Welcome To Our World”: Tribal Identity As A Location For Active Decolonization
An article published by the Los Angeles Times (June 25) caught my attention. It was discussing how Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles are feeling a stronger sense of disenfranchisement, racial bias, socio-political harassment, oppression, and marginalization. [cite the article here] ‘Scared to be brown’: California residents fearful amid immigration raids “The heightened fear that kicks in for those “driving while Black” is widely known. But the recent immigration sweeps in Southern California have underscored how much of an issue skin color — and all the circumstances that attach to it — is for Latinos as well” (The LA Times, June 25). The article frames the current state of affairs facing immigrants in the greater Los Angeles area in light of the recent ICE enforcement and arrests. A community familiar with open oppression and bigotry, the Latino/a/Latinx/Latine communities in Los Angeles have found themselves in the crosshairs of political unrest along with abject media attention. Those supporting these communities have themselves come into physical contact with authoritarian power. Counter to these protests, the objectified Latino/a/Latinx/Latine community finds themselves oppressed in other arenas. The profiling of “illegal” immigrants has come under scrutiny, along with the use of force and wide-ranging arrests. Supporters not of Latino/a/Latinx/Latine heritage are only able to understand the context and lived realities of oppression as an outsider. Those in the “brown communities” contend with physical, mental, economic, educational, and environmental insecurities. “This Is What Democracy Looks Like, To Me” To contextualize the issue of Native identity, an op-ed authored by Levi Rickert published in Native News Online discusses the “No Kings” movement (June 14, 2025), calling the phrase, “This is what democracy looks like to me”, and reframing it through an active Indigenous lens. In doing so, Levi Rickert situates this protest chant as a vehicle for decolonization. Rickert is not limiting the attention and importance of this contemporary phrase. Rather, Rickert re-reads the protest motto as an active space for Indigenous decolonization. Rickert’s analysis is largely framed around the Grand Rapids area. The analysis works across the country, as the points are neutral in location, disciplined in visibility, and direct in tone. “[I]n the Pacific Northwest, Washington state House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Stearns, a tribal citizen of the Navajo Nation, attended a No Kings rally in Auburn, Wash. He carried a sign that read: “No Kings: Remember Magna Carta 1215” — a reference to the document in English history that limited the power of the monarchy and established the principle that even the king was subject to the law…At the Auburn rally were tribal members wearing ribbon skirts. One Native woman’s sign read: “No One is Illegal on Stolen Land”…This is what democracy looks like to me” (qtd in Native News Online, June 16). These examples outline a discourse of protest to the visible actions by the current U.S. administration. The point of their use by tribal members extends the depth of the phrases. When promoted by tribal entities, the lines of protest speak out against assimilation and termination policies. The vernacular expressed is a pointed critique against the history of colonialism waged on Native Nations in the U.S. When reading these signifiers of protest, they are framed against the realities of colonialism, thus giving a limited voice to these statements. Intended by non-Native protesters as articulations against governmental suppression, the popular phrases speak to a post-colonial identity. These signifiers need a colonial apparatus to contest, thus limiting their ability to cultivate life beyond the firm hold of colonialism. Post-coloniality cannot exist absent a colonial posture. Post-coloniality will be visible in the arena of colonialism. The modernist/colonial doctrine of oppression is founded on man’s privilege to control and dictate their own lives and the surrounding socio-political contexts. Post-coloniality is a limited articulation seeking a path toward liberation. When Rickert uses the phrase, “This is what democracy looks like to me,” he moves the needle away from post-coloniality to decoloniality. Critical feminist theorist, Cheryl Suzack, in her article “Indigenous Feminism In Canada” (2015) defines the importance of self-determination and sovereignty through a reading of oppressive patriarchal structures systematically employed to marginalize and eradicate Indigenous feminism. Suzack’s “active silence” is a critical tool she constructs to present and lay the foundations for Indigenous feminist agency. Taking the point of historic silence by Indigenous women, from a traditional position of culture, not as one of suppression, “active silence” promotes Indigenous feminism to invert the misunderstanding of Indigenous female silence as one to emphasize their collective actions against oppression and, for feminism, misogyny. Engaging this critical theory as agency for the large Native/Indigenous identity, Native/Indigenous Peoples can flip the script on institutionalized racism and historic erasure policies. Cultural misunderstanding and colonial ideology are corralled by the limitations of their use. Active silence is not a reactionary or resistance position. Active silence is a discipline of decolonialism experienced outside of colonial and post-colonial borders. Being Indian Is Still A Crime “Indigenous people questioned about immigration,” CBS News, January 2025. This video exemplifies the realities of racism that exist against Native Peoples. The current American administration follows along these same lines of authoritarian dominance, with heightened engagement. This means, Native/Indigenous Peoples are systemically aligned to fall within the umbrella of target communities to arrest, suppress, and forcibly dominate. “Racial Profiling Native Americans At Colorado State University,” Get Ready Productions, May 2018. This event further articulates the depth of xenophobia against Native/Indigenous Peoples. The xenophobic 911 caller did so based on the premise of “Living While Being Red.” The targeted Native students were wearing black, apparently a signifier of civil unrest. The authorities specifically weighed heavily on their presence to convey fear and power over the Native/Indigenous students who were misidentified as being “Mexican.” A crime to visit a college campus for future attendance? The only “crime” the Native youth committed, based on this discriminatory event, is “Living While Being Red.” “Native American brothers invited back to CSU after racial profiling claims,” KRQE News, May 2018. Native artist Lyla June held a TED TALK where she frames the
