Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy❤
No. of Recommendations: 14
Yesterday, Leavitt claimed that the Trump administration tried to stop all foreign aid because Biden supposedly sent $50 million of condoms to Gaza and that the administration was just focusing on being “good stewards of tax dollars.”
The story is simply false. The U.S. Agency for International Development spent about $7 million on condoms in 2023, the vast majority of which went to Africa through anti-AIDS programs; Trump’s first administration made similar investments.
Heather Cox Richardson
Shameless
No. of Recommendations: 2
But here's the problem. With our fragmented media, most right wingers will just hear the lie and never the correction. Will this correcton ever be mentioned on FOX et al? Not likely.
No. of Recommendations: 1
It's good America sends that to Africa.
And that President Bush did so much for that.
After all, America is superior.
Africa, is something else.
Always has been
No. of Recommendations: 3
>>Yesterday, Leavitt claimed that the Trump administration tried to stop all foreign aid because Biden supposedly sent $50 million of condoms to Gaza and that the administration was just focusing on being “good stewards of tax dollars.”
The story is simply false. The U.S. Agency for International Development spent about $7 million on condoms in 2023, the vast majority of which went to Africa through anti-AIDS programs; Trump’s first administration made similar investments.
Heather Cox Richardson<<
Shameless - Bill
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It appears that this Heather person is using unrelated condoms for Africa as an argument for continuing to provide condoms for Gaza. AFAIK, the Africans are using the condoms for their intended purpose and there is no initiative to scale back because that program is immensely successful.
On the other hand, Hamas is using the condoms as balloons to float IED's into Israel. There are videos of these balloon launches and articles on the history of this form of Hamas terrorism if you care to look for them.
Yes, Heather's reporting of some equivalence between Africa policy and Hamas policy is shameless.
No. of Recommendations: 15
It appears that this Heather person is using unrelated condoms for Africa as an argument for continuing to provide condoms for Gaza. AFAIK, the Africans are using the condoms for their intended purpose and there is no initiative to scale back because that program is immensely successful.
No. She's pointing out that Leavitt was wrong when she said the $50 million was going to Gaza, when instead it was going to Africa (and was going mostly to non-condom spending). So either the Administration is not cutting those funds going to Africa, or they are cutting them even though those funds are being used for their intended purpose and the program is immensely successful. Which would undercut Leavitt's argument that this is an example of the Trump administration was being "good stewards of tax dollars" - either there was no cut, or they cut a program which was working.
There's no drawing of equivalence between Africa policy and Hamas policy. Heathers's pointing out that it was Leavitt who got the destination countries wrong, not herself drawing any link or equivalence between them.
No. of Recommendations: 9
No. She's pointing out that Leavitt was wrong when she said the $50 million was going to Gaza, when instead it was going to Africa (and was going mostly to non-condom spending). - albaby
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Bear with me and I will get around to acknowledging Trumps characterization was wrong.
First of all, lets not heap the blame on Levitt, she is a spokesman for the Trump Admin and it should be no surprise that her choice of words, what to include and what to exclude reflects her mission to promote and defend the Trump Administration. Same as KJB did for Biden. The press secretary did not create the false claim. Associated criticism should be directed a Trump.
Now as far as Heather is concerned, she reports as if there is only one pot of money and it went to Africa, not Gaza. I think that is wrong. Funding for both Africa and Gaza has been on going for years. How much has went to Africa, is going to Africa, and what fraction of Africa funding went to condoms is not germane to Gaza funding. Heather implies the $50M that was cut was from Africa funding, not Gaza. I think there were no cuts to Africa so her assertion is wrong on that regard.
Funding for Gaza is a separate discussion. I noodled around to find some support for Trumps assertion about $50M for Gaza condoms being cut. I could not find it so again I will confess to first believing Trumps assertion. All I could find was this,
Former Biden deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs Andrew Miller pushed back on the claim as well, telling The Times of Israel “It’s possible that $50 million is put aside for sexual health or something of that nature, which would include gynecology and many other services, but definitely not condoms alone.”
So there was funding that may have included condoms but not just condoms. Nevertheless Trumps assertion that $50M for Gaza was all condoms is yet another exaggeration and falsehood. Also I didn't find any evidence at all that there was anything cut from Gaza funding.
