This week, Lisa and David talk about Zelensky, Trump, Vance Oval Office catastrophe; FDA cancels meeting to select flu strains for next season's flu vaccine; shakeups at MSNBC; faux Epstein papers release; time-traveling Trump theory; measles outbreak and deaths; H5N1 bird flu spread; U.S government shifts from bureaucracy to active malice; middle of the night shuttering of 18f at GSA; TikTokers ‘hunting’ Tesla Cybertrucks to project anti-musk messages on the tailgate; Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog found dead; FedEx plane catches fire before emergency landing; Pete Hegseth memo denigrating trans soldiers and dismissing the sacrifice of their service, requires the Pentagon to identify transgender troops and discharge them; former US defense secretaries assail Trump's military firings as reckless; Trump floats $5 million 'gold card' as a route to US citizenship; Education Department launches 'End DEI' complaint portal to snitch on schools; invest in MrBeast at $5B valuation; home sales down; jobless claims rise; The Oscars; and more.
When the Government Becomes Your Enemy: Navigating a New Era of Control and Retaliation
David expressed deep concerns about the government becoming an active adversary to citizens, warning that interactions with government agencies will increasingly be driven by malice rather than bureaucracy. He argued that as regular government workers—those who genuinely tried to help people—are being purged, the remaining officials will be those who actively seek to harm or control citizens.
Key points he raised:
Fear of Retaliation – He believes that simply logging into Social Security, paying taxes, or interacting with the DMV could become risky, as the government may use these interactions to target individuals.
Mass Firings and Loss of Public Services – He pointed to layoffs in key government agencies like Social Security and technology departments (e.g., 18F), suggesting that these actions will lead to inefficiency, potential economic collapse, and an inability for citizens to access essential services.
Government as a Mafia-like Entity – He described the administration as a criminal organization that will use financial leverage to force compliance, such as withholding benefits or freezing assets.
No Safe Way to Stay Out of Trouble – He rejected the idea that people could keep their heads down and stay safe, arguing that compliance won’t protect anyone in an authoritarian system.
Lisa added that even everyday activities like shopping online could expose citizens to government tracking and control. They both agreed that traditional institutions (e.g., the CDC, government websites) can no longer be trusted to provide unbiased information, and that the administration is deliberately scrubbing historical records to control the narrative.
David discussed the abrupt firing of the 18F team, a government technology group under the General Services Administration (GSA) that worked on streamlining digital services and improving efficiency.
Key points:
The firings happened in the middle of the night, raising suspicions about the motives.
18F was responsible for modernizing government systems, including login integrations and making services more accessible.
Their removal allows the administration to take control of critical digital infrastructure, potentially for surveillance or restricting access.
Former Tesla employees were placed in charge of these systems, deepening concerns about political and corporate influence over public services.
Critics worry this is part of a broader effort to weaponize government agencies against citizens rather than serving them.
David saw this as another step toward turning the government into an adversarial force rather than a public service.
Links:
The Rise of the Imperial Presidency (Outrage Overload)
Former defense chiefs call for congressional hearings on Trump’s firing of senior military leaders (AP)
'end DEI' portal (Reuters)
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