The space agency spent heavily on equity, gender affirmation, while contract mishaps and procurement nightmares piled up.͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
NASA’S “ONE GIANT LEAP” TOWARD DEI
The space agency spent heavily on equity, gender affirmation, while contract mishaps and procurement nightmares piled up.
On June 6, 2024, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore arrived at the International Space Station on a Boeing Starliner space craft for an eight-day mission. This was Starliner’s first crewed mission to the ISS. Safety concerns with the Starliner arose during its flight to ISS as the capsule experienced helium leaks and thruster malfunctions.
Boeing and NASA engineers spent several weeks determining if the issue could be fixed, but Starliner was ultimately not deemed safe enough to carry the astronauts. The capsule returned to earth, unmanned, in September 2024.
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, was selected to bring the astronauts back again, and the rescue mission is upon us this week.
The scandal has put a spotlight on NASA, so Open the Books decided to take a closer look at its recent activities and spending.
Embedding DEI into every agency, even NASA, was a mission of the Biden Administration, and one which the new Trump Administration has vowed to reverse. We’re investigating the different ways DEI manifested itself at NASA and taking a deep dive into their spending through grants and contracts – especially with Boeing and SpaceX.
With an annual budget of $25 billion, NASA is one of the smaller federal agencies. But its mission is high risk and high visibility, so it’s crucial to understand its decision making and investments.
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MAGAMARINE @Nichole05507742 🇺🇸Undeniably very powerful.🇺🇸pic.x.com/ueFGwaTAiI 3/1/25, 4:52 PM
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration “systematically derailed” an FBI probe into Iranian terrorists — with then-Secretary of State John Kerry “personally” interfering to block arrests to score a nuclear-weapons pact with Tehran, show newly released bombshell emails.
Newly released unclassified FBI communications from 2015 and 2016 reveal how officials in then-President Barack Obama’s Justice and State departments stopped federal agents from enforcing US sanctions on Iran and set up “a shadow amnesty program that protected scores of additional Iranian criminals.”
The covert effort included the abandonment of “dozens of Iran-related investigations” by the FBI and related cases by federal prosecutors “after recognizing the State Department and DOJ obstruction would thwart effective enforcement efforts,” whistleblowers’ disclosures say.
This is sooo good Thanks to Dee Sams for sending out Nancy
This is so cool! You have to highlight the link, then click on the 3 dots, then click on the link there. Sorry it’s such a pain – it is worth it to see – very short! Dee
The leaders of the Democratic Party have absolutely no idea what to do.͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Don’t forget to check out all our content on Substack, including our In The News articles.
The leaders of the Democratic Party have absolutely no idea what to do. They are paralyzed, sitting immobile on the railroad tracks as the Trump Train rolls over them. Last night we saw just how bad it is live on television.
Trump spoke about women and girls raped, brutalized and murdered by illegal aliens. He introduced grieving mothers and family members and had them stand to accept the recognition of the assembled body of lawmakers and government officials.
The Democrats sat in stony silence, implicitly signaling their support for the mad Biden-era policies that have turned our cities into war zones and victimized law-abiding Americans.
Trump introduced a young woman severely and permanently injured in a volleyball game against a male opponent masquerading as female. She rose in quiet dignity clearly still impacted by the traumatic brain injury she suffered.
The Democrats sat in silence as everyone else rose. Some held up their ridiculous little black signs encouraging the American people to “resist”.
Resist what? A return to common sense? Finding the courage to acknowledge that the entire transgender movement is built on a lie and that “gender dysphoria” is a mental illness?
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2 VIDEOS – TRUMP STOMPS THE LIFE OUT OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTYRead More »
Political leaders and media proponents have been flooding social media to show support for Zelensky as the new savior of the EU and many have suggested that Europe can easily fill the void that the US leaves behind. This is dangerous delusion.
