@VOTANewsExecutive OrdersGlobalBiden TransitionUS politicsDEI PolicyTrump administration•••1yr ago

Trump's Bold Start: Executive Orders, Pardons, and Controversy

Donald Trump has kicked off his presidency with a flurry of executive orders aimed at reshaping American institutions.

Among his early actions, he directed all federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) staff to be put on leave, signaling a shift in policy priorities. In his first interview as president with Sean Hannity, Trump also commented on Joe Biden's decision not to pardon himself, calling it 'sad.' Meanwhile, a letter from former President Biden to Trump surfaced, offering well wishes and blessings for the new administration.

These moves highlight the stark contrasts in leadership styles and priorities between the two administrations.

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@VOTA submitted…2yrs2Y

Trump’s false claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets invokes racist trope

For days, Donald Trump and his allies have zeroed in on Springfield, Ohio, amplifying baseless claims that Haitian immigrants there are eating others’ pets. The promotion of such rumors, which thrust the city into the national spotlight, is rooted in a centuries-old racist trope of vilifying newcomers to the United States and highlights the country’s present-day divides, historians say.“We’re going to get these people out,” Trump said Friday during a news conference at his golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., promising to conduct “large deportations” if he is elected president.His remarks were the latest in a swirl of canards that Trump has spread about Haitian immigrants, despite local officials debunking the claims. Leaders in Springfield have said the claims are harming the community, which has been forced to evacuate schools, city hall and other buildings after receiving threats since Trump’s remarks.Trump has also incorrectly said that Haitians in Springfield are in the U.S. illegally, though local officials have rebutted that as well. The migrants were granted temporary protected status in the United States after fleeing violence at home.

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@VOTA submitted…2yrs2Y

Obamas endorse Harris

Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle endorsed Kamala Harris' bid for president on Friday in a roughly one-minute long video that captured a private phone call between the couple and the current vice president."We called to say Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," Obama told Harris."I am proud of you. This is going to be historic," the former first lady told Harris.Talking into a cell phone and cracking a few smiles, Harris expressed her gratitude for the endorsement and their long friendship."Thank you both. It means so much. And we're gonna have some fun with this too," Harris said.The campaign said the video was the actual call, not a reenactment.Harris's surprise bid against Republican rival Donald Trump continues to gain steam from supporters, donors and politicians less than a week after President Joe Biden bowed out of the race amid slumping poll numbers.

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@VOTA submitted…1yr1Y

Bernie Sanders Charges Ahead As Democrats Stall Out

Bernie Sanders launched a tour in red states like Iowa and Nebraska to rally opposition to Donald Trump’s agenda, drawing massive crowds—thousands in Omaha and overflow audiences in Iowa City.Unlike the Democratic Party’s muted response to Trump’s election, Sanders is actively challenging the administration’s plutocratic policies, focusing on billionaire influence and federal deregulation.In Iowa City, Sanders spoke to packed venues, delivering back-to-back speeches to accommodate attendees, a first in his political career, highlighting his enduring appeal.He criticized Trump’s inner circle, including billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, who attended the inauguration, and warned of their control over federal agencies.Sanders galvanized the crowd with historical references—suffrage, slavery, independence—urging grassroots action to counter Trump’s planned $1 trillion tax cuts for the rich and cuts to programs like Medicaid.Attendees expressed frustration with Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries, calling their opposition to Trump weak or nonexistent, while praising Sanders for providing direction.Sanders highlighted the slim Republican House majority (three seats), suggesting constituent pressure could sway vulnerable GOP members to block Trump’s reconciliation bill.Early signs show GOP walkbacks—like Trump’s false claim Medicaid won’t be cut—after outrage over federal grant pauses disrupted services, proving grassroots impact.The crowd, mostly liberal, cheered Sanders’ defense of reproductive rights and jeered Trump’s USAID cuts and Zelensky attacks, though some noted a shift in his base—younger Trump supporters absent.Sanders ended with Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, framing the fight as a timeless struggle against billionaire rule, inspiring attendees like Audrey to re-engage and Erin to find hope in solidarity.

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@VOTA submitted…2yrs2Y

Kamala Harris suggests she would be open to exploring reparations for slavery

Kamala Harris has suggested she would be open to exploring reparations for slavery if she wins the White House.The US vice president said the country needed “to speak truth about the generational impact of our history”, citing the legacy of redlining policies and Jim Crow laws as well as slavery.Ms Harris made the comments during an interview with reporters from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in Philadelphia, an organisation Donald Trump also addressed last month.Asked if she would use the executive powers of the presidency to create a commission to study reparations, she signalled her support for the idea.“We need to speak truth about the generational impact of our history, in terms of the generational impact of slavery, the generational impact of redlining, of Jim Crow law,” she said.“I think that part of that is studying it to figure out exactly what we need to do.”However, she said it was “ultimately” a task for Congress to take up.

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