I get what you are saying. I am sure there are certainly some worthwhile and still legit expenditures. However, when you look at some of the items the US taxpayer is funding - that is asinine! That goes for USAID and any other government agency. Again, for me this is not political. There are clearly some examples of abuse at the expense of the American taxpayer. To the point in some cases criminal. If we are going to have some sort of control and knowledge of what is being wasted, embezzled and/or whitewashed then it has to be exposed. I just wish previous administrations - Dem and Rep - had had the balls to already do something about it. It is clear that a lot of bureaucrats and politicians have become "too comfortable and business as usual."

“Did USAID Fund Coronavirus Research In Wuhan China?”pic.twitter.com/xwLiRmjeBK

— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) February 4, 2025

🚨 BREAKING: @TulsiGabbard's nomination was just APPROVED in the Senate Intelligence Committee. Final vote: 9-8. Next: Senate floor vote for confirmation.

— Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) February 4, 2025

CoachCase said:

---

I get what you are saying. I am sure there are certainly some worthwhile and still legit expenditures. However, when you look at some of the items the US taxpayer is funding - that is asinine! That goes for USAID and any other government agency. Again, for me this is not political. There are clearly some examples of abuse at the expense of the American taxpayer. To the point in some cases criminal. If we are going to have some sort of control and knowledge of what is being wasted, embezzled and/or whitewashed then it has to be exposed. I just wish previous administrations - Dem and Rep - had had the balls to already do something about it. It is clear that a lot of bureaucrats and politicians have become "too comfortable and business as usual."

---

Agree. There's clear opportunity to eliminate some waste which was why DOGE was created allegedly.

Hope DOGE finds lawful and effective ways to eliminate waste without carving out activities that have good ROI or are very useful or helpful.

Civilized said:

---

CoachCase said:

---

It is mindboggling to see what the American taxpayer is paying for around the world! Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are mad because these useless programs to Americans are being eliminated - you need to
question your ability to rationalize the role of government and the drain this puts on you the American taxpayer. It is clear that USAID - started I'm sure with good intentions - has become a "open checkbook" for bureaucrats and politicians. This has to stop. Anyone unable to see that is not being realistic.

---

Go look at USAID's budget. USAID's work makes sense simply as an adjunct to military spending given its strategic benefits, not to speak of the actual, significant humanitarian goals it accomplishes.

The USAID budget is tiny relative to the humanitarian and strategic benefits it provides, and also tiny relative to the massive problem we've got if countries we historically help (and assume some control over) becoming Russian or Chinese pawns, and also tiny relative to other federal departments.

USAID's budget is $30B and wouldn't appear on a top-15 list of federal department budgets; the US Military approaches $900B, a near 30x-multiplier. Medicare is $1T. Social security is $1.3T. DHHS is about the same, well over $1T.

Especially if you can find ways to make it more efficient there's a ton of ROI there. There is zero reason to kill that fly with an axe, especially considering its strategic benefits and the lack of financial meat on the bone.

---

The USAID has always been psyops department. Its a funneling of money for different things the CIA wants done.

Civilized said:

---

CoachCase said:

---

I get what you are saying. I am sure there are certainly some worthwhile and still legit expenditures. However, when you look at some of the items the US taxpayer is funding - that is asinine! That goes for USAID and any other government agency. Again, for me this is not political. There are clearly some examples of abuse at the expense of the American taxpayer. To the point in some cases criminal. If we are going to have some sort of control and knowledge of what is being wasted, embezzled and/or whitewashed then it has to be exposed. I just wish previous administrations - Dem and Rep - had had the balls to already do something about it. It is clear that a lot of bureaucrats and politicians have become "too comfortable and business as usual."

---

Agree. There's clear opportunity to eliminate some waste which was why DOGE was created allegedly.

Hope DOGE finds lawful and effective ways to eliminate waste without carving out activities that have good ROI or are very useful or helpful.

---

Civ, that's all BS! You haven't seen a dollar that's been wasteful... I think you talk this stuff without any real feelings towards shrinking government.

Dude, we overspend by 1.7T per year. Also, the Federal Government takes in entirely too much money for a Free Country. It's time to put them on a huge diet.

Being that Dems have absolutely no problem with unconstitutional action, I'm ok with this President taking things on by himself. Trump needs to be a dictator (at least that's what the dems claimed) and shut the damn thing down!!!

