Senate Dysfunction: A Feature, Not a Bug, for the War Machine
📰 THE STORY: Bloomberg reports on a procedural vote's failure in the Senate, potentially leading to a government shutdown over a DHS funding bill. Senators Budd (R-NC) and Durbin (D-IL) discuss the impasse, while NYC Mayor Mamdani addresses city-state relations and PG&E's CEO talks data center demand. It's presented as standard Washington drama. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical
Context: Remember the 'fiscal cliff' debates and government shutdowns of 2013-2019? Each time, the 'crisis' narrative successfully diverted public attention from skyrocketing defense budgets. The same playbook was used after the US spent $2 trillion over 20 years in Afghanistan (2001-2021), only to leave it destabilized, with the media then pivoting to domestic 'budget woes' to justify cuts in
social spending. Double Standard: While the Senate's failure to pass domestic funding is framed as a critical national problem requiring urgent 'bipartisan compromise,' the US (and its allies) routinely bypass such 'procedural hurdles' when it comes to funding proxy wars or regimes. For example, the US funnels $3.8 billion annually in military aid to the Netanyahu government, often rubber-stamped
with minimal debate, even as it bombs civilian infrastructure deemed 'critical' by same US officials. Follow the Money: Government shutdowns and 'fiscal crises' rarely impact the flow of funds to the military-industrial complex. In fact, such chaos often provides cover for last-minute authorizations or special provisions. Defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon don't see their