Democratic Underground: Forums for U.S. Liberals and Democrats

DOGE Plans to Rebuild SSA Codebase In Months, Risking Benefits and System Collapse

(Wired) The so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is starting to put together a team to migrate the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) computer systems entirely off one of its oldest programming languages in a matter of months, potentially putting the integrity of the system—and the benefits on which tens of millions of Americans rely—at risk. Under any circumstances, a migration of this size and scale would be a massive undertaking, experts tell WIRED, but the expedited deadline runs the risk of obstructing payments to the more than 65 million people in the US currently receiving Social Security benefits.

BeyondGeography

Investment advisor sees 'pure chaos' in auto industry from tariffs

(The Fly) After speaking to auto industry experts from the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Wedbush Securities concluded President Trump’s 25% tariff on all cars and parts made outside the U.S. “would send the auto industry into pure chaos.” The move will raise the average price of cars between $5,000 on the low end and $10,000-$15,000 on the high end, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Wedbush believes every auto maker in the world will have to raise prices selling into the U.S. while the supply chain logistics of the tariff announcement is “hard to even put our arms around at this moment.”

In It to Win It

"We made a mistake": GOP Rep. Bacon suggests limiting Trump's presidential tariff powers

(Salon) President Donald Trump’s metastasizing tariffs are forcing some Republicans to fall out of line. With broad tariffs on Canada and Mexico set to kick in next week and a recently announced duty on most imported vehicles, Republicans in Congress worry massive price increases on everyday goods may trigger a backlash against the party. Some GOP lawmakers are even ready to rein in the president's power to implement tariffs, citing the economic uncertainty that spooked investors earlier this month.

Wednesdays

4 Days Until Florida 1st and 6th Districts Special Elections!

Donald Trump’s recent appointments have triggered a number of key special elections that could change everything for Democrats. The GOP holds one of the slimmest House majorities in history – meaning Hakeem Jeffries only needs three more seats to win a House majority. We can’t let this opportunity slip through our fingers.

douglas9

Trump order aims to outlaw most government unions on 'national security' grounds

(GovExec.com) President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order purporting to outlaw collective bargaining across two thirds of the federal government, citing a little-used provision of federal labor law relating to national security issues. A fact sheet announcing the policy document says that Trump cited a rarely used provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act allowing the president to exclude agencies and agency subcomponents from collective bargaining rules if the rules “cannot be applied to that agency or subdivision in a manner consistent with national security requirements.”

BumRushDaShow

Core inflation in February hits 2.8%, higher than expected; spending increases 0.4%

(CNBC) The Federal Reserve’s key inflation measure rose more than expected in February while consumer spending also posted a smaller than projected increase, the Commerce Department reported Friday. The core personal consumption expenditures price index showed a 0.4% increase for the month, the biggest monthly gain since January 2024, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 2.8%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for respective numbers of 0.3% and and 2.7%.

BumRushDaShow

Trump executive order on Smithsonian targets funding to programs with 'improper ideology'

(AP) President Donald Trump on Thursday revealed his intention to force changes at the Smithsonian Institution with an executive order that targets funding for programs that advance “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology.” Trump claimed there has been a “concerted and widespread” effort over the past decade to rewrite American history by replacing “objective facts” with a “distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth,” adding that it casts the “founding principles” of the United States in a “negative light.”

BumRushDaShow

'Crushed' Elise Stefanik 'Scrambled' To Convince Trump To Change His Mind About Pulling Her Nomination

(Mediaite) On Thursday, CBS News reported that Stefanik was under pressure to withdraw her name from consideration because Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, which they control 218-213. Shortly after the CBS News report dropped, Trump pulled Stefanik’s nomination. “As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress,” he wrote.

sop

The Signal security lapse was bad. So is what the chat logs actually reveal.

(MSNBC) Though most of the commentary about the Signal group chat this past week has focused on the accidental inclusion of journalist Jeffrey Goldberg — an outrageous breach of national security protocols — the scandal has also provided us an extraordinary window into Trump’s inner circle’s thinking about foreign policy strategy. What it reveals is a cavalier attitude toward new open-ended bombardment campaigns. And it underscores how farcical Trump’s pledge to be president of 'peace' and focus narrowly on American interests has already turned out to be. Trump didn’t need to drop bombs on scores of sites across the poorest country in the Middle East now or with such intensity — and his whole team admitted it.

Attilatheblond

Jenner & Block file lawsuit re: Trump administration efforts to intimidate

(Jenner & Block) "The March 25, 2025 Executive Order—entitled 'Addressing Risks from Jenner & Block' (the 'Order')—is an unconstitutional abuse of power against lawyers, their clients, and the legal system. It is intended to hamper the ability of individuals and businesses to have the lawyers of their choice zealously represent them. And it is intended to coerce law firms and lawyers into renouncing the Administration’s critics and ceasing certain representations adverse to the government..."

