#coup

#ElonMusk #DonaldTrump #Corruption

" #Republicans in #Congress are not being told that their appropriations will be ignored: they are being told that appropriations will be selectively ignored, and they will be protected.

#DOGE is accepting requests from Republican officials to reverse cuts in their jurisdictions. It is a form of #spoils system in reverse: your pet projects will be spared from elimination."
https://donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trump-and-musk-are-building-a-new

Text from article(edited for length):
No member of Congress should support an illegal theory of governing that strips them of their power. No member of Congress should vote for a bill unless they are promised that the bill will be implemented as written. Breaking such promises should trigger Congress to use its oversight powers, all the way to impeachment.

This is all pretty straightforward checks-&-balances stuff. You protect your institutional power, or you become irrelevant, as does the US model for governing...

So why are Republicans going along with Trump’s promises to ignore their appropriations. Many genuinely want to cut government, and don’t care about the means. But they also... want to claim credit & minimize blame. Recall all of the Republicans who opposed Biden’s infrastructure bill, and then touted spending in their jurisdiction. So what gives?

Republicans in Congress are not being told that their appropriations will be ignored: they are being told that appropriations will be selectively ignored, and they will be protected.

DOGE is accepting requests from Republican officials to reverse cuts in their jurisdictions. It is a form of spoils system in reverse: your pet projects will be spared from elimination. CNN describes the pattern:

"Republican lawmakers are enjoying more access – and having more success – in their attempts to convince the White House to reverse cuts to certain programs and workers, while Democrats are largely striking out..."

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**Zhi Zhu** @ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 9 Std.

#ElonMusk #DonaldTrump #Coup

Trump and Musk are building a new spoils system

When ideological targeting becomes cronyism
https://donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trump-and-musk-are-building-a-new

"Trump, via #Musk, is engaged in #impoundment, which is #illegal & #unconstitutional. It also vastly weakens #Congress. & yet, the #Trump pitch to get Congress to pass appropriations is that he will ignore what they actually pass! Impoundment is a feature, not a bug, in their model for governing."

Headline and illustration with credit.

Headline:
Trump and Musk are building a new spoils system

When ideological targeting becomes cronyism

by Don Moynihan
Mar 12, 2025

Illustration: Elon Musk is depicted as a robber baron during the gilded age.
Credit: Boing Boing/Midjourney

**Alt Alt National Park Service** @AltAltNPS@noc.social · 9 Std.

Alt Alt National Park Service @AltAltNPS@noc.social

Congrats, they heard you! The Social Security Administration has decided tonight to abandon its plans to end phone service for millions of Americans filing retirement and disability claims. Thank you to all who shared our post and made calls today—you did it!

https://bsky.app/profile/altnps.bsky.social/post/3lka36qmwvs2x

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#AltNPS #Coup #Activism #NationalParkService #FederalGovernment #USpol #Trump

Bluesky Social · 9 Std.Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)Congrats, they heard you! The Social Security Administration has decided tonight to abandon its plans to end phone service for millions of Americans filing retirement and disability claims. Thank you to all who shared our post and made calls today—you did it!

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**Zhi Zhu** @ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 9 Std.

$42.5 Billion Broadband Grant Program Being Rewritten To Benefit Elon Musk
https://www.techdirt.com/2025/03/12/42-5-billion-broadband-grant-program-being-rewritten-to-benefit-elon-musk/

"there are $42.5 billion in broadband #grants... courtesy of the 2021 #infrastructure bill. The #GOP voted against the bill, but have repeatedly... taken credit for its looming #benefits among our broadly misinformed electorate. And, as we predicted, they’re now redrafting key components of the program to the direct benefit of #ElonMusk"

Headline and text(edited for length):
$42.5 Billion Broadband Grant Program Being Rewritten To Benefit Elon Musk

from the and-by-"fix"-it-I-mean-smashing-it-to-bits dept
Wed, Mar 12th 2025 05:35am - Karl Bode

...there are $42.5 billion in broadband grants headed to the states courtesy of the 2021 infrastructure bill. The GOP voted against the bill, but have repeatedly... taken credit for its looming benefits among our broadly misinformed electorate... they’re now redrafting key components of the program to the direct benefit of Elon Musk.

