Tracking Donald Trump's Promises Kept and Promises Broken
It is unbelievable to me that the Trumpers on this site don't object to this obviously dangerous result from Trump's edicts. It makes me wonder why you put yourself and all other Americans in jeopardy by supporting this criminal and sexual abuser.
"Several US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites and datasets related to HIV, LGBTQ people, youth health behaviors and more have been removed after the agency was directed to comply with executive orders from President Donald Trump."
This is something Putin does in Communist Russia, not in once democratic America.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/31/health/c … index.htmlTrump's Kim Jong Un-style purge continues.
"Trump DOJ demands list of thousands of FBI agents, others who worked on Jan. 6 and Trump investigations for possible firing"
Since Trump is convicted criminal, it is no surprise he keeps breaking the law by:
1. ILLEGALLY firing 18 Inspectors Generals that would investigate Trump's illegal actions
2. ILLEGALLY firing more than a dozen career federal prosecutors who were involved with investigating Trump's criminal insurrection without just cause
3. Possibly ILLEGAL but-out offer of all 2 million federal employees. It may be illegal because Congress hasn't appropriated the money to pay for it.
4. Potentially ILLEGAL firing of two Democratic appointed members of the EEOC
5. And now Trump is looking to ILLEGALLY fire hundreds of FBI agents for having something to do with investigating his criminal involvement with the Jan 6 insurrections. (and then there is Kash Patal's enemies list).
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/31/politics … index.htmlMore hypocrisy from Trump. He whines a lot about social media platforms so-called censoring of dangerous lies and Russian disinformation from the internet, yet he gets upset when a false story of Melanie kissing somebody is published. He flip-flops and now wants to ban such content.
BREAKING: Trump wants to Ban This AI VIDEO showing MELANIA TRUMP making out With Gavin Newsom
Trump insiders told us, "Trump is disgusted by This AI Video and wants it banned from the internet."
0:09 / 0:13
8:05 PM · Jan 28, 2025
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687.6K
ViewsTrump attempts to flood California Farmers
"Trump says he opened California’s water. Local officials say he nearly flooded them."
I am guessing Trump will courts-martial some Army Corps of Engineer officers and enlisted folk for disobeying his orders that would have led to flooding California farms.
It seems this lunatic of a president ordered the Army to release billions of gallons of water into Southern California. "President Donald Trump declared victory on Friday in his long-running water war with California, boasting he sent billions of gallons south — but local officials say they narrowly prevented him from possibly flooding farms."
Californian officials had to rush to to save lives and property from this order from our mentally disturb president.
Trump stupidly said "“Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago — There would have been no fire!”
Very Dangerous:
"While releasing water from reservoirs before a big storm, like the one expected to hit Northern California this weekend, is standard flood-control procedure to avoid overflowing dams, Hernandez said the Army Corps’ Thursday plan would have released far more water than needed. He said releasing the water at the capacity the Corps had planned to would have flooded both the Kaweah and Tule rivers, where the Corps’ reservoirs are located.
“Channel capacity is very dangerous,” Hernandez said. “People don’t understand that [with] channel capacity, you’re going to have flood damage down below.”
Trump really needs to be locked up in an institution somewhere to protect America from him.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/3 … r-00201909So...
Trump set to impose tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico
The White House said Friday that Trump would impose a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.
Erm... Huh?
On the news here in San Diego County that borders Mexico interviews with both small and large businesses are preparing to raise their prices.
Trump’s tariffs expected to hike prices for consumers at local businesses by Fox 5 / KUSI News
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/business/ … usinesses/
San Diego business owners share how new tariffs could impact them and customers by (channel) 7 San Diego
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/ … s/3740926/
How new tariffs are impacting local businesses by Fox 5 / KUSI News
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-new … usinesses/The Dumbest Trade War in History
President Trump will fire his first tariff salvo on Saturday against those notorious American adversaries . . . Mexico and Canada. They’ll get hit with a 25% border tax, while China, a real adversary, will endure 10%. This reminds us of the old Bernard Lewis joke that it’s risky to be America’s enemy but it can be fatal to be its friend.
Leaving China aside, Mr. Trump’s justification for this economic assault on the neighbors makes no sense. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says they’ve “enabled illegal drugs to pour into America.” But drugs have flowed into the U.S. for decades, and will continue to do so as long as Americans keep using them. Neither country can stop it.
Drugs may be an excuse since Mr. Trump has made clear he likes tariffs for their own sake. “We don’t need the products that they have,” Mr. Trump said on Thursday. “We have all the oil you need. We have all the trees you need, meaning the lumber.”
Mr. Trump sometimes sounds as if the U.S. shouldn’t import anything at all, that America can be a perfectly closed economy making everything at home. This is called autarky, and it isn’t the world we live in, or one that we should want to live in, as Mr. Trump may soon find out...
