Sunday Issues-February 9, 2025
The unlawful Trump-Musk assault on government continues.
It is Super Bowl Sunday, and I’m looking forward to the big game. However, despite what Trump posted on his social media site, I will be forced to use a paper straw for my lemonade. That outrage is not likely to be repeated in 2026, as President Trump has reversed Crooked Joe’s ban on plastic straws. I feel free already. Thank you, Don!
Less funny than reading about Trump reversing what some MAGANS see as President Biden’s worst legacy is the sight of workers prying the signage off the headquarters of what used to be the U.S. Agency for International Development. A judge has stepped in to halt the agency's closure, but Trump and Musk show no plans to back down.
Elon Musk and DOGE have now “swept into” at least 15 federal agencies to shrink or “terminate” them. The list includes the Department of Education, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Departments of Energy, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also been visited.
Notably, the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity decision in Trump v. United States makes anything Trump does in the scope of his responsibilities as president not subject to accountability. This is quite worrisome and the biggest crack in the Constitution in over 100 years.
Dozens of lawsuits have been fired challenging various Trump actions taken since January 20, including firing employees and agencies, canceling contracts, and allegedly mishandling sensitive information. Expect many of these cases to end before the Supreme Court, which is troubling.
A racist is rehired.
President Musk is reinstating DOGE employee Marko Elez, who tweeted racist comments. “To err is human,” Trump commented, “but to forgive is divine.” Musk is the one forgiving here.
Spending for medical research cut by NIH.
The NIH has notified medical research grant recipients that it is reducing funding for indirect costs. The action is estimated to “save” around four billion dollars annually, but it could undermine research at some institutions, including colleges and research institutes. The cuts are considered the forerunner of additional actions likely to include canceling grants and contracts in targeted areas. Stand by.
Budget reconciliation moves to center stage.
News is breaking fast about the Republicans' plans for budget reconciliation. Trump hopes to secure an extension (with modifications) of his 2017 tax cuts and legislative support for much of his remake of the federal government, possibly including closing the Department of Education, CFPB, and other agencies. But what is “Budget Reconciliation?”
The non-partisan Congressional Research Service has published a guide to reconciliation that is MUST-READING for anyone who wants to follow this year’s budget process closely—not that Congressional Republicans will not try to bend the rules if directed by Presidents Trump or Musk.
The budget process this year will be painful to watch. Expect controversy over how budget savings are calculated to pay for Trump’s tax bill.
Trump increases claim against CBS.
President Trump, a fighter, has found time between dismantling large parts of the federal government, reviving plans for a National Garden of Heroes, and a few rounds of golf to increase his claim against CBS associated with a 60 Minutes interview with then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Trump notes:
They [CBS]100% removed Kamala's horrible election changing answers to questions, and replaced them with completely different, and far better, answers, taken from another part of the interview. This was Election changing 'stuff,' Election Interference and, quite simply, Election Fraud at a level never seen before.
Trump claims CBS’s editing of the interview violated a Texas fraud statute and harmed Truth Social by diverting users to CBS’ media sites.
I don’t recall any other president pursuing litigation against a media company while in office. Also noteworthy is that Trump repeated his threat to revoke CBS’ broadcast license earlier this week. That should help persuade CBS to settle with Trump, but it would appear to be an abuse of presidential power (even the threat).
Super Bowl.
I have to prepare for the Super Bowl. Before the game, I will watch President Trump’s interview with Fox News and keep a stomach distress bag close by.
I don’t have a dog in this year’s fight (and I admit to being tempted to watch the Westminster Dog Show instead of the game if one team gets significantly ahead). I predict the Kansas City Chiefs will win in a close match.
I grew up following and cheering for Washington’s football team. I haven’t forgotten the NFC Conference Championship game two weeks ago.
Thank you.
Thanks again to all of you who read this week’s Sunday Issues. I appreciate your support. If you have ideas on how to make Sunday Issues or Friday Insights better, I will welcome them.