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Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) and More Than 100 House Democrats Demand OPM Reinstate All Unlawfully Fired Federal Employees

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Blue Virginia
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3

From Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11)’s office:

UPDATE 2:19 pm – Another press release from Rep. Connolly, and a good one at that!

Ranking Member Connolly Launches Government-wide Investigation into Elon Musk’s DOGE Infiltration of Federal Agencies
 Washington, D.C. (March 6, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent letters to the 24 CFO Act agencies requesting immediate clarification regarding the shadowy activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) teams within each agency and across the federal government.

“The actions of employees operating under the ‘DOGE’ moniker have thus far been shielded from transparency and accountability, but this cannot continue.  The American public has a right to know how Musk’s DOGE teams are operating and how the actions of DOGE employees undermine lifesaving services, expose sensitive taxpayer data, and contribute to other unlawful activity,” wrote Ranking Member Connolly.

Elon Musk claims that all of DOGE’s actions are “maximally transparent,” but Congress and the American people have had no real insight into the actual operations of DOGE.

The Trump Administration has attempted to shield DOGE from government transparency laws, such as the Freedom of Information Act, while Congressional Republicans block efforts to bring Mr. Musk to testify before Congress, despite concerns from their own constituents.  What little information is known about DOGE comes from Mr. Musk’s posts to the social media platform he owns, X, and DOGE’s own website, which is riddled with factual errors.  What little is known is deeply troubling. For example, Mr. Musk admitted that DOGE accidentally cancelled Ebola prevention efforts.

To bring DOGE out of the shadows and understand its true impact on the people’s government, Ranking Member Connolly asked for responses to his requests for documents and information no later than March 14, 2025.

Click here to read the letters to the 24 CFO Act agencies.
Ranking Member Connolly and More Than 100 House Democrats Demand OPM Reinstate All Unlawfully Fired Federal Employees
 
Washington, D.C. (March 6, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, led 141 House Democrats in sending a letter to Acting Director Charles Ezell of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) urging the agency to reinstate all unlawfully terminated probationary status federal employees and cease plans to carry out further reductions in force (RIFs). 

“We write in strong opposition to the expansion of the Trump Administration’s efforts to purge nonpartisan civil servants from the federal workforce, specifically recent unlawful mass terminations of employees in probationary status,” wrote the Members.  “Indiscriminately firing thousands of these employees threatens the future of the nonpartisan federal workforce and our government’s ability to deliver life-saving services to the American people.  We strongly urge the Administration to reinstate all unlawfully terminated probationary status employees and cease plans to carry out further reductions in force (RIFs).” 

As of May 2024, it is estimated that more than 220,000 federal employees held probationary status, although that number could be much higher.  Federal employees are placed on a probationary period when they hold less than one year of service, but may also be in a probationary status if they transfer positions, offices, or departments, or receive promotions.

The Trump Administration is attempting to terminate en masse probationary status employees because these employees have fewer legal protections.  Some reports indicate the Administration terminated employees without proper individualized performance reviews or notice.  In many cases, the termination notices, which were sent via email, were inaccurate, misspelled employee names, or included vague information about employee performance.

“Our offices have received countless reports that individuals who were terminated under this RIF order based on ‘performance’ had documented excellent performance records and in some cases were employed by the federal government for decades,” the Members emphasized. “These arbitrary and capricious dismissals have already produced a chilling effect on skilled workers who desire a career with the federal civil service. These firings will also eliminate institutional expertise and undermine the strong, merit-based, and skilled federal workforce.” 

The letter follows recent victories for federal workers who were unlawfully terminated by DOGE’s efforts to dismantle the federal workforce:

  • On February 27, 2025, Ranking Member Connolly released a statement following a ruling by a federal judge blocking the Trump-Musk Administration’s unlawful mass firings of federal workers nationwide from several agencies, including the National Park Service, Department of Defense, the Bureau of Land Management, and others.
  • On March 4, 2025, the National Science Foundation reinstated most of the probationary employees it had laid off at the direction of the Trump Administration’s orders to cut its workforce.  The move to reinstate these employees with backpay and no break in service is the result of guidance from OPM and the federal courts.
  • On March 5, 2025, Special Counsel Dellinger applauded the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board’s stay of all likely unlawful terminations of probationary employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In his statement, Special Counsel Dellinger called “on all federal agencies to voluntarily and immediately rescind any unlawful terminations of probationary employees.”

Click here to read the letter to Acting Director Charles Ezell.

Video: Fmr. Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA05) Defends Al Green, Says Dems Should Have Stood Up for Him Instead of “sitting down looking slack jawed”

By
lowkell
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3

Remember, as you listen to former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA05), that this isn’t exactly a flaming liberal or reflexive Trump hater. To the contrary, when Riggleman was in Congress, he voted 91.9% of the time with Trump. And yet today, Riggleman is clearer and more direct about the threats posed by Trump, Musk, etc. than the vast majority of Democrats – let alone Republicans, who have barely uttered a peep as Trump/Musk have trampled the authority of Congress, most supposed conservative principles, our alliances and international reputation, etc.

Anyway, with that in mind, check out the following thoughts by Rep. Riggleman on Democrats’ “decorum” – and Al Green’s protest – at Trump’s disgraceful, lie-filled State of the Union speech the other night.

