Pam Rutter

RFK Jr. ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines.

RFK Jr.‘s extreme anti-vax views — and his related conflicts of interest — were a huge problem during his confirmation process.

So he promised not to change the vaccine advisory panel.

Today, he fired every single expert on that panel. It's a public health disaster.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. (Margaret Mead)

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Here is your statistic of the day:
Nine out of 10 federal employees laid off by DOGE since March worked in liberal-leaning agencies.
All proposed budget increases go to conservative agencies, with the bulk going to the most conservative agencies.

This latest OPM memo is just the next step in this administration's scheme to politicize the civil service entirely.

www.chcoc.gov/content/meri...

A Kentucky Weather Office Scrambles for Staffing as Severe Storms Bear Down

A National Weather Service office in Kentucky was scrambling to cover the overnight forecast on Friday as severe storms moved through much of the eastern U.S.

The office is one of several left without an overnight forecaster as a result of cuts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency.

“The America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration… Rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism.” @brucespringsteen.net

bsky.app/profile/bruc...

#BREAKING: Supreme Court extends block on Alien Enemy Act removals from Northern District of Texas; sends case to Fifth Circuit to reach merits of whether AEA proclamation is legal and how much process is due.

Only Justices Thomas and Alito publicly dissent:

www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...

DOGE Is Now Targeting GAO, and the Congressional Agency Is Fighting Back “We are not subject to DOGE or executive orders,” GAO staff were told in an internal email sent Friday.

Yet another example of the White House encroaching on Congress' power. The Government Accountability Office is a legislative agency that serves Congress, not the executive branch.

Plus, the admin should be taking recommendations from GAO, not vice versa.

Warner, with Gabbard and Ratcliffe sitting in front of him: "If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired."

Musk's Deep Financial Ties to Top Feds Revealed Office of Personnel Management political appointees linked to recent controversies and artificial intelligence efforts have significant ties to Elon Musk’s companies.

We obtained the financial disclosures for several senior OPM political appointees, which detail the officials' financial ties to Elon Musk's businesses. Read more: www.pogo.org/investigatio...

A surge in bee deaths is hurting Texas beekeepers — and could affect the price of produce Commercial beekeepers in Texas have lost about two thirds of their honey bees since June last year, according to a recent survey.

Commercial beekeepers in Texas have lost about two thirds of their honey bees since June last year, according to a recent survey.

My God. What a freakin’ outrage.

Trump administration layoffs hit NOAA, agency that forecasts weather, hurricanes The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration houses key groups like the National Weather Service. Experts warn the consequences of employee cuts could be drastic.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration houses key groups like the National Weather Service. Experts warn the consequences of employee cuts could be drastic.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - the agency that helps you if you get scammed.

@senatedem.bsky.social are united in defending the CFPB, which has already returned more than $21 billion to families cheated by Wall Street.

Pediatrician In Congress Blames RFK Jr. For Child's Death From Measles “I do blame him and others like him who, for the past 20 years, have been spreading lies about vaccines," said Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.).

ICYMI: Congresswoman Kim Schrier, a pediatrician, tore into HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for downplaying the measles outbreak in Texas as "not unusual," saying she blames him for the death of an unvaccinated child, the first U.S. death from measles since 2015. www.huffpost.com/entry/kim-sc...

Harsh findings on Trump’s aid freeze kept secret by USAID watchdog Two reports showing dire impacts on Africa and Gaza have not been released in fear of Trump’s wrath, official says.

“One of the unreleased reports says the cutbacks threaten the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, jeopardizing more than $300 million in humanitarian aid for the devastated Palestinian enclave”

wapo.st/4h3WxLc

It has taken 80 years to bring conservative distrust in the news to where its at now. They built their own media system so that trust is unlikely to be repaired.

Journalism needs to envision a future for itself that accounts for the existence of right-wing news.

Wow. Republican and Independent state legislative leaders in Alaska write to the state's all Republican Congressional delegation with a dire warning:

VA Chief May Head Watchdog Office Probing His Own Department Over a quarter of the Office of Special Counsel’s cases — many involving whistleblowers —come from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

NEW! The Veterans Affairs Secretary may soon concurrently run the Office of Special Counsel, a watchdog that works w/ whistleblowers

A quarter of OSC's cases involve the VA, incl. ~300 active cases. A U.S. senator calls that a "conflict of interest"

www.pogo.org/investigatio...

Jon Stewart and @jenpsaki.msnbc.com urge Democrats to shift focus from constitutional theory to how GOP cuts will hurt American families, farmers, and communities.

#TheWeeklyShow #politics #DOGE

Supporting Federal Employees Through Change The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that strives for a more effective government for the American people.

Thank you to The Partnership for Public Service for inviting me (@pogo.org) and @danalgold.bsky.social of @govacctproj.bsky.social to speak today about federal government whistleblowing. Grateful for all the work you're doing to support the federal workforce!

ourpublicservice.org/supporting-f...

A follow recommendation: @daniellebrian.bsky.social, executive director of the Project On Government Oversight (@pogo.org) is now on Bluesky!

More about Danielle here: www.pogo.org/about/people...

The Trump admin is unleashing corruption and abuse of power: firing independent watchdogs, overruling Congress' spending decisions, targeting federal workers, and now politicizing criminal charges to strong-arm officials into carrying out the administration's immigration agenda

Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realizing they oversee the country’s weapons stockpile, sources say | CNN Some of the fired probationary employees included on-the-ground staff at facilities where nuclear weapons are built.

More details on this shockingly sloppy episode.

Exclusive: Trump Air Force nominee arranged satellite contract in manner that favored Musk's SpaceX, sources say President Donald Trump's nominee as Air Force Secretary, currently a top official at the national spy satellite agency, arranged a multibillion-dollar contract solicitation in a way that favored Elon Musk's SpaceX, according to seven people familiar with the contract.

While serving as a senior official at the National Reconnaissance Office, Air Force secretary nominee Troy Meink may have improperly steered a multibillion-dollar contract toward Elon Musk's SpaceX company
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

Trump is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement (again), reversing U.S. climate policy President Trump issued a barrage of orders Monday targeting Biden-era initiatives on global warming. The decisions come on the heels of the hottest year ever recorded.

President Trump issued a barrage of orders Monday targeting Biden-era initiatives on global warming. The decisions come on the heels of the hottest year ever recorded.

Hello! Anyone out there? I'd love to hear what's on your mind.

Who here agrees?