Blue Press Journal

Category: Posts

  • No so fact republicans … you will be held accountable for a shutdown. 

    On Tuesday, the House narrowly approved a continuing resolution to fund the government until the end of September. However, this decision was met with criticism from Senate Democrats who accused Republicans of taking a partisan approach by excluding them from the drafting process.

    With Republicans holding 53 Senate seats and needing 60 votes to defeat a filibuster, the bill’s passage was not guaranteed. The main issue with the bill is that it advances President Trump’s/Musk’s projects without proper oversight from Congress, undermining the power of the purse. Both are in a full destroy programs and agencies the middle class relies on.  

    Senate Democrats are pushing for a one-month bill to allow for further negotiations on a new appropriations agreement. They are also seeking to limit Elon Musk’s powers to dismantle the government without congressional approval.

    The exclusion of Democrats from the process has raised concerns among some senators and aides, who fear setting a dangerous precedent. By supporting the bill, they would essentially be giving House Republicans free rein to dictate government funding without bipartisan input.

    Senator Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico condemned House Republicans for their actions, warning that they would be held responsible for any potential shutdown. Despite Republican control of the House, Senate, and White House, they continue to shift blame onto the minority party.

    In reality, the Republicans are the ones in control, and it is their plan and budget that have led to this mess. It is time for them to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

  • Elon Musk’s Immigration Journey: Breaking Visa Rules

    It is a rare occurrence to hear Elon Musk openly discuss the intricate details of his own immigration journey. Musk kickstarted his career by working illegally in the US while establishing a Silicon Valley startup in the 1990s. According to court records, company documents, and former business associates, including a previous CEO of the company, investors were concerned about the possibility of Musk being deported.

    Born in South Africa, Musk obtained Canadian citizenship through his mother before coming to the US to pursue studies at the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. Despite initially planning to continue his education at Stanford, Musk decided to drop out and focus on founding his first company.

    Experts highlight the significance of Musk’s actions, as there are strict regulations regarding the type of work permitted for individuals on student visas. Work authorizations linked to student visas typically require active enrollment in studies or approval from the sponsoring institution for post-graduation training. Although Stanford has no record of Musk enrolling, he was accepted into the Materials Science and Engineering graduate program.

    Musk’s admission of holding a J-1 visa indicates that he worked illegally, as the restrictions only permitted work related to his academic program. It is evident that Musk did not adhere to the rules at that time. 

  • Deport immigrate Elon Musk

    It seems that Elon Musk, the man with more business interests before the US government than anyone else on the planet, has been having quite the time wreaking havoc and causing chaos. From cutting billions of dollars from agency budgets to firing agency personnel and even ‘deleting’ entire agencies, Musk has been quite the busy bee.

    But wait, there’s more! He’s also been canceling government contracts, selling government property, and withdrawing regulations left and right. And let’s not forget about installing his own teams into agencies and giving them access to sensitive data. 

    And the best part? Musk doesn’t even have a job title! It took two weeks for the administration to confirm that he’s a “special government employee.” What does that even mean? Who knows! But hey, as long as he’s not breaking any laws, right?

    Oh, wait. It turns out there’s been zero confirmation that Musk has been following any conflict of interest laws. But hey, he received ethics training and filed a confidential financial disclosure, so I’m sure everything is just fine. Because when you’re the richest man in the world, who needs to follow the rules anyway?

    It seems that Elon Musk is just doing whatever he wants, consequences be damned. But hey, as long as he’s making money, who cares about legalities and ethics he fits really well with the Trump Administration. 

  • Trump’s Economic Policies Spark Recession Fears

    Trump leads United States to a Recession 

    A major stock market index has officially plunged into correction territory, as reported on Thursday. This is the latest blow to the Trump administration, which has been facing weeks of instability and uncertainty from investors. The S&P 500 fell by 1.4 percent, marking a significant drop of 10.1 percent from its recent peak less than a month ago.

    A 10% drop is no small matter in the world of professional investors, who have coined the term “correction” for such occurrences. The S&P 500’s 1.4% decline on Thursday was the first of its kind since 2023. These losses were exacerbated by Trump’s aggressive stance in the ongoing trade war, with threats of imposing hefty taxes on European wines and alcohol.

