Week Three

Week Three of the new administration was one of stupid stuff. I don’t know how much time to allow this to play out, yet I’ve been busy with my three federal representatives: Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst.

All three favor the scrutiny USAID is receiving. Ernst gets to the heart of the Republican matter in her recent newsletter where she links to this five-page letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the agency. Short version:

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) repeatedly stonewalled my investigations that aimed to uncover how tax dollars were being spent at the agency.

As the Senate DOGE Caucus founder and chair, I blasted the rogue agency’s history of obstruction and waste, including millions for Sesame Street in Iraq, sending Ukrainians to Paris Fashion Week, and risky research in Wuhan. I demanded a full and independent analysis of the recipients of USAID assistance.

Americans deserve answers about how their tax dollars are being spent abroad, and I will not be deterred in fighting for and uncovering the truth. (Senator Joni K. Ernst Constituent Newsletter, Feb. 7, 2025).

While I’m willing to bet some bad decisions were made about USAID expenditures, the way the government is attacking the congressionally mandated agency is rookie politics at its worst. Ernst should know better than to support firing most of the 10,000 workforce without notice. If USAID was stonewalling Ernst’ investigation as she said, there is plenty of reason to call key leaders to Washington for hearings. The fact the courts stopped indiscriminate firings without the Congress being involved, plus paid for supplies to fight disease sit idly in warehouses, just makes Team Doge look stupid. In addition, damage has already been done to good work USAID has been doing.

What was up with the big guy and Mexico and Canada? We’re gonna slap tariffs on you, he said, then as just as quickly, he lifted them for a 30-day period. The whole thing supports his campaign rhetoric about the borders and has little to do with reality. The fentanyl talking points seem like especially weak tea since very little of the drug arrives through the U.S.-Canadian border.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Fentanyl is a “synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic.” The number of deaths from fentanyl use began to skyrocket after Trump came down his escalator in Trump Tower to run for president (See chart above). It begs the question of why he didn’t do something about it when he had the chance? To slap a tariff on Mexico and Canada to address a non-issue, resulting in higher costs for consumers, just makes him look stupid.

The Heritage Foundation observed, “The Senate has been keeping their foot on the gas this week by confirming five more Cabinet nominees. That brings the total of Cabinet positions filled to thirteen.” They are also pleased RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard were voted out of committee to be scheduled for a vote by the full Senate. Senator Grassley has been doing his part of the Republican loser-nominee train as chair of the Judiciary Committee.

Senate Democrats called for an additional hearing on Kash Patel, the nominee for Director of the F.B.I., because of his shady background. Grassley would have none of it.

Kash Patel testified before the Committee for more than five hours, disclosed thousands of pages of records and media appearances, and provided 147 pages of responses to written questions. Further hearings on his nomination are unnecessary. 

No one was convinced by the Minority’s baseless efforts to mischaracterize and malign Kash Patel. It’s additionally outrageous to assert that a nominee should come before the Senate to answer for government actions that occurred prior to their time at an agency.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will not fall for Democrats’ delay tactics. I intend to hold a final committee vote on Patel’s nomination as soon as next week. (Press Release by Chuck Grassley, Feb. 4, 2025).

The idea we would avoid adequately vetting someone for the top law enforcement agency, a person with close ties to Russia, is just ridiculous. In a way, Grassley is right. Patel’s hearings are not about vetting. They are about politics and that makes our senators look stupid.

I could go on yet I won’t… Except to say the proposed firing of the board at the Kennedy Center, and making the president chair of that board is really stupid. If there is or was a golden age of American arts, it began when the Kennedy Center was built and opened to the public. It is hard to say what the president has in mind going forward, yet how could his leadership do anything but put gilt on it. The fake brilliance would dim the hearts and minds of anyone who cares about the arts. With him, that is probably the point. Also, a person can listen to only so many Lee Greenwood concerts.

I don’t know how many more of these weekly updates I will do. At the same time, there is plenty of stupid to go around.