The Morning Sixpack - January 29, 2025
Trump freezes Medicaid and other federal grant and loan programs, federal judge freezes him.
Trump’s Trillion-Dollar Freeze Sparks Nationwide Chaos
In a dramatic and unprecedented move, President Trump has ordered a freeze on trillions of dollars in federal funds, halting allocations to anti-poverty programs, foreign aid, and various government initiatives.
The sweeping action, which Trump justified as an effort to purge what he called "woke ideology" from federal spending, has sent shockwaves through the nation.
The sudden freeze has left policymakers scrambling and agencies uncertain about the future, while legal experts question whether the order will withstand court challenges.
Michael D. Shear, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, breaks down the chaos triggered by the freeze and its immediate consequences, particularly in Medicaid funding and education.
“The uncertainty alone has already caused significant disruption,” Shear explains, highlighting the ripple effects across multiple sectors.
Meanwhile, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the freeze, but the damage—both financial and political—may already be done.
With lawmakers, advocacy groups, and state officials reacting to the upheaval, the legal and economic implications of this move are still unfolding. Will this bold maneuver reshape government spending, or will the courts ultimately strike it down?
The coming weeks could determine whether Trump’s freeze is a game-changer or just another political battle.
Source: The New York Times
More on the federal court blocking the freeze is immediately below.
Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Funding Freeze—For Now
A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s sweeping order to freeze federal grants and loans, pausing its implementation until at least February 3.
The decision, issued by Judge Loren AliKhan just minutes before the freeze was set to take effect, spares trillions of dollars in government funding from immediate suspension. The ruling provides a brief reprieve for critical programs, though the legal battle over the controversial order is far from over.
AliKhan’s ruling, delivered during a Zoom hearing, blocks the freeze on already-authorized government funds but does not affect new funding requests. “The uncertainty alone has already caused significant disruption,” several senators noted after reports surfaced that the Medicaid reimbursement portal system had gone offline, possibly in response to the administration’s order.
The judge has scheduled another hearing for Monday morning to determine whether a temporary restraining order (TRO) will be issued.
The Department of Justice opposed the judge’s intervention, setting the stage for a heated courtroom fight over Trump’s authority to unilaterally suspend federal funding. With the fate of the freeze hanging in the balance, Monday’s hearing could determine whether the order is permanently blocked or allowed to take effect, potentially impacting millions of Americans relying on federal grants and assistance programs.
Source: CNBC
ALL of the Trump admin are sociopaths. They have no idea how much havoc they are wreaking on people’s lives. And they don’t care.
California Officials Refute Trump’s Claim That Military ‘Turned On the Water’
California water regulators are pushing back against former President Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S. military intervened to restore water flow in the state.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond.”
However, state officials swiftly denied the assertion, clarifying that the military was not involved and that federal water pumps had merely resumed operations after routine maintenance.
The California Department of Water Resources responded on X, stating, “The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.”
The statement contradicts Trump’s repeated claims linking California’s water management policies to the severity of recent wildfires, which have devastated parts of Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the White House suggested Trump may have been referring to the Army Corps of Engineers but provided no details on their involvement. Because Trump has NO IDEA what he’s talking about—ever. He’s the dumbest POTUS EVER. I though George W. Bush was, but then Trump trumped him.
Trump has long sided with California farmers who argue that environmental policies restrict water flow to agricultural regions.
His latest executive order directs federal agencies to develop a plan within 15 days to “ensure adequate water resources in Southern California.”
Environmental groups have strongly opposed the move, calling it an attack on conservation efforts. As political tensions escalate over California’s water policies, the question remains whether Trump’s claims will have any lasting policy impact.
Source: My Daily Grind
Trump is a moron.
Trump Admin to Federal Workers: Quit Now and We’ll Pay You to Leave
Or we’ll fire you and you get nothing.
In a move that sounds more like a corporate downsizing than federal governance, the Trump administration is offering all 2 million federal employees a “deferred resignation” package—essentially paying them to quit.
