An inside look at the early days of Trumpâs Department of Government Efficiency, as told by the public servants it targeted and one of Americaâs best storytellers. Blockers. It wasnât a compliment. In the new Washington, it was the worst thing you could beâespecially if you worked in the federal government and wanted to keep your job. A Blocker was a holdover, an impediment, someone who didnât get the messageâand, most of all, someone who didnât belong. Michael Lewis found six of them.
Yeah if, because of all the shit that's happened since, you are benumbed to what went on at the start of 2025, this book will get you more upset than you were even as it happened. I've listened to the prologue 3 times now because I get so fired up about something he says that I miss the next thing he says. So reading words on paper might be better. Anyway, check out a sample here.
The "bots" damaged in the (Yandex, Russia's most used search engine) data center strike were search engine crawling/indexing bots, like the ubiquitous googlebots that index the web, not bots in bot farms.
Musk's defense was that military usage goes through US Gov-controlled Starshield, not Starlink. Of course he lies as much as the other paedo, so who knows? For now he appears to be the fall guy/culprit.
As islander he always is showing off his real expertise.
Gosh, Mr. Wizard, I didn't realize Starlink is integral to digital and computer communications, beyond it's US Government Contracts.
Quite a shock when all of the Swing States went for Trump in '24 wasn't it? No one questioned the bullet ballots â those with only the Presidential race that went for DJT.
Even Musk spoke of launching an 'anomaly in the matrix the day before.'
However, Congressional, Gubernatorial, and local races are far harder to control digitally than a federal one. Thus the panic, distancing and money spent.
"Sorry Charlie, Only the Best Tasting Tuna gets to be Starlink."
Trump probably wasn't. Musk did it because he was pissed that they blew up a data center that housed a bot farm. When the bots died, his mentions went down and his traffic on twitter went down. He was pissed because a) cost him a penny b)made him less relevant for a moment and c) showed how much of his relevance is based on farse. So basically a tantrum, but by the other toddler who is somehow a driving force in our world.
The "bots" damaged in the (Yandex, Russia's most used search engine) data center strike were search engine crawling/indexing bots, like the ubiquitous googlebots that index the web, not bots in bot farms.
Musk's defense was that military usage goes through US Gov-controlled Starshield, not Starlink. Of course he lies as much as the other paedo, so who knows? For now he appears to be the fall guy/culprit.
Meanwhile, Trump claims he had nothing to do with the slowing of Starlink over Ukraine, telling a reporter: âI wasnât involved.â
When asked if Elon Musk ordered it, Trump responded: âI donât know who did it, but I was not involved.â
Congress members, including Republicans, have vowed to hold whoever was responsible for the cuts accountable. Musk is not taking that threat calmly. In response to a report in Politico that Democrats intend to investigate Muskâs role in cutting Ukraineâs access to Starlink communications networks, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attacks, Musk posted on social media: âLive by the sword, die by the sword. Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets â¦â
A shocking threat against members of Congress, but Europeans and Canadians decisions to develop their own satellite communications systems seems to be worrying Musk. If Congress also moves the United States away from his contracts, he could be in real trouble. Muskâs trillion-dollar fortune is not real. Almost all of his net worth is unrealized equity in companies he runs.
Trump probably wasn't. Musk did it because he was pissed that they blew up a data center that housed a bot farm. When the bots died, his mentions went down and his traffic on twitter went down. He was pissed because a) cost him a penny b)made him less relevant for a moment and c) showed how much of his relevance is based on farse. So basically a tantrum, but by the other toddler who is somehow a driving force in our world.
Meanwhile, Trump claims he had nothing to do with the slowing of Starlink over Ukraine, telling a reporter: âI wasnât involved.â
When asked if Elon Musk ordered it, Trump responded: âI donât know who did it, but I was not involved.â
Congress members, including Republicans, have vowed to hold whoever was responsible for the cuts accountable. Musk is not taking that threat calmly. In response to a report in Politico that Democrats intend to investigate Muskâs role in cutting Ukraineâs access to Starlink communications networks, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attacks, Musk posted on social media: âLive by the sword, die by the sword. Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets â¦â
A shocking threat against members of Congress, but Europeans and Canadians decisions to develop their own satellite communications systems seems to be worrying Musk. If Congress also moves the United States away from his contracts, he could be in real trouble. Muskâs trillion-dollar fortune is not real. Almost all of his net worth is unrealized equity in companies he runs.
I'm counting down the days to Day 1 of 2029 when the new Democratic President kicks this guy to the curb, cancelling all his contracts and taking control of Starlink.
Meanwhile, Trump claims he had nothing to do with the slowing of Starlink over Ukraine, telling a reporter: âI wasnât involved.â
When asked if Elon Musk ordered it, Trump responded: âI donât know who did it, but I was not involved.â
Congress members, including Republicans, have vowed to hold whoever was responsible for the cuts accountable. Musk is not taking that threat calmly. In response to a report in Politico that Democrats intend to investigate Muskâs role in cutting Ukraineâs access to Starlink communications networks, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attacks, Musk posted on social media: âLive by the sword, die by the sword. Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets â¦â
A shocking threat against members of Congress, but Europeans and Canadians decisions to develop their own satellite communications systems seems to be worrying Musk. If Congress also moves the United States away from his contracts, he could be in real trouble. Muskâs trillion-dollar fortune is not real. Almost all of his net worth is unrealized equity in companies he runs.
