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LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
July 7, 2025
trump's letters to world leaders on tariffs are horrible and embarrassment to our country
It is pretty clear that trump wrote these letters himself and no one proofed these letters or trump rejected any corrections in his grammar.
https://x.com/BonkDaCarnivore/status/1942264958219116942
https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1942325770472345761
https://x.com/MAGALieTracker/status/1942345775205253446
July 7, 2025
https://x.com/washingtonpost/status/1942312736093794793
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/07/07/public-health-groups-file-lawsuit-stop-rfk-jrs-vaccine-changes/
Public health groups file lawsuit to stop RFK Jr.'s vaccine changes
The lawsuit seeks to overturn Kennedy’s decision in May to end the government’s long-standing blanket recommendation for children and pregnant women to receive coronavirus shots.
Public health groups file lawsuit to stop RFK Jr.’s vaccine changes
— (@arcticfox87.bsky.social) 2025-07-07T21:28:45.636Z
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Let's hope sanity and science prevail
https://x.com/washingtonpost/status/1942312736093794793
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/07/07/public-health-groups-file-lawsuit-stop-rfk-jrs-vaccine-changes/
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. violated the law and imperiled public health when he withdrew some recommendations about coronavirus vaccines, a coalition of medical associations alleged in a lawsuit filed Monday.
The lawsuit against Kennedy and other top government health officials seeks to overturn the health secretary’s decision in May to end the government’s long-standing blanket recommendation that children and pregnant women should receive the shots.
The reversal has made it difficult for some pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their future children, according to the health groups that filed the lawsuit. Medical professionals rely on — and are sometimes legally bound by — federal vaccine recommendations to decide whom to immunize.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine are among the organizations that joined forces to file the lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts......
The lawsuit includes an anonymous pregnant physician and says it will be “more difficult” for her to access the coronavirus vaccine. It asks a judge to set aside Kennedy’s coronavirus vaccine directives and urges the court to order Kennedy to say on X that the vaccine recommendations are restored for pregnant women and children. It also seeks to immediately prevent the government from enforcing the new recommendations.
The lawsuit contends that Kennedy “has demonstrated a clear pattern of hostility toward established scientific processes, a disregard for expert guidance, an affinity for placing persons who align with his anti-vaccination views in positions of authority at HHS, and a reliance on bias and pretext to further his apparent agenda: to undermine trust in vaccines and reduce the rate of vaccinations in this country.”
The lawsuit against Kennedy and other top government health officials seeks to overturn the health secretary’s decision in May to end the government’s long-standing blanket recommendation that children and pregnant women should receive the shots.
The reversal has made it difficult for some pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their future children, according to the health groups that filed the lawsuit. Medical professionals rely on — and are sometimes legally bound by — federal vaccine recommendations to decide whom to immunize.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine are among the organizations that joined forces to file the lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts......
The lawsuit includes an anonymous pregnant physician and says it will be “more difficult” for her to access the coronavirus vaccine. It asks a judge to set aside Kennedy’s coronavirus vaccine directives and urges the court to order Kennedy to say on X that the vaccine recommendations are restored for pregnant women and children. It also seeks to immediately prevent the government from enforcing the new recommendations.
The lawsuit contends that Kennedy “has demonstrated a clear pattern of hostility toward established scientific processes, a disregard for expert guidance, an affinity for placing persons who align with his anti-vaccination views in positions of authority at HHS, and a reliance on bias and pretext to further his apparent agenda: to undermine trust in vaccines and reduce the rate of vaccinations in this country.”
July 7, 2025
El Salvador Contradicts Trump, Says It Has No Authority Over Migrants Held in Megaprison
The trump DOJ lied in numerous filings
https://x.com/DemocracyDocket/status/1942322354429854192
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/el-salvador-contradicts-trump-no-authority-venezuelans-alien-enemies-act-cecot/
El Salvador told the United Nations that it has no legal authority over hundreds of Venezuelan men that President Donald Trump sent to a Salvadoran megaprison earlier this year.
Over 200 men were removed from the U.S. without due process in March and were transferred to the notorious Salvadoran terrorism prison CECOT shortly after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), a rarely used wartime law.
