SATURDAY: Commander hears and tackles the WHO!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025

Is a modern American Samson tearing the pillars down? In the realm of children's books, Horton famously heard a Who. 

Last week, a certain commander—he may also be a nutcase!—wrestled the WHO to the ground.

The WHO in question here is the World Health Organization. Our story starts with a news report from the New York Times on the day the commander took office:

Trump Withdraws U.S. From World Health Organization

President Trump moved quickly on Monday [January 20] to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, a move that public health experts say will undermine the nation’s standing as a global health leader and make it harder to fight the next pandemic.

In an executive order issued about eight hours after he took the oath of office, Mr. Trump cited a string of reasons for the withdrawal, including the W.H.O.’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic,” and the “failure to adopt urgently needed reforms.” He said the agency demands “unfairly onerous payments” from the United States, and complained that China pays less.

According to the commander—he may also be a Samson—the WHO had been demanding "onerous payments" from Us. The WHO had been requiring that They pay much, much less.

For that reason, the commander had announced his plan to take a hike from the WHO. The Times report didn't attempt to state any numbers regarding those onerous payments.

This Times report never appeared in print editions. Apparently, it wasn't deemed important enough. Online, the Times report does include this correction:

A correction was made on Jan. 21, 2025: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the WHO’s $6.8 billion budget. It is the organization’s biennial budget, not annual.

One years? Two years? Was it "close enough for journalistic work?" In this vale of tears, had it seemed to make a big difference?

At any rate, the commander had quickly announced his plan to abandon the WHO. One day later, CNN added some numbers to the mix:

What is the World Health Organization and why does Trump want to leave it?

[...]

There is also a financial aspect to Trump’s animosity. The president has previously said that the US contributes around $500 million a year to WHO, compared to China’s $40 million, despite its far larger population.

As he signed Monday’s executive order, Trump was asked whether, as president during Covid-19, he appreciated the importance of agencies like WHO.

“I do, but not when you’re being ripped off like we are,” he replied.

The commander said we were being ripped off—and CNN cited his numbers. But were his numbers accurate?

Within a very lengthy report, CNN made no attempt to say. On January 27, it fell to a reporter at the Fox News site to take the story further. 

Regarding those numbers, the commander had gone on and on, then on and on, at a Las Vegas rally. As you scan the Fox News report, please note the reference to the fact check from NPR:

Trump open to considering re-entry into World Health Organization: 'They'd have to clean it up'

President Donald Trump said he was open to potentially rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO), just days after he signed a Day One executive order that withdrew the U.S. from the international group.

During a rally at Circa Resort & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas, the president told those in attendance that it was unfair a country like China, with a population much greater than the U.S., was only paying a fraction of what the U.S. was paying annually to the WHO.

"We paid $500 million a year and China paid $39 million a year despite a much larger population. Think of that. China's paying $39 million to have 1.4 billion people, we pay $500 million we have—no one knows what the hell we have, does anyone know? We have so many people pouring in we have no idea," Trump told rally goers on Saturday.

"They offered me at $39 million, they said 'We'll let you back in for $39 million,' they're going to reduce it from [$500 million] to [$39 million], and I turned them down, because it became so popular I didn't know if it would be well received even at [$39 million], but maybe we would consider doing it again, I don’t know, they have to clean it up a bit." 

An analysis of national contributions to the WHO from NPR found that the U.S. pays for roughly 10% of the WHO's budget, while China pays about 3%.

[Bracketed insertions by Fox News]

The commander had said he might beat back his great anger and walk back his stand. First, though, the WHO would have to offer a better deal regarding those crazy payments.

Meanwhile, there you saw the specific numbers the commanders had been citing. It was much as CNN had said:

Thanks to the rip-off by the WHO, We had to pay $500 million. Meanwhile, They gained admission to the WHO for only $39 million.

To its (minor) credit, the Fox News report had cited an NPR fact-check. As of a few days ago, we were still unable to find any other fact-checks of those numbers. With this, as with so much of his madness, Blue news orgs had decided to let the commander's angry claims go.

Fox News linked to the NPR fact-check. At this site, we'd already seen it—and sure enough! When we reviewed it, Sad!

We'd already seen the NPR effort. Eventually, it offers a surprise:

Assessing Trump's claim that U.S. pays 'unfair' share of dues to WHO

Newly inaugurated, President Trump took a set of thick, black sharpies on Monday [January 20] and signed a flurry of executive orders—including one that has people in the global health community deeply concerned. That order would withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, a U.N. global health agency the U.S. helped found in 1948.

As he penned his name to the order, Trump began by saying, "Ooh, that's a big one." He then offered a set of spontaneous remarks about the rationale behind the withdrawal, which focused on what he and his team perceive as an unfair allocation of dues.

He noted that the U.S. pays WHO $500 million annually compared to China's $39 million contribution. But Trump raised the point: Should the U.S. pay so much more than China when its population (1.4 billion people) is way larger than the American population (341 million estimate by the Census Bureau).

