President Shitshow’s First 100 Days; Day 24

February 14, 2025 12:28 pm EST Tiff Editorial (Open Thread) Comments Off on President Shitshow’s First 100 Days; Day 24
President Trump...in a cave.

It’s Friday.

President Shitshow’s public schedule for…

Friday, February 14 2025
9:00 AMIn-Town Pool Call TimeIn-Town Pool
12:00 PM
Out-of-Town Pool Call Time
Out-of-Town Pool
1:00 PM
The President signs Executive Orders
Oval Office 
Closed Press
2:00 PM
The President departs The White House en route Joint Base Andrews
South Lawn 
Open Press
2:10 PM
The President arrives at Joint Base Andrews
Joint Base Andrews 
Out-of-Town Travel Pool
2:20 PM
The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route Palm Beach International Airport
Joint Base Andrews 
Out-of-Town Travel Pool
4:25 PM
The President arrives at Palm Beach International Airport
Palm Beach International Airport 
Out-of-Town Travel Pool
4:35 PM
The President departs Palm Beach International Airport en route Mar-a-Lago
Palm Beach International Airport 
Out-of-Town Travel Pool
4:50 PM
The President arrives at Mar-a-Lago
Mar-a-Lago 
Out-of-Town Travel Pool

I discovered I still have some house cleaning left…

These really are the last posts from the White House; that just means we will be all caught up and I can post “new” from the White House starting Monday…

02/13/2025:

  • President Trump Demands Fair, Reciprocal Trade; Today, President Donald J. Trump unveiled a plan for fair, free, reciprocal trade as he makes clear to the world that the United States will no longer tolerate being ripped off. The U.S. has one of the most open economies in the world, yet our trading partners keep their markets closed to U.S. exports — and reciprocal trade will finally correct that imbalance. [the rest of the post is all people praising President Shitshow for causing more inflation].

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on Trade:

THE “FAIR AND RECIPROCAL PLAN”: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum ordering the development of a comprehensive plan for restoring fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on Trade. 02/13/2025.
  • The “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” will seek to correct longstanding imbalances in international trade and ensure fairness across the board.
  • Gone are the days of America being taken advantage of: this plan will put the American worker first, improve our competitiveness in every area of industry, reduce our trade deficit, and bolster our economic and national security. 

AMERICA WILL NO LONGER TOLERATE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES: The United States is one of the most open economies in the world, yet our trading partners keep their markets closed to our exports. This lack of reciprocity is unfair and contributes to our large and persistent annual trade deficit.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on Trade. 02/13/2025.
  • There are endless examples where our trading partners do not give the United States reciprocal treatment.
    • The U.S. tariff on ethanol is a mere 2.5%. Yet Brazil charges the U.S. ethanol exports a tariff of 18%. As a result, in 2024, the U.S. imported over $200 million in ethanol from Brazil while the U.S. exported only $52 million in ethanol to Brazil.
    • The U.S. average applied Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff on agricultural goods is 5%. But India’s average applied MFN tariff is 39%. India also charges a 100% tariff on U.S. motorcycles, while we only charge a 2.4% tariff on Indian motorcycles.
    • The European Union can export all the shellfish it wants to America. But the EU bans shellfish exports from 48 of our states, despite committing in 2020 to expedite approvals for shellfish exports. As a result, in 2023, the U.S. imported $274 million in shellfish from the EU but exported only $38 million.
    • The EU also imposes a 10% tariff on imported cars. Yet the U.S. only imposes a 2.5% tariff.
    • A 2019 report found that across 132 countries and more than 600,000 product lines, United States exporters face higher tariffs more than two-thirds of the time.
  • This lack of reciprocity is one source of America’s large and persistent annual trade deficit in goods: closed markets abroad reduce U.S. exports and open markets at home result in significant imports, both of which undercut American competitiveness.
    • The United States has run a trade deficit of goods every year since 1975. In 2024, our trade deficit in goods exceeded $1 trillion.
    • Thanks to the proliferation of non-reciprocal barriers in just the last few years, the U.S. now runs a trade deficit in agriculture, worth around $40 billion in 2024.
  • Though America has no such thing, and only America should be allowed to tax American firms, trading partners hand American companies a bill for something called a digital service tax.
    • Canada and France use these taxes to each collect over $500 million per year from American companies.
    • Overall, these non-reciprocal taxes cost America’s firms over $2 billion per year.
    • Reciprocal tariffs will bring back fairness and prosperity to the distorted international trade system and stop Americans from being taken advantage of.

