Summary

Trump is considering executive actions to dismantle the Department of Education, following Elon Musk’s push to slash government spending.

Officials are discussing shutting down non-statutory functions or moving them to other agencies. Dozens of employees were placed on leave under Trump’s order banning diversity programs.

Trump, who promised to eliminate the department, awaits Senate confirmation of Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon.

While Congress must approve agency closures, Trump’s team may replicate its aggressive approach used against USAID.

  • Drusas
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    12820 hours ago

    How do we get the rest of the country to recognize what is going on here? Does no one else feel a sense of panic at what is happening here?

    • @Nightwingdragon
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      8019 hours ago

      We spent months trying to warn people of what would be going on here. Trump spent months promising his base that this is exactly what would be going on here. And voters said “Yes, I’d like more of that, please.”

      • @[email protected]
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        78 hours ago

        No, we spent years.

        Years.

        Many have been pointing this out since 2016.

        And people went screaming back for more.

      • @assembly
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        5219 hours ago

        Trump spent his entire campaign saying he was going to do crazy and stupid shit. He highlighted that he wanted the DOE shutdown. This is what the country voted for. I am astonished and disappointed but the truth is that the majority of Americans that voted were too dumb to care (best case) or possibly just really into fascism (possible case).

        • @Nightwingdragon
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          2819 hours ago

          or possibly just really into fascism (possible case).

          Not or. And.

          Go back and watch some of the news reports covering Trump rallies. There were plenty of people openly saying that they wouldn’t mind having a “strongman” dictator in charge. Women saying that they shouldn’t have the right to vote. The “Your body, my choice” incels. Lawmakers asking why we even have elections and that we should “give the votes to Trump because he’s going to win anyway.”

          The fascism is being openly requested and welcomed with thundering applause.

          • Nightwatch Admin
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            717 hours ago

            Exactly. Trump may be evil, but he would never have gotten where he is today without about half of the population actively supporting him.

    • @NocturnalMorning
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      3120 hours ago

      Yes, but what can I do about it personally? You’d need a million people to march on Washington D.C. for anybody to notice at this point.

        • @Nightwingdragon
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          1219 hours ago

          Which will be totally meaningless and completely ignored if everybody just goes back to business as usual February 6th.

          • @AdolfSchmitler
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            26 hours ago

            I feel your first comment too. What can 1 person do? Honestly not much imo. And these strikes haven’t accomplished much since its business as usual they day after lol. I dont use amazon, i dont get things delivered to the house, i try to shop local, etc.

            People might call this a “negative attitude” but have you seen what’s going on? It’s pretty god damn negative. I think it’s ok to feel a sense of dread and hopelessness, it’s ok to feel all the emotions. But the insanely tricky part is figuring out how to express those emotions in a constructive way.

            I’ve always talked about a making a veggie garden in my backyard, maybe doing that will help me feel less shitty about food prices going up. Just an example I guess.

          • @[email protected]
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            716 hours ago

            It’s a start. Protests can get people connected and involved and build towards more effective action.

        • @NocturnalMorning
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          519 hours ago

          If i didn’t have a 9-5, I honestly would drive the hour to the capital of my state and protest. Might even drive the other 2.5 to D.C. Nothing short of overwhelming backlash is this going to stop.

          • @[email protected]
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            619 hours ago

            Request the day off? I understand there might be more to your situation but just having a 9-5 seems like an exceptionally lazy excuse considering the position of your country.

            • @mx_smith
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              512 hours ago

              Unfortunately this is why the capitalist oligarchs have insured we do not have universal healthcare. If we lose our job we lose our healthcare. So we can’t protest in fear of losing our lives.

              • @Whats_your_reasoning
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                27 hours ago

                Lucky me, my company just did an audit of my hours from last month and decided I didn’t work enough to qualify for health care.

                I guess I got nothing to lose in that regard.

              • @[email protected]
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                211 hours ago

                Yeah, okay. That explains it really well and is so fucked. I’m sure you don’t need to be told that though.

            • @nnullzz
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              317 hours ago

              Unfortunately not everyone has the luxury. Nothing about a 9-5 preventing them being there is “exceptionally lazy”. It’s a reality people face. Especially when everything’s about to skyrocket here in price. Job security is kinda important too.

              • @[email protected]
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                317 hours ago

                Hence the reason I started my response with acknowledgement of possible other factors. If the only reason is having a 9-5 though… Take one (1) day off. You’re walking into a dictatorship.

        • @[email protected]
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          419 hours ago

          I’ve seen a lot of peaceful protest in my life, and it’s never changed a damn thing. Unless ppl want to start fighting for it I’ve written the country off

          • @[email protected]
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            9 hours ago

            Then it seems you are younger than 40 years old. Because the fall of the socialist bloc in east europe was achieved by peaceful protests.

            Edit: I do not mean that I think peaceful protest alone will save the USA, but it’s the start. If that doesn’t change enough things, then you start the non peaceful protest.

          • @[email protected]
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            516 hours ago

            I’d suggest you don’t reject imperfect action while you wait for something better. The more people who show at a protest, the stronger the message to everyone that they are not alone in resisting. Just being there won’t change things immediately, but it will add momentum to the resistance by encouraging and emboldening people, and that’s an essential step.

    • @[email protected]
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      1118 hours ago

      I’m fucking terrified and am spiraling while wondering what role I’m going to play in the modern Nazi regime. I also spend a lot of time trying to distract myself.

      • @[email protected]
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        14 hours ago

        If they get what they want, it’ll be magnitudes worse than the Nazis. They have mass surveillance devices absolutely everywhere, the entire world pretty much runs on American software from American tech giants, there are American military bases pretty much everywhere, etc. We’re absolutely not ready for what’s to come.

    • @T00l_shed
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      1820 hours ago

      Not from the US but yes, a more or less constant feeling of dread since November

      • @P00ptart
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        619 hours ago

        Lucky! Somehow I feel like Iran would be more welcoming right now.