Category: Uncategorized

Trump’s attack on federal data

The future of history: Trump could leave less documentation behind than any previous US president

By slashing teams that gather critical data, the Trump administration has left the federal government with no way of understanding if policies are working — and created a black hole of information whose consequences could ripple out for decades: propub.li/3RZzqHP📽️: @josesepulveda.bsky.social

— ProPublica (@propublica.org) 2025-05-10T01:31:41.125Z

From a troubling data-sharing scheme to the ongoing risk of federal records being destroyed, the Trump administration’s disregard for accountability continues to put democracy at risk. Read our latest newsletter: americanoversight.org/newsletter/n…

— American Oversight (@weareoversight.bsky.social) 2025-05-16T20:58:16.382Z

Unclear what "non-survey data" refers to here. Note that this development comes a few months after HHS fired the entire team responsible for calculating federal poverty guidelines, which determine eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, etc. kffhealthnews.org/news/article… bsky.app/profile/hans…

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) 2025-06-25T18:35:50.437Z

Accidental death data threatened by Trump CDC cuts

— Axios (@axios.com) 2025-06-23T11:16:06.328Z

@jilldlawrence.bsky.social describes how the Trump regime is disappearing data it doesn't like and gathering personal data it can use against Americans. A disaster for democracy that depends on knowledge and a danger to every one of us.www.thebulwark.com/p/donald-tru…

— Steven Beschloss (@stevenbeschloss.bsky.social) 2025-05-07T17:52:22.631Z

This is a big deal. "Economists say the staffing shortage raises questions about the quality of recent and coming inflation reports. There is no sign of an intentional effort to publish false or misleading statistics. But any problems with the data could have major implications for the economy."

— @NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) (@newsjennifer.bsky.social) 2025-06-04T21:16:25.286Z

A priceless treasure trove of biodata gathered from generations of Americans by Harvard University researchers may soon be lost due to additional funding cuts by the Trump administration, a leading nutrition researcher told CNN.

— CNN (@cnn.com) 2025-05-08T09:00:23.138Z

@adamserwer.bsky.social: “During Democratic administrations, Trump has—completely without evidence—accused federal agencies of faking economic data. If the usual pattern of Trump doing things he accuses others of doing holds, Trump himself may try to fake economic data for real.“

— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry.theatlantic.com) 2025-05-27T19:48:53.428Z

Trump can now have any federal financial analyst fired if their reports don't paint the pretty pic he demands.Any gov't number cruncher who submits one that makes Trump look bad will be on the street.That means all economic reports will be manipulated before released to the Federal Reserve.

— Denise Wheeler (@denisedwheeler.bsky.social) 2025-05-22T04:09:44.137Z

Started/Going

— Mueller, She Wrote (@muellershewrote.com) 2025-05-27T00:02:15.750Z

We’ve amended our lawsuit against USAID and Marco Rubio for the destruction of government records.Our expanded lawsuit contests the alarming directive to remotely wipe devices used by departing staff.americanoversight.org/american-ove…

— American Oversight (@weareoversight.bsky.social) 2025-05-14T16:24:56.903Z

Was just talking with a group of scholars about all the primary sources and reports that have been disappearing along with the research and teaching losses associated already — USAID, USIP, Wilson Center, White House transcripts and older files, speeches, reports … with much more imperiled🗃️

— Christopher McKnight Nichols (@cmcknichols.bsky.social) 2025-05-28T19:15:59.343Z

Is Trump headed here?

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has intensified his crackdown on independent economists and consultants, detaining at least eight people in what critics call a bid to control data exposing the country's decline. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/article…

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell.bsky.social) 2025-06-19T23:53:08.032Z

Trump’s halting of data collection could have effects that last far beyond his time in office.Even if a future administration seeks to resurrect some of the curtailed efforts, the 2025-29 hiatus will make trends harder to identify and understand.

— ProPublica (@propublica.org) 2025-04-24T03:00:44.481Z

A current Noaa scientist who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation said that the action to halt the DMSP, when taken in context with other recent moves by the Trump administration, amounted to “a systematic destruction of science”.www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025…

— Eric Holthaus (@ericholthaus.com) 2025-06-28T18:34:02.043Z

Pentagon will no longer share satellite data that tracks hurricanes overnight, @byscottdance.com: http://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025…

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T21:20:14.660Z

* REUTERS POLL — NEARLY 90% ECONOMISTS, 89 OF 100, SAY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OFFICIAL U.S. ECONOMIC DATA, INCLUDING 41 SAYING VERY CONCERNED@reuters.com

— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) 2025-07-25T11:48:08.724Z

Bluesky posts on court rulings on Trump adminstration

The Supreme Court is letting Trump do anything he wants and doesn’t even explain why. Pathetic.

Since April 4, #SCOTUS has issued 15 rulings on 17 emergency applications filed by Trump (three birthright citizenship apps were consolidated).It has granted relief to Trump … in all 15 rulings.It has written majority opinions in only 3.Today's order is the 7th with no explanation *at all.*

— Steve Vladeck (@stevevladeck.bsky.social) 2025-07-14T19:38:43.267Z

Since May:Federal district courts have ruled against Trump admin 94% of the time.Supreme Court has sided with the Trump admin 94% of the time.A judiciary at war with itself.

