As Trump and DOGE continue to find, expose and root out fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars, the Democrats continue to act as if their very reasons for living are being torn away from them (well, they're not acting). The whine-fest has been something.
Dozens of Democrats denounce Trump administration actions toward USAID https://t.co/q8gPZcrb9R
— The Hill (@thehill) February 19, 2025
It goes without saying that the Democrats are getting some help from the media in spinning their defense of wasteful spending.
I couldn't help but notice that "less than one percent" is becoming a common spin. "60 Minutes" did that very thing when it comes to Trump and DOGE halting USAID funding:
USAID’s spending in 2023 was $38 billion — less than 1% of the federal budget. https://t.co/s1MB6wgxQK pic.twitter.com/4jlmo3yWug
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) February 17, 2025
If it's such a small amount they maybe nobody will miss it!
When the defense of this stuff becomes "it's just a measly $38 billion" it's definitely time for deep dive audit of federal spending.
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Then I ran across this Associated Propaganda story about Elon Musk and DOGE pointing out that there are millions of people not alive still listed on the Social Security rolls. Here's how the AP fact-checked that:
No, millions of dead people are not getting Social Security checks, despite what Trump and Musk claim https://t.co/TdEYZBE4GO
— MLive (@MLive) February 19, 2025
When reading that story, I found the obligatory "less than one percent" part:
A July 2024 report from Social Security’s inspector general states that from fiscal years 2015 through 2022, the agency paid out almost $8.6 trillion in benefits, including $71.8 billion — or less than 1% — in improper payments. Most of the erroneous payments were overpayments to living people.
Again, "the government only wasted $72 billion over the course of a few years" isn't the defense of SSI they think it is.
You have no idea you clowns. And they have both said they were on the rolls still but have not verified whether payments were still being made. Not once but multiple times. Crappy reporting.
— Big Fish (@BigFish3000) February 20, 2025
The AP is an extension of the DNC so this isn't surprising.
Another example of modern "journalism" is that these "fact-checkers" are using claims from the very people from the federal government who are being audited to shoot down DOGE findings.
The legacy media won't stop until their public approval sinks down to -- you guessed it -- less than one percent.