We included three shorter stories today instead of one medium length one. Would love your thoughts: do you like more, shorter pieces? Prefer one longer story per day? We are building The Preamble to serve you, so let us know your thoughts. ❤️
I liked today's format, since there is SO much to cover right now. But I also like when you go into more detail and tie in historical facts for us. Thank you for always asking us what we need from you and for all the hard work you put into everything you do for this community.
I liked today’s format! I adore your single topic deep dive newsletters, so I wouldn’t want this to become the exclusive format but I think it’s refreshing to mix in for a change of pace.
Thank you for all that you do in helping me become better informed.
I like the occasional shorter stories with wider coverage. A part of me wants to suggest that each story be a separate post, but I know that ends up spamming inboxes. Maybe a short title opener would be nice as a quick signal of the format? Something like "Three Quick Things: Veterans Left Behind, Millions..."
That said, I also very much enjoy the more in-depth stories! Maybe one of these snorkel dives (as Kate Kennedy calls them) a week and 2-3 of the deeper dives.
Please forgive me, this is all too much for me right now. I truly don’t mean to have my head in the sand, I’m just trying to process it all. For starters, I’ll be praying for all the government institutions that just had massive layoffs, especially the VA..My initial thoughts on Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg is shame and disgust with this new regime. I’m baffled on this type and way of thinking. 🤦♀️. I guess for now, I’ll choose hope. Thank you Sharon for keeping us informed on the good, bad and the ugly.
I like this format. So much to cover these days. I do like more in depth on some topics too. Maybe you can do that once a week or something. I think that would be a great balance. I will read however you do it though!
I like a mix! Some like this, and some more in depth, particularly breakdowns on more complex topics! There are a lot of newsletters that do short blurbs of news, but you corner the market on complex breakdowns, so those are more important to me. Thank you!
When the news is coming at us fast and furious, I really appreciate the three shorter pieces. When news is slower (which may not happen again for the next few years!) I enjoy the more in depth pieces.
Thank you so much for all the hard work you do for us, Sharon!!!
Yes, this could change if the pace of big news changes, but as there is *so* much important new happening right now, I prefer the multiple shorter stories ATM. Appreciate the reliable, fact driven break-downs so so much.
What I would love from DOGE is an analysis comparing the projected savings against the new costs this decision will create. My husband is a disabled veteran who receives his healthcare at our VA hospital. The line is “30 days or 30 miles”… if he can’t be seen in 30 days or within 30 miles of his home at another VA facility, he can go outside of VA’s network to get care and VA pays. We are lucky to be surrounded by multiple large prestigious healthcare facilities… how much will these layoffs delay care and increase the need for VA to pay for costly services to third parties?
Additionally, my husband is now going to medical school under a program called HPSP. This was extended to VA by President Trump in his first term to address provider shortages at VA. School is paid for and then he will owe 6 years to VA when he is a doctor. This was a win win for us because he wants to work at VA as a physician anyways- it is his calling. We realized he would have likely been laid off had he been a newly minted doctor when this happened. Think about the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent just for my husband alone that they would flush down the drain…
The VA health system has made great strides in the last few decades to break free of the stereotype of poor care. I’m so nervous we will see a swift backslide all for the purpose of “gross savings” on paper reported by DOGE that are likely either incorrect or more likely not properly netted against all of the new costs they create. It’s not a representative picture of the bottom line impact.
Katy, thank you for your family’s ongoing service, and sharing your story.
Unfortunately, what you would love from DOGE, is exactly what they have no desire nor intention to provide. You are looking for an intelligent and meaningful analysis to justify something that is neither.
This is not about cost savings. That is a lie. It is about destruction.
I know it’s hard to wrap your head around, because you are a constructive person, and this is anti-ethical to your way of thinking.
But we all have to see it for what it is, or we won’t be able to stop it. And we must.
Those kinds of calculations and transparency is what SHOULD be happening before every single one of these mass layoffs and budget cuts but they won’t do it, because then they’ll have to admit none of it is beneficial and there’s no rhyme or reason to any of it.
Chaos. Shock. Confusion. Hysteria. Division. That’s all they want. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a hundred times— I think *everyone* can agree that frivolous spending in the government could and should be reduced. If they could show
The data that proves these cuts and layoffs
Would benefit veterans then I imagine everyone would be applauding. But they don’t do that. They won’t do that. They will give us sound bites that “oh yes this is very good it’s going to improve care” but if anyone is taking any of these talking heads at their word then they’ve lost the plot entirely. Show me the data. 📊
Thank you for your family’s service, and for this additional enlightening detail! It’s hard to articulate the way cost-cutting always has ripple effects, but you’ve done it perfectly. I hope our country will take care of your family after all you’ve done!
Thank you, Katy and your husband for service. I hope this can be resolved so he can continue in his mission. They have no idea what they are doing to people. My husband can afford regular care but only uses the VA for his hearing loss from his service time. I have joined a resistance group for just the reasons you state. Good luck to us all.
Excellent, excellent reporting, as usual. Thank you so much for all of this, Sharon!
Now I have some thoughts for other people reading this, because I have some old cynical tendencies that I can feel bubbling up again after years of thinking I had solved that problem. Maybe some of you are feeling the same and we can benefit from addressing it. My cure has always been channeling my emotions into action, which seems impossible given the current situation, but maybe here’s an idea that might work, a little bit…?
For years we've been told it's pointless to engage with internet trolls who spread cynicism about government. "Don't feed the trolls" became conventional wisdom. But here's what I've realized: while we've been taking the high road, they've been steering the entire online conversation. While we have found productive places to converse with like-minded people, such as the comments on the Preamble, they are flooding the conversation everywhere else. They've shaped how millions of people think about government and public service. We need to change this, and right now we have a unique opportunity.
When these same voices were criticizing a liberal administration, they had an easy job. They could simply point at any problem and cry foul without needing to explain how they would fix it. And that is exactly what they are still doing when they cherry pick the most absurd-sounding programs and list them sarcastically without context. But now they're in a logically weak position - they have to justify their own actions that make no practical sense. Their only real philosophy seems to be burning down institutions, and that's much harder to defend than to propose.
They have to explain why firing recently-trained medical staff during a healthcare shortage saves money. (It doesn’t.) They have to justify spending millions to rename Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, after taxpayers just paid for the first name change that had bipartisan support. Even traditional conservatives who care about fiscal responsibility and effective government operations will struggle to defend this kind of waste and disruption.
