What Happened Today - 28 Aug 2025
What Happened Today – 28 August 2025
MAHA my ass
FEMA Drama
Monday’s Cabinet Meeting
Ashli Babbit full military honors funeral explanation
Espionage
MAGA and Gun Violence…THEY seem to be the problem
Here’s the deal on the 600k Chinese College Students
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MAHA my ass
Trump’s CDC just blew up in spectacular fashion. Susan Monarez, who only lasted as director for a month, got the axe late last night after flat-out refusing to back down on vaccine policy—specifically, she wouldn’t reverse CDC approvals or water down recommendations just because RFK Jr. (yes, the anti-vax Health Secretary) demanded it. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didn’t even hide what he was doing; he tried to force Monarez out when she wouldn’t quietly roll over and sign off on his anti-vaccine wish list. Monarez was told to endorse so-called “reckless directives” from the White House and Kennedy—but she lawyered up, refusing to resign and pointing fingers at Kennedy for trying to “weaponize public health” for politics. She made it clear that she believed millions of lives were at risk if policy turned away from actual science.
The administration fired her anyway, after she brought in Senator Bill Cassidy to try to shield vaccine practices (Cassidy’s committee backed Monarez and tried to hold Kennedy to earlier confirmations about keeping strong vaccine protections in place). That apparently made Kennedy and Team Trump even angrier—Monarez consulting with outside experts was against their playbook. After the firing, four other top CDC officials (including the chief medical officer and the head of immunizations) quit in protest, blasting the White House and RFK Jr. for forcing out dedicated public health leadership and “putting American lives at risk.”
And just to make it even messier, this all happened while COVID guidance was yanked: vaccine recommendations are now only aimed at high-risk folks (over 65 or people with underlying conditions), instead of the previous “everyone gets the COVID shot” approach. This is a straight-up reversal from the prior administration’s policies and what Monarez herself had supported.
Meanwhile, her lawyers say this firing might not even be technically legal: as a Senate-confirmed official, only Trump can actually terminate her. Kennedy tried to do it himself first, and Monarez’s camp is digging in on that. Her team is calling this a blatant politicization, and the news is lighting up every front page and press room.
RFK Jr. and the anti-vax hardliners are calling the shots there now, and everyone who pushed back is gone. The science people just got run out of town, and whoever replaces Monarez will probably just say yes to whatever the administration wants, regardless of medical standards or actual evidence. The fallout’s only getting started.
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FEMA Drama
FEMA is melting down publicly this week. The drama started when a bunch of current and former FEMA employees—over 180 of them—signed a blistering open letter to Congress, warning that Trump’s policies and appointees could bring on another Hurricane Katrina-sized disaster. They called out cuts to disaster funding, inexperienced political appointees running the show, and a return to the old “states fend for themselves” model instead of the strong federal aid Congress put in place after Katrina. The group says the administration’s budget cuts (slashing about $1 billion) and leadership choices are basically setting the agency up to fail when the next big storm or wildfire strikes.
Trump’s FEMA team responded by suspending/firing a group of employees who signed the letter. Civil service protection? Doesn’t look like it matters much when you’re openly criticizing Trump World. According to advocacy groups, about 30 people were put on leave immediately after they went public with their warning. This isn’t the first time—EPA staff got purged earlier this summer for pushing back, too.
The drama is extra raw because the letter dropped right as the country marks the 20th anniversary of Katrina—the disaster FEMA famously botched. These employees say the current reforms are erasing all the progress made since that catastrophe and tossing out anyone who tries to protect those systems. Senior DHS officials are dismissing it as “fixing bureaucracy” and claim the agency is becoming “more efficient,” but ex-officials (including one former Trump FEMA chief) are warning that aid is straight-up being delayed and people are being lied to about what’s actually available.
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris and others have been slamming Trump over his outlandish claims about FEMA. Harris called him “incredibly irresponsible” and “callous” after Trump started spinning conspiracy theories, claiming disaster money was being spent on migrants and Republican-controlled areas were being ignored. News outlets broke down those allegations as flat-out false—no, FEMA funds haven’t secretly gone to migrant housing, no, red states aren’t getting stiffed. Harris says the misinformation is making an already tough situation harder for survivors.