“You know, first of all, I know Al Green and he’s a kind and decent man. You know, regardless if I was on the other side of the aisle with Al, he always treated me with such respect. It was hard to see that happen to Al. I want to say that first. And Al, Denver is here if you need to give me a call.

And the second thing, too, when you’re talking about Medicaid, you know, Al is sort of correct.  You know, a lot of times in the January 6th committee, we were looking at the primary actors. It was the secondary actors that were causing most of the problem, and they didn’t practice operational security. And when you look at Elon Musk for DOGE and what Al Green is talking about, who is actually supposed to be the DOGE leader is Amy Gleason, who worked for Russell Street Ventures, and Brad Davis, which is supposedly a consultancy that helps with rural health care. She also had her own company and what’s what Al is talking about. And maybe, you know, you need analysts to look at this in the media is who is actually running DOGE. What are the cuts are they making, and why do they think there’s a mandate to cut Medicaid? And who is that actually benefiting? I think we have to follow the money thing here.

So I think what Al was saying was correct. What I would have liked to have seen, though, is more Democrats stand up for him. You know, most of them are sitting down looking slack jawed. I think they needed to stand up, applaud, or maybe go to the back with him or leave with him. That’s actually showing something. I don’t think waving signs is. So listen, I was there when Rush Limbaugh was given the medal of freedom. So I know crazy speeches of Donald Trump. This is like nothing I’ve ever seen with the hyperbole. But I also think there needs to be a lot of action, you know, about individuals looking at DOGE, looking at Medicaid, and the people that are actually doing the work – the second-tier people that are doing the work, what are they actually doing? And I hope the media takes a good look at that also…”

So…why can’t Democrats speak like this, act more assertively, etc?  Why are they being so timid in confronting the grave threat to our constitution, the rule of law, Congress’ authority as a (theoretically, at least!) co-equal branch of government, etc? Do they really think that by greeting Trump at the White House (as President Biden did, bizarrely), attending Trump’s inauguration (even more bizarre!), talking about how they want him to succeed (ditto!), etc., they’re going to actually cause Trump to change course – or to result in success in some other way?  Because…nope, that ain’t gonna happen!

Thursday News: “The world is beginning to tire of Trump’s whiplash leadership”; “Hopes of US golden age fade as investors start to worry about ‘Trumpcession’ risk”; “Trump Was Always Going to Betray Veterans”; Trump’s “Making Mice Transgender” Claim Was, Of Course, a Wild Lie

By
lowkell
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19

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, March 6.

Video: Sen. Mark Warner Says Trump’s SOTU Address Was Long and “Painful”; Calls Out Trump’s “dark vision not only for our country but for our world”; Walks Back Remarks on Fox “News” Yesterday…

By
lowkell
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1

See below for video and a few highlights from Sen. Mark Warner’s press availability earlier today. Also, a few notes of interest regarding Sen. Warner in the last day or so:

  1.  He called out Trump’s “dark vision not only for our country but for our world”
  2. As the saying goes, Warner “revised and extended his remarks” (aka, he walked them back after getting a TON of criticism – like this from Ruth Ben Ghiat, one of the country’s leading experts on fascism and authoritarian leaders – for going on Fox “News” and praising Trump for supposedly bringing down illegal immigration numbers). This afternoon, Warner said “My words yesterday – they were not great, let me be the first to acknowledge that…I’d like to take them back.”
  3. Sam Altman, a wealthy tech entrepreneur who has donated to Democrats in the past but also gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, is headlining a high-dollar fundraiser for Warner on March 20 in San Francisco. This would seem to be a sign that Warner, who turned 70 in December 2024, is intending to run for reelection in 2026…
  • “Last night, I sat through the longest State of the Union speech ever. And I got to tell you it was pretty painful…the fact checkers had so many falsehoods that they had to correct that that was a new record as well…most of the stock gains that came since his election wiped out because of these tariffs against…two of our closest Partners Canada and Mexico…. This was a guy that was supposed to be elected on the basis of bringing down um grocery prices; the opposite is taking place.”
  • “I’m proud to join my friend of 40 years, Tim Kaine, where he’s going to contest… this national emergency declaration against Canada; does anybody really believe Canada is our enemy? And the truth is the data shows there’s more fentanyl – we need to end fentanyl coming into America but there’s more fentanyl going from America to Canada than vice versa…”
  • “The one thing we did hear is Trump is going to double down on these actions, he’s going to unleash Musk even more; and I think that spells real economic chaos for Virginia, it spells enormous economic challenge for the whole country in terms of prices…”
  • “One thing about veterans is they got great memories, and they are very strong in terms of advocating for the rights that they deserve; I mean, we have a sacred obligation for those men and women that have defended our country and their families to honor the commitment that we’re going to take care of for example their health care and other benefits they earned. And I can tell you this has already taken effect these cuts – we’ve seen a couple thousand veteran V.A. officials cut already…do you really think we’re going to get folks to come work there [at the new V.A. healthcare facility in Fredericksburg] when you see the threat of cutting back anybody that’s a probationary employee that means in the first two years? It is disrespectful to our veterans, it flies in complete face of the you-can’t-believe-what-Trump-says-look at-what-he-does. And…to make matters worse, about a third of our federal workers are veterans; we have the highest concentration of veterans per capita of anywhere in the country. So you’re getting a double whammy… it’s disrespectful to our veterans and they deserve better. And I hope this might be finally an issue where my Republican colleagues who love to say they support the military will actually speak up rather than cowering behind Elon Musk’s actions”

