Tell the stories of Trump's victims.

February 20, 2025

It feels surreal reporting on the events of Wednesday. It is hard to believe that any one the developments occurred, but reporting on four “never-before-in-history” events is just unbelievable. But here we are. In the last 48 hours, Trump

• “Switched sides” in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

• Promised “never” to reduce Medicaid, but hours later endorsed a House spending plan that could cut Medicaid by $800 billion.

• Declared himself “King” after killing a highly successful NYC traffic control program without notice.

• Assumed control over multiple independent agencies created by Congress to operate free of political influence by the president.

As if the above is not bad enough, a senior DOJ official argued that it would be acceptable for prosecutors to accept a political “quid pro quo” in exchange for dismissing criminal charges. (If the DOJ made such a bargain, it would also be known as a “bribe” and “obstruction of justice.”)

The most important question is, “What are we going to do about it?”

The answer is that we must continue to do what we have been doing—but with greater urgency, vigor, volume, and unity. Our leaders in the Democratic Party continue to play catch up, so we also need to keep up the pressure on them—every day.

In the meantime, tell the stories of every American harmed by the hatchet wielded by Musk. Explain the risks to our future security, health, and safety caused by dismantling our health, science, environmental, and educational infrastructure. Focus the intense light of negative publicity on every single elected Republican who is complicit in the destruction of federal expertise that took half a century to develop.

Tell the stories of people hurt by the surrender of the Republican party to a monster who is the antithesis of everything the GOP allegedly stood for a decade ago.

For today’s newsletter, I am opening the Comments to all readers to tell the stories of those injured by the malevolence and greed of Trump, Musk, and silent Republicans. Be an effective communicator so that your stories can be copied and shared, use paragraph breaks, and include details that personalize the harm suffered. (But please, protect the identity and privacy of those harmed by Trump’s cruel actions.)

All our energy must be focused on resisting the destruction and advancing solutions to repair the damage. Issue spotting, standing alone, is counterproductive. It takes no great skill or insight to identify obstacles to every proposed solution. Of course, we should discuss challenges to the way forward. But if we identify an obstacle, we must also assume the burden of identifying a way to overcome the obstacle and state our personal commitment to advancing our proposed solution. Be part of the solution!

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Trump abandons Ukraine

Lawrence O’Donnell of MSNBC said on Wednesday evening that Trump had “switched sides during a war.” That is the most apt, succinct description of the events of Wednesday, but does not convey the depravity of what Trump did.

To recap,

On Tuesday, Trump blamed Ukraine for “starting” the war with Russia—a blatant lie. Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation.

On Wednesday morning, President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for Trump's negotiating team to “be more truthful” and said that Trump was living inside a Russian-created “disinformation space.” See Associated Press.

Trump then posted a lengthy screed filled with lies that called President Zelensky “a dictator” who had “talked” the US into giving Ukraine $350 billion (a lie) to fight a war that Ukraine cannot win without Trump. (See AP article, above.)

A close friend and advisor of Putin posted the following note on Twitter after Trump called Zelensky a “dictator”:

• “Checkmate. Zelensky and his regime is over. Now he will be betrayed literally by everybody. Terrible destiny – to lose all – power, country, esteem, soul (if there was any), respect. And soon life I presume.”

The betrayal of Ukraine will forever damage US relations with Europe and may undermine the peace and security that has prevailed in Europe because of the strong NATO alliance. That will be a tragedy for Ukraine, Europe, and every American. A despicable, shameful outcome.

The comments by Putin's advisor are chilling and disturbing. But it is what Trump has wrought.

Benjamin Wittes, Editor in Chief of Lawfare, penned a moving article that captures the depravity and significance of Trump's betrayal of Ukraine. See Lawfare, The Situation: What America Stands For Now.

Wittes writes,

Today, let’s stare betrayal in the face.

The United States has betrayed allies before. It has sponsored coups against democratic regimes. It has left people behind when it withdraws from conflicts it has come to regret. It has done its share of ugly things, and I’m not romantic about the history of American foreign policy.

I cannot, however, think of a time when it has ever before turned against a democratic ally to side with a monstrous dictator pursuing a genocidal war of aggression.

I cannot think of a time it has lurched so readily to side with evil against the values it purports to represent.

I cannot think of a time it has so brazenly presented itself as running a protection racket for the democratic world—a pay-to-play, resource-extraction-oriented foreign policy designed to force other countries to pay tribute or risk predation from stronger powers.

And I cannot think of a time when the most fundamental defense of such a global extortion scheme was a bald-faced set of lies about a country fighting for its continued existence.

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Trump reverses position on cutting Medicaid over 24-hour period

Medicaid affects hundreds of millions of Americans. On Tuesday, Trump said he would “never” touch Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. On Wednesday, Trump endorsed a House spending plan that would cut $880 billion from the departments that administer Medicaid.

Medicaid is so essential to the healthcare system that even Steve Bannon is warning against cuts to the program. See The New Republic, Steve Bannon (Yes, Really!) Warns Republicans Not to Cut Medicaid.

As described by the NYTimes,

Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in the country, and around two-thirds of nursing home stays. In 41 states that expanded the program as part of the Affordable Care Act, it also covers millions of working-class Americans with incomes close to the poverty line.

