Anyone who has read reports in the Associated Press, the New York Times, CBS News, CNN, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, NBC News, or Axios would be under the impression that the Trump administration has offered 2 million federal workers a "buyout" offer — eight months of pay in return for a voluntary resignation.
Kinda crazy how we need a Substack newsletter (no offense, Judd & Co.) to explain these matters when the entirety of MSM seems unable or unwilling to understand them. Also, I didn't have at an attaboy for Tim Kaine on my Bingo card this morning, but re promises from Trump, truer words were never spoken.
What a Musk-ian scam! I was fortunate to see and hear Senator Tim Kaine passionately warn everyone NOT to accept Trump's deal for a buy-out in exchange for leaving their career because they would end up with NOTHING, no money, no job, no career. This move did not work when MUsk fired "everyone" at Twitter and ended up with having to try to hire many of them back. The results here would be much worse when our government begins to nonfunction! The Press Secretary looked weak and stupid, and Trump, the man who knows nothing about how government works, had to rescind his impulsive and disasterous action.
As a retired Fed, I would add that falling for this hoax would also mean exposing yourself to health insurance rates that are much higher (in many cases) than programs available to federal government employees. This is scam on a grand scale.
So typical tRump and Musk, fortunately the scam seems to have been exposed quickly, hopefully before too many were fooled into accepting. The only thing that may save us from these thugs is their own arrogance and incompetence.
This is step-one to help us get over our aversion to a dictatorship and Vance is the connection. This is the start of a coup, plain and simple. If we soft-pedal or get distracted by the actual intent, we may just see our Constitution demolished.
The six “Supremes” have already demolished our Constitution. We need to retake the White House, the Senate (need 60 Dems there) and the House then impeach those “Supremes” so real justices can overturn their ridiculous decisions.
Agreed, but remember that one of Trumps assurances was that we wouldn't have to worry about voting anymore. This is not about the next four years; the plan is to actually "delete" the entire federal system of government in favor of a CEO/dictator. I am concerned that we continue acting as if they are playing fair...
The arrogant Tech Bros think Vance is the connection, but nobody likes or trusts JV Vance and he doesn't command the MAGA cult the way tRump does. When the Orange Thug passes on the cult will fall apart, especially when he is no longer there to lull them into thinking that the billionaires care about them. Vance will slither back to the Silicon Valley and find more billionaire rubes to cheat.
Peter; Vance is only the connection, not the architect. They used him to get in the door. Look into Curtis Yarvin and Peter Theil. They aren't going anywhere unless we gut the movement.
Another excellent post, Judd. I know why my local paper, the Post, would falsely spin the story. After all, Bozos is in the broligarchy. But this is just another example of how business people and most journalists simply do not understand how our government and the civil service works. You'd think Post reporters, given the location of the paper, would have a better grasp, or educated themselves. I expect too much. The few excellent, knowledgeable Post journalists left, and the staff is full of 30-somethings writing about how to do your laundry.
Because the details are in the weeds. With the other things going on most of the media runs with the WH headlines on things like this.
I’ll give you another example: All the blather about Colombia backing down yada yada. That was a WH headline. Colombia has never refused to accept Colombian nationals being deported. The president did not want it to involve US military planes and objected to how deportees were treated. He offered Colombian plans. (Brazil also had a fit over no water, bathrooom access or a/c while being shackled.)
In the end, trump agreed to the Colombian planes. Neither country imposed the tariffs that were threatened. No headlines about how the trump military plane use raises the cost of deportation flights 8-10 times the cost of private charters.
Joyce Vance wrote that there seems to be resistance starting to surge through the affected personnel. They are not acquiescing and may mount an effective push-back campaign.
Judd, I hope you don’t tire of hearing this but you are a true gem to us all. This is the most important kind of reporting out there, and yes, I’m a paid subscriber. I would like to gift a subscription to someone but I don’t believe they’re on Substack. Is it required to be on Substack or can this go to an email address? I am retired and I need to limit how many paid subscriptions I have, but this is so very critical. A sacrifice is well worth it.
Now regarding this article, How Damn Dare a monumentally, excessively uber rich person like felon-lover Musk demand workers be reduced when all that has to happen is a 100% tax on ANYTHING above $1 Billion. That means Musk can part with $429 Billion and still live like a King! But think of what that excess of money would do for society!
"Billionaires are a policy failure." spoke the heirs to the Patagonia fortune, as they declined their father's offer. The company was turned into a co op of the employees.
Here's a cinematic moment from a drive from New York to Massachusetts yesterday:
I drove up behind a car with Washington DC plates which is unusual enough that, as I passed, I glanced over to see see who was driving. A woman, about 35, was behind the wheel, crying. She sobbed and wiped her eyes under her glasses. I passed by feeling like I always do when I see a stranger crying: empathy.
Kinda crazy how we need a Substack newsletter (no offense, Judd & Co.) to explain these matters when the entirety of MSM seems unable or unwilling to understand them. Also, I didn't have at an attaboy for Tim Kaine on my Bingo card this morning, but re promises from Trump, truer words were never spoken.
Agreed!
What a Musk-ian scam! I was fortunate to see and hear Senator Tim Kaine passionately warn everyone NOT to accept Trump's deal for a buy-out in exchange for leaving their career because they would end up with NOTHING, no money, no job, no career. This move did not work when MUsk fired "everyone" at Twitter and ended up with having to try to hire many of them back. The results here would be much worse when our government begins to nonfunction! The Press Secretary looked weak and stupid, and Trump, the man who knows nothing about how government works, had to rescind his impulsive and disasterous action.