To ensure that the $42.5 billion taxpayer money was spent wisely, the bill included numerous provisions, including a recommendation that states try to prioritize the funding of fiber. Because higher capacity fiber is generally future proof, whereas satellite services like Starlink are congested, expensive, harm the environment, and are seeing slowdowns as the network’s customer base grows.

The NTIA also included some bare bones requirements that ISPs taking taxpayer money try to ensure that any resulting service is made affordable to poor people. Big ISPs like Comcast and AT&T were quick to complain last year... the outrageous scandal that is trying to help poor people get online.

These fairly sensible restrictions (which I suspect would have never been enforced in any serious way anyway) are being declared “woke” by the Trump administration, which is changing key parts of the grant program to the direct benefit of Elon Musk:

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**Zhi Zhu** @ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 9 Std.

Elon Musk Finally Admits Social Security Is on the Chopping Block

The #DOGE chief has revealed his true goals in a #FoxNews interview.
https://newrepublic.com/post/192579/elon-musk-social-security-medicare-entitlements

"Trump has said he won’t touch #SocialSecurity or #Medicare, but Musk’s entitlement math makes it clear that both those programs, as well as #Medicaid, are on the chopping block. Millions of older #Americans—many of them red-state #Republicans—will lose the vital benefits"

Headline:
Elon Musk Finally Admits Social Security Is on the Chopping Block

The DOGE chief has revealed his true goals in a Fox News interview.

by Malcolm Ferguson
March 11, 2025 / 9:24 a.m. ET

**Alt Alt National Park Service** @AltAltNPS@noc.social · 9 Std.

Alt Alt National Park Service @AltAltNPS@noc.social

A federal judge in Washington has reinstated Susan Tsui Grundmann to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the agency responsible for adjudicating labor disputes between federal employees and management, after her removal by the Trump administration last month.

https://bsky.app/profile/altnps.bsky.social/post/3lk7zny7gtk2x

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#AltNPS #Coup #Activism #NationalParkService #FederalGovernment #USpol #Trump

Bluesky Social · 10 Std.Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)A federal judge in Washington has reinstated Susan Tsui Grundmann to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the agency responsible for adjudicating labor disputes between federal employees and management, after her removal by the Trump administration last month.

**Alt Alt National Park Service** @AltAltNPS@noc.social · 9 Std.

Alt Alt National Park Service @AltAltNPS@noc.social

In a 35-page ruling, Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sharply criticized the government’s legal arguments, stating that they “paint with a broad brush and threaten to upend fundamental protections in our Constitution.”

https://bsky.app/profile/altnps.bsky.social/post/3lk7znya7as2x

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#AltNPS #Coup #Activism #NationalParkService #FederalGovernment #USpol #Trump

Bluesky Social · 10 Std.Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)In a 35-page ruling, Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan sharply criticized the government’s legal arguments, stating that they “paint with a broad brush and threaten to upend fundamental protections in our Constitution.”

**Alt Alt National Park Service** @AltAltNPS@noc.social · 9 Std.

Alt Alt National Park Service @AltAltNPS@noc.social

She emphasized the importance of constitutional safeguards, declaring, “But ours is not an autocracy; it is a system of checks and balances.” Thank you, Judge Sooknanan!

https://bsky.app/profile/altnps.bsky.social/post/3lk7znyaaa22x

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#AltNPS #Coup #Activism #NationalParkService #FederalGovernment #USpol #Trump

Bluesky Social · 10 Std.Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)She emphasized the importance of constitutional safeguards, declaring, “But ours is not an autocracy; it is a system of checks and balances.” Thank you, Judge Sooknanan!