THE ART OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEAL: President Trump continues to deliver on his mandate given to him by the American People to put America First when it comes to trade.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on Trade. 02/13/2025.
  • As President Trump said in the Presidential Memorandum on American First Trade Policy on his first day in office, trade policy is a critical component of our economic security and national security.
  • In his first term, President Trump successfully ended the outdated and unfair NAFTA, replacing it with the historic USMCA to deliver one of the largest wins for American workers.
  • When our national security was threatened by a global oversupply of steel and aluminum, President Trump took swift action to protect America’s national security by implementing tariffs on imports of these goods.
  • In response to China’s intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and other unreasonable behavior, President Trump acted with conviction to impose tariffs on imports from China, using that leverage to reach a historic bilateral economic agreement.

Just last week, President Trump leveraged tariffs to force Canada and Mexico to make long-overdue changes at our northern and southern borders, ensuring the safety and security of American citizens.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces “Fair and Reciprocal Plan” on Trade. 02/13/2025.

Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs:

[snip]:

  Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to reduce our large and persistent annual trade deficit in goods and to address other unfair and unbalanced aspects of our trade with foreign trading partners.  In pursuit of this policy, I will introduce the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan”(Plan).  Under the Plan, my Administration will work strenuously to counter non-reciprocal trading arrangements with trading partners by determining the equivalent of a reciprocal tariff with respect to each foreign trading partner.  This approach will be of comprehensive scope, examining non-reciprocal trade relationships with all United States trading partners, including any: 

     (a)  tariffs imposed on United States products; 

     (b)  unfair, discriminatory, or extraterritorial taxes imposed by our trading partners on United States businesses, workers, and consumers, including a value-added tax; 

     (c)  costs to United States businesses, workers, and consumers arising from nontariff barriers or measures and unfair or harmful acts, policies, or practices, including subsidies, and burdensome regulatory requirements on United States businesses operating in other countries; 

     (d)  policies and practices that cause exchange rates to deviate from their market value, to the detriment of Americans; wage suppression; and other mercantilist policies that make United States businesses and workers less competitive; and  

     (e)  any other practice that, in the judgment of the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing, imposes any unfair limitation on market access or any structural impediment to fair competition with the market economy of the United States. 

Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs. 02/13/2025.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the Make America Healthy Again Commission:

MAKING AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission.

  • Chaired by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Commission is tasked with investigating and addressing the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with an initial focus on childhood chronic diseases.
  • Within 100 days, the Commission will produce an assessment that summarizes what is known and what questions remain regarding the childhood chronic disease crisis, and include international comparisons.
  • Within 180 days, the Commission will produce a strategy, based on the findings of the assessment, to improve the health of America’s children.
  • The Commission has four main policy directives to reverse chronic disease:
    • Empower Americans through transparency and open-source data and avoid conflicts of interest in all federally funded health research.
    • Prioritize gold-standard research on why Americans are getting sick in all health-related research funded by the federal government.
    • Work with farmers to ensure that U.S. food is the healthy, abundant and affordable.
    • Ensure expanded treatment options and health coverage flexibility for beneficial lifestyle changes and disease prevention.
  • The Commission aims to restore trust in medical and scientific institutions and hold public hearings, meetings, roundtables, and similar events to receive expert input from leaders in public health.

ADDRESSING THE RISE OF CHRONIC ILLNESSES: President Trump understands that America’s healthcare system is largely focused on treating chronic illnesses rather than preventing them, leading to a growing health crisis with serious economic and national security consequences.

