Matt Gaetz' intricate network of drugs, sex, women and "associates"Screenshot from New York Times 
So much for First Lady Elmo Musk's proud boast of "our Hammer of Justice." In mere days, a "fraction of a Scaramucci," icky, scandal-plagued, Neanderthal-browed "MAGA bomb-thrower" Matt Gaetz crashed and burned, giving up his deeply errant bid to wreak vengeful havoc on law and order. He was felled by yet another sexual assault charge, a resolute free press, a Senate finally facing an unholy bridge too far, and a "spectacular error of judgment" by a clown drunk on ill-gotten power. May he make many more.
Gaetz' unseemly fall was a long time coming. A crass sycophant and provocateur despised even by his despicable GOP cohorts, he'd been trailed for years by sordid rumors and reports of his sex-and-drug-fueled exploits; he even helpfully documented them by making colleagues on the House floor look at nude photos of his victims and listen to lewd tales of his crushing Viagra and Red Bull to (ewww) "go all night." He long denied claims he'd paid for sex, but acknowledged he'd given money to various "girlfriends." For three years, the DOJ investigated him for allegations he trafficked over state lines and had sex with a 17-year-old girl; the probe shut down in 2023 without charges, but enough lurid stories kept floating around the House Ethics Committee launched their own investigation. Last week, after the House deadlocked on releasing its reportedly damning findings, MAGA Mike spent an evening at Mar-A-Hell-go before babbling that releasing them would be "a terrible breach of protocol and tradition and the spirit of the rule."
Anyway, by then his new overlord had nominated Gaetz to get revenge against the DOJ for being mean to both of them by running it into the ground; he also abruptly resigned from the House, which thus no longer had jurisdiction over him. But his "ridiculous, horrible and dangerous" nomination was universally panned - one response: "Oh for fuck's sake" - not just because he's known as a pedophile, reprobate, scumbag and creep but because he is so wildly unqualified for the job Elon Musk thought he was doing Gaetz a favor by arguing he had "three critical assets...a big brain, a spine of steel and an axe to grind." He's also "barely a lawyer," having spent less than three years as a junior associate at a small litigation firm, where at one point he filed a "stunty" and failed lawsuit against the city of Valparaiso over noise from overhead fighter jets. In 2019, new to the House, he was disciplined by the state bar for a threatening tweet that was "unprofessional, reckless, insensitive, and demonstrated poor judgment.”.
This week, with even his own party balking at the insane notion of an A.G. Gaetz and calling out the "abhorrent" job he's done in Congress, Trump was reportedly strong-arming Senate Repubs, threatening if they voted against Gaetz "you're buying yourself a primary, and there's a guy named Musk who will finance it." Classy. His co-conspirator Shady Vance also "sherpa-ed" Gaetz around the Capitol to talk to senators; even (also classy) George Santos showed up to condemn the "witch hunt" against Gaetz and vow to "scream" at opponents through their doors if he had to. During his pitch to Senators, Gaetz evidently tried to ignore the issue of drug-and-sex-fueled parties and their possible crimes - "There's no there there" - but did plead, "Just give me a fair shake.” Denying he was seeking retribution, he said he was "not going to go there and indict Liz Cheney, have storm troopers bust through the studio door at MSNBC, and arrest Anthony Fauci in my first week." (His second week, then, anything goes?)
Still, noted one sage, "The brazenness worked until it didn’t." And fast. Thursday at 11:30 a.m., CNN reached out to Gaetz for comment on a scoop they said they were about to publish: The woman who had sex with Gaetz in 2017 when she was 17 years old told the House Ethics Committee she in fact had two sexual encounters with him at one party; she testified to both the second, previously unreported encounter, which included an adult women, and the first in a deposition as part of a related lawsuit. CNN told Gaetz they would publish the story at 12:30 p.m. He posted he was withdrawing his nomination at 12:24. Trump had allegedly told Gaetz that morning he didn't have enough votes to pass; in his announcement, Gaetz said he was stepping down because his confirmation was “unfairly becoming a distraction" to Trump's "critical work," even though "the momentum was strong" and he'd had "excellent meetings" with Senators who gave him "thoughtful feedback," aka, "They told me to eat shit and die."
