Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, and Debt:
Coinbase, SEC Reach Agreement to Dismiss Lawsuit
Bitcoin, Ether Slump as Crypto Prices Dip on Report of Massive $1.4B Bybit Hack
SEC approves first yield-bearing stablecoin security
Coronavirus and Public Health:
Trump’s Putinization of America
Trump’s overt endorsement of a pro-Putin foreign policy has, understandably, shaken the world in the last few days. Just as jarring, in my view, has been Trump’s embrace of Putin-like tactics at home, a hallmark of his return to power which has unfolded with a speed and ferocity far different than what Trump was able to pull off in his first term.
Don’t be too surprised if defenestration gets normalized.
Trump Deletes Database Tracking Police Misconduct
The first nationwide database tracking misconduct by federal police officers has been shut down by President Donald Trump, the Justice Department confirmed, deleting a resource experts said improved public safety by helping prevent bad cops from jumping to new agencies and starting over with clean records.
The database was first proposed by Trump in 2020 in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. But it wasn’t created until two years later when a Joe Biden executive order launched the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database. Trump issued an order last month revoking Biden’s orders, and the database.
Trump Says Federal Government Should ‘Take Over’ Washington D.C.
Um, that’s not how it works. DC Home Rule is up to Congress, not a President. No way the Senate goes along with this power grab.
This might be wishful thinking: Trump’s Honeymoon Is Over
Trump’s win was relatively modest, historically speaking. And while his approval rating upon taking office reached a new all-time high for him — around 50 percent — his “honeymoon” phase still paled in comparison to every modern president not named Trump.
And now, after one month in office, whatever honeymoon (and mandate) Trump enjoyed appears to be slipping away.
Pam Bondi Lets Acting Officials Do All Her Dirty Work
The Justice Department under new Attorney General Pam Bondi continues its steep decline, setting new precedents almost daily for supplication to the White House, corrupt and unethical conduct, and dubious representations to judges.
Yesterday was its own special, to use the legal term of art, shitshow.
He’s now mocking Ukraine for not having fought valiantly to defend itself for three years, and he’s attacking its elected leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, as a dictator. His vice president and national security adviser are portraying Zelensky as the obstacle to peace. His administration is embracing Putin’s demand that Ukraine, contrary to what its constitution envisions in a time of martial law, hold elections before direct Russia-Ukrainian negotiations can begin—a transparent negotiating ploy that allows Russia to stall for time to see if Ukrainian demoralization might set in on the battlefield.
All of this is a prelude to blaming Zelensky for the failure to attain a negotiated peace, and to abandoning Ukraine.
Trump is also preparing to throw our European allies, many of whom want to stand with Ukraine, under the bus. Thus his administration has expressed a willingness to entertain the long-standing Russian demand that the U.S. remove troops from the frontline NATO countries most threatened by Russia. Such a move would effectively mark the end of NATO, which Trump, once again following Putin’s lead, would presumably welcome.
What could possibly go wrong? Musk’s Private Security Deputized by U.S. Marshals
The WSJ article is available here.
Intimidating Americans Will Not Work
The president of the United States is demanding that American citizens use only the words that please him, and he is punishing those who refuse to do so. This is the essence of his attacks against the Associated Press, which he has barred from the White House for referring to the Gulf of Mexico as ‘the Gulf of Mexico.’ He is now demanding that the news agency acquiesce to his renaming of the body of water. ‘We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America,’ Donald Trump said to reporters earlier this week.
This is not how it works in the United States of America. In our nation, free speech is a God-given right. It is not something that Trump, Elon Musk, or anyone else can grant or take away. Americans are born with the right to speak freely, and to publish freely. In America, as I have written previously, we are free to criticize the government, which is accountable to the people, not the other way around.
Georgia congressman confronted by angry crowd over support for Trump’s agenda
Attendees set the tone early, with one accusing McCormick of “doing us a disservice” for supporting the budget-slashing initiatives by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency that have torn through all corners of federal government.
“You don’t think I’m going to stand up for you?” asked McCormick, as the crowd responded with loud boos.
Pressed on what he’ll do to “rein in the megalomaniac in the White House,” McCormick brought up President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Trump Threatens to Cut Federal Funding to Maine
…Donald Trump is threatening to cut federal funding to Maine because transgender athletes are allowed to compete in girls’ sports.
Said Trump: “I hate to tell you this, but we’re not going to give them any federal money. They’re still saying they want men to play in women’s sports, and I cannot believe they’re doing that. So we’re not going to give them any money, none whatsoever, until they clean that up.”
Benjamin Franklin is rolling in his grave: Trump Expected to Take Control of the Postal Service
…Donald Trump is preparing to dissolve the leadership of the U.S. Postal Service and absorb the independent mail agency into his administration, potentially throwing the 250-year-old mail provider and trillions of dollars of e-commerce transactions into turmoil.
Trump is expected to issue an executive order as soon as this week to fire the members of the Postal Service’s governing board and place the agency under the control of the Commerce Department and Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to six people familiar with the plans, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals.
I’m old enough to remember when people spoke on the condition of anonymity for reasons other than fear of reprisals.
“They’re Scared Shitless”: The Threat of Political Violence Informing Trump’s Grip on Congress
With the president smashing norm after norm, even lawmakers within his party have feared for their personal safety, and at least one has told confidants that it has swayed his decision-making.
Trump’s DC US Attorney Nom Targets House Dem, Expanding Effort To Stifle Trump Admin Criticism
Acting Washington, D.C. U.S. attorney Ed Martin is escalating his psuedo-investigations of what he describes as purported threats to billionaire Elon Musk, the staff of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and other federal workers by now demanding information from a House Democrat.
Martin has already targeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as part of his supposed investigations into threats against public officials. The effort appears designed to smother freedom of speech and criticism of Musk and the Trump administration.
Serendipity:
A fiscal crisis is looming for many US cities
Cheetah pic by Grok
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