Trump’s Economic Claims: Disregarding Realities and Undermining Americans’ Financial Health

During an interview on “Sunday Morning Futures,” President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about a potential market recession while advocating for his economic policies. He touted that his administration was working to bring wealth back to America, claiming that this transition period would ultimately benefit industries like agriculture. Trump asserted that under his presidency, China adhered to a trade agreement requiring substantial purchases from American farmers, a claim he used to contrast his administration’s actions with those of President Biden.

When pressed about the potential downturn in the stock market due to recent tariffs and economic disruptions, Trump downplayed the significance of market fluctuations. He suggested that America should not focus solely on quarterly metrics, drawing a comparison to China’s longer-term strategic outlook. This perspective highlights a fundamental disconnect within his administration’s economic philosophy, prioritizing a facade of strength over the realities of economic stability.

Trump’s claims of successful negotiations with China and promises of reinvestment by major corporations, such as the proposed $200 billion chip manufacturing plant, are misleading. These assertions often lack substantiation and overlook the damaging effects his tariffs have had on American households. The reality is that these tariffs have exacerbated inflation and placed additional financial burdens on the very citizens Trump claims to support.

Furthermore, Trump’s framing of economic progress as building a “tremendous foundation for the future” fails to account for the immediate economic hardships faced by many Americans. While he highlights major investments, the escalating trade war and sanction-driven isolationist policies have resulted in objects like high consumer prices, making everyday essentials less affordable.

Ultimately, the rhetoric employed by Trump embodies a broader trend among Republicans: prioritizing short-term political gains over the long-term health of the economy and the welfare of working-class Americans. His administration’s approach not only threatens economic stability but also diminishes trust in the fundamental values of American democracy and fair governance.

(h/t: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/09/trump_dont_watch_the_stock_market_china_has_a_100-year_perspective_we_go_by_quarters.html)

Marco Rubio’s Bypass of Congress for $4 Billion in Arms to Israel Highlights Trump’s Unchecked Military Power

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has recently bypassed Congress, invoking emergency authorities to send $4 billion in arms, including 2,000-pound bombs, to Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This alarming maneuver marks the second instance within a month where the Trump administration has sidestepped the necessary legislative approval for military aid. Rubio’s justification for this emergency measure was not specified, raising serious concerns regarding transparency and accountability in government.

Federal officials informed congressional committees about the arms deal, which includes the transfer of munitions that are currently under review. Notably, one significant shipment valued at approximately $2 billion had yet to be submitted to Congress for its consideration. The evident haste in moving forward with such substantial military support without proper scrutiny reflects an unsettling trend within the Republican administration, prioritizing swift action over responsible governance.

The Pentagon’s recent announcement outlined the potential delivery of over 35,000 bombs to Israel, a nation that has faced criticism for deploying these munitions in densely populated areas like Gaza. U.S. military experts have warned that such bombs are entirely unsuitable for urban combat scenarios, exacerbating concerns about collateral damage and civilian casualties in one of the most overpopulated regions on Earth.

This pattern of executive overreach under the Trump administration exemplifies a troubling disregard for checks and balances, effectively undermining legislative authority. The bypassing of Congress not only raises ethical questions about decision-making processes but also threatens to escalate an already volatile situation in the Middle East, with little regard for the humanitarian implications.

As the Trump administration continues to operate with alarming impunity, the bypassing of congressional oversight in arms sales underscores the potential for unchecked military aggression and increased hostility. This behavior reveals a commitment to militaristic policies that favor profit over the preservation of human life and international stability.

(h/t: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/02/us/politics/rubio-arms-israel.html)

Trump’s Plan to Remove Government Spending from GDP Risks Economic Health and Equality

The Trump administration is considering a significant change to how gross domestic product (GDP) is calculated by excluding government spending. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick proposed this shift, claiming it would provide greater transparency, a view echoed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, such a move can obscure the true health of the U.S. economy, as government spending plays a critical role in economic stability and growth.

Traditionally, GDP reports include government spending as it reflects the economic activity essential for understanding growth dynamics. Cutting government spending could lead to substantial layoffs among federal employees, resulting in decreased consumer spending and potential economic downturns. Lutnick’s remarks on Fox News suggest that the administration aims to undermine the value of government spending, ignoring essentials such as Social Security, infrastructure, and scientific research that are crucial for economic health.

