Great post from The Establishment Bar Blog last week:
Playing Offense: Using DOGE’s Reckless Cuts to Highlight Democratic Government Efficiency
Posted by T.LaFauci
April 28, 2025
Where to start.
The first 100 days of the Trump regime has caused countless damage that the next Democratic president will have to undo. From the dismantling of programs such as USAID to the war against the National Institute of Health to the dismantling of the Department of Education, this administration had done everything in its power to undermine effective, efficient government programs under the guise of cost-cutting. It has been a long-standing Republican and Libertarian dream to shrink the size of government and with Trump at the helm and feckless Republicans sitting idly by in Congress, they finally have a chance to do so. The programs and departments they are axing are by no means the most costly. But they are inline with Democratic values and ideals. After all, a program like AmeriCorps puts back so much more to the communities it serves than its cost alone. But because the program primarily serves low-income communities of color, it is seen as expendable for an administration determined to shut down social justice programs under the guise of government efficiency.
Suffice to say, the next Democratic president will have his hands full to undo all that has been done.
And that’s part of the Republican strategy. Because for them to continue to appeal to their shrinking base, they have to maintain the myth that the Democrats are the party of big government spending. The next Democratic president who takes the helm will have to rebuild the Department of Education and the National Institute of Health. He will have to figure out how to reinstate programs like USAID and AmeriCorps. Doing this will cost money and when you spend money to create government programs and expand departments, you are playing right into the Republican narrative of the government being run by “tax and spending” liberals. It’s the political equivalent of being a bull in a china shop and somehow blaming the owner of the shop for spending money to clean up the mess that the bull created.
What remains to be seen these next 32 months is whether the GOP base continues to buy this longstanding Republican lie. Because as we know, federal government, if done right, can serve as a force for good in people’s daily lives. We’re seeing this in states like Arkansas, that are being denied federal disaster relief. We’re seeing concern from red states whose workforces consist of part of the 80,000 proposed job cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the overwhelming majority of whom are veterans themselves. Deep red Oklahoma is in the midst of losing thousands of FAA and NOAA jobs through cuts to those departments. The Leopards Eating Faces Party has been busy these past 3 months realizing that their lord and savior’s ongoing job cuts impact them and not the uppity brown and black folks around the corner.
When out of power, Republicans are the party of perpetual grievance. It’s very easy for them to distort the facts and blame Democrats from anything from inflation to gas prices. But when Donald Trump campaigns on a promise to downsize government and then Elon Musk goes in and cuts your job, then it’s hard to see how Republicans won’t be blamed. Sure, there are some of the True Believers who see their job loss as sacrifice for the greater good (whatever that might be). But for the most part, it’s clear that Donald Trump and Donald Trump alone is to blame for what’s going on. There’s a reason he has the lowest 100-day approval rating of any president over the past 80 years. These job losses are not something he can pass off to Joe Biden, although he will surely try. There is a direct correlation between the actions of the Trump Administration and people’s daily lives and it is negatively impacting even his most ardent supporters.
For the first time in my lifetime, Democrats have an opportunity to counter the longstanding Republican narrative about the evils of government. They now can point to jobs provided by the VA, NIH, and Department of Education. They can demonstrate how and why it’s critical to fully staff the FAA and NOAA. It’s no longer hypothetical; Republicans have taken a chainsaw to the federal government and we’re seeing the impact in real-time. The next Democratic administration will have a mandate to restore these programs. Republicans will bitch and moan about the cost. But the real cost was demonstrated when these departments were cut, throwing tens of thousands of workers and their families into chaos. It’s no longer about Democrats being the part of big spending; it’s about the real impact of people’s lives.
An argument in favor of big government that has eluded Democrats for a generation.
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) posted at 9:25 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Alcatraz. No more than a sensational distraction from this:
Trump just cut nearly $1 billion from bipartisan, proven, successful anti-crime, violence prevention programs around the country. Prevented crime before people were ever harmed.
Worked so well, there was hope they’d be expanded given Trump’s claim to care about healthy and safety for Americans. Instead, he made America substantially less safe.
And now he’s stomping & parading around with big words and sensational capital letters about a wasteful reopening of a domestic torture complex that will never actually happen & do nothing to keep America safer. All while claiming to to care about violence prevention.
