Where the hell are these headlines?!?

[pat_k]

Last edited Wed Nov 5, 2025, 10:22 AM - Edit history (2)

REPUBLICANS ALL LIED ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S LEGAL OBLIGATION TO USE CONTINGENCY FUNDS FOR SNAP.

USDA SECTION 32 CURRENTLY HAS 23 BILLION AND WILL GET 30% OF THE TARIFFS COLLECTED THIS YEAR -- MANY TIMES THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS NEEDED TO FUND SNAP, WIC, AND ALL CHILDREN'S NUTRITION PROGRAMS DURING THE SHUTDOWN.

TRUMP'S LAWYERS CONTINUE TO LIE THAT USING SECTION 32 FUNDS FOR SNAP WOULD BE AN "UNACCEPTABLE RISK."

THE USDA HAS BEEN HOARDING SECTION 32 FUNDS INSTEAD OF USING THEM AS INTENDED, TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM FARMERS FOR FOOD BANKS, SCHOOL LUNCHES, AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT FEED VULNERABLE AMERICANS.

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The fact is, funding Food Nutrition Service (FNS) Child Nutrition Programs is a key purpose for the 23 billion in the Section 32 fund

39% of SNAP recipients are children. That makes it a child nutrition program as important as WIC and school lunch programs.

Furthermore, buying food for food banks and for FNS Child Nutrition Programs are KEY purposes to be served by Section 32 funds. WHY DID THE USDA STOP DOING THAT? WHY ARE THEY HOARDING FUNDS INSTEAD OF KEEPING FARMERS IN BUSINESS WHILE FEEDING VULNERABLE AMERICANS???

Furthermore, Section 32 is funded by 30% of customs duties from the prior year. Hasn't Trump been telling us that they've collected trillions in tariffs? Even if reality is closer to 100 billion, that means come 1/1/2025, the Section 32 fund is getting a deposit of about 30 billion that is COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF APPROPRIATIONS.

On one hand they say they can't use Section 32 funds for SNAP because they need it for Child Nutrition Programs. Clearly SNAP IS a Child Nutrition Program. On the other hand, they say they can't use the funds for SNAP because it would leave a shortfall in Child Nutrition Programs like WIC and school lunch programs.

Section 32 has 23 billion in it. And that is after transferring 300 million to WIC for Oct and 450 million to WIC in Nov. If they take the 6 billion dollar SNAP shortfall out of Section 32, they still have 17 billion, with another 30 billion arriving in two months.

They have told the courts that taking the 6 billion poses an "unacceptable risk."

Having 17 billion with a least 30 billion on the way sure doesn't sound like an unacceptable risk to me. And if we take Trump as his word about more than a trillion in tariffs, then...

I sure hope Judges Talwani and McConnell call BULLSHIT.

They are cruel lying liars who illegally withhold and redirect funds appropriated by Congress to exact vengeance and implement project 2025. But they REFUSE to feed people.

[SheltieLover]

1. Kick

[Timewas]

2. No trust

I no longer trust any government or any news agency to tell us anything at all, they are lying and hiding the truth. We no longer have anything or anybody we can trust to keep us informed about anything that matters..

[popsdenver]

9. What do you expect?

95+% of the entire media in the U.S. is owned/operated by Uber Rich Republicans, and/or Republican Corporations.....

One of the first things in Hitler's playbook, was to take over the Media..........

Might as well be Russia's State Owned Media: PRAVDA

[pat_k]

15. Tragically true. Up to us to flood with letters to editors.

They can refuse to publish any, but they send a clear message. It wasn't just media outlets that were hammered over Kimmel. I think coverage does get shaped when they hear from the people they are supposed to serve.

[Magoo48]

16. There are no Republicans left. There are only MAGAt fascists.

[popsdenver]

18. So True, Ms. Magoo

and most of them don't know the word Facist, let alone know how to spell it or what it even means...

[Wednesdays]

19. There's always Democratic Underground

THAT is always a trusted source of news and information.