This is where we can change minds - not through angry shouting matches, but through persistent questioning about logistics, costs, and outcomes. I've developed some techniques for engaging effectively with trolls who spread institutional cynicism, and I'd love to share these tactics with others who want to learn and share their strategies. We cannot be concerned with always "winning" arguments - it's about steadily exposing the logical contradictions in THEIR position while actual government services are being dismantled.
Reading this article alongside Sharon's November piece about cynicism puts this in perspective. When that piece was written just after the election, we were all processing uncertainty about changes we couldn't control. Now, a month into seeing those changes unfold, its message takes on new meaning. There's a huge paradox in being told by people within government that government itself can never be trusted. When government officials deliberately degrade government services, they create evidence for their claim that government doesn't work - a perfect closed loop of cynicism.
But we don't have to accept either extreme - complete trust or total rejection. We can transform justified anger into focused action. They're asking us to trust them when they say we shouldn't trust anyone in their position. This logical contradiction gives us an opening to engage effectively.
If you're interested in learning specific techniques for countering institutional cynicism online, let's talk. Shoot me a message on here or leave a reply. We all have a lot going on in our lives outside of the hellscape described in the news, but maybe we can come up with a plan that utilizes what time and energy we have left over to do the most good.
I am trying to battle this on the “home front”, where half (4) of my siblings are mired in Fox “News” and cannot possibly see the truth. As much as I just want to scream at them to “wake up” I am trying to remain calm and diplomatic, while sharing facts. I feel like it just falls on deaf ears. Would love advice on how to jolt them from the “fake reality” vacuum they have been sucked into, without completely destroying our relationship. We ah e a family gathering approaching and I honestly have no desire to see them.
I feel for you! I don't like giving advice as though I know what will work, I only know what has worked (ish) for me.
Generally I find it's more effective to ask them questions about what they believe, and why they believe it, than prove them wrong with facts that they don't trust.
For instance, if they say something like "People are being hysterical about DOGE," I would ask them something like, "I'm curious about this perspective, tell me more. Are you saying that nothing could be done better than how it is going?" And then let them do the arguing and explaining. They might say something like "You've gotta break some eggs to make an omelette." And then you've got an opening, to ask something like "Let me just make sure I understand your analogy: the eggs are... veterans? Farmers? Children? And there is no way to do an audit of the system and focus on the programs that have problems? Everything needs to be broken at the same time?"
In fact, asking them questions, about where they are coming from, and why they believe what they believe, often proves them wrong about *you* because they are probably assuming that you only believe what you believe because you don't think for yourself. They think they are the only ones who are "awake" in this discussion.
Let’s never mentally picture that, please, ever, thank you 😂 but yes, exactly. I was watching John Oliver last night (am I a cliche by the way…?) While I am not always a fan of his stylistic choices, I do appreciate the show’s dedication to finding the most absurd video clips that show people in power might not have a clue what they are talking about. Take the clip of Kristi Noem being caught off guard when reminded that she is part of the government. Or take the clip of Rep. Warren Davidson choking on his talking point that Canada had to concede to the United States to avoid tariffs, even though there isn’t anything Canada proposed in reaction to the tariffs that wasn’t already planned before the tariffs.
I’m making a little database of these anti-narrative moments that can be used to ask MAGA supporters what they are actually doing to improve my life.
“We are spending too much money on care for our veterans.” ———> proceeds to spend MILLIONS to rename bases back to confederate names. Sorry, “not” confederate names.
I keep waiting for someone who voted for and supports Trump to explain how any of these specific actions written about in the preamble have been helpful so far.
They can’t. My mom told me to be patient and give it time. She thinks all of these actions will make the government smaller and more fair. We vote differently. I post a lot on my IG account hoping to expose her to different information. Several years in and it’s not helping. She still trusts those who lied to her about non-existent election fraud over me.
I hear you, friend! Unfortunately my all-in Trump/Musk family member is my husband. He's so deep that we talk of nothing that could lead to a political conversation (ie: fight). Do you realize how LITTLE there is to even speak of when everything is a landmine? Our adult children, and their spouses, are in the same boat as I am, but they don't live in the same house so it's easier to talk about "other" things with their dad. It's so hard. I'm so sorry Margaux. I like to believe that my parents, although both right-leaning, would be able to see through this facade having broader life experiences. But, I don't feel like I know anything about anyone anymore.
I’m so sorry. I feel like a spouse with conflicting views would be even harder to navigate. Politics infiltrates nearly every aspect of our lives, so I agree there’s very little else to chat about! Bless you and Big Hugs.
My husband and I are different politically. We didn't used to be. He is a long-time Republican and I've always been an independent, but up until about 10-15 years ago, I mostly voted Republican. Then I started doing a lot of critical thinking and realized that my views really didn't line up with this new party. I also realized that the whole trickle-down nonsense that I bought into, was just that, nonsense and now we have years of data to prove it. I also moved away from my small, rural hometown and learned so much about other's lived experiences and it changed how I view things.
Anyway, all that being said, even though my husband is a Republican, he's also not super political and he will listen to others and use his own ears. He is disgusted by Trump and what the party is doing right now. We have 22-year-old twins who are very much into politics and what is going on in the world and he listens to them too. He is glad he didn't vote for Trump and while this doesn't change a lot of his views, it's warmed my heart that he sees what kind of a person Trump is and voted accordingly. I really didn't think that all the kids and I talk about would affect him, but I think it really did.
The fact that you guys can have successful conversations is truly awesome (that somehow sounds sarcastic in a two-dimensional message and I promise I do not mean it that way 😘)!
I have told my husband over and over that I don't care that he's a very conservative Republican - I just desperately want it to also be okay that I'm not! His overriding message is: if you only understood better or knew what I know, you'd agree with me. I find it insulting. 😕
My husband's biggest brag, and argument, is that he IS and has ALWAYS been a conservative and that I'm the one that has changed. He is 100% correct about that! After being of the generation that went from her dad's house to her husband's house, sotospeak, and being the lower wage earner (that's not something he's ever held over me - that's my insecurity), I never learned to think for myself - even though I am a college graduate. I would literally (gosh, this is embarrassing to confess) take his ballots after he voted, then fill mine out to match. 😖
Then I got advanced breast cancer and currently am 17 years past my expiration date. 🎉😉 And when I realized that I truly have no guarantee of tomorrow (I know that none of us do, but when it's actually a medical fact it hits harder) I started thinking, reading, digging, and exploring. So, yes it is true. I am the one that's changed. And I refuse to apologize for it!