But the only way for congressional Republicans to find the budget cuts to pay for Trump's extension of the 2017 tax cuts is to take a cleaver to Medicaid—cuts that will harm working-class voters in red states that voted for Trump.

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Trump calls himself “King” after killing NYC congestion pricing

Against all odds, New York imposed a “congestion pricing” policy to reduce traffic in Manhattan during rush hour. It was wildly successful, reducing rush hour traffic beyond expectations. The number of vehicles decreased by 7.5% and commute times on bridges and in tunnels decreased by 34%. See Newsweek, Trump Kills NYC Congestion Pricing Despite Early Signs of Success.

Trump killed the program on less than 24-hours’ notice. He did so in a post that ended with, “Long live the King,” a reference to himself. Shortly thereafter, the White House released a knock-off of a Time Magazine cover showing Trump wearing a crown. See Rolling Stone, Trump on Himself: ‘LONG LIVE THE KING!'

Do we need any further evidence that Trump has lost contact with reality? If Barack Obama or Joe Biden had referred to themselves as “King,” there would have been a race between an impeachment trial in the Senate and an effort to remove them under the 25^th Amendment. But Republicans have remained silent in the face of the obvious mental decline by Trump.

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Trump's attempt to seize control of independent agencies

Remember that time—24 hours ago—when Trump illegally seized control of congressionally created independent agencies? I do. You should, too. It is a story that deserves more than one news cycle. Indeed, it is a story about a fundamental shift in the distribution of power under the Constitution.

Trump's assault on independent agencies has taken several forms—defunding, mass layoffs, and refusing to replace commissioners, thereby denying the governing commissions a majority necessary to conduct business. If Trump had attempted directly to shut down independent agencies by executive order, he would have been stopped by the courts. But by laying off all staff or freezing funds necessary to operate the agencies, Trump has effectively shut them down.

Trump's actions are unconstitutional (in my view). A thoughtful analysis of the unconstitutional nature of the hostile takeover of the agencies is set forth in National Law Review, Trump's Order Seizes Control of Independent Agencies.

We cannot forget Trump's actions on Tuesday. Those actions were unconstitutional, using brute bureaucratic force to seize control of agencies that were designed by Congress to be independent. But it appears that most members of Congress will simply accept the takeover as the new normal. It is a coup, plain and simple. But the lack of resistance in Congress is completely unacceptable and bewildering.

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Other stories

There are other stories that deserve comment, but I have run out of time. Feel free to add color and detail about the following stories in the Comment section.

Acting Deputy US Attorney Emil Bove said in court today that it would be acceptable for the Department of Justice to engage in a “quid pro quo” transaction in which a dismissal of a criminal case was exchanged for political support for the president’s policies. See ABC News, Emil Bove denies 'quid pro quo' in dropping Eric Adams charges during court hearing. See also @mollycranegoodman@bsky.social quoting Bove during the hearing on Wednesday as saying, “I don’t concede that even if there was a quid pro quo, there would be a problem with the motion [to dismiss].”

The Independent, Pete Hegseth orders Pentagon to cut 8 percent of budget for each of the next five years.

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Concluding Thoughts

Clueless Democratic Senators are now expressing regret for having voted for Trump cabinet nominees who immediately broke their promises to behave like reasonable appointees bound by the rule of law. See The Huffington Post, Senate Democrats Regret Voting For Some Trump Cabinet Nominees.

Senate Democrats are wondering why their constituents are furious that the Senators are failing to mount scorched-earth opposition to nominees picked for their absolute loyalty to Trump's illegal agenda. Let’s hope that the Senators have learned their lesson. If they haven’t, they don’t deserve our support in future elections.

It is impossible to pick a group of federal employees or a program that best exemplifies Trump's cruelty and greed in indiscriminate cuts to the federal government. But cutting support for Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is among the worst domestic cuts. See The New Republic, Oops: Trump-Musk Cuts Just Wrecked an NIH Org Championed by GOPers.

Per The New Republic,

According to people familiar with the situation, approximately one-tenth of the workers have now been let go at the NIH’s Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias, or CARD, including its incoming director, a highly regarded scientist credited with important innovations in the field.

“These people are experts and are irreplaceable,” the CARD employee told me. “It’s devastating for us—and for anyone who is worried about getting Alzheimer’s, or has already gotten Alzheimer’s, and is hoping there will be better treatments in the future. It’s a huge blow.”

Alzheimer’s has affected nearly every family in America at one time or another. It is a particularly cruel disease that can overwhelm a family emotionally, physically, and financially. The fact that Musk and Trump have chosen to weaken the program by firing its incoming director is a callous, cruel decision that will be immediately understood by anyone who learns of the action. Tell your friends, family, and complete strangers what Trump is doing.

Speak up in the Comment section, which is open to everyone for this newsletter. Remember,

Be an effective communicator so your stories can be copied and shared, use paragraph breaks, and include details that personalize the harm suffered. (But please, protect the identity and privacy of those harmed by Trump’s cruel actions.)

Thanks to all who choose to share their stories.

Stay strong! I will talk to you tomorrow!

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Daily Dose of Perspective

M78 is a reflection nebula located approximately 3,500 light years from Earth. This image captures only the brightest parts of the nebula, which extends to and includes the fragments shown below.

Enjoy!