Chapter 40
The End of Trump II.
The Boston Globe
June 2, 2025
Tom Wingate opened the meeting of the climate spotlight team.
“OK we just survived a truly dark day with the early morning passage of the big beautiful budget bill in the House. How can we put the results of all this in perspective?”
E. “The end of the American Empire, the end of human civilization?”
G. “Give me a break Ericka.”
T. “Silvia?”
S. “I think it marks the end of the first part of the Trump administration.”
T. “How do you mean that?”
S. “Well, First, I have to give credit where credit is due. I’m astounded with the pure feral energy of Trump and his crew.
After 128 days of their energetic cruelty, they have managed to destroy our government, derail our efforts to slow global warming, and cut clean energy investment by 14 trillion dollars.
Second, Musk has slunk out of the White House under a haze of drugs. A huge portion of the country now despises him, and tesla and Space X are on the ropes.
Then last night three judges appointed by Ronald Reagan, Obama and Trump himself, unanimously agreed that Trump’s tariffs are illegal.
Finally, Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is being stymied by Senators in his own party.”
T. “So, what does all that mean?”
S. “That the first phase of Trump’s second term, his flood the zone, shock and awe blitzkrieg is over. Without Musk, or his power to levy tariffs, and now his lack of momentum to enact his ‘big beautiful bill, Trump is only left with his own vindictive rage.
He will continue to rage against judges, and take whatever he can to the Supreme Court, but the frenzy of part 1 of his administration is now over. There will still be bonkers executive orders and many headlines but so far, much of his damage has been contained. He will still grab headlines and rage on, but he has lost most of his real power to continue to do so much harm.”
T. “We hope you are right Silvia.”
E. “So should we shut down our Spotlight on the environment team?”
T. “Unfortunately not. Trump may be less powerful but humanity still seems bent on destroying the only planet we’ve got.”
E. “The real story isn’t Trump. It’s the wildfires in Manitoba, heat waves in the ocean, and the coming Hot Octopus Summer. It doesn’t matter much what humans do to slow global warming. This is the new normal and it’s going to keep getting warmer, as we pass tipping point after tipping point, on our way to the coming climate collapse.”
G. “Optimistic Ericka!”