Originally published at: Trump Conveniently Lands On New Legal Theory That He Claims Could Deprive Feds Of Backpay - TPM – Talking Points Memo
At a time when Republicans want to turn the screws on government-loving Democrats and their natural aversion to shutdowns, the Trump administration has conveniently stumbled upon a new statutory interpretation that, it threatens, might deprive federal workers of backpay after the shutdown. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees that all federal workers…
The bad faith machine, steaming at the rivets.
Starting to think that war is what happens when the bullshit just blows the whole bank.
I do not understand this:
President Trump, as always, is voicing the barely veiled strategic maneuvering underneath this novel legal interpretation.
“I can tell you this: The Democrats have put a lot of people in great risk and jeopardy, but it really depends on who you’re talking about,” he told reporters. “But for the most part, we’re going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don’t deserve to be taken care of, and we’ll take care of them in a different way.”
I think the quote is actually from the Speaker of the House’s Johnson, (pun intended cause the guy is a real dick), but the point is how are Democrats putting people in “great risk and jeopardy” when Republicans are the ones trying to fire Government employees, end Government protections and take away everyone’s services and benefits?
I mean its like a spoiled child threatening to be even worse if you don’t give him his way.
If Trump and Republicans try and fire Government employees and take away Government services, protections and benefits it is the Republicans who are putting everyone in “great risk and jeopardy”.
Which brings up the real point of this politically. Even Trumpees are not dumb enough, even though they may argue otherwise because they are dishonest enough, to actually believe it is all Democrats fault for what Republicans in power do. Which is why this is an obvious bluff.
Trump and Republicans in attempts to entrench their power and wealth are playing a game of chicken with America prosperity and the economy. They are the ones in power driving the car and if they want to drive off a cliff, all you can do is point out who is driving.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who had dismissed concerns about ludicrously low salary floors (Caitlin Clark makes about $78,000 a year) and allegedly stated that the players, including Clark, should be “grateful” for the platform the league gives them.
‘Grateful,’ as in for having something to do, keeping their hands busy and their bodies out of trouble.
Doesn’t JD also like that word?
Strangely, it doesn’t apply to the owners who owe their salaries to the players and workers labor.
That piece on TheVerge re Bari Weiss at CBS News was GREAT! Thanks for linking it!
Who are going to shoot with those guns?
“Criminals?” Arfen’t we supposed to be presumed innocent first? So who are they going to be shooting with they automatic rifles? Chicago PD? Cubs Fans? White Sox fans?
Get them out of there, go home and stick to your day jobs, you have nothing legitimate to do in Chicago.
>Trump decides he can deprive laid off workers of back pay
Man, we the American public are so going to have to pay when this is over. The massive judgements for wrongful firings, back pay, penalties … and that’s just a microcosm of the damage done by that frivolous decision to vote for the loudmouth con man. Or not to bother to vote, because “both candidates are evil.”
Sorry about the hand wringing.
No, it’s like an abusive spouse or boyfriend. “Look what you made me do to you. Why do you make me hurt you so bad, baby?”
Your analogy is better, especially when talking about Donald “grab her by the ….” Trump.
Gads, they are out of shape.
You are both right.
An overarching characteristic of this administration is the childishness of it’s head and those he chooses to serve him. You can also describe it as infantile and immature. It all works. These are stunted personalities who never grew past their tweens or early teens. And it is pretty raw.
Lets not give them credit for playing 4D Chess or the like. His immaturity and abuse sets the tone for all the others to follow and emulate.
The bad faith machine, steaming at the rivets.
All this stonewalling, the dramatics, the nastiness and arrogance is coming to a head. I think it is pressure, time is running out and things have not gone the way they wanted them to. In some ways, we may have Elon to thank for that. He was able to work Donnie for a short and then create noticeable chaos. Since then it has been one trauma after another. The Republicans are no longer built to handle this. So we are getting the equivalent of refusing to eat their strained pea and either clamping up or spitting up. And that seems to be all they have got beyond rattling the country with kabuki theater antics. And there is not an end game at this point. Whatever they thought it would be seems to have skipped by them. Screw Project 2025. It is a path to nowhere for them. It is done and over in terms of effectiveness.
Starting to think that war is what happens when the bullshit just blows the whole bank.
Long way from that.
It doesn’t feel like we’re any closer to reaching a compromise for re-opening the government, which makes me wonder if this doesn’t end with Trump screaming at Thune to kill the filibuster after all. He’d do anything to avoid looking weak.
Just wondering, did anyone take the time out to find these soldiers lodging and provisions?
IIRC, that was one of the oversights in L.A.
… the Trump administration has conveniently stumbled upon a new statutory interpretation that, it threatens, might deprive federal workers of backpay after the shutdown.
I’m not sure how convenient that is for them.
The Trump administration has just spent the past 8.5 months trying to get every Democrat employed by the gov’t. to leave, whether through the buyout program (one would expect Democrats to disproportionately apply to leave the Trump admin) or plain old firing (DOGE having focused on Dem-heavy departments to target).
So how many Democrats are still employed by the gov’t.? I’m sure it’s a substantial fraction, but they’re probably outnumbered by Republicans now. So a lot of the people Trump would be screwing out of their backpay would be Trump voters.
Anyway, even leaving that aside, these people are largely employed by the executive branch - i.e., Trump’s branch. I think the Democrats - maybe Jeffries or AOC? - should be pointing that out:
Look, these people all work for the Executive Branch. Not Congress. We don’t want Trump to do that. We think it’s illegal for Trump to do that, but, if he does, it’s his own workers, in his own branch, who will be angry & resentful about not getting paid. If he wants to try shooting himself in the foot that way, I guess he can. It’ll be bloody and disgusting, but … it’s his foot.
In the meantime, we’ll be focused on bringing health insurance premiums back down for our constituents, and lowering the costs of living for them.
He’d do anything to avoid looking weak.
When he is on planet earth. But he is drifting a lot lately.
Shouldn’t they be self sufficient. Bring it with them. Find a field and let them set up?
Or do they all need separate rooms at the Hilton?
Don’t you love that quotation from Trump as to the good federal workers who are their people and whom he wants to protect, and the bad ones he’ll deal with in some other way? He, and his enablers talk more and more like mob bosses every day.
Trump decides he can deprive laid off workers of back pay
Airports are going to ground stop. They have a shortage of air traffic controllers. I bet they called in sick when they found out they weren’t getting paid.
Who is going to scream the loudest when they can’t get on the airplane to go kiss CF’s ring?
I think Burbank and Nashville have both experienced ground closes because nobody’s been in the tower.
This is only going to spread. As soon as it hits Newark, the shutdown will be over.

