this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2026
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politics

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The cuts to several states come amid an escalating fraud fallout fueled by a dubious YouTube investigation of Minnesota day cares.

The Trump administration on Monday said it had slashed billions in social services funds to a handful of blue states as part of its escalating response to new and unproven fraud allegations in Minnesota.

The Department of Health and Human Services will freeze $10 billion worth of federal grants to California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, an HHS official told HuffPost, confirming news first reported by The New York Post.

It’s not clear whether the freeze was inspired by specific fraud allegations or solely for political reasons. Officials did not immediately provide a public explanation.

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[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 43 points 6 days ago (4 children)

The executive doesn't have that unilateral authority. What he's doing is illegal; unconstitutional, even.

"No taxation without representation" ring any bells?

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 26 points 6 days ago (1 children)

He can do whatever he wants. No one is stopping him. Your system needs to be torn down and rebuilt.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz -1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Is that you volunteering to throw the first brick?

[–] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I'm not allowed into your country, so I'm not really sure how to help you with that

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 4 points 5 days ago

Bummer dude, it's a shithole here. You're not missing much. Many of us want out.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Laws don't fucking matter when the systems that hold the corrupt accountable have been subverted by the very corrupt they meant to police.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 days ago

That doesn't mean we shouldn't call it out. Don't let them dominate the narrative with their "might makes right" rhetoric.

[–] AnneBonny@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

"No taxation without representation" ring any bells?

If Trump's actions are illegal or unconstitutional, the reason is not related to "No taxation without representation." Minnesota has representation in the Senate and in the House.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 17 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Wrong. By unilaterally withholding congressionally-allocated tax funds (which is unconstitutional), he's using executive power to bypass Congress.

In other words, the representational branch of the US government is being boxed out of their constitutional duty to allocate federal funds. The people's elected representatives are not having the final say on how that tax money is being distributed, as the constitution prescribes.

The people are still paying taxes. Their elected representatives are being bypassed (unconstitutionally) by the executive, who is unilaterally withholding congressionally-allocated tax funds. That is not what it means to have representation.

[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 days ago

Yes, he is. Congressional representation being bypassed by unilateral executive overreach is effectively the same thing as "no representation."

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Having the authority is inversely proportional to the rest of the government having a spine.

They’re spineless, so he has the authority.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 4 points 6 days ago (3 children)

What authority he has is spelled out in the constitution, and the authority to do what he's doing is given to Congress. Doing it without congressional approval is unconstitutional.

Congress and the judiciary being spineless or complicit doesn't confer authority. It might give him the leeway to overstep his authority, but that doesn't change the fact that he doesn't have the authority.

Let's not muddy the waters. He would love for you to believe he does have the authority.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Yeah…my comment was obviously not intended to withstand legal scrutiny. You took it way too seriously. For the record - constitutionality is not a factor in restraining this president.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I know you meant it to be humorous. If I thought you were seriously trying to claim that he has the authority, my response would have been much sharper and likely gotten me banned.

That being said, I disagree that I took it too seriously. I take it very seriously. It's a serious matter. I believe we must be firm and clear about that.

And I understand that so far he seems to be getting away with flagrantly violating the constitution at every turn. That pisses me off to no end. But it doesn't change the fact that he is subject to the restraints imposed by the constitution. He has no legal basis for disregarding it, and I won't mince words about that. Nor will I joke about it.

It's already bad enough that he's getting away with it. Let's not pretend that means he's actually allowed to do anything he wants.

I really don’t know why you’re trying to argue with me. It’s not like I disagree. Feel free to soapbox all you want, I guess.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

And if nobody does anything then yes he has the authority. Didn't someone in your government just say might makes right about taking over Greenland.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

That’s going to be tough, some pretty serious weather and not much there until you “drill baby drill”

Canada on the other hand has lots of nice places to live and work. If he invades Canada, I’ll bet he gets lots of volunteers …. To march across the border and petition for asylum

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 6 days ago

That's not what authority is.

And don't pretend the inane drivel that comes out of steven miller's mouth constitutes valid legal rationale.