  • Based on all health indicators and global comparisons, Americans are becoming sicker, beset by illnesses that our medical system isn’t addressing effectively.
    • In the United States, six in 10 adults have at least one chronic condition, and four in 10 have two or more.
    • Prior to COVID, American life expectancy averaged 78.8 years, while comparable countries averaged 82.6 years, creating a gap that equates to 1.25 billion fewer life years for Americans.
    • The United States has the highest age-standardized cancer incidence rate across 204 countries, nearly double the next-highest rate.
      • From 1990 to 2021, the United States saw an 88% increase in cancer.
    • Asthma is far more common in the United States than in other parts of the world, including most of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
  • The rise in chronic conditions is not limited to adults.
    • Childhood is usually the healthiest period of life, yet as of 2022, 30 million (40.7%) United States children had at least one health condition like allergies, asthma, or autoimmune diseases.
    • Autism now affects one in 36 children, a staggering increase from rates of one to four out of 10,000 children identified with the condition during the 1980s.
    • 18% of teens suffer from fatty liver disease, nearly 30% are prediabetic, and more than 40% are overweight or obese – these conditions were virtually unheard of in prior generations.
    • The incidence of childhood cancer, while still rare, increased 0.8% per year since 1975—an over 40% increase over 45 years.
    • Overmedication, particularly among children, is a growing concern. More than 3.4 million children are currently taking medication for ADD/ADHD and diagnoses continue to rise.
  • Chronic disease has widespread effects, including on our military and our economy.
    • 77% of young adults do not qualify for military service without a waiver, primary due to being overweight, drug use, or mental and physical health issues.
    • 90% of America’s $4.5 trillion healthcare expenditure is directed at managing chronic and mental health conditions.
    • The United States spends almost twice per capita what other wealthy countries spend on healthcare.
  • Americans have lost trust in our health system, skeptical as to whether they are receiving honest answers about the causes of the country’s health crisis and how to improve it.
    • Only a third of Americans trust the U.S. health system, a near-record low.

TAKING ON THE HEALTH CRISIS: President Trump is fulfilling his promise to tackle the health crisis facing America.

  • President Trump pledged that upon returning to the White House he would establish a special Presidential Commission that’s “not bought and paid for by Big Pharma, and I will charge them with investigating what is causing the decades-long increase in chronic illnesses […] And then, I will ask them to publish recommendations for how every American child can have a safe and healthy childhood.”
  • In his first term, President Trump lowered healthcare costs, provided more healthcare options, and ensured better care for the American people.
  • President Trump has consistently championed initiatives aimed at improving the health and well-being of Americans. Select actions from the prior Trump Administration include:
    • Passed Right To Try to give terminally ill patients access to lifesaving cures.
    • Signed an executive order to fight kidney disease with more transplants and better treatment.
    • Accelerated medical breakthroughs in genetic treatments for Sickle Cell disease.
    • Declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency and signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, the largest-ever legislative effort to address a drug crisis in our Nation’s history.
    • Expanded access to telehealth, especially in rural and underserved communities.

There is just so much to unpack in the above.

My opinion follows:

The reason other countries are healthier than we are; they walk more to get to and from places. Another reason is the fact that portion sizes in other countries are smaller and the people eat smaller meals more often.

Universal healthcare exists; I know it’s not a popular idea here, but American’s just don’t visit the doctor enough. Here we are concerned with cost, even with insurance, most doctors visit still average $100 to $200. And that’s just the visit not the tests needed to determine what’s wrong.

Here’s an example: My daughter needs her gallbladder removed. I have really good insurance. However, to be proactive and remove the gallbladder the hospital wants $6000 plus before surgery, and the doctor gets his six hundred dollars too.

But here’s the kicker, if we don’t schedule it, and they have to remove it because she’s “sick” enough, that same removal costs us roughly $500 out of pocket while in the hospital. The bills will come due later.

That’s so ridiculous.

Being pro-active regarding healthcare in America is punished.

They say in their “fact-sheet” that American’s have lost trust in our healthcare system. Gee, it’s a real fucking mystery as to why that trust was lost…

Trump Administration: Follow the Law

President Donald J. Trump and his administration have a simple message: follow the law. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has wasted no time taking action against states and entities which have opted for defiance.

Here are only a few examples:

  • The Department of Education has launched investigations into the California Interscholastic Federation and the Minnesota State High School League over their failures to comply with President Trump’s executive order protecting girls in sports. The department has also announced probes into the widespread anti-Semitic harassment at five public universities across the country.