It's been difficult to engage with him at times, mostly because he's not that political and doesn't like to be confronted. I think, though, that's mostly because the three of us are mostly on the same page and so I think he feels ganged up on even though we are mostly just trying to have conversation. So, what we've done is just had our conversations, but not directly, so he's there to hear what we say and then at other times, we've gently talked to him. It has worked especially well when the kids talk to him one on one. When I say well, I mean that he is open to listen and engage. He still has conservative views, but I think seeing how many of these policies affect his kids, has also changed his mind.
I read something a while ago. I think loswhit posted it and it really resonated with me, and I share this thought with others at times. He had basically written something like, "If you haven't changed your mind about something you believed deeply within the last 5 years, then you aren't exposing yourself to enough people who don't look like you, think like you or believe like you. Changing our mind is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength." It really stuck with me, because that's exactly what happened to me over the past 15 years.
I actually had a conversation with my niece before the election who is also a Trump/RFK supporter and we were having a good discussion. I had explained how getting out of my bubble had helped me to change some of my beliefs and deeply held ideas. She challenged me with something along the lines of holding on to strong convictions and then I shared this sentiment with her. It gave her a lot to think about. She is one person I have been able to have really meaningful dialogue with, and even though she hasn't changed her mind on a lot of things, I think I opened her eyes to some of the ways she was consuming her news and how to challenge some of her own beliefs and biases.
Just want to say that I’m in the same boat — husband and I have very different politics, and it has never been a problem but recently he is going far right and I feel I am where I have always been. We cannot discuss anything going on, and it is so isolating and lonely. Thank you for sharing this…I have felt a little less alone for just a moment.
Same w/my spouse…choose to keep it on the weather channel if in proximity to him…but he takes Fox News etc to whatever tv he’s watching & it’s relentless.
I recently read this Substack https://open.substack.com/pub/abbinye/p/want-to-combat-project-2025-listen?r=lq69y&utm_medium=ios. It discusses how MAGA is actually a cult (not in a derogatory way, but by definition - with some links to more research) and how that determines our responses. One that was challenging/good for me was to continue to work for the common good, as the cult mentality relies on an us vs them dynamic. My whole family are Trump voters, so I feel this pain acutely.
“I feel this pain acutely.” Since COVID began and life was so slow that all the beliefs, ideas and perspectives I had pretty much ignored floated to the surface, this has been the case. Beloved extended family of Christian background and practice so afraid of the few — marginalized citizens in the trans community for one — that they resonated with cognitive dissonance so loud I felt, and feel, deafened. One brother in particular, both of us bound by childhood trauma and our escape from it into adulthoods we forged and families we helped grow, is a well-educated agricultural engineer who manages a water district in CA, owns his own local gym and is an engaged and engaging member of society. I love him fiercely and dearly. And yet he continues to reinforce his bias and beliefs. Has never questioned them. Constantly tells me — with no opening for actual listening and conversation — it’s not about parties, that’s the distraction, but about deeper corruption and bids for world power and domination. It’s about terrorists coming across the borders and waiting to rise up. About a corrupt billionaire cabal bolstering the political and Hollywood elites. That DT and his outsider status is our last hope in this country. News is corrupt. The deep state must be toppled. It’s never changed or wavered. I know his deepest fears. How and when they first were planted. Where they’ve directed him internally though he’s a driven and highly successful person, externally. He has become what I consider a case study and an ignored segment of the voting/following base of DT. (Per research when folks were trying to ascertain who was continuing to move the runaway train onward.) When I hear folks say the uneducated and economically disenfranchised and religious right elite support DT, I look at my brother, who fits into none of those boxes. Instead, I see someone so much smarter than most are around him, that he’s quit questioning his internal dialogue and leanings in the political realm. Someone who lives in an echo chamber of like-minded who are comfortable in their hard-earned lives and fear it can be stripped away by people different than them who they deem unpatriotic. I’ve tried and tried to make sense of it. Questioned myself, endlessly. Wondered if I’ve got it all wrong because he and his seem SO 100% sold on their stance when I don’t think I’m right on 100% everything or know enough about 100% everything. It seems to now be a self-gaslighting movement where absolutely everything happening is accepted for the wider movement into which everything has been invested. That’s where the cult-like element comes into play. He didn’t get there overnight. But he’s deep in the boiling water now and it feels acceptable. More than acceptable.
My 2 cents: your mom is in an echo chamber that is louder than you are. I’m in the same situation with my husband and my brother is neither of them will consider anything except for right people say.
What do you mean she feels the same about me? Like she believes I’ve bought into lies? The difference between us is that I left the small town red bubble where my parents still live. I pursued a secondary education. In my job I’ve spent countless hours with patients, families, and colleagues from all walks of life. I have seen how Repub policies I once supported hurt my patients. I have no loyalty to a party, and I’ve voted both for Republican and Democratic candidates in my lifetime. My loyalty is to the constitution and the values my parents raised me with which I have never seen reflected in Trump, ever. My parents say they don’t even like him, but they still pledge their undying support. Is it fair to support someone who you think will protect you but will harm others? I don’t. They raised me better. I fwd the Preamble occasionally, and my mom read the Small and the Mighty. She doesn’t follow Sharon. I wish she did. She claims to not watch Fox, but it’s always on the TV when I visit because of my dad. He listens to a lot of R wing radio as commutes far for work.
These kinds of heartbreaking political rifts are generally felt by both parties. As a fellow left-leaning moderate, it's VERY, very frustrating to see people dig in their heels on Trump when they often haven't taken the time to really examine their beliefs or expand their world views. And I think it's especially heartbreaking when you see a parent disregard your views when you very much feel like you're carrying on the values they themselves taught you. That said, as Amy mentioned, your mom probably also feels some kind of way about your political beliefs, too. I think you're doing great by just keeping lines of communication open. All any of us can do right now is wait and see how things go and hope for the best and call our congresspeople and keep having the hard conversations.
Thank you. You made me feel seen. I have done everything they asked of me. They said - Work hard. Invest in education. Care about other people. Contribute to the community. After spending my whole life doing just as they said it’s still not enough. I’m a disappointment, because I grew up and believe differently than them. Now I know to live my life for me and not to please others, but geez their judgement is hard especially as their oldest child.
I could've written this comment myself. You are very seen. I understand just how heartbroken you are as I'm feeling it myself acutely after a weekend spent with my parents, wondering if we'll ever be able to spend time together peacefully again when all conversations somehow lead them to angry parroted talking points. And yet, I'm the "level-headed, sensible" family member in all other things but politics. I'm restarting therapy this month.