Too many skeletons in our congress and Bureaucracies!! Shut it DOWN!!! Shut it all DOWN!!! Shut it all DOWN!!!

“Firebrand Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday demanded that NPR and PBS appear before her House DOGE subcommittee to field questions about their ‘systemically biased content.’”

Read the story: https://t.co/lUJsevzQsK pic.twitter.com/hUGCRp5ile

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 4, 2025

Shut it DOWN!!! Shut it DOWN!!! Shut it all DOWN!!!

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

CoachCase said:

---

It is mindboggling to see what the American taxpayer is paying for around the world! Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are mad because these useless programs to Americans are being eliminated - you need to
question your ability to rationalize the role of government and the drain this puts on you the American taxpayer. It is clear that USAID - started I'm sure with good intentions - has become a "open checkbook" for bureaucrats and politicians. This has to stop. Anyone unable to see that is not being realistic.

---

Go look at USAID's budget. USAID's work makes sense simply as an adjunct to military spending given its strategic benefits, not to speak of the actual, significant humanitarian goals it accomplishes.

The USAID budget is tiny relative to the humanitarian and strategic benefits it provides, and also tiny relative to the massive problem we've got if countries we historically help (and assume some control over) becoming Russian or Chinese pawns, and also tiny relative to other federal departments.

USAID's budget is $30B and wouldn't appear on a top-15 list of federal department budgets; the US Military approaches $900B, a near 30x-multiplier. Medicare is $1T. Social security is $1.3T. DHHS is about the same, well over $1T.

Especially if you can find ways to make it more efficient there's a ton of ROI there. There is zero reason to kill that fly with an axe, especially considering its strategic benefits and the lack of financial meat on the bone.

---

The USAID has always been psyops department. Its a funneling of money for different things the CIA wants done.

---

And it has a significant humanitarian function too.

Both are useful and necessary.

Civilized said:

---

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

CoachCase said:

---

It is mindboggling to see what the American taxpayer is paying for around the world! Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are mad because these useless programs to Americans are being eliminated - you need to
question your ability to rationalize the role of government and the drain this puts on you the American taxpayer. It is clear that USAID - started I'm sure with good intentions - has become a "open checkbook" for bureaucrats and politicians. This has to stop. Anyone unable to see that is not being realistic.

---

Go look at USAID's budget. USAID's work makes sense simply as an adjunct to military spending given its strategic benefits, not to speak of the actual, significant humanitarian goals it accomplishes.

The USAID budget is tiny relative to the humanitarian and strategic benefits it provides, and also tiny relative to the massive problem we've got if countries we historically help (and assume some control over) becoming Russian or Chinese pawns, and also tiny relative to other federal departments.

USAID's budget is $30B and wouldn't appear on a top-15 list of federal department budgets; the US Military approaches $900B, a near 30x-multiplier. Medicare is $1T. Social security is $1.3T. DHHS is about the same, well over $1T.

Especially if you can find ways to make it more efficient there's a ton of ROI there. There is zero reason to kill that fly with an axe, especially considering its strategic benefits and the lack of financial meat on the bone.

---

The USAID has always been psyops department. Its a funneling of money for different things the CIA wants done.

---

And it has a significant humanitarian function too.

Both are useful and necessary.

---

Find one that really does. Ill bet the CIA had some type of ulterior motive with the money.

CoachCase said:

---

It is mindboggling to see what the American taxpayer is paying for around the world! Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are mad because these useless programs to Americans are being eliminated - you need to
question your ability to rationalize the role of government and the drain this puts on you the American taxpayer. It is clear that USAID - started I'm sure with good intentions - has become a "open checkbook" for bureaucrats and politicians. This has to stop. Anyone unable to see that is not being realistic.

---

Amusing at a glance, but sad when you realize there needs to be a discussion. It's why we've nearly lost our nation.

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

CoachCase said:

---

It is mindboggling to see what the American taxpayer is paying for around the world! Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are mad because these useless programs to Americans are being eliminated - you need to
question your ability to rationalize the role of government and the drain this puts on you the American taxpayer. It is clear that USAID - started I'm sure with good intentions - has become a "open checkbook" for bureaucrats and politicians. This has to stop. Anyone unable to see that is not being realistic.

---

Go look at USAID's budget. USAID's work makes sense simply as an adjunct to military spending given its strategic benefits, not to speak of the actual, significant humanitarian goals it accomplishes.