At least, before it gets shut down.

[slightlv]

30. This is the most heart-rending aspect of the trump government, IMO...

everyone has lost trust in government, no matter who is in charge. The repuglicans have made it clear that harm and cruelty are the other ethics they believe in. "I have mine" is the entire sense of ethics. And Democrats, most of the ones in Congress now being way past the age they should have retired, are way too concerned with caution and optics to make bold moves. Bold moves are made by the younger generations... those who feel they are invincible. They aren't, of course... but we've all been there, and we all know the inherent feeling. My only problem with the younger generation is that they've been raised with this "New Democrat", "Centrist Democratic" party... they don't know what FDR did and why. Ah, hell... that's too general a statement. But I do believe the majority have no idea what a popular, thriving Democratic party looks like. We've been too many decades removed from it, IMO. I'll always vote Democratic. Unless and until we have a true Progressive party, with progressive ideas that reflects the people it represents.

[pat_k]

34. I hold out hope that either (or both):

1) Electeds and candidates realize they must be bold if we are to turn the tide.

2,) Failing #1, I think that the magnitude of the immorality and cruelty will inspire more and more of us to find our voice and demand to be heard -- and that we push our electeds and candidates to demonstrate the boldness and strength the nation is desperate to see.

You are absolutely right. To have a shot at building a better society, our electeds and candidates must be out there advocating, loud and proud, for the type of transformational changes we need to address critical moral failings in how things work.

Just because something seems out of reach today doesn't mean you have to keep quiet about it.

Single-payer universal healthcare. Progressive tax on income, tax on wealth, tax on inheritance, luxury tax on high-end purchases, with the money collected dedicated to concrete benefits for all -- benefits like Inheritance for All -- that are absolutely necessary to address the increasingly obscene concentration of wealth in the hands of the few at the expense of the many. (More on that here)

Our candidates and electeds can help us build a vision of what we want/need -- something that actually inspires others to get on board to make the dream a reality.

However, for that to happen, more of us need to be pushing them, and pushing hard, to break the surrender in advance, "can't win, so STFU," habit that has dominated with the consultant class of our party for decades.

Advocating for what is morally right, and for what MUST happen if we are to build a truly robust economy, win or lose, demonstrates the kind of strength the public has been thirsty for.

And, the thing is, as you are building political will for the big stuff, you change the boundaries of the possible. And you have a better shot at actually accomplishing changes, now, that move the big goal closer.

[slightlv]

36. x1000 and more, Pat! You and I think very much alike! Thank you!

[pat_k]

42. You, me, and a whole heck of a lot of others!

And I think we CAN make our voices heard and help even the "old dogs" in our party learn some new tricks.

And if Mandami's win teaches us anything, it is that Democrats must also get out there and talk to people -- especially Trump voters. They are not a "lost cause." Many voted for for the felon because they saw him as a "shake things up" guy. Sure, some are racist assholes who are unreachable, but many aren't. They are just completely disgusted with politics that never seems to do anything that actually addresses what they are up against. For many their vote for Trump was more of a "no confidence" vote on "politics as usual" than a vote for the felon.

We CAN win these people back, but we won't do it by offering a a slice of bread when what they want is leader who is calling for change that reflects their true values and is 100% committed and passionate about getting the whole loaf, however long it takes to build the political will to get there.

Nov 15, 2024

[Picturelady]

43. Prostitutes to corporate money

I have always been a Democrat too because their values align with mine...mostly (except total capitulation to Israel). If we could make it so they don't have to sell out to corporations and wealthy donors, I think they would be free to live up to their true ideals.
Without big money donors, who Trump relied on far more than Harris, I truly wonder what the Republican party would look like...also without Trump.

[SunSeeker]

3. K & R

[pat_k]

26. Thanks!

[SergeStorms]

4. The far right.....

has taken over practically all "news." They control the message.
The democratic republic of the United States of America has ceased to exist.
The End.

