FAFO

[Richluu]

Here’s some FAFO data from Rachel Maddow’s February 5th show:

1. USAID buys 2 billion dollars in food commodities from American farmers. Therefore Kansas leadership is complaining about that loss of business in that red state.
2. USAID opens markets and creates security for US Medicaid, Medicare, construction projects that are now shut down with the federal freeze funding.
3. 52,000 jobs are lost with USAID closure. There are private sector jobs not government jobs
4. Food shipments are sitting in ports getting ready to rot because they can't send it anywhere.
5. Health clinics and soup kitchens are closed in 120 countries.
6. Eboa in Uganda is surging without our doctors to help stop it from spreading worldwide, including to the USA, drug resistant TB treatment has stopped and if this version of TB spreads we are all in trouble.
7. Authoritarian governments are rejoicing because USAID promotes democracy and good relationships with the USA. Plus friendly locals give us good intelligence.

A personal unpolitical note:

In Iowa we’ve had some warm 40-50 degree days in January. That has quickly brought out bugs. A few flies on my window, a beetle that I caught and threw outside, some gnats buzzing me as I brushed my teeth. I was irritated, swatting them away when I suddenly realized the good point they all made: the natural world is alive! Not beaten down by all the agricultural pesticides around here. So now I’ll think that whenever I move a pest outside: THE WORLD IN ALIVE!

[Leghorn21]

1. Thanks for this, Richluu! I don't get Maddow anymore, and must make the effort to keep up with her online! --

ALSO, on behalf of your beetle buddy, THANK YOU for catching and releasing his confused self back into his natural habitat!! Who knows what-all he’s accomplished out there once he was liberated?!!

ALSO, I spent beaucoup years on the coast of SC and in New Orleans, so I was taken aback to discover that y’all have *gnats* in *Iowa*?? - so today, thanks to you, I have lived and learned (about gnats, no less!?) -

Thanks again, R!

[Richluu]

5. Thanks!

[rurallib]

2. Welcome to DU and thanks for the great synopsis

I am sending you a DM (direct message) through the mail system here, if you have never had one before.

The 'inbox' tab above should light up indicating I have sent you a message.

[Richluu]

3. Thanks

I'm not new; been here for years; just don't post articles that often.

[Richluu]

4. Florida Venezuelans "Feel Betrayed" As Trump Ends Legal Protection For Venezuelans

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/4/2301444/-Florida-Venezuelans-Feel-Betrayed-As-Trump-Ends-Legal-Protection-For-Venezuelans?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

[Leghorn21]

6. Aw man, I could just cry...

BUT NOT OVER THIS!! WE TOLD AND TOLD AND TOLD Y’ALL, BUT NOOOOOO