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Disgrace In The Neighborhood
It took only moments at a press conference for the world’s attention to be magnified on Los Angeles. The city has already entertained nearly one week of social protests and civil unrest, complete with curfews, arrests, and a scorched earth approach to select areas. Senator Alex Padilla attended a press conference by Secretary Noem. While attempting to ask a question, he was taken over by ICE agents, detained, and later released. Those isolated moments have become a visual anthem for protesters across the country to raise their voices to be heard. Tensions have heightened in the current administration, with strong language being expressed for those who continue to protest. The issues involved are not limited to those of a natural/illegal status in the U.S. The undercurrent of historic racist bias has boiled to the point of visible recognition. The response from those supporting and opposing these demonstrations colors America’s current socio-political fabric. Despite threats of forced removal, incarceration, detention, and exportation, and negative broadcasts, protestors remain vigilant in their stance, and the government has matched these steps with a presence of visible force. Sen. Alex Padilla shoved out of press conference, handcuffed by U.S. Secret Service “Sen. Alex Padilla attempted to interrupt a press conference Thursday with Department of Homeland Security officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem, who was discussing local immigration efforts. Video from the incident shows several individuals forcibly removing Padilla from the conference as he said, “I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary.” “A spokesperson for Padilla’s office said he was detained, handcuffed, and thrown to the ground outside of the room where the press conference was being held” (LA Times, June 12). A question remains that has yet to be addressed: “Why did the ICE official jump to this action?” The question was not even finished being stated by Padilla before these agents began to take him into custody. Was there a sense of distress to the environment expressed by Padilla? Did the ICE agents believe the Senator was a regular participant? To be in attendance, credentials had to be shared. This would dictate that the agents knew who Senator Padilla was. Yet, once the Senator begins to ask his question, the temperature of the moment changes for the worse. It’s a puzzling question at the preface of this incomprehensible action. White House calls Sen. Padilla’s disruption at DHS press conference an ‘immature, theater-kid stunt’ This news episode brings up an analysis that other news reports were skittish to discuss: the issue of race. One of the interviewees notes the culture and physical profile of Alex Padilla. Taking into account Senator Padilla’s casual attire, coupled with his “brown features,” this simple cocktail of diversity placed the Senator in the unknown crosshairs of oppression. If this line is followed, the simplicity of Alex Padilla’s question is all it took to trigger a reaction to sequester the Senator, who is assumed to be unknown by the ICE agents and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Is this all it took, a stereotyped profile to initiate a highly visible, uncivil arrest and containment of a sitting Senator? What this matter does is frame the institutionalization of racism in American psychology. Internal racism is witnessed by many in the current administration’s Cabinet Secretaries. To move beyond internal racism to institutional racism, in a matter of minutes, is not as much a shock as it is a confirmation of the current racial integrity of the U.S. To soften a pedagogical blow, there are narrow approved positions, comments, statements, and resources one can use to lecture about current institutionalized racism. These forums and class sessions are becoming more of an exception rather than a rule. The years when these and similar matters were argued, debated, and widely discussed on college campuses are long since gone. The current academic standard is not to discuss, present, or float ideas around any form of a counter culture or alternative discourse. This line of thinking is a threat to the current administration’s directive to homogenize the American culture. A “whitewashing” of the cultural fabric is being waved in plain sight. ‘I was forced to the ground’ and ‘handcuffed’: Sen. Padilla speaks out. Following Senator Padilla’s forced removal, Cory Booker and Democrats continue to hold the Senate Floor. The time is passed to Senator Cory Booker, and only the long-haul, respectful artists will take the time to review and provide Senator Booker the laurels he deserves in speaking out over the Alex Padilla incident. It’s important to point out that Senator Booker spoke to the Padilla arrest about one hour after the matter took place. The comments by Senator Jeffries after hours in between the initial Senate floor statement by Senator Cory Booker are more tempered but retain the same power as those of Senator Booker. The analysis provided by Leader Jeffries frames a path forward with a subtextual nod to the organized protests for the weekend, June 14. The coined “Day of National Protest” (aka “No Kings Protest”) coincides with the 250th anniversary of America’s military and President Trump’s 79th birthday. Leader Jeffries does not explicitly reference this event, but the leading comments point to the temperature of the days leading to these nationwide displays of dissatisfaction with the current administration. Live updates on the LA protests can be found on Integra DIY. ‘Some of the grossest behavior I’ve ever seen’: Sarah Longwell on Krisiti Noem’s cosplay and antics, MSNBC, June 12. What we have here is an expression of how poor the American educational system is, and how limited the working knowledge of the common man regarding politics and basic government structures is. The question asked by the Senator is typically introduced at the secondary school education level. To hold a Secretary status and be a member of the president’s Cabinet, and not know a credible answer to this question is more than concerning. It’s a visual illustration of how minimal the current educational framework is in the U.S.