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Trump asks Supreme Court for permission to resume deporting Venezuelan migrants under wartime law

4 min ago - By MARK SHERMAN Updated 9:08 AM MST, March 28, 2025 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court for permission to resume deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law, whil ... (Associated Press)

US Securities and Exchange Commission beginning to onboard DOGE staff, email says

13 min ago - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is beginning to onboard officials with billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, according to an email sent on Friday to department staff. SEC staff were informed that the DOGE task force ... (Reuters)

GOP lawmakers in 10 states introduce bills to treat abortion as homicide

19 min ago - 03/28/25 6:00 AM ET A growing number of Republican state lawmakers are introducing legislation that would treat abortion as murder in a push to give legal rights to fetuses. Since the beginning of this year, Republican lawmakers have introduced bills ... (The Hill)

Organizers accuse Trump of trying to silence federal workers with union order

24 min ago - Union leaders have accused Donald Trump of union-busting in a “blatant” attempt to silence them after the president stepped up his attacks on government unions on Thursday, signing an executive order that attempts to eliminate collective ba ... (Guardian)

Trump warns U.S. carmakers not to take advantage of tariffs by hiking prices on consumers

35 min ago - Come April 3, all new vehicles built abroad will be slapped with a 25% import duty, a cost that will likely be passed on to U.S. consumers. Since this affects roughly half the cars sold in the country, companies like General Motors could use the tari ... (Fortune)

Trump says first call with Mark Carney was 'productive,' leaders 'agree on many things'

56 min ago - "I just finished speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social in which he said the two leaders "agree on many things." "It was an extremely productive call, we agree on many things and will be meeting immediately a ... (CBC Canadian Broadcasting Corp)

Trump Pardons Nikola Founder Trevor Milton

1 hr ago - Milton said in a video posted to social media Thursday that he received a call from Trump, who spoke about “how much of an injustice this all was, done by the same offices that harassed and prosecuted him.” “The greatest comeback story ... (WSJ via MSN)

Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn Boasberg's ruling blocking him from using the Alien Enemies Act for deportations

1 hr ago - Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn Boasberg's ruling blocking him from using the Alien Enemies Act for deportations By John Fritze, CNN 4 minute read Updated 10:59 AM EDT, Fri March 28, 2025 (CNN) -- President Donald Trump's administration on Frid ... (CNN)

Federal judge to consider releasing immigration activist who took refuge in churches

1 hr ago - March 28, 2025, 1:17 AM DENVER -- A federal judge in Denver is set to hear arguments Friday over whether an immigration and labor activist who took refuge in Colorado churches to avoid deportation during the first Trump administration should be freed ... (ABC News/AP)

EU looks to hit Big Tech in crackdown on US services exports

1 hr ago - The EU is considering hitting US services exports, including Big Tech’s operations, to retaliate against Donald Trump imposing 25 per cent tariffs on the car industry and promising a further round of measures next week. Brussels has already unve ... (Financial Times)

Utah Becomes First State to Ban Fluoride in Public Water

2 hrs ago - Medical experts warn the move could have consequences for oral health, especially among children. Utah has become the first U.S. state to outlaw the addition of fluoride to public drinking water. The law, which was signed by Gov. Spencer Cox on March ... (NYT)

DOGE Plans to Rebuild SSA Codebase In Months, Risking Benefits and System Collapse

2 hrs ago - Social Security systems contain tens of millions of lines of code written in COBOL, an archaic programming language. Safely rewriting that code would take years—DOGE wants it done in months. The so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOG ... (Wired)

Trump administration investigating California law against 'forced outing'

2 hrs ago - 03/27/2025 12:00 PM EDT Updated: 03/27/2025 10:19 PM EDT Federal officials are probing the California Department of Education claiming school districts are withholding information from parents about their child’s gender identity. The move trigge ... (Politico)

GOP lawmakers warn against federal records destruction in Signal chats

2 hrs ago - 03/28/25 6:00 AM ET Republican senators are warning that any conversation taking place between senior Trump administration officials over the commercial app, Signal, needs to be preserved to determine whether classified information was compromised an ... (The Hill)

Israel Strikes Beirut For The First Time Since Ceasefire Ended The Latest Israel-Hezbollah War

3 hrs ago - BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Israel has launched an attack on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for the first time since a ceasefire ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November. Associated Press reporters in Beirut heard a loud boom and witnessed sm ... (AP via HuffPost)

Farmers Hurt by Funding Freeze Sue Trump Administration for Climate Grants

3 hrs ago - Published Mar 28, 2025 at 8:17 AM EDT The Pennsylvania-based group Pasa Sustainable Agriculture has been working to help small-scale farmers for nearly 35 years. With a history of community organizing, the group is quite literally a grass-roots insti ... (Newsweek)

Core inflation in February hits 2.8%, higher than expected; spending increases 0.4%

4 hrs ago - Published Fri, Mar 28 2025 8:33 AM EDT Updated 6 Min Ago The Federal Reserve's key inflation measure rose more than expected in February while consumer spending also posted a smaller than projected increase, the Commerce Department reported Friday. T ... (CNBC)

'Crushed' Elise Stefanik 'Scrambled' To Convince Trump To Change His Mind About Pulling Her Nomination

4 hrs ago - Mar 27th, 2025, 11:02 pm Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) reportedly “scrambled” to get President Donald Trump to reverse course on withdrawing her nomination as Ambassador to the United Nations. On Thursday, CBS News reported that Stefanik was ... (MEDIAite)

Trump assembles task force to crack down on D.C. crime

5 hrs ago - Updated 1 hour ago President Trump is setting up a task force of federal officials directed to crack down on crime and "maximize immigration enforcement" in D.C. Why it matters: After months of will-he or won't-he, Trump followed through on campaign ... (Axios)

GOP 'anxiety' persists ahead of Florida special elections in Trump territory

5 hrs ago - March 28, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT Republicans are looking to add two more seats to their House majority after special elections in Florida next week, giving GOP leaders a little more breathing room in a tightly divided legislative chamber. But they might b ... (NBC News)