“Matt has a wonderful future," Trump wrote, "and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do," most likely paying more teenage girls for sex. GOP pols, citing "hell no" people they knew, seemed relieved at finding "the most humane way" out of a dilemma from which effluvium is still issuing. The New York Times reported investigators have established "a web" of suspicious Venmo payments - at least 10 totalling over $10,000 - between Gaetz, his "associates," and the women they paid. They even drew a surreal diagram, with names redacted, Gaetz a blue blur in the center, and his reasons for sending money: "Being my friend," "Joy,” "Being awesome," "Love you," "Just because." There's also an FBI investigation of a computer hack involving his former bestie doing time for trafficking, and a report Gaetz used the PayPal account of his Cuban adopted "son" Nestor, 19, though he also called Nestor "a local student" and "my helper." At the time, he was thus using a 16-year-old's money to pay for sex with a 17-year-old.
After the fact, there was little sympathy for the devil. There were snarky headlines - "Gaetz Forced To Pull Out After Sex Scandal Explodes" - musings about Kevin McCarthy living it up, reports of DOJ staff celebrating, jokes he resigned 'cause "his nomination got too old" or "he found out he'd be working with J.D. Vance not at a JV dance," wonder at the speed of his fall - "Not even one Scaramucci" - gratitude for "a Thanksgiving miracle" and "a good first punch." It's unclear if his resignation will apply to the new Congress; given the House ethics report still looms, many suggest Gaetz "just fucked himself out of government." Cognizant of "the deep bench of MAGA freaks," people speculated about the next choice: Hannibal Lecter, Michael Flynn, P. Diddy, Satan, another doctor, Pepper or Mengele, and, "Under a bridge somewhere, Rudy Giuliani hoping for a phone call." Some urged, "Now do the filthy hands guy," fellow loyal, vindictive, unqualified sexual predator and Christo-fascist Pete Hegseth, embroiled in his own foul muck.
Some speculate Trump's fail was in fact part of a "sacrifical lamb" plan to now inflict someone worse on us, but a former White House official argues Trump isn't smart enough to play "that sort of three-dimensional chess...More often than not he's just eating the pieces." Others warn we must insist on the Senate retaining its power to advise and consent in the face of so many dangers - Hegseth, Gabbard, RFK Jr., and God knows what unknown catastrophes await. Still, "The miasma of scandal that trailed Gaetz was too odorous...Finally, in a supposedly post-scandal era in which 'nothing matters', something mattered." The refusal to rubber-stamp a debacle, one wrote, is "a hopeful sign that a modicum of sanity persists in DC." Also, lest we forget, Thomas Jefferson is still right: "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." “Donald Trump just took his first step backward," wrote former GOP consultant Steve Schmidt. "He will take many more soon....Do Not Be Afraid.”
Update: Trump's new nominee is staunch, lock-her-up bootlicker and Florida A.G. Pam Bondi. More of the same, presumably without the sex and drugs.
Matt Gaetz' intricate network of drugs, sex, women and "associates"Screenshot from New York Times
Today, Accountable.US issued a sharp rebuke of President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education. McMahon, who is being sued by former WWE employees for allegedly knowing sexual abuse was occurring under her leadership, is poised to oversee reforms to Title IX—a federal law critical for preventing sexual violence and discrimination in schools—and will spearhead the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education as outlined in Project 2025. “
Donald Trump’s nomination of Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education is indefensible,” said Caroline Ciccone, president of Accountable.US. “This is someone accused of ignoring rampant sexual abuse under her watch. Putting her in charge of Title IX protections is like handing keys to an arsonist to run the fire department—it’s an insult to survivors and a blatant attack on the safety of students nationwide.”
