Bernie, Bernie, Bernie

On - Commentary, purple, Your Money

I received a “look at what I am doing” email from Bernie Sanders and because I hate comments or sound bites taken out of context I decided to share the complete email — without the “oh, send money” part. You’re welcome.

The gist of his proposed legislation is having America take a stake in the developing AI revolution. And I have to admit the general idea could help fill the enormous hole in our coffers created by the current administration and their efforts to bankrupt this nation.

His first point I am all for. Sounds great.

“This legislation would guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A.I. are used to improve the lives of all of us — not simply to make the richest people in the world even richer.”

It’s this part I have an issue with. Big Brother having a 50% voting and control share.

“The federal government would have the power, through its voting shares and an equal representation on each company’s board, to block decisions that hurt our citizens and to push for policies that help them.”

Let’s be honest. The American people still would not have a voice in how AI is developed. A few politicians would have that say. They would tell us it’s our voice — but all you have to do is look at the gilding of bronze statues to understand what our voice is actually worth these days.

Sorry. That just slipped out.

Bernie’s diagnosis is correct. AI is being built on the collective knowledge of humanity — every book, article, conversation, and creative work ever digitized. The people who happen to own the compute infrastructure shouldn’t be the sole beneficiaries of that collective inheritance.

But his prescription has a fatal flaw.

We have already seen the debate around AI and government power play out in real time. Anthropic — one of the companies named in Bernie’s legislation — has publicly stated that it does not want its technology used for fully autonomous lethal weapons or the mass surveillance of Americans. That is exactly the kind of ethical guardrail that responsible AI development requires.

Do we really want whichever party happens to be in power having direct influence over whether those guardrails stay in place? Do we want political considerations overriding ethical ones when the technology has the potential to do tremendous good and tremendous harm simultaneously?

This isn’t about losing jobs. It’s about losing what’s left of our freedom. Our personal freedom. Do we really want anyone looking over our shoulder — reading everything we write? This article. A private letter. A conversation between a grandparent and a grandchild.

So Bernie — 50% sounds good financially. But maybe it should be non-voting stock.

I don’t trust billionaires enough to hand them AI.

I don’t trust politicians enough to hand them AI either.

We need guidelines. We need oversight. But that has to be done with the help of government — not by government.

If the public is going to own a stake in AI that ownership should be managed by an independent public trust. Not elected politicians. Not the companies themselves. An independent entity charged with protecting the public’s investment while remaining insulated from political pressure and corporate influence.

A Public Investment Authority. Something like the Alaska Permanent Fund — created to ensure that the wealth generated from a public resource actually benefited the public rather than whoever happened to be in power when the resource was discovered.

The question isn’t whether public investment in AI should exist.

The question is how to structure it so that neither politicians nor corporations can abuse it.

Bernie is asking the right question.

He just needs a better answer.

Bernies email.

“Since A.I. is built on the collective knowledge of humanity, the wealth it generates must benefit humanity. Not just Mr. Musk, Mr. Altman, Dario Amodei and other moguls whose companies are positioned to dominate the industry. Not just venture capitalists in Silicon Valley or money managers on Wall Street who undoubtedly see A.I. as the next great wealth-extracting machine.

That is why I will soon be introducing the American A.I. Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. This legislation would give the public a direct ownership stake in the largest A.I. companies in our country. How? It would create a sovereign wealth fund through a one-time 50 percent tax — not on the profits of OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI and other companies, but paid with something far more valuable than that: the stock.

If passed, this legislation would do two crucial things. First, it would give the public a direct role in determining the future of this technology. No longer would the future of A.I. and the transformation of human life that it will bring be dictated by a handful of Big Tech oligarchs. The federal government would have the power, through its voting shares and an equal representation on each company’s board, to block decisions that hurt our citizens and to push for policies that help them.

Second, this legislation would guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A.I. are used to improve the lives of all of us — not simply to make the richest people in the world even richer. If the big A.I. companies continue to grow as rapidly as many analysts expect, then the value of the sovereign wealth fund will grow as well — and the benefits to the American people will grow along with it.”

Bernie, Bernie, Bernie – Video

On - Commentary, purple, Your Money

I received a “look at what I am doing” email from Bernie Sanders and because I hate comments or sound bites taken out of context I decided to share the complete email — without the “oh, send money” part. You’re welcome.

The gist of his proposed legislation is having America take a stake in the developing AI revolution. And I have to admit the general idea could help fill the enormous hole in our coffers created by the current administration and their efforts to bankrupt this nation.

His first point I am all for. Sounds great.

“This legislation would guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A.I. are used to improve the lives of all of us — not simply to make the richest people in the world even richer.”

It’s this part I have an issue with. Big Brother having a 50% voting and control share.

“The federal government would have the power, through its voting shares and an equal representation on each company’s board, to block decisions that hurt our citizens and to push for policies that help them.”

Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 4 The Bill Always Comes To The Same Table

On - Politics, Private Funding, Protest 2026, Your Money

So let’s add this up. Not politically. Mathematically.

$1.5 trillion for defense. A secret command center with no price tag. A ballroom funded by the same defense contractors cashing the defense checks. An entire generation of experienced military leadership replaced by people who know how to applaud on cue.

And on the other side of that ledger?

Daycare — gone. Your state’s problem now.
Medicaid — being gutted. Your state’s problem now.
Medicare — on the table. Your state’s problem now.

Your state, by the way, is already broke. But details.

The people making these decisions will never need daycare. They have people for that. They will never worry about Medicare. They have coverage you’ll never see. Their kids aren’t going to be sent to whatever comes next after Iran.

But you’ll pay for the bunker. You’ll pay for the bombs. You’ll pay for the generals who got replaced by yes-men to then have to be replaced again when the yes-men prove they don’t actually know how to fight a war.

You’ll pay for all of it. You always do.

And when it goes sideways — and history suggests it will — the same people who built this house of cards will stand in front of a camera and explain why it’s somebody else’s fault. The generals who got fired. The previous administration. The media. The lawsuit that made the secret unsecret.

Anybody but the man under the ballroom.

Here’s what nobody’s saying out loud: this isn’t about protecting America. A country that can’t afford to feed its grandmothers or mind its children isn’t being protected. It’s being harvested.

The bill always comes to the same table.

Yours.

Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 3 Clap Loud Enough and You Get A Star

On - Politics, Private Funding, Protest 2026, Your Money

So we’ve got a $1.5 trillion defense budget and a secret command center under a ballroom. Naturally the next question is — who’s running this operation?

Not the generals who spent thirty years earning the right to have an opinion. They’re gone.

