The Garbage Pile That Is Trump’s America

 ⚠️A Messy Week of Lies and Power Grabs⚠️

📌ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Show Off Air ‘Indefinitely’ Over Charlie Kirk Comments

What Happened: ABC pulled the Jimmy Kimmel Show off the air "indefinitely" over a comment linking Charlie Kirk’s assassin to the MAGA movement, eventually letting him back on a few days later. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a government agency responsible for interstate communications, warned ABC that if Kimmel was not removed, then the station’s broadcast license would be at risk. Kimmel’s firing aligns with the termination of both MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd and Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah for pointing out Kirk’s hate speech.

Why It Matters: Our Constitution guarantees us the right to free speech, even if that speech is controversial or against your beliefs. The maneuvers of the FCC and the silencing of journalists are destroying this critical foundation of our democracy. Without free press, no one is allowed to hold our leaders and their celebrations of hate speech accountable. The Trump administration is turning our government into an authoritarian regime akin to North Korea and Russia—a place where dissent is punished and complacency is required. Kimmel’s return should be seen as a victory and an example that public outcry can create change. As we continue to face Trump’s America for the next three years, we must stand strong—our democracy demands it.

📌Trump Goes into UN Gathering Isolated But Defiant on Path Ahead for Gaza

What Happened: Trump delivered an address to the United Nations on globalism and foreign policy, but his consistent support for Netanyahu’s deadly takeover of Gaza is isolating the United States from our allies. Other member nations, namely France and the United Kingdom, are helping pave the way for a two-state solution that Trump will not let the United States be a part of. Further disrespecting native Palestinians, Trump blocked visas for Palestinian Authority members trying to speak at the UN’s conference.

Why It Matters: The United States should be a voice of peace that other world leaders respect and follow, but Trump cannot be further from this promise. Instead of working with our allies to end the suffering of the Palestinian people, Trump is reiterating his support for Netanyahu despite the lives being violently taken everyday. Palestinians are already being silenced, and Trump’s measures to prevent their leaders from speaking about Palestinian sovereignty is only worsening the situation. A peaceful resolution will only come if Palestinians have a voice. The public must continue urging politicians to speak out for Palestine and share their stories—we cannot let Trump’s hate and inhumanity win.

📌Trump Cancels Meeting with Democratic Leaders as Shutdown Deadline Nears

What Happened: With the government set to shut down on October 1st, Trump cancelled his meeting with Democratic leaders to discuss a bipartisan funding bill. Trump called the Democrats “radical” and said their demands are “unserious and ridiculous.” Democratic leaders are continuing to push for negotiations with Republicans, attempting to include funds for Medicaid and public radio in the bill.

Why It Matters: Republicans control both houses of Congress and are tasked with leading bipartisan efforts for a spending bill, so if the government shuts down next month, it is obvious who is to blame. Democrats are trying to fulfill their duty to ensure a well-funded government that puts the needs of everyday Americans first. In response, Trump is only offering his usual hateful and false rhetoric, ignoring the jobs and programs set to shut down. Demands for Medicaid and public radio funding are not ridiculous—they are necessary programs to safeguard the health, education, and prosperity of Americans. The refusal of Republicans to even consider these essential measures as Congress nears its deadline tells you exactly who is running our government—selfish, greedy, and ineffective leaders. 

📌Trump Makes Unfounded Claims About Tylenol and Repeats Discredited Link Between Vaccines and Autism

What Happened: Trump has stated Tylenol is the cause of autism, an unproven and widely discredited claim. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. is leading an effort to find answers for autism and has falsely linked vaccines to the complex brain disorder. Medical experts warn this spewing of lies on the national stage rolls back decades of public health progress and threatens the access of pregnant women to pain medication.

Why It Matters: Autism is not something to be cured or prevented—it is a complex brain disorder that must be understood from a medical, not speculative standpoint. The whole push for a cure demonizes autism as something wrong, when in reality, autism is just part of who someone is. RFK Jr. is taking his attacks against autism a step further, blaming vaccines and pain medication for the disorder. Though his claims have been proven false, RFK Jr. and the entire Trump administration is sticking to their rhetoric. Vaccines work and efforts to make them seem dangerous can lead to a resurgence of polio, measles, and smallpox in our public spaces. Children and those who are immunocompromised will be most at risk, and not surprisingly, the Trump administration couldn’t care less about them.

📌Texas to Become the 20th State With a Transgender Bathroom Law

What Happened: Reviving its failed 2015 bill, Texas has passed a bathroom law banning transgender people from using restrooms in all state-owned buildings and public schools that align with their gender identity. Institutions that disobey the law will face upwards of $125,000 in fines. Beyond restrooms, the law requires prisons to house inmates according to their birth sex and prohibits trans women from receiving services from women’s domestic violence shelters.

Why It Matters: Trans people are people and they deserve access to the same public spaces as everyone else. Shutting out trans people has no proven effect on public safety, but Republican-led states like Texas don’t care. This bill is not about safety—it is part of a broader effort to push out and silence an entire community of people. Trans people will not be the only ones affected since anyone who does not fit societal standards can have their gender questioned, evading their privacy and ability to simply live as they are. The inclusion of prisons and domestic violence shelters in the bill further isolates trans women from care and puts them in immense danger of physical abuse. We must combat this trend of exclusion with empathy, love, and resistance, holding leaders accountable with protests and in elections for their bigotry.

📌Trump Administration Launches Investigation Into FEMA Workers Who Warned Disaster Agency was at Risk

What Happened: FEMA employees who signed a public letter to Congress warning that the Trump administration’s overhaul of the agency would endanger the public are now under investigation. Though they signed anonymously, all laid off FEMA employees are being asked to sign non-disclosure agreements and schedule interviews with investigators. Legal experts argue these measures are nothing more than intimidation tactics meant to scare workers exercising their first amendment and whistleblower rights.

Why It Matters: This is a blatant attempt by the Trump administration to silence critics and scare anyone else daring to speak out. With climate change worsening natural disasters, Americans are faced with deadly hurricanes, wildfires, and floods every year. Instead of allowing FEMA to support these people in need, the Trump administration continues to cut its budget and target its workers. Authoritarian regimes thrive on unchecked power, and this recent investigation matches this need to stop any form of accountability. FEMA employees have the constitutional right to feel safe while speaking up for what’s right. We must call out efforts to breach this right as not only jobs, but entire communities and human lives, are at stake.

🎭 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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