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Over a month of Trump: An explanation of new US Foreign Policy
It has been over a month now of the reelected Trump administration, in only a short time Donald Trump has managed to completely rewrite US foreign policy. Old allies are now possible enemies, old enemies are allies. There’s the possibility of the United States annexing and taking land by force, trade wars are on the rise and US soft power and global aid are now a thing of the past.
Civil Rights; Will The Supreme Court Have The Last Word On Trump Executive Orders and Policies?
40% of the U.S. population line our coasts. That equates to approximately 130 million people residing in coastal counties. In addition to those who retire seaside, entire economies are integrated into the coastal industries of fishing, tourism, energy, shipbuilding, and recreation. Even a cursory glance using google maps shows how tightly clustered the built space is, all on only 10% of the total U.S. land mass. Shoreline communities have five times the population density as compared to the U.S. average.
The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You: A Tribe’s Response to the Measles Outbreak
Seminole, Texas is where I graduated high school, where I met my best friends, where I played football, and where I drank my first beer. Seminole is where I learned to pick myself up by the bootstraps, that no one is better than me, and that hard work coupled with perseverance will get you far. Seminole is where I learned the value of a handshake, that a person is only as good as their word, how to overcome adversity, and that it takes a Tribe to solve our biggest problems.
AI Wars Are Escalating: The US vs. China, Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman, and JD Vance vs. the World.
JD Vance’s appalling speech at the Paris Artificial Intelligence Summit announcing that the US will not agree to minimal international safety standards or consumer protections was not surprising given the Trump administration’s deregulatory fervor and fervent billionaire support. But with lucrative government contracts hanging in the balance, two of those billionaires are feuding. Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, recently said no to Elon Musk’s offer of $97.4 billion to purchase his company. Musk also heard no from 21 technology workers at DOGE, formerly the US Digital Service, who quit their jobs saying they refused to use their skills to “dismantle critical public services.”
Navigating Global Governance in a Multipolar World: U.S. Strategy Amid Changing Power Dynamics
40% of the U.S. population line our coasts. That equates to approximately 130 million people residing in coastal counties. In addition to those who retire seaside, entire economies are integrated into the coastal industries of fishing, tourism, energy, shipbuilding, and recreation. Even a cursory glance using google maps shows how tightly clustered the built space is, all on only 10% of the total U.S. land mass. Shoreline communities have five times the population density as compared to the U.S. average.
UCI World Championships in Rwanda
The International Cycling Union (UCI) is the governing-body of cycling throughout the world. This year’s World Championships, held every four years, will take place in and around Kigali, Rwanda. The previous edition of the World Championships was held in the cycling-rich region of Flanders in Belgium. According to Velo, the planned route in Kigali is set to be the hardest course ever for a UCI World Championships. The men’s course is set to be a 268 kilometer slog through the Rwandan mountains (with more climbing than previous World Championships set in the European Alps) and the women’s race will be a similar slog through the mountains but a bit shorter at only 165 kilometers.
The End of DEI in the Federal Government: Who’s Really Affected?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies in the United States trace their roots back to the civil rights movements of the 1960s, particularly through the enactment of Affirmative Action programs.
No shortage of Canaries in our Coastlines Signaling Catastrophe
40% of the U.S. population line our coasts. That equates to approximately 130 million people residing in coastal counties. In addition to those who retire seaside, entire economies are integrated into the coastal industries of fishing, tourism, energy, shipbuilding, and recreation. Even a cursory glance using google maps shows how tightly clustered the built space is, all on only 10% of the total U.S. land mass. Shoreline communities have five times the population density as compared to the U.S. average.
Elon Musk, Destroyer of U.S. Government Agencies and Bureaucratic Careers, Has Serious Unchecked Conflicts of Interest
Unelected tech multibillionaire Elon Musk is heavily involved in government actions that impact his personal finances. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has been dismantling U.S. government institutions and slashing staff at nearly a dozen federal agencies that have more than 30 ongoing investigations into Musk’s six companies.
Federal judiciary changes over the past 8 years
Federal judiciary changes over the past 8 years
Elections & Politics #143 | By: Saiabhiram Akkaraju | February 18, 2025
Featured Photo By: Wikimedia Commons
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Over the past 8 years, the federal judiciary system has changed drastically. Landmark rulings, overturning past precedents, and a dramatic shift in the makeup of justices in the Supreme Court have significantly changed the judiciary system as a whole. This Brief explores how this change in composition has affected the judiciary system and policy action and will for years to come.
Analysis
Changes in Composition:
Over the past 8 years, the judiciary system has undergone a drastic change in its composition. For some context, 8 years ago, the Supreme Court was made up of 5 conservative justices and 4 liberal justices. However, the death of Justice Scalia early in 2017 caused a hole, leaving a perfect balance of 4 liberal and 4 conservative justices throughout that year. Then President Trump replaced him with a new conservative judge, making a 5:4 ratio of conservatives to liberals. Today, the court is dominated by 6 conservative judges, including the Chief Justice, who usually votes with other conservatives. While the two-judge difference might not feel that big to us, it makes a huge difference. The composition of the courts makes an impact on how the Supreme Court does its job, interpreting the laws. With a more conservative base, the court is likely to take a strict interpretation of the constitution and its limits, favoring and rationalizing decisions consistent exactly with the constitution. Whereas liberal courts are likely to take a broader interpretation of the constitution, using a rationale based on societal factors. When put into practice, these two styles clash significantly, creating and breaking barriers for policy change.
Change in Retirement Trends:
One major factor that makes changes in Court composition so important is that Supreme Court justies have lifetime appointments. Once justices are appointed, they get to serve for however long they want. Some justices are choosing to never step down, a sentiment that is becoming ever more frequent. One perfect example is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After fighting cancer twice, she had the opportunity to step down in 2013 and 2014 when President Obama could have replaced her with another liberal judge; however, she decisively chose not to and died while in office. Because she never stepped down, her death became a an avenue for Presieent Trump to add a conservative to the court.