Pete Hegseth — former Fox News host, current Secretary of what he now proudly calls the “Department of War” — just fired the Army Chief of Staff. During wartime. Nearly without precedent in American history. General Randy George. West Point 1988. Desert Storm. Iraq. Afghanistan. Purple Heart recipient. Decades of actual warfare.

Gone. Phone call on a Thursday. Effective immediately.

Two others went with him. The head of Army Training and Transformation. And the Chief of Army Chaplains — apparently even the guy responsible for soldiers’ spiritual welfare had to go.

The official reason? There wasn’t one. “We are grateful for his service.” Door’s that way.

The real reason? He wasn’t implementing “the vision.” That’s the actual word they used. The vision.

So who gets the job? The guy who called into Trump’s inauguration ball from South Korea to personally congratulate him on television. That’s the new qualification. Not combat experience. Not strategic expertise. Enthusiasm. Visible, documented, on-camera enthusiasm.

Hegseth has now cleared out nearly the entire Joint Chiefs. The people left standing are the ones who’ve figured out that the shoe-licking is load bearing.

So let’s recap. $1.5 trillion budget. Secret bunker. Fired generals replaced by loyalists. Defense contractors funding the ballroom writing the checks.

This isn’t a military. It’s a casting call.

And somewhere under that ballroom, someone’s planning the next act.

Part 4 coming — who’s paying for all of this, and no, the answer is not going to make you feel better.

Dumbass

sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.

20251026 1104 Opulent Ballroom Absurdity simple compose 01k8gtywjke0mr692agrafsjvr

Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 2 The Most Expensive Shed In History

On - Politics, Private Funding, Protest 2026, Your Money

Part 2: The Most Expensive Shed In History

So we left off asking who exactly we’re planning to bomb with that $1.5 trillion defense budget.

Turns out there’s a clue buried under a ballroom.

Trump’s building a $400 million ballroom at the White House. Don’t worry — defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Palantir picked up the tab. You know, the same companies that just got a very nice $1.5 trillion Christmas present called the defense budget. Funny how that works.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Trump called the ballroom — and I’m quoting him directly here — “a shed for what’s being built underneath.”

Underneath is a massive military command center. Bulletproof glass. Drone-proof ceilings. Hospital. Communications. Everything a man needs to run his wars. Personally. From underneath a ballroom.

It was supposed to be secret. He said that too. Then spent ten minutes describing it on Air Force One because a lawsuit made him cranky.

So let’s connect the dots your calculator already figured out.

We can’t afford daycare. Can’t afford Medicaid. States are on their own. But somewhere under the most expensive dance floor in American history, we’re building a personal war room for a man who just fired every general who might have told him no.

And the underground portion? Nobody knows what that costs. Experts have literally said we’ll “never get the line of sight on that number.”

So the next time someone asks where the money went — it went into a hole in the ground under a ballroom that a defense contractor paid for, in a city that can’t get a straight answer about any of it.

That’s not a conspiracy theory. That’s just Tuesday.

Part 3 coming — who got fired for knowing too much, and who got hired for clapping loud enough.

Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 1 Who The Hell Does He Plan On Bombing Next?

On - Politics, Private Funding, Protest 2026, Your Money

Who The Hell Does He Plan On Bombing Next?

Trump says we can’t afford daycare. Can’t afford Medicaid. Can’t afford Medicare. States can handle it. He’s got one priority: “military protection.”

$1.5 trillion for defense in FY2027. Let that sink in. That’s a 40% jump from last year, which was already over a trillion. One of the largest single year military budget increases in American history.

So the question isn’t political. It’s mathematical. You don’t spend $1.5 trillion on defense to sit in a lawn chair. That’s not a defense budget, that’s a shopping list.

Meanwhile grandma can’t afford her medication, your kid can’t get into daycare, and your state — which last time you checked is already broke — is supposed to pick up the slack.

And the kicker? He’s “rebuilding a depleted military.” The same military that was just fine before he started playing with it.

So yeah. Who exactly are we planning to bomb? Because somebody’s got a very expensive answer to a question nobody asked.

Iran’s already on the list apparently. Who’s next, and more importantly — who’s paying for it?

Spoiler: You are. Just not your kids’ daycare. That’s on you.

20260304 0831 Image Generation simple compose 01kjwtza97epntwjp9x31ydtnr

Nothing Goes Away, the list just gets longer.

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics, Protest 2026, The Fallout, Your Money

Starting a new diversion doesn’t make anything go away—it just adds to the list.

A war in Iran doesn’t make Epstein go away.

It doesn’t make pedophiles innocent.
It doesn’t make 34 felony counts go away.
It doesn’t stop elections.
It doesn’t create tariffs.
It doesn’t prevent tariff refunds.
It doesn’t take the focus off ICE and the brutality.
It doesn’t take the focus off the extreme excess of this regime’s spending (ICE luxury airplanes).
It doesn’t erase the ongoing fallout from January 6th investigations.
It doesn’t fix the skyrocketing national debt from tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.
It doesn’t heal the divisions sown by election denialism.
It doesn’t address climate crises or extreme weather disasters hitting home.
It doesn’t resolve the Supreme Court ethics scandals or judicial overreach.
It doesn’t make supply chain vulnerabilities disappear amid global trade wars.
It doesn’t cover up the mishandling of public health threats, like lingering pandemic aftershocks.

It does add one more illegal action.
It does cost American taxpayers billions of dollars.
It does make American protests even more intense.
It does embolden adversaries like Russia and China to test U.S. resolve further.
It does strain military resources already stretched thin.
It does risk escalating regional conflicts into something far deadlier.
And it does get Americans Killed, why? because he had a feeling.

Trumps Tariffs, Thanks Trump for the dirty floors

On - The Fallout, Your Money

Roomba maker iRobot files for bankruptcy, pursues manufacturer buyout

New U.S. tariffs have also harmed the company, especially a 46% ⁠levy on imports from Vietnam, where ‌iRobot manufactures vacuum cleaners for the U.S. market. The tariffs raised the company’s costs by $23 million in 2025, while making it more difficult to plan for the future, according ‍to iRobot’s court filings.

The Greatest Econony Every, FOR TRUMP.

On - Conspiracy theories, Politics, stupid, Trump, Your Money

King Putz says Tiny Tim Cratchit can do with just 1 pencil for Christmas, the Trump economy is great, if your TRUMP. Just How Stupid Are You?

