The Swamp Giveth, the Swamp Taketh Away, Then the Swamp Giveth Again
Okay, so Trump's back on his bullshit, renominating Jared Isaacman to run NASA? I mean, again? This is like watching a reality TV show where the producers clearly ran out of ideas five seasons ago.
First, the guy gets the nod. Then, poof, nomination gone faster than you can say "Space Force." Now, suddenly, he's the chosen one again? What changed? Did Trump finally realize that maybe, just maybe, having someone who actually knows something about space might be a good idea? Or did Elon Musk whisper sweet nothings into Trump's ear again? We'll probably never know.
The Billionaire Space Club
Isaacman, for those who don't follow the comings and goings of billionaire space enthusiasts, is a big deal. He's got the cash (thanks to Shift4, that payments company he founded when he was practically still in diapers) and he's got the space cred, having ponied up for a couple of private flights. He's buddies with Musk, which, in Trump's world, probably counts for more than, say, actual qualifications. Trump renominates Musk ally Jared Isaacman to run NASA months after withdrawal.
But here's the thing: does NASA really need another billionaire with a space hobby at the helm? I get it, space is cool again. Everyone wants to be Jeff Bezos or Richard Branson. But running NASA ain't the same as launching yourself into orbit for a joyride. It's about science, research, and, you know, not blowing billions of taxpayer dollars on vanity projects.
And let's not forget the whole "prior associations" drama that Trump used as an excuse to yank Isaacman's nomination in the first place. Apparently, donating to Democrats is a bigger crime than, I don't know, trying to overthrow the government these days.
Isaacman, bless his heart, seems genuinely enthusiastic about the whole thing. "The support from the space-loving community has been overwhelming," he tweeted. Good for him. I'm just not sure that enthusiasm is enough to navigate the political minefield that is Washington D.C., especially with Trump at the helm.
Mars or Bust? Or Maybe Just More Moon Rocks?
Then there's the little issue of NASA's direction. Isaacman says we can plan for travel to both Mars and the Moon. Okay, great. But NASA's been sinking serious cash into getting back to the Moon for years. Changing course now would be like ripping up a winning lottery ticket because you suddenly decided you prefer scratch-offs. Plus, how much is Jared Isaacman's net worth going to influence this decision?
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been keeping the seat warm since July, but let's be real, the guy's a placeholder. He's probably just happy to have a gig that doesn't involve dealing with airline delays and crumbling infrastructure.
And offcourse the Senate still has to confirm Isaacman. Which, given the state of things, could take longer than it takes to get to Mars. The government's been shut down since October, for crying out loud. Are we supposed to believe they can focus on something as important as NASA when they can't even agree on a budget?
So, What Now?
Honestly, I'm not sure what to make of all this. Maybe Isaacman will be a great NASA administrator. Maybe he'll usher in a new era of space exploration. Or maybe this is just another example of Trump playing political games with something that actually matters. I just hope, for the sake of science and the future of space exploration, that it's not the latter.