So there you have it. While I do take exception to some of Heather's reporting, it is clear that Trump once again is on the wrong side of facts with no evidence to back up his claim.
No. of Recommendations: 8
It appears that this Heather person is using unrelated condoms for Africa as an argument for continuing to provide condoms for Gaza.There were no condoms provided to Gaza. FOX and other right wing media confused the actual story with their own fictionalized version.
Jesse Watters was even showing his butt as usual by claiming that terrorists were using them (fictional USAID condoms) as balloons to carry explosives into Israel.
This is well beyond the realm of “I made a mistake”. This is industrial level propaganda on par with North Korea.
Could it be true? When we queried Leavitt, she responded by sending a Fox News article that initially just quoted her own statement. Quoting yourself is not evidence. Moreover, the article quoted an unnamed White House official as saying that the “State Department halted several million dollars going to condoms in Gaza this past weekend.
That’s not the same as $50 million.
Last year, the State Department launched a five-year, $50 million program to improve health care in Gaza. But the contractor, Anera, said it was not supplying condoms.
“Definitely no purchase of condoms in our program, and there are no components for family planning in the GHRA [Gaza Health Recovery Activity],” spokesman Steve Fake said. “We have asked around, and no one is sure what this is referring to.”https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/29...Fabricated out of whole cloth.
No. of Recommendations: 9
Now as far as Heather is concerned, she reports as if there is only one pot of money and it went to Africa, not Gaza.
Again, much respect for acknowledging that the Administration is on the wrong side of the facts here.
I don't think this is what Cox Richardson said - it's certainly not what was in the OP quote. She pointed out that the U.S. was not spending $50 million on condoms for Gaza - that the entire USAID only spent about $7 million globally on condoms, of which the vast majority were sent to Africa as part of anti-AIDS program. That's not really claiming that there's only one pot of money and it went to Africa and not Gaza, just noting that actual condom expenditures weren't anywhere close to $50 million and that the majority of them went to Africa.
No. of Recommendations: 3
...it is clear that Trump once again is on the wrong side of facts with no evidence to back up his claim.
And that is what a reasonable interlocuter does. You dug around, and found that "your side" got it wrong, and then admitted it. Kudos (seriously...not being sarcastic). Have a rec. It seem so few from conservatives can do that anymore.
Though I do wonder when you'll get tired of the Felon (and his people) lying to you. I know you wanted to shake things up, but is lying about "bringing prices back down", or condoms for Gaza, or EOs that freeze government funding for Medicaid (and lots of other things), or any of that other stuff, what you had in mind? There's "shaking up", and then there's just incompetent chaos.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Though I do wonder when you'll get tired of the Felon (and his people) lying to you. - 1pg
I am already tired of it.
I know you wanted to shake things up, but is lying about "bringing prices back down", or condoms for Gaza, or EOs that freeze government funding for Medicaid (and lots of other things), or any of that other stuff, what you had in mind? - 1pg
Not at all. Trump's exaggerations, spins and making unsupported claims such as the spending freeze only give ammunition to the opposition and thus hamper progress on the issues that got Trump elected.
There's "shaking up", and then there's just incompetent chaos. - 1pg
Nevertheless, progress is being made on issues that are important to the voters who elected him. Progress (IMHO) that never would occur in a Harris Administration.
No. of Recommendations: 6
Nevertheless, progress is being made on issues that are important to the voters who elected him.
Could you elaborate? So far, I'm unaware of any progress on anything. Just a lot of flailing; EOs that are clearly illegal and get injuncted almost immediately, stupid/impractical ideas (e.g. Gitmo), etc. Nothing with regard to Rep priorities yet.
I do agree that what we are seeing now would never have occurred in a Harris administration. That would have been a good thing.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Could you elaborate? So far, I'm unaware of any progress on anything. - 1pg
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Getting criminal illegal aliens out of our country. Even if the "wrong" plane is being used, it remains a necessary goal.
Border security and the optics of criminals being deported has already cut border encounters in half. There was one video of a migrant being perp walked somewhere where he was advising other would be immigrant to not come, too many "migras" (his word) now.
Energy is an input cost in everything and Trump reversing Biden's ban on offshore leases is a good and necessary step. Drill baby drill will mitigate domestic inflationary pressures as well as providing an alternative for friends and allies from dependency on questionable Middle Eastern sources.
