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Trump’s ‘Flooding the Zone’ Has the So-Called Resistance Running in Circles

Posted on Wednesday, February 5, 2025
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by Outside Contributor
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Though headlines and analysts repeatedly claim that the anti-Trump “resistance” is in disarray and that Democrats are struggling to form a coherent message against the administration, many of the cogs in the resistance’s machine continue to turn as though it were the first Trump administration. The only difference is that, this time, Trump is having none of it and driving through his agenda at such a pace that his opposition can’t get its footing.

During the first Trump term, the so-called “deep state” mounted consistent opposition and managed to effectively obstruct his keynote projects. Leakers inside the Department of Homeland Security often thwarted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Pentagon officials opposed to his foreign policy realignment slow-walked his withdrawal orders, notably in Syria. He further saw an antagonistic media repeatedly twist his words and fixate on the Russia collusion narrative. In 2025, intransigent career officials continue to make their frustrations known and the media remains as anti-Trump as ever. 

But it’s a new term and a new Donald Trump. A host of executive orders, unconventional nominees, and sweeping agency reforms have the Washington, D.C., establishment in a panic and, ultimately, unable to do much about anything.

Bureaucrats who slow-walk or otherwise obstruct the implementation of the White House’s orders are on their way out. The media’s emotional appeals on immigration, parading desperate migrants denied entry to the U.S., carry no weight with Trump. Cries of “respect for institutional norms” go unheard. And protesters with multi-colored hair are left to scream into the wind. 

As he enacts sweeping reforms in rapid succession, moreover, he maintains a favorable rating with the public, who seem to view the blitz as an attempt to deliver on what he promised. As of week two, Trump enjoyed a 53% favorability rating in the latest Napolitan News Survey. He enjoys a 49.4% approval in the RealClearPolitics average, compared to 44.8% who disapprove of him.

“We knew the mainstream media was going to come out against anything Trump did,” former National Security Council chief of staff Fred Fleitz said Tuesday on the “John Solomon Reports” podcast. “But the brilliance of rolling out so many ideas so quickly is [that] Trump is flooding the zone, and the media doesn’t know what to focus on.”

The blitz of executive orders, legislative initiatives, and internal agency reforms has even some of his conservative skeptics amazed and opining that the four years of President Joe Biden ultimately produced a more aggressive Trump administration.

“By leaps and bounds. I am legitimately stunned with this level of focus on rooting out the communist filth from the government. 4 years of Biden was well worth it in exchange for this version of Trump,” Jesse Kelly posted.

Codification by Congress

Complicating President Joe Biden’s unilateral student loan debt cancellations was a Supreme Court finding that he lacked congressional authorization to address a fundamentally budget-based issue on his own. Trump is likely to address that issue preemptively in what is expected to be a major budget and border package. The courts have already blocked some of Trump’s initial executive orders, though some went through the litigation process during his first term and have landed more softly.

Immigration items, in particular, are expected to be part of the House’s plans, as are the extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. The process will also present an opportunity for Republicans to give legislative weight to the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) slashing of key agencies.

On the Senate side, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is leading legislative efforts to support DOGE and back the termination of federal employees, especially in the IRS. 

“My Audit the IRS Act will audit the auditors and fire the more than 800 IRS agents who owe millions of dollars in back taxes,” Ernst posted Tuesday in response to a query from Musk about whether the public would like his agency to audit the IRS.

“Prairie Dogging”

Recent efforts by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to gut federal agencies have normally faceless bureaucrats and those with vested interests coming forward to defend them. Such was the case when DOGE visited the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday stepped in as acting USAID director as the agency scrutinizes its disbursements and appears poised to recommend its elimination outright after Musk paid a visit to the agency’s office.

USAID officials, however, evidently tried to put up a fight. Reports emerged over the weekend that senior security officials were placed on leave after they attempted to prevent Musk from accessing restricted portions of the building. That move came on the heels of the administration placing dozens of personnel on leave, bringing the total to roughly 100, according to Reuters.

Musk has openly suggested that USAID engaged in “money laundering”, called it a “criminal organization,” and stated that Trump supports the organization’s elimination. His social media platform, X, meanwhile, has seen a series of stalwart USAID advocates speak up for the organization, only for users to flag their receipt of money through the agency or indirectly through a recipient of USAID funds.

Online pundits noted how beneficiaries of USAID funds came out of the woodwork to object or interfere, with some likening the phenomenon to a prairie dog poking its head out of the ground.

“DOGE already drilled through untold layers of government bureaucracy and found the heart of the Deep State beast. USAID,” Dilbert comic creator Scott Adams posted. “Amazingly, this made all the Deep State puppets in our government ‘prairie dog’ to complain, so we can easily spot them going forward. Don’t miss that part of the show.”