I totally understand. I left the church my parents raised me in, and I worry every day about how I may have broken their hearts. Thankfully, my parents are endlessly supportive and we maintain our close relationship (plus it helps that I'm the youngest, and my older three siblings broke their hearts first, ha). My heart goes out to you. I'm glad you've found your own peace!
Yes- she believes what she knows to be true and you believe what you know to be true and they aren’t aligned. I would say that most people I know who voted for Trump- say the same thing that they don’t like him.
As a nurse, this saddens me. I’m a state employee so thank goodness I was not affected but I can’t even imagine those who were. I did clinicals at the VA and they, like any other hospital, were short staffed but the hiring process takes a long time. One of my former coworkers told me it took her 7 months from date of application to work at the VA and she was a veteran so all her medical and vaccine records were accounted for already.
I understand wanting to save money to put into veteran care, but is the cost staff burnout? Burnout leads to staff quitting in which case veteran care will suffer if the ratio is now higher. Can you imagine taking care of 8 sick patients as a floor nurse? I was dying at 5 and the occasional 6 when we were short. There’s a reason nurses are fighting for safe ratios. Coupled that with appointments to see a provider can take months. I just called a pediatrician for my son to establish care and the next available was June (I called 3 places)… and this is a private practice. Imagine the VA where employees are being laid off, you can bet that appointments will be 6 months out or your appointments will be 10-15 minutes instead of the 30 most practices allot time for 😕
But yes, let’s rename military installations again because “it’s always been Bragg to me and always will be.” Why can’t the funds that will be used to rename military installations be put into the VA??? However you feel about the names (Bragg vs Liberty) why waste money TWICE if the goal is to reduce wasteful spending?! Make it make sense! I don’t think anyone can justify a name being more important than veterans’ or VA employees’ well being.
Healthcare is expensive. Veterans have put themselves through so much for our basic freedoms. I do not understand why cutting medical and administrative staff will make their care better? Can anyone explain this to me?
A friend sent me this text yesterday: My husband was fired on Friday from his position as transportation director at our local VA. He is himself a veteran who retired from 32 years of military service last November. Furious doesn't begin to describe how angry we are right now.
Wow! That makes me so sad and mad. I hope their story gets out into the world, if they are willing and able to share it, because that is a powerful example of how foolish it is to do these indiscriminate firings of workers.
as a former VA LCSW (retired last year) I can tell you the role of transportation director is INVALUABLE. Who qualifies for travel pay, what qualifies etc and making sure those that qualify get the travel and transportation (this is literally a ride to an appt) is a much needed position affecting thousands of Veterans daily. Do the rules need to be simpler? Yes. Can Congress change them? Yes. Federal agencies are required to operationalize (put into practical practice) legislation from Congress. It is Congress who decides who gets what and agencies like the VA are handed a pot of money, some scissors, a mop and scotch tape to literally make sense of it.
I need to understand what Congress is doing right now. Sharon, what is the Problem Solvers Caucus saying? Have they abandoned their ideals in favor of party affiliation? Why aren’t any of them doing anything to stop Elon? How do *I* sue him? I keep calling my representatives but it seems they are sitting around not knowing what to do.
Ezra Klein’s “NPC Problem” opinion piece in the NYTs has some thoughts about this. It didn’t have action we can take, but it was an important (and terrifying) read about the inaction of Congress right now. Elon is controlling them with his threats of spending money to primary them. Maybe they can all agree on campaign finance reform now????
Where is the fraud? I’ve seen no evidence presented to justify mass firings through multiple departments. Can those who were fired by DOGE sue the government? Can they join forces in a class action lawsuit? Can we help fund it? I hate that this is happening, and I feel so powerless to stop it. If this activity is illegal how do we hold the current executive branch accountable?
Mr. House says "Nobody joins the federal government to get rich." Not true. Trump and Musk are prime examples disproving that statement. And many elected representatives have seen their net worth rise significantly while "serving" their constituents. And we can add unelected employees like justice Thomas to the list of those lining their pockets at the taxpayer's expense. The so-called "leadership" of the federal government is engaged in class warfare.
Musk JUST tweeted that SpaceX would be filling the gap for all the FAA employees he just fired, along with firing all the Inspectors leading investigations into his companies. It's not a mystery.
Let's see - Musk charging the government so far $14M for less than a month's work for his team of less than 20 people, BILLIONs in new government contracts, Trump using the whole first term as a grift - over charging for his hotels, getting money for or paying his family members, there are so many examples. It's NEVER ENOUGH. Never enough money, never enough power. They are in in it because it feeds their egos. How foolish to think that ultra rich people are looking out for the regular folks.
Can you provide other reasons why they're in it? Neither Musk nor Trump are terribly charitable people; they don't have records of expansive giving that would lend us to believe they're doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. Neither man has a history of service to their country. And Trump's first term tax cuts and his second inauguration with the world's wealthiest in the front seats sort of tips his hand, don't you think? I genuinely don't see what else they're in it for, but happy to hear your suggestions.
The benefit to them in terms of future wealth is access to power. The federal bureaucracy does not provide that access and opportunity, in fact it is forbidden with a very well written set of rules about not profiting off of your position.
We included three shorter stories today instead of one medium length one. Would love your thoughts: do you like more, shorter pieces? Prefer one longer story per day? We are building The Preamble to serve you, so let us know your thoughts. ❤️
I liked today's format, since there is SO much to cover right now. But I also like when you go into more detail and tie in historical facts for us. Thank you for always asking us what we need from you and for all the hard work you put into everything you do for this community.
I liked today’s format! I adore your single topic deep dive newsletters, so I wouldn’t want this to become the exclusive format but I think it’s refreshing to mix in for a change of pace.
Thank you for all that you do in helping me become better informed.
I like the occasional shorter stories with wider coverage. A part of me wants to suggest that each story be a separate post, but I know that ends up spamming inboxes. Maybe a short title opener would be nice as a quick signal of the format? Something like "Three Quick Things: Veterans Left Behind, Millions..."
That said, I also very much enjoy the more in-depth stories! Maybe one of these snorkel dives (as Kate Kennedy calls them) a week and 2-3 of the deeper dives.
Snorkel dives!!! 😂😘
I liked multiple short stories because there’s so much to cover right now. Thank you!
I like this format in addition to the longer articles. It's nice to mix it up. Especially when there is so much to cover right now.
I’m going to read any format, because I do appreciate the information
Please forgive me, this is all too much for me right now. I truly don’t mean to have my head in the sand, I’m just trying to process it all. For starters, I’ll be praying for all the government institutions that just had massive layoffs, especially the VA..My initial thoughts on Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg is shame and disgust with this new regime. I’m baffled on this type and way of thinking. 🤦♀️. I guess for now, I’ll choose hope. Thank you Sharon for keeping us informed on the good, bad and the ugly.
