While we were all watching the public side show this week, Trump added to another executive order that has the potential to kill and harm millions. (It will kill and harm 100s of thousands, but millions are likely). Each GOP President since Reagan has enacted “Mexico City rules” that limit funding to international organizations that might support abortion in developing countries. Typically, this is to the tune of about $600M/year. And it hurts human beings every time we do it, but in the past it has not been anywhere near as all-encompassing as the new Trump rules. Trump’s order will cut out $8.8BILLION in funds to these organizations. Groups that do family planning, and especially harmful will cut funds to groups that support HIV/AIDs and malaria prevention/treatment. This is literally sentencing people to death in many cases.

The HIV/AIDs and malaria programs were a hallmark of the George W. Bush administration — arguably the single best thing he ever did, and people across the African continent LOVE Bush and the US for these programs. Bush chose to lead the way in funding for health programs, and most of the industrialized world followed suit and increased funding. Obama further enhanced this. And now Trump is KILLING it, and the people it helps.

btw, a good bit of this money went through the defense budget. Because defense experts realize that the best way to defend our country is to MAKE PEOPLE LIKE US BY HELPING THEM. There is no better defense. And we just blew it. Again.

The Washington Post has nice coverage here of the order.