Video: Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) and CATO Institute Scholar Discuss How, Actually, in Complete Contradiction to Republicans’ Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric, the Data Shows “More Immigrants, LOWER Homicide Rates”

By
lowkell
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0

Spot-on by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11); I wish more Democrats would to this, as the ENTIRE PREMISE of the Republicans’ smearing of immigrants – that supposedly they commit more crimes than native-born Americans – is FALSE. As Rep. Connolly says:

“So the correlation between immigration and crime is false, as you point out, Mr. Bier…I find it ironic that you characterized, correctly in my view, President Trump’s and Tom Homan’s approach to immigration as lawless, when they’re invoking law-and-order and crime as their rationale for their lawlessness. Could you expand on the lawlessness and the irony of the fact that, as you point out in your testimony, the crime rate among immigrants is half that of the native population.”

And as David J. Bier – director of immigration studies at the libertarian Cato Institute – puts it in response to Rep. Connolly:

“That’s right. I have a table in my written testimony you can look at – top 20 cities for immigration court filings over the last four years, 19 of those cities saw a decline in their homicide rate. If you look at all of the major cities, there’s a negative correlation between increasing numbers of immigrants and the homicide rate. So that means more immigrants, lower homicide rates; that holds true across the United States. So I think the correlation that’s trying to be made is…more illegal immigrants, more chaos, more crime. That does not hold. What we do see under this Administration is an increasing willingness to ignore the laws. As I mentioned, he signed an executive order that says he can ignore due process rights for people who are accused of being in the country illegally. This is an incredibly dangerous assertion of of authority and should be investigated by Congress.”

And finally, here’s Rep. Connolly:

“I would just argue that the premise of this hearing is false. We have local law enforcement cooperating with the local political leadership and it’s working – it’s bringing down crime rates. And the proposition that immigrants cause crime is false, in fact patently false as your testimony I think would demonstrate, Mr Bier. And the idea that these are sanctuary cities that need to be punished is simply a war on urban America.”

Bingo. But good luck breaking through the right-wing noise machine, as well as completely amoral/cynical/irresponsible politicians like Donald Trump and Glenn Youngkin, who demonize immigrants (and NOT just undocumented immigrants) to score political points, distract people from their own failed records, fear monger, demagogue, etc. It’s really disgusting, and by all rights, NOBODY should vote for anyone who does that. Of course, that would assume we lived in a well-informed country, where people immediately understood when a politician was blatantly lying to them, attempting to manipulate them, etc. But clearly, we don’t live in such a country, based on the fact that Republicans’ bashing of immigrants appears to work, politically, for them. Ugh.

As Columnist Calls Out VA GOP as “Undifferentiated Party of Trump” with No “Thoughtful Moderates” Left, Youngkin Dutifully “Doubles Down on His Support of Trump’s Attacks on Virginia’s Economy and Workforce”

By
lowkell
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5

Check out the following press release from the Democratic Party of Virginia regarding “MAGA Glenn” Youngkin’s latest doubling down of “support for Trump’s destructive agenda.” Along these same lines, check out Marc Fisher’s WaPo column this morning, which argues, correctly, that:

  • Virginia “Republicans are a virtually undifferentiated Party of Trump.”
  • “Republican voters learned they would be offered this menu of mind-numbing sameness in the June 17 primary”
  • “The big issue in the primary now is who shows the most fealty to Trump.”
  • “A contest over who is most loyal to Trump, wrote Derrick Max, president of the conservative Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, “is an interesting strategy in a state he didn’t win.””
  • “…this spring, you Republican voters get to choose from two candidates who brandished weapons, two who sought to overturn a presidential election and three who love what’s happening in Washington. Enjoy!”
Glenn Youngkin Doubles Down on His Support of Trump’s Attacks on Virginia’s Economy and Workforce

Following Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress, Governor Glenn Youngkin doubled down on his support of Trump’s increasing attacks on Virginia’s economy and workforce. Youngkin tweeted on Wednesday morning that “America is back” and “common-sense prevails” as thousands of Virginians face the looming threat of losing their jobs and health care.Youngkin has repeatedly voiced his support for Trump’s destructive agenda. At a press conference last week, he said that Trump should “press forward” even as he admitted “Virginians will be hurt.” He also directed laid-off workers to simply search for jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed and update their resumes.

“How can Glenn Youngkin look a Virginian in the eye who has just lost their job? How can he look a disabled veteran in the eye who’s worried about losing health care? How can he look a single mother in the eye who can’t afford to put food on the table? The truth is, he can because he doesn’t care about the people he’s supposed to serve,” said DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker. “Virginians deserve a governor who will put Virginia first—not someone who eagerly defends a harmful agenda at every turn.”

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Virginia Democratic Leaders on the SOTU Speech: “Trump spent two hours spewing lies and stoking bigotry and division” While “Republicans are falling in line behind this wannabe strongman and a billionaire oligarch”

By
lowkell
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1

See below for reactions by Virginia Democratic leaders, as well as the DNC, on Trump’s State of the Union speech last night. Bottom line:

DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker’s Statement Following Trump’s Joint Address to Congress

“Donald Trump just spent 120 minutes spewing lies, but Virginians know the truth because they’re the ones suffering. He’s broken every promise he made on the campaign trail—whether it’s raising costs, gutting Medicaid, or abandoning our veterans—to give tax breaks to his billionaire friends.