For example, the US represents around 70% of the entire annual combined defense spending of NATO countries. No other nation comes close.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK ABOV TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE
USAID provided significant funding that benefited the Hamas terrorist organization during the war that began with the October 7 massacres well as other Islamist terrorist organizations, it was claimed during a Congressional hearing yesterday (Wednesday).
The hearing, titled ‘America Last: How Foreign Aid Undermined U.S. Interests Around the World,’ was held by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, and dealt with the recent revelations of waste and corruption at the USAID organization that were made public by DOGE’s investigations.
Middle East Forum Executive Director Gregg Roman addressed the committee members about USAID’s funding for terrorist organizations in the Middle East and beyond.
When asked by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) what terrorist organizations USAID has funded in addition to the Taliban, Roman responded, “We have assisted Al-Shabab in Somalia, there’s been instances of the Hamzi network in Sudan, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Kata’ib Hezbollah, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in Syria. Dozens of terror organizations have received indirect assistance from US foreign aid.”
PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK TO VIEW THE VIDEO AND TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Just before dawn, 10 people met at a parking lot shared by a laundromat and coffee shop in South Central Los Angeles on what has become a daily mission: Look for immigration officers and warn people of their presence to try to prevent arrests. Bullhorns and sirens are ready for use.
“There’s raza that’s been detained,” Ron Gochez, founder of Union del Barrio’s Los Angeles chapter, said before they split up in five cars. “It seems like there’s more activity now. Let’s keep a close eye out.”
Working with other similar-size groups and using walkie-talkies, the Community Self-Defense Coalition, made up of more than 60 organizations, found nothing Thursday but appeared to have disrupted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations earlier in the week. In Los Angeles and across the country, these tactics have been a thorn in ICE’s side as it tries to carry out President Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations.
“Positive spotting right now of ICE agents at the Target in Alhambra,” Lupe Carrasco Cardona said in a live Instagram report Sunday from the Los Angeles suburb over a blaring siren to draw attention. She said at least six government vehicles were identified in the ICE operation.
Counter-ICE operations have had “a huge impact,” said John Fabbricatore, a former head of ICE’s enforcement and removal division in Denver.
“It’s dangerous for the officers because they are trying to get into a situation, maybe undercover, trying to make an arrest without alarming the neighborhood, and then these guys come out here with these bullhorns and they start yelling and screaming,” Fabbricatore said.
Advocates “go right to the edge” of a law against impeding federal law enforcement to avoid criminal prosecution, he said.
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So sad 😒!!! Nancy
Buh-Bye! Trump Admin Closing 110 IRS Offices, Nobody Sad Except DC Bureaucrats and Biden Sycophants
It’s the agency that nobody loves—the Internal Revenue Service; you know, the one which causes your stomach to clinch when you get a letter from them. It’s never good news.Joe Biden wanted to add 80,000 new agents to comb through your life—but President Trump has a different view. He’s proposed changing it to the “External Revenue Service,” and now his administration is planning to close 110 IRS offices around the country.
The Trump administration plans to shutter more than 110 IRS offices that have taxpayer assistance centers as the White House’s efficiency zeal carves deeper into the tax agency.
The plan, outlined in a Tuesday letter from the U.S. General Services Administration that was obtained by The Washington Post, comes in the midst of the federal tax filing season that ends April 15, and as the administration is working to reduce agencies’ headcount and scale back the footprint of the federal government. Last week, the IRS started laying off approximately 7,000 probationary employees.
At least 113 taxpayer assistance centers will have their leases terminated or not renewed when they expire, according to a list included with GSA’s letter. It’s unclear whether the assistance centers — which provide free, in-person help for tax filers, on an appointment basis — will relocate or simply close.
Notice how the Washington Post stresses the fact that some of these offices have “taxpayer assistance centers,” implying that oh-so-many people will be hurt by this move. But why do we need taxpayer assistance centers? Why are our taxes so freaking complicated that people with graduate degrees have to fork over thousands of dollars to their CPAs because the tax code is so convoluted that only a full-time tax nerd can figure them out?
PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK TO RED THE ENTIRE ARTICLE