I like this format right now. There is just too much happening and I appreciate your succinct and factual take on each.
Prefer three shorter stories!
Great article today! Really like this format!
I like this format. So much to cover these days. I do like more in depth on some topics too. Maybe you can do that once a week or something. I think that would be a great balance. I will read however you do it though!
I like a mix! Some like this, and some more in depth, particularly breakdowns on more complex topics! There are a lot of newsletters that do short blurbs of news, but you corner the market on complex breakdowns, so those are more important to me. Thank you!
When the news is coming at us fast and furious, I really appreciate the three shorter pieces. When news is slower (which may not happen again for the next few years!) I enjoy the more in depth pieces.
Thank you so much for all the hard work you do for us, Sharon!!!
Maybe not forever, but for now with so much happening I prefer more shorter stories.
Thank you for your hard work.
Love this format!
Yes, this could change if the pace of big news changes, but as there is *so* much important new happening right now, I prefer the multiple shorter stories ATM. Appreciate the reliable, fact driven break-downs so so much.
What I would love from DOGE is an analysis comparing the projected savings against the new costs this decision will create. My husband is a disabled veteran who receives his healthcare at our VA hospital. The line is “30 days or 30 miles”… if he can’t be seen in 30 days or within 30 miles of his home at another VA facility, he can go outside of VA’s network to get care and VA pays. We are lucky to be surrounded by multiple large prestigious healthcare facilities… how much will these layoffs delay care and increase the need for VA to pay for costly services to third parties?
Additionally, my husband is now going to medical school under a program called HPSP. This was extended to VA by President Trump in his first term to address provider shortages at VA. School is paid for and then he will owe 6 years to VA when he is a doctor. This was a win win for us because he wants to work at VA as a physician anyways- it is his calling. We realized he would have likely been laid off had he been a newly minted doctor when this happened. Think about the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent just for my husband alone that they would flush down the drain…
The VA health system has made great strides in the last few decades to break free of the stereotype of poor care. I’m so nervous we will see a swift backslide all for the purpose of “gross savings” on paper reported by DOGE that are likely either incorrect or more likely not properly netted against all of the new costs they create. It’s not a representative picture of the bottom line impact.
Katy, thank you for your family’s ongoing service, and sharing your story.
Unfortunately, what you would love from DOGE, is exactly what they have no desire nor intention to provide. You are looking for an intelligent and meaningful analysis to justify something that is neither.
This is not about cost savings. That is a lie. It is about destruction.
I know it’s hard to wrap your head around, because you are a constructive person, and this is anti-ethical to your way of thinking.
But we all have to see it for what it is, or we won’t be able to stop it. And we must.
Those kinds of calculations and transparency is what SHOULD be happening before every single one of these mass layoffs and budget cuts but they won’t do it, because then they’ll have to admit none of it is beneficial and there’s no rhyme or reason to any of it.
Chaos. Shock. Confusion. Hysteria. Division. That’s all they want. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a hundred times— I think *everyone* can agree that frivolous spending in the government could and should be reduced. If they could show
The data that proves these cuts and layoffs
Would benefit veterans then I imagine everyone would be applauding. But they don’t do that. They won’t do that. They will give us sound bites that “oh yes this is very good it’s going to improve care” but if anyone is taking any of these talking heads at their word then they’ve lost the plot entirely. Show me the data. 📊
yes, the goal is shock and awe, and a scorched earth policy. Perhaps if Veterans flood the phone lines, it might change.
Thank you for your family’s service, and for this additional enlightening detail! It’s hard to articulate the way cost-cutting always has ripple effects, but you’ve done it perfectly. I hope our country will take care of your family after all you’ve done!
Thank you for your and your husband’s service.
As someone from a military family and a supporter of veterans, I hope that the VA hospital care does improve.
How do these layoffs improve care at the VA?
Amy, yes, it’s common ground, and common sense, for the common good.
We all need that hope. But we also need vigilance and accountability to make it happen.
I’m so grateful for your military family, and your support of veterans. And for Sharon’s coverage of this important story.
Thank you, Katy and your husband for service. I hope this can be resolved so he can continue in his mission. They have no idea what they are doing to people. My husband can afford regular care but only uses the VA for his hearing loss from his service time. I have joined a resistance group for just the reasons you state. Good luck to us all.
Every day I didn’t think I could be more appalled, and yet I am.
Excellent, excellent reporting, as usual. Thank you so much for all of this, Sharon!
Now I have some thoughts for other people reading this, because I have some old cynical tendencies that I can feel bubbling up again after years of thinking I had solved that problem. Maybe some of you are feeling the same and we can benefit from addressing it. My cure has always been channeling my emotions into action, which seems impossible given the current situation, but maybe here’s an idea that might work, a little bit…?
For years we've been told it's pointless to engage with internet trolls who spread cynicism about government. "Don't feed the trolls" became conventional wisdom. But here's what I've realized: while we've been taking the high road, they've been steering the entire online conversation. While we have found productive places to converse with like-minded people, such as the comments on the Preamble, they are flooding the conversation everywhere else. They've shaped how millions of people think about government and public service. We need to change this, and right now we have a unique opportunity.
When these same voices were criticizing a liberal administration, they had an easy job. They could simply point at any problem and cry foul without needing to explain how they would fix it. And that is exactly what they are still doing when they cherry pick the most absurd-sounding programs and list them sarcastically without context. But now they're in a logically weak position - they have to justify their own actions that make no practical sense. Their only real philosophy seems to be burning down institutions, and that's much harder to defend than to propose.
They have to explain why firing recently-trained medical staff during a healthcare shortage saves money. (It doesn’t.) They have to justify spending millions to rename Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, after taxpayers just paid for the first name change that had bipartisan support. Even traditional conservatives who care about fiscal responsibility and effective government operations will struggle to defend this kind of waste and disruption.
This is where we can change minds - not through angry shouting matches, but through persistent questioning about logistics, costs, and outcomes. I've developed some techniques for engaging effectively with trolls who spread institutional cynicism, and I'd love to share these tactics with others who want to learn and share their strategies. We cannot be concerned with always "winning" arguments - it's about steadily exposing the logical contradictions in THEIR position while actual government services are being dismantled.
