Right here’s a query: What’s one of the best ways to inform that an individual — let’s say, a toddler — is mendacity?
There are a couple of methods, truly? They fidget. They give the impression of being in all places however within the eyes of the particular person they’re mendacity to. Their tales change the extra they inform them. They stutter and stammer whereas looking for one thing which may plausibly resemble the reality.
However one of many greatest telltale indicators that somebody is stuffed with it’s — they repeat the lie as usually and as passionately as doable in determined hopes that they could truly persuade individuals it’s the reality. And that, my mates, is the method President Donald Trump, his administration, and the remainder of the MAGA-fied GOP are taking of their effort to pin the federal government shutdown on the Democratic Celebration and the “radical left.”
Don’t get it bent up: Republicans and Democrats are at all times finger-pointing at one another when authorities insurance policies show to be silly or authorities our bodies show to be ineffectual and incompetent. However it’s one factor to play the political blame sport; it’s one thing else completely to make use of taxpayer cash to make sure each federal authorities company is singing the identical tune, which, on this case, is mainly a rendition of Milli Vanilli’s “Blame It On the Rain,” entitled, “Blame It On the Radical Leftist Democrats Who, By some means, Have Extra Energy Than The Republican-Managed Congress, Supreme Court docket, And Presidency.” (It’s a really lengthy working title that completely matches the lengths the Trump administration will undergo to evade accountability and actuality.)
If you happen to occur throughout the Division of Housing and City Growth’s web site, the very first thing you see is a single purple pop-up that reads, “The unconventional left are going to close down the federal government and inflict large ache on the American individuals until they get their $1.5 trillion want record of calls for. The Trump administration desires to maintain the federal government open for the American individuals.”
A banner lining the highest of the Division of Justice’s web site reads, “Democrats have shut down the federal government.”
The Division of Agriculture’s web site claims: “As a result of Radical Left Democrat shutdown, this authorities web site is not going to be up to date in the course of the funding lapse. President Trump has made it clear he desires to maintain the federal government open and assist those that feed, gas, and dress the American individuals.”
In accordance with Politico, the Small Enterprise Administration circulated a template for automated out-of-office emails for furloughed staff that reads, “I’m out of workplace for the foreseeable future as a result of Senate Democrats voted to dam a clear federal funding invoice (H.R. 5371) resulting in a authorities shutdown that’s stopping the U.S. Small Enterprise Administration (SBA) from serving America’s 36 million small companies.”
Politico additionally famous that it reached out to the White Home for a response to all of this, however, as a substitute, received an computerized reply warning of delays to press inquiries because of “employees shortages ensuing from the Democrat Shutdown.”
“As you await a response, please bear in mind this might have been prevented if the Democrats voted for the clear Persevering with Decision to maintain the federal government open,” the automated response continued.
The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) posted a since-deleted message to its social media accounts that reads, “Starting midnight October 1st, funding for a lot of the Federal Authorities may have expired because of the partisan politics of left-wing politicians.”
Positive, TSA can’t clarify why a mini-bottle of shampoo must be confiscated at check-in as a result of it might be used to hijack an airplane, however the company is completely adept at explaining to the general public that radical, leftist Democrats “put politics earlier than the well-being of our nation,” and that’s why the federal government shutdown on Trump’s look ahead to the second time in two presidencies.
In accordance with NPR, related messages have been obtained by employees on the Departments of the Inside, Commerce, Labor, State, and Treasury.
Thoughts you, this all comes after Trump, Vice President JD Vance, White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and White Home Deputy Chief of Workers Stephen Miller, and Republican congressional leaders have shouted from each rooftop they’ll discover that the shutdown occurred as a result of Democrats needed to present free healthcare and tax subsidies to “illegals.”
Right here’s what I wrote about that beforehand:
In actuality — a factor this administration waved bye-bye to the second Trump was sworn in on Jan. 20 — Democrats launched a funds proposal that seeks to increase the ACA subsidies earlier than they expire on the finish of the yr, and reverse Medicaid cuts within the tax lower and home coverage regulation signed by the president in July. There’s not a single line within the language of the proposal that may enable for undocumented migrants to obtain free healthcare, simply as there’s nothing in present regulation that may enable for that.
Y’all, that is the best way propaganda works. You don’t simply repeat the lie as usually as doable; you guarantee that each authorities entity can also be spreading the lie in writing in all places you look. You ensure the one government-provided info obtainable is the disinformation that reinforces the lie.
Oh, and, by the best way, it’s in all probability unlawful, or, on the very least, unethical as hell.
From Politico:
“It’s a coordinated effort within the government department to have all of the companies push Congress to get the Democrats to cave, and so they’re utilizing their staff and placing stress on their staff,” mentioned Richard Painter, a longtime critic of Trump and a professor on the College of Minnesota Legislation Faculty who research authorities ethics. “They’re not telling the staff to name the Democrats in Congress and cease the shutdown, however this seems to be a lobbying effort concentrating on Congress.”
Painter particularly pointed to the Anti-Lobbying Act, which prohibits the usage of appropriated funds for lobbying actions designed to “assist or defeat laws pending earlier than Congress.” He mentioned the messages additionally “push the boundaries” on the Hatch Act, which limits political actions of federal staff who work with federally funded packages, however stops in need of an overt violation.
He mentioned the administration’s statements may violate the Hatch Act if they begin referring to campaigns or the 2026 election.
Donald Sherman, the chief director and chief counsel at Residents for Accountability and Ethics in Washington — which has additionally frequently been important of the Trump administration — mentioned whereas the messages don’t “technically” violate the Hatch Act, they overstep a authorized obligation for company staff to “present nonpartisan service to their constituents.”
“A authorities shutdown causes stress for the general public no matter political affiliation; it’s wildly inappropriate for company management to politicize the scenario and blame political enemies,” he wrote in a press release.
Look, mendacity and spreading propaganda is all Trump has ever carried out, however even he has by no means carried out it like this. That is the type of Nazi sh*t we’re at all times speaking about relating to this administration, whereas the administration and the remainder of the MAGA world have dismissed as harmful “leftist” rhetoric that has been guilty for division and violence.
In fact, this administration is the epitome of the division and violence they rail towards; we’re simply calling it out with receipts.
SEE ALSO:
The Authorities Shutdown Has Formally Occurred: What Occurs Now, And Who Is To Blame?
What Does A Authorities Shutdown Imply For Black Individuals?