What a dangerous joke.
https://t.co/PbEOylZUe7
(https://x.com/ScottHech/status/1919216792721043794?t=Wg8OaR7s7iPZjBDqRuu0XQ&s=03)
Alexis is sowing discord in the West (@ArchewellBaby) posted at 1:04 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
When Philip died, Queen Elizabeth made sure Prince Harry was informed before it was announced. When the Palace couldn’t reach him, they called the UK embassy in NY who called the sheriff’s office in SB to wake him at 3am.
She also sent a bullet proof car for them for the jubilee https://t.co/XVvSkhX9Eb
(https://x.com/ArchewellBaby/status/1919090877831532592?t=lMlCZ75Mx-R7oypCwKFymA&s=03)
Alexis is sowing discord in the West (@ArchewellBaby) posted at 1:07 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
King Charles could never. When the queen died, Harry found out through the BBC. A nasty man though and through.
(https://x.com/ArchewellBaby/status/1919091532231041094?t=7t8MhAqwc6eG9tjPyg_NBQ&s=03)
THEEAudacity (@ArrogantNBlack) posted at 9:50 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Jen Psaki’s story not even convincing. How do you spend almost every day with someone and think they’re fine but after one debate you conclude they’re declining? Lol that girl is phony.
(https://x.com/ArrogantNBlack/status/1919223251776979117?t=tquubtZX-uwtnQ6fIvEt1w&s=03)
Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) posted at 9:50 AM on Mon, May 05, 2025:
People are talking about his Pope trolling and Alcatraz, rather than the billion dollar corruption scheme.
(https://x.com/Scaramucci/status/1919404432208371774?t=farNNG_cTsMXVUvHM9AAhA&s=03)
Greg Sargent (@GregTSargent) posted at 6:21 AM on Mon, May 05, 2025:
Freebie for reporters who are well sourced inside Trumpworld: Establish who is advising him that he should defy the Supreme Court on Abrego Garcia and it will be a big story!
(https://x.com/GregTSargent/status/1919351623295307994?t=7ggcld40XgfMbi9u–4atg&s=03)
You Should’ve Said Nicer Things About Joe Biden (@What46HasDone) posted at 0:06 AM on Mon, May 05, 2025:
Netanyahu, with Trump’s support, has initiated a full aid blockage of Gaza. Not a single truck of aid has entered Gaza in over 2 months.
You’ve heard barely a peep about it from so called Pro-Palestine Activists though because most retired on November 6th. https://t.co/rYAuRQRXvo
(https://x.com/What46HasDone/status/1919257454694592628?t=KocSPiB2pvqMPVgxXRgXNw&s=03)
Hope 🦬💙❤️ (@HopeisaBison) posted at 8:40 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
See how the worst man in the world can lose an election and run again?
Have 6 bankruptcies and still believe he’ll fix the economy?
Be a felon and promise to enforce the law?
He won’t see himself as a failure, and he’ll convince others.
So stop fvcking telling women to quit.
(https://x.com/HopeisaBison/status/1919205474555093076?s=03)
According to Politico, Brian Kemp is not running for Senate in 2026.
KEMP OUT http://www.politico.com/news/2025/05…
[image or embed]
— Conor Sen (@conorsen.bsky.social) May 5, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) posted at 7:51 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Scott Pelley: “It was nearly impossible to get anyone on camera for this story… Marc Elias… is the only lawyer the President has named who was willing to appear on 60 Minutes.”
Marc Elias: “Donald Trump hates me because I fight hard and I fight for fair and free elections.” https://t.co/R3nAXZ7EJD
(https://x.com/BlueATLGeorgia/status/1919193079606555129?t=Zi-SH3J-JHp0iiFses-aoQ&s=03)
John Pfaff
@johnpfaff.bsky.social
Hey! Press covering Trump!
The statute that lets him impose tariffs at will? It EXPLICITLY excludes movies.
He has no authority to do this. Not just bc of an absence of authorization, but bc the law says “you CANNOT do this.”
Do NOT say “Trump has imposed movie tariffs,” bc he did not. He CANNOT.
Downpuppy
@downpuppy.bsky.social
Howard ✡. 🟦🇮🇱🎗🧡
@HowardA_AtLaw
Blacks and Jews 2024: “ we’ve seen terrible, trust us, you don’t want Trump”
Young white gentile left: “ screw you, only our hatred of Israel/Jews matters, we will give you Trump”
Trump does terrible things
Leftists: “ why aren’t Blacks and Jews saving us?”