Reading this article alongside Sharon's November piece about cynicism puts this in perspective. When that piece was written just after the election, we were all processing uncertainty about changes we couldn't control. Now, a month into seeing those changes unfold, its message takes on new meaning. There's a huge paradox in being told by people within government that government itself can never be trusted. When government officials deliberately degrade government services, they create evidence for their claim that government doesn't work - a perfect closed loop of cynicism.
But we don't have to accept either extreme - complete trust or total rejection. We can transform justified anger into focused action. They're asking us to trust them when they say we shouldn't trust anyone in their position. This logical contradiction gives us an opening to engage effectively.
If you're interested in learning specific techniques for countering institutional cynicism online, let's talk. Shoot me a message on here or leave a reply. We all have a lot going on in our lives outside of the hellscape described in the news, but maybe we can come up with a plan that utilizes what time and energy we have left over to do the most good.
I am trying to battle this on the “home front”, where half (4) of my siblings are mired in Fox “News” and cannot possibly see the truth. As much as I just want to scream at them to “wake up” I am trying to remain calm and diplomatic, while sharing facts. I feel like it just falls on deaf ears. Would love advice on how to jolt them from the “fake reality” vacuum they have been sucked into, without completely destroying our relationship. We ah e a family gathering approaching and I honestly have no desire to see them.
I feel for you! I don't like giving advice as though I know what will work, I only know what has worked (ish) for me.
Generally I find it's more effective to ask them questions about what they believe, and why they believe it, than prove them wrong with facts that they don't trust.
For instance, if they say something like "People are being hysterical about DOGE," I would ask them something like, "I'm curious about this perspective, tell me more. Are you saying that nothing could be done better than how it is going?" And then let them do the arguing and explaining. They might say something like "You've gotta break some eggs to make an omelette." And then you've got an opening, to ask something like "Let me just make sure I understand your analogy: the eggs are... veterans? Farmers? Children? And there is no way to do an audit of the system and focus on the programs that have problems? Everything needs to be broken at the same time?"
In fact, asking them questions, about where they are coming from, and why they believe what they believe, often proves them wrong about *you* because they are probably assuming that you only believe what you believe because you don't think for yourself. They think they are the only ones who are "awake" in this discussion.
I wish I could pin this comment. Thank you, Timothy.
Timothy Patrick, The emperor has no clothes?
Let’s never mentally picture that, please, ever, thank you 😂 but yes, exactly. I was watching John Oliver last night (am I a cliche by the way…?) While I am not always a fan of his stylistic choices, I do appreciate the show’s dedication to finding the most absurd video clips that show people in power might not have a clue what they are talking about. Take the clip of Kristi Noem being caught off guard when reminded that she is part of the government. Or take the clip of Rep. Warren Davidson choking on his talking point that Canada had to concede to the United States to avoid tariffs, even though there isn’t anything Canada proposed in reaction to the tariffs that wasn’t already planned before the tariffs.
I’m making a little database of these anti-narrative moments that can be used to ask MAGA supporters what they are actually doing to improve my life.
“We are spending too much money on care for our veterans.” ———> proceeds to spend MILLIONS to rename bases back to confederate names. Sorry, “not” confederate names.
Make it make sense please.
It’s so sad our allies cannot rely on us. I pray for peace and freedom for Ukraine and for someone,anyone to stop Doge.
Nancy, you and I are someone, anyone.
What a sad and embarrassing time to be an American.
I keep waiting for someone who voted for and supports Trump to explain how any of these specific actions written about in the preamble have been helpful so far.
They can’t. My mom told me to be patient and give it time. She thinks all of these actions will make the government smaller and more fair. We vote differently. I post a lot on my IG account hoping to expose her to different information. Several years in and it’s not helping. She still trusts those who lied to her about non-existent election fraud over me.
I hear you, friend! Unfortunately my all-in Trump/Musk family member is my husband. He's so deep that we talk of nothing that could lead to a political conversation (ie: fight). Do you realize how LITTLE there is to even speak of when everything is a landmine? Our adult children, and their spouses, are in the same boat as I am, but they don't live in the same house so it's easier to talk about "other" things with their dad. It's so hard. I'm so sorry Margaux. I like to believe that my parents, although both right-leaning, would be able to see through this facade having broader life experiences. But, I don't feel like I know anything about anyone anymore.
I’m so sorry. I feel like a spouse with conflicting views would be even harder to navigate. Politics infiltrates nearly every aspect of our lives, so I agree there’s very little else to chat about! Bless you and Big Hugs.
My husband and I are different politically. We didn't used to be. He is a long-time Republican and I've always been an independent, but up until about 10-15 years ago, I mostly voted Republican. Then I started doing a lot of critical thinking and realized that my views really didn't line up with this new party. I also realized that the whole trickle-down nonsense that I bought into, was just that, nonsense and now we have years of data to prove it. I also moved away from my small, rural hometown and learned so much about other's lived experiences and it changed how I view things.
Anyway, all that being said, even though my husband is a Republican, he's also not super political and he will listen to others and use his own ears. He is disgusted by Trump and what the party is doing right now. We have 22-year-old twins who are very much into politics and what is going on in the world and he listens to them too. He is glad he didn't vote for Trump and while this doesn't change a lot of his views, it's warmed my heart that he sees what kind of a person Trump is and voted accordingly. I really didn't think that all the kids and I talk about would affect him, but I think it really did.
The fact that you guys can have successful conversations is truly awesome (that somehow sounds sarcastic in a two-dimensional message and I promise I do not mean it that way 😘)!
I have told my husband over and over that I don't care that he's a very conservative Republican - I just desperately want it to also be okay that I'm not! His overriding message is: if you only understood better or knew what I know, you'd agree with me. I find it insulting. 😕
My husband's biggest brag, and argument, is that he IS and has ALWAYS been a conservative and that I'm the one that has changed. He is 100% correct about that! After being of the generation that went from her dad's house to her husband's house, sotospeak, and being the lower wage earner (that's not something he's ever held over me - that's my insecurity), I never learned to think for myself - even though I am a college graduate. I would literally (gosh, this is embarrassing to confess) take his ballots after he voted, then fill mine out to match. 😖
Then I got advanced breast cancer and currently am 17 years past my expiration date. 🎉😉 And when I realized that I truly have no guarantee of tomorrow (I know that none of us do, but when it's actually a medical fact it hits harder) I started thinking, reading, digging, and exploring. So, yes it is true. I am the one that's changed. And I refuse to apologize for it!