If Musk caked me to come back after that, I'd cordially invite him to self fornicate.
As a retired Fed, I would add that falling for this hoax would also mean exposing yourself to health insurance rates that are much higher (in many cases) than programs available to federal government employees. This is scam on a grand scale.
And just wait until Trump writes an executive order to eliminate the ACA! He’s still pissed with John McCain for thwarting him.
Mr Legum, Thank you for this most timely report. Local news is echo chamber…Real Reporting by you is a blessing.
I fully agree!
– Robert in Vermont
Me,too!
As always, on point, informative, and needed journalism: thank you!
So typical tRump and Musk, fortunately the scam seems to have been exposed quickly, hopefully before too many were fooled into accepting. The only thing that may save us from these thugs is their own arrogance and incompetence.
No one should have been fooled into accepting. Hard to feel sorry for anyone grifted by his criminal majesty at this late date.
This is step-one to help us get over our aversion to a dictatorship and Vance is the connection. This is the start of a coup, plain and simple. If we soft-pedal or get distracted by the actual intent, we may just see our Constitution demolished.
https://youtu.be/wqWBM5Zs6YI?si=HK_wwOfH7aiimZY5
The six “Supremes” have already demolished our Constitution. We need to retake the White House, the Senate (need 60 Dems there) and the House then impeach those “Supremes” so real justices can overturn their ridiculous decisions.
Agreed, but remember that one of Trumps assurances was that we wouldn't have to worry about voting anymore. This is not about the next four years; the plan is to actually "delete" the entire federal system of government in favor of a CEO/dictator. I am concerned that we continue acting as if they are playing fair...
First repeal : Citizen's United.
The arrogant Tech Bros think Vance is the connection, but nobody likes or trusts JV Vance and he doesn't command the MAGA cult the way tRump does. When the Orange Thug passes on the cult will fall apart, especially when he is no longer there to lull them into thinking that the billionaires care about them. Vance will slither back to the Silicon Valley and find more billionaire rubes to cheat.
Peter; Vance is only the connection, not the architect. They used him to get in the door. Look into Curtis Yarvin and Peter Theil. They aren't going anywhere unless we gut the movement.
Man, I hope you are correct.
Another excellent post, Judd. I know why my local paper, the Post, would falsely spin the story. After all, Bozos is in the broligarchy. But this is just another example of how business people and most journalists simply do not understand how our government and the civil service works. You'd think Post reporters, given the location of the paper, would have a better grasp, or educated themselves. I expect too much. The few excellent, knowledgeable Post journalists left, and the staff is full of 30-somethings writing about how to do your laundry.
Thank god Sen Kaine is telling them to. I would trust noting from this administration and the unelected Musk
Which of course begs the question: if Tim Kaine knows this, and you know this, why isn't the media reporting it accurately?
Because MSM is owned by the billionaires currently running the country. They will dictate what their employees will say on air.
Because the details are in the weeds. With the other things going on most of the media runs with the WH headlines on things like this.
I’ll give you another example: All the blather about Colombia backing down yada yada. That was a WH headline. Colombia has never refused to accept Colombian nationals being deported. The president did not want it to involve US military planes and objected to how deportees were treated. He offered Colombian plans. (Brazil also had a fit over no water, bathrooom access or a/c while being shackled.)
In the end, trump agreed to the Colombian planes. Neither country imposed the tariffs that were threatened. No headlines about how the trump military plane use raises the cost of deportation flights 8-10 times the cost of private charters.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgly1we7gx4o
Basically, Colombia held Trump to the original agreement. He backed down.
Joyce Vance wrote that there seems to be resistance starting to surge through the affected personnel. They are not acquiescing and may mount an effective push-back campaign.
They are NOT free loading dummies. Many have endured Trump's previous administration, and will not be played for fools.
Color me shocked -- SHOCKED! -- that this OPM deal is yet another Trumpian scam!! I am not awed by anything this bunch of manipulators is doing.
I gotta say I am impressed with Sen. Kaine these past two weeks.
I used to live in Virginia. They are lucky to have his caliber of leadership. I live in Ohio now; need I say more?
Is anyone watching the Treasury Dept. or wherever they keep the gold stash? I thought they would have tried to just steal money directly by now.
They want to buy bitcoin with the contents of the treasury. A big, big siphon into trumps play money account.
Judd, I hope you don’t tire of hearing this but you are a true gem to us all. This is the most important kind of reporting out there, and yes, I’m a paid subscriber. I would like to gift a subscription to someone but I don’t believe they’re on Substack. Is it required to be on Substack or can this go to an email address? I am retired and I need to limit how many paid subscriptions I have, but this is so very critical. A sacrifice is well worth it.
Now regarding this article, How Damn Dare a monumentally, excessively uber rich person like felon-lover Musk demand workers be reduced when all that has to happen is a 100% tax on ANYTHING above $1 Billion. That means Musk can part with $429 Billion and still live like a King! But think of what that excess of money would do for society!
"Billionaires are a policy failure." spoke the heirs to the Patagonia fortune, as they declined their father's offer. The company was turned into a co op of the employees.
Here's a cinematic moment from a drive from New York to Massachusetts yesterday:
I drove up behind a car with Washington DC plates which is unusual enough that, as I passed, I glanced over to see see who was driving. A woman, about 35, was behind the wheel, crying. She sobbed and wiped her eyes under her glasses. I passed by feeling like I always do when I see a stranger crying: empathy.