Take the U.S. auto industry, which is really a North American industry because supply chains in the three countries are highly integrated. In 2024 Canada supplied almost 13% of U.S. imports of auto parts and Mexico nearly 42%. Industry experts say a vehicle made on the continent goes back and forth across borders a half dozen times or more, as companies source components and add value in the most cost-effective ways.
And everyone benefits. The office of the U.S. Trade Representative says that in 2023 the industry added more than $809 billion to the U.S. economy, or about 11.2% of total U.S. manufacturing output, supporting “9.7 million direct and indirect U.S. jobs.” In 2022 the U.S. exported $75.4 billion in vehicles and parts to Canada and Mexico. That number jumped 14% in 2023 to $86.2 billion, according to the American Automotive Policy Council.
American car makers would be much less competitive without this trade. Regional integration is now an industry-wide manufacturing strategy—also employed in Japan, Korea and Europe—aimed at using a variety of high-skilled and low-cost labor markets to source components, software and assembly.
The result has been that U.S. industrial capacity in autos has grown alongside an increase in imported motor vehicles, engines and parts. From 1995-2019, imports of autos, engines and parts rose 169% while U.S. industrial capacity in autos, engines and parts rose 71%.
As the Cato Institute’s Scott Lincicome puts it, the data show that “as imports go up, U.S. production goes up.” Thousands of good-paying auto jobs in Texas, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan owe their competitiveness to this ecosystem, relying heavily on suppliers in Mexico and Canada.
Tariffs will also cause mayhem in the cross-border trade in farm goods. In fiscal 2024, Mexican food exports made up about 23% of total U.S. agricultural imports while Canada supplied some 20%. Many top U.S. growers have moved to Mexico because limits on legal immigration have made it hard to find workers in the U.S. Mexico now supplies 90% of avocados sold in the U.S. Is Mr. Trump now an avocado nationalist?
Then there’s the prospect of retaliation, which Canada and Mexico have shown they know how to do for maximum political impact. In 2009 the Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats ended a pilot program that allowed Mexican long-haul truckers into the U.S. as stipulated in Nafta. Mexico responded with targeted retaliation on 90 U.S. goods to pressure industries in key Congressional districts.
These included California grapes and wine, Oregon Christmas trees and cherries, jams and jellies from Ohio and North Dakota soy. When Mr. Trump imposed steel and aluminum tariffs in 2018, Mexico got results using the same tactic, putting tariffs on steel, pork products, fresh cheese and bourbon.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to respond to U.S. tariffs on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Canada could suffer a larger GDP hit since its economy is so much smaller, but American consumers will feel the bite of higher costs for some goods.
***
None of this is supposed to happen under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement that Mr. Trump negotiated and signed in his first term. The U.S. willingness to ignore its treaty obligations, even with friends, won’t make other countries eager to do deals. Maybe Mr. Trump will claim victory and pull back if he wins some token concessions. But if a North American trade war persists, it will qualify as one of the dumbest in history.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trum … opin_pos_0
There are both pros and cons to the tariffs.
What are the potential pros of the Trump Tariffs?
Protecting American industries
One of the most frequently cited advantages of tariffs is their potential to shield domestic industries from foreign competition. Taxing imports allows American consumers to buy domestically produced goods, potentially preserving jobs in key sectors.
Increasing federal revenue
Tariffs provide an additional revenue stream for the US government. As importers pay duties on foreign goods, the federal treasury benefits from these payments, creating a short-term economic boost.
Encouraging domestic manufacturing
Supporters argue that tariffs incentivize companies to manufacture goods in the United States. By raising the cost of imported goods, businesses may find it more cost-effective to keep operations within national borders, bolstering supply chain resilience and contributing to national security.
potential cons of the Trump Tariffs?
Higher consumer prices
One of the most immediate impacts of tariffs is a rise in consumer prices. Goods ranging from electronics like laptops and smartphones to everyday groceries may see significant price hikes. Economists have noted that tariffs can reduce the US GDP by as much as 0.64%.
While Trump and his supporters contend that previous tariffs didn't dramatically increase inflation, most experts disagree, asserting that consumers typically bear the brunt of these policies.
Global economic slowdown
The ripple effects of tariffs are not confined to the US. Economists project that China could experience a GDP decline of 0.68%, while the EU might see a drop of 0.11%. These reductions highlight how tariffs can disrupt global trade and hinder economic growth across borders.
Inflation and interest rate concerns
Tariffs may contribute to inflationary pressures by driving up the cost of goods. In response, central banks could raise interest rates, potentially slowing economic growth and increasing borrowing costs for businesses and consumers.
Supply chain disruption
Modern industries rely heavily on global supply chains; tariffs threaten to upend this balance. Higher costs and logistical challenges could disrupt technological, automotive and retail production.My personal view has always been a half-full outlook—I’m not the type to jump straight into the downside without debating the positives first. When it comes to Trump’s tariffs, I think there’s a real chance they could work out better for the U.S. than a lot of people predict.