Verifiable Estimates of Donald Trump’s Net Worth Increase Since Taking Office in 2025Yes, there are verifiable estimates from reputable sources like Forbes and Bloomberg tracking the change in Donald Trump’s net worth since he took office on January 20, 2025. These are based on public financial disclosures, stock valuations (e.g., Trump Media & Technology Group, or TMTG), real estate appraisals, and cryptocurrency holdings. However, exact figures are estimates due to the private nature of much of his wealth, market volatility (especially in crypto and TMTG shares), and varying methodologies between trackers. Trump’s net worth has reportedly surged, driven largely by cryptocurrency ventures (e.g., $TRUMP memecoin and World Liberty Financial), licensing deals, and TMTG stock performance.Key Estimates and TimelineHere’s a summary of the most cited figures from major sources, focusing on pre-inauguration (late 2024/early 2025) vs. current (as of late 2025). The increase is generally pegged at $2.5–3 billion year-to-date, with Forbes providing the most detailed breakdown.

Source	Net Worth (Jan 2025, at Inauguration)	Net Worth (Current, Dec 2025)	Estimated Increase	Primary Drivers of Growth	Date of Estimate
Forbes	$4.3–5.1 billion (end-2024 baseline, rising to ~$6.7B by Jan 21)	$7.3 billion	+$3 billion (from 2024 baseline); +$0.6–2.6 billion (from Jan)	Crypto ($1B+ from World Liberty tokens), licensing (+$400M), golf clubs (+$325M), TMTG shares	Sep 2025
Bloomberg Billionaires Index	~$7.16 billion (Jan 21)	$7.4–7.75 billion	+$0.24–0.59 billion (stable but with crypto gains)	TMTG stake, crypto exposure (~$620M in holdings), real estate licensing	Jul–Sep 2025

Forbes’ Detailed Breakdown: Their September 2025 report attributes the $3 billion year-over-year gain (from $4.3 billion in 2024) directly to his presidency, including a 580% jump in licensing revenue to $45 million (e.g., deals in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Qatar) and crypto sales exceeding $1 billion via family-controlled entities.

forbes.com

Earlier in 2025 (March/April), Forbes valued him at $5.1 billion, showing intra-year growth of ~$2.2 billion by September.

palmbeachpost.com
Bloomberg’s View: More conservative on volatility, they note his net worth held steady around $6.4–7.75 billion through mid-2025, with ~$620 million from crypto reshaping his portfolio but offset by TMTG fluctuations.

bloomberg.com

They highlight over $10 billion in Trump-branded real estate projects since early 2025 as a longer-term booster.

bloomberg.com
Other Trackers: The New York Times (July 2025) estimated up to $10 billion including illiquid assets like crypto, while outlets like WION and Money Digest align with Forbes’ $3 billion gain narrative.

Wikipedia’s aggregation (as of Dec 2025) cites a post-inauguration rise from ~$6 billion to $7+ billion, factoring in a June 2025 disclosure of $1.6 billion in assets and $600 million income.

en.wikipedia.org

Key Factors Behind the Increase

Cryptocurrency Ventures: The biggest driver, adding $1–2 billion. The $TRUMP memecoin (launched Jan 2025) and World Liberty Financial (family-controlled, with 75% revenue share) generated over $1 billion in token sales, though values have since dipped.
TMTG/Truth Social: Stake valued at ~$2 billion (114 million shares), with spikes around inauguration (e.g., +20% pre-Jan 20).
Real Estate & Licensing: New deals (e.g., Vietnam resort, Gulf projects) added $400–500 million; golf clubs profited $66 million in 2024, up 30% into 2025.
Legal Wins: Overturned fraud penalties (~$500 million saved) and settlements (e.g., $15 million from Disney) reduced liabilities.
Presidential Perks: $400,000 salary plus gifts like a $400 million Qatari jet (for his library).

Caveats and Verifiability

Volatility: Crypto and TMTG can swing wildly (e.g., $TRUMP fell from $44 to $6 per token by Oct 2025), so daily tallies fluctuate.

moneydigest.com
No Full Disclosure: Trump hasn’t released tax returns since 2016, relying on estimates from public filings (e.g., June 2025 disclosure).
Criticism: Watchdogs (e.g., House Democrats) claim up to $11.6 billion in unreported crypto, accusing conflicts of interest.

Supporters view it as savvy branding.
Ongoing Tracking: Forbes and Bloomberg update regularly; check their sites for real-time figures.

In summary, the most substantiated tally is Forbes’ $3 billion increase from 2024 to mid-2025, with ~$1–2 billion post-inauguration—verifiable via their methodologies and public data. This makes his second term the most financially lucrative for any U.S. president on record.

Copy of Your Money — Kash Patel Plays Golf in Scotland and Girlfriend Recieves FBI Protection

On - Protest 2025, purple, The Fallout, Your Money

What do we actualy know about kash patel and using fbi jets and resources to play golf, visit his girlfriend provide her protections etc.

Grock 11/27/25

Kash Patel, the FBI Director since February 2025 under the second Trump administration, has faced significant scrutiny and criticism for allegedly misusing taxpayer-funded FBI resources for personal purposes. These allegations, primarily reported in major outlets like The New York Times, NDTV, and The Independent, center on his use of government jets for non-official travel (including golf outings and visits to his girlfriend) and the deployment of elite SWAT teams to provide security for his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins. The claims emerged prominently in late 2025, amid a government shutdown that heightened concerns about fiscal responsibility. While Patel and the FBI maintain that all uses comply with regulations (e.g., reimbursing commercial-equivalent costs for personal jet travel), critics—including former FBI agents and even some conservatives—argue it represents an abuse of power and hypocrisy, given Patel’s past criticisms of predecessors like Christopher Wray for similar practices.What follows is a factual summary of the key allegations, supported by reported details. No criminal charges have been filed as of November 27, 2025, and investigations appear limited to internal administration reviews.Key Allegations and Reported DetailsThe controversies break down into two main categories: jet usage and security provisions for Wilkins. Reports indicate these practices began shortly after Patel’s appointment and escalated during the 2025 government shutdown.