There’s total chaos behind the scenes, so if the next storm or fire hits, FEMA is not nearly as ready as it should be. Managers keep quitting or getting pushed out, and long-timers are going public to warn that disaster response will be way worse. Trump’s crew is doubling down, gutting reforms and putting loyalists in charge. All signs point to a trainwreck if this week’s drama isn’t fixed fast.
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Monday’s Cabinet Meeting
Trump’s cabinet meeting on Monday was a whole parade of sucking up and wild claims. Here’s the highlight reel of flattery, followed by every single lie or mistruth and what makes it false.
All the cringe, bootlicking praise
- Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer rolled out a literal banner at the Department of Labor with Trump’s “big, beautiful face” and gushed, “You truly are the transformative leader for American workers.”
- Chavez-DeRemer claimed Trump’s “control over the nation’s capital” makes businesses safer, skipping over local leaders who say his policies just cause chaos.
- Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, called serving under Trump “the highest honor of my life” and begged for Trump to get the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming “more than seven conflicts” resolved in eight months. No other cabinet member even tried to challenge his math.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced, “You are restoring faith in government… economic stability equates to national security, and our nation has never been more secure because of your leadership.”
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins thanked Trump for “saving college football” and “revitalizing Christianity in America,” and also said the Republicans are “reclaiming Labor Day from the Democrats.”
- Trump himself played hype man for Marco Rubio (Secretary of State): “You’re born for this job—so good, everybody likes you, everybody respects you, Marco. You shouldn’t run for another office!” Several cabinet members nodded in agreement.
Every single lie or mistruth and why it’s false
- Trump claimed “We have no inflation.” False. The US inflation rate is currently around 2.4%—low compared to last year but still rising, especially after Trump’s latest tariffs. Real people are seeing higher prices for groceries and rent, so “no inflation” is just plain wrong.
- Trump said his “new domestic policy bill” fulfills his campaign promise of “no tax on Social Security.” Also false. The bill creates a temporary deduction for seniors, but millions of Social Security recipients still have to pay taxes, and the deduction expires in 2028. That doesn’t erase the taxes.
- He claimed he’s settled “seven conflicts” in eight months. That’s fantasy. No major global peace settlements have been brokered by Trump (or anyone in his orbit) in the timeframe claimed, and there is no Nobel talk from the actual committee.
- Baltimore “is a hellhole…a horrible deathbed.” That’s Trump’s go-to smear, but the real numbers don’t match his claims—crime is high, but nowhere near the dystopian apocalypse he describes. Fact-checkers rate these claims as exaggerated fearmongering.
- Trump repeated whoppers about support for Ukraine, saying the US gave $350 billion in aid and Europe gave only $100 billion. That’s off by hundreds of billions—Europe has pledged at least $259 billion so far, much more than the US’s $125 billion. The numbers just don’t add up.
- He claimed “you see people that are 200 years old” getting Social Security checks. Maybe a funny meme, but the real Social Security Administration database says only a handful of centenarians receive payments, and almost all are legit. It’s a tiny, rare bureaucratic mistake, not the fraud he implies.
- Trump spun a conspiracy about federal agencies not responding to Elon Musk’s email as evidence of “ghost workers.” Actually, agency leaders told staff not to reply to outside emails, and many staff were simply on vacation or sick leave—no secret army of non-existent employees.
- Chavez-DeRemer credited Trump with protecting college football and Christianity. No White House action or policy has “saved” college football or dramatically changed Christianity’s national status. Pure stumping for applause.
Every bit of praise was so over-the-top, MSNBC commentators compared it to North Korean propaganda. No policy wins, just glory hogging and imaginative storytelling.
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Ashli Babbit full military honors funeral explanation
Ashli Elizabeth Babbitt died after she was shot by a U.S. Capitol Police officer during the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. She was trying to climb through a shattered window at a barricaded door just outside the Speaker’s Lobby, where members of Congress were being evacuated because of the mob. Despite repeated warnings, she tried to breach the doorway, and the officer fired one round, striking her in the left shoulder. She was rushed to the hospital but died of her wound later that day.
