Crossroads with Joshua Philipp

The stock market has begun to surge after days of record drops. This follows an announcement from the European Union that it's ready to negotiate with the United States, and the deal on the table is “zero-for-zero” tariffs on industrial goods. Yet, while the EU is now willing to negotiate, the Chinese communist regime is doing the opposite, and President Donald Trump is now threatening to expand tariffs against China.

Conflicting events are sweeping the United States over the “Liberation Day” tariffs. On one side, large-scale protests against President Donald Trump’s policies were organized across the country. On the other side, Trump’s approval ratings in some polls have gone up, and analysts are raising questions on whether the impact to the stock market may not reflect on the wealth of average Americans.

President Donald Trump carried through with his global tariffs for what he deemed “Liberation Day.” This includes sharp tariffs against many countries in the world, while offering a way out if they drop their tariffs and trade barriers against the United States. The day after, the stock markets saw a huge selloff, in what some framed as an attempt to short the market. Yet already, many countries are saying they’re ready to negotiate.

The leading presidential candidate in France is now ineligible to run for political office. Marine Le Pen was expected to come out on top in the French presidential elections, but she has now been found guilty of embezzlement and was sentenced to four years in prison. After the verdict was announced, she alleged the case was politically motivated, and critics pointed out that her case fits in with a broader pattern. Populist leaders around the world are facing similar legal attacks, and some allege these are part of a campaign to keep the new parties out of politics.

“Liberation Day,” as President Donald Trump calls it, has now arrived. April 2 was slated as the day when the administration’s large-scale tariffs on other countries would take effect. In response, many countries from Europe, to the Americas, to Asia are now looking to form new trade alliances to work around the United States. Trump is saying they’ll be back and that he intends to fight on the issue even if it takes all summer.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gone from cutting government spending to shrinking the size of government overall. Now, the agency’s head, Elon Musk, is detailing what DOGE has uncovered in fraud, overspending, and gaps in the system.

Police officers in Rochester, NY are being accused of violating sanctuary city rules for helping border patrol agents. And now, border czar Tom Homan is weighing in behind the officers, saying “help is coming.” In other news, the White House just declared what it called “MAGA Madness.” It gave a nod to "March Madness" and the NCAA basketball tournament, but went further to declare the administration’s vision for the United States.

A lawsuit filed over the Signal chat leaks has gone to a judge overseeing several other Trump cases. Judge James Boasberg will oversee the lawsuit, in addition to cases on blocking Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act and deportation flights, among others.

 President Donald Trump has now changed the election laws across the United States. The March 25 executive order includes changes such as proof of citizenship to vote in U.S. elections. Critics argue the order will have the effect of changing the process of how people register to vote and say it could disenfranchise voters. And already, there are groups saying they will challenge the election law changes in court.

The latest political storm in Washington surrounds a Signal chat that included Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Their communications on plans to attack Houthi terrorists were leaked to the press, and it turned out that someone had inadvertently added a journalist to the secure chat. The incident has now turned into a debate on the security of government communications and whether laws could have been broken. But what’s being left out of the discussion is that Signal is actually approved for government and even some military communications.Meanwhile, 23andMe is going bankrupt, and now there are warnings that the DNA data could get sold off.

The attacks on Tesla are being taken seriously. The FBI has now reportedly launched a special task force looking into an anarchist group involved in the attacks. This follows public comments from President Donald Trump and recent arrests by the Justice Department, and could now be aimed at organizations behind the incidents. In other news, the DHS has revoked legal protections on another wave of illegal immigrants, this time it's those on parole.

The actions of President Donald Trump have been regularly stalled or blocked by court actions. Many of these are in turn brought about by lawsuits from various agencies. And now, Trump is taking action to prevent attorneys and law firms from blocking the actions of the president. 

The Department of Education, as we knew it, has come to an end. President Trump has signed an executive order essentially dismantling the department and returning education back to the states to decide on. In other news, a new campaign to get heavy metals out of baby formula, and to make sure that formula is reliable and nutritious, has been launched by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He’s referring to this campaign as “Operation Stork Speed.” 

