With important fiscal deadlines starting to come up within a month, the Congressional Progressive Caucus said they will not be helping Republicans on the budget and said Musk must be fired.
I think Leader Jeffries has called the correct move, and here's why:
The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) has made it clear that they will not play along with Trump and the GOP’s budgetary games. For decades, Republicans have relied on Democratic votes to pass government funding bills, and now, progressives are drawing a firm line: no help while Trump and his billionaire allies, like Elon Musk, continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the American people.
This strategy is smart, necessary, and long overdue. As CPC Chair Greg Casar put it, Democrats are using “every legislative, judicial, and public pressure tool” to block Musk’s outsized influence and prevent Trump’s economic agenda from bulldozing through Congress. The GOP’s inability to govern without Democratic assistance gives progressives a crucial leverage point — one they should exploit to the fullest.
Moreover, tying Trump’s economic failures directly to the billionaire class, particularly Musk, is an effective narrative. The CPC’s argument that Musk spent $270 million to help elect Trump and has since grown his wealth by $160 billion highlights the deep corruption at play. By framing the battle as one against billionaire corruption rather than just Trumpism, progressives can rally broader public support.
The historical parallel to the fight over the Affordable Care Act is also apt. When Republicans controlled the government, grassroots resistance, led in part by Democrats, stopped their repeal efforts. Similarly, progressives can make this a defining moment, where Democrats stand firm, refuse to fund Trump’s corrupt policies and force the GOP to either compromise or fail.
Leader Jeffries understands that Democrats cannot afford to be passive participants in Trump’s second-term agenda. Holding the line on budget negotiations and publicly calling out Musk’s influence is the right play. The CPC has found its fight, and it’s one worth waging.
But is Jeffries in the CPC? Based on his previous non-action, I'd rather see someone young and fierce leading the charge than Jeffries, Schumer, or God forbid, Schiff.
He's not in the CPC, but the Democrats are banding together to fight against the felon, muskrat and the GOP members in Congress. For youth leadership look at the DNC. David Hogg was named as the assistant director. The director is also much younger than the current leaders in Congress.
What matters is that you hey right, not what caucus they are in. We can't change the leadership but we can push them all to act and use every tool available. Focus is what we all need to do, not to debate the minutiae.
I expect the Democrats to fold yet again, and save Johnson - "for the good of the country". But if they demand tough conditions, I expect it is smart. But not just "Fire Musk" - token and symbolic - they need to demand pretty-much everything rolled back.
PS Don’t knock my name; my family take that very personally…and I am no exception to thinking. You’re not obligated to comment so rudely on everything you read; given your tendency, I’d prefer you not read my essays at all.
Intelligent, sensible, debate can be helpful and interesting but junior high level, personal profanity laced attacks on others who post here is a colossal waste of time,
Not cooperating is not enough. Bringing lawsuits, not enough. There needs to be finger in the eye response to every proposal. Musk team needs to be escorted from the government agencies to the court room for arraignment. Payments to his companies impounded and put in escrow, his contracts cancelled, and breech of election finance rule investigated & prosecuted
Musk is not a citizen; he needs to be escorted jail, his companies & wealth impounded & paid against the National Debt, to pay for tax cuts for m/billionaires. tRump also needs to be escorted jail, & his "wealth" impounded & paid against the National Debt.
I understand he has been a US citizen by naturalisation since 2002.
Anyway - I find your post pretty disturbing - the whole point of the US Constitution was to prevent tyranny - to prevent the possibility that people could be hauled off to jail and their assets taken from them, just because the authorities disliked them.
Skum has 3 citizenships: South Africa, Canada, and USA. Has the law here in America changed? The last time I looked, and indeed all my life, you could only have one.