Administrative insubordination and “malicious compliance”

While some officials, such as those USAID security personnel, have opted toward what Secretary of State Marco Rubio called “rank insubordination,” others have taken a more passive-aggressive approach: that of so-called “malicious compliance.” The term addresses situations in which individuals deliberately insist on following every guideline or rule for the purpose of slowing down the process or in which they enforce a provision to a degree beyond what was intended.

Such a development occurred within the Department of Defense over Trump’s order terminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. In what Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., called an act of malicious compliance, the Air Force opted to stop teaching about the Tuskegee Airmen. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speedily reversed the move.

Some agencies have taken to begging Congress and the courts for intervention. The FBI, notably, has faced the prospect of sweeping personnel changes as the Senate appears poised to confirm Kash Patel to lead it. The FBI Agents Association, for instance, wrote to Congress after agents were sent a questionnaire about their roles in Jan. 6 prosecutions.

“We urge you to work with President Trump to prevent acting officials from taking personnel actions that undermine our shared goal of keeping the FBI out of politics,” the association wrote, according to Reuters.

Other FBI agents on Tuesday filed a suit aiming to stop the government from compiling information about the agents who worked on those cases, arguing that they are likely to face some form of retaliation should the administration learn of their involvement.

“Plaintiffs legitimately fear that the information being compiled will be accessed by persons who are not authorized to have access to it,” they wrote, Politico reported. “Plaintiffs further assert that even if they are not targeted for termination, they may face other retaliatory acts such as demotion, denial of job opportunities or denial of promotions in the future.”

Senate Republicans fall in line

In the first term, Trump regularly faced opposition from within the Senate GOP, with many of its members ultimately voting to impeach him after Jan. 6. Many of those figures retired or otherwise left office, however, and the Republican roster is more aligned with Trump this time around.

Nevertheless, a number of old guard Republicans have been hesitant to commit to Trump’s Cabinet nominees, especially those poised to make sweeping changes to major institutions. Republican intransigence was ultimately enough to convince Matt Gaetz to withdraw as Trump’s attorney general nominee, but has not been enough to stop Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thus far.

Meetings with Vice President JD Vance and pressure from the MAGA movement were ultimately enough to win over Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La.; and Todd Young, R-Ind.; on Kennedy and Gabbard, respectively.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, for his part, managed to get over the line to secure confirmation, but only with the tie-breaking vote of Vance as Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Susan Collins, Maine; and Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; joined Democrats to oppose him.

The latter trio are expected to remain obstacles to some Trump nominees and agenda items, but a combination of public pressure and private assurances appears to have kept the overwhelming majority of the conference from breaking ranks.

Ben Whedon joined the Just the News team in March of 2022 after previously working as an editor and national security reporter for Breitbart News.

Reprinted with permission from Just the News – By Ben Whedon

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.

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lana
lana
10 days ago

I pray Trump drowns out the voices of the Demonrats and all the evil they have done in the last 4 years. We are ready for some peace and the chaos they have delivered to us the last 4 years of PURE EVIL they have brought about with all this transgenderism and messing with the young children’s minds!!!!

CLIFFORD F GERACI
CLIFFORD F GERACI
10 days ago

The rats are worried….that’s a good thing.

mikem
mikem
10 days ago

we now have a leader and after four years of jill biden isn’t it exciting. trump is not only the leader of america, he is the leader of the world.

Terry Hobbs
Terry Hobbs
10 days ago

Those three RINOs need to be removed from office and replaced by true Republicans who work for the people who elected them not against them.

Jim Johnson
Jim Johnson
10 days ago

I’m not interested in hearing that these people were just following orders. The Nuremberg trials put that excuse into the ash can of history. Nazi excuses have no place in a democratic society!

Thinking
Thinking
10 days ago

Those 3 RINO senators should be kicked out by the RNC. After 4 years of no president and Adam Schiff and CO running the country. He was not elected president, Pocohantis. Not even appointed to a post. He just took the position. Biden was asleep and Jill was the president. The picture on Air Force one showing her sitting at the presidents desk confirmed it. Her praise after the debate of Joe was also a confirmation moment. You answered every question Joe. Like she didn’t expect him to do that. It sounded to me like she was talking to a kindergartner. Trump will succeed, his agenda is the peoples agenda. And the dems can scream and take him to court. But the judges see the handwriting on the wall. There is a change coming in America. The people in America want it, voted for it. The rest of the world sees the error of the ways of the WEF and the left progressive leaders in their respective country do to. Germany is rumbling to the right. England is hoping for a change of leadership. France and Spain are all feeling the change. The power of the European Union is on the way out. The leadership in Brussels has to change drastically will they keep a United Europe. Global world doesn’t work. Wars don’t work. Dictatorships don’t work. Like Trump said yesterday we have to change the status quo. Try something way outside the box. His Gaza idea is worth pursuing. Because the problems in the Middle East will not change. Trump is putting a hand out to the Palestinians, the Arab states in the region and Israel, to together provide living space in Gaza for the Palestinians. Not go back to a war after everyone has accumulated enough weapons and soldiers to fight again. Because it will. Why not together invest in the Palestinians. If everyone has a stake in rebuilding Gaza maybe they won’t shoot it to pieces in a few years. Trump values life. Will the Arab world go along? Let us hope they will. Their fighting for centuries is over. Let’s rebuild what they have torn down. Life is short people.