El Salvador’s account of which country has legal authority over the men contradicts what the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed in public and in courts.
Trump officials, including the president, have said for months that they cannot return any of the men sent to CECOT and other Salvadoran prisons because they are under the legal authority of El Salvador.
The government has used these claims in arguments for why it has not complied with court orders requiring it to return some of the men.
El Salvador made the disclosure in response to an inquiry from a United Nations working group that helps families in determining the fate or whereabouts of family members who have reportedly been disappeared by governments.
Over 200 men were removed from the U.S. without due process in March and were transferred to the notorious Salvadoran terrorism prison CECOT shortly after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act (AEA), a rarely used wartime law.
El Salvador’s account of which country has legal authority over the men contradicts what the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed in public and in courts.
Trump officials, including the president, have said for months that they cannot return any of the men sent to CECOT and other Salvadoran prisons because they are under the legal authority of El Salvador.
The government has used these claims in arguments for why it has not complied with court orders requiring it to return some of the men.
El Salvador made the disclosure in response to an inquiry from a United Nations working group that helps families in determining the fate or whereabouts of family members who have reportedly been disappeared by governments.
July 7, 2025
The trump DOJ lied to the courts in numerous filings
El Salvador Contradicts Trump, Says It Has No Authority Over Migrants Held in Megaprison
Source: Huffpost
The government of El Salvador acknowledged to United Nations investigators that the Trump administration maintains control of the men who were deported from the U.S. to a Salvadoran prison, contradicting public statements by officials in both countries.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government of El Salvador has acknowledged to United Nations investigators that the Trump administration maintains control of the Venezuelan men who were deported from the U.S. to a notorious Salvadoran prison, contradicting public statements by officials in both countries.
The revelation was contained in court filings Monday by lawyers for more than 100 migrants who are seeking to challenge their deportations to El Salvador’s mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.....
“In this context, the jurisdiction and legal responsibility for these persons lie exclusively with the competent foreign authorities,” Salvadoran officials wrote in response to queries from the unit of the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The U.N. group has been looking into the fate of the men who were sent to El Salvador from the United States in mid-March, even after a U.S. judge had ordered the planes that were carrying them to be turned around.
The Trump administration has argued that it is powerless to return the men, noting that they are beyond the reach of U.S. courts and no longer have access to due process rights or other U.S. constitutional guarantees.
Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ap-us-trump-immigration-deportations_n_686c3675e4b0000be3a3f86a?origin=top-ad-recirc
The trump DOJ lied to the courts in numerous filings
July 7, 2025
https://x.com/Centerfold46/status/1942314813801046415
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/questions-reliability-federal-economic-data-become-unavoidable-rcna217217
Maddow Blog-Why questions about the reliability of federal economic data have become unavoidable
Can Americans trust economic data from the Trump administration? Broadly speaking, there are two angles to this that are worth keeping in mind.
Why questions about the reliability of federal economic data have become unavoidable
— TheBlackPage (@theblackpage.bsky.social) 2025-07-07T17:04:06.757Z
Can Americans trust economic data from the Trump administration? Broadly speaking, there are two angles to this that are worth keeping in mind.
www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
https://x.com/Centerfold46/status/1942314813801046415
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/questions-reliability-federal-economic-data-become-unavoidable-rcna217217
It didn’t generate a lot of attention, but Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell was asked at a press conference last month about “cutbacks” in federal economic statistics collection, and his response struck me as interesting.
“Having really good data ... doesn’t just help the Fed; it helps the government; it helps Congress; it helps the executive branch,” Powell explained. “More importantly, really, it helps businesses. They need to know what’s going on in the economy. The United States has been a leader for many, many years in this whole project of measuring and understanding what’s happening in our very large and dynamic economy — and I hate to see us cutting back on that, because it is a real benefit to the general public.”
These unscripted comments came to mind late last week when the new monthly job numbers came out — over the first six months of 2025, U.S. job growth has slowed to a 15-year low — and I heard from some readers who asked variations on the same question: Can we trust economic data from the Trump administration? In an era in which traditionally apolitical agencies have become overtly partisan, aren’t there reasons to be skeptical about the accuracy of federal statistics, which could be manipulated to advance the White House’s political agenda?.....
