Layover in Authoritarianism

 ✈️ This Week’s Turbulence✈️

📌Trump Says He’ll Impose New 100% Tariff on China ‘Over and Above’ Current Rates, Massively Escalating Trade War

What Happened: Effective November 1st, Trump is imposing a 100% tariff on almost all imports from China, but any retaliatory action from China will move this date up. This escalation follows disputes between the United States and China over export control on rare earths. In the Truth Social post announcing the tariff, Trump said he feels no need to attend his scheduled diplomatic meeting with President Xi in two weeks. 

Why It Matters: This tariff is not going to improve our country’s global economic standing—it is an irrational action justified by emotions rather than common sense. Americans will now face even higher prices for electronics, machinery, and furniture. Trump is ignoring this devastating consequence, just like he did for every other tariff he has signed. By evading diplomacy, Trump is further isolating the United States from our trading partners and making it difficult to heal from the forthcoming economic hardship. Behind the maneuvers of Trump is a deeper story—Americans and our country are being placed under distress for petty politics. It is clear Trump and his Republican allies who refuse to hold him accountable only care about the theater of politics, not the vulnerable people sitting in the audience.

📌Vance Says Trump is 'Looking at All His Options' as the President Threatens to Invoke the Insurrection Act

What Happened: According to Vance, Trump is not opposed to invoking the Insurrection Act which would allow him to deploy the military domestically for law enforcement—an action usually requiring congressional authorization. Trump has previously indicated that if governors, mayors, or the courts were holding up the National Guard, he would enact the law. These comments come after Trump deployed the National Guard in Democratic cities, even though crime rates have been down, and has met resistance with the courts.

Why It Matters: The Trump administration is indicating a desire to invoke the Insurrection Act to set forth authoritarian rule. Through the deployment of the National Guard into Democratic cities, Trump is working to silence dissent and make Americans scared of speaking out. Resistance to this authoritarian overreach is already here, matching the criteria Trump wants to justify domestic military control. With the military on the streets, Americans will feel even more fear as they see their democracy turn into a dictatorship. We pride ourselves on our natural rights of free speech, assembly, and others guaranteed by the Constitution, but Trump is throwing these aside for power. Their openness in discussing the Insurrection Act shows a willingness to expand executive control and break apart our liberties.

📌Who is Adelita Grijalva and Why Hasn’t She Been Sworn Into Congress Yet?

What Happened: Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a special election last month to succeed her late father in the House of Representatives, but Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to swear her in. The House is currently meeting in pro forma sessions—the same style under which Johnson swore in two Republicans in April within 24 hours of their elections. When sworn in, Grijalva will be the deciding signature to trigger a vote to release the Epstein files.

Why It Matters: It is the responsibility of Johnson to swear in the democratically-elected Grijalva, but he is giving up the Constitution for Trump. Using the shutdown to hide his cowardness, Johnson is hoping everyday Americans will not see the true purpose of his inaction. Everyone in the Epstein files must be held accountable, and the voters in Arizona provided the push to do so. A democracy is built on the voters, so every day Grijalva must wait to do her job, our country becomes less and less itself. Grijalva's district deserves to have their voice heard—it’s time for Johnson to listen to the Constitution and the people he was elected to serve.

📌Breaking Down the Impact of Trump’s Shutdown Layoffs of Federal Workers

What Happened: Trump claimed that most of those being laid off in the shutdown “happen to be Democrat-oriented,” though the actual political parties of the workers are unclear. The White House Office of Management and Budget advised agencies to cut programs inconsistent with Trump’s priorities during the shutdown, stating it provided a perfect opportunity to do so. Vance argues some federal workers must be laid off to preserve essential benefits, but firing currently unpaid workers won’t free up anything.

Why It Matters: Trump is doing anything to avoid taking responsibility for the shutdown and the layoffs that followed it. By labeling the federal employees as Democrats, Trump is attempting to justify his layoffs with partisan politics, ignoring the ordinary families suffering without sufficient pay or federal support. It is clear from the orders given to the OMB that the shutdown is not accidential—it is a deliberate act to undermine the Democrats fighting for healthcare and cut federal programs without pushback. Trump doesn’t care about the disabled veterans going without care, the families unable to feed their children, or the offices that will never reopen because his only concern is power.

📌Trump Threatens to Pull Support for Argentina if its Politics Move Leftward

What Happened: If Argentina’s legislature flips to favor left-wing politics in the midterms, then Trump is threatening to pull financial support from the country. Trump claimed the $20 million sent to Argentina was not tied to the midterms but was for helping Argentina and its current right-wing philosophy succeed. It is uncommon for U.S. presidents to weigh in on candidates in the democratic elections of other countries.

Why It Matters: Trump is not only playing political games in our country—he is using taxpayer dollars to support oppressive right-wing ideology on a global scale. From his promise to remove the funds, it is clear Trump does not care about the prosperity and stability of Argentina. Trump is focused on policy and the spread of MAGA, breaking traditional norms to do so. This entire situation is abnormal because presidents should put the American people first, not spending money that could be used for healthcare, veteran services, or food stamps on the democratic elections of other countries.

📌US Revokes Visas for 6 Foreigners Over Charlie Kirk-Related Speech

What Happened: The Trump administration has revoked the visas of six foreigners who they said mocked the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Vance and Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau previously encouraged people to call out social media posts making light of the assassination and tag them in it. These actions align with the administration’s efforts to expel international college students who express support for the Palestinian people.

Why It Matters: The Constitution protects free speech, even criticisms or mocking that the current president is angered by. Targeting critics and silencing dissent are key attributes of a dictator—a role that has no place in our democracy—but something that Trump is trying to be. The American people, immigrants, and international students have the right to challenge celebrations of a right-wing podcaster who constantly spewed hate or stand up for a vulnerable population facing a genocide. As free speech becomes a privilege for only Trump’s loyalists and no longer a natural right, Americans lose the rights the Revolution and every generation following it has fought for. Without accountability checks through protests and social media, Trump will feel enlightened to continue his authoritarian rule while Americans can’t even whisper a response.

🎭 Meme of the Week

See you next week—stay informed, stay engaged, and don’t let the BS fool you.

✨Your movement bestie – Shae

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