— Adam Bonica (@adambonica.bsky.social) 2025-06-25T12:52:38.190Z

Of course, qualitatively, the lower-court injunctions in the Biden cases were almost entirely horseshit, while the injunctions in the Trump cases are almost entirely slam dunksMaking this even worse than the numbers would indicate

— Robert Black (@hurricanexyz.bsky.social) 2025-07-09T18:32:41.626Z

We all know whywww.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/u…

— Wajahat Ali (@wajali.bsky.social) 2025-07-16T16:01:08.355Z

Will global warming increase the use of domed stadiums?

I live in Baltimore. I heard on the radio that the heat index at the start of tonight’s Orioles game will be 111. That doesn’t sound safe for players or fans.

I think the next Orioles stadium will be domed as a response to the heat and located in the suburbs to appease the part of their fan base (that pays attention to right-wing media) that thinks downtown is unsafe. They would also find more room in the suburbs to build around the stadium.

I have posted on this subject before:

My opinion on sports and climate change

Republican attacks on GAO

They don’t want there to be any accountability for Trump’s disgraceful actions.

House Republicans are trying to gut the Government Accountability Office—the nonpartisan agency that’s spent decades exposing waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government. GAO has worked with Congress for years to make government more efficient and accountable. (1/2)

— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@repjasmine.bsky.social) 2025-06-23T16:43:46.387Z

This really is Congress eating its own institutional capacity to stifle any dissent to Trump. They accuse CBO of being Democrats, even though it is run by a Republican appointee.GAO has pointed out the illegality of impoundment. DOGE tried to take over GAO, and now House Republicans want to gut it.

— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn.bsky.social) 2025-06-23T00:15:51.073Z

House Republicans are clearing the path for Trump’s corruption by decimating the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office. Acting RM @lynch.house.gov and Oversight Dems are fighting back against Republican cuts at the GAO.

— Oversight Dems (@oversightdemocrats.house.gov) 2025-06-23T18:11:12.101Z

War with Iran is not popular

Even after a bounce in GOP loyalty, support for bombing Iran is still lower than support for most previous U.S. interventions in the Middle East. It could be argued that the country is more isolationist now than at any point since the 1970s.www.gelliottmorris.com/p/on-iran-a-…

— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris.com) 2025-06-27T15:02:32.121Z

From a couple days ago

— Thor Benson (@thorbenson.bsky.social) 2025-06-22T03:16:31.107Z

Trump’s poll numbers have been heading back down again. Bombing Iran won’t help and will probably hurt. Here’s why: messagebox.substack.com/p/why-bombin…

— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer.bsky.social) 2025-06-22T14:20:45.349Z

Only 5% want US to be at war with Iran5 percentAlmost never seen a poll like this

— Timothy McBride (@mcbridetd.bsky.social) 2025-06-23T03:00:28.000Z

Two pertinent graphs from me tonight… First, U.S. support for bombing Iran is very low — much lower than support was at the time for the American military attacking Afghanistan, Iraq, and ISIS.Link: http://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/polls-amer…

— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris.com) 2025-06-22T02:09:57.832Z

Striking new polling:CNN:56% disapprove of Trump bombing of Iran65% want Cong authReuters:Only 36% approve of bombingWill that hold amid truce? I think it might. Media is assuming voters will reflexively reward him for war. Let's not assume that.New piece:newrepublic.com/article/1971…

— Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T17:01:14.844Z

The CNN poll found that 56% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes in Iran.

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T15:07:51.594943Z

I don’t trust statistics from the Trump administration

Trump is a liar and I am sure he hires people who will lie for him.

I posted before on SSA reducing the amount of data available on customer service.

Now ICE is apparently lying about assaults:

"I emailed ICE multiple times asking where the 413 percent claim came from and whether there were news reports about the assaults it was tallying. I got no response, so I endeavored to figure out where the figures came from myself."The latest from @pbump.com:

— Washington Post Opinions (@postopinions.bsky.social) 2025-06-19T18:31:19.577Z

I wouldn’t trust any numbers from the Trump Administration. They have probably gotten rid of nonpartisan employees who kept statistics at many agencies. Trump lies often and needs liars to back him up.

— Harris Levy (@harrislevy.bsky.social) 2025-06-19T23:30:30.348Z

Trump destroys VOA

I don’t understand why Trump has destroyed this valuable non-partisan agency. He didn’t contest the court order to resume operations, he just ignored it with no consequences,

From the New York Times article below:

Although the Trump administration did not appeal the judge’s order, it kept most of the news organization’s staff on paid leave.

Voice of America now provides news in only four languages and has radio broadcasts in only one country, Afghanistan, according to court filings. That is a significant reduction from February, when it had around 1,300 journalists who broadcast in 49 languages to an audience of over 360 million worldwide.

