Unelected billionaire breaks laws to "restore" democracy
This is NOT what democracy looks like.
https://www.publicnotice.co/p/elon-musk-trump-breaking-laws-democracy
"Trump did not run on a promise to unleash an unelected... [South African immigrant] to slash-&-burn through the #government, firing tens of thousands of employees & arbitrarily canceling contracts & federal programs.
And even if he had, that still wouldn't make it legal.
...most of what Musk is doing is flatly illegal."
"Canceling contracts without notice violates the #law. Mass firing federal employees without cause violates the law... most egregiously, Musk’s deletion of entire #government depts & Trump’s refusal to spend money as directed by budget bills violates the #Constitution...
#Congress has the power of the purse, & “feeding #USAID to the woodchipper” violates the separation of powers because Congress established the agency & allocated funds"
https://www.publicnotice.co/i/157356503/laws-are-laws
President Elon Musk Can’t Understand How the US Government Works
Elon Musk complained that the US govt was working exactly how it was set up.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191682/president-elon-musk-no-clue-government-works
"Neither #Musk nor #Trump care about the actual structure of the #government [3 branches, checks & balances], or that it was created in direct response to the tyranny of monarchy... To them, there is only the executive branch, the reins of which Musk seems to have happily taken off of Trump’s hands."
To Fight the Trump/Musk Purge, Federal Workers Hold Nationwide Day of Action to “Save Our Services”
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/2/19/federal_workers_strike_action_trump_layoffs
"Federal #government workers & #union members are holding protests in cities across the country in what they’re calling #SaveOurServices ...
Every major city in the country is going to have a big protest, and the locations & the times differ... go to the website:
go.workersfiremusk.com
& then you can find your local rally."
Today federal workers nationwide are calling for support for a “Save Our Services Day of Action” mobilizing nationwide in opposition to Elon Musk’s efforts to dismantle government agencies through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Workers plan to protest outside of federal buildings and Tesla dealerships to show support for the work of federal agencies. “It’s not just about federal workers,” says Eric Blanc, author and assistant professor of labor studies at Rutgers University. “If they take out the federal unions, that’s our best block right now against Trump’s authoritarian power grab.” This comes as Musk has gained access to the sensitive information of millions of Americans, all the while laying off government workers en masse. The layoffs have affected the FAA, NIH, IRS and more.
More Good News That’s Bad for Trump and Elon
https://www.dworkinsubstack.com/p/more-good-news-thats-bad-for-trump-2c3
"Protests continued this week outside of #Tesla dealerships... On Monday, hundreds of demonstrators surrounded the# SanFrancisco showroom, where a small sign on the building read: “We hate him too.”
...
“Call all of your elected officials, write them, text them, email them... Do it repeatedly. Everybody from your local city council to your #US senator, because pressure bursts pipes.”
USDA Scrambles to Rehire #BirdFlu Experts #DOGE “Accidentally” Fired
Elon Musk’s sloppy work is sending the #government rushing around for much-needed personnel.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191693/usda-bird-flu-experts-elon-musk-doge
"“Although several positions supporting [bird flu efforts] were notified of their terminations... we are working to swiftly rectify the situation & rescind those letters."...
Last week, 300 employees who oversee the US’s #nuclear stockpile were fired... then quickly invited to return"
Trump faces growing DOGE revolt from GOP lawmakers
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/19/donald-trump-doge-republicans-congress
"The #job and #funding cuts are now hitting #GOP lawmakers' districts and states. There's also a larger conflict brewing over whether the administration can simply bypass #Congress on these decisions...
some are quietly fuming that their #Constitutional role in controlling federal funds could be steamrolled"
#Musk #Trump #Coup #GOP #Republicans #Politics #USPol #News #USNews #US #USA
GOP Senators Are Having to Literally Beg Trump for Their Own Money
Elon Musk & Donald Trump’s spending freeze has sent #Republicans scrambling.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191699/republican-senators-beg-donald-trump-elon-musk-money
"Republican Senators are being forced to grovel at the thrones of #DonaldTrump and #ElonMusk to collect the very #funding they appropriated in the first place...
Others took more desperate means to beseech Trump’s cadre: tweeting at them."