That is true, but Musk created dark money PACs for his political activities, and his companies have the government contracts. Elon Musk technically doesn't have anything, and by creating separate entities, he is complying with the law.---Jason
What are you talking about? I troll maga streams all the time and they are in LOVE with what he's doing. They legit did find insane govt grants to far left activists, completely illegal. One was a quarter million dollar grant last year to a youtuber feminist who hasn't made a video in 10 years! 9 million to politico (update: I was wrong about this, it wasn't a grant it was a govt subscription to politico. Another peice of disinformation from the right. But much if it was legit.), i mean they were asking for this! The right is eating it up. They love it, even if this shit is a fraction of a % of govt spending to them it might as well be the majority of it. I kidna agree, why tf are we spending tax payer money on partisan donations? it's wrong. I'd be pissed af if the Trump admin started giving million dollar grants to Proud boy youtubers! Essp if they were just taking the money and not even doing anything with it! Go look it up, "feminist frequency", who hasn't made a video in 10 years got a quarter million dollars just last year, and has gotten way more over the last 10 years, so why are we just GIVING this person free money??? It is infuriating, now we're finding out about the govt funding animal "transitioning" experiments... what the hell? The govt should not be involved in this crap. The taxpayers don't want their money going to divisive gender issues without their consent. It's just asking for controversy. They are using all these things to distract us all from the REAL goal of Trump and his billionaire oligarchs, they are taking over our govt for corporate special interests. They are being de-regulated and getting massive tax cuts at the very least. Citizens united was a coup and no one even batted any eye.
Whatever, take the L like a real man. You're victim based ideology has been soundly rejected by society as a whole. I give zero f's what you think. How is it a "bunch of drivel" to think that government agencies should not be engaged in partisan grant giving? You think it's ok to spend tax payer money on grants to political organizations? Only when they are to YOUR side right? Unreal... I bet anything if Trump started giving right wing organizations grants from taxpayer money I'll see you huffing and puffing about it. It's so incredibly disingenuous. If you can't point out the wrongs by your own side you have no right to point out the wrong of the other side.
I agree - there are vast, huge, enormous areas of government waste and extremely dubious spending, which is either trying to pick winners, or to meet the needs of a tiny but vocal special interest that has a set of grievances.
Mind you - military waste and over-spending would swamp everything else a hundred-fold.
But the Heritage Foundation - and its frontmen, Trump, Musk, his incel kids, and the whole Stephen Miller goon squad - will inevitably go into over-reach, and attack all manner of stuff that the people seriously want in their lives.
Democrats must unite to fight the illegal actions of this administration! We can’t have democrats like Fetterman voting with MAGA! We are watching and we will vote you out.
But first someone should go to the golf course and remind 45 that he is the president?? Maybe take a burger and fries to entice him back to the White House?
I meant it all sarcastically but I honestly don’t think he’d help in anyway except that 45 bounces from one idea to another while EMusk targets destruction and waits calmly while the action creates death. He’s much more likely to destroy us. See Twitter for further analysis 🧐
This is all very nice but when are progressive Democrats actually going to do the things necessary to show they are not only the future of the Party but that they will not screw around with Republican jerks. Tactic #1-- each day the House is in session one Dem files an article of impeachment against Trump (so many things he has done to warrant this that a different action could occur each day).
The Dems must play the power and control game! Otherwise, they won't be in the game! Trump and Musk will grind them to tiny bits! Forget about going high when they go low. Do whatever it takes to win! Suffercate them to Oblivion!
I support all lawmakers who refuse to help the republican majority. Even if it means government shutdown.
I think Leader Jeffries has called the correct move, and here's why:
The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) has made it clear that they will not play along with Trump and the GOP’s budgetary games. For decades, Republicans have relied on Democratic votes to pass government funding bills, and now, progressives are drawing a firm line: no help while Trump and his billionaire allies, like Elon Musk, continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the American people.
This strategy is smart, necessary, and long overdue. As CPC Chair Greg Casar put it, Democrats are using “every legislative, judicial, and public pressure tool” to block Musk’s outsized influence and prevent Trump’s economic agenda from bulldozing through Congress. The GOP’s inability to govern without Democratic assistance gives progressives a crucial leverage point — one they should exploit to the fullest.
Moreover, tying Trump’s economic failures directly to the billionaire class, particularly Musk, is an effective narrative. The CPC’s argument that Musk spent $270 million to help elect Trump and has since grown his wealth by $160 billion highlights the deep corruption at play. By framing the battle as one against billionaire corruption rather than just Trumpism, progressives can rally broader public support.