The Trump admin just fired most Voice of America employees.

— Politico (@politico.com) 2025-06-20T17:37:12.366Z

Bonkers

— Tom Nichols (@radiofreetom.bsky.social) 2025-06-04T20:54:12.096Z

Analysis: Voice of America is off the air for now, having been gutted by President Donald Trump, but it may soon return — partly as a vessel for one of his favorite MAGA propaganda outlets.

— CNN (@cnn.com) 2025-05-07T15:15:45.448Z

Polls shows Republican big bill is unpopular

is this bad

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-06-30T15:44:03.496Z

— George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 (@gtconway.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T02:40:26.693Z

The American people strongly disapprove of the GOP’s one big ugly bill.It turns out that ripping healthcare away from millions of Americans is not that popular.#ProtectOurCare

— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social) 2025-06-26T20:21:49.848Z

How Americans feel about the One Big Beautiful Bill:FOX NEWS: 38% favorable, 59% unfavorableQUINNIPIAC: 27% favorable, 53% unfavorableKFF: 35% favorable, 64% unfavorablePEW: 29% favorable, 49% unfavorableWaPo-IPSOS: 23% favorable, 42% unfavorablewww.nbcnews.com/politics/con…

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T16:12:29.234Z

COOK POLITICAL: ".. five new recent polls show significant opposition to the legislation .. opposition is twice as high as support for it, and more Americans think that the legislation will hurt them than think it will help them."@cookpolitical.com http://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/nat…

— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) 2025-06-20T12:23:51.149Z

Republicans are running into a big problem with their Big Beautiful Bill (for Billionaires). I wonder why it’s so hard to convince everyday people that tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy that add trillions to the deficit will benefit them. 👀

— Rep. Mark Pocan (@pocan.house.gov) 2025-06-20T20:05:14.510Z

A plurality of Americans oppose President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with mixed opinions on specific provisions and concerns about its impact on the national debt and Medicaid, according to a Post-Ipsos poll.

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) 2025-06-17T11:59:32.467Z

KFF Health News: 'MAGA' Backers Like Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Until They Learn of Health Impacts — New poll shows Medicaid and the ACA are more popular than everwww.medpagetoday.com/publichealth…

— 🌊 ᑎIGᕼTᗯᖇITEᖇ 🌊 (@nightwriter.bsky.social) 2025-06-20T00:43:44.375Z

Our new poll shows the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is viewed unfavorably by nearly two-thirds of the public — nearly twice the share who view the bill favorably. It’s opposed by most Democrats, Independents, and non-MAGA supporters, while MAGA supporters favor it.

— KFF (@kff.org) 2025-06-17T13:10:20.719Z

When it comes to the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the poll found Americans oppose the measure by a large margin. Nearly three in four independents oppose the measure, as do the vast majority of Democrats.

— The New Republic (@newrepublic.com) 2025-06-20T13:51:19.766Z

The bill is Big but not Beautiful to most voters. Republicans in swing states and districts need to note opposition from 73% of Independents and — most politically troubling for them — 53-43% opposition from white men without college degrees who are, as Sahil says, “the heart of Trump’s base.”

— E.J. Dionne (@ejdionne.bsky.social) 2025-06-23T16:14:11.253Z

New: Polls show Trump's big bill is unpopular as Republicans stare down their deadline for passageFive recent national surveys tell a similar story.www.nbcnews.com/politics/con…

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur.bsky.social) 2025-06-23T13:03:18.533Z

The Quinnipiac poll shows the “Big Beautiful Bill” is unpopular. 71% of respondents say they have heard or read a lot, or some about the bill & only 27% of respondents support it. 87% of voters think Medicaid funding should increase or stay the same. They know #MedicaidSavesOurLives

— Jane Voter (@janevoter2018.bsky.social) 2025-06-27T13:53:56.042Z

When ordinary Republicans understand how Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” would affect the after-tax incomes of American families, it turns out they don’t find it beautiful at all.“I was really shocked."

— Mother Jones (@motherjones.com) 2025-06-27T19:20:35.559Z

Polls for Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Are ‘Terrible, Terrible, Terrible’ #BigBeautifulBill http://www.thedailybeast.com/cnn-data-gur… via @thedailybeast

— 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗱 (@photoframd.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T16:33:05.860Z

I worry about the 2026 and 2028 elections

I agree with Carpenter. This is about Trump abusing the 2026 and 2028 elections. It’s early but the party out of power usually picks up seats in Congress in mid-term elections and the Democrats could easily be favored in 2026. I could see Trump doing things such as declaring emergencies in blue states to prevent this.

I don’t know how serious he is about a third term in 2028 but I am sure he doesn’t want a Democratic president investigating all the shady stuff he is doing in his current term.

Trump is, again, attempting to do what he couldn't in 2020.Abuse the power of gov't to rig an election in his favor.But this isn't about 2020. It's a test run for 2026 and 2028.apnews.com/article/trum…

— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter.bsky.social) 2025-06-20T16:21:04.613Z