Musk has publicly criticized the incorporation of government spending in GDP calculations, arguing that it artificially inflates economic metrics. This perspective dismisses the importance of government roles in supporting citizens and stimulating economic activity. By framing government expenditures as inefficiencies, the Trump administration risks deepening inequality and disregarding the foundational economic contributions of programs that support American workers.

The proposed exclusion of government spending amounts to a blatant effort to reshape economic narratives. The latest GDP report shows that federal spending contributes significantly to personal income, essential for understanding the economy’s overall performance. Trump’s push for budget cuts could diminish services vital for the welfare of millions, all under the guise of fiscal responsibility.

The Trump administration’s rhetoric surrounding economic growth obscures the detrimental effects of its policies. While claiming to create the ‘best economy,’ their strategy focuses on wealth accumulation for elites at the expense of the broader population. By undermining government functions that support the citizens, Trump and his allies reveal their commitment to an agenda rooted in inequality, further eroding the foundations of American democracy and economic integrity.

Elon Musk Eyes FAA Starlink Contract To Enrich Himself

Elon Musk has publicly criticized Verizon’s management of the FAA’s air traffic control upgrade, declaring it on the verge of failure. He claims that a breakdown of the $2.4 billion contract with Verizon poses a serious risk to air traveler safety, stating that the FAA’s assessment indicates a possible catastrophic failure within months. This statement raises significant concerns given the responsibility of the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure safety in air travel.

In response to Musk’s claims, the FAA has yet to confirm any imminent decisions regarding Verizon’s contract. Musk’s suggestion that SpaceX, through its Starlink service, should take over the FAA’s communications modernization has raised eyebrows about possible conflicts of interest due to his substantial business ties with the agency. This could mark a troubling intersection of power and corporate interests, especially when considering Musk’s influence over regulatory agencies tasked with oversight of his businesses.

According to reports, the FAA is nearing a decision on whether to cancel Verizon’s contract, instead favoring SpaceX’s Starlink solutions. Such a move by the FAA could potentially bring faster and more reliable services but is likely to incite legal challenges, considering the complexities involved in canceling federal contracts. Additionally, this transition may contradict the approaches proposed by the Trump administration regarding government spending and cuts to agencies like the FAA.

Furthermore, recent tragedies in air travel have intensified scrutiny over air traffic safety protocols. Although investigations into the causes of recent crashes are ongoing, the spotlight on Musk’s comments illustrates the increasing anxiety surrounding air travel safety—especially as public confidence wanes in existing systems.

Musk’s positioning as a savior for air traffic control comes amidst broader concerns about how his business activities and governmental relations could result in beneficial outcomes for SpaceX while detrimentally impacting public safety and regulatory integrity. The alignment of Musk’s interests with the FAA’s operations suggests a deeply flawed dynamic that must be critically examined given the potential implications on user safety and corporate profiting.

(h/t: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/business/elon-musk-faa-air-traffic-control-failing-spacex/index.html)

Trump’s Drastic Cuts to HUD Staff Threaten Vital Homelessness Services

The Trump administration is poised to enact drastic staffing cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), specifically within the Office of Community Planning and Development. This office is crucial for the management of federal funds aimed at addressing homelessness, which is currently at an all-time high in the U.S. Reports indicate that up to 84% of the staff may be let go, the largest cut proposed within any HUD division.

Industry experts and homelessness advocates are alarmed, fearing such cuts will exacerbate an already dire situation for those without housing. Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, emphasized that the impact of this proposed reduction will be felt at both community and national levels, severely hindering services that provide rental assistance and mental health support.

This mass staffing reduction is part of a broader directive from Trump’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, also referred to as DOGE, led by Elon Musk. The agency’s overall plan may reduce HUD’s workforce by up to 50%, raising concerns about the continuance of vital programs, such as disaster recovery and affordable housing initiatives.

Further complicating the scenario, the Biden administration’s impending homelessness funding approval has been stalled, likely as a side effect of the transition to a new administration’s policies. Additionally, the Trump administration recently issued a memorandum freezing federal grant approvals, which has raised alarm bells among community organizations reliant on timely funding to operate.