The historical parallel to the fight over the Affordable Care Act is also apt. When Republicans controlled the government, grassroots resistance, led in part by Democrats, stopped their repeal efforts. Similarly, progressives can make this a defining moment, where Democrats stand firm, refuse to fund Trump’s corrupt policies and force the GOP to either compromise or fail.
Leader Jeffries understands that Democrats cannot afford to be passive participants in Trump’s second-term agenda. Holding the line on budget negotiations and publicly calling out Musk’s influence is the right play. The CPC has found its fight, and it’s one worth waging.
2/2
You have said it well. It’s time to hold the line. Don’t help the Republicans! Just don’t.
But is Jeffries in the CPC? Based on his previous non-action, I'd rather see someone young and fierce leading the charge than Jeffries, Schumer, or God forbid, Schiff.
He's not in the CPC, but the Democrats are banding together to fight against the felon, muskrat and the GOP members in Congress. For youth leadership look at the DNC. David Hogg was named as the assistant director. The director is also much younger than the current leaders in Congress.
Muskrat! I love it!🐀
What matters is that you hey right, not what caucus they are in. We can't change the leadership but we can push them all to act and use every tool available. Focus is what we all need to do, not to debate the minutiae.
I expect the Democrats to fold yet again, and save Johnson - "for the good of the country". But if they demand tough conditions, I expect it is smart. But not just "Fire Musk" - token and symbolic - they need to demand pretty-much everything rolled back.
Peter, the feeling is mutual: I’m also glad I don’t know you either
PS Don’t knock my name; my family take that very personally…and I am no exception to thinking. You’re not obligated to comment so rudely on everything you read; given your tendency, I’d prefer you not read my essays at all.
For what it's worth, that is a comprehensive and thoughtful take. Very thorough and well argued.
Peter
Intelligent, sensible, debate can be helpful and interesting but junior high level, personal profanity laced attacks on others who post here is a colossal waste of time,
And Profanity dilutes the message severely
Thank you. I blocked this guy.
If you want to criticize at least say something constructive. You’re just a Trump/Musk troll with nonsense like this.
Project much??
Actually I do know what that term means. And my vocabulary is large enough that I don’t have to swear or try to demean anybody to get my point across.
I suggest you settle down chum, and take your tablets.
Not cooperating is not enough. Bringing lawsuits, not enough. There needs to be finger in the eye response to every proposal. Musk team needs to be escorted from the government agencies to the court room for arraignment. Payments to his companies impounded and put in escrow, his contracts cancelled, and breech of election finance rule investigated & prosecuted
Musk is not a citizen; he needs to be escorted jail, his companies & wealth impounded & paid against the National Debt, to pay for tax cuts for m/billionaires. tRump also needs to be escorted jail, & his "wealth" impounded & paid against the National Debt.
"Musk is not a citizen."
I understand he has been a US citizen by naturalisation since 2002.
Anyway - I find your post pretty disturbing - the whole point of the US Constitution was to prevent tyranny - to prevent the possibility that people could be hauled off to jail and their assets taken from them, just because the authorities disliked them.
Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.
Skum has 3 citizenships: South Africa, Canada, and USA. Has the law here in America changed? The last time I looked, and indeed all my life, you could only have one.
With due process involved, he would be jailed. If convicted, he would pay.
And he should be deported and never allowed to return.
You can't deport a citizen.
Then he should have his citizenship revoked AND be deported then.
I thought that under FEC law federal contractors weren’t allowed to buy their contracts by contributing to candidates, PACs or campaigns.
That is true, but Musk created dark money PACs for his political activities, and his companies have the government contracts. Elon Musk technically doesn't have anything, and by creating separate entities, he is complying with the law.---Jason
Or did the money is free speech of Citizens United overturn this.
Citizens United gave people like Musk a loophole with dark money.---Jason
And they loathe ostentatious displays of wealth.
