The president wants to cut funding to "anarchist" cities

NYPost: President Trump is ordering the federal government to begin the process of defunding New York City and three other cities where officials allowed “lawless” protests and cut police budgets amid rising violent crime, The Post can exclusively reveal. “My Administration will not allow Federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones,” Trump says in the memo, which twice mentions New York Mayor Bill de Blasio by name.

Of course, depriving these cities of federal funds will almost certainly exacerbate whatever problems they currently have -- but it seems pretty obvious that Trump isn't interested in solving problems as he is in posturing before his base and punishing his perceived enemies. This is an old observation, but: This is a president who has little interest in governing the entire United States for the entire United States. And we see this isn't just a rhetorical ploy on his part -- he wants to deliver real pain to the places that don't vote for him. (And if that pain suppresses voter turnout in November, I'm sure that's just a coincidence.)

"Criminals only understand strength!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday. I guess he'd know.