Category	Specific Allegations	Reported Details	Sources
Government Jet Usage	Misuse of FBI’s $60 million Gulfstream (GV) jet for personal travel, including golf trips and visits to girlfriend.	– Golf Trip: In summer 2025, Patel used the jet for a recreational golf outing with friends to a private resort at the Carnegie Club in Scotland. FBI agents coordinated his transportation and security with Scottish/British authorities. – Visits to Girlfriend: Multiple flights to see Wilkins perform or simply visit her in Nashville, TN (where she lives). Examples: – October 2025: Flew to State College, PA, for her national anthem performance at a Penn State wrestling event (Real American Freestyle). The jet then continued to Nashville. This occurred during the government shutdown. – May 2025: Wilkins flew to London to join Patel at a security conference; FBI personnel transported her from the airport. – Total: At least 12 personal trips since February 2025 (vs. former Director Robert Mueller’s 10 over four years). – Cost: Directors must reimburse at commercial ticket rates (far below actual jet costs, e.g., $10,000+ per hour to operate).	, , , , , , , , , , [post:44], [post:46], [post:48], [post:50], [post:52], [post:54], [post:56]
Security for Girlfriend	Deployment of SWAT-qualified agents to protect Wilkins, who is not a spouse or official protectee.	– NRA Convention (Spring 2025, Atlanta): Wilkins arrived with a two-agent SWAT team from the local FBI field office (on Patel’s orders) for her national anthem performance. Patel later berated the team commander for briefly leaving her unattended, citing poor communication and perceived risks. – Other Events: Agents from Nashville’s SWAT team guarded her home; additional tactical agents from Salt Lake City protected her at a September 2025 event. Coverage extended to Las Vegas and other locations. – Rationale: FBI cites “hundreds of credible death threats” against Wilkins due to her relationship with Patel and her conservative activism (e.g., gun rights advocacy). – Criticism: SWAT teams are typically for high-risk operations, not VIP protection; agents were pulled from counterterrorism duties.	, , , , , , , , , [post:45], [post:47], [post:49], [post:51], [post:57]

Context and Responses

Hypocrisy Angle: Before his appointment, Patel criticized Wray on his podcast (“Kash’s Corner”) for using taxpayer-funded jets to “hop around the country.” He vowed to “ground” such travel. Critics, including former agent Kyle Seraphin (a MAGA supporter), highlighted this on podcasts, calling it “grifting off the American public.”
FBI/Administration Defense:
- Jet use is mandatory for directors due to secure communications needs; personal trips are “significantly limited” compared to predecessors (e.g., Wray and Comey took more).
- Wilkins’ protection is justified by threats; details withheld for safety.
- Spokesperson Ben Williamson: Patel takes “personal time on occasion to see family, friends or his longtime girlfriend.”
Criticisms:
- Former FBI Agents: Christopher O’Leary (ex-senior agent): “Abusive and excessive use… indicative of his lack of leadership experience, judgment and humility.” Frank Figliuzzi (ex-counterintelligence chief): Patel prioritizes nightclubs over briefings, causing “chaos.”
- Conservatives: Influencer Grace Chong (works with Steve Bannon): “Is she considered Kash’s spouse? … Why are we paying for this?”
  
  newrepublic.com
- Broader Impact: Reports link this to internal turmoil, including the firing of Steven Palmer (head of critical incident response group) in November 2025 after jet-use stories emerged. Palmer oversaw the jet fleet.
  
  theguardian.com
Public/X Reaction: Recent X posts (as of November 27, 2025) amplify the stories, with users calling for Patel’s resignation, labeling it “corruption” or “theft of public funds.” Examples include demands for prosecution and comparisons to Democratic scandals.

What We Don’t Know

Exact reimbursement amounts or full flight manifests (e.g., confirming Patel’s presence on every trip).
Whether an formal investigation (e.g., by DOJ Inspector General) is underway—reports suggest only internal scrutiny.
Long-term outcomes: As of now, no resignations or penalties beyond the Palmer firing.

This situation highlights ongoing debates about executive perks vs. accountability in high office. For the latest developments, monitoring outlets like NYT or X searches for “Kash Patel jet” is recommended.

Your Money — the claim that Corey Lewandowski pulled in $1.2 million in 2025

On - Protest 2025, purple, The Fallout, Your Money

As much as I dislike Trump and everything he represents, I try to stay grounded in facts, not rumors. That’s why I checked the claim that Corey Lewandowski pulled in $1.2 million in 2025 through a maze of consulting LLCs. It would have fit neatly into my argument — but the problem is, I couldn’t find a single credible source to back it up. Not ProPublica, not FEC filings, not reputable reporting.

Lewandowski absolutely benefits from his proximity to Trump; he always has. The consulting, the PAC connections, the influence machine — all of that is well-documented. But I’m not going to pin a dollar figure on him when I can’t verify it.

Oddly enough, that strengthens the larger point I’m trying to make. If I’m willing to throw out a claim that helps my argument because it doesn’t check out, then readers know I’m not here to invent villains or twist the facts. I’m here to map out the real patterns, the real money, the real influence. And in a time when everything feels upside down, that kind of clarity matters more than scoring easy points.

If I was to be concerned about anything in particular would be Lewandowski’s Citgo Work

Citgo is owned by the Venezuelan government

Lobbying for Citgo
- Lewandowski’s firm, Avenue Strategies, took a contract from Citgo. Politico and other outlets reported a $25,000/month contract. Politico+1
- According to Politico, the deal was partly to “help provide access” to the Trump administration amid tension over U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. Politico
- The contract raised red flags: Public Citizen noted that Avenue Strategies billed more than $1 million over time in work tied to Citgo. Public Citizen
Foreign Policy Risk and Geopolitics
- Citgo is owned by the Venezuelan government (PDVSA). Wikipedia+1
- At the same time, there were fears that Rosneft (Russia) could take control of Citgo because of PDVSA’s debt. Politico+1
- This makes the lobbying work not just corporate consulting but geopolitically sensitive: having someone with deep Trump connections lobbying could influence how U.S. policy treats Citgo / Venezuela.
Controversy, Ethics & Resignation
- Lewandowski eventually left Avenue Strategies, saying he didn’t want to be “a target.” CBS News+1
- Critics questioned whether his role with the firm — and the Citgo contract — violated lobbying rules or foreign-agent registration requirements. Salon.com+1
- Some say Avenue used his name for political leverage even when he claimed limited involvement. Politico
Public Perception vs. Real Leverage
- On one level, this deal illustrates how influence works: companies with foreign-state ties will pay for access, and someone like Lewandowski — with Trump ties — has exactly that.
- On another level, it adds strategic complexity: Lewandowski isn’t just making money; he’s part of a nexus where business, geopolitics, and policy intersect.
- For my analysis, it’s a data point that shows his role is not purely “financial profiteer” — but influencer / intermediary in geopolitical business.

What am I missing?

Your Money — Trump loudly exaggerates savings, quietly inflates expenses, and then blames others when the math breaks.

On - Protest 2025, purple, The Fallout, Your Money

1. The DOGE “Savings” Are Mostly Fiction

He claims: $54.2 billion saved
Verified: $1.4 billion
Shortfall: –$52.8 billion

That’s not a rounding error — that’s manufacturing numbers out of air.