Composition Among Terms:
At the heart of Supreme Court composition changes and appointments is the Senate Judiciary Committee. While many Americans might see Senate confirmation as a formality that doesn’t change much, politics happen here that further polarize the court. For example, in 2016, the Senate Judiciary Committee, namely Mitch McConnell, its Republican chair at the time, held up President Obama’s Supreme Court appointment of Merrick Garland, citing “lame duck term” timing and saying the people should be able to decide with their next choice for president. This came under heavy scrutiny for essentially denying the powers of the president for Mitch McConnell’s own political alignment. Soon after, McConnell ushered the confirmation of Donald Trump’s new appointee, Neil Gorsuch
It’s also important to note that the Supreme Court is the only branch of the federal court not bound by ethics considerations. 8 of the current Supreme Court justices have faced ethical accusations, such as undisclosed financial benefits and transactions and incentives to alter decision-making by spouses. This lack of a binding code of conduct further allows justices to act in compliance with their political party, rather than their professional opinions.
It’s important for Americans to remember that there are multiple levels to the federal judiciary system. Less than 1% of total federal judiciary cases get heard by the Supreme Court, and of the 8000 petitions that make it to the Supreme Court, less than 100 are heard for oral arguments. While all the focus may be on the Supreme Court nominations, these lower-tier appointments make up the bulk of citizens’ interactions with the legal system. Joe Biden set a record for these nominations since the Carter administration, with his 235 appointments compared to President Trump’s 226.
However, major judicial decisions are still made by the Supreme Court, decisions that affect cases related to civil and reproductive rights, presidential immunity, and the amount of money allowed in politics. These landmark cases have become more a reflection of political platforms rather than equity and judicial precedent.
Engagement Resources
- American Constitution Society:
https://www.acslaw.org/
Focuses on the role of courts in providing democracy and justice through advocacy, media and projects. - Brennan Center for Justice:
https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/strengthen-our-courts/promote-fair-courts
Focuses on research, the role of courts, and promoting fair courts through advocacy, research, media, and initiatives. - Alliance For Justice:
https://afj.org/ - Focuses on progressive advocacy in courts and helping other organizations/partners on how to advocate for change themselves.
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Gazans Face a Precarious and Uncertain Future
Gazans Face a Precarious and Uncertain Future
Foreign Policy #177 | By: Mindy Spatt | February 15, 2025
Featured Photo By: EPA Images
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Israel’s assault on Gaza has decimated its people and infrastructure. Rebuilding will take decades, and in the meantime, the population remains dependent on international aid. Not only has Israel put drastic new restrictions on United Nations aid, but Donald Trump is pulling US funding for UN aid programs, suggesting that Palestinians should be forced out, the US take over and “build a Middle East Riviera there.
Analysis
Since the Israeli Defense Ministry (IDF) allowed Gazans to return to northern and central Gaza we’ve seen thousands of refugees returning home, on foot, to a charred and desolate landscape. Most of the Gaza Strip is piles of rubble. The infrastructure alone has sustained an estimated $18.5 billion in damage, and according to a UN report, it will take the economy 350 years to get back to its previous GDP.
The mountains of debris are everywhere and may well contain unexploded ordinance. Clearing it away will be a lengthy and arduous task requiring specialized staff and machinery that isn’t readily available in Gaza. Jonathan Crickx, Chief of Communications for UNICEF Palestine, explained to Al Jazeera that there is “no infrastructure, water is scarce,” and building supplies were already scarce. “Needs are going to be immense,” he said.
It is hard to imagine that either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority will be able to address all of those needs or have the financial resources to do. The hope is that wealthy Gulf states such as Qatar, which gave $500 million for Gaza rebuilding in 2021, will give again. With costs estimated at $50 billion, multiple funders will be needed.
In a recent speech to the World Economic Forum, Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said that financial aid for rebuilding Gaza would be difficult to raise in the absence of a long-term, two-state solution that would give investors a sense of stability in the region and the sustainability of their investment.
What is clear is that returning Gazans will have nowhere to live, nowhere to work, and little food to eat and will continue to be dependent on aid programs for the foreseeable future. In Gaza UNRWA, The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has been the primary provider of health and education services as well as food and other basic survival needs and has recently been banned in Israel.
Israel’s legislation to ban UNRWA at a time when aid is so crucial has fueled suspicions that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s goal is to force the Palestinians out of Gaza altogether and give the land to Israeli settlers. And now Trump, who has urged the permanent removal of the Palestinian population, is rumored to want to build a hotel and resort in Gaza.
According to a statement on the UNRWA website, “The Government of Israel has stated publicly that the aim to vacate UNRWA premises in Sheikh Jarrah is to expand Israeli illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.” The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that the legislation “prohibits UNRWA activity only on the sovereign territory of the state of Israel,” which it considers includes East Jerusalem but not in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israeli officials have not said how they intend to enforce the legislation, which was passed last year in the wake of accusations that UNRWA workers were collaborating with Hamas militants, a claim that UNRWA says is unfounded.
Even if the physical ban is only applied to UNRWA’s East Jerusalem headquarters, which have already been shut down, it will make it far more difficult for UNRWA to deliver aid to Gaza, since that requires communication with Israeli authorities, which is no longer legally permissible. There are also reports of UNRWA staff being unable to renew their VISAs.
The International community has condemned the ban: France, the UK, and Germany issued a unified statement opposing the ban, and Norway publicly announced a $24 million donation to the agency.
A UN committee on Palestinian Rights issued a statement reading, in part, “Coming immediately after the Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel’s ban on UNRWA is a blatant move that will exacerbate Palestinian suffering – not with airstrikes and bombs, but with deprivation, hunger, and disease. Israel, due to its status as an occupying power, has no sovereignty in any part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, where the UNRWA headquarters is located. The UNRWA ban is as unlawful as the Israeli occupation itself.