#GOP #Musk #Trump #Coup #Congress #Politics #Government #News #US #USA
Republicans in Revolt as Elon Musk’s DOGE Continues Takeover
Republicans in #Congress are getting pissed as #DOGE keeps wreaking havoc.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191690/republicans-congress-revolt-elon-musk-doge
"Infighting is brewing among the GOP’s congressional ranks, as Elon Musk’s takeover of the #government and sweeping federal employee #purge begins to hit #red states.
...agencies like #USAID, the #FAA, and #NOAA —agencies that many #Republicans actually like & support—have been crippled."
Elon Musk’s lead role in destroying government sparks protests
Angry Americans gather outside Tesla dealerships & across the country
https://www.headsupnews.org/p/elon-musks-lead-role-in-destroying
"Musk’s singular, secretive & ruthless crusade to destroy broad swaths of the #government & get access to confidential #data – along with his status as an unelected foreign-born multibillionaire – have turned him into “a particularly heinous villain”"
#Resist #Resistance #Protest #ElonMusk #Musk #Coup #Corruption #Politics #News #USA #US
Want a copy of the Musk “I Am Stealing From You” poster? You can buy one here:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/pccc_2024_musk_poster_single
The anti-Musk protest movement is expected to ramp up with Congress on recess
https://apnews.com/article/democrats-musk-trump-protests-congress-ccb64f2889d31aad8c25d37686f62d7a
" #ElonMusk is the focus for thousands of Democratic #activists launching a #protest campaign this week to fight the #Trump administration’s push to gut federal #health, #education and human services agencies.
Hundreds of protests are scheduled outside congressional offices and #Tesla dealerships"
#Resist #Resistance #Musk #Trump #GOP #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA
President Donald Trump's billionaire top lieutenant, Elon Musk, is the focus for thousands of Democratic activists launching a massive protest campaign this week. The Democrats are outraged by the Republican administration’s push to gut federal health, education and human services agencies. Hundreds of protests are scheduled outside congressional offices and Tesla dealerships, with organizers hoping to send a pointed message to members of Congress who are on recess this week. Outraged left-wing activists want elected officials in both major political parties to push back against Musk, Tesla's CEO. Trump has praised Musk’s work with his Department of Government Efficiency, saying it has found “shocking” evidence of wasteful federal spending.
Elon Musk Is Faking DOGE Results to Hide His Incompetence
Elon Musk’s supposed savings aren’t entirely correct.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191707/elon-musk-fake-doge-savings-data
" #DOGE published an itemized list of canceled #government contracts Monday accounting for an alleged $16 billion in spending. Almost half of those savings were attributed to a hefty $8 billion contract...
it was only worth $8 Million, not $8 billion." [And actually only $5.5 million]
Did DOGE Take Credit for Spending Cuts Related to President Carter’s Death?
[tldr: yes]
Inaccuracies on DOGE’s website raise questions about DOGE’s activities and transparency.
https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/did-doge-take-credit-for-spending-cuts-related-to-president-carter-s-death
"DOGE did not terminate at least some of the contracts and leases listed on its website. Even if #DOGE played an active role in terminating some of these contracts, it may be overstating the value of its cuts."
#Musk #Corruption #Trump #GOP #Politics #USPol #Transparency #Lies #US #News #USA
Drone video truly shows NYC protest against Trump and Musk
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-musk-nyc-protest/
"The #protest took place, in part, in New York's Washington Square Park on Feb. 17, 2025 — Presidents Day...The #video showed the park's Washington Square Arch, which some users mistook for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris."
Link to video on xcancel.com:
https://xcancel.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1891926650075369913
#Resist #Resistance #NYC #US #Musk #Trump #Twitter #Snopes #FactCheck
Trump Rambles When Reporter Confronts Him Over Filing Saying #ElonMusk Is Not DOGE Employee
https://www.mediaite.com/news/trump-rambles-when-reporter-confronts-him-over-filing-saying-elon-musk-is-not-doge-employee/
"Trump’s White House has been busy cranking out a series of contradictory explanations for what Musk’s job exactly is, referring to him as a “special employee” and the “head of DOGE” then claiming in a court filing that he doesn’t work at #DOGE at all, then the “head of DOGE” again."
#Musk #Trump #Coup #Corruption #GOP #Politics #USPol #News #USNews #US #USA
The Incompetence of DOGE Is a Feature, Not a Bug
A series of mistakes by #DOGE shows just how arbitrary & destructive this slash-and-burn strategy can get.
