Gov. Phil Scott’s message that we should all take a chill pill regarding Donald Trump’s continuing rampage through the china shop of democracy and good government is starting to look remarkably poorly timed. This week’s Vermont news is loaded with headlines about Trump, and none of them are good. So I have to ask. Is it time to worry at least a little bit? Could our chief executive muster a discreet furrowing of brow on behalf of all the Vermonters having their lives tossed around by Trump?

The worst of all the stories is about the arrival of the feds’ jackbooted immigration regime, which threatens to imminently deport two Nicaraguan high schoolers who are here legally and have done nothing wrong. Adam Bunting, interim superintendent of the Champlain Valley School District, announced the federal action in a letter to the CVSD community. “These students, who have done nothing wrong, are suddenly being told they don’t belong,” Bunting wrote. “To deport these students is not only heartbreaking for those of us who know them personally — it also contradicts the very values Vermonters work to instill in our young people,”

A story by Seven Days’ Alison Novak notes that “Elected officials, including state representatives, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) office and state Treasurer Mike Pieciak, have also reached out offering support” to CVSD.

Hmm. Notice any absences there?

Governor Scott, where the hell are you? Do you agree with Bunting that the federal action “contradicts the very values Vermonters work to instill in our young people”? If not, please explain. If so, then SAY SOMETHING.

These deportation orders, as inhumane as they are and as shocking to our consciences, are only the beginning of this week’s parade of bad news.

There’s plenty more news about Trump-related havoc in Vermont. In fact, it’s everywhere you look. The rundown from the past couple of days alone, not necessarily in order of importance:

Communities trying to enhance flood resilience “have lost a key source of funding,” reports Vermont Public, after the Federal Emergency Management Agency canceled a disaster preparedness grant program that was bringing $2 million a year to Vermont. Need I remind you that Vermont has been extremely vulnerable to floods of late, and that we are still recovering from three major floods in the last two years?

Seven Days reports that Vermont business owners went to the Statehouse to share horror stories about the impacts of Trump’s “chaotic” tariff policies. Businesses that depend on imported goods or materials are facing an unpredictable trade environment, and some worry that their companies may not survive. The story includes quotes from five concerned politicians, none of them Republican. Gee, I thought they were the party of business?

The Barre Montpelier Times Argus says Vermont libraries are very worried about “cuts to federal programs that feed local libraries and similar institutions.” Larger libraries get most of their funding from their communities, but small libraries are more dependent on federal support for programs like interlibrary loan. The story also reports that Vermont Humanities gets 42% of its funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, which has canceled all of its grants.

The Vermont Historical Society says it is losing federal support for a program that fosters local history efforts. VHS says the program was “designed to assist Vermont’s numerous – and often volunteer-run – local historical societies develop advanced skills,” and added that this will deprive “local historical societies of the resources and programming designed to support their operations as the nation prepares for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country.” Yeah, who needs history?

Digger/VP shared reporter Carly Berlin writes that business groups are using Trump immigration reform as a rationale for torpedoing H.169, which would prohibit housing discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status. They’d be opposing the bill anyway; it’s just mighty white of them to capitalize on the Trump reign of terror.

VTDigger reports that some school districts may have to cancel summer programs because the U.S. Department of Education, headed by former wrestling promoter Linda McMahon, is clawing back previously authorized funding. One school official called it “an absolute shock.”

Reminder that this represents just a couple of days in the Trump era of advanced chaos. And here’s Phil Scott telling us all to calm down.

It’s funny, the governor’s anti-Trump rhetoric has been considerably toned down this year. He used to be more outspoken than he is now, in spite of the fact that in every possible way, Trump II is measurably worse and more chaotic than Trump I. I suspect this is because the November elections gave Scott many more Republican allies in the Legislature — many of whom are diehard Trumpers.

It’s politically understandable if Scott feels compelled to avoid alienating his new crop of fellow Republicans. But we need real leadership now more than ever. It seems as though our governor is backing away from the moment.