Week of January 20, 2025

Week of January 20, 2025

1. Trump got started before inauguration by launching a 31-billion-dollar pump and dump crypto scheme. Probably illegal but no one will do anything about it. Definitely inappropriate for an incoming President but no one cares about things like that anymore.

2. Pardoned almost all of the J6 rioters, even those tried and convicted of violently assaulting police officers, vandalizing OUR Capitol. Even those who were convicted of seditious conspiracy and spent months planning the insurrection, going so far as to creating a massive stockpile of weapon in Virginia – basically preparing for civil war. If you don't believe me read the Stewart Rhodes (founder of the Oath Keepers) affidavit from his Seditions Conspiracy indictment. And then remember that Trump pardoned this guy.

3. Got the Senate to approve Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense despite him being credibly accused of being a slopy drunk on the job, paying a woman $50k to shut up about her sexual assault while being the least qualified candidate for the position in history. Absolutely none of his cabinet nominations are qualified for the job. Yet they keep telling us merit is the most important thing hiring. People really need to read A team of Rivals by Dorris Kerns Goodwin about Lincoln and how he deliberately built a cabinet of people who would disagree with him.

4. Illegally fired almost all Inspectors General. The apolitical folks who monitor malfeasance and ethics in all major governmental departments. He is actively removing any guardrails.

5. Purging civil servants who didn’t vote for him(!). He doesn’t want anyone who will tell him no, for anything, ever.

6. Removed the US from The Paris Climate Accords and the World Health Organization. I mean, who cares about the planet we are leaving our children.

7. Instructed all public health agencies to stop health advisories(!). The agencies were instructed that any and all public health communications should be approved by a presidential appointee. (If you are not starting to see the Dictatorship, take shape you are deliberately looking the other way).

8. Halted funding for PEPFAR – 20 million people living with HIV/AIDS will have to stop their anti-viral treatments. So, you know, die. People keep saying the cruelty is the point and I’m afraid they are right.

9. Halted infrastructure funding already enacted by congress. Not only costing so many jobs but stopping long-overdue repairs on our infrastructure. Well, Bidens name was on it so we can’t have that.

10. Attempting to unilaterally change the Constitution by getting rid of birthright citizenship. Look, even if you don’t like this part of the constitution no President should change it on his own. Imagine if Biden decided to just nullify the 2A. Sure it will go through the courts but conservatives on the current Supreme Court have shown they could care less about precedent.

11. Claiming he will invoke the Insurrection Act which gives him the power to round up and deport people without due process.

12. Declared that ICE can conduct raids in hospitals, schools, churches, and disaster relief shelters.

13. A bishop pleads with him to have mercy on immigrants and millions of Christians actually got mad.

14. Ordered the release of files related to the JFK assassination. Hey, guess what, I agree with this one. It is long overdue.

15. The FDA banned red dye #3. This also is long overdue but must have gotten by Trump because God-forbid we do anything to regulate business.

16. A congressman from Tennessee introduced an amendment that would allow Trump to have a third term. Wow, that was quick. Go ahead and scoff people. Tell me I’m over-reacting even though ever hellish thing I was told I was overreacting about the last time ended up happening and being even worse than I could imagine. Mark my words they are introducing the concept early in order to get people used to the inevitability of it. Worse, millions of Americans will welcome it.

17. Trump (or Dear Leader if you prefer) “declares” DEI programs illegal. Just, that’s it. “Trump declares…” Without having any idea what DEI is, but making his base, who also don’t know what it is, very happy.

18. In keeping with Trumps feelings about DEI the Airforce will NO LONGER TEACH RECRUITS ABOUT THE TUSKEGEE AIRMAN.

In the words of Thomas Jefferson in the musical Hamilton, “So what did I miss?”.