The Morning Sixpack - February 7, 2025
MAGA power plays, Trump legal battles & Trump about to tank the economy
Search Underway for Missing Alaska Flight with 10 Aboard
A frantic search is underway in the icy waters of western Alaska after a Bering Air flight carrying 10 people vanished during severe weather conditions. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, en route from Unalakleet to Nome, lost contact Thursday afternoon while flying over the Norton Sound. Search efforts have been complicated by poor visibility, snow, and freezing drizzle, with winds gusting up to 35 mph. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Air Force have deployed rescue teams to locate the aircraft, but so far, no sign of the plane has been found.
Authorities say the pilot had radioed air traffic control, stating plans to hold position while awaiting runway clearance before the aircraft disappeared from radar about 12 miles offshore. Aviation experts believe icing on the plane’s wings may have played a role. “If that bad weather coated the wings with ice … the performance of the aircraft would degrade, and it could stall and crash,” CNN aviation analyst Miles O’Brien explained. However, searchers remain hopeful, as ice on the water may have created conditions where survivors could be found.
Local hospitals are on standby, with Norton Sound Regional Hospital setting up a support center for families of the missing passengers. “The plane’s exact location is still unknown. We continue to expand search efforts to as many avenues as possible until the plane is located,” the fire department stated, urging the public not to form independent search parties due to hazardous conditions. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska expressed concern, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, their families, and the rescue crew.”
Source: CNN
Inquiring minds want to know: Why so many airline disasters of late, Mr. Trump?
Trump Administration Halts $5 Billion EV Charging Program, Stalling Nationwide Expansion
In a major blow to the electric vehicle industry, the Trump administration has ordered states to stop work on a $5 billion EV charging infrastructure initiative. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a memo Thursday suspending all new obligations under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which was designed to build a nationwide network of fast chargers along highways. The directive affects state-approved projects that had already been allocated funding under the Biden administration, leaving many in limbo. “Effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI formula program,” the memo states.
The sudden halt throws the future of EV infrastructure into uncertainty at a time when adoption has been slower than expected. Ford Motor Co. recently projected a $5.5 billion loss in its EV and software business for 2025, and fewer public chargers could further dampen consumer confidence. Some states, including Rhode Island, Missouri, Alabama, and Oklahoma, had already preemptively paused their charging programs. “I don’t believe FHWA has the authority to do this,” said Loren McDonald, an industry analyst, raising the possibility of legal challenges from states. Experts warn that without additional charging stations, long-term demand for EVs could take a hit.
The move aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to dismantle clean energy programs, including his first-day executive order terminating “the Green New Deal” and EV incentives. Despite his close ties with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Trump has repeatedly criticized federal support for electric vehicles. Industry leaders and policymakers are now pushing back, urging state transportation agencies to continue building chargers while awaiting further guidance. “We call on state DOTs and program administrators to continue executing this program until new guidance is finalized,” said Ryan Gallentine of Advanced Energy United. However, with the administration’s directive in place, a legal battle over EV funding appears inevitable.
Source: The Washington Post
“Leon” doesn’t care about Tesla anymore. He has full control over the US Treasury. He never really cared about saving the environment. #FollowTheMoney—Always!
Russ Vought Confirmed as OMB Director, Paving the Way for Federal Workforce Overhaul
The Senate has confirmed Russ Vought as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a move that signals a renewed push to slash federal agency budgets and overhaul civil service protections. Vought, a key architect of Trump’s controversial Schedule F policy, won confirmation in a party-line vote despite fierce Democratic opposition. His return to OMB raises concerns about potential mass layoffs of federal employees and aggressive budget cuts, with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., warning that Vought seeks to make federal workers “put in trauma” and be “viewed as the villains.”
Vought’s track record includes submitting budgets that proposed deep cuts to non-defense agencies and working to restrict federal spending laws. During his confirmation hearing, he refused to commit to following congressional appropriations, aligning with Trump’s stance that existing restrictions are unconstitutional. Senate Democrats, who held the floor overnight in opposition, highlighted past instances where OMB attempted to freeze funding before courts intervened. The Trump administration is already moving forward with reinstating Schedule F, a policy that could strip tens of thousands of federal employees of their job protections, effectively making them political appointees.
Vought’s confirmation solidifies his role as a key player in the administration’s efforts to shrink the federal government. His plans include working closely with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to execute deep budget cuts. While Senate Republicans backed him unanimously, some, like Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, expressed concerns over OMB’s approach to funding and the decision to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). With Vought at the helm, federal employees now face the prospect of sweeping job cuts, policy shifts, and intensified scrutiny under a Trump-led government.
Source: GovExec
When are the Senate Democrats going to grow a set and put the HALT on all these confirmations?
Stupid Tommy Tuberville held up HUNDREDS of DoD confirmations for 10 months.
