Turning On The Giant Faucet Of Bullshit - US Politics February 2025

this DOGE shit is going to wind up be extraordinarly expensive for the US

might be good to remind people this is what their tax dollars are paying for

Worlds richest person expensing lunch on the tax payers dollar

I have been pushing the people who have been orbiting our union, obviously showing interest but not yet joining, to join and fight with us. It's a small thing, we're a small campus, but I know we have smart people and every bit helps. xps

NEA grants will be awarded to pushers of patriotic kitsch going forward.

Grants for Arts Projects
The National Endowment for the Arts is revising the FY 2026 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines and they will be available on arts.gov/grants no later than Monday, February 10, 2025.

As part of these changes, the February 13, 2025, Grants for Arts Projects deadline has been canceled. The FY 2026 deadlines are now March 11, 2025, for GAP 1 and July 10, 2025, for GAP 2. Organizations that have already submitted an application must submit a new application under one of these deadlines.

Under the updated guidelines, the NEA continues to encourage projects that celebrate the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity by honoring the semiquincentennial of the United States of America (America250). Funding priority will be given for projects that take place in 2026-2027 that celebrate and honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This can include incorporating an America250-related component or focus within a larger project.

...

The updated guidelines are in response to recent directives. They also streamline and simplify the application process and align with the agency’s mission.

I think it is incumbent on every US artist to apply for an NEA grant this year and absolutely stuff their application with fascist kitsch language. Use every right-wing magic word. Lie to them, take their fucking money ('cause it's our fucking money) ... and then do whatever you want with it. Having read Frances Stonor Saunders' The Cultural Cold War, all about how the CIA funded Abstract Expressionism and jazz, I think I have a pretty good idea how to explain what Burning Ambulance does in a way that will make it appealing to patriotic American culture warriors.

Most, if not all, NEA grants don't go to individuals. They go to state or local arts organizations, typically for large projects or for subsequent disbursement (and often not to individuals even then.)

Oh, I know. BA has existed as an organization since 2010. We have a tax ID number and everything.

Sorry about your day and all the bullshit, Alfred. Hope it's a good martini!

Semiquincentennial is a heck of a word.

we could call this style of art “Capitalist Realism”

Next time you hear jazz, thank the CIA.

Sorry about your day Alfred.

Back to USAID, it seems lawsuits are being discussed but because it is not clear whether USAID will be merged into the State Department or whether Trump will just try to shut it down, no lawsuits have been filed yet. But meanwhile US employees (including my neighbor are being put on administrative leave) and employees abroad are being told to come back to the US within 30 days (although Rubio has expressed his "concern" for those abroad).

U.S. Agency for International Development employees and contractors are discussing potential lawsuits targeting the unprecedented attack on the federal agency by President Donald Trump's administration, according to four sources familiar with the talks.

Lawsuits based on loss of income could be used to bring up weighty constitutional claims over presidential power in the face of congressional legislation that set up and funds the agency and its programs...

The challengers could seek an immediate injunction seeking to block Trump's moves, which fly in the face of Congress' role in enacting legislation on such issues. It is unclear exactly whether Trump intends to dismantle the agency altogether — as Musk has said — or whether it will be drastically restructured.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/lawsuits-imminent-trump-dismantling-usaid-rcna190862

a lot of midwestern farmers grow the actual cereal grains that are exported by USAID, and have been since the 1950's

yup, and trump states are really going to feel that pain. as if farmers in this country weren't already feeling enough pain.

I'll allwaaaays
Feel that pain

As well they should

https://newrepublic.com/post/191249/democratic-voters-congress-phones-doge-musk-trump?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_ticker_rss&utm_term=tnr-newsletter-20240823

“Members of Congress told Axios that they hadn’t received this many calls since events like the October 7 attack on Israel, the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, or the Trump impeachment hearings.”

He’s…not…popular…

Cue up DJ Khalid’s “All I Do Is Win”

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5131524-pardoned-january-6-rioter-minor-solicitation-charges/

Alfred, I hope you treat yourself to an extra Negroni this weekend.

Just finished a martini!

🍸

I don't know why the Dems aren't playing to Trump's insecurities around Musk... Blumenthal should be like "We know who wears the pants in the family... Trump ain't nothing but Musk's little cuck bitch" etc., just lay it on thick 24/7

Vought confirmed

lol I don't know who came up with "incel clown posse" but I salute you

that's pretty good

Yeah that's better than nerd reich

Alfred, I raise my less sophisticated whiskey glass in your direction. Those are the meetings/calls/omens I dread in academia.

Nerd Reich is good idk

yah I can work with that one too

Thursday's lawsuit was filed by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). It is the first legal action related to Trump's measures to cut USAID.

In addition to Trump, the lawsuit takes aim at the US state department, USAID, the treasury department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The lawsuit argues that the president is violating the Constitution and federal law in attempting to dismantle the agency.

"Not a single one of defendants' actions to dismantle USAID were taken pursuant to congressional authorization," the lawsuit says.

"And pursuant to federal statute, Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency."

It calls for an independent acting director of USAID to be appointed, for USAID buildings to be reopened to employees, for the USAID website to be restored, for grants and contracts to be reinstated, and for mandatory evacuation notices to staff to be lifted.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y6701gl60o

My guess is that whatever gets blocked by courts for needing congressional approval will then become part of the demand for the next debt-ceiling negotiation.

yeah and that's only a month away and is literally the only leverage dems have

Various congress people being blocked from entering the Dept. of Education this morning by a very obvious nazi looking asshole:

https://bsky.app/profile/maxwellfrost.bsky.social/post/3lhlvcx6usk27

Wonder which Nazi tattoo that band aid is covering.

Surely this guy gets ID’d soon, right?

I don't understand— just move around him. It's one guy. Have these people never had any sort of physical confrontation in their whole lives? They're not going to get past these fascist assholes by asking questions and being polite. ENOUGH.

Apparently congress people also being blocked at EPA headquarters today. Jesus fuck.

someone in that thread already identified what company he works for (Triple Canopy, some paramilitary organization associated with Blackwater)

I heard another clip where Maxine waters IDed the guy as a DOE employee

I am assuming the Dems or some Dems are going to be arrested at some point during these standoffs, but maybe they're not quite there yet? i dunno

his name is Jim Harfield, she said

further video from Frost said there were also armed federal officers keeping them out

That would piss me off more as an elected official I’d be daring them to try and gun me down

Dems probably need to avoid getting arrested if they are also trying to slow down Trump cabinet hearings and block debt ceiling increases.

What

What what?

Yep, better stick with decorum and following the rules, clearly working out really well in the fast track to the fascist takeover.

Dems probably need to avoid getting arrested if they are also trying to slow down Trump cabinet hearings and block debt ceiling increases.

― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Friday, February 7, 2025 8:21 AM (four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

this is a bad take. "they better be polite so that they can try to do things the polite way" like fuck no, make noise, get arrested, get people mobilized to stop this shit.

idk, maybe you're right, I'm not arguing for them to be "polite", but they do have some legit power to put the brakes on things in congress, and that would evaporate if they aren't physically present to use that power.

Here's Maxwell Frost responding to people asking him to get arrested on bsky

I resent the online-only “activists” that are telling me to go force my way through armed federal officers. Number one, know who the FUCK you’re talking to. I’ve been arrested multiple times for what I believe in. Do some googles before you comment some dumb shit.

a little more

Number two, we must be strategic. Republicans have a 2 SEAT majority. They’d love nothing more than a few progressive members of Congress being behind bars for days/weeks while fighting federal obstruction charges. Use your brain. If you’re mad at this post, just unfollow me 👍🏾 okay, back to work!

Coward.