Odds and Ends — 17 May 2025

It appears that Trump does care about the internal character of regimes he deals with. Rather than following a foreign policy that ignores values altogether, Trump has a clear preference for values that are, in the American context, historically anomalous or—to put it in less neutral terms—bad. And he wishes to spread those values around the world.
Whatever you say about this policy, it is not amoral. The primary difference between the Trump doctrine and traditional American values promotion is that the former, rather than seeking to impose a moral world order, aspires to create an immoral one.

GOP Tax Bill Hurts the Lowest Earners, Helps the Richest

The Penn Wharton estimate sought to analyze the full scope of the Republican tax package, computing the effects of the tax cuts as well as the plan to pay for them by slashing federal spending on other programs, including Medicaid and food stamps. Combined, those policies could fall disproportionately on the poorest, including those near or below the poverty line, the economists found.
People making between about $51,000 and $17,000 could lose about $700 on average in after-tax income beginning in 2026, according to the analysis, when factoring in both wages and federal aid. That reduction would worsen over the next eight years. People reporting less than $17,000 in income would see a reduction closer to $1,000, on average, also increasing over time, a shortfall that underscores their reliance on federal benefits.
By contrast, the top 0.1 percent, including those with incomes over $4.3 million, would gain on average more than $389,000 in after-tax income in 2026, the data show. These earners benefit more from a Republican measure because it cuts taxes on the wealthy and makes other favorable changes, including for businesses, which may improve the value of their investments.

https://twitter.com/Lawrence/status/1923430480734470365

‘Medical Checks’ Ordered for Suspected Trans Troops

Military commanders will be told to identify troops in their units who are transgender or have gender dysphoria, then send them to get medical checks in order to force them out of the service.

Virginia House clerk rejects three of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes

———— Blatant In-Your-Face Corruption ————

https://twitter.com/JosephPolitano/status/1923088848273264848

Donors Promised ‘VIP Experience’ at Military Events

Donors are being offered a ‘dedicated VIP experience’ at several events that President Trump is planning with the U.S. military this summer.
Those who give to America250, a committee created to support what Trump envisions as a large national celebration next year for America’s 250th birthday, will be given special access to three events… Those include a military parade Trump is planning on his birthday, a ‘military readiness’ event he is leading at Fort Bragg military base with thousands of troops and an Independence Day celebration in Washington.

House conservatives are urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to be more aggressive against President Donald Trump’s political enemies.
These Republicans want Dr. Anthony Fauci and New York Attorney General Letitia James arrested for what they view as politically targeted efforts to go after Trump.

https://twitter.com/EastEndJoe/status/1923318571435765808

The Visionary of Trump 2.0

Russell Vought is advancing a radical ideological project decades in the making.

Justices Block Trump from Using Alien Enemies Act

The Supreme Court on Friday blocked President Donald Trump from moving forward with deportations under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for a group of immigrants in northern Texas, siding with Venezuelans who feared they were poised for imminent removal under the sweeping wartime authority.
The decision is a significant loss for Trump, who wants to use the law to speed deportations – and avoid the kind of review normally required before removing people from the country.

It really should have been unanimous, but 7-2 will have to do I guess.

Trump Admin Sends Secret Service to My Home

For Tweeting 8647 - A KNOWN Call for Impeachment

———— Putin&Krasnov vs. Ukraine ————

https://twitter.com/Bricktop_NAFO/status/1923471284710637657

———— Melon Husk ————

U.S. Leaned on African Countries to Approve Starlink

Since Trump’s inauguration, the State Department has intervened on behalf of Starlink in Gambia and at least four other developing nations, previously unreported records and interviews show.
As the Trump administration has gutted foreign aid, U.S. diplomats have pressed governments to fast-track licenses for Starlink and arranged conversations between company employees and foreign leaders. In cables, U.S. officials have said that for their foreign counterparts, helping Starlink is a chance to prove their commitment to good relations with the U.S.

DOGE’s Plan to Remake Social Security Is Backfiring

The U.S. DOGE Service arrived at the Social Security Administration this year determined to slash staff and root out what it claimed was widespread fraud and wasteful spending — a mission Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team has pursued across the government.
But as of this week, many of the major changes DOGE pushed at Social Security have been abandoned or are being reversed after proving ineffective, while others are yielding unintended consequences and badly damaging customer service and satisfaction. The problems come as the agency struggles to cope with a record surge of hundreds of thousands of retirement claims in recent months.