What are you talking about? I troll maga streams all the time and they are in LOVE with what he's doing. They legit did find insane govt grants to far left activists, completely illegal. One was a quarter million dollar grant last year to a youtuber feminist who hasn't made a video in 10 years! 9 million to politico (update: I was wrong about this, it wasn't a grant it was a govt subscription to politico. Another peice of disinformation from the right. But much if it was legit.), i mean they were asking for this! The right is eating it up. They love it, even if this shit is a fraction of a % of govt spending to them it might as well be the majority of it. I kidna agree, why tf are we spending tax payer money on partisan donations? it's wrong. I'd be pissed af if the Trump admin started giving million dollar grants to Proud boy youtubers! Essp if they were just taking the money and not even doing anything with it! Go look it up, "feminist frequency", who hasn't made a video in 10 years got a quarter million dollars just last year, and has gotten way more over the last 10 years, so why are we just GIVING this person free money??? It is infuriating, now we're finding out about the govt funding animal "transitioning" experiments... what the hell? The govt should not be involved in this crap. The taxpayers don't want their money going to divisive gender issues without their consent. It's just asking for controversy. They are using all these things to distract us all from the REAL goal of Trump and his billionaire oligarchs, they are taking over our govt for corporate special interests. They are being de-regulated and getting massive tax cuts at the very least. Citizens united was a coup and no one even batted any eye.
Whatever, take the L like a real man. You're victim based ideology has been soundly rejected by society as a whole. I give zero f's what you think. How is it a "bunch of drivel" to think that government agencies should not be engaged in partisan grant giving? You think it's ok to spend tax payer money on grants to political organizations? Only when they are to YOUR side right? Unreal... I bet anything if Trump started giving right wing organizations grants from taxpayer money I'll see you huffing and puffing about it. It's so incredibly disingenuous. If you can't point out the wrongs by your own side you have no right to point out the wrong of the other side.
I agree - there are vast, huge, enormous areas of government waste and extremely dubious spending, which is either trying to pick winners, or to meet the needs of a tiny but vocal special interest that has a set of grievances.
Mind you - military waste and over-spending would swamp everything else a hundred-fold.
But the Heritage Foundation - and its frontmen, Trump, Musk, his incel kids, and the whole Stephen Miller goon squad - will inevitably go into over-reach, and attack all manner of stuff that the people seriously want in their lives.
Democrats must unite to fight the illegal actions of this administration! We can’t have democrats like Fetterman voting with MAGA! We are watching and we will vote you out.
That god damn traitor... he is absolutely the worst.
Fetterman is a turncoat who is hurting us.
Fight like hell,
Resist!
Commit to resist
But first someone should go to the golf course and remind 45 that he is the president?? Maybe take a burger and fries to entice him back to the White House?
Why bother?
He only adds chaos.
Let’s focus while he isn’t looking.
I meant it all sarcastically but I honestly don’t think he’d help in anyway except that 45 bounces from one idea to another while EMusk targets destruction and waits calmly while the action creates death. He’s much more likely to destroy us. See Twitter for further analysis 🧐
It’s typical “wag the dog” politics
It might take a bucket or two of fries to get him off the golf course! 🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟🍟
No! Continue the good work far away from
that moron .
Keep up the good work.
This is all very nice but when are progressive Democrats actually going to do the things necessary to show they are not only the future of the Party but that they will not screw around with Republican jerks. Tactic #1-- each day the House is in session one Dem files an article of impeachment against Trump (so many things he has done to warrant this that a different action could occur each day).
yeah, their words are all very nice. I'm looking for AcTiOn!!
The Dems must play the power and control game! Otherwise, they won't be in the game! Trump and Musk will grind them to tiny bits! Forget about going high when they go low. Do whatever it takes to win! Suffercate them to Oblivion!
When they go low, we go must lower.
We go as low as it takes to win! There's too much at stake to lose! Trump and Musk are the heads of the Coup. They must be "decapitated"!
Find credible dirt on all of them, bring receipts, and make them an offer they can’t refuse. That’s what ya do. ✊🇺🇸😎
Can Greg Casar walk over to the Senate side and show Chuckles Shumer what someone with actual balls looks like?
no shit LimpDuckChuck is a loooooooooooser
YES!!!!! This requires a fight and I’m in!!!!!
Musk needs to not just be fired but charges brought and a hard line maintained to keep what he accessed from causing further problems.
What he did was criminal and crossed the line. No one should be satisfied w just a firing. Trusk is also responsible.
Thank you for fighting for all of us. All of you are greatly admired I wish I had real money to contribute so all of win your battles
I wish you the power to squelch these lowlife bigots forever. Send them to Guantanamo
Shut it down! Don’t lift a finger to help Republicans!