The deal includes eight months of salary and benefits, with officials estimating that 5-10% of workers will take the offer, potentially slashing $100 billion in government payroll.
The reasoning? According to the White House, federal employees should be grateful for their taxpayer-funded jobs and show up to work in government buildings—or take the money and leave.
“American taxpayers pay for the salaries of federal government employees, and therefore deserve employees working on their behalf who actually show up to work in our wonderful federal buildings, also paid for by taxpayers,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“If they don’t want to work in the office and contribute to making America great again, then they are free to choose a different line of work, and the Trump Administration will provide a very generous payout of 8 months.”
The offer will be delivered via a mass email that includes a pre-written resignation letter. Employees who wish to accept simply need to reply with one word: “resign.”
The deadline to take the deal is February 6, after which the administration hints that remaining workers may not have job security for long.
The email ominously states, “At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency.”
Translation: Take the cash now, or risk being shown the door later—with a lot less in your pocket.
Source: NBC News
There will be a lot of missing red staplers.
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Middle East Tensions Simmer
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to visit President Donald Trump during his second term, with a White House meeting set for February 4.
The high-profile visit comes as Israel and Hamas recently agreed to a ceasefire after 15 months of devastating conflict, leaving thousands dead and displacing countless Palestinians.
Trump has expressed interest in involving Jordan and Egypt in “relocating” Palestinian refugees (Trump loves him some “relocation” operations!), a position that has drawn praise from Israeli ultranationalists and criticism from international humanitarian groups.
“I look forward to discussing how we can bring peace to Israel and its neighbors, and efforts to counter our shared adversaries,” Trump wrote in an official letter to Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to visit Israel this week, with plans to enter Gaza and assess the region’s post-war landscape (It is NOT “post-war.” This is a 45-day ceasefire that will erupt on or before the 45th day. Mark my words.).
This meeting signals a continuation of Trump’s close alliance with Netanyahu, following years of U.S. foreign policy moves that heavily favored Israel, including the controversial recognition of Jerusalem as its capital during Trump’s first term. They are two peas in a pod. They are basically the same person.
Trump’s international agenda is still taking shape, with his first overseas trip under consideration for either the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu, who last visited the White House in July under President Biden, has remained a vocal supporter of Trump’s return to office. As the two leaders prepare to meet, the global spotlight will be on how their renewed partnership could reshape Middle East diplomacy moving forward.
Source: My Daily Grind
Trump’s Pentagon to Milley: No Security, No Protection, No Portrait for You
In the latest episode of Settle the Score, alcoholic rapist (alleged!) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has yanked Gen. Mark Milley’s security clearance and protective detail while launching a Pentagon probe that could demote the retired Joint Chiefs chairman.
Milley, who famously clashed with Trump over military independence and not using the armed forces as a personal riot squad, now finds himself on the receiving end of some classic Trump-style payback.
His crime? Saying things like, “We don’t take an oath to a king or a queen or to a tyrant or a dictator. And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator.” Guess that one hit a little too close to home.
According to the Pentagon, Milley’s past actions—including—gasp—advising against using troops to crush domestic protests and making routine calls to his Chinese counterpart—warrant a full-blown investigation.
“Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security,” said Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, with a straight face, while seemingly ignoring the fact that Milley was trying to preserve military integrity, not dismantle it.
Meanwhile, Trumpworld isn’t stopping at Milley’s security clearance—his Army chief of staff portrait is also reportedly on the chopping block. His chairman portrait? Already gone, wiped off the wall hours after Trump took the oath (again).
This latest move is less about “restoring accountability” and more about making sure Trump’s Pentagon is staffed with people who know their real job: loyalty first, Constitution second (or not at all).
Milley’s future may be uncertain, but one thing’s for sure—if you ever disagreed with Trump, don’t expect to keep your parking spot at the Pentagon.
Source: Associated Press
Thank you.