MSHSL issued the following statement:

The recent Executive Order link interpreting Title IX has raised issues and questions for MSHSL Member
Schools and the League. This order affects the participation rights of transgender females in athletics.
Thus, this creates questions as to the interaction of this Executive Order and Minnesota law. The
Minnesota Human Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the Minnesota Constitution prohibit
discrimination against any person in any protected class, which includes sexual orientation and gender
identity. The Executive Order appears to conflict with current State law.

The Executive Order requires a 60-day window for athletic associations to convene and take action
implementing the order. Given the significance of the issue, the League is considering requesting a
formal opinion from the Minnesota Attorney General for guidance on the issues involved.
Although much remains unclear, the following reflects our current reality:

MSHSL. 02/12/2025.
  • Minnesota is not alone. A number of other states are similarly trying to reconcile existing statutes and policies with the Executive Order.
  • At least one media report has inaccurately claimed that the MSHSL confirmed that transgender student-athletes in Minnesota will continue to be able to participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity despite the Executive Order. Instead, the MSHSL is seeking guidance to better understand how to proceed in the future.
  • During this 60-day window as we seek clarification and direction from the state, the MSHSL’s current bylaw remains in place at this time allowing transgender student participation. The bylaw is based on the [Minnesota] Human Rights Act and the State Constitution.

I did not find a link to the statements from

I found an article; paywalled, but I was able to access it by answering a question and providing them my email so they could spam me at will, from the Sacramento Bee:

Trump opens Title IX investigation into California high school sports governing body

CIF spokesperson Rebecca Brutlag in an emailed statement to The Sacramento Bee said: “While the CIF has been notified of the investigation, we do not comment on pending investigations.”

In a statement to The Bee before Trump announced the investigation, Brutlag said the organization would continue complying with California law, which protects trans students’ right to play. “The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law … which permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records,” Brutlag wrote.

Trump opens Title IX investigation into California high school sports governing body. 02/12/2025.
  • The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sued the State of New York and its top officials over their willful failure to comply with federal immigration laws. The DOJ has also filed lawsuits against the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago over their dangerous and illegal so-called “sanctuary” policies.

New York Mayor Eric “Quid pro Quo” Adams and Border Czar Tom “I want Violence” Homan appeared on Fox Entertainment:

  • The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has announced referrals to the Office of Inspector General and the DOJ over a scheme by outgoing Biden EPA staffers to bury billions of dollars in federal funding at an outside financial institution in an effort to shield the funds from oversight and accountability.
  • The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened an investigation into discriminatory DEI policies at Comcast — an entity which it regulates — following President Trump’s executive order ending such policies. The FCC has also taken action against a Soros-backed, San Francisco-based radio station after the station broadcasted the locations of undercover federal immigration authorities conducting dangerous operations in the area, and has launched an investigation into NPR and PBS over potential violations of federal laws.
  • The Department of Homeland Security has “clawed back” tens of millions of dollars in funds paid by rogue FEMA officials to house illegal aliens in luxury New York City hotels.

From CBS News: Feds seized $80 million in FEMA funds given to NYC to house migrants, city comptroller says (02/12/2025):

The Department of Homeland Security said four people were recently fired for making unauthorized payments to those luxury hotels.

A Homeland Security spokesperson said in part: “FEMA was funding the Roosevelt Hotel that serves as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to house Laken Riley’s killer. There will not be a single penny spent that goes against the interest and safety of the American people.”

“Sending 59 million bucks to a migrant hotel to house illegal immigrants when there are still people in North Carolina and California who have not received FEMA funding is not something that this administration is going to tolerate,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing after the funds were seized.

“The federal program we’re talking about, the shelter and services program, has a $12.50 a night cap on hotel and shelter prices, and obviously New York City paid much more than $12.50 a night for the tents at Floyd Bennett Field and Randall’s Island, much less for the hotels here,” [Brad] Lander said.

The mayor’s office says it is conducting an internal investigation, adding, “Our office has already engaged with the White House about recouping these funds and we’ve requested an emergency meeting with FEMA to try and resolve the matter as quickly as possible.”

Feds seized $80 million in FEMA funds given to NYC to house migrants, city comptroller says (02/12/2025).