"Seemed a little unfair to me," he said.

[...]

The World Health Organization receives funding from two pots. The first is a set of assessed contributions from its nearly 200 member states. Each assessment is determined by the United Nations and based on a country's "capacity to pay," which involves both the size of its population and wealth. Member states vote to approve the assessments at the World Health Assembly every other year. For the years 2024-2025, WHO says that number has been set at $264 million for the U.S. and $181 million for China.

Say what? According to the WHO, the actual numbers differ from those the excited commander had blared. 

"For the years 2024-2025" (whatever that means), the actual numbers were now said to be this:

Us: $264 million 
Them:  $181 million 

According to the NPR fact-check, that's what the WHO said. Meanwhile, are those numbers accurate? As with CNN, so too here:

The NPR fact-check never attempted to say. 

For the record, the fact-check had been composed by a "freelance contributor" to a minor NPR site. And from there, the NPR fact-check drifted off into what we would regard as a conceptual La-La Land.  

You can review where it went for yourself. We'd call the conceptual cluelessness massive from that point on.

(Frankly, we weep when we see it! When we see that this seems to be the best our own Blue America can do at this (very late) date.)

In conclusion, we offer a summary:

The commander had leaped into action, assailing the rip-off by the fiendish WHO. Below, you see the numbers he constantly cited—and you see some (possible) alternate facts:

Numbers according to the commander:
Us: $500 million 
Them:  $39 million 

Numbers according to the WHO:
Us: $264 million 
Them:  $181 million

Which set of numbers is accurate? We know of no sign that anyone cares. But if the WHO's numbers are accurate, the commander had done it again!

Is the commander also a madman? Beyond that, is he possibly a Samson, tearing the pillars of the American project down?

Is the commander also a Samson? Is he a stone-cold nut?

Is the commander a nutcase? Over here in Blue America, does anyone actually care enough to actually try to find out?

Discourse on method: We last searched for fact-checks earlier this week. More than a week after the commander's initial action, only that NPR effort appeared. 

As that fact-check continues, we regard its reasoning as remarkably hapless. This seems to be the best we massively self-impressed Blues are able to do at this point.

Is a Samson pulling the pillars down? What keeps us from floating a "yes?"

44 comments:

  1. The commander is a psychopath. The end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So Musk's autogolpe is running full steam, the demented psychopath has no idea about anything other than America is being ripped off and DEI bad; and TDH serves up this nonsense? $500 M will get you a short 4 lane bridge. FFS focus on the end of Democracy. Focus on Project 2025. This is really scary stuff. End of Democracy promised, end of Democracy being delivered.

      Delete
    2. And also, Somerby will continue to post about gutfeld.

      Delete

  2. They get (or were getting, anyway) most of their money from the US, and they are mostly useless grossly overpaid bureaucrats.

    Why is it bothering you so much, Bob? It seems like a minor, hardly noticeable development. Are you prejudiced towards our new president, by chance?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. “Prejudiced towards?” Is this what your Dictionary of English for Foreign Trolls tells you is the correct phrasing?

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    2. Everyone has pre-judged Trump, and found him to be a moronic, multi-bankruptcy filing business failure, with a huge bigot streak.
      The Left thinks that's disqualifying for a President of the USA, while the Right only cares about that last point.

      Delete
    3. No "towards" in Albanian Soros-bot farms, Soros-bot?

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    4. 10:31 is correct, “towards” is embarrassingly improper grammar, and it sounds laughably bad to any native English speaker.

      Delete
    5. Wow, Albanian Soros-bots really hate "towards".

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  3. It really is a shame that the Right hates DEI because it might help a minority, and not because they fear unqualified job candidates are getting hired.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The CDC has removed its "Transgender guidance" page from its website.

    The sane are back in charge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you seen what Trump wants to be bribed for putting it back?

      Delete
    2. When you think being transgender is a problem, you’ve lost the plot, as well as your credibility.

      Delete
    3. Thank God 'cause calling my daughter's friend Chester instead of Chelsea was so f'ing hard on me. This manly decisive action will surely fix all that ails this suddenly failing nation.

      Delete
    4. Poor Chester. His mother is going to take him to get neutered because it will impress her friends and his father probably isn't there to stop her.

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    5. Unlike you, Chester is a grown ass married man with a biological child who accepts people with different lifestyles. Unlike you, Chester's wife and mother love him. Unlike you, Chester is not a bigoted weirdo fixated on stuff that has zero impact on him.

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  5. Regardless of any disparity, thanks to The Commander, readers of this blog have learned as of today that China contributes a grossly disproportionately lower amount than the US.

    The Commander is smarter than his detractors.

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    Replies
    1. Fake news.
      Where's the long division form?

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    2. 10:41,
      Now do the capital gains vs. income tax rates.