The first relates to concerns about corruption and political mischief. Perhaps Donald Trump, the argument goes, might use his influence to tell the Labor Department to manipulate the data and deceive the public. To date, there have been instances in which the release of embarrassing government statistics was delayed, but there’s been no evidence of statistics being altered to fit a political narrative (though if you’re a government official who’s received such pressure, I sincerely hope you’ll reach out to us and take advantage of one of the many secure ways to communicate with the show).
The second, however, relates to the process through which data is collected. The New York Times reported:
A related report in The Washington Post added, “Any erosion in the integrity of government data could complicate policymakers’ view of the economy, which is undergoing major policy changes from across-the-board tariff increases to strains in the labor market due to a loss of immigrants.”.....
My focus has been on jobs, but this goes well beyond the unemployment rate. Politico reported last month:
This is likely to get worse before it gets better. Watch this space.
“Having really good data ... doesn’t just help the Fed; it helps the government; it helps Congress; it helps the executive branch,” Powell explained. “More importantly, really, it helps businesses. They need to know what’s going on in the economy. The United States has been a leader for many, many years in this whole project of measuring and understanding what’s happening in our very large and dynamic economy — and I hate to see us cutting back on that, because it is a real benefit to the general public.”
These unscripted comments came to mind late last week when the new monthly job numbers came out — over the first six months of 2025, U.S. job growth has slowed to a 15-year low — and I heard from some readers who asked variations on the same question: Can we trust economic data from the Trump administration? In an era in which traditionally apolitical agencies have become overtly partisan, aren’t there reasons to be skeptical about the accuracy of federal statistics, which could be manipulated to advance the White House’s political agenda?.....
The first relates to concerns about corruption and political mischief. Perhaps Donald Trump, the argument goes, might use his influence to tell the Labor Department to manipulate the data and deceive the public. To date, there have been instances in which the release of embarrassing government statistics was delayed, but there’s been no evidence of statistics being altered to fit a political narrative (though if you’re a government official who’s received such pressure, I sincerely hope you’ll reach out to us and take advantage of one of the many secure ways to communicate with the show).
The second, however, relates to the process through which data is collected. The New York Times reported:
... Mr. Trump’s freeze on federal hiring, combined with the buyouts he offered early in his term, has led to increased staff attrition at the statistical agencies. Staffing shortages appear to have been a factor in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent cuts, according to information the agency provided by email to private-sector economists. ... Economists consistently say they still believe federal economic statistics. But they worry the numbers will gradually become more volatile and prone to larger revisions. That is bad news for policymakers, investors and anyone else who depends on accurate, timely data to make decisions.
A related report in The Washington Post added, “Any erosion in the integrity of government data could complicate policymakers’ view of the economy, which is undergoing major policy changes from across-the-board tariff increases to strains in the labor market due to a loss of immigrants.”.....
My focus has been on jobs, but this goes well beyond the unemployment rate. Politico reported last month:
The Labor Department has scaled back data-collection efforts that feed into its statistical bureau’s monthly inflation estimate, a step that economists and agency alums say will weaken the quality of economic reports that are critical to businesses and policymakers. The move follows a similar decision to eliminate hundreds of gauges that track wholesale prices charged by toymakers, tool manufacturers and other companies.
This is likely to get worse before it gets better. Watch this space.
July 7, 2025
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/social-security-administration-takes-step-far-deceptive-email-trump-ag-rcna217182
Maddow Blog-Social Security Administration takes a step too far with deceptive email on megabill
When Americans can no longer trust the information it receives from the Social Security Administration, there's a problem.
It’s not just the fact that the Social Security Administration sent out a deceptive email about the Republican megabill. There’s also the bigger picture:
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-07-07T16:00:23.818Z
The problem is made worse when Americans can no longer trust traditionally apolitical agencies. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/social-security-administration-takes-step-far-deceptive-email-trump-ag-rcna217182
Donald Trump, for example, spent months insisting that failing to pass the far-right reconciliation package would result in 68% tax hikes — a figure that was both entirely made up and completely untrue. That, however, was hardly the only bogus claim: The president and his allies have similarly peddled all kinds of related falsehoods about the scope of the tax breaks, the impact on Medicaid beneficiaries, and the projected deficits.
