The Morning Sixpack - February 21, 2025
Musk takes a chainsaw to CPAC
Catch the pod here -
Elon Musk Unleashes His Inner Meme Lord at CPAC—With a Chainsaw
Elon Musk turned CPAC into a live-action meme Thursday night, overshadowing any actual policy talk with a bizarre performance that involved sunglasses, a gold chain, and—because why not?—a bedazzled chainsaw.
Argentinian President Javier Milei gifted him the blinged-out weapon as a nod to Musk’s love of government downsizing, and things only got weirder from there.
“I am become meme,” Musk declared, summing up his entire existence in one sentence. “Mind mind is a storm” addled, no doubt, by overdoses of ketamine.
Meanwhile, his ex, Grimes, was trending for an entirely different reason: pleading for him to call her about an urgent health issue affecting one of their kids.
Because apparently, even his family can’t get him to focus.
In an interview with Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt, Musk veered between discussing government spending cuts and going on tangents about the state of comedy.
“The left wanted to make comedy illegal,” he ranted, before theatrically imitating people complaining: “Comedy sucks! Nothing’s funny, you can’t make fun of anything!”
Then he somehow ended up on Fort Knox conspiracies, suggesting the gold might not even be real.
“We just wanna see it and make sure somebody didn’t spray paint lead or something,” he said, effectively throwing his billionaire weight behind a joke Trump made the day before.
The Tesla CEO’s erratic delivery had X (formerly Twitter, now affectionately called Shitter) users buzzing, with "Ketamine" trending within minutes of his appearance.
Musk has admitted to using the drug in the past, so speculation was rampant.
When asked about his growing villain status in the media, he shrugged off the criticism, only taking issue with the quality of the backlash:
“When they’re chanting for my death I suppose that’s a little… you know,” he said, before joking, “And then like the songs aren’t even that good. It’s like, you call that a death chant? It’s nothing please.”
By the end of the night, it was unclear whether Musk had successfully outlined his vision for slashing government waste—or just added another entry to his ever-expanding list of internet spectacles.
Source: The Daily Beast
Leon is not well. And we have to suffer for it. #ThanksTrump
Wife of Cal Fire Captain Named Murder Suspect—And This Isn’t Her First Killing
Authorities have identified 53-year-old Yolanda Marodi, also known as Yolanda Olenjniczak, as the suspect in the brutal stabbing death of Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Marodi.
The two had been married for just over two years before Rebecca, a 30-year veteran firefighter, was found fatally wounded in her San Diego County home.
Shockingly, this isn’t the first time Marodi has been linked to a homicide—she previously served nearly 14 years in prison for a 2000 killing in San Bernardino County. Law enforcement is now asking the public for help in locating her.
Authorities responded to the Ramona home Monday evening, where they found Rebecca Marodi suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
While officials have yet to release a motive, Rebecca’s ex-wife, Lilia Phleger, described their relationship as troubled, saying, “It was a typical toxic relationship. Yolanda was very jealous… and did not want Becky to maintain the friendships she had for years with other women.”
Court records reveal that Marodi pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the 2000 killing of James Joseph Olejniczak. She was released on parole in 2013, only to now find herself at the center of another homicide investigation.
Rebecca Marodi was a highly respected firefighter who started her career in 1993 as a volunteer in Moreno Valley before rising through the ranks to become a captain in 2022.
“Her legacy of mentorship, service, and dedication will be felt for years to come,” Cal Fire officials stated.
While the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information on Marodi’s whereabouts to contact the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.
Source: CBS News
Captain Rebecca "Becky" Marodi, a seasoned California fire captain, faced baseless accusations from right-wing groups labeling her as a "DEI hire"—a derogatory term suggesting she was employed solely due to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives rather than merit. These unfounded claims escalated to the point where she was unjustly blamed for the recent Los Angeles fires, despite her extensive 30-year career and dedication to firefighting. This misinformation was propagated through various social media platforms (shitter, truth social, etc.), leading to widespread public misconception about her qualifications and role.
Return to Sender: Trump Reportedly Plans to Hijack the Postal Service
Donald Trump is reportedly gearing up to take over the U.S. Postal Service—because dismantling democracy one institution at a time just isn’t enough.
According to The Washington Post, Trump is expected to issue an executive order this week to fire the entire USPS governing board and absorb the independent mail agency into the Commerce Department.
This move would effectively hand him control over the nation’s mail system, a crucial element in federal elections. The six unnamed sources who leaked the plan suggest that Trump isn’t just looking to shake things up—he wants to stack the deck.
The Postal Service, which has long operated as an independent agency, has been a thorn in Trump’s side ever since it became a major player in mail-in voting.
His 2020 attempts to undermine the system—including appointing Louis DeJoy, who slashed services and removed sorting machines ahead of the election—weren’t exactly subtle.
Now, by placing the USPS under his direct control, Trump will influence how ballots are delivered in 2028 (or earlier, if you believe the 'third term' chatter from CPAC).
It’s a move straight out of the autocrat playbook: if you can’t win fairly, just take over the mechanisms that decide the outcome.
With the GOP already pushing election-related restrictions in key battleground states, this latest power grab signals an even more aggressive approach.
The plan to fire the postal board would remove one of the last barriers preventing full executive control over an agency that serves every American.
And while Trump’s defenders will argue this is about “efficiency,” critics see it for what it is: yet another attempt to consolidate power under a leader who never quite grasped the whole 'checks and balances' concept.
Source: WaPo
This is a raw, transparent power grab right out of the authoritarian’s handbook.