The USAID budget is tiny relative to the humanitarian and strategic benefits it provides, and also tiny relative to the massive problem we've got if countries we historically help (and assume some control over) becoming Russian or Chinese pawns, and also tiny relative to other federal departments.

USAID's budget is $30B and wouldn't appear on a top-15 list of federal department budgets; the US Military approaches $900B, a near 30x-multiplier. Medicare is $1T. Social security is $1.3T. DHHS is about the same, well over $1T.

Especially if you can find ways to make it more efficient there's a ton of ROI there. There is zero reason to kill that fly with an axe, especially considering its strategic benefits and the lack of financial meat on the bone.

---

The USAID has always been psyops department. Its a funneling of money for different things the CIA wants done.

---

And it has a significant humanitarian function too.

Both are useful and necessary.

---

Find one that really does. Ill bet the CIA had some type of ulterior motive with the money.

---

"Ulterior motive" as in something outside their normal mission?

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

CoachCase said:

---

It is mindboggling to see what the American taxpayer is paying for around the world! Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are mad because these useless programs to Americans are being eliminated - you need to
question your ability to rationalize the role of government and the drain this puts on you the American taxpayer. It is clear that USAID - started I'm sure with good intentions - has become a "open checkbook" for bureaucrats and politicians. This has to stop. Anyone unable to see that is not being realistic.

---

Go look at USAID's budget. USAID's work makes sense simply as an adjunct to military spending given its strategic benefits, not to speak of the actual, significant humanitarian goals it accomplishes.

The USAID budget is tiny relative to the humanitarian and strategic benefits it provides, and also tiny relative to the massive problem we've got if countries we historically help (and assume some control over) becoming Russian or Chinese pawns, and also tiny relative to other federal departments.

USAID's budget is $30B and wouldn't appear on a top-15 list of federal department budgets; the US Military approaches $900B, a near 30x-multiplier. Medicare is $1T. Social security is $1.3T. DHHS is about the same, well over $1T.

Especially if you can find ways to make it more efficient there's a ton of ROI there. There is zero reason to kill that fly with an axe, especially considering its strategic benefits and the lack of financial meat on the bone.

---

The USAID has always been psyops department. Its a funneling of money for different things the CIA wants done.

---

And it has a significant humanitarian function too.

Both are useful and necessary.

---

Find one that really does. Ill bet the CIA had some type of ulterior motive with the money.

---

Most of the anti-USAID propaganda is nonsense, but regardless, it sounds like you want to shut the CIA down, too? Jesus, what an anti-American nutcase Trump has turned you into.

Civilized said:

---

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

caryking said:

---

Civilized said:

---

CoachCase said:

---

It is mindboggling to see what the American taxpayer is paying for around the world! Regardless of your political affiliation, if you are mad because these useless programs to Americans are being eliminated - you need to
question your ability to rationalize the role of government and the drain this puts on you the American taxpayer. It is clear that USAID - started I'm sure with good intentions - has become a "open checkbook" for bureaucrats and politicians. This has to stop. Anyone unable to see that is not being realistic.

---

Go look at USAID's budget. USAID's work makes sense simply as an adjunct to military spending given its strategic benefits, not to speak of the actual, significant humanitarian goals it accomplishes.

The USAID budget is tiny relative to the humanitarian and strategic benefits it provides, and also tiny relative to the massive problem we've got if countries we historically help (and assume some control over) becoming Russian or Chinese pawns, and also tiny relative to other federal departments.

USAID's budget is $30B and wouldn't appear on a top-15 list of federal department budgets; the US Military approaches $900B, a near 30x-multiplier. Medicare is $1T. Social security is $1.3T. DHHS is about the same, well over $1T.

Especially if you can find ways to make it more efficient there's a ton of ROI there. There is zero reason to kill that fly with an axe, especially considering its strategic benefits and the lack of financial meat on the bone.

---

The USAID has always been psyops department. Its a funneling of money for different things the CIA wants done.

---

And it has a significant humanitarian function too.

Both are useful and necessary.

---

Find one that really does. Ill bet the CIA had some type of ulterior motive with the money.

---

"Ulterior motive" as in something outside their normal mission?

---

Yep

I posted on a thread here several years ago, Council on Foreign Relations essentially controls our federal govt. and the CIA is its operational arm. This information courtesy of a few Kevin Shipp (former CIA officer) PowerPoint presentations I viewed via podcast a dozen years ago. #ShadowGovt

Former CIA Officer Exposes The Shadow Government | Candace Ep 100

Ridiculous to see that there needs to be a discussion re the dismantling of this operation. Sad times and why we're in the mess we're in. It's been long coming and we deserve it.........asleep at the wheel.

