“Definitely never seen this type of response to a FOIA request,” quipped one journalist.

    • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Not entirely true.

      All these firings are likely going to result in classaction lawsuits, and the judiciary (so far) has been very responsive to Trump’s power grabs. You’ll recall they shut him down on DOGE’s Treasury incursion, birthright citizenship, and the funding freeze. (Among others)

      It may seem like everything’s fucked up, but that’s only because your social media feed and executive orders create chaos faster than the judiciary can check it.

      • Radioactive Butthole@reddthat.com
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        5 days ago

        Yeah that’s why I’m trying to take a more passive approach and only monitor the situation *gestures vaguely*.

        I can’t affect anything that happens at the national level anyway, so all I can do is be on the lookout for harm to myself or my loved ones and do my best to mitigate it.

        We have FOUR MORE YEARS of this, and after that its going to take decades to get back to where we were two months ago. So, buckle in, I hope you weren’t hoping for any kind of societal progess or innovation.

        • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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          5 days ago

          We have FOUR MORE YEARS of this

          Not necessarily. Clinton, Dubya, Obama, and Trump all went into office with Congress and lost it at the mid-terms, and as we saw with the Muslim ban, Trump’s a bit of a bitch when the judiciary stands up to him. It’s just a matter of time until these attempts start to slow down.

          The downside is that Dems rule as conservatives too, so it’s likely whatever the judiciary doesn’t reverse will be permanent.

          But, as we saw with similar activities in the McCarthyist era, the damage is reversible. (But I know that’s not much consolation, but it’s consolation to me to know that this isn’t the first time someone has tried to brute force fascism in government and been stopped.)

          • stopdropandprole@lemmy.world
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            5 days ago

            I don’t think you realize just how long it takes to hire federal employees, or reconstitute entire agencies (like CFPB).

            tens of thousands of people forced out, thousands of research grants and projects canceled, hundreds of programs stifled…

            this is the end of the federal government as we know it, and it will take a generation (20+ yrs) of back to back Democrat administrations to rebuild it. that’s not going to happen.

            the oligarchs won dude. kids growing up today will never know how much has been lost. the corporate media will make sure all they know is ‘we’ve always been at war with eastasia’’

            • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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              5 days ago

              that’s not going to happen

              Possibly, but I know it’s already happened at least once in our history. We can speculate about the future all we want, but the past is a helpful guide.

              • stopdropandprole@lemmy.world
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                5 days ago

                I’m hoping that too. either way, I’m not advocating hopelessness or doomerism. I’ll be working harder than ever this year to decouple my life from corporations and govt reliance. community building, strengthening friendships, helping others when I can. it’s going to be a long road ahead and we won’t survive as isolated individuals.

                • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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                  4 days ago

                  That’s a good goal. I live solo and never had children and don’t want a relationship, so for me, things are fairly simple. It’s nice to not have responsibilities when the wealthy class is trying to seize more power.

                  I’m just doing what I can for my neighbors in my own little corner of the world. No matter how bad things get, you can always do good with your own two hands.

              • stopdropandprole@lemmy.world
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                3 days ago

                no, i do not mean Hollywood… that’s weird… why would anyone think corporate media means what, marvel movies?

                I’m talking about Time Warner, Sinclair, CNN, Netflix, Comcast, Amazon, NBC, Fox, every single source of online professionally written articles, video segments, the evening news, and mainstream platform owned by someone with a net worth exceeding $1 billion dollars. the corporate media, ya know, the ones who manufacture the consent as described in “Manufacturing Consent” or a dozen different media criticism books available at your local library or on youtube (if you prefer).

        • WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          You’re never getting back to where you were two months ago. The United States’ elevated position on the geopolitical stage was due to being the last major power left standing after the second world war, and it’s maintained that position mainly through inertia. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

      • Kalysta@lemm.ee
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        4 days ago

        The judiciary has entered temporary restraining orders. No one has declared his power grab straight out illegal yet.

        And when they do he’ll just ignore it. The courts are dogs with no teeth.

    • spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works
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      5 days ago

      Part of the GOP plan. First fuck up government so completely it doesn’t work, then scream that government doesn’t work and should be defunded and shut down.

    • jagged_circle@feddit.nl
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      4 days ago

      No, they are NOT literally fucking the US government. They are figuratively fucking up the entire US government.

      Literally fucking up the US government would be some kind of orgy at the Senate. Or a bukkae of The Statue of Liberty.

      • aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        4 days ago

        protip: if you’re gonna criticise another’s words, make sure you don’t make any typos. Just sayin’

        • jagged_circle@feddit.nl
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          4 days ago

          Typos are less of a concern than spreading misinformation. Saying someone is doing something literally when they are doing it figuratively is dangerous misinformation.