The campaign against Tesla as a form of protest against President Donald Trump is growing. Boycotts, incidents of arson, and vandalism are being reported in various parts of the United States and Europe, with some public figures also speaking out against the company. The attacks against the electric vehicle company are seen as an attempt to harm the interests of the company’s owner, Elon Musk, in retaliation for his role in the Trump administration. On the other side of the issue, Attorney General Pamela Bondi is now also saying the attacks could qualify as domestic terrorism.

The United States’ manufacturing has been declining, and there’s now a push to bring it back. Vice President JD Vance recently spoke at the American Dynamism Summit about the unseen impacts of losing manufacturing, how this happened, and the emerging policies to restore it. 

President Donald Trump has declared that the presidential pardons issued under the Biden administration are now null and no longer in effect. He alleged that the documents had been signed with an autopen and that the former president was likely unaware of them. The move could clear the way for new criminal investigations.Meanwhile, new polls on approval ratings are showing new records. Trump has matched his record high, while Democrats are showing record-low ratings. The polls suggest that a change in approach may be necessary for Democrats to win back voters in the midterm elections.

Over 200 gang members from Tren de Aragua and MS-13 have been deported from the United States, and have now arrived at a prison in El Salvador. Videos were posted online showing the gang members being taken from the planes and sent to the country’s Terrorism Confinement Center. The deportation follows a recent action from President Donald Trump to invoke the Alien Enemies Act, where he declared an invasion of the United States by Tren de Aragua, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. Now, a legal battle is beginning as well, after a federal judge blocked Trump’s invocation of the act and also ordered the deportation of gang members to stop.

The push for mass deportations could soon get the backing of a major order. President Donald Trump is reportedly expected to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. He discussed using this order when he was on the campaign trail, and it would give the president broad authority to deport noncitizens.

The coordinated attacks being launched on Tesla are now being called acts of terrorism. This began with organized protests at Tesla dealerships. It then expanded to dozens of locations across the United States—and then began escalating into threats of violence, arson, and other actions targeting Tesla as a form of retaliation for Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration. Musk went public and alleged that the attacks were being coordinated by a group of far-left organizations and major left-wing figures. And now, the Trump administration is saying the attacks represent a form of domestic terrorism, which could result in criminal charges.

A trade war is kicking off between the United States and Canada. The new Canadian prime minister is promising to win the financial battle. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is working on his own response, which he says will include actions that will go down in history.

A policy that could have brought an end to America’s suburbs has now been discarded. The zoning policy under the Obama administration, and later the Biden administration, created a type of equity program that localities had to follow. And the program has now been eliminated by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.In other news, the Department of Homeland Security has repurposed the CBP One app that could formerly be used to schedule illegal entry into the United States. It has been relaunched for self-deportation.

Cryptocurrencies could soon be part of the U.S. national strategic reserve. During a recent event, President Donald Trump announced his administration is exploring ways to do this through bitcoin.The move follows another Trump order where he banned central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), or government-backed digital currencies. Both actions could represent a break of the United States from a global trend of mass surveillance in digital payments.

President Donald Trump is expected to abolish the Department of Education. A draft of the executive order was detailed by several news outlets ahead of the expected announcement, and this also aligns with what Trump had promised early in his campaign. The plan is to have the school systems handled by the states, and not by the federal government.

An anti-Trump resistance has formed within government agencies. A secret network of federal workers has organized to fight back against the Trump administration. The group is now working to form strategies and share information on encrypted apps. Alongside this, new U.S. intelligence shows that the Chinese regime is attempting to recruit disgruntled U.S. federal employees.In other news, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Trump’s freeze on some USAID payments will have to go through. The denial of Trump’s attempts to block a lower court order could signal how other legal challenges over money heading to international programs may go.

The Department of Justice has recovered files on sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein that were allegedly withheld from release. The announcement was made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced plans to make the Epstein files public. In other news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced he’s now ready to sign a rare earths deal with the United States and be a part of peace talks with Russia. This takes place just days after Zelenskyy argued with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office and was asked to leave the White House without signing the agreement.

With the midterm elections coming up, there’s a legal battle starting over election laws and who controls them. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to bring the Federal Election Commission (FEC) under White House scrutiny. Democrats say that this could undermine the independence of the FEC, which is in charge of enforcing campaign finance laws, and a new lawsuit could soon determine the legalities of Trump’s order. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has reportedly paused aid to Ukraine.