USAID is a criminal organization.

Time for it to die. https://t.co/sWYy6fyt1k

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 2, 2025

Root out the corruption....let's get it done.

BREAKING: Elon Musk's DOGE has been granted full access to systems at the Small Business Administration, including HR and payments, per PBS.

— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) February 3, 2025

packgrad said:

---

Ooo boy, the Dems are in trouble. Cant wait for the trials.

"Nobody elected your ass! This is not Elon Musk's country!" - Rep Maxine Waters goes on an unhinged rant attacking Elon Musk at the anti-Elon rally.

All this drama because Americans simply asked what our tax dollars are funding. pic.twitter.com/tNRwfAKNPi

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 4, 2025

---

This is so much fun to watch lol.

Pathetic to see the usual #useful idiots continue to display their stupidity. How the h3$L can you guys even justify your citizenship........ #Sieve, you're a nice kid but my God you're hopeless.

Some of the newbies showing up here ........"waking up but drunk and sunburnt from out in the right field bleachers"......need to pay attention to your govt and to the security of your constitutional freedoms.

The real scandal is that while
@elonmusk exposed that $53 million of our taxpayer dollars was sent to a Wuhan, China lab through USAID for COVID-19... a staggering $500 million of US taxpayer funds were funneled through DARPA, NIH, and NIAID to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, led by Ralph Baric, to create the COVID-19 biological weapon.

Speaking of the Biden Admin WASTING our money it's even WORSE then that, how about $40,000,000 CASH every WEEK to the TALIBAN!

Speaking of the Biden Admin WASTING our money it's even WORSE then that, how about $40,000,000 CASH every WEEK to the TALIBAN!

There is a bill (H.R. 65876) that Rep. Tim Burchett introduced on 12/05/2023 and it has NOT MOVED from the house since!
H.R. 65876:… pic.twitter.com/oRXrVoTqXq

— livefreeopinion (@livefreeopinion) February 4, 2025

The 3 blind mice in chorus, sing "don't establish any tariffs, please send your income tax dollars to the Federal Reserve - via the IRS!"

BREAKING: Senator Joni Ernst has an ‘Audit The IRS Act’ after Elon Musk called to Audit The IRS

A look at The IRS

- From 2021-2023 almost 6,000 IRS workers owe a total of $50 million in back taxes (but they’re coming after you)
- The IRS has the ability to fire them for this… pic.twitter.com/z0Ip2EkiHv

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) February 4, 2025

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

TVPack said:

---

The tariffs are looking like one of these typical Trump things where he announces some massive policy change, extracts some mostly symbolic concessions, then declares victory.

I will give the devil his due: he's very good at creating these distractions from the real work behind the scenes, viz., the illegal firings of career civil servants, Musk and his 20 year old henchmen infiltrating / disrupting government agencies without any legal basis, etc.

---

Exactly.

So lets recap:

- Trump announces tariffs.
- Allies turn against the U.S., launch boycotts on U.S. products and boo us at events.
- Markets nosedive.
- Trump caves.

The "deals":
- Mexico agrees to do the same things they always do at the border to help the U.S. (including under…

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) February 3, 2025

---

I'll ask again do think 8 million illegals will flood the border and do you think the cartels will get as much drugs across the the border this time?

---

8 million? If we're making up numbers why don't we just say a kagillion?

Nobody that's not a quack thinks that there were 8 million crossers under Biden.

"Not get as much drugs across the border" isn't the right question to ask.

The question to ask is "will there be consequentially less fentanyl in the US as a result of Trump's fake tough guy act that definitely embarrasses the United States amongst our allies and may well have significant negative economic impacts for our country?"

That answer is almost assuredly 'no'.

Given that almkst 90% of the fentanyl that comes in is smuggled in by US citizens, even a significant reduction in fentanyl smuggled in by illegals will likely only reduce the fentanyl supply in the US by very low single digit amounts - 2% or 3% of the overall supply, tops.

There are much more effective ways to combat fentanyl OD's than this, they just don't get you all frothy.

---

Okay I'll ask do you think just as many illegals will flood Trumps border as they did Biden's border? Yes or no?

Do you think more or less fentanyl will enter the U.S. under Trump as did with Biden?

I think we all know the answer but you will talk in circles to not say it.