Trump decided to go ahead and approve full military funeral honors for Ashli, the former Senior Airman (SrA) who was booted from the Guard after 12 years with a General discharge. She had a spotty track record—multiple Article 15s, some civil charges, and wasn’t exactly the model airman by the end of her service. She received her first A15 in 2016 for unexcused absences, another in 2020 for misuse of government travel card, and her final one in 2023 for disorderly conduct while off duty. After these disciplinary actions and a couple of minor civil charges (reckless driving in 2022 and misdemeanor trespass in 2024), she was administratively discharged under “General, Under Honorable Conditions” right before making her 13-year mark.
Here are the details:
- Air National Guard, served from 2013 to 2025
- Deployed twice to Gulf region (2016, 2019)
- Article 15s: 2016 (unexcused absence), 2020 (misuse of government travel card), 2023 (disorderly conduct)
- Civil charges: reckless driving (2022), misdemeanor trespass (2024)
- Discharged under General, Under Honorable Conditions
- No combat valor awards, no purple hearts, but a couple commendations from overseas deployments
Usually, a General discharge means you DO NOT get full military honors at your funeral. Full honors—like the flag, rifle salute, and a uniformed honor guard—are almost always reserved for those who separate under Honorable conditions. General discharge does not qualify for all veteran benefits and is a notch below Honorable, meaning funeral protocols are typically toned down: some honors may be given, but not the full ceremonial package. The decision to give her full honors breaks with longstanding military tradition and is being criticized by vets as an embarrassing precedent.
Trump overrode normal protocol to make a political point, sending Defense Secretary Hegseth to “lead” the ceremony. Critics say it’s a terrible message to all who serve with discipline, and the move is drawing backlash across the services and from military families.
As a Veteran – this is absolutely WRONG. Her conduct when she served looked like a nightmare for her leadership and her Jan 6th actions were NOT honorable in the LEAST.
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Espionage
Here's the rundown on the Denmark espionage uproar - Denmark has summoned the top U.S. diplomat after multiple reports revealed covert American influence operations in Greenland, all tangled up with Trump’s long obsession with the island. Danish intelligence says at least three Americans connected to Trump were compiling lists of “U.S.-friendly Greenlanders” and identifying Trump critics, while also reaching out directly to Greenlandic politicians and business leaders to push for American interests. The secret campaign was aimed at stirring support for Greenland’s separation from Denmark—lining up locals who’d help sell a U.S. takeover or push out pro-Danish voices.
Danish officials are livid, calling the moves “unacceptable interference,” especially after Trump’s repeated public threats about annexing Greenland and floating military action. The foreign minister called in America’s top diplomat for one of those “don’t mess with us” meetings, signaling just how serious they’re taking it. Danish media reports these ops were meant to sow division, plant stories to make Denmark look bad, and even foster a secession movement in Greenland, supposedly in the name of U.S. national security. Whether these Americans were freelancing or following official orders is unclear—the White House is brushing it off, calling the Danes “too sensitive” and dismissing the allegations as nerves over outsize U.S. interest in Arctic minerals and strategic territory.
The U.S. has repeatedly dodged the accusation, claiming any Americans involved are “private citizens.” But Denmark’s own sources and security officials say the connections to Trump’s administration are real, and that the ops seem to be part of a broader strategy to undermine Danish authority over Greenland. Danish intelligence is boosting its own presence in Greenland, bracing for more outside interference, and the relationship between Copenhagen and Washington is under major strain—all because Trump can’t keep his hands off the idea of Greenland as some American trophy.
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MAGA and Gun Violence…THEY seem to be the problem
There’s been a wave of high-profile shootings this August—Minneapolis and Atlanta top the charts, with MAGA influencers frantically blaming Democrats, antifa, or trans activists every time. The facts? These shooters have overwhelmingly been right-wing extremists, conspiracy nuts, or people parroting MAGA-style threats—no matter how loudly the right tries to spin it.
- Minneapolis (latest): MAGA circles screamed “trans-terrorism” after the Catholic school shooting, but the facts don’t back up their fantasy. Robin Westman, who killed two children and injured 17 more, is a trans woman. Her past is full of far-right militia ties, conspiracy rants, online MAGA memes, and direct threats against politicians—Trump included. Her digital and public record is loaded with anti-government screeds and hate aimed squarely at “woke” Americans, not lefty causes. Law enforcement says she legally acquired multiple firearms and acted alone, dying of a self-inflicted wound at the scene.