Everyone focuses on the negatives—higher prices, retaliation from other countries—but the reality is, the impact could be minimal or even beneficial in the long run. For one, tariffs could boost domestic manufacturing. If it becomes more expensive to import certain goods, companies might shift production back home, creating jobs and revitalizing industries that have been fading for years. Plus, tariffs give the U.S. leverage in trade negotiations. Countries like China have been taking advantage of unfair deals for decades, and tariffs put pressure on them to offer better terms. If that happens, American businesses gain greater access to foreign markets, which is a win for everyone.
Another key benefit is reducing our reliance on China. We’ve seen how fragile supply chains can be, and forcing companies to diversify could actually strengthen our economic security, especially in critical industries like semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. On top of that, tariffs generate revenue for the U.S. government without raising taxes on Americans—something that often gets overlooked. And if businesses adapt by absorbing some costs or shifting production, the impact on consumer prices might not be as bad as people assume. In some cases, foreign companies might even move operations to the U.S. to avoid tariffs, which would mean more jobs and investment here at home.
Beyond tariffs, Trump’s overall economic plan is built on policies that encourage business growth. His tax cuts and elimination of burdensome regulations create an environment where businesses have more room to expand, and startups have a better shot at succeeding. When companies aren’t suffocated by high taxes and endless red tape, they invest, hire, and grow—driving economic expansion in ways that tariffs alone can’t. So while the media loves to harp on the negatives, I think it’s important to look at the bigger picture. Tariffs, when combined with pro-business policies, could actually strengthen the U.S. economy rather than weaken it.
We now have a president who is actively working to revitalize manufacturing and increase our reliance on what we produce and create. This shift aims to reduce our dependence on other nations. In my view, this is a positive step away from passiveness, decline, and dependency. We’ve been lagging behind due to society’s acceptance of the status quo, willing to become stagnant because of uninventive ideologies.On average, how long does it take to pop up a manufacturing plant of any sort? I'm pretty sure Trump will be dead by that time.
Some migrants arrested in Trump's immigration crackdown have been released back into the U.S....
LOL... Catch and release? And y'all absolutely railed about this under Biden.
"arresting more people inside the United States on allegations of immigration violations means they need to be held somewhere. And significant space constraints in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities — and federal court orders forbidding indefinite detention — have forced the agency to release some of those arrested in the roundups rather than hold them until deportation. "
Gosh... trump has to follow immigration law just as Biden did... Go figure!
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/nation … rcna186360No problem, Trump wants to send 30,000 of them to Guantanamo where there are no laws to protect them. I understand it is not under any U.S. jurisdiction. Even it there was, Trump would just simply remove the laws.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-ripped … 30316.htmlProtect them from what? The deportation that their illegal entry has resulted in?
Or do you think they will all be turned into sex slaves in Guantanamo?It looks like you already let your imagination run wild with your sex slaves. Now just imagine the daily treatment of prisoners in a concentration camp with no laws. Welcome to Stalag GITMO.
"concentration camp with no laws"
Like you said and can be said about your response, "you already let your imagination run wild"
It appears the tariffs are working. It is such a difference to have a president who can actually do the job of being president.
Trump pauses Mexico tariffs for one month after agreement on border troops
President Donald Trump paused for a month new 25% tariffs on goods entering the United States from Mexico.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to immediately send 10,000 soldiers to her country's border to prevent the trafficking of fentanyl and other drugs.
The announcement came two days after Trump slapped 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 10% tariff on goods imported from China.
Trump said there will be Mexican officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick will negotiate on tariffs.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/t … &ei=20Interesting, when Obrador in 2021, increased military presence along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of broader efforts to curb drug trafficking and organized crime....was that effort consequential?
"In 2021, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent approximately 15,000 Mexican National Guard troops to various areas along the U.S.-Mexico border to help combat drug trafficking and organized crime."
Following on the heels of all the 'tariffs' announcements, stumbling across this brought a chuckle.
GAYeah, my optimism is wanting to celebrate, but I'm waiting for 'the rest of the story' before I do.
I'm happy with the way things are going, but . . . it's too early to be sure that the facts support the claims. If they do, especially in this USAID issue, then we're certainly getting the disruption that we all said we wanted.
GAWell now we have the agency in question being handed over to Little Marco to helm ...
He made the following statement:
“Current foreign assistance processes are severely inefficient and do not substantially benefit the American people. USAID has numerous conflicting, overlapping, and duplicative functions that it shares with the Department of State. Additionally, USAID's systems and processes are not well synthesized, integrated, or coordinated, and often result in discord in the foreign policy and foreign relations of the United States. This undermines the President's ability to carry out foreign relations,” Rubio wrote.
Boy oh boy, his statement is sure a long, long way from musk's claims... Is it inefficiency, the sinister "duplicative functions" or is it fraud?