What are your recommendations on combating fentanyl OD's? Would reducing the amount crossing the border not be a good start?

---

---

Translation:
No
No
I got nothing but hot air.

Thanks

---

No, there will be no discernible improvement to the net level of drug supply in this country (fentanyl or otherwise) due to Trump's tariffs/border policy. Too little of the supply is brought in by illegals for border policies governing illegal immigration to move the needle as an effective means to combat addiction and OD deaths. Almost all the illegal drugs that enter this country are brought in by American citizens and nationals.

No, focusing on border policy is not a good start to combat fentanyl OD's. Cutting off drug supply has never been successful in this country as a means to reduce OD's. Again, only a tiny fraction - small single-digit percentages - of fentanyl enters this country via an illegal southern border crossing.

Reducing the fentanyl supply by 1.5% - if that even happens - and expecting that to consequentially reduce deaths won't work because the fentanyl market isn't supply-constrained. Even absent the tiny amount of fentanyl that crosses the southern border, there is still more than enough fentanyl in this country to literally kill every American. You have to reduce demand and/or increase treatment options.

For fentanyl and other opiods, which account for more than 70% of OD deaths in this country, a much more direct way to reduce OD's is to get Narcan in literally as many hands as possible around the country - addicts, their family members and friends, first responders, community members, basically anyone that could come into contact with an OD'ing user. That would have more impact than any drug war measure you could possible dream up.

Regarding immigration policy, migrant encounters at the border were already down over 80% from their peak by the time Biden left office, to around 58k/month.

Do I expect crossings to continue to decline under Trump? Definitely yes given his and his base's extreme focus on the issue. I'm confident he'll drive those numbers down further.

---

I disagree. We'll see about that.

Are you going to answer my question about the number of illegals? Do you think the same amount of illegals will now cross our border?

Don’t mess with @DOGE pic.twitter.com/wgdJBxNzyG

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2025

A Q phrase is "DARK to LIGHT". Take a look at Melania's dress with the cubes.

He knew it . That's why they went after him. Panic in DC. https://t.co/eO7glk0Qr3

— Fang Gang 🇺🇸 (@PraireLady) February 4, 2025

Yep, to a single NGO every 2 months. Perfectly justifiable, right #Sieve?

Wowza‼️

“I spoke to a gentleman that works in DHS. He actually sends the electronic fund transfers”

LET ME REPEAT: $600,000,000 of US TAXPAYER money sent to an NGO, EVERY 2-3 MONTHS for illegal aliens

- House Homeland Security Committee Hearing

pic.twitter.com/aOd44QJIg6

— 🇺🇸The REAL Lady De’Plorable🇺🇸 (@LadyRedWave) February 4, 2025

A USAID connection to child trafficking.

USAID partnered with Bill and Hillary Clinton’s sex trafficking organization The Clinton Foundation last year.

In 2010, then Secretary of State Hillary helped oversee $4.4 billion that Congress had earmarked for “recovery” efforts in Haiti by the USAID in 2010.

In 2014… https://t.co/tolKsFnTqX pic.twitter.com/dj8zhijN2k

— LIZ CROKIN (@LizCrokin) February 2, 2025

packgrad said:

---

Looks like the Department of Education is the next "dead man walking".

---

Oughta be, the quality of American public education wasn't an issue in 1979 when the DOE came into being.

#SIeve, is this untrue?

Do you believe in BIG GOVT and 40 years in BIG GOVT. If you do, you believe in this to the tune of $81 million. Wonder what Nancy Pelosi is worth? Or Biden? Or Mitch McConnell?

Chuck Schumer is the poster child for term limits. He has NEVER held a job in the private sector, and his net worth is $81 MILLION. pic.twitter.com/5y4OvtkrxZ

— 🇺🇸 Inga 🇺🇸 (@Inga_C8) March 21, 2024

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

TVPack said:

---

The tariffs are looking like one of these typical Trump things where he announces some massive policy change, extracts some mostly symbolic concessions, then declares victory.

I will give the devil his due: he's very good at creating these distractions from the real work behind the scenes, viz., the illegal firings of career civil servants, Musk and his 20 year old henchmen infiltrating / disrupting government agencies without any legal basis, etc.

---

Exactly.

So lets recap:

- Trump announces tariffs.
- Allies turn against the U.S., launch boycotts on U.S. products and boo us at events.
- Markets nosedive.
- Trump caves.

