I shared your article on Facebook along with my comment on the attack on small businesses. My son is both a small business owner AND a MAGA supporter. He's among those I reference in my comment who believed the lies and who, I fear, will be terribly betrayed. My comments:
The wrecking ball is in high gear and the mainstream press, one of the institutions charged with safeguarding liberty and informing the public has instead, for the most part, gone silent. Small businesses are now being targeted for extinction - like the mammals of wildlife who are being destroyed as the result of executive orders, program cuts, "drill, baby, drill", and the drive to further enrich the billionaire administration and their billionaire friends, small business are also "wild"-life - wild in the sense that the individuals who established them took huge risks (financially, physically and emotionally) that demanded endless courage, energy, tenacity, and sacrifice in order to provide services to their local communities...wild in the sense of providing a community service as opposed to large corporations which enrich the already exceedingly wealthy...wild, in the sense that since they don't contribute to the velvet pockets of robber barons, they are not only expendable, they must be eliminated - wildlings don't fit the corporate model. Many MAGA supporters are also small business owners...they thought that a vote for Trump & Co. would be good for their businesses. Unfortunately, they believed the lies and now the wrecking ball has come for them, as well. Small businesses must be protected. They are the lifelines and backbones of local communities - economically, job creation, innovative development, etc. Contact your representatives and senators and tell them they must not allow any further incursions into the "wild"-life of small business!
I’m so sorry. We aren’t headed a good direction, for sure. I think there will be lots more pain, totally unnecessary. And most people don’t know what is going on…
Thanks again for writing about this and other significant issues. All of the recent events have been beyond mind-boggling which makes your work all the more significant. Clearly the kool-aid folk have been drinking in the last few years has numbed their thinking skills to help them realize how all of these actions impact them and their offspring.
Thanks Bob for this very interesting info, very fortunate you were in right place at right time to share. So agree it's definitely getting quite concerning what Musk is doing and scary.
One of the ramifications of what is going on right now is IF it is for the best overall and is 'until' can weed out the waste that may have built up over time. There will always be some that will unfortunately suffer because of the bad. I personally feel there are very few federal programs that don't become a boondoggle and humongous waste. The longer this waste and corruption has gone on the worse the pain, but it just couldn't continue.
I believe you said this was all 'rural' people affected or had used the program. Does this mean that they all live at a rural address outside city limits? Sorry if I'm wrong but as real rural person I consider it that way. I knew from the beginning of this process that there would be groups of people upset because THEY were affected of $$$ cutback or stopped in a fed program. I feel very sorry for them. I do believe that if a new request is very good a regular lending source will be glad to jump on. Of course an individual needs to have some equity, or skin, to put into it.
Thanks, Bob. This is exactly what we need more of. Actual, on-the-ground examples of how the Musk administration is harming people. With enough people realizing that Musk and his enabler Trump are hurting them, we'll get the backlash we need to turn the tide. Thanks again for your great work.
Thanks for sharing the effects of their actions, few people as most have any idea the impact it is and will continue to have into the future. Perhaps I'm wrong but I thought part of the goal of tariffs is to make it appealing for US company's to manufacture on US soil. This administration has no idea what they are doing
You would think Iowa’s economic development cheerleader Kim Reynolds would have something to say about this loss of assistance to Iowa businesses. But her ultimate loyalty lies elsewhere. Sadly for us.
I think that a better name for DOGE would be GODD (Government Organizational Destruction Department). That would be an appropriate fit with deeply embedded aspects of cultural narratives about the "power of GODD," "an all-powerful GODD," and "obedience to GODD," as well as commonly used adjectives like "GODD damned."
I've been speaking with journalists trying to uncover what the Republican Presidency and billionaire appointees/non-appointees (Musk and crew) are doing to rural America. This is an incredibly well researched story about what this means in one instance. Multiply that by ALL the rural communities and so many federal programs across the entire nation. The costs of these "money saving" efforts is nearly incomprehensible. So many wasted resources being created by DOGE.
From Tim Snyder to you today, Bob, the message is dire, and the way perilous. I am so happy not to feel alone in it. Your information is so helpful to me as I call the offices of representatives and government officials. Thank you. Thank you.
I would encourage everyone to call our Rep's. I called the local offices in Iowa and connected with several of them Tuesday. First time in my life (I am an old man), that I have called any representative's office.
I am thankful we have Substack to get the “The Truthful News”!!!!!! Trump will find it tough to “Bull Dog” every news organization!
Again Bob Leonard, I thank you for your words. As I was sitting with a few friends last night sharing a sandwich, I could not believe the contrast in opposite opinion expressed by one individual who obviously had lost perspective on freedom and liberty for ALL There must be a way to reach people but all of us need the grace to listen.
I wish I knew how Thomas. I’ve spent the last couple of days talking with Republicans. They love that USAID has been shut down completely, but can’t give me a reason why. Two of them didn’t know that Elon Musk had our data, and one was a banker. We will just have to keep trying. Maybe when enough stuff is broken they will recognize the error of their ways.
Thanks for this! These are the sort of "real stories" that need to be shared far and wide. The party of small goverment loves to mythologize Main Street while quietly working to destroy it. This administration's actions are having very real --and very negative--effects on the people they claim to champion. It's far past time a very bright light was shown on that hypocrisy.
