The Apprentice Season 2 - The Second Presidency of Donald Trump

[Smoove_B]

Hopefully it is just 4 years of misery before a slow return to some normalcy...

Don't delude yourself. Assuming we all emerge in 4 years from this, things are going to be different - the line has been moved. I say this as a fellow public sector worker, albeit as one at a much lower level and in a state trending purple - figure out what you need to do to survive. I suspect we are going to have our morals and ethics challenged in the work place sooner than later in the name of a paycheck. Figure out whatever you need to do and how you can (quietly) resist what's happening.

I can appreciate trying to focus on 2028 right now, but unfortunately we're going to be tested long before then. Come up with a plan now.

[Zaxxon]

It's week 2 and we have two blatantly unconstitutional actions from the executive branch. I guess we get to see if Republicans in Congress believe we live in a democracy with constitutional rules (one of which is that the congress holds the power of the purse) or if they should all just go home because we live in an autocracy where a surprise memo has the power to change the very political landscape of federal funding by fiat.

I've seen 2 separate interviews with 2 GOP politicians (Lindsey Graham and someone else) asked point-blank whether it's OK that Trump nuked the inspectors general despite the law requiring 30 days advance notice to Congress. In both cases the answer was essentially, 'he won the election; what do you expect?'

Which a) is terribly depressing, and b) is clearly the GOP answer to your question.

[hepcat]

It's going to have to get much worse before (if) they develop anything resembling a spine when it comes to Trump.

[Smoove_B]

Yeah, anyone that's thinking elected GOP members are going to be the saviors here is delusional. Their either complicit or simply happy to let whatever is going to happen unfold from the sidelines. Remember, some of these folks were hiding in the Capitol on 1/6/21 and they still support Trump.

[hepcat]

What we're seeing is not an adherence to any kind of ideology on the part of the GOP. It's pure opportunism.

[Rumpy]

He's been selecting anyone that will be complicit in his plans. A bunch of yes-men in an echochamber championing his ideas, making sure there isn't anyone that can oppose him. And if anyone has dared oppose him in the past, he's making sure they aren't anywhere in power.

[stessier]

This is frustrating - 19 states tell Costco to end "unlawful" DEI policies (including SC).

It's frustrating because they don't say what is unlawful. They imply it is everything which is completely untrue. I wish someone would push back on that narrative. Maybe I need to get a Costco membership (even though I greatly prefer Sam's Club's offerings and ease of access in my area).

[Enough]

I got forwarded a spreadsheet apparently everyone will need to fill out for the chance of funding to resume. Some of the questions:

FEDERAL AGENCY SUB-AGENCY ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBERTITLE OBJECTIVE SAM

Please identify the email of
the senior political
appointee responsible for
overseeing this program

Does the program have any
pending funding
announcements?

Does the program have any
anticipated obligations or
disbursement of funds
before 3/15/2025?

Does this program have any
statutory requirements
mandating the obligation or
disbursement of funds
through 3/15/2025?

Provide the estimated
date of the next
obligation or
disbursement of
funds

Does this program provide
Federal funding to non-
governmental organizations
supporting or providing
services, either directly or
indirectly, to removable or
illegal aliens?

Is this program a foreign
assistance program, or
provide funding or support
activities overseas?

Does this program provide
funding that is implicated by
the revocation and recission
of the U.S. International
Climate Finance Plan?

Does this program include
activities that impose an
undue burden on the
identification, development,
or use of domestic energy
resources (including
through funding under the
Inflation Reducing Act of
2022; and the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act)?

Does this program provide
funding that is implicated by
the directive to end
discriminatory programs,
including illegal DEI and
“diversity, equity, inclusion,
and accessibility” (DEIA)
mandates, policies,
programs, preferences, and
activities, under whatever
name they appear, or other
directives in the same EO,
including those related to
“environmental justice”
programs or “equity-related”
grants? Does this program promote
gender ideology?

Does this program promote
or support in any way
abortion or other related
activities identified in the
Hyde Amendment?

If not covered in the
preceding columns, does
this program support any
activities that must not be
supported based on
executive orders issued on
or after January 20, 2025
(including executive orders
released following the
dissemination of this
spreadsheet)?

Provide additional
information on program or
project activities

[waitingtoconnect]

He's been selecting anyone that will be complicit in his plans. A bunch of yes-men in an echochamber championing his ideas, making sure there isn't anyone that can oppose him. And if anyone has dared oppose him in the past, he's making sure they aren't anywhere in power.