And now, Virginians are bearing the brunt of the one promise he’s kept: dismantling the federal workforce to build a government that answers only to him. His reckless actions are not only leaving hardworking Virginians without jobs and hurting Virginia’s economy, but they’re also eroding the very institutions that guarantee our government serves the people.

This administration’s utter disregard for working Americans has never been clearer. Virginians deserve more than an administration that prioritizes chaos over effective governance. They deserve more than Republican leaders who idly stand by this administration’s destructive agenda.

But Trump’s address serves as a crucial reminder: this November, we have the opportunity to elect a Democratic governor who will put Virginians first. We have the opportunity to expand our majority in the House of Delegates to pass legislation that benefits working families. We have the opportunity to guarantee that Virginia continues to be a Commonwealth that works for everyone.”

STATEMENT OF U.S. SEN. MARK R. WARNER

~ On President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress ~

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress:

“Tonight, President Trump touted policies that are raising prices for Americans, draining our federal workforce, illegally threatening government programs and benefits, and terrorizing the immigrant communities that have shaped Virginia. The president bragged about his reckless plan to isolate America from its allies, turn our back on long-kept partnerships, raise taxes on hardworking families, and reverse historic advancements in U.S. innovation and competition. Our country can – and should – do better. I will continue doing everything I can to fight for Virginians.”

KAINE STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S 2025 ADDRESS TO CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after President Trump’s joint address to Congress:

“President Trump’s address showed that he and his Administration have no problem turning their backs on middle-class Americans. In his first few weeks in office, President Trump has imposed steep tariffs that will raise costs and hurt businesses, fired thousands of federal workers who provide critical services to millions of Americans, illegally stopped the flow of federal funds that support programs Americans rely on, and cozied up to dictators like Vladimir Putin while abandoning Ukraine and our democratic allies. If the President, his Administration, and Republicans in Congress continue to go down the current path they are on, they should expect that they will be met with fierce opposition as more and more Americans will feel the impacts of Trump’s terrible policies. I know many Virginians are worried about the state of our country, and they have my commitment that I’ll continue to stand up against any efforts that will harm Virginians, hurt our economy, or make Virginians less safe.”

Kaine brought Fairfax resident and veteran Jason King as his guest. Jason was fired from his position in the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety division as a result of the Trump Administration’s mass firing of federal employees.

Statement from Ranking Member Connolly on President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress
Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued this statement following President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress, in which the President highlighted a litany of unlawful, corrupt, and cruel actions he has taken or intends to take:“Tonight, we heard a lot about how our government should serve Donald Trump, but nothing about how Donald Trump will serve the American people.

“Instead, President Trump doubled down on the Project 2025 playbook and on his agenda to terrorize immigrant communities, traumatize federal workers, eviscerate critical programs and services Americans rely on, poison our institutions with corruption, burn bridges with our allies, and increase the cost of living for hardworking people everywhere. 

“Meanwhile, Republicans are falling in line behind this wannabe strongman and a billionaire oligarch all so they can give away trillions in deficit-busting tax cuts to big corporations and the very wealthiest.  Their silence is a betrayal of the Americans they were sent to Washington to represent.

“Oversight Democrats have no higher calling than upholding our oaths to serve and protect the American people.  As Trump, Musk, and their cabinet of cronies set out to make government serve them, Oversight Democrats remain committed to making sure government serves the people.”

 

Vindman Statement on President Trump’s Chaotic Joint Address to Congress 

WASHINGTON – Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) tonight released the following statement after President Donald Trump’s chaotic Joint Address to Congress.  

“Tonight, we heard more nonsense from Donald Trump — divisive rhetoric, empty promises, and a refusal to take responsibility for the policies that have hurt American families. In one word: chaos.  

“While he talks about ‘America First,’ his actions tell a different story: Short-sighted tariffs, rising health care costs, purging dedicated civil servants, threatening benefits for veterans, wrecking 401ks, and undermining our national security through weakness.  

“As expected, his speech was filled with lies designed to distract from his failures. Instead of addressing the real challenges facing Americans, like the rising cost of living, he peddled falsehoods and fantasies.  

“In Virginia’s Seventh District, we know what real leadership looks like. It looks like delivering lower costs, protecting the livelihoods of the hardworking federal employees who keep our country running, standing with our allies rather than cozying up to dictators, and fighting for better opportunities for every family.  

“The American people deserve leaders who put them first — not their billionaire donors or partisan games. I remain committed to delivering real results for my constituents in Virginia’s Seventh District.” 

Spanberger Statement Following President Trump’s Promise to Further Damage Virginia’s Economy

“Virginians Deserve Leaders Who Are Focused on Creating Jobs, Not Unleashing Chaos”

“As the Next Governor of Virginia, I Will Always Look Out for Virginians and Our Economy”

RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger tonight released the following statement in response to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.

“Tonight, Virginians deserved to hear how President Trump plans to lower costs for families and end the damage caused by his administration’s reckless attacks on jobs here in the Commonwealth. Instead, thousands of Virginians still fear they’ll lose their jobs.

“The strength of our federal workforce is a kitchen-table issue here in Virginia. While I have long supported efforts to make our government more efficient and more responsive to the American people, this sledgehammer approach is hurting the financial security of Virginia workers and risking a devastating domino effect for our Commonwealth’s economy.