It's been difficult to engage with him at times, mostly because he's not that political and doesn't like to be confronted. I think, though, that's mostly because the three of us are mostly on the same page and so I think he feels ganged up on even though we are mostly just trying to have conversation. So, what we've done is just had our conversations, but not directly, so he's there to hear what we say and then at other times, we've gently talked to him. It has worked especially well when the kids talk to him one on one. When I say well, I mean that he is open to listen and engage. He still has conservative views, but I think seeing how many of these policies affect his kids, has also changed his mind.
I read something a while ago. I think loswhit posted it and it really resonated with me, and I share this thought with others at times. He had basically written something like, "If you haven't changed your mind about something you believed deeply within the last 5 years, then you aren't exposing yourself to enough people who don't look like you, think like you or believe like you. Changing our mind is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength." It really stuck with me, because that's exactly what happened to me over the past 15 years.
I actually had a conversation with my niece before the election who is also a Trump/RFK supporter and we were having a good discussion. I had explained how getting out of my bubble had helped me to change some of my beliefs and deeply held ideas. She challenged me with something along the lines of holding on to strong convictions and then I shared this sentiment with her. It gave her a lot to think about. She is one person I have been able to have really meaningful dialogue with, and even though she hasn't changed her mind on a lot of things, I think I opened her eyes to some of the ways she was consuming her news and how to challenge some of her own beliefs and biases.
This is such a helpful and thoughtful comment. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Just want to say that I’m in the same boat — husband and I have very different politics, and it has never been a problem but recently he is going far right and I feel I am where I have always been. We cannot discuss anything going on, and it is so isolating and lonely. Thank you for sharing this…I have felt a little less alone for just a moment.
I’m in the same boat
Same w/my spouse…choose to keep it on the weather channel if in proximity to him…but he takes Fox News etc to whatever tv he’s watching & it’s relentless.
I am in the same boat: a house divided.
How awful. I am so sorry.
I recently read this Substack https://open.substack.com/pub/abbinye/p/want-to-combat-project-2025-listen?r=lq69y&utm_medium=ios. It discusses how MAGA is actually a cult (not in a derogatory way, but by definition - with some links to more research) and how that determines our responses. One that was challenging/good for me was to continue to work for the common good, as the cult mentality relies on an us vs them dynamic. My whole family are Trump voters, so I feel this pain acutely.
“I feel this pain acutely.” Since COVID began and life was so slow that all the beliefs, ideas and perspectives I had pretty much ignored floated to the surface, this has been the case. Beloved extended family of Christian background and practice so afraid of the few — marginalized citizens in the trans community for one — that they resonated with cognitive dissonance so loud I felt, and feel, deafened. One brother in particular, both of us bound by childhood trauma and our escape from it into adulthoods we forged and families we helped grow, is a well-educated agricultural engineer who manages a water district in CA, owns his own local gym and is an engaged and engaging member of society. I love him fiercely and dearly. And yet he continues to reinforce his bias and beliefs. Has never questioned them. Constantly tells me — with no opening for actual listening and conversation — it’s not about parties, that’s the distraction, but about deeper corruption and bids for world power and domination. It’s about terrorists coming across the borders and waiting to rise up. About a corrupt billionaire cabal bolstering the political and Hollywood elites. That DT and his outsider status is our last hope in this country. News is corrupt. The deep state must be toppled. It’s never changed or wavered. I know his deepest fears. How and when they first were planted. Where they’ve directed him internally though he’s a driven and highly successful person, externally. He has become what I consider a case study and an ignored segment of the voting/following base of DT. (Per research when folks were trying to ascertain who was continuing to move the runaway train onward.) When I hear folks say the uneducated and economically disenfranchised and religious right elite support DT, I look at my brother, who fits into none of those boxes. Instead, I see someone so much smarter than most are around him, that he’s quit questioning his internal dialogue and leanings in the political realm. Someone who lives in an echo chamber of like-minded who are comfortable in their hard-earned lives and fear it can be stripped away by people different than them who they deem unpatriotic. I’ve tried and tried to make sense of it. Questioned myself, endlessly. Wondered if I’ve got it all wrong because he and his seem SO 100% sold on their stance when I don’t think I’m right on 100% everything or know enough about 100% everything. It seems to now be a self-gaslighting movement where absolutely everything happening is accepted for the wider movement into which everything has been invested. That’s where the cult-like element comes into play. He didn’t get there overnight. But he’s deep in the boiling water now and it feels acceptable. More than acceptable.
And I’m rambling.
I followed your train of thought! I might circle back to this later because I have many thoughts and related experiences.
Thanks for sharing. I will read it.
As someone in the same position with my mom, I just want to say I’m sorry. It is so hard to not share reality with your parent. So. Hard.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It is SO hard.
My 2 cents: your mom is in an echo chamber that is louder than you are. I’m in the same situation with my husband and my brother is neither of them will consider anything except for right people say.
I’m sorry that you have that situation. It is likely she is feeling the same about you :)
Does she follow Sharon or read The Preamble? That may help bring her to common ground (not change her mind though).
What do you mean she feels the same about me? Like she believes I’ve bought into lies? The difference between us is that I left the small town red bubble where my parents still live. I pursued a secondary education. In my job I’ve spent countless hours with patients, families, and colleagues from all walks of life. I have seen how Repub policies I once supported hurt my patients. I have no loyalty to a party, and I’ve voted both for Republican and Democratic candidates in my lifetime. My loyalty is to the constitution and the values my parents raised me with which I have never seen reflected in Trump, ever. My parents say they don’t even like him, but they still pledge their undying support. Is it fair to support someone who you think will protect you but will harm others? I don’t. They raised me better. I fwd the Preamble occasionally, and my mom read the Small and the Mighty. She doesn’t follow Sharon. I wish she did. She claims to not watch Fox, but it’s always on the TV when I visit because of my dad. He listens to a lot of R wing radio as commutes far for work.
These kinds of heartbreaking political rifts are generally felt by both parties. As a fellow left-leaning moderate, it's VERY, very frustrating to see people dig in their heels on Trump when they often haven't taken the time to really examine their beliefs or expand their world views. And I think it's especially heartbreaking when you see a parent disregard your views when you very much feel like you're carrying on the values they themselves taught you. That said, as Amy mentioned, your mom probably also feels some kind of way about your political beliefs, too. I think you're doing great by just keeping lines of communication open. All any of us can do right now is wait and see how things go and hope for the best and call our congresspeople and keep having the hard conversations.
Thank you. You made me feel seen. I have done everything they asked of me. They said - Work hard. Invest in education. Care about other people. Contribute to the community. After spending my whole life doing just as they said it’s still not enough. I’m a disappointment, because I grew up and believe differently than them. Now I know to live my life for me and not to please others, but geez their judgement is hard especially as their oldest child.
