What I’m about to write guts what I posted on here yesterday. Well, maybe not guts but certainly questions my centering of what we’ll call the Musk: Did He or Didn’t He and Why The Libs Are Butt Hurt nonsense debate.
It isn’t 2016 anymore. 2017-2020 either. I’ve learned a few things.
Trump’s first term was chock full of what the fuck moments. I felt a daily horror at things being said from the highest office, the one people were insisting should be treated with institutional respect. There was a certain frenzy surrounding the White House during that time.
It was disorienting. Not only that, focusing on the wtf moments kept my eye off some of the things happening behind the scenes. We don’t have that luxury this time around.
So while I dropped some thoughts here yesterday on Musk’s splashy inauguration behavior today I want to look at some of the things Trump did during the first 48 hours of his second term. His executive orders and proclamations affected the following:
Expands “expedited removal” which lets the U.S. deport someone without a court hearing if they aren’t able to prove they’ve been here longer than two years.
Requires any noncitizen to register and present their fingerprints to the U.S. government with the threat of criminal penalty for failing to do so.
Restricts the ability to get work permits, even for those with a pending immigration application.
Threatens revocation of federal funding to states and localities deemed to be “sanctuary” jurisdictions.
Mobilizes state and local law enforcement through DHS to enforce immigration law.
Withdraws the U.S. from the Paris climate treaty.
Issues pardons for defendants charged in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, commuting the sentences of 14 individuals and offering full protections to 1,500 people convicted of acts on that day.
Withdraws the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
Redefines birthright citizenship for children born on U.S. soil.
A gender order makes it federal government policy to solely recognize the sex identified on a person’s birth certificate, the only options being male and female and those identifiers being unchangeable.
Removes the word and concept of gender from every aspect of federal agencies.
Terminates all mandates, policies, and programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
Requires an accounting of previous DEI efforts, including the names of DEI contractors and DEI grant recipients, be provided to the White House Office of Management and Budget.
This doesn’t even come close to a full accounting of what’s been happening this week. Below I’m listing resources I used while writing this post as well as the general White House website link for presidential actions.
Do your research. Pay attention to the substance and not just the flash. Let’s keep our eyes on what’s really happening in our country.
ABC News. Trump begins slew of executive actions on immigration, economy, other programs. 1/20/25
CBS News. Trump signs flurry of executive actions and memos on Day 1. 1/20/25.
AP News. Everything Trump did in the first executive orders and actions of his presidency. 1/22/25.
Riddle from the Middle 
It’s so concerning on so many levels
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it surely is
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Very sad 😢
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yep.
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it’s been rough
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In the UK we were so close to stepping so far over the line like this. Maybe it’s just 5 years reprieve with a moderate Government, but at least it’s a chance. I had hoped golf would distract him but sadly I think forces have been unleashed which means the US will be a very different country in 4 years.
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I think you’re very right about that. The movement has broadened from hero worship for just one man to a wider, detailed platform. I honestly don’t know what even the next six months will bring here.
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I’m trying to ignore because what can I do? Protest? Work myself into a turmoil? I recognize the dangers, but I feel helpless. Our government needs a makeover – I’m not sure about the wisdom of executive orders. I am sure about saying the president is effectively above the law – not good. Each new president seems to just undo what the guy before him did. And with this one – we should all be worried. But the majority of us elected him – do you think they will wake up? In the meantime, the White Supremists have been invited back to the party. Sigh.
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Thanks for adding your thoughts, Carol. It’s a mess for sure. I stepped all the way back for a good month after the election – I just couldn’t read the news on what was coming. I’m still working on the what to do part because just killing my blood pressure doesn’t help anyone. The piece that keeps me tuned in is the disturbing parallels drawn to the nazi party. Staying quiet while certain people were vilified then stripped of their rights resulted in tragedy but the action item part here is still fuzzy for me. Sadly I only think his voters will shift if his policies directly affect them in a bad way. Empathy has not been a motivating factor for them thus far.
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I think it’s important to realize that far from the majority of the country/electorate elected Trump. The true MAGA believers may never wake up until they’re shocked into the realization that electing is not so good as wanting. There was a large swath of 2020 Biden voters who, for various reasons, sat out. They are gettable. Don’t despair. There are rough times ahead but if we give up, then we accepting doom. Surrender is the mother’s milk of despots. Hang in there. The actual midterms are less than two years away and the campaign season for those elections are slightly more than a year away.
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Thank you, Paul. We’ll need to take turns lifting one another up and you’ve really stepped up on that. I worry that MAGA voters will only shift once the policies personally affect them in a negative way and that’s a really slow way to turn the tide…but I guess I’ll take any change I can get.
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Thanks for writing this and sharing the links. I’ve never seen our society change policies so quickly, embracing cruelty and stupidity in equal measure. I know that most of what has happened so far doesn’t directly impact me, but even indirectly it is disorienting. And potentially discouraging, if you let it.
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It’s the swiftest undoing of any presidential transition as far as I know. Several lawyers who are dissecting this are pointing out some are things he doesn’t have the power to change so the challenges will go through the courts – the sheer volume will overload and slow down their dockets though. Hearing people who understand the law and limits of government is helping me stay encouraged. But I’m not gonna lie, these are feeling like dark times.
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