Nick
Nick
10 days ago

I want to see charges of insurrection and treason. The Democrat part is refusing to obey a lawful order by the president of the United States. Democrats need to be jailed and definitely just like January 6th no representation just put them in prison. With the Democrats are doing is truly an insurrection and treason. The Democrats have totally come out in favor of waste fraud and abuse with the taxpayer dollars. Pam Bondi needs to start filing charges

GMA
GMA
10 days ago

Cowardly Rats who cannot and will not comply because they want Socialism/Communism must be removed from the Government. And, voters need to pay attention to who in the GOP Party is continuously voting against what the Party wants to accomplish. 3 of those names are in the above article. Do not vote them to remain in Congress. Freedom comes by voting for religion to be honored and respectd/values/morals/laws/discipline to be the tools for our society.

Jerry
Jerry
10 days ago

You go Trump, flood the zone.

Jimmy P
Jimmy P
10 days ago

Personally, I believe that President Trump will be orders of magnitude more successful during this administration compared to if he had still been in office during the last four years. He has learned so much about how despicably corrupt the left is and has masterfully assembled a new team of smart intelligent patriots that will run rings around the anti-American loser left. Buckle up!!!

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
10 days ago

The DOGE Blitz has Hit
Fwd Ho DOGE
DOGE all the way

Nancy Sheets
Nancy Sheets
10 days ago

I am thankful for much beginning to be accomplished to rectified the wrongs of the Liberals and clean up government, so Americal can heal and have the real chance to become great again. Almighty God’s will be done!

Ralph
Ralph
10 days ago

Murkowski, Collins, and McConnell all need voted out in the next primary they face. please our fellow Americans in Alaska, Maine and Kentucky. please find better people for your senators

Stan
Stan
10 days ago

This awesome. Move quickly before Soros paid hard left militant thugs start protesting. Democrats have no clue what’s happening around them, other than shouting “Trump is bad”. Election is over, voters have spoken.

Tom
Tom
10 days ago

Just Look at the things that *USAIDS* was wasting Our money on to see what they are REALLY all about! And it is a GOOD thing that this is coming out into the light of Day! The People are very ANGRY about this and that is a GOOD thing! AS Justice Brandeis said, “The best disinfectant is…SUNSHINE!”

Max
Max
10 days ago

Interesting that AMAC deleted the long version of “Codification by Congress” portion, it was more interesting than the version that is in the article now. AMAC trying to hide something?

anna hubert
anna hubert
10 days ago

Cornered rat is vicious, fighting for life. Will be climbing on the backs of other rats to save itself.

Myrna
Myrna
10 days ago

I think President Trump knows how to pick leaders who will not quit when the going is rough.

Corythack
Corythack
10 days ago

Very good!! Keep ploughing through. It’s going to take a LOT of work to get things in this country WORKING RIGHT

uncleferd
uncleferd
10 days ago

“Democrats” have caused much more damage than, say, clogging a toilet and then, just walking away… and, they don’t care to take ownership of their gross errors, negligence, crimes, attitude, hygiene, non-patriotism, or most of all, their “you owe me” attitude. They don’t really feel their American nationality, and they don’t act like real Americans. In the face of all of that, their arrogance and personal spite make them look stupid.

Bob Putignano
Bob Putignano
10 days ago

I enjoy most of AMAC’s contributors, but they would better help themselves by not repeating the subject line of each article. Instead they should have someone craft & tease a little bit more info about the contents of these articles so that their readers would learn more about the the valuable content that’s inside of these (very worthwhile to read) contributing articles.

Max
Max
10 days ago

Somebody messed up part of this article. I am sure it will be corrected quickly once an AMAC person reads this comment.

JD72457
JD72457
10 days ago

The Gravy Train Has Jumped The Tracks.
Tax Payers Have Paid For Too Many Free Rides.