The Wheels of Decolonization: Native Skateboard Culture
“Ramp it Up!” The Smithosian Institute project to bring light to the thriving Native skateboard culture. The nationwide touring art exhibit was first launched in 2017. Taking the exhibit across Indian Country, “Ramp it Up!” promoted the positive, liberating skateboard culture brought to Native youth. Decorative decks, skateboarders, designers, and Native Hip Hop culture collaborated in a hyper-compressed expressive agency of contemporary Native identity. “Ramp it Up!” formalized a resistance-free expression of Indigenous decolonization. Utilizing each area, decoloniality seeks to liberate (mental, physical, political, economic, educational, and spiritual). “Ramp it Up!” fostered a resurgence in self-determination and tribal sovereignty for disenfranchised Native youth. Riding Through Identity First witnessed in Native Hawaiian surfing culture, Native skateboard culture took the idea of riding the waves to riding the concrete. This is not a new concept, connecting surfing to skateboarding. What stands out is the transportation of this concept across Indian Country. Tribal communities well out of the purview of a body of water large enough to support surfing, or even the knowledge of surfing, have taken to skateboarding as an articulation of self-expression, bound with tribal culture. This manner of cross-cultural integration is also displayed with hoop dancers who take to breakdancing. There is a physical connection between these two visceral expressions. Where hoop dancing narrates a creation story by interlocking hoops (hoola hoops) together in complex designs while steadily dancing to the drum, and without the ability to pick up the hoops from the floor with their hands, these dancers transpose this flexible discipline to breakdancing. The shared expressive conditions make these art forms suited for cultural exchange. Native dance includes music, traditional knowledge, and customs to respect all within a single expressive component. These foundations lend themselves to being transported across contemporary means of expression. For urban Native youth, skateboarding replaced the surf hype of the late 1950s, which spanned well across the following decades and saw a dramatic renaissance in the 1980s. The lack of water and the abundance of concrete, abandoned buildings, and a broken infrastructure, skateboarding brought a way for urban Native youth to find a means to share culture, remain active, and form community bonds, even across different tribal identities. The restriction that held Native skateboard culture from exploding across urban Indian Country is access to equipment and the finances to purchase the often expensive gear and skateboard. These lived limitations contained this physical discourse to a minimum, making any support at this grassroots level a precious commodity. Not stopping at the edge of economic instability, Native youth continued to seek out ways to combine old equipment to make a skateboard and expand deck art to contextualize identity. Graffiti is a visible, mobile art form. Deck art provides the same angle. Highly stylized and personalized designs and color combinations, deck art was able to surpass economic depression, which encouraged the ongoing growth of Indian skateboard culture. What traditional art was for older generations, skateboard deck art paved the way for bridging older art styles with contemporary integration. This encouraged Native youth to learn about their traditional artistic forms and styles, and skateboard culture simultaneously. Once a design was applied to a deck, it was shared with the community. An easy way to speak across generations of tribal knowledge, customs, culture, traditions, and expressions. Setting aside the physical liberating feature that skateboarding brings, the ability to share deck art, intentional or by observation, demonstrates one’s connection to tribal ethics. Each of these elements, music/dance, art, and sharing community, underscores the relevance of contemporary tribal identity. For Native youth, the inclusion of skateboard culture into pre-existing tribal culture bonds together community acceptance, tribal connection, and physical participation. These positive agents outline a contemporary trajectory of tribal identity. The CBC Radio podcast “Unreserved” provided an episode dedicated to Indigenous skateboard culture in Canada. “For many Indigenous people, skateboarding is an active way to express yourself, and reclaim territory in unexpected ways…Indigenous skateboarders…are taking the sport onto the streets and into communities” (Unreserved, CBC Radio, October 2020/June 2021). This podcast hosts Indigenous skateboard business owners, skaters, and community organizers/partners, who collectively comment on the positive power of skateboarding for Native/Indigenous youth. Skateboard culture moves away from the policy of resistance to make a difference, to one of decolonization, which operates individually and communally for a lexicon of liberation. An interesting perspective on contemporary Native skateboard culture, in the podcast, comes from Hanwakan Blaikie Whitecloud, an entrepreneur who is also a skateboarder and fan. His position on how skateboard culture and community brought him to a new tribe, the Indigenous skateboard community. Helping Kids, Supporting Culture Gear Junkie published an article on June 9, about a Dine skatepark, which is in dire need of attention to continue supporting tribal youth. “The Diné Skate Garden Project seeks to distribute 2,000 skateboards this fall — but it needs additional donations to reach its funding goal” (Gear Junkie, June 9). The article, “Indigenous Shred: Fundraiser Seeks Help for Navajo Youth Skateboarding Program,” discusses how this tribal skatepark is a lifeline for Diné youth to stay active, off of drugs/alcohol, and gain a positive sense of culture and community. “The Diné Skate Garden Project comes from Amy Denet Deal, founder of upcycled apparel and homeware brand 4KINSHIP” (Gear Junkie, June 9). Years after the “Ramp it Up!” art exhibit, the resonating reality of Native skateboard culture remains bonded to tribal culture, customs, knowledge, traditions, and expressions. “The brand [4KINSHIP] describes its ethos as honoring land, art, and kinship while creating economic opportunities for Indigenous communities” (Gear Junkie, June 9). This commitment to the culture is what helped propel 4KINSHIP to become a cultural treasure. The support of tribal youth and the firm dedication to seeing how skateboarding changes, transforms, and saves lives stand as a testimony. “Skateboarding is a transformative experience,” Denet Deal said in a press release. “We’re ready to make this vision a reality, but we need the support of our community to bring this impactful opportunity to life” (Gear Junkie, June
Didn’t I Say This Already?
