Republicans: continued

[pErvinalia]

The shittiverse.

[Tero]

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... s-00452358
Ward breaks the MAGA crowd into eight different groups.

The 'Nothing to See Here'-ers

"Several members of Trump’s administration — including Bondi and Patel — entered their new jobs stoking suspicion about a government coverup of the Epstein files and promising to use their new power to get to the bottom of the case. But now that they’re in the government, they’re claiming that they’ve gotten to the bottom — and there’s nothing much to see down there."

The Deep State Haters

"Another group of Trump’s supporters have revived a favorite MAGA leitmotif to explain the lack of disclosure in the Epstein case: that the “deep state” is outmaneuvering Trump’s deputies to thwart the democratic will and protect itself and its elites." The most prominent of this group is Steve Bannon.

The Israel Skeptics

"A slightly distinct slice of the MAGA movement has zeroed in on Epstein’s alleged ties to Israel, suggesting that Epstein’s sex trafficking activities could have been part of a joint U.S.-Israeli “honeypot” operation designed to ensnare valuable intelligence targets." Prominent in this group is Tucker Carlson.

The Loyalty Enforcers

Most prominent in this group is Laura Loomer who has exiled people from MAGA for not being sufficiently "loyal". Now she is aiming at Attorney General Pam Bondi. “She drags the administration down and the base doesn’t want her as AG.” Trump, of course, is not in the slightest to blame."

The Lukewarm Podcast Bros

"So-called podcast bros like Joe Rogan and Andrew Schulz jumped on the Trump train in 2024, but the Epstein files controversy — as well as Trump’s other recent moves backing away from his more populist agenda items — seems to be giving them second thoughts."

The Conspicuously Silent Crowd

"Chief among the newly silent crowd is MAGA-media-personality-turned-Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who entered the government vowing to get to the bottom of the many theories about Epstein that he once pushed, only to clam up since the report dropped."

"Bongino is joined in his awkward position by Vice President JD Vance, who has publicly cast doubt on the details of Epstein’s death and called on the government to release Epstein’s client list during the 2024 campaign. Vance has reportedly been playing the role of mediator in the intra-administration showdown about the recent report, but he has not spoken publicly about the controversy."

The Plan Trusters

"Throughout the recent tumult for the MAGA coalition, a solid bloc of Trump’s supporters has effectively coalesced around a new motto: “Trust the plan.” You may not understand what Trump is up to, so the thinking goes, but Trump certainly does — and that should be good enough for the rest of us."

Team Elon

"Elon Musk, as a team of one, has not passed up on the opportunity to beat up on his ex-bestie as he tries to stake out a new political lane separate from Trump. “How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files?”

[Brian Peacock]

9. The Blummin Idiots

[Tero]

It's in their blood: cut spending
Catie Edmondson NYT

"Before casting his vote in favor of President Trump’s request to claw back $9 billion for foreign aid and public broadcasting, Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, made a striking admission.

“We have no earthly idea what specific cuts will occur,” Mr. Tillis said, adding that the White House had not provided senators with detailed information on which programs it would be targeting.

"But Mr. Tillis, who is retiring at the end of his term in 2026, said he would vote for it nonetheless."
"He was not the only Republican who made the case that the legislation trampled on Congress’s constitutional responsibilities, lamenting the move right up until the moment they voted to approve it. The House, where Republicans have been far more docile about handing over their power to the president, was poised to give final approval of the measure as early as Thursday evening, sending it to Mr. Trump for his signature.

"It has become something of a routine among Republicans on Capitol Hill. Faced with a president with a maximalist view of his power who demands unflagging loyalty and disdains dissent, G.O.P. lawmakers — even those who grouse about doing so — have repeatedly bowed to Mr. Trump on the most fundamental issues, giving over constitutional prerogatives in the process."

"Both targets of the rescissions package, foreign aid and public broadcasters, have in recent years become perennial targets for Republicans, and most lawmakers in the party said they were thrilled to be able to trim even a small amount of federal funds. Some appeared to have made the calculation that they would rather back the cuts than be seen opposing reductions in spending."
"Republican opponents of the legislation said deferring to a president on what funds would and would not be available was the wrong way around for Congress, which is supposed to have the power of the purse.

“We’re lawmakers; we should be legislating,” Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said in a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday night announcing her opposition to the package."

[rainbow]

"The US Air Force announced it would be painting its existing line of fighter jets and stealth bombers in a paint made from the Epstein List, which makes them impossible to see."
https://theshovel.com.au/2025/07/17/new ... le-to-see/