Democratic Underground: Forums for U.S. Liberals and Democrats

DOGE Plans to Rebuild SSA Codebase In Months, Risking Benefits and System Collapse

(Wired) The so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is starting to put together a team to migrate the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) computer systems entirely off one of its oldest programming languages in a matter of months, potentially putting the integrity of the system—and the benefits on which tens of millions of Americans rely—at risk. Under any circumstances, a migration of this size and scale would be a massive undertaking, experts tell WIRED, but the expedited deadline runs the risk of obstructing payments to the more than 65 million people in the US currently receiving Social Security benefits.

BeyondGeography

Investment advisor sees 'pure chaos' in auto industry from tariffs

(The Fly) After speaking to auto industry experts from the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Wedbush Securities concluded President Trump’s 25% tariff on all cars and parts made outside the U.S. “would send the auto industry into pure chaos.” The move will raise the average price of cars between $5,000 on the low end and $10,000-$15,000 on the high end, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Wedbush believes every auto maker in the world will have to raise prices selling into the U.S. while the supply chain logistics of the tariff announcement is “hard to even put our arms around at this moment.”

In It to Win It

"We made a mistake": GOP Rep. Bacon suggests limiting Trump's presidential tariff powers

(Salon) President Donald Trump’s metastasizing tariffs are forcing some Republicans to fall out of line. With broad tariffs on Canada and Mexico set to kick in next week and a recently announced duty on most imported vehicles, Republicans in Congress worry massive price increases on everyday goods may trigger a backlash against the party. Some GOP lawmakers are even ready to rein in the president's power to implement tariffs, citing the economic uncertainty that spooked investors earlier this month.

Wednesdays

4 Days Until Florida 1st and 6th Districts Special Elections!

Donald Trump’s recent appointments have triggered a number of key special elections that could change everything for Democrats. The GOP holds one of the slimmest House majorities in history – meaning Hakeem Jeffries only needs three more seats to win a House majority. We can’t let this opportunity slip through our fingers.

douglas9

Trump order aims to outlaw most government unions on 'national security' grounds

(GovExec.com) President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order purporting to outlaw collective bargaining across two thirds of the federal government, citing a little-used provision of federal labor law relating to national security issues. A fact sheet announcing the policy document says that Trump cited a rarely used provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act allowing the president to exclude agencies and agency subcomponents from collective bargaining rules if the rules “cannot be applied to that agency or subdivision in a manner consistent with national security requirements.”

BumRushDaShow

Core inflation in February hits 2.8%, higher than expected; spending increases 0.4%

(CNBC) The Federal Reserve’s key inflation measure rose more than expected in February while consumer spending also posted a smaller than projected increase, the Commerce Department reported Friday. The core personal consumption expenditures price index showed a 0.4% increase for the month, the biggest monthly gain since January 2024, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 2.8%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for respective numbers of 0.3% and and 2.7%.

BumRushDaShow

Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding to programs with 'improper ideology'

(AP) President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed his intention to force changes at the Smithsonian Institution with an executive order that targets funding for programs that advance “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology.” Trump claimed there has been a “concerted and widespread” effort over the past decade to rewrite American history by replacing “objective facts” with a “distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth,” adding that it casts the “founding principles” of the United States in a “negative light.”

BumRushDaShow

'Crushed' Elise Stefanik 'Scrambled' To Convince Trump To Change His Mind About Pulling Her Nomination

(Mediaite) On Thursday, CBS News reported that Stefanik was under pressure to withdraw her name from consideration because Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, which they control 218-213. Shortly after the CBS News report dropped, Trump pulled Stefanik’s nomination. “As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress,” he wrote.

sop

The Signal security lapse was bad. So is what the chat logs actually reveal.

(MSNBC) Though most of the commentary about the Signal group chat this past week has focused on the accidental inclusion of journalist Jeffrey Goldberg — an outrageous breach of national security protocols — the scandal has also provided us an extraordinary window into Trump’s inner circle’s thinking about foreign policy strategy. What it reveals is a cavalier attitude toward new open-ended bombardment campaigns. And it underscores how farcical Trump’s pledge to be president of 'peace' and focus narrowly on American interests has already turned out to be. Trump didn’t need to drop bombs on scores of sites across the poorest country in the Middle East now or with such intensity — and his whole team admitted it.

Attilatheblond

Jenner & Block file lawsuit re: Trump administration efforts to intimidate

(Jenner & Block) "The March 25, 2025 Executive Order—entitled 'Addressing Risks from Jenner & Block' (the 'Order')—is an unconstitutional abuse of power against lawyers, their clients, and the legal system. It is intended to hamper the ability of individuals and businesses to have the lawyers of their choice zealously represent them. And it is intended to coerce law firms and lawyers into renouncing the Administration’s critics and ceasing certain representations adverse to the government..."

