Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 08:32 PM

Excellent Dans interview. At first, I wondered who hurt him then I realized drinking all that Kool Aid at the Heritage think tank hard-wired Dans to create the Ultimate Mien Kampf Manifesto. A Think Tank can become an incredible evil cult.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 07:37 PM

From Politico ‘Beyond My Wildest Dreams’: The Architect of Project 2025 Is Ready for His Victory Lap
Paul Dans, the ousted director of Project 2025, says he’s delighted that Trump is implementing his agenda after all.

I was going to quote from it, but there is so much to unpack here. So much malice toward the modern American government and population.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 06:51 PM

Now it gets more interesting ....

Trump fires Democrat FTC commissioners, presaging big tech policy shifts

Remaining Republicans don't like the right to repair, non-compete clause ban, or some social media moderation

.... What caught my eye was a couple of paragraphs near the end:

"I am a commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission. The President just illegally fired me. This is corruption plain and simple," wrote [Alvaro] Bedoya.

"The FTC is an independent agency founded 111 years ago to fight fraudsters and monopolists, our staff is unafraid of the Martin Shkrelis and Jeff Bezos of the world. They take them to court and they win. Now, the President wants the FTC to be a lap dog for his golfing buddies."

I'll leave it at that for tonight.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 06:26 PM

Here we go again ....

CISA fires, now rehires and immediately benches security crew on full pay

DOGE efficiency in action

Read the article for full gory details (and the Comments for further entertainment enlightenment), but the subhead says it all.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 05:44 PM

> the usual responses and precautions don't seem to work

Hear hear, Stilly. As usual, Sir Pterry got in first, by remarking that simply having to live in slum housing was nigh-on a criminal offence in and of itself, but being a slum landlord elevated one to the highest of societies.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 05:14 PM

Trump's threats to other countries show just how disruptive it is to have a spoiled angry despot in office in what was, until recently, "the most powerful nation in the world." The pleasure he gets from causing such fatal disruptions should result in a lethal injection in just about any other context. When the criminal class reaches this level, the usual responses and precautions don't seem to work.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Helen
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 03:56 PM

There are also two other articles on the ABC (Oz) news site which are reporting on Trump's effects on Australia:

Australian universities losing US funding amid Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda

Australia defends Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme as US companies urge Trump to impose reciprocal tariffs

Explanation: "Under the PBS, the government negotiates prices directly with suppliers to make them cheaper for Australians."

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Helen
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 03:48 PM

Trump is having major effects on other countries.

The Australian Federal election is looming and global uncertainty is the catchphrase especially for the proposed national budget which will be revealed soon, as discussed by our very reliable political ABC (Oz) reporter, David Speers:

"The treasurer knows uncertainty is the only sure thing as budget day nears

"Geopolitics remain precarious

"Global uncertainty has only gone through the roof since the election to the White House of disrupter-in-chief Donald Trump. US allies and partners are struggling to keep up."

...

"And if two ongoing wars weren't enough, there's the uncertainty of the Trump administration's trade agenda.

"In two weeks, another round of tariffs will be announced. Australia still has no idea which exports will be hit, nor how hard they will be punished.

"Tuesday's budget will attempt to forecast the impact of these tariffs on the economy, but without the details, Treasury is largely taking a stab in the dark."

,,,

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 03:11 PM

Discussing the current status of things is not the same as your "this isn't going to end well" pronouncements. There is a difference that those of us living through the middle of it can discern.

I think a lot of this is going to hinge on the Supreme Court coming to its senses. There was a hint of that earlier this week when Roberts told Trump that impeaching judges you disagree with is not the way to proceed.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 02:31 PM

I think you will find that most of the posts on this thread and the previous ones are just pointing out what the idiot is doing and various opinions on his bad behaviour, Stilly. I admit that I have no idea what to do about it apart from offer respite and funds. Which I have done! I do know that saying nothing us not an option.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 12:15 PM

I and a number of others keep saying it but we get told that we are not helping or that we do not understand the situation.

You are harping on one note and doing what a friend of mine would call "borrowing trouble." We all know this is a shit stew of a mess. You don't need to keep reminding us of it. It doesn't contribute to the conversation, it just annoys people. And much of the bickering and citations of bickering have been removed.

Someone pointed out recently that the only way to get the Project 2025 out of the White House is to get rid of Vance before getting rid of Trump; try for a more rational VP and then impeach Trump. Hey, it's a long shot, but it's looking at how the deck is stacked and how to knock down that house of cards (sorry about the mixed metaphors).

