Trump’s Dangerous Agenda and the Price Americans Will Pay

🚂Political Trainwreck: Who’s Going off the Rails & How It Affects You🚂

📌 Trump Officials Justify The Threat of a Recession — But They’d Feel the Pain, Too

What Happened: Trump’s tariff policy has caused shaky job growth, low consumer confidence, and concerns about inflation that all point to a recession. Both Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trump claim the United States must face a painful detox/transition period (aka a recession) to end its addiction to government spending. This recession would coincide with stagflation, a combination that would catalyze an economic downturn for the next two years. Ignoring warnings from experts, the Trump Administration is actively pursuing policy known to hurt consumers in the long-run.

Why It Matters: This so-called transition period is nothing more than a recession that would hit working-class Americans the worst. It’s apparent that Trump’s tariff policy is already hurting our country, both economically and diplomatically, but Trump is showing no signs of stopping. Instead, Trump is continuing his performative, pointless, and blatantly disastrous economic agenda with no concern for the Americans left in the cross-fire. No President has ever forcibly put his people into a recession—because no leader before Trump has been this reckless.

📌Trump Has Ordered the Dismantling of the US Education Department

What Happened: The Department of Education enforces anti-discrimination laws and distributes aid money for low-income and disabled students, tasks Republicans are labeling as woke and wasteful. Under this distorted belief, Trump has signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the department despite an act of Congress needed to fully eliminate it. Democrats worry that in the long-term, students and teachers, especially those in rural areas, will suffer without adequate support.

Why It Matters: Trump’s recent executive order is just another step towards fulfilling Project 2025. The consequences of eliminating the department are clear, and Trump is too focused on sizing down the federal government to stop. Trump is overstepping his power by making the department unworkable—but Trump and his Republican puppets couldn’t care less. Already vulnerable Americans, like those requiring special education and scholarships for college, will be left behind by the government made to help them.

📌 Trump Administration asks Supreme Court to Halt Judge’s Order to Rehire Probationary Federal Workers

What Happened: The Trump Administration ordered a mass firing of thousands of federal workers, but a California judge ordered their reinstatement. Trump claims these workers were fired for low performances despite receiving glowing evaluations, meaning the firing is part of an unjustified effort to downsize the federal government and fill all positions with loyal Republicans. Asking the Supreme Court to halt the order, Trump believes the court system can be bypassed by his executive power.

Why It Matters: The president is not a king, but Trump is sure acting like it. Completely disregarding our system of checks and balances, Trump is begging the Supreme Court to make him a dictator. And the worst part? Republicans in Congress are doing nothing to stop him. If the Supreme Court lets Trump slide, it sets a dangerous precedent for federal overreach. The constitutional rights and livelihoods of all Americans are at risk, and the structures meant to protect us are being pushed to the side.

📌 Trump Cuts Hit Struggling Food Banks, Risking Hunger for Low-Income Americans

What Happened: The Trump Administration cut at least $1 billion in funding for food banks at a time when pandemic fallout and inflation have increased hunger rates nationally. With shipments from the USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) being halted, food banks are facing a shortage of nutritious and sustainable products. Food banks that rely on TEFAP fear they will have to end programs for vulnerable groups, namely senior citizens and those in rural communities.

Why It Matters: The millions of people who depend on food banks to survive are being left to starve, and Trump is showing no signs of remorse. This cut is just another step in Trump’s plan to downsize the federal government, placing his ideology over the lives of his constituents. Republicans are falling in line with Trump’s agenda and are sending a clear message: if you’re hungry, then that’s your problem. More cuts to needed federal services are coming, according to Project 2025, and the Republican Congress is letting it happen.

📌 Trump Stands by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Despite Disclosing Military Plans

What Happened: Trump is choosing to not reprimand his national security advisor Mike Waltz for adding The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief to a group chat about bombing Yemen. Claiming the mistake was “not a serious one,” Trump states the addition of a journalist into a private, high-level chat had no impact on the military operation. Democrats in Congress are demanding answers from the White House for its negligent actions. Because the messaging service used has not been approved for the transmission of classified information, Democrats are worried about the national security concerns posed by Trump’s cabinet.

Why It Matters: The real issue isn’t Waltz’s mistake—it’s the clearly unqualified cabinet Trump has appointed to run the country. The group chats blunder and Trump’s refusal to hold anyone accountable are embarrassing, but more importantly, they illustrate Trump’s willingness to jeopardize national security instead of admitting his junk drawer of the cabinet must be fixed. Democrats in Congress are standing up to Trump, yet Republicans still refuse to question their president. The example set by Trump is clear: his cabinet can be reckless, incompetent, and careless—and he’ll never do a thing about it.

📌 Trump Nominates Republican Once Accused of Mishandling Taxpayer Funds as HHS Watchdog

What Happened: Trump has nominated Republican attorney Thomas March Bell to lead the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. Bell has been previously accused of mishandling taxpayer money while serving in Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality and has a history of targeting abortion clinics. The Inspector General position is viewed as nonpartisan whose job is to detect fraud in national spending programs. Bell’s nomination demonstrates Trump’s desire to fill the federal government with loyalists, no matter if they are qualified.

Why It Matters: Trump’s latest move is less about governing and more about rigging our democracy in his favor. Ignoring the nonpartisan nature of the role, he’s using government agencies as a tool to push his extreme right-wing agenda. But Republicans don’t care—they just shoe in Trump’s appointments without a second thought. Any public health policies that Trump opposes, like abortion and gender-affirming care, are at risk with Bell in office. Instead of eliminating fraud, Bell will usher in more corruption as partisan politics reach further into the doctor’s office.

🎭 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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