Plans for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine broke down on live TV. In a discussion at the White House, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy argued with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance about the potential agreement. The deal is now on pause, and Trump has said Zelenskyy can come back when he’s ready for peace. In the meantime, Ukraine is turning to Europe for help, and this is sparking new debates on whether Europe could defend itself without the help of the United States.

The first batch of files on sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has now been released by the Department of Justice. The files were first given to a handful of conservative influencers where photos at the White House showed them holding binders with the label “The Epstein Files, Phase 1: By order of Attorney General Pamela Bondi & FBI Director Kash Patel.” And now the DOJ has publicly released these "Phase 1" Epstein files. Also, you might have noticed that egg prices have skyrocketed. President Trump's administration has a billion dollar plan to combat this egg shortage.

The White House is ending the practice of letting an outside association decide who gets access to the president and who doesn’t. An organization known as the White House Correspondents’ Association used to control a good amount of press access to the White House, and now the Trump administration is replacing it with a new White House Press Pool while promising more access to new outlets.In other news, illegal immigrants in the United States will now need to register with the federal government within the next 30 days. As part of this, they will be fingerprinted, and those who fail to register will face civil penalties. The decision was announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said this is an act to enforce the Alien Registration Act.

A new movement is underway to fix some of the causes of childhood chronic disease. This is being led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition to his role with HHS, he’s also the head of the President’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, which has influence over other departments and agencies. In other news, Kash Patel has now been sworn in as director of the FBI. And we’re seeing some of his first moves for the agency.

President Donald Trump has a new plan for the District of Columbia, and is suggesting the federal government should take over the nation’s capital. His plan is a counter to those who believe it should, instead, be granted statehood. And in other news, Kash Patel has now been confirmed as the new director of the FBI.

There is now a new push for the United States to decouple from China, including a campaign for large-scale divestment. These measures could also serve as part of a broader undercurrent to President Donald Trump’s policies on tariffs and, ultimately, could signal the beginning of a new global trade war. At the same time, the Chinese Communist Party shows increasing signs of its preparations for war. And in other news, President Trump has ordered the Department of Justice to fire all the remaining Biden-appointed attorneys generals. 

Despite the legal pushbacks it’s now facing, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is moving forward with audits and reviews of government agencies. And now, just in time for tax season, DOGE staff have arrived at the headquarters of the IRS. The federal tax collection agency is now facing an investigation into any potential waste, and also a review of its practices.

An alleged drone attack hit the Chernobyl nuclear reactor site in Ukraine and was able to pierce the shield of the facility that experienced a nuclear disaster during the Cold War. The attack took place as President Donald Trump is trying to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, as well as efforts in Europe that could keep the war going.

It’s possible that Americans could someday get a license to hunt drug cartel members. A U.S. senator has suggested that “letters of marque and reprisal” going back to the early 1800s could again be activated. The program under one of the U.S. Founding Fathers, President James Madison, allowed people to receive government licenses to become privateers to fight pirates, and it allowed them to attack and capture certain enemy vessels. If this is brought back, it could create a type of bounty hunter system, allowing Americans to fight gangs and cartels. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has announced a plan to launch reciprocal tariffs on other countries.

A battle is taking place in Washington over the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk. Democrats are declaring that the United States is now in a constitutional crisis, as the Department of Government Efficiency moves to halt funding, audit agencies, and fire government employees. In response to this, President Donald Trump has issued another executive action to further establish the legalities of DOGE. In other news, the FBI says it has found an additional 2,400 records on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. And now, a congressional task force is launching a new investigation into the assassination.

Many policies of the Trump administration are now being openly challenged by judges. This includes moves to block several of the administration's key policies—including the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—as well as freezes on spending cuts, holds on buyouts of federal employees, and many other measures. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is arguing that the court orders undermine presidential authority.

It turns out President Donald Trump wasn’t joking when he suggested Canada could become the 51st U.S. state. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was caught on a hot mic stating that Trump isn’t joking about the suggestion, and Trump also confirmed the intent during a recent press conference. In other news, it appears that Trump was likewise serious about diverting IRS agents to work on border security. The Department of Homeland Security is now seeking to deputize IRS officers to assist in the deportation of illegal immigrants.