DonutDon
DonutDon
10 days ago

Last time around Trump was the novice…now he has the mindset needed to usurp the swamp. Speed is of the essence here, and the need for the right people in the right place is paramount! The nay-sayers and leftists cannot be allowed to take a breath. They must be kept off balance and off target as long as possible. It is a real entertainment factor to see them screaming and jumping and acting like idiots in the face of the comprehensive onslaught by Trump and his admin. Still, the opposition are no fools and if given the inch they will take the mile. Anyone who stands with these leftists has lost their way. Anyone who does not see the need is blind to the truth. While it is true, Trump disrupts and disturbs even some of his allies, hopefully they see the same vision….an America that is smart, powerful, well off economically, and strong on the world front. Anything else is our demise. Just my perspective…none other.

Philip Seth Hammersley
Philip Seth Hammersley
9 days ago

While I would not agree with those who think it was good that Trump “lost” in 2020 so he could be stronger now, this blitz is certainly going well so far. Before the creeps can object to one thing, Trump has moved on to another target! They are like dogs chasing their tails! IDK if jackasses ever chase their tales, but that is an even better sight!

Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
9 days ago

Trump and Musk.. 2 guys that are not afraid and love a good fight! SO BRING IT ON LOONY LEFT! GOD BLESS DONALD J TRUMP!

Jon
Jon
10 days ago

Shock and awe works here to, hammer down!

Denise
Denise
10 days ago

The Lion has roared and the prey is running scared. The bloat, waste, flat out theft in “government” has been needing to be purged for lotsa years. But not just the FBI or as it’s well known in some areas “the federal bureau of intimidation”. Another jack boot bunch who need taking out is the ATF. For those who follow the glut of gun laws the ATF are Swat on steriods.

SubaruGuru
SubaruGuru
7 days ago

It’s nice to see something approaching a common sense mindset returning to governmental attitudes. Maybe we have a fighting chance for maintenance of and recovery to conventional conservative values. I’m talking flushing the Education lefties down the toilet and all the stupid woke thinking and transgender teaching in schools…and getting back to being fiscally responsible with government spending. If I can’t spend more than comes into my house than neither can the government.

Judy Ross
Judy Ross
9 days ago

What he says is happening is what we’ve seen. When it’s obvious that the President has the good of the country as the mission, so why would the dumbocraps thwart him? Sick.
Forewarned is forearmed.

Jay H.
Jay H.
9 days ago

When will we stop using quotes from the so called news organization “politico” aka:politicrapo?? Musk uncovered that USAID was used by the bidung administration to pay $26 million to politicrapo in 2024 to only put out positive bidung admin stories. I hope President Trump demands a refund!!!!

Rich
Rich
6 days ago

Isn’t it interesting what a true leader can do when faced with problems. President Trump is doing what Joe couldn’t (wouldn’t) do for the benefit of America. Instead of moaning and complaining about the “other” administration and pointing fingers, this President is moving ahead on his promises and doesn’t care what the others think. Hopefully the American people will continue to stand behind him to do what has to be done to save this nation and not grow weak kneed and side tracked by the liberal media that is still left to bring chaos and fear. We can now see the failed efforts of so many career politicians and what patriots and actual business leaders can do. MAGA!

CarlS
CarlS
7 days ago

Draining the SWAMP

Peggy Beard
Peggy Beard
7 days ago

DADDY’S HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alicia
Alicia
7 days ago

It’s interesting that no one is willing to discuss the issues highlighted by Doge. Trump and his elected team are the solution. I truly hope that people don’t get distracted by all the noise. Change is coming. It’s difficult, but someone has to take action!

James D
James D
8 days ago

Some FBI Agents are starting to sound very nervous indeed! If you guys (and gals) worked investigations into J-6 and your work was honorable and above board, you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about! On the other hand, if your work was partisan and bias in any way, you deserve EXACTLY what you get!

Ben Martinez
Ben Martinez
9 days ago

Great article for patriots.

Pete
Pete
5 days ago

Matt Goetz was disruptive in a manner that didn’t move anything forward. Better off without him, IMO.

stella
stella
8 days ago

This goes as far back as the DEMOCRATS GO . … So , you ain’t seen nothing yet ! Carl Higbee had all the CLINTON’S at the trough , raking in billion’s . If any person out there ever votes for the DEM’S again they need a swift kick !

Charles Jacques
Charles Jacques
7 days ago

I am a Libertarian leaning conservative, but the obvious conflicts of interest of Musk in his efforts to do the DOGE work and the increasingly fascist feeling of the administrations response to anyone questioning them on principle leaves me uneasy. For the first time in my life, I may vote democrat in congressional and senate elections in 2026 to send a message that there needs to be some moderation.

Linda Mcmahon
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