Trump’s ridiculous suggestion that the US take over Gaza makes things more uncertain. Palestinians are unwilling to move and the neighboring countries ot Egypt and Jordan have refused to take them, fearing they might destabilize their own countries. Not only does the US have no authority over the territory or its people, the thought of forcibly moving an entire ethnic group conjures up images of the forcible displacement and extermination of Jews in World War II.
Engagement Resources
- Statement Of The Bureau Of The General Assembly’s Committee On The Exercise Of The Inalienable Rights Of The Palestinian People
https://www.un.org/unispal/document/un-palestinian-rights-committee-bureau-statement-unrwa-ban-31jan2025/ - The Government Of Israel Orders UNRWA To Vacate Its Premises In Occupied East Jerusalem And Cease Operations In Them, Jan. 26, 2025,
https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/government-israel-orders-unrwa-vacate-its-premises-occupied-east - Gaza ‘Ceasefire at Risk’ if UNRWA Forced to Stop Operations, Jan. 31, 2025,
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/31/gaza-ceasefire-at-risk-if-unrwa-forced-to-stop-operations#ixzz8yxGSR1bz - UNRWA: Claims Versus Facts
https://www.unrwa.org/unrwa-claims-versus-facts-february-2024
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Exploring Different Types of Immigrants & Immigration Realities (Immigration Policy Brief #140)
Exploring Different Types of Immigrants & Immigration Realities
Immigration #140 | By: Morgan Davidson | February 10, 2025
Featured Photo By: CBS Austin/Azul Beltran
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Immigration has long been a defining feature of the United States, shaping its workforce, culture, and economy. While immigration policies have evolved over time, the complexities surrounding legal status and pathways to residency or citizenship remain misunderstood by many. The immigration system is not a singular process but rather a web of different legal categories, each with its own requirements and obstacles. Previously I covered who was being deported in an emotional sense see “Who’s Being Deported? Our Neighbors, Friends, and the Workforce” Immigration Policy Brief #139, but let us dive into who these people are in legal terms.
One of the most persistent misconceptions about immigration, particularly regarding undocumented immigrants, is the belief that they are inherently associated with crime or that most enter the country illegally. In reality, immigration status varies widely, and the reasons for entering and staying in the U.S. are often tied to economic opportunity, safety, or legal barriers to residency. This article explores the different categories of immigrants, how undocumented individuals enter the country, and the truth behind the narrative that immigration is linked to crime.
Analysis
Asylum Seekers
Asylum seekers are individuals fleeing persecution, violence, or credible threats in their home countries. They seek protection in the U.S. under international and domestic asylum laws, which allow people to request safety at a port of entry or after entering the country.
The asylum process involves two pathways: affirmative asylum, where individuals apply voluntarily, and defensive asylum, where a person applies as a defense against deportation. Applicants must file for asylum within one year of arrival, provide evidence of persecution, and navigate an often-lengthy legal process. Many face high denial rates, long backlogs, and uncertainty while awaiting a decision, with some facing deportation if their claims are denied.
Immigrants with Work Permits or Social Security Numbers
Some immigrants come to the U.S. legally through employment-based visas. These include H-1B visas for skilled workers, H-2A visas for agricultural laborers, and H-2B visas for non-agricultural seasonal workers. Others may have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is granted to individuals from countries experiencing extreme conflict or natural disasters.
Many of these immigrants contribute significantly to the economy, filling essential roles in technology, healthcare, agriculture, and service industries. While some are on a path to permanent residency through employment-based green cards, others face strict limitations, such as visa caps and delays, that make transitioning to permanent legal status difficult.
Dreamers (Undocumented Immigrants Who Arrived as Children)
Dreamers are undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Many have lived in the country for most of their lives, attending school and working without official legal status. In 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program provided temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for eligible individuals.
However, DACA is not a path to citizenship, and its future remains uncertain due to shifting political policies. Dreamers face numerous challenges, including restrictions on financial aid for college, limited job opportunities, and the risk of deportation if DACA protections are revoked. Despite these barriers, they contribute to the economy and society but lack full legal rights.
Immigrants Waiting for Status to Be Adjudicated
Many immigrants are in legal limbo while awaiting decisions on their status. This group includes asylum applicants, family-sponsored immigrants waiting for visa availability, and individuals seeking employment-based green cards. The backlog in immigration courts and processing centers can leave people waiting years for resolution.
For family-based immigration, the wait times can be especially long, with some applicants waiting decades due to visa quotas. These delays can cause significant hardship, keeping families separated and limiting employment opportunities while individuals wait for their cases to be decided.
How & Why Immigrants Without Credentials Enter
Many people assume that most undocumented immigrants enter the U.S. by illegally crossing the border. However, the majority actually arrive legally and overstay their visas. Others do cross the border unlawfully, often seeking work or family reunification. In some cases, human trafficking and smuggling networks facilitate migration, sometimes exploiting vulnerable individuals.
Immigrants often leave their home countries due to violence, economic hardship, political instability, or natural disasters. In Central America, for example, gang violence and lack of job opportunities push many to seek a safer future in the U.S. Climate change has also played a role, displacing communities due to extreme weather and agricultural collapse.
The U.S. attracts immigrants with its economic opportunities, higher wages, and relative stability. Family reunification is another major factor, as many seek to join relatives who are already legal residents. Additionally, misinformation about legal pathways sometimes leads people to believe they have options to stay when, in reality, legal avenues are limited.
Immigrants & Crime: Separating Fact from Fiction
One of the most common misconceptions is that undocumented immigrants are more likely to commit crimes. However, studies consistently show that both documented and undocumented immigrants have lower crime rates than native-born Americans. Research from the Cato Institute and other organizations indicates that immigrants—regardless of status—are less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born citizens.
Anti-immigration rhetoric often relies on selective cases of crimes committed by undocumented individuals to justify harsher policies. However, these narratives ignore broader statistical realities and often fuel fear-mongering. Politicians and media outlets sometimes amplify these cases, leading to distorted perceptions of immigrant crime rates.
Law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prioritize deportation for individuals with serious criminal records. However, many deportations occur for nonviolent offenses, traffic violations, or immigration infractions. The entanglement of local law enforcement with federal immigration agencies has sparked debates about fairness and racial profiling.
