Closing the tabs ...
If your party overwhelmingly comprises the federal bureaucracy, you hold onto the levers of power even through electoral losses.
— Abigail Shrier (@AbigailShrier) February 13, 2025
This has been the story of @TheDemocrats for my entire life. It's also the best explanation for the Democrats' current desperation and hysteria.
Ed: It's not the only way that allows Democrats to exercise power. A lot of money has gone missing, disappearing into the ledgers of politically connected vendors for very little return. That money may be flowing to the activist groups on which Democrats rely for election assistance, as I argued earlier today.
===
“DOGE: Looks like Radical Left Reuters was paid $9,000,000 by the Department of Defense to study “large scale social deception.” GIVE BACK THE MONEY, NOW!” he bellowed on Truth Social.
In a follow-up post, aimed at a different media outlet, he continued: “DOGE: Why was Politico paid Millions of Dollars for NOTHING. Buying the press??? PAY BACK THE MONEY TO THE TAXPAYERS! How much has the Failing New York Times paid? Is this the money that is keeping it open??? THEY ARE BUYING THE PRESS!”
Ed: I know yesterday's Final Word focused on the same topic, but there may not be any more important topic than the effort to uncover massive amounts of grift and corruption. And that includes the media that clearly has been relying on the government more than they have been reporting on it.
===
Deranged Maxine Waters badgers Jerome Powell about DOGE; lets the real worry slip:
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) February 13, 2025
“We don’t know what all they have on us." pic.twitter.com/YmKfnYk7jw
Ed: Waters seems very worried about what we'll discover by following the money. I wonder why? (Via Twitchy)
===
The Trump administration quickly made good on its vow to claw back federal funding meant to cover some of the costs of housing migrants borne by New York City, unilaterally reversing the transfer of $80 million that the Federal Emergency Management Agency made to the city last week.
City leaders said on Wednesday that they noticed $80 million had suddenly gone missing from city bank accounts. Shortly after, the Department of Homeland Security, which houses FEMA, confirmed that the money had been taken back on Tuesday, a significant escalation of President Trump’s attempts to freeze or reverse funding that had previously been appropriated by Congress.
Ed: Bummer about your grift, folks. You chose to be a "sanctuary city," so New Yorkers can pay the freight for it.
===
CHANGE OF HEART?
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 13, 2025
Joe Scarborough seems to acknowledge the absurdity of USAID grants — the likes of which funded "$3,000,000 to a rap artist in Gaga producing anti-Israel, anti-Semitic songs."
"There are programs...that are not the sort of program that most Americans would… pic.twitter.com/n9mO9A7jM1
Ed: So why is MSNBC freaking out just over a full-scale transparent audit of USAID spending? This also ignores a point I have made repeatedly -- that any worthy program that gets interrupted by the administration could get direct funding from Congress. But this is still a good discussion by Joe Scarborough, and he gave Mike Lawler a good opportunity to make his argument.
===
A federal judge extended Thursday his court order blocking the Trump administration from putting employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on administrative leave—the latest in a slew of legal actions as Democrats and others fight President Donald Trump and cost-cutting czar Elon Musk in court.
Trump-appointed District Judge Carl Nichols extended a previous order blocking the Trump administration from putting 2,200 employees at USAID on leave—part of the White House’s broader plan to dismantle the foreign aid agency, which the federal employees union that brought the lawsuit called “unconstitutional and illegal”—with Nichols’ order barring the federal government from removing any USAID workers from the countries where they’re stationed until at least Feb. 21.
Ed: Lawsuits from federal employees will be a legit fly in the ointment for a while. Trump tried to get around the process for terminating federal employees -- which is incredibly complicated -- by suspending them with full pay and benefits while that process plays out. He apparently hoped that would strip them of standing in court, and it still might, but it still also allows Trump to force courts to respect Article II in the end.
===
The Left is running like roaches with the light on over @DOGE. @RepRobertGarcia went far beyond the pale last night, calling for weapons to be used against @ElonMusk.
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) February 13, 2025
This won’t be ignored. We’re making an example out of him.👇 pic.twitter.com/wK8SLGN4J8
===
[Enjoying the Final Word posts? Want to participate in the discussion in our comment section? There's no better time to sign up for our VIP, VIP Gold, and VIP Platinum memberships! As David wrote earlier, we aren't getting gold bars at taxpayer expense to keep our operations afloat like the Protection Racket Media does, nor do we want it! We keep fighting to keep independent voices and dissent alive in the face of enormous pressure, and our members are right there on the front lines with us. Please join the fight! Become a HotAir VIP member today and use the code GOLDBARS for 50% off and get the media deal of a lifetime!]
===
Imagine you're interviewing for a new role as department head, and part of the job description is to shut the division down.
That's what appears to be happening to Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump's pick for education secretary. Her role would lead the department that oversees schools, collects student data, and manages the federal student aid system, but even before she appeared before lawmakers on Thursday for her confirmation hearing, Trump has said he aims to shut down the department altogether.
"I told Linda, 'Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job.' I want her to put herself out of a job," Trump told reporters on February 4, adding on February 12 that he wanted the Department of Education to be closed "immediately."
Ed: Does Business Insider really have that much difficulty imagining a process that is hardly unknown in the business world? Should they rebrand themselves as Bureaucracy Insider instead?
===
JUST IN: DOGE workers have been unleashed on the IRS, Trump says he calls them the "force of super-geniuses."
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 13, 2025
"The Internal Revenue Service will be looked at like everybody else."
"I call it the force of super-geniuses, but it's building. And, you know, they go up and they talk… pic.twitter.com/ctRkrXjGQG
Ed: Can't wait for Democrats to start shrieking "Save the IRS!" and expect voters to support them.
===
Federal agencies across Washington are finding ways to keep funding frozen even after judges last month temporarily blocked the White House’s effort to pause trillions of dollars in federal assistance. ...
That’s left US contractors in a state of upheaval, and in many cases led to furloughs and layoffs of workers at organizations that rely on government funding.
“People are just flipping out, and most of them are being careful about what they say,” said Jason Walsh, executive director of climate and labor group the BlueGreen Alliance.
Ed: Quelle surprise that the "BlueGreen Alliance" is lamenting a lack of access to taxpayer funds. Legit vendors with specific materiel and service deliverables should get their invoices paid, but this sounds much more like a bunch of interest groups have suddenly gotten cut off from access to activist funding -- and they don't like it. See Abigail Shrier's comment at the top for the proper context of this argument.
===
CNN is physically unable to stop talking about Elon Musk changing his name to "Harry Bōlz" temporarily on X. pic.twitter.com/ywfPLs9Yvm
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 13, 2025
Join the conversation as a VIP Member