“Virginians deserve leaders who are focused on creating and protecting jobs, not unleashing chaos. As the next Governor of Virginia, I will always stand up for Virginians and our economy by focusing on the issues that matter most — lowering costs, strengthening our public schools, and increasing opportunity for every Virginian.”

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Trump Puts Putin Over Our Allies and Threatens Our National Security 
In response to Donald Trump doubling down on a dangerous foreign policy agenda that puts Putin over our allies, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
“Donald Trump threatened to be a ‘dictator’ on ‘day one,’ and now he’s siding with foreign adversaries like Vladimir Putin over America’s allies. There’s a reason why so many military leaders — including his own former chief of staff — think Trump’s dangerous foreign policy agenda makes us all less safe. Between parroting Putin’s talking points and pausing aid to Ukraine, Trump has shown that he is incapable of standing up to despots on the world stage and protecting America’s national security. Trump is pledging allegiance to the wrong red, white, and blue.”Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine shortly after parroting Kremlin propaganda in the Oval Office, embarrassing himself and the United States on the world stage. 

NBC News: “President Donald Trump’s decision to pause American military aid to Ukraine is handing Russia’s Vladimir Putin the upper hand on the battlefield and in geopolitical negotiations, former officials and experts warned Tuesday.”

CNN: “Never before has an American president verbally attacked his visitor like Trump did Zelensky, leading to an almost real-time breakdown in relations between Washington and Kyiv. Trump at one point threatened to give up on Ukraine entirely. …

“Again and again, Trump has sided with Putin. But with voices raised in the Oval Office, Trump unleashed years of pent-up frustration toward Russia and Ukraine, which led to his first impeachment.

New York Times: “Trump Elevates Kremlin Talking Points, a Familiar Pattern From His First Term”

Politico: “The Kremlin on Sunday cheered the shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, saying the American view now ‘largely coincides’ with Russia’s take on geopolitics.

“Trump has upended U.S. policy on Ukraine in recent weeks and sought a more conciliatory approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, echoing Moscow’s talking points and recently accusing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy of obstructing efforts to resolve the conflict started by Putin’s unprovoked invasion. In contrast, former U.S. President Joe Biden led efforts to support Kyiv against the Russian forces attacking Ukraine.”

Trump — who has repeatedly praised Putin — said he would have let Russia “take over” parts of Ukraine and threatened to let them “do whatever the hell they want” to our NATO allies.

CNN: “Trump says he would encourage Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to any NATO country that doesn’t pay enough”

Washington Post: “Former president Donald Trump has privately said he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine to give up some territory… Some foreign policy experts said Trump’s idea would reward Russian President Vladimir Putin and condone the violation of internationally recognized borders by force. …

“Trump has consistently complimented Putin, expressed admiration for his dictatorial rule and gone out of his way to avoid criticizing him, most recently for the death in jail of political opponent Alexei Navalny.”

Daily Beast: “Fox News Edits Out Trump Saying He Might’ve Let Russia ‘Take Over’ Parts of Ukraine”

“[Trump] revealed how he personally would have prevented the war. According to Trump, all he needed to do was let Russia ‘take over’ parts of Ukraine.”

New York Times: “Mr. Trump often praises Mr. Putin — he has described the invasion of Ukraine as the work of a ‘genius’ — and has long admired him as a ‘strong’ leader.”

Washington Post, February 2022: “‘Genius,’ ‘Savvy’: Trump reacts to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine exactly as you’d expect”

REMINDER: Military leaders — including Trump’s own former chief of staff — slammed Trump’s dangerous foreign policy agenda and failure to protect American national security interests.

CNN: “‘A person that has no idea what America stands for and has no idea what America is all about. A person who cavalierly suggests that a selfless warrior who has served his country for 40 years in peacetime and war should lose his life for treason – in expectation that someone will take action. A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators. A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law. ‘There is nothing more that can be said,’ Kelly concluded. ‘God help us.’”

CNN: “Retired Marine Gen. John Allen: Trump’s threats of military force may be ‘the beginning of the end of the American experiment’”

CNN: “Former Trump Defense Secretary General James Mattis said Trump ‘has no moral compass’ and was ‘dangerous’ and ‘unfit’ for office.”

Washington Post: “Mattis resigned after Trump directed him ‘to do something that I thought went beyond stupid to felony stupid, strategically jeopardizing our place in the world and everything else.’”

The Hill: “A retired four-star Army general said that he believes that President Trump is a ‘serious threat to US national security.’” 

 

Trump Doubles Down On Tax Handouts for Billionaires and Big Corporations on the Backs of Working Americans
Tonight, Donald Trump once again made it clear that he wants to give ANOTHER round of tax handouts to his billionaire backers and big corporations — instead of helping working families. Since Day One, Trump has done everything in his power to line the pockets of the ultra-rich, while doing nothing to address skyrocketing costs, high inflation, and a tanking economy. 

Trump has repeatedly vowed to give his billionaires backers and big corporations another round of tax handouts, despite the fact that his expensive agenda will raise costs on working families. 

Trump: “You’re all people that have a lot of money. … You’re rich as hell. … We’re gonna give you tax cuts.”

Trump: “I will never let the Trump tax cuts … be taken away.”

Trump on whether his second term tax policies would echo those of his first term: “Yes, and I’d do even more taxes.”