I'm betting on inefficiency (as is with most agencies). I'm also betting that Little Marco will be the first to feel Trump's ax...With jest, or halfway of that, Rubio used some big words. In general I distrust people using them there big words.
I listened to him give his explanation in this interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5RJwmw1ihE
Its nice listening to someone who can articulate the particulars, even if they are using big words.
I like listening to Vance as well, as he can discuss the details with similar command and proper use of big words.
To be fair, I was always a fan of that, being a capable orator is a good quality, Kennedy had it, he set an example few can match or emulate.Great point! Both would make fantastic presidents, wouldn’t they? They’re all about smaller government, common sense, and sharp intellect—quick, intelligent, and well-spoken. Plus, they come from Congress and know all about how it works. And, of course, both are attorneys, which couldn’t hurt. Oh, and I’ll throw in one quality that’s always at the top of liberals’ list when picking a president—good hair! LOL. They bit-h when one is ill-spoken, and now when one is using "Big words" ---- go figure. Just need to point out the mindset of right verses left.
Yep, there's a reason they use a 50¢ word when a 10¢ one will do.
GACertainly, you jest? There is no winking eye with your parting signature. Should I be wary?
No jest, I was agreeing with you. The 50¢ vs 10¢ analogy came from my grandfather. He too was suspicious of folks who spent more on the message vehicle than on the message itself.
GA
From where I come from, that is called "Weasel Wording."
"Little Marco" That's cute.
I haven't seen the answers to your questions, yet. But I am wondering about the justifications for some of the leaked examples, like; the Lutheran Refugees Foundation NGO that received hundreds of millions, or the $50,000 for an LGBT play in Serbia (? probably a mash-up of headlines).
GAWell he was nicknamed Little Marco by Trump, so I'm keeping it.
My problem is that a lot of very serious accusations are being made by Musk with absolutely no accompanying factual support. The evidence should immediately follow the statement. For me, the idea is simply to make the statement without foundation and hope that the majority of the public forgets there was never any support for the statement...
Just a friendly FYI . . .
USAID! We all know about it and have formed our views. Done deal. Just to add to the mix from Tangle rated dead center - Center by allsides arrives there take on the topic. It offers from the right, from the left, and 'My Take' written by the managing editor, Ari Weitzman.
The future of USAID. by Tangle (Feb 4, 2025 . . . an 18 min read)
Plus, can you separate a political position from a moral one?
https://www.readtangle.com/the-future-o … newsletter
What the left is saying
** The left criticizes the aid suspension, arguing the U.S. spends relatively little on aid but that it provides critical services.
** Some say any attempt to shut down USAID could spark a constitutional crisis.
** Others suggest that U.S. foreign aid does not do what it promises.
What the right is saying
** The right mostly supports the changes to USAID, arguing the agency has strayed too far from its mission.
** Some note that Musk’s influence in the government is starting to have wide-reaching consequences.
** Others say Musk is right to scrutinize where USAID’s funding has gone.
My Take by Ari Weitzman
** The changes at USAID reflect Trump’s belief that foreign aid should be reciprocal.
** The administration is right to scrutinize whether USAID’s funding mechanisms are efficient or proper.
** However, the execution of this effort has been sloppy and raises valid legal concerns.Ari's take is how I see it too. But . . .
I also agree with the primary Republican thought that USAID has strayed from its mission*, except that I'm not sure exactly what its mission is. It's not hard to believe some of the stories about CIA/USAID connections.
GAI am inclined to agree with you including your last paragraph, however I only skimmed the article. Have an appointment this afternoon, so hard to concentrate. Oh well!
I just now did a cursory peek at USAID & CIA connection as a browser search. It popped up a good amount of information including a 5 page letter to Kissinger in '72 about funds being diverted to paramilitary in Laos. There were quite a few articles that lead me to 'accept' that there is a connection, yet without reading them I can't put it in the 'believe' category.That's about where I'm at — accepting that there appears to be a real connection.
GAPentagon Fails 7th Audit in a Row but Hopes To Pass by 2028
https://reason.com/2024/11/18/pentagon- … s-by-2028/
There are bigger fish to fry in the Swamp. Its a quick read.There probably are bigger fish, but, even beyond the dollar-value achievements, the symbolic value of the USAID discoveries is worth more. It shows the clearly set tone and direction of the administration.
GAWhat I read in the other thread regarding them trying to clean out the CIA...
Now that is a strong indicator of real change...
USAID could be little more than press release feel good BS... if that was the extent of the needed dismantling of a grossly oversized government that has been making life worse for American and foreign citizens with its corruption combined with ideological and radical nonsense like we saw it pushing down our throats the last 4 years.
So long as it is just the beginning, we are on track.Have we seen any concrete evidence of Musk's wide ranging accusations? I don't think so.
I haven't seen anything "concrete" yet. I have seen some that appear 'concrete' but none I would plant a flag on, yet.