7:59 AM · May 5, 2025
https://x.com/HowardA_AtLaw/status/1919376302856958441
Where’s the money coming from to pay them?
The Associated Press
@AP
BREAKING: The Trump administration says it will pay immigrants living illegally in the United States $1,000 to leave the country.
https://x.com/AP/status/1919407037613515116
Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) posted at 5:01 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
The Qatar Economic Forum is hosting a public session on how to make money off of Trump’s bribery and corruption schemes.
This is where we are. https://t.co/xZPpxiR6oU
(https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1919150380329382222?t=OIVe_8bNAmppsVRTTvaGpg&s=03)
The Discovery in this case was a beast. Revealed a lot.
Anne Boleyn (“Royal Expert”) (@TudorChick1501) posted at 11:47 AM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Prince Harry doesn’t want the royal family to pay for his security. He wants to be able to pay for top security himself when visiting the UK. It’s wild that they’ll let Taylor Swift do this, but not Harry.
They clearly want him to die.
(https://x.com/TudorChick1501/status/1919071289618104443?t=0xr3Z3uqkUzf7-Fn3aCezA&s=03)
SIGH
Candidly Tiff (@tify330) posted at 5:49 AM on Mon, May 05, 2025:
Israel plans to capture all of Gaza under new plan, officials say
“At a Knesset committee meeting Monday, Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held hostage, called on soldiers “not to report for reserve duty for moral and ethical reasons” https://t.co/kBZdN288rb https://t.co/BibpHd1MEC
(https://x.com/tify330/status/1919343758291665325?t=tbivM0xycUN-OQx_I4VAbQ&s=03)
Greg Sargent (@GregTSargent) posted at 6:01 AM on Mon, May 05, 2025:
Now that Trump has openly admitted he could bring back Abrego Garcia whenever he wants, his lawyer tells me he will use discovery to determine which officials are advising Trump to defy the Supreme Court.
New piece from me:
https://t.co/CLk3I5LNqH
(https://x.com/GregTSargent/status/1919346616441446545?t=VsQc_RbzaqtuedrdWF41Jg&s=03)
MAGA Cult Slayer🦅🇺🇸 (@MAGACult2) posted at 8:07 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
BREAKING: House Republicans just voted to let January 6th insurrectionists work at the Department of Homeland Security.
You heard that right—people who attacked the Capitol can now enforce federal law at ICE and DHS.
The call is coming from inside the fascist house.
#MCSN https://t.co/fBvZ8fTsAo
(https://x.com/MAGACult2/status/1919197251882074600?t=X4x9_jW_6X7Qy2r6n1AZ6g&s=03)
Agent Self FBI (@RetroAgent12) posted at 9:02 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
MAGA voted for a guy who said “I don’t know” when asked if he believed it was his job to protect the Constitution and ensure due process rights for people in the United States..
Then… when asked if he agreed with the assertion that everyone in the U.S.-citizens and noncitizens alike-is entitled to due process under the Fifth Amendment, Trump responded, “I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know”
This dumb fuck doesn’t know the constitution
(https://x.com/RetroAgent12/status/1919211055068447019?t=WqYzdikNwfLZk6qeKkOAbg&s=03)
Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) posted at 11:32 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
MAGA lunatic Nancy Mace claimed that she was the first woman to graduate from The Citadel.
She was community noted because the first woman to actually graduate from The Citadel was Maxine Hudson in 1970, not her. She lies just for the sake of lying.
(https://x.com/TheRickyDavila/status/1919248762498625724?t=jzww6NDkLa2f0lqHYfynHQ&s=03)
Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) posted at 11:07 AM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
European airlines are saying that they’re going to start buying Chinese Comac planes instead of American Boeings in response to Trump’s Tariffs! This was announced by the Irish airline Ryanair so U.S lawmakers decided to immediately start to threaten the Company per Reuters! 😡 https://t.co/oJ3k3FLQtx
(https://x.com/Suzierizzo1/status/1919061394680390029?t=BdwdCCamWiGiMr-NyCK8IQ&s=03)
Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) posted at 8:39 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Scott Pelley: “Are we reaching a point where a person will go to a law firm with a case that is opposed to the President of the United States and the law firm will think, do we really want to take this case?”