Conclusion
Immigration in the U.S. is a complex issue, shaped by legal structures, economic needs, and humanitarian concerns. While different categories of immigrants navigate varying legal landscapes, many share common challenges, including long wait times, uncertain futures, and restricted rights.
Misinformation about immigration, particularly regarding undocumented individuals and crime, continues to influence public opinion and policy decisions. A clearer understanding of immigration realities is crucial for informed discussions and effective reforms. By recognizing the contributions and struggles of different immigrant groups, the U.S. can move toward a more balanced and humane approach to immigration policy.
Engagement Resources:
Pew Research: Data on immigrant demographics, legal status, and contributions
https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/immigration-migration/
National Immigration Law Center (NILC): Advocacy and legal resources for low-income immigrants
https://www.nilc.org
American Immigration Council: Research on immigration myths, contributions, and legal policies
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org
Stay in-the-know! Always get the latest updates from our reporters by subscribing to the U.S. Resist News Weekly Newsletter. Your support is crucial in safeguarding fearless independent journalism. If you appreciate our content, please consider donating today to help protect democracy and empower citizenship.
The Dangers for Schools Amid the Trump Gender War
The Dangers for Schools Amid the Trump Gender War
Education Policy #199 | By: Evan Wechman | February 8, 2025
Featured Photo By: iStockPhoto
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The Trump administration has recently begun redefining its view on what it sees as the appropriate options for gender in the education system. The newly released Trump executive order on “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” released on January 29 seeks to prohibit federal funding for schools that are teaching gender ideology and critical race theory in the classroom.
This is a follow-up to the president’s executive order on January 20, stating that there are two sexes, male and female, determined at birth and can’t be changed. Further, the concept of “gender identity” has no place in the school system.
These executive orders strip schools from teaching anything other than what is allowed by President Trump. The concept of gender ideology will be a thing of the past if he gets his way.
This will change how education was connected to federal funding under the Biden administration. Biden encouraged the discussion of gender ideology between students and teachers without the fear of losing critical funds.
A key provision of the January 29th order seeks not only to remove federal funding from schools that do not acquiesce to Trump’s demands but also subject teachers and other school personnel to possible legal action for non-compliance.
The executive order states “The Attorney General shall coordinate with state attorneys general and local district attorneys in their efforts to enforce the law and file appropriate actions against K-12 teachers and school officials who violate the law.”
Analysis
Trump’s latest attempts are dangerous methods to control the actions of both students and teachers. This is also the beginning of both the Trump cultural and gender identity wars. Such actions will not help today’s students.
If Trump and his yes men want to forbid their children from any discussion of gender identity in their own home, that is their business.
But what Trump seems to miss is that his worldview does not have to dominate the country’s agenda. This country was built on freedom, which extends to different families and their children.
He is also not showing any concern for the mental health of students struggling with gender identity during a pivotal time in their lives. By establishing his views for the whole country, he is taking away critical conversations between faculty and students when many of these children need someone to speak with.
Also, since he is showing no concern for students questioning their gender, this will subject them to bullying and potential violence from less sensitive peers.
Trump has zero experience as a teacher or therapist and should leave the safety of our future generation’s mental health in the appropriate hands of educators rather than his.
His threats of legal action against educators who don’t follow his demands are also frightening. Most teachers and other school employees want to help all students, regardless of gender identity, and Trump is preventing that from occurring. This could have dangerous ramifications as many capable professionals may avoid a career in education.
Trump should stay out of most areas of education and stick to wedge issues like keeping biological men out of women’s sports.
Engagement Resources:
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HRC | Human Rights Campaign An organization envisioning a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear and equal protection under the law.
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Homepage | GLSEN They work to ensure LGBTQ+ students are able to learn and grow in schools free from harassment.
Stay in-the-know! Always get the latest updates from our reporters by subscribing to the U.S. Resist News Weekly Newsletter. Your support is crucial in safeguarding fearless independent journalism. If you appreciate our content, please consider donating today to help protect democracy and empower citizenship.
Trump on USAID: The End of American Soft Power
Trump on USAID: The End of American Soft Power
Foreign Policy Brief #178 | By: Damian DeSola | February 12, 2025
Featured Photo From: wbur.org
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In the three weeks of Donald Trump’s second term as President of the United States, he has singlehandedly stunted America’s ability to project soft power. Taking actions like ending most foreign aid and withdrawing from treaties like the Paris Climate Agreement, Trump’s America First isolationist policies will be devastating to the United States’ credibility and strength, and to the rest of the human race’s ability to remain safe, healthy, educated, and alive. One federal organization that is on the verge of being all but disbanded by the Trump administration is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
USAID is the largest international aid organization, in dollars of funding, in the entire world. In 2023 it spent around $40 billion in its efforts to fend off disease, support democracies, provide food and water, educate, provide transportation, and a whole host of other forms of aid that prevent devastating societal collapse around the world. USAID has established world-class famine and disease detection systems that have saved countless lives. Through USAID, the American government has been able to demonstrate goodwill to the peoples of this world and has helped maintain a, more than otherwise, positive outlook of the United States.
The amount USAID uses to do this work is about 0.33% of the US GDP; as a ratio, this spending is worth about 4.9% of the annual defense budget. It is this agency that the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE seek to shutter to reduce government spending.
Why has the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE decided to go after USAID? In Trump’s words, the agency is apparently run by “radical lunatics,” and their spending on humanitarian aid is rife with “waste and abuse.” To quote Elon Musk, USAID is a “viper’s nest of radical left Marxists who hate America.” He also calls it a “criminal organization,” declaring “time for it to die.”
Clearly, our government is in safe and rational hands. The true reasons for any actions against USAID can only be speculated. Likely, Trump and Musk see the agency’s work as a net loss, treating government spending as if it is a simple balance book.
