Tag Archives: Meta

The Nation: The Supreme Court Gifts Trump Even More Power

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The court seems ready to give the president extraordinary power over what had been independent worker- and consumer-protection agencies.

The court seems ready to give the president extraordinary power over what had been independent worker- and consumer-protection agencies.

Here’s a troubling news alert for everyone who cares about workers and consumers being protected from illegal, exploitative, and dangerous business practices: The Supreme Court appears ready to give President Donald Trump extraordinary power over what for nearly a century have been independent expert federal worker and consumer protection agencies insulated from White House interference.

The court showed its hand in Wilcox v. Trump—the case involving Trump’s unprecedented effort to fire Gwynne Wilcox—a Senate-confirmed member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the first Black woman to ever serve as a member of the NLRB.

Members of independent agencies like the NLRB, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are nominated by the president and confirmed by the US Senate for defined terms. They are protected by law against being removed from office except where there has been wrongdoing and only after notice and a hearing. The Supreme Court has recognized and respected these “for cause” removal protections for 90 years.

That is, until now. Upon taking office for his second term, Trump decided that he has the power to unilaterally remove members of independent boards and commissions whenever and for whatever reason he wants. The list of casualties is long—in addition to Wilcox, he has fired members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the FTC, the CPSC, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and more. And by firing these officials, Trump has left these consumer- and worker-protection agencies without a quorum to act and hold corporations accountable.

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The court’s order is going to embolden a president who has already shown himself willing to push or violate the boundaries of his power. Now that the Supreme Court has nodded at his power to fire members of independent boards and commissions, he will undoubtably continue to do so, even before the Supreme Court definitively rules on the merits of the question in its next term.

The Supreme Court Gifts Trump Even More Power
The court seems ready to give the president extraordinary power over what had been independent worker- and consumer-protection agencies.

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/wilcox-trump-federal-agencies

OBOXMA: It seems Zuckerberg now wants US military contracts

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While Meta is mired in antitrust proceedings threatening to lead to its dismantling, Mark Zuckerberg is desperately tightening his ties with the Trump administration, which he has been trying to seduce for several months in the hope of securing highly lucrative military contracts.

Mark Zuckerberg has made one strategic rapprochement gesture after another towards Donald Trump, combining financial initiatives, internal decisions and political signals: a million-dollar donation at his inauguration in January, a meeting at Mar-a-Lago, the dismantling of Facebook’s fact-checking program, the removal of Meta’s diversity team, the appointment of people close to Trump to the board of directors, and the purchase of a house in Washington D.C.

Move over, F’Elon and Jeff! Mark Zuckerberg — the guy who stole Facebook from his Harvard schoolmate — wants a piece of your pie.

It seems Zuckerberg now wants US military contracts – OboxMA
Meta recently hired Francis Brennan, a former advisor to Donald Trump, to head up its strategic communications in Washington.
It seems Zuckerberg now wants US military contracts

The Street: These two industries could face mass layoffs this year

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Trucking:

Trucking has typically been known as a reliable career choice, although some struggle with the isolation and long hours.

But according to Apollo’s report, the disruptions tariffs will cause to trade, especially with China, will have a negative effect on those working in the trucking industry.

The report suggests that a sharp decline in container-ship voyages from China will significantly reduce freight volumes, meaning fewer trucks will be needed to transport goods. 

Apollo estimates that imports accounts for 20% of U.S. trucking volume, which if reduced, would translate to less need for drivers. It also estimates that domestic freight activity will hit a major slowdown by mid-May, with major layoffs to follow in order for trucking companies to cope with the changes.

Add in that President Trump signed an executive order on April 28 that requires all truck drivers to be able to speak English, and even more jobs will be snuffed out.

Retail:

Another blue-collar sector that will suffer because of the tariff environment, according to Apollo, is retail.

Apollo’s data suggests that retail will also face problems due to the decline in container shipments, especially from China. This will lead to stores running out of stock and longer gaps until they are able to refill their shelves. Other items could disappear altogether if they’re too expensive to import.

In addition, Apollo predicts that declining consumer confidence in the economy and fear of spending on anything nonessential will mean a slowdown in retail shopping. After all, less sales means less money to pay staff.

Further, the tariff-driven slowdown could lead to stagflation — stagnant growth combined with high inflation — according to Apollo’s analysis.

thestreet.com

https://www.thestreet.com/retail/these-two-industries-could-face-mass-layoffs-this-year

Business Insider: UPS says it is cutting 20,000 staff and shuttering over 70 facilities

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  • UPS said it would cut 20,000 jobs this year as it overhauls its US network to boost efficiency.
  • The shipping giant plans to shutter 73 facilities and save $3.5 billion as demand remains soft.
  • The cuts are linked to the “changing trade environment,” UPS CEO Carol Tomé said.