The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, alleges that McMahon and other WWE executives knowingly allowed a ringside announcer, Mel Phillips, to groom and sexually abuse boys as young as 12. The plaintiffs, all survivors of this abuse, claim WWE leadership failed to intervene despite being aware of Phillips’s actions. The suit describes the abuse as “open and rampant,” facilitated by promises of access to wrestling stars.
“McMahon and her colleagues were reportedly aware of abuse happening right under their noses—and they did nothing,” Ciccone added. “Now she’s been chosen to oversee, and likely overhaul, the very protections designed to stop this kind of harm? The Senate must put an end to this sham of a nomination. She lacks the experience, the judgment, and the track record to protect students from harm. Our students need a champion who will uphold Title IX—not someone who has allegedly turned a blind eye to abuse”
McMahon’s nomination also threatens the progress made under the Biden administration, which expanded Title IX protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Trump’s agenda would roll back these vital safeguards, leaving LGBTQ+ students and survivors of campus sexual violence even more vulnerable.
In addition to her troubling record on abuse, McMahon has little experience in education. Her short tenure on Connecticut’s State Board of Education was marked by criticism over her lack of qualifications, and she resigned after less than a year to pursue an unsuccessful Senate campaign.
Accountable.US is calling on senators to reject McMahon’s confirmation and demand a nominee who will prioritize the safety and well-being of America’s students.
[pubDate] => Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:21:03 +0000 [guid] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/trumps-pick-for-education-secretary-faces-lawsuit-over-alleged-mishandling-child-sexual-abuse-while-poised-to-overhaul-title-ix [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Newswire Editor ) ) [2] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/jvp-action-condemns-house-passage-of-bill-to-give-more-authoritarian-power-to-trump [title] => JVP Action Condemns House Passage of Bill to Give More Authoritarian Power to Trump [timestamp] => 1732209225 [author] => Newswire Editor [content] => [enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [link] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/jvp-action-condemns-house-passage-of-bill-to-give-more-authoritarian-power-to-trump [description] =>Moments ago, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 9495, the so-called “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.” This is a far-Right bill that would grant the incoming Trump administration unprecedented and unchecked power to revoke the tax exempt status of any nonprofit organization — including social justice groups, media organizations, universities, and civil liberties organizations — based on a unilateral accusation of wrongdoing and without due process. Jewish Voice for Peace Action fought against this legislation and calls on the Senate to join the majority of their House colleagues in opposing Trump’s agenda and working to stop this authoritarian bill from moving forward.
“This bill is a five-alarm fire for anyone who seeks to protect free speech, civil society and democracy. This bill is part of a broader MAGA assault on the fundamental right to public protest that begins with attacks on Palestinian rights groups and is aimed at outlawing all social justice movements fighting for progressive change. It is shameful that the House of Representatives passed a bill that is straight out of the well-worn authoritarian playbook. The Senate must ensure that this bill to dismantle fundamental freedoms does not move forward or become law.” — Beth Miller, Political Director, Jewish Voice for Peace Action
Last week, a broad coalition of civil society organizations successfully organized to block H.R. 9495. JVP Action drove over 35,000 letters to Congressional offices in one week opposing this legislation, and during today’s vote Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the bill. H.R. 9495, including many Democrats who changed their votes to oppose due to overwhelming constituent outreach. The bill seeks to authorize broad and easily abused powers to the incoming Trump executive branch. It would grant the Secretary of the Treasury virtually unfettered discretion to strip a nonprofit of its tax-exempt status without due process. The legislation would not require disclosure of the allegations or evidence for the decision. The government would also not be required to provide any evidence in its possession that might undermine its decision, leaving an accused nonprofit entirely in the dark about what conduct the government believes qualifies as material support.
Initiatives led by the Heritage Foundation such as Project 2025 and Project Esther have clearly laid out roadmaps for how the incoming Trump administration will dismantle democracy and civil society, with Project Esther specifically naming revocation of tax-exempt status as a tool to destroy organizations that support Palestinian rights. The same extreme forces trying to ban "critical race theory" and stifle teaching about America's history of racism are now seeking to further undermine supporters of Palestinian rights, Black Lives Matter, environmentalists, labor unions and other activists.
