Gloria Moraga - Political Woman

At a time when Inflation is moving upward, Donald Trump has done something that is going to cost every consumer in America MORE MONEY.

He has imposed massive tariffs or taxes on two trade partners, our neighbors in the North and South - Canada and Mexico. Additionally, Trump increased Tariffs on China, another major exporter. 

This quote is from the Wall Street Journal, a CONSERVATIVE Publication owned by the same family that owns FOX.

"The Dumbest Trade War in History Trump will impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for no good reason."

Economic Experts say the Tariffs will send inflation higher, hurt exporters, and cost consumers more money.

Tariffs increase the price companies pay for goods from other countries. The Companies are then forced to pass those extra costs on to consumers. 

NO, 150-YEAR-OLDS ARE NOT COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

And No, dead people are not collecting Social Security Benefits.

There is no evidence of this fraud.

None.

Is there fraud somewhere? Maybe.

But the reason the two presidents, Musk-Trump, think really, really old (or even dead) people are robbing Social Security is because of COBOL.

 

This is the definition of COBOL: COBOL an acronym for "common business-oriented language") is a compiled English-like computer programming language designed for business use. It is an imperative, procedural, and, since 2002, object-oriented language. COBOL is primarily used in business, finance, and administrative systems for companies and governments.

Here is a link to the Wired article:

This is a quote from "Wired." "Computer programmers quickly claimed that the 150 figure (that Musk and Trump are using) was not evidence of fraud but rather the result of a weird quirk of the Social Security Administration’s benefits system, which was primarily written in COBOL, a 60-year-old programming language that undergirds SSA’s databases as well as systems from many other US government agencies.

COBOL is rarely used today, so Musk’s cadre of young engineers may well be unfamiliar with it. Because COBOL does not have a date type, some implementations rely instead on a system whereby all dates are coded to a reference point.

The most commonly used is May 20, 1875, as this was the date of an international standards-setting conference held in Paris, known as the Convention du Mètre."

 

Here is a link to the Wired article: https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-doge-social-security-150-year-old-benefits/

And a link to a Politifact Story:

https://www.politifact.com/article/2025/feb/17/are-150-year-old-americans-receiving-social-securi/

Thank you for the Music Infraction. 

Sport Rock Workout" is 100% no copyright royalty free rock sport track by Infraction! ----- Join our community: http://bit.ly/38egfRR

 

House Republicans have a Budget Plan - Senate Republicans have another Budget Blueprint.

They do NOT Match.

And they have less than a month to fix it.

Democrats have problems with both versions of the Federal Spending Plans.

Stay Tuned. I'll post on YouTube and TikTok budget updates anytime there is News.

Please Subscribe.

 

Thanks to Infraction for the great music. "Sport Rock Workout" is 100% no copyright royalty free rock sport track by Infraction! ----- Join our community: http://bit.ly/38egfRR

Trump officials tell GOP lawmakers they need $175 BILLION to secure borders.

That's the headline.

The sub-headline is they need the money right now.

After less than one month of Public Relations, high profile Raids with network crews tagging along, and expensive military jets flying half-empty planes to South America, ICE is going broke.

Some of the made-for-TV raids ended up with Border Patrol Agents and television talking heads out-numbering the Illegal immigrants.

And there have been more than a few "Catch-and-release" cases.

The other big problem.

There is NO fiscal year 2024-25 Budget.

The temporary spending bill expires in mid-March.

Tick-Tock-Tick Tock. Time is running out.

I will be posting that Budget Update Podcast soon.

Please subscribe. 

 

It was an embarrassing 30 minutes of television. One of the United States closest Allies, King Abdullah, sat quietly next to Donald Trump, refusing to agree with the President's ridiculously conceived plans for Gaza.

Here is the King's post: “Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all,” he said. “Achieving just peace on the basis of the two-state solution is the way to ensure regional stability.” There are already over 2 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which says that most of them have citizenship. Jordan's Queen Rania and her family were Palestinian refugees who fled Kuwait.

I Posted a video version of this podcast on my YouTube Channel. Please follow the link and subscribe.

https://www.youtube.com/@GloriaMoraga?sub_confirmation=1

The best way to answer the question: What does the Department of Education do?

It might be to tell you what it doesn't do.

The Department of Education DOES NOT OPERATE US SCHOOLS OR SET CURRICULA. That responsibility belongs to the States.

However, some states are poor, and there is no funding for some programs The Department of Education runs.

Here is a short list:

• Manage Student Loans - College Students
• Administer Pell Grants - College Students
• Breakfast and School Lunch Programs - k -12
• Head Start - early education for poor children.
• Programs for students with Disabilities and poor children.
• Ensure that schools adhere to Civil Rights so students are guaranteed equal education opportunities.

Education is one of the smallest in the Cabinet.

It was created by Congress, and Congress controls FUNDING - POWER OF THE PURSE. Trump's move to shut down the Department must be approved by Congress. Red states, the states that voted for Trump, will be the most brutal hit.

The plan to close the Department of Education is laid out in Project 2025. 

Mexico, China, and Canada account for over a third of the products brought into the United States.

That adds up to more than $1 trillion in goods annually.

Tariffs on those goods are going to cost us-- U.S. Consumers Billions.

Here is the shortlist.

Food: Mexico is the largest supplier of fruit and vegetables to the US, while Canada leads in exports of grain, livestock and meats, poultry, and more.

The US imported $97 billion worth of oil and gas from Canada last year, that country’s top export to the US. The US imported $87 billion worth of motor vehicles and $64 billion worth of vehicle parts from Mexico last year, not accounting for December, the top two goods imported from there that year, according to Commerce Department data.

Steel Canada and Mexico are the largest and third-largest exporters of steel to the United States, respectively. I will post a longer list on my website, gloriamoraga.com.

On Tuesday, a memo that ordered the Freezing of Federals Funds for Grants and Hundreds of Programs set off a nationwide firestorm of confusion and complaints. 

A group of non-profits sued to block the order from Trump's Office of Management and Budget. 

And a Federal Judged paused the freeze temporarily. 

A spokesman for the Trump Administration said the directive should not be interpreted as a complete funding freeze. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the internal memo publicly, said that agencies should review their grants, loans, and programs to ensure they align with the new administration's priorities.

This is a developing story. I will be posting updates on YouTube and TikTok. 

And today and tomorrow, two Senate Committees will question Robert Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services. 

On Tuesday, Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, wrote a letter to Senate leaders asking them to reject her cousin's nomination.