    Investors have been rattled by President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war and the impact of the Department of Government Efficiency task force, which has been slashing the federal workforce and shrinking the public sector. This has led to a decline in confidence among U.S. households and businesses, as uncertainty looms over the implementation of tariffs amidst Trump’s erratic announcements. The fear of reduced spending and its potential impact on the economy has gripped the market.

    Trump’s sudden shift from championing economic growth to acknowledging the possibility of a recession this year has sent shockwaves through the financial world. The transition from a robust economy under Biden to the looming threat of a recession under Trump is a stark and unsettling reality. 

  • Mike Johnson’s Budget: A Betrayal of His Constituents

    The saying goes “people before politics,” but it seems like House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and his deep-red congressional district have never heard of it. Shockingly, approximately one in four residents under the age of 65 in Johnson’s district rely on Medicaid for health insurance, while one in five residents depend on food stamps to afford groceries. Despite this, the budget resolution passed by the House last month on a party-line vote would cut Medicaid by $880 billion and slash food stamp spending by $230 billion.

    Johnson’s budget, supported by Republicans, will not only hurt his senior citizens but also a large percentage of his voters. The Republican budget package would expand Trump’s 2017 tax cuts through Fiscal Year 2035, costing an estimated $4.5 trillion according to the Congressional Budget Office. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has criticized this legislation as skewed towards the rich, expensive, and failing to deliver on its promises. The CBPP estimated that the richest households would receive more than triple the tax cuts compared to lower and middle-class households.

    It is truly baffling that Johnson is voting for and promoting budget policies that would harm his own constituents. It appears that his voters are unknowingly voting against their own interests. The hypocrisy and disregard for the well-being of the people in his district is both shocking and disappointing.

  • Elon Musk Affects Social Security Customer Service

    Do you ever get frustrated when you call a business and end up on hold for what feels like an eternity? All you want is to speak to a real person who can help you with your issue or answer your question. Well, brace yourself because Elon Musk’s team is putting pressure at Social Security to end phone service for customers. 

    The Social Security Administration is considering cutting back on phone services that 73 million retired Americans rely on. So, get cozy in your chair because a simple question could have you waiting all day or listening to a never-ending busy signal. The agency is thinking about ending phone services for processing claims and bank transactions, pushing elderly individuals to visit field offices in person to access their benefits, that’s if there are any left after Trump/Musk finishes cutting most of the federal government. 

    Current and former officials are concerned that this change will disrupt the agency’s operations and its ability to serve the public. The toll-free number provided by Social Security is a lifeline for older Americans who may not have internet access or struggle with navigating the web.

    Initially, DOGE staffers were worried about fraudulent benefits going to deceased individuals. However, it turns out that the agency’s outdated technology system made it seem like impossibly old people were still receiving benefits. No fraud, just some computer code that the little bros didn’t quite grasp.

    “It seems like they’re trying to dismantle the agency to benefit their billionaire buddies,” said Martin O’Malley, who previously led the agency under Joe Biden. “And of course, Trump will probably come out with his next lie about how he would never touch Social Security. Watch out, he’s coming for it!”

  • EU Retaliatory Tariffs

    Here we go again with new tariffs! The stock market took a hit last week, and now some of our closest security partners in the European Union are retaliating with their own trade actions. They are imposing new duties on U.S. industrial and farm products in response to the Trump administration’s decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 25%.

    The EU’s measures will affect goods from the United States worth a staggering 26 billion euros ($28 billion). These tariffs won’t just target steel and aluminum products, but also textiles, home appliances, and agricultural goods. Specifically, they are aimed at products made in Republican-held states, such as beef and poultry from Kansas and Nebraska, and wood products from Alabama and Georgia. So, MAGA world, get ready to pay the price for your misguided support of Trump.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU “will always remain open to negotiation.” However, in response to the U.S. tariffs, the EU is implementing countermeasures worth 26 billion euros. The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU warned that these tariffs will harm jobs, prosperity, and security on both sides of the Atlantic.

    The new tariffs will cost companies billions of dollars and increase uncertainty in two of the world’s major trade partnerships. Companies will either absorb the losses and see reduced profits, or more likely, pass the costs on to consumers in the form of higher prices. This will lead to increased prices in both Europe and the United States, putting jobs at risk.

    Is this really what voters expected? It’s time to rethink our trade policies and work towards mutually beneficial agreements. Let’s prioritize job creation, economic growth, and stability for all parties involved.