Marc Elias: “We’re already there… Tomorrow maybe it’s the banking
https://t.co/HoTNBwCciV
(https://x.com/BlueATLGeorgia/status/1919205218425684425?t=KoJoH-aXGklQZj-eedoZIw&s=03)
chris evans (@notcapnamerica) posted at 11:22 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS has officially made 230M worldwide.
On track to eventually gross north of 300M.
It has out-performed Get Out, Us, The Conjuring, Split, A Quiet Place Part 2, Nope, Paranormal Activity, and The Ring https://t.co/G3XuGSpztR
(https://x.com/notcapnamerica/status/1919246353508470918?t=8GdG-OL1RzGwFKKuNLl_Bw&s=03)
MAGA Cult Slayer🦅🇺🇸 (@MAGACult2) posted at 9:35 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
A New York 17th congressional district constituent social worker was singled out and taken out in another Republican Townhall https://t.co/oGCw4QCYn9
(https://x.com/MAGACult2/status/1919219468976242714?t=Z2T5IcCYntdzBRsq0NTXaw&s=03)
Tom Watson (@tomwatson) posted at 6:52 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Does @GovKathyHochul realize these officers are under her direct command and treating Hudson Valley voters with such callous disregard for free speech and the right to free assembly? Why are NYS Troopers aggressively policing a Mike Lawler town hall? https://t.co/X3OxwNLURk
(https://x.com/tomwatson/status/1919178249445232742?t=VueySuLAiaPGV0-u4xIhnA&s=03)
ProPublica (@propublica) posted at 6:00 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
The director of Arizona’s embattled Medicaid agency resigned this week, just as she was expected to face questions from lawmakers about her handling of a massive fraud scheme that largely targeted Native Americans.
https://t.co/4PWOlmkJcm
(https://x.com/propublica/status/1919165161933267313?t=hqjEoTDJH8WTget8saiIDQ&s=03)
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) posted at 9:41 AM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
WELKER: You are not ruling out military force to take Greenland?
TRUMP: I don’t rule out anything. No. Not there. We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people which we’ll take of and we’ll cherish them and all of that. But we need that for https://t.co/BAJMXlMxFe
(https://x.com/atrupar/status/1919039610685964671?t=0zZgBTDcRADrHjjmehfAcg&s=03)
Annalea 🪷🐝🥑🍁🌻🍌 (@citizengatsby) posted at 1:03 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
After all the insane interviews Trump has given lately, the media should be discussing his cognitive decline. They only screamed “Biden is old” every fucking day.
(https://x.com/citizengatsby/status/1919090552181514622?t=w8RJ_ltxheHa_xTWa5F96w&s=03)
Biden/Obama/HRC/Harris Democrat (@KTforBiden) posted at 5:47 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Still to this very day when the man is not even in office, all they can talk about is Biden, EVERY FUCKING DAY
While a demented FELON gives insane, dementia riddled interviews and is completely destroying the country!
The media is dead
@kwelkernbc @jrpsaki @jaketapper @AlexThomp https://t.co/Scb04YU70l
(https://x.com/KTforBiden/status/1919162076825547159?t=15YiwaJVtstmj7UDyjd-xw&s=03)
SpideyTerry (@SpideyTerry) posted at 2:20 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Tapper and Thompson’s entire promotional strategy for their book hinged entirely on Biden never making public appearances again and Trump not saying or doing anything that would make them and the rest of the media look bad for vouching him.
(https://x.com/SpideyTerry/status/1919110015668928975?t=d1bDAF0qRgNwApWdbldFdA&s=03)
You Should’ve Said Nicer Things About Joe Biden (@What46HasDone) posted at 5:50 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
What’s Jen Psaki doing??? Is she part of this whole nonsense? Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson are two of the most despicable humans on this earth, so they are unsurprising, but I’d be really disappointed in her.
(https://x.com/What46HasDone/status/1919162635800494577?t=PydXBQfvMF0kccFxCwziOw&s=03)
Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) posted at 11:07 AM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
🚨 NEW: President Biden is attending Sunday service at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ in Philly this morning for their Women’s Conference celebration.
He spoke on the power of faith and the vital role women play in our communities.