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 11:40 AM

OK, let's clear the air a bit. This could have gone in the Jokes thread, or under Ukraine, but here we are ....

Seen on the newsstand this morning, on the front cover of this week's Private Eye (from memory*):

Russia insists on retaining all captured territories

.... above a picture of Vlad on the phone saying "Including the White House".

* Corrections humbly invited.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 09:23 AM

Some of the strongest bonds in life happen when everything seems broken.
After a pandemic and now 2025 when our country is attempting to be dismantled, we have tomorrow so we march together. My deepest hope is that we bring the hope of democracy to everywhere we travel, to everything we do. We will serve as a reminder we do not walk this road alone. We're not expected to face down adversity by ourselves.

Just as the USA could not fully understand the trials of Brexit or Australian fires and floods I do not expect them to feel the damage being done to American families.

We look for the enemy but the hidden enemy is fear, fear of loss, fear of violence, and fear of the human perpetrators of chaos. Fear of undeserved punishment by a man-child and the crew that follows him is in the back of many minds. As President Delano Roosevelt said it is the fear of fear itself. That we can overcome.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 07:34 AM

Real Estate vultures are lining up to take advantage of foreclosures of recently fired government workers in the DC area.
The MD Governor is proposing a way to give fired workers more time amid the rehiring chaos to satisfy mortgage payments.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 07:18 AM

Dave's concern is critical for Project 2025 to establish an ongoing dictatorship. One man one vote could become one man one joke.
DOGE has already hit the Federal Election Commission.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 07:00 AM

It was me on a number of occasions, Don. The latest being

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Dave the Gnome - PM
Date: 17 Mar 25 - 11:58 AM

I know it is not what people want to hear but I said it very early on. This administration will be all about prearing the way to stay in power forever. It is all well and good saying it is only 2 years until the mid-terms but just you watch - The mid terms will result in a massive shift to the right wing. If not, they will be decalred null and void by king turnip and his not so merry men.

I and a number of others keep saying it but we get told that we are not helping or that we do not understand the situation.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 06:37 AM

The person who said staying in power is paramount to Trump is correct.
When Putin said "Elections are determined by those who count the votes, not the people who vote", Trump was listening carefully.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 05:38 AM

I cannot help but read them, and reply, when they begin "Well, DtG..." but I give all posts a skim anyway.

However, if you do not read my posts, as you said, you are in no position to criticise them. How about you continue to ignore me and stop commenting on things you have not read? Best all round in my opinion.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Helen
Date: 19 Mar 25 - 05:00 AM

I'm just following your advice: "I have said before, if you do not like my posts, don't read them."

I don't read what you write, but if someone copies and pastes an article or quotes from an article written by someone else then I read the C&P.

End of discussion. Don't read my posts.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Helen
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 09:44 PM

That's ok DtG, I don't read what you write. I did read the quotes you posted which were written by journalists or other commentators.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 06:54 PM

Being succinct and to the point is what I prefer. You can say what the point is in 10 seconds. I think economy in social media is a good thing. Most people won't fully appreciate superfluous detail unless they are sophisticated in the genre of knowledge.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 06:43 PM

The enormous mass street protests in Serbia and Hungary against their Putin puppet governments went completely under my radar until I saw them on the Rachel Maddow show. Hello US TV news, are you scared to cover this?

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 05:29 PM

Trump continues to use war emergency power. He claims we are being invaded. What is missing is a declaration of war and a required due process hearing to determine if a person has allegiance to a foreign power like we did for Germans in the US during WWII.

Chief Justice Roberts rebuked Trump for calling for the removal of the judge who ordered Trump to bring back deportees suspected of being MS 13 because they had no due process.

My source is everywhere that is not in the MAGA ECHO CHAMBER.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Helen
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 01:07 PM

Donuel, I do read your posts. Sometimes I don't understand everything you are saying but most times I do and I appreciate your opinions and point of view.

My only suggestion is to provide links to facts or news articles to which you refer, and some explanation for non-experts in a field in which you have in-depth knowledge, just as a back up for your comments. (This advice is based on my previous experience as a teacher at adult colleges for many years and also a class tutor at university for a few years.)

My suggestion for others is to keep it civil, please. In-fighting among the allies does not contribute positively to the big fight against the enemy, i.e. Trump's attack on US democracy and the foundation of the country.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 12:47 PM

Trump says he rules with common sense and goes with his gut.