**Jennifer** @Jennifer@m.ai6yr.org · 10 Std.

10 Std.

Jennifer @Jennifer@m.ai6yr.org

The Tesla protests are working. I'm going to one Saturday if there aren't tornados. Gift article.

Yesterday’s White House stunt had all the hallmarks of Trump corruption, but there was something else, too—an air of desperation. It was a tacit admission that the protests are working and that Musk and Trump are rattled enough by current sentiment that they’re willing to turn the South Lawn into a showroom. Watching Musk clam up on Fox Business or quietly idle next to Trump in front of the White House, it’s even easier than normal to see past Musk’s trademark bullshitting and bluster. These moments make clear that this time, Musk has wagered the only thing he can’t easily buy back—the very myth he created for himself.
#DOGE #Coup #Tesla #TeslaTakedown
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/elon-musk-human-meme-stock/682023/?gift=paXrzEeXszI291OZnrY90lhbWOFaig_fnMxjwW5lPjY&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

The Atlantic · 15 Std.Elon Musk Looks DesperateVon Charlie Warzel

**Alt Alt National Park Service** @AltAltNPS@noc.social · 10 Std.

10 Std.

Alt Alt National Park Service @AltAltNPS@noc.social

The acting head of the government’s human resources arm, Charles Ezell, is refusing to testify in tomorrow’s case that challenges the legality of the recent mass firings of federal workers. His absence raises serious questions—what is there to hide?

https://bsky.app/profile/altnps.bsky.social/post/3lk7uvmli622x

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#AltNPS #Coup #Activism #NationalParkService #FederalGovernment #USpol #Trump

Bluesky Social · 11 Std.Alt National Park Service (@altnps.bsky.social)The acting head of the government’s human resources arm, Charles Ezell, is refusing to testify in tomorrow’s case that challenges the legality of the recent mass firings of federal workers. His absence raises serious questions—what is there to hide?

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**Zhi Zhu** @ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 11 Std.

Introducing: The Musk Watch DOGE Tracker

New tool reveals Musk has overstated verified DOGE savings by at least 92%
https://www.muskwatch.com/p/introducing-the-musk-watch-doge-tracker

"Most of these purported "savings," however, are not backed up with any details or documentation...

The #Musk Watch DOGE Tracker allows anyone to easily cut through the spin about #DOGE & see how much savings can be verified. It also allows the public to go deeper & see what is being cut & who is being impacted."

Headline from Musk Watch:
Introducing: The Musk Watch DOGE Tracker

New tool reveals Musk has overstated verified DOGE savings by at least 92%

by Judd Legum
Mar 12, 2025

#ElonMusk #Coup #News

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**Zhi Zhu** @ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 11 Std.

Trump Holds Bizarre, Rambling Tesla Commercial at White House

WTF were #DonaldTrump and #ElonMusk doing?
https://newrepublic.com/post/192623/donald-trump-elon-musk-tesla-commercial-white-house

"Trump claimed that the #boycott was unlawful...

Fact check: Boycotts are not illegal and are protected by the #FirstAmendment...

But #US regulations do prohibit federal employees from using their public office... “for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise.”"

Headline:
Trump Holds Bizarre, Rambling Tesla Commercial at White House

WTF were Donald Trump and Elon Musk doing?

by Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling
March 11, 2025 / 4:58 p.m. ET

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**Zhi Zhu** @ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 11 Std.

#ElonMusk #Coup #Corruption

Elon Musk and the the Threat of the Over-Mighty Subject, Part I
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/elon-musk-and-the-the-threat-of-the-over-mighty-subject-part-i

"Trump isn’t able to manage #Musk in the way he abuses and brutalizes the other toadies who crowd around him. Musk is clearly driving this train, with #Trump perhaps excited by the pain and anguish he’s creating, but still at best only okaying things after the fact."