How DOGE created the illusion:

Counted the maximum possible value of contracts (ceiling values) rather than actual spending.
Counted the same contract in multiple places.
Quietly removed 1,000+ contracts from their own transparency dashboard.
Used “savings” from unawarded or canceled contracts as if that were money returned to taxpayers.

This is like claiming you “saved $40,000” because you decided not to buy a Tesla.

2. Meanwhile, Trump Is Increasing Real Spending

Even while claiming big savings, Trump is injecting spending elsewhere:

Massive increases for immigration enforcement and detention.
Expansions of ICE operations and facilities.
Contracting out veterans services, which tends to increase federal cost, not reduce it.
Shifting more federal functions to private contractors, who charge premium rates.
Large legal-related travel and security expenses, which you and I both pay for.

And each executive agency has its own restructuring costs. “Streamlining” usually means hiring consultants, restructuring operations, and paying early termination fees. All of that costs money.

3. Spending and Savings Aren’t Matched

He’s “saving” imaginary numbers but spending real dollars.

When you compare the two:

The made-up DOGE savings don’t come close to paying for the increased federal expenses.
There is no evidence those savings offset expenditures anywhere in the budget.
The numbers only make sense if you’re reading a campaign brochure, not a budget ledger.

4. Why He Does This

Trump repeats a pattern he’s used in business:

Inflate revenue or savings claims to create an image of success.
Hide or delay expenses.
Blame the shortfall on enemies or sabotage.
Keep moving forward without reconciling the books.

It works politically because people hear the big number, not the audit.

The Bottom Line

Yes — Trump is spending far more than he’s “saving.”
Even a basic household budget would show the mismatch.

And the bigger problem:
He’s using the illusion of savings to justify spending that is politically convenient but financially reckless.

Your Money — If Donald Trump Had Paid His Bills…

On - Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Your Money

If Donald Trump Had Paid His Bills…

Donald Trump has spent decades cultivating the image of a billionaire titan, a master dealmaker with golden touch. The reality? Much of his empire runs on a simple principle: don’t pay your bills. Contractors, lawyers, lenders, city fees — he delays, disputes, or outright stiff-pays until someone gives up. Inflated asset claims, settlements for pennies, partnerships that take the losses — it’s all part of the same pattern.

If Trump had actually honored every obligation over the past 40 years, he wouldn’t be the legendary mogul he claims to be. He’d be a comfortably upper-middle-class real estate owner, maybe a minor hotel owner, but certainly not a titan.

And that’s the unnerving part: the same playbook he used to survive financially may be what he’s trying on America itself. Promises, laws, and institutions he’s supposed to uphold? Delayed, ignored, or manipulated until the rules bend—or break. Borrowed authority, deferred accountability, and risk piled onto everyone else while he maintains the illusion of control. The question is whether the country can withstand the long-term consequences of being run like a Trump enterprise: a system that thrives on others paying the bills while the figure at the top walks away unscathed.

In short: Trump’s financial myth works because he avoids paying. His political myth may be heading the same way — and in this case, the stakes aren’t just contractors and banks; they’re the American people.

YOUR MONEY — More on DOGE — What the Reporting Shows

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More on DOGE — What the Reporting Shows

Big Discrepancy Between Claimed and Real Savings
- Politico found that whereas DOGE claims ~$54.2 billion in “contract cancellation” savings, only $1.4 billion could be verified via clawbacks or de-obligations. Politico
- NPR’s analysis matched DOGE’s contract list to public spending databases and estimated only $2.3 billion in actual or likely real savings from the canceled contracts. NPR
- DOGE has repeatedly revised its “wall of receipts” downward: it quietly deleted billions in claimed savings after media scrutiny. NPR+2NPR+2
Many Contracts Yield No Real Savings
- Nearly 40% of the contracts canceled by DOGE appear to produce zero savings, according to DOGE’s own posted “receipts.” CNBC+2https://www.wdtv.com+2
- Why no savings? Because in many cases, those contracts had already been fully obligated — meaning the government had already committed the money (or even spent it). https://www.wdtv.com+1
- As Charles Tiefer, a former government-contracting law professor, put it:
  
  “It’s like confiscating used ammunition … there’s nothing left in it.” https://www.wdtv.com
Accounting Tricks — Using “Ceiling Values”
- A big part of the exaggeration comes from counting the maximum possible value (“ceiling”) of contracts instead of what was realistically going to be spent. PolitiFact+2NPR+2
- Some of the contracts DOGE lists are “blanket purchase agreements” (BPAs). These aren’t firm orders — more like catalogs: the government can order from them if it needs to. Canceling a BPA doesn’t always save money because not all the “ceiling” was going to be spent. CNBC
- Experts say that using ceiling values inflates the numbers and misleads the public about how much real money is being saved. NPR+1
Major Reporting Errors and Corrections
- One glaring error: DOGE originally listed an $8 billion ICE contract as canceled, but that contract was actually only $8 million. NPR
- Another: a $655 million USAID contract was apparently listed 3 times, triple counting the same item. NPR
- After scrutiny, DOGE removed or revised more than 1,000 entries from its “wall of receipts” — reducing its previously claimed large savings. Reuters
Lease & Workforce Claims Also Questioned
- DOGE claims additional savings from canceled leases and workforce reductions, but some experts argue that even these numbers are overstated or lack clarity. NPR
- For lease savings, cost-benefit questions emerge: terminating leases may have “savings,” but what are the long-term costs (or the lost value)? Wikipedia
- On workforce: DOGE reportedly has pushed out or gotten buyouts from tens of thousands of federal workers, but the long-term impact on efficiency and government capacity is unclear. Le Monde.fr
Lack of Verifiable “Cash Back” to Treasury
- Even if DOGE “saves” money (in its accounting), that doesn’t necessarily mean the money is returned to the Treasury. Some “savings” are theoretical — based on de-obligation, not actual cash recovered. Politico
- Experts note: just because a contract is canceled doesn’t guarantee that all unspent money is clawed back. Politico+1
Transparency Questions
- While DOGE claims to provide transparency (through its receipts page), many entries lack sufficient identifying information to verify in third-party databases. Politico
- The methods for calculating some “savings” are opaque; for example, assumptions used in workforce or regulatory cuts are not always publicly disclosed. NPR
- There are legal questions: DOGE isn’t a standard government agency — it operates more like a temporary advisory/cut-team. Some experts worry about the legality, authority, and oversight. CNBC

Why This Matters — From a “Your Money” Perspective

Taxpayer Risk of Illusion: If DOGE’s numbers are largely based on inflated ceilings and double-counts, then the “savings” might be more PR than real return to taxpayers.
False Justification for Cuts: Using exaggerated figures to justify cutting contracts or laying off workers can undermine agencies’ capacity, potentially weakening government services in critical areas.
Accountability Gap: Without full transparency, the public and Congress may have a hard time tracking whether DOGE’s “savings” are actually materializing.
Cost of Errors: If DOGE cancels contracts or leases based on wrong assumptions, there may be downstream costs (e.g., legal battles, replacing canceled work, rehiring, re-contracting) that erase some of the “savings.”