Vanity Fair: “Donald Trump Wants to Give His Favorite Corporations Another Giant Tax Cut in a Second Term”

Last week, Republicans pushed through their disastrous funding agenda, putting health care on the chopping block to fund Trump’s tax handouts to the ultra wealthy. 

Jake Sherman, Punchbowl News: “THE HOUSE GOP BUDGET RESOLUTION has passed

“Vote was 217-215.”

Politico: “Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that he isn’t planning to make any changes to his budget plan to placate Republicans concerned about possible Medicaid cuts. …

“The budget blueprint sets out a minimum of $880 billion in cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and a group of vulnerable House Republicans is arguing that the bulk of those reductions will have to come out of Medicaid given that the panel has virtually no other options to make cuts of that magnitude.”

New York Times: “House Republicans hunting for ways to pay for President Trump’s tax cuts have called for cutting the federal government’s share of Medicaid spending, including a proposal that would effectively gut the Affordable Care Act’s 2014 expansion of the program. …

“A move to lower federal spending on the Medicaid expansion population could effectively gut the program. Around 10 states that have expanded their programs have so-called trigger laws that reverse the Medicaid expansion if the federal government decreases funding for the population. … More than 21 million adults who were not eligible for Medicaid under pre-expansion guidelines received coverage last year.”

REMINDER: In Trump’s first term, his tax scam gave massive handouts to the ultra-wealthy at the expense of working families and created new incentives for companies to ship jobs overseas.

Forbes: “Trump Tax Cuts Helped Billionaires Pay Less Taxes Than The Working Class In 2018”

Washington Post: “For the first time in history, U.S. billionaires paid a lower tax rate than the working class last year”

CBS News: “Two years after Trump tax cuts, middle-class Americans are falling behind”

Washington Post: “Trump promised ‘America First’ would keep jobs here. But the tax plan might push them overseas.”

 

Trump’s Lying About His Dangerous Plans To Gut Social Security and Medicare 
After trying to cut funds for Social Security and Medicare every year of his first term, Donald Trump lied to the American people on the campaign trail last year, claiming he’d protect both programs during his second term. Instead of following through on his promises, Trump’s administration is already taking steps to gut the programs, including rescinding Biden-Harris initiatives to lower prescription drug costs through Medicare and plotting to gut the Social Security Administration.   

Trump tried to gut Social Security every year of his first term and is pledging cuts in a second term. 

Vox: “Trump said he wouldn’t cut Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare. His 2020 budget cuts all 3.”

Trump’s FY18, FY19, FY20, and FY21 budgets each proposed billions of dollars in cuts to Social Security programs.

National Review: “Speaking with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump was asked whether he would cut entitlements at some point. ‘Will entitlements ever be on your plate?’ asked interviewer Joe Kernen. ‘At some point they will be,’ Trump responded. ‘At the right time, we will take a look at that. You know, that’s the easiest of all things [to cut].’”

Mediaite: “During a Fox News town hall, President Donald Trump promised to cut entitlements like Medicare and Social Security if he were to win a second term. … ‘But if you don’t cut something in entitlements, you will never really deal with the debt,’ town hall co-moderator Martha MacCallum interjected, alluding to social safety programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. ‘Oh, we’ll be cutting,’ Trump rushed to confirm.”

CNN: “In his book, Trump lamented big cuts the program would need without changes, and said he would consider privatization.

“‘The truth is undeniable, the workers of America have been forced to invest a sixth of our wages into a huge Ponzi scheme,’ Trump wrote.” 

Trump’s billionaire backer and shadow president Elon Musk is already gearing up to slash Medicare and Social Security — leaving millions of Americans out in the cold. 

Washington Post: “Social Security Administration leadership is under instruction to swiftly produce plans to cut its staff by half, according to two employees at the agency who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.”

NextGov: “At least five of the eight regional [Social Security Administration] commissioners whose offices oversee and support the agency’s frontline offices across the country are leaving, according to a source familiar with the agency and an SSA employee not authorized to speak on the record. …

“Their departures come amid rumors of impending staff cuts at SSA, where the workforce is already at a 50-year low and has toiled amid a customer service crisis born of lack of funding.”

Prospect: “The decision could target one of the government’s most prominent public-facing initiatives: SSA field offices, where seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors whose parents have died can sign up for benefits and get information.”

ProPublica: “Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In”

“[T]he DOGE team landed at the Social Security Administration this week, with Musk drawing attention for his outlandish claims that large numbers of 150-year-old “vampires” are receiving Social Security payments. …

“Their first wave of actions — initiating the elimination of 41 jobs and the closing of at least 10 local offices, so far — was largely lost in the rush of headlines.”

New York Times: “Musk Wants to Slash $2 Trillion in Federal Spending. Is That Possible?”

“‘To eliminate a third of the government, you would have to dramatically eliminate full functions of the federal government,’ said Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the right-leaning Manhattan Institute. ‘You would have to dramatically scale back programs like Social Security, Medicare and defense and veterans.’”

On his first day in office, Trump immediately rescinded the Biden-Harris order to lower drug costs, targeting Medicare recipients across the country.  

White House: “The following executive actions are hereby revoked: …

“Executive Order 14087 of October 14, 2022 (Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans).”

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: “President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 14087, ‘Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans,’ to further address prescription drug affordability through the work of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (the Innovation Center). The Innovation Center tests innovative payment and service delivery models designed to reduce program expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care furnished to its beneficiaries.”

