it's not looking great
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itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
it's not looking great
@itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
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itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
Uh oh, the dems of bluesky are showing their stripes again.
May 27, 2025 at 1:56 AM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
March 18, 2025 at 5:32 AM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
Conclusion As of February 23, 2025, the Trump administration, through DOGE and Musk's directive, cannot claim any real, objective, statistically viable wins with concrete evidence, aside from generating headlines, creating fodder for memes, and energizing the base. The workforce reductions and cost-saving claims are anecdotal, lack independent verification, and are overshadowed by chaos, legal challenges, and potential inefficiencies (NPR, Guardian, Resilience.org). While the administration's actions align with its political strategy and base expectations, the absence of rigorous data-due to the short timeframe and focus on speed means any efficiency gains remain unproven. Future audits or studies could change this, but currently, the wins are performative rather than substantive.
February 23, 2025 at 6:11 AM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
Had an interesting conversation with Grok this evening.
Question: Can this administration claim any real, objective, statistically viable wins with concrete evidence yet, aside from generating headlines, creating fodder for memes, and energizing the base? Answer via Grok: Based on the available information from the X posts, trending discussions, and related web results, as of February 23, 2025, it's challenging to identify clear, objective, statistically viable wins for the Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its initiatives (e.g., Elon Musk's productivity directive for federal employees)that are supported by concrete, independently verifiable evidence. Here's a detailed analysis: 1. Current Focus on Headlines, Memes, and Base Energization Headline Generation and Memes: The X posts, such as Elon Musk's directive (Post 1893386883444437415) and the associated trending discussions (@nicksortor, @unusual whales), emphasize dramatic, attention-grabbing actions (e.g., mass layoffs, productivity emails, "DOGE'd" imagery). The meme culture (e.g., "MAHAJ," "DOGE'd" in Musk's replies) and media buzz, as noted in the NPR and Guardian results, dominate the narrative, but these are qualitative and performative, not measurable outcomes of efficiency or governance improvement. Energizing the Base: Posts like @catturd2, @PogiBatch 2, and NewsX suggest the administration is successfully rallying its core supporters with bold, anti-government moves. The Reuters/ Ipsos poll (web result 4) shows 45% approval for Trump's performance, down slightly from 47%, but still concentrated among Republicans (75% favorable view of Musk). However, this is a political win, not an objective governance improvement. 2. Potential Claims of Wins and Their Limitations Workforce Deductions: The administration has achieved significant workforce reductions, as reported in the AP News, NPR, and Reuters results. Over 20,000 federal employees have been laid off, and more than 75,000 accepted a voluntary buyout offer with pay through September 2025 (AP News, web result 1). Additionally, Musk's directive could lead to further resignations if employees fail to respond. Evidence: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data (NPR, web result 5) could potentially quantify these reductions, but no specific, peer-reviewed, or independently verified statistics are provided in the results to confirm savings, efficiency gains, or service impacts. Limitations: The NPR and Resilience.org results highlight that these cuts have been chaotic, with some layoffs reversed (e.g., nuclear safety, bird flu response staff), and there's no evidence yet that they've improved efficiency. The Reuters/ Ipsos poll shows 59% of Americans oppose ending diversity programs or other cuts, suggesting public resistance. Legal challenges (over 70 lawsuits, Guardian) and operational disruptions (e.g., losing skilled staff, per NPR) undermine claims of efficiency gains. Cost Savings Claims: DOGE and Musk have claimed to uncover "fraud" and wasteful spending, as mentioned in the Wikipedia result, targeting programs like the Small Business Administration and Education Department. Trump and Musk have also spoken of finding "hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud and abuse" in the Pentagon (Guardian, web result 3). Evidence: No concrete, audited financial data or independent analyses (e.g., from the Government Accountability Office or Congressional Budget Office) are provided in the results to substantiate these claims. The Wikipedia result notes that DOGE has been criticized for misrepresenting programs as "fraud" without evidence, and two judges have rebuked the administration for this (web result 2). Limitations: The lack of verified data, combined with legal challenges and operational disruptions, means these claims remain anecdotal and unproven. The NPR result warns that past buyouts in the 1990s increased costs due to rehiring consultants, suggesting potential long-term financial inefficiencies. Regulatory Cuts and Deregulation: The administration's broader agenda, as outlined in the Wikipedia result on Trump's economic policy, includes deregulation in energy, financial, and other sectors. DOGE's mission also involves slashing "excess regulations" (web result 2). Evidence: The Economic Policy Institute or similar organizations might track regulatory changes, but no specific, current statistics are provided in the results to show measurable efficiency or economic benefits from DOGE's actions as of February 2025. Limitations: Deregulation risks unintended consequences (e.g., environmental harm, financial instability), and the Resilience.org result warns of potential "collapse" from cuts to essential services. Without data on outcomes (e.g., GDP growth, service delivery improvements), these claims remain speculative. 