In tandem with the layoffs, Republican legislators have been vocal about their interest in reshaping how federal homelessness funding is allocated, suggesting a shift towards block grants that would give states greater discretion over spending. This move is consistent with the broader Republican agenda which aims to dismantle established policies favoring immediate housing solutions. The combination of funding freezes, staff cuts, and policy changes suggests a deliberate strategy that could deepen the homelessness crisis in the United States.

(h/t: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/22/g-s1-50199/doge-trump-hud-cuts-homeless-housing-programs?utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3S2Ng_TZO8NFmluCH-sbufjFcKBbpxidJnvaEkwWLiGs4ff40DOQkw1PU_aem_U8deuy19puJwuZm1W97oaA)

DHS Unveils $200 Million Anti-Immigrant Ad Campaign, Fueling Trump’s Fear-Based Agenda

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under the leadership of Kristi Noem, has allocated an astonishing $200 million for an aggressive ad campaign. These ads are explicitly designed to promote anti-immigrant sentiments and express gratitude to President Donald Trump for his initiative to tighten immigration controls. Noem recently revealed that this entire campaign was Trump’s brainchild, as he directed her to star in the ads worldwide, urging her to discourage illegal immigration.

During her speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Noem recounted Trump’s insistence on her participation, stating that he required her to publicly thank him for “closing the border.” In a blatant display of taxpayer-funded propaganda aimed at issuing threats to migrants, the ads convey a message of fear, urging undocumented individuals to either leave the country voluntarily or face deportation, all while praising Trump.

The ad blitz serves dual purposes: to propagate the Trump administration’s hardline stance against immigrants and to bolster Trump’s reputation among his base. It features Noem delivering a stern warning to undocumented immigrants, claiming that those who do not leave the U.S. face dire consequences. The campaign, funded by taxpayer dollars, highlights an unsettling approach to governance where public resources are leveraged to support a singular narrative of fear and exclusion.

This initiative coincides with broader troubling changes within the DHS under Noem, including the sidelining of personnel who are supposed to oversee elections—a move reflecting potential vulnerabilities in protecting democratic integrity. Additionally, resources are being diverted to enforcement against immigrants rather than tackling significant financial crimes, suggesting a dangerous shift in priorities under Trump’s influence.

In orchestrating this advertisement campaign, the Trump administration continues to manipulate public opinion, portraying immigrants as threats while simultaneously glorifying Trump’s administration’s policies. What emerges is a clear indication of a government apparatus that is more invested in fostering divisive propaganda than addressing the complex realities of immigration and governance, highlighting an alarming trend towards authoritarianism under the guise of patriotism.

(h/t: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-kristi-noem-200-million-dhs-ad-campaign-thanks-president-1235276324/)

Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze Threatens Disabled Americans, Transgender Youth, and Refugees

President Donald Trump’s recent actions reveal a concerning trend that affects vulnerable populations across America, hinging on an alarming federal funding freeze aimed at crippling essential services for disabled Americans, transgender youth, and refugees. A sweeping memo from the Office of Management and Budget initiated a pause on trillions in federal grants and loans, causing immediate repercussions. Nonprofits and healthcare organizations reported delays in receiving vital funding, which ultimately hinders their ability to assist those in need.

For instance, a West Virginia nonprofit that facilitates employment for people with disabilities was unable to support a new employee due to delayed federal funds. Although an immediate reversal was initiated, many organizations remain in limbo regarding access to funds, with even federal judges unable to fully resolve the situation. This disruption particularly hurt the Appalachian Center for Independent Living, which had to lay off critical staff members, jeopardizing their support for individuals in need of services.

Furthermore, Trump’s executive order targeting federal support for gender-affirming care poses a severe threat to the health and well-being of transgender youth. Hospitals in major U.S. cities have temporarily suspended medical treatments, creating a healthcare crisis in regions previously regarded as safe havens for such care. This order not only restricts access to necessary medical interventions but also threatens legal repercussions for caregivers and healthcare providers, intensifying an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

As if that isn’t troubling enough, Trump’s administration has instigated a funding freeze that impacts refugee resettlement efforts, leaving nearly 6,000 refugees in a precarious state. The halt on foreign aid severely limits organizations like Global Refuge, which relies on federal funds to assist new arrivals in navigating life in the U.S. The fear of future funding cuts plagues these nonprofits, with many expressing that such actions could result in dire consequences for marginalized communities reliant on their support.

