Trump's Policies: Higher Prices, Less Progress, and a Whole Lot of Chaos

 ⚡Chaos Report: The News They Don’t Want You to Pay Attention To⚡

📌 A Trans Woman was Arrested at the Florida Capitol for Using the Women’s Restroom

What Happened: Transgender woman Marcy Rheintgen was arrested for using the women’s restroom in the Florida State Capitol building, marking the first arrest of its kind across all states with anti-trans bathroom bans. Rheintgen purposely entered the restroom to protest the law and has now been charged with trespassing. More than a dozen states have bathroom bans in place, but only Florida and Utah criminalize offenses. The federal government is following suit in this crusade against trans rights, mainly seen in Trump’s executive orders to ban trans people from the military and limit gender-affirming care for those under 19. 

Why It Matters: Marcy Rheintgen’s arrest isn’t just a headline—it’s a warning shot. Florida has officially criminalized using the bathroom, but this law signals something far more dangerous. It’s part of a broader campaign by Republicans to decide who gets to exist in public spaces and who doesn’t. The entire queer community is under threat as these invasive and discriminatory policies gain momentum. Whether it’s bathrooms, marriage equality, or simply the right to exist, Republicans are showing the public exactly what rights they’re willing to strip away. Project 2025 clearly outlines these measures, and if that’s any indication, this arrest is only the first step in a much darker agenda.

📌Trump Threatens Even Higher Tariffs on China as His Trade War Roils the Economy and Sends Markets Teetering

What Happened: Trump’s rapid implementation and inconsistent messaging surrounding his tariffs have caused global stock markets to collapse. A 10% baseline tariff on all imports took effect on Saturday, with dozens of countries facing up to four times that (but these were thenrandomly paused for 90 days for everyone but China). When China promised retaliatory action, Trump threatened our trading partner with a 104% tariff. There is an overwhelming consensus among economists, and even Elon Musk, that Trump’s outrageous tariffs are a big mistake, but the president is showing no signs of stopping.

Why It Matters: Trump’s reckless tariff spree is setting everyday Americans up for higher prices on everything from groceries to tech products. The United States’ global standing is taking a massive hit as our historic trading partners seek more reliable relationships elsewhere. But Trump isn’t concerned about the long-term damage—he’s more focused on his personal agenda than the real consequences for the people he’s supposed to serve. Instead of addressing economic struggles with logical policy, Trump is escalating his engineered crisis, all while pretending this is some grand victory for the country.

📌 Supreme Court Gives Boost to Trump Administration's Deportation Plans Under Alien Enemies Act

What Happened: The Supreme Court has allowed Trump to invoke the 1798 Alien Enemies Act—a rarely used wartime measure—to deport members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. His fast-paced use of the law has violated the due process rights of deported immigrants, and while the ruling requires due process be respected, it’s unclear if Trump will comply. His flawed deportation system relies on superficial traits like tattoos to identify gang affiliation, yet Trump has been cleared to continue these unprecedented deportations.

Why It Matters: The Supreme Court’s decision sets a troubling precedent for the power of the executive branch. For everyday Americans, this means that laws once considered relics of the past can be revived and used in ways that directly impact people's lives, all under the guise of national security. The decision raises the question of how much power the government can wield unchecked, especially when the Supreme Court is willing to give it a pass. It’s not just immigrants who should worry—any group that Trump labels a threat could see their rights and dignity stripped away without legal checks.

📌US Expected a Big Travel Year, But Overseas Visitors — Angered by Trump — Are Heading Elsewhere

What Happened: Spending by international visitors in the United States is expected to drop $9 billion this year, and Trump’s policies are to blame. Arguing the United States is not a welcoming nation, tourists have cancelled trips for 2025 because of Trump’s tariffs and verbal attacks on countries, namely Ukraine and Canada. Economists now predict the United States’ tourism economy will not recover until 2029.

Why It Matters: Trump’s careless foreign policies are proving to be a catastrophe for every aspect of American society—most recently for tourism. His impulsive decisions are causing ripple effects that will harm local businesses and renters as we head into typically profitable months. Now, on top of his tariffs that are set to jack up prices on just about everything, our economy is left to shoulder the loss of billions of dollars. But does Trump care? Of course not, he’s too busy figuring out more ways to anger our allies and hurt the people he’s in charge of protecting.

📌 Senate Confirms Trump’s Nominee for Top Pentagon Policy Job

What Happened: The Senate confirmed Trump’s nomination of Elbridge Colby to be the top policy advisor at the Pentagon. Colby has a history of downplaying the threat of Russia, questioning if Russia actually invaded Ukraine, and believing the U.S. could tolerate a nuclearly armed Iran. The only Republican to oppose the nomination was Mitch McConnell whose vote Vice President Vance called a great act of “political pettiness.”  

Why It Matters: Trump’s pick of Elbridge Colby to lead Pentagon policy is like handing the steering wheel to someone who’s not convinced the road even exists. Anyone who shrugs at Russian aggression and a nuclear Iran has no business advising the Pentagon—but Trump and his loyalists confirmed Elbridge Colby anyway. The berating of McConnell makes it clear that Trump’s demand for loyalty outweighs everything—even the security of our nation. And not surprisingly, most Republicans are falling in line without a second thought. Trump’s grip on the party ensures that national security takes a backseat to blind allegiance, leaving the country vulnerable to the very threats Colby dismisses.

📌 Trump Administration Freezes Funding for Cornell, Northwestern Universities

What Happened: The Trump Administration has frozen over $1 billion in funding for Cornell University and $790 million for Northwestern University because of their pro-Palestinian campus protests and DEI policies. The freeze affected mostly grants and contracts with the federal departments of health, education, agriculture, and defense used to fund critical research. Other universities, namely Harvard and Columbia, have experienced similar freezes which demonstrates a wider effort to control free speech with money.

Why It Matters: Trump’s funding freeze is a message to schools that speaking out comes with a price. This is a direct hit on research that powers our hospitals, feeds our families, and drives innovation. If Trump is allowed to jeopardize critical research over political disagreements, what’s next? The right to protest, free speech, and basic equality guaranteed by our constitution are now all at risk. Trump’s actions show he’s willing to disregard the Constitution to tighten his control—forgetting that we have a president, not a dictator.

🎭 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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