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    3. Disproportionate if all you look at is population. Not disproportionate if you also take wealth into account.

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    4. Yes, why should the richest most powerful nation in the world demonstrate its concern for the globe, and garner good will over its evil adversaries by taking the lead in World Health. We should be backbench snipers. Let the world know China is stable (unlike the absurd Felon led US) and should be looked to for health, economic, and military support. We will now call bankrupting an organization winning!, just like a convicted felon's casino.

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    5. The Commander is rabid and bites secret service agents.

      Delete
  6. President Trump is a very effective leader:

    https://jabberwocking.com/a-scorecard-so-far-of-the-trump-revenge-presidency/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trump hates the same people I do (Republican voters).

      Delete
    2. Yeah it’s been a pretty bad couple of weeks for Trump and his keystone cops admin, and it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better.

      Us Republicans need to realize that Trump is going to to ruin the party, and we need a plan.

      Delete
    3. Us Republicans don’t care about the party. We care about President Trump.

      Delete
  7. New rules. "Going forward, DoD Components and Military Departments will not use official resources, to include man-hours, to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months, including National African American/Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month. Service members and civilians remain permitted to attend these events in an unofficial capacity outside of duty hours."

    Feminists and perverts ruined it for everyone else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In its place, hegseth has declared “hug a rapist” celebrations will now be instituted in all branches of the armed services. Also a day dedicated to “drunk bosses.”

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    2. Why is Trump wasting my hard-earned tax dollars on the Deep State military, in the first place.
      It's Day Twelve. When's he going to get to work on the things we elected him to do?

      Delete
    3. You wanna start comparing perverts you sexist weirdo? We can start with the Commander and fellow child rapist Gaetz. Hegseth only seems to have abused adult women so god for him???

      Delete
  8. I found out from reading this blog that Republicans have everyone but themselves to blame for Trump.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Trump is like an angry toddler, if angry toddlers were also fascist, raping fraudsters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. As long as idiot-Democrats are triggered, I know everything is all right.

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    2. Yep, that’s what it’s all about, 11:08. That’s all politics and government should ever be about.

      Delete
  10. Hmmm
    “The female pilot killed in the helicopter collision with a passenger jet in Washington DC will not be named, the US Army said.

    The army made the a highly unusual decision at the request of the family not to release the name of one of the three soldiers killed when a military Black Hawk collided with a passenger jet on Wednesday evening.”

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    Replies
    1. Hmmm indeed. They don’t want to be targets of right-wing violence. Let’s see if the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, respects their wishes.

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    2. Hmmm, the female passenger was up to something something. abetting the disaster because her family doesn't want to be attacked by creepy monsters like DiC.

      Hmmm, The aircraft pilot white male, the helicopter pilot white male. The air traffic controller white male.

      But the Weirdo Brigade is going to pile unfounded nonsense in a disgusting and weak attempt to back up the idiot Commander in Chiefs toxic, sexist, and completely unfounded (especially at the time) remarks on causation. When nobody knew much of anything. Shame on you DiC, and shame on your demented Commander. You folks could try this. It was a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all impacted by this tragedy. We have the best people investigating what happened to assure this never happens again.

      Hmmm. It really isn't hard being normal and not constantly spreading hate, bigotry, and stupidity. Try it some time.

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    3. Remember when buttigieg was blamed for every transportation disaster? I say this is Sean duffy’s fault. I mean, since Trump and the gop love to point fingers, just never at themselves.

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    4. The female pilot doesn't have the same inherent skills as a male and, relying on visual guidance, likely failed to correctly estimate the relative locations of the two crafts, or choked when she finally did.

      Delete
    5. Your fellow Trump cultists would need to take time out from hurling shit at Michael Fannone’s mother in her yard in order to direct their attention at this unfortunate woman’s family.

      Delete
  11. Trump reading his own policy from 2019 as the reason for the DC crash, has got to be one of the funniest things ever, if it weren’t for the fact that it’s just Trump covering his ass for yet another failure leading to a tragic loss of lives.

    Trump is the Grim Reaper incarnate.

    ReplyDelete
  12. "Trump administration officials began releasing significant amounts of water from two dams in California’s Central Valley on Friday.

    The releases have sent water toward low-lying land in the Central Valley, and none of it will reach Southern California, water experts said.

    Nonetheless, President Trump said that the same action would have prevented the Los Angeles wildfires on the other side of mountain ranges over which that water has no way of traveling."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Dear Commander told me the Giant Water Valve, "is bigger than this room", and "takes four very large men 24.hours to open." He told me this valve was in "Northern California." Therefore you must be lying as My Dear Commander never talks shtt.

      Delete
  13. Secretary Pete Hegseth has EVICTED the New York Times, NPR, NBC, and Politico from their Pentagon offices to make room for One America News Network, the New York Post, Breitbart News Network, and HuffPost.

    ReplyDelete