    Maybe tell Trump to retake Economics 101 because he really has not got a clue. 

  • The Truth Behind Trump’s Dairy (Tariffs) Misinformation

    We have become accustomed to President Trump’s falsehoods, but some may attribute his inaccuracies to his age and forgetfulness. One such instance is the dairy agreement he supposedly made with Canada during his last term in office.

    Let us clarify the misinformation surrounding the dairy issue. Here are the facts: President Trump has claimed that Canada imposes tariffs exceeding 200% on dairy products imported from the US. However, he conveniently fails to mention a crucial detail.

    These high tariffs only apply after the US surpasses a specific quantity of tariff-free dairy sales negotiated by (in his first term) Trump each year. The US dairy industry itself acknowledges that the US has not reached its allowed zero-tariff maximum in any dairy product category, including milk!

    Furthermore, President Trump falsely asserted that Canadian dairy tariffs increased under President Biden’s administration. In reality, official Canadian documents and industry groups on both sides of the border confirm that Canada did not raise its dairy tariffs under President Biden. The tariffs Trump criticized were actually maintained by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal negotiated and signed by Trump in 2018.

    The US Department of Agriculture website notes that under the previous North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), almost all US agricultural exports to Canada faced no tariffs or quotas. The USMCA preserved this zero-tariff, zero-quota trade while providing greater US access to select Canadian markets governed by supply management.

    Canada is the second-largest export market for US dairy products, with approximately $1.1 billion in sales in 2024. Trump seems to forget or maybe it’s just he can’t remember?

  • S&P 500 Plummets: Economic Woes Under Trump

    The S&P 500 took a nosedive of 2.7% this week, inching closer to being 9% below its recent all-time high. It’s like watching a rollercoaster, but with your retirement savings. At one point, the S&P 500 was down a whopping 3.6%, heading towards its worst day since 2022. Remember 2022? Ah, the good old days of high inflation and recession fears that never quite materialized.

    Trump, the man of promises. He pledged to fix the economy, lower inflation, and even promised cheaper eggs. Well, surprise, surprise – prices are up, and the only thing going down is the stock market. It’s like a magic trick, but instead of pulling a rabbit out of a hat, we’re pulling our hair out over the economy.

    The signs of economic weakness are as clear as day, with surveys showing increased pessimism and indicators suggesting the U.S. economy might be shrinking. But fear not, for Trump is here to reassure us with his vague statements about wealth and transition. It’s all a part of the grand plan, apparently. Just give it a little time, folks.

    And let’s not forget the companies feeling the pinch of our economic woes. Carnival and United Airlines are taking hits, as people tighten their purse strings and opt for staycations over cruises. Thanks, Trump, for making America’s economy great again.

    So, to all those who voted for Trump thinking he was the answer to our economic prayers – congratulations, you played yourself. Turns out, snake oil salesmen don’t make the best presidents.

  • A Penny wise and a Pound foolish … IRS Cuts

    The saying goes “a penny wise and a pound foolish.” Maybe immigrant Elon Musk isn’t familiar with this good old American saying, but he should be.

    DOGE’s cuts to the IRS threaten to cost more than DOGE will ever save. The Trump administration believes that slashing federal agencies will save money, but reducing the IRS means the government will collect fewer taxes.

    Unlike other federal agencies, cutting the IRS results in less money collected and fewer tax abuses uncovered. Economic studies have shown that for every dollar spent by the IRS, the agency returns between $5 and $12, depending on the taxpayer’s declared income. A 2024 report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office revealed that the IRS saved $13,000 for every additional hour spent auditing the tax returns of wealthy taxpayers – a return on investment that would make Wall Street hedge fund managers jealous, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

    The Trump administration’s strategy to shrink the government has been haphazard and widespread, aiming to remove civil servants quickly from as many agencies as possible while demoralizing those who remain. ProPublica discovered that the recent IRS layoffs included highly skilled probationary workers who had recently joined the government or moved from another agency.

    In late February, the Trump administration began firing over 6,000 IRS employees. The agency has been hit hard because it spent 2023 preparing to hire thousands of new enforcement and customer service personnel, only beginning to hire and train them on a large scale in 2024. “Large businesses and wealthy individuals, “like Trumps friends”, are where you find the most sophisticated taxpayers, tax preparers, and lawyers who push the boundaries as much as possible. Well we could guess he wants to protect them not the middle class.