The Morning Sixpack - February 3, 2025
Trump's tyrannical tariffs set off trade tussle. Oh--and "Leon" Musk took over all the computers in the US federal government.
Trump’s Tariff Gambit: Can Anyone Stop It?
President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on America’s top three trading partners has sent shockwaves through markets and political circles, but few mechanisms exist to halt his plan.
Despite vocal opposition from Wall Street and Capitol Hill, reversing the tariffs will be an uphill battle, given the president’s broad executive authority.
Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. acknowledged as much, stating, "This is really something that is in the president's hands."
While Trump announced new negotiations with Canada and Mexico, he downplayed any likelihood of reversing course, declaring, "IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID."
Congressional Democrats, “led” by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, are attempting to reclaim some tariff authority, promising legislation to "undo this mess."
(HINT: You could have tried harder to put the convicted felon in prison.)
However, decades of legislative decisions have handed significant trade power to the executive branch, making such efforts unlikely to succeed. Trump is leveraging the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, which grants him sweeping discretion over trade decisions with minimal congressional input.
Markets responded swiftly, with early signs of volatility on Monday morning. Analysts at Capitol Economics warned that “if the tariffs stick around, let alone escalate, this morning's market moves may be just the start of greater volatility.”
While Trump has historically used the stock market as a barometer of success, he now appears willing to endure economic turbulence in pursuit of his trade agenda. With tariffs set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, the question remains: Will market turmoil be enough to change his mind?
Source: Yahoo Finance
Trump’s 51st State Proposal: No Tariffs for Canada—at a Cost
Trump to Canada: I’ll make you a deal you cannot refuse. I mean, really, you can’t refuse it! OR ELSE!!!
Fake President Trump escalated tensions with Canada on Sunday, reiterating his suggestion that the country should become the 51st U.S. state to avoid his sweeping new tariffs.
On truth (HAHAHAHA!!!) social, he declared, “We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada. Why? There is no reason… Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true!”
Trump argued that annexation would bring “much lower taxes, far better military protection for the people of Canada – AND NO TARIFFS!”
This proposal follows his recent decision to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports and a 10% duty on Canadian energy—measures set to take effect Tuesday.
Citing national security concerns and the flow of illicit drugs, Trump framed the tariffs as a response to Canada’s “failure to devote sufficient attention and resources” to stopping criminal activity at the border.
The new order also places 25% tariffs on Mexican imports and 10% on goods from China, citing similar justifications.
Trump’s aggressive trade stance has prompted fierce backlash from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who both vowed swift retaliation. Trudeau announced immediate tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods, with an additional $125 billion in tariffs to follow within 21 days.
“We categorically reject the White House’s slander of the Government of Mexico,” Sheinbaum said, while Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, added, “I don't think we're at all interested in escalating, but… we will stand up for the deal that we have struck with the United States.”
With the tariffs set to hit Tuesday, economic observers warn that a full-blown trade war may be imminent.
Source: My Daily Grind News
Inside Musk’s Government Takeover: Young Engineers, No Experience, and Total Access
Elon Musk’s quiet but aggressive takeover of federal government infrastructure is being executed by a group of young engineers—some barely out of college, others still in school—who now hold influential positions with little oversight.
According to WIRED, six men, all between the ages of 19 and 24, have been placed in key roles within Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly created bogus and unlawful entity charged with "modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity."
These engineers, many with ties to Musk or his longtime associate Peter Thiel, now have access to highly sensitive government systems, despite having no prior experience in public administration.
Nor do they have any authority to be inside these buildings. IF they have security clearance, it was because they were given it after ZERO vetting. This is complete bullshit and our Congress should be siccing the Capitol Police on them. This is what happens when you not only let criminals get away with committing felonies (treason) but you let them go after they were found guilty by a jury of their peers.
The engineers—Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran—have been installed within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and General Services Administration (GSA), with some reportedly working at the Treasury Department’s payment system.
CNN reported that DOGE personnel attempted to improperly access classified data at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leading to top security officials being placed on leave after stopping the breach.
The Associated Press later confirmed that classified material had indeed been accessed. Public policy experts are alarmed at the implications of Musk’s unchecked power over federal agencies. “This feels like a hostile takeover of the machinery of government by the richest man in the world,” said Don Moynihan, a professor at the University of Michigan.
Because it is. It. Is. TREASON.
Many of these recruits, whose backgrounds are rooted in Silicon Valley and Musk-affiliated companies, now wield influence far beyond their credentials.
Coristine, a recent high school graduate, was suddenly reviewing government code and questioning federal employees about their jobs.
Bobba, a former intern at Palantir, Meta, and Bridgewater Associates, holds a nebulous "expert" title at OPM.
Farritor, a Thiel Fellow and former SpaceX intern, has a GSA email and full access to IT systems.
Shaotran, a Harvard senior and OpenAI-backed startup founder, was granted high-level clearance despite still being in school.
According to internal documents, at least one member of this team is working as a volunteer, raising further concerns about vetting and accountability.
Critics warn that Musk’s grip on government operations could bypass have bypassed traditional security clearance processes, as the Trump administration has reportedly granted temporary security access to unvetted individuals.
Nick Bednar, a University of Minnesota law professor, called the situation "unprecedented," noting that these engineers likely lack the legal and administrative expertise to run federal agencies.
Sources within GSA worry that these individuals could gain unauthorized access to Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs)—the most secure areas in government—without undergoing proper clearance checks.
With Congress unable to intervene due to the private, unelected nature of Musk’s hires, the situation has become a regulatory black hole.
