4.2 Struggles in the Government

"The Failure of the Republican health care bill reveals a party unready to govern" 

1. How has Trump impacted the timeline for Republicans to get a repeal & replace bill for Obamacare passed?

Paul Ryan spent months promising to repeal and replace Obamacare, but Donald Trump did not endorse it properly and was impatient. After just 20 days, Trump was tired of the cumbersome process and demanded it to end.

2. What did Trump and Ryan do to attempt to place the blame on Democratic congressmen?
They are calling out Democrats for not voting on it, yet neither actually attempted to persuade them over.

3. How do Trump & Ryan predict voters will see the failures of Obamacare, if the program gets worse?
Trump thinks that Obamacare will "explode," and when that happens, Democrats will be more willing to work with them.

4. Why was it so easy for Republicans to criticize Obamacare under Obama's presidency?
Republicans could selectively immerse themselves in biased news that only exaggerated or made up news about the act's shortcomings while ignoring its successes or details. It was easy to make promises when they did not have the ability to actually try to implement them, because actual making of the policy is complicated and slow.

5. What are the results of Republicans deciding to never compromise any policy principals under Obama's presidency?
If they never learn to compromise, they will suffer legislative defeats like that of the American Health Care Act for all on their agenda. 

"Is the White House Blaming Paul Ryan for the Failed Health Care Bill?"

6. How is Trump using Twitter as the "bully pulpit"?
After the failure of the health care bill, Trump told his followers to watch Fox News on the night that anchorwoman Jeanine Pirro called out Ryan to step down, indirectly turning his followers against him and Republican Congressmen on the bill.

7. What message is he trying to get across to his followers that he won't say publically?

He wants to make the people believe that the failure of the health care bill is not his fault at all and entirely on Paul Ryan and Congress Republicans.

8. Why would it be important for the Trump administration that the media blame Republican allies?
He wants to keep his followers/supporters loyal to him, so he has to distance himself from the failure as much as possible.

9. If Trump voters blame Republican allies, how does that help Trump gain more control in the party?
The blame is on the ideological divide within the Republican Party rather than on Trump, which makes Trump seem like a reliable figure over Republican leaders who have failed in this health care bill.

10. Why would Trump adviser Steve Bannon (the former Breitbart editor) want to put blame on Paul Ryan?
For the same reason why all of Trump's closest advisers and staff are sticking by him... they want to maintain public support for their boss, so they're shifting the fault onto Ryan rather than Trump.

4.1 Sixth Amendment and Trump

What Will Happen to Americans Who Can't Afford an Attorney?

1. What does the Legal Services Corporation do?

The nonprofit corporation was created in 1974 and funds over a hundred civil legal-aid programs throughout the country.

2. How is this different than the role played by public defenders?

Public defenders such as attorneys are constitutionally-mandated to everyone going through the criminal justice system and experience budget issues, but civil legal-aid programs get their funding and support from parties, governments, private foundations, and other nonprofit groups. 

3. Which types of states end up getting the most help from this agency? 

Poor states rely on LSC greatly. 

4. What types of cases are they typically involved in?

They provide assistance in a wide range of cases, both criminal and civil. They can help deal with foreclosures and evictions, domestic violence and family issues, veterans benefits, consumer protection, etc. 

5. How do these services help save communities money?

They reduce the number of people from being homeless or from getting their house foreclosed, which increases the community's value. 

6. Why can't the lawyers who work for the program advocate for the program?

There are federal rules that prevent legal organizations from lobbying/participating in policy-making process. 

7. Why is this more prominent in rural areas than urban areas?

Rural areas are more heavily populated with older people who face more legal issues and are in greater need of assistance. Also, people in rural areas who are poor and less educated have fewer other options to turn to. 

8. Explain how this agency can be seen as an extension of 6th Amendment civil liberties.

The 6th Amendment guarantees right to counsel for all, so the LSC acts as legal counseling for the underpriviledged and indigent. 

9. Explain how this agency can be seen as an unnecessary government expenditure.   

These organizations still receive federal funding, with the amount varying based on the state's size and location. For example, Nevada Legal Services get 52% of its budget from federal funding. Thus, Republicans, who tend to be against public assistance programs, have pushed to gut the funding of such organizations.