The ongoing fallout from Trump’s unprecedented maneuvers represents a targeted assault on programs that uphold the dignity and rights of vulnerable citizens. With alarming guidance from figures like Elon Musk advocating for slashed federal spending, the consequences of these policies threaten to erode fundamental aspects of American democracy and humanitarian support. Such actions exemplify a racist and authoritarian agenda, fostering an environment that endangers lives and livelihoods.

(h/t: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/06/politics/nonprofits-funding-trump-freeze/index.html)

Musk and Ramaswamy Advance Trump’s Dangerous DOGE Agenda in Congress

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy recently met with Republican lawmakers at Capitol Hill to discuss Donald Trump’s controversial initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at slashing federal programs and regulations. This meeting raised serious concerns about the prioritization of wealth and corporate interests over the needs of the American people, particularly vulnerable populations who rely on essential services like Medicare and Social Security.

The DOGE initiative is a thinly veiled attempt to fulfill Trump’s agenda of dismantling crucial government functions under the guise of efficiency. Musk and Ramaswamy, both wealthy entrepreneurs with limited public service experience, were tasked with leading this effort. Their lack of accountability and transparency threatens to undermine democratic processes and further enrich the oligarchs at the expense of everyday citizens.

During the closed-door meeting, lawmakers discussed potential cuts to various federal programs. Rep. Virginia Foxx even suggested reducing the Department of Education, a move that could devastate educational opportunities for countless students. Despite some lawmakers expressing a desire to maintain support for popular programs, the overall tone was one of prioritizing fiscal austerity without consideration for the human impact of these decisions.

Critics, including good-government advocates, are rightfully alarmed about the implications of allowing unelected individuals like Musk and Ramaswamy to influence federal budget cuts. Their advisory role lacks the traditional checks and balances that ensure a fair and transparent process. The Federal Advisory Committee Act, which was designed to uphold these standards, appears to be disregarded in favor of unaccountable decision-making.

The backdrop of this initiative is a staggering $6 trillion federal budget deficit, exacerbated by tax cuts for the wealthy, which Trump and his allies have historically championed. As these Republican lawmakers align themselves with Musk and Ramaswamy, it becomes clear that their focus is not on genuine budget reform but rather on advancing a neoliberal agenda that prioritizes corporate interests and undermines the fundamental rights of American citizens.

(h/t: https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Business/wireStory/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-bringing-trumps-doge-capitol-116487139)

Trump pulls troops from northern Syria as Turkey readies offensive

The United States began withdrawing American troops from Syria’s border with Turkey early Monday, in the clearest sign yet that the Trump administration was washing its hands of an explosive situation between the Turkish military and U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters.

President Trump, in a series of Twitter messages Monday, suggested that the United States was shouldering too much of the burden — and the cost — of fighting the Islamic State. He rebuked European nations for not repatriating citizens who had joined the extremist group, claiming that the United States was being played for a “sucker.” And he chided his own Kurdish allies, who he said were “paid massive amounts of money and equipment” to fight the militants. 

“It is time for us to get out of these ridiculous Endless Wars, many of them tribal, and bring our soldiers home. WE WILL FIGHT WHERE IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT, AND ONLY FIGHT TO WIN,” he tweeted.

Trump later added a warning to Turkey. “As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!),” he tweeted.

“They must, with Europe and others, watch over the captured ISIS fighters and families,” Trump continued. “The U.S. has done far more than anyone could have ever expected, including the capture of 100% of the ISIS Caliphate. It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory. THE USA IS GREAT!”

The withdrawal followed a late Sunday statement by the White House that the United States would not intervene in a long-threatened Turkish offensive into northern Syria. The announcement, which signaled an abrupt end to a months-long American effort to broker peace between two important allies, came after a call between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Erdogan said in a speech Monday that the withdrawal began soon after their phone call.

A U.S. official confirmed to The Washington Post that American troops left observation posts in the border villages of Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ayn at 6:30 a.m. local time.