JVP Action staff and supporters are available to speak with the media
Several draft texts released early this morning in Baku are capturing the attention of civil society observers at COP29 who have been holding out to see an ambitious and fair new climate finance goal, two days before the negotiations come to a close.
The new finance goal and the Mitigation Working Group texts in their current form currently fail to provide a global roadmap for alignment with a 1.5 degree future, which requires urgent and quality funding in the scale of trillions in order to replace fossil fuels with clean renewable energy.
Andreas Sieber, 350.org Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns said:
“The new climate finance and mitigation draft texts presented at COP29 today fail to deliver what is needed to transform the lives of those most impacted by the climate crisis and have done the least to cause it. Will governments recall this moment too, when the next climate disaster hits their country? A fast, fairly funded fossil fuel phase out is what we need reflected in these texts. We demand this is corrected, the world is watching.
By the end of the UN climate talks, we must see at least a trillion dollars in public finance on the table. This historic debt that rich countries owe will enable all nations to take action on climate at home and meet the collective goal agreed last year at COP28 – to triple renewable energy, and transition away from fossil fuels. Right now, we only see cowardice and a void in leadership, ignoring the undeniable science that we can’t keep polluting our planet with dirty oil, gas and coal.
The time to course correct is now – the European Union and other rich countries must stop playing poker with the planet and humankind’s future at stake. It’s time to put their cards on the table and commit real, transformative funding – no more excuses, no more delays, it’s time.”
Joseph Sikulu, 350.org Pacific Director and Pacific Climate Warrior said:
“We hoped to see a draft text today that would show rich nations putting their money where their mouth is and responding to the demands from the Global South. What we got is a text with no clear grant based core money. Nothing less than one trillion dollars in grants per year will be enough to see those most impacted by climate change on a just transition towards a safe, equitable future. Rich countries must stop dithering, and start delivering – this is not charity, it’s time for them to pay their debt.
The new climate finance goal isn’t just an arbitrary number, it’s a lifeline for climate vulnerable nations like mine that are drowning – literally – due to a crisis we did not cause. But despite it all, we are fighting. Rich countries need to start doing the same – be the first ones to commit to the rapid phase out of fossil fuels agreed upon at last year’s climate talks in Dubai. Financial commitments must also be paired with ambitious goals to transition to a renewable economy. There is still time for this COP to deliver, do not leave us behind once again.”
[pubDate] => Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:11:07 +0000 [guid] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/cop29-finance-target-must-still-deliver-on-trillions-of-dollars-in-debt-free-commitments-for-meaningful-climate-action [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Newswire Editor ) ) [4] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/oil-change-international-response-to-ncqg-and-mitigation-working-programme-texts-at-cop29 [title] => Oil Change International response to NCQG and Mitigation Working Programme texts at COP29 [timestamp] => 1732201751 [author] => Newswire Editor [content] => [enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [link] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/oil-change-international-response-to-ncqg-and-mitigation-working-programme-texts-at-cop29 [description] =>In response to the latest NCQG text, Laurie van der Burg, Oil Change International Global Public Finance Manager, said:
“The draft climate finance deal is a mixed bag with good, bad and ugly options. Rich countries now have a last chance to step up to pay the climate debt they owe to the Global South and unlock a fair and funded fossil fuel phaseout, while barring dangerous distractions. Wealthy nations must support delivering the trillions urgently needed in public finance with the majority provided debt-free, which is currently on the table.
“Labelling carbon credits as climate finance – which they are unreservedly not – should be axed from the text or risk creating a dangerous escape route for polluters. The same goes for explicitly allowing investments in fossil fuel infrastructure. This is fundamentally incompatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
“Instead, we need to end fossil fuel handouts, make polluters pay, and change unfair financial rules; which too is on the table. We know that by taking these steps rich countries can mobilise trillions in public funds for climate action and a fair fossil fuel phaseout. In these last hours of COP29, rich countries must meet their responsibilities and get on the right side of history.”