YOUR MONEY — JUNE–AUGUST 2025 – DOGE Verification Conflicts

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DOGE: Claims vs. Reality — A Timeline (2025)

A factual record of taxpayer-money savings claimed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), compared with verified outcomes from independent reporting.

JUNE–AUGUST 2025 – Verification Conflicts

Claim:
DOGE reaffirms its total as $54.2 billion in “eliminated waste.”

Reality:

Many DOGE-listed agency savings do not appear in USAspending.gov, SAM.gov, or the Federal Procurement Data System.
Some “termination savings” do not return money; they merely prevent future potential commitments.
DOGE provides no comprehensive list of what money actually returned to Treasury.

Independent Estimates:

Verified, cash-impact savings: $1.4–$2.3 billion
(Politico, AP, NPR, Washington Post)

SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER 2025 – Internal Resistance & Transparency Queries

Event:
Federal agencies begin to formally challenge DOGE numbers.

Examples:

Several agencies confirm their obligations did not match DOGE’s posted amounts.
Procurements canceled by DOGE were later reissued, reducing net savings.
Watchdog groups request DOGE’s calculation methods; no formal response provided.

Independent Assessment:
DOGE’s true savings remain an order of magnitude smaller than its public claim.

YOUR MONEY — Mar-A-Lago weekend trips Jan to Nov $17.4 million ?? We Can’t afford a Turkey, Pun Intended

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What It Costs Taxpayers When Trump “Goes Home”

Since January, Trump has made roughly two dozen trips from Washington to his Florida properties.

Cost to taxpayers each time:
About $600,000 to $900,000 per trip — just for Air Force One to fly him there and back.

Total so far (Jan → Nov):
Around $15–20 million in Air Force One costs alone.

When you add Secret Service, lodging, motorcades, and support aircraft, the real taxpayer burden is much higher — but even the flight cost by itself shows the scale of waste.

Every time he goes home, your money goes with him.

What is behind the numbers.

Air Force One: Trump’s 2025 Travel Costs (Jan → Nov)

YOUR MONEY — Mar-A-Lago weekend trips Jan to Nov $17.4 million ?? We Can’t afford a Turkey, Pun Intended. Or should that be a Lame Duck.

Period covered: Jan 20, 2025 – mid-Nov 2025
Trip count: ~22 Air Force One round-trip visits to Mar-a-Lago / Florida region (based on AP, Palm Beach Post, local tracking, and pooled press coverage through November).

Cost per flight hour (public figures)

Low: $142,380/hr (FOIA rate cited in press)
Mid: $176,393/hr (NTUF FY-2020 rate)
High: ~$200,000/hr (commonly used press estimate)

Average flight time per round trip: ~4.5 hours (FOIA examples for Florida trips)

Estimated Taxpayer Cost, Jan → Nov 2025

Cost Basis	Per-Trip Cost	22-Trip Total (Jan–Nov)
Low ($142,380/hr)	$640,710	$14.1 million
Mid ($176,393/hr)	$793,768	$17.4 million
High (~$200,000/hr)	$900,000	$19.8 million

**These figures are Air Force One operating costs only.**

They do not include:

Secret Service protection
Local law enforcement overtime
Lodging, convoy transport, temporary duty pay
Cargo aircraft & support aircraft
Pre-trip advance teams

Those items commonly add $300k–$1M+ per trip, meaning the full real cost to taxpayers is likely higher than the AF-One operating totals shown above.

Plain-Language Summary

Since returning to office in January, Trump has made roughly 22 Air Force One trips to his private Florida properties, costing taxpayers an estimated:

$14 million → $20 million

(AF-One operating costs alone, Jan–Nov 2025)

With full security & support costs included, the real total could exceed:

$20 million → $40 million

Notes

Trip count reflects confirmed and pooled-press-reported presidential visits to Mar-a-Lago or Trump’s Florida golf properties through mid-November.
Cost estimates are based on publicly released federal operating rates and FOIA-identified flight times for Florida runs.
All numbers are ranges due to variations in published hourly rates and trip-specific flight times.

YOUR MONEY — MARCH 2025 – DOGE Removal of Over 1,000 Entries and APRIL–MAY 2025 – Lease & Workforce Claims Questioned

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DOGE: Claims vs. Reality — A Timeline (2025)

A factual record of taxpayer-money savings claimed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), compared with verified outcomes from independent reporting.

MARCH 2025 – Removal of Over 1,000 Entries

Event:
Following press scrutiny, DOGE quietly removes 1,000+ contracts from its receipts page.

Claim:
DOGE states revisions were “routine cleanup.”

Reality:
Removed entries corresponded to:

fully spent contracts
duplicate listings
entries with inflated ceiling amounts
contracts that never had an obligation tied to them
agencies correcting DOGE’s estimates internally

Independent Conclusion:
DOGE overstated savings by tens of billions through double-counting and ceiling-value inflation.
(Reuters, NPR, Politico)

APRIL–MAY 2025 – Lease & Workforce Claims Questioned

Claim:
DOGE says additional savings come from:

lease terminations
workforce reductions
consolidation of federal operations

Issues Identified:

Some leases required federal buyouts, reducing or eliminating net savings.
Workforce reductions generate short-term savings but unclear long-term costs.
DOGE does not publish full methodology behind its workforce-savings figures.

Independent Assessment:
Savings are “directionally real” but numerically opaque, with no clear link to Treasury returns.
(NPR, Le Monde)

YOUR MONEY — JANUARY 2025 – DOGE Launches, First Round of Claims and FEBRUARY 2025 – Major Data Errors Emerge

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DOGE: Claims vs. Reality — A Timeline (2025)

A factual record of taxpayer-money savings claimed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), compared with verified outcomes from independent reporting.

JANUARY 2025 – DOGE Launches, First Round of Claims

DOGE Announcement:
Trump administration and Elon Musk roll out the “Department of Government Efficiency,” posting an initial “Wall of Receipts.”

Claim:
DOGE states it has already produced $25–30 billion in savings from canceled federal contracts.

