USAID debate
The agency known as USAID was founded via an executive order in 1961 by JFK. The agency which manages billions of dollars in federal humanitarian assistance around the world has always had a bit of independent status, but over the decades has become a self-governing agency which decides where US taxpayer dollars will go.
The Associated Press reported that Musk's DOGE team gained access to sensitive information at USAID after agency security officials attempted to prevent them because they lacked a high enough security clearance. The two security officials were placed on leave.
And what was the secret information that Musk uncovered?
Although it can't be verified, the WH Press Secretary had a list of questionable expenditures:
There seems to be two schools of thought as to what to do about what some might call a rouge agency. Elon Musk who leads a non-government group assigned to cutting waste thinks it should be shut down. The Secretary of State, who is the more levelheaded of the Trump cabinet, seems to think the good things that USAID can do can be kept and that the agency can be placed into the State Department, where it will receive direction.
Trump's Doctrine:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele
The Secretary of State has also been visiting many central American countries. He expressed concerns to the Panamanian leader and recently left El Salvador with an agreement to accept deportees from the U.S. of any nationality, including Americans. The President also got major concessions from countries under the threat of tariffs:
1) Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, plans to send 10,000 more troops to the border.
2) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would commit more resources to battling the spread of fentanyl.
Those are the FACTS.
Trump said he would reconsider the tariffs in a month.
In other news:
Trump’s 10 percent tariffs on China have now gone into effect.
Trump said he was seeking a deal to offer military aid to Ukraine in exchange for critical minerals. The country is rich in lithium and uranium. It's about time!
Crews lifted part of the wreckage from the American Airlines flight that crashed in Washington out of the Potomac River.
Trump directed the Treasury and Commerce Departments to create a Sovereign Wealth Fund an investment vehicle used by oil rich countries.
Last but not least is the Obama taxpayer funded green energy project out in California:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — What was once the world’s largest solar power plant of its type appears headed for closure just 11 years after opening, under pressure from cheaper green energy sources. Meanwhile, environmentalists continue to blame the Mojave Desert plant for killing thousands of birds and tortoises.
The Ivanpah solar power plant formally opened in 2014 on roughly 5 square miles of federal land near the California-Nevada border. Though it was hailed at the time as a breakthrough moment for clean energy, its power has been struggling to compete with cheaper solar technologies.
11 years after a celebrated opening, massive solar plant faces a bleak future in the Mojave Desert | AP News
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Good morning and welcome to Super Bowl week.
Garlic-Parmesan wings[ ✘ ]
That would require you to stop presenting your column as factual news and instead label it as opinion from top to bottom.
It is labeled as an opinion piece, but the opinions are based on the FACTS that I have labeled as FACTS, which nobody can dispute.
Name-calling is where people who can't tolerate the FACTS go .
Conditions on name calling?
Interesting
What isn't true and/or happening?
Usually seen quite often from particular commenters here on NT. Usually a mod would step in and ticket the name calling but that seems to be biased.
[✘]
the heart of corruption.
This is what Ben Rhodes said about the prospect of bringing USAID under State Department control:
"What is happening to USAID will cost untold lives around the world, devastate America's standing, and massively empower China and other countries. There's no excusing it - it's a shameful, stupid, self-own without excuse and a harbinger of even worse to come."
Ben Rhodes on X: "What is happening to USAID will cost untold lives around the world, devastate America's standing, and massively empower China and other countries. There's no excusing it - it's a shameful, stupid, self-own without excuse and a harbinger of even worse to come." / X
Why the fear of State Department control?
Do we get value from our money?
Do they appreciate our money?
Does USAID really help the strategic aims of the USA?
Sums up the swamp.
If Elon wanted that, he could just buy it from China. They've stolen government data, data from phone companies etc..
I don't agree with the shutdown of USAID unless and audit is done and a major problem is found. So far all the strange expenditures is a miniscule amount of all the funds spent.
What I do think would be interesting is hearing the names of those that wanted money for their own weird projects. If names for those types of things became public I would think people would think before spending tax holder money on crap like that.