In response to the draft Mitigation Work Programme text, David Tong, Oil Change International Global Industry Campaign Manager, said:
“Ambition has gone missing in the Mitigation Work Programme. Reaffirming last year’s breakthrough Global Stocktake agreement in other draft negotiating texts makes it clear that the commitment to transition away from fossil fuels is not going away. But we need much more – like countries putting an immediate end to new fossil fuel expansion in their NDCs.
“Thanks to tireless advocacy from frontline communities, we have unprecedented momentum to end the fossil fuel era. But without proper funding, we risk a chaotic transition that deepens inequalities and leaves workers and vulnerable communities behind. The transition has to move forward to save lives and avoid breaching critical climate limits. Rich nations must deliver the trillions urgently needed in public climate finance to ensure it’s fast, fair and just – while also moving first to drive the global transition away from fossil fuels.”
[pubDate] => Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:09:11 +0000 [guid] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/oil-change-international-response-to-ncqg-and-mitigation-working-programme-texts-at-cop29 [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Newswire Editor ) ) [5] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/cop29-must-deliver-more-than-threadbare-promises-oxfam [title] => COP29 must deliver more than “threadbare promises”: Oxfam [timestamp] => 1732201642 [author] => Newswire Editor [content] => [enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [link] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/cop29-must-deliver-more-than-threadbare-promises-oxfam [description] =>In response to the latest climate finance draft text at COP29, Oxfam International's Climate Justice Lead, Safa’ Al Jayoussi, said:
“COP29 must do more than simply repeat the same threadbare promises. Rich countries have spent decades now stalling and blocking genuine progress on climate finance. This has left the Global South suffering the most catastrophic consequences of a climate crisis they did not create. The draft text scandalously misses the crucial element of declaring a clear public commitment to a new climate finance goal.
“Rich countries, those most responsible for climate chaos, owe $5 trillion in annual climate debt and reparations. This funding must come as grants-based public financing to help communities that need it the most mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and recover from loss and damage. Anything less will simply be a failure.
“This is not charity – it is an established obligation under international law. It is the bare minimum needed to shield frontline communities from devastation, allow them to rebuild after disasters pass, and ensure their just transition to a sustainable future. The next few days are a credibility test for these climate negotiations and for COP itself. The time for stalling is over. If rich countries don’t deliver, they will go down in history as having chosen profit over people and complacency over courage.” [pubDate] => Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:07:22 +0000 [guid] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/cop29-must-deliver-more-than-threadbare-promises-oxfam [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Newswire Editor ) ) [6] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/ahead-of-house-vote-on-bill-that-would-stifle-dissent-aclu-sounds-alarm-again [title] => Ahead of House Vote on Bill that Would Stifle Dissent, ACLU Sounds Alarm Again [timestamp] => 1732136787 [author] => Newswire Editor [content] => [enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [link] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/ahead-of-house-vote-on-bill-that-would-stifle-dissent-aclu-sounds-alarm-again [description] =>The House of Representatives is set to vote Thursday on the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, a bill that would give the incoming Trump administration new power to muzzle, punish, and effectively shut down tax-exempt organizations without transparency or appropriate due process. This misguided piece of legislation would impact a wide range of tax-exempt organizations, including nonprofits, universities, and even news outlets.
Last week, Congress narrowly blocked the bill based on due process concerns and significant constituent opposition. In just a few days, over 100,000 people sent messages to their members asking them to oppose H.R. 9495. Last week’s vote was brought up under suspension, which requires a two-thirds majority to pass. Tomorrow’s vote will come under regular order and only requires a simple majority.
The American Civil Liberties Union led a coalition of over 180 non-profit organizations — including Planned Parenthood, AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, and the NAACP — in a letter to Congress outlining why this bill is not only dangerous, but unnecessary. The letter also laid out how future administrations could abuse it to lock in power, silence dissent, and go after disfavored groups and vulnerable communities.