Text from article:
Donald Trump, a legitimately if misguidedly elected President, who is licensing Musk’s wilding spree through the federal govt. If and when he chooses to shut this down, he can. But it’s clear that even Trump isn’t able to manage Musk in the way he abuses & brutalizes the other toadies who crowd around him. Musk is clearly driving this train, with Trump perhaps excited by the pain & anguish he’s creating, but still at best only okaying things after the fact. Trump has an on/off switch. But that’s it. And costs of flipping the switch to off are great, even for Donald Trump.

As public opinion has turned decisively against Musk, if not yet Trump, we’ve seen his megalomania grow totally untethered. He now routinely accuses critics of crimes, demands their imprisonment. Yesterday he called Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) a “traitor” for having the temerity to show up in Ukraine while Musk is trying his best to, in his phrase, put that country into the wood chipper. Lots of people mouth off on Twitter, of course. But Musk isn’t anyone. He’s got everyone in the federal government scared of him, running on a short leash and needing to do whatever they can to appease him. He speaks with the power if not the authority of the state.

But the issue is not only Elon Musk. It’s a general problem that isn’t going anywhere. It’s the reductio ad absurdum of the economic inequality debate, when levels of super power get concentrated in the hands of a single monomaniacal individual.

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**Zhi Zhu** @ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 11 Std.

Trump’s Crazed Midnight Tirade Over Musk’s Unpopularity Shows Weakness

#Trump hates #green energy—but he loves Teslas, which he’s now pathetically pleading with his followers to buy as a show of loyalty & devotion to #ElonMusk.
https://newrepublic.com/article/192609/trump-tesla-musk-unpopularity-shows-weakness

"Trump unleashed a wild rant endorsing Elon Musk’s signature #EV. Trump pledged to buy a #Tesla himself as a “show of confidence” in Musk’s so-called #Doge, whose actions have grown ever more... politically toxic"

Kevin Russell @kevinrns@mstdn.social

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**Kevin Russell** @kevinrns@mstdn.social · 13 Std.

13 Std.

@bascule

Won't someone explain how this man lost mind? Was there trauma, is it disease in brain tissue, is it the worm?

#brainWorm #DrDeath #coup

**Nonya Bidniss** @Nonya_Bidniss@infosec.exchange · 13 Std.

13 Std.

Nonya Bidniss @Nonya_Bidniss@infosec.exchange

Rep John Larson yells about Elon Musk privatizing govt during committee meeting on DOGE
#coup #corruption #SocialSecurity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEinZzXFcXM

YouTubeChaos erupts during DOGE hearing | LiveNOW from FOXVon LiveNOW from FOX

**Miss Gayle** @MissGayle@urbanists.social · 14 Std.

14 Std.

Miss Gayle @MissGayle@urbanists.social

Today I sent an email to my nonprofit clients reminding them to start getting their program accomplishments narratives ready for efiling their 990s.

I also told them if at all possible to revise their mission & program descriptions to avoid using any of the words this administration doesn't like.

I presume the efiles will be scanned for the "offensive" keywords, same as other docs from other agencies. And many nonprofits will have their status revoked.

activism
cultural heritage
implicit bias
prejudice
affirming care
cultural sensitivity
inclusiveness
pronouns
anti-racism
DEI
Increase diversity
racial inequality
assigned at birth
disability inequalities
sexuality
at risk
discriminatory
Injustice
social justice
biases
disparity
intersectionality
socioeconomic
biologically male
diverse groups
LGBTQ
stereotypes
BIPOC
diversity
marginalized
systemic
black and latinx
equal opportunity
most risk
they/them
clean energy
equitableness
multicultural
transgender
climate crisis
feminism
Mx
traumatic
community
gender ideology
nonbinary
unconscious bias
diversity
Gulf of Mexico
people + uterus
underprivileged
confirmation bias
hate speech
pregnant people
victims

#Nonprofit #Coup #ChristianNationalism

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**Zhi Zhu** @ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 14 Std.

14 Std.