Watching a historic empire destroy itself is beyond words. I will miss Pax Americana.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_international_order
I am at a loss for words. I guess the real problem with propaganda is getting high on your own supply.
edit: As an example, the Supreme Court overturning Chevron deference was a decision against un-elected officials making government calls, instead of the law makers, aka Congress. Now, just months later, here we are. The exact opposite is happening. The most un-elected, un-appointed person in US government history is holding the purse strings, and not a chirp. While Musk's cithara gently weeps.
Let's just focus on this part for a moment. Could you please share this evidence?
As to Bangladesh specifically: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/usaid-b... https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/29m-usaid-fund-went-bangl...
There is no such thing as funding to “strengthen democracy” or whatever euphemisms USAID uses. It’s election interference directed against whatever administration is currently in power in a foreign country.
Trump is a known liar. It's why his supporters are always telling other people not take him literally
They lied about $50 million for condoms in Gaza, just like he lied about Haitian immigrants eating pets and the dozens of other lies he spews out daily.
DOGE has posted a ton of lies about what they saved and cut, including contracts that were already canceled or completed, and including amounts orders of magnitude off.
That organization has many employees, not 2 like Trump claimed.
It operates in countries around the world, not just Bangladesh. It's unlikely all those funds were spent in Bangladesh there like Trump was claiming.
Bangladeshi government officials can't confirm Trump's claim.
Musk/DOGE lied about what the funds were used for, and lied that they somehow saved the money by cancelling the contract - the funds were already almost entirely granted. Cancelling a contract doesn't mean those funds already spent are returned.
The org does monitor elections, but did you know that the US also has international observers during our elections?
There's no indication any funds went to election interference. A quick browse of their site shows they conducted a few surveys and held some workshops to encourage women to engage in the the political process - if you consider that election interference, I'm not sure what that says about you.
Seems like a great idea to me in a country that frequently ranks near the bottom in studies of global women's rights.
This is the problem. Trump and Musk spew out lies and make wild out-of-context claims, they get repeated thought because it fits a partisan view. But it takes effort to debunk lies so they spread faster than they can be responded to.
Some of this is bad (war on terror), some of this is good (liberal democracy), and ultimately if you don't like a liberal international order wait until you see what the illiberal one looks like (e.g. Chinese overseas police stations).
I used to laugh at the idea of a “Trump Derangement Syndrome”, but now I’m not so sure anymore.
If it's unintentional, then DOGE faile the critical thinking test. Doesn't say much for them or their leadership.