Trump is right: The shutdown has been a political disaster for the Republicans, who are receiving the lion’s share of blame in public opinion polls. But Senate Republicans are not going to nuke the filibuster—at least not yet, and probably not ever. At the same time, their negotiating position has just been weakened by an electoral wipeout. So the administration is now desperate to try anything to turn the tables on Democrats.
Here is how that’s going so far: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, not long after Trump finished berating his fellow Republicans, announced that he would be ordering 40 of the busiest airports in the country to start canceling flights—thousands of them—starting on Friday. The former Real World cast member insists the move is necessary to “alleviate the pressure” on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay amid the shutdown. But as The New York Times reported, flight interruptions “have been comparatively benign” this week after the delays over Halloween weekend. Duffy warned of “mass chaos” earlier this week, and now he’s going to deliver it—right as we head into the busiest travel season of the year.
It’s a revealing move. This administration can only think in political terms. Trump and his lackeys aren’t worried about the human costs of the shutdown, just ways to increase political pressure. This is consistent with how Trump operates in general. As we’ve seen in so many respects—from tariffs to DOGE to ICE—he only knows how to destroy stuff, whether it be federal agencies, American business, or livelihoods. So faced with a painful, destructive shutdown, the administration responds with yet more pain and destruction.
Trump is fixated on being a tough guy Mafioso. Ruining an established business to soak up quick profits is a classic mob move.
So is fuckig over anyone who won’t kiss your ring.
Keeping at least some of the people happy at least some of the time is also supposed to be a classic mob move, but this orange turd is too incompetent.
The real bosses would never want to sit down with a guy like Don. He’s a loudmouth who would blab about his big connections to anyone who’d listen. Don’s not smart enough to realize that he’s been basing his act on a bunch of second level goons.
He also fucks over everyone who does kiss his ring. He’d get whacked real quick.
He only cares about lining his pockets with money by any means necessary. That’s it.
I don’t get where the drive to do that comes from at that age. Knowing you most likely won’t exist to spend it in a few short years.
He believes that money is power. He wants his legacy to be known as a powerful and wealthy man. He’s always been very insecure about it.
100%
Like any corporate asshole, human costs are not factored into any decision. They only receive attention when the stench of the dead and dying make the outdoors unpleasant for them, and the solution is punitive so that people just die further away.
A. Well I guess I have to give him credit for succeeding at at least one thing as president.
B. Back at you, you passive aggressive motherfucker. How are those Epstein files coming along?