Verified Reality:
Most contracts were either:

already completed,
had minimal remaining obligations, or
were “ceiling-value” framework agreements with no guaranteed spending.

Independent Estimates:

Actual confirmed savings: under $1 billion
Zero-savings contracts: roughly one-third of items listed (NPR, AP, Reuters)

FEBRUARY 2025 – Major Data Errors Emerge

Claim:
DOGE raises its advertised total to $54.2 billion in claimed savings.

Findings:

An ICE contract listed as $8 billion was actually $8 million.
A USAID contract for $655 million appears to be listed three separate times.
Numerous contracts had obligation amounts far smaller than listed.
Some contracts were canceled after completion, producing zero financial return.

Independent Estimates:

Realistic savings: $1.2–$1.4 billion
Contracts producing no savings: nearly 40%
(CNBC, NPR, AP, WDTV)

YOUR MONEY — DOGE: Claims vs. Reality — A Timeline (2025)

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DOGE stated savings: $54.2 billion
Independently verified savings: $1.4–$2.3 billion
Primary issues found:

Double-counting
Ceiling-value inflation
Canceled-but-already-paid contracts
1,000+ entries removed after scrutiny
Lack of verifiable Treasury returns
Large percentage of “zero-savings” cancellations

From here I will post what DOGE actually did and did not do in increments. Sometimes transparency actually turns out to be so transparent, it didn’t exist.

Your Money — Key Kristi Noem Spending Stories

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Your Money — Key Kristi Noem Spending Stories

1. $220 Million DHS Ad Campaign (Safe America Media)

Amount: ~$220 million contracted by DHS. ProPublica+2DCReport.org+2
Recipient: Safe America Media, LLC — a Delaware-registered company created just days before receiving the contract. ProPublica
Purpose: Border-security-themed ad campaign, featuring Secretary Noem warning of enforcement (“Break our laws, we’ll punish you”). Yahoo+1
Procurement Process: DHS invoked a “national emergency” at the southern border to bypass the usual competitive bidding process. Yahoo+1
Transparency Concerns: It’s unclear who the subcontractors are — “how, where and to whom … Safe America Media doled out the $143 million” is not publicly disclosed. ProPublica+1
Ties to Noem:
- Strategy Group (a political firm closely connected to Noem) appears to have done production work. ProPublica
- The Strategy Group’s CEO, Ben Yoho, is married to Noem’s DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin. DCReport.org+1
- The Strategy Group previously worked on Noem’s 2022 South Dakota gubernatorial campaign. ProPublica+1
Ethics Red Flags: Contracting experts say the structure suggests potential conflicts of interest and favoritism. DCReport.org+1
Watchdogs’ Reaction: Former contracting official called the deal “corrupt.” Yahoo

2. $76.6 Million Spent So Far (Accountable.US Report)

Amount Spent (so far): $76.6 million of taxpayer money on Noem-led ads. Accountable US
Companies Involved:
- Safe America Media, LLC — same Delaware-based LLC mentioned above. Accountable US
- People Who Think, LLC — another company receiving funds. Accountable US
Connections: One of the companies is linked to Noem’s longtime aide Corey Lewandowski, according to Accountable.US. Accountable US
Contextual Note: This spending is occurring while other areas of federal funding (like SNAP, Medicaid) are being cut, according to the watchdog group. Accountable US

3. Undisclosed $80,000 Payment to Noem While Governor

Amount: $80,000
Source: Paid by the American Resolve Policy Fund — a nonprofit that operates in the “dark money” space (does not fully disclose its donors). ProPublica
Purpose: The payment was compensation for Noem’s fundraising efforts. ProPublica
Ethics Issue: Noem did not list this payment on her public ethics disclosures. ProPublica+1
Corporate Structure: The nonprofit routed the money into a Delaware LLC owned by Noem. ProPublica

YOUR MONEY — Kristi Noem’s ad work is connected to a limited number of LLCs with close personal/political ties

On - Politics, Protest 2025, purple, Your Money

Until accountability with consequences is forced on these thieves, it will continue. This is what you voted for.

What the Reporting Shows

Safe America Media, LLC (Delaware)
- DHS awarded roughly $143 million of its $220 million ad campaign to a Delaware-based LLC called Safe America Media. South Dakota Searchlight+3ProPublica+3Latin Times+3
- That company was created just days before the contract was awarded. ProPublica+2Boing Boing+2
- Its listed address is the Virginia home of a Republican operative named Michael McElwain. ProPublica
- Very little is publicly known about how Safe America Media pays subcontractors or how it’s structured (“how, where and to whom … doled out the $143 million is unknown”). ProPublica+2Dakota Free Press+2
Strategy Group
- Even though Safe America Media is the named recipient on the DHS contracts, the actual production of at least some of the ads (e.g. the Mount Rushmore ad with Noem on horseback) appears to have been done by the Strategy Group, a consulting firm with very close ties to Noem. ProPublica+2TPM – Talking Points Memo+2
- The Strategy Group’s CEO, Benjamin Yoho, is married to Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin. ProPublica
- This same firm worked on Noem’s 2022 gubernatorial campaign in South Dakota. ProPublica
Other Ties
- Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Noem adviser, is also deeply connected to this network of firms. South Dakota Searchlight+1
- A watchdog report (Accountable.US) found that DHS paid $76.6 million so far to two LLCs with these connections (Safe America Media, and People Who Think, LLC). Accountable US

Why People Are Raising Red Flags

Conflict of Interest / Ethics: Because the Strategy Group (which did the actual creative work) is so closely tied to Noem’s inner circle, critics argue there’s a conflict. ProPublica+2Latin Times+2
Lack of Transparency: The structure (a “mysterious” shell-company LLC created just before the contract) makes it hard to trace exactly who did what, and how the money was spent. ProPublica
Bypassing Competition: According to ProPublica, DHS invoked a “national emergency” at the border to skip the usual competitive bidding — meaning these contracts didn’t go through a fully open procurement process. DCReport.org+2Latin Times+2
Previous State-Level Work: The same firms (like Strategy Group) have received money from Noem’s South Dakota government (e.g., $8.5 million for state-level ads) when she was governor. Rapid City NewsCenter1+1

Posts in Category: Your Money

I received a “look at what I am doing” email from Bernie Sanders and because I hate comments or sound bites taken out of context I decided to share the complete email — without the “oh, send money” part. You’re welcome.

The gist of his proposed legislation is having America take a stake in the developing AI revolution. And I have to admit the general idea could help fill the enormous hole in our coffers created by the current administration and their efforts to bankrupt this nation.

His first point I am all for. Sounds great.

“This legislation would guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A.I. are used to improve the lives of all of us — not simply to make the richest people in the world even richer.”