In anticipation of the coming weekend, like others, I had my eyes glued on what the news would report and how the community would react. The events over the past weekend juxtaposed with each other. What we see is the unfolding of a new political identity. The 1967 words of Bob Dylan come to mind (but sound better when expressed by Jimi Hendrix). The prophetic words framed a discourse of business over humanity, politics over reality. We are looking at the world from the watchtower. The continued events from the past week (June 9–13, 2025) heading into the weekend (June 14, 2025) contextualize the widening divide between classes, political ideologies, and economic security. How much further these divisions will expand is based on the amount of stress forthcoming. “President Trump hosted the country’s largest military parade in decades in D.C. yesterday evening. It marked 250 years of the U.S. Army — and coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday. “‘Every other country celebrates their victories. It’s about time America did, too,’ Trump said in remarks at the end of the parade. The president also received a commemorative flag as the crowd sang ‘Happy Birthday’” (Axios, June 14). This event, planned for over two years before President Trump took hold and made a radical shift, was not intended to be politicized. However, the executive did what this executive has consistently done, made the changes with a stroke of a pen, and most likely internal threats to the organizing team. The other sound that comes to mind rings from Bob Marley. Bob Marley is not advocating for war. Rather, he’s articulating internal differences, pressures, and oppression that push communities to act. The dominant political body sees these actions in alignment with a discourse of war, even minor. The oppressed body politic sees the actions of the oppressors as acts of war. Both ends of the candle are burning, and will put the other out. The collateral damage is the remaining populist. Immigration protests put Democrats in tricky territory “Nationwide protests against President Trump’s crackdown on immigration are putting Democrats in tricky political territory ahead of the high-stakes midterms” (The Hill, June 15). The Democratic Party has its hands full navigating multiple waters. The economy, the protests, the midterm elections, and still recovering from the past presidential elections, while keeping an eye on the future appointments. Remaining silent at these times is not an option for the party. The uphill battle they continue to walk seems to never end. Pressure is part of the political process. Negative light will be shed. Turning to infighting (Axios, June 16) works far less in favor of the party. If the public gains further information on any unsettled issues between the Democrats, it could further hurt the party, which is pressing on the upcoming midterms to gain seats in both houses. Words From The Wanting Controller Leave it to a mayor to downplay any complications or unrest in their jurisdiction. Mayor Bass has a riddle past when it comes to attention to the city of Los Angeles. With all eyes on the city for one week, the mayor needs to move to triage mode, and she does with full political-ese. Using the word “shocking” is itself shocking to hear from the mayor. How can such a lifelong politician use words with a trivial posture? Even when pressed by the interviewer, the mayor sidesteps accurate statements or any reassurance of control and equitable discourse regarding the current affairs. It’s a lesson in how to divert a question and answer with an absent mind. Addressing facts is a discipline incumbent upon anyone holding a position of influence. What we hear from Mayor Bass is the opposite. “More than 5 million people took part in “No Kings” rallies in over 2,100 cities and towns across the country. “While most rallies were peaceful, there were reports of clashes between police and protesters during a Los Angeles “No Kings” rally, where days-long fiery demonstrations against ICE raids have been taking place” (Axios, June 15). All around the country. What is striking is the amount of fear expressed by the administration about unrest and violent disturbances. America is founded on the right to speak out against government and oppressive actions. The stereotype that such socio-political protests are reserved for bygone eras (1960s, 1970s) is a slap in the face to those who took to the streets, rain or shine. Providing space for such abject voices is important. Noting the importance of remaining calm and peaceful, even when yelling through a megaphone, is equally important. ‘No Kings’ Rallies Draw Big Crowds “Americans turned out en masse in communities across the country Saturday, raucously pushing back on what they see as President Donald Trump’s widening authoritarianism, attacks on immigrants and deep cuts to scores of federal programs,” (Washington Post, qtd in the Political Wire, June 16). Claiming Political Identity The nationwide protesters defied blistering heat, political pressure, and ongoing threats from ICE and police presence. What the protesters claim is what has been stated multiple times across major reporting sources. The growing imperialistic colonial autocratic ideology, as I coined at the start of the year, is moving from an ideology to a lived experience. When others in the political circles referenced the Trump administration as being an oligarchy, they were missing the point. The Trump administration is an autocracy. I’ve been firm on this point since writing about the current executive. Added the colonial discourse, coupled with the highly visible imperialistic doctrine, drew me to claim the current administration as it is, an imperialistic, colonial, and autocratic political. There were moments when journalists were framing the current executive as a neo-Moist regime. Though present, and I admit to using this phrase with frequency for an episode, an imperialistic, colonial, and autocratic political presence appears to fit the moments. Further, this political identity, though it functions as an ideology, appears to have no release on the pressure to fortify this identity as a national identity. An Underwhelming
Does It Get Any Better?” Political Slop
This article slogs through a bash of seemingly unrelated stories which ultimately point to how autocracy is being formed and what measures the federal government is going to support this strategy. The sun rises early around here, really early. When I first woke from my previous dozy mind, I looked to see what had taken place in the world from the night before. What manner of work has been done to get the boys back on track? News sources were expelling their normal biases. The physical news sources are getting much lower on relevant socio-political content. Where does one go when the walls of research appear to be slowly closing in? It’s moments like these when starting the research process is troubling. Looking for the common theme in the news, the term “whack job” was repeated multiple times. That’s the direction to follow; what’s the “whack job” in the news today? The weekend is typically a slow news cycle overall. Having only the colorful term in mind and a largely reduced reading time, it was not hard to uncover the gems littered throughout. You’re Not Fired, For Now “A federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked the White House from firing hundreds of thousands of government employees in a ruling late last night” (Axios, May 10). A