Without an act of Congress, USAID cannot be entirely shuttered. However, the Trump administration is considering moves to put USAID under the control of the State Department, where it can be closely monitored and controlled. As of February 6th, the Trump administration has fired nearly the entire staff of USAID, retaining only 290 of the more than 10,000 employees.
In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senate Democrats voiced concern over this proposal, saying that USAID is meant to be independent so it can quickly dispatch experts in an emergency without lengthy State Department approval. They also state apprehension about the activities of Musk’s DOGE agents accessing classified information without proper clearance.
Analysis
In terms of Making America Great Again, this is not a great start for the new administration. If Trump aims to stand up to China and make the United States “respected” again on the world stage, the policy of dismantling USAID is doing the exact opposite. Not everything can be solved by hard power, nor should it. It is distressing to see top Republicans unequivocally back policies that so obviously demolish the diplomatic soft power projection that the United States has used to retain its global standing while concurrently saving lives, all in the name of the vague notion of “America First.”
Soft power is integral to a modern democratic nation and theoretically should be the first and most focused on resort to international affairs. First, hard power is the use of military and economic coercion and use against another country. This form of power is aggressive and escalatory, making it a favored tool of Trump. The contrasting soft power is a far more delicate, complex, and slow form of power that uses diplomacy, cultural values, and historical contexts, and seeks cooperation through credibility. USAID is one of the United States’ greatest forms of soft power, allowing us to better our international stance by helping others. Trump seems to rather see this form of power as weakness than playing the long-game, and has the ridiculous, and frankly contemptible, notion that only might make right. In terms of grand strategy, he is missing the greater picture.
By stepping back in such a dramatic way, the gaps left by the United States will quickly be filled by rival powers. While Europe will attempt to pick up some of the slack, this is China’s unmistakable opportunity to step in as a savior. It is good that at least some nation will be there to prevent disease and famine, but the inherent autocratic nature of the Chinese Communist Party will undoubtedly use this newfound influence in a malign and exploitative fashion. Seeking loyalty, return on investment, access to resources, land, and a whole host of favors would not be uncharacteristic for the architects of the Belt and Road Initiative. In this regard, the United States is utterly at a loss due to these policies.
Furthermore, the goal of earning some confounding goal of “respect” from other countries will quickly become clear to be as misguided as it will be unattained. The results of these policies will be that of the biblical four horsemen: famine, disease, war, and death. The role of USAID is to provide developmental aid to the impoverished and destitute. With the help of the United States, societies that would be otherwise on the brink have a helping hand. Without this, the immediate expectation should be massive outbreaks of disease, drops in world literacy rates, food shortages, resource wars, the collapse of democracies, and an uncountable loss of life. These harbingers of civilizational collapse will entirely be in the hands of the United States and its “devoutly Christian” leaders. Trump wants international respect, but now he will get nothing more than global disdain.
USAID has been doing important work that has saved lives and showed that the US federal government could do something good in the world that does not involve sending or using bombs. If this trend of shuttering major institutions for the sake of “cost-cutting” continues, which it seems to be, the world will once again be at the whims of reactionaries and populists as it had been in the pre-World War II period. If there is anything you can do, it is to oppose this fall. Donate to charities, spread awareness about what is happening, protest, call your member of Congress, volunteer, vote, and do what you can do as a citizen as is your right.
Engagement Resources
- Brookings Institute commentary that goes further in-depth about the implications of shutting down USAID
- NYTimes tracker of Trump’s major moves since taking office
- World Food Programme’s HungerMap
- A list of the top 15 largest international humanitarian organizations and their operations
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Who’s Being Deported? Our Neighbors, Friends, and the Workforce (Immigration Policy Brief #139)
Who’s Being Deported? Our Neighbors, Friends, and the Workforce
Immigration #139 | By: Morgan Davidson | February 2, 2025
US RESIST NEWS has asked Morgan Davidson, one of our outstanding Reporters, to chronicle and analyze Trump administration efforts to deport 11,000 Immigrants.
Featured Photo By: nytimes.com
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Given the start of the Trump era and ICE raids occurring across the country it is timely to remind people who immigrants are and more importantly who they are not. The initial figures released by ICE at the start of the new era of raids on immigrants reported that they had arrested 472 people on average in the first 3 days. Shortly after, President Trump set a quota of 1,800 arrests a day. That is around 4 times higher. So far, ICE has stepped up their efforts with the lowest day for arrests being 864 but has still remained short of Trump’s quota with the largest day for arrests totalling 1,179.
ICE claims that “targeted enforcement operations” (TEOs) focus on “criminal aliens who threaten national security or public safety.” This rhetoric aligns with Trump’s promises to go after criminals. However, the reality tells a different story. While ICE has been tight-lipped about the specifics, data obtained by NBC News revealed that on the largest day of arrests, nearly 52% of those detained were known criminals, meaning roughly 48% had no violent record. If they aren’t criminals, then who are they?
Analysis
In short they are our neighbors, friends, and the backbone of our economy in many regards. Immigrants are vital to a wide range of industries across the economy. In sectors like agriculture, construction, hospitality, healthcare, technology, and research, immigrant workers make up a significant portion of the workforce. Whether filling low-skilled roles that many native-born citizens are less likely to pursue or taking on high-skilled, specialized positions, immigrants contribute to both the growth of businesses and the advancement of innovation.
Immigrant farmworkers are critical to agriculture, performing tasks such as planting, harvesting, and packing. Without immigrant labor, many farms would struggle to meet demand, leading to higher food prices and potential shortages.
Many immigrant workers in the construction industry fill roles such as laborers, carpenters, and roofers. Their contribution is crucial to infrastructure development and housing projects, which drive economic growth.
Immigrants also fill roles in hospitality, such as housekeeping, janitorial services, and restaurant positions. These workers ensure the smooth functioning of the hospitality industry, which is a significant part of the service sector.
Immigrants make up a sizable proportion of healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and home health aides. Their expertise helps fill critical gaps, particularly in underserved communities, and ensures that the healthcare system runs efficiently.
