onfocus

Based on what has been reported, DOGE representatives have obtained or requested access to certain systems at the U.S. Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Personnel Management, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with eyes toward others, including the Federal Aviation Administration. “This is the largest data breach and the largest IT security breach in our country’s history—at least that’s publicly known,” one contractor who has worked on classified information-security systems at numerous government agencies told us this week. “You can’t un-ring this bell. Once these DOGE guys have access to these data systems, they can ostensibly do with it what they want.”

Republicans are a criminal organization. There's no other way to look at it.

An intelligence team within the department recommended stripping DOGE staffers of their access to data immediately.

What happens when the people who are supposed to enforce the law are breaking it?

After years of screaming “save the children” while baselessly accusing others of exploiting kids, the Trump administration is now trying to destroy the actual infrastructure that saves children. This one crosses from standard MAGA hypocrisy into genuinely evil territory.

There is no moral philosophy backing Republican actions—it’s only grabbing power by any means that works.

They weren’t warning readers to amuse them. They were warning readers that someday they would need to be prepared to act fast.

What would you do if you knew censorship was on the way?

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment isn’t just about individual rights—it’s a fundamental guarantee that the government will treat all persons and entities equally under the law. When someone with Musk’s level of government access and influence starts making threats against competitors, we have to ask: Are we still operating in a system where all companies have equal protection and opportunity under the law?

This is a lot. But a lot is happening—worth the read.

“Regulations, basically, should be default gone,” Musk said during an X spaces conversation last week. “Not default there, default gone. And if it turns out that we missed the mark on a regulation, we can always add it back in.”

Everything seems so easy when you don’t know how anything works. Pair that with having never had consequences for your actions due to extreme wealth and you have historic levels of reactionary stupidity destroying the US government now.

In his letter, Wyden said he was concerned that Musk’s extensive business operations in China “endangers U.S. cybersecurity” and creates conflicts of interest that “make his access to these systems a national security risk.”

Oh no, a strongly worded letter! Wyden does great work, but we need something stronger than a letter to protect our country. Not sure anything can stop the destruction so maybe documenting it is our best option right now, I don't know.

We need to reject these culture wars and recognize that billionaire oligarchs will undermine the humanity in all of us, left or right, if it makes them a few extra bucks. We need unity in this time of crisis.

The destruction of the American government continues apace. This is a good summary.

The Oregon city of Bend has spent $1,500 (£1,188) on removing googly eyes from seven of the eight sculptures impacted.

Keep Bend googly!

If 2020 is our guide, it's likely that the 2024 presidential election won't be decided on Election Day.

A good reminder that it could be a while before we know who won the election That’s always expected.

The subpoenas were approved following a contentious meeting in which Republicans accused their Democratic colleagues of attempting to undermine the Supreme Court by targeting private citizens.

Undermining how corrupt Supreme Court justices are beholden to billionaires is exactly the point.

The code, which does not include any enforcement mechanism, comes after ProPublica and other outlets disclosed that justices had repeatedly failed to disclose gifts and travel from wealthy donors.

LOL, just a perfect non-binding 'code' for a corrupt court. Like a petulant child, "There, we have a code of ethics. Happy?"