02/12/2025:

President Donald J. Trump Secures Release of Another American Held Hostage:

An American citizen held hostage in Belarus has been released thanks to the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and his administration — the second American released from captivity abroad in the past 24 hours and the eleventh since President Trump took office.

The remarkable success in freeing American citizens comes as the United States displays a renewed strength under President Trump. In the words of Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, President Trump “has made bringing Americans home a top priority and people respond to that.”

President Donald J. Trump Secures Release of Another American Held Hostage. 02/12/2025.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio:“President Trump’s strong leadership has led to the release of an American unjustly detained in Belarus and two political prisoners … We remain committed to the release of other U.S. citizens in Belarus and elsewhere.”
  • Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:“It speaks to President Trump’s dealmaking ability … It’s a remarkable victory on the heels of Marc Fogel returning to America last night.”
  • Special Envoy Adam Boehler:“It’s happening now because the President of the United States has made it a top priority — and he leads through strength.”
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Chris Smith:“A huge win — and a response to President Trump’s Peace through Strength agenda … We’re going to keep working until we get all Americans out.”
  • U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald:“It is a big day for Team America, for the President, for the Secretary of State…”

Promises made, promises kept.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations:

A UNIFIED VOICE FOR AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing one clear, unified voice for America’s foreign relations.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations. 02/12/2025.
  • The Order reaffirms that all individuals involved in implementing the President’s foreign policy do so under his authority and direction.
  • It reasserts the Secretary of State’s authority over Foreign Service Officers, Civil Service Officers, or other staff, under the supervision of the President.
  • It directs the Secretary of State to reform the foreign service in areas such as recruiting, performance, evaluation, and retention standards to ensure only the most qualified and committed individuals represent American interests abroad.
  • The Secretary of State is tasked with ensuring the faithful and effective implementation of the President’s foreign policy agenda, in accordance with applicable law.
  • The Order empowers the Secretary of State to revise or replace the Foreign Affairs Manual and any other procedural documents that guide the operations of the foreign service.

ALIGNING DIPLOMACY WITH AMERICA’S INTERESTS: President Trump is committed to safeguarding the integrity of U.S. foreign policy by ensuring that America’s interests are prioritized through a unified diplomatic voice, with related personnel held accountable to the President’s vision.

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations. 02/12/2025.
  • This Executive Order reaffirms the constitutional authority of the President over foreign policy, duly ensuring that diplomatic actions align with President Trump’s directives.
  • The personnel procedures of agencies charged with implementing the President’s foreign policy must provide an effective and efficient means for ensuring that officers and employees faithfully implement the President’s policies.
  • The Order guarantees a strong and effective approach to international relations that always serves U.S. interests first.
  • No longer will America be taken advantage of by foreign nations or by rogue actors who undermine our sovereignty or security.

KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO PUT AMERICA FIRST: This Executive Order builds on bold actions already taken by President Trump and reinforces his promise to put America first in every aspect of foreign relations.   

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations. 02/12/2025.
  • On Day One, President Trump signed an “America First Policy Directive” to the Secretary of State that declared that the United States’ foreign policy must always put the interests of America and its citizens first.
  • President Trump was elected to achieve peace through strength and ensure foreign policy reflects U.S. values, sovereignty, and security.
  • This Executive Order solidifies President Trump’s commitment to accountability and effectiveness in America’s diplomatic service.

  • One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations;  Sec. 2.  Policy. All officers or employees charged with implementing the foreign policy of the United States must under Article II do so under the direction and authority of the President. Failure to faithfully implement the President’s policy is grounds for professional discipline, including separation.  The personnel procedures of executive departments and agencies (agencies) charged with implementing the President’s foreign policy must therefore provide an effective and efficient means for ensuring that officers and employees faithfully implement the President’s policies.
  • First Lady Melania Trump Announces Opening of White House Public Tours; Public tours must be requested through Members of Congress, and requests may be submitted up to three months in advance. Tours are scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis. Tours are self-guided, typically last 45 minutes, and will generally be available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday as well as 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday (excluding Federal holidays or unless otherwise noted). When possible, public tour hours will be extended based on the official White House schedule. For more information, including what visitors will need to access the White House campus, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Visit.

That’s a wrap…

This is an open thread

About the opinions in this article…

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About Tiff 3038 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.