In an initial reaction to the pullout, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a strong Trump supporter, indicated on Twitter that he was seeking more information on the president’s decision. But he added, “If press reports are accurate this is a disaster in the making.”

The fast-moving developments threatened a fresh military conflagration in a large swath of northern Syria, stretching from east of the Euphrates River to the border with Iraq. Syrian Kurds had established an autonomous zone in the area during more than eight years of Syria’s civil war.

Ankara, however, has been increasingly unnerved by the Kurdish presence, and by the close ties between U.S.-allied Syrian Kurdish fighters and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, a militant group that has fought a long insurgency against the Turkish state.

For months, Erdogan has been threatening an imminent invasion, as Trump administration officials attempted to work out an accommodation that would satisfy Turkish demands for border security while providing a measure of protection for the U.S.-allied Syrian-Kurdish force.

But on Sunday, the United States appeared to throw up its hands. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the Turkish leader would “soon be moving forward” with dispatching troops to battle the Kurdish forces, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. Ankara views the group as a terrorist-linked entity, but the SDF has fought closely alongside the U.S. military as a primary partner against the Islamic State. 

“The United States armed forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial ‘caliphate,’ will no longer be in the immediate area,” Grisham said in a statement. ISIS is another name for the Islamic State, the militant group whose rise drew the U.S. military into Syria. 

The SDF, in a statement critical of the United States, said the American troops have begun pulling out.

“The United States forces have not fulfilled their obligations and withdrew their forces from the border area with Turkey,” the statement said. “This Turkish military operation in north and east Syria will have a big negative impact on our war against Daesh and will destroy all stability that was reached in the last few years.” Daesh is an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.

It added that the group reserves the right to defend itself against Turkish aggression.

Erdogan, who has portrayed a Turkish incursion as necessary to protect his country’s borders, has spoken in recent weeks of resettling millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey in a “safe zone” in northern Syria, a plan that has been criticized by refugee advocates as well as local Syrian Kurds who could be displaced by such a proposal.

On Saturday, Erdogan said the invasion, dubbed Operation Peace Fountain, could begin “as soon as today or maybe tomorrow.”

U.S. officials depicted the impending offensive, and the U.S. troop withdrawal, as a dramatic turn after their prolonged attempt to hammer out an arrangement that would allay the Turks’ concerns about Syrian Kurdish forces close to their border, while also averting a battle they fear will be bloody for Kurdish fighters whom the Pentagon sees as stalwart allies. 

Military officials point out that Kurdish assistance is still required to avoid a return of the Islamic State in Syria and to guard facilities where Islamic State militants and their families are being held. 

A senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an evolving situation, said the U.S. government “has no idea” what the Turkish operation would look like, whether it would be a small, symbolic incursion or a major offensive intended to push as far as 25 miles into Syria. 

 U.S. officials said an operation deep into Syria could further jeopardize the security of prisons holding Islamic State fighters. “There are many potential disastrous outcomes to this,” the official said.

The White House announcement comes only two days after the Pentagon completed its most recent joint patrol with Turkish forces, a central element of the U.S. effort to build trust in northern Syria. But similar patrols and other measures overseen from a joint U.S.-Turkish military hub in southern Turkey have not reduced Ankara’s impatience to establish the buffer zone it has envisioned. 

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper described ongoing U.S.-Turkish cooperation in northern Syria, saying that his Turkish counterpart had agreed in a call last week “that we need to make the security mechanism work.”

In negotiations, the United States had said it would agree to a strip along the border to be cleared of Syrian Kurdish fighters and jointly patrolled by the United States and Turkey on the ground and in the air. That strip is about five miles wide, only about a quarter of what the Turks have demanded.

The joint patrols are taking place in only about a third of the border length, with the idea of gradually expanding them. In addition to not liking U.S. terms for the agreement, Erdogan believes the United States is dragging its feet in implementing it.

“Mr. Trump gave the order; he ordered to pull out. But this came late,” Erdogan told reporters in Ankara on Monday. “We cannot accept the threats of terrorist organizations.”

