More Drama, Less Freedom: The Cost of Trump’s Presidency

 📰The F*ckery Files: Why This Week Matters More Than You Think📰

📌 How the SAVE Act Could Affect Voting in the United States

What Happened: The House of Representatives passed the SAVE Act, and if signed into law, will require proof of citizenship for anyone registering to vote. Citizenship can be proved with IDs that list place of birth (something uncommon), a passport, or a birth certificate with a matching driver’s license. The SAVE Act aims to stop already rare cases of noncitizens voting, but its documentation requirements threaten to disenfranchise millions. For example, individuals who changed their name after marriage must get a passport to prove citizenship since their birth certificate and driver's license do not match. These documents must be presented at a local election office which causes difficulties for rural and disabled voters.

Why It Matters: The SAVE Act is being sold as a safeguard for democracy, but in reality, it’s a voter suppression strategy in disguise. The bill creates bureaucratic hurdles that disproportionately impact married women, rural Americans, low-income voters, and people with disabilities. When voting becomes a maze of red tape, fewer people participate—and that’s exactly the point. The SAVE Act is a calculated move to shrink the electorate that directly violates a key constitutional principle. This isn’t about keeping elections safe, it’s about consolidating power into the hands of the few. 

📌Trump Administration Insists It Isn’t Required to Work with El Salvador to Bring Back Man Mistakenly Deported

What Happened: The Trump Administration mistakenly deported Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, an immigrant granted protected status in 2019 that prohibits his deportation, to an El Salvador mega-prison for gangs. The Supreme Court endorsed a federal judge’s directive that the United States must bring Garcia home, but the Trump Administration is refusing to follow its orders. Though Garcia holds no gang affiliations, his deportation is being justified by his supposed affiliation to a newly defined terrorist gang. 

Why It Matters: The Trump Administration’s blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s ruling undermines the very foundation of our justice system. By choosing to ignore a direct court order, they’re sending the message that legal authority can be bypassed when it suits their agenda. This isn’t just a violation of one individual’s rights—it’s a direct assault on the rule of law itself. Garcia’s wrongful deportation highlights the risks of Trump’s rushed, unchecked deportation practices that prioritize speed over accuracy, leaving countless innocent people vulnerable. If the government can pick and choose which orders to follow, it opens the door to unchecked power and further erosion of accountability.

📌 Despite a Court Order, White House Bars AP From Oval Office Event

What Happened: Because Associated Press (AP) continues to call the Gulf of Mexico by its historic name, the Trump Administration has blocked the news source from key White House events and press conferences. A federal court ruled this exclusion was unconstitutional, but the Trump Administration is refusing to welcome back AP reporters and photographers. The judge ruled AP is simply exercising its right to free speech and the President cannot punish the news source for it.

Why It Matters: The Trump Administration’s refusal to comply with a federal court’s ruling is yet another glaring example of its disregard for the Constitution. By blocking AP, the administration is not only stifling free speech but also attacking the very foundation of a free press. This ongoing defiance shows just how far the Trump Administration is willing to go to control the narrative and silence opposition. The message is undeniable: when the truth challenges their agenda, they will go to any length to suppress it, even if it means undermining the institutions that are the backbone of our democracy.

📌Trump Administration Freezes $2 Billion After Harvard Rejects Demands

What Happened: The Trump Administration is set to cancel $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in contract value to Harvard University. Ten demands were presented to Harvard, namely restricting the acceptance of supposedly threatening international students and auditing viewpoints of the student body, to avoid this freezing. Harvard rejected these demands citing federal overreach and infringements on free speech.

Why It Matters: This isn’t policy—it’s political extortion disguised in a cap and gown. When the government controls who can learn and what ideas are allowed, education becomes a vehicle for indoctrination rather than a space for free thought. This is the hallmark of a dictatorship, where dissent is crushed and compliance is demanded. By punishing Harvard for refusing to fall in line, Trump is making it clear that independent thought and academic freedom have no place in his vision of America. If this continues, the next generation of thinkers will be shaped not by curiosity and debate, but by fear and conformity.

📌 FEMA Denies Washington State Disaster Relief From Bomb Cyclone, Governor Says

What Happened: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has denied Washington state’s request to help repair an estimated $34 million in damage from a deadly bomb cyclone storm last November. Despite meeting all the application requirements, Washington is left to repair extensive damage to its highways, public utilities, and electrical power systems on its own. Trump has questioned if FEMA should be disbanded, making this denial part of a larger effort to reduce federal funding.

Why It Matters: If you're caught in a natural disaster, good luck because Trump is making sure FEMA won't be there to save you. His denial of disaster relief to Washington state is just one example of a Republican effort to cut federal funding for essential programs. As climate change continues to worsen the intensity of storms, the need for robust federal support will only grow. If Trump and DOGE are allowed to keep downsizing our government, recovery efforts will become overwhelming and costly for those already suffering.

📌Trump DOJ Sues Maine Over Refusing to Comply With Ban on Transgender Athletes in High School Sports

What Happened: The Justice Department is suing Maine for refusing to ban transgender athletes from high school sports. Citing a supposed advantage transgender women athletes have in sports, the DOJ is using Title IX (a law that prohibits sex discrimination in schools) to justify its case. One key advocate for the ban is former college athlete Riley Gaines who tied for 5th place with a transgender woman in a championship game. The Governor of Maine Janet Mills is standing strong in her support for transgender athletes while the Trump Administration continues to strip federal funding for Maine’s correctional facilities and educational programs.

Why It Matters: This isn’t about protecting women’s sports—it’s about erasing trans people from public life. The Trump administration is hijacking Title IX to exclude those it once protected, sending the message that rights are only for those who fit their narrow vision. Project 2025 lays it all out, mandating that states which stand with queer and trans people should be punished until they conform. If this suit succeeds, it won’t just make life harder for trans people—it will set the stage for a future where anyone who refuses to fit the conservative mold is pushed to the margins.

🎭 Meme of the Week

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

✨Your movement bestie – Shae

P.S. Know someone who needs a political reality check? Forward this email to them or tell them to subscribe!