When introduced as “Our President,” the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
https://t.co/z2Ih220Z1V
(https://x.com/ChrisDJackson/status/1919061223196278808?t=GbR5_Jmhccd1UM1-SLWLrg&s=03)
The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) posted at 6:35 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
“60 Minutes” examined Donald Trump’s revenge tour against Big Law in a scathing episode on Sunday, essentially thumbing its nose at the president’s many complaints about the show and its parent company.
https://t.co/w4CiMefHGz
(https://x.com/thedailybeast/status/1919174100242624856?t=N2i6JqRj3JM8FzAemjGVoA&s=03)
Danny (@danzu72) posted at 0:46 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Don’t take your eye off of the Russians accessing our National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) database. The whistleblower in this case found a threatening note on his home door with a drone picture of him walking around. Was it DOGE or the Russians?
“Furthermore, on Monday, April 7, 2025, while my client and my team were preparing this disclosure, someone physically taped a threatening note to Mr. Berulis’ home door with photographs – taken via a drone – of him walking in his neighborhood.”
npr.org/2025/04/24/nx-…
(https://x.com/danzu72/status/1919086359488209191?t=mNcb2AcB-Agyzj2Zzxm4Lw&s=03)
The United States versus Elon R. Musk (@Needle_of_Arya) posted at 8:45 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
not trying to be alarmist here, but in these last two kerfuffles on social media discussing both the incident between a Black teen & a white one, and the Ukrainian immigrant white woman who tossed a racial slur at a child, the white supremacist right seems extra violent lately 🤨
(https://x.com/Needle_of_Arya/status/1919206744091230210?t=fLsjOdz2FMj3r6OcjlDe_A&s=03)
Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) posted at 7:28 AM on Mon, May 05, 2025:
SCOOP: The Trump administration is “decommissioning” a Department of Justice office that been at the center of dismantling transnational organized crime networks, drug cartels and human trafficking rings
https://t.co/r1a6j99ndn
(https://x.com/JasonLeopold/status/1919368712005767204?s=03)
Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) posted at 10:00 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
I don’t care what this memo says. It’s not true. The Constitution says otherwise.
Unless ICE has a warrant — signed by a judge! – they cannot enter your home. You have rights. https://t.co/poUSEV8xW0 https://t.co/DuZFyBVIgo
(https://x.com/ScottHech/status/1919225702383263857?t=DQNGFu9j6at7RQr6Fb5apA&s=03)
Get THEE ENTIRE PHUCK OUTTA HERE
The Hill (@thehill) posted at 10:46 AM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
Stephen A. Smith says Democratic Party needs to be “purged” before he would run https://t.co/DXP91aDO9l
(https://x.com/thehill/status/1919055929250656471?t=x0dmM9jyPwR5vgVYNX5nOA&s=03)
chris evans (@notcapnamerica) posted at 10:59 PM on Sun, May 04, 2025:
I don’t know why people are finding this surprising.
The depravity of white supremacy knows no bounds.
In our parents and grandparents lifetimes white people would literally hold picnics where they’d bring drinks and snacks with their children to watch a Black person be brutally dismembered in real time.
https://t.co/YJq7axsHaz
(https://x.com/notcapnamerica/status/1919240475757641813?t=4-8JjsKgjopkmQWC0NIUjA&s=03)
Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) posted at 5:05 PM on Fri, May 02, 2025:
BREAKING – Sen. Bernie Sanders has just filed out paperwork to run again in 2030 after his current 6-year term ends. If he wins, he will be 88 at the start of the term and 94 by the end.
(https://x.com/Rightanglenews/status/1918426663496437866?t=xmM_8Rqbs4hHxzZ59u5SBQ&s=03)
Acyn (@Acyn) posted at 7:24 PM on Fri, May 02, 2025:
AOC: Trump said they were only going to go after the “criminals” however their position is that everyone undocumented is a criminal.…
On top of that, they’re not even just going after undocumented people, they are making people undocumented by revoking legal status. https://t.co/66KlW65Cyp
(https://x.com/Acyn/status/1918461702376702108?t=7qQ4m5oXcNgt8yb4MaZElQ&s=03)
You Should’ve Said Nicer Things About Joe Biden
@What46HasDone
The largest and most sustained antiwar movement right now is taking place in Israel, and that the so called “antiwar” protestors in the US don’t even bother to acknowledge it shows that their movement is not actually an antiwar movement, just an anti-Israel movement.
7:35 AM · May 4, 2025
·
31.5K
Views
Good Morning Everyone 😊😊😊