Trumps reversing Biden's ban on 2,000 lb bombs for Israel sends an important message of deterrence to Iran. And we are better prepared when it becomes necessary to take out Iran's nuclear facilities. Crushing the Mullahs and the IRGC will not only help restore peace and stability to the Middle East but also provide relief and freedom to the Iranian citizens long suffering under the existing regime.
No. of Recommendations: 7
Getting criminal illegal aliens out of our country. Even if the "wrong" plane is being used, it remains a necessary goal.
As albaby noted a few days ago, that has been going on steadily
for years. I think he said about 100 per day, average. (Too lazy to sift through all the posts...it would be nice if we had a decent search feature on this site.)
I would be shocked if the number of encounters was "cut in half" since the election (not even since the inauguration, just since the election...to give you the maximum benefit possible). BP was already reporting a drastic reduction throughout 2024, long before the Felon was in the picture.
I hate fiscal year reporting, but that's how they do it. It dropped hugely in 2024 (FY2025).
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-...No, the Felon cannot take credit for this. It was a reversal of some policies that occurred because of political pressure (from "the people", and even in the dem party).
Energy is an input cost in everything and Trump reversing Biden's ban on offshore leases is a good and necessary step.Albaby follows this more closely than I do. However, it is unlikely to make much difference, from what I recall. We're already a net-exporter of energy, and have been for several years. We have no dependence on the middle east anymore. I agree that energy is everything in a modern society. We are not lacking in that regard. Though, as an aside, it would be nice if we enhanced our grid/energy-delivery-infrastructure; it is seriously outdated.
Don't know anything about the bombs to Israel thing, but that seems incredibly trivial. Long-range missiles would be more relevant, and are what Israel utilized when they struck Iran last year. There apparently were limited airstrikes in addition (I'm not able to get quickly any details...I suspect they were anti-radar missiles to take out air defenses). That is in April 2024.
I'm still not seeing that the Felon has done anything useful. Except for the offshore leases, everything predates the Felon. To give you every charity, he's only been in office just over a week. But what you're claiming is, for the most part, nothing he had anything to do with.
No. of Recommendations: 1
I'm still not seeing that the Felon has done anything useful. - 1pg
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I see usefulness, you don't. It's not surprising at all. It's mostly how we roll on this board. But it would be boring if everyone agreed.
No. of Recommendations: 5
I see usefulness, you don't.
I didn't mean "contrary to what I think should be done". I meant, if I was still a Rep, I would be really annoyed at the bumbling ineptitude, and lack of getting any of the Rep objectives accomplished. We thought he learned the lessons of his first term, when he got very little legislation done, and his EOs were largely blocked by the courts. We thought he would use the process correctly to accomplish his goals. But he's not doing that. He's still trying to rule by edict, like a king. And he's getting blocked by the courts, again, and also debacles like trying to freeze all program expenditures (while not realizing that meant freezing stuff the Reps didn't want frozen).
From a Rep perspective, he's -so far- been a complete eff-up. Granted, it's less than two weeks into his term. But it's not off to a good start, and none of what you listed (except maybe the bombs) can be credited to him.
No. of Recommendations: 3
From a Rep perspective, he's -so far- been a complete eff-up.
No he hasn't.
No. of Recommendations: 2
(Too lazy to sift through all the posts...it would be nice if we had a decent search feature on this site.)
...and while he's at it, an 'ignore thread' feature.
No. of Recommendations: 4
...and while he's at it, an 'ignore thread' feature.
Click the frownie face.
Not even a greyling left.
Poof! They disappear, and it takes searching and intention to pull them out of your p-box
Not like the Fool who set theirs up where you could restore someone almost by mistake.
Here- you put them in the pbox
And they stay there, screaming at you silently.
It’s almost as if you sent them to outer space and the vacuum stops the sound. They can circle the earth forever- perhaps even finding Musk’s orbiting Tesla and climb inside.
No. of Recommendations: 1
I always used the p-box sparingly. The whole point is discussion, right? Not an echo chamber.
But if they're abusive, or have near-zero signal to noise, in they go. I think I've p-boxed one person in this forum...maybe two. I probably had maybe 10 at TMF.