“Every time we give the president new powers and more authority to act alone, we create an open invitation for abuse by the executive branch,” said Kia Hamadanchy, senior federal policy counsel at ACLU. “While the ACLU would oppose this legislation no matter who the president is, and there is no question it could be weaponized against groups on both ends of the ideological spectrum, the rhetoric we saw on the campaign trail from the president-elect is even more reason for Congress to reject this bill.”
H.R. 9495 joins two unrelated measures together: one allowing the Treasury Department to withhold tax-exempt status from any nonprofit it accuses of being a “terrorist-supporting organization” — without being required to disclose the evidence against it — and another, non-controversial measure, which would offer tax relief to Americans imprisoned unjustly abroad. The latter provision already passed the Senate as a stand-alone bill, and as the coalition letter notes, none of the groups oppose these tax-relief provisions. In fact, not a single member of Congress has thus far raised any opposition to these provisions. The fastest way for it to become law is for the House to simply pass the Senate bill.
Related Documents
[pubDate] => Wed, 20 Nov 2024 21:06:27 +0000 [guid] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/ahead-of-house-vote-on-bill-that-would-stifle-dissent-aclu-sounds-alarm-again [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Newswire Editor ) ) [7] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/non-profit-killer-bill-losing-dem-support-amid-grassroots-pressure [title] => Non-profit killer bill losing Dem support amid grassroots pressure [timestamp] => 1732136342 [author] => Newswire Editor [content] => [enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [link] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/non-profit-killer-bill-losing-dem-support-amid-grassroots-pressure [description] =>Last week, the House failed to pass the extremely controversial HR 9495, which would give the future Trump administration unprecedented power in suppressing nonprofits, by allowing the administration the power to strip organizations of their tax exempt status. Despite failing to push the bill through and hundreds of nonprofit organizations advocating against it, the House plans to vote on this bill at 10 AM on Thursday, November 21.
And, this quote can be attributed to Lia Holland (they/she), Campaigns and Communications Director at Fight for the Future:
“It’s a disappointment but not a surprise to find Democrats voting for a bill to punish student protests against genocide on the wrong side of their entire values system. Over and over again, we’ve seen how legislative efforts designed to oppress dissent and silence speech end up burning their progenitors. H.R. 9495 is no exception—now, every nonprofit across the spectrum of human rights and progressive values is up in arms, begging Democrats to overcome their greed and their spite, and not to hand President-Elect Trump the ability to destroy any nonprofit he dislikes with the flick of a pen. On Thursday, we will see the truth of whether or not the Democratic Party will pre-comply with the fascist aspirations of the incoming administration. We hope we won’t be disappointed again, but we won’t hold our breath.”
[pubDate] => Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:59:02 +0000 [guid] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/non-profit-killer-bill-losing-dem-support-amid-grassroots-pressure [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Newswire Editor ) ) [8] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/economists-and-immigration-policy-experts-raise-alarm-on-the-catastrophic-long-term-economic-consequences-of-trumps-mass-deportation-and-immigration-plans [title] => Economists and Immigration Policy Experts Raise Alarm on the Catastrophic Long-Term Economic Consequences of Trump’s Mass Deportation and Immigration ... [timestamp] => 1732135902 [author] => Newswire Editor [content] => [enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [link] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/economists-and-immigration-policy-experts-raise-alarm-on-the-catastrophic-long-term-economic-consequences-of-trumps-mass-deportation-and-immigration-plans [description] =>Today, America’s Voice hosted a press call outlining how mass deportations, coupled with proposed cuts to legal migration, will impact the American economy. This is the first in a series of calls focused on the consequences of Trump’s mass deportation plans.
Speakers shared data and economic analysis projecting how mass deportations, family separations, and cuts to visa and legal immigration avenues will impact every American. Of the potential consequences, they highlighted the likelihood of mass deportations spiking inflation, driving up deficits, cutting revenues, shrinking the workforce, and leading to a decline in GDP.