According to Biden's IG, it didn't perform the required organizational reviews for 70% of the orgs it gave money to.
Part and parcel of a whole failed system that, per the NYT (so a conservative estimate no doubt) , authorized about 200 billion in improper overpayments in 2023. Making our systems as efficient and transparent as possible is beyond me.
So it becomes would it make more sense to fix it or scrap it and start a new organization.
Fixing it sounds like where Rubio may be coming from.
The agency has gone rogue and has persisted without oversight. Considering our national debt of ~ $36 TRILLION, putting it on hold for a short time while auditing for waste, fraud, and abuse, is really a good idea.
U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time
The beauty of the El Salvador deal is that they will even take our convicts.
Let us send them all.
They will be voting soon
She did a great job against the onslaught of dumbassery in the Senate. Don't see how they can reject her aside from bias politicking.
Do you have any fact regarding China's response to Trump's tariff?
Do you have an opinion on that response?
China's Finance Ministry said shortly after the tariff started that it would impose a tariff of 15% for coal and liquefied natural gas and 10% for crude oil, agricultural equipment and large-engine cars imported from the U.S.
China responds with tariffs on US goods after Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports take effect
Do you have an opinion on that response?
I do. We should impose a 50% tariff on all China's goods.
BTW TiG here is another FACT:
However, the immediate impact of China's measures on imports of U.S. crude, LNG and coal is likely to be limited.
China imported 5.99 million barrels of crude from the United States in January, according to commodity analysts Kpler.
This is equivalent to about 193,000 barrels per day, which is less than 2% of China's total imports.
The January imports were typical of volumes in recent months, although China has imported more U.S. crude on occasion, with the 948,000 bpd of June 2023 being the highest in the past two years.
China's LNG imports from the United States have also been modest in recent months, with January coming in at 190,000 metric tons, down from 220,000 tons in December.
China Kills Energy Trade With the US, but Initial Impact Is Limited: Russell
A fine example of irresponsible thinking.
Here is a fact for you: We are highly dependent on China for Gallium (underlying all computing, LEDs, ...) and Lithium (underlying most contemporary batteries). (and much more) Since we cannot realistically cover the demand domestically (especially with Gallium ... China produces 98% of the world's supply) we necessarily import these items and thus are dependent upon China.
Do you think China is incapable of causing substantial harm to the USA?
Does it occur to you that China's response was likely to retaliate so that they remain strong on the world stage? That this was likely more of a political move than an economic one? And in the meantime, US consumers will be paying for Trump's counterproductive tariffs on Chinese goods.
Any of this matter to you, Vic?
I think they have taken advantage of the US. We have naively allowed China to use cheap labor to undermine our unionized workers. We lost our manufacturing sector. Much of the middle class has been affected. All victims of cheap Chinese/Taiwanese exports.
In 2022, China’s merchandise trade surplus stood at close to 900 billion U.S. dollars, of which more than 400 billion came from trade with the United States . Benefiting from China’s industry optimization strategy, labor-intensive manufacturing goods no longer took the lead in China’s exports. Instead, cellphones and computers were listed as two of the most exported goods from China to the States.
China-U.S. trade relations - statistics & facts | Statista
If you look at what China did in Panama, you'll find that Trump was right about all of it. They are building ports in South America. They now have a bigger army & navy than we do, and keep in mind, they would never allow us to do what they did to us, such as blatantly stealing our technology, or acquiring key resources that would make us dependent on them, or brazenly shipping materials/capsules for the making of Fentanyl to Mexico, which were then sent into the US at the cost of a million lives. That is only a bit of it, the answer is obviously yes. I don't see how anyone could even doubt that.
Does it occur to you that China's response was likely to retaliate so that they remain strong on the world stage?
Save face? Yes. At the present time they can't afford a trade war with the US.
That this was likely more of a political move than an economic one?
Yes, it was.
And in the meantime, US consumers will be paying for Trump's counterproductive tariffs on Chinese goods.
