W.J. Astore
You can’t do a wrong thing the right way
During World War II, the Nazi system of extermination camps was fairly efficient. Relatively small death camps like Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka killed an astonishing number of people, more than 1.6 million and nearly all Jews, quickly and efficiently. If there were a Nazi DOGE, I suppose these death camps may have won “efficiency” awards from it. They stripped the incoming victims of all their valuables and then killed virtually all of them. The loot stolen by the SS was then distributed, again fairly efficiently.
The DOGE Is All Wrong
Tag: Elon Musk
[Crosspost] The Poetry of Bureaucratic Cruelty: Filing Taxes
Why Musk, Trump & tech elites seek collapse of global order
On Friday, I joined writer Wajahat Ali for an interview about why Trump and tech broligarchs like Elon Musk seem hellbent on destroying global political and economic order. Watch our entire conversation (30 minutes) by clicking the box below:
Oh, the Irony: Flags of Contradiction
Juxtaposing these two flags creates a stark contradiction, given the Ukrainian Ultranationalists’ oppressive policies toward LGBTQ+ communities.
Related:
Protesters tee off against Trump and Musk in “Hands Off!” rallies across the U.S.
Gallery: Thousands of protesters gather on State Street, at Capitol to protest Trump administration
Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Breaks Spending Record, Fueled by Out-of-State Money
Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Breaks Spending Record, Fueled by Out-of-State Money
The two campaigns and their supportive outside spenders have already spent more than $73 million, and the rate of spending is likely to ramp up even more in the final week.
Crawford’s campaign spending of $19.4 million is more than double that of Schimel’s $8.9 million. (These figures are based on estimates of television ad spending, and candidate filings due this week will paint a fuller picture of their fundraising and spending.) But independent groups like super PACs and nonprofits spending untraceable “dark money” favor Schimel by a much larger margin: $12.9 million benefiting Crawford compared with almost $32.1 million boosting Schimel.
Two of the biggest spenders in the race, the Schimel-boosting America PAC and a group called Building America’s Future, have spent over $14.3 million, which is nearly one dollar for every five spent in the contest. Elon Musk has provided almost all the funding for America PAC. While Building America’s Future doesn’t reveal its donors, Musk is reportedly a major funder.
Schimel is also supported by $4.3 million from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, an industry dark money group; $4 million from Fair Courts America, a national group with ties to conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein of Illinois; $3.2 million from Americans for Prosperity, a libertarian group affiliated with Koch Industries; and $1.8 million from the Republican State Leadership Committee.
Crawford’s biggest independent support includes $6.2 million in expenditures by A Better Wisconsin Together, a state group with major donations from Wisconsin philanthropist Lynde Uihlein (a cousin of Richard Uihlein) as well as national liberal groups. The ACLU Voter Education Fund also spent $1 million boosting Crawford. In addition, liberal megadonor George Soros gave $1 million to the state Democratic party, which supports Crawford.
Related:
The F-47 Sixth-Generation Warplane Is a Colossal Waste of Money
For a fraction of the cost of the F-47, swarms of drones can be built and integrated with existing airframes like the F-22 and F-35, all of which can enhance the Air Force’s ability to project power without breaking the bank.
The F-47 Sixth-Generation Warplane Is a Colossal Waste of Money
Social Security rushing service cuts at White House request, sources say
The Social Security Administration is rushing cuts to phone services at the White House’s request, the agency’s acting commissioner told Social Security advocates in a meeting on Monday, two sources who attended tell Axios.
Social Security rushing service cuts at White House request, sources say
Previously:
No, 150-Year-Olds Aren’t Collecting Social Security Benefits
Trump’s Medicaid reversal should worry Social Security recipients.
How Musk Sold Out America’s Veterans – OpEd
How Musk Sold Out America’s Veterans – OpEd
Former service members around the country already feel the repercussions, which include cuts to transportation programs for disabled veterans, reduced telephone support for caregivers, and the postponement or cancellation of suicide prevention trainings.
Other veterans report the cancellation of therapy groups and longer wait times for appointments as well as disruptions to medical studies, including a clinical trial on a new medication with the potential to treat cancers of the mouth and throat. Some facilities eliminated staff members especially trained or certified to perform certain roles, delaying the requisition and delivery of medical supplies.
As always happens amid Musk’s ham-handed raids, the cuts at the VA commenced without the slightest foresight or sense. Among many other examples, officials summarily canceled hundreds of contracts with outside providers, only to immediately scale back the reckless decision after realizing they needed the help performing essential work like physician recruitment and burial services.
Kaldahl, who receives hearing aids, eye care, and other services from the VA, has to travel to larger cities, such as Superior, Wisconsin, or Minneapolis, to receive care unavailable at a clinic near his home.
USAID Updates
Trump aides circulate plan for complete revamp of foreign aid programs
— Placing the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency under the auspices of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. The combined entity would focus on promoting private sector investment, especially in areas such as infrastructure, energy and technology. The document says the new approach would be a powerful counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which Beijing has used to gain economic and diplomatic footholds in many countries.
Read More »
Trump’s Billionaire Commerce Secretary: Only ‘Fraudsters’ Will Complain If Social Security Checks Don’t Arrive
One group noted who would actually complain: “Someone who depends on Social Security to buy groceries. Someone who depends on Social Security to pay rent. Someone who depends on Social Security to survive.”
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
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