I have seen enough smoke to believe there is fire. Just waiting to see the flames.
For instance, all of the 'lists' are suspect because they're just 'unofficial' lists, but many others appear to be completed forms that look legit. Time will tell.
GAHere is a list that was put out by the White House on the White House website. Here are only a few examples of the WASTE and ABUSE:
"For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight.
Here are only a few examples of the WASTE and ABUSE:
$1.5 million to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities”
$70,000 for production of a “DEI musical” in Ireland
$2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam
$47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia
$32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru
$2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala
$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt
Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations — even AFTER an inspector general launched an investigation
Millions to EcoHealth Alliance — which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab
“Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria”
Funding to print “personalized” contraceptives birth control devices in developing countries
Hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used to support the unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan,” benefiting the Taliban
The list literally goes on and on — and it has all been happening for decades.
Under President Trump, the waste, fraud, and abuse ENDS NOW."
https://www.whitehouse.gov/uncategorize … runs-deep/
This is as official As it gets. Weiry of posting this list, and still having some ignore it and continue to ask for proof.Did you also feel that the Biden administration's White House releases were true because they were as "official as it gets"?
Was that the Trump White House list that originally had the $100 million ($50 million?) for condoms that the president spoke of?
I'm as trustful of this administration's "Whitehouse releases" as I was of Pres. Biden's. Proof will be in the receipts, not lists.
GAI will be honest regarding your question. I trust the Trump administration more than I did the Biden administration. For the important stuff anyway. I would have a hard time comparing the two administrations.
This list could certainly be questioned because of the condom rumor. So far, I don't think anyone in Washington has debunked the list on the White House website. It's important to note that the condom claim was never part of the White House website list. I've personally heard Trump, his press secretary, and many others mention that $50 million was spent on condoms. I had found this information from another source, but Willow pointed out that the condom claim was debunked, so I quickly removed it.
So, who can we actually trust? If the answer is no one, then we're in serious trouble, and honestly, I’d be pretty pissed off about it.
Biden set off my Spidey sensesWhen we need more than our trust of the source we can trust the receipts, as in "trust but verify."
GA
"Proof will be in the receipts, not lists."
Now that's what I'm talking about.
But why am I to believe that if a name or corporation name appears on some list that there is a nefarious reason for it being there??
Foreign aid is a mess, with billions wasted due to corruption and lack of oversight, especially through USAID. From a $136M failure in Afghanistan to USAID’s botched $500M housing project in Haiti (resulting in just six homes), taxpayer money is often mismanaged. Worse, aid has been used for covert CIA operations, like the failed “ZunZuneo” project in Cuba. If Rubio oversaw foreign aid through the State Department, there’d be more accountability, tying funds to U.S. interests rather than handing out blank checks. It’s time for aid to be strategic, not a tool for corruption and waste.
Here is the list of USAID expenses: That have been widely reported.
$1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia's workplaces
$70,000 for the production of a DEI musical in Ireland
$47,000 on a transgender opera in Colombia
$32,000 for a transgender comic in Peru
$37 million to the World Health Organization
$16 million in funding for institutional contractors in gender development offices
$4 million of funding for the Center for Climate-Positive Development
$12 million in support services to the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security
$6 million in non-emergency funding for redundant administrative supports for the Center of Excellence
$3 million in non-emergency funding to provide evaluation services for planning and learning programs
$600,000 to fund technical assistance for family planning in Latin AmericaYour first 5 are jaw dropping examples of the idiocy of liberal actions. That our tax money pays for such things is an absolute perversion of what we assess taxes FOR, and have zero business even hitting the discussion table. Only idiots could come up with such an expenditure of our monies.
I hope that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) provides transparency regarding their findings. This approach would foster trust in their appointed responsibilities and counteract the media speculation surrounding DOGE. Last week they offered a report, hopefully, they continue to offer findings.
Or someone with a really twisted sense of humor.
Wasn't the 50 million in condoms debunked? And let's be clear, the claim by trump was that 100 million was spent on condoms for Hamas.
I haven't gotten through the rest of the list but generally much of what maga throws out to the public is misinformation, missing key points or it's just straight up disinformation...
Going with the glass half full mindset.. can anyone speak to the benefits of usaid?
Not sure if people know this but foreign aid amounts to a whopping 1% of our federal budget.... This is a huge look here not there while they get their dirty little fingers into where the real money lives..... Medicare, Medicaid, social security.
I'm guessing that's why musk and his band of 19-year-olds are rooting through the treasury payment system.Yes, I see it was. I will be removing it from the list.
Going with the "glass half full" mindset, what are the benefits, the positives of usaid?
I have posted an official list from the White House website ---
Here is a list that was put out by the White House on the White House website. Here are only a few examples of the WASTE and ABUSE:
"For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight.
