Early Monday morning, employees at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the agency in charge of conducting humanitarian efforts around the world, were told not to come to work.
Thanks! I don't think it would be constructive for me to just list off everything all over the place so... OK yes, borders. I also agree with tighter controls on borders, because that statement alone is general and broad enough for anyone to agree with. Can I ask you first though, what do you see happening at our borders, and how the trump admistration is solving those problems?
Per Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska on Feb 5th: "The U.S. Senate phone system has been receiving around 1,600 calls each minute, compared to the 40 calls per minute we usually receive, which has disrupted our call systems." They are inundated and we have to keep it that way!
It really is something watching Congress doing nothing about their relegation of power, checks and balances, etc. I hope that Congress flips and this takeover of our democracy ends.
I have been trying to reach my representative and senators. Emails are responded to with be enriched form responses that don’t even address my questions and concerns. Phone messages are not returned. This has happened with leaders of both parties. What else can I do?
As I noted above, per Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska on Feb 5th: "The U.S. Senate phone system has been receiving around 1,600 calls each minute, compared to the 40 calls per minute we usually receive, which has disrupted our call systems." They are inundated. Which is GOOD. We need to keep it up. They might not be responding eloquently but they are being barraged with reminders that they are being held accountable. I think that's a very good thing.
Okay, so all of USAID has now been laid off (which includes hundreds of employees embedded internationally who have spouses working there and kids in school and now have to uproot in a matter of days without warning), and WSJ is reporting the ENTIRE CIA has been offered a buyout.
Add that to NSF studies and grants being pulled, CDC data going offline, Head Start programs missing their funding... literally TrumpMusk are just illegally shutting down the entire federal government, critical functions be damned.
This is what I can't understand. What they are doing is illegal. How are they able to keep doing it?? I feel insane for asking that question over and over and not finding an answer.
I'm not on Insta anymore so not sure what you're covering today, but at this point we're barreling toward full financial and political collapse and I'm afraid we don't have the enforcement mechanisms to stop it.
The app “5 calls” is an excellent resource. I hate making phone calls, but I was able to quickly call all 3 of my elected members of Congress very quickly. They give you the phone numbers, names, and a script to follow.
What is most concerning about what Musk is doing, is not being stopped by congress. Because Republicans control both, we need a bipartisan effort to stop him. I just don’t think the Republicans will do it because they fear being primaried. The only tools Democrats have is lawsuits and stalling confirmations it seems. Unless I am missing something?
Thanks! I don't think it would be constructive for me to just list off everything all over the place so... OK yes, borders. I also agree with tighter controls on borders, because that statement alone is general and broad enough for anyone to agree with. Can I ask you first though, what do you see happening at our borders, and how the trump admistration is solving those problems?
This is so well written and broken down. Thank you. This is exactly why upholding the constitution needs to always be prioritized above party.
Thank you
Thank you for this 🫶🏽
If you are curious about why people find Elon Musk’s actions so unsettling, here is a further discussion on the Bulwark podcast that sheds light on the concerns. https://podcast.app/anne-applebaum-outside-the-rule-of-law-e369999202/?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=share
Thank you for this, Sharon. You are such an important voice in all this chaos...
I've tried calling reps. Most of their voice message boxes are full. I'll try emailing.
Per Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska on Feb 5th: "The U.S. Senate phone system has been receiving around 1,600 calls each minute, compared to the 40 calls per minute we usually receive, which has disrupted our call systems." They are inundated and we have to keep it that way!
“Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
It really is something watching Congress doing nothing about their relegation of power, checks and balances, etc. I hope that Congress flips and this takeover of our democracy ends.
This is terrifying. On every level.
I have been trying to reach my representative and senators. Emails are responded to with be enriched form responses that don’t even address my questions and concerns. Phone messages are not returned. This has happened with leaders of both parties. What else can I do?
As I noted above, per Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska on Feb 5th: "The U.S. Senate phone system has been receiving around 1,600 calls each minute, compared to the 40 calls per minute we usually receive, which has disrupted our call systems." They are inundated. Which is GOOD. We need to keep it up. They might not be responding eloquently but they are being barraged with reminders that they are being held accountable. I think that's a very good thing.
I meant “emails are responded to with GENERIC responses”
Okay, so all of USAID has now been laid off (which includes hundreds of employees embedded internationally who have spouses working there and kids in school and now have to uproot in a matter of days without warning), and WSJ is reporting the ENTIRE CIA has been offered a buyout.
Add that to NSF studies and grants being pulled, CDC data going offline, Head Start programs missing their funding... literally TrumpMusk are just illegally shutting down the entire federal government, critical functions be damned.
Keep fighting, but damn. This is catastrophic.
Why can’t M and his engineers be arrested for their illegal takeovers - Treasury, USAID…?
Exactly what is illegal about it?
This is what I can't understand. What they are doing is illegal. How are they able to keep doing it?? I feel insane for asking that question over and over and not finding an answer.
@Sharon Things are getting scarier: https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2025/02/02/this-needs-to-stop-now-elon-musk-confirms-radical-doge-us-treasury-plan/
I'm not on Insta anymore so not sure what you're covering today, but at this point we're barreling toward full financial and political collapse and I'm afraid we don't have the enforcement mechanisms to stop it.
The app “5 calls” is an excellent resource. I hate making phone calls, but I was able to quickly call all 3 of my elected members of Congress very quickly. They give you the phone numbers, names, and a script to follow.
What is most concerning about what Musk is doing, is not being stopped by congress. Because Republicans control both, we need a bipartisan effort to stop him. I just don’t think the Republicans will do it because they fear being primaried. The only tools Democrats have is lawsuits and stalling confirmations it seems. Unless I am missing something?