But that’s one claim in particular that the White House and its partners have been especially excited about: the idea that the far-right megabill eliminated taxes on Social Security benefits — a claim Trump and other Republicans have leaned into with unnerving enthusiasm, before and after the legislation cleared Capitol Hill.
The message, however, wasn’t just peddled by politicians. NBC News reported:
“The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation’s economy,” the email claimed, alongside a subject line that read, “Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors.”,,,,,
But there’s also a larger context to this: Americans need to be able to rely on ostensibly apolitical federal agencies for accurate information, free of partisan taint. When the public sees Trump rant online or during a conservative media interview, most probably realize it’s best to approach his nonsense with skepticism.
When people get an unsolicited official statement from the Social Security Administration, however, they should be able to have some confidence that the agency isn’t trying to mislead Americans with deceptive political messaging.
And yet, here we are, watching the SSA join a list of politicized agencies, being used as partisan tools in the White House's political toolbox, creating a dynamic in which Americans, going forward, won’t know whether they can trust the next message they receive from the government about the Social Security.
The Social Security Administration was already facing dire challenges when the Senate took up Frank Bisignano’s nomination to serve as the commissioner of the agency in May. Democrats warned that he was not to be trusted with such an important job, and nearly two months later, it appears that they were right
But that’s one claim in particular that the White House and its partners have been especially excited about: the idea that the far-right megabill eliminated taxes on Social Security benefits — a claim Trump and other Republicans have leaned into with unnerving enthusiasm, before and after the legislation cleared Capitol Hill.
The message, however, wasn’t just peddled by politicians. NBC News reported:
The Social Security Administration has sent a misleading email to beneficiaries stating that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax cuts and spending law eliminates taxes on Social Security benefits for most recipients.
“The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation’s economy,” the email claimed, alongside a subject line that read, “Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors.”,,,,,
But there’s also a larger context to this: Americans need to be able to rely on ostensibly apolitical federal agencies for accurate information, free of partisan taint. When the public sees Trump rant online or during a conservative media interview, most probably realize it’s best to approach his nonsense with skepticism.
When people get an unsolicited official statement from the Social Security Administration, however, they should be able to have some confidence that the agency isn’t trying to mislead Americans with deceptive political messaging.
And yet, here we are, watching the SSA join a list of politicized agencies, being used as partisan tools in the White House's political toolbox, creating a dynamic in which Americans, going forward, won’t know whether they can trust the next message they receive from the government about the Social Security.
The Social Security Administration was already facing dire challenges when the Senate took up Frank Bisignano’s nomination to serve as the commissioner of the agency in May. Democrats warned that he was not to be trusted with such an important job, and nearly two months later, it appears that they were right
July 7, 2025
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/s-long-time-retire-idea-are-republican-moderates-congress-rcna217192
It's long past time to retire the idea that there are Republican 'moderates' in Congress
The Freedom Caucus was humiliated last week, but at least the faction still exists — which is more than we can say about the GOP’s alleged “moderate” wing.
The next time someone starts to reference “moderate†Republicans on Capitol Hill, I have a small request: Stop. Just stop.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-07-07T13:37:01.910Z
It’d be nice if the GOP’s “centrist†wing existed, but it obviously doesn’t, and it hasn’t for a long time. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/s-long-time-retire-idea-are-republican-moderates-congress-rcna217192
After noting a handful of instances in which Bacon broke with party orthodoxy in recent months, the Times’ report added:
A month later, Bacon linked arms with his right-wing brethren and supported his party’s domestic policy megabill, the inaptly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In fact, the Nebraskan wasn’t even one of the GOP holdouts who needed some arm-twisting ahead of the final vote......
A couple of years ago, an unnamed GOP lawmaker told an NBC News reporter, “Moderates always cave. A tale as old as time.” That’s largely true, though it also raises related questions that are too often overlooked: If “moderates” effectively always vote the same way as their far-right colleagues, then are they actually “moderates”? Or does it make more sense for the political world to pause, reassess and come to terms with the apparent fact that the “moderate” Republican wing simply doesn’t exist?
