Bits n’ pieces from east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:
Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House and Senate. President-elect Donald Trump says that’s a “very big mandate” for activating his plans.
Trump’s “mandate”: US News reported 150 million voted in the 2024 election, 90 million did not. Trump has under 50% of the national popular vote, Newsweek wrote.
Grant Reeher, professor of political science, said voters’ mood included taming inflation “while not tanking the economy…That’s a long ways from saying Trump has a mandate to fire government workers, or raise tariffs” or deport all people here illegally.
Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe cautioned, “Don’t buy into the illusion that Trump has a mandate to trample the rule of law or ignore the Constitution. He does not. Under a third of eligible voters picked Trump.” He added that voters picked Trump to boost working people, deal with the border and not for the purpose of appointing “extremists to seek vengeance on his opponents.”
Trump says the new Elon Musk-led Dept. of Government Efficiency will soon issue reports on “streamlining” the government, with “advice and guidance from outside the government” about cutting regulations and spending and restructuring federal agencies.
US News said the U.S. Constitution empowers Congress to have power over the federal budget and can take or leave the “outside” advice. Musk associates say his plans include slashing “at least” $2 trillion from the federal budget. Musk says that will create “hardship,” The Washington Post reported.
The Post also said Trump aides are exploring ways to enact dramatic and unpopular budget cuts without Congressional approval. One strategy is refusal to release funds for programs slated for cuts by Musk and Trump, known as impoundment; that was made illegal in 1974, but could be made irrelevant with a Trump-based Supreme Court.
On his first day in office, Trump said he plans to declare a national emergency and use the U.S. military to deport undocumented immigrants. The American Immigration Council estimates deporting a million people annually will cost $960 billion per decade; there were 11 million in 2022. The deportations are expected to result in legal challenges; some Democratic leaders say they will refuse to cooperate.
Trump said last week he’d be willing to serve an unconstitutional third term. Democrats are objecting by filing a “privileged motion” in the House. The Guardian said reasons to deny a third term include a Trump statement in July that if he’s re-elected “you won’t have to vote anymore.”
As well, days before the election Trump said he should not have left the White House in 2020, and that he was fine with members of the media being shot. A term-limit change to the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate and approval by 75% of states.
Trump’s plans to repeal the Biden Administration’s climate policies will stop the U.S. from becoming a clean energy superpower, and is likely to cost the U.S. up to $50 billion in lost exports, according to a new analysis; co-author is Bentley Allan, an environmental and political policy expert at John Hopkins University.
Allan told the Guardian that countries’ future prosperity hinges on being part of the clean energy supply chain, and leaving the competition will make it “very difficult to re-enter.” The Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, with its significant incentives for clean energy, has created around 300,000 new jobs; many of those jobs have gone to Republican-held districts.
Trumps’ cabinet nominees are drawing bi-partisan ire for reasons that include lack of qualifications, immoral conduct and inability to pass background tests, numerous media reported. To dodge confirmation hearings, Trump says he wants recess appointments.
Attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz has been under investigation by the House Ethics committee over allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and misuse of campaign funds. Speculation is Gaetz, as AG, would weaponize the government to help Trump seek revenge against his enemies. A former justice department inspector general, Michael Bromwiaetz, said the Gaetz choice was “extraordinary,” given his “baggage.” He suspects Trump is testing his strength to see who in his party has the backbone to oppose him.
Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a Joint Resolution of Disapproval that, if approved this week, would block $20 billion in new shipments of U.S.-made weapons and military equipment to Israel.
Via secret ballot Republican senators elected South Dakota’s John Thune to be the next Senate majority leader. Trump had stated a preference for Florida senator Rick Scott.
While still in control of the Senate, Democrats recently confirmed David Huitema as the new director for the government’s ethics office; he will remain under Trump, govexec.com reported.
HR 9495 was defeated in the House, then, citing “confusion” about its contents, was resurrected for another vote this week, The Intercept reported. If approved it would provide Trump new powers to shutdown non-profits without due process, including climate groups, in the name of national security.
Blast from the past: “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.” William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, English playwright, poet, actor.