Dump Term 2, 1.01: Sleep Now in the Fire

[St. Clown]

"Reasonable suspicion"

When crossing the border, the answer as to why a search happens can be as simple as “I felt like it.”

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Woke up this morning to hear that Social Security is going to require identity checks. I need more information on this. Does this mean my mom's April 1 check will not come?? And do I have to bring her to a Social Security office?? She's pushing 91 and has Alzheimers. I can't just drag her into Boston. If even there is still a Boston office. I'm really freaked about this.

I can't be sure what you need to do, if anything. However, this might be your best bet to start. I've heard from someone I know that even the website isn't working though so no guarantees.

Mark Cuban (@mcuban.bsky.social)

The administration is removing phone support for Soc Security recipients. Making it more difficult for seniors to get their checks. It’s a back door way to cut SS benefits. Horrific. If you know anyone who is impacted, please help them get online to get their benefits approved...

bsky.app

 

[St. Clown]

Woke up this morning to hear that Social Security is going to require identity checks. I need more information on this. Does this mean my mom's April 1 check will not come?? And do I have to bring her to a Social Security office?? She's pushing 91 and has Alzheimers. I can't just drag her into Boston. If even there is still a Boston office. I'm really freaked about this.

My bet is that they need to allow anybody with PoA to submit the docs.

 

[aparch]

 

[ScoobyDoo]

FTC Commissioner has been fired by Trump. Allegedly illegal, but what's illegal now for him? Nothing, that's what.

 

[Slap Shot]

DOGE: "We just canceled a $47Quadrillion contract for whoopee cushions headed to seagulls on Venus"

DOGE Fans: "OMG thank you this is definitely a true story!

 

[Handyman]

Department of Education employees are already halved. Today the executive order gets signed to end the Department. Clowns in the media think that the Congress has to remove the department, cause they are clueless.

Bye Bye.

Good thing we kept the government open...

Most Blue States don't get a ton of resources from the Department of Ed. But if you know someone with children in Special Ed they are going to be completely phucked. Expect a lot of "Leopards Eat My Face" stories in the next few months about Trump voters with SPED kids whose districts are cutting back due to lack of funding.

And in a normal world this would be illegal...but the courts can't stop him and Congress wont stop him. The Dems could have tried, but they didn't want to tick of the the consultants. I am sure Pod Save America will have a scathing podcast about it though so...we good?

 

[ScoobyDoo]

As I remember it a large chunk of special education funding comes from the Feds. In fact, the Feds if I remember correctly had always promised to fund it more. Many thought at one time that the Feds should fund 100% of that, and then maybe nothing else. It would level the playing field.

If that funding goes bye bye. Where are people with Special Education children going to go? Are states going to pick up the slack? Can they afford it?

 

[Handyman]

SPED will all but disappear from Red States and Blue States will have to go the austerity route to find a way to even make up some of it. In truth though by the end of Trump's term it is feasible SPED will no longer exist in most districts (if not all) districts.

Not. Hyperbole.

 

[St. Clown]

As I remember it a large chunk of special education funding comes from the Feds. In fact, the Feds if I remember correctly had always promised to fund it more. Many thought at one time that the Feds should fund 100% of that, and then maybe nothing else. It would level the playing field.

If that funding goes bye bye. Where are people with Special Education children going to go? Are states going to pick up the slack? Can they afford it?

There are four general ways this plays out:
1) All the funding to the states remain as-is, but they are “free to” perform the functions that were once performed by the US DoEd.
2) Funding that was used to support the US DoEd will be added to the funds sent to the states.
3) States do it all themselves, adhering to existing rules and regs the federal government has in place.
4) All the federal funds are stripped as are the requirements in place to ensure education standards actually mean anything in the South.

I think we all know how this will play out.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

When crossing the border, the answer as to why a search happens can be as simple as “I felt like it.”

When I used to get hit with a random US customs inspection on re-entry, I knew it was probably because I was a solo traveler who'd only been out of the country for a few days. They look for patterns and are permitted to profile.

 

[St. Clown]

When I used to get hit with a random US customs inspection on re-entry, I knew it was probably because I was a solo traveler who'd only been out of the country for a few days. They look for patterns and are permitted to profile.

I was checked because I was 22 and on my customs form, I wrote “banker” as my job because I worked for a bank and couldn’t think of an answer short enough to fit on the form. Add to that, two weeks in Europe, sunburnt, and travel weary…

 

[ScoobyDoo]

By the way. The FTC firing is a big deal. FDR tried to do it and the Supreme Court ruled against him (precedence). This case will have to go all the way up as well.

Trump broke the law again.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

I was checked because I was 22 and on my customs form, I wrote “banker” as my job because I worked for a bank and couldn’t think of an answer short enough to fit on the form. Add to that, two weeks in Europe, sunburnt, and travel weary…

Occupation: "IT Consultant"

CBP: Yeah, he works at "it", I'll bet.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

And seeing clips of today's press conference things have gotten progressively worse.

We are in a full Constitutional crisis. Period. Full stop.

 

[RaceBoarder]

I'm just gonna get my popcorn and point and laugh at people with kids as education takes a hit... Not my problem **shrugs**

(and yes, I favor education. But at this point 51% of the country made a choice and they have to live with it. IDGAF that between this and the two COVID years, we're gonna have a whole generation of kids who are noticeably stupider as a result. Maybe I'll regret this choice in 30+ years, but currently its hard to muster sympathy/empathy here.)

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

I'm just gonna get my popcorn and point and laugh at people with kids as education takes a hit... Not my problem **shrugs**

(and yes, I favor education. But at this point 51% of the country made a choice and they have to live with it. IDGAF that between this and the two COVID years, we're gonna have a whole generation of kids who are noticeably stupider as a result. Maybe I'll regret this choice in 30+ years, but currently its hard to muster sympathy/empathy here.)

Oh, Gen Alpha is completely and totally fucked. Lost 2 years to COVID unless they were bright enough to get through remote coursework. Now getting boned by lawless Republicans. And they haven't even started other major cuts to higher ed funding yet.

The rich kids will be fine, of course. The 80-90% of the country not fortunate enough to afford private college prep schools is hosed.

 

[Jimjamesak]

My daughter just has to get through two more years. My daughter just has to get through two more years. My daughter just has to get through two more years.

 

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

I'm just gonna get my popcorn and point and laugh at people with kids as education takes a hit... Not my problem **shrugs**

(and yes, I favor education. But at this point 51% of the country made a choice and they have to live with it. IDGAF that between this and the two COVID years, we're gonna have a whole generation of kids who are noticeably stupider as a result. Maybe I'll regret this choice in 30+ years, but currently its hard to muster sympathy/empathy here.)

“I really don’t care, do u?”

 

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Oh, Gen Alpha is completely and totally fucked. Lost 2 years to COVID unless they were bright enough to get through remote coursework. Now getting boned by lawless Republicans. And they haven't even started other major cuts to higher ed funding yet.

The rich kids will be fine, of course. The 80-90% of the country not fortunate enough to afford private college prep schools is hosed.

And they’re not gonna get themselves out by worshipping Donnie like tik tok tells them.