It’s this part I have an issue with. Big Brother having a 50% voting and control share.

“The federal government would have the power, through its voting shares and an equal representation on each company’s board, to block decisions that hurt our citizens and to push for policies that help them.”

Let’s be honest. The American people still would not have a voice in how AI is developed. A few politicians would have that say. They would tell us it’s our voice — but all you have to do is look at the gilding of bronze statues to understand what our voice is actually worth these days.

Sorry. That just slipped out.

Bernie’s diagnosis is correct. AI is being built on the collective knowledge of humanity — every book, article, conversation, and creative work ever digitized. The people who happen to own the compute infrastructure shouldn’t be the sole beneficiaries of that collective inheritance.

But his prescription has a fatal flaw.

Do we really want whichever party happens to be in power having direct influence over whether those guardrails stay in place? Do we want political considerations overriding ethical ones when the technology has the potential to do tremendous good and tremendous harm simultaneously?

This isn’t about losing jobs. It’s about losing what’s left of our freedom. Our personal freedom. Do we really want anyone looking over our shoulder — reading everything we write? This article. A private letter. A conversation between a grandparent and a grandchild.

So Bernie — 50% sounds good financially. But maybe it should be non-voting stock.

I don’t trust billionaires enough to hand them AI.

I don’t trust politicians enough to hand them AI either.

We need guidelines. We need oversight. But that has to be done with the help of government — not by government.

A Public Investment Authority. Something like the Alaska Permanent Fund — created to ensure that the wealth generated from a public resource actually benefited the public rather than whoever happened to be in power when the resource was discovered.

The question isn’t whether public investment in AI should exist.

The question is how to structure it so that neither politicians nor corporations can abuse it.

Bernie is asking the right question.

He just needs a better answer.

Bernies email.

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I received a “look at what I am doing” email from Bernie Sanders and because I hate comments or sound bites taken out of context I decided to share the complete email — without the “oh, send money” part. You’re welcome.

The gist of his proposed legislation is having America take a stake in the developing AI revolution. And I have to admit the general idea could help fill the enormous hole in our coffers created by the current administration and their efforts to bankrupt this nation.

His first point I am all for. Sounds great.

“This legislation would guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A.I. are used to improve the lives of all of us — not simply to make the richest people in the world even richer.”

It’s this part I have an issue with. Big Brother having a 50% voting and control share.

“The federal government would have the power, through its voting shares and an equal representation on each company’s board, to block decisions that hurt our citizens and to push for policies that help them.”

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So let’s add this up. Not politically. Mathematically.

$1.5 trillion for defense. A secret command center with no price tag. A ballroom funded by the same defense contractors cashing the defense checks. An entire generation of experienced military leadership replaced by people who know how to applaud on cue.

And on the other side of that ledger?

Daycare — gone. Your state’s problem now.

Medicaid — being gutted. Your state’s problem now.

Medicare — on the table. Your state’s problem now.

Your state, by the way, is already broke. But details.

The people making these decisions will never need daycare. They have people for that. They will never worry about Medicare. They have coverage you’ll never see. Their kids aren’t going to be sent to whatever comes next after Iran.

But you’ll pay for the bunker. You’ll pay for the bombs. You’ll pay for the generals who got replaced by yes-men to then have to be replaced again when the yes-men prove they don’t actually know how to fight a war.

You’ll pay for all of it. You always do.

And when it goes sideways — and history suggests it will — the same people who built this house of cards will stand in front of a camera and explain why it’s somebody else’s fault. The generals who got fired. The previous administration. The media. The lawsuit that made the secret unsecret.

Anybody but the man under the ballroom.

Here’s what nobody’s saying out loud: this isn’t about protecting America. A country that can’t afford to feed its grandmothers or mind its children isn’t being protected. It’s being harvested.

The bill always comes to the same table.

Yours.

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So we’ve got a $1.5 trillion defense budget and a secret command center under a ballroom. Naturally the next question is — who’s running this operation?

Not the generals who spent thirty years earning the right to have an opinion. They’re gone.

Gone. Phone call on a Thursday. Effective immediately.

Two others went with him. The head of Army Training and Transformation. And the Chief of Army Chaplains — apparently even the guy responsible for soldiers’ spiritual welfare had to go.

The official reason? There wasn’t one. “We are grateful for his service.” Door’s that way.

The real reason? He wasn’t implementing “the vision.” That’s the actual word they used. The vision.

So who gets the job? The guy who called into Trump’s inauguration ball from South Korea to personally congratulate him on television. That’s the new qualification. Not combat experience. Not strategic expertise. Enthusiasm. Visible, documented, on-camera enthusiasm.

Hegseth has now cleared out nearly the entire Joint Chiefs. The people left standing are the ones who’ve figured out that the shoe-licking is load bearing.

So let’s recap. $1.5 trillion budget. Secret bunker. Fired generals replaced by loyalists. Defense contractors funding the ballroom writing the checks.

This isn’t a military. It’s a casting call.

And somewhere under that ballroom, someone’s planning the next act.

Part 4 coming — who’s paying for all of this, and no, the answer is not going to make you feel better.

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Part 2: The Most Expensive Shed In History

So we left off asking who exactly we’re planning to bomb with that $1.5 trillion defense budget.

Turns out there’s a clue buried under a ballroom.

Trump’s building a $400 million ballroom at the White House. Don’t worry — defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Palantir picked up the tab. You know, the same companies that just got a very nice $1.5 trillion Christmas present called the defense budget. Funny how that works.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Trump called the ballroom — and I’m quoting him directly here — “a shed for what’s being built underneath.”

Underneath is a massive military command center. Bulletproof glass. Drone-proof ceilings. Hospital. Communications. Everything a man needs to run his wars. Personally. From underneath a ballroom.

It was supposed to be secret. He said that too. Then spent ten minutes describing it on Air Force One because a lawsuit made him cranky.

So let’s connect the dots your calculator already figured out.

We can’t afford daycare. Can’t afford Medicaid. States are on their own. But somewhere under the most expensive dance floor in American history, we’re building a personal war room for a man who just fired every general who might have told him no.

And the underground portion? Nobody knows what that costs. Experts have literally said we’ll “never get the line of sight on that number.”

So the next time someone asks where the money went — it went into a hole in the ground under a ballroom that a defense contractor paid for, in a city that can’t get a straight answer about any of it.

That’s not a conspiracy theory. That’s just Tuesday.

Part 3 coming — who got fired for knowing too much, and who got hired for clapping loud enough.

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Who The Hell Does He Plan On Bombing Next?