Here are only a few examples of the WASTE and ABUSE:
$1.5 million to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities”
$70,000 for production of a “DEI musical” in Ireland
$2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam
$47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia
$32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru
$2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala
$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt
Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations — even AFTER an inspector general launched an investigation
Millions to EcoHealth Alliance — which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab
“Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria”
Funding to print “personalized” contraceptives birth control devices in developing countries
Hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used to support the unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan,” benefiting the Taliban
The list literally goes on and on — and it has all been happening for decades.
Under President Trump, the waste, fraud, and abuse ENDS NOW."
https://www.whitehouse.gov/uncategorize … runs-deep/
This is as official As it gets. Hopefully, I need not have any reason to post it again.
Let me throw in another little bit of common sense...
The miniscule (1% of our federal budget) funds that are directed toward foreign aid make many places around the world livable. When an area becomes unlivable, people overwhelmingly tend to pick up and move. I'll let folks fill in the blank for themselves in terms of just where they seek refuge.
There may be some issues and some of our programs but that doesn't mean we trash the entirety of the program. We are cutting off our nose to spite our face and we will certainly pay in the end.During the Cold War, we had the Peace Corp. It was involved in Soviet containment by encouraging volunteer development programs in Western bloc countries.
By chartering a Peace Corps division in Bonn, Kennedy aimed to include West Germany in the resistance to the Soviet Union. The goal was to spread American ideals and improve the reputation of the US during the Cold War.
I think the same thing can be thought of for USAID. For God's sake it is only less than one percent of the budget. I agree it's Trump and companies' way of saying look here, not there.
One can only imagine what the national debt is going to be in four years. Don't forget, Trump is starting with Biden's 31.46 trillion debt.Yep, his grand schemes have no revenue. These things that DOGE is looking at are small potatoes. The main course will be up soon... Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
Created by great men who intended to make the world a better place...
A safer, less war hungry world...
Those efforts were corrupted long ago... as were the halls of DC...
USAID is used today to befoul the ideals and dreams of those great men.Your last sentence is just your opinion, which means nothing to me, unless you can prove it. The Peace Corps was one of the tools that was used to contain the Soviet Union from expanding into the free world.
I noticed you said nothing about USAID being less than one percent of the total budget or that Trump is using it as a distraction for our government he is destroying to evade accountability of all of his criminal acts he has committed. Look here, not there.
He is erasing any trace of Jan. 6, the classified documents scandal, and all of his court trials by purging the FBI and CIA. He is using Musk as his hit man to take them all out and to invade our privacy with access to the Treasury Department. DOGE isn't even an official government office. He knows no boundaries and could care less about supporting the Constitution that he took an oath to uphold. Welcome to Project 2025 that he says he knew nothing about.
Inflation perked up more than anticipated in January, providing further incentive for the Fed to hold the line on interest rates.
Consumer price index rose by 3% in January...after Trump promised to ‘rapidly’ bring down prices. Promising voters on the campaign trail that he'd begin doing so "starting on day one."
Egg prices soared more than 15%, the biggest jump since 2015,. Beef prices climbed 5% and bacon prices jumped 6% in January compared to a year ago, data showed.
Across the consumer economy, there are signs that many households are pulling back. McDonald's on Monday reported its biggest sales drop since the pandemic, with a slight uptick in traffic but diners spending less. With airline ticket prices climbing, low- and middle-income consumers are adjusting their travel plans for the year. Even booze sales are slipping.
Markets tumbled following the news.
Since Trump took office, he has announced a series of tariffs, which economists say could push prices higher. Tariffs on steel and aluminum announced by Trump this week could raise prices for a set of products that includes refrigerators, beer and automobiles, experts previously told ABC News....
Oh yes, please sir, can I have some more?The inflation data we’re seeing for January still reflects policies from Biden’s term because the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated based on data from the previous month or even earlier. Since the January CPI report was based on data collected from December 2024 (which overlaps with Biden’s administration), the inflation numbers are tied to the economic conditions shaped by Biden’s policies, including spending, monetary decisions, and the handling of the pandemic recovery. Maybe we wait until March to check Trump's stats. Because Jan's stats will still be old Joe's.
I am not concerned about food prices at this point. I will see what the future holds. I will say I am more confident that we will see them get better under Trump-- I mean Joe did a job on our economy. Just elated that I can anticipate a light at the end of the tunnel. Can't even imagine what would have come if Harris had won. The nation was sinking, 4 years of her--- we would have sunk.Absolutely not. Trump has done nothing to improve conditions for the American people. Done nothing to put more money in our pockets. He has broken his day one promises. He is in the office and he is to blame for the current numbers. Remember when Biden took office and most here demanded that the world's largest economy turn on a dime? Well... What comes around goes around.
"I am not concerned about food prices at this point. I will see what the future holds."
