The holidays are meant for winding down, relaxing, and spending time with family and friends. But under the Trump Administration, the news coming out of the White House and the people resisting it never slows down. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed over winter break.
1. Trump’s ban on words in the CDC (Center for Disease Control)
On Thursday, December 14th, 2017 policy analysts at the Center for Disease Control were handed a list of seven banned words by the Trump administration to stop using in 2018 budget documents. On the chopping block of terms we’re “diversity,” “fetus,” “transgender,” “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “science-based,” and “evidence-based.” This move by the Trump administration was criticized by most who called it an “authoritarian and dictorial move.”
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/16/health/cdc-banned-words/index.html
2. GOP Tax Bill went through Congress
On December 19, 2017 the very unpopular Republican Tax Bill passed the senate in a 51-48 vote. The tax bill costs 1.5 trillion dollars, making deep corporate tax cuts as well as temporarily lowering individual taxes. This bill was the biggest rewrite of the tax code in decades. It’s received harsh criticism from Senate Democrats and citizens who have accused the bill of giving big tax cuts to the rich & corporate America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/us/politics/tax-bill-vote-congress.html
3. Trump forced 200,000 Salvadorians to leave the U.S.
Nearly 200,000 Salvadorians are being forced out of the United States, after living in the country for more than a decade. The Department of Homeland Security said they were ending the humanitarian program, Temporary Protected Status, made specifically for Salvadorians who have been allowed to live and work legally in the United States since a pair of earthquakes devastated the country 2001. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/salvadorans-tps-end.html
4. TIME’s UP campaign, Golden Globes, & Oprah’s speech
On New Year’s Day, actresses in Hollywood launched TIME’s UP, a legal defense fund created to combat sexual abuse, assault, and harassment across all industries in light of the release of countless sexual assault allegations in Hollywood, the workplace, and politics. TIME’s UP was highlighted at this year’s Golden Globes in which most of the attendees wore black in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault. A number of the speeches were dedicated to the theme of the event that night, but Oprah Winfrey’s speech was the best of them all (in my opinion). It sent a wave of emotions in the room with the message that “a new day is on the horizon” in the form of women speaking their truth.
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/01/golden-globes-2018-red-carpet-times-up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN5HV79_8B8
5. Trump’s “shithole countries” statement
In an Oval Office meeting with fellow lawmakers, Trump reportedly asked “Why do we want all these people from shithole countries coming here?” (referring to Haiti and African countries). He also said that the U.S. should get more people from countries like Norway. This statement from Trump received more significant outrage than previous controversial statements he has made. The majority of people calling him racist for making a blatantly racist statement.
http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/11/politics/immigrants-shithole-countries-trump/index.html
6. DREAMers fight for a Clean Dream Act by January 19th
Dreamer activists are on edge for Congress to include the Dream Act in their next spending bill that must pass by January 19th. If congress doesn’t act on the Dream Act by January 19th, the status of over 700,000 Dreamers will be in jeopardy. The DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) will end in March.