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-incompetence-mistakes-feature-not-bug/
"The federal #government exists to do all of the things that are definitionally not profitable, that serve the #public good rather than protect investor profits...
And if you don’t believe in the public good? You sprint through the ruination."
#Musk #Trump #GOP #Coup #Corruption #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA
Trump’s DC US Attorney Nom Targets House Dem, Expanding Effort To Stifle Trump Admin Criticism
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trumps-dc-us-attorney-nom-targets-house-dem-expanding-effort-to-stifle-trump-admin-criticism
"Acting #WashingtonDC US attorney Ed Martin is escalating his psuedo-investigations of what he describes as purported threats to billionaire #ElonMusk...
targeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)...
designed to smother #FreedomOfSpeech and criticism of #Musk & the #Trump administration."
#FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech #Politics #Coup #Corruption #GOP #News #US #USA
Trump’s #DOJ Threatens Dem Congressman Who Shared “Elon Musk Dick Pic”
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia is now being investigated by a #Trump attorney.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191787/trump-doj-threatens-democratic-congressman-garcia-elon-musk-dick-pic
"Trump’s Dept of #Justice has sent a threatening letter to Representative Robert Garcia after the #California Democrat mocked #ElonMusk last week.
...Garcia displayed a large picture of #Musk, calling it a “dick pick” and jokingly referring to the #tech mogul as president"
"Martin has already targeted Senate Minority Leader #ChuckSchumer... Martin has also threatened to investigate former special counsel #JackSmith...
It seems that Martin, a defender of Trump’s election fraud #lies and the #Jan6 Capitol riots, wants to use his prosecutorial power to punish anyone who dares to oppose the president or Musk."
https://newrepublic.com/post/191787/trump-doj-threatens-democratic-congressman-garcia-elon-musk-dick-pic
#FreeSpeech #FirstAmendment #Trump #Coup #DOJ #GOP #Corruption #Politics #USPol #US #USA #News #USNews
Elon Musk Loses It After Astronaut Dares Calls Out His Lie
#ElonMusk called a famous astronaut a slur simply because he countered one of his newest talking points.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191782/elon-musk-loses-astronaut-dares-calls-lie
“What a lie,” Danish #astronaut Andreas Mogensen wrote... in reply to #Musk parroting the talking point yet again on #FoxNews. “And from someone who complains about lack of honesty from the mainstream #media"
Musk exploded."
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network is one of USAID’s most data-driven programs
https://www.wired.com/story/usaid-famine-system-dismantled/
"By cutting off a program that has given various #US agencies advance notice about a potential spike in people fleeing famine, the #Trump administration...[is] hindering its goal to curb illegal border crossings. “The heavy hand #DOGE is taking... when it comes to cuts... shows a lack of understanding of how these things work, because they're complex”
Rand Paul Sheepishly Nods To Fact That Musk Is Not Supposed To Be In Charge Of Govt Funding
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/rand-paul-sheepishly-nods-to-fact-that-musk-is-not-supposed-to-be-in-charge-of-govt-funding
"weak acknowledgements from #Republicans that...
#DOGE federal #funding freezes are not just lawless, but are also a violation of Congress’ authority to stand up agencies and fund the federal #government.
#Musk... has seized for himself one of the few powers #Congress has continued to regularly exercise — at least, up until 2025"
Trump Contradicts His Own White House’s Legal Filing — Admits ‘I Put a Man Named Elon Musk in Charge’ of DOGE
https://www.mediaite.com/news/trump-contradicts-his-own-white-houses-legal-filing-admits-i-put-a-man-named-elon-musk-in-charge-of-doge/
"Musk’s technical role is likely to be a major point of contention in the many #legal battles involving #DOGE. If he is deemed to not have a role with the cost-cutting outfit, he may be able to avoid legal scrutiny.
But #Trump, on Wednesday, seemed to remove any doubt about who’s running the show at DOGE."
The Ridiculous & Disturbing Things Elon Musk’s DOGE Staff Are Doing
Elon Musk’s teenage #DOGE workers are running amok through the federal government.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191759/elon-musk-doge-cronies-federal-agencies
“every #hacker in the world knows there are a small number of people new to federal service who hold the keys to access all US #government payments, contracts, civil servant personal info, and more,” they wrote. “DOGE is one romance #scam away from a #NationalSecurity emergency.”