It's interesting that your postings here over the last year reflected a lot of concern for the suffering of people out here who can't afford their groceries, or rent, their utilities, to buy a car or home because rates are too high... The economy that people aren't concerned about now...its the economy you've complained about incessantly for the past 4 years...Now that Trump is in the office all that doesn't matter anymore?
What has Trump done that has benefited the pockets of Americans?Take your complaint up with The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, which is responsible for producing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other key economic statistics monthly.
Maybe you could ask them to change the policy.
I definitely discussed the economy and economic stats, as they are frequently talked about. However, I didn’t share my personal view on whether the economy has affected me directly. A bit back, I shared with you in a post-- I don’t feel the same financial pressures that some others might feel due to Biden's economic policies. My focus has been more on other issues included in Trump’s agenda that I find more relevant to my interests.
I genuinely feel empathy for those who have suffered and continue to struggle under Biden's failed economy. This was one of the main reasons I voted for a man I believed could bring much-needed relief from these economic challenges. I felt that my vote could help provide some relief to those I deeply empathize with.
Trump has been in office for less than a month, so I’ll be honest and tell you that your question, "What has Trump done that has benefited the pockets of Americans?" seems a bit premature.This is from Market Watch, a division of Dow Jones. It describes the good, the bad, and the ugly after four years of Biden's economy.
How much blame Biden deserves for the surge in inflation has been hotly debated, and the debate is likely to go on for years.
Supporters contend the COVID-19 pandemic was to blame, including the supply-chain ruction as economies ramped back up following shutdowns, but critics point to multitrillion-dollar economic stimulus and other spending under Biden in his first years in office as a major contributor.
The annual rate of inflation has since slowed to under 3% and is not far from its prepandemic levels and the Federal Reserve's long-range target. Yet the cost of many staples such as food, cars, auto insurance and housing is much higher now compared with four years ago.
GDP
The U.S. economy has grown rapidly during the Biden years, if not enough to save his approval ratings and political fortunes.
Gross domestic product, considered the official scorecard for the economy, surged 6.1% in 2021. The growth spurt was fueled by the Biden stimulus and the ensuing rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
GDP rose 2.5% in 2022, 2.9% in 2023, and it's likely to have expanded close to 3% in Biden's final year in office.
The U.S. economy grew at a similar above-average speed during the first three years of Trump's first term as president. COVID-19, formally labeled a pandemic in March of the election year 2020, slammed the economy. His handling of the pandemic likely cost Trump re-election that November.
While high government spending has played a role in the robust GDP, the economy has benefited most from low unemployment, rising incomes and strong consumer spending.
Jobs and unemployment
The U.S. added a whopping 16.6 million jobs in Biden's four years, but economists note that more than half of the increase reflected the recovery of millions of positions lost during the pandemic.
The unemployment rate, meanwhile, showed similar ups and downs in the COVID era.
The jobless rate soared to 14.8% at the height of the pandemic, but, by the time Biden took office, it had dropped to 6.4%. It then fell steadily to 3.4% by 2023 as the U.S. recovered fully from the pandemic.
The jobless rate was also historically low, at 3.5%, under Trump right before the pandemic erupted.
The unemployment rate has since moved back up to 4.1%, but it's still extremely low on a historical-comparison basis.
Housing
The housing market boomed early in the Biden presidency after the Fed cut interest rates to extremely low levels.
Sales of new and previously owned homes hit record highs - and drove up prices - while tens of millions of families refinanced at rock-bottom rates.
When inflation took hold, the Fed raised borrowing costs, and mortgage rates soared. Home sales sank, builders scaled back construction and an already acute housing shortage got worse.
The result: Housing affordability across much of the U.S. might be the worst ever. The typical 30-year mortgage rate is now 7%, up from less than 3% four years ago.
Housing costs eat up about 45% of a median family's income, well above the 30% rate considered more normal, according to an Atlanta Fed index.
Budget deficits
Huge U.S. budget deficits have become a hallmark since COVID - and they show no sign of shrinking.
The budget deficit in the most recent fiscal year ended in September totaled $1.8 trillion, and it's on track to match that number in the current fiscal year.
The national debt, meanwhile, has exploded. That deficit is forecast to top $37 billion in the current fiscal year, up 64% from $22.6 billion before the pandemic.
Chronically high deficits threaten to keep U.S. interest rates high. They are also hampering the government's ability to spend on vital functions.
The interest the U.S. has to pay on the national debt might top $1 trillion this year for the first time ever. Interest payments now cost more than what the government spends each year on the military.
Current government projections suggest deficits will stay sky-high under Trump, even though he's promised to reduce them.
From the archives (December 2024): Biden jokes he was 'stupid' not to put his name on pandemic relief checks à la Trump"Trump has been in office for less than a month, so I’ll be honest and tell you that your question, "What has Trump done that has benefited the pockets of Americans?" seems a bit premature".
Prices for everything are actually rising and people are pissed.
I was promised so many things though on day one... And I don't think that the majority of Americans share the view that it's premature to expect delivery of what was promised.