Hochul Holds Off on Ousting NYC Mayor, Pushes for Greater Oversight Instead
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has decided not to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office—for now.
Instead, she plans to tighten state oversight of City Hall as Adams faces mounting scrutiny over his ties to the Trump administration. According to sources familiar with the plan, Hochul will introduce legislation imposing new accountability measures, including the creation of a deputy inspector dedicated to New York City and additional funding for state officials to investigate the city's finances and challenge federal policies in court.
The move comes as Adams’ ability to govern independently is being questioned after the Justice Department abruptly dropped its corruption case against him, reportedly to secure his cooperation with Trump’s immigration policies.
Hochul's reluctance to oust Adams stems from concerns about the democratic process and the unprecedented legal complexities of removing a sitting mayor. However, recent events have heightened pressure on her administration. Following the resignation of four top Adams aides on Monday, Hochul admitted she had “serious questions about the long-term future of this mayoral administration.”
The Justice Department’s decision to drop the case triggered internal turmoil, with several prosecutors resigning in protest. The acting top prosecutor in Manhattan even alleged that Adams’ team had offered to cooperate on immigration in exchange for dismissal of the charges—a claim Adams and his attorney deny. A judge has yet to rule on whether the case will be formally closed.
Adams, who has pleaded not guilty to bribery and corruption charges, is set to go on trial in April. Prosecutors allege he received illegal campaign contributions and travel perks in exchange for favors, including pressuring fire officials to allow the Turkish consulate to open without passing a fire inspection. The mayor maintains that his actions were standard political dealings and insists there was "nothing improper" about his trips. Meanwhile, Hochul’s new oversight measures signal that while she won’t force Adams out, she’s prepared to keep City Hall under a much closer watch.
Source: AP News
IRS Fires 6,700 Employees, Slashing Tax Enforcement Amid GOP Pressure
The IRS has laid off 6,700 employees, including over 5,000 auditors and tax compliance staff, in what critics call a politically motivated gutting of tax enforcement.
The layoffs, confirmed by a government official to NewsNation, come as Republicans have steadily chipped away at the agency’s $80 billion funding boost from the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Treasury Department has yet to comment on the specifics of the decision, but White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett framed it as a move toward efficiency, stating, “I think our objective is to make sure that the employees that we pay are being productive and effective.”
However, tax professionals and Democratic lawmakers argue the cuts will hamstring the IRS’s ability to enforce tax laws on the wealthy and corporations.
Since taking control of the House in 2023, Republicans have worked aggressively to dismantle Democratic efforts to strengthen IRS enforcement, first attempting to repeal the funding entirely and later managing to freeze over $20 billion earmarked for audits.
The layoffs hit hardest in precisely the areas targeted for expansion under the IRA, effectively reversing hiring efforts that sought to improve compliance among high earners and large businesses. As a result, the agency now has fewer tax enforcement personnel than it did before the IRA passed.
Critics warn that the move will lead to slower tax refunds, reduced audits of the ultra-wealthy, and greater opportunities for tax evasion.
“These misguided layoffs will hurt everyday Americans who pay their taxes and count on the IRS to pay refunds on time while encouraging wealthy people and large businesses to cheat on their taxes,” said Chye-Ching Huang, director of the NYU School of Law Tax Law Center.
Frustration over the firings has erupted on social media, with some IRS employees warning colleagues to brace for further cuts.
Treasury Department union officials have also voiced concerns, with National Treasury Employees Union chapter president Shannon Ellis reassuring affected workers, “You’re not alone in this. I know it feels that way, but we’re there. We’re there with you.”
The timing of the layoffs—just as tax season ramps up—has intensified backlash, with Democrats accusing the administration of prioritizing corporate tax breaks over fair enforcement. As the IRS faces increased scrutiny over its ability to function effectively, the broader implications of these cuts will likely fuel further partisan battles over tax policy in the months ahead.
Source: The Hill
Trudeau Trolls Trump After Canada’s Hockey Win: ‘You Can’t Take Our Country—And You Can’t Take Our Game’
Canada’s hockey team didn’t just win a championship—they delivered a cold, hard slapshot to President Trump’s ego.
After weeks of Trump taunting Canada, threatening tariffs, and joking about annexation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wasted no time rubbing salt in the wound.
“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau posted on X, minutes after Canada’s victory over the U.S. in Boston.
His opposition rival, Pierre Poilievre, piled on with his own jab, writing, “The true North, strong, free and golden.” For Canadians, this wasn’t just a game—it was a national referendum on resisting Trump’s latest round of bullying.
Trump, never one to back down from a grudge match, had fueled tensions before the game, doubling down on his claim that Canada should become America’s 51st state.
"I think they have to become the 51st state,” he said at a Washington speech, brushing off reports of Canadian crowds booing the U.S. national anthem. Even his press secretary got in on the act, saying, “We look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada.”
Meanwhile, at the Boston arena, singer Chantal Kreviazuk gave her own subtle protest during "O Canada," tweaking the lyrics to “that only us command” in a pointed dig at the annexation talk.
If Trump thought his comments would shake Canada’s resolve, the reaction proved otherwise.
The president’s barbs have managed to do the impossible—unite Canadians across political lines in their defiance.
A recent Angus Reid poll found that a staggering 90% of Canadians reject the idea of joining the U.S., making Trump's fantasy of expansion about as likely as him winning a Stanley Cup.
As of Friday morning, Trump had yet to fire back at Trudeau’s post—but if history is any guide, his X feed is about to get very loud.
Source: MDGN