major stop to the out-of-control train of federal firings, all in the name of saving money in the government and streamlining productivity. Recall, DOGE does stand for “Department of GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCY” (emphasis added). This “GE” is the sticking point. What exactly qualifies as “efficiency?” This question is assumed and not articulated. Had such a working definition been prescribed, it may have been possible to stop, or at least overturn, a number of the unethical federal employee firings. “The ruling pauses for two weeks firings that would block critical services for millions of Americans, including Social Security help, occupational safety and pre-school for poor children. “It’s the latest and broadest setback for President Trump’s and DOGE’s chainsaw efforts to radically slash and burn the federal government” (Axios, May 10). This is quite a hard break to the president’s winning streak. The president has become accustomed to getting his way. The past lines of demarcation between the two different branches of government, judicial and executive, are becoming thin in the hands of President Trump’s government. Will the president succeed in fighting against this new order? There’s been no sight or sound of a counterattack to this order. But the ruling has only come down. There’s time to begin unwinding this order. “In her 42-page ruling, Judge Susan Illston, a Clinton appointee, explained that the president does have the right to change the executive branch, but must do so lawfully, and with the cooperation of Congress” (Axios, May 10). “Federal courts should not micromanage the vast federal workforce, but courts must sometimes act to preserve the proper checks and balances between the three branches of government” (Judge Susan Illston, qtd. in Axios, May 10). The balance between the three branches of government, a constitutionally mandated responsibility for the court. Why this is a radical action to uphold in any administration is a mystery. Icing On The Cake ICE Threatens to Arrest Democratic Lawmakers “Democratic members of Congress who were part of a scuffle with law enforcement officers at an ICE facility in New Jersey may face arrests.” “It would be a major escalation in the Trump administration’s arrests of politicians and other public servants, including the mayor of Newark and a judge in Milwaukee” (Axios qtd in The Political Wire, May 10). If this were to take place, it would be a major feather in the cap of the president. Such a triumph would boost the president’s credibility with his MAGA base. Is this likely to come to fruition? The possibility is far and wide; a pipe dream with no end, a fantasy of the president opening the door for further radical deportations, the likes of which have never been seen on American soil. Still At It U.S. and China Prep for Second Day of Trade Talks “Marathon conversations here between U.S. and China officials came to an end Saturday, with more talks scheduled for Sunday over the continuing trade war between the countries.“ “The talks, which were led on the American side by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, spanned at least eight hours and concluded without an announced deal” (Wall Street Journal qtd in The Political Wire, May 10). Will a deal come from these meetings? If so, the president will have to eat crow on the highest 145% tariffs. Who would be the victor coming from these meetings? The obvious answer would be China. Put any result through the Trumpian marketing machine and MAGA base, the language will be that America is the winner, regardless of how poor the actual agreement is for U.S. tariffs. Authoritarianism Marching On? A critic of President Trump all but says the word “authoritarianism.” The phrase is skirted around in a lovely political dance. If headlines are the draw, this one works well. The argument and evidence provided make the case by the guest. What stands out is the soft pitches from the host to angle the guest and state the claim for the country under the president’s leadership is moving toward authoritarianism. Almost every pitch is bunted with the comment provided. The phrase is noted by the host and jabbed at the guest (5:31). The retired political science academic doesn’t take the bait. The guest does what all well-trained academics do: he talks verbiage around the question to make it sound like a response to the question left unanswered. The joy of online journalism and a guest knowing he will retain further critique of his work by his home institute if he so much as thinks socio-politically, culturally, racially, or ethically centered language, which may sound like a subversive coup. DOGE Goes Wild America’s favorite meltdown queen, Marjorie Taylor Greene, launches on
“Gimme! Now!”: Talking Global Finances
This article discusses the the US-China tariff agreement, the Saudi visit, and one big present. All in all, the American populists have only started to feel the brunt of the president’s executive orders. This reality is often replaced by other fears stemming from the government. If the full force of the tariffs had already been further along, the changes would be quite apparent. It may be that, due to these delays, the two issues discussed below would not have been possible. Bringing Home The Multi-Billion-Dollar Bacon President Trump leaves for the Middle East today and is aiming to return home with $1 trillion worth of deals and investment pledges, U.S. and Arab officials tell Axios’ Barak Ravid, Alison Snyder and Marc Caputo” (Axios, May 11). “Trump will embark on the first major foreign trip of his second term tomorrow, heading to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The Middle East trip is expected to focus heavily on business deals and new investments from the oil-rich region. Typically, U.S. presidents travel to Canada or Mexico first. Trump’s trip to the Middle East, by contrast, highlights the region’s growing influence — and the president’s tension with many longtime allies” (The Hill, May 12). “Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE this week is almost all about money. “His regional agenda is business, business and business,” one Arab official said” (Axios, May 11). Frame the thoughts of the president going into these meetings: “No need to focus on the Gaza Strip and the war. Put aside issues of any humanitarian nature. Let’s not talk about seeing how to ally together for a better global economy. No need to delve into climate issues. Stay the (golf) course. Maintain the conversations on how to develop a multi-billion-dollar Riviera in the region. This should be the main focus of the conversations, and let the hired spokespeople do their job and deflect the reporting away from the real issue, ‘business and making lots of money.’” “Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) pledged $600 billion in investments in the U.S. over the next four years right after Trump took office. The Qataris are also expected to announce $200 billion-300 billion in deals and investments, including a huge commercial aircraft deal with Boeing and a $2 billion deal to purchase MQ-9 Reaper drones, a source with knowledge of the issue said” (Axios, May 11). “With an eye on blockbuster deals and a Nobel-worthy diplomatic breakthrough in regional peace, Trump is focusing on a region that he has treated as a key diplomatic and economic player in his second term. It’s also a business opportunity: All three countries on the list have Trump-branded properties or ongoing