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beesleyc.bsky.social
@beesleyc.bsky.social
53 followers 160 following 16 posts
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donmoyn.bsky.social
In a very real and practical sense, the elimination of USAID occurred because a) civil servants who followed the law were pushed out, b) unaccountable amoral people were given power, and c) SCOTUS let it all happen.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-death-...
In addition to mass firing of public servants, Musk's team executed a takeover of the Treasury payment system. David Lebryk, the civil servant who was acting Treasury Secretary, pushed back against the Musk official, Tom Krause, who demanded control over the payment system and specifically to pause USAID payments. Lebryk informed Krause that Treasury could not legally stop payments, and recommended to work through USAID instead. Krause then threatened Lebryk: “I would also recommend you consider an equal alternative liability.” By the next week Lebryk announced his retirement, and Musk announced he was shutting down the agency. It was later revealed that the other DOGE official who had sought to take control of Treasury spending, Marko Elez, was a self-avowed racist with a record of making disparaging remarks about foreigners, including “I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth.” After he resigned, Musk led a successful campaign to bring Elez back into government, even as he pushed out those doing actual life-saving work.
October 8, 2025 at 2:29 PM
beesleyc.bsky.social
It won’t
September 18, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Reposted
sonthou.bsky.social
Yes, but it doesn’t matter. Even if we get a competent and trustworthy government again for some period, everyone should know that it can’t last unless structural and constitutional reforms are made. The fascists are among us and unless they are structurally disempowered, they’ll be back.
August 28, 2025 at 1:04 PM
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kyledcheney.bsky.social
UPDATE: Lisa Cook says she's not going anywhere and Trump's bid to fire her is baseless. www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
August 26, 2025 at 2:57 AM