The "deals":
- Mexico agrees to do the same things they always do at the border to help the U.S. (including under…

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) February 3, 2025

---

I'll ask again do think 8 million illegals will flood the border and do you think the cartels will get as much drugs across the the border this time?

---

8 million? If we're making up numbers why don't we just say a kagillion?

Nobody that's not a quack thinks that there were 8 million crossers under Biden.

"Not get as much drugs across the border" isn't the right question to ask.

The question to ask is "will there be consequentially less fentanyl in the US as a result of Trump's fake tough guy act that definitely embarrasses the United States amongst our allies and may well have significant negative economic impacts for our country?"

That answer is almost assuredly 'no'.

Given that almkst 90% of the fentanyl that comes in is smuggled in by US citizens, even a significant reduction in fentanyl smuggled in by illegals will likely only reduce the fentanyl supply in the US by very low single digit amounts - 2% or 3% of the overall supply, tops.

There are much more effective ways to combat fentanyl OD's than this, they just don't get you all frothy.

---

Okay I'll ask do you think just as many illegals will flood Trumps border as they did Biden's border? Yes or no?

Do you think more or less fentanyl will enter the U.S. under Trump as did with Biden?

I think we all know the answer but you will talk in circles to not say it.

What are your recommendations on combating fentanyl OD's? Would reducing the amount crossing the border not be a good start?

---

---

Translation:
No
No
I got nothing but hot air.

Thanks

---

No, there will be no discernible improvement to the net level of drug supply in this country (fentanyl or otherwise) due to Trump's tariffs/border policy. Too little of the supply is brought in by illegals for border policies governing illegal immigration to move the needle as an effective means to combat addiction and OD deaths. Almost all the illegal drugs that enter this country are brought in by American citizens and nationals.

No, focusing on border policy is not a good start to combat fentanyl OD's. Cutting off drug supply has never been successful in this country as a means to reduce OD's. Again, only a tiny fraction - small single-digit percentages - of fentanyl enters this country via an illegal southern border crossing.

Reducing the fentanyl supply by 1.5% - if that even happens - and expecting that to consequentially reduce deaths won't work because the fentanyl market isn't supply-constrained. Even absent the tiny amount of fentanyl that crosses the southern border, there is still more than enough fentanyl in this country to literally kill every American. You have to reduce demand and/or increase treatment options.

For fentanyl and other opiods, which account for more than 70% of OD deaths in this country, a much more direct way to reduce OD's is to get Narcan in literally as many hands as possible around the country - addicts, their family members and friends, first responders, community members, basically anyone that could come into contact with an OD'ing user. That would have more impact than any drug war measure you could possible dream up.

Regarding immigration policy, migrant encounters at the border were already down over 80% from their peak by the time Biden left office, to around 58k/month.

Do I expect crossings to continue to decline under Trump? Definitely yes given his and his base's extreme focus on the issue. I'm confident he'll drive those numbers down further.

---

I disagree. We'll see about that.

Are you going to answer my question about the number of illegals? Do you think the same amount of illegals will now cross our border?

---

I answered your question in the last paragraph of my response.

I definitely expect southern border crossings to continue declining under Trump.

USAID is a terrorist organizations and the work I’ve down in connection with the patriots of Guatemala will put their crimes on display for the entire world to see. “My new documentary releases this week” pic.twitter.com/YdPzg0nTuc

— RyanMatta 🇺🇸 🦅 (@RyanMattaMedia) February 3, 2025

During the joint presser at the White House, with U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump also said that the U.S. will “take over” the Gaza Strip and be in charge of its redevelopment. Currently, a number of private U.S. and… pic.twitter.com/Wssi65itE3

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 5, 2025

This is a horrific idea. Why the hell should it fall to us to rebuild Gaza? When the hell has it ever benefitted us to "rebuild" in the Middle East?

Let the Middle East clean up Middle East problems

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

Gulfstream4 said:

---

Civilized said:

---

TVPack said:

---

The tariffs are looking like one of these typical Trump things where he announces some massive policy change, extracts some mostly symbolic concessions, then declares victory.

I will give the devil his due: he's very good at creating these distractions from the real work behind the scenes, viz., the illegal firings of career civil servants, Musk and his 20 year old henchmen infiltrating / disrupting government agencies without any legal basis, etc.

---

Exactly.

So lets recap:

- Trump announces tariffs.
- Allies turn against the U.S., launch boycotts on U.S. products and boo us at events.
- Markets nosedive.
- Trump caves.