developments” (The Hill, May 12). These deals play right into the hands of the president. Seeing himself as a prolific businessman with a specialization in property business deals, for some, the president was re-elected because he was better equipped (physically and professionally) to discuss business relations with such countries. The Middle East holds strong political-religious laws against women serving in business or government. Had the 2024 election gone differently, those supporting Trump say such possible deals would not have had the potential to be discussed. But, is it culturally correct for the host to provide a gift quantifiable with the importance of the person offering wrapping? “Qatar is also considering giving Trump a gift: A 747 jumbo jet to serve temporarily as Air Force One. The UAE already declared in March that it would invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S. over the next decade. Trump clearly sees the Gulf as a place where there’s big money to be made, for the U.S. and for businesses like his” (Axios, May 11). “While in the region, Trump plans to accept a luxury Boeing 747–800 plane as a donation from the Qatari royal family that will be upgraded to serve as Air Force One, in possibly the biggest foreign gift ever received by the U.S. government. The plane will then be donated to Trump’s presidential library when he leaves office, allowing him to continue using it as a private citizen” (The Hill, May 12). The truth comes to the surface fast. The monetary gain the president plans to acquire will, in his mind, boost his approval ratings with the American people. The MAGA union will certainly throw laurel branches at the president’s feet on his return with these agreements. Opponents will try to torch those branches as fast as they hit the ground. But what’s the hook with these funding agreements? What do the Saudis seek to gain by promising an enormous amount of funding to the US over a long timeline? Will the president use any of these agreements to influence the stock and welfare of the nation? Will these monies go to replace any of the closed departments and rehire fired federal workers? The proverbial answer to such a line of questioning would be the horrifying reality, “No.” “The U.S. and Qatar were bargaining over the price for a “palace in the sky” Boeing 747–8 to be used as the new Air Force One — and Qatar “came back and said: ‘We’ll just gift it. It’s OK,’” (Marc Caputo, Axios, May 11). “And it’s gifted to the people of the United States, gifted to the Department of Defense,” the source added. “And it’s supposed to be ready by the end of the year.” “Qatar’s royal family plans to donate the luxury jumbo jet to the Defense Department, then it’ll be transferred to President Trump’s presidential library when he leaves office — one of the biggest foreign gifts ever given to the U.S., ABC News scooped and the N.Y. Times confirmed” (Axios, May 11). There are too many questions to state. What’s funny to read is the report from the White House Spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt “Karoline Leavitt said that “any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws” (Axios, May 11). Who owns the jet? The president or the
You Think You’ve Got Problems,” Living In A Time Of Uncertainty
This article jabs at some under reported news that have more of a hold on the stare of America’s culture than expected. While millions around the world have their sights on the Vatican for news on the next Pope, the American socio-political cultural landscape continues to slowly deteriorate. Trivial news is swept under the rug to make way for other glamorous, sensational, and advertisement-friendly news, the kind readers want to waste time reading. This reductive action by the mainstream media does not lessen the importance of the growing pulp fiction pop culture identity in America. This is one element that can be transnationally exported without any added tariffs. The baffling point is that some countries still want to import low-brow news and culturally devoid issues. Missing In In-action Where Is Melania? “As the weeks pass by at the White House, the corner of the residence long used by first ladies remains dark, because this first lady does not really live in Washington” (The Political Wire, May 8). “Melania Trump vanishes from view for weeks at a time, holing up in Trump Tower in Manhattan or in Florida, where she can lie low at Mar-a-Lago. Administration officials say she is at the White House more often than the public knows, but when exactly, and for how long, these officials will not (or perhaps cannot) say for certain. It’s like having Greta Garbo as first lady,” (New York Times, qtd in The Political Wire, May 8). Melania Trump has to be one of the lowest-hanging fruits to critique in the White House. Her on-and-off presence in the White House brings one to recall when she stated she would not return to the White House, but would remain at Mar-a-Lago if Trump were to win the presidency. Pick up to where we are today, the First Lady, Melania Trump, has been well out of sight. Political defenders state that her busy schedule keeps her out of the public view for extended periods, but the lack of evidence proves otherwise. Even the Second Lady has been more present in the media. Trouble In Paradise Trump Stokes a Vance-Rubio Competition “President Donald Trump gave JD Vance and Marco Rubio huge portfolios and has openly named both as his potential successors — putting two unlikely friends on a collision course for the GOP nomination in 2028.” “Vance and Rubio aren’t exactly rivals; in fact, White House officials and people close to the vice president note he’s developed a close relationship with the secretary of state during their time together in the Senate and now in the Trump administration. Intentionally or not, though, the president is stoking future competition between the duo, and those around him are taking notice” (Semafor, qtd in The Political Wire, May 8). Now, boys, play nice! All kidding aside, this will be one throw-down political in-fighting to watch. Who would be a good fit for the presidency between the two? Is there a third option? One has trouble keeping his mouth shut, the other has trouble keeping his mind on track. Here’s the catch: you decide which of these markers is applied to whom, then ask again, “Which of these two would make a good president?” Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Search The Internet Or Post On Social Media Axios provides the background on an issue most have allowed to settle out of mind. Once the country learned that Trump was to become the next president, tech companies jumped to gain a good standing with the notorious litigious president. Knowing that a safe position with this new administration could save their business in the future. Being seen as a counter-intelligence agent could result in dire legal and economic ramifications. Holding no funds back, the major tech industry leaders opened their stock profiles to pave the road to the White House. This was on the tip of the tongue in January 2025. The TikTok episode took center stage shortly thereafter. What seemed like a devastating blow to this social media platform and millions of viewers and social media influencers, the TikTok ban was deflected, and deflected, until it came to the present. Multiple American businesses have come forth to partner with TikTok to keep it active in the US. Still, some oppose the ongoing presence of TikTok in the US. Vice President JD Vance was numb in passing a decision either to ban TikTok or allow it to remain in operation in the US. Only with an American business partner has TikTok been able to remain active in the US. Such a major social media platform and a lucrative financial center for select businesses and influencers, it is still hard to imagine what a TikTok-free world would look like. The ban has not been removed, the deadline is still lingering, but without the bite it originally gave. What is taking place in the other major social media platforms and tech giants may appear a bit easier to understand. The outcome, however, would be nearly the same: unplugged permanently. “America’s tech titans backed President Trump’s promise of a new “Golden Age” with seven-figure checks, glowing public praise and front-row tickets to his inauguration. So far, those favors remain unreciprocated. (Zachary Basu and Ashley Gold, Axios, May 8). “Big Tech has been in MAGA’s crosshairs for years. Even as Trump revels in the industry’s dramatic realignment and personal overtures, the core tensions in the relationship are far from resolved. “The famously transactional president knows exactly how much leverage he has over “these internet people,” as he referred to them last week (Axios, May 8). Seeing the limitation of the president’s social media knowledge, it’s no wonder that he started his own social media platform, Truth Social. The president speaks for himself, saying, “You know, they all hated me in my first term,” Trump mused during his commencement speech at the University of Alabama. “And now they’re kissing my a**. All of them.” [comment] One of the most tweet-active presidents in recent internet history,
Co-opting Political Erasure
This article provides an analysis on some of the recent programs and directions from the current administration to erase certain programs and ideologies. National Public Radio (NPR), the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) join the elite group who are on the proverbial chopping block from the current administration. The new wave of censorship has the trajectory for the full erasure of these American cultural staples. What happens to Americans if these actions are completed? It’s more than seeing childhood educational programs, drive-time radio episodes, and how to set one’s sights on where to go to college, are slowly becoming a dying resource. This discursive approach is now being institutionalized for the sanitation of cultural signifiers of a free democratic society. If such actions as the withholding and freezing of educational funding, the extraction and elimination of diversity programs, deportation raids on foreign students labeled as a threat to the current political ideology, and now the potential for erasing a free resource for public accessibility to news and educational programming, are to be fully indoctrinated, the evolution and progress of America’s historic definition of democray and a free society will become null and void. Your Education On Shaky Ground “Across the United States, universities are raising the alarm about what they see as a campaign by the Donald Trump administration to assert political control over higher education. Columbia, Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, Northwestern and the University of Pennsylvania have all experienced withdrawn federal grants — part of a broader strategy to condition public funding on political compliance. Federal officials had previously warned 60 institutions that their civil rights policies could jeopardize their grants” (Zane McNeill, NonProfit Quarterly, May 3). Since President Trump aimed at closing the Department of Education (DOE) early in his administration, the fear grew about how soon his attacks would come to other centers of learning. Disguised as part of the extraction of DEI programs and deportation of students viewed as foreign insurrectionists, the process of slowly overturning centers of higher education has started. “…[T]he private institutions targeted by the Trump administration are themselves 501c3 tax-exempt organizations. Advocates for nonprofit and academic freedom have pointed out that Trump is targeting universities first — including their tax-exempt status — as a precursor to using the same tactics against other nonprofit organizations” (Zane McNeill, NonProfit Quarterly, May 3). [comment] Following a brief, if the federal government supplies monies to these educational centers, then the government will have the final say on how much and when to provide these funds. A weak argument framed around an assumption, not legal logic. “For nonprofits — especially those working in civil rights, education, journalism, or public health — this should raise serious concerns. The suppression of academic freedom isn’t just campus politics — it’s a warning signal for civil society and for our democracy. As universities lose the freedom to teach, research, and dissent; nonprofits will lose critical allies needed to investigate injustice, educate communities, and imagine alternative futures” (Zane McNeill, NonProfit Quarterly, May 3). Centers of higher education have a long history of defending civil rights and the process of free speech. The current administration is focusing on how to complete this step-by-step process. Those educational institutes have vowed to fight these orders using all available resources. The federal government has more resources available to weather a legal storm. This unsatisfying and grossly illegal practice may be easier to complete from these involved centers for learning. A Thought Already Stated Is the U.S. Becoming an Autocracy? “Other countries have watched their democracies slip away gradually, without tanks in the streets. That may be where we’re headed — or where we already are,” (Andrew Marantz, The Political Wire, May 3). This is a point I’ve stated and written about in-depth elsewhere. On hearing then-President Biden frame the new direction of the government as an oligarchy, my response was, “This is not an oligarchy.” Such a historic term would go over the ears and knowledge base of most hearing Biden’s final White House address to the nation. The term, oligarchy, sounds important. With no knowledge or context of its use, it’s easy to develop a sense of fear. The truth is, under the current administration, the US is facing to become more of an imperialistic autocracy. Starting with a monarchy, then advancing comfortably toward a full imperialistic autocracy, the monarchy would enjoy retaining control in a tight family. However, the children of the controlling male-dominant hands of the patriarchy, President Trump, are far from ready to run a monarchy. This is why an autocracy appears to be the most useful direction for the imperial trajectory. Considering such a dramatic change in America’s history, to fully usurp power and define complete dominance, the forming imperial autocracy will follow the current practice of counter-news and history, delete the news sources, and rewrite history according to the imperialistic autocracy ideology and demands. These two final directives would secure the prominence of the imperialist autocracy. Trump Mulls Executive Order on College Athlete Payments “President Trump is considering an executive order to examine payments made to college athletes and whether they have created an unfair system,“ the New York Times reports. “Mr. Trump’s focus on the issue — which he’s talked about in the past, one of the people briefed on the matter noted — was renewed after he spoke with Nick Saban, the famed former University of Alabama football coach, backstage at an event Thursday night in Tuscaloosa, where Mr. Trump delivered an address to graduates” (qtd in The Political Wire, May 3). “After Trump met with Rob Manfred at the White House last month, the issue of Rose was among the topics of conversation. Trump told others after the discussion that Manfred will posthumously remove Rose from MLB’s permanently ineligible list.” “If that happens, it would open the door for the game’s all-time hits leader to be elected into the Hall of Fame nearly four decades after he was banned for gambling on baseball” (Wall Street Journal, qtd in The Political Wire, May 3). Student athletes are being groomed for professional careers early on. Gaining payment from