Experts fear this marks a new era of Silicon Valley influence over government, one where billionaires with political ambitions can sidestep democratic institutions and take control from within.
Source: WIRED
BONUS: Hostile Takeover
Elon Musk Moves to Shut Down USAID, Calling It ‘Beyond Repair’
Billionaire Elon Musk, tasked with leading the Trump administration’s cost-cutting efforts, has announced that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is on the chopping block.
In a social media discussion on X, Musk stated, “It’s beyond repair,” adding that President Trump fully supports dismantling the agency.
USAID, the world’s largest single donor, disbursed $72 billion in fiscal year 2023, funding humanitarian aid, women’s health, anti-corruption initiatives, and more.
However, Musk and his allies argue that slashing foreign aid is a crucial step in Trump's broader effort to trim government spending, with Musk estimating the administration could cut $1 trillion from the U.S. deficit next year.
As part of the shake-up, most USAID employees were instructed to work remotely, and two top security officials were reportedly ousted after attempting to block members of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing restricted areas.
Trump defended the move, saying, “USAID has been run by a bunch of radical lunatics... We’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision.”
The agency’s website was down for much of the weekend, raising concerns over whether its programs—including global health and humanitarian aid—would continue. Critics warn that cutting USAID could destabilize regions that rely on U.S. assistance, with refugee camps, landmine removal, and HIV treatment programs at risk.
Musk’s team has already assumed control of multiple government systems, including human resources and financial databases, prompting Senate Finance Committee member Peter Welch to call it “a gross abuse of power by an unelected bureaucrat.”
Meanwhile, Trump remains supportive, stating, “He’s a big cost-cutter... Sometimes we won’t agree, but I think he’s doing a great job.”
With USAID under fire and broader budget cuts looming, Musk’s role in reshaping the federal government is only growing.
In fact, it’s like a growing wildfire. It won’t stop until it’s ALL BURNED TO THE GROUND.
Source: Reuters
Elon Musk’s DOGE Sparks Chaos in National Park Service Staffing
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly caused major disruptions within the National Park Service (NPS), with seasonal hires being abruptly canceled and personnel records disappearing from government servers.
An NPS administrator, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed they are “terrified and anxious” as thousands of jobs are now in limbo.
These moves come after Musk’s team gained access to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) servers and U.S. Treasury payment systems, raising concerns over his expanding control over federal operations.
“The seasonal workforce has been a core function of the Park Service for over 100 years,” said former NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis, emphasizing that these positions are essential for handling the summer surge of visitors.
The disruption stems from a hiring freeze imposed by the Trump administration, which, despite exemptions for seasonal roles, has resulted in thousands of canceled job offers.
An internal email to seasonal workers stated their job offers had been “rescinded at management request,” leaving parks severely understaffed ahead of the summer season.
Additionally, a Musk-style "Fork in the Road" email—eerily similar to the ultimatum he issued to Twitter employees—was sent to federal workers, asking them to either resign or pledge “loyalty.”
Meanwhile, locked-out staffers attempting to access their personnel files found themselves unable to log in, prompting fears that performance records are being erased to facilitate mass firings. "Without my team, no one at [park name] is going to get paid," the administrator warned.
The consequences of these cuts will be catastrophic. In 2018-2019, a government shutdown left parks open but unstaffed, leading to visitor deaths, severe environmental damage, and a surge in the maintenance backlog from $11.6 billion to $23.3 billion.
With summer approaching and over 320 million visitors expected at national parks, former NPS Director Jarvis warned, “If they’re not ready, there’s going to be a lot of problems.”
As Musk tightens his grip on federal agencies, concerns over his unchecked influence continue to mount. “No one voted for him, he’s not even American, why are we letting him destroy our National Park Service?” the administrator asked.
Source: Wes Siler’s Newsletter
FBI Agents Fear Political Purge as Trump Administration Demands Jan. 6 Case Roster
The FBI is facing a wave of anxiety as the Trump administration orders all agents and employees who worked on January 6 investigations to disclose their involvement in a detailed questionnaire.
Thousands of FBI personnel have been instructed to submit responses outlining their role in arrest operations, grand jury proceedings, and surveillance efforts related to the Capitol riot cases. The move has prompted widespread concern over a potential political purge of those deemed disloyal to Trump, particularly following the recent firing of dozens of Justice Department prosecutors who led January 6 and Trump-related cases.
“There’s growing resistance from among the [Special Agents in Charge],” an attorney representing several FBI employees told POLITICO, with some field office leaders advising agents not to comply immediately.
The questionnaire comes as part of a broader shakeup within federal law enforcement under Trump’s new administration. Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll confirmed that the Justice Department has demanded a full roster of FBI employees involved in January 6 cases, as well as in a Hamas-related investigation, with a deadline set for Tuesday.
The FBI Agents Association, in an email to its members, acknowledged the growing fears, stating, “We understand that this feels like agents and employees are being targeted, despite repeated assurances that ‘all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.’”
Meanwhile, reports suggest that several FBI leaders are pushing back, questioning the legality and intent of the demands.
Trump’s decision to issue a blanket pardon for all convicted January 6 rioters, including those found guilty of assaulting law enforcement, signals his continued effort to reshape the government’s response to the Capitol attack.
The Trump regime’s focus on identifying and potentially dismissing agents who worked on these cases raises alarms over the politicization of federal law enforcement.
As rumors of mass firings and security revocations circulate, FBI agents and officials brace for what could be a significant transformation within the bureau—one that will test the limits of institutional independence.
Source: POLITICO
What happened to not weaponizing law enforcement? Oh, yeah, that only applies when a Democrat is POTUS. I forgot!