SLorantes

Here to support mutual understanding and well-being, health, sustainability, science, peace, & protecting our planet. #ClimateAction

[The Tennessee Holler @TheTNHoller]

ICYMI: “They died telling their stories. DOGE isn’t real. THIS is real. F*ck Elon Musk.”

9/11 First Responders rip Musk & DOGE after Trump’s administration cut funding for the World Trade Center health program.

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

When Trump was sworn in, Elon Musk's corporations were under more than 32 investigations conducted by at least 11 federal agencies.

Most of the cases are now closed or likely to be closed soon, and the federal agencies are being defanged by DOGE.

Funny how that works, huh?

[POLITICO @politico]

USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks https://t.co/Jbw6BM5spk

[Craig Spencer MD MPH @Craig_A_Spencer]

Because with startling speed, the U.S. is turning its back on global health.

In doing so, it is endangering other nations, and also itself.

We will regret this.

Share this gift link widely! ⬇️

https://t.co/yvY44BvyOb

[Senator Mark Kelly @SenMarkKelly]

Just left Ukraine. What I saw proved to me we can’t give up on the Ukrainian people. Everyone wants this war to end, but any agreement has to protect Ukraine’s security and can’t be a giveaway to Putin. Let me tell you about my trip and why it’s important we stand with Ukraine.🧵

[A @bluhue123]

Musk says he wants to “eliminate” programs like Social Security and Medicare: “Entitlements... That’s the big one to eliminate”

Raise ✋ if you want Musk out of our government

[SLorantes @slorantes]

Trump/Musk: feeding children & supporting local farmers are no longer ‘priorities'.

‼️Food programs that help build a more resilient food supply chain are cut as schools "are becoming increasingly anxious about affording healthy food" and more people are turning to food banks.

[Ⓜ️Ⓜ️ Lauren Ashley Davis -OG Meidas Mighty 🦅 @Meidas_LaurenA]

USDA cancels $1B in local food purchasing for schools, food banks

States have been notified that they will not receive 2025 funding for schools to buy food from nearby farms.

https://t.co/XxgZ2zjuLs

[Eva P @Eva_eva_P]

@Acyn Musk calls earned benefits 'entitlements' to make them sound like handouts = easier to justify cuts.
This isn't about 'efficiency' but a choice:
1⃣ Keep social programs or
2⃣ Give massive tax cuts to billionaires.
❌ You can't do both.

[SilenceBeDamned🇺🇸🦅 @SilenceDamned]

Alright, I told GROK, let’s fact-check Elon Musk’s claims about waste, fraud, and entitlement spending being the "big one" to eliminate, as well as his assertion that it’s the Democrats’ secret weapon to "attract and retain illegal immigrants." Buckle up, because we’re diving into the numbers, the logic, and the absurdity.

### Fact-Checking Musk’s Claims

#### Claim 1: "Most of the federal spending is entitlements… that’s the big one to eliminate."
Fact-Check: True on the first part, exaggerated on the second. Entitlements—think Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—do make up a hefty chunk of federal spending. In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. federal budget was about $6.1 trillion. Mandatory spending (which includes entitlements) accounted for roughly $4.1 trillion, or about 67% of the total, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Social Security alone was $1.4 trillion, Medicare $1 trillion, and Medicaid $650 billion. So, yes, Elon’s right that "most" federal spending is entitlements—math checks out.

But "eliminate"? That’s where it gets wild. Social Security and Medicare are wildly popular programs, funding retirement and healthcare for millions of Americans who’ve paid into them their whole lives. Eliminating them entirely would mean yanking the rug out from under 66 million Social Security recipients and 65 million Medicare beneficiaries—many of whom are, shockingly, legal citizens. Good luck selling that to the public, Elon. The pitch: "Hey, Grandma, no more checks or doctor visits—freedom!" Bold strategy, but probably not a vote-winner.

Verdict: Half-true. Entitlements are the majority of spending, but "eliminate" is a fever dream unless Musk wants to start a revolution among the elderly.