UPS plans to slash 20,000 jobs this year as part of a cost-cutting drive amid the shifting global trade landscape triggered by President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Thank you, sir, King Donald! Please, sir, may I have another?

UPS says it is cutting 20,000 staff and shuttering over 70 facilities
UPS said it would cut 20,000 jobs in 2025 amid cost-cutting and facility closures, responding to soft demand and aiming to strengthen operations.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/ar-AA1DRpsL

USA Today: ‘I run the country and the world,’ Donald Trump says in Atlantic interview

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President Donald Trump declared that he runs the world as he reflected on what’s different during his second White House go around in an interview with The Atlantic magazine.

“The first time, I had two things to do ‒ run the country and survive; I had all these crooked guys,” Trump said in the interview, published April 28. “And the second time, I run the country and the world.”

Sorry, Trumpsy dearest. God runs the world. You’re here only to scrub the toilets.

‘I run the country and the world,’ Donald Trump says in Atlantic interview
President Trump said he’s having more fun the second time around and again teased an unconstitutional third term in an interview with The Atlantic.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/i-run-the-country-and-the-world-donald-trump-says-in-atlantic-interview/ar-AA1DMR56

Daily Beast: Zuckerberg’s Suck-Up to Trump Does Him No Good at All

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Mark Zuckerberg thought he’d done everything in his power to make the government’s antitrust case against Meta go away.

He’d paid $1 million into Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. He’d settled a lawsuit the president launched over being blackballed by Facebook for a whopping $25 million. He sat in Trump’s box at the inauguration and shuttled between the White House and Mar-a-Lago to ingratiate himself with his new friend.

And what did he get for all his trouble? A deafening silence from the one person who could help him as the days ticked down to the antitrust trial that threatens to tear his company apart.

King Donald must have lost track of where all the payola was coming from — guess it sucks to be Zuck!

Zuckerberg’s Suck-Up to Trump Does Him No Good at All
Mark Zuckerberg thought he’d done everything in his power to make the government’s antitrust case against Meta go away. He’d paid $1 million into Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. He’d settled a lawsuit the president launched over being blackballed by Facebook for a whopping $25 million. He sat in Trump’s box at the inauguration and shuttled between the White House and Mar-a-Lago to ingratiate himself with his new friend. And what did he get for…

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/zuckerberg-s-suck-up-to-trump-does-him-no-good-at-all/ar-AA1D36oh

Business Insider: The same badge-scan strategy used in Tesla layoffs has hit federal workers

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Employees at the Department of Health and Human Services showed up to their offices on Tuesday to learn their fate: If their badges worked, they still had a job. If they didn’t, they had to clean out their desks.

“I was crying the entire drive to work today,” an HHS employee told Business Insider as they waited in line.

The employee said they saw a man walk past, wheeling out his personal belongings on a desk chair after being terminated.

“I’ve seen three people who went in, and then came back out and left with tears in their eyes,” said the employee, who was eventually let into the building. “People behind me are sniffling.”

The same badge-scan strategy used in Tesla layoffs has hit federal workers

The same badge-scan strategy used in Tesla layoffs has hit federal workers

Speech of Sen. BernieSanders on the floor of the U.S. Senate

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Click here to read Bernie’s speech:

Sen. Bernie Sanders Speech
Speech of Sen. Bernie Sanders on the floor of the U.S. Senate: Mr. President, In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to travel in many parts of our country. And I have been able to talk to folks in Nebraska, in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona. And what I am hearing from in all of these states and in fact all over the country is that our nation right now faces enormous crises, unprecedented crises in the modern history of our country. And how right now at this moment we respond to these crises will […]

Trump’s assault on DEI must be stopped. Diversity makes us strong, not weak | Editorial

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In the month since President Trump signed an executive order eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the federal level, cancellations and rollbacks of DEI programs continue to mount.

The order has given private sector companies hollow excuses and political cover for pulling back on DEI. Ironically, these were some of the same companies that rushed to create DEI offices after the murder of George Floyd during the first Trump administration.

The intent of DEI programs is to bring fairness and inclusion to the workplace through diverse voices, especially those of women, veterans and people of color. We don’t see that as being a bad thing.

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Trump’s assault on DEI must be stopped. Diversity makes us strong, not weak | Editorial
The Republican administration jeopardizes progress for N.J.’s diversity programs boosting women, minorities and veterans. Don’t let it happen.

Trump’s assault on DEI must be stopped. Diversity makes us strong, not weak | Editorial – nj.com