Chaos, Blame, and Cracks in the Wall

Despite the insanity, cracks are starting to grow and we can see a way forward

First, I’d like to thank all of those that reached out to me with kind comments and support for my piece on friendship in polarized times. One of my examples did so, too, which leads me to a quick addendum to the original: Even if there is a chasm between us politically, and some nature of our friendship has changed, I am still there to help if you need me—and I’m confident that I can count on your support if the roles are reversed. I still have to believe in and practice radical humanity and think that’s the only long-term way out of this mess.

Now for today’s thoughts…

As many others have noted, Project 2025 is in full roll-out mode despite the fact that the Ochre Outrage denied any knowledge of it during the campaign and all of our friends who supported him downplayed the most extreme aspects of it (difficult as it is to find LESS extreme components). More than two-thirds of the executive orders issued so far come directly from Project 2025, with many of the most deplorable tied to anti-DEI efforts.

I’ve been inundated with emails and texts from friends (usually lower ranking military members) who are legitimately frightened for themselves, their families, their subordinates, and the readiness of a military that is being more overtly SPLIT by what the MAGA cult advertises as a move towards unity than at any time in recent decades.

The hypocrisy of declaring that he is “committed to meritocracy” within the military while nominating a historically unqualified white, straight, overtly Christian-Nationalist male with a record of Islamophobic comments, a well-documented drinking problem, accusations of domestic abuse and sexual assault, and mismanagement of a non-profit’s financial resources—all reasons for denial of any security clearance—is glaring to the whole world and already pointed out in an earlier post here.

His executive order directed to the military stated that “No individual or group within our Armed Forces should be preferred or disadvantaged on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, or creed.” That sounds relatively tame. But then when you follow that with the elimination of all DEI offices and programs (firing those working there) and then nominate to the preponderance of DoD senior positions a group of white men with demographic characteristics (and lack of qualifications) close enough to Pete Hegseth that many could (and probably do or will) attend the same church, it sure looks like you’re demonstrating preference for a specific sex, race, ethnicity, color, or creed.

Understandably, these moves have caused many a cockroach to rush out from the sewage pipe and into the MAGA spotlight hoping to curry favor from their Orange Oracle, the result has been a flurry of lower-level decisions and memoranda that have been more than a little embarrassing. There’s the video from the Chief of Staff of the Air Force that wants to unify all airmen by eliminating “job tabs” that are routinely velcroed onto utility uniforms along with other insignia to show one’s primary or secondary job or qualification. It’s cringe-worthy best, filled with all of the anti-DEI code words that are bound to delight the Commander-in-Chief and demonstrate his proactive compliance. He does the whole video with his lightweight blue jacket on displaying his pilot wings—proving once again that some military members are more equal than others.

This all comes prior to the arrival of an Under Secretary of the Air Force (nominee) who was fired from his job in the US Space Force and forced to resign for violating clear rules on political activity and statements. He’s also a rabid anti-vaxxer, too, to no one’s surprise. The new USecAF seems ready to take up the mantle of MAGA Political Commissar much like Trump’s pick for senior advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel—an even more unsavory, and unqualified character who has some documented brig time on his record and is, to no one’s surprise, also a white male.

I could go on… and on… But there are some glimmers of hope. First, it was announced that the Air Force was deleting or suspending heritage lessons covering the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). This was quickly walked back by the Air Force Chief of Staff, General David “No Job Tabs On My Watch” Allvin in large part because of the outrage it generated in the press and social media.

More silliness and seriousness have come to light as programs were deleted or halted. The sweeping freeze of all federal grants was itself frozen by a federal judge when it was pointed out that Congress, not the President, says how and where the money is spent.

The offer to all federal civil servants to resign and receive pay through September was met with dismay and confusion by millions. No one’s sure what it means and who’s eligible—and this, too, will probably be challenged in court. And what if tens of thousands of government workers head for the exits? Will Veterans’ Administration hospitals be adequately staffed? Will there be anyone able to process millions of federal loans, payments, tax returns, etc.?

Already states are going to court on a variety of issues like the immigration sweeps and 22 states have filed suit against Trump for his executive order threatening birthright citizenship as defined by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. A Reagan-appointed judge said of the order: "I've been on the bench for over four decades. I can't remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order."

There are cracks forming in the MAGA Orange Crepe Curtain of dictatorship. We are fighting back in the courts, in the court of public opinion, on social media, in the press, and among our friends. We can build on these early, even tentative victories but only if we keep up the pressure.

For those that have read this far, that means standing up for your rights and those of your family, friends, colleagues, and subordinates. It means forwarding those hideous memos when they come out like the one from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) yesterday. I get that there is risk in doing this, but others can help. I’m not asking you to quit your jobs in protest, but I am asking you to get the word out as safely and securely as you can so that others in a position to do so CAN take action. The threat has to be made clear even to those that thought “it can’t happen here.” Post them on your social media feeds (and make sure they are reliable and REAL!!!), send them to me, send them to organizations that are in the fight.

A great example of an organization fighting VERY hard for those in the military is the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). I’m an advisory board member of the MRFF and probably member #2 after its founder. They have had over 92,000 clients in the last 20 years and are a beacon of light in the fight for liberty within the uniformed services and veteran community. ANYTHING related religion-based bias or preference in the military should be directed to the MRFF. Moreover, if you have any questions about what you suspect may be an illegal order, contact the MRFF. They get attention and results.

We can see cracks in the wall being built by the “Dictator on Day One” and his minions—even as that Day One now stretches into Week Two and beyond. The wall came down in Berlin and it’s on all of us to not allow this wall to be built at all

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