3. Lack of Objective, Statistically Viable Evidence No Peer-Reviewed or Independent Data: The available web results (NPR, Reuters, AP News, Guardian) rely on anecdotal reports, administration statements, and early reactions rather than rigorous, statistically valid studies. Organizations like the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Government Accountability Office (GAO), or academic institutions (e.g., University of Virginia Center for Politics) could provide such evidence, but no such analyses are referenced as of February 2025. Chaos and Reversals: The NPR and AP News results describe chaotic implementation, including reversed layoffs and public backlash, undermining any claims of efficiency. The Resilience.org result warns of potential long-term negative impacts, suggesting any "wins" may be temporary or illusory. 4. Contrast with Historical Benchmarks Past Administrations: The Wikipedia result on Trump's first-term economic policy shows mixed outcomes-tax cuts increased deficits ($1.891 trillion over 10 years, per CBO estimates), and manufacturing jobs didn't rebound as promised despite tariffs. Similarly, Clinton-era buyouts (NPR) led to operational inefficiencies, suggesting DOGE's current approach may follow a similar pattern without evidence of improvement. Efficiency Metrics: The FEDweek and Indeed.com results emphasize structured performance evaluations and goal-setting as efficient governance strategies. DOGE's blunt, top-down approach lacks these metrics, making it difficult to claim objective wins compared to evidence-based methods.
February 23, 2025 at 6:11 AM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
Here's the optics. Dems are getting dragged for being wildly out of touch right now and your post and honestly embarrassing replies aren't doing any favors.
February 2, 2025 at 7:58 AM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
ICE agents are required to have at least a bachelor's degree and 3 years of general experience, and even with that they start around $13. Even McDonalds pays better. You have to want to be ICE. No excuses.
Pay system and qualifications necessary to be an ice agent.
January 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
Uh why does putting "doge.gov" into android messages return "x.com" as the host?! Aside from how fucking stupid the website is, why is an official government site hosted on X??
Screenshot of a chat where doge.gov shows "x.com" as the host of the website.
January 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
Uh guys
Clip of a Wikipedia article on Francis Bellamy, writer of the original Pledge of Allegiance and cousin to technocrat Edward Bellamy, where he writes such racist garbage that I probably can't even safely transcribe it on this app
January 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
I feel like that's not appropriate use of the ceremonial sword
Wikipedia entry on Sword Manual Procedures Wikipedia entry on Sword Manual Procedures
January 21, 2025 at 5:20 AM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
Of the many, MANY wild things that will be discussed for decades re: this generation, one of the most interesting might be the way we all began communicating in consumer-speak to boost info and avoid censorship. (screenshot via @pearlmania500.bsky.social on TikTok)
Screenshot of a TikTok where Elon is giving a "roman salute" to a massive crowd. Below, the suggested search term is "Unrecognizable Makeup Techniques" followed by several comments such as: "My stomach dropped when I saw how blatantly amazing this moisturizer is. But I shouldn't have been surprised, this brand has always been like this!"; "The brand is predictable right?"; "Yep, you always know exactly what you're getting with this brand. They put ALL the ingredients right on the label!"; "It's definitely. Consistent brand. The texture of the moisturizer is unique."; "Super reliable brand for sure!! We know what to expect."
January 20, 2025 at 11:49 PM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
More fascinating imagery from the rally. Someone check on Mike Johnson.
Jumbotron showing a video of two blonde women dancing very close to each other. Lots of cleavage Same jumbotron showing a video of what appears to be a stripper swinging around a pole. Close shot from below, right on the underboobs. Same jumbotron. Literally just a butt and thighs. Black undies. Same jumbotron. A nearly naked woman (in a gold strapless bikini) on a motorcycle, obscured by blue lit fog.
January 19, 2025 at 9:19 PM
itsnotlookinggreat.bsky.social
What an ...interesting vibe at the pre-inauguration rally. (Screenshot from @lookner.bsky.social on YouTube)
Screenshot of Trump's pre-inauguration rally in Washington DC, which is decorated and lit with an overwhelming amount of red with white stars.
January 19, 2025 at 8:07 PM