 

Trump Pardoned Violent Insurrectionists That Brutally Attacked Police Officers – And Tried to Defund Law Enforcement
Check his record: Donald Trump pardoned violent insurrectionists who attacked police officers on Day One of his second term, and he repeatedly tried to defund law enforcement in his first one. The reality is Trump doesn’t care about keeping Americans safe — just pushing his dangerous agenda of revenge and retribution.

On Day One of his second term, Trump pardoned 1,500 January 6 rioters — including those who violently assaulted police officers. 

Associated Press: “Trump issues sweeping pardon of 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who attacked police”

“President Donald Trump has pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including people convicted of assaulting police officers, using his clemency powers on his first day back in office to undo the massive prosecution of the unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy.”

Trump’s mass pardon protected violent insurrectionists from other dangerous crimes, stopping law enforcement from doing their job.

Politico: “DOJ has abruptly broadened its view of Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons. A judge wants answers.”

“At the heart of the controversy is the vague language of Trump’s mass pardons for Jan. 6 rioters. … 

“Jan. 6 defendants have repeatedly argued that the language is so broad it covers other crimes that have nothing to do with Jan. 6.”

Politico: “DOJ says Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon covers man convicted of possessing grenades, classified info”

REMINDER: During his first term, Trump oversaw the largest spike in homicides since 1905 — and possibly ever — and repeatedly tried to cut police funding. 

  • In his first term, Donald Trump oversaw the largest single-year spike in the murder rate in more than a century.
  • In his 2019 budget, Trump proposed a 50% cut to a federal program that helped hire local cops.
  • Trump has demanded the defunding of federal law enforcement, while proposing using the FBI and Justice Department to go after his political enemies.
  • Trump says he would withhold federal funding from local police departments that don’t adopt policies like stop-and-frisk or assist in mass deportations.

 

Wednesday News: “Staflation” Looms as Trump’s “spectacularly foolish” Tariffs “sending prices higher”; “Trump’s [Interminable] Speech Reduced American Democracy to a MAGA Game Show”; “Trump turns Congress speech into a sordid campaign rally, igniting a Democrat fightback”

By
lowkell
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16

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, March 5. As Robert Hubbell writes this morning: “As expected, Trump lied his way through his speech to the joint session of Congress…Two shocking facts about the speech: First, Elon Musk had the gall to show up at the speech. Second, in a bizarre exchange with Chief Justice John Roberts, Trump said the following to Roberts as the two men shook hands and Trump patted Roberts on the arm: Thank you. Thank you again. I won’t forget.” Also, see here for some fact checking of Trump’s many lies, exaggerations, distortions, etc.

VA Dems: “As Donald Trump’s Tariffs Cause Costs to Skyrocket for Virginia Families, Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earle-Sears Remain Silent”

By
Blue Virginia
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3

See below for three press releases – from DPVA, the DNC and DPVA, respectively:

As Donald Trump’s Tariffs Cause Costs to Skyrocket for Virginia Families, Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earle-Sears Remain Silent

Virginia’s working families will bear the brunt of Trump’s trade war

VIRGINIA – As Donald Trump detonates an inflation bomb with a 25 percent tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods, a move that will skyrocket the cost of everyday essentials for Virginia families, Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earl-Sears remain silent.

This tariff will hit Virginians hard—raising prices on everything from gas to groceries, household energy bills, and cars. It will hurt Virginia’s farmers and foresters who export their products to Mexico and Canada. The tariffs will also hurt small business owners, who told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that they’re “anxious” about tariffs hiking up the costs of essential goods like eggs.

“Susan Davenport, one of the owners of Tazza Kitchen and Conejo, said, […] ‘The proposed tariffs would represent an immediate increase in our costs. In addition, the tariffs could increase the cost of equipment with new restaurants or upgrades in our existing restaurants.’”

Simply put, Trump’s 25% tariffs will make life more expensive for everyone. He even admitted it himself. 

Yet, despite the clear harm to Virginia’s economy, Governor Glenn Youngkin and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears have remained silent. They promised that Trump would lower costs for Virginians — now that he’s raising them, why won’t they stand up for their constituents?

“Virginia families deserve leaders who will stand up for and fight for their economic well-being, no matter the political party in charge,” said DPVA Spokesperson Maggie Amjad. “Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Earle-Sears have a responsibility to stand up for Virginians and speak out against these 25% tariffs that will get passed onto consumers and jack up the cost of everyday life for Virginians.”

NEW: DNC Releases Virginia Impacts of Trump’s First Month in Office Ahead of His Joint Session Address Tonight
From the economic impacts of federal firings, to Virginians on Medicaid at risk of losing their health care, to threats of the Trump Tax on Virginia’s economy, to unemployment rates in Virginia jumping, Donald Trump has been a disaster for Virginians

Today, ahead of Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, the Democratic National Committee unveiled the Virginia impacts of Trump’s first month in office – already causing serious damage to Virginians. In Trump’s first month in office, he isn’t just failing to deliver on his promises – he is actively making things worse for Virginians. 

From his federal firings and funding freezes to putting some of the 1,809,526 Virginians on Medicaid at risk of losing their health insurance and 827,800 Virginians on SNAP benefits at risk of losing affordable meals, Virginians everywhere know that Trump isn’t just breaking the promises he made to Virginians – he’s actively making their lives worse.