I shared your article on Facebook along with my comment on the attack on small businesses. My son is both a small business owner AND a MAGA supporter. He's among those I reference in my comment who believed the lies and who, I fear, will be terribly betrayed. My comments:
The wrecking ball is in high gear and the mainstream press, one of the institutions charged with safeguarding liberty and informing the public has instead, for the most part, gone silent. Small businesses are now being targeted for extinction - like the mammals of wildlife who are being destroyed as the result of executive orders, program cuts, "drill, baby, drill", and the drive to further enrich the billionaire administration and their billionaire friends, small business are also "wild"-life - wild in the sense that the individuals who established them took huge risks (financially, physically and emotionally) that demanded endless courage, energy, tenacity, and sacrifice in order to provide services to their local communities...wild in the sense of providing a community service as opposed to large corporations which enrich the already exceedingly wealthy...wild, in the sense that since they don't contribute to the velvet pockets of robber barons, they are not only expendable, they must be eliminated - wildlings don't fit the corporate model. Many MAGA supporters are also small business owners...they thought that a vote for Trump & Co. would be good for their businesses. Unfortunately, they believed the lies and now the wrecking ball has come for them, as well. Small businesses must be protected. They are the lifelines and backbones of local communities - economically, job creation, innovative development, etc. Contact your representatives and senators and tell them they must not allow any further incursions into the "wild"-life of small business!
I’m so sorry. We aren’t headed a good direction, for sure. I think there will be lots more pain, totally unnecessary. And most people don’t know what is going on…
thanks for exposing this. Any other states affected?
Thanks again for writing about this and other significant issues. All of the recent events have been beyond mind-boggling which makes your work all the more significant. Clearly the kool-aid folk have been drinking in the last few years has numbed their thinking skills to help them realize how all of these actions impact them and their offspring.
Thank you, Barbara. It looks like lots of pain for everyone is coming.
I LOVE the Disturbed cover!
Thanks, Bob.
Thanks Bob for this very interesting info, very fortunate you were in right place at right time to share. So agree it's definitely getting quite concerning what Musk is doing and scary.
One of the ramifications of what is going on right now is IF it is for the best overall and is 'until' can weed out the waste that may have built up over time. There will always be some that will unfortunately suffer because of the bad. I personally feel there are very few federal programs that don't become a boondoggle and humongous waste. The longer this waste and corruption has gone on the worse the pain, but it just couldn't continue.
I believe you said this was all 'rural' people affected or had used the program. Does this mean that they all live at a rural address outside city limits? Sorry if I'm wrong but as real rural person I consider it that way. I knew from the beginning of this process that there would be groups of people upset because THEY were affected of $$$ cutback or stopped in a fed program. I feel very sorry for them. I do believe that if a new request is very good a regular lending source will be glad to jump on. Of course an individual needs to have some equity, or skin, to put into it.
Thanks, Bob. This is exactly what we need more of. Actual, on-the-ground examples of how the Musk administration is harming people. With enough people realizing that Musk and his enabler Trump are hurting them, we'll get the backlash we need to turn the tide. Thanks again for your great work.
Thanks for sharing the effects of their actions, few people as most have any idea the impact it is and will continue to have into the future. Perhaps I'm wrong but I thought part of the goal of tariffs is to make it appealing for US company's to manufacture on US soil. This administration has no idea what they are doing
This is why I spend my time reading about rural Iowa. Bless you for all your work. Iowa is a better place for your insightful curiosity
thanks Thea!
You would think Iowa’s economic development cheerleader Kim Reynolds would have something to say about this loss of assistance to Iowa businesses. But her ultimate loyalty lies elsewhere. Sadly for us.
This is the kind of thing she loved in the past, but of course won’t say anything.
I think that a better name for DOGE would be GODD (Government Organizational Destruction Department). That would be an appropriate fit with deeply embedded aspects of cultural narratives about the "power of GODD," "an all-powerful GODD," and "obedience to GODD," as well as commonly used adjectives like "GODD damned."
Thank you, Sir, for your continuing work to get the truth out; the general media stopped long ago.
Thanks Tom. Sometimes it’s overwhelming for us all.
I've been speaking with journalists trying to uncover what the Republican Presidency and billionaire appointees/non-appointees (Musk and crew) are doing to rural America. This is an incredibly well researched story about what this means in one instance. Multiply that by ALL the rural communities and so many federal programs across the entire nation. The costs of these "money saving" efforts is nearly incomprehensible. So many wasted resources being created by DOGE.
From Tim Snyder to you today, Bob, the message is dire, and the way perilous. I am so happy not to feel alone in it. Your information is so helpful to me as I call the offices of representatives and government officials. Thank you. Thank you.
Thanks Virginia. Your support means a lot.
I would encourage everyone to call our Rep's. I called the local offices in Iowa and connected with several of them Tuesday. First time in my life (I am an old man), that I have called any representative's office.
I am thankful we have Substack to get the “The Truthful News”!!!!!! Trump will find it tough to “Bull Dog” every news organization!
RINO -- Ed
Again Bob Leonard, I thank you for your words. As I was sitting with a few friends last night sharing a sandwich, I could not believe the contrast in opposite opinion expressed by one individual who obviously had lost perspective on freedom and liberty for ALL There must be a way to reach people but all of us need the grace to listen.
Thank you Thank you for keeping an eye out for all of us. Another remark I have is why are so many of my Family and Friends so oblivious?
Fox “news” for the most part, or just not paying attention. WHO radio too…
I wish I knew how Thomas. I’ve spent the last couple of days talking with Republicans. They love that USAID has been shut down completely, but can’t give me a reason why. Two of them didn’t know that Elon Musk had our data, and one was a banker. We will just have to keep trying. Maybe when enough stuff is broken they will recognize the error of their ways.
Thanks for this! These are the sort of "real stories" that need to be shared far and wide. The party of small goverment loves to mythologize Main Street while quietly working to destroy it. This administration's actions are having very real --and very negative--effects on the people they claim to champion. It's far past time a very bright light was shown on that hypocrisy.
Thanks, Kevin.