2025 - Page 56 of 69

Buffet Pays Record Tax Bill to IRS

February 24, 2025 Buck Banks

$26.8 billion

“Thank you, Uncle Sam. Someday your nieces and nephews at Berkshire hope to send you even larger payments than we did in 2024. Spend it wisely. Take care of the many who, for no fault of their own, get the short straws in life. They deserve better. And never forget that we need you to maintain a stable currency and that result requires both wisdom and vigilance on your part,” wrote Warren Buffet in his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders.

Carville: Trump Admin Will Collapse in 30 Days

February 24, 2025 Buck Banks

“What I have said very publicly is that Democrats need to play possum. This whole thing is collapsing. …. I believe that this administration, in less than 30 days is in the midst of a massive collapse and particularly a collapse in public opinion. …. It’s going to be easy pickings here in six weeks. Just lay back.”

— James Carville told Mediaite that the Trump administration would “collapse” within 30 days and advised Democrats to sit back and let it happen.

Musk the Carrier

February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 Buck Banks

Elon Musk carried a sink when he took over Twitter.
At CPAC he carried a chainsaw to show he’s a cost-cutter.
He’s a creator of unemployment
Who should be carrying a toilet
‘Cause he’s sending our government and democracy down the shitter.

Tillis Calls Putin a ‘Cancer’

February 21, 2025 Buck Banks

“I support President Trump and I believe that most of his policies on national security are right. I believe things are pretty good. But what I’m telling you, whoever believes that there is any space for Vladimir Putin and the future of a stable globe, better go to Ukraine, they better go to Europe, they better invest the time to understand that this man is a cancer and the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime.”

— Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), quoted by the Raleigh News & Observer.

Americans Think Trump Has Ignored Inflation

February 21, 2025 Buck Banks

62%

A new CNN poll shows 62% of Americans feel President Trump hasn’t done enough to tackle inflation.

Thune: Trump Needs ‘Space’ When Dealing with Russia

February 21, 2025 Buck Banks

“Right now, you have got to give him some space.”

— Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), quoted by the New York Times, defending Republican senators who are silent on President Trump’s embrace of Russia.

POLLS: Pres. Musk Is Very Unpopular
Americans don't like his drastic, haphazard chainsaw cuts to their government

February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 Jon Ponder

Based on newly released survey results, MAGA party leader Donald Trump, who lives and breathes polling, has reason to regret selling his presidency to billionaire South African immigrant Elon Musk. A series of polls marking the first full month of the Musk presidency reveals widespread public disfavor with the drug-addled unelected president:

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Feb. 20, 2025, found Pres. Musk with a -16 approval: 55 percent unfavorable, 39 percent favorable.
The Pew Poll released Feb. 19 found Musk’s approval at -12: 54 percent unfavorable, 42 favorable.
The Economist/YouGov poll released Feb. 19 showed Musk in better shape with just a -6 approval: 49 percent unfavorable, 46 percent favorable.
In the latest Quinnipiac University poll, Musk’s role in government had a -12 approval rating: 54 percent approve, 42 percent disapprove.

The Economist/YouGov poll found that Musk’s drastic, haphazard chainsaw approach to downsizing the U.S. government by firing hundreds of thousands of federal workers has -17 approval: 51 percent disapprove, 34 percent approve.

Majority Think Musk Has Too Much Power

February 20, 2025 Buck Banks

55%

A new Quinnipiac poll finds 55% of voters think Elon Musk has too much power in making decisions affecting the United States, 36% think he has about the right amount of power, and 3 percent think he has too little power.

Elon Musk’s Lies on X Get Amplified — A Lot!

February 19, 2025 Buck Banks

825 million

NewsGuard reports that 28 false claims from Elon Musk have racked up 825 million views: “From $50 million taxpayer dollars for condoms in Gaza to a 40% pay increase for Congress, Musk is correct that some of his claims are ‘incorrect.’”

Democrats Gradually Recovering from Post-Election ‘News Fatigue’

February 19, 2025 Buck Banks

83%

A new Puck/Echelon Insight poll finds that “news fatigue” is dissipating on the left with 83% of Democrats either “very” or “somewhat closely” following political news right now.

$26.8 billion

— James Carville told Mediaite that the Trump administration would “collapse” within 30 days and advised Democrats to sit back and let it happen.

— Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), quoted by the Raleigh News & Observer.

62%

A new CNN poll shows 62% of Americans feel President Trump hasn’t done enough to tackle inflation.

“Right now, you have got to give him some space.”

— Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), quoted by the New York Times, defending Republican senators who are silent on President Trump’s embrace of Russia.

55%

A new Quinnipiac poll finds 55% of voters think Elon Musk has too much power in making decisions affecting the United States, 36% think he has about the right amount of power, and 3 percent think he has too little power.

825 million

NewsGuard reports that 28 false claims from Elon Musk have racked up 825 million views: “From $50 million taxpayer dollars for condoms in Gaza to a 40% pay increase for Congress, Musk is correct that some of his claims are ‘incorrect.’”

83%

A new Puck/Echelon Insight poll finds that “news fatigue” is dissipating on the left with 83% of Democrats either “very” or “somewhat closely” following political news right now.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.