FAFO Friday News Rundown: April 11, 2025
🇺🇸 Trump Orders DOJ to Investigate Former Officials Who Criticized Him
In an unprecedented move, President Trump signed executive orders directing the Department of Justice to investigate former administration officials, including Miles Taylor and Christopher Krebs. The orders revoke their security clearances and those of associates, marking a new chapter in Trump’s escalating war on dissent.
📉 Tariff Chaos: Trump’s Economic Gamble Wrecks Markets
Markets reeled this week after President Trump announced a sweeping 10% tariff on all imports and up to 145% on goods from China. The S&P 500 suffered its worst two-day drop since 2020. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warned the tariffs could tip the U.S. into a deep recession.
🤬 Trump’s Self-Deportation Plot and the “Black Jobs” Theory
Trump floated a self-deportation plan targeting undocumented immigrants—an admission that his forced-labor fantasy is unworkable. He once claimed undocumented workers were “taking Black jobs.” But which jobs? Field labor and hotel housekeeping? It’s no coincidence that Republicans are pushing work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP—policies that disproportionately impact Black Americans. Maybe Trump’s vision replaces undocumented labor with the most vulnerable, coerced into low-wage work or risk losing lifesaving benefits?
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📓 Healthcare and Education: Major Funding Cuts Hit Institutions
The Trump administration abruptly terminated over $1 billion in funding to Cornell University and nearly $800 million to Northwestern, citing alleged civil rights violations. Meanwhile, Trump’s push to slash Medicaid and social programs has drawn fierce backlash from progressive lawmakers and disability rights groups.
🧾 SCOTUS Orders Return of Man Deported by Mistake
In a rare ruling, the Supreme Court ordered the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongfully deported to El Salvador. The Biden-era deportation error was exacerbated by new Trump-era policies that reject appeals for re-entry. Legal experts warn that more such cases could follow if Trump’s expanded deportation plans proceed.
🪧“Hands Off!” Protests Sweep the Nation
On April 5, protesters in cities from Atlanta to Seattle rallied against Trump’s authoritarian policies, calling out attacks on civil rights, voting access, and immigrants. The “Hands Off!” movement draws parallels to 1960s freedom marches, with a new generation refusing to stay silent.
🇵🇸 Palestinian Activist Targeted for Deportation
In a chilling example of political suppression, the U.S. ruled to deport Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil based on a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeling his views “anti-American.” No crimes. Just speech. Advocates say this marks a dangerous escalation in punishing dissent under the Trump regime.
⚖️ DOJ Faces Legal Pushback Over Death Penalty Move
Lawyers for Luigi Mangione—accused in the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO—filed to block the federal death penalty, citing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s public statements as prejudicial. Bondi called Mangione “evil” on social media before trial proceedings began. The defense says it’s a textbook example of political interference.
🌐 Trump Envoy’s Secret Russia Concessions Spark GOP Panic
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly accepted multiple Russian demands in quiet diplomacy sessions, raising alarms within the GOP and among NATO allies. Critics say the concessions undercut U.S. leverage abroad and echo the first Trump term’s pro-Kremlin leanings.
🏥 President Trump’s Physical Raises Questions
Trump completed his first physical since returning to the White House at Walter Reed Medical Center. The administration offered no details, fueling speculation online. Health transparency has been an issue for Trump since 2016, and nothing has changed in 2025.
🇮🇱 Trump Snubs Israel on Tariff Rollbacks
Standing beside Netanyahu, Trump said the U.S. provides “plenty of aid” and will not lift the 17% tariffs on Israeli imports. Israeli officials had lobbied hard for exemptions, but Trump made it clear: “Everyone pays.” This signals a departure from his former unconditional support for Israel.
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Anyone who trusts anything Trump says at this point is a fool at best.