The Department of Government Efficiency is facing legal challenges as it attempts to investigate the U.S. Treasury. The case is raising questions over the legalities of the department, which has been uncovering alleged overspending and other issues in the federal government. Yet the program actually isn’t new. It goes back to the Obama administration, which established not only its legality, but also its deep reach into the networks of government agencies.And on this, Musk is alleging that DOGE has already uncovered large-scale abuse of the social security system.

The United States could soon have a very different tax system. The Trump administration has now unveiled its list of tax priorities. This includes campaign promises like no tax on tips, as well as other reforms. While it doesn’t go as far as the near elimination of federal income tax that some have floated, it does appear to be aimed at reducing the amount of taxes for the average American. In other news, a spotlight has been shone on the U.S. Agency for International Development, and now the Trump administration is looking to dramatically slash staff numbers.

The Department of Government Efficiency’s investigations into the U.S. Agency for International Development have now revealed that several news outlets were receiving millions in government funds. This includes government funding that was going to many corporate news outlets like Politico. Not only that, the White House has also released a list showing wasteful spending by the USAID, including for things like $70,000 for the production of a "DEI musical" in Ireland. In other news, President Donald Trump may soon face his first round of impeachment hearings for his second term in office. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) announced he will bring articles of impeachment against Trump for what he calls “ethnic cleansing in Gaza.” 

The Trump administration has now obtained a list of FBI employees who were involved in cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. Despite early attempts to block the list from being handed over, the FBI has now given the Justice Department a list of all employees who were involved in investigations and criminal cases related to the incident. This allegedly includes the names of 5,000 FBI employees, and it is raising questions over whether they could be fired. In response, a group of FBI agents has brought a class-action lawsuit against the Justice Department, alleging this amounts to an “unlawful and retaliatory” directive from President Donald Trump. And in other news, while speaking to press at the White House whilst he was signing even more executive orders yesterday, Trump also detailed preparations he has in place, were Iran to assassinate him.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk has gained access to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). And the investigations of what the USAID has been funding are now sparking a national debate. The agency is now being moved under the State Department and could serve a different mission going forward.

Non-governmental organizations tied to the process of mass migration into the United States have now been defunded. The announcement came from the Department of Homeland Security, and it has brought attention to government grants and funding that were going to NGOs accused of helping facilitate the border crisis.In other news, the United States has placed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and additional tariffs on China. And now these countries are pushing back in what’s becoming a new tariff war.

It’s now being determined whether the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda will become a reality. On Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sat before the Senate for the first day of his confirmation hearing. If he gets confirmed, he’ll become the new head of Health and Human Services, and with that, bring his stated plans to get harmful chemicals out of American food products, and to begin reforms within the pharmaceutical industry. Also, Trump signed a memorandum to prepare Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba to house illegal immigrants, according to the White House.

Federal income tax could be coming to an end in the United States. President Donald Trump first floated the idea when he was on the campaign trail, and it now seems he was serious. At a recent event, Trump discussed how the United States could replace income tax by using tariffs instead.

The 2024 elections were telling. Not only did President Donald Trump win the popular vote, and win every swing state, but he also came close to winning many states that are otherwise thought of as solid Democrat. It’s possible we could even see states like New Jersey become swing states in the next election. And now, it’s possible that even some solid blue states, like California and New York, could shift on the political spectrum due to issues of people leaving the states. As this happens, California could see a secession vote on the ballot in 2028.

The U.S. program to send money to countries around the world as foreign aid has been placed on hold and will be reviewed. This is part of a broader trend to end U.S. trade deficits, make NATO allies pay more, cut United Nations programs not in American interests, and many others. On Friday, the Trump administration froze nearly all foreign aid. The only exceptions to this are military assistance to Israel and Egypt and emergency food aid.

In just the first week of President Donald Trump’s second term in office, legal challenges are now emerging against his incoming policies. Among the 200 executive actions he came prepared with was an order to restrict birthright citizenship. That order was met with lawsuits from 22 states, and now a federal judge has temporarily blocked Trump’s order.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order to end affirmative action for federal contractors. He also directed all federal staff working on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to be put on leave. And it doesn’t end there. Trump also put an end to the orders and policies of the Biden administration that focused on race politics. This is all a part of Trump's sweeping moves to purge DEI from the federal government.