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HuffPost Back In White House Press Pool After Being Booted

26 min ago - Mar 28, 2025, 03:11 PM EDT After booting a HuffPost reporter out of the pool of journalists who follow the president last month, the White House reversed course on Friday. HuffPost White House reporter S.V. Date reported on President Donald Trump ... (Huff Post)

I'm Suing DOGE

29 min ago - The First Amendment Coalition (FAC) and MSW Media have filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. DOGE Service for its failure to respond to FOIA requests Allison Gill Mar 28, 2025 Since President Donald Trump’s inaugurat ... (Mueller She Wrote)

RFK Jr. to gut vaccine promotion and HIV prevention office, sources say

40 min ago - The entire staff of the federal government's Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy is expected to be laid off, multiple federal health officials told CBS News Friday. The moves are part of a broader restructuring plan ordered by Health and ... (CBS News)

Vance says Denmark has 'not done a good job' at keeping Greenland secure as Trump pushes for U.S. ownership

45 min ago - President Donald Trump said this week that the U.S. “would go as far as we have to” to take ownership of territory." March 28, 2025 Updated March 28, 2025, 2:23 PM CDT By Alexander Smith, Rebecca Shabad and Molly Hunter Vice President JD ... (nbc)

Officials say texts sent by Waltz, Ratcliffe in Signal chat may have damaged US' ongoing ability to gather intel

1 hr ago - Updated 12:21 PM EDT, Fri March 28, 2025 CNN — Current and former US officials have told CNN they believe two texts sent by national security adviser Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in the now-infamous group chat involving senior US ... (CNN Politics)

Musk's xAI buys social media platform X for $45 billion

1 hr ago - March 28 (Reuters) - Elon Musk said on Friday that his xAI has acquired X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter, in an all-stock transaction for $45 billion, including debt. "xAI and X's futures are intertwined. Today, we officially take th ... (Reuters)

Judge orders CFPB to reinstate fired employees, preserve records and get back to work

1 hr ago - Published Fri, Mar 28 2025 5:14 PM EDT Updated 2 Min Ago A federal judge on Friday ordered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s leadership, appointed by President Donald Trump, to halt its campaign to hobble the agency. In a filing, Judge ... (CNBC)

Appeals court clears way for DOGE to keep operating at USAID

1 hr ago - Updated 5:36 PM EDT, March 28, 2025 WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday lifted an order blocking Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from further cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development. The three-j ... (AP)

Wisconsin attorney general sues Elon Musk to block $1 million payment offers

1 hr ago - By SCOTT BAUER Updated 4:06 PM CDT, March 28, 2025 MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Democratic attorney general asked a court on Friday to block billionaire Elon Musk from handing out $1 million checks to voters this weekend, just two da ... (AP)

US judge blocks Trump administration from fast-tracking deportations

1 hr ago - Published 3:29 p.m. ET March 28, 2025 BOSTON, March 28 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday blocked U.S. President Donald Trump's administration from deporting migrants to countries with which they had no existing relationship without giving them a ... (USA Today/Reuters)

A federal judge temporarily blocks parts of Trump's anti-DEI executive orders

2 hrs ago - Updated 4:30 PM EDT, March 28, 202 CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Labor from implementing parts of President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion eff ... (AP)

Attorney General Josh Kaul vows legal action to stop Elon Musk payments to Wisconsin voters

3 hrs ago - Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says he will take legal action against Elon Musk over the Trump ally's plans to award $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters ahead of Tuesday's pivotal state Supreme Court election. In a since-deleted post on X ... (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

US court lets Trump remove Democrats from labor boards, for now

3 hrs ago - March 28, 2025 3:31 PM EDT Updated 15 min ago March 28 (Reuters) - Donald Trump can - for now - remove Democratic members from two federal labor boards, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday, handing the Republican president a victory in his efforts t ... (Reuters)

Scoop: Trump might let taxes rise for the rich to cover breaks on tips

3 hrs ago - 2 hours ago The Trump administration is discussing a surprising option to help fulfill his campaign-trail promises: Allowing the richest Americans' tax rates to rise in return for cutting taxes on tips, a senior White House official tells Axios. The ... (Axios)

Dow sinks more than 700 points. Stocks are on track for their worst quarter since 2023

3 hrs ago - Story by John Towfighi, CNN • 43m US stocks plunged Friday and a broad selloff gripped Wall Street as investors digested slightly stubborn inflation data and weakening consumer sentiment while wrestling with continued tariff anxiety. The Dow tu ... (msn via cnn)

Senate overturns overdraft fee limit despite opposition from consumer advocates

3 hrs ago - Posted 11:46 AM, Mar 28, 2025 and last updated 12:05 PM, Mar 28, 2025 A limit on overdraft fees might not happen after all. The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to overturn a rule that would limit overdraft fees to $5. The rule applied to banks with at lea ... (Scripps News)

Musk butts up against Wisconsin state law with (now deleted) $1 million check giveaway

4 hrs ago - Elon Musk will visit Wisconsin on Sunday ahead of the state’s high-profile Supreme Court election. Musk initially announced the plan in a post shortly after midnight on Friday, promising a $1 million giveaway to two attendees who had voted. That ... (Politico)

Hillary Clinton blasts Trump, officials over Signal text mess: 'Stupidity' and 'hypocrisy'

4 hrs ago - Published Fri, Mar 28 202511:52 AM EDT Updated 2 Hours Ago By Dan Mangan Hillary Clinton on Friday excoriated President Donald Trump and his administration for their handling of the embarrassing leak of U.S. military attack plans to a journalist who ... (CNBC)

DHS staffer facing 'serious punishment' for including journalist in email thread

4 hrs ago - Friday 28 March 2025 10:11 EDT A Department of Homeland Security staffer who invertedly added a journalist to an email thread about an impending operation was placed on leave, sources say. Former ICE Chief of Staff Jason Houser told NBC News that the ... (The Independent)

Trump gets $100M deal with Skadden law firm amid pressure campaign

4 hrs ago - President Trump on Friday announced a deal with the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom to provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal services “during the Trump administration and beyond.” The agreement comes as Trump ha ... (The Hill)