I’m reminded of a point The Atlantic’s Jonathan Chait made in 2023, when he was still at New York magazine:
That assessment remains valid two years later......
The House Freedom Caucus was humiliated last week after it caved once again and backed the party’s reconciliation package after trashing it. But as the dust settles, at least the far-right still exists — which is more than we can say about the GOP’s alleged “moderate” wing on Capitol Hill.
Mr. Bacon’s willingness to publicly disagree with the president make him an anomaly in the tribal House Republican Conference, where members tend to fall in line behind Mr. Trump’s agenda and actively seek out ways to demonstrate their loyalty to him. In a Republican-led Congress that has been reluctant to challenge Mr. Trump on almost anything, the Nebraskan is among the last of a disappearing breed in his party.
A month later, Bacon linked arms with his right-wing brethren and supported his party’s domestic policy megabill, the inaptly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In fact, the Nebraskan wasn’t even one of the GOP holdouts who needed some arm-twisting ahead of the final vote......
A couple of years ago, an unnamed GOP lawmaker told an NBC News reporter, “Moderates always cave. A tale as old as time.” That’s largely true, though it also raises related questions that are too often overlooked: If “moderates” effectively always vote the same way as their far-right colleagues, then are they actually “moderates”? Or does it make more sense for the political world to pause, reassess and come to terms with the apparent fact that the “moderate” Republican wing simply doesn’t exist?
I’m reminded of a point The Atlantic’s Jonathan Chait made in 2023, when he was still at New York magazine:
‘Moderate’ Republicans, as the media has absurdly taken to labeling conservative Republicans who have qualms about seizing power through non-electoral means, have shown through the last few weeks precisely how serious they are about their principles. They are willing to fight for them, for a short period of time, before arriving at the same position as their right-wing coalition partners.
That assessment remains valid two years later......
The House Freedom Caucus was humiliated last week after it caved once again and backed the party’s reconciliation package after trashing it. But as the dust settles, at least the far-right still exists — which is more than we can say about the GOP’s alleged “moderate” wing on Capitol Hill.
July 7, 2025
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-says-hates-democrats-s-echoing-authoritarians-rcna217177
MaddowBlog-As Trump says he 'hates' Democrats, he's echoing authoritarians (again)
The president wants us to believe that his political opponents literally don’t count, are inherently unpatriotic, and are worthy of his hatred.
As Trump talks about how much he “hates†Democrats and suggests they literally don’t count, remember:
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-07-07T12:01:06.391Z
One of the hallmarks of any authoritarian regime is delegitimizing the political opposition. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-says-hates-democrats-s-echoing-authoritarians-rcna217177
Or put another way, by Trump’s estimation, the Democratic minority in the chamber, in a rather literal sense, didn’t count.
Hours earlier, the Republican spoke at a rally in Iowa, where he shared some related thoughts about his political opposition. NBC News reported:
He didn’t appear to be kidding.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3lt3ypddnsg26
https://x.com/atrupar/status/1940932231221932507
To be sure, the rhetoric probably didn’t surprise many. After all, during his 2024 candidacy, Trump described Americans he disagreed with as “evil,” and condemned Democrats — not just in Congress, but Democratic voters in general — as “the enemy within.”
But that doesn’t mean his latest rhetorical escalation is unimportant.
Right off the bat, it’s worth noting that the comments generated headlines because they were so unusual: In the American tradition, elected leaders, especially around Independence Day, have never voiced public “hatred” for those who dare to disagree with them. It was a timely reminder that Trump apparently doesn’t see himself as the president of the whole country, so much as he sees himself as the head of “Red America.”.....
But stepping back, as important as these elements are, there’s another angle to this that arguably matters more. Different political scientists define the nuances of authoritarianism in different ways, but I think most would agree that a hallmark of any despotic regime is the delegitimization of political opposition.
It’s against this backdrop that the incumbent president, using language foreign to American ears, wants the public to believe that his partisan opponents literally don’t count, are inherently unpatriotic, and are worthy of his hatred.