Only if one buys Chinese imports. Eventually the economy will adjust, unlike the inflation the country got saddled with.
Any of this matter to you, Vic?
Obviously. That is why I voted for Donald Trump.
That was not the question. I asked: "Do you think China is incapable of causing substantial harm to the USA?"
Do you realize that the USA cannot afford a trade war with China?
You seem to think we can just flip a switch.
And that is why you continue to defend Trump no matter what he does.
You keep ignoring this fact:
We are highly dependent on China for Gallium (underlying all computing, LEDs, ...) and Lithium (underlying most contemporary batteries). (and much more) Since we cannot realistically cover the demand domestically (especially with Gallium ... China produces 98% of the world's supply) we necessarily import these items and thus are dependent upon China.
Oh, I see, you were actually asking if China could cause substantial damage in retaliation. My answer is similar to the substantial one I already gave you. They couldn't cause any more damage than they already have.
Do you realize that the USA cannot afford a trade war with China?
No, it is China that is in a bad position for that right now.
You seem to think we can just flip a switch.
We have choices with tariffs that we don't with inflation.
And that is why you continue to defend Trump no matter what he does.
And that is why the indoctrinated will remain angry and outraged at every move he makes.
That is naive.
You keep ignoring this fact:
We are highly dependent on China for Gallium (underlying all computing, LEDs, ...) and Lithium (underlying most contemporary batteries). (and much more) Since we cannot realistically cover the demand domestically (especially with Gallium ... China produces 98% of the world's supply) we necessarily import these items and thus are dependent upon China.
A trade war is bad for both USA and China. And with an irresponsible buffoon like Trump as PotUS, it could easily escalate.
You do not see how tariffs trigger inflation??
When people like you attempt to defend Trump at every turn, you will get rebuttals from rational minds. You can engage in the feeble tactic of calling this TDS, indoctrination, anger, etc. but that is not going to stop criticism of stupid moves by Trump and of irrational defenses by his supporters.
Do you support Trump's attempt to fire IG's? Do you support his buyout of federal employees (as in the private sector, the good employees with marketable skills are most likely to leave, the deadbeats doing the minimum to keep their government jobs will likely stay) rather than doing the hard work of determining and then eliminating deadbeats and pointless jobs? Do you support his attempt to violate jus soli? Do you support his attempt to freeze federal payments which impact police departments, domestic violence shelters, nutrition services and disaster relief programs? Do you support his likely hacking of the federal government with hatchet moves at the departmental level in the short-term with unknown negative consequences rather than do the hard work of analyzing processes to untangle and understand them and then remove the bad, fix the missing, and modernize the new redesigned processes incrementally over time? Do you support his utter waste of billions of gallons of California water which did absolutely nothing to address the LA fires? Do you support his desire for the US to take over Gaza?
The answer is likely 'yes' to all (and everything in the future) given you support his threats of outrageous tariffs, his choice of Hegseth as defense secretary, Kennedy as HHS secretary, threats to take over the Panama canal, etc.
It should be easy to understand why "public-sector" jobs are different from "private-sector" jobs: because our nation has communities 'in conflict' politically it is inconceivable that any opposing side or political group can run the public system-alone. That is, the distrust in government services is overwhelmingly high as it is (should be, but it is) and tilting or 'positioning' governmental servants as holding to one political stream of thought is doomed for failure from its onset. The government civil service MUST remain a service oriented (for the good of the country) and not beholden to any political party!
Trump is messing up the civil service 'royally' - and conservatives are sitting on their hands and not helping to prevent a national government tragedy of epic proportion!
TiG, a very good point, although China had already completely banned the shipment of gallium, germanium, and antimony to the US on Dec 3, 2024, in response to the Biden Administration's crackdown on China's chip sector . Restrictions and near zero imports of these and other elements from China actually started in August of 2023.
Given China supplies 98% of the world's Gallium, we need to seek alternatives. And the two most likely alternatives are Canada and Germany. Canada, pissed off by Trump. Germany, soon to be pissed off by Trump when he turns to the EU.