The problem with artificial incompetence is that it is very real.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 11:48 AM

Here we go .... security sweep fails Security 101:

Court filing: DOGE aide broke Treasury policy by emailing unencrypted database

More light shed on what went down with Marko Elez, thanks to NY AG and co's lawsuit

A now-former DOGE aide violated US Treasury policy by emailing an unencrypted database containing people's private information to two Trump administration officials, according to a court document filed Friday.

That filing pertains to a February lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James and 18 other state AGs challenging DOGE's access to the Treasury Department's Bureau of Fiscal Services (BFS), which disburses trillions of dollars annually to US households, federal employees, and contractors including Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax credits, and grants and payments.

DOGE being the Trump-blessed unit, operated by the President's éminence grease Elon Musk, that has been going around the federal government looking for costs to trim, projects and programs to cancel, and thousands of civil servants to lay off. DOGE had been poking around inside the Treasury's systems ostensibly to find evidence of fraud and to flag up transactions the Tesla tycoon disapproved of, which New York et al in their lawsuit argue was digitally insecure and legally unsound.

The latest filing contains sworn testimony of David Ambrose, the chief security and privacy officer at the BFS, who told the court that then-DOGE operative Marko Elez violated Treasury rules by sending the unencrypted database including personally identifiable information and by not obtaining prior approval for the transmission.

[ ... ]

Read in full, please; the original is, as usual, full of links to supporting evidence elsewhere. It also appears there was less than full access given to the offender DOGE aide in question .... so there *were* grown-ups present in the room after all, trying to uphold the law by being sneakily careful.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 11:14 AM

From the PS on an ElReg article (Amazon to kill off local Alexa processing, all voice requests shipped to the cloud):

Speaking of AI... Under the direction of President Donald Trump and his US government standards body NIST, scientists linked to the federally funded Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute have been told to talk less about “AI safety,” “responsible AI,” and “AI fairness,” and focus more on “reducing ideological bias, to enable human flourishing and economic competitiveness,” in machine-learning research, WiReD magazine reports.

Now even articial incompetence will be suspected of thought crime.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 07:45 AM

”If you are a martyr at all it is to your own prediliction for talking in riddles and presenting your opinions as fact.”

Never a truer word, Dave. TBH, I seldom read any of Don’s meaningless, meandering nonsense - it’s the best way to stay sane.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 07:28 AM

I am only a messenger here but have been set upon by those with predator preferences for many years

You have been set upon by those with a preference for truth and common sense, Don. If you are a martyr at all it is to your own prediliction for talking in riddles and presenting your opinions as fact.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 07:27 AM

First they came for the Democrats. I was not a politician, I kept quiet.
Next they came for Quango employees. I'm not employed, I kept quiet . . .

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 06:09 AM

So far DODGE has only used armed force when a CEO or lawyers have denied entrance to the Elon hackers and lock changers.
The next dire step would be arrests or deadly force if entry to private property is resisted.

Will Trump carry his deliberate ignoring of a judge's orders regarding deportations without any due process go all the way to the SCOTUS?

People see they are dealing with predators who don't care if people are in the houses that are being purposely set on fire.
I am only a messenger here but have been set upon by those with predator preferences for many years. I countered with two strategies, resist and persist. It is now up to most Americans to resist and persist.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Helen
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 05:34 AM

Mr Red. I said earlier that I have heard "Xi" pronounced "Shi" in Chinese, so maybe not Zhitter but Shitter?

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 05:22 AM

I said it in 2016, in this parish:

"Be afraid America, be very afraid"

Mind you, what I saw was only a game show bufoon wanting the next game show gig. And I still think I was right. What I didn't see was the party he was s(h)itting on. Or their agenda. But in my defence, who could have predicted it?

Just a though but is Xitter pronounced Zhitter?

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Mar 25 - 05:10 AM

DODGE has begun using armed federal marshalls and armed FBI AGENTS TO GAIN ACCESS to non executive branch federal offices over the last two weeks. When these agencies call the DC police about this armed invasion of government offices the police have so far assisted the invasion. The use of arms to enter these small independent agencies is a sinister use of power that echoes the practices of the German SS.