DNC Chair Ken Martin issued the following statement:

“As Donald Trump prepares to take the stage tonight, there’s a reason he is the least popular president in modern American history at this point in his term. Staring down the threat of a Trump Recession, Trump has been a disaster for Virginians – his dangerous funding freezes and mass firings have put seniors, kids, and families already struggling to make ends meet at risk. And now, in the halls of Congress, his MAGA lackeys are advancing a budget plan that would take money out of the pockets of working Virginians, kick millions off of their health insurance, and take food off the table of low-income families in order to finance a massive tax handout to the richest 1%. Trump isn’t just screwing over Virginians – he’s playing politics with their lives.”

Trump’s first month for Virginians by the numbers:
Federal firings and funding freezes:
  • Trump’s arbitrary blanket firings of federal employees threatens Virginia’s economy, given that the state is home to roughly 320k federal employees.
  • Virginia-based federal contractors were forced to furlough workers after Trump issued a stop work order at USAID.
  • Community health centers in Virginia stopped providing some services and closed branches due to the federal funding freeze.
Medicaid and SNAP benefits for Virginians at risk:
  • Over 1.8 million Virginians rely on Medicaid.
  • Medicaid covers 31% of Virginia children.
  • SNAP supports over 827k Virginians, most of whom are below the poverty line.
  • More than 67% of Virginia SNAP participants are in families with children.
Virginia’s unemployment filings and layoffs have spiked under Donald Trump’s economy:
  • Since Donald Trump began his second term, over 11,000 Virginians have filed for unemployment.
  • Now, experts are predicting that Trump’s economy could cause a recession. 

Ahead of Trump’s Joint Address, Virginians Fear Losing Access to Health Care

As Donald Trump prepares to deliver his joint address to Congress, Virginians are worried about losing access to health care as House Republicans’ Trump-endorsed budget blueprint sets out to slash Medicaid funding. As a new Axios report highlights, 630,000 Virginians could automatically lose coverage since Virginia’s Medicaid expansion will be reversed if federal funding is cut.

Axios: GOP budget plan could cut Medicaid from 630,000 Virginians

  • “U.S. House Republicans passed a budget resolution last week calling for up to $2 trillion in spending cuts — a move nearly impossible to do without cutting Medicaid.”
  • “Why it matters: Virginia is one of nine states with a “trigger” law automatically ending expanded Medicaid coverage if federal funding drops below 90%.”
  • “By the numbers: If that were to happen, nearly 630,000 Virginians would lose coverage, according to the latest data from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, which oversees the state’s Medicaid program.”
  • “Threat level: Julian Walker, a spokesperson for the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, told Axios any changes to Medicaid expansion funding ‘would have a significant impact in Virginia on patients, on providers, on access to care and on the economy.’”
  • “Zoom in: The federal budget resolution calls for $880 billion in cuts over 10 years for the committee that handles health care spending, including Medicaid.”

Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA08), Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) Explain Why They Will NOT Be Attending Trump’s SOTU: “I’m not going to listen to that garbage”; “These are not normal times”

By
lowkell
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4

Good to see Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA08) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) boycotting Trump’s State of the Union speech. See below for Rep. Connolly’s press release and for audio of Rep. Beyer, speaking last night and explaining:

“I respect, I love American democracy and the tradition of the joint address, but Trump does not what he’s doing is unacceptable; I’m not going to listen to that garbage and be disappointed every time my Republican friends stand up and cheer every 45 seconds.” – Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08)

Let’s hope a *lot* of Democrats, including Virginia Democrats, follow suit, because as Rep. Connolly accurately and eloquently puts it:

“We have never seen our laws, institutions, and the separation of powers so attacked from within. These are not normal times. The challenges my constituents face demand more than sitting in a chamber I revere, listening as if the person addressing our country is not unleashing chaos and cruelty on their lives. I cannot give audience to that.” 

BINGO!

Connolly To Boycott Trump Address to Congress

Washington, DC – Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement announcing he will boycott President Donald Trump’s address to Congress:

“Since being elected to Congress, I have never missed a State of the Union address. But we have never seen our democracy so tested. We have never seen our laws, institutions, and the separation of powers so attacked from within. These are not normal times. The challenges my constituents face demand more than sitting in a chamber I revere, listening as if the person addressing our country is not unleashing chaos and cruelty on their lives. I cannot give audience to that. 

In solidarity with federal workers and contractors, who have been treated with unspeakable disregard and disrespect by a president and an oligarch billionaire who do not value their public service; 

In solidarity with the thousands of veterans across the government who have been summarily fired from their jobs and those who will not receive the care they’ve earned; 

In solidarity with the children across the world who will starve while Donald Trump and Elon Musk allow USAID food to rot on the shelf;

In solidarity with the Inspectors General and other independent watchdogs who have been prevented from doing their work in service to the people; 

In solidarity with the millions of people across America who will be kicked off their health care by mindless cuts to Medicaid; 

In solidarity with the DC and Capitol Police officers who saw their attackers pardoned and released back on to the streets;

In solidarity with American seniors whose Social Security is now at risk;  

In solidarity with our friends in Ukraine, who have watched in horror as an American president turns his back on their fight for freedom and democracy;  

And in solidarity with the American people who deserve a government that serves them, not the whims of billionaires –

I will not attend Donald Trump’s address to Congress.”

 

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