Tariffs, Tyranny, and Trump: This Week in Unchecked Power

 📺Chaos in the White House: The Reality Show of Politics📺

📌 Old US-Canada Relationship is ‘Over,’ Warns Canadian Prime Minister

What Happened: Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his country will dramatically reduce its reliance on the United States’ economy, stating that the once solid bilateral relationship between the two countries is over. This marks a turning point in the economic and military partnership that has benefited both nations for decades. Trump’s tariff policy has made the United States into an unreliable trading partner, so Carney has decided to work with France and the United Kingdom instead. Carney promises retaliatory trade actions as Trump fails to reverse his tariffs and continues to threaten Canadian sovereignty. 

Why It Matters: The United States is saying goodbye to our most dependable trading partner and hello to higher prices for Canadian imports, like lumber and steel, all because of Trump. Americans are already struggling, and this latest announcement promises to make things a whole lot worse. The United States is losing its global standing as our allies are forced to leave us behind. Yet Trump doesn’t care—he’s choosing to prioritize his ego over the country he’s in charge of protecting.

📌Trump Says He's 'Not Joking' About Possibly Running for a Third Term

What Happened: The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution limits presidents to two terms, but Trump said he’s open to running again. Trump claims "there are methods which you could do it,” including Vance winning the presidency and passing it to Trump (which is still unconstitutional btw). Only an amendment can reverse the two-term rule, something that requires a two-thirds vote in Congress or a three-fourths vote by state legislatures. 

Why It Matters: Trump is brushing off the Constitution like it’s just a minor inconvenience in his rise to become a dictator. When Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election, Republicans barely did a thing, and not surprisingly, Republicans are not stopping Trump this time either. This precedent that Trump can do whatever he wants puts the constitutional rights of all Americans at risk. Whether it be free speech, the right to privacy, or due process, Trump has been given the green light to rewrite our democracy no matter the cost.

📌 Musk-Funded Political Group Spends Big and Goes Door to Door in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

What Happened: Elon Musk’s America PAC has paid individuals to canvas for conservative Brad Schimel in the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Musk is bribing Wisconsin voters with one-million-dollar rewards for supporting Schimel and donating to his PAC. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule on abortion, congressional redistricting, and union rights after the election, making the seat a critical grab for either party.

Why It Matters: We live in a democracy, not a game show, but Musk’s latest move is making the latter our new reality. Musk’s involvement in the Wisconsin race isn’t just a donation—it’s a direct attempt to bribe voters into electing an extreme and dangerous conservative justice. Without legal challenges, nothing is stopping Musk from continuing his crusade against the integrity of our democracy. Elections in any state are now vulnerable to the richest person in the world using his wealth to manipulate the outcome in his favor. These high-stakes elections will impact the civil rights of Americans across the country.

📌 Trump Administration Concedes Maryland Father from El Salvador was Mistakenly Deported and Sent to Mega Prison

What Happened: Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian national who fled to the United States to escape gang violence decades ago, was mistakenly deported back to El Salvador because of an “administrative error.” In 2019, an immigration judge granted Garcia protective status that prohibited the federal government from deporting him. Garcia is now being detained in El Salvador’s mega-prison for gang members known for its harsh conditions, but Garcia has no ties to a gang. The Trump Administration says Garcia cannot be retrieved because he is in the custody of El Salvador.

Why It Matters: Our government didn’t just make a simple error—it knowingly sent Garcia into a nightmare and is now pretending its hands are tied. This is the first time the Trump Administration has admitted to an immigration mistake, but you can only imagine how many others they’ve quietly swept under the rug. If Trump can ignore a legal ruling with zero consequences, then due process is just a suggestion, not a right. The next four years will see more refugees like Garcia discarded without a second thought, no matter how much they’ve contributed to this country. As long as Republicans can score political points on immigration, they have no interest in fixing their immoral screw ups.

📌 Mass Layoffs Rattle Head Start Leaders Already on Edge Over Funding Problems

What Happened: Head Start is a federally funded program which helps low-income families prepare their children for school, providing childcare and access to medical services. Trump’s freezing of federal grants and mass layoffs have put government employees who administer Head Start on leave. Five of the twelve regional Head Start offices have closed with local centers following suit. Now, vulnerable families in all 50 states who rely on Head Count are struggling to balance work and their children’s early education.

Why It Matters: Head Start was a lifeline for low-income families, but thanks to Trump, this needed safety net is beginning to unravel. Trump’s war on government assistance has taken a decades-old bipartisan program and turned it into a political pawn. This move was directly outlined in Project 2025, and the extremist plan makes it clear that this is only the beginning. Parents will be left scrambling for childcare, kids will start school already behind, and working families will bear the consequences—all so Trump can score political points. 

📌 Trump Just Massively Escalated His Trade War with Two New Tariffs

What Happened: Trump declared a national economic emergency and announced tariffs of at least 10% across all countries, with 60 countries deemed the “worst offenders” being met with tariffs of up to 49%. Trump claims revenue from tariffs could replace income tax, but these tariffs will be paid by the United States, making Trump’s assertion false. Countries are promising retaliatory actions that will affect the sale of American goods worldwide. Americans are already facing high inflation rates and a potential recession, and Trump’s unrelenting involvement in his global trade war will only make things worse.

Why It Matters: Americans will soon face higher prices for basically everything, yet Trump is too busy waging a pointless tariff war to care. Small businesses and low-income families already struggling will be hit the hardest. Despite all this economic suffering, Trump keeps lying about who tariffs will impact—hiding that it's everyday Americans who will bear the brunt of his actions. Trump had the nerve to call his tariff declaration “Liberation Day” as he continues to do anything but help America succeed.

🎭 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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