Seeing Red, Wearing Red: MMIWG
This article addresses MMIWG as it’s referenced in the US and Canada. Native Hip Hop artist activist, women’s resources, and applicable laws are all discussed. May 5 is the day to recognize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This has been expanded to include “two spirit” and transgender, MMIWG2S+. The day of recognition is not limited to the Canadian First Nations, but is to be witnessed, recognized, and put into visible presence throughout North America. Tribes across America have some connection to this matter, albeit on reservation territories or in urban centers. The negligence of this day, a day of recognition, remembrance, and mourning, is the voice for the reason why this matter is largely underrepresented in the public, non-Native communities. Silence by a lack of attention is not a resolution. Such a historic practice has been racially normalized throughout North America. Distorted education, limited political support, pop culture stereotypes, and racism across rural and urban centers are employed as a contemporary standard. The Native/Alaskan Entities population, as of 2024–2025, is noted by USA Facts as,“The current total population of Native Americans in the United States is 6.79 million, which is about 2.09% of the entire population. The racial distribution of the U.S. population shows that 0.88% are American Indian and Alaska Native” (USA Facts, May 2025). The US Census released data on June 15, 2023, which provided startling statistics on the current identity, education, and relationship to fair housing, equity, and fair representation in the workforce. “According to the newly released statistics, 2.7 million U.S. residents identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone, and 6.3 million as American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination with one or more other races from 2017 to 2021. “Among the population age 25 and over, 15.5% of the American Indian and Alaska Native alone, and 21.8% of the American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination with one or more other races had a bachelor’s degree or higher; of those, 5.3% of the American Indian and Alaska Native alone, and 7.8% of the American Indian and Alaska Native alone or in combination with one or more other races had a graduate or professional degree. “The Selected Population Tables and the American Indian and Alaska Native Tables provide a unique and vital look at socioeconomic and housing data that are essential to these smaller populations,” said Rachel Marks, chief of the Racial Statistics Branch. “These tables provide communities with specialized statistics to support their needs” (US Census, June 2023). Native/Indigenous women and girls are four times more likely to experience violence from the non-Native/Indigenous community. Native/Indigenous women and girls are twice as likely to suffer from violence by a current or former partner. Native/Indigenous women and girls are four times more likely to experience sexual violence from non-Native/Indigenous women. Between 2001–2014, the rate of homicide against Native/Indigenous women and girls was four times that of non-Native/Indigenous women (Assembly of First Nations, 2025). These startling figures coincide with the basic fact that the total data of MMIWG2S+ remains largely inaccurate. The gross content of this issue, cold cases, and unreported situations leaves the data complicated at best to document. Activist and tribal agencies are faced with working nearly independently from political and local authorities to obtain credible attention to this matter, which borders on gender genocide. This fact positions Native/Indigenous women and girls as prime targets for sexual predators, sex trafficking, and domestic and community violence. When Sisters Can’t Speak Despite the often invisible attention to MMIWG, there are some valuable resources and agencies that are holding strong the mantle in solidarity and support for MMIWG. Home Page | MMIWGIn response to calls for action from Indigenous families, communities and organizations, as well as non-governmental…www.mmiwg-ffada.ca Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women & Girls – Assembly of First NationsThe AFN’s Seeking have yet to see real, on-the-ground changes to end violence against First Nations women, girls, and…afn.ca What is Savanah’s Law? “Savanna’s Act and Not Invisible Act, which were signed into law in 2020 to address the MMIWR crisis,” (National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, 2025). Savanna’s Act was the first to draw attention to MMIWG across the US. Canadian authorities, in 2023, released the “2022–23 Federal Pathway Annual Progress Report. The report summarizes actions taken by nearly 20 federal departments and agencies to address and support the safety and wellbeing of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGTBQI+ people, as well as their families and communities impacted by violence” (Government of Canada, 2023). “The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is ongoing. With the magnitude of this ongoing national tragedy, we need to continue to work together on a comprehensive response to address the complexity and interconnectivity of its root causes, as well as address the need for accountability. As evidenced in the current Budget, we reaffirm our commitment to accelerate these efforts, through ongoing and further collaboration, investments, and initiatives, in order to create safety for all Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, no matter their circumstances. We have made this a priority and will not stop until their safety is no longer at risk” (Government of Canada, 2023). The Honourable Marc MillerMinister of Crown-Indigenous Relations The attention to MMIWG is notwithstanding any one territory or country. It is a targeted gender genocide widely unnoticed in the non-Native/Indigenous communities. These two important legislations underscore the severity of the matter and claim immediate and full attention beyond the limited scope of tribal, rural, and urban communities. Native Hip Hop As Discourse [include selections and artists] Taking to the street (aka, the urban reservation), Native/Indigenous Hip Hop artists explore the importance of this issue. The works range from haunting to an elevated point of solidarity and recognition. One should take note of the dynamic collection from multiple artists/groups. The pointed nature of each track unfolds how younger generations are articulating positions of self-determination, socio-political justice, and sovereignty. Despite the political and local authorities’ lack of direct attention to MMIWG, Native/Indigenous Hip