Here’s what economists and policy experts had to say on how President-elect Trump’s mass deportation and immigration plans will impact the U.S. economy:
Robert G. Lynch, Professor of Economics at Washington College, said: “Studies of past mass deportation episodes in the United States have shown that they caused the U.S. economy to contract. Jobs for American workers declined, American wages went down, and prices rose. The idea that mass deportation would help American citizens is an illusion. It has never worked in the past and it won’t work in the future.”
Resources from Robert G. Lynch:
Phillip Connor, Senior Demographer at FWD.us, said: "We must be clear: President-elect Trump's mass deportation plans are, in reality, mass family separation plans. These policies would impact more than 28 million individuals in mixed-status and undocumented families, including over 20 million Latinos—approximately one in three Latinos in the U.S. Eliminating critical protections like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), combined with the deportation of millions of others, would devastate local economies and lead to significant job losses in essential industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture. Our communities and economy thrive when immigrants with deep ties to the U.S. can live and work with security and stability. Now is the time to pursue real policy solutions that address our immigration challenges without compromising our economy or betraying our nation’s core values."
Resources from FWD.us:
Stuart Anderson, Executive Director of National Foundation for American Policy, said: “The best way to predict a second Trump term on immigration is to look at the policies in the first term. The Trump administration reduced legal immigration by cutting refugee admissions and enacting various bans and restrictions, some of which were blocked, primarily on procedural grounds. One should expect similar policies in the second Trump administration. A recent report our organization released found that without immigrants and their children, there would have been no labor force growth in the U.S. economy over the past 5 years. The economic impact of reduced immigration could be significant, particularly over the medium and long term.”
[pubDate] => Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:51:42 +0000 [guid] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/economists-and-immigration-policy-experts-raise-alarm-on-the-catastrophic-long-term-economic-consequences-of-trumps-mass-deportation-and-immigration-plans [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Newswire Editor ) ) [9] => Array ( [uri] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/the-revolving-door-project-criticizes-nomination-of-linda-mcmahon-as-secretary-of-education [title] => The Revolving Door Project Criticizes Nomination of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education [timestamp] => 1732135790 [author] => Newswire Editor [content] => [enclosures] => Array ( ) [categories] => Array ( ) [uid] => [link] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/the-revolving-door-project-criticizes-nomination-of-linda-mcmahon-as-secretary-of-education [description] =>In response to President-elect Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education, The Revolving Door Project Executive Director, Jeff Hauser released the following statement:
“It is my sad prediction that this nomination will be bad for the future of America, but my hope that people across the political spectrum will take from McMahon's inevitable failure the conclusion that the skills that can make one mind bogglingly rich in the private sector do not make you qualified for jobs at the pinnacle of public service.”
Revolving Door Project Senior Researcher Christopher Lewis added:
“Donald Trump's nominee for Education Secretary is reflective of his incoming administration’s fondness of the corrupt corporate revolving door. Through influence peddling and toadying, McMahon has managed to turn a scandal-ridden career into a stint atop the Small Business Administration, and now the Department of Education. While at the SBA, McMahon did nothing but cheer on tax cuts and mishandle agency funds. For this lackluster performance, McMahon is being promoted to yet another job for which she lacks the credentials to serve.”
“If one wants to see what a Department of Education would look like under Linda McMahon, they need look no further than the America First Policy Institute that she chairs where they have promoted school choice, attacked DEI efforts and even attacked teacher’s unions. This is a sad day for America's students, educators and parents.” Lewis concluded.
Journalists interested in The Revolving Door Project’s research on McMahon are encouraged to reach out to Research Director Christopher Lewis via email lewis@therevolvingdoorproject.org
[pubDate] => Wed, 20 Nov 2024 20:49:50 +0000 [guid] => https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/the-revolving-door-project-criticizes-nomination-of-linda-mcmahon-as-secretary-of-education [dc] => Array ( [creator] => Newswire Editor ) ) ) )