The People vs. Power

🧑‍⚖️The Battle for Democracy🧑‍⚖️

📌Texas Launches Plan to Open Turning Point USA Chapters in Every High School

What Happened: Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a partnership with the right-wing organization Turning Point USA to create chapters in every state high school. Any school that refuses to open and support a chapter will face “meaningful disciplinary action.” Founded by the late Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA spews hateful rhetoric towards the LGBTQ+ community, non-Christians, people of color, and women.

Why It Matters: Texas is attempting to normalize the bigotry propagated by Turning Point USA. Forcibly placing ultra-right chapters into high schools, Texas Republicans are breaking the barrier between church and state enshrined in our Constitution. If Texas succeeds, other Republican states are likely to follow suit, granting privileges to hatred while silencing dissent. Republicans claim to be against the indoctrination of students, but they are carrying out their very own brainwashing right before our eyes. Charlie Kirk should not be remembered as a hero or held in high regard whatsoever—he was a bigot who relied on pure hatred and falsified fears to gain a platform. Republicans honoring Kirk show the kind of leaders they are, ones who want to divide a nation instead of uniting us.

📌Group Seeking to Put Missouri's GOP-Drawn Congressional Map Before Voters Submits Signatures

What Happened: A Democratic-support group in Missouri has collected more than 300,000 signatures for a referendum seeking to block the new GOP-drawn congressional map. Instead of listening to voters and pausing the legislation, Missouri Republicans are still working towards getting the map passed. 

Why It Matters: Attempts by Republicans to gerrymander congressional maps in their favor has become a common talking point in recent months, and Missouri is joining the trend. Democracies are built on the voices of voters, and ballot referendums are a key method for making sure everyone is heard. Missouri Republicans are actively disobeying their constituents by pushing their map through, and it should be clear to everyone what the Republican Party favors most—not the people, but power. Gerrymandering historically silences minorities, namely people of color, and undermines the principle of “one person, one vote.” If elections are manufactured nationally to ensure a Republican win, voters will lose confidence in state politics and democracy itself—and that is exactly what they want. Republicans thrive on distrust, hoping enough people stay home to open a path to win.

📌Trump Administration Announces Deal to End Biden-Era Student Debt Repayment Plan

What Happened: The Trump administration announced an agreement to end the SAVE plan which is a Biden-era student loan repayment system. SAVE reduces monthly payments based on income and family size, helping borrowers struggling to keep up with high interest loans. Calling the plan “illegal,” the Trump administration is not enrolling any new borrowers and will move all current SAVE borrowers into other repayment plans.

Why It Matters: Trump’s answer to Americans struggling to afford basic expenses is not lowering prices, but taking away an essential safeguard. If the SAVE plan is eradicated, millions of Americans will be scrambling to find a new plan they can survive while paying. No one should have to sacrifice their education for food, housing, and their family. It is the government's job to offer support to struggling citizens, allowing the country to prosper as more Americans are educated and can afford happiness. Trump’s actions are not surprising since he has been repeatedly questioning the legality of the SAVE plan, but they should not be ignored. It’s clear that image, money, and power matter more to Trump than the actual people he was elected to serve, and millions will soon become unfortunately aware of this message.

📌Trump Revives Slur While Discussing Immigrants from Somalia and Other 'Disgusting' Nations

What Happened: During a rally supposedly about affordability, Trump denigrated immigrants from “shithole countries” that he paused immigration from, including Somalia. Instead of immigrants from these countries, Trump said he’d rather people from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark come to the United States. Somalia was targeted by Trump who said that because the country is a “disaster,” its people do not deserve asylum. 

Why It Matters: Trump’s comments prove his attack on immigration has never been just about immigration itself but his own racist beliefs. Using the term “shithole countries,” Trump is setting a horrible, embarrassing example of what it means to be an American. Instead of standing as a proponent of peace and prosperity, the United States is turning into an unwelcoming domain of racism, bigotry, and hate all at the hands of Trump. Asylum seekers are not the villains—they are simply wanting a better and safer life away from their strugglers back home. The United States should support these people, not turn them away because of situations completely outside of their control. This type of rhetoric should never be tolerated, and Trump’s normalization of it must be resisted.

📌Foreigners Allowed to Travel to the US Without a Visa Could Soon Face New Social Media Screening

What Happened: Customs and Border Protection is proposing collecting five years worth of social media information, including emails and family history, from travelers who do not need visas to come to the United States. This proposal affects travelers from three dozen countries under the Visa Waiver Program that do not have to go to an embassy or consultant for an interview. No indications of what information the administration will be looking for was noted.

Why It Matters: The Trump administration is ramping up its attacks on immigration by turning towards social media as an excuse to keep people out. Family history and emails should play no role in determining the status of a visa applicant. Criminal or dangerous pasts can be found other ways, but by using social media, the administration has access to personal and political aspects of a person. This information can be easily weaponized to punish dissent and only allow equally bigoted and hateful people into the nation. By failing to provide specifics, Customs and Border Protection is hiding its true motivations from the American public meant to voice their opinions on the proposal. Ending things like the Visa Waiver Program will carry consequences for generations, but Trump only cares about control, not basic humanity.

📌Miami Mayor-Elect Eileen Higgins Believes Key to Her Victory Was Broad Outreach

What Happened: Miami mayor-elect Eileen Higgins has become the first Democrat to win her election in almost 30 years, and she believes her outreach to people of all political persuasions was the key to victory. Higgins called Republicans, independents, and Democrats alike and talked about issues like immigration and housing they all face. Through this technique, Higgins beat a Trump-endorsed candidate and helped ensure Miami has a city government working for the people.

Why It Matters: Recent special and runoff elections have proven that no city or state should be seen as unwinnable. Breaking a 30 year Republican streak is a major success that should be celebrated alongside the technique for achieving it. As Democrats head into the midterms, they need to speak to common concerns that do not care about party lines. The midterms are the perfect opportunity to regain the House of Representatives and prevent Trump from passing policy for his last two years in office. The livelihoods and safety of millions of Americans and immigrants are at risk if Democrats fail to follow Higgins’ formula. The future of America rests on all of us, and if we let party lines continue to divide us beyond repair, our nation will crumble.

🎭 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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