U.S. Job Growth Slows in January as Unemployment Holds at 4.0%
U.S. job growth cooled more than expected in January, with nonfarm payrolls rising by 143,000, well below December’s upwardly revised gain of 307,000. The slowdown, while notable, was not enough to push unemployment higher, as the jobless rate remained at 4.0%—its lowest level since May. Despite the softer job gains, wages surged 0.5% for the month and 4.1% year-over-year, signaling continued labor market resilience. “This morning's report may be considered a Goldilocks report, not too hot and not too cold,” said Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial. With solid wage growth supporting consumer spending, the Federal Reserve may now feel less urgency to cut interest rates before June.
The healthcare sector led employment gains, adding 44,000 jobs across hospitals, nursing homes, and home health services. Retail employment grew by 34,000, while government hiring remained strong, with 32,000 new positions. However, that momentum may soon slow as the Trump administration moves forward with its plan to cut federal jobs and spending. Job growth stalled in key sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and transportation, raising concerns about the broader labor market’s trajectory. The Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that January’s severe weather, including wildfires in Southern California and frigid temperatures nationwide, had "no discernible effect" on payroll numbers.
Despite the hiring slowdown, the labor market remains tight enough to delay Federal Reserve rate cuts, with policymakers keeping a close eye on potential economic risks. The new administration’s aggressive stance on trade, immigration, and government downsizing could affect labor supply and hiring trends in the coming months. Financial markets reacted cautiously, with U.S. Treasury yields rising and stocks trading flat. As economists debate the long-term impact of Trump’s fiscal policies, all eyes remain on whether job growth can sustain momentum amid an evolving economic landscape.
Source: Reuters
It’s already started, y’all! After Leon and Trump fire nearly all the bureaucrats in DC, unemployment will skyrocket, GDP will tank, and the stock market will look like it did in March-April 2020. Look it up!
Boston Judge to Weigh Legal Challenge Against Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order
A federal judge in Boston will hear arguments Friday from 18 state attorneys general seeking to block President Donald Trump’s executive order that ends birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. The case follows legal setbacks for the administration in Seattle and Maryland, where federal judges issued nationwide pauses on the order earlier this week. The attorneys general, joined by the cities of San Francisco and Washington, argue that birthright citizenship is “enshrined in the Constitution” and that Trump’s move is a “flagrantly unlawful attempt to strip hundreds of thousands of American-born children of their citizenship based on their parentage.”
At the heart of the lawsuit is the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, which grants automatic citizenship to individuals born in the United States, with limited exceptions such as children of foreign diplomats. The Trump administration contends that children of undocumented immigrants do not fall under U.S. jurisdiction and, therefore, are not entitled to citizenship. However, legal scholars and prior Supreme Court rulings, including the landmark 1898 case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, have affirmed birthright citizenship as settled law. Critics warn that Trump's order could upend over a century of legal precedent and create a stateless population.
The states also argue that revoking birthright citizenship would financially strain local governments, cutting off federal funding for essential programs such as foster care, low-income child healthcare, and disability services. A federal judge in Seattle sharply criticized the administration’s legal reasoning, stating, “The Constitution is not a document to be rewritten by executive order.” With multiple court battles in progress, the Boston ruling could be another major hurdle for the administration’s immigration agenda.
Source: My Daily Grind News
I fear the Supreme Court will side with Trump on this. Prove me wrong.
Senate Judiciary Committee Delays Vote on Kash Patel’s FBI Nomination Amid Controversy
A Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Kash Patel’s nomination to be FBI director was delayed Thursday after Democrats raised objections over his past statements and legal history. The postponement, which pushes the vote back by one week, is unlikely to change Patel’s path to confirmation but underscores the deep partisan divide over his nomination. Democrats argue Patel has refused to disclose key details about his grand jury testimony related to Trump’s handling of classified documents and have accused him of planning to politicize the FBI. “Until Mr. Patel discloses the substance of his grand jury testimony, the Committee should similarly draw the adverse inference that he has something to hide,” Democratic senators wrote in a letter to committee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley.
Patel, a longtime Trump ally with no FBI experience, has drawn scrutiny for his past comments about firing bureau officials and his support for Jan. 6 rioters. During his confirmation hearing, he insisted he would be impartial but avoided answering questions about his ties to far-right groups like QAnon. Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the committee, warned against confirming Patel, saying, “For God's sake, to give the most sweeping investigative agency in the United States and the world over to this man to settle political scores is something we're going to regret.” Despite these concerns, Republicans have largely rallied around Patel, with Grassley praising his career as “a study in fighting for unpopular but righteous causes, exposing corruption, and putting America First.”
While no Senate Republican has indicated they will vote against Patel, Democrats pushed for an additional hearing to further examine his background and past statements. Patel’s use of the Fifth Amendment in a grand jury investigation remains a key point of contention, as Democrats claim no legitimate seal order prevents him from disclosing his testimony. Under Judiciary Committee rules, a one-week hold is standard procedure, but when the committee reconvenes next Thursday, Patel is expected to have enough support to advance his nomination to a full Senate vote.
Source: My Daily Grind News
Read the story above that ended with my comments about Tommy Tuberville. Read it again!