Two members of Elon Muskâs DOGE team working at the Social Security Administration were secretly in touch with an advocacy group seeking to âoverturn election results in certain states,â and one signed an agreement that may have involved using Social Security data to match state voter rolls, the Justice Department revealed in newly disclosed court papers.
Elizabeth Shapiro, a top Justice Department official, said SSA referred both DOGE employees for potential violations of the Hatch Act, which bars government employees from using their official positions for political purposes. (...)
"
advocacy group seeking to âoverturn election results in certain states,â
seems like this should be the lead. What exactly is this 'advocacy' group and why do they need data on citizens?
Two members of Elon Muskâs DOGE team working at the Social Security Administration were secretly in touch with an advocacy group seeking to âoverturn election results in certain states,â and one signed an agreement that may have involved using Social Security data to match state voter rolls, the Justice Department revealed in newly disclosed court papers.
Elizabeth Shapiro, a top Justice Department official, said SSA referred both DOGE employees for potential violations of the Hatch Act, which bars government employees from using their official positions for political purposes. (...)
Me thinks that Musk isn't reading the room right. Americans are tired of the same old same old that works for the few, not the many (See Mamdani election results). I don't see a flock of support to a Musk party being in the cards at this time. But then again, what do I know?
Agreed but which established party will it hurt more if he tried to move forward with it? I'm guessing Republican so maybe not a bad thing. I don't think very many Dems are going to flock to a Musk established alternative.
Me thinks that Musk isn't reading the room right. Americans are tired of the same old same old that works for the few, not the many (See Mamdani election results). I don't see a flock of support to a Musk party being in the cards at this time. But then again, what do I know?
While you are correct that reproductive rights is among the major issues for the Democrats, you are wrong to assert it overrides all other issues. Universal healthcare for all citizens, the social safety net of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, access to higher education regardless of economic standing, and fiercely protecting & preserving individual Constitutional rights & the rule of law it defines are all of equal importance. We are not as small-minded as you paint us, which ironically is quite small-minded for you to continually assert.
Most of all, we are about building up & advancing our society to not only meet the challenges of the future, but to have our country to take the lead in continuing in our quest to create a more perfect union, and to share that lofty ideal with the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, we are not about tearing down the institutions & values weâve fought to preserve & protect for over 200 years. We are not about taking our society back to the 1950âs. We believe America was already Great & therefore doesnât require a radical MAGA party (which is most assuredly not the Republican Party anymore) to make it âgreat againâ.
Your arguments are sophomoric at best & mean-spirited with the intent to enflame emotions at worst. I donât believe you are honestly trying to debate the issues to try to enlighten us or win us over to your point of view. Whatever your actual intentions, you continually come across as spoiling for a fight by invariably going the low road & inciting emotional responses. Itâs quite an interesting psychological reveal, But please donât waste your time playing the poor wounded victim here. You thrive on the fight, which has been quite transparent for, well, years now. But itâs your choice, so carry on as you must.
Location: At the dude ranch / above the sea Gender:
Posted:
Jun 7, 2025 - 7:00am
buddy wrote:
While you are correct that reproductive rights is among the major issues for the Democrats, you are wrong to assert it overrides all other issues. Universal healthcare for all citizens, the social safety net of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, access to higher education regardless of economic standing, and fiercely protecting & preserving individual Constitutional rights & the rule of law it defines are all of equal importance. We are not as small-minded as you paint us, which ironically is quite small-minded for you to continually assert.
Most of all, we are about building up & advancing our society to not only meet the challenges of the future, but to have our country to take the lead in continuing in our quest to create a more perfect union, and to share that lofty ideal with the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, we are not about tearing down the institutions & values weâve fought to preserve & protect for over 200 years. We are not about taking our society back to the 1950âs. We believe America was already Great & therefore doesnât require a radical MAGA party (which is most assuredly not the Republican Party anymore) to make it âgreat againâ.
While you are correct that reproductive rights is among the major issues for the Democrats, you are wrong to assert it overrides all other issues. Universal healthcare for all citizens, the social safety net of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, access to higher education regardless of economic standing, and fiercely protecting & preserving individual Constitutional rights & the rule of law it defines are all of equal importance. We are not as small-minded as you paint us, which ironically is quite small-minded for you to continually assert.
Most of all, we are about building up & advancing our society to not only meet the challenges of the future, but to have our country to take the lead in continuing in our quest to create a more perfect union, and to share that lofty ideal with the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, we are not about tearing down the institutions & values weâve fought to preserve & protect for over 200 years. We are not about taking our society back to the 1950âs. We believe America was already Great & therefore doesnât require a radical MAGA party (which is most assuredly not the Republican Party anymore) to make it âgreat againâ.
Your arguments are sophomoric at best & mean-spirited with the intent to enflame emotions at worst. I donât believe you are honestly trying to debate the issues to try to enlighten us or win us over to your point of view. Whatever your actual intentions, you continually come across as spoiling for a fight by invariably going the low road & inciting emotional responses. Itâs quite an interesting psychological reveal, But please donât waste your time playing the poor wounded victim here. You thrive on the fight, which has been quite transparent for, well, years now. But itâs your choice, so carry on as you must.
I want to live next door to buddy and people like him.