Since the administration is not answering questions it is not verified if actual federal marshalls are being used.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 17 Mar 25 - 12:07 PM

Surprise:

FCC stands up Council on National Security to fight China in ways that CISA used to

United States Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr has unveiled plans to form a Council on National Security that will combat foreign threats to American tech and telecommunications infrastructure.

[ ... ]

Carr didn’t say how or if the new Council will work with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), whose Cyber Safety Review Board was already investigating Chinese cyber threats, including operations linked to the Salt Typhoon attacks on US telecoms infrastructure, before being disbanded by the incoming Trump administration.

.... Methinks there'll be an acute shortage of suitable applicants, but I can't for the life of me think why.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Mar 25 - 11:58 AM

I know it is not what people want to hear but I said it very early on. This administration will be all about prearing the way to stay in power forever. It is all well and good saying it is only 2 years until the mid-terms but just you watch - The mid terms will result in a massive shift to the right wing. If not, they will be decalred null and void by king turnip and his not so merry men.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 17 Mar 25 - 11:33 AM

Bingo (again): someone else has spotted it. Excerpted in RISKS Digest 34:58, from an AP News article:

Trump administration cuts $10M funding from CISA nonprofit Center for Internet Security (AP News)

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) budget cuts might give you the impression that the WH knows how to rig elections, and does not want any interference from the federal government.

Trump administration officials cut the $10 million in funding needed by the nonprofit Center for Internet Security, a unit of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency that addressed election security. The future of two information sharing and analysis centers—the Elections ISAC and the Multi-State ISAC—is uncertain.

State elections officials have asked CISA for more information and sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urging continued support for elections security.

The followup comment from PGN, the RISKS Digest moderator, is to the point:

RISKS readers have known since our very first issue in August 1985 that sanctioned commericial election systems have been fraught with easily exploited security flaws. This is not just the chickens or dogs running the chicken coop. It is more like the insane running the asylum.

.... the next five articles in that RISKS issue will be of interest to readers of this thread, too.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 25 - 10:34 AM

Even with a judge's order to return the aircraft deporting a bunch of folks, they did it anyway. This is the constitutional crisis writ large today. Is a judge going to put the pilots and officials in jail for ignoring the order? Is King Donald going to give them immediate pardons?

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 17 Mar 25 - 07:12 AM

Six Trump commercials, made by Americans for Prosperity, are shown here. Their big brother themes are peace and strength, school choice, saving the tax cuts, etc.

Some Walmart prices have almost doubled on items such as Chinese shoes. Wegmans sells eggs for $5 dozen. Spending around here has dropped around 2%.

Trump personally tells the Justice Dept. that media is coordinated and illegal. I assume he does not mean his media snapshots.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Mar 25 - 05:43 AM

Finger on the pulse, here’s Simon Tisdall in The Guardian, 15/3/25.

Much of this stuff was foreseeable by anyone with at least two working grey cells, yet the muppets still voted for the Orange Buffoon. And we thought that BrexShit was the biggest self-inflicted wound in living memory!

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Mar 25 - 10:48 AM

There was a photo of Trump stumbling to the big helicopter with Musk's little X. Relegated to babysitter? I wouldn't trust him around my children if I still had little ones. (That said, they're adults in their 30s now and I'd love to hear them tell him what they think these days!)

A Saturday Executive Order to kill off a bunch of other agencies (worded to strip them down each to their most basic legal standing, and next week each head is to send a list of what they're cutting to the REAL boss - Russell Vought. Head of OMB. Writer of the 2025 plot against America.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 16 Mar 25 - 10:02 AM

Quoth Donuel (on the Weather thread):

> DOGE has shut down the AK volcano assessment office,
> but it might be re-funded after a big eruption like
> in 1992.

If they shut it down, how will they know? ah: if it's big enough, it could knock out one of SpaceX's satellites.

This all reminds me of one of the AI Koans, which ends (from memory):

The teacher closed his eyes.
"Why are you closing your eyes?" the student asked.
"So that the room will be empty," said the teacher.
The student was enlightened.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Mar 25 - 07:33 AM

What Trump does is pretend it's wartime and declare an emergency that enables the president to exercise many wartime emergency powers. This is true for his tariffs and obscure, never-used-before deportation powers.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 Mar 25 - 05:44 PM

How checking facts got political Fact checking has been described as cleaning up a sewage spill with a teaspoon. What happens to truth when someone takes the teaspoon away?