We want what was promised and we want it now...
Trump: “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One.”
BREAKING: US inflation heats up to 3%, higher than expected.
People out here are not having it.
Willow, check this
But after the Labor Department announced that the consumer price index in January increased 3% from 12 months earlier and rose from a three-and-a-half-year low of 2.4% in September, Trump took to Truth Social to publicly avoid any responsibility for the price hikes.
Perhaps we should look here rather than there? If he is not responsible as President with all of his phony promises, who is?
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/12/cpi-january-2025.html
Wasn't he suppose to fix this in an immediate turn around?I don't recall CNBC being on a USAID payroll. Instead of offering this stuff what concrete evidence do you have to challenge what I have said?
Trump will see no mercy from me if he renege on his promised boasts regarding the economy.I have a wait and see approach...
Nothing that is being reported now (Jan or earlier) has anything to do with Trump or his policies.
Some companies may have held on to employees until after the new year, some products may have been shipped from Mexico or China ahead of the new Trump Administration in excess to avoid the impact they feared Trump would have.
We will see nothing concrete regarding Trump's decisions and policies until March at best and even that is probably too early to know.
The promises on the economy were definitely a ruse, simply a political strategy to dupe the unwitting base. His real priority is to take food and health care away from the poor to subsidize tax cuts for the rich. It’s all laid out, in black and white, in their budget plans just released.
And to think, we're not even a month into this nightmare..The claim that inflation "rose from a three-and-a-half-year low of 2.4% in September" is inaccurate. The consumer price index (CPI) did not fall to 2.4% in September 2023; the lowest recorded inflation rate in recent years was 3.0% in June 2023. Additionally, the CPI increase in January 2024 was 3.1%, not 3.0%, as some reports suggest. While inflation did rise slightly, the claim that it surged dramatically from 2.4% is misleading.
The assertion that Donald Trump should take responsibility for price hikes in January 2024 is also misleading, as he was not in office at the time. Joe Biden has been president since January 2021, and inflation trends since then have been shaped by his administration’s economic policies, Federal Reserve actions, and global events. Blaming Trump for inflation that occurred during Biden’s presidency disregards these factors. Furthermore, while some argue that Trump has avoided taking responsibility, his public statements have primarily criticized Biden’s policies, particularly on government spending and energy, as contributors to inflation. Presenting this as an "avoidance of responsibility" is a subjective interpretation rather than an objective fact.
Under Biden, inflation rose sharply in 2021 and 2022, peaking at 9.1% in June 2022. Though inflation has since declined, prices remain significantly higher than they were during Trump’s presidency, and many Americans continue to feel the impact of prolonged inflation. Framing Trump’s statements as an effort to deflect responsibility overlooks the broader context, where inflationary pressures persisted well after his administration and were largely influenced by Biden-era policies.
Ultimately, the statement misrepresents inflation data and unfairly attributes responsibility to Trump for economic conditions that developed after he left office. A more accurate framing would recognize that inflation was 3.1% in January 2024, not 3.0%; that it was 3.0% in June 2023, not 2.4% in September; that inflation spiked under Biden, not Trump; and that Trump’s remarks were political critiques rather than an evasion of responsibility."Blaming Trump for inflation that occurred during Biden’s presidency disregards these factors.
Oh my, we can file this one under the category of "what comes around goes around"
Can we count the ways that posters here on this forum blamed absolutely everything on Biden? Ignoring the aforementioned "factors" placing irrefutable blame even when facts and rationale were presented? And contradicted?
Biden lost the election due to the economy, due to many false narratives and folks inability to understand those confounding "factors" ...you know, like COVID causing a global upheaval?
The American people haven't changed and their priorities haven't changed and the way they look at things hasn't changed...
Fair or not, Trump will live and die by the same sword used on Biden.I was pointing out the misinformation that was being represented regarding the stats. Not interested in your diversion. Just presenting some statistical stats, and ultimately, the statement misrepresents inflation data and unfairly attributes responsibility to Trump for economic conditions that developed after he left office.
Just saying, I was told daily over the past year or so that stats don't matter because people just don't "feel it".
We are quite a simple people aren't we? The blame it on Biden line is only going to last long.Just saying, I was told repeatedly over the past year that statistics don’t matter because people just don’t "feel it." Willow.
In my view, this is true. We saw stats showing one thing while our lived experience with spending told a different story. Historically, statistics have aligned with how citizens feel about costs, but under Biden, that hasn’t been the case—at least in my view.
Are we a simple people? One could argue that, but it’s a broad generalization of an entire society.
As for the idea that blaming Biden will only last so long—I agree. If people don’t feel relief over time, they’ll start questioning Trump’s promise to bring prices down. Ultimately, it comes down to individual experience.I don't generally subscribe to broad generalizations... But they are a very common theme on this forum. My use of them is generally sarcastic.
A choice. I use the first one most of the time.
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