Also there are consequences. There are real consequences for opposing him. When smart people see the system failing a lot go with the flow out of fear it expediency or their own benefit.

People want to be on the winning side and at work and in my broader network I’m seeing people flip heavily to trump for those reasons.

[waitingtoconnect]

I got forwarded a spreadsheet apparently everyone will need to fill out for the chance of funding to resume. Some of the questions:

They don’t know this themselves????

[Enough]

I mean all of this ideological purity peacocking actions are starting to remind me of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and I am now bracing for the coming famine and massive loss of productivity to follow. Deport all the trades people and ag people, destroy the universities, tariffs on Taiwan of 25-100%, freezing the greatest invention/patent machine ever known in the history of the world (see shutting NIH and NSF funding for e.g.), and on and on. And given that we are still an important part of the wold econ and breadbasket, the world will also be feeling this big time.

[waitingtoconnect]

I mean all of this ideological purity peacocking actions are starting to remind me of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and I am now bracing for the coming famine and massive loss of productivity to follow. Deport all the trades people and ag people, destroy the universities, tariffs on Taiwan of 25-100%, freezing the greatest invention/patent machine ever known in the history of the world (see shutting NIH and NSF funding for e.g.), and on and on. And given that we are still an important part of the wold econ and breadbasket, the world will also be feeling this big time.

Yes they just lost a major part of the AI war to deep seek. While they are chasing dei hires and trans people to shut down all research that keeps the country number 1.

Horrifyingly all the money spinners and tech bro apologists are calling this a “prototype” ADHD nothing to worry about….

[Smoove_B]

It's going to get so much worse. Here's the memo on the federal aid freeze.

To implement these orders, each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders. In the interim, to the extent permissible under applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities. The temporary pause will become effective on January 28, 2025, at 5:00PM.

Then:

No later than February 10, 2025, agencies shall submit to OMB detailed information on any programs, projects or activities subject to this pause. Each agency must pause: (i) issuance of new awards; (ii) disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards; and (iii) other relevant agency actions that may be implicated by the executive orders, to the extent permissible by law,until OMB has reviewed and provided guidance to your agency with respect to the information submitted

There's a bit more related to detailing the people involved, but the idea here is clearly to stop all funding so the administration can review each and every instance where money is being allocated/disbursed and then decide on a case-by-case basis which states/programs will then start to receive funding again.

If this isn't a legitimate Constitutional crisis unfolding, then I don't understand what's happening.

[raydude]

Wish I could retire. Although NASA shouldn't be harmed too much, it will not be untouched. Already lost a few contractors due to DEIA cut. Lost 199 new hires due to hiring freeze, so short staffed and expect to continue the mission. I just feel icky working under this administration. I have to refocus and think that we are still performing a mission for the betterment of the human race, put my head down, and do my job. But I'm not immensely satisfied or happy with my job right now. Hopefully it is just 4 years of misery before a slow return to some normalcy...

Yeah, APL still hasn't shut down its DEI department, but we'll see what happens over the next year or so.

[Zarathud]

It is a shakedown prior to the purge. If you don’t snitch, you will be replaced. America’s enemies are rejoicing over the internal fallout as we will no longer have strong institutions.

[raydude]

It's going to get so much worse. Here's the memo on the federal aid freeze.

To implement these orders, each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders. In the interim, to the extent permissible under applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities. The temporary pause will become effective on January 28, 2025, at 5:00PM.

Then:

No later than February 10, 2025, agencies shall submit to OMB detailed information on any programs, projects or activities subject to this pause. Each agency must pause: (i) issuance of new awards; (ii) disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards; and (iii) other relevant agency actions that may be implicated by the executive orders, to the extent permissible by law,until OMB has reviewed and provided guidance to your agency with respect to the information submitted

There's a bit more related to detailing the people involved, but the idea here is clearly to stop all funding so the administration can review each and every instance where money is being allocated/disbursed and then decide on a case-by-case basis which states/programs will then start to receive funding again.

If this isn't a legitimate Constitutional crisis unfolding, then I don't understand what's happening.

Here's the thing: as I see it the Agencies and the people who work for them are in a similar situation to the factory workers and managers working in Germany's armaments plants during WW2. Back then there were no Nazi SS troopers checking the quality of the shells, so workers were putting dummy fuzes and doing all sorts of things to sabotage the shells.