And clearly, imposing more tariffs on China after campaigning on that notion did not help matters. I would imagine that China has concluded that Trump did not get the hint.
Yea no shit.
Court, not bully.
Exactly!
Well the U.S. is looking at mining, refining, recycling, and other methods domestically as well, and I would expect those efforts need to be ramped up now.
Rising prices of these materials should encourage production again in the US, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
We need to work on all factors of dependence on other nations. This is what Trump is triggering other nations to do and long term that is good for them (bad for us). But we clearly need to be less vulnerable to the whims of national leaders on critical elements.
China has plenty more tools in its arsenal (especially in rare Earth elements, but also Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) that are critical to the USA. While China is not in a great position to engage in a prolonged trade war, we sure as hell are not either.
Trump poking China with his rhetoric and subsequent tariffs pointlessly exacerbates the problem.
More than likely, yes. So he damn well better have plan B ready, which might be better in the long run anyway if it eliminates dependence, especially on China.
Don't hold your breath.
But I hope this does wake the USA up to our need to reduce our dependence of critical items on China. Instead of playing arrogant, pointless trade war games we need to cool things down and work on our independence.
Wasn't that one of the leads in Ukraine getting continued support from Trump? Their abundance of rare earth elements.
The USA needs to develop alternate sources for critical items and NOT engage in gratuitous, public, braggadocios rhetoric (and acts) against our primary suppliers. There is no forcing China to comply (as with weaker nations like Columbia). And even when we can force weaker nations, we should use that as a last resort.
The Chinese trade situation is already tenuous. The move should be to privately, sensibly cool things down and ensure stability while we work to gain more independence on critical items such as rare Earth metals and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients. It is stupid for a PotUS to publicly try to bully China to score domestic political points ... they will respond ... they will escalate ... lose-lose.
Inside the terms of the delay of US tariffs on Mexico and Canada’s goods
Some of the concessions build on steps the countries have already taken.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led his X post announcing the tariff delay by highlighting the country’s $1.3 billion border security plan, around $900,000 in U.S. dollars. The plan increases its cooperation with the U.S. and focuses on stopping the flow of fentanyl.
The deal Trudeau mentioned is one Canada announced in December when President Joe Biden was in office.
Similarly, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to send troops to the Mexican side of its border with the U.S.
While Mexico already had 15,000 troops at the border dating back to commitments it made in 2019, during Donald Trump’s first presidency, Sheinbaum said 10,000 additional troops would be heading to the border.
In addition to securing more troops from Mexico, President Trump’s talks also led Canada to adopt new, previously-unannounced plans.
Trudeau said Canada would appoint a “Fentanyl Czar” to oversee its operations to combat the drug. He will also launch a new joint strike force with the U.S. to fight organized crime and list cartels as terrorists under Canadian law.
Less hype. Less salesmanship. More facts.
One has to ask: Just how many troops does it take to secure the Mexico-U.S. border.
And some ignore those facts and continue on with the Chicken Little crying "Prices are going to go up!!! Prices are going to go up!!! Prices are going to go up!!!"
The same ones that were crying inflation is transitory!!! Inflation is transitory!!! Inflation is transitory!!!
In fact, most recently, this has been shown clearly as inflation did indeed drop down to normal levels (albeit still a little above the ideal) after it spiked.
Deflation is transitory too. Indeed the economy continually ebbs and flows. Nothing really remains stable unless one looks at the big picture from a long-term perspective.
Do you not recognize this obvious fact?
Oddly enough these are the very same people that blamed Putin for it.
Tearing it down is the goal.
While churches have missions around the world spreading aid and American goodwill, so does USAID in their missions.
Better to be transparent and allow debate with our elected representatives presenting the American people with information regarding necessary budget cuts.
The American people deserve debate and to see exactly what we are saving in cutting funding for some of these missions.
It's wrong to just shutdown everything in the chaotic way we are seeing across the board, not just with this government agency.
Rubio trying to do damage control offering conflicting information on aid isn't helping.