I could've written this comment myself. You are very seen. I understand just how heartbroken you are as I'm feeling it myself acutely after a weekend spent with my parents, wondering if we'll ever be able to spend time together peacefully again when all conversations somehow lead them to angry parroted talking points. And yet, I'm the "level-headed, sensible" family member in all other things but politics. I'm restarting therapy this month.
I totally understand. I left the church my parents raised me in, and I worry every day about how I may have broken their hearts. Thankfully, my parents are endlessly supportive and we maintain our close relationship (plus it helps that I'm the youngest, and my older three siblings broke their hearts first, ha). My heart goes out to you. I'm glad you've found your own peace!
This is so well said. I’m in the same position with my parents and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to navigate.
Yes- she believes what she knows to be true and you believe what you know to be true and they aren’t aligned. I would say that most people I know who voted for Trump- say the same thing that they don’t like him.
As a nurse, this saddens me. I’m a state employee so thank goodness I was not affected but I can’t even imagine those who were. I did clinicals at the VA and they, like any other hospital, were short staffed but the hiring process takes a long time. One of my former coworkers told me it took her 7 months from date of application to work at the VA and she was a veteran so all her medical and vaccine records were accounted for already.
I understand wanting to save money to put into veteran care, but is the cost staff burnout? Burnout leads to staff quitting in which case veteran care will suffer if the ratio is now higher. Can you imagine taking care of 8 sick patients as a floor nurse? I was dying at 5 and the occasional 6 when we were short. There’s a reason nurses are fighting for safe ratios. Coupled that with appointments to see a provider can take months. I just called a pediatrician for my son to establish care and the next available was June (I called 3 places)… and this is a private practice. Imagine the VA where employees are being laid off, you can bet that appointments will be 6 months out or your appointments will be 10-15 minutes instead of the 30 most practices allot time for 😕
But yes, let’s rename military installations again because “it’s always been Bragg to me and always will be.” Why can’t the funds that will be used to rename military installations be put into the VA??? However you feel about the names (Bragg vs Liberty) why waste money TWICE if the goal is to reduce wasteful spending?! Make it make sense! I don’t think anyone can justify a name being more important than veterans’ or VA employees’ well being.
Healthcare is expensive. Veterans have put themselves through so much for our basic freedoms. I do not understand why cutting medical and administrative staff will make their care better? Can anyone explain this to me?
A friend sent me this text yesterday: My husband was fired on Friday from his position as transportation director at our local VA. He is himself a veteran who retired from 32 years of military service last November. Furious doesn't begin to describe how angry we are right now.
How is this patriotism and love of country???!!!
Wow! That makes me so sad and mad. I hope their story gets out into the world, if they are willing and able to share it, because that is a powerful example of how foolish it is to do these indiscriminate firings of workers.
as a former VA LCSW (retired last year) I can tell you the role of transportation director is INVALUABLE. Who qualifies for travel pay, what qualifies etc and making sure those that qualify get the travel and transportation (this is literally a ride to an appt) is a much needed position affecting thousands of Veterans daily. Do the rules need to be simpler? Yes. Can Congress change them? Yes. Federal agencies are required to operationalize (put into practical practice) legislation from Congress. It is Congress who decides who gets what and agencies like the VA are handed a pot of money, some scissors, a mop and scotch tape to literally make sense of it.
I need to understand what Congress is doing right now. Sharon, what is the Problem Solvers Caucus saying? Have they abandoned their ideals in favor of party affiliation? Why aren’t any of them doing anything to stop Elon? How do *I* sue him? I keep calling my representatives but it seems they are sitting around not knowing what to do.
Ezra Klein’s “NPC Problem” opinion piece in the NYTs has some thoughts about this. It didn’t have action we can take, but it was an important (and terrifying) read about the inaction of Congress right now. Elon is controlling them with his threats of spending money to primary them. Maybe they can all agree on campaign finance reform now????
I have also had the thought of; can they ALL (or the majority) band together and start saying no? We need a resistance from within…
The malice toward all that this administration shows…it is truly sickening. My heart breaks anew every morning at the pain and destruction.
Where is the fraud? I’ve seen no evidence presented to justify mass firings through multiple departments. Can those who were fired by DOGE sue the government? Can they join forces in a class action lawsuit? Can we help fund it? I hate that this is happening, and I feel so powerless to stop it. If this activity is illegal how do we hold the current executive branch accountable?
Mr. House says "Nobody joins the federal government to get rich." Not true. Trump and Musk are prime examples disproving that statement. And many elected representatives have seen their net worth rise significantly while "serving" their constituents. And we can add unelected employees like justice Thomas to the list of those lining their pockets at the taxpayer's expense. The so-called "leadership" of the federal government is engaged in class warfare.
Trump and Musk did not attain their wealth through government service.
Yes, they were rich before, but they are focused on making themselves richer over the next four years.
How are they making themselves richer?
Musk JUST tweeted that SpaceX would be filling the gap for all the FAA employees he just fired, along with firing all the Inspectors leading investigations into his companies. It's not a mystery.
Let's see - Musk charging the government so far $14M for less than a month's work for his team of less than 20 people, BILLIONs in new government contracts, Trump using the whole first term as a grift - over charging for his hotels, getting money for or paying his family members, there are so many examples. It's NEVER ENOUGH. Never enough money, never enough power. They are in in it because it feeds their egos. How foolish to think that ultra rich people are looking out for the regular folks.
Tax cuts, publicity and exposure, lowering/eliminating costly regulations, government contracts, etc.
While some of these things may directly or indirectly benefit Trump and Musk, it's a lazy argument to suggest they're in it for the money.
Can you provide other reasons why they're in it? Neither Musk nor Trump are terribly charitable people; they don't have records of expansive giving that would lend us to believe they're doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. Neither man has a history of service to their country. And Trump's first term tax cuts and his second inauguration with the world's wealthiest in the front seats sort of tips his hand, don't you think? I genuinely don't see what else they're in it for, but happy to hear your suggestions.
No. I understand they both had rich fathers?
Trump began receiving a six figure salary when he was a toddler. Musk made a great deal of money using U.S. government funds.
The benefit to them in terms of future wealth is access to power. The federal bureaucracy does not provide that access and opportunity, in fact it is forbidden with a very well written set of rules about not profiting off of your position.
Have you forgotten Joe and his family, or have you just brushed it aside???
America is at a turning point.
Europe's security is at a turning point.
Yes, it is about Ukraine—-but it is also about us.
We need an urgency mindset.
We need a surge in defense.
And we need both of them now.