The "deals":
- Mexico agrees to do the same things they always do at the border to help the U.S. (including under…

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) February 3, 2025

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I'll ask again do think 8 million illegals will flood the border and do you think the cartels will get as much drugs across the the border this time?

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8 million? If we're making up numbers why don't we just say a kagillion?

Nobody that's not a quack thinks that there were 8 million crossers under Biden.

"Not get as much drugs across the border" isn't the right question to ask.

The question to ask is "will there be consequentially less fentanyl in the US as a result of Trump's fake tough guy act that definitely embarrasses the United States amongst our allies and may well have significant negative economic impacts for our country?"

That answer is almost assuredly 'no'.

Given that almkst 90% of the fentanyl that comes in is smuggled in by US citizens, even a significant reduction in fentanyl smuggled in by illegals will likely only reduce the fentanyl supply in the US by very low single digit amounts - 2% or 3% of the overall supply, tops.

There are much more effective ways to combat fentanyl OD's than this, they just don't get you all frothy.

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Okay I'll ask do you think just as many illegals will flood Trumps border as they did Biden's border? Yes or no?

Do you think more or less fentanyl will enter the U.S. under Trump as did with Biden?

I think we all know the answer but you will talk in circles to not say it.

What are your recommendations on combating fentanyl OD's? Would reducing the amount crossing the border not be a good start?

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Translation:
No
No
I got nothing but hot air.

Thanks

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No, there will be no discernible improvement to the net level of drug supply in this country (fentanyl or otherwise) due to Trump's tariffs/border policy. Too little of the supply is brought in by illegals for border policies governing illegal immigration to move the needle as an effective means to combat addiction and OD deaths. Almost all the illegal drugs that enter this country are brought in by American citizens and nationals.

No, focusing on border policy is not a good start to combat fentanyl OD's. Cutting off drug supply has never been successful in this country as a means to reduce OD's. Again, only a tiny fraction - small single-digit percentages - of fentanyl enters this country via an illegal southern border crossing.

Reducing the fentanyl supply by 1.5% - if that even happens - and expecting that to consequentially reduce deaths won't work because the fentanyl market isn't supply-constrained. Even absent the tiny amount of fentanyl that crosses the southern border, there is still more than enough fentanyl in this country to literally kill every American. You have to reduce demand and/or increase treatment options.

For fentanyl and other opiods, which account for more than 70% of OD deaths in this country, a much more direct way to reduce OD's is to get Narcan in literally as many hands as possible around the country - addicts, their family members and friends, first responders, community members, basically anyone that could come into contact with an OD'ing user. That would have more impact than any drug war measure you could possible dream up.

Regarding immigration policy, migrant encounters at the border were already down over 80% from their peak by the time Biden left office, to around 58k/month.

Do I expect crossings to continue to decline under Trump? Definitely yes given his and his base's extreme focus on the issue. I'm confident he'll drive those numbers down further.

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I disagree. We'll see about that.

Are you going to answer my question about the number of illegals? Do you think the same amount of illegals will now cross our border?

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I answered your question in the last paragraph of my response.

I definitely expect southern border crossings to continue declining under Trump.

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What these guys don't understand is that the number of border crossings has closely tracked with the number of job openings for decades.

There was a massive labor shortage at the end of the pandemic, and even before Trump left the number of crossings started shooting up. The irony is that all of those illegal workers flooding in is partially responsible for us avoiding an economic depression.

So hilariously it really depends on Trump. There's probably zero chance he'd ever go through with it, but if he ever did deport all of our illegal labor, they would almost immediately be replaced by more, causing his "numbers" to skyrocket.

Maybe he'd try to give them a "special status" or something, but the exact same people would still be here.

FlossyDFlynt said:

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During the joint presser at the White House, with U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump also said that the U.S. will “take over” the Gaza Strip and be in charge of its redevelopment. Currently, a number of private U.S. and… pic.twitter.com/Wssi65itE3

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 5, 2025

This is a horrific idea. Why the hell should it fall to us to rebuild Gaza? When the hell has it ever benefitted us to "rebuild" in the Middle East?

Let the Middle East clean up Middle East problems

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First Trump wants to ethnically cleanse Gaza, move them all out. He's said that several times now. Then I assume he wants to build a Trump Tower right on the beach.

Idiot or psycho? Sometimes it's so hard to know.