From Time magazine’s pioneering research department in the 1920s to the New Yorker’s renowned and rigorous fact-checking department, verifying facts is as old as journalism itself. The rise of the 24-hour news cycle, ubiquity of social media and subsequent spread of online misinformation and disinformation have since demanded more from journalists and editors. It has forced newsrooms to improve their internal verification processes but has also led to the proliferation of specialised fact-check outfits like AAP FactCheck in Australia or AFP Fact Check, which now has a network of 150 journalists across 26 languages publishing checks on everything from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to COVID-19. (read on)

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Helen
Date: 15 Mar 25 - 01:51 PM

This is a fairly short article and it is worth reading, I think.

South African ambassador 'no longer welcome' in country, US Secretary of State says

"In short: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says South Africa's ambassador to the United States 'is no longer welcome' in the country, accusing him of hating US President Donald Trump.

"Both Mr Trump and his ally Elon Musk have criticised South Africa's Black-led government over a new land law they claim discriminates against white people.
What's next?

"Neither Mr Rubio nor the state department gave any immediate explanation for the decision."

...

"Marco Rubio, in a post on social media platform X, accused Ebrahim Rasool of being a 'race-baiting politician' who hates US President Donald Trump.

"Mr Rubio then declared the South African diplomat 'persona non grata'.

"Neither Mr Rubio, who posted as he was flying back to Washington from a Group of 7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada, nor the state department gave any immediate explanation for the decision.

"But Mr Rubio linked his post to a story by a right-wing Breitbart news site about a talk Mr Rasool gave earlier Friday local time."

...

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Mar 25 - 07:17 PM

The ruling by the 2 Maryland judges is good news.
OPM can not fire anyone. One judge even ruled from the bench and spelled out that the fired people must be rehired TODAY!
I have no word if there is a delay or not.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 14 Mar 25 - 11:29 AM

Pushback:

Judge orders Feds rehire workers falsely fired for lousy performance

Veteran of Oracle vs Google Java trial fumes over 'gimmicks' and 'sham' arguments

I particularly liked the deadpan punchline:

[ .... ]

The Register contacted all six government agencies and the Department of Justice for comment. Defense, Veterans’ Affairs, and the Department of the Interior all said that they don't comment on pending litigation. The other three did not respond. Maybe they need more staff?

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 14 Mar 25 - 08:03 AM

Just spotted the PS to the above:

PS: A small bipartisan group of Congressfolk, including Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), has urged the UK not to, for the purposes of surveillance, force Apple to disable the end-to-end encryption of certain iCloud data stored at rest. This follows earlier political pressure from the group to change the minds of the British government.

.... never mind that decrypting the data at rest is actually impossible, unless the encryption has already been sabotaged.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 14 Mar 25 - 07:57 AM

And for an encore:

Dems ask federal agencies for reassurance DOGE isn't feeding data into AI willy-nilly

Pouring sensitive info into unapproved, unaccountable, unsafe models would be a 'severe' cybersecurity fail

House Democrats have sent letters to 24 federal agencies asking for assurances that Elon Musk's DOGE team is not feeding sensitive government data into "unapproved and unaccountable" AI systems.

The letters [PDF], penned by Gerald Connolly (D-VA), the most senior Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, refer to several national newspaper reports claiming the Trump-blessed cost-trimming job-cutting DOGE unit has whipped out commercial AI tools at federal agencies to analyze projects, staffing, and other data without first carrying out appropriate safety and security reviews. The lawmakers say it would be inappropriate for the personal information of Americans to be sifted through by such systems.

[ ... ]

The first entries in the Comments section are appropriately hilarious.

Subject: RE: Convicted felon US 47th President/ Musk Coup
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 14 Mar 25 - 07:21 AM

Bingo:

CISA: We didn't fire red teams, we just unhired a bunch of them

Agency tries to save face as it also pulls essential funding for election security initiatives

[ ... ]

Among the many cuts DOGE claims total around $20 billion are key information sharing and analysis centers (ISACs), some of which have operated for decades.

The Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC) is one of these. Its website now states that the DHS pulled funding and the Center for Internet Security, which oversees the initiative, no longer supports it.

The EI-ISAC's role was to advise election officials and voting machine makers about cybersecurity risks that could impact the integrity of elections. It isn't the first move made by the current US administration to loosen oversight on election security.

Also confirmed this week to be shut down is the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), which was similarly tasked with informing responses to threats against local and national elections.

It was reported by a few select media outlets, and CISA confirmed this week that the news was indeed true.

[ ... ]