Erdogan’s plan to send up to 3 million Syrian refugees into the 140-mile-long strip also runs counter to what the United States says was part of the agreement they had reached to allow only the 700,000 to 800,000 refugees who originally fled the area to resettle there. Turkey currently hosts more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees, but the government has recently begun deporting hundreds back to Syria as public sentiment turns against the migrants.

Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for Erdogan, wrote on Twitter that Turkey has no interest in occupying or changing the demographics in northeastern Syria and that the “safe zone” would serve two purposes: secure Turkey’s borders and allow refugees to return home.

After months of warning about the turmoil such a move could create, U.S. officials said they are now watching Turkey’s actions closely to inform their own decisions about how quickly they must move the hundreds of troops expected to be affected. 

“We’re going to get out of the way,” another U.S. official said. 

There are about 1,000 U.S. troops in northeastern Syria. 

The SDF also predicted that Islamic State fighters would break out of prison camps the SDF manages in different areas of Syria.

The potential for greater risk to Islamic State prisons and camps comes after months of unsuccessful efforts by the Trump administration to persuade countries in Europe and elsewhere to repatriate their citizens.

The White House statement said that “Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters” in that area. “The United States will not hold them for what could be many years and great cost to the United States taxpayer,” Grisham said. 

Erdogan said Monday that Turkey has “an approach to this issue” of ISIS, without specifying what it was.

The United Nations is also concerned about the impact that any Turkish operation would have on the protection of civilians in northeastern Syria, Panos Moumtzis, U.N. regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, said in a telephone interview.

“We want our message to all governments and actors on the ground to be to make sure that this latest development does not have an impact first of all on a new displacement of people,” he said.

The United Nations already provides services to approximately 700,000 people every month in the northeast. Moumtzis emphasized the importance of freedom of movement of civilians and ensuring the continuation of access to humanitarian groups. He stressed that any movement of Syrians must be done voluntarily and with safety and dignity.

“We have not had any specific instructions on” the safe zone, he said, adding that the United Nations has a contingency plan depending on how wide and deep the safe zone would be.

Turkey’s latest possible incursion comes nearly two years after Ankara launched a military offensive on Afrin, in northern Syria, in an operation that was also criticized as a distraction from the fight against the Islamic State.  

The contested legacy of Turkey’s Afrin offensive has hovered over Erdogan’s latest military plans. Ankara has argued that its past foray into Syria brought stability to parts of the north and provided a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. But over the last year, human rights groups have documented abuses by Turkish-backed militias in Afrin — mistreatment that they say has included kidnappings and arbitrary detentions.

And many of the refugees who returned to Afrin — which has suffered from mysterious militant attacks, including car bombs — ended up fleeing back across the border into Turkey, according to advocates for the refugees.

Kurdish leaders have accused Turkey of trying to settle Arabs in historically Kurdish lands. Arab residents, in turn, have accused the Kurds of carrying out ethnic cleansing in areas they control.

“We thank the Americans for their decision to withdraw from northern Syria, not because we hate the U.S. but because we are fed up with the SDF,” said Abu Musafir, a member of the Manbij Tribal Council, a confederation of Arab tribes in the region.

“We are fed up with the SDF’s racism, detentions, kidnappings and compulsory conscription of underaged boys and girls,” he said. “The situation was bad, and the area was on the verge of imploding.” 

[Washington Post]

Trump earmarks $20 million for golfer Jack Nicklaus’ pet project in new proposed federal budget

President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget proposal has come under much scrutiny. A portion of the budget requests $20 million to go towards Trump’s golf buddy Jack Nicklaus’s mobile children’s hospital project.

The money will go towards expanding Miami’s Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to offer mobile services, which Nicklaus has long lobbied for.

“The $20 million increase will continue support for the pediatric disaster care pilot initiative which aims to improve pediatric care during emergencies,” the budget proposal reads.

“Nicklaus had lobbied Trump on the golf course in Florida, and he met with HHS Secretary Alex Azar and then-OMB Director Mick Mulvaney in Washington, D.C., to request funds. Trump personally directed HHS to earmark the funds to help Nicklaus develop mobile children’s hospitals, one individual said,” Politico reported.

Trump and Nicklaus have constantly golfed together since November the report said.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and HHS did not respond to Politico’s requests for comment.

Read the full report here.

[Raw Story]

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