- Atlanta CDC shooting: MAGA tried to pin it on the left, but the shooter was a male, deep into QAnon-style conspiracy theories, anti-vaccine rants, and pure right-wing anti-government messaging.
Every time, MAGA figures lie and deflect for clicks and cover—only for real investigators to show the shooters are either right-wingers, MAGA meme-pushers, or disconnected from mainstream left activism. The “blame the left” spin blows up, embarrassing right-wing media, and coverage fades as soon as reality slaps them with the facts.
Add in the Trump rally gunman—the one who barely grazed Trump’s ear: When Thomas Matthew Crooks fired the shot, it was all anyone talked about. But once Trump started milking it by sticking a maxi pad to his ear at rallies, the news cycle moved on. Crooks was immediately detained, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his background shows serious MAGA and conspiracy influences. The investigation revealed disturbing online posts and previous threats about political violence—not a left-wing activist or trans person, just another broken product of radicalization. The media let the story die quickly because Trump’s over-the-top performance turned the whole thing into a meme—and once Crooks’s MAGA leanings came out, it wasn’t what the right wanted anyone to hear.
So when the shooters have ties to the far right, MAGA makes up fiction and drops it the minute the facts come out. The truth is way uglier—and always closer to home for their side—which is exactly why the headlines magically vanish as soon as Trump makes it all about himself.
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Here’s the deal on the 600k Chinese College Students
The news that Trump wants to let 600,000 Chinese students into American colleges has thrown his whole base into total disarray. Trump made the announcement in a surprise pivot, saying American schools would “go to hell” without the tuition dollars and that shutting out international students is “insulting.” His argument: universities below the Ivy League would collapse if those students disappeared, and even claimed to have told President Xi that he's honored to host them.
But the backlash is pure drama. MAGA influencers, conservative politicians, and far-right media exploded with outrage, calling Chinese students “communist spies” and accusing Trump of selling out young Americans competing for college slots. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene demanded to know why “our own kids should be replaced,” while Laura Loomer and Steve Bannon claimed national security was at risk. Rubio and Flynn Jr. piled on, too, saying Trump’s moves directly contradicted his previous crackdown on Chinese student visas—all while the Department of Homeland Security is rolling out new restrictions to limit how long foreign students can stay and tightening vetting for those from China.
The reality is, Trump won’t get anywhere near 600,000. Actual Chinese student numbers have plummeted thanks to his earlier hardline policies—visa revocations, endless delays, and wild accusations that every Chinese-born student is a “security risk.” Universities say they desperately need international students, but the system is so jammed up with extra screening that enrollment could drop by 30-40% this fall. And while Trump talks up improving relations and “honoring” students, his administration is making it harder than ever for them to get approved.
So MAGA keeps melting down, campus officials scramble, real families are stuck in limbo, and Trump keeps contradicting himself. The drama isn’t going away any time soon—especially with trade talks still dicey and the far-right demanding ever more restrictions.
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Sorry for going quiet yesterday—life got in the way, between work, a photo shoot, and dinner company. Still, there wasn’t a single scrap of good news to dig into (well, unless counting “Alligator Alcatraz” finally emptying out). Unfortunately, the relief is short-lived—word is, those folks are being shipped off to a Texas sweatbox with conditions just as wretched, maybe worse.
Staying up to date is seriously tough right now, but it’s more important than ever. If you’re reading this, you’re in the know, and that’s exactly what’s needed. SHARE IT WITH OTHERS. Keep your guard up. Stay informed. We need people who are willing to call out what’s wrong and defend what’s right—no matter how ugly or exhausting it gets. WE THE PEOPLE have the power, and it only works when it’s used. Don’t sit this out. Show up. Speak out. Call a spade a spade. WE THE PEOPLE have the power—so let’s keep using it.
Speak Truth! Keep speaking TRUTH!
Go Cause Good Trouble, with Your Elbows Up!
**These are facts that I researched and verified – AI helped put together some sentence structure, but the words and tone are mine. These are my views based upon facts, research and thoughtful consideration using logic. I own the copyright to any images used. I’m comfortable to stand alone to uphold truth. Feel free to check me, but do not attack me. I am only causing good trouble.**