DOGE Now Has Access to the Top US Cybersecurity Agency
DOGE techs Edward Coristine—the 19-yr-old known online as #BigBalls —& Kyle Schutt are now listed as staff at the #Cybersecurity & Infrastructure #Security Agency.
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-cisa-coristine-cybersecurity/
"working his way through numerous federal agencies & depts... access to systems containing sensitive #information about diplomats & many sources around the world who provide the US #government with #intelligence & expertise."
DOGE Dives Into Core National Defense and Data Systems Across Government
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/doge-dives-into-core-national-defense-and-data-systems-across-government
"DOGE currently has far deeper and far more extensive access to US #government computer systems — and is far deeper into the #NationalSecurity space — than is conceivably necessary for anything related to their notional brief & goals...
( #CISA), the agency charged w/the defense of the federal government’s civilian computer networks"
#ElonMusk #Musk #Coup #Politics #Data #Security #News #US #USA
"the DOGErs arrived at a federal #government that was complex & #decentralized in its powers...[for good reasons]
If we look at everything that #DOGE has done over the last 3+ weeks, a unifying feature is the effort to pull all of these networks together for more central control...
It’s obvious that you’d want to be very cautious about centralizing this much #power in anyone’s hands"
#Musk #Coup #Tech #Authoritarianism #NationalSecurity #Security #USA #US #News
DOGE Has ‘God Mode’ Access to Government Data
...an unprecedented ability to view & manipulate information at many federal agencies.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/02/doge-god-mode-access/681719/
"abnormal degree of power that #DOGE has already achieved...
God-mode access across the entire digital system...
federal #government does not typically grant such wide-ranging access to a single entity, let alone one... under the control of an unelected, erratic, & politically extreme actor such as #Musk.
These Are the SpaceX Engineers Already Working Inside the #FAA
#SpaceX engineers were said to be simply touring the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday. In fact, some were already being onboarded at the agency under a policy designed to increase “employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”
https://www.wired.com/story/faa-doge-elon-musk-space-x/
"Schedule A... allows #government managers to “hire persons w/ #disabilities without requiring them to compete for the job”
SpaceX engineers were said to be simply touring the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday. In fact, some were already being onboarded at the agency under a policy designed to increase “employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”
Is This Why Musk Keeps Using the Same Dozen Tech Micro-Bros for Each Takeover?
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/is-this-why-musk-keeps-using-the-same-dozen-tech-micro-bros-for-each-takeover/
"So why does it continue to be this really small group of guys? They almost all have connections as interns at #Musk companies. But interns, not people he’s worked with for years & presumably knows at a deep level.
...Musk keeps using these guys because they’re willing to do things these other more experienced people are not"
#ElonMusk #Coup #Tech #Trump #Politics #Government #News #US #USA
USDS Engineering Director Resigns: ‘This Is Not the Mission I Came to Serve’
“I do not believe that DOGE can continue to deliver the work of USDS, based on their actions so far,” wrote Anne Marshall...
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-engineering-director-resign/
"The director... for the United States Digital Service—which #ElonMusk rebranded as the US DOGE Service—has resigned...
explained to the remaining staff members that DOGE would become increasingly more hands-on within the organization"
The curious case of Leland Dudek
How blind loyalty to #ElonMusk took a Social Security Administration staffer from zero to lackey hero
https://www.thehandbasket.co/p/leland-dudek-ssa-doge
"Acting #SocialSecurity Administration Commissioner Michelle King resigned... after she reportedly refused to aid Elon Musk’s pseudo-agency #Doge... [replaced] by Leland Dudek, a guy who... proudly admits to violating multiple agency protocols & ethical standards in service of Musk’s #SSA team"
Elon Musk’s AI Bot Grok Finds Over Half of His Tweets ‘False or Misleading’, Disses Him as ‘A Mogul With A Microphone’
https://www.mediaite.com/online/elon-musks-ai-bot-grok-finds-over-half-of-his-tweets-false-or-misleading-disses-him-as-a-mogul-with-a-microphone/
"Isaac Saul... gave Grok [ #Twitter AI bot] the task of analyzing “for truth & veracity” the last 1,000 posts #Musk had posted.