[pat_k]

17. The aspirational America of the four freedoms exists as long as there is a single American who aspires to make the dream

...a reality.

And there are a hell of a lot more of us than there are of them.

I think we are starting with a stronger base of defiance than most realize.

[pat_k]

22. And, speaking of that aspirational America

[lark]

5. Will the courts address this?

They 100% should so hope the judge(s) refuse to accept krasnovs' murderous plot and fascist repug lies.

[pat_k]

10. I certainly hope so.

I have no doubt that staffers in Democratic AG offices and other parties to the two lawsuits are busily drafting motions in response to the administration's claims (one of the lawsuits was brought by the 23 Democratic AGs + Democratic Govs in states with Republican AGs). And I suspect additional suits could even be filed.

Fingers crossed that justice prevails!!!

[Mblaze]

6. Thanks pat_k

Well done.

[pat_k]

21. Thanks for the vote of confidence!

[KT2000]

7. Thank you so much for this

Would you send this to lots of media. We can have hope someone picks it up. Lawrence O'Donnell would know what to do with this.

[pat_k]

23. I'm working on letters to editors customized for specific outlets.

Sending the same letter to multiple outlets is a "no no" so I need to find specific bits of bullshit coverage to create custom versions.

I wish I wrote faster, but I have key points and will be sending a couple based on today's crappy coverage, starting with my own Seattle Times. I will send a couple more each day to different outlets highlighting their crappy coverage.

Hope many others are as pissed and are doing the same.

[FakeNoose]

8. Any newspapers that call Chump a liar, will get sued and they know it

They have to cover the news and they're supposed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But it gets tedious having to defend yourself in court over these nuisance lawsuits from Chump.

So the the best tactic is to be a little devious and clever. Instead of calling him a "liar," call him a "prevaricator" and he won't have a clue what that word means. Use terms that sound like praise for King Chump, but really it's trashing him behind his back and he's too stupid to figure it out. The advantage we have is that we can see straight through Chump most of the time, and he never tells the truth.

[pat_k]

24. Tragically true. But we should still call them on their euphemisms and failures.

More on letters to editors here:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220772034#post23

[TygrBright]

11. Try looking in the non-corporate, independent media. The others are all Trump Farthuffers anymore. n/t

[calimary]

12. THIS.

“Trump Farthuffers” is a good description of these worthless human worms.

[Wednesdays]

20. And the British press.

BBC and The Guardian, for example.

[pat_k]

27. The absence of reality-based information across the media landscape is so destructive.

It is bad enough that what is actually happening is buried in reporting from sources that are most ubiquitous, but these sources also have the attention span of gnats.

Certainly, in-depth coverage of certain aspects of the corruption and abuses can be found in selected sources -- but I fear even they fall short.

For example, I've been unable to find an intrepid journalist or public interest group that is taking a deep dive across executive agencies to identify the magnitude of the transfer of treasury dollars into AI. Individual programs and contracts get mentioned, but I suspect there is a giant story here just based on the few AI government projects I'm aware of that are rigged to actually harm the public interest.

For example, the 6 state Medicare pilot project to add certain pre-authorization requirements, with the approval process contracted to AI companies that are paid a cut of the Medicare dollars "saved" through denials.

I suspect there are many, many such projects that are essentially designed to rip us off and hurt us in the process

Propping up AI is an obsession of the cronies and minions who have co-opted the executive branch to advance their corrupt schemes. They know that without public investment and the circular, and incestuous deals that should be barred -- deals that massively, and artificially inflate of the 10 companies that account for a lion's share value of the S&P - growth would be flat and the markets would be down.

Yes, there are people sounding the alarm, but so far they are lone voices in the wilderness because those who are noticing lack the resources to dig in and discover the full scale.

One such lone voice here:

https://www.profgalloway.com/how-does-the-end-begin/

Subscription to Scott Galloway's No Mercy No Malice is free. I highly recommend it. He's a great resource

[BaronChocula]

13. Today's gop is operating on hundreds of years of privilege

Last edited Wed Nov 5, 2025, 01:34 PM - Edit history (1)

They get all the institutional benefit of the doubt while Democrats get all the doubt. It's how the white nationalist party has gotten away with lying so much for so long.