I firmly believe there are no Nazi, I mean Administration goosesteppers checking to see that these forms are correct. So what's to stop an Agency from submitting forms detailing bullshit programs (i.e. ones that dont' exist or 'kind of exist but not really' and omitting the ones that are important, Trump be damned)? Who's gonna check? Stephem Miller? Trump? I mean come on.

[Enough]

It's going to get so much worse. Here's the memo on the federal aid freeze.

To implement these orders, each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders. In the interim, to the extent permissible under applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.This temporary pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities. The temporary pause will become effective on January 28, 2025, at 5:00PM.

Then:

No later than February 10, 2025, agencies shall submit to OMB detailed information on any programs, projects or activities subject to this pause. Each agency must pause: (i) issuance of new awards; (ii) disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards; and (iii) other relevant agency actions that may be implicated by the executive orders, to the extent permissible by law,until OMB has reviewed and provided guidance to your agency with respect to the information submitted

There's a bit more related to detailing the people involved, but the idea here is clearly to stop all funding so the administration can review each and every instance where money is being allocated/disbursed and then decide on a case-by-case basis which states/programs will then start to receive funding again.

If this isn't a legitimate Constitutional crisis unfolding, then I don't understand what's happening.

The questions I posted earlier are from this memo/homework/info mining errand if you want to see the questions. I agree with your analysis unfortunately.

[waitingtoconnect]

Be careful it could be some sort of trap so they pin you for “lying” in your original application.

I expect these questions are a lot of setup for “ we are being obstructed” by deep state operatives why won’t tell us where the money is going and the people getting the grants aren’t spending the money as they should.

Only answer the questions with the same words you submitted in your approval for the grant (with supporting evidence) and with their words/details of payment schedules etc.

[Smoove_B]

Here's the thing: as I see it the Agencies and the people who work for them are in a similar situation to the factory workers and managers working in Germany's armaments plants during WW2. Back then there were no Nazi SS troopers checking the quality of the shells, so workers were putting dummy fuzes and doing all sorts of things to sabotage the shells.

This is exactly what I mentioned at the top of the page. Anything that can be done (no matter how small) to stop this from happening should be considered. Secretly, of course but collective acts of individual resistance will add up.

I firmly believe there are no Nazi, I mean Administration goosesteppers checking to see that these forms are correct. So what's to stop an Agency from submitting forms detailing bullshit programs (i.e. ones that dont' exist or 'kind of exist but not really' and omitting the ones that are important, Trump be damned)? Who's gonna check? Stephem Miller? Trump? I mean come on.

Yup.

[Alefroth]

This is frustrating - 19 states tell Costco to end "unlawful" DEI policies (including SC).

It's frustrating because they don't say what is unlawful. They imply it is everything which is completely untrue. I wish someone would push back on that narrative. Maybe I need to get a Costco membership (even though I greatly prefer Sam's Club's offerings and ease of access in my area).

I just got one on Sunday and told them it was because of their support of their DEI policies. I didn't really care for the experience of shopping there (so crowded and they don't take Mastercard) so I probably won't be shopping there a lot, but it felt like the right thing to do.

[waitingtoconnect]

Or the situation is as it was at Twitter.

The programs are going to be cut regardless unless they are a pet project of a Maga bigwig.

It’ll be the worst form of corporate style downsizing. Just cut. Cut and cut again. As at Twitter most of the useful idiots who help the new regime will also be fired.

And as at Twitter who knows if benefits will be paid out.

[Enough]

This is also my concern,

One of the problems with the lawsuits is gonna be that the “policy” is going to change, daily, hourly even. It already has, today.

It’s hard to sustain a lawsuit against the premise of the thing when the facts of the thing change every minute.

https://bsky.app/profile/elienyc.bsky.s ... tcrvttuy2e

[Alefroth]

America’s enemies are rejoicing over the internal fallout as we will no longer have strong institutions.

Good thing we will no longer have enemies They will love and respect us or else.

[Alefroth]

Who's gonna check? Stephem Miller? Trump? I mean come on.

DOGE I assume.

[El Guapo]

This is all power and corruption. Regardless of what you've been promised before and what the law says, you get money if you are in Trump's good graces, and not if you aren't. Also opens up many opportunities to skim off federal funds.

[Smoove_B]

Funding freeze blocked by federal judge:

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily halted President Trump's effort to temporarily pause federal grant, loan and financial assistance programs, multiple outlets reported.

The big picture: U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan blocked Trump's order minutes before it was to take effect, with an administrative stay that expires Monday.

