the word “room”, and thought that “offers you this chilling challenge” was actually “presents”. (I actually think my version improves things, at least in removing the redundant “haunted”: “presents you” is more directly chilling but “offers you” could be read as sarcastic since you don’t have a choice in whether to receive the offer.) ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3366 "2026-03-18T16:24:41Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Every accusation etc. The plea deal was for _less_ time than the judge thought it could be. Who is being soft on crime, mr Maga Prosecutor? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3367 "2026-03-18T18:02:07Z")
I’ve seen this a couple of times without attribution…Jimmy Kimmel. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3368 "2026-03-18T18:36:00Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Every accusation etc. The plea deal should be thrown out. Can the judge do that? This sounds like pleading down a parking ticket only to find a body in the trunk. It almost looks like the prosecutors where trying to cover up evidence of more crimes. Or they are just stupid. I wonder who would want to keep pedophilias out of the news? Now this guy is IN the news. Another shot to the foot. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3369 "2026-03-18T18:39:33Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > The plea deal should be thrown out. Can the judge do that? Yes, plea deals must be approved by the judge. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3370 "2026-03-18T18:42:01Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Yes, plea deals must be approved by the judge. Was it already approved though by the judge? And then new evidence came to light? ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3371 "2026-03-18T18:49:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Trump wants the US Mint to issue gold coins with his face on them. Looks like it’ll probably be a very unfortunate ‘go’. From article: > [@](#): > > The ultimate design discretion for the Trump gold coin lies with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. As opposed to commemorative coins with actual denominations that require Congressional approval, the gold coin is discretionary, meaning the secretary can authorize it on his own without CCAC review. Still though, there was something unique about this discretionary coin: Mint representatives said **the idea for the gold coin came from “outside the agency.”** That “has never happened before in my 20 years there,” Scarinci told me. And as far as the bolded is concerned - gee, I wonder who broached that nonsense. (Actually, could have been, like, _any_ republickspittle\*.) Maybe GOP’ers can replace thier current brooch with that - just glue a coin onto their lapels. \*no sign of it in google - did I actually just come up with something? ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3372 "2026-03-18T19:19:16Z")
Jorkin’ Dapeanus Vance says you shouldn’t worry about paying $6 for a gallon of gas because those dirty foreigners have it worse. > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mhdxmt4idp23)** > > JD Vance offers some cold comfort: "As much as we've gotta focus on gas prices down, the reality is overseas they're feeling it far worse than we do" ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3373 "2026-03-18T19:21:04Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Jorkin’ Dapeanus Vance says you shouldn’t worry about paying $6 for a gallon of gas because those dirty foreigners have it worse. Good lord. One of the most tone-deaf things I heard from some Democrats during the 2024 election was, “yes, inflation has gone up, but it could be worse – it’s much higher in Europe.” But, it’s OK when a Republican suggests it, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3374 "2026-03-18T19:23:20Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Was it already approved though by the judge? And then new evidence came to light? Sort of. The prosecutors rushed to a plea deal before the FBI had finished searching the electronic devices, which revealed plenty of additional evidence. So, technically it’s ‘new’ evidence but also evidence they should have waited to have. Basically, they screwed up. And not in some kind of subtle or complex legal way but in a bumbling, incompetent way. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3375 "2026-03-18T19:29:22Z")
Today I filled my car up for 2 €/l\*. Two weeks ago I paid 1.65 €/l, that is a bit over 20% more. How much is that in $/gallon? JD Vance quote: > the reality is overseas they’re feeling it far worse than we do The difference being that it is not our fault. \* 2.009 €/l to be precise. They always put a small 9 in the price sign for the tenths of cent. Like **[that](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2KDEG56/hamburg-germany-06th-nov-2022-a-display-board-shows-the-prices-for-various-types-of-fuel-at-a-gas-station-on-sunday-morning-credit-markus-scholzdpaalamy-live-news-2KDEG56.jpg)**. I guess that is universal. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3376 "2026-03-18T19:30:42Z")
“The so-called ‘straight’” [![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/bafkreig225pbq2olw2pe3jeveimch2duiyxty5taurbnbkhrjdgcktutti) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/bafkreig225pbq2olw2pe3jeveimch2duiyxty5taurbnbkhrjdgcktutti) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3377 "2026-03-18T19:32:35Z")
You know, like the “straight flush”. The thing he does in his golden throne. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3378 "2026-03-18T19:38:16Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Today I filled my car up for 2 €/l\*. Two weeks ago I paid 1.65 €/l, that is a bit over 20% more. How much is that in $/gallon? Multiply by 3.79 for the traditional US gallon or $7.58 per gallon Multiply by 4.55 for the new-fangled metricized Imperial gallon (though I think they sell by the litre?) ---
**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:** [March 18, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3379 "2026-03-18T19:40:39Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Multiply by 3.79 for the traditional US gallon or $7.58 per gallon And whatever the exchange rate is for Euros to Dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298/3380 "2026-03-18T19:52:38Z")
Good catch! Google says 1.15 at today’s rate, so US $8.72 per gallon [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=168) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-the-clusterfuck-continues-part-2/1025298.md?page=170)