Immigrants in tech industries, such as software engineers and data analysts, contribute to the rapid advancement of technology, driving innovation and economic competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Many professors and scientists in research institutions and universities are immigrants who bring diverse perspectives to their fields, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and fostering scientific discovery.
Immigrant-run businesses often serve as economic engines, creating jobs and providing goods and services that enrich local economies. These businesses often support local community by offering affordable products and services. Immigrants are known for their entrepreneurial spirit, starting successful startups that introduce new ideas and technologies, contributing to the innovation-driven economy.
In conclusion, immigrants are integral to the economy, contributing across a wide spectrum of sectors, from low-skilled labor to high-skilled professions. Their impact cannot be overstated. Despite facing challenges such as wage gaps and workplace exploitation, immigrants continue to drive prosperity. However, the Trump administration seeks to undermine their economic contributions.
The mass deportation efforts under the Trump administration not only harm the economy but also damage our nation’s moral standing. By separating families, many of whom have deep roots in American communities, the government inflicts lasting emotional trauma.
Immigrants, who often pay taxes and contribute to society, are unfairly labeled as criminals and treated like felons simply for their immigration status. This dehumanization, along with the fear and instability it creates, destabilizes families and communities. Rather than recognizing their vital contributions, these policies harm both the workforce and the core values of fairness, justice, and compassion that America is supposed to uphold.
Engagement Resources
- You can follow ICE arrests on X https://x.com/ICEgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- ACLU: Advocacy for immigrant rights and challenges to unconstitutional policies.
https://www.aclu.org - Source on who ICE is arresting- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/ice-trump-deportations-numbers-rcna188937
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Ownership in Emerging Frontiers: Outer Space and Cyberspace
Ownership in Emerging Frontiers: Outer Space and Cyberspace
Foreign Policy Brief #177 | By: Inijah Quadri | February 10, 2025
Featured Photo From: techradar.com
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The ownership of outer space and cyberspace has become a critical issue as humanity expands its activities into these domains. Outer space, once the realm of government-led exploration, is now increasingly commercialized with private companies launching satellites, planning lunar missions, and pursuing asteroid mining. Similarly, cyberspace, the digital environment that underpins global communication and commerce, is witnessing debates over data sovereignty, digital monopolies, and intellectual property.
Both outer space and cyberspace are often described as global commons—areas intended for shared use and benefit. However, the lack of clear, universally accepted regulations on ownership and usage has sparked controversies. In outer space, the question arises over who owns resources extracted from celestial bodies, while in cyberspace, concerns center on who controls digital infrastructure and data.
These issues are not just theoretical. They carry profound implications for global equity, security, and the sustainable use of resources. Without cohesive policies, there is a risk of exploitation, conflict, and inequitable distribution of the benefits from these emerging frontiers.
Analysis
Outer Space
The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the cornerstone of international space law, establishes that outer space is not subject to national sovereignty. Article II of the treaty prohibits any nation from claiming ownership of celestial bodies. However, as private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin lead the charge into space exploration, the treaty’s limitations are becoming evident.
For instance, the United States and Luxembourg have enacted laws allowing private companies to own resources mined from celestial bodies. While these laws aim to encourage investment and innovation, they challenge the treaty’s spirit by creating a legal gray area about the commercialization of space resources. The Moon Agreement of 1979 sought to address such concerns but failed to gain widespread adoption, leaving critical gaps in governance.
Cyberspace
Unlike outer space, cyberspace lacks a unified international treaty. Ownership in cyberspace is largely governed by a patchwork of national laws, international agreements, and corporate policies. Intellectual property rights protect digital content and software, while data sovereignty laws dictate how information can be stored and transferred across borders.
However, cyberspace governance faces significant challenges. Major tech companies dominate the digital landscape, controlling vast amounts of user data and the infrastructure of the internet. This concentration of power raises questions about monopolies, data privacy, and the equitable distribution of digital resources. The global nature of cyberspace complicates regulation, as legal frameworks vary widely between countries.
Policy Recommendations
To address the challenges of ownership in outer space and cyberspace, an international coalition could establish a new framework akin to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
For outer space, this could include:
- Guidelines for resource extraction to ensure equitable access.
- Mechanisms for resolving disputes between nations and private entities.
- Collaborative efforts to prevent the militarization of space.
For the cyberspace, this could include:
- International agreements on data privacy and cybersecurity.
- Regulations to address digital monopolies and ensure fair competition.
- Public-private partnerships to enhance the transparency and accountability of tech companies.
This framework would ensure that activities in these domains are conducted transparently, sustainably, and equitably, with shared benefits for all nations. By defining clear guidelines for resource extraction in space and data governance in the cyberspace, this initiative could prevent conflicts and promote cooperation in these rapidly evolving frontiers.
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The Con Man’s Coffers: Trump’s Unfettered Leveraging of Government Power to Reap Personal Profits Soars Yet Again
The Con Man’s Coffers: Trump’s Unfettered Leveraging of Government Power to Reap Personal Profits Soars Yet Again
Elections & Politics #143 | By: Nicholas Gordon | February 9, 2025
Featured Photo By: news.berkeley.edu
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Inked deals for new Trump-branded properties overseas, increased stock sales to foreign investors in the Trump Organization’s media and cryptocurrency sectors, business partnerships with companies funded by foreign governments – all of these actions by a sitting U.S. president signify an unprecedented leveraging of presidential power for personal profit, and they’re all in a day’s work for President Donald Trump.
With the Trump Organization’s recent release of a so-called voluntary ethics agreement bluntly stating that the organization will continue to make deals with private foreign companies—which is a further desecration of the unethical “ethics agreement” of Trump’s first term—government watchdog groups say that foreign leaders could buy influence with the new administration, exacerbating Trump’s historical corruption. By failing to divest while pursuing new business opportunities overseas, Trump could compromise national security, letting his own financial interests shape his foreign policy decisions.