[NBachers]

14. It's not our money; it's not the government's money; it's all Trump's money to put in his own bloated pocket.

[pat_k]

29. Absolutely!

Can't find the posts, but I came to that conclusion very early on.

To him, the treasury is literally his money. I had some examples. The way he talks about the illegal impoundments. The way he talks about "all that Tariff money." He is absolutely talking like the U.S. Treasury is his personal piggy bank.

Every once in awhile he catches himself and adds some comment about all that treasury money making America great, and all, but it is absolutely an afterthought. The rest of the time, It's his. Period.

His to withhold. (And he loves doing that because it means the total in his "piggy bank" isn't being depleted.)

His to hand out in expensive deals on AI that are more likely to do harm than good (e.g., Unnamed AI companies are going to be managing the Medicare pre-authorization process they are "piloting" in six states. And guess what? The AI companies get a cut of the "savings" from denials. Wonder how that will work out.)

His to "save."

His to spend as he pleases.

His. All his.

Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me a bit if, when he is booted out in an impeachment or voted out, in addition to the billions he has amassed in corrupt dealings, he'll somehow manage to get his fat little hands on some gold bullion from Ft Knox (a la the Marcos family).

[littlemissmartypants]

38. Would surprise me if he didn't.

[spanone]

25. THEY. ALL. LIE. ALL. THE. TIME.

You can count on it.

[pat_k]

33. Their lies on this strike me as kind of unique for them.

More in post 31:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220772034#post31

[LymphocyteLover]

28. Republicans are lying scumballs using food as a weapon

[pat_k]

31. What is striking to me is that they lied on something .

... guaranteed to be exposed as a lie.

They knew they were legally obligated to use the contingency funds. The thing is, most of their lies are of this form:

We must do X because Y and the president has the legal authority to do X.

With that type of lie, when a court knocks them back, they can appeal and claim "we shall be vindicated" as the case makes its way to the six black-robed traitors of SCOTUS.

In this case, the lie was:

We really want pay the SNAP benefits. Really, we do. But we can't. The law prohibits us. Our hands are tied. It's the Democrats fault.

A very different kettle of fish.

They had to know there would be lawsuits. And they had to know they'd lose. The only outcome would be a slap in the face and exposure as the lying liars they are. And because they claimed they really wanted to pay the benefits, they couldn't appeal because doing so would just prove how hellbent they are to starve people.

We KNOW they knew the law demanded contingency funds be used because page 15 of their own plan said so.

That plan, which was at the following URL, was replaced with a moronic statement of filthy lies on October 27.

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fy2026-usda-lapse-plan.pdf

Here is the plan from the archive:
https://web.archive.org/web/20251009082455if_/https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fy2026-usda-lapse-plan.pdf#page15

The first appearance of their moronic statement was October 27. (At least that is the date the first snapshot appeared.) From the archive:
https://web.archive.org/web/20251027060523/https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fy2026-usda-lapse-plan.pdf

The same statement appeared yesterday at the plan's original url. Today it is page not found.

So, in addition to telling lies that were guaranteed to be quickly exposed, they made this asinine and clumsy attempt to cover up their guilty knowledge. Another thing that should be in the headlines.

[LymphocyteLover]

35. it's utterly sick but they can get away with it with their brainwashed base and don't care how mad we get

truly sickening, there is no bottom for this GOP

[littlemissmartypants]

39. 📌

[Clouds Passing]

32. DUMPY STARVING CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS!

[AllaN01Bear]

37. du rec.

[pat_k]

41. Thanks!

[littlemissmartypants]

40. 📌 Bookmarking

[wolfie001]

44. News Media's Millionaire CEOs sucking up to their Billionaire Overlords

Really, no other explanation is even relevant. George Carlin said it best, "It's a club, and you ain't in it."