Grok’s response was to find more than half of Musk’s posts “false or misleading,”...most of the tweets that were true were “simply updates about his companies.”
Fox Host Begs Trump to Save Friend Who Got Cut by DOGE
At least Jesse Watters is waking up to the reality that Elon Musk’s #DOGE cuts are hitting everyone.
https://newrepublic.com/post/191743/fox-news-jesse-watters-begs-trump-save-friend-cut-doge
"Watters is only upset because someone he knows personally was affected by #Trump & Musk’s mass firings... What he & the rest of right-wing #media don’t realize is that plenty of other federal workers... have lost their #jobs or will soon. Some are #veterans, as are 30% of federal workers"
DOGE Puts $1 Spending Limit on Govt Employee Credit Cards
The restrictions are already in place at the General Services Administration along with several other agencies. Soon they’ll roll out to most of the federal #government, sources say.
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-government-credit-cards/
"The #GSA, one of the first agencies that #Musk allies infiltrated after #DOGE was established, manages the SmartPay program for more than 250 federal agencies & organizations"
Elon Musk’s private security detail gets deputized by #USMarshals Service
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/20/politics/elon-musk-private-security-deputized-marshals-service/
" #Musk, the #tech ... [South African immigrant] & ally of #DonaldTrump, is not eligible to have a US #SecretService detail – meaning members of his personal security detail were limited in what they could do in #WashingtonDC.
Now that members have been deputized, they... could be authorized to carry #weapons on federal grounds."
The US Marshals Service has deputized members of Elon Musk’s private security detail, giving them certain rights and protections of federal law enforcement agents, three law enforcement officials familiar with the matter told CNN.
DOGE released data about federal contract savings. It doesn't add up
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/19/nx-s1-5302705/doge-overstates-savings-federal-contracts
"review of the more than 1,100 contracts in that initial release finds that DOGE's "maximally transparent" calculations still overstate its estimated savings totals by billions of dollars...
#NPR analysis found that... #DOGE has cut just $2 billion in spending — less than three hundredths of a percent [0.03%] of last fiscal year's federal spending."
Elon Musk and Donald Trump Have Declared War on Veterans
https://www.theindex.media/elon-musk-and-donald-trump-have-declared-war-on-veterans/
"After years of the Republican Party claiming to champion America's troops, Co-Presidents #DonaldTrump & #ElonMusk have launched a coordinated assault on every system that keeps #veterans alive and functioning in civilian life.
Not metaphorically, not rhetorically - they are systematically working to strip veterans of #healthcare, #benefits, and basic dignity."
The DOGE Fraud Is Coming from Inside the House
https://www.emptywheel.net/2025/02/20/the-doge-fraud-is-coming-from-inside-the-house/
"That’s why DOGE’s receipts page is so shoddy. It’s not that the #DOGE boys are not accountants, though they are not. It’s that their function is something other than the EO authorizing their work says it is, and the DOGE receipts page exists solely to sustain the #fraud that they’re still pursuing waste, fraud, and abuse."
#ElonMusk #Musk #Coup #Corruption #Trump #GOP #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA
Time for a little political #humor from #JohnOliver
Doge Employees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yxjgQRv7c4
"Musk's team includes members w/...checkered employment histories... Edward Corine who called himself #BigBalls on social media was fired from an internship w/a #data #security firm... accused of leaking information to a competitor...
I expected better of Big Balls or, as he's now known, senior advisor at the State Dept & Dept of Homeland #Security"
The Elon Musk threads continue here:
https://newsie.social/@ZhiZhu/114050946589162376
Here is a list of all the Elon Musk threads from first to last:
https://newsie.social/@ZhiZhu/113986946321010763
Attached: 1 image "If we look at everything that DOGE has done over the last 3+ weeks, a unifying feature is the effort to pull all of these [government] networks together for more central control... It’s obvious that you’d want to be very cautious about centralizing this much power in anyone’s hands" -Josh Marshall https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/doge-dives-into-core-national-defense-and-data-systems-across-government Here begins the 7th Elon Musk thread. List with links to previous threads: https://newsie.social/@ZhiZhu/113986946321010763 #ElonMusk #Musk #Coup #Corruption #Politics #USPol #News #US #USA
Zhi Zhu 🕸️