Analysis
President Trump is once again flagrantly violating his ethical obligations to serve the best interests of the American people in favor of gaining profit for his family business. The man who once campaigned on the slogan to “drain the swamp” of wealthy D.C. insiders and backscratchers has instead refashioned the swamp to his advantage, using his properties as transactional meeting points during his first administration, and flooding his rotten swamp with billionaire cronies and groveling loyalists at the start of his second term.
Heading into his first presidential term, Trump faked a pledge to divest from his business empire by claiming to have placed his business holdings in a trust overseen by his son, Eric Trump. In actuality President Trump remained the sole beneficiary, earning a reported $2.4 billion from multiple ventures, including charging government officials and members of the U.S Secret Service exorbitant fees to stay at his properties.
Now, newly emboldened at the start of his second term by the Supreme Court ruling of Presidential immunity and by having Republican control of congress—not to mention by facing zero accountability for taking over $13 million in payments from foreign governments in his first term—Trump is mixing his family business and government power with absolute disregard for presidential conflicts of interest.
To Name But a Few Examples
The Trump Organization has new deals in the works for hotels and golf resorts in India, Indonesia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, and is pursuing potential projects in Israel. Eric Trump is close business partners with the Saudi Arabia-based real estate company Dar Al Arkan, which is directly connected to the Saudi royal family.
The Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns the social media platform Truth Social, and a new cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, has publicly traded stock coveted by foreign investors. Steve Witkoff, who is in business with Trump’s World Liberty Financial, currently serves as Trump’s Middle East envoy. Devin Nunes, the CEO of Trump Media, now serves as the Chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
At a recent press conference, Trump said that DAMAC Properties—a Dubai-based real estate firm partnered with the Trump Organization on a Trump-branded golf course in the Middle East—will invest billions of dollars to build data centers in the U.S. with support from the federal government.
The conflicts of interest list goes on. Though due to Trump’s obstruction and lack of transparency, including his refusal to release his tax returns, all of which is abetted by his allies, the American public is left in the dark regarding the full extent of the ways Trump is capitalizing on his presidency.
None of this amplified wanton blending of Trump’s executive office of the Presidency with his personal financial interests should come as a surprise, however.
In his first term, Trump severely violated the Constitution’s Foreign and Domestic Emoluments Clauses which states that federal government officials cannot receive profits from foreign governments, or from the federal government itself, beyond their standard government salary.
On Inauguration Day for his second term, Trump rescinded former President Biden’s ethics requirements for government officials and did not issue a new ethics pledge in its place for political appointees joining his administration to sign, a standard practice for incoming presidents. Trump no more expects his staff to abide by conflict of interest protocols ensuring ethical standards for their work while holding public office or in government agencies than he expects of himself.
Engagement Resources:
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
- Through investigations, legal actions, and innovative policy reform, CREW works to ensure Americans have an ethical democracy that is transparent and accountable.
- Campaign Legal Center
- A nonprofit that monitors ethical violations committed by Democratic and Republican lawmakers and candidates.
- Open Secrets
- A nonpartisan, nonprofit whose mission is to “serve as the trusted authority on money in American politics” by providing accurate data, analysis, and tools for policymakers and citizens.
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A Refugee’s Tale. Halina. | Real story. All names are changed.
A Refugee’s Tale. Halina. | Real story. All names are changed.
Foreign Policy Brief #176 | By: Yelena Korshunov | February 9, 2025
Featured Photo From: euronews.com
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Halina dragged heavy bags filled with humanitarian bean cans to the apartment door, her numb hand fumbling for the key in her pocket. Her feet ached with exhaustion. She had stood for hours in a crowded subway, clutching these precious bags of free food.
Once a confident businesswoman who had built a successful cosmetics company in Ukraine, Halina was now working as a home attendant in New York. The good news was that her surgery and chemotherapy were behind her. Now, she was in the final week of daily radiation treatments. “That’s it for now,” the doctor had said. Fingers crossed. She wondered if her hair would ever grow back —or if the war, the chemo, and the stress had stolen more from her than just her home.
Sometimes, Halina imagined that if she closed her eyes tightly, she would open them to find herself back in her sunlit house with cherry trees outside the window. But when she did open them, she was still here, in a small apartment in the Bronx. Her daughter Margarita would soon come home from school. Then Halina would leave for her evening home attendant shift. Later, her elder daughter, Sophia, would return from work. By that time, Halina would be too exhausted to eat dinner. The three of them would lie down together, talking—about school, work, soccer, their new life. About anything except the war.
Margarita is a high school senior. Last fall, when she arrived in the U.S. under the Unite for Ukraine (U4U) program with her mother and sister, she had joined the junior class at a public school while remotely completing her final year in a Ukrainian high school. The pressure was enormous—two schools, a new country, unfamiliar customs. The British English she had learned in Ukraine was not enough for fluent conversation or making friends. “Last spring, a counselor told me I had to attend summer school because I was ‘undocumented imigrant,’” Margarita recalled. “I told her, ‘I’m a legal refugee—we have visas.’ But the way she said it scared me. What if she got us into trouble, even though we’re here legally?” Fortunately, the principal and teachers were kind. Some students helped her, too. As a talented soccer player, Margarita had earned a full scholarship to a local soccer club and joined her school team. “That was the best part of starting life here,” she said. The practices and games felt familiar, like home. “But it’s hard to make friends. The other girls have known each other for years. Their parents drive them to visit colleges, and they talk about it. I have nothing to add.”
Halina doesn’t have a car. She doesn’t have time and money to take Margarita on college visits. She had to focus on her cancer treatments and work as much as she could. The family was barely covering rent and basic needs. New York is expensive, but at least there is work. Halina never told her former clients and employees in Ukraine that she was now a home attendant. On social media, she only posted pictures of New York’s dazzling skyline and festive holiday decorations. One day, she told herself she would go back. One day, she might even rebuild her business, ruined by the war.
The year they arrived in the U.S., Sophia had been a college senior—remotely. On February 24, 2022, the day Russia attacked Ukraine, all Ukrainian universities had switched to online learning. Campus life had disappeared overnight. No more lectures in packed auditoriums, no more coffee-fueled study sessions, no more lazy afternoons joking with friends. Everything changed. That damned day, none of them would ever forget.