As this just happened like 20 minutes ago, I'm guessing we'll hear more later. I also don't expect this to be the end of things.

[WYBaugh]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white- ... rcna189661

President Donald Trump's administration is set to offer every single federal worker the chance to take a "deferred resignation" with a severance package of roughly eight months of pay and benefits.

A senior administration official told NBC News that they expect 5-10% of the federal workforce to quit, which, they estimate, could lead to roughly $100 billion in savings.

"If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce," reads the email that will be sent to federal workers. "At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions."

[Skinypupy]

One of my just colleagues shared that she was on a meeting with a hospital in New York today and had to cut the call short because there were rumors that ICE would be showing up at the hospital at any moment.

[Enough]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white- ... rcna189661

President Donald Trump's administration is set to offer every single federal worker the chance to take a "deferred resignation" with a severance package of roughly eight months of pay and benefits.

A senior administration official told NBC News that they expect 5-10% of the federal workforce to quit, which, they estimate, could lead to roughly $100 billion in savings.

"If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce," reads the email that will be sent to federal workers. "At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions."

So we have just put the fear of god into you and turned your workplace into the inner circle of hell in less than a week... want to retire?

[LawBeefaroni]

One of my just colleagues shared that she was on a meeting with a hospital in New York today and had to cut the call short because there were rumors that ICE would be showing up at the hospital at any moment.

This is what they want, spread fear and panic without having to do anything.

There are protocols if ICE shows up a hospital. They are told to take a seat and wait for the admin on call. They will then be met by the ranking leadership, and possibly legal, who has a detailed playbook for response.

[Max Peck]

What an unfortunate coincidence that an outage would knock all the Medicaid payment systems offline at the same time as the administration is getting out of the business of paying for anything. Hopefully the people responsible for maintaining the system haven't been fired yet.

States say Medicaid access cut, White House says no payments disrupted

At least three U.S. lawmakers said on Tuesday healthcare providers were blocked from the Medicaid payment portal after the Trump administration announced a federal funding pause, even as the White House said the program was exempted.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the White House was aware of the Medicaid program's online portal outage and said it would be back online soon. She said no payments had been affected.

Mandatory programs like the joint federal-state health insurance program for the poor and the SNAP food assistance program were excluded from the U.S. funding pause, the White House's Office of Management and Budget told lawmakers in a letter.

More than 70 million people are covered by Medicaid, which is jointly paid by the states and the federal government with each state running its own program.

[RunningMn9]

It’s not a severance package (the size and scale of those is limited by statute). Your “severance” is you get to work from home the next 8 months, and then you quit.

Since you quit, they get around normal civil service protections. Since they expect you to work from home, they get around the statutory limits. You can’t get another job in the meantime without immediately separating.

[Holman]

Surely the Trump administration is high on their own farts and misjudging what they can get away with... right?

Surely they'll face a backlash at all levels... right?

If not, then we all have a simple choice: roll over or get more radicalized than we all ever thought necessary... right?

[Blackhawk]

Deferred resignation? So they know they're no longer employed, know that it's because their employer screwed them - possibly out of a career - and yet they still have full access to sensitive data?

What could go wrong?

[RunningMn9]

It would be humorous if 100% of the federal workforce accepted the terms.

[Smoove_B]

This would definitely be a "throw me the whip" negotiation as I wouldn't trust the words written on the papers provided.

[LawBeefaroni]

It would be humorous if 100% of the federal workforce accepted the terms.

That's a lot of ghost payroll gigs to hand out to MAGA rank and file.

[El Guapo]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white- ... rcna189661

President Donald Trump's administration is set to offer every single federal worker the chance to take a "deferred resignation" with a severance package of roughly eight months of pay and benefits.

A senior administration official told NBC News that they expect 5-10% of the federal workforce to quit, which, they estimate, could lead to roughly $100 billion in savings.

"If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce," reads the email that will be sent to federal workers. "At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions."

My friend at the CFTC got this e-mail today. I haven't yet, but...I assume it's coming.

[El Guapo]

Oh, and the SEC announced that they're shutting down employee affinity groups to comply with the "DEI" order. I assume the Jewish book club group that I participated in briefly is included with that. Doesn't really impact me directly since (outside of being in that group for one book) I haven't participated, but it's still stupid and ridiculous.

[Rumpy]

Surely the Trump administration is high on their own farts and misjudging what they can get away with... right?

That's my hope. Hope that there's something they're not seeing that cause them lots of trouble by rushing into things.