Hours earlier, the Republican spoke at a rally in Iowa, where he shared some related thoughts about his political opposition. NBC News reported:
Every Democrat in Congress voted against the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ many fiercely criticizing the expected cuts it would bring to Medicaid. ‘They wouldn’t vote only because they hate Trump, but I hate them, too, you know?’ Trump said. ‘I really do. I hate them. I cannot stand them, because I really believe they hate our country.’
He didn’t appear to be kidding.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3lt3ypddnsg26
https://x.com/atrupar/status/1940932231221932507
To be sure, the rhetoric probably didn’t surprise many. After all, during his 2024 candidacy, Trump described Americans he disagreed with as “evil,” and condemned Democrats — not just in Congress, but Democratic voters in general — as “the enemy within.”
But that doesn’t mean his latest rhetorical escalation is unimportant.
Right off the bat, it’s worth noting that the comments generated headlines because they were so unusual: In the American tradition, elected leaders, especially around Independence Day, have never voiced public “hatred” for those who dare to disagree with them. It was a timely reminder that Trump apparently doesn’t see himself as the president of the whole country, so much as he sees himself as the head of “Red America.”.....
But stepping back, as important as these elements are, there’s another angle to this that arguably matters more. Different political scientists define the nuances of authoritarianism in different ways, but I think most would agree that a hallmark of any despotic regime is the delegitimization of political opposition.
It’s against this backdrop that the incumbent president, using language foreign to American ears, wants the public to believe that his partisan opponents literally don’t count, are inherently unpatriotic, and are worthy of his hatred.
July 7, 2025
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/americans-favor-work-requirements
The Borowitz Report-Americans Favor Work Requirements for Billionaires Receiving Tax Cuts
Americans Favor Work Requirements for Billionaires Receiving Tax Cuts
— Ray Beckerman (@raybeckerman.bsky.social) 2025-07-07T12:03:16.655Z
open.substack.com/pub/borowitz...
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/americans-favor-work-requirements
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Millions of Americans support the imposition of work requirements for billionaires receiving massive tax cuts, a new poll released on Monday indicates.
In the words of one poll respondent, “With the exception of Donald Trump, many of these billionaires are able-bodied.”
According to the poll, an overwhelming number of Americans believe that, in order to receive their benefits, billionaires should collect trash along the highway or clean public toilets.
The broadest majority of respondents “strongly agreed” with the statement, “They should pick all the fruit and vegetables that used to be picked by migrants.”
In the words of one poll respondent, “With the exception of Donald Trump, many of these billionaires are able-bodied.”
According to the poll, an overwhelming number of Americans believe that, in order to receive their benefits, billionaires should collect trash along the highway or clean public toilets.
The broadest majority of respondents “strongly agreed” with the statement, “They should pick all the fruit and vegetables that used to be picked by migrants.”
July 6, 2025
https://x.com/JohnMoralesTV/status/1941879563442651220
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/us/politics/texas-floods-warnings-vacancies.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UU8.Zjkx.evidtrUYt_ZY&smid=tw-share
I have been through a number of hurricanes/storms including Ike, Allison, Harvey and lately Berly. There were weather service people coordinating with local officials during all of these storms. Here the DOGE and trump cuts meant that the weather service did not have the staff available to coordinate with the local officials.
NYT-As Floods Hit, Key Roles Were Vacant at Weather Service Offices in Texas (gift links)
Some experts say staff shortages might have complicated forecasters’ ability to coordinate responses with local emergency management officials.
🚨 NYT: As Floods Hit, Key Roles Were Vacant at Weather Service Offices in Texas
— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) 2025-07-06T04:33:59.776Z
Some experts say staff shortages might have complicated forecasters’ ability to coordinate responses with local emergency management officials.
Gift link:
https://x.com/JohnMoralesTV/status/1941879563442651220
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/us/politics/texas-floods-warnings-vacancies.html?unlocked_article_code=1.UU8.Zjkx.evidtrUYt_ZY&smid=tw-share
Crucial positions at the local offices of the National Weather Service were unfilled as severe rainfall inundated parts of Central Texas on Friday morning, prompting some experts to question whether staffing shortages made it harder for the forecasting agency to coordinate with local emergency managers as floodwaters rose.....