#### Claim 2: "The waste and fraud in entitlement spending" is a major issue to tackle.
Fact-Check: Waste and fraud exist, but they’re not the budget-busting boogeyman Musk implies. Let’s break it down:

- Social Security: The Social Security Administration’s Inspector General reported improper payments (including fraud) of about $9.8 billion in 2023—less than 1% of its $1.4 trillion budget. Most of that isn’t even fraud; it’s clerical errors or overpayments due to outdated records (like not marking someone deceased). Fraud cases—like fake 150-year-olds cashing checks—are rare and anecdotal, not systemic.
- Medicare: The Government Accountability Office estimates improper payments at about $51 billion in 2023, or roughly 5% of its budget. Again, most of this is billing errors or overpayments, not Oceans Eleven-style heists. Actual fraud (intentional deception) is a smaller slice.
- Medicaid: Improper payments were around $50 billion, or 7-8% of its $650 billion budget. Some of this ties to eligibility errors, but linking it to "illegal immigrants" is a leap—we’ll get to that next.

Total improper payments across these programs? About $110 billion annually. That’s real money, but it’s less than 3% of the $4.1 trillion in mandatory spending. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) might trim some fat here, but it’s not the "big one" driving the deficit—$1.7 trillion in 2023 says tax cuts and discretionary spending deserve a side-eye too.

Verdict: Exaggerated. Waste and fraud are issues, but they’re a drop in the entitlement bucket, not the main course.

#### Claim 3: Entitlements are "the mechanism by which the Democrats attract and retain illegal immigrants."
Fact-Check: This is where Musk’s tinfoil hat shines brightest. The idea is that Democrats are dangling Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid like catnip to lure undocumented immigrants, who then stay and somehow vote blue. Let’s dismantle this:

[𝔗𝔯𝔲𝔱𝔥 𝔐𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 @politicsusa46]

Here is my grab a coffee, take the weight off and listen clip for Today. George Mombiot is a British journalist, author, and environmental and political activist for whom I have great respect.

He absolutely nails the dangers we currently face.

[SLorantes @slorantes]

Caring about climate change transcends political differences. People who care can make a difference by speaking up about it to your friends, neighbors, family members, and elected representatives. We are also eyewitnesses.

[republicEn.org @republicEn]

I'm not a Liberal, but I care about climate change. Click the video below & sign the Petition: Conservative Climate Leadership in America. 🇺🇸

[Greg Palast @Greg_Palast]

It’s our job as Americans: to end the purges, the vigilante challenges, the ballot rejections and the attitude that this is all somehow OK. Democracy can win, despite the 2.3% suppression headwind.

See full @Thom_Hartmann interview.

▶️ https://t.co/fvwTFrAAJo

#VotingRights

[Théo Quintard @TheoQuintard]

🎥 Gregg Popovich spoke at length about the American elections between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Full answer 👇

[SLorantes @slorantes]

@TheoQuintard He is so right. Our children & grandchildren were harmed by the bullying & poisonous rhetoric Trump spread. The damage to our environment continues. My aunt died in April 2020 because of his COVID lies. Vote for the only ticket that can keep him from unchecked power this time.

[TrumpsTaxes (@trumpstaxes.com on bsky) @TrumpsTaxes]

Everyone must watch all 8 minutes and 24 seconds of this speech by Michelle Obama.

It might be the finest I’ve ever heard on the topic of abortion rights, as well as the stakes in this election for American women…and the men who love them.

Share widely

[Headquarters @HQNewsNow]

Must-watch: @MichelleObama makes powerful case for why men should care about reproductive freedom

[Democratic Wins Media @DemocraticWins]

BREAKING: Michelle Obama just laid into Donald Trump like no one has before. Retweet to make sure all Americans see this takedown

[Headquarters @HQNewsNow]

NEW AD: Because of Donald Trump, Ondrea almost lost her life.

She lives with the daily reminder of what Trump did.

[Headquarters @HQNewsNow]

Gov. Walz: Elon was on that stage jumping around skipping like a dipshit. That guy is literally the richest man in the world, spending millions of dollars to help Donald Trump buy an election. Trump has already promised that he would put Elon in charge of government regulations that oversee the businesses that Elon runs. In other words, Trump is openly promising corruption

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

We don’t need four more years of arrogance and bumbling and bluster and division under Donald Trump.

America is ready for a better story – we’re ready for a President @KamalaHarris.