During those many long months of war, air raid sirens froze their minds and bodies with fear. Halina, Sophia, and Margarita would wake in the middle of the night to the deafening howl and run to the cellar of their house, hearts pounding. Even now, sirens triggered Sophia’s fear. The blare of a fire truck or ambulance on a New York street still made her body tense, her hands instinctively covering her head. But at least now, after nearly two years under a peaceful sky, she could sleep through the night.
Sophia had earned her Ukrainian undergraduate diploma last summer. She dreamed of getting a master’s degree. How incredible it would be to study in New York. But she has no time. With their mother still recovering from cancer, Sophia has to work full-time commuting three hours a day, sometimes longer, to her work and back home. The salary was barely above minimum wage, but it was what the family needed. At 21, she had no time for friends, no boyfriend, no campus life. Maybe one day, in the future.
There is no fairy-tale ending to this story today. No Richard Gere lookalike had stepped out of a sleek Mercedes to rescue a pretty woman from poverty. This is real life—the life of one refugee family among thousands, struggling for survival, for food, for shelter. They had been wrenched from their homes, their comforts, their once-flourishing country beneath the bright blue Ukrainian sky. But they are alive and safe. They work, they pay taxes, they endure. And perhaps, one day, they will thrive again.
P.S. Yesterday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has suspended the Unite for Ukraine (U4U) program following a new executive order on border protection.
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A Comparison of Biden and Trump’s January 20th Pardons
A Comparison of Biden and Trump’s January 20th Pardons
Civil Rights Policy Brief #235 | By: Rod Maggay | February 9, 2025
Featured Photo Credit From: nbcmontana.com
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Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution provides: The President…shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.”
Additionally, the United States Department of Justice has an Office of the Pardon Attorney. This office has been in existence for more than 130 years. The office accepts applications and reviews and investigates requests for executive clemency. They review all applications and make recommendations to the President whether to accept or deny a person’s request for clemency. The President does not have to accept the office’s recommendations and can decide on his own whether to grant clemency. Nor does the President have to go through the review procedure that the DOJ office provides. If a President desires, he can simply issue clemency or a pardon. Supreme Court precedent has also interpreted the constitutional clause about pardons to include commutations of sentence, pardons and commutations that are conditional, reductions in fines and amnesties.
On January 20, 2025, Inauguration Day, outgoing President Joe Biden issued a number of pardons to multiple members of his family, including his son Hunter. He also issued pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Schiff and other members of the House January 6th Committee and Gen. Mark Milley. With the exception of his son Hunter, no criminal charges had been filed against any of the other persons receiving a pardon from President Biden. Because of this, the pardons to these people except his son are referred to as pre-emptive pardons.
Later in the day on January 20th after President Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President, the President issued a blanket pardon to the approximately 1,500 persons who had been convicted and imprisoned for their roles in the January 6th insurrection. President Trump’s order contained pardons, commutation of sentences and dismissal for those whose criminal trials have not yet concluded. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Policy Analysis: Despite loud calls questioning the legality and constitutionality of the pardons and commutations of sentences issued by both President Biden and Trump on the same day, the history of the pardon clause included in the Constitution and as interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court shows that the President is the exclusive holder of the “pardon power” and can issue pardons as he or she sees fit. Even though the U.S. Government has an Office of the Pardon Attorney at DOJ, that office is there to simply investigate and review the requests they receive for federal clemency and then issue their recommendation. The President is under no obligation to abide by the Office’s recommendation and can issue clemency even if the Office did not review the case and regardless of what the Office of the Pardon Attorney says. Both Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump were simply executing their power on January 20th.
While the pardons issued by President Biden are valid despite questions as to why they were issued prior to a person being charged with a crime, there is historical precedent to show that issuing the pardons pre – emptively is appropriate. Fifty-one years ago, President Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency because of the Watergate scandal. He would likely have been impeached and subsequently charged with a crime but neither happened. President Gerald Ford later issued a pre – emptive pardon to Nixon even though no charges were levied against him. President Ford’s pardon has never been tested in court and shows that pre – emptive pardons, like the ones President Biden issued, are valid.
But while Presidents are given wide latitude in issuing pardons, they are often controversial and are often criticized for partisan reasons. President Biden’s pardons to his family are controversial because it raises the question as to whether his family may have more troublesome episodes and dealings than has been revealed. But when contrasted with President Trump’ pardon of more than 1,500 January 6th persons connected with the insurrection the difference is clear and shows that President Trump’s pardons are more foolish. Trump is pardoning people who have committed violent crimes against the U.S. These violent crimes include destruction to property, use of a deadly weapon and obstruction of law enforcement. Additionally, many were convicted, many more pleaded guilty and a handful were even convicted of sedition. And there were a number of fatalities that day, as a Capitol Police officer was killed as well as one of Donald Trump’s supporters. Pardoning these violent offenders is much different than President Biden pardoning men and women who Trump vowed to get revenge on because they were simply doing their job investigating him, such as Reps. Cheney and Schiff. By using the pardon power pre – emptively, Joe Biden is using the power to protect good people from Trump’s stated goal of retribution and for simply doing their job, like Dr. Anthony Fauci. Trump is simply trying to change the narrative around Jan. 6th and is simply giving a free pass to those with violent tendencies. Trump’s pardons still won’t change the narrative that he instigated the insurrection on that day to try and subvert an election he lost.
While the pardons issued by both Presidents will likely stand, politicians on both sides of the aisle have not been shy about expressing their disgust with Trump’s pardons. Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell have made it known that they highly disapprove of Trump pardoning and commuting the sentences of hundreds of rioters. And, in an interesting move, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an order that bars any convicted Jan. 6th rioter from being employed in an Illinois state job. While this only applies to the State of Illinois, it shows that politicians will not let Trump’s foolish pardons be the last word on what happened on Jan. 6th. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – information page on clemency and pardons.
- President Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum – history and analysis of President Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact rodwood@email.com.
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