The staffing shortages suggested a separate problem, those former officials said — the loss of experienced people who would typically have helped communicate with local authorities in the hours after flash flood warnings were issued overnight.
The shortages are among the factors likely to be scrutinized as the death toll climbs from the floods. Separate questions have emerged about the preparedness of local communities, including Kerr County’s apparent lack of a local flood warning system. The county, roughly 50 miles northwest of San Antonio, is where many of the deaths occurred......
The National Weather Service’s San Angelo office, which is responsible for some of the areas hit hardest by Friday’s flooding, was missing a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist in charge, according to Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, the union that represents Weather Service workers.
The Weather Service’s nearby San Antonio office, which covers other areas hit by the floods, also had significant vacancies, including a warning coordination meteorologist and science officer, Mr. Fahy said. Staff members in those positions are meant to work with local emergency managers to plan for floods, including when and how to warn local residents and help them evacuate.
That office’s warning coordination meteorologist left on April 30, after taking the early retirement package the Trump administration used to reduce the number of federal employees, according to a person with knowledge of his departure......
John Sokich, who until January was director of congressional affairs for the National Weather Service, said those unfilled positions made it harder to coordinate with local officials because each Weather Service office works as a team. “Reduced staffing puts that in jeopardy,” he said......
An equally important question, he added, was how the Weather Service was coordinating with local emergency managers to act on those warnings as they came in.
“You have to have a response mechanism that involves local officials,” Dr. Uccellini said. “It involves a relationship with the emergency management community, at every level.”
But that requires having staff members in those positions, he said......
Typically, Mr. Sokich said, the Weather Service will send an official to meet regularly with local emergency managers for what are called “tabletop operations” — planning ahead of time for what to do in case of a flash flood or other major weather disaster.
But the Trump administration’s pursuit of fewer staff members means remaining employees have less time to spend coordinating with local officials, he said.
The staffing shortages suggested a separate problem, those former officials said — the loss of experienced people who would typically have helped communicate with local authorities in the hours after flash flood warnings were issued overnight.
The shortages are among the factors likely to be scrutinized as the death toll climbs from the floods. Separate questions have emerged about the preparedness of local communities, including Kerr County’s apparent lack of a local flood warning system. The county, roughly 50 miles northwest of San Antonio, is where many of the deaths occurred......
The National Weather Service’s San Angelo office, which is responsible for some of the areas hit hardest by Friday’s flooding, was missing a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist in charge, according to Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, the union that represents Weather Service workers.
The Weather Service’s nearby San Antonio office, which covers other areas hit by the floods, also had significant vacancies, including a warning coordination meteorologist and science officer, Mr. Fahy said. Staff members in those positions are meant to work with local emergency managers to plan for floods, including when and how to warn local residents and help them evacuate.
That office’s warning coordination meteorologist left on April 30, after taking the early retirement package the Trump administration used to reduce the number of federal employees, according to a person with knowledge of his departure......
John Sokich, who until January was director of congressional affairs for the National Weather Service, said those unfilled positions made it harder to coordinate with local officials because each Weather Service office works as a team. “Reduced staffing puts that in jeopardy,” he said......
An equally important question, he added, was how the Weather Service was coordinating with local emergency managers to act on those warnings as they came in.
“You have to have a response mechanism that involves local officials,” Dr. Uccellini said. “It involves a relationship with the emergency management community, at every level.”
But that requires having staff members in those positions, he said......
Typically, Mr. Sokich said, the Weather Service will send an official to meet regularly with local emergency managers for what are called “tabletop operations” — planning ahead of time for what to do in case of a flash flood or other major weather disaster.
But the Trump administration’s pursuit of fewer staff members means remaining employees have less time to spend coordinating with local officials, he said.
I have been through a number of hurricanes/storms including Ike, Allison, Harvey and lately Berly. There were weather service people coordinating with local officials during all of these storms. Here the DOGE and trump cuts meant that the weather service did not have the staff available to coordinate with the local officials.
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